Madam, - The photograph in Thursday's edition of a US soldier cradling a little Iraqi child who tragically later died is one of the saddest images of the daily misfortunes visited on the brave, courageous people of Iraq. The child's tiny feet and head and the soldier's big, kind hands are almost unbearable to observe.
The desolation and hopelessness in this photo remind us all that we must give every support to the new Iraqi government and people through committing resources and encouraging international diplomacy and dialogue to find a solution to the unspeakable slaughter. - Yours, etc,
CAROLINE GILL, Foxrock, Dublin 18.
Madam, - The photograph of the US officer holding a wounded Iraqi child is certainly emotionally provocative. While I am not suggesting that the picture is a fake, or that the child was neither wounded nor subsequently died, I am curious about the rationale behind publishing such a poignant image, given its source and the associated propaganda value.
The US army is cited as an associated source for the picture taken by former special forces soldier Michael Yon, who now describes himself as an author and who is currently "embedded" with the US Army Stryker Brigade in Iraq.
Even a fleeting glance at Mr Yon's blog website would demonstrate its propaganda value for the US army. - Yours, etc,
GEORGE SWEENEY, Derry City.