Sep 17, 2007

Senator Jim Webb
Subject: The Horn of Africa

Dear Senator Jim Webb,

I voted for you and I felt good after defeating the former Senator George Allen and I feel proud for taking a part in that because it signals a change in US policies domestic and particularly foreign. That is for me a reason to hope for a better future, a better America , America that is respected by all around the world for its founded purpose and domestically embraced by its people as a nation we can be proud of.

Dear Senator Webb,

As you well know, and now armed with privileged information and a window into the direction of the world you have an opportunity to impact the change we elected you for. I feel good and confident your wisdom, experience, humanity and a little input from your constituency as representatives of their collective citizens to guide you to do the right thing.

Dear Senator,
I am originally from the Horn nation of Eritrea . I came as a refugee to the US in 1981 during the Regan presidency and spent all my adult life as a true citizen of this nation aspiring for its ideals and I thank God for where I am today. I felt at one with this nation fully respecting what I felt it stood for, trusting its checks and balances, trusting its media, institutions, elected officials and adored every thing about this nation as a good guy of the world and a good doer even if it has some misguided policies that propped up despots around the world during the cold war.
Dear Senator,
The last 6+ years led by the Republicans and Bush administration changed my mind almost completely to the point of helplessness. I felt a little relief after the Democrat took the majority both in the house and senate to find it short lived because I feel the Bush administration is still setting the agenda under the radar particularly as it relates to the Horn of Africa due to the absence of popular attention which is Iraq and other major world events even when considerable more attention is given to that part of the world now compared to the past and that is because of oil rich Sudan.

Sir, what ails me and burns my human core is what all Americans are uneasy about, the direction of this country. It feels very misguided like a ship without a captain. It is difficult to frame this letter in a way that is short and concise without going overboard with the details but hungry to make a clear point so you can see my point.

Dear Senator,
After the end of the cold war, the world believed like I did on America to straighten the world as much as possible in cooperation with the world by standing for peace, stability, democracy, human rights and a hope for a brighter future for the world. Instead, we are faced with major problems as a direct result of US intervention around the world. The gift of democracy and the promise of ending tyranny amounted to introducing anarchy and instability and chaos in Somalia , Ethiopia , Afghanistan , Pakistan Iraq and many more places.

US Credibility is at the lowest point it has ever been because US diplomats around the world are showing callous disregard for diplomacy taking my way or the highway approach with out recourse by disregarding treaties,  ignoring the wishes of respective countries to respect the rule of law and by creating enemies as if to say our way will prevail and if you don’t do what we say you will suffer untold consequences and we have a lot at our disposal to destroy you militarily, politically, diplomatically, socially and economically. We can make you a pariah state, destroy your public image and as a result the suffering your people get will be blamed on you or others we don’t like. The tools we will use will be religious rights, human rights, lack of press freedom, lack of democracy and the fashionable one is linking to the war on terror in order to demonize you to justify any action. These are tools of the day at the disposal of US diplomats out of sight of the American people to shape the world and as such the image of a bully.

Dear Senator,
The US policies in the Horn of Africa have failed miserably in many counts. It failed to win the hearts and minds instead it won the enmity, deep seated hatred and mistrust. It failed the war on terror by supporting rogue regimes that trampled constitution in Uganda , Ethiopia and Somalia . These regimes are ruling with little or no support from the public which in turn help creates pockets of resistance everywhere in these countries potentially creating ripe situations for main terrorist groups to infiltrate and gain support from the public. So far the US has used the War against terror card to infiltrate Somalia using Ethiopian troops to do the bidding for the Bush administration. As a result, we are witnessing horrific human calamities by Ethiopian soldiers and transitional Somali government unseen and untold to the US public. Hundreds of thousands are displaced and countless are killed daily but thanks to the US media that shows little of what happens around the world Americans don’t know about it. The US is failing humanity by helping to destabilize the Horn as if that is a stated objective and the main goal. The US is even making enemies by supporting a failing regime under scrutiny by US congress for human rights violations through out Ethiopia and particularly in Ogaden and Gambella.

Dear Senator,

The main reason I am writing is Eritrea . In 17th of August U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendai Frazer came out and stated that they are looking into listing Eritrea as a state sponsor of terror. Eritrea fought Al Qaeda before the world new Al Qaeda. Eritrea was the first Target of Al Qaeda. Eritrea use to warn the world about the threat of Al Qaeda and to be threatened as a terror sponsoring state is far fetched lie and a disservice to those who are dying fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and other places because Eritrea actually supports them. Eritrea clearly states its position as it regards to the issue of Somalia and it is possible for it to be different than that of the US . I feel the US must never use the threat of listing countries as a terrorist if they disagree with the US policy. It diminishes the credibility of the actual war on terror and the US !

Dear Senator Jim Webb,
I am writing to ask you stop the State department from abusing their authority by using coercive diplomacy to accomplish US geopolitical agenda at the expense of the people in the Horn. Eritrea has been asking to partner with the US and Eritrea has been seeking US to allow the demarcation to proceed because Eritrea believes the US is the key player in that regard. Eritrea is not a terror threat to the US , it never has been and it will never be. Eritrean is blessed by law abiding citizens determined to build their war ravaged country a war that was a result of US led policy that united it with Ethiopia leading to loses of countless lives and livelihood that destroyed dreams including mine.

Dear Senator Jim Webb,   
Your campaign was moving because it was real, human and personal. You brilliantly lifted your son’s shoes to make the point. And If I am to make that analogy in this case I am the shoe for my people. I am the embodiment and a small example of displacement and agony being suffered as a result of geopolitical interests of the West. Fortunately, I am here to speak for them and express my feelings.

Sir,
President Abraham Lincoln realized the way to unite this country is by doing the right thing even if it threatened the very unity of this country and realization that it can kill him. Even though, Abraham Lincoln was killed as a result of the tough decision he made for the country, his legacy established one of the key foundations of this nation and human character to shape generations of leaders.
Sir,
We have an opportunity to do what Abraham Lincoln did for this country and for blacks in particular. We also have on obligation, human and divine to give the people of Africa   peace and opportunity to develop themselves and to bring up their kids like the kids of the West free from wars and threats of diseases, death and destruction. We have the resources and ability to shape the world in a better way if there is a will. The world trusted the U.S once and rolled out the Red Carpet for it but, the U.S. didn’t return the favor in kind because it is returning the red carpet soaked with blood to stain the world an as such the image of this country for a long time to come.
Sir,
I ask you to take my plea to heart and serve the people of the world and as such this country a service of good leadership and know that I am with you willing and able to help in any way I can!!

Thank you and God Bless

Sincerely,
Amanuel Biedemariam