[Marxism] OPEN LETTER: Ralph Nader to Cindy Sheehan

[Bonnie Weinstein <giobon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

OPEN LETTER: Ralph Nader to Cindy Sheehan

[In this open letter to Cindy Sheehan, Ralph Nader offers some talking
points
to Cindy Sheehan, should George W. Bush yield to mounting pressure and agree
to meet with her in Crawford, Texas.  --  Not that the "messianic
militarist"
is likely to begin listening to critics now.  --  "Why, [Mr. Bush and Mr.
Cheney and the tight circle around them that composes the inner tin ear of
this Administration] even refuse to listen to objections by their own
government's military lawyers (JAG) over repeated violations of due process
of
law," Nader writes.  --  Thanks to Allen Roland for posting this.  --Mark]

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/3256/

OPEN LETTER TO CINDY SHEEHAN, CRAWFORD, TEXAS
By Ralph Nader

Democracy Rising
August 10, 2005

http://democracyrising.us/content/view/296/151/

Dear Ms. Sheehan,

>From your grief over the loss of your son, Casey, in Iraq has come the
courage
to spotlight nationally the cowardly character trait of a President who
refuses to meet with anyone or any group critical of his illegal,
fabricated,
deceptive war and occupation of that ravaged country.  As a messianic
militarist, Mr. Bush turned aside his own father's major advisers who warned
him of the terroristic, political, and diplomatic perils to the United
States
from an invasion of Iraq.  He refused to listen.

Thirteen organizations in early 2003 separately wrote their President
requesting a meeting to have him hear them out as to why they opposed his
drumbeating, on-the-road-to war policies.  These groups represented millions
of Americans.  They included church leaders, veterans, business, labor,
retired intelligence officials, students, women and others.  They are among
those Americans who are not allowed through the carefully screened public
audiences that are bused to arenas around the country to hear his repetitive
slogans for carrying on this draining, boomeranging war.  They each wrote
President Bush but he never bothered even to acknowledge their letters
simply
to say no to the requested meetings.  Not even the courtesy of a reply came
from their White House.


Ever since then it has been the same -- exclusion, denial, contempt and
arrogance for views counter to that of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney and the tight
circle around them that composes the inner tin ear of this Administration.
Why, they even refuse to listen to objections by their own government's
military lawyers (JAG) over repeated violations of due process of law.  When
will he realize that he is supposed to be the President of all the people,
not
just those misled into supporting his Iraq maneuvers?


Perhaps the breakthrough will begin this hot August in Crawford, Texas, with
the devastating loss of a beloved child transformed into a mission for the
soul of our country.  This rogue regime, led by two draft-dodgers and
officially counseled by similar pro-war evaders during the Vietnam War, is
not
"our country."  Millions of Americans, including military and public
servants
in his Administration, and many in the retired military, diplomatic and
intelligence services, opposed this war, still oppose it and do not equate
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney with the United States of America.


Our flag stands for "liberty and justice for all."  Our flag must never be
misused or defiled as a bandana for war crimes, as a gag against the
people's
freedom of speech and conscience or as a fig leaf to hide the shame of
charlatans in high public office, who violate our Constitution, our laws and
our founding fathers' framework for accountable, responsive government.

You will be goaded to cross the semantic line against a President who
himself
has crossed the much graver constitutional line that has cost so many lives
on
both sides and continues to cost and cost our country in so many ways
domestically and before the world. Neglecting America for the Iraq war has
become the widening downward path trod by the Bush government.

Authenticity, bereft of contrivances, is what must confront this White House
Misleader.  And authenticity is what you are and what drives you as you
demand
to see this resistant President.  He is on an intermittent month long
vacation, with spells for fundraisers and other insulated events.  His
schedule provides ample time for such a meeting.  You reflect the hopes and
prayers of millions of like-minded Americans.  Should he relent and opens
his
doors, be sure to ask why he lowballs U.S. casualties in Iraq, deleting and
disrespecting soldiers seriously hurt or sickened in the Iraq war theatre,
but
not in direct combat.  Remind him of those soldiers back in military
hospitals
who, with their families, wonder why they are not being counted as they cope
with their serious and permanent disabilities.  ("60 Minutes," CBS program).

Ask him why, despite Pentagon audits and GAO investigations about
corruption,
waste and non-delivery of services in Iraq by profiteering large
corporations
totaling billions of dollars, this Commander of Chief accepted campaign
contributions from their executives and proceeds to let this giant corporate
robbery continue without the requisite law and order?

Consider bringing to him a copy of President Dwight Eisenhower's famous
"Cross
of Iron" speech, delivered in April 1953 before the nation's newspaper
editors
in Washington, D.C.  And add statements by Marine General Anthony Zinni
(ret.), a Middle East specialist who strongly criticized the Bush-Cheney war
policy before and after March 2003.  May you and your associates succeed in
galvanizing the public debate in this country over why a growing majority of
Americans now think it was a costly mistake to invade Iraq and want our
soldiers back, with the U.S. out of that country.  He knows that his support
for how he is handling this war-occupation is falling close to one third of
respondents in recent polls -- the lowest yet.  Even with the mass-media at
his disposal everyday, he now represents a minority of public opinion, which
should give him pause before closing his oil-marinated doors on majority
views
in this nation.

May you prevail where others have failed to secure an audience with Mr.
Bush.

Sincerely,

Ralph Nader


UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545

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