Media reporting of the Iraq war 3-19-2005

19, March 2005                           Media reporting of the Iraq war

Wanted 'Courageous reporter willing to travel to war zones to gather raw, unvarnished news to the American public. Urgently need material to serve as a counter-spin to imbedded reporting and VNR's. High risk, low pay!'

How many brave hearts would respond to such a tantalizing offer?   Sadly, It seems like an iron curtain has descended on independent media reporting. This trend threatens the very democracy that we all claim to cherish and for which wars were fought and tyrannical rulers overthrown. The anonymity of reporters' sources is also under grave threat. Consider the case of New York Times a Pulitzer prize reporter, Judith Miller, who is facing a jail term for refusing to reveal her news source in the Valerie Plame expose' as a CIA undercover operative. Ironically the real villains in this sad episode were reporter, Robert Novak who blew Ms. Plame's cover and an unnamed source (guess who?) from the White House. Many reporters are now loathe to criticize the US Administration lest they meet the same fate as Dan Rather, whose illustrious career was tarnished by a forged document allegedly planted by the same 'Darth Vader' of the White House.

Reports from Iraq, dispatched by 'imbedded reporters' are often edited, embellished versions of power-point presentations given by the PR field commanders, who invariably offer a sunny and rosy picture of the war. A carefully crafted lexicon of terms, such as 'Iraqi Freedom, democratization of Iraq' convey a false picture of US intentions. If the stated goals of withdrawing coalition forces from Iraq are to be believed why would the US build the largest embassy in the world and why are so many US bases being built with such haste, while the civilian population continues to suffer from lack of basic amenities such as electricity, clean water and security?

Our democracy and unimpeded access to reliable TV network news has been further compromised by the advent of pre-packaged TV segments that has been masquerading as real news on our local stations. These Video News Releases (VNR's) have been prepared by Public Relations Firms under contract with major federal agencies to put a positive spin on government policy decisions - all paid for by our tax dollars. It is appalling that the major TV networks are willing participants to this charade to mislead the American people.

At least 20 federal agencies, including the departments of Transportation and the Pentagon have used VNR's to advance their agenda and blunt any opposition to their policies. These pervasive actions by the government must be vigorously opposed by the American people. Failure to do so will be the death knell of a free, independent and reliable source of news. I urge readers to call their local TV stations and their elected representatives and demand a halt to this insidious, crude form of covert propaganda. Finally, I urge Indo-Americans to resist the siren song of 'wonderful career opportunities' espoused by the aggressive ROTC sharks lurking in hallways of college campuses.

Get a copy of Harper's magazine which details the utter dehumanizing, merciless abuse of Iraqi prisoners and dramatic increase of US soldiers going AWOL.   

Terri Schiavo – a wakeup call for Indo-Americans 3-7-2005

7, March 2005                    Terri Schiavo – a wakeup call for Indo-Americans

Media attention on the fading life of Terri Schiavo should be a wake-up call for many Indo-Americans who have not yet prepared and signed a "Living Will" or "Health Care Directive" to make their last wishes known to their loved ones. A number of Web-based services, such as Legal-Zoom, makes it relatively easy to create your own online documents. If Ms. Schiavo had prepared such a document, she could have died with dignity and away from the media spotlight.

Sadly, the Republicans are capitalizing on the raw human emotions surrounding the tragedy of Terri Schiavo's to advance their political agenda and pander to the religious right. This is reminiscent of the exploitation of the human tragedy of 9/11 to justify the disastrous, unlawful attack on Iraq.

These intrusions in the private life of Terri Schiavo are driven by ideological dogma and not humanitarian concerns. These same lawmakers did not hesitate to send 1500 plus US soldiers to their graves and thousands more condemned to a life of pain from physical and psychological war injuries. Over 1,000,000 innocent Iraqi victims civilian have perished and many more continue to languish in prisons or have been brutally treated or killed by sadistic prison guards. It is cruelly ironic that the bio-ethics committee that made the decision to withdraw Tern's feeding tube were following the 'right-to-die' law Bush signed as Texas governor!

President Bush has now reversed his earlier position to demonstrate his 'reverence to the preservation of life' once again placing political expediency over principle, the hallmark of this administration. Forgotten also, are the 152 inmates who were executed during Bush's tenure as governor of Texas. The following memo uncovered by ABC sent to Republican Senators - "The pro-life base will be excited...this is a great political issue...this is a tough issue for Democrats" - should dispel any lingering doubts of the real agenda of Bush, DeLay, Frisk and others. It is gratifying to see Bush's approval rating plummet as more and more Americans witness the shameless policies of this Administration. Even the most ardent Indo-Americans Republicans supporters are perplexed and outraged over the recent announcement of the sale of F16 fighters to Pakistan, a plane capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Pakistan is now being rewarded for selling nuclear bomb making secrets to nations who have a disdain for the international rule of law and democracy. Apparently, the financial health and profits of Lockheed Marietta is more important than the security of India.

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!