Letters to the Editor, November 9, 2003

Batarfi's comments are ludicrous. America's leaders are not panicking, but merely protected ourselves from religious fanatics, who have sought to terrorize the hearts and lives of common people.

Charles Curtis Franklin, TN

The book, Jessica Lynch: I am a soldier, has been written but amid many controversial claims. Since the book is written for the American audience, and of course available to the rest of the world, there may be distorted facts or better known as lies to spice-up or sex-up the book. Admittedly I have not read the book, but from the reactions in the news, Iraq seems to be projected as a cruel, hostile place.

As the books will be around for many years to come, some of those claims should be countered. Perhaps the nice doctors (who saved her life) and nurse (who sang her the lullaby) at Nassiriyah hospital should produce a book that gives account of the life of Jessica Lynch from Iraq perspective. A book they could call Jessica Lynch: Iraq Side of the Story.

Millions of people like me reading the Jessica version book may not get a balanced picture and would be happy to grab the Iraq version.

Fauzi Shahab, Malaysia

An Early End to the Iraqi Conflict

President Bush should be re-elected to a second term in 2004. He's clearly earned it, he deserves it. As a matter of fact I can think of no one who deserves it more, not even Al Gore.

To that end, the Democratic party should not put forth a nomonie for President in 2004. It is already quite clear that Bush can readily outspend us to win the 2004 presidential election in 2004. So, maybe the best policy for the democrats is to just simply step back and let him win.

Obviously I can't speak for who-some-ever might otherwise become the Democratic Presidential Nomonie, but for me personally I would not want to see another spectical of some reasonably intelligent Democratic Presidential nomonie trying to figure out how best to participate in Nationally televised/publicized debate wherein Bush, the likely opponent is clearly not present and accounted for.

In the last few years it has become clear to all of us that our current President is nothing more than a wooden-headed puppet, one who apparently many people in this country personally like, or even maybe love.

But then most of use had, if not love for Mortimer Snerd, at least no serious dislike. But then we never elected him to run the US government.

So, as Democrats, let's spent our more meager campaign funds where they will certainly do the most good. Let's elect a clear majority of Democrats for both houses of Congress.

And then come February of 2005 will can begin the proceedings to put the entire lot of lying and thieving "Bushies" where they truly belong, out of office forever and into jail for many years to come.

In the meantime this plan would help to convince the rest of the world, Germany, Russia, and most especially France, that America's heart really is in the right place. By announcing this Democratic plan we can tell the world that we are not becoming the Repubican's version of Nazi Germany in 1938. We can thereby openly and clearly renounce the "Bush First Strike Doctrine" as being Un-American.

And yes, there IS some bad, good, REALLY GOOD, news in that. It will most likely result in the Bushies being able to put together a true international based coalition to pursue success, finally, in Iraq. Giving the international community a TRUE view of who we are as Americans, what we actually do represent, in this way, might actually result in a much earlier end to the conflict in Iraq.

Is there anyone out there today that cannot realize that the widespread opposition to our occupantion of Iraq would be a lot less EMPOWERED if Bush had built, truly, an International team for the invasion of Iraq. Actually even I must back away from that statement. Had Bush continued to work to build a fully "fleshed out" internation coalition then it would have likely taken enough time for the inspection teams to determine that Iraq WMD did not exist.

But is all that enough motivation, and early end to the conflict in Iraq and putting the would-be Nazi Neuocons in jail, to get the Democrats to stand down during the next Presidential election cycle??

I for one certainly hope so.

Willard West

Just another Democrat, with backbone

Bush praises Indian Muslim role in Indian democracy

President Bush’s backhanded praise of Indian Muslims being good citizens of India – thus proving his point that Islam is not incompatible with democracy, does not do justice to the plight of Indian Muslims and their sacrifices to keep Indian democracy in business. All through 40 odd years of Congress rule, while it piled up majorities in the Centre and States on the basis of its solid Muslim vote bank, Cpngress in turn never lifted a finger to punish a single criminal in innumerable communal riots taking toll of thousands and thousands innocents, during their term of office.

In the 56 years of India’s independence, Indian Muslims, conveniently condemned for the sin of creating Pakistan, which is now America’s closest ally, have been systematically wiped out of all statistics. In 56 years, active discrimination against them condemned the Muslim community to a fate worse than that suffered by the ‘untouchables’ in the 2000 years of Brahmanical persecution.

It is time, Indian political leadership should realise the grave injustice mated out to Indian Muslims and take affirmative steps to reward the Muslim voter for its sacrifices to keep the flame of Indian democracy burning all the time. Muslims never lost hope in India’s democracy and never resorted to violence and terrorism to secure their due rights. Their faith in India and Indian democracy and their stoic patience should be acknowledged and their community should be given full opportunities to stand side by side all others in the national line-up, to share the honours and prosperity that's India's destiny. India owes that to its Muslims.

Ghulam Muhammed, India

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).