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My friend Sean sent the following letter to President Bush, VP Cheney, and Senators Boxer and Feinstein of California. I was so impressed with it, I wanted to share it with you. Sean makes some very thought-provoking points. I welcome any discussion on this.
Mr. President: I am writing to express my concern regarding our response to the terrorist attack on our country. We are right to retaliate, and our Western allies share our outrage and support our endeavor to punish those responsible. However, the tone your statements over the past few days suggests two beliefs I find troubling — the idea that there is no cost too great to pay to punish the terrorists, and that this is only America's fight. The only thought more terrifying than what happened on September 11 is the notion of what attacks will come next. While the thousands killed deserve justice, we must also consider how best to prevent tens of thousands more victims. The endgame is not just punishing the guilty — it is also pursuing this justice in a way that doesn't pave the way for future legions of terrorists wanting to seek revenge for our revenge. While I appreciate the need for stern warnings of immense force we're preparing to rain down in pursuit of the guilty, we cannot be indiscriminate in our use of this power, or the voices to avenge the innocent dead will be directed at Americans, not rising from them. Thus, our need to work with other nations to pursue our aims. Despite our recent tendencies to focus chiefly on U.S. interests, the nations of the world stand beside us now. If we act alone a convincing argument can be made that we are a maverick bully. But if we pursue the same strategy with a unified multi-national force, the terrorists and their allies will know that an attack on the U.S. equals an attack on the rest of the Western world, a far more complex, dangerous scenario. Lastly, we must seek unity among the Arab nations before any military action is taken. We must affirm our belief that true Islam is totally removed from the warped "religion" practiced by the extremists, and offer our support for countries that assist us, not just deliver threats for non-compliance. Saddam Hussein's challenge of our authority won him respect in the Arab world in part because of the perception that we consider only our own interests when intervening in the region. If we humbly listen to their issues with the U.S. and work to alleviate them, and offer good-faith incentives for their helping us, not only will flushing out the guilty be a Go To Page: 1 2
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