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.

D'Souza 10-19-2002

19, October 2002                               D'Souza

D'Souza is back on the lecture circuit spewing out more racist venom to please his adoring Republican supporters. It is apparent that D'Souza panders to the racist attitudes which sadly are much in evidence, especially in the aftermath of 9/11. Arab Americans and Asians are the latest immigrants to feel the sting of racism. It is ironic that D'Souza's latest target is Islamic fundamentalism which US foreign policy has done much to nurture.

It is puzzling to understand why D'Souza is so infatuated with America and western 'civilization' in general that he would like to export the American democratic model to other nations.

I urge D'Souza to turn the pages of history and reflect on the sordid pattern of US foreign policy decisions which have resulted in so much loss of life to advance 'American interests'.

The 1953 CIA coup replacing the popular government of Mossadegh with the hated Shah of Iran, the repressive 16-year rule of Jafaar Nimeiry of Sudan, the coup in Chile where thousands of civilians disappeared, the coup in Indonesia resulting in 1,000,000 deaths, the contra war in Nicaragua, the secret expansion of the Vietnam war into neighboring Cambodia, the looting of the Philippines by our 'ally' Ferdinand Marcos, .  . .These crimes against humanity make a mockery of the US claim to support democratic regimes.

Then again, perhaps D'Souza would care to explain, the rationale of US trade sanctions which has resulted in the death of 1,000,000 Iraqi civilians, 500,00 of whom were children. It seems cruelly ironic that the pro-life crusaders, whom D'Souza so admires, should have such a callous disregard for human life. No doubt D'Souza also supports US Middle Eastern policy which has caused death and destruction and untold suffering of the Palestinians.

I would however, agree with D'Souza that "we are indeed at an extraordinary moment in history." Never has US policy and hegemony generated so much anger and hostility. I would urge D'Souza to raise his head from the sewer tank and confront the real world.

D'Souza's remarks that "African Americans are better off in the US than if they stayed in Africa" is both insulting and patronizing.

Perhaps, D'Souza might have changed his vile, racist opinions had he experienced the horrors of slavery.  I wonder how D'Souza would have felt being manacled and sold to the highest bidder and then feeling the searing pain of the plantation owner’s whip on his bare back, or the choking pressure of the hangman's noose. Then again, I suppose D'Souza feels that the American Indians should have a deep sense of gratitude to their European liberators who slaughtered their brethren, robbed them of their land and banished them to reservations. No doubt a small price to pay for the fresh breeze of western 'civilization'.

Finally, I am appalled that such a prestigious institution as Stanford University's Hoover Institution would honor D'Souza by inviting him as a visiting 'scholar' and thereby legitimizing his racist views. I urge concerned readers to write to Stanford University, Hoover Institution, and demand that D'Souza be removed.

Israel 6-20-2002

20, June 2002

Dear President Bush,           RE: Israel

I am writing to you out of profound concern over the appalling loss of life in the Middle East. I am particularly concerned that our tax dollars are being grossly misused to refill Israel's arsenal of weapons. These weapons have been and are continuing to be used to commit atrocities against the Palestinians. The majority of weapons used by the Israeli Defense Forces are made by the US, in particular Apache helicopters and F-16 fighter jets. As a longtime member of Amnesty International, I am deeply disturbed that your administration has been adversely influenced by the Israeli lobby and continues to support the misguided policies of the Israeli government. Israel has refused to allow human rights groups such as ours to monitor activities and have attempted to manage news to deflect criticisms of gross human rights violations. For example mass graves were discovered after human rights groups and reporters were finally allowed entry into Jenin.

Our foreign policy should be based on honesty, compassion and upholding the basic rights of people regardless of ethnicity and religion. Sadly, the policies your Administration do not reflect these values.

I ask that you stop the shipment of arms to Israel and call a halt to illegal settlements and demand that those swaths of land held by Israeli settlers be returned to the Palestinians. I also call upon you to organize a UN peace keeping force in the Middle East to halt further senseless violence.

Please respond and let me know what action you propose to take.

Israeli Atrocities 6-20-2002

20, June 2002                            RE: Israeli Atrocities

Dear Prime Minister Sharon,
I am writing out of profound concern over the appalling loss of life in the Middle East. As a longtime member of Amnesty International, the world-wide human rights organization, I am outraged over the human rights violations committed against the Palestinians in response to the morally repugnant actions of the suicide bombers. It is morally indefensible to wage a war against the civilian population of Palestine for the misguided actions of a few. It is tragic that the Jewish people, who have been victimized for centuries, should now become the oppressors and deny the aspirations of the Palestinians for their own homeland.
Your armed forces have unleashed a reign of terror on the Palestinians and have resulted in deepening the hostility and diminished the hopes for a just peace. Your forces have demolished the Palestinian infrastructure, disrupted food and medical supplies, the airport, destroyed television stations, bulldozed homes often killing the occupants. A disproportionate number of Palestinians have been killed with US taxpayer supplied tanks and helicopter gunships. On many occasions Israeli forces refused to allow wounded Palestinians to be removed to hospitals. It is this callous disregard for human life that has earned Israel, and its backer, the United States, opprobrium in many parts of the world. You have violated your election pledge to halt further illegal settlements by orchestrating the construction of 34 new settlements.

The conscience of your own reservists has been stirred and many have refused to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip because your policies 'contributed to dominating, starving and humiliating an entire people'.

Your refusal to allow human rights groups and UN officials into Jenin has exposed your callous disregard for truth and fairness. The massacre of innocent civilians and attempts at a cover-up has outraged many of your former friends and allies.
I ask that call an immediate halt to these devastating acts of violence your forces have unleashed on the Palestinians.

I am writing a similar letter calling on the Palestinian Authority asking them to halt these cruel, senseless suicides attacks that have resulted in so much loss of life.

Prime Minister Sharon Office of the Prime Minister 3 Kaplan Street Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007 Israel

Israel 6-12-2002

12, June 2002 Response to local letters RE: Israel
Letters from the Kaye's, Mr. Segal, and Sheree Roth (Wednesday June 12) clearly show their collective bias. There seems to be a disturbing trend to stifle debate on the misguided belief that criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic. Nothing could be further from the truth. Blatant support for the cruel policies of the Israeli government have contributed and indeed encouraged the persecution and oppression of the Palestinian people. The actions of suicide bombers are indefensible and morally repugnant. Likewise the Israeli state sponsored terrorism, unleashed on the Palestinians, is morally repugnant and needs to be strongly condemned. It is a pity that the Jewish people who have been victimized and oppressed for centuries should now become the oppressors and deny the aspirations of the Palestinians for their homeland.

Israeli forces have demolished the Palestinian infrastructure, disrupted supplies of water, food and medical supplies, destroyed independent televisions stations, the airport, bulldozed homes, killing the occupants. A disproportionate number of Palestinians have been killed with US taxpayer supplied tanks and helicopter gunships. On many occasions Israeli forces refused to allow wounded Palestinians to be removed to hospitals. It is this callous disregard for human life that has earned Israel, and its backer the United States, opprobrium in many parts of the world. Large swaths of land have been seized from the Palestinians to create illegal settlements which have been a major bone of contention and hindered the peace process. Sharon promised to call a halt to new settlements but has orchestrated the construction of 34 new settlements since he has assumed power. Can this action be construed as a peace offering to the Palestinians?

The Kaye's, Mr. Segal and Sheree Roth need to do some serious soul searching and take heed of Ben Eliezer, who threatened to resign over the invasion of Ramallah and the courageous actions of Israeli reservists who signed statements refusing to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip because Israel's policies 'were involved in dominating, starving and humiliating an entire people'.

Massacre in Gujarat 3-4-2002

4, March 2002                                    Massacre in Gujarat

Horrific scenes of burnt neighborhoods, trains attacked and passengers bludgeoned in Ahmedabad and Godhra has tarnished India's image.

Neither Muslims nor Hindus can claim the moral high ground. Blatant partiality towards the Hindu majority was clearly visible. Police stood by as idle spectators while angry mobs pillaged,  plundered, torched homes and slaughtered innocent victims including women and children. No senior official came to console the Muslim survivors. The chief minister of Gujrat fueled the passions of the angry mobs by heaping all the blame on the Muslims. The terrified survivors were denied water, clothes and blankets. At the local cemetery dead children were dumped unceremoniously without mourners and claimants. In a cruel twist of logic and compassion, the Government offered Rs200,000 to the Hindu families and only Rs100,000 ($2050) to Muslim families claiming that the Muslim attacks were perpetrated by terrorists and the Hindus were only guilty of ethnic violence!

The BJP and their supporters must bear much of the responsibility for the carnage that took place.  Political leaders, most notably L K Advani, encouraged the demolition of the mosque built by the Mogul conqueror, Barbur. Tragically, scores of people have perished following the destruction of the mosque in 1992 - the supposed site of the Hindu God, Ram.

Such senseless violence dishonors the memory of Mohandas Gandhi who championed sectarian harmony. Mosques and temples are built to honor God. Their destruction diminishes us all.

India is Balkanized by myriad religious, languages, castes and racial groups. We must learn to live together and respect our diversity, democratic ideals and secularism. Failure to do so will further disintegrate our fragile union.