In the wake of the continued war of terror that the Israelis are unleashing on the civilians in Lebanon, aided and abetted with fervor by US President George W. Bush and his administration, I received the following letter from an American mother:
Dear Mr. Al-Maeena,
I am deeply saddened by the violent attacks on civilians and the loss of lives of men, women and particularly children in Lebanon. As an American who has been living in the Middle East for the past six years and a mother of three children, I am horrified by the images I see of children younger than my own, whose lives have been put to such a cruel end by the Israelis in their campaign to carry out a war of terror on the people of Lebanon.
I am deeply ashamed of my own government for running hand in hand with the Israelis in this brutality. As a Republican who once voted for Mr. Bush, it pains me today to see how his policies in the Middle East have created far more enemies than friends in many countries by his one-sided and totally partial stance toward the Israeli cause.
His decision to veto any resolution for a cease-fire and spare more innocent lives, and his administration’s rush to supply Israel with more bombs and missiles during this crisis exhibit a very unbalanced government policy that will eventually leave many American vulnerable worldwide.
I am also deeply ashamed of the indifference my countrymen back in the States have shown toward this continuous assault on innocent people, fueled by our own government’s desire to fan the flames of war in the region. I realize they are somewhat uninformed on what is really happening here, as our news more often than not tends to slant itself in favor of the Israelis. But were they to witness what we see and hear here, I assure you they would be just as shocked and horrified.
This is not a campaign about two captured soldiers or Hezbollah. It is unquestionably a crime against humanity. And for the United States to lend its name and hand and its arsenal of weapons of death and destruction to this ongoing criminal activity, is indeed very painful. To say that I am deeply offended is not enough. I have written to my state senators expressing similar sentiments, and I call on all God-fearing Americans to do the same.
I feel today that my government no longer represents me or the values that our country stands for, and for that I am deeply hurt. The crimes being committed against the people of Lebanon have got to stop. And we Americans have to make it plain to our government that enough is enough. How many more children would have to die before my president acts?
I am also requesting you to print this in your paper to get the message out that not all Americans are pleased or accepting what is going on with their government’s actions or are in favor of a continued war against the people of Lebanon. May God bestow mercy on the souls of those whose lives today are but a memory among their loved ones.
Signed: Kathleen
Thank you Kathleen for your consoling words. It is unfortunate that the death toll rises daily as even UN observers are not spared by the murderous assault of the Israelis. They are truly the mad dogs of the region, and the length of their leash is regrettably being loosened every day by your own president. Your government’s readiness to replenish and reinforce the Israelis’ weaponry during these tragic times speaks volumes.
There is no question that this is a hostile act of criminal intent and not any act of war. Any collusion with such criminals opens your government to stand up against similar charges as accomplices in these heinous crimes. Their continued resistance to enforce a cease-fire and spare further losses of civilian lives is a clear message that the administration of your president has adopted a very Israeli posture.
It is also regrettable that a president who sold the message of “war on terror” to his people has been the prime proponent of the war of terror during his tenure, and this time around he has the people of Lebanon in his cross-sights.
