Letters to the Editor, October 2, 2003

I would like to address a recent comment by Mr. David Writght of Sep. 21. Mr. Wright suggested that "the Palestinians ... have not seen Gandhi's peaceful means of stopping repression as a viable alternative." I completely agree with Mr. Wright in that non-violent resistance can be an effective way towards national independence. However, I would also like to quote the words of Gandhi himself that he said on the Palestinian conflict in 1938:

"Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French... What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct... If they (the Jews) must look to the Palestine of geography as their national home, it is wrong to enter it under the shadow of the British gun. A religious act cannot be performed with the aid of the bayonet or the bomb. They can settle in Palestine only by the goodwill of the Arabs... As it is, they are co-sharers with the British in despoiling a people who have done no wrong to them. I am not defending the Arab excesses. I wish they had chosen the way of non-violence in resisting what they rightly regard as an unacceptable encroachment upon their country. But according to the accepted canons of right and wrong, nothing can be said against the Arab resistance in the face of overwhelming odds" - Mahatma Gandhi, quoted in "A Land of Two Peolples", ed. Mendes-Flohr.

Jim Moss wrote a book about the Gulf War Syndrome: Read about in the following link:

The republicans can't even admit that lies are lies. they're doing the same jig concerning ambassador Wilson. to get even with him for exposing the lies in the state of the union address concerning Iraq getting weapons from Africa, they exposed his wife's name as a CIA agent which ( by the way) is a big crime. This is not a misdemeanor. government agent's identities are to be protected big-time.

Once again the American-Israeli coalition has shown that its colours are not the patriotic red, white and blue that it often parades in public, but the more macabre and shadowy shades of murder, discrimination, and denial of human rights.

This time the unveiling comes with the revealing of a Mossad plot--that appears to have CIA cooperation--to assassinate Arab Hamas members abroad. First, revealed by Reuters, several sources in Washington have confirmed the authenticity of the allegation. However, because the Bush administration is presently on a witch hunt for persons who leaked the name of one of their CIA agents in an unrelated matter, few in Washington will give more details.

It is perhaps this latter situation that causes the most concern. The United States has reacted to increasing concern about its gross and massive violations of international law, not by amending their ways, but by attempting to cover them up.

The time has come when red, white, and blue now stand for the blood of innocents spilled for America and its allies political convenience, the shadows of deadly covert actions hat ignore the rule of law, and bruises that the American government has inflicted on international law and especially international human rights law around the world.

It is about time the rest of the world begins to view the United States in its true colors and takes all necessary action to bring it back into the fold of an international community respecting the international rule of law and especially basic human rights.

"Dan, you're too cautious. You're probably the only one in the world who doesn't know that the US sides with Israel, right or wrong. The most recent event was the resolution passed in the UN General Assembly condemning Israel for its decision to assassinate or exile President Arafat. Do you know who voted against the resolution? Israel, of course, the United States, Micronesia, and the Marshal Islands. Caution is good but not this extent."

It's rather broad to state that I am the ONLY one in the WORLD who doesn't know that the US sides with Israel. Furthermore, it implies that everyone believes that it is true; which, clearly, is not the case. The United States is an ally of Israel, but this does not mean that we side with Israel on all cases. The United States has also provided financial aid to the Israeli government. However, the US has many such agreements with other nations of the world. This is simply one instance.

That said, I respectfully disagree with your stance that the US's vetoing of the UN resolution that condemns Israel's decision in principle to expel Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat is a side on Israel. The US has repeatedly warned Israel about the decision, and strongly disagrees with it. The US's decision for the veto was based on its belief that the resolution was too "polar" in its scope. The US has been very cautions in its arbitration to take any side on the dispute between Palestine and Israel, and their recent veto action is yet another example of this. The US wishes for any resolution of this kind to include a denouncing of the actions taken by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, and I agree with this.

As I have stated before, it is prudent to hold a certain level of skepticism when dealing with any politician. However, it is counter productive to make any assumptions that there is an ulterior motive. Furthermore, it is fallacy of argumentum ad hominem to dismiss the stance of anyone or any one group because of who they are or where they are from.

P.S. I appreciate your time in responding. I have long sought dialog from some one on the other side of this debate. My wish is to obtain a greater understanding of this matter, and perhaps share my perspective. It has been my experience that some people take offense to opposing views on issues they are passionate about. I am not implying that you have taken offense, but, with all due respect, I do not know you; thus, I would like to state that it is not my intent to offend anyone, and that my message is one of friendship.

I appreciate your friendly argument. I have argued in my book and my editorials, published here, that the US doesn't have a foreign policy of its own in the Middle East. Successive US governments, Republican or Democratic, follows the Israeli policies blindly. Please read them for more information and more details.

I'm trying to come up with something that will stop the Arnie vote in California. If Swartzenegger gets elected, it will be a disaster!

This is what I got so far but It's not good enough to convince the average Terminator fan -- a hard-working guy who probably goes to Raiders/Niners games, is definitely an action picture freak; has friends and family being massacred in Iraq because Bush lied to them, still thinks Bush is Patriotic AND who has the most to lose if Arnold is elected (yet will vote for him anyway).

Does anybody out there have any suggestions? The fifth largest economy in the world is about to be Terminated unless SOMEONE does SOMETHING! Here's what I got so far:

There are five people living in California now -- Mickey, Goofy, Donald, The Terminator and The Road Warrior. Ignore Mickey, Goofy and Donald. They have no say.

That leaves two trained killers. Great! Tomorrowland is about to become Waterworld... Thunder Dome.... the Matrix. And people are voting for it too! Why? Do Californians have a death wish? It looks that way.

Vengeance, corporate welfare and Payback Time is no way to run a government.

What to do? Call in Marge Simpson. Call in the Tooth Fairy. Call in Cinderella. If our lives are going to be run by cartoon characters, the least we can do is pick good guys. American Splendor. Teletubbies. Sponge Bob!!!!

Vote NO on the recall, you guys -- and stop voting for Arnie before California too gets Terminated.

Here in Canada, the paranoia about 'terrorism' is not as pronounced as in the US, but we do have our racial profiling nonetheless especially because of US pressure. Recently a number of us really reacted very strongly to the outrageous detention of 2 well-known Imams from Toronto when they were travelling to Florida last Sept 11 to address a conference...I will share my letters with you, which appeared in some of our dailies, which I also sent to US Ambassador.

As a Canadian I am outraged at the detention and harassment with no basis of two prominent Canadians by American authorities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 11, 2003.

Imam Ahmad Kutty and Imam Abdool Hameed are both respected Canadian leaders. Because they are Muslims, and have names which send alarm bells ringing with US Immigration officials, they are subjected to the most shocking treatment of Canadians visiting the United States. Mr. Prime Minister, this outrageous treatment by American authorities of Canadian citizens, or any citizens for that matter, is unconscionable, and therefore, totally unacceptable. It is shocking to learn that they were in detention for 16 hours, and then deported with a cavalier comment 'this was a bad day to travel', further adding to the dignity and insult. This action must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

Mr. Prime Minister, we understand that the Canadian Government has been unable to obtain any reason for their detention. I urge you and the Government of Canada to raise this serious issue with the US Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, asking for an explanation and an apology. We must not calmly stand by while innocent Canadians are profiled in a manner appearing to be racial and religious in the name of the US 'war against terrorism'.

It is very important that both Imaam Ahmad Kutty and Imam Abdool Hameed receive an official US apology, and recompense if that is in order, and a further commitment that this kind of outrageous treatment of Canadians will not be repeated in the future.