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Biddho.com Eritrea - Rising To The Challenges!    

Tuesday
Oct 07th
Home arrow News arrow OPEN LETTER TO SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE
OPEN LETTER TO SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE Print E-mail
Written by Haileab Luul Tesfai   
Tuesday, 04 December 2007
ImageThe Honorable Secretary Condoleezza Rice:

I am writing this letter with hope and anticipation that your scheduled visit to Africa would represent a turning point or a pause for rethinking the US policy towards Africa, particularly the Horn sub-region.

Many political commentators from the Horn sub-region are speculating that your trip would only result in the reassertion of the policy that has mostly impacted negatively, if not exasperated the already volatile sub-region. However, even if it sounds like a far fetched possibility, there are optimists who hope that something different or unexpected might happen as a result of your trip. How can it be different this time? One might wonder. For an optimist, the invitation of Sudan and Syria as part of the Arab and Moslem counties delegation to the recently held Palestinian-Israeli peace talks is a positive reversal of an outdated policy which had been anchored exclusively on selected nations without regard to the influence and positive role that certain nations or organizations have in a given region. Would this trend also apply in other regions?

In some other instances, it has even been worse, not only for its lack of engaging other key players in resolving conflicts, but has tried to put off fires using fire. How can a nation perceived by the other as hostile be expected to be a peace-maker especially when the means adopted is a heavy handed military option? There is no need for further explanation; the outcome of the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia is a clear example of the failure of such myopic policy, to say the least. On the other hand, for a variety of reasons, such an outcome is what certain elements within the power structures desire. As such, people who advocate for justice and peace believe that they have the moral duty to point out the presence of such negative elements whose conduct and influence not only impacts on nations at the receiving end of the wrong headed policy, but also to the overall global peace and stability.

Since the end of September, the Eritrean government has been giving warning to the international community that the Ethiopian regime is preparing for another aggressive act against Eritrea. And such illegal and potentially destructive act cannot be carried without the full knowledge of your Administration or certain segments within the Administration.

The second reason for optimism on your trip to Africa comes from the possibilities that the Ethio-Eritrean file would finally have the full attention of the Administration. Many believe that in the labyrinth of the US foreign policy making process there are many instances that certain groups or officials have disproportionate influence or control which at the end is made on behalf or in the name of the Administration. From that perspective, your trip to the region would give you a first hand knowledge and that opens the possibilities for you to learn something that the US officials or the experts who work on a regular basis in the region cannot see, or as mentioned above, do not want to see. Well, their action or lack thereof impacts on the lives of millions and by the same token on the long term interests of the United States.

The invasion of Iraq and the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia was totally driven by a misguided policy that has not only impacted on the Iraqi and Somali people, but also on the image and prestige of the United States. Generally speaking, since the end of the Cold War, the United States has missed or was misguided to miss many opportunities to transform itself into what it professes to be, and all that in the absence of war or any threat of war.

Secretary Rice, if not for the people of the United States, your Administration has now an opportunity to have a close look at what has transpired in the Ethio-Eritrean conflict and take the right steps to rectify the misguided role of the Administration or most likely of those who are tasked with that sorry file. Among other things, you have the opportunity to find out the most puzzling answer on how a nation that has unilaterally deterred the expansion of the Bin Laden fundamentalist enterprise into the Horn sub–region is being considered to be enlisted in what officials in your Administration call state sponsor of terrorism!!
Well, whatever the term terrorism means or stands for, in your trip to Africa you could also find out how a regime that terrorizes its people be an ally in the so called war on terror. And how does such misguided policy impact on the long term interests of the United States, of course, assuming that the stated policy is to bring peace and stability in the Horn and the Red-Sea sub–region is true?

A bit of History is worth mentioning. In the fifties, when the UN was discussing the future status of Eritrea, the then Secretary of State, Mr. Foster Dulles, said that Eritrea should be granted independence, but for the sake of “peace and stability” it has to be federated to Ethiopia, a US ally. Three Ethiopian regimes, since then, which have been given a direct or indirect support by the United States have never brought peace in the sub-region especially to the Eritrean people. The peace that Mr. Dulles promised has turned out to be war and destruction and whatever comes with it.

Despite those historical facts, after independence, the magnanimous Eritrean people and government which actively sought to start a new relationship in a new era has not been appreciated, at least in certain segments within successive US administrations. Finally, the so-called border dispute which flared up into open conflict in 1998 has unfortunately demonstrated, regardless of its dynamic, that the US policy towards Eritrea has not changed at all. Unlike in the Cold War era, there is no justification for such an unjust policy which has left stranded the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia in a state of uncertainty. Moreover, there cannot be any explanation except blatant injustice when the United States has not only officially played the role of a mediator but played a key role in the drafting of the Algeries Peace Treaty which was supposed to be the ultimate legal tool to bring the conflict into a lasting peaceful conclusion. However, five years have now passed with the Ethiopian government dragging its feet from implementing a final and binding agreement. But that is not the point; your administration or certain segments within the Administration are behind this illegal act of the Ethiopian regime. There can’t be more convincing evidence than what Mr. John Bolton has mentioned in his latest memoir released last month. He said:

"For reasons I never understood, however, Frazer reversed course and asked in early February [2006] to reopen the 2002 EEBC decision, which she had concluded was wrong, and award a major piece of disputed territory to Ethiopia. I was at a loss to explain that to the Security Council, so I didn’t."

The government of Eritrea had been very reserved and at times dismissive of the negative role that the US Administration or those who work on its behalf have played during the peace negotiations and in the delayed implementation of the Verdict. Only when they went as far as to openly blackmail and intensify a smear campaign against Eritrea did the Eritrean government started to speak up, albeit with less specifics, on the negative role of the Administration and/or certain officials.

Those who drove the US into Somalia had convinced the authorities that there were Al Qaeda elements within the Islamic Courts; and Ethiopia was sent to disband what many had considered as an indigenous group that could have evolved into a permanently unifying force. Well, one would ask, even if the Al Qaeda allegation were true, does it justify the catastrophe that has ensued on the Somali people just to catch five men? Weren’t other means available, again assuming that the allegations were true? Why was the advice of Eritrea which has a long standing relationship with Somalia not sought or ignored when it gave its sincere warning that the invasion would be catastrophic which is now making horrible headlines in the media?

And now besides the fact that there is a legal and binding verdict, what is the rationale behind allowing Ethiopia to unleash another war only because some families happen to be on the wrong side of the demarcation line. How would one justify the killing of thousands and the destruction of towns and villages because the demarcation line is crossing through a church or a cemetery?
Common sense would only tell that peace is not the objective of those who are entrusted in handling the Ethio-Eritrea conflict on a daily basis.

Secretary Rice, there has been another disappointment that many African observers of the Ethio-Eritrean crisis feel about the negative role that individuals who are expected to be more understanding and aware of the injustice that Africa has experienced at the hands of different powers and power structures haven’t played a sensible role. It is more of a moral duty that is terribly lacking on the actions of certain officials. There is another reason for hope. Besides making amends to the misguided policy of the Administration, couldn’t this be an opportune moment when the first African-American woman Secretary of State would offer pleasant surprises and set a new course for the United States, leading to a genuine peace and stability in the Horn and the Red Sea Basin?

Dear Secretary, obviously all the many calls from the “strong” and the “powerful” have neither brought peace and stability to our region nor respect to the United States; it is time for change.

Yours respectfully,

Haileab Luul Tesfai

Toronto.

 

Comments
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hagos - Dear   | 198.28.92.xxx | 2007-12-05 09:19:46
Please don't expect anything from the Gruila (Monky) or Slave state departemnet of US that serve for the sack of white. She and her other friend they are just working to blead africans especially thier ancistors. My advice is just watch what she is going to do. Monky is Monky no matter if she has two leags.
tuumbeles - good effort   | 130.92.9.xxx | 2007-12-05 15:15:44
Dear Luul,

i'd like to say that you have written a good letter. i fear that it may have fallen on deaf ears. it would be best for eritrean's of North American citizenship to come together and lobby the US Govt. I know of no such groups that are actively engaged.

a small crticism i have is that your letter is too long, too many words. It fails to grab attention because of that. best wishes,
Paul
Mehari Teklemariam   | 213.112.94.xxx | 2007-12-06 20:12:56
we eritrean are not terrorist and uor government
yemane - shame on eritrea   | 24.66.94.xxx | 2007-12-08 16:28:58
amazing, u guys are ignorant
CONDOLISA RICE, very respectedwomen man, who are u to say she ''is monkey''
u should come with some constructive ideas, for a country with 80% of ministers and higher officials in jail, for a country with no human right and constitution,
for a country we eritreans know ''is in favour of terrorism'' we blame others, shame on erirea, interfaring on regional and international issue, issue of kongo, issue of darfur and somalia, yemen , ethiopia, eritreans are living in fear,unlike their expectation of ''eritrean freedom and independence'' , shoking brutal regim, but time out, the ethiopians will break this fear and persecution of eritreans in their home land, every one is well coming ''ETHIOPIAN ARMY IN FEBRUARY'', hihihihihi,time out.
mephistopheles   | 24.18.5.xxx | 2007-12-15 00:15:25
[size=medium][/size][color=black][/color]I suggest you Ethiopians teach your children to pursue goodness in your morally confusing little world called E
mephistopheles   | 24.18.5.xxx | 2007-12-15 00:17:58
You people are cruel, love to inflict pain, rape, steal what is not yours and rally behind draconian regimes. Your writing is a true indication of your AIDS infested little black heart.
mephistopheles   | 24.18.5.xxx | 2007-12-15 00:19:03
What is wrong with you? Do you not posses the basis of all sympathy, empathy and compassion. Listen, you monsters other people are as alive as you are that little fact might not be processed by your tiny Ethiopian brain but still try to have sympathy and compassion and live in peace and let others do the same. Again, because
mephistopheles   | 24.18.5.xxx | 2007-12-15 00:19:57
Again, because
mephistopheles   | 24.18.5.xxx | 2007-12-15 00:20:23
solomon Asrat     | 62.11.229.xxx | 2007-12-08 23:46:06
Hi Hi Yemane,on your comment regarding Rice you're told us that U R Weyane supporter!,Each person have the right to express his or her comment.But,the time elapsed for you and other persones supporters of Agame like you.HiHiHi!
angesom - reply to solomon asrat     | 213.55.74.xxx | 2007-12-11 12:32:48
Hi solomon , on your comment regarding dr. Rice is quite closed idea that do not consider others right like the shabian supporters , plz rethink u guy just as in the 21 century bye.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 December 2007 )
 
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