My Letter to Bush

The Honorable George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC 20510

Dear President Bush,

As someone who supported the war against Iraq and the toppling of Saddam Hussein, I implore you to call for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld following the revelation of the abuses in Abu Ghraib prison.

America is the greatest nation on Earth. As an Orthodox rabbi, I am ashamed about what our country has done. To blame individual soldiers - even if factually accurate - does not take responsibility for the effect that their evil has on our nation.

I am reminded of the Biblical comparison between King Saul and King David. Saul, when presented with war crimes from his subordinates (I Samuel 15), denies the crimes and denies his responsibility. It is this moral callowness that results in his losing his kingship.

David, on the other hand, when his trusted general Joab kills the rival general Abner, expresses voluble and visible contrition (II Samuel 3). David remains the king for all his lifetime and his descendants forever.

The dastardly action by our military has made a mockery of the United States. Our great and moral country has lost any chance of moral leadership in this world - unless we act like King David and express humility in a greater level than our transgression.

Please call on Secretary Rumsfeld to resign.

Sincerely,
[The Styx]