After the "debate" in Ohio yesterday between Obama and Clinton, I looked through my old e-mails and came up with an e-mail that I wrote to Sen. Hillary Clinton a week after September 11. You didn't have to be a psychic to see where things were going. And I am not happy to say that I was right, as were many who opposed the response of the Bush Administration together with congressional rubber stampers like Sen. Clinton. I did not, by the way, get a response from her office.
Dear Senator Clinton:
senator@clinton.senate.gov
I am writing to express my grave concern over the United States government’s reaction to the terrorist attacks last Tuesday. Our grief and horror must not turn into blind rage. The
killing of innocents is vile and supremely reprehensible. We cannot do the same thing.
A massive military action against Afghanistan would result in the deaths of countless
innocent civilians—men, women and children. How can we fight terror with terror? Such
an action would escalate rather than defeat terrorism.
Further, calls in Congress to support the recruitment of “unsavory” people to aid the
United States effort are equally misguided. It was the training of such people by the CIA
that gave us a highly organized and trained Osama bin Laden. Are we to create and train
more bin Ladens in the name of fighting terrorism? Has not this policy shown itself to be
shortsighted and bankrupt over and over?
Finally, the stability of moderate governments in the Middle East is tentative. A massive
United States military action in the area could easily result in the overthrow of these
governments by powerful and vocal Islamic fundamentalists. Once again, the United States
has the potential to create the conditions for even greater terrorism.
Terror begets terror. We must break the cycle. If the United States is to present any
leadership in this, we must look to the roots of the problem. The United States must use its
influence to see that the heart of the problem—the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—is resolved
equitably. For a start, we must throw our support behind the implementation of the now
moribund Oslo accords. Once there is a fair resolution of that issue, the roots of terrorism
will wither and die.
In conclusion, I urge you to oppose any military action that targets or involves civilian
populations. I urge you to oppose any efforts to turn back to the discredit policy of allying
ourselves with people or regimes that oppose human rights. And I urge you to support
efforts to involve the United States in the fair and peaceful settlement of the Palestinian
situation.
Dear Senator Clinton:
senator@clinton.senate.gov
I am writing to express my grave concern over the United States government’s reaction to the terrorist attacks last Tuesday. Our grief and horror must not turn into blind rage. The
killing of innocents is vile and supremely reprehensible. We cannot do the same thing.
A massive military action against Afghanistan would result in the deaths of countless
innocent civilians—men, women and children. How can we fight terror with terror? Such
an action would escalate rather than defeat terrorism.
Further, calls in Congress to support the recruitment of “unsavory” people to aid the
United States effort are equally misguided. It was the training of such people by the CIA
that gave us a highly organized and trained Osama bin Laden. Are we to create and train
more bin Ladens in the name of fighting terrorism? Has not this policy shown itself to be
shortsighted and bankrupt over and over?
Finally, the stability of moderate governments in the Middle East is tentative. A massive
United States military action in the area could easily result in the overthrow of these
governments by powerful and vocal Islamic fundamentalists. Once again, the United States
has the potential to create the conditions for even greater terrorism.
Terror begets terror. We must break the cycle. If the United States is to present any
leadership in this, we must look to the roots of the problem. The United States must use its
influence to see that the heart of the problem—the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—is resolved
equitably. For a start, we must throw our support behind the implementation of the now
moribund Oslo accords. Once there is a fair resolution of that issue, the roots of terrorism
will wither and die.
In conclusion, I urge you to oppose any military action that targets or involves civilian
populations. I urge you to oppose any efforts to turn back to the discredit policy of allying
ourselves with people or regimes that oppose human rights. And I urge you to support
efforts to involve the United States in the fair and peaceful settlement of the Palestinian
situation.
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