Dear President Obama,
I know you are busy and have responsible people reporting to you so I'm sure you got word about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia's decision the other day. I wouldn't bother you with this letter but you have not said anything yet about the "political purgatory" empathically articulated by the court in its decision in Roger C.S. Lin, et al vs. United States.
"America and China's tumultuous relationship over the past sixty years has trapped the inhabitants of Taiwan in political purgatory."
If you haven't yet read the decision, I encourage you to do so. It is both informative and disturbing.
I know you mentioned Taiwan briefly in your book so you are at least somewhat aware of the situation there. A situation that is not right. Taiwan cannot even join the World Heath Organization because of the U.S. created "strategic ambiguity" over its national status.
The U.S. policy has fired up a costly arms race and threatened the island with possible invasion from China with six decades of what is now called "strategic ambiguity."
"During this time the people on Taiwan have lived without any uniformly recognized government in practical terms, this means they have uncertain status in the world community which infects the population's day-to-day lives."
For years a harsh and cruel martial law was imposed by the Republic of China in-exile against peaceful advocates of Taiwanese independence and the United States watched on because the "strategic ambiguity" allegedly served the United States interests during the Cold War.
However, Mr. President, the main reason you should read the decision is because it hands responsibility for 23 million people living in "political purgatory" to you. U.S. Circuit Judge Janice Rogers Brown promised fast action on her end of the case once you act.
"Once the Executive determines Taiwan's sovereign, we can decide Appellant's resulting status and concomitant rights expeditiously."
Harry Truman has often been quoted as saying the buck stops here. Harry was lying about Taiwan; Harry passed the buck down six decades to you Mr. President.
Melissa Patterson is the name of the Justice Department lawyer that has been talking for you. Now that the court has responded about "political purgatory" and has announced its willingness to act "expeditiously", maybe you and Melissa should have a little chat.
Not trying to tell you what to do, just commenting on something that does not seem to have been done.
Michael Richardson
For further information about Taiwan's legal status: http://www.examiner.com/x-1969-Boston-Progressive-Examiner~topic72211-Taiwan?selstate=topcat
