Report: Dennis Kucinich's 6 day trip to the Middle East

Douglas Carpenter

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Thu Sep-06-07 01:20 AM
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Report: Dennis Kucinich's 6 day trip to the Middle East

http://www.dennis4president.com/home/

While the other leading candidates for the Presidency were
spending the Labor Day weekend campaigning at picnics,
barbeques, state and county fairs, and parading in front of the
cameras, YOUR candidate, Dennis Kucinich, without fanfare, was
quietly traveling throughout the troubled Middle East in search
of real-world solutions to monumental, global challenges.

The votes we cast next year will have an impact here in the
United States and around the world, and the candidate we elect
must be equipped to make sound foreign policy decisions, based
on first hand experience and in-person communications with other
world leaders.

So, while other candidates partied and picnicked and posed,
Dennis and Elizabeth traveled to a troubled, dangerous region of
the world to meet with heads of state and other political leaders
to find ways to solve the problems, mitigate the dangers, and
find common ground for diplomatic cooperation - and PEACE.

"Strength through Peace" - the Kucinich philosophy - means
direct engagement, diplomacy, adherence to international law and
upholding treaties. It was in that spirit that Dennis and
Elizabeth decided to visit the Middle East; to see whether
political and religious leaders as well as the citizens of the
region were open to the kind of positive dialogue recommended in
the Baker Hamilton report. The kind of dialogue ignored and
dismissed by the White House.

The six day trip started in Syria. In the Golan region, they
visited the site of the "Shouting Valley" where Syrians whose
families were separated by the occupation have to literally
shout to each other across a distance of several hundred yards
in order to maintain family and personal contact.

Syria has accepted and settled more than one and a half million
refugees from Iraq. Dennis and Elizabeth visited an area on the
Syrian-Iraqi border, as well as one neighborhood in Damascus
where some of the Iraqis had settled. The Syrian government is
providing free education and healthcare. "People are desperate,"
said Dennis. "They have lost loved ones in the war. They have
nothing but the clothes on their back. This is a profound
humanitarian gesture on the part of this country because it
significantly increases the population of Syria. Now, someone
must provide for these refugees."

On the second day, there was an extended meeting with Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad. They discussed a wide range of other
matters including building relations between Syria and the
United States, the role of the European community in
negotiations between Syria and Israel, hopes for a national
unity government in Lebanon, matters affecting Pakistan, and
Assad's stated desire for a peace agreement with Israel.

Elizabeth met with the President's British-born wife, with whom
she shares an interest in community economic development,
education and the welfare of refugees.

One of the most moving parts of their trip was a visit to the
holy site of Notre Dame de Saydanaya, a revered Christian mecca
where legend says the Virgin Mary appeared 1,500 years ago,
fully veiled Muslim women worship together with Christians. "In
this time of religious strife, it is important to bear witness
to places that show the way of peace," Elizabeth observed.
Peace and harmony in the Axis of Evil?? Would that message be
seen on American TV? No.

Next, Dennis and Elizabeth visited Lebanon. There, Dennis met
with President Emil Lahoud and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
where further discussions centered on resolving the conflict
with Israel and issues surrounding stability in Lebanon.
President Lahoud was specific about the challenge of Shiites
having resigned from the government: "Lebanon is governed by a
consensus on every issue. To have this we must have the three
main religious groups represented equally (Shiites, Sunnis and
Maronites). When one group leaves, you cannot have a legal
government."

And, in what may be a surprise to many here at home, there is a
surprisingly large American population in Lebanon. How large?
About 50,000, many of them active in "Democrats Abroad Lebanon",
a branch of the Democratic Party's official overseas arm. Those
U.S. citizens were thrilled to have a chance to meet Dennis and
Elizabeth at a special evening meeting, and they used the event
to kick-off their plans for getting Americans in the country to
vote in Democrats Abroad's delegate selection process to choose
delegates to attend the Democratic National Convention next year
in Denver.

Lebanon's leading Christian cleric, Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of
the Maronite Church met with Dennis and Elizabeth. Cardinal Sfier
is no stranger to U.S. politics. He has met with George Bush,
Dick Cheney and Condaleeza Rice in Washington. As the leader of
a large segment of an ethnically and religious diverse nation,
he told the Kuciniches, "We have to appreciate living together
with persons who are not of our faith and working with them to
achieve a common good."

Dennis and Elizabeth also made plans to return to Qana, the site
of heavy fighting during last year's war and to participate in a
televised 'Town Hall forum' in downtown Beirut with residents of
the city.

Dennis, who will be returning to the U.S. in the next few days,
summed up the trip this way: "I believe that through direct
communication, there is hope for peace. The world is ready to
embrace America again. It is important that America reaches out
to show our true values, our compassion and our willingness to
work for peace."

When he and Elizabeth return, he will provide a more detailed
description of their travels and a more comprehensive assessment
of his political and diplomatic findings.

Strength through Peace,
Kucinich for President 2008

877-41-DENNIS (877-413-3664)

link:

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/on-the-road/a-report-from-the-middle-east/

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