Mea Culpa

Last week, I wrote about on Ali Shalal Qaissi, said by The New York Times, to have been the subject of the infamous photo from Abu Ghraib showing a man in a hood with his fingers attached to wires. The Times has now stated that Mr. Qaissi admits that he was not the man in the photos. Unless and until we can see the person who was under that hood, he will remain an icon like the unknown man stopping a column of Chinese tanks in Tienamen Square--a symbol of freedom and dignity without a name or an identity, and perhaps a stronger image for that.

Although I relied on The Times and its sources, I regret the error.