Letters to the Editor, September 15, 2003

I am amazed at the intelligence or should I say lack of in the US. when their own polls reveal that 4 out of 5 Americans believe that Iraq was behind the September 11th. atrocity, is it that they are that easy to manipulate or purely patriotic in either case this presents the world with a dangerous scenario, if the above is true their unelected president and his ultra right war mongers could send their brave boys to war using nothing more than lies and patriotic songs, and how long will it take before the British stop following bush like a frightened puppy dogs and stand up like men and support what the vast majority know to be the truth. I have an idea, old though it may be but still worth pursuing let the first troops into battle be sons daughters brothers sisters any relations of people such as Bush, Powell, Rumsfeld, Blair, Hoon,etc. I say to the fore mentioned people be brave boys you go first and the peoples of your countries would follow you. My heart bursts with pride at the thought.

Yours,

John Kitson

I was appalled at Mr. Hardiker's article. No person is better than the other here in America or anywhere else in the Universe. We are all children of one God.

Americans want peace but we also want people to be free. And if Mr. Hardiker thinks that our helping the Iraqi's become free, then poor Mr. Hardiker. What a shame that he has freedom and doesn't want anyone else to have it. My Goodness....aren't we self indulgent though.

Iraqi people are good people They are extremely intelligent. We have many of them in the States and that is one of the groups who pleaded with our President to please help those in Iraq.

The French have caused more problems than anyone as far as the peace process goes. They want more control as more control means more money for them. Money should not be considered....freedom is what is necessary and needed by all. I don't care one iota what religion you are................I am a Christian and I just hope that you are of a religious faith and believe in God. That is what matters. Our President Bush is a very humble Christian. God is the center of his life.

If we didn't care would we be giving our lives and our money to help everyone else out?

Regarding Palestine.....yes, we are for a free Palestine. But, when they keep strapping bombs to themselves and killing innocent people, what is expected? At least Israel uses an army, they aren't cowards. Palestine might try that. I sincerely wish that both Palestine and Israel had different leaders, people who aren't military and people who care for others. Most Americans feel the same way.

Gayle Barnes

Oregon in the USA

Editor: Gayle, President Bush and the US government said that the war was launched to disarm Iraq of the weapons of mass destruction, not to spread freedom as you're arguing here. If freedom is the goal, then the US will launch an endless number of wars to free one nation after another.

Concerning Palestine and Israel, Palestinians are without an army. They don't have Apache helicopters and F-16s. If you consider the Israeli killing of Palestinian civilians with these weapons as not cowardly, then Palestinians would be grateful if you help provide them with F-16s and Apache helicopters. You've just pointed to a solution to the conflict: Arming Palestinians with advanced weapons to deter Israelis not to kill them on daily basis. Then, suicide bombing will stop. But who is going to help Palestinians get rid of the 36-year Israeli military occupation, first, before providing them with weapons? Who dares to say Israel is wrong in occupying the Palestinian territories against the will of the Palestinian people for 36 years? Do you?

The world is in a desperate search for a capable and credible authority to take charge of troubled Iraq and deliver it back as a free and sovereign nation to a new democratic leadership.

Through deliberate process of elimination, India would have come out with a strong claim for such a a trusteeship authority, if only it has not got involved Israel's Sharon, to seriously compromise India’s claim as a neutral and free alternative to the UN itself, that has been bombed in Iraq, apparently due to UN bureaucracy’s blatant identification with all US manipulations over US occupation agenda.

India had been a close friend of Iraqi people and had earned Iraqi leadership’s trust in India’s own untainted identity, free of all shades of cooperation or involvement with any Western hegemonic strategies.

However, after the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, India’s image has been irretrievably tarnished in Middle East.

By assuming a neutral savior role as alternative to the UN, India not only would have immensely advanced its international image in the world, as a peacemaker, but even it would have opened a new window of peaceful opportunities for its own people all around the developing world.

By choosing to become slave to its minority rightwing Hindutva politics, the current leadership have reduced India to a third rate hanger-on country, hanging by the shirttails of US and Israel.

India is at present trying its very best to project a leadership role for itself, representing developing nations interest against the develop world's high-handed exploitation of WTO negotiations. However, whatever the force of its arguments, its credibilty is seriously compromised through its strategic dealings with Israel and the US.