Open Letter To The World

Bush is certainly no Hitler or Tojo, but the events he set in motion -- in a world where nuclear apocalypse has become a more pressing reality – are almost too frightening to comprehend.

I am a U.S. citizen visiting in Bangkok. I was pleased to see the Post publish the article by Bob Herbert of the New York Times (“Stuck in a Murderous Quagmire”). Mr. Herbert has been a tireless critic of the war in Iraq, and for the many millions of Americans who also see the horror and futility of Bush’s war, we can thank God for Mr. Herbert’s tireless efforts. As often as he has written about the war he never fails to add some fresh perspective.

There can be little question now that George Bush has revealed himself to the world to be the most shallow, inept and immoral leader of modern times, and Mr. Herbert’s choice of words captures this frightening point only too well:

“The president is on vacation...down at the ranch riding his bicycle and clearing brush. The death toll for Americans has streaked past the 1,800 mark. The Iraqi dead are counted by the tens of thousands. [I]f Mr. Bush has experienced any regret about the carnage he set in motion when he launched the war, he's not showing it...Ensconced in his long vacation, [Bush] exemplifies the vacuum of leadership on this crucial issue.”

While here in Bangkok I have tried to get some sense of the Thais’ feelings about the war in Iraq and about George Bush. Most Thais are quite careful in responding, clearly not wanting to offend. But one woman captured it well in her slightly broken English: “Whole world hate Bush.”

As I walk the streets of Bangkok I am very proud to be an American. My father and four uncles fought in WWII and helped rid the world of one of the worst evils mankind has ever known. Bush is certainly no Hitler or Tojo, but the events he set in motion -- in a world where nuclear apocalypse has become a more pressing reality – are almost too frightening to comprehend. Americans, like me, who detest Bush and his war, and fear the worst, will continue in our efforts to neutralize his effectiveness. Any help we can get from the rest of the world in the form of public outcries would be greatly valued and serve the interests of global peace and the fight against Islamic terrorism.

Sincerely,

Gerald S. Rellick

Gerald S. Rellick, Ph.D., worked in the aerospace industry for 22 years. He now teaches in the California Community College system.

This story was published on August 15, 2005.