Letters to the Editor, April 9, 2005

Mike Whitney: Abu Ghraib Bastille

Dear Mike,

Your essay regarding Abu Ghraib prison (Al-Jazeerah, April 8, 2005) is linked to the website Iraq War. I began to read before I noticed the by line, and I thought " my lord, who can write like this?'' And it was you. What and insightful and poignant statement you made.

My fantasy is that the entire Iraqi populace will arrive at the gates of that hellhole and release the prisoners like swallows pouring out of Capistrano. I believe that soon that scene just might happen. I watched some old cuts on tv the other night that showed the mobs began to grow at the onset of the Russian revolution in Moscow.

When crowds swarm you, a million frenzied revolutionaries over any state's guns an tanks any day. I also saw clips of Afghans on a Russian tank busting open the hatch and yanking the commander out to what was not a pretty sight. Those US kids are really being put in harm's way and, as a result, putting us all at risk.

Thanks again for your courage and prescience.

Mary M Richmond, va.....the state with the most executions in the USA and proud of it!

Your piece on Syrian pullout of troops in Lebanon being ahead of schedule. (April 8, 2005).

Perhaps you have published something on the theory that the Israelis rather than Syrian forces assassinated the Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri as part of a scheme to force Syrian forces out so that they might invade and occupy Lebanon again.

If this is the case, circumstances have certainly proved Israel stands to benefit more than anyone else by the withdrawal. Time will tell but regardless, I can see in my mind the glee Israeli must be celebrating with.

If this is not a theory that those ME officials and authorities have considered I would ask them why not?

Pat Morris USA

The Tuskegee Experiment Revised!

As I read this article this evening and heard about it this morning from NPR, I felt sheer horror, anger and outrage at what I was hearing!

The circumstances surrounding this incident, mirror another equally shameful chapter in America's history.

The incident which I speak of is known as the Tuskegee Experiment. It was another government sponsored project which began in the 1930's and did not end until the 1970's, and involved studying the effects of untreated syphilis on African American men in rural impoverished areas of the south.

The U.S government then as now, went to low income communities and paid "volunteers" to participate in the potentially lethal experiment, while not fully disclosing the potential dangers of these experiments.

As an African American male in the U.S, I find it absolutely shameful that the attitudes which allowed the Tuskegee experiment to take place, are still so prevalent in the U.S!

Before we spend a penny more on "spreading democracy" and our culture of life (and killing thousands of people in the process!) in other countries, we need to take a good long look in the mirror and learn to get it right here at home first!

Timothy Stinson Miami, Florida

Sen. Boxer Threatens to Block Johnson Confirmation http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/040605EA.shtml

A California Democrat threatened this morning to block President Bush's nominee to head U.S. EPA unless the agency agreed to cancel a controversial pesticide testing program.

Berlusconi and Blair no longer head of their States ? Lets hope !

Wouldn´t it be wonderful, if both would not get re-elected ? Please to all: send e-mails to those countries - newspapers friends - whatever and let them know: please don´t vote for them. Maybe then someone else has to re-think and get out of Iraq. Don´t beat around the bush. Please pass it on and lets all hope ! The world would be a better and safer place again !

Angie Germany

SHARON REMAINS SHARON

AS IF...

Sharon seems to obey the Supreme Court of Israel. The path of the Separation Wall seems to have been moved to the vicinity of the Green Line.

But now it becomes clear that he is building more walls, under the guise of "protecting the settlers' roads". One wall will be built along route 443 (the Modi'in-Jerusalem road in the occupied territories), another in the south Hebron area, along route 317 (between the Susita-Karmel settlements).

These roads cut the West Bank into pieces, in order to imprison the Palestinians in isolated pockets. Exactly as the original path of the Separation Wall, which was vetoed by the Supreme Court, was intended to do.

Robert S. Rodvik

Gush Shalom, Author/media analyst

Sunni and Shia are Muslims, Not Only Arabs

Dear NPR,

On a daily basis I hear U.S media sources (including this mornings broadcast from NPR) use the expressions Sunni Arabs and Shia Muslims in reporting news from Iraq.

As an American Sunni Muslim, as were others such as the late El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz (aka Malcolm X), the terms Sunni and Shia are terms which refer to two branches of Islam, not a particular nationality.

With the increased interaction between the West (more specifically the U.S) and Muslim countries, understanding of the Muslim faith and constructive dialog with Muslims, will take on an even degree of importance.

Unfortunately, Western media sources, especially those in the U.S, have gone into overdrive to ensure that Islam continues to be portrayed as it's most lethal adversary. This demonization has resulted not only in the increasing hostility toward Muslims by citizens of other faiths, arbitrary, indefinite detentions of Muslims but also unjust wars based upon outright falsehoods!

Education in it's truest sense, occurs with communication not bombs, propaganda or missiles!

Timothy Stinson Miami, Florida