fiogf49gjkf0d
by Zainab Nur
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Dear President Elected Barach Obama
I wish to congratulate you on your historic victory. You are not only an inspiration to millions of Americans; you have inspired millions around the world. From Obama, Japan to Mogadishu, Somalia, we the people, have been inspired by your brand of hope and your message of change.
I write to you on behalf of the millions of Somalis who, through the horrors of a brutal occupation and the pain of loss and despair, have been glued to their radios as they followed your amazing campaign. I also write to you on behalf of myself and the thousands of Somalis in America, Canada and all over the world who see in you hope and who consider your victory a victory of their own.
Mr. President, I write to implore you to break with George Bush’s failed policy in Somalia. I beseech you to lead the international community in helping end this 18-year nightmare. I urge you to look at Somalia through a new lens and to hear the voices of the people. Despite the false assertions and fear mongering of a desperate Ethiopian dictator and the propaganda of the neo-Cons and other special interests, Somalia is not a haven for terror; it is a victim of it. The people of Somalia need peace, food and medicine not bombs and military occupations.
Not unlike Americans, Somalis are hungry for change, for democracy, and an opportunity to choose their own destiny. I, and millions like me, hope that you can and will bring change to us too. We hope that you will be wise where Bush was foolish, compassionate where he was indifferent, and that you will chart a new course for Somali-American relations. George Bush not only failed to help the Somali people, he robbed them of their only chance for change. Mr. Bush and his secretary Mrs. Frazer have supported and armed warlords and foreign governments at the expense of the Somali people and at the expense of freedom and peace. George Bush’s mistakes in Somalia are not only a foreign policy blunder and a blot on the reputation of your country; they are a death sentence to an already suffering people. The Somali people seek the freedom and peace that you pledged to support and they need your help now more than ever.
Mr.President, I hope that you will take initiative where other leaders have failed to act. I hope that you will reach out to Somalis and unbiased advisers in order to assess the real situation on the ground. Most importantly, I hope that you will break with the current approach to Somalia; we have seen repeatedly that the policy of rewarding warlords and forcing them on the population they terrorized is a failed one. The Somali people need security, reconciliation and a process of choosing their leadership that is free of warlord interference.
I know that Somalia does not get the same attention as Darfur or the Middle East, but that is precisely why I write to you. Tackling the forgotten crisis in Somalia will take courage, commitment, vision, and leadership. Mr. President, we believe that you, more than anyone, have what it takes to end the Ethiopian and warlord occupation and help the Somali people rebuild their lives.
Mr. President, I thank you for your time and once again, I congratulate on your historic victory. I wish you all the best as you strive for change and a better world. Our thoughts and hopes will be with you every step of the way.
Respectfully yours,
Zainab Nur