Mitchell, Jessen always patriots

I was deeply dismayed by Shawn Vestal’s recent column reviewing a movie he’s never seen and using “facts” in a misleading way (“Torture program made into movie,” Oct. 16). It is easy to make accusations when the persons accused are legally bound by a non-disclosure agreement and unable to set the record straight.

Vestal again refers to more than $80 million received by (James) Mitchell and (Bruce) Jessen “to run an interrogation program for the CIA ….” What he repeatedly fails to mention is that Mitchell and Jessen’s corporation employed over 120 people from 2004 to 2009 in life-threatening situations throughout the world in order to do the work that the U.S. government asked them to perform. Our country was perhaps “facing extraordinary threats” and it is easy to look back now and criticize their actions, but at the time they were committed to doing their best to prevent another catastrophic terror attack on U.S. soil.

Bruce Jessen is a friend of mine and during my 25 years practicing in Spokane I grew to appreciate his strong character and his patriotism. He did a job no one else was willing to do at the time to the best of his abilities and for the right reasons. Mr. Vestal seems to have a personal vendetta against Bruce when he and Mr. Mitchell were putting their lives on the line for our country and to protect our freedoms. Mr. Vestal paints them as mercenaries rather than as the patriots they are, always have been, and will continue to be.

Lauri Costello

Durango, Colo.