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Dear Mr. President,
I write you today, on the anniversary
of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, with open hands, as a friend. As President
of the US, my home, I think that I, a citizen, should approach
you more like a manager at my work place or neighbor down the street rather
than an opponent or even a political enemy. As such, because constructive
criticism and intellectual discussion is the way to better relationships
in this country as well as the world, and I know that I can accomplish
an accord with you much better if I talk to you that way sir.
I want to speak to you today in memory of what happened to our country
because we all remember your declaration of war against terrorism sir,
as clearly as we remember the collapse of the Twin Towers, so I want to
tell you about my concerns. The chief item in this letter to you is the
war against terrorism and how we can bring it to a successful conclusion.
You know, of course, with how far things have gotten it is almost impossible
to not see it through to the end, however the ends are most certainly
up to discussion. In all truth, terrorism and the reasons for it must
be eradicated so that all peoples, not just Americans, can live fruitful
lives. Moreover, with Afghanistan and Iraq now both under US protection it would be insane to withdraw completely
without establishing a powerful government that can keep terrorist, tyrannical,
and imperial forces out of power for good. Let me talk about each one
in turn.
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In reference to Afghanistan, I believe that Afghanis will be much less likely to
assist al Qaeda or the Taliban if they can feed
their families, live with reasonable comfort and security, and go about
their lives assured that the international community isn’t just using
Afghanistan for its resources like the Soviets were trying to do
in the 80’s. To accomplish this we need to commit more than $2 billion
a year to support President Karzai and his fledgling
government. We need to build roads, airports, schools, and improve the
overall infrastructure of the country. Of course, you can’t fix a country’s
troubles by focusing on the infrastructure, so I suggest that we encourage
US companies to set up businesses in Afghanistan that pay their workers a living wage, and train them
to eventually become business owners themselves, not just peons. Afghanistan is well known for their natural resources, but I fear
that those resources are going to be used by a third party; therefore
they should be nationalized so Afghanis can sell the product to whomever
they choose. American petroleum companies should be paid to build pipelines
in Afghanistan, not control pipelines. It might also help the ‘War
on Drugs’ if we destroyed the opium fields, paid the farmers for their
losses, and then introduced a better manner of supporting themselves.
Use the land for food production, but since that is certainly not comparable
to opium planting, make up for it by promising every Afghani a free education
up to and including college, as well as health care paid for by the revenue
of the oil and natural gas exports much like Kuwait and Iraq did for many years. When these countries focused their
revenues on the people rather than colossal military budgets to support
American geopolitical strategies or palaces for their rulers, the people
were far happier and weren’t so extraordinarily anti-American. Furthermore
I believe that getting the warlords under control is as important as destroying
the last vestiges of the Taliban and al Qaeda.
In reference to Iraq I agree with much of what I have just written for Afghanistan, however I would add that secure borders are the only
way to end terrorism once and for all, as well as protect the lives of
our service men and women sir. If it is true that Iranian and Syrian militants
are crossing the borders to fight our troops then why aren’t the borders
sealed tight? If we need more troops then why do we keep reducing the
number of troops in the country? I know our men and women need a rest,
so it seems reasonable sir that we try to use the international community
to our benefit as opposed to making them so fervently against us. I’ve
written before that your ‘Coalition of the Willing’
would be more impressive if the 48 other countries on the list contributed
more than a signature and a public ‘shout-out’ to you sir. I appreciate
the countries that stand without fighting men and women, but no more than
ten are doing so. If every country sent 1,000 soldiers then there would
be nearly 50,000 troops to keep terrorists and fanatics out of Iraq as well as repair what damage has already been done sir. I hope you pursue
that option.
In reference to the terrorists in America, I think I speak for everyone when I say that I want
them gone. I want to live a comfortable, happy life, and don’t think that
is too much to ask for. To do this I, as well as other Americans, need
to know that we can go to work, to school, and enjoy each other’s company
without having to worry about suicide bombers. I don’t know about everyday
Americans, but I most certainly don’t want to pay the price of my Constitutional
liberties to reach this goal. I would much rather be cautious in my country
than captive to it. To accomplish this we don’t need fast track cases,
military tribunals, increased surveillance, new jet fighters, or a society
short of martial law (or martial law for that matter). What we need is
secured borders regardless of how Hispanic voters will respond in the
elections and better cooperation between the FBI, CIA, and local law enforcement
agencies just to begin with. Of course, what would help keep them out
would be an international policy that doesn’t encourage terrorism by supporting
tyrants like Saddam Hussein in the first place, but you weren’t responsible
for him so I won’t complain. Just please don’t make any more of him.
I think you are right that the world is
better off without Saddam Hussein in power, and I did not weep when I
heard that his two sons were killed in a firefight. In truth though, I
wish that if their regime were to fall it would have fallen over a decade
ago when your father, President George H.W. Bush, asked the people of
Iraq to stand up against Saddam only to leave them high and
dry. Once again though, I know that isn’t your personal fault so I won’t
hold it against you. However, I would like to talk about Afghanistan. We liberated those people from another oppressive regime
sir, and we need to be doing more, at least for the memories of the Afghani
civilians who were killed in our campaign, or
for the women and girls who were forced into virtual slavery by the US-supported
Taliban. I am happy that the Taliban now only exists in caves somewhere
in the mountains, but I would much rather be happy that the Taliban didn’t
exist at all except in Afghani history books in well funded and safe Afghani
schools.
Lastly sir, I was hoping that you would
keep your campaign promise of giving all the men and women who wear the
uniform of the United States of America a pay raise. You said so yourself
sir, no one who serves this country should be forced to live on food stamps.
Of course, no one period should have to live on food stamps, but most
certainly not those who may or may not one day have to risk their lives
for our country. You wouldn’t have to fight for it in all honestly. Just
introduce a bill saying everyone gets a 10% pay raise over the next five
years, period. No new weapons systems or corporate deals. Any Congress
person who refuses to vote for such legislation will never get a military
vote again, I assure you, or even the vote of
someone, like me, who cares for the military.
I look back on 9-11 with morbid sadness
sir, as do we all. I know it must be horrible to be in the position you’re
in – you have the responsibility of honoring the dead by leading our country
at a time of great peril. That’s a serious responsibility and my best
wishes to you in doing so. However, I think there is much room for improvement.
Rebuild and improve Afghanistan and Iraq, make international agreements not useless coalitions,
give those who once hated us happy productive lives so that the idea of
terrorism is alien to their minds, get rid of the Patriot Act, and support
our troops when and where it counts.
In closing sir, I am not embarrassed to
be an American because being an American has made me who I am today. But
I am most ashamed to admit that the majority of the world, even those
who wept alongside us on 9-11, and even those who are wealthy, well educated,
and powerful (not just the poor evil-doers) don’t like me because I’m
an American. You’re a powerful and capable man. Please so something to
change that.
Yours very sincerely and respectfully,
C.E. Westphal
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