Readers sound off on Ol’ Blue Eyes, CIA torture and Iran’s nukes

Celebrate Frank Sinatra at 99

Mooresville, N.C.: Hoboken native son Frank Sinatra was born on Dec. 12, 1915. A giant of the entertainment industry whether on radio, television, live performances appearances or film, Sinatra and his legacy will forever be with us. So happy birthday to Frank Sinatra at 99! As the song says, “Fly me to the moon, . . . let me swing among the stars.” I’ll bet he’s doing that right now! Happy birthday, Frank. Your many fans around the globe truly miss you. Herb Stark

East Meadow, L.I.: On Dec. 12 we will always remember our greatest our entertainment legend. He gave us joy for 60 years. Happy birthday, Frank Sinatra. Joan Cervo

Terrorists had it coming

Staten Island: When I read about the bombshell CIA terror grilling techniques used on the terrorists after 9/11 — such as waterboarding, rectal force-feedings, slapping, humiliation and sleep deprivation — I was appalled. I was appalled that anyone would be against such treatment of those monsters. The CIA agents who came up with these methods and the ones who carried them out should get medals. I would like to buy all you guys dinner and drinks. Thank you all. Emilio Puccini

They tortured thousands

Bronx: The Senate Democratic report on CIA “torture” is a borderline traitorous hoax. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the 9/11 mastermind who boasted, “With this blessed right hand I cut off the head of the filthy Jew,” journalist Daniel Pearl, was waterboarded 183 times. Today, this “torture” victim sits healthy as a pig in Guantanamo, his beard dyed red and wearing his court-permitted camouflage gear — to show he’s a warrior, not some putz pulled out of a rat hole. At the World Trade Center, thousands died, including my brother, Capt. William F. Burke Jr., Engine Co. 21, FDNY. People jumped 100 stories to escape roasting to death (airline fuel burns at 2,000 degrees). They went out the windows like lemmings and exploded on the plaza below. Those in the lobby were incinerated by fireballs that blew down the elevator shafts. Hundreds died when the 110-story buildings collapsed upon them. Passengers on the planes phoned home and told family members, “Don’t worry, whatever happened will be over quick.” That’s torture. Michael Burke

Charting the way forward

Washington: It’s disappointing to see an educator like Zephyr Teachout making baseless, unfounded attacks against public charter schools by questioning the hedge-fund managers who make donations to politicians who support the creation of these schools. Public charter schools provide 2.7 million kids with the opportunity to attend a high-quality public school in a safe, nurturing environment. Today, close to a million names are on wait lists for charter schools. The donors who support the charter school movement are ultimately making an investment in the students who choose these schools — the majority of them minority students from disadvantaged homes who are trapped in poor-performing schools. Charter schools offer these investors a chance to invest in public education and their contributions should be applauded. Nina Rees, president & CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

No more horses

Manhattan: As a conscientious New Yorker who finds the horse carriages deeply disturbing, I fully support banning them in New York City. Your editorial position is consistently biased and seemingly in alignment with the egregious pedicabs who display nothing but lowly, base behavior and corrupt, unethical shoddiness in their campaign tactics. Michelle Laumeister

A good tradition

Bayside: I endorse the Daily News campaign to “save our horses.” The horse and carriage brings the nostalgia of the good old days. Please, Mayor de Blasio, let us remember the past. Joey Murad

Part of the New York charm

Danville, Ind.: The horses better be there when I visit New York City, Mr. Mayor. Remember your city’s tourist dollars! We expect carriage rides in Central Park! Angelia Mercer

Keep the cops friendly

Manhattan: Being a cop is not easy. Police are trained to deal with criminals caught in the act as well as assorted perpetrators and miscreants engaged in suspicious behavior and often dangerous, threatening acts. However, it is equally crucial that they be trained to deal with people who are not criminals but require some police attention and expertise without brutality. Julia Luhrs

Thanksgiving Day thanks

Manhattan: I want to thank the NYPD for the way they handled the trouble at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It took some nifty moves by the police to keep the parade moving smoothly and safely. James Carroll

Open to all

North Merrick, L.I.: To Voicer Tamikamae Williams, who wrote that while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with her two young nieces, one of them asked her why there was only one Afro-American woman among all the white ones and how she didn’t know how to respond to them: Ms. Williams, tell your young nieces that anyone, regardless of race or creed, can participate in the Macy’s parade if they’re willing to give up their time on Thanksgiving and put in long hours of hard work in freezing temperatures. Susan Marziliano

The Iran threat

El Paso, Tex.: As Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei continues to thumb his nose at the international community (editorial, “Obama bombs in Iran again,” Nov. 28), the need to continue investing in defense against a nuclear missile attack is clear. According to UN reports, Iran has already processed enough uranium for seven rudimentary bombs and launched multiple satellites into space, a precursor to ICBM capabilities (the Soviet Sputnik was similarly launched on a repurposed military ICBM). Years of development and testing have shown our defense systems can detect an incoming missile and crash a high-speed kill vehicle into its path. But the system needs continual improvement to stay ahead of new countermeasures and decoys our enemies are learning to deploy. It also needs expansion — with additional interceptors at existing silos in Alaska and California and a new defensive installation in the Northeast, closer to an Iranian launch. Iran can’t be trusted to disarm. I hope our leaders can be trusted to defend us from this gathering threat. Lt. Col. Bert Shrecenogost, retired Army Air Defense

Read it again

Bronx: Voicer Marc Solomon either misread or speed-read my Voice of the People letter. My third sentence reads as follows: “Right-wing and left-wing blowhards make money doing what they do; we can’t take their words as gospel.” I was not admonishing anyone. Carmen Carballo

Not too smart

Brooklyn: Smartphones, smart cars, dumb people. Steve Herskovitz

Old-fashioned immigration

Brooklyn: I totally agree with Voicer Joanne Gioe about the Italian immigrants who came over to the U.S. My grandmother and mother were among them. They did not get Medicaid or food stamps when they came. Someone had to vouch for them and my grandfather was here waiting for them. He had a job and did not expect any handouts from the government. My mother went to school when she was 9 years old and did not speak one word of English. She learned English along with the other children. Immigrants today expect everything for free and are getting it. Alayne Mitchell

No thanks

Shelton, Conn.: Mike Lupica belongs with the collection of clowns at ESPN. Why do Daily News editors give him and Linda Stasi any space at all? Raymond Hoye

Don’t get too comfortable

Jackson Heights: After he moved into Gracie Mansion and rented out his house in Brooklyn, I hope Mayor de Blasio did not give his tenant a lease beyond 2017, since it looks more and more likely that he will be moving back to his house once his first term is over. Charles M. Barthold

Stuff the bag fee

Freehold, N.J.: Memo to City Council members, politicians and whoever else wants to impose a 10-cent charge for plastic bags: Seniors like myself, people on fixed incomes and the working poor, use these bags for garbage. We cut out coupons, look for sales and, yes, we use these bags for our garbage to help make ends meet. Instead of thinking of ways to cost us money, think of ways to save us money! Rosemarie Cillo

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