FROM AHMADINEJAD'S LETTER TO GEORGE BUSH, MAY 2007

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For some time now, I have been thinking, how one can justify the
undeniable contradictions that exist. . .  Can one be a follower of
Jesus Christ (Peace Be Upon Him), 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, Make "War on 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 presence of a few
criminals in a village, city, or convoy for example, the entire village,
city or convoy set ablaze. . .


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, 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, i.e.
the teachings of Jesus Christ (Peace Be Upon Him), human rights and
liberal values. . .

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

The people of Africa are hard-working, 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?. . .

September Eleven 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. . .

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 special 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 administrations 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?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/23/83652/6735

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