Letters to the Editor, December 19, 2004

Turkey’s joining the EU with conditions

Dear Editor,

Turkey’s joining the EU with conditions imposed on it, though painful, is necessary because of the country’s desire to prosper. By joining EU, it would receive the same treatment in terms of trade preferences as any other EU members. EU can be viewed as a trade bloc. There is much to gain for Turkey to join and associate itself with the rich North than the poor, disintegrated and economically backward Muslim countries to the south. It must be noted that Muslim countries south of Turkey that are rich are due to the resources endowed on them such as oil and gas reserves.! Other than these resources, trade from value-added high technology industries are simply non-existence.

Turkey is the gateway between Europe and Asia, and between Christian North and Muslim south. Its action should be seen as a message to the Muslim countries to match EU economically because the decision of Turkey is understandable to associate with the rich rather than the poor. Hypothetically if southern Muslim worlds were economically stronger than EU, would Turkey have joined EU if the Muslim created their own trading bloc and union?

Fauzi Shahab, Malaysia

Bush sets out plan to dismantle 30 years of environmental laws

In little over a month since his re-election, they have announced that they will comprehensively rewrite three of the country's most important environmental laws, open up vast new areas for oil and gas drilling, and reshape the official Environmental Protection Agency http://207.44.245.159/article7482.htm

Angela Badelt, Germany

America's democracy is hanging in the balance.

I'm forwarding this email to encourage a house investigation of the Ohio voting irregularities, which I believe is very important

Rep. John Conyers feels he needs a million e-mails to compel the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings about the 2004 election.

Go here: <http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/contact.html >

and tell the Judiciary Committee you want hearings on Ohio!

You can copy and paste in this sample message: I am writing to urge the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings as soon as possible on the irregularities of the 2004 election. I need not remind the Judiciary Committee members that the United States is a beacon of democracy for the rest of the world. If we truly wish to remain the embodiment of democratic values, then we must treat the right of every citizen to vote and for their vote to count as sacred. Ample evidence has arisen that this right was violated or undermined for many Americans in the 2004 election. I strongly believe that holding hearings to investigate and resolve these irregularities would be an act of tremendous patriotism on the part of Congress, and would serve as a declaration that we are the world's greatest democracy not only in word, but in deed.

Like Watergate, this issue will build momentum -- and we, the people, to keep it alive until it can no longer be ignored.

Victoria Inness, USA

Juan Cole's sectarian view of elections in Iraq

Juan Cole's "Lebanon-like" solution : put aside 20% of seats in parliament for the Sunni Arabs.

If elections are held in January, I see only one way to avoid disaster. This would be some sort of emergency decree by the current government that sets aside, say, 20% of seats in parliament for the Sunni Arabs. This procedure would seat Sunni Arab candidates in order of the popularity of their lists and in order of their rank within the lists on which they run. But the results would essentially be "graded on a curve." In a way, this procedure is already being followed for women, who are guaranteed 30% of seats. This solution is Lebanon-like and is not optimal, but it might be the best course if long-term sectarian and ethnic conflict is to be avoided. Remember, the first thing the new parliament will do is craft a permanent constitution. You want Sunni Arabs sitting at that table, or else.

No Mr Cole, a Lebanon-like non-sectarian solution is: leave 50% of seats for Sunni Iraqis - including Sunni Kurds.

Jelloul

Letter to Pablo Paredes

To my hero, Pablo Paredes (if you will permit me, to my son Pablo)

Thank you, my son. Thank you for your courageous stand, for your brave act of love and respect for human life, and above all thank you for being an example of strength and patriotism for the young people of your generation.

Why do I say this? Because you represent, as does my other son Camilo, hundreds perhaps thousands of other brave young people who are true soldiers, real heroes. Without any fear of unjust government repraisal, you insist on your truth with your conscience clear and free. You reply "No" to the order of death that you have been given. You say no to death, to silent complicity, to the lack of free will that your training taught you. And you declare in a loud voice your firm support of your military oath to defend the Constitution of this great nation and not the gang of bandits who have usurped the White House. The true soldier defends the Constitution, life, liberty, and democracy, and does not exterminate a foreign land for economic gain.

And so you stand tall and proud against the depravity into which our brave soldiers have been led and you serve as a model that surely many others will follow. Camilo inspired you to make your courageous decision and you will inspire thousands more to oppose the madness.

Thank you Pablo, thank you my son, for giving your parents the honor of having a son who is brave, strong, and above all else human.

On December 6th, 3rd class Petty Officer Pablo Paredes stood resolutely on the pier of the 32nd street naval base in San Diego, as his ship the USS Bonhomme Richard, left for Iraq without him. Since refusing to participate in this unjust and devastating war, Pablo will now have to face the uncertainty of military punishment for being a GI with a conscience that refuses to be silent.

Fernando Suarez del Solar, www.sdmcp.org