Mr. President,
Many people raised their voices against the attack against Iraq. Nelson Mandela, the old wise African man who symbolizes tolerance and human suffering, was one. Even at his advanced age and state of retirement, he spoke out to ask you not to go to war against Iraq. By criticizing your policy publicly, Nelson Mandela did what we call a “positive critique” to help you avoid causing additional suffering of the people of Iraq, who had already been suffering under an economic embargo. As the Xhosa, people of South Africa, say, “The one who tells you your defects helps you.”