Ayatollah Fadlallah΄s Letter to US President Obama

His Eminence, the Religious Authority Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, asked if "Israel" will continue to be the center and the driving force behind US policy toward our region, or whether the United States will hammer out its own policies instead. He said that the exclusion policies practiced by the subsequent American administration toward our region have aroused anti-American sentiment.

Sayyed Fadlallah said that we will not expect from the new American administration unfeasible change, adding that he who pledges to pursue a policy that is different from the one that prevailed before must be honest with himself and with the people and must turn his words into actions.

Sayyed Fadlallah addressed a letter to the American President Barack Obama at the beginning of his tenure. The following is the text of the letter:

"Dear Mr. President, the esteemed head of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama,

"It appears clear to the entire world that the United States has reached a position that enabled it to control much of the world's politics and economy and security, thanks to many factors, the US ability to benefit from and utilize the experiences of other nations, which has promoted American society due to cultural diversity and pluralism. The election of an Afro-American person to the presidency represents one of the cultural values that characterize American society, and these values are destined to influence change in the broad parameters of US policies.

"The slogan of change - which is the title of the new tenure - reflects a philosophy for mankind in life. This philosophy deems criticism and self-change as a sustainable and continuous movement, and thus, a stagnant, durable and unchangeable state of mankind will limit our growth, while the entire world around us is progressing in thoughts and means.

"Therefore, we believe that change cannot be partial or selective, but it should include all the aspects of human activity, whether be it individual or collective, and whether made by groups, parties, states or nations. Change must also be a movement that addresses the deep roots of any issue, not only the surface, even in terms of the underlying philosophies of human thought that existed at a specific time.

"In this regard, we stress that each and every human invention is deemed as an absolute truth for its creator, and is thus based on the specificity of his culture. This means that human life should be governed by dialogue, in the march of mankind to seek truth.

"In this letter, we would like to addresses a number of significant issues:

"First: The world economy has undoubtedly suffered a major setback, which raises the need to review the global economic system, not only in terms of its means, but also its rules, premises and philosophies. We believe that one of the major factors that led to the collapse of an economy is the absence of moral restraints, which turns the market into a monster devouring everyone, even those who have produced it. Also - the market becomes uncontrollable, even by those who set its regulations.

"When signs of a global economic crisis loomed in the horizons, we repeatedly called for reviewing the rich elements of Islam, in terms of the harmony between economy and values and the balance between individualism and socialism. This can establish a serious global dialogue - based on scientific and critical efforts - to serve as a solid bridge for global cooperation and narrow down the differences between the East and the West...

"Second: The United States of America has ignited ruinous wars in the Islamic world, and destabilized it with internal feuds. We are not going to address - at the moment - the reasons, nor will we tackle the elements of the Islamic and Arab impotency that paved the way [for these feuds and wars], but we would rather like to address the immoral and uncivilized aspects that governed the US approach for a number of critical and sensitive issues in the world. This necessitates a radical change, not a superficial one:

"A -The war on Afghanistan was staged in reaction to the September 11 attacks which were condemned by the entire world, and we were at the forefront, because these attacks are inconsistent with our Islamic values. But the Holy Quran mentioned a moral and civilized value of justice, on the basis that every human being bears the responsibilities of his actions, not those of others.

"The perpetrators of the September 11 attacks are specific people or sides, while the flames of the war spread into many places, proving to many people that these events were only a pretext in order to stage a war, the purpose of which is to achieve strategic interests for the United States, through previously shaped plans to control the resources of the Muslim world, in a prelude to gain more cards in the US conflict with many sides and axes.

"The following question arises in this context: Should we allow such a law to exist? In other words, is it justified for those assaulted by a person or a side to announce a war on all the members of the doer's family, or the entire society to which this side belongs? The language of law - which you know very well [addressing Obama] - says that the criminal alone should be punished for his crime, not any of his relatives who are not partners to the crime.

From this point, why don't you justify - and we too do not justify - for those assaulted by your army and oppressed by your policies - to kidnap and kill whoever belongs to your state? Isn't this the same logic you act upon? As we present these facts, we aim at pointing out the nature of the crisis and problem that emanates tragedies, war, and destruction for mankind, particularly when the values of justice become absent, and are replaced by revengeful intentions akin to the tribal system back in the backward ages.

"B- The United States waged a war on Iraq based on a deception [as to] weapons of mass destruction, and the United Nations Organization opposed the American monopoly of the war decision at the time.

"This war placed Iraq and the entire region in the midst of a fire, the flames of which have reached your hands too. The question is:

"What are the restraints that must govern international policies so as to prevent another lie from spreading new tragedies worldwide, the ramifications of which might be uncontrollable this time? And who gives the right for any state, regardless of its magnitude, to appoint itself as a policeman for this world, and as a judge and executioner at the same time? Doesn't this require from your country to change the way it deals with international law and paralyze the function of the international organizations?

"C- The size of support and cover-up provided by your country for the Zionist entity has become known. This entity was established on the land whose people were uprooted by the power of iron and fire. The subsequent American policies have contributed to the loss of the Palestinian cause, despite the ratification of many Security Council resolutions. The last heinous episode took place in Gaza and was among the most atrocious crimes throughout history.

"The following question arises: To what extent will the US policy change, and thus give an open eye for what is happening on Palestine, even regarding the concessions which the Arabs and Palestinians have only made under the American pressures that took many faces and colors? Is it possible to see any American pressures applied on ‘Israel' to abide by international law that it has overlooked throughout its entire history? There is also another question, particularly after your recent speech in which you announced the appointment of international envoys to the Arab and Muslim region:

"Will ‘Israel' continue to be the driving force behind the American policy toward our region, or will the United States hammer out its own policy instead...?"