Letter to the Editor - The Orlando Sentinel

Image damage

It's ironic that George W. Bush and his administration want Newsweek to go further than its apology for a story that is still questionable about the Quran being desecrated by American interrogators. Bush officials stated that America's image abroad suffered irreparable damage from the Newsweek story. Yet Bush stated that the newly released photos of Saddam Hussein in undergarments is not damaging to America's image.

Yes, the Newsweek story sadly did result in the deaths of at least 14 people. But what about Bush's immoral and illegal war in Iraq that was based totally on falsehoods and has resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,700 Americans?

Bush attacked Iraq because he said it possessed weapons of mass destruction and had strong ties to al-Qaeda. Both allegations proved false. However, Bush did not apologize for the war. Bush did not apologize for killing thousands of innocent Iraqi women and children. Finally, Bush did not apologize for American human-rights violations and Geneva Convention violations in the Abu Ghraib prison abuses.

Plus, the newly released photos of Saddam Hussein are a violation of the Geneva Convention and very insulting to Muslims around the world, reminding them of the abuses at Guantánamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. These new photos, contrary to Bush's opinion, will re-inflame resentment against Americans.

Newsweek has apologized; the world is still waiting for Bush's apology.

Christian Gatsby

Orlando