To the editor:

Your printing of a picture of an Iraqi man kissing the hand of a U.S. soldier in the paper (Journal-World, April 20) to accompany a story on the battle of Fallujah (“U.S., Iraqis OK cease-fire deal”) was unfortunately chosen. Accounts coming out of that embattled city indicate our troops have engaged in widespread shootings, leaving hundreds of Iraqis dead. Are all these people “terrorists?” Is it not possible that they are, as many have reported, simply ordinary people who have taken up arms against what they see as an unjust occupation? To print a picture of an Iraqi kissing an American soldier’s hand misrepresents the events in question and helps to whitewash a reprehensible action on the part of our government.

James Benkard,

Lawrence