Open letter to George W. Bush.

• Author: Nader, Ralph
• Position: Thinking Politically

The following was posted by Ralph Nader on his website, Nader.org, on July 17, 2006.

Dear President Bush:

You have been a weak president, despite your strutting and barking, when it comes to doing the right things for the American people within the Constitution and its rule of law. This trait is now in bold relief over the Israeli government's escalating war crimes, pulverizing the defenseless people and country of Lebanon.

With systematic efficiency, the Israeli government has already destroyed innocent homes and basic public facilities--ports, airports, highways, bridges, power stations--which are critical to delivery of food, medicines, health care, ambulances, water, and other essentials for a civilian population. This bombardment, by US-made bombers, military vehicles, ships, and missiles with American taxpayer subsidies, places an inescapable responsibility upon your shoulders which does not mix with your usual vacuous messianic rigidity.

As the leading player in official Washington's puppet show, it is time for you to assert the interests of the American people and those of the broad Israeli and Palestinian peace movements, by standing up to the puppeteers. For without this conflict, Hezbollah would not be in today's news.

The time has come for you to return to Texas for a private meeting with your father, his former national security advisor, Brent Scowcroft, and his former Secretary of State, James Baker. You need to say to them "I can't trust my advisors anymore; there have been so many tragic blunders. What do you advise me to do about the destruction of a friendly nation by the world's fifth most powerful military?"

Here is what I think they should say to you:

Take personal command of an immediate rescue effort for the tens of thousands of Americans trapped in Lebanon by Israel's calculated blocking of air, land, and sea escape routes. You've said the safety of Americans is your top priority. Prove it by using the US Air Force and the US Navy facilities to immediately evacuate all our people desperate to escape the terrorization of Lebanon.

You have been so docile and permissive to Israeli demands that any modest deviation from this posture will make your next move credible. Announce that you are sending two prominent negotiators--perhaps James Baker (Republican) and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (Democrat)--to Israel and Lebanon to arrange for a ceasefire between the combatants.

At a televised White House news...