An Open Letter to George W. Bush
January 14, 2008
This is quite interesting. The media in UAE is very tightly monitored; there is no way this could have appeared without the tacit approval of the authorities. In the past I would have thought this conspicuous note of dissent was merely a means of mollifying the general public, but in this case this would seem highly unlikely as it would only make the establishment appear more distant. I think this signals a clear break, and that is a welcome development. (cheers Samer)
In an unusual style, the Dubai-based Gulf News published today a front page editorial addressing the American President George W. Bush. The editorial, in the form of an open ‘Letter to George W. Bush’ read: ‘Dear Mr. President, On the occasion of your first official trip to this vital region, it is only appropriate to raise a few points which might also be raised by the leaders you meet. Unfortunately, you landed here with prejudice and pre-formed opinions. By describing Israel, moments after you arrived, as the ‘land of freedom’ and ‘justice’, you have shown total ignorance of the political situation in the Middle East and the issue you claim to want to solve in the remaining 12 months of your presidency. Israel, Mr. President, continues to defy every UN resolution, exercise unprecedented oppression on the occupied Palestinian people and persecute its Muslim and Christian population..
‘We realise that containing Iran, selling more weapons and securing cheap oil supplies are the main issues on your mind as you tour the region. But you need to look beyond the neocon rhetoric and speak directly to the people who have been unjustly thrown out of their land, victimised for decades by your ‘strong ally’ Israel.
‘As for other matters, such as the promise of democracy and human rights, which you are expected to raise in your official talks in the region, we really don’t take them seriously. Your dreadful record on both gives you no moral right to lecture others’.
Gulf News continued its open letter in its usual editorial page: ‘Lest you forget. Invasion of Iraq. Thousands of dead. Looting the National Museum. Disbanding the Iraqi army. Donald Rumsfeld. Shock and Awe. Jay Garner. Paul Bremer. Inciting sectarianism. Abu Ghraib. Thousands of detainees without charges. Torture. Oil. Ghost WMDs. The Niger connection. Halliburton. Blackwater. Deadly security contractors. Mercenaries. Fallujah. Haditha massacre. Blind support of Israel. Instigating the suffering of Gaza. Ignoring the expansion of illegal colonies. Defying United Nations resolutions. Securing “a Jewish State”. Allowing Israelis to extend the destruction of Lebanon in the 2oo6 war. Providing Israel with new Bunker Buster bombs to attack Lebanese towns. The War on Terror. “The Crusade”. Clash of civilisations. Where is Osama Bin Laden? Afghanistan. Bagram massacre. Bombing media offices. Guantanamo Bay. Kangaroo courts. Indefinite detention. Presidential orders to ignore Geneva Conventions. “Unlawful enemy combatants”. Illegal National Security Agency wiretapping. Fingerprinting visitors. Black prisons. Kidnapping foreign citizens on foreign lands. Khalid Al Masri. Abu Omar. Maher Arar. Central Intelligence Agency. “Aggressive interrogation techniques”. Destroying the torture tapes. Iran tension. Isolating Syria. Embracing Syrian opposition Iraq style. The Chavez coup. Denial of global warming. Rejecting Kyoto Protocol. Marginalisation of the United Nations. John Bolton. Paul Wolfowitz and the World Bank. Carl Rove. Alberto Gonzales. Firing attorneys. Nepotism. False democracy promises. Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney and Dick Cheney’..
‘Mr President; The list goes on. You might not be able to recall some of it. But the people around you, Cheney and Condoleezza Rice especially, would. And they realise that on the subject of human rights, your administration has had the worst record of all, surpassing most Third World countries. The tension and the misery in parts of this region can very well testify to this..
‘Mr President; In a famous speech in 2003 you announced an “historic” shift in US foreign policy. You pledged to support democracy and liberty while declaring “victory” in Iraq. More than four years later, Iraq is in chaos. It has virtually disintegrated and “the surge” did little to stop the killing or ease the sectarian tension. At the same time, you gave up on your freedom-for-all prophecy. We are all back to the old ways of doing business – arms and oil. The agenda of your current tour is evident..
‘Mr President; This is your first official trip to a land you long claimed has a very special place in your heart. The land of the Prophets. However, you started out wrong. By maintaining your support of an Israeli “Jewish State”, you are flouting your own ideals upon which your great country was founded more than two centuries ago. So much for the promise of democracy. What you advocate in fact is the creation of states on religious and racial lines, thereby justifying the atrocious actions of terrorists who hate and seek to eliminate the followers of other religions: The same terrorists you like to blame for every ill on earth and every failure of yours.
‘Mr President; It has been reported that you are here to “lecture” us on democracy and human rights. But with a record like yours, you will not be very convincing. The people you are addressing have greater respect for human rights and dignity..
‘You also said that your current tour aims to realise the long neglected peace in the Middle East. Regional peace, Mr President, will not be achieved by escalating tension and threatening to change regimes. And most importantly, it will not be achieved by supporting Israel, which continues to defy international law, occupy Arab lands, , oppress the Palestinians and rebuff peace initiatives.
‘Mr President; We hope you have enjoyed the trip so far. The scenery is great. The food is exotic. As for the more “serious” things, it is unlikely you will make any difference’.
I agree that the media is closely monitored in the UAE, but the Gulf News is good at crossing the line and getting away with it. I was not surprised to see this Opine there, but would be surprised if it showed up anywhere else.
Of course, the other newspapers (especially Arabic press) kick and scream about US and Israeli policy in Iraq and Palestine but have very rosy coverage of Bush’s visit. Don’t even think of an Opine like the one you posted showing up there.
In fact, check out what was published yesterday:
http://inpursuitofjustice.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/george-w-bush-is-in-town/
No biggie
Ok. Great point. I wouldn’t defend this adminstration if my life depended upon it. However. When we Americans are informed of the history of our government’s misadventures (I know that that description is much too kind) we are saddened, depressed, humiliated. And then we are enraged. And then we are determined to use the vote to change things.
Bwaaa haaa haaa haaaa haaaa
Democracy my ass. Have you seen the democratic primary ballot?
Voters Face Confusion in Michigan Dem Race
Updated 6:37 p.m.
By Peter Slevin
CHICAGO — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the only top-tier Democrat on the Jan. 15 Michigan primary ballot, but followers of her chief rivals are hoping to wound her all the same.
A fresh poll suggests that running nearly unopposed will not mean winning nearly 100 percent of the vote.
The campaigns of Sen. Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards are urging their supporters to cast ballots for “uncommitted,” according to state Democratic party chairman Mark Brewer. The Obama campaign says there may be “grass-roots efforts,” but that the Chicago-based campaign is not involved.
In an effort to signal that Clinton cannot stroll away with the state’s delegates, even in a largely uncontested race, Michigan Rep. John Conyers and his wife, Detroit city council member Monica Conyers, taped a radio advertisement Wednesday afternoon. In it, they called on Obama backers not to surrender their vote.
They say on the radio spot that they intend to vote “uncommitted” and give Obama a chance to compete for those delegates in Denver.
An “uncommitted” vote would take the place of a write-in, which is not permitted.
“People are already frustrated here in Detroit because they can’t cast a ballot for Obama. Many on their absentee ballots many have tried to write in Obama, but they have spoiled the ballots,” said Sam Riddle, Monica Conyers’s chief of staff. “We know we’ve got to educate the voters in a hurry.”
Following Michigan law, local clerks are allowing voters a chance to redo their ballots.
The reason for the confusion is a fight between Michigan’s leading Democrats, including Sen. Carl Levin and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and the Democratic National Committee. Frustrated that Iowa and New Hampshire were getting so much attention, Michigan’s political elites in both parties changed their Feb. 9 caucus to a primary and bumped it to Jan. 15.
The Republican National Committee did not object, meaning the GOP results will stand. But the DNC declared that no delegates chosen that day would be seated at this summer’s convention — the same sanction imposed on Florida. Neither side budged.
During the stand-off, Clinton kept her name on the Michigan ballot. Obama and Edwards did not.
Michigan voters will see Clinton on a list with three candidates who have been afterthoughts this season: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH), former Alaska Gov. Mike Gravel and Sen. Christopher Dodd (CT), who has dropped out.
Mo Elleithee, a Clinton spokesman, said the New York senator will not be campaigning in Michigan.
“We signed a pledge saying we wouldn’t campaign there,” Eleithee said, “and we’re honoring that pledge.”
A Michigan poll of 300 likely Democratic voters taken Monday and Tuesday, before Clinton’s narrow win over Obama in New Hampshire, suggested that 47 percent would support Clinton and 28 percent would vote “uncommitted.”
Another 10 percent volunteered “other” and 10 percent said they were undecided, according to the poll by Rossman Group/MIRS/Denno-Noor.
Michigan Democrats are trying to spread the word that voters should vote, whether or not they choose a candidate on the ballot. Brewer said he and party spokesman Jason Moon have done nearly 100 media interviews, including one on YouTube and many on local radio. The party is also sending emails to registered voters.
If “uncommitted” receives at least 15 percent in a congressional district or statewide, Brewer said, delegates will be sent to Denver where any candidate — including Clinton — can compete for them.
Despite the brouhaha and the DNC’s vow not to seat delegates chosen next week, Brewer feels confident. Historical precedent and the high stakes in the November election convince him that primary votes in Michigan and Florida will count.
“I think we’ll get seated. I’m not concerned about that penalty at all,” Brewer said. “Politically, the Democratic nominee needs to win Michigan and Florida, and they are not going to start the general election campaign by antagonizing the parties in those two states.”
This is the script of the John and Monica Conyers radio ad, which will be broadcast on Detroit-area stations. Monica Conyers is president pro-tem of the Detroit City Council.
MALE: THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS CONFUSING. I WANT TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA BUT OBAMA’S NAME IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.
FEMALE: THERE IS NO ONE ON THAT BALLOT I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT.
MALE: WELL, THESE FOLKS CAN HELP US. EXCUSE ME, CONGRESSMAN CONYERS AND COUNCILWOMAN CONYERS, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
FEMALE: HOW CAN WE VOTE FOR OBAMA ON TUESDAY?
Rep. Conyers: YOU CAN’T. YOU CANNOT EVEN WRITE IN OBAMA’S NAME. IF YOU DO YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT BECAUSE OBAMA’S CAMPAIGN CHOSE NOT TO PLACE HIS NAME ON THE MICHIGAN BALLOT SO AS NOT TO VIOLATE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULES. BUT YOU CAN VOTE UNCOMMITTED
Councilwoman Conyers: IF AT LEAST 15% OF THE PEOPLE VOTE UNCOMMITTED, THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST SEND THAT PERCENTAGE OF DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION UNCOMMITTED.
Rep. Conyers: MY WIFE AND I ARE VOTING UNCOMMITTED. WE WILL WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO MAKE SURE THAT UNCOMMITTED DELEGATES GO TO THAT CONVENTION TRULY UNCOMMITTED SO THAT OBAMA CAN COMPETE FOR THEIR VOTE.
MALE: THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN CONYERS AND COUNCILWOMAN CONYERS. I WILL JOIN YOU AND VOTE UNCOMMITTED ON TUESDAY.
FEMALE: ME TOO – AT LEAST MY VOTE WON’T BE WASTED
Councilwoman Conyers: THIS TRUTH IN POLITICS MESSAGE WAS PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF MONICA CONYERS
And here is a case in point regarding the lousy eduction system in the US:
the Shock Doctrine compared to textbooks