Israel 10-23-2003

23, October 2003                    Stanford Daily, RE: Israel

Response to local letters,  

In defending the extremist views of Daniel Pipes, Sheree Roth displays her obvious bias against Muslims. It is a pity Roth and Pipes choose to ignore the hijacking of the Jewish faith by Sharon and other Israeli fanatics who have unleashed a reign of terror on the Palestinians in pursuit of a 'greater Israel'. Under the smoke screen of routing out terrorists, Israel has occupied large swaths of Gaza and the West Bank, demolished 11,000 homes, murdered hundreds of innocent civilians including women and children. The killing of innocent civilians by suicide bombers is repugnant.

The killing of innocent civilians using helicopter gunships, tanks, and bombs, is equally repugnant. Perhaps Roth is not aware that Israeli reserve pilots refused to bomb civilians and presented a signed petition stating they would not take part in "illegal and immoral" strikes in Palestinians area in the West Bank and Gaza strip. This follows hundreds of reserve soldiers who have pledged not to serve in the West Bank and Gaza strip, stating they will "fight no more to rule, deport, destroy, blockade, exterminate, starve, and humiliate the Palestinian people. Israel's leading human rights group, B'Tselem recently reported that Israel had violated 29 of the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Roth and Pipes would do well to heed the advice of the great Rabbi, Eliezer Waldman, who heads a yeshiva of Kiryat Arba who said "soldiers MUST NOT follow and order that is against the commandment of the Torah." Fanaticism and murder is indefensible be it Islamic militants or Jewish terrorists. Finally, I am appalled that the Hoover Institution chose to tarnish its apolitical image by sponsoring Daniel Pipes's talk.

ISRAEL 10-8-2003

8, October 2003           Response to Thomas Friedman, Op Ed NYT  RE: ISRAEL

 ‘Thomas Friedman, Long Spoon Diplomacy’ pA35 October 8, is right to be outraged at the ‘madness of suicide bombers’ but consistently remains silent to the appalling plight of the Palestinians who have suffered. The decision of President Bush to support the Israeli attack on Syria effectively gives a green light for Israel to continue its state sponsored terrorism with impunity. The attack on Syria was a clear violation of international law which is sure to escalate the violence in the Middle East and provoke further attacks on innocent Israeli citizens.  This will further isolate the US and create greater instability in the Middle East. 3,200 innocent citizens, including 800 children have  already perished.

The Bush Administration have created a dangerous precedence with its preemptive attack on Iraq which the Israeli government has exploited with its preemptive attack on Syria. The Palestinians and the Israelis have both become hostage to the extremist elements of their respective societies.

The Jewish lobby has been instrumental in formulating the unwavering financial and political  support of Israel. 3 billion dollars is paid to Israel each year for ‘defense’ needs. The sad reality is that much of this US largess has been used to wage a war of terror and deny the Palestinians a homeland and self-determination. Approximately, $1.6 trillion of U.S. tax money has been given to Israel over the past 30 years much of which has been used to take possession of Palestinian land with the construction of illegal settlements and the ‘apartheid’ wall of hatred. There will be no hope for peace in the Middle East until the US abandons its blatant partially towards Israel and assumes the role of an honest broker.

Israel bombs Syria 10-7-2003

7, October 2003                             Israel bombs Syria

The decision of President Bush to support the Israeli attack on Syria effectively gives a green light for Israel to continue its state sponsored terrorism with impunity. The attack on Syria was a clear violation of international law which is sure to escalate the violence in the Middle East and provoke further attacks on innocent Israeli citizens. This will further isolate the US and create greater instability in the Middle East.   3,200 innocent citizens, including 800 children have already perished.

The Bush Administration has created a dangerous precedence with its preemptive attack on Iraq which the Israeli government has exploited with its preemptive attack on Syria. The Palestinians and the Israelis have both become hostage to the extremist elements of their respective societies.

The Jewish lobby has been instrumental in formulating the unwavering financial and political support of Israel. 3 billion dollars is paid to Israel each year for 'defense' needs. The sad reality is that much of this US largess has been used to wage a war of terror and deny the Palestinians a homeland and self-determination. Approximately, $1.6 trillion of U.S. tax money has been given to Israel over the past 30 years much of which has been used to take possession of Palestinian land with the construction of illegal settlements and the 'apartheid' wall of hatred. There will no hope for peace in the Middle East until the US abandons its blatant partially towards Israel and assumes the role of an honest broker.

Israel bombs Syria 10-7-2003

7, October 2003 Israel bombs Syria
The decision of President Bush to support the Israeli attack on Syria effectively gives a green light for Israel to continue its state sponsored terrorism with impunity. The attack on Syria was a clear violation of international law which is sure to escalate the violence in the Middle East and provoke further attacks on innocent Israeli citizens. This will further isolate the US and create greater instability in the Middle East.   3,200 innocent citizens, including 800 children have already perished.

The Bush Administration has created a dangerous precedence with its preemptive attack on Iraq which the Israeli government has exploited with its preemptive attack on Syria. The Palestinians and the Israelis have both become hostage to the extremist elements of their respective societies.

The Jewish lobby has been instrumental in formulating the unwavering financial and political support of Israel. 3 billion dollars is paid to Israel each year for 'defense' needs. The sad reality is that much of this US largess has been used to wage a war of terror and deny the Palestinians a homeland and self-determination. Approximately, $1.6 trillion of U.S. tax money has been given to Israel over the past 30 years much of which has been used to take possession of Palestinian land with the construction of illegal settlements and the 'apartheid' wall of hatred. There will no hope for peace in the Middle East until the US abandons its blatant partially towards Israel and assumes the role of an honest broker.

India should distance itself from apartheid Israel 9-25-2003

25, September 2003               India should distance itself from apartheid Israel

I was dismayed to learn that the powerful US Jewish lobby and Israel are seeking closer ties to India. The Jewish lobby has been instrumental in formulating the unwavering financial and political support of Israel. 3 billion dollars is paid to Israel each year for defense needs. The sad reality is that much of this US largess has been used to wage a war of terror and deny the Palestinians a homeland and self-determination. Approximately, $1.6 trillion has been given to Israel over the past 30 years. The Israelis have diverted some of the funds to erect illegal settlements and Sharon's apartheid wall, in direct contravention of UN sanctions. Thus far, Israel has refused to implement 28 UN resolutions of the Security Council and scores of General Assembly resolutions calling for Israel to withdraw from Arab lands.

The annual report issued by The Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Israel's leading civil rights group, harshly criticized Israeli soldiers of cruel and sadistic behavior against the Palestinians. The Israeli military has failed to investigate the deaths of hundreds of innocent Palestinians including young children. The state sponsored terrorism unleashed on the defenseless Palestinians has always been conducted with a wink and nod from Washington who have made no attempt to hide their obvious bias. The ACRI accuses the Israeli military that civil rights violations "arise not from any operational necessity, but from hard-heartedness of soldiers, who receive from above the message of utter disregard for the dignity, freedom and lives of innocent Palestinians." Palestinians who marry Israelis will soon be denied the right to live in Israel! Yael Stein of the human rights group, B'tselem condemned this action as racist law, reminiscent of South Africa's repugnant apartheid system.

It is extremely disturbing that India invited Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The International Court at the Hague has charged Sharon with war crimes, when as defense minister in 1982, he was responsible for the slaughter of 20,000 people south of Lebanon. Sharon did nothing to prevent the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians in refugee camps in Sabra and Shatila.

The Indian government must distance itself from Israel. It must not reward Israel for abrogating the right of the Palestinians to self-determination. They have been forced off their land at gun point and suffered utter deprivation and hardships. Let us not forget our past history when we suffered indignities from our former colonial masters, the British. Let us join hands and maintain solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters and reject all attempts from the US Jewish lobby to normalize relations with Israel.

Iraq War 7-25-2003

25, July 2003                        Response to local letter RE: Iraq War

Sunil Adam's 'Analysis/Opinion (l-West 25, July) castigates India for its failure to respond affirmatively to Washington's request to dispatch a 'peacekeeping contingent' to Iraq. He accuses New Delhi of being myopic by not seizing the opportunity to become 'center stage' with the great superpower. It is a pity that Mr. Adam ignores the moral righteous of the pre-emptive attack on Iraq. There is little doubt that the US attack on Iraq was launched on bogus statements manufactured by the propaganda wing of the White House. The pre-emptive attack violated the UN Charter, international  and universal standards of morality. This is borne out by the worldwide condemnation of the U.S. attack by mainstream religious denominations and spiritual leaders.

Bush's plans for world domination is based on the fantasy of right wing and neo-conservative and corporate thieves, that military power is the sole arbiter in world politics. The New World Order conceived by the Bushies would be similar to the Old World of 19th Century colonialism -'send a gun boat to silence the restless natives!'.

74 billion dollars of our tax money has been squandered. Contrary to earlier rosy predictions, it is now costing 1 billion dollars a week to maintain US occupation forces in Iraq. US troops are in "shooting gallery" as Ted Kennedy stated. Does Mr. Adam believe that offering our jawans to become part of this shooting gallery is worth the sacrifice? Are we Indians so desperate to grovel and seek approval from Washington?

No, Mr. Adam! The US has got itself in a pickle. Its web of deceit is unraveling and our troops are now trapped in the mother of all quagmires! The US must swallow its national pride, go before the UN, apologize for its dismissive insulting behavior, mend fences with our former European allies, the French, Germans and the Russians and seek their help. Failure to do so will result in more loss of lives and intensify the anger both at home and abroad.

IRAQ 6-29-2003

29, June 2003                                     IRAQ

It is very perplexing to understand that there are still some Indo-Americans convinced that the US is still in the business of democratizing countries like Iraq. The ''shock and awe' propaganda of the Bush Administration, parroted by much of the media, has persuaded some of our compatriots to wave the American flag and support our ''popular president'. Many of the local Indian press, carried a story of marine corporal, Gaurav Taneja, - ''the proud Marine, back from Iraq.

It is a pity that so few ''in-bed' reporters did not venture from their protective shields and turn their cameras to captures the horror and devastation inflicted by the American/Anglo coalition forces.

Iraqgate will no doubt be regarded by an increasing number of Americans, after they awaken from their long reverie, as the biggest blunder in American foreign policy - a preemptive attack on a sovereign nation based on an avalanche of manufactured false propaganda.

Christian Westermann, a top State Department expert on chemical and biological weapons told congressional closed-door hearings that the Bush Administration, had exerted intense pressure to tailor the evidence gathering material to conform to the Administration's colonial policies.

Never has Congress ben so easily manipulated by the executive branch - a sad indictment of our timid lawmakers. After their abysmal failure to challenge the president on his war-mongering crusade, the Democrats dropped their opposition to closed hearings on Iraqgate., Congressional power has eroded and the ''monarchy', rejected more than 200 years, has been reestablished by the right wing ideologues in the White House.

Over 200 Americans "peace keeping' forces, and many British soldiers, have already perished. It is likely the casualties will increase significantly as more Iraqis vent their anger against the occupation forces. Thus far, the Americans have displayed a disturbing pattern of cultural and religious insensitivity and occasional mindless brutality which will no doubt intensify the anger.

No, Mr. Taneja, this is not a time for celebration, but one of sadness and shame that our democracy has been hijacked. Our lawmakers, the servants of the people, supposed to reflect the will of the people. The will of the people has been coopted by the White House aided and abetted by our lawmakers who have chosen to abandon their constituencies in favor of their political careers. I hope India, who has been approached to send peacekeeping forces, stiffen their resistence and chooses not to participate in this charade.

IRAQ 6-13-2003

13, June 2003                                    IRAQ

It is disturbing that a significant number of Indo-Americans have succumbed to the barrage of false propaganda emanating from the White House, aided and abetted by a silent Congress and a compliant press. If there still remains a small vestige of support, convinced that our Administration had altruistic reasons for its invasion of Iraq, I am sure the same people can be persuaded to believe that consuming large amounts ''gulab jaman' lowers cholesterol!

The mendacity of the Bush Administration knows no bounds. The claim that Iraq imposed an immediate threat to the US with its large stockpile of WMD turns out, not surprisingly, to be pure fiction. The attempt to establish a connection to al Qaeda also proved to be false - a crude attempt to exploit the raw emotions of 9/11.

Thousands of Iraqi civilians and many of our brave soldiers have died. Much of the Iraqi infrastructure has been destroyed. An increasing number of Iraqis are venting their anger at our troops whose lives are in jeopardy. The Bush Administration dismisses these increasingly violent incidents as 'pockets' of suspected al Qaeda terrorists. 75 billion of taxpayers money has been squandered. Iraqgate has turned out to be far more serious than all preceeding ''gates'. Bush and his junior partner, Tony Blair, are guilty of the most horrific war crimes. Congress must conduct a vigorous investigation and initiate impeachment proceedings if it can be proved that Bush deliberately misled the American people.

A recent PTI release reported that the Pentagon, the merchants of death, is now anxious to sell large quantities of military hardware to India and thus persuade it to become a strategic partner with the US. India should resist such pressures. At a time when many countries are increasingly dismayed at the unilateral actions of the US in unleashing its firepower and economic might to impose its will whosesoever it chooses, India must remain independent. Even more disturbing is the willingness of India to purchase Israel's Phalcon Airborne Warning Control Systems aircraft. India must resist conducting any trade with Israel, a country, which has occupied huge swaths of Palestinian land, built large numbers of illegal settlements (in violation of UN sanctions) and committed unspeakable atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Iraq War 4-20-2003

20, April 2003                    The Iraq War

Fortunately, most young Indo-Americans escaped the horrors of the war in Iraq electing not to join the military. It is tragic that the architects of this war, most notably President Bush and his close advisors (and most members of the House and Senate) have never served in the military and thus have no knowledge of its brutality. It is estimated at least 11,000,000 world-wide opposed the preemptive action of the US. A large number of Americans were opposed to the war before they were exposed to the barrage of propaganda emanating from the White House delivered to the American people by a self-serving press who were reluctant to relinquish their coveted relationships with the Administration. The democrats were silenced, intimidated by notions of a false sense of patriotism, placing their political careers ahead of the welfare of the American people.

The myth that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has finally been exposed. There is little doubt that Iraqi's forces would have used whatever means they had in their possession to repel the unprovoked attacks on their people.

It is especially galling that we should we should use terrifying weapons and claim we are 'liberating' the Iraqi people. This is reminiscent of the crude language and propaganda used in the Vietnam war, 'we have to destroy a village to save it". It is unconscionable that the Bush Administration should exploit the raw emotions of 9/11 to try to establish a connection between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. This has been strongly rejected by British Intelligence. 1,000,000 Iraqi's have already perished from our cruel sanctions including 500,000 children. The servile media gleefully reported that a staggering 12,000 bombs were dropped in the first 12 days in 'shock and awe and ballet style' of attacks. The cameras were turned away from the terrifying images of human suffering to insulate the American public from the harsh realities of war and perpetuate the myth of 'liberating' the Iraqi's and bolster support for an unpopular war. The depleted uranium used in the manufacture of these bombs, was banned by the UN as WMD! The clouds of radiation released will adversely affect the health of Iraqis for decades to come. Gulf War 1 vets are still suffering from their deadly effects.

Those who opposed the war have surely been vindicated by the complete absence of WMD. This is not a period of victory but of shame and horror.

Brutal slaying of Rachel Corrie in Israel 3-20-2003

20, March 2003          Brutal slaying of Rachel Corrie in Israel

The brutal slaying of Rachel Corrie, a Washington state college student, by an oncoming military bulldozer, is yet another example of the reign of terror being unleashed by the Israeli occupying force bent on ethnic cleansing.

Rachel displayed great courage trying to protect innocent Palestinians by offering herself as a human shield. In spite of wearing a bright orange vest, the driver crushed her in into a pile of dirt. This was state sanctioned murder aided and abetted by our own Administration, who has provided the weapons of mass destruction in subjugating an entire people.

Israel continues to ignore the collective voice of the UN. It has refused 28 resolutions of the UN Security Council and scores of General Assembly resolutions calling it to withdraw from the occupied Arab lands. It acts with immunity knowing that our government will protect its illegal actions with its veto power.

Rachel you did not die in vain. You paid the ultimate price upholding the right of all people to live in dignity and peace. You will not be forgotten.