Dr. Rice
Jihad Khazen Al-Hayat 22/02/06
Dr. Condoleezza Rice,
The State Department,
Washington D.C.
Dear Dr. Rice,
Welcome in the Middle East. I welcome the kinder face of American diplomacy.
For three years now, I have not said a single word criticizing you. Even when you took positions, or made statements, that I did not like, I took the conscious, but not conscientious, decision to comment on the “American administration” rather than the ”secretary of state.”.
I will not lie to you. I don’t have to be diplomatic as I am not a diplomat. I have grave reservations against the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Still I support you for personal and other reasons, and I suspect that you will not like the first which, in my undiplomatic honesty, is the fact that you are black. Is this an admission of racism? Whatever? I lived in Washington D.C. for many years and found more understanding of and sympathy for Arab and Islamic grievances among blacks. On Capitol Hill, I felt more comfortable with members of the Black Caucus. My second reason is that I support you for president. It would be wonderful if you win; you deserve it as you have more brains than George Bush and stronger morals than Bill Clinton, without delving deep into the American presidency. In addition, the presence of a woman at the head of the only super power in the world will be a boon to women in my world who are still short-changed of their rights. My third reason is that you are better than Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. I would not insult you by attempting a comparison as I hold the vice president and defence secretary, along with the known members of the cabal, responsible for the death of scores of thousands of Iraqis and about 2400 American soldiers.
I hope that my last point is clear: you are better by comparison. I object to certain aspects of the U.S. foreign policy and hope that this letter is read with an open mind. I sincerely wish that you, Karen Hughes and Dina Powell succeed in your work. So here we go:
First, Hamas. You have said “I would hope that any state that is considering funding Hamas, a Hamas led government, would think about implications for the Middle East.” The implications are much worse if the Palestinians are left to starve, so I appreciate your other statement that the U.S. will continue humanitarian aid through other mechanism like the U.N. Hamas is popular because of U.S. support for Israel and fighting it after winning a democratic vote would make it more popular. Ever since I remember, successive administrations have been pressuring us to negotiate with Israel because people negotiate with their enemies. If Hamas is the enemy the only way to end the enmity is through negotiations. I know the Hamas leaders as no official at the State Department will ever be able to know them. Take it from me: you can negotiate with them.
Second, Israel. Every survey of Israeli public opinion has shown a majority in favour of peace. An Israeli majority opted for negotiations with Hamas after its surprise victory last month. The Israeli people want peace and are democratic but the Israeli government is criminal and terrorist. I will not mince words. I will not use euphemisms. In the last five years about 3300 non-combatant Palestinian civilians were killed against about 650 non-combatant Israeli civilians. The Israeli government is six times more terrorist than all the Palestinian groups put together. Now Israel exists through U.S. economic and military aid, and the veto at the U.N. Security Council. Still they are biting the hand that feeds them. It is unbelievable that the U.S. secretary of state needs to undertake strenuous shuttle diplomacy to open a gate. The Israeli government, perhaps unaware, is acting in Nazi fashion. They are withholding tax and customs receipts and enforcing closures to starve the Palestinians. Don’t wait until we see the Palestinians reduced to the starvation level of the inmates of Nazi concentration camps.
Third, Iran. I support Iran in seeking a nuclear bomb and support you if you work for a Middle East region that is free of all weapons of mass destruction. Like you, I believe that Iran is working on a nuclear military capability, but unlike you I don’t see the wisdom of concentrating on Iran and ignoring Israel. I trust Iran little but I don’t trust Israel at all and, trust me, this is the opinion of the vast majority of the Middle Eastern peoples and governments even if they tell you differently.
Fourth, Dick Cheney. Don’t hunt with him. I am not one of those dime-a-dozen terrorism experts; I only talk and write about things I know about. I am a hunter and for over a quarter of a century I have been hunting with friends in Hungary. I have a friend like Cheney who, in one drive, shot a tractor driver, a beater and a dog (pierced its ear as it jumped over corn). Now I only walk behind that friend. Please do the same if you find yourself on a shoot with the vice president.
Fifth, Donald Rumsfeld. He is a catastrophe that is no longer waiting to happen. He happened upon Iraq and the U.S. Most recently he attacked the press for revealing the torture of the prisoners instead of admitting it, apologizing and resigning. He is the proverbial sack of coals and you will end up with dirt on your hand no matter how you hold it. Keep your distance from this warmonger; I expect him to face trial in the near future.
You are a better politician and human being. I have American members of my immediate family in four states and I would insist that they vote for you as president should the Republicans nominate you.
With respect,
Jihad Khazen
Dr. Condoleezza Rice,
The State Department,
Washington D.C.
Dear Dr. Rice,
Welcome in the Middle East. I welcome the kinder face of American diplomacy.
For three years now, I have not said a single word criticizing you. Even when you took positions, or made statements, that I did not like, I took the conscious, but not conscientious, decision to comment on the “American administration” rather than the ”secretary of state.”.
I will not lie to you. I don’t have to be diplomatic as I am not a diplomat. I have grave reservations against the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Still I support you for personal and other reasons, and I suspect that you will not like the first which, in my undiplomatic honesty, is the fact that you are black. Is this an admission of racism? Whatever? I lived in Washington D.C. for many years and found more understanding of and sympathy for Arab and Islamic grievances among blacks. On Capitol Hill, I felt more comfortable with members of the Black Caucus. My second reason is that I support you for president. It would be wonderful if you win; you deserve it as you have more brains than George Bush and stronger morals than Bill Clinton, without delving deep into the American presidency. In addition, the presence of a woman at the head of the only super power in the world will be a boon to women in my world who are still short-changed of their rights. My third reason is that you are better than Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. I would not insult you by attempting a comparison as I hold the vice president and defence secretary, along with the known members of the cabal, responsible for the death of scores of thousands of Iraqis and about 2400 American soldiers.
I hope that my last point is clear: you are better by comparison. I object to certain aspects of the U.S. foreign policy and hope that this letter is read with an open mind. I sincerely wish that you, Karen Hughes and Dina Powell succeed in your work. So here we go:
First, Hamas. You have said “I would hope that any state that is considering funding Hamas, a Hamas led government, would think about implications for the Middle East.” The implications are much worse if the Palestinians are left to starve, so I appreciate your other statement that the U.S. will continue humanitarian aid through other mechanism like the U.N. Hamas is popular because of U.S. support for Israel and fighting it after winning a democratic vote would make it more popular. Ever since I remember, successive administrations have been pressuring us to negotiate with Israel because people negotiate with their enemies. If Hamas is the enemy the only way to end the enmity is through negotiations. I know the Hamas leaders as no official at the State Department will ever be able to know them. Take it from me: you can negotiate with them.
Second, Israel. Every survey of Israeli public opinion has shown a majority in favour of peace. An Israeli majority opted for negotiations with Hamas after its surprise victory last month. The Israeli people want peace and are democratic but the Israeli government is criminal and terrorist. I will not mince words. I will not use euphemisms. In the last five years about 3300 non-combatant Palestinian civilians were killed against about 650 non-combatant Israeli civilians. The Israeli government is six times more terrorist than all the Palestinian groups put together. Now Israel exists through U.S. economic and military aid, and the veto at the U.N. Security Council. Still they are biting the hand that feeds them. It is unbelievable that the U.S. secretary of state needs to undertake strenuous shuttle diplomacy to open a gate. The Israeli government, perhaps unaware, is acting in Nazi fashion. They are withholding tax and customs receipts and enforcing closures to starve the Palestinians. Don’t wait until we see the Palestinians reduced to the starvation level of the inmates of Nazi concentration camps.
Third, Iran. I support Iran in seeking a nuclear bomb and support you if you work for a Middle East region that is free of all weapons of mass destruction. Like you, I believe that Iran is working on a nuclear military capability, but unlike you I don’t see the wisdom of concentrating on Iran and ignoring Israel. I trust Iran little but I don’t trust Israel at all and, trust me, this is the opinion of the vast majority of the Middle Eastern peoples and governments even if they tell you differently.
Fourth, Dick Cheney. Don’t hunt with him. I am not one of those dime-a-dozen terrorism experts; I only talk and write about things I know about. I am a hunter and for over a quarter of a century I have been hunting with friends in Hungary. I have a friend like Cheney who, in one drive, shot a tractor driver, a beater and a dog (pierced its ear as it jumped over corn). Now I only walk behind that friend. Please do the same if you find yourself on a shoot with the vice president.
Fifth, Donald Rumsfeld. He is a catastrophe that is no longer waiting to happen. He happened upon Iraq and the U.S. Most recently he attacked the press for revealing the torture of the prisoners instead of admitting it, apologizing and resigning. He is the proverbial sack of coals and you will end up with dirt on your hand no matter how you hold it. Keep your distance from this warmonger; I expect him to face trial in the near future.
You are a better politician and human being. I have American members of my immediate family in four states and I would insist that they vote for you as president should the Republicans nominate you.
With respect,
Jihad Khazen
posted by Khazen at 3:35 AM
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