<return address withheld>
February 21, 1990

Mario Vinicio Cerzo Arévalo
Oficina del Presidente
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Dear Mr. Presidente:

I must admit that ever since I visited your beautiful country that I have followed with interest the political situation there and more specifically your work as el Presidente. I can not tell you what a pleasure it was to spend three weeks touring the mountains and valleys of Guatemala. I was quite impressed by the city itself, though, and this I must admit.

The armed soldiers filled me with a sense of security I could never feel walking about in New York (you call it Nueva York, I think). I spoke with one of your soldiers (the one with the machine gun who stands outside the Palacio Nacional) and he graciously directed me into an exhibition inside the Palace showing a number of reform programs you were responsible for instituting.

Many people in this country (los EE.UU.) feel that you use the military to suppress discontent and to maintain an illegitimate regime, but I say to them NO! Your party, the Christian Democrats, were legally elected and have used the military only to suppress illegal rebellion! Security and stability are far more important than democracy! How else can anything get "done" (get my meaning? I knew you would)? Debates and fruitless arguments are all that get done in the United States. Don’t be fooled (I know you are not!)! What America (los EE.UU.) needs is a leader like yourself who will take charge and force change and progress down the throats of the teamstering masses! Bravo for you! Three cheers for el Presidente! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

It is with these feelings and others relating to a deep sense of respect for the progress you have made in Guatemala, and of course your successes in quelling the fascist communist insurgencies, that I wish you a long and productive future. Please do me the honor of sending me an autographed photograph of yourself. I will treasure it always along with the rug and the stuffed bird I bought in Panajachel.

Peace through control,

Phil Saunders