[ This is a July 20, 2006 letter to Senator Russ Feingold from Alexandra Dadlez. –BL ]
Senator Feingold,
Several years ago, probably around the time of the Iraq War Resolution, I wrote an e-mail to you strongly urging that you run for president of the United States.
This is to let you know: Never Mind. I have seldom been so disappointed in my life.
You are quoted in the The Jewish Week as follows:
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), expected to run for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination on an anti-war platform, said, ?I stand firmly with the people of Israel and their government as they defend themselves against these outrageous attacks.?
In an interview with an Iowa newspaper, he linked the issue to his opposition to the Iraq war.
?What we have done by becoming mired in Iraq, and by deciding to change the balance of power in that region, is enable Iran and Syria to be much more open in tormenting Israel, the United States and our allies,? he said in a Journal-Sentinel interview.
Senator Feingold, when you were contemplating your response to the current crisis in Lebanon, when you and your advisers were determining the most politically advantageous position for you to assume, did you for ONE DAMN MOMENT consider the plight of the Lebanese people?
“…Iran and Syria (are) tormenting Israel, the United States and our allies…”
Senator, who is bombing an innocent people? Who is destroying the infrastructure of a country that was just beginning to recover from years of violence? Who has killed well over 200 civilians, including many children? Who is tormenting whom, Senator? The numbers do the talking. Somewhere around 27 Israelis, approximately half of them military, to close to 300 Lebanese, most of them civilians. And another half million displaced. If it’s torment when the victim is an Israeli, what is it that an Arab suffers, Senator?
?I stand firmly with the people of Israel and their government as they defend themselves against these outrageous attacks.?
Senator, it is you who are outrageous. Who do you think you are kidding? Do you even believe what you say? It’s just politics, isn’t it? But in this case, what you are saying to promote your campaign is contributing to the deaths of innocent people. That is more than disappointing, Senator Feingold. It is unforgivable.
I await your response.
Alexandra Dadlez