Should it be Taken Seriously?

Iranian President Mahmood Ahmedinijad is known as a Hard Liner to the West. Ever since he came to power in 2005, he has followed a Bold Foreign Policy, and often Outspoken. From the time of Denying that the Holocaust ever took place, to once again denying the existence of the Israel, to now sending letters to the American Administration criticizing their foreign policy in the Middle East. Yesterday, President Ahmedinijad sent a letter to the White House, criticizing them on their policies in the Middle East. The link to the letter, for anybody who wants to read it in detail, can see it on the New York Times Website (the 30th November issue in World section, Number 22).

The Bush Administration deemed the letter irrelevant and they have dismissed it as hypocritical. They accuse Iran of deviating away from the main issue of Iran's Nuclear Programme. But, Can these frequent rantings of President Ahmedinijad against the US be ignored? Is the US policy in the Middle East now really flawed? Is President Ahmedinijad echoing the sentiment of millions around the world?

The United States is already having a tough time in the Middle East, with many already saying that this is America's Second Vietnam. The number of US Soldiers who are dead in Iraq is already very high, thus some groups are calling on US Troops to leave the country. The secterian violence has reached fearful proportions and many feel that a Civil War in Iraq is imminent. As I am writing this post, the Shia Al-Sadr Group have blocked talks with the Minority Sunnis and their leaders. The Insurgency on both sides has been quiet violent and it peaked to a bloody level in November. Car Bombings in Baghdad, subsequent destruction of shrines in several Shia areas and mortar attacks in the Sunni areas have made this country very dangerous. There is no doubt about the fact that Iraq is in a BIG MESS, and America is losing control of it quickly. The interim government is being rendered dysfunctional and deadlocked, hence there is no progress on any front.

Israel represents a complex problem that has been going on ever since it was created as a state in 1948. Several hard attempts for peace are being blown away quiet easily by either Suicide Attacks, Rocket attacks by the Palestinians or by Israeli Military incursions. The Palestinian Authority is weak and has no control over its several factions, while Hamas refuses to be recognised by the Governments of the West. The continuing frustration between the Israelis and the Palestinians seems to have no end.

America now has two problems in the Middle East, both potentially deadly and ruinous problems. It has World Opinion firmly against it, for the way it went into War in the first place during 2003 in Iraq. It has continued to ignore warnings of several of its allies, regarding the Middle East Problem. Now, the American Administration is strongly Bi-Partisan, with President Bush a Lame Duck and he Democrats controlling both the houses.

Now the contents of the letter in general refers to the Lies that the administration has told the American Public. It refers to the plight of the captives in Guantanamo Bay and calls it illegal. The Abu-Ghraib prison scandal, and their continued support for Israel has been highlighted in the letter. Should the world, in particular the US take this letter very seriously? Let us look at the reasons why wether some aspects should be taken seriously or not.

As far as the position on Guantanamo Bay and the Abu-Ghraib Prison scandal are concerned, America did not give out the whole picture. America continues to hide away certain things relating to Guantanamo Bay. The factor of Accountability is simply not there when it comes to the plight of all those captured in the prison. The Abu Ghraib Prison scandal exposed the crude Psyche that American troops can degenerate too. Hence, President Ahmedinijad is correct when he says that the US administration has not been entirely honest about Guantanamo Bay. The administration is also i feel trying to cover up the impending Disaster in Iraq by stressing upon the factor of patience. Majority of Americans feel that the War is not going well, while some people do not even know what is really happening on the ground in Iraq.

As far as the problem of Israel and Palestine goes, America is simply deadlocked. President Ahmedinijad does not understand the American role in Israel. The Americans have cut off financial aid to the Palestinian Government, thus pressurizing them in a way to recognize Israel's right to exist. But, it should strongly admonish Israel for conducting the illegal military raids into Palestinian territory. But, it is hard to admonish this fact that Israel is conducting these raids as a form of Self-defence. Perhaps, and VERY REGRETFULLY, the boundary wall that Israel is building along the West Bank seems to be the only option. The situation is very tense in the Middle East. You have the problems of Iraq and Israel-Palestine, you have an radical (possibly Nuclear) regime in Iran and there is a possibility of the Government in Lebanon being toppled in a coup by Hezbollah. It is a situation that America did not anticipate, and is possibly paying the price for it.

Ahmedinijad has asked the questions to the American administration. Wether it is for for the purpose of building up his power base or wether to divert attention away from the problem of Iran's Nuclear Programme is irrelevant. The question is being posed, and the American Public indeed must ask these questions to the government, afterall, this is what a Democracy is. So, this letter indeed should be taken up seriously, first by the Media and then the American Public, only then will they be immune from the crisis which is posing a very grave danger to the them