Dear President Trump
domenica 22 gennaio 2017 English 0 commenti
Il Giornale, January 22, 2017Dear President Trump,
My heart's hope is that your presidency will truly be revolutionary. Best wishes to you and your country.
Since this day your beating lashes will resonate everywhere, every position you will take will become a benchmark upon which a world in great upheaval can be measured, where the ominous prediction of the religious war with Islam became real, in which weapons of mass destruction were used against women and children in Syria without your country pushing back as promised (it is here from where you must start reweaving the fabric torn apart by your predecessor in 2013, who subsequently handed over to Putin the keys of the Middle East in flames), in which ISIS's Nazi-like cruelty has become routine news. I will limit myself to sending you my best wishes in relation to foreign policy, for everything else you have eyes and ears, and you know that the world economy depends upon common sense and also by your generosity.
The Middle East was considered by your predecessor solely as an area of experimentation in which to restart good relations with the Muslim world, but he didn't succeed; his advisors didn't quite know exactly what the Muslim Brotherhood is, the mother of all anti-Western hatred that has directly led to terrorism of every kind; they didn't know how to evaluate Iran, opting for the nuclear deal and seeing it as the great achievement, even as the legacy of the Presidency, and that was very unwise. In fact, Iran violations are quickly coming to the fore and will lead to a crisis, if not the annulment of the agreement itself, as well as to a worse, crueler toward its citizens, Iran.
You have the opportunity to drive your relationship with the Middle East in a more realistic manner, one in which Israel isn't given away (the USA's only reliable ally!) - for a medallion of political correctness by attacking its policies every day and endorsing a UN resolution that stipulates that Israel has no claim over Jerusalem, and therefore expelling the Jews from their historical capital. Such an ignorant gesture, so anti-historical, so unsophisticated, so, yes, populist… A Chicago black intellectual member of the sanctified elite should have pushed it away with a gesture of his hand.
Mr President, your vision doesn't necessarily need Israel partisan, but certainly needs to show that, as a statesman, you know what you are dealing with: namely, that Israel is the world's sentinel against terrorism, the only democracy in the Middle East that respects human rights (America looked like having really lost sight of this. But I think its deep engraved in its very identity).
Discussion about peace with the Palestinians, this is a very important point to be always remember before asking dangerous steps to Israel, can resume only if terrorism is called by its name even when it's practiced with the backing of Fatah. In general terrorism will be seen for what it is: a religious war. In this you, Mr. President, have already had your say, and I hope you will stand for that. It will be a huge push towards negotiations if the Palestinians will no longer be gifted an international pass that fills their coffers with a credit never earned. Really, then, do they want a state? What kind of state? Democratic? Israel's destruction isn't as it seems today, their first, I would say their only aim? What will they do about Hamas? President, please, it's about time America will ask them simply what are their intentions.
Returning to be Israel's friend will bring a general change in U.S. policy in the Middle East and in the world, it will bring back your moral greatness and good sense and your moral authority in front of all the Midwestern dictators: the USA image and strength which has been tarnished by misguided policies everywhere on those sands just by being unable to keep being the shield of Israel, dictators and anti-Semites have felt emboldened and this has brought to war and bloodshed.
Mr. President, finally, shifting a bit: about Europe, return simply to being American after Obama, has been so European: it will be enough to reestablish some sense of good judgment. America is today a confused entity for the EU, limits have gone lost. Europe is, you know, in economic and political troubles, it is a world that can become a nest of vipers and worms, where anti-Semitic irrationality can be victorious, your remember history..or rather where a moderate conservative faction can win (the election of Tajani a s a president of the EU so a good sign) by restoring a balanced judgment without false illusions at immigration, terror, economy, but also stopping the extreme populist factions...
Brexit is an European affair, leave it to Europe, don't interfere. Advance your moderate conservative agenda. Follow the pro-U.S. powers, they are much more suited to your Yankee-style than Mrs. Le Pen, to the American movie and musical culture that became also the backbone of European freedom post 2nd world war culture.
As for Putin, he's a very capable quasi-dictatorial leader attempting to reestablish both his power and the USSR's geopolitical borders in which his subconscious and memory has remained engrained. But by doing so for example in the Middle East, he's playing with fire: while the URSS fomented once some corrupted and scattered dictators who could be kept in check, he is giving fire in Syria to enormous Shiite interests and, on the other hand, moves Sunni antagonism. And this is very poorly contained by an alliance with Turkey that the word new sultan Erdogan cannot certainly contain and rule.
Mr. President, you are a very practical man, you know very well that at any moment, perhaps even soon, the populist anti-elite anger can strike you too. Anti-politics today is very strong. Therefore, be careful not to fuel it. It brought you to power, and now it can hurt you. Be well, and with you our beloved United States of America.
Well, next year in Jerusalem, and so be it.
Translation by Amy K. Rosenthal