WikiLeaks and the release of classified information on the Afghan war; CalPERS problems; and Timothy Geithner on tax policy

It is not for politicians and bureaucrats to decide what American citizens and voters need to know. In the last 75 years, we have seen a sharp increase in the use of secrecy laws to cover up illegal activities, corruption and incompetence rather than to protect information that safeguards national security, as originally intended.

The George W. Bush administration was particularly guilty of this. Now, finally, we may get to know the truth as it happens — not 25 years in the future, too late to be of use in voting decisions.

I plan to add WikiLeaks to my browser favorites.

Mark Temple

Huntington Beach

WikiLeaks' ignoring the word "classified" on war materials that they leaked will help those who wish to kill us. This is all that the terrorists need to step up their attacks on our soldiers and our country.

When Justice Hugo Black and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of publication of the Pentagon Papers, as quoted in your editorial, they were talking about our government and our people, not the whole world.

How can you think that openness to our enemy is the perfect answer? We are in a war. The Times' logic escapes me.

Jean Solomon

Los Angeles

The WikiLeaks files prove that we have "Charlie Wilson's War" redux.

We have replaced the Russians, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency has replaced us, and Hamid Karzai has replaced the communist puppet.

The previous war destroyed the Soviet Union, and this one is destroying us. Declare victory and get out.

Larry Severson

Fountain Valley

May the WikiLeaks Papers be this generation's Pentagon Papers — and end a hopeless war.

Bill Dyer

Venice

History has shown us that when we wade deceitfully into foolhardy military engagements, the truth will out.

I am old enough to recall the Pentagon Papers and the sad finale, seven years later, of the Vietnam War.

And, as a long-retired Wall Street banker — an alumnus of one of the outfits deemed "too big to fail" — I'd like to see Assange train his forensic wizardry on behavior in the banking sector, which remains a threat to national security. I doubt the Fed will be equal to the job.

David Johannesen

Topanga

BP's CEO won't fall far

Re "BP's chief is expected to be gone this week," July 26

The Times reports, "Fairly or not, Hayward became a target of public rage."

Fairly or not? Really? Hayward is the Marie Antoinette of our time. I am curious what it is about Hayward that makes him so valuable that such a "clueless," awkward and tactless person was allowed to be the face of BP while continuously insulting us with his insensitive, bumbling conduct.