[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Message from Senator Barack Obama

[Morton K. Brussel]

A thoroughly disgusting implicit defense of U.S. and Israeli actions  
in Lebanon and Palestine by our perversely slick junior Senator . His  
thesis: Basically, it's those Arab terrorists who caused all this…,  
but now that it's all over in Lebanon, let's all just begin again to  
rebuild Lebanon and Gaza with our friends there (Israel, Egypt,  
Jordan and Saudi Arabia), and let their peoples get out from under  
the terrorist Hamas and Hisbullah control.

If you have a strong stomach, read it. --mkb

Begin forwarded message:

> From: senator_obama at obama.senate.gov
> Date: September 11, 2006 5:04:45 PM CDT
> To: mkb4 at mac.com
> Subject: Message from Senator Barack Obama
>
> Dear Morton:
>
> Thank you for contacting me about the violence in the Middle East.   
> I appreciate having the benefit of your perspective.
>
> The recent violence is a tragedy, costing many innocent civilians  
> their lives, and it will take years for the region to fully rebuild  
> and recover.  That said, a tenuous peace is holding: large scale  
> violence has ended, albeit belatedly, and the air and naval  
> blockades have been lifted.
>
> I am hopeful that an effective peacekeeping force can be deployed  
> into Southern Lebanon that will allow the Lebanese government to  
> finally take control of that region. Long-term security, however,  
> depends on more than the deployment of peacekeepers.  Lebanon must  
> be rebuilt, and it is in our interest to support its freely elected  
> government.  This country offers hope for a pluralistic, multi- 
> religious, multi-ethnic democracy.
>
> The U.S., European Union, and Persian Gulf states have pledged $940  
> million for rebuilding.  This money must be spent wisely and start  
> bringing tangible benefits quickly to Lebanese civilians who have  
> lost their homes and businesses.
>
> It is important to remember that the current crisis was  
> precipitated by Hezbollah militants crossing into Israel, capturing  
> two Israeli soldiers, and killing eight more.  Hezbollah is not  
> just holding two Israelis hostage.  Along with Syria and Iran, it  
> has the potential to hold all of Lebanon hostage.  The Lebanese  
> people want to enjoy a normal life in a stable country.  That can  
> only happen when the Lebanese government controls its own territory  
> and Hezbollah lays down its weapons and returns the hostages.   
> Supporting Hezbollah and terrorism is a dead end.
>
> The failure by the Bush Administration, and other members of the  
> international community, to fully implement UN Security Council  
> Resolution 1559 was a strategic blunder.  Resolution 1559 called  
> for Syria's departure from Lebanon, the deployment of the Lebanese  
> army to the South, and the disarming of Hezbollah.  The Bush  
> Administration and the international community focused only on the  
> first goal, and neglected the second and third.  Resolution 1701  
> gives us another chance, although at a tragic cost.  We must  
> implement this resolution vigorously to prevent further violence  
> and bloodshed.
>
> The situation in the Gaza Strip is also dire and must also be  
> addressed.  Too many civilians have died, and thousands of  
> government workers have not been paid in months.  As in Lebanon,  
> the immediate goals in Gaza are clear: Hamas must release its  
> hostage and stop firing rockets on Israel so that Israeli forces  
> can withdraw.
>
> As the violence eases in the region, we must keep the parties at  
> the negotiating table to build a just and stable peace.  A  
> comprehensive, American-led diplomatic strategy should include: (1)  
> efforts to strengthen Lebanese civil and military institutions vis- 
> à-vis Hezbollah; (2) additional outreach to Palestinian moderates,  
> especially Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu  
> Mazen); (3) deeper engagement with other Arabs states who are  
> concerned about the current situation and the growing hegemony of  
> Iran in the region; and (4) strong support for Israel's legitimate  
> defense requirements with encouragement and assistance in their  
> efforts to seek peace with those neighbors who are prepared to  
> accept Israel's right to exist.
>
> Thank you again for writing.  Please stay in touch.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Barack Obama
> United States Senator
>
>
> P.S. Our system does not allow direct response to this email.  
> However, if you would like to contact me again, please use the form  
> on the website: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/
>
> Stay up to date with Barack's work in the Senate and on issues of  
> importance to Illinois. Subscribe to the weekly podcast here:  
> http://obama.senate.gov/podcast/

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