October 29, 2006 Letters and Announcements to Al-Jazeerah Editor

Letter to BBC writer, Paul Reynolds, regarding Sudan and Sudan backgrounder

Hi Paul,

Paul.Reynolds-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

If you feel so strongly concerned about loss of life then lets see this bastard occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine stopped. Once this is done then come and talk about Darfur. Indeed the killing of 650K+ innocent Iraqis in on going Holocaust should have been your first priority.

Secondly we had just enough of this international community scam. Place a representative of the Muslims on the security council with veto and we will have a proper security council. International community which can’t lift a finger to stop Israeli war crimes in Lebanon or US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan seems to be very concerned about alleged human rights problems in Sudan.

Thirdly before US/UK/UN starts giving lectures on Human rights they need to start paying war reparations for the mass killing of Muslims in Africa and India. Does Mr Reeve not recall UK’s General Gordon’s murderous sweep thru Khartoum in which he machine gunned the whole town? Or UK’s use of Chemical warfare on innocent Kurdish villages during a prior attempt at “liberation” of Iraq.

The Belgians need to start reparations for mass killing in the Congo. Or are reparations only for the Chosen while other victims of US/UK/EU occupations get tiddly. US/UK needs to pay $100K per person for the death of 600K+ victims of their illegal invasion and occupation in Iraq ($100K* 650K is only $65 billion). There will be another bill for infrastructure damages (who pays US or UK and in what proportion?).

Fourthly why is it that only Germany has to pay reparations to the Chosen? What about other victims of European mass murder? Or is it our skin and blood is incorrect so no reparations need to be paid since we are not from the Chosen eh Paul?

PS: The French need to start paying reparations to Algeria and Vietnam and other parts of frog occupied Africa and Asia. Once they have finished paying reparations they can re-start giving human rights lectures.

Rafe Ellis

Who will discuss the real issues?

THEY WON'T EVEN DISCUSS THE REAL ISSUES

The New York Times editorial of October 24 states rather matter-of-factly, "This fall's election debates have educated very few voters because neither side is prepared to be honest about the terrible consequences of military withdrawal and the very long odds against success if American troops remain." To this observation, they might have added that the same refusal to be honest applies to every major issue facing the nation.

What major party candidate is telling the public that the war on Iraq is a war for empire not sanctioned by international law?

What major party candidate is pointing to the war crimes being committed in our name?

What major party candidate is denouncing the torture and the new law to abolish the right of habeas corpus for millions in this country?

As the call for the teach-ins states: "Neither the full magnitude nor the staggering implications of the Bush program are well understood. The administration systematically lies about its actions and agenda, while the major media and Democrats allow it to frame the overall discussion. As a result, the most crucial issues are not discussed truthfully either in the public arena or in election campaigns."

This is why the national emergency teach-ins called by World Can't Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime with the Bush Crimes Commission are so crucially needed. People can only act on what they understand, and the current election season is engineered to make sure people know as little as possible!

EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE

Dozens of cities are holding their own teach-ins or hosting video web streaming parties. From school assemblies at Oakland High in California to video web streaming gatherings in Decatur, Alabama, people will be joining around the country to see this material during the coming week. If there is not a teach-in scheduled in your area, all you need is a computer with broadband (DSL or cable) internet access in order to view the New York teach-in. Go to the World Can't Wait web site for details.

You can project the teach-in in a class room or view it with a group of friends on a computer screen.

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Les Roberts, an author of the study in The Lancet that there are a projected 650,000 civilian deaths caused by the war on Iraq, far above the Bush regime's casual numbers of 100,000. Roberts is an epidemiologist, now at Columbia University. He will speak on the Bush administration's attacks on science, including their attempts to discredit data pointing to massive deaths in Iraq.

William Goodman, Legal Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, speaking on the incredible changes in law and civil liberties, particularly the implications of the new Military Commissions Act and the legitimization of torture.

Larry Everest has covered the Middle East for over ten years and is the author of Oil, Power, and Empire. He will speak on "what's happening in Iraq, how did we get here, and what should be done about it"

Chris Hedges, Senior Fellow at The Nation Institute and a Lecturer in the Council of the Humanities at Princeton University spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent for the New York Times, winning a Pulitzer Prize. He will address the moves toward theocracy and its influence on the threatening moves toward a war on Iran.

Cristina Page, Vice President of the Institute for Reproductive Health Access at NARAL Pro-Choice New York and a prominent reproductive rights activist. Her recent book How The Pro-choice Movement Saved America describes the assault of the Christian right on both abortion and contraception.

This event will be held at: Synod Hall of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
110th St & Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY

7:00 pm, Monday, October 30 (doors open at 6:30). Suggested donation $10-$20

Delayed national broadcast on the Internet the same evening. See World Can't Wait for details on viewing.

This internet broadcast is a first! Expenses are $3500+. Help make this important program available to the world via the Internet.

Please contribute AND set up a viewing where you are Monday.

Find other teach-ins through World Can't Wait or organize your own.