The Iraq Election 2-8-2005

8, February 2005                        The Iraq Election

The White House script writers have been busy rewriting the block buster movie. 'The overthrow of Saddam Hussein'. The WMD plot proved to be bogus, after a fruitless search squandering tens of millions of tax dollars.

Never mind that 1400 young American soldiers have died and over 100.000 Iraq civilians have perished. Over 8.000 Iraqis are languishing in prisons, many brutally tortured, a despicable practice approved by a nod and wink from the White House and the Pentagon. Never mind that over that nearly one quarter of a trillion dollars has been squandered on this misadventure. This is a war of occupation to liberate the Iraqis of their most precious commodity - oil.

Paul Bremer. the former 'czar of Iraq', issued a number of proclamations prior to his departure, ceding control and ownership of much of Iraq's future wealth to US corporations. Also included, were tight legal provisions granting immunity from prosecution for military and corporate wrongdoing - for the next 40 years (order #'s 17 & 100)! Thus, the ongoing raping and pillaging of Iraqi resources is all but assured. Sadly, our troops will not be returning any time soon.

I would respectfully urge readers who were so vociferous in their admiration and support for President Bush to look beyond the rhetoric and examine the shameless, undemocratic polices of this administration.

Bush's Inauguration speech 2-1-2005

1, February 2005                              Bush's Inauguration speech

It is baffling to understand the psyche of Indo Republicans who gushed over President Bush's inauguration speech (I-Abroad, January 28) desperately trying to find the right superlatives -"incredible, fantastic, awesome" - who were so moved by Bush's visions of spreading freedom and democracy. Are we Indians still carrying the burden of a conquered nation? Have we not yet jettisoned the ghost of British colonialism? How can so many intelligent medical doctors - who have reached the zenith of their respective medical specialties - be so naive. Dr. Zachariah and many of his elk have donated millions to the Republican Party who have repeatedly demonstrated their religious intolerance and duplicity in retaining the reins of power. Why does a coveted seat close to the president have such appeal? Have we forgotten George Bush's famous proclamation that Jesus Christ was his favorite philosopher? Would Jesus condone mendacity and the appalling abuse of Iraqi prisoners and detainees at Guantanamo Bay? Would Jesus approve of the 'shock and awe' destruction of Iraq and the death of 1,000,000 of its citizens? Why are we so vocal in our denunciation of the despicable crimes of Saddam Hussein but remain silent to the crimes committed by the Bush Administration and coalition forces in Iraq, and Afghanistan?

Bush used so much biblical, evangelical rhetoric in his campaigning and inauguration speech that one may have thought he was trying to upstart Reverend Billy Graham! The Christian Right and the Bush political machine are in tight embrace. This does not bode well for people of other faiths. The faith-based initiatives (FBI's) have disproportionately directed large sums of federal dollars to fund Christian institutions under the guise of supporting social programs, with virtually no oversight.

Remember Bob Jones, president of Bob Jones University letter to President Bush, ".. .God has graciously granted America a reprieve from paganism, " - urging Bush to pass legislation and appoint judges to conform to biblical norms!"

It is cruelly ironic that Bush's speech was replete with visions of freedom and liberty while so many Muslim men in the US, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay languish behind bars denied legal representation and are brutally tortured by their captors - in clear violation of international law.

There is joy and relief in the White House because Iraq held its first free election but regrettably this is a fig leaf to justify the illegal occupation of Iraq. Forgotten are the 1,400 of America troops that have died and thousands upon thousands of our troops that have been maimed. Nearly one-quarter of a trillion dollars of our tax money has been poured into this sink hole called the "war of liberation." The grand design to rob Iraq of her precious oil resources has failed. President Bush and his cultist band of neo-conservatives have committed crimes against humanity and must be held responsible.

Paul Bremer, the former 'czar of Iraq', issued a litany of proclamations prior to his departure, ceding control and ownership of much of Iraq's future wealth to US corporations. Also included, were tight legal provisions granting immunity from prosecution for military and corporate wrong doing for the next 40 years.  The Center for Public Integrity has maintained an excellent set of data tracking these provisions and the ongoing malfeasance of US corporations. Thus, the ongoing raping and pillaging of Iraqi resources is all but assured. Failure of US corporations to employ local Iraqis in the reconstruction projects has contributed to the extremely high unemployment rate of 70%. No spare parts were allowed to be imported from countries that did not support the war contributing to the dramatic increase in reconstruction costs. I would respectfully urge all the good doctors who were so vociferous in their admiration and support for President Bush to look beyond the rhetoric and examine the shameless, undemocratic polices of this administration.

Killing of Palestinian Children by Israel 1-10-2005

10, January 2005                Killing of Palestinian Children by Israel

The killing of seven young Palestinian children in a strawberry field by Israeli tank fire is the latest transgression by Israel. Predictably, there was no apology from the Israeli army and no condemnation by the US Administration in mortal fear of offending the strong Jewish lobby. Failure to censure Israel by our lawmakers and the White House, is stark evidence of a blatant partiality towards Israel that is a major obstacle to establishing peace in the Middle East. The much touted ‘road map’ has been a colossal failure. The slaughter of civilians, Israelis and Palestinians, must be vigorously condemned.

It is tragic that Israel, aided and abetted by military and economic aid supplied from the U.S., has coopted its great religion by its brutal occupation, theft of Palestinian land and resources. Land theft is a clear violation of Article 4 of the Geneva Convention. The savage brutality of the Israeli military has been documented by Israel’s leading civil rights group, ACRI. Palestinians have been driven from their homes and large swaths of land has been stolen to construct illegal settlements in defiance of international law and UN sanctions. Ethnic cleansing continues with the construction of Sharon’s apartheid wall which will further isolate Palestinians into smaller enclaves. House demolitions, arbitrary arrests, torture and assassinations, wanton destruction of crops and olive groves, curfews, are the order of the day. Chris Hedges, of the New York Times, reported on the ghoulish Israeli military practice of murdering Palestinian children for sport.

Genocide, “the systematic killing or program of action intended to destroy a whole nation or ethnic group”, seems to be an appropriate word to describe the actions of the Israeli military.

It is especially troublesome that any criticism of the brutal actions of Israel is interpreted as anti-Semitic. Those who attempt to silence the critics must accept responsibility for the increasing isolation of Israel and its pariah status in the international community. 

Bush 1-7-2005

7, January 2005         Response to local letter RE Bush

Permit me to respond to Vishwas More's, letter I-West, December 31. Mr. More errs in his belief that the majority of Americans support the polices of Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush won the election because the White House launched a relentless war of misinformation, character assassination, sound bites, and received unstinting support from the Christian coalition who coopted their faith by launching a phony campaign of 'family values'. Tragically, the powerful corporate media failed to hold the administration accountable for its failed policies under the misguided notion that to do so would be unpatriotic in a time of war.

The White House swat team of Karl Rove excelled in protecting their leader and deflecting criticism from his embarrassing public statements and disastrous press conferences (do a Google search on Bussism’s!). By far the most egregious policy decision of the Bush Administration, that dwarfs all others, was the decision to launch a preemptive strike on Iraq. The Bush White House neocons would have us believe that U.S. involvement in Iraq is part of a "global war on terrorism" in response to the Sept. 11 attacks ignoring the fact that Iraq had nothing to do with the attacks but has instead galvanized and energized the anti-American factions of Islam. Does Mr. More really believe that Iraqis who oppose the U.S. occupation 'hate freedom' as Mr. Bush contends? Or, perhaps our young men and women are dying on Iraqi soil to usher in freedom and democracy? This hasty action by an inept and incompetent president is by far the most disastrous foreign policy decision since the Vietnam war.

The has been confirmed unequivocally by the Defense Science Board on Strategic Communications, a 40 member task force made up of diplomatic, military, academic and business experts which advises the Pentagon on defense issues. Last September the panel issued a blistering report stating that "American efforts have not only failed" in the war of ideas or the struggle for the hearts and minds of the Iraqis, "they may have achieved the opposite of what they intended." Tragically, young American soldiers and large numbers of Iraqis will continue to die because an admission of a failed policy is anathema to Mr. Bush and his neocon advisers. Captured US prisoners can expect little mercy from their captors as the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, this 'good and decent man' as Mr. Bush describes him, has now approved aggressive new prisoner interrogation techniques which are tantamount to torture and a clear violation of the Geneva Convention. Day by day we seem to be mimicking the despicable behavior of Saddam Hussein! Compounding these failed policies, is the attack on civil liberties under the guise of the Patriot Act. Rest assured this resolute president is planning to further stifle political dissent. The much revered U.S Constitution is heading for the shredder! Finally, Mr. More is correct when he contends that Mr. Bush offers a clear vision, albeit a disastrous one -assault on our environment, social security and a road map 'hands off Middle Eastern policy that rewards the Israeli government for its continued repression of the Palestinian people. Sadly, I do not share Mr. More's optimistic vision of the future.

Pat Robertson 1-7-2005

7, January 2005 Pat Robertson

It is time Pat Robertson ceded to McCain’s anti-torture amendment by refraining from inflicting his brand of cruel, inhumane, degrading and hateful messages to his “700 Club television audience. Even his evangelical leaders were incensed by Robertson’s latest ‘God message’, that Ariel Sharon had suffered a massive stroke because God (the creator of all that is) had a particular fixation for the Gaza Strip and West Bank and was unhappy that a sliver of land had been ceded to the rightful owners from whom it was stolen, namely the Palestinians. Hard to believe that an all loving, creator should be so vengeful.

Earlier, Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, then in November he warned the people of Dover that it risked God’s wrath because voters had recalled conservative board members who favored teaching “intelligent design”. 

Sadly, the troubled, misguided Robertson is not alone in his unyielding support to Israel. A number of conservative Christian groups have become supporters of Israel because they believe a fully restored Jewish nation in the Holy’ Land is a precursor to the second coming of Christ. I wonder if Jesus would approve of the enormous suffering of the Palestinians displaced from their former homes  – all in an effort to prepare for his second coming.
I think it is time for Pat Robertson and his ilk to go back to Bible reading 101!

Re-arrest of Mordechai Vanunu 11-29-2004

29, November 2004            RE: Re-arrest of Mordechai Vanunu

Dear Mr. Sharon,     

I am writing to express my outrage over the re-arrest of Mordechai Vanunu on the morning of November 11 in his room at St. George’s Cathedral in East Jerusalem, by a large posse of police officers. While the world media turned its attention to the burial of Yasser Arafat, your military police took full advantage of the situation and proceeded to whisk away Vanunu to an undisclosed prison. His only crime was to reveal the terrible truth that Israel is trying to hide:  its large stockpile of WMD’s that have been concealed from Israeli citizens and the world at large.

As you aware, Vanunu worked in Israeli’s secret nuclear program in the Dimona nuclear “research center” in the Negev Desert at Beersheba in the 1980's. During this period he was increasingly troubled by his country’s disregard and contempt for international law. Accordingly, he took extensive photographs inside the nuclear facility and finally went public with his story in the London Sunday Times on October 5, 1986. He was subsequently arrested and spent the next 18 years in prison.

I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mordechai Vanunu.

It is tragic that we have waged a war on Iraq who imposed no threat to us, but remain silent to Israeli’s development of WMD’s for more than 20 years in complete disregard and contempt for international law.

Bush Supporters 11-28-2004

28, November 2004                           Bush Supporters - shame on you!

To all those Indian Americans that were fawning over and supporting the election of President Bush I say shame on you! It is a travesty that so many Indian Americans are only concerned with their narrow interests rather than the greater good of society and the world at large. Tax refunds disproportionately benefitting the wealthy, special favors and access granted to the rich and famous.

In a significant rebuff, senior administration officials at the White House officials chose to remain absent at the Diwali celebrations on November 10. Let this be a harsh lesson for you Indian Republican supporters (IRS) - you have been used and abused.

Now that Bush is back in the White House we can expect more of the same. Our trade imbalance and deficit spending will increase dire warnings from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank notwithstanding. Sadly, our children will be saddled with the debt. It is significant that Alan Greenspan delayed his speech critical of the Bush fiscal policies until after the election. It is cruelly ironic and ludicrous that The Bush Administration, who are so admired by many Indo-Americans should, claim the moral high ground, repeating the big lie that Saddam Hussein possessed WMD's and was responsible for the 9/1 1 attacks. And so, we waged a ruthless war on a sovereign state killing over 1,000,000 Iraqi civilians, mainly young women and children. The horrific graphic images and ear piercing sounds of the wounded are well hidden from the American public lest our support should weaken.

The head of Turkey's parliamentary human rights group accused Washington of genocide. A humanitarian crisis has occurred with tens of thousands of civilians fleeing towns and cities. International relief agencies can no longer offer operate in Iraq because of the security crisis. The number of children suffering from acute malnutrition has doubled since the US led invasion. The coffins of American soldiers and the wounded remain hidden. The number of independent reporters has vanished, replaced by embedded reporters who rarely venture beyond the confines of their protectors. A self-imposed censorship has replaced the old gumshoe reporting and reporters have muted their criticism and moved in lock step to official White House sunny pronouncements of the war's progress.

Incredibly, the compliant press and lawmakers have assumed the moral high ground in denouncing those who oppose our illegal occupation as the 'bad guys' and we, who rain down 500/1000 pound bombs and have launched a reign of terror, as the good guys. All this has occurred with a deafening silence of the American public and our timid lawmakers who have a mortal fear of challenging the Administration. And so the killing goes on and on. This war has already been lost. It cannot be won because it is routed in falsehood. It violates a basic tenet of all religious faiths. It is anti-Christ, anti-Hindu, anti-Islam, anti-Sikh , , ,..

On the home front, we have polluted God's home by relaxing environmental laws. We offer no succor for the 48 million Americans without health insurance. Billions are pouring into the coffers of defense contractors who are busy building high tech killing machines. We pagans are ripe for conversion by the likes of Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart and Bob Jones. Our mandirs and gurdwaras were under attack after 9/11. This is likely to re-occur with the rise of religious fanaticism and another terrorist attack. Our Muslim brothers and sisters are already in a state of siege. Many Muslim men are languishing jail without access to legal counsel. I urge IRS's to do some serious soul searching and reject the siren song of unbridled wealth and power and work for a world order based on peace and justice.