Iraq; A short message for your American Readers

Peace, comes only when the stronger steps back; to understand, and to learn about the other one; to turn the other cheek. That is not cut and run, but that is the act of a noble one. It is the way of Christian men. Have we Americans forgotten, or have we never learned? Who is teaching us otherwise? For it is they who are our real foe. I pray that we may one day see the light. Please speak up against our recent atrocities, and forgive those who have trespassed against us.

Regards,

Robert Stumm

Editor: Thanks Robert for your noble letter that counterbalances the daily hate mail bashing Arabs and Muslims.

 

 

---

 

 

Al-Jazeerah.info and the Islamic-Western Dialogue

Dear Sir ,

I was quite surprised to read your answer to a question posed in January of this year ; What went wrong in Iraq. It's a question that has been on my mind , and wasn't able to find any explanation anywhere ; not even on the 'cyber-media' . I am a Canadian with family members who are American , and I have lived in the US for a number of years . I am a strong supporter of the US , and the principles of freedom and democracy . At the same time , I recognize the fact that America has a rather appalling history of supporting brutal dictators , globally , as long as they weren't communist . I am old enough to remember the anti-communist paranoia that was fostered continually , post WW 11 . But in defence of our system of government and individual freedoms , I must point out ( despite your likely being far more informed than myself ), that the freedoms enable us in the west to eventually investigate the actions or inactions of officials and bring them into the light of day .Hopefully , we learn lessons from the mistakes of the past , and decrease the likelihood of them happening again . Naive ? Maybe .

But as one who has prided myself on being as free as possible from any sense of bigotry , I find that the more I learn about the viewpoint of the Islamic world towards us in the west , the more it would seem that we can never get along . In reality , of course , this cannot be the case , but when one reads detailed instructions based on Islamic practice , on how to limit and regulate interaction with non-believers , it is unsettling . I am non religious ; therefore fair game to be labelled both a heretic and an infidel .
I am proud to have been able to grow up with the knowledge that the 'average' Canadian is every skin colour existing ; every faith , and every ethnicity . I cannot believe that in view of the past and present injustices affecting the middle east ; the tragic murder of thousands of people on 9/11 , and in the case of the WTC ; involving people from 83 different countries , was justified . Talk will solve the problems of humanity . I think this has proven to be true in most instances . But that exchange , or lobbying , must be incessant , based on realities , rather than ideas of superiority , on either side . On the other hand ; nothing hardens resolve faster than bloodshed .
Aljajeerah.info was created out of a need to acquaint the west with the middle east's point of view , I believe.

With all due respect ; where were you twenty years ago , or more ?
Thank you for your attention ,

H. (Bart) Vincelette
Vancouver , BC , Canada .

Editor: Thank you Bart for the civilized way you're expressing your views. I say this because I receive hate mail bashing Arabs and Muslims everyday without expressing any opinions.

You're not correct about your claim about how Islam limits and regulates interaction with "non-believers."

First, the parties to the present conflict, Muslims, Christians, and Jews, are all considered believers by the Holy Qur'an. Christians and Jews are considered the People of the Book. I invite you to visit the Vancouver Muslims in their mosque and see whether they interact with non-Muslims or not.

Second, the present conflict is not about religious beliefs. It is about invasions and wars that are planned and executed for oil and territory.

Third, Al-Jazeerah.info was created by a humble effort of an individual in January 2002, but has evolved to become a worldwide forum for thousands of authors for peace in the world. I hope that you become part of this noble effort.

 

 

---

 

The terrible smell behind the reasons for Gulf War One

Quotation from Negotiating for Dummies by M and M Donaldson (1996), pages 195-6:

"The Gulf War ('Operation Desert Storm') may well have been avoided if the diplomats had been clearer in the days just before the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. President Saddam Hussein wanted to destroy Kuwait for a number of reasons – all of which were good and valid to him. He was not prepared to take on the US, let alone the entire world. Therefore, he met for several hours with the US Ambassador, April Glaspie.

The Ambassador said to Hussein, ‘We have no opinion on Arab-Arab conflicts, like your border with Kuwait.’

Astonishing.

The Ambassador insists that there was more to the discussion than was printed in the transcript, but she does not deny these comments..

Even Hussein’s telling of the tale indicates some lack of clarity regarding his intentions toward Kuwait. He never said his intention was to eliminate Kuwait from the face of the earth. On the other hand, the US never even hinted at the kind of response that was ultimately invoked.. Documents show that within the month before the invasion, the US communicated directly to Saddam Hussein in a way that caused him to think Iraq could cross the border into Kuwait without repercussions..

Please think for a moment of the men and women who died in the Gulf War and their families who still miss them.."

Jason Collett

Editor: That is agreed upon by researchers of the 1991 Gulf War. The War was the goal itself, just as the case in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It serves the interests of the military industry, the oil industry and Israel. See www.gulfwar1991.com Read also All fall down: Probing Israel’s part in the war on Iraq By Ed Blanche

 

 

---

 

 

The rest is history

Historical Documents! And that makes the 9/11 New York Terrorist attack a history. It can be construed that all intel memos with regards to Al Qaeda threat in the United States of America have been treated lightly or worst, totally ignore.

The quizzling position of National Security Adviser, Dr. Rice, has raised more questions than answers-in the case of Iraq. She made her case that Saddam was threat to US National Security by producing fabricated or manipulated intelligence report and action, that would lead to invading Iraq.

Dr. Rice should not have played down the intel memos as merely historical documents as if threat was absent prior to the 9/11 New York Attack and therefore it should be ignored. No preventive measures or necessary actions were taken.

Remember there were 3,000 lives lost. As the saying goes; "The buck stops here!" But in the case of Whitehouse, It looks like it's a place of a sitting duck.

Purontoy Kaisahan

 

 

---

 

 

Letters from Japan concerning Japanese hostages in Iraq

 

Dear sir,

I am a Japanese citizen living in Tokyo. We have seen the news which 3 harmless Japanese people have been abducted. They are purely being in Iraq only for the volunteer reason. Two of them are working for ill children and street children. The other is freelance photo journalist who wanted to show the Iraq's truth to Japanese.

By this moment, there is no information besides the CD they sent. Please tell readers that 3 Japanese people are harmless and they were there for Iraq people. Time limit is less than 24 hours now. We don't have much time left. 

Kyoko Tanaka,

A Japanese Citizen in Tokyo

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Hello.

I am a Japanese Ritsumeikan university student. Now, my friend, Noriaki and other 2 Japanese are restrained at Iraqi. I am really worried about them and all the matter wanted is for them to come back safe and sound.

But I do not know what I can do for them,,, Please please help us!!!

I do not want to lose my friend and hate Iraqi because of this accident... Please cooperate with Japan and Please make effort to help them.

Satomi Ito

 

----------------------------------------

 

URGENT STATEMENT About the abducted three Japanese in Iraq

 

 

1. The three Japanese civilians who were forcibly abducted on the 8^th of April in Iraq have no relationship whatsoever to the Japanese government or the Coalition Provisional Authority.  Rather, they have consistently opposed the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq as well as the Japanese government’s support of the invasion and dispatch of Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) troops.

 

   These three civilians went to Iraq because they felt deeply for the suffering of the Iraqi people and wished to tell the world of it.  Their goal was to aid the Iraqi people.

 

   It would be a sheer absurdity if the lives of these three kindest souls were claimed for the policies of the Japanese government.  The armed group should release the three hostages immediately.  Killing foreign civilians of best will would only harm the credibility of the group.

 

2. Japanese Government says it will do “everything possible” to rescue the three hostages, but if so then it should immediately withdraw its troops from Iraq.

 

   If the JSDF troops were in fact dispatched for “non-combatant humanitarian assistance,” it is a blatant contradiction to insist on its military presence in the face of such hostility among the Iraqi people, with lives of the Japanese civilians at such high stake.

 

   In fact, the JSDF troops are there to assist with the Anglo-American occupation, which is now fiercely opposed by the Iraqis.  That the Japanese government’s wishful “non-combat area” in Iraq don’t exist is clear as the popular uprising against the occupation spreads across the entire country.

 

   The Japanese government’s dispatch of the JSDF troops is based on a multitude of lies and deceptions, and the kidnapping of the three hostages is but one consequence.

 

   We therefore appeal to the Japanese government to acknowledge its mistaken policy and bring the troops home now.

 

 

April 10, 2004

 

 

Cosignatory

 

IGARASHI Takayoshi(Professor of HOSEI university)
IKEZAWA  Natsuki(Writer)
UCHIHASHI  Katsuto(Critic)
UMEBAYASHI Hiromichi(NGO Peace depo)
OGUSHI Kazuo(Professor of TOKYO university)
OKUDAIRA Yasuhiro(Scholar of Constitution)
KATO Shuichi(Critic)
KANEKO Masaru(Professor of KEIO university)
KATO Takashi (Professor of SEIKEI university)
GABE Masaaki(Professor of RYUKYU university)
KAWAMOTO Takashi (Professor of TOKYO university)
KIKUCHI Yumi(NGO Gloval Peace Campaign)
KITA Akito(Professor of WASEDA university)
KOBAYASHI　Katsuyo（Scholar of Cooking）
KOBAYASHI Naoki (Professor emeritus of TOKYO university)
KOBAYASHI Masaya(Professor of CHIBA university)
SAKAGUCHI Shojiro(Professor of HITOTSUBASHI university)
SAKAMOTO Yoshikazu(Professor emeritus of TOKYO university)
SAKAMOTO Ryuichi(Musician)
TAKAHASHI Tetsuya(Professor of TOKYO university)
TANAKA Nobumasa(Journalist)
TSUBOI Yoshiharu( Professor of WASEDA university)
TERUOKA Itsuko(Professor emeritus of SAITAMA university)
NODA Masaaki(Professor of KANSEI GAKUIN university)
HOSHIKAWA Jun（Writer）

MOGAMI Toshiki(Professor of International Christian University)
YAMAGUCHI Jiro(Professor of HOKKAIDO university)
............　

 

(A total of 133 cosignatories)

 

 

Contact: Atsushi Okamoto, chief editor, magazine “SEKAI”

         KYR00246@nifty.ne.jp

         0081-3-5210-4144(FAX)

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

Statement on the detention in Najaf of IRC staff member Fadi Fadel

International Rescue Committee - April 8, 2004

 

Around midnight on April 6, Fadi Fadel, who works for the International Rescue Committee in Najaf, was taken from the IRC staff residence by members of a local militia.

He has since been incorrectly identified in media reports as an Arab Israeli.

Mr. Fadel, 33, is a Syrian-born Canadian citizen who manages a UNICEF-funded program that provides humanitarian assistance for vulnerable children and youth in southern Iraq. These activities have included the rehabilitation of a youth center in Al Ansar, the distribution of wheelchairs to injured children in Najaf and support to local schools. The program has received support from a fatwa issued by a senior Ayatollah in Najaf.

Mr. Fadel is a committed humanitarian aid worker who is in Iraq solely to assist conflict-affected Iraqi communities. On humanitarian grounds, we appeal to his captors to release him unharmed.

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a private, nonsectarian international organization that provides relief and rehabilitation assistance for refugees and war-affected communities in 25 countries around the world.

Statement issued by Canadian Foreign Ministry on behalf of the Fadel family.

I am releasing this statement on behalf of Fadi Fadel. He is my brother and my friend. He is a man of endless compassion for people in need, especially children. That's why he felt compelled to go to Iraq three months ago - - to help innocent children who have been exposed to terrible things, and to work for an organization committed to providing relief for those who suffer. He has been doing this kind of work for children for the past 10 years.

My brother is also a proud Canadian. We emigrated here from Syria when Fadi was nineteen years old. We know that things are very bad in Iraq right now. And like Fadi we feel for the Iraqi people. We pray that Fadi’s captors will realize that this brave and gentle man has no other agenda than to help the children of Iraq.

My family is in a state of shock. We are terrified and bewildered that this could have happened to someone who has devoted his life to helping children. We are simply unable to talk with the media. I hope everyone will understand and can respect our need for privacy at this very difficult time.

We desperately urge those who have detained Fadi to release him, safely and quickly.

Ghayas Fadel

Melissa Winkler Director of Communications 212-551-0972 melissa@theIRC.org 

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is one of the world's largest nonsectarian, nonprofit organizations providing relief, rehabilitation, protection and resettlement services for refugees, displaced persons and victims of oppression and violent conflict. For more information, visit www.theIRC.org.