I always enjoy reading Cal Thomas’ perceptive discussions of current events. However, I must correct some misinformation in his column published May 5. At first, I shared Mr. Thomas’ outrage at how the new prohibitions against torturing suspected terrorists are preventing us from winning the global war on terror. I did a little research, however, and I am happy to report that Mr. Thomas is wrong – the U.S. government has tortured, is torturing and, in all probability, will continue to torture suspected terrorists.

Under the policy of extraordinary rendition, the U.S. sends suspected terrorists to countries where they can be tortured. Two examples: Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen, was arrested at JFK airport in New York and flown, via Portland, to Syria, where he was tortured for 10 months. Kahlid el-Masri, a German citizen, was arrested by U.S. agents while he was on vacation in Macedonia. He was drugged and flown to Kabul where American agents tortured him for four months.

So Americans can rest easy. Torture is a well-established instrument of U.S. foreign policy. Of course, both Mr. Arar and Mr. El-Masri were innocent and had to be released. Hey, collateral damage happens.

David H. Das, Auburn

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