Letters to the Editor, November 16, 2003

ISRAEL RECEIVES STATE-OF-THE-ART FIGHTER JETS

It's a happy day for the Israel Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas. The first of the IAF's new F-16-I fighter planes will roll off the Lockheed Martin assembly line this afternoon, overseen by an Israeli delegation led by Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz.

Israel has purchased 102 of the bomber jets, for a record $4.5 billion - paid for with U.S. military grants to Israel. Israel and Egypt are the two biggest recipients of U.S. aid. The Israeli defense establishment chose Lockheed over Boeing in 1999 to manufacture the new planes. It was reported at the time, however, that the plane would not be fitted with Israel's advanced ELTA radar, as Israel had requested, but rather with lesser-quality American-made radar.

The new F-16-I, named Sufah (Thunderstorm) in Hebrew, will strengthen the IAF's long reach, enabling it to reach nations such as Iran and Libya. It can fly a round trip of over 1,600 kilometers without refueling. The first of the jets will arrive in Israel next month, and will be stationed - together with the families of the pilots and crews - in the Negev. The plane is different than the United States' F-16's, and no Israeli or American pilots have yet flown them, although IAF pilots have practiced on a Sufah simulator.

Source: Arutz-7, 14 Nov.
Ichee

The coalition went to war in Iraq because Iraq did NOT have WMD

I believe that the coalition went to war in Iraq because it had clear evidence that Iraq did NOT have WMD.

The intelligence of the coalition got it RIGHT.

With this intelligence the window of opportunity to invade Iraq would inevitably close.

It became necessary to discredit the UN inspectors who would eventually come to the same conclusion.

It became necessary to invade Iraq before the truth came out.

The poor preparation for post war Iraq is because of this need for speed and the wellbeing of the Iraqi's irrelevance to the neo cons.

As Sherlock Holmes said " once everything else is eliminated only the truth remains"

If you're going to lie make it a big one.

Bill Vickers Sydney, Australia

Friedman’s proposal to Saudi Arabia

Friedman’s proposed Saudi-Israeli deal will be suicidal for Saudi Royals. Friedman is a fruitcake, which does not grasp the depth of Muslim religious and communal feelings against Israeli aggression on Palestinians. This time around, the ball is in Israel’s court. With the Muslim rage boiling all over the world, Sharon either should show courage to call for a peace deal in a hurry or move out and let some other Israeli leader to cut the deal. The whole neo-con cabal conspiracy has back-fired and the earliest Bush and Sharon cut their losses and eat humble pie, the better it will be for them and for the rest of the world.

Ghulam Muhammed, India

U.S. Presidential Elections and Iraq

Dear Al-Jazeerah,

As an American and avid reader of Al-Jazeerah, I applaud your presentation of views that expose the neo-con warmongers. I personally have always felt the essence of the conflicts in the Middle-East roots not from there, but from right here in America. Today we see the neocons manifesting themselves greatly in Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan. Tomorrow they may rankle forth elsewhere as they do plaque the entire world. Yes, the world has a collective problem.

We all well know the neocons have recently prevailed in unprecedented degree with the election of Mr. Bush. I doubt public demonstration alone will change this course. The war in Iraq did come in spite of a weight of world demonstration en masse. Mr. Bush, even though President of a Nation founded upon government for the people and by the people has himself said he is not swayed by public opinion.

That leaves those of us who can still feel some little morality in our soul quite little recourse. One particular path though is offered by the Constitution of the United States of America; that officious bit of paper that the demons would most like to do away with. This path is of electing a new President for the United States. I usually refrain from politics, but I write here today with purpose to emphasize the potential of Al-Jazeerah and all its readers to effect the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Active participation in some form, whether one is a voting American or not, as in active campaign participation, contributions, endorsements, infiltration should one want to see it that way, or simply expressing opinion, will have its influence. The effect sought is not so much seeing any particular candidate into office, but seeing that the particular candidate to win the White House has adopted a platform of peace.

Politically, the war in Iraq particularly frames the very debate about the moral vision for America. It presents itself as an election focal point for the voting American public; Is the United States of America a nation in fear levying a dark shadow upon the rest of the world, or can it be a shining light of statesmanship for liberty, peace, and justice for all.

I feel those Presidential candidates who openly, or tacitly support the Iraq war, and those candidates who are silent on the subject, are not offering any true change in policies from the current administration. They only cloak their support for the demons.

I also feel that the Democratic Party, who is in a pragmatic sense the only one that can effectively challenge Mr. Bush in an election, has for whatever reason been de-emphasizing the Iraq war and is directing focus elsewhere. They also cloak the demons.

Nevertheless, there are a number of Democratic Presidential candidates who do oppose the war, and actively speak out against it. There are also like candidates from other parties. I personally support all those candidates. I do not know the nature of their commitments, but at least they speak a positive message. I will ultimately support the one candidate the Democratic party eventually chooses to run against Mr. Bush. I just hope that this candidate will be one who is un-possessed, and can change the course of U.S. policy although it is probably naïve to actually think so.

Today’s political reality in America is that the demons are strong, and to be elected for public office in the United States one must dance with them. So, the next President will undoubtedly be under their influence. However, unlike the current President who has totally succumbed to the greater demons, a new President riding upon a moral mandate, barring some psychopathic character, will at least also have to play to the higher principles he got elected by.

Sincerely,

Robert Stumm

Hampton,Virginia

USA.

Riyadh Bombing: Even Muslim Governments Must Examine the 'Root Causes of Terrorism'

The CI* condemns the brutal bombing in Riyadh which killed innocent children, women and men. No person, least of all any Muslim, can justify such acts of criminality and murder, because the Holy Quran explicitly teaches all Muslims that 'killing one human being is like killing humanity'. However, we feel this is also a time for the Muslim World for introspection with a view to reform and reverse wrongs.

Whenever there are acts of violence, say, in Palestine and there is condemnation by the US and Israel of 'terrorism' but the response from the Muslims usually retort that the 'root causes of terrorism' be examined.

We feel that the same logic should be applied in instances where terrorism raises its ugly head in Muslim societies against Muslim peoples, as happened in Riyadh. Is there something wrong with the system that spawns such extremism, with people driven to desperation since there is no other legitimate, democratic outlet to vent their sentiments and grievances? These questions need to be asked and answered by Muslim rulers and regimes so that tragedies like Riyadh are avoided in the future.

Instead of banking on a bailout from the West or Washington, there is urgent and critical need to reform and give our own people a voice that has been muffled for too long. The strategy requires a political way out, which is the ultimate solution to violence of all kinds.

Citizens Welcomes Decision by Japan

CI welcomes the decision by the government of Japan to reverse its earlier decision to send troops to Iraq in support of the American occupation. For a country whose Constitution explicitly forbids revival of militarism, even the politically-motivated decision of sending troops to reinforce an illegal & immoral occupation went against the spirit of Japan's Constitution. Thankfully, after the election reverses suffered by the Koizumi government, this decision has been reversed.

We feel that such developments are indicative of the power of public opinion as opposed to the power of brute force that the US is so unsuccessfully trying to deploy in Iraq and Afghanistan. The CI would like to appeal to the Japanese government and people to use their influence to urge the US government to pullout of Iraq and restore Iraqi sovereignty so that peace and stability return to the region. This message would have great resonance during the current visit to Japan of US Defence Secretary Donal Rumsfeld.

Hj S. M. Mohamed Idris,

JP Chairman Citizens International

* Citizens International (CI) is a global initiative from Penang, Malaysia. It seeks to analyse the causes of increased militarization of the planet and to work towards an environment of peace and international security.

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).