We are approaching the eighth anniversary of the greatest military defeat in the history of mankind. We are looking to honor the thousands of heroes who lost their lives that day.

We have asked our nation to explain to us what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, so we can feel confident that a defeat of this magnitude never happens again. Our nation responded with the “9/11 Commission Report,” and therein lies the problem.

We now know that information obtained by torture was used in compiling the “9/11 Commission Report.” We also know that the commissioners never interviewed any al-Qaida detainees. They were never present at any interrogations or witnessed any alleged confessions by detainees, yet the “9/11 Commission Report” references detainee statements and confessions as unquestionable fact. On Page 146 of the “9/11 Commission Report,” the commissioners stated that “Chapters 5 and 7 rely heavily on information obtained from captured al Qaeda members.” The report also stated that the commissioners planned to judge the credibility of the detainees by submitting questions through the interrogators.

They should have determined the credibility of the interrogators. It seems that the interrogators used the Spanish Inquisition and the Salem witchcraft trials as their basis for interrogating and investigating the detainees.

Credibility is everything when investigating a historic event like the 9/11 attacks. Torture was used in the interrogation and investigation of the 9/11 attacks. Evidence was withheld from the commissioners and even destroyed.

The value of the information received by torture or received from people who would destroy federal evidence is equal to the value of used toilet paper. We should open a new, independent and honest investigation of the 9/11 events. This is not about some conspiracy theory thing. This is about ensuring that truth and justice is still the American way!

James CarrethersKaiserslautern, Germany

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