An Open Letter to Nuri Kamal al-Maliki

Dear Prime Minister al-Maliki,

I've been reading about how members of the U.S. military are conducting themselves in Iraq. Since March 2003, I've followed the situation in Iraq quite closely.

Some accounts, especially the story of Haditha, are extremely disturbing.

As an American, I'm so proud of our troops. I admire their bravery, their commitment, and I'm grateful for their sacrifice.

It's so troubling to hear that a few may have failed to carry out their duties with honor and committed unspeakable horrors. I'm sure you can understand how disillusioning that is.

However, I also find it troubling to listen to American elected officials and people such as yourself failing to give the accused Marines their due process.

An assumption of guilt is being made, and our Marines, ALL of them, are being trashed.

The American system isn't supposed to work that way. Guilt must be determined, not assumed.

Saddam Hussein is being treated more fairly than the Marines in the Haditha case.

Howard Dean even thinks that Osama bin Laden, the self-professed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, has a right to be presumed innocent.

Dean said, "I've resisted pronouncing a sentence before guilt is found. I will have this old-fashioned notion that even with people like Osama, who is very likely to be found guilty, we should do our best not to, in positions of executive power, not to prejudge jury trials."

If Saddam Hussein and bin Laden deserve a fair trial, surely the Marines involved in Haditha do.

I don't understand why American Marines are being condemned by you and others, such as fellow American John Murtha, before they are tried.

According to an article in The New York Times, you say that American troops are engaging in regular attacks on Iraqi civilians.

You say that violence against innocent civilians is a "'daily phenomenon' by many troops in the American-led coalition who 'do not respect the Iraqi people.'"

Americans "crush them with their vehicles and kill them just on suspicion."

You say, "This is completely unacceptable."

Furthermore, you warn that the unchecked atrocities you talk about will impact how long American forces are asked to stay in Iraq.

I understand that gunning down innocent men, women, and children is horrific. It is completely unacceptable. I think it's sinful.

It reminds me of what UN peacekeepers did in the spring of 2005 in Congo, killing 60 people, including civilians.

Do you know about that? Perhaps you don't.

Those very vocal "human rights" groups ignore abuses by UN peacekeepers. They don't condemn the murders or the rapes committed by peacekeepers, not even when the atrocities involve children. Then, those vocal groups suddenly lose their voices. Somehow though, they always manage to regain them when it comes to criticizing the U.S.

What's especially disturbing to me is that the perpetrators of the crimes aren't held accountable. The UN simply sends them back to their home countries, where there's no accountability and they are given no punishment. Meanwhile, UN peacekeepers continue to commit heinous acts with impunity.

As far as U.S. troops go, I know that they are held accountable for abuses, unlike the UN peacekeepers. Apparently, the United States has higher standards and greater expectations for its troops.

I don't know the details of what some Marines may have done to Iraqi civilians. I don't know if they gunned down innocents in unprovoked attacks.

However, if some Marines did carry out these crimes, and if others covered up the acts, you can be confident that they will be held accountable and punished.

Your comments are particularly troubling because you aren't talking about a specific case, like Haditha. You're accusing American troops of habitually murdering Iraqi civilians in cold blood.

You say this happens every day. You're making a broad-brush indictment of our military.

If you truly believe that, then I think American troops should leave Iraq.

If you, as the Prime Minister, are telling the Iraqi people that Americans are the enemy, it's time for our forces to leave.

Can you imagine President Bush saying that Iraqis don't respect Americans?

He certainly has reason to say that some don't. There's plenty of evidence. Iraqis kill and maim Americans, but President Bush doesn't lash out at Iraqis the way you lashed out at the American troops.

Has President Bush ever said that the Iraqi people are murderers and that they do it every day? Does he tell Americans that the Iraqi people are our enemies? Of course not.

Imagine the outrage if he did condemn your people with such sweeping generalizations.


Why should another drop of precious American blood be spilled to help your people?

You don't appreciate the sacrifices being made by tens of thousands of Americans serving in your country. Instead, you call them killers.

American and coalition forces freed Iraqis from the brutal oppression of Saddam Hussein. Many have fought and too many have died.

You now have elections, real elections -- something you could only dream of under Saddam's tyrannical rule.

You have a unity government in place.

You have a constitution.

You have America and the coalition to thank for that.

I think it's time for the Iraqis to step up and for Americans to step down.

Would that make you happy? It would make me happy.

You see, you can't have it both ways. You can't say that American troops are killing civilians, that it's a "daily phenomenon," painting them as demons, and then turn around and expect us to keep our troops in harm's way on a mission to maintain order for people who don't want to be protected by our forces.

The Haditha matter is absolutely awful, but it's wrong for you to accuse American forces of engaging in rampant abuses, as if it's the norm.

You say that American troops don't respect the Iraqi people.

Obviously, you don't respect the American troops.

I think it's time for us to go.

There's something about ingratitude that really gets to me.

I understand your outrage over alleged abuses committed by our troops. I really do understand that, but I don't sense gratitude for all that they've done for you.

The overwhelming majority of American troops are serving with honor and putting themselves at great risk.

EVERY DAY there are Iraqis trying to kill them. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Nevertheless, they serve and serve honorably. They are helping you, not killing you.

American troops should be proud of all that they've accomplished in Iraq. I'm exceedingly proud of them.

As a direct result of their sacrifice, they've given you a great, great gift -- freedom.

Iraqis are free to maintain the democracy that American and coalition forces helped you to establish. You're free to respect the rights of others. On the other hand, you're free to blow each other up.

You decide.

Whatever you decide, enjoy your freedom.

P.S. Please remember who made it possible.
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GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES.