I write in response to Jim Threlkeld's letter stating that military officers should take every action to protect troops including any and all means of extracting information from the enemy.

First, Mr. Threlkeld says he states his opinions to straighten up the supposed torture label placed on waterboarding by the many liberals and Sen. John McCain. I would think that McCain would be eminently qualified to comment on procedures used to gather information from captured combatants, after having been subjected to five years of captivity and torture in Vietnam.

Secondly, many liberal and moderate folks are not in favor of gathering information by any means necessary. I also am a military veteran, but do not agree with the idea that we need to use any and all means to extract information.

I agree that many of our enemies do not subscribe to this doctrine and most probably never will. Our beliefs in values and democracy and hopefully that of our elected leaders is really what separates us from them.

Dave Thompson
Flowery Branch

Fight for freedoms is the same as always
I'm confident that our young people will keep our volunteer military stocked and be ready if and when Uncle Sam calls, if they know that their freedoms, their families' freedoms and the general public freedoms are at stake.

I fought in Korea to protect our freedoms and to keep the communist dictators from taking over all of Korea.

The "War on Terror" may be somewhat different from Korea and Vietnam, but the defense principles are the same. We must protect our freedoms against Muslim dictators, Muslim theocrats, terrorists of all kinds, anarchists and criminals.

A strong military protects our freedom to speak, vote, own property, choose religions, move about, chose jobs and pursue academic interest, most of which we take for granted.

Jimmy David Haynie
Gainesville.