Articles
WRMEA, August 2010, Pages 67-68
Other People's Mail
Compiled by Kate Hilmy and Andrew Blakely
The Loss of Iraqi Culture
To The New York Times, May 25, 2010
Thank you for capturing the Baghdad of my teenage years, a city few Americans know. The architects of the invasion of Iraq deliberately conflated Iraq with Saddam Hussain. As a result, the quality of Baghdad's intellectual life and culture and what their loss has meant to the Arab world were underappreciated by the American public.
I grew up in a home in Jordan with a library that had several of Jabra Ibrahim Jabra's books and translations. I was also familiar with many of the artists and writers you mentioned, because Iraq was one of the main cultural and intellectual centers of the Arab world. The destruction of Mr. Jabra's home, books, art and music and the murder of his relatives symbolize what Iraq has become once the religious genie was unleashed.
Therefore, I continue to mourn the intellectually rich secular Iraqi and Arab world destroyed by the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Orayb Najjar, Chicago, IL
Turkish Ambassador Speaks
To The New York Times, June 9, 2010
Turkey is shocked and outraged not only because of the killing and wounding of innocent activists, but also because this is the first such attack against civilian Turkish citizens by a foreign military force in our republic's 87-year history.
The tragic irony is that this attack came not from a sworn enemy but from a friend, ever since Turkey became the first Muslim-majority nation to recognize Israel shortly after its founding.
The Turkish government did not initiate the Free Gaza flotilla, an international aid convoy of nationals from 32 countries bringing humanitarian aid to the deprived people of Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces' attack on the humanitarian convoy is illegal, and by no means justifiable. Israel must apologize for these killings and for this gross violation of international law; compensate the families of the dead, wounded, nongovernmental organizations and shipping companies concerned; accept an inquiry by an independent, international entity; and end the unjust blockade of Gaza that was at the heart of this tragic dispute.
Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan, Washington, DC
Right, Wrong and in Between
To The Globe and Mail, June 2, 2010
I don't understand: an Israeli military helicopter hovers over a ship in international waters and heavily armed Israeli combat troops debouch from the helicopter onto the ship's deck, but according to the soldiers, the people on board the ship initiated the hostilities?
Neil Willoughby, Toronto, Canada
Israel Is a Rogue State
To The Independent, June 8, 2010
Although not an unqualified admirer of William Hague, I have to contradict Jeff Smith (letter, June 3). The foreign secretary did, in fact, condemn the "storming" of unarmed vessels in international waters and urged the lifting of the Gaza blockade—the basic cause of the whole problem.
The Israeli excuses for this blockade are unconvincing and either the result of a paranoid state of mind or a deliberate attempt to keep the population of Gaza poverty-stricken and desperate, so that they can be portrayed as uncivilized or terrorists.
In an adjacent article Adrian Hamilton portrays Israel as a U.S. client state, comparable with the relationship between North Korea and China. This may arouse derision in Israel and also in other places, but in geopolitical terms it is correct. Israel is now losing all support everywhere except the U.S.A. (on which it is ultimately dependent) and has, in fact, become a "rogue" state in the same way as Iran or North Korea.
The fact that it is a "free" and "democratic" country is irrelevant. It ignores international law and other international institutions, treats the U.N. with contempt and wages war on its neighbors at the slightest provocation. In addition to that it has illegally held nuclear weapons (which it refuses to acknowledge) and has become hated by all the states surrounding it. If the evidence of some of those "arrested" in the recent incident is correct, it is now going in for state robbery, having deprived these people of their money, credit cards and passports.
Peter Giles, Whitchurch, Shropshire, UK
A Deadly Raid by Israel
To the Los Angeles Times, June 2, 2010
Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister, said last week that the Free Gaza flotilla, which was delivering humanitarian aid, was engaged in "violent propaganda" against Israel and would be met with all available force. Apparently he was not merely posturing. To consider the provision of humanitarian aid as a kind of violence—is this not a kind of insanity?
As an American Jew and a son of Holocaust refugees, I am deeply distressed by the depths to which the state of Israel has sunk. In light of this incident, the Obama administration should immediately suspend all military aid to Israel and join the rest of the international community in issuing a clear condemnation of Israel's action.
Mark J. Kaswan, Sherman Oaks, CA
Commandos and the Flotilla
To The New York Times, June 1, 2010
When I was 13 years old, in 1948, I won awards for collecting donations for the new state of Israel. Well, I've had it with Israel, and I want my money back.
Judith Resner, Berkeley, CA
Fallout from the Flotilla Raid
To the Los Angeles Times, June 8, 2010
Doyle McManus hopes against hope that Israel can be coddled into doing the right thing.
But nations can sometimes behave like unruly children, getting into fights at school and acting out. When this happens, a parent shouldn't encourage unsocial behavior by coddling the kid and preventing the school from disciplining the child.
Rather, effective parenting requires that disciplinary action sometimes includes grounding (boycott, divestment and sanctions) and cutting the kid's allowance (cutting off military aid).
Apartheid ended in South Africa not by coddling but by strong international pressure. Israel needs some tough love from its only friend.
Paul McDermott, Los Angeles, CA
Pondering the Mideast Crises
To The Washington Post, June 9, 2010
If Israel's Gaza embargo were limited to weaponry, no one would complain. But according to a number of aid organizations, the embargo blocks almost everything except food, medical supplies and fuel, and it allows hopelessly inadequate amounts of those. These aid organizations estimate that the amount of humanitarian supplies allowed to enter Gaza is less than one-fourth of what it was before the embargo and that it is well below the amount needed to meet the needs of the population.
The purpose of the embargo appears to be not so much to intercept weapons as to wear down the morale of the Palestinians.
Gomer Thomas, Arlington, VA
The End of a Career
To the Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2010
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs should remember that the country for which he works protects free speech, even if he and his employers deem that speech to be "offensive and reprehensible." What is truly offensive and reprehensible is that Helen Thomas, an iconic figure with a decades-long career, can be forced out of her position because she states her opinion about Israel.
As for the ageist remark by Talk News Radio bureau chief Ellen Ratner that, at 90, "people just don't have the same filters"—if filtering is what we are doing when we refuse to stand up against oppression, maybe it's time for those of all ages to turn off the filters.
Cathryn Roos, La Habra, CA
Neocons Oppose Iran Deal
To The Toronto Star, May 19, 2010
The Iran-Turkey-Brazil accord is a possible breakthrough regarding Iran's refining of nuclear material—its agreement to ship a substantial amount to Turkey in exchange for nuclear rods for medical research. But it was treated more as a negative than a positive, even though this new deal parallels a plan that the Obama administration favored last October.
The U.S. media's annoyance at any rapprochement between Washington and Tehran has some history to it. Just as Iraq's Saddam Hussain was the designated target of American hate in 2002 and 2003, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is playing that role now. Back then, any event in Iraq was cast in the harshest possible light; today, the same is done with Iran.
The neocons are frightened that the conflict with Iran might be delayed indefinitely and that—heaven forbid—cooler heads might prevail.
Javed Akbar, Markham, Canada
Iran Deal With Turkey and Brazil
To The International Herald Tribune, May 24, 2010
Roger Cohen makes a balanced assessment of the deal on Iran brokered by Brazil and Turkey ("America moves the goalposts"). To disregard this agreement is also to dismiss the possibility of creating an atmosphere for peace that can be further strengthened by the creation of a nuclear-free zone in the region.
César Chelala, Prague
The U.S. in Afghanistan
To The New York Times, May 20, 2010
We read that the terrorized population in the district of Marjah in Afghanistan, where major American-led combat operations ended in late February with the declaration that the battle was won, is now fleeing as the Taliban restores its insurgency.
Our strategy of "clear and hold" appears ever elusive, as coalition troops are unable to protect the population. Still, we continue plans for the next major offensive in Kandahar.
President Obama deliberated at length before he decided to commit 30,000 additional troops to the region. As Afghan and coalition troop deaths mount, how long will it take the administration to admit that its strategy is not working? Even if there were more evidence of our success, can anyone believe that the Afghan leadership would be able to sustain whatever gains were made?
It is time for this administration to be realistic and begin to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan.
Wendy Geringer, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Why Burqa-Ban Is Wrong
To The Washington Post, May 22, 2010
French President Nicolas Sarkozy claims that banning burqas would uphold traditional European values. Unless he is referring to the values of a few infamous European dictators, he could not be more mistaken.
The bedrock of European cultural and political traditions is liberalism. A true liberal understands that the use of force, by which all government edicts are ultimately backed, is neither an effective nor moral means of promoting values. Banning an expression of religious conviction in the name of protecting a liberal culture is the stuff of satire.
Force is the tool of those who lack the competence or courage to peacefully persuade.
Isaac M. Morehouse, Falls Church, VA
New Look at Arab World
To The Toronto Star, May 11, 2010
Re: Al Jazeera English on the air in Canada. Your article only cited initial "opposition by Canadian Jewish organizations." However, it should have also mentioned the overwhelming support by several organizations and individuals for the CRTC to approve Al Jazeera English. The CRTC received 2,600 comments in favor of approval compared to 40 comments in opposition.
Canadians now have access to Al Jazeera English's quality news and discussion services, giving them useful and different perspectives on world events, which are not available on other Canadian or foreign channels found in Canada. That means better informed and engaged Canadian citizens who can benefit from freedom of expression that is essential for a free, pluralistic and democratic society. This means the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds subject only to necessary restriction provided by the law.
We believe that Al Jazeera English will significantly improve Canadians' understanding of current events as well as economic and social developments in the Arab world. This will help promote better ties and co-operation between Canadians and the people of the Arab world—a goal that we actively support.
Rula Odeh, President, National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, Ottawa, Canada
