Regarding the Nov. 14 article "Aso: What POW servitude?": It's a bit presumptuous of Prime Minister Taro Aso to say repeatedly that no factual details confirm allegations that Aso Mining Co. used prisoners of war as slave labor when U.S. archive authorities had all military and civilian documentation removed from Japan at the end of World War II. Why is what happened within wartime Japan in a protected circle -- off-limits to historical documentation archived in other countries?

It would be a more intelligent position, not to mention more honest, if the leadership in Japan would simply admit to what happened during the war and apologize for it so that we can move on. Otherwise, there can never be genuine closure, and the past will continue to haunt the Japanese in all aspects of their relations with the rest of the world. Japan faces becoming irrelevant as an ally and economic power if it cannot step up to the plate on a number of fronts.

kerry berger