Bob Luddy — successful businessman, champion of freedom, and founder of a private Catholic school — sent this letter to the Raleigh, NC, News and Observer, where it appeared on Saturday:
Our “compassionate, war” President George W. Bush made a bad situation of post-9/11 action in Iraq even worse with his rhetoric. For example, his Wild West taunt of “Bring them on” to the Iraqi insurgents seems both unfitting and undiplomatic for our president. Yes, it is imperative that we chase down and capture criminals and terrorists but resorting to preemptive war is a mistaken and dangerous precedent for the world; contrary to our national values.
President Bush needs to turn Iraq back to its citizens, withdraw our troops from all Muslim countries including those who support tyrants who oppress their own citizens. This will help defuse tensions so we can all try to live in peace. The Bush administration is completely responsible for the reprehensible treatment of Iraqi prisoners. Its policies and rhetoric must change or terrorism will get worse as we lose moral authority in the world.
