To the editor:

Our CIA director recently informed President Obama that, during the Bush administration, the CIA created a new program and Vice President Cheney told them not to inform the appropriate committees in the House and the Senate. Many of our conservative pundits and politicians are trying to convince us that the outrage being expressed is simply a political ploy by the Democrats and the issue should be ignored.

Do these conservatives really believe that we, the people, no longer control our spy agency? Have we reached that point where we have an entire political party who would have us forget what happened in Russia when the KGB killed and tortured anyone Stalin didn’t like? Is it possible for us to ignore the atrocities committed by Germany’s Gestapo? The day the CIA is no longer controlled by the people’s representatives is the day that America as we know it is no longer a democratic nation, a nation of, by and for the people.

The terrorists attacked on 9/11 with the intent and purpose of destroying our democracy. What they failed to do with violence they are now accomplishing through our own fear and ignorance.