Tags: I see it this way!

Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware/Google image search At the height of the recent conflict in Gaza with the deaths of 10 Israelis and  1200+ Palestinians  I decided to write my state Senators. Senator Thomas Carper of Delaware actually sent me a response. It looks like it could have been a form letter but it was a response.  Here's the letter: January 30, 2009 Dear Mr. Faircloth: Thank you for contacting my office to support a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. As you know, both sides offered unilateral informal ceasefires after 22 days of intense fighting. During the three-week conflict, I called for an immediate ceasefire, recognizing that the Palestinian people - particularly in Gaza - had suffered immensely during that period. I agree with you that now a moment of great opportunity for American leadership presents itself.  We should embrace it. I strongly believe that the United States must play a strong leadership role in trying to foster peace in the Middle East. Whether it was Egyptian and Israeli leaders negotiating at Camp David in 1979 or Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin shaking hands on the White House lawn in 1993, history has proven that the impediments to peace can be overcome with the strong, consistent, and engaged leadership of the United States. President Obama and Vice-President Biden understand the importance of our involvement. Having spoken with each of them about this critically important situation, I can confidently say that one of their top priorities will be to once again take an active leadership role in Middle East diplomacy. To demonstrate the centrality of this commitment, President Obama took two significant steps during his first two days as president:  President Obama called Washington's long-standing allies in the Middle East-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and Jordan's King Abdullah - and pledged to work for Middle East peace.  He also appointed veteran mediator and former Senator George Mitchell as a special envoy to the Middle East, whose mission will be to try to ensure that the informal ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip becomes durable and sustainable. Senator Mitchell left for the Middle East last night. While these important steps are heartening, more work needs to be done. As the new administration focuses much-needed American attention on this issue, Israel and Hamas must continue to take steps aimed at ensuring that the ceasefire endures. To strengthen the ceasefire, Hamas must finally end its rocket fire at Israel, and Israel must complete the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. Although those steps were taken provisionally last week, low-level violence has continued, threatening the fragile ceasefire. I support President Obama's statement that the U.S. and our partners will support a credible anti-smuggling and interdiction regime so that Hamas cannot rearm.  However, I also believe, as do President Obama and Vice-President Biden,  that Gaza's borders should be re-opened, with appropriate monitoring, to allow humanitarian aid to get to Palestinians in need. This administration understands the importance of American leadership.  They have already begun pressing both Israelis and Palestinians towards a comprehensive, negotiated solution to this conflict. I will continue to work with President Obama and Vice-President Biden to ensure that we are engaging the international community and all the key actors in the Middle East in an effort to achieve a two-state solution. Thank you again for contacting me.  Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future regarding this or any other matter of concern to you. With best personal regards, I am Sincerely, Tom Carper United States Senator