Letter from the Iranian President to President Bush

zgrams at zgrams.zundelsite.org zgrams at zgrams.zundelsite.org
Fri May 12 06:44:45 EDT 2006





  Middle East  May 11, 2006

    Ahmadinejad's letter to Bush

  The following is a translation of the letter sent in Farsi by 
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to US President George W.  Bush. 
This version was released by United Nations diplomats.  The letter 
was handed by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr  Mottaki to the 
Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which then handed it  to the Americans.

  =====

  Mr George Bush, President of the United States of America

  For some time now I have been thinking, how one can justify  the 
undeniable contradictions that exist in the international  arena - 
which are being constantly debated, specially in  political forums 
and among university students. Many  questions remain unanswered. 
These have prompted me to discuss some of the  contradictions and 
questions, in the hopes that it might  bring about an opportunity to 
redress them.

   Can one be a follower of Jesus Christ (PBUH) [praise be upon  his 
name], the great Messenger of God, feel obliged to  respect human 
rights, present liberalism as a civilization  model, announce one's 
opposition to the proliferation of  nuclear weapons and WMDs [weapons 
of mass destruction], make  war and terror his slogan, and finally, 
work towards the  establishment of a unified international community 
- a  community which Christ and the virtuous of the Earth will one 
day govern, but at the same time have countries attacked; the  lives, 
reputations and possessions of people destroyed and on  the slight 
chance of the ... of a ... criminals in a village  or city, or 
convoy, or for example the entire village, city  or convoy, set 
ablaze.

   Or because of the possibility of the existence of WMDs in one 
country, it is occupied, around 100,000 people killed, its  water 
sources, agriculture and industry destroyed, close to  180,000 
foreign troops put on the ground, sanctity of private  homes of 
citizens broken, and the country pushed back perhaps  50 years. At 
what price? Hundreds of billions of dollars  spent from the treasury 
of one country and certain other  countries and tens of thousands of 
young men and women - as  occupation troops - put in harm's way, 
taken away from family  and loved ones, their hands stained with the 
blood of others,  subjected to so much psychological pressure that 
every day  some commit suicide and those returning home suffer 
depression, become sickly and grapple with all sorts of  ailments; 
while some are killed and their bodies handed to  their families.

   On the pretext of the existence of WMDs, this great tragedy  came 
to engulf both the peoples of the occupied and the  occupying 
country. Later it was revealed that no WMDs existed  to begin with.

  Of course Saddam [Hussein] was a murderous dictator. But the  war 
was not waged to topple him, the announced goal of the  war was to 
find and destroy weapons of mass destruction. He  was toppled along 
the way towards another goal, nevertheless  the people of the region 
are happy about it. I point out that  throughout the many years of 
the ... war on Iran [in the  1980s], Saddam was supported by the West.

  Mr President,

   You might know that I am a teacher. My students ask me how  can 
these actions be reconciled with the values outlined at  the 
beginning of this letter and duty to the tradition of  Jesus Christ 
(PBUH), the Messenger of peace and forgiveness.

   There are prisoners in Guantanamo Bay that have not been  tried, 
have no legal representation, their families cannot  see them and are 
obviously kept in a strange land outside  their own country. There is 
no international monitoring of  their conditions and fate. No one 
knows whether they are  prisoners, POWs [prisoners of war], accused 
or criminals.

  European investigators have confirmed the existence of secret 
prisons in Europe too. I could not correlate the abduction of  a 
person, and him or her being kept in secret prisons, with  the 
provisions of any judicial system. For that matter, I  fail to 
understand how such actions correspond to the values  outlined in the 
beginning of this letter, ie the teachings of  Jesus Christ (PBUH), 
human rights and liberal values.

   Young people, university students and ordinary people have  many 
questions about the phenomenon of Israel. I am sure you  are familiar 
with some of them. Throughout history many  countries have been 
occupied, but I think the establishment  of a new country with a new 
people, is a new phenomenon that  is exclusive to our times.

   Students are saying that 60 years ago such a country did not 
exist. The show old documents and globes and say try as we  have, we 
have not been able to find a country named Israel.

  I tell them to study the history of World War I and II. One  of my 
students told me that during WWII, which more than tens  of millions 
of people perished in, news about the war was  quickly disseminated 
by the warring parties. Each touted  their victories and the most 
recent battlefront defeat of the  other party. After the war, they 
claimed that 6 million Jews  had been killed. Six million people that 
were surely related  to at least 2 million families.

   Again let us assume that these events are true. Does that 
logically translate into the establishment of the state of  Israel in 
the Middle East or support for such a state? How  can this phenomenon 
be rationalized or explained?

   Mr President,

  I am sure you know how - and at what cost - Israel was  established: 
Many thousands were killed in the process.

  Millions of indigenous people were made refugees.

  Hundred of thousands of hectares of farmland, olive  plantations, 
towns and villages were destroyed.

  This tragedy is not exclusive to the time of establishment; 
unfortunately it has been ongoing for 60 years now.

  A regime has been established which does not show mercy even  to 
kids, destroys houses while the occupants are still in  them, 
announces beforehand its list and plans to assassinate  Palestinian 
figures and keeps thousands of Palestinians in  prison. Such a 
phenomenon is unique - or at the very least  extremely rare - in 
recent memory.

  Another big question asked by people is why is this regime  being 
supported? Is support for this regime in line with the  teachings of 
Jesus Christ (PBUH) or Moses (PBUH) or liberal  values? Or are we to 
understand that allowing the original  inhabitants of these lands - 
inside and outside Palestine -  whether they are Christian, Muslim or 
Jew, to determine their  fate, runs contrary to principles of 
democracy, human rights  and the teachings of prophets? If not, why 
is there so much  opposition to a referendum?

   The newly elected Palestinian administration recently took  office. 
All independent observers have confirmed that this  government 
represents the electorate. Unbelievingly, they  have put the elected 
government under pressure and have  advised it to recognize the 
Israeli regime, abandon the  struggle and follow the programs of the 
previous government.

   If the current Palestinian government had run on the above 
platform, would the Palestinian people have voted for it?  Again, can 
such position taken in opposition to the  Palestinian government be 
reconciled with the values outlined  earlier? The people are also 
saying why are all UNSC [United  Nations Security Council] 
resolutions in condemnation of  Israel vetoed?

  Mr President,

  As you are well aware, I live among the people and am in  constant 
contact with them - many people from around the  Middle East manage 
to contact me as well. They do not have  faith in these dubious 
policies either. There is evidence  that the people of the region are 
becoming increasingly angry  with such policies.

  It is not my intention to pose too many questions, but I need  to 
refer to other points as well.

   Why is it that any technological and scientific achievement 
reached in the Middle East regions is translated into and  portrayed 
as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is not  scientific R&D [research 
and development] one of the basic  rights of nations?

   You are familiar with history. Aside from the Middle Ages, in  what 
other point in history has scientific and technical  progress been a 
crime? Can the possibility of scientific  achievements being utilized 
for military purposes be reason  enough to oppose science and 
technology altogether? If such a  supposition is true, then all 
scientific disciplines,  including physics, chemistry, mathematics, 
medicine,  engineering, etc. must be opposed.

  Lies were told in the Iraqi matter. What was the result? I  have no 
doubt that telling lies is reprehensible in any  culture, and you do 
not like to be lied to.

  Mr President,

   Don't Latin Americans have the right to ask, why their  elected 
governments are being opposed and coup leaders  supported? Or, why 
must they constantly be threatened and  live in fear?

   The people of Africa are hardworking, creative and talented.  They 
can play an important and valuable role in providing for  the needs 
of humanity and contribute to its material and  spiritual progress. 
Poverty and hardship in large parts of  Africa are preventing this 
from happening. Don't they have  the right to ask why their enormous 
wealth - including  minerals - is being looted, despite the fact that 
they need  it more than others?

   Again, do such actions correspond to the teachings of Christ  and 
the tenets of human rights?

  The brave and faithful people of Iran too have many questions  and 
grievances, including: the coup d'etat of 1953 and the  subsequent 
toppling of the legal government of the day,  opposition to the 
Islamic revolution [of 1979],  transformation of an embassy into a 
headquarters supporting  the activities of those opposing the Islamic 
Republic (many  thousands of pages of documents corroborates this 
claim),  support for Saddam in the war waged against Iran, the 
shooting down of the Iranian passenger plane, freezing the  assets of 
the Iranian nation, increasing threats, anger and  displeasure 
vis-a-vis the scientific and nuclear progress of  the Iranian nation 
(just when all Iranians are jubilant and  collaborating with their 
country's progress), and many other  grievances that I will not refer 
to in this letter.

   Mr President,

  September 11 was a horrendous incident. The killing of  innocents is 
deplorable and appalling in any part of the  world. Our government 
immediately declared its disgust with  the perpetrators and offered 
its condolences to the bereaved  and expressed its sympathies.

   All governments have a duty to protect the lives, property  and 
good standing of their citizens. Reportedly your  government employs 
extensive security, protection and  intelligence systems - and even 
hunts its opponents abroad.  September 11 was not a simple operation. 
Could it be planned  and executed without coordination with 
intelligence and  security services - or their extensive 
infiltration? Of  course this is just an educated guess. Why have the 
various  aspects of the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told 
who botched their responsibilities? And, why aren't those 
responsible and the guilty parties identified and put on  trial?

   All governments have a duty to provide security and peace of  mind 
for their citizens. For some years now, the people of  your country 
and neighbors of world trouble spots do not have  peace of mind. 
After 9-11, instead of healing and tending to  the emotional wounds 
of the survivors and the American  people - who had been immensely 
traumatized by the attacks -  some Western media only intensified the 
climates of fear and  insecurity - some constantly talked about the 
possibility of  new terror attacks and kept the people in fear. Is 
that  service to the American people? Is it possible to calculate 
the damages incurred from fear and panic?

  American citizens lived in constant fear of fresh attacks  that 
could come at any moment and in any place. They felt  insecure in the 
streets, in their place of work and at home.  Who would be happy with 
this situation? Why was the media,  instead of conveying a feeling of 
security and providing  peace of mind, giving rise to a feeling of 
insecurity?

  Some believe that the hype paved the way - and was the 
justification - for an attack on Afghanistan. Again I need to  refer 
to the role of media. In media charters, correct  dissemination of 
information and honest reporting of a story  are established tenets. 
I express my deep regret about the  disregard shown by certain 
Western media for these  principles. The main pretext for an attack 
on Iraq was the  existence of WMDs. This was repeated incessantly - 
for the  public to, finally, believe - and the ground set for an 
attack on Iraq.

  Will the truth not be lost in a contrive and deceptive  climate? 
Again, if the truth is allowed to be lost, how can  that be 
reconciled with the earlier mentioned values? Is the  truth known to 
the Almighty lost as well?

   Mr President,

  In countries around the world, citizens provide for the  expenses of 
governments so that their governments in turn are  able to serve them.

  The question here is what has the hundreds of billions of  dollars, 
spent every year to pay for the Iraqi campaign,  produced for the 
citizens?

  As your excellency is aware, in some states of your country,  people 
are living in poverty. Many thousands are homeless and  unemployment 
is a huge problem. Of course these problems  exist - to a larger or 
lesser extent - in other countries as  well. With these conditions in 
mind, can the gargantuan  expenses of the campaign - paid from the 
public treasury - be  explained and be consistent with the 
aforementioned  principles?

  What has been said, are some of the grievances of the people  around 
the world, in our region and in your country. But my  main contention 
- which I am hoping you will agree to some of  it - is: Those in 
power have specific time in office, and do  not rule indefinitely, 
but their names will be recorded in  history and will be constantly 
judged in the immediate and  distant futures. The people will 
scrutinize our presidencies.

   Did we manage to bring peace, security and prosperity for the 
people or insecurity and unemployment? Did we intend to  establish 
justice, or just supported especial interest  groups, and by forcing 
many people to live in poverty and  hardship, made a few people rich 
and powerful - thus trading  the approval of the people and the 
Almighty with theirs'? Did  we defend the rights of the 
underprivileged or ignore them?  Did we defend the rights of all 
people around the world or  imposed wars on them, interfered 
illegally in their affairs,  established hellish prisons and 
incarcerated some of them?  Did we bring the world peace and security 
or raised the  specter of intimidation and threats? Did we tell the 
truth to  our nation and others around the world or presented an 
inverted version of it? Were we on the side of people or the 
occupiers and oppressors? Did our administration set out to  promote 
rational behavior, logic, ethics, peace, fulfilling  obligations, 
justice, service to the people, prosperity,  progress and respect for 
human dignity or the force of guns?  Intimidation, insecurity, 
disregard for the people, delaying  the progress and excellence of 
other nations, and trample on  people's rights? And finally, they 
will judge us on whether  we remained true to our oath of office - to 
serve the people,  which is our main task, and the traditions of the 
prophets-  or not?

   Mr President,

  How much longer can the world tolerate this situation? Where  will 
this trend lead the world to? How long must the people  of the world 
pay for the incorrect decisions of some rulers?  How much longer will 
the specter of insecurity - raised from  the stockpiles of weapons of 
mass destruction - hunt the  people of the world? How much longer 
will the blood of the  innocent men, women and children be spilled on 
the streets,  and people's houses destroyed over their heads? Are you 
pleased with the current condition of the world? Do you think 
present policies can continue?

  If billions of dollars spent on security, military campaigns  and 
troop movement were instead spent on investment and  assistance for 
poor countries, promotion of health, combating  different diseases, 
education and improvement of mental and  physical fitness, assistance 
to the victims of natural  disasters, creation of employment 
opportunities and  production, development projects and poverty 
alleviation,  establishment of peace, mediation between disputing 
states  and distinguishing the flames of racial, ethnic and other 
conflicts where would the world be today? Would not your  government, 
and people be justifiably proud? Would not your  administration's 
political and economic standing have been  stronger? And I am most 
sorry to say, would there have been  an ever increasing global hatred 
of the American governments?

  Mr President, it is not my intention to distress anyone. If 
prophets Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Joseph or Jesus  Christ 
(PBUH) were with us today, how would they have judged  such behavior? 
Will we be given a role to play in the  promised world, where justice 
will become universal and Jesus  Christ (PBUH) will be present? Will 
they even accept us?

  My basic question is this: Is there no better way to interact  with 
the rest of the world? Today there are hundreds of  millions of 
Christians, hundreds of millions of Muslims and  millions of people 
who follow the teachings of Moses (PBUH).  All divine religions share 
and respect on word and that is  monotheism or belief in a single God 
and no other in the  world.

   The holy Koran stresses this common word and calls on all 
followers of divine religions and says: (3.64) "O followers  of the 
Book! Come to an equitable proposition between us and  you that we 
shall not serve any but Allah and (that) we shall  not associate 
aught. With Him and (that) some of us shall not  take others for 
lords besides Allah, but if they turn back,  then say: Bear witness 
that we are Muslims. (The Family of  Imran)."

  Mr President,

  According to divine verses, we have all been called upon to  worship 
one God and follow the teachings of divine prophets.  To worship a 
God which is above all powers in the world and  can do all He 
pleases. The Lord which knows that which is  hidden and visible, the 
past and the future, knows what goes  on in the Hearts of His 
servants and records their deeds. The  Lord who is the possessor of 
the heavens and the earth and  all universe is His court planning for 
the universe is done  by His hands, and gives His servants the glad 
tidings of  mercy and forgiveness of sins. He is the companion of the 
oppressed and the enemy of oppressors. He is the  Compassionate, the 
Merciful. He is the recourse of the  faithful and guides them towards 
the light from darkness. He  is witness to the actions of His 
servants, He calls on  servants to be faithful and do good deeds, and 
asks them to  stay on the path of righteousness and remain steadfast 
.  Calls on servants to heed His prophets and He is a witness to 
their deeds. A bad ending belongs only to those who have  chosen the 
life of this world and disobey Him and oppress His  servants. And a 
good and eternal paradise belong to those  servants who fear His 
majesty and do not follow their  lascivious selves.

  We believe a return to the teachings of the divine prophets  is the 
only road leading to salvations. I have been told that  Your 
Excellency follows the teachings of Jesus (PBUH), and  believes in 
the divine promise of the rule of the righteous  on Earth.

  We also believe that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was one of the great 
prophets of the Almighty. He has been repeatedly praised in  the 
Koran. Jesus (PBUH) has been quoted in Koran as well;  (19,36) "And 
surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore  serves Him; this is 
the right path, Marium."

  Service to and obedience of the Almighty is the credo of all  divine 
messengers.

   The God of all people in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, the 
Pacific and the rest of the world is one. He is the Almighty  who 
wants to guide and give dignity to all His servants. He  has given 
greatness to Humans. We again read in the Holy  Book: The Almighty 
God sent His prophets with miracles and  clear signs to guide the 
people and show them divine signs  and purity them from sins and 
pollutions. And He sent the  Book and the balance so that the people 
display justice and  avoid the rebellious.

  All of the above verses can be seen, one way or the other, in  the 
Good Book as well.

   Divine prophets have promised: the day will come when all  humans 
will congregate before the court of the Almighty, so  that their 
deeds are examined. The good will be directed  towards Heaven and 
evildoers will meet divine retribution. I  trust both of us believe 
in such a day, but it will not be  easy to calculate the actions of 
rulers, because we must be  answerable to our nations and all others 
whose lives have  been directly or indirectly effected by our actions.

  All prophets, speak of peace and tranquility for man - based  on 
monotheism, justice and respect for human dignity.

  Do you not think that if all of us come to believe in and  abide by 
these principles, that is, monotheism, worship of  God, justice, 
respect for the dignity of man, belief in the  Last Day, we can 
overcome the present problems of the world -  that are the result of 
disobedience to the Almighty and the  teachings of prophets - and 
improve our performance?

   Do you not think that belief in these principles promotes and 
guarantees peace, friendship and justice?

  Do you not think that the aforementioned written or unwritten 
principles are universally respected?

  Will you not accept this invitation? That is, a genuine  return to 
the teachings of prophets, to monotheism and  justice, to preserve 
human dignity and obedience to the  Almighty and His prophets?

  Mr President, History tells us that repressive and cruel 
governments do not survive. God has entrusted the fate of man  to 
them. The Almighty has not left the universe and humanity  to their 
own devices. Many things have happened contrary to  the wishes and 
plans of governments. These tell us that there  is a higher power at 
work and all events are determined by  Him.

   Can one deny the signs of change in the world today? Is this 
situation of the world today comparable to that of ten years  ago? 
Changes happen fast and come at a furious pace.

   The people of the world are not happy with the status quo and  pay 
little heed to the promises and comments made by a number  of 
influential world leaders. Many people around the world  feel 
insecure and oppose the spreading of insecurity and war  and do not 
approve of and accept dubious policies.

  The people are protesting the increasing gap between the  haves and 
the have-nots and the rich and poor countries.

  The people are disgusted with increasing corruption.

   The people of many countries are angry about the attacks on  their 
cultural foundations and the disintegration of  families. They are 
equally dismayed with the fading of care  and compassion. The people 
of the world have no faith in  international organizations, because 
their rights are not  advocated by these organizations.

  Liberalism and Western style democracy have not been able to  help 
realize the ideals of humanity. Today these two concepts  have 
failed. Those with insight can already hear the sounds  of the 
shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of  the liberal 
democratic systems.

  We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking 
towards a main focal point - that is the Almighty God.  Undoubtedly 
through faith in God and the teachings of the  prophets, the people 
will conquer their problems. My question  for you is: Do you not want 
to join them?

  Mr President,

  Whether we like it or not, the world is gravitating towards  faith 
in the Almighty and justice and the will of God will  prevail over 
all things.

   Vasalam Ala Man Ataba'al hoda

  Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad President of the Islamic Republic of  Iran

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