Greenpeace 3-27-2006

27, March 2006                      Greenpeace

The Wall Street Journal recently investigated a little-known shadowy watchdog group, Public Interest Watch, which was responsible for getting the IRS to audit Greenpeace claiming that the organization was guilty of money laundering and other crimes and challenging its tax exempt status. 

In a classic ‘follow the money trail’, the WSJ determined, not surprisingly, that giant ExxonMobil bankrolled 95% of Public Interest Watch’s funding. The group described its mission in lofty terms as “Keeping an Eye on the Self-Appointed Guardians of the Public Interest." For years, Greenpeace has been one of Exxon Mobile’s harshest critics, labeling the company as "No. 1 Climate Criminal" over its appalling environmental practices. The Murdoch media chain provided a great deal of publicity to the false claims of Public Media Watch.


A subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee jumped on the bandwagon, in deference to their corporate benefactors, and announced they would investigate Greenpeace. The I.R.S. audited Greenpeace tax records and gave them a clean bill of health. The subcommittee of the House determined that the charges leveled at Greenpeace were baseless. It is encouraging to hear that in spite of its wealth, power and enormous influence behemoth ExxonMobil was unable to slay its fierce critic.   

Starving Palestinians 3-23-2006

23, March 2006 Starving Palestinians 
For the past two months, Israel has cut off deliveries of flour and other essential food items to the Gaza Strip. A staggering two thirds of the bakeries and many restaurants have been forced to close. The agriculture industry is on the verge of collapse because of repeated closures of the export terminal at Karni. The closure has caused significant economic hardship to Gaza farmers and businessmen. Cement, steel and fertilizers cannot enter into the Strip. Greenhouse owners are losing about $500,000 a day during the peak of the harvest season for peppers, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.

The blockade is in complete violation of the border agreements. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the head of the Southern Command, Yoav Galant, and Aviv Kochavi, commander of the Gaza Division, strongly recommended the reopening of Karni and said there were no security-related concerns. But Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the closure to continue. It is unconscionable that Israel is allowing innocent men, women and children to slowly starve. How can our government continue to support such egregious polices of the Israeli government? I call on all concerned citizens to contact their representatives in Washington and demand that Karni be reopened to allow the free flow of goods to Gaza. 

Wafa Sultan 3-21-2006

21, March 2006                        Wafa Sultan

Wafa Sultan, a 47-year old former Muslim from Southern California, has provoked a great deal of attention and controversy. In an interview on Al Jazeera television last month, she harshly criticized Islam for religious extremism. She claims that Islam is beyond reform and its scriptures are saturated with references urging believers to proselytize the faith using violence if necessary. There are also frequent references of misogyny, denigrating and subordinating the role of women. The world media has reported many high profile tragic stories of honor killings fully supported by family members. The mullahs and clerics remain silent when such horrific crimes are committed. Only women's groups voice their horror and opposition to such killings.

Ms. Sultan's radical views have been widely disseminated in the U.S. media. Her views have appeared in the New York Times front page and she has been plied with interview requests from CNN, Fox, "Good Morning America" and public radio. She has garnered large number of well-wishers — mostly non-Muslims — lauding her "courage," offering donations and proposals to make a documentary about her life. Ms. Sultan "blames the mullahs and clerics for distorting the teachings of Koran for 14 centuries and speaks about the anger and despair of fellow Muslims." By going public Ms. Sultan has effectively tossed the gauntlet. It is now up to Muslims to refute her claims that the religion has been distorted and hijacked by the mullahs and clerics. Does Islam support violent act against non-believers and relegates the role of women? Must Muslim women be forced to be hooded from head to toe and does the Koran sanction honor killings? If not, why do religious leaders and Muslims remain silent when these horrific crimes are committed? I urge Muslims to voice their vigorous defense of their faith to counter the increasing hostility to Islam.

Citizens of Palo Alto, time to scream! 3-18-2006

18, March 2006 Citizens of Palo Alto, time to scream! 

I applaud your thoughtful editorial, ‘Crises have left us numb, . . ‘ The citizens of Palo Alto should be screaming for action. The ENRON settlement, the Utilities scandal, the glacial speed of fixing the SF Creek problem, the grossly overpaid-overstaffed-under-worked city staff, . . is truly shameful. Our energies have been diverted to expensive white elephants such as setting up a new 5-star police station when better use could be made of the existing premises. The City auditor deserves much credit for offering a new proposal (Daily January 25. ’06) to contract out labor and reduce staff at the Department of Parks and Recreation at a cost savings in the thousands. This idea could be replicated across many if not all City departments and has the potential to generate high cost savings and reduce our unfunded liabilities. I think many Palo Alton’s are disgusted with the overstaffing, wastage and bureaucratic ineptness but are unsure how to channel their frustrations. It is time to raise our collective voices and demand change. 

Indo-US nuclear deal 3-13-2006

13, March 2006                      Indo-US nuclear deal

It is a pity that many Indo-Americans support the recent US/India nuclear deal. This is indicative of a deep malaise in the Indian psyche. It seems that many of us have been unable to jettison the unhealthy ‘hat in the hand’ mentality of being the former step-child of the British raj. Sadly, we still retain a residue of an unhealthy complex vis a vis our relationship to the U.S. While Indian entrepreneurs and business moguls deserve much credit for biting off a sizeable piece of the world economic pie, over 700 million of our less fortunate brethren live in abject poverty. It is therefore unconscionable that our scarce resources are being squandered to build more nuclear weapons which can never be used without causing self-immolation of Indian society and a rapid demise of our most precious planet. We become so enamored when the ‘lone super power’ glances coyly in our direction and embraced an ill-fated deal which is driven purely by U.S. economic self-interest.

Indians and many NRI’s seem to be intoxicated with the thought that we may soon be become senior members of the exclusive nuclear club. Bush’s overtures to India exposes the blatant hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy. It does not hesitate to castigate and bully Iran for its nuclear ambitions while at the same time rewarding India’s refusal to sign the non-proliferation treaty. India missed a wonderful opportunity to become a peace maker and a responsible custodian of our planet. It should have used the historic meeting with the U.S. and taken a lead role by insisting that the US and its erstwhile allies, Britain, Israel and Pakistan, freeze production of nuclear weapons by signing the non-proliferation treaty and calling a halt to this nuclear madness which is threatening our very existence and bringing us all to the brink of annihilation. Let us hope the U.S. Congress stiffens its spine and kills the deal.

Katrina 3-2-2006

2, March 2006                                    Katrina  

Contrary to what President Bush told the country on Good Morning America, four days after Katrina hit, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.' we now have conclusive proof that he lied.  The Associated Press released the ‘smoking gun’ - secret transcripts and video footage showing President Bush being personally briefed the day before Hurricane Katrina hit. The warnings given were precise and accurate—including the failure of the levees.  The reaction of the president was uncannily similar to his reaction after 9/11 – a total paralysis and inability to respond to a major tragedy – a total failure of the executive branch to provide leadership and succor to the victims of Katrina.


In the two days following Katrina, the president left the ship of state unattended and instead spent his time campaigning and attending birthday parties while the worst tragedy in U.S. history was unfolding. Katrinagate is another shameful indictment of this administration which has been plagued with incompetence, ineptness, secrecy and blatant violation of our cherished constitution (illegal wiretapping), and international law (torture and extraordinary rendition). Collectively, these actions surely merit impeachment. I urge readers to contact their representatives and in Congress and the Senate to demand accountability from this administration that has replaced good governance with fear, intimidation and spin.