Advisor to Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas about PNA Corruption - Essay Example

Advisor to Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas about PNA Corruption Dear Prime Minister Abbas: As your advisor, I write this letter to assist you in our challenge of declaring an independent republic. I am keenly aware of the equilibrium in which we must operate. As such, I have delineated applicable wisdom from certain political thinkers to help us in our endeavor. Our challenge is to win the confidence of our allies and the respect of our opponents. No nation is perfect, but it means victory to correct our national failings.1 It is in our best interest to cultivate culture and good breeding among our people.2 Our enterprise is that of opposing the malice of others at least in part.3 In order to do so, we must be somewhat unpredictable.4 We must know our strength.5 We should know when the time is right to act toward independence.6 We must be resolute.7 We should emulate the heroes of history.8 We should prevent any additional scandal.9 We must keep hope alive.10 Corruption is alive and well in our organization, and we should do all we can to rectify that. The challenge is to allow everyone to maintain a sense of dignity in doing so.11 We must act quickly, because to continue on this path is folly.12 Nevertheless, we should expect at least some failure in our comrades and care only to keep the company of those who are honorable.13 We need to live in pragmatism and be seen doing so.14 We must put ourselves on the path to self-sufficiency.15 In so doing, we ought to make use of friendly support from other nations.16 Although we may feel sorry for others, we never want to end up feeling sorry for ourselves.17 The only way to wage this battle is with honor.18 With our opposition party in Gaza, we must care to never fully contend with those who have little to lose.19 Although we should seek conciliation, we do not want to be too week in our discourse.20 We do not want our efforts to inadvertently guide Israel in widening the rift between us.21 We should approach this with measure boldness.22 Still, we should remain flexible.23 We do not be so ceremonious as to seem to be scandal mongers.24 Our goal is consolation power in our nation with merit.25 We are aware there are bad people every where.26 All the same, we should be moderate as we carry out this cause.27 We should act with somber reserve as proof of our prudence.28 We will face insult.29 We maintain enough wisdom to follow through with this in the present.30 We must understand those with whom we are dealing.31 This is a process of renewal for our country.32 We cannot keep taking responsibility for the failings of others, but instead we must know how to test those whom we doubt.33 Whether we can control the territory has more to do with the people than us.34 We must accept that sometimes the use of force is politically necessary.35 Even if we have no established modern military of our own, we still have a duty to defend the rights of our people.36 To this end, we should not doubt that sometimes unpopular action is necessary to achieve our objectives, but crime will never beget glory.37 Favors should be meted out enough for those in favor to savor.38 It is a political reality that honorable action usually does not impress others, but it is still prudent to spread good will.39 A leader who cannot project power has no power at all.40 We must develop our skill in martial science to represent consequences to our opposition.41 If we “cannot be both loved and feared, then it is better to be feared than loved.”42 Human beings are fickle, fearful, and greedy.43 A wise leader should never keep his word when it goes against his own interest, because he can expect others to do the same.44 To some extent, you must be a good liar because you will always find people willing to deceive and be deceived.45 All of our actions should show seriousness, strength, and decisiveness.46 The best defense against internal threats such as conspiracy is to be neither hated nor despised.47 It is contemporary political convention that governments are made up of specialized units.48 We must be both cunning and righteous to achieve our ends.49 Sincerely, Your Political Advisor References Gracián, Baltasar. The Art of Worldly Wisdom. Bibliolife, 2009. Wootton, David. "Machiavelli: The Prince." In Modern political thought: readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2008. 9-58. Wootton, David. “Discourses, Book I." In Modern political thought: readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2008. 59-81. Wootton, David. “Discourses, Book III." In Modern political thought: readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2008. 81-99. Read More