[Announce] The letter from the president of Iran to President Bush

[Robert Waldrop]

Below is an English translation that appeared in a 
French newspaper of the letter recently sent by 
the president of Iran to President Bush. 
According to our press, the president and 
secretary of state have already rejected the 
letter as not being relevant to the current 
controversies.  The Secretary of State said, "It 
isn't addressing the issues we're dealing with in 
a concrete way."

Isn't that an interesting response?  The Iranian 
president sends the first official letter in 27 
years from his government to the United States, 
and we simply reject it out of hand.

Yes, the letter has some Islamic itrumphalism and 
anti-Israel rhetoric in it, but it also asks 
serious questions which the United States ought to 
answer, if indeed it is sincere in wanting a just 
resolution of our government's complaints about 
the Iranian government.

Since our government may be preparing to attack 
Iran, I think many Americans should read this 
letter and thus I encourage folks to forward it on 
to others.

The "(PBUH)" which is found after the names of 
Jesus and the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures is 
an acronym for "Peace be upon him", which is a 
traditional phrase used by Islamic writers and 
speakers in conjunction with the names of holy 
people.

Bob Waldrop, Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House
www.justpeace.org

the source: 
http://medias.lemonde.fr/mmpub/edt/doc/20060509/769629_lettre.pdf

There is a PDF of the English translation provided 
by the Islamic Republic of Iraq to the United 
States government via the Swiss Embassy at
http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/-documents/ahmadinejad0509.pdf .

Mr George Bush,
President of the United States of America

For sometime 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 amongst 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), 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 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 presence of a few criminals 
in a village, city, or convoy 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 one 
hundred thousand 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 fifty 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 harms way, 
taken away from family and love ones, their hands 
stained with the blood of others, subjected to so 
much psychological pressure that everyday some 
commit suicide ant those returning home suffer 
depression, become sickly and grapple with all 
sorts of aliments; while some are killed and their 
bodies handed of 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 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 
Saddam was supported by the West.

Mr President,

You might know that I am a teacher. My students 
ask me how can theses 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, 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 
(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 sixty years ago such a 
country did no 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 WWI 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 six million Jews 
had been killed. Six million people that were 
surely related to at least two 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 rationalised 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 sixty 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 observes 
have confirmed that this government represents the 
electorate. Unbelievingly, they have put the 
elected government under pressure and have advised 
it to recognise 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 
resolutions in condemnation of Israel vetoed?"

Mr President,
As you are well aware, I live amongst the people 
and am in constant contact with them --
many people from around the Middle East manage to 
contact me as well. They dot 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 to 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 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 utilised 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, 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-à-vis the scientific and nuclear progress of 
the Iranian nation (just when all Iranians are 
jubilant and collaborating their country's 
progress), and many other grievances that I will 
not refer to in this letter.

Mr President,
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.

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 
eleven 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 
neighbours 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 
traumatised 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 citizen 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 
behaviour, 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 were 
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 prophet Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Joseph 
or Jesus Christ (PBUH) were with us
today, how would they have judged such behaviour? 
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 Moslems 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 an followers of divine religions and says: 
[3.64] Say: 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 Haven 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 tranquillity 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 wolrd 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 organisations, because their rights 
are not advocated by these organisations.

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