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America stands alone
Anti-U.S. sentiment mirrors Farrakhan prediction |
by James Muhammad
 (FinalCall.com)--In a letter last December to President Bush, the
Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan predicted that the president�s
misguided "war on terror" policies would result in more violence in the
Middle East, confusion and division in America and a collapse of his
coalition against terror.
"This is a very dangerous hour," Min. Farrakhan warned Mr. Bush in
his letter, "but it is an hour filled with great opportunity. What is
needed in this hour is right and divine guidance.
"Mr. President, if you follow what you have in mind, which many of
those around you are encouraging you to do, then you will do what Osama
bin Laden and no Muslim extremist could ever do. You will unite the
Muslim world in hostility against America and Great Britain, and, you
will use your great position of power inadvertently to call for a Holy
War against the West. The coalition that you are gathering (in the war
on terror) will fall away from you and you will have to pursue this war
alone," Min. Farrakhan warned.
In subsequent speeches, Min. Farrakhan stressed that even Great
Britain would leave the coalition if Mr. Bush pursued his policies.
Eight months later, peace is very shaky in Afghanistan, the conflict
among Palestinians and Israelis is escalating due to missteps by the
president and the administration is divided over what the next step in
the war would be�i.e. should the U.S. attack Iraq. And perhaps more of a
concern to the administration, the disdain toward America from her
European allies is festering.
 Offering his view of what should be done, Min. Farrakhan advised the
president to be careful and thoughtful in his decisions in responding to
the attacks on America. He admonished Mr. Bush to seek guidance from
spiritual leaders who are knowledgeable of the prophecies of scripture.
Min. Farrakhan also cautioned the president to move away from the
established U.S. government�s pattern of vilifying leaders in the press
and then covertly overthrowing them.
"I am afraid that this extended war may take a turn that you and your
advisors least expect, and involve America in the greatest of all wars,
the War of Armageddon, in which no nation will be left out, including
Russia and China," Min. Farrakhan added.
Sept. 11: Day of Gloom
The shock of Sept. 11 gripped the nation. No one could ever imagine
two of the world�s largest buildings coming down within 30 minutes of
each other. It was a shock to see U.S. airliners being used as missiles.
No one ever imagined America being so vulnerable.
A confident Bush had finally found his "voice" when he stood before
Congress Sept. 13 and called for a National Day of Prayer. Prior to
Sept. 11, Mr. Bush�who barely won the presidential election only after a
U.S. Supreme Court ruling on vote counting in Florida (he did not get
the most popular votes)�was stewarding a seemingly wayward
administration whose agenda was not connecting with the American public
and whose administration was in the grips of a slumping economy.
"Civilized people around the world denounce the evildoers who devised
and executed these terrible attacks," Mr. Bush said. "Justice demands
that those who helped or harbored the terrorists be punished�and
punished severely. The enormity of their evil demands it. We will use
all the resources of the United States and our cooperating friends and
allies to pursue those responsible for this evil, until justice is
done," he said.
But two months later, his mission was more defined and his rhetoric
more strident as he prepared the American public for the unknown.
"Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign,
unlike any other we have ever seen," Mr. Bush told a joint session of
Congress September 20, 2001. "It may include dramatic strikes, visible
on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve
terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from
place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue
nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism.
"Every nation, in every region," he warned the world, "now has a
decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the
terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor
or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile
regime."
During the Nation of Islam�s Day of Atonement celebration Oct. 16,
2001, the anniversary of the Million Man March, Min. Farrakhan again
voiced concern to the president. He called America to consider atonement
traditions of Jesus and the prophets, a theme that prevailed at the
historic 1995 march.
Min. Farrakhan also called on America to answer the question that was
on the nation�s mind: "Why do they hate us?"
"President Bush, I pray you won�t pursue what you have in mind. If
you do, you will end what is known as the United States of America.
Something terrible happened on September 11, and we have not gotten
definitive answers as to why people hate America to that degree. People
don�t act like this for nothing. People don�t sacrifice their lives and
take the lives of others for nothing," he said.
"If Mr. Bush wants the world to join him in this war, then prove to
the world that Osama bin Laden is responsible for this heinous crime.
(Bush) says he has overwhelming evidence. Then bring the evidence and
show it to the American people," he said.
"If America would adopt the process of atonement, it would keep
America strong hundreds of years into the future," Min. Farrakhan
concluded. "The weapons of war have never kept any great empire of
yesterday from falling. And the great weapons of war that America has
amassed cannot keep America from falling if she violates the principles
that lead to perpetuity."
Bush�s heart hardens
With the direction of the "war on terror" continuing to weigh on his
mind and Mr. Bush�s announcement that ground troops in Afghanistan may
be a prelude to an even wider war, Min. Farrakhan penned his December
letter to Mr. Bush. The letter eventually was published on the website
of political economist Jude Wanniski, who became concerned that the
president had not offered any kind of response to the letter.
Min. Farrakhan also explained for the country during his February 17
World Saviours� Day address in Los Angeles, which was broadcast on
C-SPAN, the oil motive of America�s venture into Afghanistan and how the
war on terror is being used to curtail the civil liberties of U.S.
citizens.
Calling America an oil junkie and explaining that Pres. Bush and his
oil connections want to run an oil pipeline from former Soviet Union
states through Afghanistan, Min. Farrakhan explained: "America has come
to a crossroads. You must understand that power is linked, in world
politics, to oil. And as the greatest industrial nation on Earth,
America has an insatiable appetite for oil."
Nevertheless, Mr. Bush has since focused America�s sights on an "axis
of terror" states, naming North Korea, Iran and Iraq. He has publicly
announced his administration�s open policy of ousting Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein, even giving the C.I.A. the green light to assassinate
him.
It was this hardening of Mr. Bush�s heart and blind arrogance, in
addition to the out of control carnage in Israel, that spurred Min.
Farrakhan to set off June 20 on a Peace Mission to the Middle East and
Africa. The objectives of that mission were to stop the carnage between
Palestinians and Israelis and to get the Arab and Muslim world to speak
with one voice in opposition to a U.S. attack on Iraq.
Missed opportunity
While in the Middle East, Min. Farrakhan spoke several times on the
Al Jazeerah network�known in that area as the Arab world�s CNN�and
called for a balanced policy toward Palestine. His was the first voice
heard in the Arab and Muslim world in response to President Bush�s Peace
Initiative.
Standing in the White House Rose Garden June 24, 2002, and flanked by
Cabinet officials, Mr. Bush called on the Palestinian people "to elect
new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror."
"I call upon them to build a practicing democracy, based on tolerance
and liberty. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals,
America and the world will actively support their efforts. And when the
Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions and new security
arrangements with their neighbors, the United States of America will
support the creation of a Palestinian state whose borders and certain
aspects of its sovereignty will be provisional until resolved as part of
a final settlement in the Middle East," he said, in a speech that called
for virtually no immediate concessions from Israel.
Min. Farrakhan�s frank and honest response expressed disappointment
in the plan, saying the Arab world could feel that Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon could have written it. His remarks perhaps
strengthened the region�s response for a fairer U.S. policy, even though
Yasser Arafat�s office "welcomed the ideas presented by President Bush.
The president (Arafat) and the cabinet view the ideas as a serious
contribution to pushing the peace process forward."
During his media appearances and in discussions with political and
religious leaders, Min. Farrakhan emphasized that if allowed into Israel
he would ask the Palestinian militants to observe a 90-120 day
moratorium on suicide bombings. In exchange for such an agreement, he
would ask Mr. Sharon to pull his tanks and troops out of the occupied
territories.
Did that message get through?
Although the Israeli government denied Min. Farrakhan entry into the
country, it was reported that Hamas leaders were ready to implement his
exact agreement following meetings with Israeli officials, including
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.
But the plan was sabotaged only hours before it was to be implemented
July 22 when an Israeli air force pilot fired a one-ton missile into a
three-story building, killing the alleged target, Hamas leader Salah
Shehade, but also killing 14 others, mostly women and children.
Meanwhile, the media mischief makers in the U.S. were busy. Prior to
July 6, the national media ignored Min. Farrakhan�s Peace Mission. But
that changed when the United Press International news service published
a report allegedly quoting from the Iraqi News Agency. The false UPI
report quoted Min. Farrakhan as saying, "Muslim American people are
praying to the almighty God to grant victory to Iraq." The UPI went
further to publish so-called "Hot Button" talking points for discussions
in chat rooms and radio talk shows, asking, "Is Farrakhan more a member
of the Nation of Islam than he is an American?"
"That absolutely is not true," Min. Farrakhan responded to the false
UPI report. "The victory for Iraq as well as for the United States of
America would be peace so that no United States soldier would be put in
harms way, or one bomb dropped on the Iraqi people. That would be a
victory for both sides; and that�s the victory that I and those with me
are praying for�not a war and a victory, but peace as the victory for
both sides."
Nation of Islam Chief of Staff Leonard F. Muhammad put the media
mischief into context of past attempts to discredit Black leaders who
involved themselves in international politics.
Citing the sacking of former UN Ambassador Andrew Young for meeting
with Palestinian representatives, Mr. Muhammad said, "Diplomatic efforts
by prominent Blacks have often been rejected by the U.S. government and
the media. Min. Farrakhan�s effort to serve the interests of peace
should not be misunderstood in his own country. We don�t believe history
will be repeated where Min. Farrakhan is concerned."
Nevertheless, the report meant for mischief got the nation talking
about U.S. foreign policy as Min. Farrakhan made appearances on national
media clarifying the false report.
Solo no more
When Min. Farrakhan and the delegation departed on the Peace Mission,
the landscape was void of any national voices heralding to the world to
stop a U.S. attack on Iraq.
"It appeared when I first spoke of this that I was singing a solo,
but now a chorus has come up from the world," Min. Farrakhan said July
22 during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington
upon his return from the Peace Mission.
"I spoke to many Arab leaders, both political and spiritual and I can
tell you that there is no Arab country that does not desire better
relations and friendship with the United States of America. Even Iraq
wants friendship with America but on conditions that are fair and just.
Whether the leaders in that area agree with Saddam Hussein or not, none
of them with whom we spoke wanted to see bombs fall on Iraq and the
slaughter of innocent civilians just to get rid of a man that America
says is some threat to the world," Min. Farrakhan reported.
And how have Muslim nations responded to the Minister�s call for a
united voice against war on Iraq?
Kuwait has said she would support an attack only if the United
Nations allowed it, according to press reports.
Jordan�s King Abdullah has said: "Trying to take on the question of
Iraq with the lack of positive movement on the Israeli-Palestinian,
Israeli-Arab track seems, at this point, somewhat ludicrous.��
In a Washington Post interview, he said, "Everybody is saying
this is a bad idea. If it seems America says we want to hit Baghdad,
that�s not what Jordanians think, or the British, the French, the
Russians, the Chinese and everybody else."
Shortly after Min. Farrakhan�s July 22 press conference, where he
also called for Saudi Arabia to make known to the world its position on
allowing U.S. planes to launch an attack from Saudi soil, the Saudis
responded "Not in our back yard," according to a Chicago daily front
page headline.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud has been quoted as saying while visiting
Iran recently: "We have always opposed any attack against an Arab or
Muslim country," re-emphasizing a few days later, "The U.S. military
will not be allowed to use our soil in any way for an attack on Iraq."
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Iran is opposed to "any
U.S. military attack on Iraq or any other Muslim or Arab countries."
European coalition shatters
Even Britain and Turkey, two of America�s staunchest allies, have
joined the chorus.
"We are trying to deter the United States administration from any
military operation,�� Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said recently, adding
that Turkey sees danger in such a mission. "It will not be possible��
for the United States "to get out of there easily,�� he said.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is under tremendous pressure to
distance the nation from President Bush on the Iraq question.
Demonstrators in London branded America the "#1 Rogue Nation."
Quoting senior defense and diplomatic sources, The Independent
of London, a daily newspaper, recently reported that "Britain has
strongly advised the United States against attacking Iraq, warning that
it risked intensifying the conflicts in Afghanistan, Israel and Kashmir.
These are issues the Americans appear not to have considered."
"America dissipated the goodwill out of its arrogance and
incompetence," Meghnad Desai, director of the Institute for Global
Governance at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a
member of the House of Lords, is quoted saying in USA Today,
explaining Europe�s growing hostility to America.
He said Europeans view America�s policies as unilateralist and
selfish.
"America will painfully realize that the world isn�t as simplistic in
its approach as Washington wants it to be," said Hans Von Sponeck, the
former director of the UN�s Oil For Food Program in Iraq.
Countries are extremely wary of seeing a government in Washington
that continually says "no" to programs like the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the
International Criminal Court, the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
the Biological Weapons Agreement, etc., he said.
Germany and France also split from the coalition on the question of
Iraq.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder sharply ruled out joining any
military attack recently, saying, "I think that if there is a military
intervention, we should be cautious. That means that Germany will not
take part" in any U.S.-led action against Iraq.
"The more fair, just and equitable the solution to the
Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the more the anger of those on both sides
will subside, and America will get the credit of settling this
53-year-old problem with justice," Min. Farrakhan advised in his letter
to Mr. Bush.
"If you re-examined policies that are unfair and changed them, this
signal to the world would bring the world and those so-called enemies
and rogue states into your and America�s sphere of influence," he said.
Photos: (1) Demonstrators hold a huge
banner reading "Stop Bush" and placards with a crossed out face of U.S.
President George W. Bush during a protest rally in Berlin May 21. The
placards read "Warmongers Unwelcome" and "No attack on Iraq." (2) Min.
Farrakhan discusses his Peace Mission.
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