Pearl family opposes torture

Published 5:08 pm Tuesday, January 22, 2008

In response to the Jan. 1 letter, “Whatever it takes to get information,” the writer asks: “I wonder if the families of people like Daniel Pearl would agree with these three,” referring to three letter writers admonishing torture. You have to love the ignorant and naive people who ask questions without any thought behind them in a blind attempt to discredit others. As it turns out, the family of Daniel Pearl does agree with the three letter writers!

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to killing Mariane Pearl’s husband after being tortured — whatever it takes, right? Robert Baer, a former CIA officer, said, “My old colleagues say with 100 percent certainty that it was not K.S.M. who killed Pearl.” “The fear is that K.S.M. is covering up for others, and that these people will be released.” Fact: Torturing suspects can actually set free those who torture.

Asra Nomani, the Pearls’ dear friend, said of the Mohammed confession, “I’m not interested in unfair justice, even for bad people. Danny was such a person of conscience. I don’t think he would have wanted all of this dirty business. I don’t think he would have wanted someone being tortured. He would have been repulsed. This is the kind of story that Danny would have investigated. He really believed in American principles.”

Mariane Pearl stated: “If I let bitterness overcome me, I would lose my soul, and if I lost my soul, I also would lose Danny’s. This, I told the President of the United States.” She also said: “You need a procedure that will get the truth, an intelligence agency is not supposed to be above the law.”

The Jan. 1 letter writer also stated: “I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks.” Very revealing. This is exactly what terrorists say.

Kevin Wruck

Marysville