U.N.: Israel Should Face War Crimes Probe Over Lebanon
Israel should be held to account for possible war crimes during its offensive in Lebanon, the United Nations' food rights expert said in a report obtained on Tuesday. Jean Ziegler, who reports to the U.N. Human Rights Council, called for an international probe to determine whether Israel was responsible for "grave breaches" of the Geneva Conventions and "possibly, war crimes" under the rules of the International Criminal Court. The controversial Swiss sociologist, who has regularly crossed swords with Israel in the past, visited Lebanon from September 11-16. He is due on Wednesday to present his findings to the 47-nation Council, which is currently in session. In his report, which was obtained by AFP, Ziegler said that during its July 12 to August 14 offensive Israel appeared to have forgotten that the Geneva Conventions which govern conflicts bar warring parties from attacking food and water supplies. "According to international jurisprudence, the government of Israel should be held responsible under international law for any violation of the right to food of the Lebanese civilian population," he said. He said that victims of such breaches should receive compensation for the losses suffered during the conflict as well as the post-war impact of the disruption of livelihoods. During its campaign to dislodge and destroy Hizbullah, the Israeli military destroyed roads and barred aid convoys, hampering efforts to supply the population of southern Lebanon, which bore the brunt of the offensive, Ziegler said. The immediate destruction of the war is set to have a longer-term effect because of the unexploded cluster bombs that litter farmland, he said. In addition, the Lebanese fishing industry has been hit by an oil spill sparked by Israel's bombardment of fuel depots. Israel should pay the Lebanese government for the clean up and compensate fishermen for their economic losses, said Ziegler. He also called on the Lebanese government and aid organizations to ensure that the post-war effort to rebuild the country includes programs to help farmers, agricultural laborers and fishermen. "The right to food and water must be a central part of the reconstruction effort," he said. He said that the Lebanese authorities should institute a moratorium on debt for small-scale farmers to reverse the cycle of poverty that is set to be caused by the loss of this year's harvest. The Lebanese government, with support from donors, should also accelerate efforts to clear cluster bombs from farmland, and Israel should provide full details of where it used such munitions, Ziegler said.(AFP)
posted by beirutlive at 9:39 AM
19 Comments:
Good idea Bryan. And it was a good one in July and last year and five years before that.
"Do we want to hold accountable the government of Lebanon ...?" Israel already did - didn't it? It destroyed infrastructure, businesses and homes. It operated on its defense minister's promise to "turn the clock back twenty years."
My point is that Israel should step up to the plate with more than BS. They've destroyed an awful lot, they've committed atrocious breaches of human decency if not the Geneva Conventions it and the US interprets for convenience.
But - how do you propose we "work on peace and not blame?" What is it that Israel is willing to do in that regard? Anything other than make more demands on what Lebanon and every other country in the area must do to avoid being bombed? How about, say, building an apartment building? Or a hospital? Or sending some people in to clean up the oil on the beaches?
It's not a matter of "blame", Bryan. It's a matter of right. Imagine I come to your house, I get drunk and I break a full place setting of your expensive china. Do I say, "sorry but accidents happen" YOU might say, "don't worry" but it's appropriate for me to try to make amends. Otherwise, you and your wife are always going to have a bad feeling about me - no matter how friendly we might be.
To simply talk about the "blame game" and "work for peace" is meaningless - and I don't mean that disrespectfully. The United States ALWAYS does that - look at the Bush regime with "there's time later to lay blame, let's worry about right now" and "there's plenty of blame to go around at all levels." If there is going to be peace, then ISRAEL - not HZ - has to make the first move. Why? Because Israel is the one with all the power and is the one who did all the damage. Certainly HZ is to blame for some of it. But, using your children again, suppose one of them throws something at the other and the other gets so upset he or she sets fire to the house. Do you simply say, "don't bicker, children?"
Israel has a perfect opportunity to show it is serious right now. It should be leading the effort to rebuild Lebanon and Palestine. That it does not proves conclusively that it does not want "peace" - it wants subjagation. Even the US tries to repair the damage it does during an invasion - look at Afghanistan and Iraq. I grant you the effort has been a fiasco. But the effort has been and continues to be made.
What does Israel propose beyond saying "stop the blame game" and "let's have peace." How will it do that? Just hope everyone stops hating everyone else and gets together for Octoberfest?
You make the point when you say that you'll line up with Israel unless people agree with Israel. That's the hardline that HZ and Hamas and Al Queda and the Taliban and Bush take - "you're against us if you aren't 100% for us." And that's what leads to war.
Bryan, the "blame game," as you put it, will never end. But your choice of descriptors is as unfortunate as Bush's nonsense about Democrats being the party of "cut and run." Complaining about the "blame game" and why "most moderate Americans" are like you is chutzpah of the first order. And calling for "arabs" to "forgive and move forward" or suffer the everlasting damnation of the US and Israel is what makes most moderate Americans like me say we ought to carefully reevaluate our relations with Israel. That feeling is strengthened when you say "arabs" ought to forgive and forget so America - not Israel - will give them buckets of money.
Israel exists solely by reasons it forcibly removed people from their homes and has been protected by the US ever since. Israel didn't come into being cooperatively, by invitation or by virtue of any real "right." It killed and grabbed its way into existence. Now it decries the kind of violence against it that it used to take what it's got. Not only that, you say the "arabs" are involved in a "blame game." That heaps insult on the very real injury.
Do you not see any basis at all for the very real anger resulting from being dispossessed of home? Tell me how an Israeli would react if, suddenly, the US changed its mind and said get out of your homes - we want the Palestinian "right of return" honored? And when the Israeli said, "but where shall we go?" the answer was - "dunno - just go."
You MUST start from that point if you are serious about "peace." There must be some REAL gesture by Israel to do something good. To demean the very real anger as a "blame game" while talking about forgiveness is not simply insulting, it is naieve to such a degree as to be hopeless.
Israel has no apparent aversion to using cluster bombs indiscrimantely to achieve its vengeful ends. Israel constantly talks about all the problems being caused by others. The United States is in the mess it's in around the world because of its unflinching support of Israel - even when the entire world holds its nose and condemns the brutal invasion of Lebanon. That's not going to last forever. More and more moderate Jews are saying, "enough."
Just like the American Indian wars would not be permitted today, Israel's aggression is short lived. It had better recognize that fact and start figuring out how to handle problems without bombs and missiles and tanks. And without playing the "blame game" to justify its actions and then accusing others of holding up "peace" by blaming Israel for committing war crimes.
Doc's point is well taken, Kevin. I think the American Indian "reservations" are directly analagous. The Indian was here long before any european and the europeans took the land by force. First, starve them, then massacre and then lie. We continue to keep them down with a failed welfare system and making the reservations "federal" territory. But we took everything we have by force, killing and chicanery. Sitting Bull made the point: "tell me one treaty the indians have broken and tell me one treaty the white man has kept."
That's the problem with Palestine - of course it's history but the difference now is that the Palestinians are not simply rolling over. It's painful and it's wrong in anyone's eyes - but it's the fact. Israel is there and Israel always will be there - so long as the US supports her. But Israel should not be so cavalier about the whole thing. Look at the history beginning with Menachem Begin in the mid to late '40's. Israel is no different than a "wild west" fort in the late 19th century fighting off the Indians and going out to search for indians and to destroy them where they were found. The Indians were always - until very recently - portrayed as brutal, terrorizing "savages" who didn't deserve to live.
Dealing with the matter on nothing more than the practical facts is a slap in the face. Why should the Palestinians want peace with Israel? Their homes have been destroyed, they have no economy, a fence has been built through the middles of their residential areas, they cannot cross borders even to go to work and they are subject to being arrested and jailed on the whim of an Israeli soldier. Even the token members of parliament aren't safe.
So long as Israel does nothing except talk about it - especially when the idea is "just do as we say and you'll get rich" - nothing will happen. Believe it or not, some things like pride and humanity are more important to some people than big houses, swimming pools and cash in the bank. I have not yet heard any Palestinian say that's what is wanted. It obviously was Arafat's purpose - but he had a very greedy, non-palestinian wife to support in a style she lusted for.
Israel has got to DO something - not just talk about how right it is and how wrong everyone else is and how all could be well if everyone simply agreed Israel is right.
Doc's point is well taken, Kevin. I think the American Indian "reservations" are directly analagous. The Indian was here long before any european and the europeans took the land by force. First, starve them, then massacre and then lie. We continue to keep them down with a failed welfare system and making the reservations "federal" territory. But we took everything we have by force, killing and chicanery. Sitting Bull made the point: "tell me one treaty the indians have broken and tell me one treaty the white man has kept."
That's the problem with Palestine - of course it's history but the difference now is that the Palestinians are not simply rolling over. It's painful and it's wrong in anyone's eyes - but it's the fact. Israel is there and Israel always will be there - so long as the US supports her. But Israel should not be so cavalier about the whole thing. Look at the history beginning with Menachem Begin in the mid to late '40's. Israel is no different than a "wild west" fort in the late 19th century fighting off the Indians and going out to search for indians and to destroy them where they were found. The Indians were always - until very recently - portrayed as brutal, terrorizing "savages" who didn't deserve to live.
Dealing with the matter on nothing more than the practical facts is a slap in the face. Why should the Palestinians want peace with Israel? Their homes have been destroyed, they have no economy, a fence has been built through the middles of their residential areas, they cannot cross borders even to go to work and they are subject to being arrested and jailed on the whim of an Israeli soldier. Even the token members of parliament aren't safe.
So long as Israel does nothing except talk about it - especially when the idea is "just do as we say and you'll get rich" - nothing will happen. Believe it or not, some things like pride and humanity are more important to some people than big houses, swimming pools and cash in the bank. I have not yet heard any Palestinian say that's what is wanted. It obviously was Arafat's purpose - but he had a very greedy, non-palestinian wife to support in a style she lusted for.
Israel has got to DO something - not just talk about how right it is and how wrong everyone else is and how all could be well if everyone simply agreed Israel is right.
Lebanon comes to mind as a country Israel attacked without being attacked first. And, have you looked at Begin's history of terror? Bombed Brits and Arabs.
The fundamental question remains - HOW do you start "building some trust?" What exactly is it that Israel is willing to do? Without saying "but" or "they should ..." or "first ..." Exactly what is it Israel has done toward "building some trust" and making peace? Exactly what is it Israel is willing to do? And - no - I will NOT assume it's a two way street. It hasn't worked that way yet. So somebody has to start.
Do you mean like bomb Washington, D.C.? Or Dallas?
Just a quick tangent,
I have started a new collaborative blog project (Julie from here is involved) which will discuss the crimes committed by the current United States government against both the people of the US and against other nations. The blog, though currently live, will not begin publishing until 11/5. If you are someone interested in serving as a contributor, please e-mail me directly at olshak.rick@gmail.com
Thanks!
Rick
In fact, Kevin, your idea is being tested - sort of - right now. Germany is the latest country (Italy was first, Switzerland is coming)to indict American CIA officers for kidnapping people on their territory (Italy) and using their airports as waypoints for "renditions" of "detainees." A Canadian citizen was grabbed by the FBI in New York, flown to Syria, tortured and returned without excuse or apology. CIA officers who have been indicted by Italy, for example, can travel no where in the world - they will be arrested by Interpol if they go outside the US. Now - does Canada have the right to bomb the White House because its citizen was kidnapped? How about Italy? Or Germany?
And - those kidnappings by Hezbollah were not the reason Israel spent so many hundreds of millions of dollars in their campaign to destroy. They were the immediate excuse. If that's not so, why did Israel finally call it off without getting the kidnapped soldiers back. And, since it was a "war" and everyone is talking about the "Geneva Conventions", what has Israel done about getting those people back through the conventions or through the UN? The problem is that HZ is not a signatory to the Geneva conventions. Geneva conventions have nothing to do with them. But - Israel should have gone to the UN - same as the US finally did before Iraq - and say we want permission to blow up Lebanon. Israel did no such thing. It took the "might makes right" approach. It prevailed. Why does it now think the world should like it?
Israel's only real concern is keeping the US in tow. It doesn't care a bit about what anyone else or any other country thinks other than to the extent it may affect the flow of cash and materiel from the US. If Israel had any bona fide concern about "peace" it would not have done and still be doing any of what it does. Look, for example, how it continues to punish the Palestinians. Look how studiously it ignores Lebanon now that it has destroyed it.
It is chutzpah of the highest order to say "peace" in those circumstances. What Israel really means is "toe the line and we won't bomb you." The reason is simple - Israel needs nothing from anyone else so long as it has the US. Take that away and there will be some fast scrambling to find some way else - before running out of bombs.
A little more background, Kevin - here's the beginning of the article in der Spiegel - you can also read about it at the ACLU site. The Spiegel cite is at the end of the extract below.
It's a lot more than simply the unauthorized use of airports, though:
"The case of Khaled al-Masri, a German citizen of Lebanese descent who was allegedly kidnapped and tortured in secret CIA prisons, continues to unfold. According to a report in the German press on Thursday, the US intelligence agents who wrongly abducted al-Masri might be confronted with warrants for their arrest, as details of their identities become known to German prosecutors.
"Munich's Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that prosecutors had received a list of names of suspected US kidnappers from Spanish officials. "We now have very specific questions for the Spanish authorities," state prosecutor August Stern told the paper.
"Al-Masri says he was wrongly abducted on New Year's Eve 2003 in Macedonia and detained in various secret overseas prisons often referred to as "black sites." His five month ordeal finally ended when he was dumped on an abandoned road in Albania."
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,438371,00.html
The Onandag nation has a complaint similar to the Palestinians:
http://www.onondaganation.org/news.hugeclaim.html
The Onondaga Nation has submitted a land claim in the Greater Central New York area which includes most of the city of Syracuse, New York. Below is the rationale for the claim being submitted to the courts.
I think, Duck, Hezbollah sees itself as a real defense force. They were born of resistance but they have become much more. Thus, I think their vision is that Israel may attack again. The leaders of Hezbollah likely would ask the same question about the Israeli IDF - now that the "war" is over, what's IDF's agenda?
As to Lebanon's previous ability to oust Hezbollah, I'm glad you're wondering. Most Americans don't read enough or try to learn enough to appreciate anything important outside their immediate reach. The proof - to me - that Lebanon could do nothing effetive about Hezbollah came after the "war." Israel dropped a lot of bombs on what it said were Hezbollah targets. Then it sent 30,000 troops in with tanks and modern artillery. When it was all done, Israel said it had NOT done away with Hezbollah and that an International armed force of at least 15,000 troops was needed to police the area. Israel and the US made it completely clear that they did not think Lebanon could even police the area much less get rid of Hezbollah.
Remember also, there are a lot of people in southern Lebanon who are not fighting members of Hezbollah - they are farmers and "regular" people who look to Hezbollah as protectors. As we're discovering in Iraq, those people are not going to identify the fighters. It's not unlikely that, to eliminate Hezbollah, the entire area would have to be emptied - including all the "civilians."
Exactly right. But - the nation also recognizes they never will get Syracuse as a practical matter. They DO have a nice settlement with NY or he Fed paying each member of the tribe annually. The nation has moved forward but not until well after its active subjugation had ended. The difference is that Palestine is divided physically by the fence and checkpoints and no-crossing points. The hovels have been bulldozed. The economy is non-existent. The country is entirely dependent on aid from outside that is subject to being cut off at any time - as is currently the case. Forgiveness is not the answer - it may be good emotionally and morally but it will not bring food or water or housing or stability.
However, if you want to see what forgiveness REALLY is, though, take a look at the Amish families who just went through one of the worst tragedies I can imagine. I do not believe I could be so forgiving were it my daughter who had been killed. But I also recognize it is a failing on my part. In my practice, I tell clients constantly that they need to stop their anger - not necessarily forgive but at least get beyond the anger. That anger means the other person is controlling him or her mentally. The anger is debilitating and can do absolutely no good. Of course, when that is applied to Palestine, the answer by Israel is "good." But nothing else. So, Palestine would say, "I don't hate you anymore and I think Israel is a wonderful place." Now what?
How many people could actually be as truly forgiving as the Amish? How many could be so Christ like? In fact, how many people even think it's appropriate to be that forgiving? Here's a copy of a brief article that was on MSNBC:
Today, with tears in his eyes, a minister described to me seeing an Amish mother embalming her 13-year-old daughter Marian, who was shot in the forehead at the school.
She was carefully and lovingly dressing her girl in white, even putting the cotton in her nose.
All around the family watched, crying softly, even the little children, who listened as their grandfather told them not to hate the gunman who did this.
"Forgive," he was instructing them... "forgive, as God forgives us..."
Reverend Rob Schenck, called it the most powerful moment in all his 25 years as a minister.
This forgiveness seems especially incredible, coming on the same day the coroner is being reported to have counted almost 20 bullet wounds in the body of a 7-year-old girl.
An Amish woman told me perhaps the good that might come of this tragedy is, "We can tell people about Christ and actually show you in our walk that we forgive, not just say it, but in our walk of life. You know you have to live it, you can't just say it. "
I realize I did not know what forgiveness was until now.
Ann Curry on MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15134112/
Exactly right. But - the nation also recognizes they never will get Syracuse as a practical matter. They DO have a nice settlement with NY or he Fed paying each member of the tribe annually. The nation has moved forward but not until well after its active subjugation had ended. The difference is that Palestine is divided physically by the fence and checkpoints and no-crossing points. The hovels have been bulldozed. The economy is non-existent. The country is entirely dependent on aid from outside that is subject to being cut off at any time - as is currently the case. Forgiveness is not the answer - it may be good emotionally and morally but it will not bring food or water or housing or stability.
However, if you want to see what forgiveness REALLY is, though, take a look at the Amish families who just went through one of the worst tragedies I can imagine. I do not believe I could be so forgiving were it my daughter who had been killed. But I also recognize it is a failing on my part. In my practice, I tell clients constantly that they need to stop their anger - not necessarily forgive but at least get beyond the anger. That anger means the other person is controlling him or her mentally. The anger is debilitating and can do absolutely no good. Of course, when that is applied to Palestine, the answer by Israel is "good." But nothing else. So, Palestine would say, "I don't hate you anymore and I think Israel is a wonderful place." Now what?
How many people could actually be as truly forgiving as the Amish? How many could be so Christ like? In fact, how many people even think it's appropriate to be that forgiving? Here's a copy of a brief article that was on MSNBC:
Today, with tears in his eyes, a minister described to me seeing an Amish mother embalming her 13-year-old daughter Marian, who was shot in the forehead at the school.
She was carefully and lovingly dressing her girl in white, even putting the cotton in her nose.
All around the family watched, crying softly, even the little children, who listened as their grandfather told them not to hate the gunman who did this.
"Forgive," he was instructing them... "forgive, as God forgives us..."
Reverend Rob Schenck, called it the most powerful moment in all his 25 years as a minister.
This forgiveness seems especially incredible, coming on the same day the coroner is being reported to have counted almost 20 bullet wounds in the body of a 7-year-old girl.
An Amish woman told me perhaps the good that might come of this tragedy is, "We can tell people about Christ and actually show you in our walk that we forgive, not just say it, but in our walk of life. You know you have to live it, you can't just say it. "
I realize I did not know what forgiveness was until now.
Ann Curry on MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15134112/
Kevin, you and I can agree Israel is not going away and so can every other country in the world. But that matters not to the people who right now - this very minute - are in such despair. And that is my point - it is not simply academic that Israel is there to stay - that's the emotional focus of the helpless and hopeless who hate Israel so much. For everyone else in the world to agree Israel will always be there is NOT the only way to move on. Nor will saying "stop the radicals and the bombers" ever have any meaning until a reason to stop them is apparent.
I simply cannot put it in the right words - saying, "Israel is always going to be there, live with it" is the heart of the problem. What Israel should be doing is finding a way to have Palestinians say "we're glad you are always going to be here." Your alternative - without intending disrespect to you - is to jam it down their throats as a fait accompli which must be accepted on pain of death. My suggestion is that the same desired end can be pursued with kindness and a demonstration of goodness. Rather than build a fence and bulldoze houses, build apartments and water works. Protect the effort as necessary at the beginning. But go into it with the idea of being kind rather than in charge.
I quoted the Ann Curry artile about the Amish for a reason - I think most people in the world would call the Amish foolish for forgiving. Because most people in the world learn hate rather than love. Most people in the world like to think they are "good" but they really are selfish. The Palestinians and the people in southern Lebanon have nothing to be selfish about. All they have left is pride in what they think they should be and their religious beliefs. We used two atomic bombs against Japan because their belief in their emperor was so strong nothing else would convince them to stop than for the emperor to say "stop." That's what it will take to stop the "radicals" and "extremists" and "terrorists" to stop - to have their leadership say so. And their leadership is not going to agree to a thing simply because Israel says "it's the only way." Israel MUST provide a tangible reason that can be counted on. Otherwise, people will continue to believe they are better off in the next life and will gladly commit suicide to take some Israeli's to hell while they go to heaven. And that will be so no matter how little sense it makes to anyone else in the world.
Spend the money on good instead of cluster bombs - see if the good muslim people don't change their minds. It's not that difficult. And, if I'm wrong, Israel is no worse off and hasn't spent nearly the amount of money spent on invadng Lebanon.
Except we have already spent FIVE hundred billion on Iraq and Afghanistan. I think you're right about "put up or shut up." I also agree Israel will not pay - both sides in this thing are bound by their "pride." And, I agree with supporting Abbas - even if we're all wrong about his motivation, we know Hamas will not work - no matter how good their intentions. At the same time, I think Olmert and Prevetz have to go. Somebody more moderate and who can control the ultra conservatives in the Knesset. Finally, the issue of settlements and Kibbutzes has to be finalized. Frankly, I think Israel is better off financially by eliminating all the little places it pays so much to keep up. But those issues have to be resolved finally.
One huge hurdle that is a real deal breaker, I think, is "holy places." Ignoring everything else, I think that issue is paramount. Wasn't that a big reason for the current intifada?
If Israel and whoever in Palestine and the other middle eastern countries can get some religious leaders to meet in good faith and resolve those difficulties while the politicians meet to resolve the rest, there really could be peace.
It may be as simple as providing schools for Jewish and Muslim children to attend together with classes in comparative religion. Some way to at least get people together to talk rather than blowing each other up.
I hope all have a nice weekend. It's so beautiful here in Florida right now I am going to pack my canoe and head for the river for the weekend.
This seems to be a distraction. The truth of the matter is that Israeli war crimes are mentioned as a possibility, whereas those of Lebanon-Hizbollah aren't in doubt. A legal case against Israel will probably fall to nothing if people stick to international law and the true order of events. A legal case against Lebanon would probably succeed for the same reason.
The reason why a case against Lebanon probably won't be pursued is that Israel doesn't want to keep Lebanon as an enemy. The reason why any possible case against Israel will be pursued is because many others in the world want Israel to be perceived as such. If people suddenly stopped talking and acting against Israel they might have the time to think and realize that they, not Israel, are the ones in the wrong.
What war crimes were committed by Lebanon?
Greetings All,
My letter to Mr. Bush:
TO: Mr. George W. Bush, President, United States of America
10 October 2006
Dear Mr. Bush,
In the past six years our nation has changed dramatically. A budget surplus has been turned into a record deficit. Treaties that we have entered into in good faith have been unilaterally ignored by this nation if not outright dismissed, and fundamental rights granted under the Constitution of the United States of America have been comprimised in the name of "security." Additionally, your policy of refusing to engage in dialogue with nations that have opposing views has created foreign policy disasters in Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and North Korea.
It is clear, Mr. Bush, that you have no tolerance for views other than your own. And your own views are suspect, if not downright criminal. To date, you have legalized torture in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions, you have granted yourself and your administration blanket immunity for war crimes that you are responsible for, you have provided false justification for the conduct of an illegal war in Iraq and you have altered the law such that American citizens can be arrested and detained merely for exercising their right to free speech and dissent.
Thus I call upon you, Mr. Bush, to immediately resign the office of the presidency. You have brought shame to this nation. You have brought disrespect to this nation. You have increased the polarization of our society and created both foreign and domestic crises that will require decades for this nation to pull out of. While I have no doubt that you love America, the America you love is one that looks, acts and thinks as you do.
Please look, Mr. Bush, at your near-term prospects. Because of your actions and the actions of many in Congress, the Republicans are going to lose control of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Impeachment proceedings will almost surely follow, because citizen outrage over your policies and actions will demand it. And frankly, Mr. Bush, if it were up to me, it would not stop there. I am an advocate of having the next administration arrest you and turn you over to international authorities to be prosecuted for war crimes that you have committed in Iraq.
No doubt that you and your staff will consider me a radical crack-pot. I assure you that I am not. But I am an ordinary citizen who is fed up with a government that does not see itself as accountable to the people. The people should not fear the government; the government should fear its people. This nation has existed for 230 years because of the checks and balances inherent in our republic. Although you have attempted to dismantle these safeguards, they are still in place and your administration will be held accountable by the people.
I beseech you, Mr. Bush, to cease your failed war in Iraq, to avoid military action against Iran, and to immediately leave office. Please go no further along the path you are on. You and your administration threaten to bring this nation into the darkness of a dictatorship or, worse yet, a second civil war. I hope that if you truly love America, you will step aside and allow our government to begin fixing the mistakes of this administration before we lose all credibility in this world.
Yours truly, a deeply concerned citizen that loves this nation,
Richard T. (Rick) Olshak
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