I have never before written a letter to the editor, but I felt that I had to respond to the letter by Mr. Tim Popp ("Obama Irresponsible," Friday May 8).

I served on active duty in the military for over 20 years, including several Vietnam tours. Then, for another 30 years, I worked with the military, including assisting in the training of our Joint Special Operations troops. During all of those years, I carried at least a top-secret security clearance. Like Mr. Popp, I also have a son in Iraq. So obviously I would not condone anything that would endanger either my son or his.

But that is not what the president did when he released the infamous "interrogation memos." He, in releasing these memos, made a first step toward restoring the concept of honor to the military motto of "Duty, Honor, Country!" It is also unquestionably a first step toward making our military, and all Americans, safer.

Honor is a concept that was missing for far too long under the previous administration. The fact that they (with absolutely no personal military experience on which to base their decisions) directed our military to participate in torture is truly degrading for America and all Americans. It created a blemish on our country's reputation that will take many years, and probably many lives, to rectify. Torture is immoral, and immoral actions do not make our troops safer or our country more secure. Mr. Popp, if you think that torturing our prisoners made us safer, you are grossly wrong. It is your uninformed accusations, not the actions of the president, that are irresponsible.

Jeff Noonan

2011 Scott Drive