Hostile Takeover of a Sovereign Nation

In the first place, I think "war" is a misnomer.  A better description would be "hostile takeover of a sovereign nation".  There have been volumes written (and here I admit I add more) on a subject that should not even be an issue.  If the United Nations were not so cowed by the military and economic might of its most powerful member, the United States, this tragically laughable obsessive intent of George W. Bush to unleash the immense military power he gained by questionable means on a nearly powerless small third world country would be summarily dismissed as the sham it is.  That Germany persists in its opposition to this sham against the possibility of economic blackmail from the United States is a tribute to its honor.  And I am sure that like pressure is exerted upon other nations who have the effrontery to question the motives and "evidence" of the Bush administration in its hell-bent rush to prosecute this "war" regardless of the consequences. We can only pray that the Chicken Hawks at the Bush roundtable will be restrained.    

Sheila Jackson
February 18, 2003

Create the Demons You Say You Seek to Protect Us From

In response to the question, why Bosnia and Kosovo and not Iraq. I was actively involved in solidarity work with the Bosnians as their multicultural society was threatened with extermination by both Croats and Serbs. I supported NATO intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo. I oppose the Bush/Blair strategy in Iraq.

Things are not black and white. In Bosnia and Kosovo defenseless people were threatened with genocide. The same was true in Iraq before and after the first war against that country their were actions against the Kurds and Marsh Arabs. But that is not the case now, for several years the situation has been contained. Saddam is a shitty tyrant but one of perhaps 20 or more around the world today, many of whom are actively supported by our governments (USA and UK). My own government (UK) is actively involved in demonizing many of the self same Kurds who seek asylum in our country. Your government (I'm assuming you're from the USA) has a history of supporting tyrants around the world, particularly in Central and South America, which unfortunately overshadows many of the other noble actions you have undertaken since the Second World War. Hence, the question regarding Iraq, why now? What has this got to do with the war against terrorism (Iraq under Saddam has been a resolutely secular regime and fears fundamentalist Islam)? Surely you can see the strategy that Bush and Blair are intent on will massively fuel Islamic Fundamentalism. Bin Laden must be rubbing his hands with anticipation. US foreign policy has an uncanny ability to create the very demons it says it seeks to protect us from.

Bonzo

Dangerously Unprepared to
 Prevent and Respond to a Catastrophic Attack

Frightening Implications

While I don't usually post on Saturdays, I received word of this breaking news story today. Forwarded by a Mr. W. Argood, who found it on a local (Arizona) newspapers' website. And, yes, I did see something about it on the local TV news last night but missed the first part of the story so didn't realize its frightening implications until getting Mr. Argood's email. Just what is this world coming to, anyway?

Pete
From 'The World According to Pete' web log
http://worldofpete.blogspot.com/
Saturday, January 25, 2003

See Article sent by Pete - "As War Looms, Prod-War Supporters Call For Immediate Action"

No More War!

I am in full opposition to the war in Iraq. However, as an American citizen, born and raised in the USA, I have been labeled by our government as have thousands of other American citizens. We are the so called Black listed "no fly" people. No one knows how we got on the list, who created the list or why even there is such a list. I do not take part in any terrorist activities nor have I ever even had any interest to do so.

I have written to the ACLU, the US dept of transportation, Dennis Kucinich, United Airlines and other offices to no avail. I usually receive some sort of a meaningless form letter which is totally off the subject and concerns blacks and minorities being mistreated or suggestions to find myself a lawyer.

This situation is most embarrassing when I fly between my homes in Ohio and Georgia every month. I used to joke about being always the "randomly" searched passenger boarding the plane but I was told by the airlines that my tickets are marked with an S and that is why I am always searched. Even the bags I send through have to be not only x-rayed but also hand searched.

Now let me say, I am a 56 year old woman and have no ties to any terrorists nor do I want any. How foolish to label me as an S. On one trip to Savannah, the guard in Atlanta actually searched through my hair. Another time. I was carrying a few beautiful antiques to my home in Savannah when the guard questioned me as to if any of them would be sharp of they were broken. First of all I would not want them broken & that is why I put them in my carry on bag to protect them in the first place, and secondly duh, yes glass is sharp when it is broken but these were precious family heirlooms and not weapons.

I have been interrogated and asked to spell my name while they held my tickets and ID, also asked "what" I was doing in Savannah and "Why" I was going to Cleveland. I fully understand the need for security but after all, I travel to and from the same places every time. Why am I a suspect? I have 2 homes-one in a warm climate and one in a cold climate. Is this not allowed?

Do you have any information concerning these chosen people who have been labeled by our government? I would like to get to the bottom of this. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME A FORM LETTER.

Thanks,
Lynne
February 6, 2003

Click here: American Civil Liberties Union : ACLU of Northern CA Seeks Government Accountability Regarding Federal “No Fly”

The Danger to America Resides In Our Very Own White House

Madness, mayhem and insanity....
 
In the current rush to destroy one facet of the "evil axis", and
seemingly to obfuscate the economic situation at home, our erstwhile
resident in the White House would have us believe that war is a realistic
solution.  In his attempt to blind America to the shortcomings and
drastic change in the financial situation at home, he asks us to believe
"war" will resolve our problems.  Instead of providing real leadership in
a world that cries out for wisdom and creative answers to hunger,
ignorance, poverty, and conflict, he pretends that placing our youth as
well as countless innocent citizens of Iraq in harms way, will somehow
bring us peace, prosperity and security. See full Article
 
Sean
January 24, 2003

Because He Practices Christianity

I live in the Georgia, aka "the bible belt", and what amazes me is when I talk to these pro - Bush people and I ask them "Why did you vote for bush".  The most common answer I get is because he practices Christianity.  I don't know much about Christianity, but I know for sure Jesus preached peace.  It seems the common Christian belief is love God, kill everyone else.

James
January 21, 2003

A March  With a Single Focus Will Stir the American People

I considered joining the recent march, but I want to march for only one issue, not the whole laundry-list of the left's causes -- freeing Jamal, the rights of Palestinians, and all the rest of them -- causes I do not wish to sign onto. Why cannot there be a great march for this one, single, great issue, without people finding themselves pulled along for a whole list of other issues? And will there be, eventually, such a march, with that single focus? (Furthermore, in my  opinion, that is the march that will stir the American people, as this laundry-list march did not.)

Marcia
January 23, 2003

The Washington Protest--the consequences

What are the consequences of the Washington Protest? Here are a few--many more cartoonists portray Bush "going it alone."  In Washington, the administration has doubled its' efforts to sway public opinion. The State department has released a document (33 pages long) entitled "Apparatus of lies" to reinforce Iraq's "brutal record of deceit." From Turkey, party leaders said that US should heed the peace call. Recap Tayyip Erdogan, Head of the Justice and Development party praised the peacemaking efforts and noted, "The world's decision makers must heed this rising call for peace."As the Peace Movement efforts in the US strengthen-- Bush's ratings are slipping into the low fifties.The Washington Protest may well indeed prove to be the tip of another ICEBERG --and George Bush's own "serious consequences".
Many Thanks,

Doris
Madison

Caring -- it expresses the best of our humanity

Life isn't just about how we look, how organized we are, or indeed how much money we have (or don't have). Life is about how we feel and relate to others. We depend upon caring relationships throughout our lives to promote our sense of well being. When we care we recognize the dignity and uniqueness of others. Caring involves an open will not an imposing will. It makes no pretext about the vulnerability of our human condition. Daily, we come to realize this as we care for each other, our children, our neighbors and those with whom we work and interact. Caring not only improves the quality of our lives and relationships -- it is essential for our growth and good health. Caring can reduce the incidence of illness and disease throughout out the life cycle---it expresses the best
of our humanity.

Elie Wiesel a Nobel laureate said, "Caring can involve a willingness to become involved with others to prevent a mishap, a misfortune, or harm." Caring can turn a potentially negative situation into a positive one. Globally, we need to care about other human beings.   "No man is an island," says John Donne. Today, the media removes all kinds of geographical barriers. We see suffering everywhere -- from the  Africa continent to  the Middle East.  We see families fleeing from persecution. Still, others die needlessly from diseases. Oxfam reports 24,000 people die each day of preventable diseases (AIDS, TB and malaria). Of these, 18,000 are under the age of 5 years.  One billion people do not have adequate shelter. 2.4 billion people do not have access to proper sanitation. I billion more do not have access to clean water.

The great plight of these most unfortunate people touches all our hearts. To the average person caring for these multitudes can seem like Mission Impossible. However, in 1943 when Eleanor Roosevelt rallied the world to support a Human Rights Declaration  she warned, “I know that we will be the sufferers if we let great wrongs occur without exerting ourselves to correct them."  

According to UNICEF --if just 10% of the world's military budget (which is currently at 700 Billion dollars -- 400 billion in the US), could be redirected –the world could meet the basic human needs of everyone on earth. Caring can makes essential and vital differences to those in great need around the world---Eleanor Roosevelt understood this very well, Elie Wiesel, speaking recently at a Boston University forum said, “If the world cared about my people—6 million Jews would not have perished in the concentrations camps.” He posed that awful question, “If Hitler had not advanced into France and Belgium -- would the three super powers (US, Britain and Russia) have saved my people?” With great sorrow, he adds, "...they (governments) all knew about the concentrations camp...people begged them to act..." Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, concerning success in life, “…to know even that one life breathed easier because you have lived...this is to have succeeded."

John Wesley the founder of Methodism encouraged our caring spirit to go one step further: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can."

Doris
Madison

A Forgotten Warrior of A forgotten war.

I often wonder how many of those calling for war have  ever themselves participated in one? How many of them have witnessed babies, crawling amongst dismembered bodies, searching for their parents? How many have smelled decaying bodies? How many have charged through a town, or village after it had been bombed continuously for days on end? How many of them still suffer from nightmares, from memories of war incidences that happen years ago?

I leave them with this... its mostly civilians that's killed in wars... Soldiers can take care of themselves. We have our trenches, foxholes, tunnels and underground bunkers.

And if I may refresh their memories for a moment, Bush Sr, bombed Iraqi 40 days during his war of 1991, and guess what, Saddam still lives. But many innocent women, children, mothers, and seniors died... What about them? Do they count?

Curtis
A Forgotten warrior.
of A forgotten war
January 22, 2003.

Our President is Getting Bad Advice

Count me and everyone I know as against war with Iraq.  Our president is
getting bad advice on this and many other issues.

Susan
January 21, 2003

The Washington Protest--The Consequences

What are the consequences of the Washington Protest? Here are a few-- many more cartoonists portray Bush "going it alone."  In Washington, the administration has doubled its' efforts to sway public opinion. The State department has released a document (33 pages long) entitled "Apparatus of lies" to reinforce Iraq's "brutal record of deceit." From Turkey, party leaders said that US should heed the peace call. Recap Tayyip Erdogan, Head of the Justice and Development party praised the peacemaking efforts and noted, "The world's decision makers must heed this rising call for peace." As the Peace Movement efforts in the US strengthen-- Bush's ratings are slipping into the low fifties. The Washington Protest may well indeed prove to be the tip of another ICEBERG --and George Bush's own "serious consequences". Many Thanks,

Doris
Madison
January 21,2003

Bush Motives

I’m a Houstonian and I haven’t talked with anyone – not one person - who believes we should go to war with Iraq at this time.  There is no justification at this time.  The United States is insane for building up the current levels of troops based on the information we have available to us.  If this were really about weapons of mass destruction, why would France so openly oppose our course of action?

Bush Motives:

1. A good number think Bush’s motives are about “controlling oil”
2. Many believe the motive is an “obsessive resentment”.
3. Most think it is about a strong desire for power in order to control the behavior of others - countries and their people.

David
Houston, TX
January 21, 2003

Please

The Modern Tribune