The plight of Iraqi interpreters for the U.S.; Michael Hiltzik on the iPad; phasing out chimps in medical research

"I served the Americans very well, but now they've left me on my own, with no security," says 27-year-old Tariq, an Iraqi who uses American phrases such as "I'm outta here" and "That's cool." (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

December 30, 2011, 8:49 a.m.

Shortchanging Iraqis

Re "Used and left behind in Iraq," Column One, Dec. 27

It is disgusting how we treat former employees of the U.S. government.

It doesn't matter that the Iraqi interpreters are not Americans. They put their lives on the line in service to our country, just like our own soldiers did. And in return, instead of getting what they were promised, they are treated like objects.

What arrogance from the consular office to suggest to a visa applicant that if he is "unhappy with the process and wanted his application returned to him, the embassy would be glad to oblige." Either we lied to those interpreters who served us well, or someone in our bureaucracy is messing up badly and should be fired.

Suzanne Corwin

Westlake Village

Shame, shame, shame on the U.S. government for leaving the interpreters in Iraq behind when they gave their all for our cause.

Whatever you might think of the war itself, promises were made, and now these men and women find themselves in grave danger. They and their families should have been in trucks following our soldiers out of the country.

My prayers go out to them.

Judith Detamore

Playa Vista

The dim glow of the iPad

Re "What's so great about the iPad?," Column, Dec. 25

Thanks to Michael Hiltzik for pointing out that the king has no clothes. This devotion to absolutely everything that Steve Jobs created is completely foreign to me.

Hiltzik summed it up best when he pointed out that Apple's iPad addresses no pressing problems. We all got along without one all the way up to the new millennium.

Thanks to Hiltzik for stating what I've always believed. Now my relatives will understand why I flatly refused to accept an iPad as a Christmas gift.

David Rizzo

Fullerton

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5684076760&f=378

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