War of Annihilation

I'm so dismayed and sorry for the Palestinians who are mercilessly trampled and killed by the Israeli occupation forces. As a survivor of the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, I thought the Japanese were the most brutal and barbarous invaders.

But the Japanese were not much worse than the Israelis. My place was the hotbed of resistance fighters and many times the Japanese army was ambushed but they did not burn and bulldoze our houses, just like the Israelis are doing in Gaza.

In many ways Tojo and Hitler were kinder to the vanquished. I would not say anything about what's happening to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict but I can't stop my grief and sympathy towards the Palestinian people who are fenced, killed at will by the Israelis.

The international community is quiet about the plight of the Palestinians but many like me grieve for you. I'm old and informed and I wish I were young and strong to manifest my feelings to the Palestinian people.

Amandoq, the Philippines

 

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Richard Hugus' August 10 article "Lies of the Israeli Peace Movement".

To the Editor:

I am a Jewish American member of Brit Tzedek, living very comfortably in Ann Arbor, Michigan -- so I am somewhat reluctant to be writing. Still, I feel that I need to respond to Richard Hugus' August 10 article "Lies of the Israeli Peace Movement".

If Mr. Hugus is a Palestinian, then the pain and bitterness expressed in his article are easily understood. Still, if Mr. Hugus is able to expand his horizons, I urge him to turn his attention to trying to find the most speedy and most effective path to obtaining relief for the Palestinian people.

Yours truly,

Joel A. Levitt

joelalevitt@comcast.net

 

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The humanitarian crisis in Darfur, seen in the light of international politics.

Dear Editor,

In contrary with the South of Sudan, the present humanitarian crisis in Darfur isn't rooted in religious, but in ethno-economical causes, since nearly all Darfurian people are Muslims. The conflict which was started in the eighties of the former century, was based on an economic conflict between African farmers in South-Darfur and Arab nomads, coming from North-Darfur and was in the nineties intensified by attacks of nomads on the grounds of farmers, by which hundreds of farmers were being killed, with as a consequence the forming of two black resistance-organisations, the SPA and JEM. The present Sudanese Arab government enlarged the conflict not only by its own political-military conduct, which led to war-crimes like bombing villages, torture of prisoners and extra-judicial executions, but also by supporting private militia's like the Janjaweed, composed of Arab nomad-groups, which since February 2003 are responsible for the killing of more than 50.000 Darfurian civilians and the expulsion of more than 1 million people. Of course those atrocities have led to grave international criticism, resulting in two UN-Security-resolutions, which urged the Sudanese government to dismantle the Janjaweed-militia's. However, since despite of the promised Sudanese cooperation with the UN-resolutions the humanitarian situation in Darfur even worsened, it is of the greatest importance that the UN is sending in cooperation with the African Union an extended peace-force to Darfur to protect the black civilian population in Darfur from further atrocities.

Astrid Essed astridessed@hotmail.com

Amsterdam [Z-O] The Netherlands

Editor: The Sudanese government has been cooperative with the African Union and the UN. It has accepted African peace keepers and facilitated the distribution of aid. It also has encouraged refugees to come back by cracking down on the militia. However, the Sudanese government needs help from the international community in sending and distributing food and medicine to the refugees. The most important thing is that this crisis should not be allowed to be used as a justification for the world powers to invade Sudan.

 

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Fernando Suarez del Solar on the first presidential debate

This was a truly historic debate. I have seen many political debates in different countries but never in my adult life have I seen an incumbent president look so .... Mr Bush was arrogant with his attitude and his hesitation when confronted with direct questions such as "Why are we in Iraq." He repeated until his mouth was dry his well known slogan "The world is better with Saddam Hussein in jail" but he still could not justify the senseless occupation of Iraq.

Senator Kerry appeared calm and self-confident in a manner I had not Seen before. He presented clear and concise facts that undercut Mr Bush's defense of the unnecessary war in Iraq. Kerry proposes a plan to extract the United States from Iraq with minimum damage to both nations while Bush says we will not leave Iraq until it is free. Why, then, did Bush declare "Mission Accomplished" in May 2003? This lie and other lies were exposed by Kerry in an elegant and convincing manner. Bush could only display a grin when confronted with Kerry's well grounded arguments.

The following day, the principal U.S. and international newspapers! reported that Kerry won the debate with only 35% of those polled by CNN and others Claiming Bush had won. What can we expect in the second debate? Can Bush continue to ... confronted with a well informed and well Intentioned Kerry? Can Bush justify the fact that in his three years in office the number of people living in poverty has increased?

I have no doubt that the American people have more reasons than ever to defeat Bush and his immoral politics of war and poverty. 

Fernando Suarez del Solar. Padres del "GUERRERO AZTECA" Jesus Alberto Suarez del Solar Navarro Lance Corporal USMC 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division fernando@guerreroazteca.org 

www.guerreroazteca.org 

 

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Outsourcing of India’s security and defense to US/Israeli forces.

It is surprising that a Congress Chief Minister --Tarun Gogoi --- going over the head of Central Government, should directly request a foreign power and that too the marauding superpower to ask for help to maintain internal security.

This is one of the most serious breach of India's national sovereignty and independence.

We could have expected such dubious development in the watch of super patriots, BJP government.

But for Congress to succumb to such managed ruse to respond in such an irresponsible way facilitating US intelligence and so-called expert security agents --- a euphuism for outsourcing to Israeli forces, is an open admission that Congress is playing some high stake games with the National interests without taking the people in confidence.

The development could provide a precedent for further take-over of Indian defense and internal security by US-Israel with open facilitating role by Sonia Congress.

GHULAM MUHAMMED, Mumbai – <ghulam_muhammed2@yahoo.co.in> 

 

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Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).