In response to the editorial "On torture, appointee responds well" Nov. 13, I strongly disagree with The Daily Collegian's opinion that Michael Mukasey made the right decision regarding not decrying waterboarding.

This is not a "complicated issue." Waterboarding is torture, period. It is illegal and wrong. Mukasey wasn't willing to admit waterboarding was illegal because he didn't want Bush and his cronies to get in trouble for one of several illegal activities. Daniel Levin, former U.S. assistant attorney, was so opposed to waterboarding that he was willing to have it done on himself to see what it really was like. He found waterboarding to be absolutely horrifying, even though he had doctors with him, he had no obligation to give up any information and he knew he could stop his waterboarding whenever he wanted. Levin was then fired shortly after to keep him quiet about his findings.

I want to see George W. Bush and Dick Cheney waterboard as well and see if they change their minds.

Mukasey's confirmation reaffirms that we will have to deal with a country that waterboards without consequence for another year.

Jesse Steinweg-Woods

senior-meteorology and energy, business and finance