Legacies

Dear Mr. President,

I'm sure that you receive thousands of e-mails each day and many of them are not even seen by you. But I feel I need to make the effort to let you know how I feel about the alarming statements coming from Secretary of State Condileeza Rice. You say that there should be no negotiations with terrorists and yet time after time, Israel is asked to do just that.

From reading about the upcoming summit in Annapolis, Maryland, Israel is being asked once again to make concession after concession while the Palestinians have yet to fulfill any of its obligations. It is remarkable that Ekrat, the Palestinian negotiator, protests Israel's wish to be recognized as a Jewish state. But this conference is unique in which other Arab countries are asked to participate and some may actually appear.

But what good will it do? Bahrain is openly calling for boycotts against Israel. Why should any of Syria's demands be met when they, coupled with Iran, are supplying weapons and money to terrorist groups? Those terrorists groups they arm are also the ones our troops face in Iraq.

While I agree that it is important for Arab countries to recognize Israel and her right to exist, it cannot and should not be done by putting Israel's security at risk.

Each president has dreamed of the legacy of true and lasting peace in the Middle East. But each effort has led to greater bloodshed. The current efforts will led to even more because by seemingly forcing Israel to deal with the terrorist regime of Syria and the so-called moderates of Fatah, you are negating one of your own prime declarations: never negotiate with terrorists. Peace will only come when the Palestinian Authority stops glorifying suicide bombers in its educational shows. Peace will only come the majority of Palestinians decide that their children's future involves more than becoming a suicide bomber. Peace will only come when the Palestinian Authority is held accountable for financial aid it receives. Where does all that money go?

As Golda Meir observed: "Peace will come to the Middle East when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us." This has yet to happen.

You stated in your address after 9-11 that those who harbor and support terrorism will not be tolerated. I didn't vote for you in 2000 but I did in 2004. For I believed you meant what you said about terrorism. But I see now that your words do not mean anything. You would not agree to such terms in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why should you ask Israel to? We are fighting the same enemy, terrorists.

Sincerely,

Karen B

I have sent this e-mail to President Bush. You can write a similar one and send it to comments@whitehouse.gov. You can also the State Department. You can also locate and send an e-mail to your Representative or Senator.