Letters to the Editor, September 3, 2003

Today the curfew was lifted between 1300 and 1700hrs. Just before the curfew was lifted the Israeli army used the heavy machine gun on its tank to partially destroy a building near the old city in a needless display of its power. At 1700 jeeps and hummers entered the city announcing that the curfew had been re-instated, and the forced imprisonment of the cities population was to begin again. Apache helicopter gunships hovered overhead. The shebab gathered once more near the old city to resist the curfew, erecting makeshift barracades and collecting stones to throw at the armoured vehicles. At around 1800 the tanks and APCs rolled back into the city and headed staright for the old city. The shebab were met with machine gun fire from the tanks, who drove repeatedly up and down the street. Three were shot, one in the arm and one in the leg. There is no information about the third at present. At the moment the resistance continues, with tanks patrolling the city and children throwing stones.

The following films were shot two days ago and contain more footage of the Israeli army enforcing curfew. Please distribute as much as possible. Pleae copy the links below and paste them into your browser.

rtsp://www.piratetv.net/piratetv/archive/ptvaltmedia/

jenincurfew26_8_03_am.rm

rtsp://www.piratetv.net/piratetv/archive/ptva

ltmedia/jenincurfew26_8_03_pm.rm

Sent By Maisoon Rice

13 Ways for the US Government to Encourage International Support in Iraq

Apologize to the Iraqis for what you have done to them.

Tell the world you are sorry for lying to them about the Iraqi threat.

Tell the world you are sorry for bullying them into helping you go to Iraq.

Tell the countries that chose not to help you that you are sorry for punishing them with trade sanctions.

Tell the world that you are sorry for not respecting international law.

Tell all English speaking countries that you are sorry for manipulating the English language into sheer gibberish.

Tell your neighbouring countries that you understand and respect their sovereignty.

Promise to teach American children a balanced version of history.

Promise to help educate American adults who were schooled in a biased history.

Encourage the American culture to occasionally self-deprecate.

Encourage free press in the USA.

Be respectful to the United Nations now that it is abundantly clear that you need them.

Be honest with the people of the United States.

Please do not print my email address. Kind Regards

Terry Spencer

Suicide Bombers Can be Stopped: End the Occupation

Fareed Zakaria's recent article in Newsweek, "Suicide Bombers Can Be Stopped" states that we treat suicide bombers as brainwashed, delusional figures while, in fact, they are products of political realities. The author ignores the political realities of the Palestinians and instead relects on Chechens and Kurds. However, in Palestine the thorn in the side of the resistance movement is the 36-year-long brutal occupation of Palestine by Israel, which has been funded by US tax dollars.

According to a recent UN report, the humanitarian situation in Palestine is catastrophic. Severe malnutrition is rampant. The delicate environmental balance of the region has been laid waste, even basic life-sustaining water has been severely rationed, and the livelihoods and economic development of the region overthrown. Ethnic cleansing, the construction of an apartheid wall, bulldozing of shops and homes and shooting farmers attempting to get to their land has led to a resistance movement marked by suicide bombing.

Clearly, US tax dollars should be put to better use by re-assigning critically needed resources to both Palestine and Israel where a positive benefit to both countries is clearly established. In addition, the Israeli occupation of Palestine must be ended with UN Peace Keeping Forces put in their place. This would insure that security for both countries is sustained as the Roadmap to Peace moves toward a just and honorable solution.

Genevieve Cora Fraser

Richard M. Nixon & George W. Bush

There was a time when there was a real concern that President Richard M. Nixon was not in complete control of his mental faculties. The Presidency of the United States carries an almost unimaginable burden of stress, and President Nixon behavior became suspect. That may be happening to President Bush. He seems to be more than just a bit "wobbly" about maintaining a strategy in dealing with Ariel Sharon. He appears to take a position on the Middle East, then after talking to Sharon, reverses himself. then, reverses himself again. His public statements contradict positions on middle east issues constantly. Meanwhile the "Road Map" is stalled, and sorely needs a firm direction from the United States. Sharon is proceeding as though there is no "road map." And that alone threatens to re-ignite hostilities. Bush offers that the "Wall" is hindering peace negotiations, then re! verses himself. If his religious beliefs are being so intensely radicalized, then he could possibly believe that he must be the instrument of Armageddon. He has that power. The U.S. arsenal of just Nuclear Submarines carries more power than it would take to destroy this entire Planet ten-fold, and Bush has to power to launch those weapons. His actions are strongly suggestive that there may be something seriously wrong with him.

Tariq A. Al-Maeena

clsencounters@hotmail.com

Informative petition to Dean

A few months ago, Howard Dean went before AIPAC and pledged his unconditional support. Yet, there are many anti-Zionists who are active in his election. Either they don't know or are hoping he will not prove to be a Zionist. So,

Please consider adding your name to the Petition to Howard Dean. This is a very well done petition and worthwhile reading. Besides signing it--and it will go to Dean-- you might want to pass the content of the petition along to your friends.

Please go to http://www.stop-us-military-aid-to-israel.net/deanpetition

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.

editor@aljazeerah.info