To the editor:

It has become clear that fear of terrorism in the post-9/11 world has been corrupting the spirit of our nation. Who knew on Sept. 10, 2001, that six years later we would live under a government that engages in warrantless wiretapping of its people, secretly installs devices at AT&T to copy and analyze our Internet traffic, tortures suspected enemies and disseminates misinformation to manipulate us into a war. Finally, some of President Bush’s advisers have been lobbying for a war with Iran, which could be the greatest disaster in our nation’s history.

Recently, Attorney General Michael Mukasey suggested that torture may be perfectly legal under the Constitution. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has suggested in an interview with the BBC that torture may be not be unconstitutional as a means of extracting information because he believes that “cruel and unusual punishment” only prohibits such treatment after being convicted and sentenced. Their statements seem to suggest that even the American people are not protected.

We should all be willing to hold true to our basic principles of human rights and liberty in the face of terrorism. To sacrifice our principles out of fear is the greatest form of cowardice, which is not befitting of the home of the brave.

We must demand impeachment and removal of George Bush and Dick Cheney to prevent further harm and a war with Iran. Further, we must deter future administrations from breaking the laws of our nation.

Jason Lantz,

Lawrence