Despite all evidence to the contrary, especially that al-Qaeda has long considered Iraq the focal point of their struggles, the "nattering nabobs of negativity" on the left, including The Pilot, continue to view the struggle in Iraq as "misbegotten" and "ill-advised, reckless and poorly planned."

They chose to listen to a few disgruntled generals, who have violated the unwritten rule not to criticize their Commander-in-Chief, rather than General Franks or General DeLong and General Abazaid.

And they have nothing to offer except "cut and run" -- excuse me, "redeployment." They are willing to abandon the young, inexperienced, struggling Iraqi government and its supporters to post-Vietnam death and brutality (remember the killing fields of Cambodia).

They dishonor the brave members of our Armed Forces who are fighting terrorists in Iraq rather than here. How despicable!

The left wanted to grant terrorists, who have no standing under the Geneva Convention, civil rights equal to our own.

I attended the USAF Survival Course in 1967 prior to going to Southeast Asia. I was subjected to interrogation techniques such as those employed on the terrorist leaders. They were stressful, but they were not torture.

What was real torture was having to listen to the Stravinsky piece played by the N.C. Symphony last Thursday. I almost leapt to my feet and shouted, "I'll tell you anything you want to know!"

Peyton Cook

Southern Pines