Opinions, opinions
Deborah Nyob
I am not surprised regarding the situation in the Middle East.
We want peace, but at what cost? The scary thing is that some people
want peace at any cost. Since Israel's birth up to the present, the Arab
nations have been looking for a way to make Israel disappear from the
map.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is doing his best to prevent that. I
support him and President Bush in their efforts to save Israel.
Along with many Americans, I am proud of our actions in the Middle East.
I am proud of our president and his administration for their efforts in
stopping terrorism domestically and internationally.
Richard A. McClatchey
North Portland
Positive aspects of autonomy
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government could dismantle the
infrastructure of terror by granting an autonomous Palestinian state.
Autonomous means no settlements, no military presence, no diversion of
water and other resources, no suppression of speech and association, no
interference in local politics, no destruction of infrastructure.
People who are busy earning a living, building an economy, providing for
their families, pursuing education, enjoying normal social relationships
and celebrating their culture have no reason to pursue death - their own
or others'.
Esther Nelson
Lake Oswego*
How the 'war of stages' works
David Reinhard writes, "Palestinians deserve their own state to live in
peace with their neighbors, but it's not clear their current leaders
want that" (Welcome to the state of ...Israel, April 11).
It is every bit this bad and worse. By the "covenant" of Yasser Arafat's
Palestine Liberation Organization, any compromise agreement can only be
provisional, at best a temporary step toward complete annihilation of
Israel. This is the famous doctrine of the "war of stages."
Arafat's organization has been careful never to legally abridge this
part of its covenant. When Arafat speaks to his own people in Arabic, he
is very clear that the war of stages is in full progress, with complete
destruction of Israel still the goal.
Peace will not be possible until there is new Palestinian leadership
willing to accept Israel's existence.
Michael Kellman
Eugene
Journalism of mad dogs
In his April 11 column, "Welcome to the state of ... Israel," David
Reinhard declares that "we in the media are supposed to be evenhanded
about this conflict. We're supposed to practice moral equivalence.
Hogwash."
He gives the imaginary scenario of bombs going off in Portland.
I suggest that he take it a bit closer and imagine his neighbor barging
into his house, killing his child, raping his wife and daughter and
declaring Reinhard's home as his. What would he do?
My mother, brother, sisters and their children have witnessed the work
of the Israeli Defense Forces for the past two weeks, with a tank
outside their house in Nablus pounding shells nonstop. They are
terrified; the kids are terrorized. How would you feel?
This kind of journalism only justifies the means of mad dogs such as
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Maher Hawash
Hillsboro
Lack of comment deafening
Since Israel began bombarding Palestinian refugee camps with F-18s,
rounding up teen-age boys and girls and torturing many of them as well
as destroying entire neighborhoods, the silence of Oregon's political
leaders has been deafening.
I have been waiting patiently to hear Oregon's congressional leaders
join the international chorus of condemnation for the atrocities Israel
is committing against Palestinian civilians in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin
and Bethlehem.
When the Palestinian uprising began in late September 2000, Oregon's
elected leaders, including Mayor Vera Katz, were quick to sign their
names to a New York Times ad (Oct. 27, 2000) condemning "the violence"
and declaring that they "stand with Israel."
I am curious: Where do they stand now?
On March 14, Oregonians of conscience from diverse ethnic and religious
backgrounds and political persuasions published their own ad in The
Oregonian that called on Oregon's elected leaders to stop sending U.S.
weapons and taxpayer money to Israel until it complies with U.S. federal
statutes and international human rights standards.
As President Bush has stated, "Enough is enough."
Zaha Hassan
Lake Oswego*
[NB: Lake Oswego is Portland's version of LA's Brentwood/Bel Air - large
posh villas, exclusive country clubs, golf courses, private stables,
expensive horses, and overpriced housing and restaurants, all with
excellent views, not to mention Mercedes, Jags, Ferraris, and other
vehicles of that ilk. Blacks, Hispanics, and not so well off Jews need
not apply.]
Forsaking the lesser aggressor
For those in the peace and human rights community who have chosen to
rail against the Israeli military "aggression" and in support of the
"plight" of the Palestinians, I have a question: What will we do when
the very Palestinians you're supporting now are able to rearm and resume
and accomplish their long-stated goal of wiping Israel, and many of its
people, off the face of the Earth?
For the credibility of our cause, we must be careful not to align
ourselves with one aggressor merely because the other aggressor
currently has the advantage.
Phil H. Duong
Northeast Portland
Bush bends with the wind
President Bush's Middle Eastern foreign policy seems to vary depending
on how he's influenced.
In the course of one week, the president went from full support of
Israel, with little sympathy for Yasser Arafat, to fence-straddling and
strong rhetoric against Israel, presumably because of pressure from the
European and Arab interests.
The United States still has troops in Afghanistan (and rightly so) and
is planning to go after Iraq's Saddam Hussein.
We have been fighting terrorism on our own soil for less than a year.
The Israelis have been fighting it for 54 years. Bush needs to stop
being hypocritical and support the only real friend and ally that we
have in the region.
James Rachetto
Lincoln City
Taking one's own prescription
I've just realized that President Bush, who is devoted to fighting
terrorism, has failed to see the obvious answer to solve all our
problems: withdraw all our troops from Afghanistan and Pakistan, then
ask Osama bin Laden to stop the terrorist acts.
It's such a simple answer! If it's good enough for us to insist that
Israel use that approach, surely it's good enough for the United States.
Charles Kuttner
Southwest Portland
Israel's broken promises
Israel fights under the claim that it has the right to defend itself.
Remember the many settlements Israel forged in the occupied territories
contrary to its promise not to do so. Israel does not have the right to
defend that which is not Israel.
Al Murus
Irrigon
False rationale for a land grab
An ad in The New York Times says Israel is fighting for its survival.
Actually, it is undermining itself as thoroughly as Slobodan Milosevic
did when he brought about the collapse of Yugoslavia.
In an interview on PBS, a settler said God gave the land to Israel. That
was then: this is now. It is a blatant use of God as the rationale for a
land grab. It's very similar to the European takeover of the Americas.
Our ancestors borught "God" to the native peoples, moving them into
refugee camps (reservations) and killing those who objected.
If we are going back to ownership in previous centuries, the English and
Scots will need to move out of Ireland; all persons not having Native
American blood will have to leave the United States, and so on, ad
infinitum.
Adele Reiswig
Waldport
Mockery of civilized ways
The situation in the Middle East is horrifying. Destroying for the sake
of destroying. 170 homes in Jenin bulldozed. What has this to do with
terrorism? Israeli state terrorism, perhaps.
No electricity in many towns. Water off and pipes broken. Roads torn up.
Water storage tanks shot up. Civilians dead now in the hundreds.
Ambulances destroyed. Doctors and medical crews killed, shot at or not
allowed to help the wounded.
There is no honor in the Israeli Defense Forces. They are thugs and
killers. They use helicopters we gave them to strafe residential
neighborhoods in Jenin. Torturing is still going on.
Israel is making a mocker of all the civilized laws between peoples.
This is not a war against terrorism, but a war of terrorism.
Doug Willbanks
Beaverton
Actions speak for true allies
For anyone who is struggling with whom to support in the conflict
between Israel and the Palestinians, I would remind them that on Sept.
12, 2001, the day after over 3,000 Americans were murdered, Israel's
flag was flying at half-staff, and the Palestinians were dancing in the
streets.
Is our memory so short that in seven months we have forgotten who our
friends are and who is with us in this fight against terrorism? How long
is it going to be before suicide bombers show up at your local theater,
restaurant or shopping center?
James Rowe
Vancouver
When hate trumps reason, when parents sacrifice their children for
money, when autocrats rule people, when propaganda is truth, when
suicide begets suicide, when blood paints streets, when tragedy brings
cheers ... you know you're in the Middle East.
Gene H. McIntyre
Keizer
From The Sunday Oregonian
Commentary
April 14, 2002
Deborah
--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG
firefly
he is in HELL.
James
"Deborah Nyob" <dlt...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f75f6a816d53340c3de...@mygate.mailgate.org...
This one is ok.
> How the 'war of stages' works
>
> David Reinhard writes, "Palestinians deserve their own state to live
in
> peace with their neighbors, but it's not clear their current leaders
> want that" (Welcome to the state of ...Israel, April 11).
>
> It is every bit this bad and worse. By the "covenant" of Yasser
Arafat's
> Palestine Liberation Organization, any compromise agreement can only
be
> provisional, at best a temporary step toward complete annihilation
of
> Israel. This is the famous doctrine of the "war of stages."
>
> Arafat's organization has been careful never to legally abridge this
> part of its covenant. When Arafat speaks to his own people in
Arabic, he
> is very clear that the war of stages is in full progress, with
complete
> destruction of Israel still the goal.
>
> Peace will not be possible until there is new Palestinian leadership
> willing to accept Israel's existence.
>
> Michael Kellman
> Eugene
This one is ok.
> Forsaking the lesser aggressor
>
> For those in the peace and human rights community who have chosen to
> rail against the Israeli military "aggression" and in support of the
> "plight" of the Palestinians, I have a question: What will we do
when
> the very Palestinians you're supporting now are able to rearm and
resume
> and accomplish their long-stated goal of wiping Israel, and many of
its
> people, off the face of the Earth?
>
> For the credibility of our cause, we must be careful not to align
> ourselves with one aggressor merely because the other aggressor
> currently has the advantage.
>
> Phil H. Duong
> Northeast Portland
This one is good.
>
> Taking one's own prescription
>
> I've just realized that President Bush, who is devoted to fighting
> terrorism, has failed to see the obvious answer to solve all our
> problems: withdraw all our troops from Afghanistan and Pakistan,
then
> ask Osama bin Laden to stop the terrorist acts.
>
> It's such a simple answer! If it's good enough for us to insist that
> Israel use that approach, surely it's good enough for the United
States.
>
> Charles Kuttner
> Southwest Portland
This one is very good, my favorite. I may even take a line from it and
use it as a signature.
> Actions speak for true allies
>
> For anyone who is struggling with whom to support in the conflict
> between Israel and the Palestinians, I would remind them that on
Sept.
> 12, 2001, the day after over 3,000 Americans were murdered, Israel's
> flag was flying at half-staff, and the Palestinians were dancing in
the
> streets.
>
> Is our memory so short that in seven months we have forgotten who
our
> friends are and who is with us in this fight against terrorism? How
long
> is it going to be before suicide bombers show up at your local
theater,
> restaurant or shopping center?
>
> James Rowe
> Vancouver
>
William A. Levinson
firefly wrote:
> Zionist shit.When yo go to Hell ,all world will sing the song ,finally
> he is in HELL.
Such intelligent commentary. I knew those words when I was in third grade,
if not before.
-Bill
NEW (4/12/02) http://www.stentorian.com/politics/un/militant.html
This is militant "Islam" (I use "Islam" very, very loosely)
NEW LEAFLET (4/12/02) http://www.stentorian.com/politics/un/rabiddog.html
Terrorism as a rabid dog
http://www.stentorian.com/politics/un/warcrime.html
Violations of the Geneva and Hague Conventions in the Middle East
Militant "Islam" versus Christianity (and Civilization):
http://www.stentorian.com/politics/un/crucify.html
http://www.stentorian.com/politics/un/genassem.html
THIS IS MILITANT "ISLAM"
(It's about as Islamic as the Inquisition was Christian)
"Only, the recompense of those who war against God
and His Apostle [Mohammed], and go about to
commit disorders on the earth, shall be that they shall be
slain or crucified, or have their alternate hands
and feet cut off, or be banished the land:
This their disgrace in this world, and in the next a great
torment shall be theirs."
The Koran, Ivy Books edition, pp. 65-67, Sura of "The Table"
"In the punishment of stoning to death, the
stones should not be too large so that the
person dies on being hit by one or two of
them; they should not be so small either that
they could not be defined as stones."
amigocabal
Israel, Says Israel Must Be Demilitarized and Delegitimized
NEW YORK, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Middle east expert Andy Martin will
host an Internet forum on WPBR-AM Monday, April 15th at 1:00 P.M. to demand
that the European Union take dispositive action against Israel.
"The inaction of the European Union in the current Middle east crisis
represents a paragon of pathetic political paralysis. Israel is reprising
the
rape of Nanking and Europe does nothing," says Martin.
"History repeats itself, first as tragedy and then as farce. The tragedy
was European slaughter of millions of Jews. Now Jews are conducting a
farcical
slaughter of Palestinians while Europe fails to respond with tough action.
"Because Israel is a toxic confection of European and American guilt in
the wake of World War II, Europe bears a special guilt for the slaughter of
Palestinians.
"French and British colonial policies created the current muddle (see
'One
Palestine Complete' by Little, Brown). In my program I will demand that the
EU
immediately: (1) break diplomatic relations with Israel; (2) suspend air
contact between the EU and Israel and bar EU travel by Israelis; (3) seek
demilitarization of Israel, so that Israel/Palestine have military parity;
(4)
freeze Israeli bank assets in Europe.
"My Internet forum will demand that the EU act to delegitimize Israel as
a
force for destruction the Middle East. The Sharon regime must be
quarantined,
immediately.
"EU politicians have been talking tough and doing nothing. Now they must
act. An EU embargo will break the back of the war criminals in the Sharon
junta. The alternative is a widening war.
"On a positive basis, I note that German leaders (Washington Post, p.
A15,
4/10/02) are gradually adopting what I call the 'Andy Martin Peace Plan,'
which calls for immediate recognition of Palestine with the 1967 borders,
and
thereafter negotiations on the minutiae. Immediate diplomatic recognition of
Palestine would go a long way to ending terrorism by both Israelis and
Palestinians."
Earlier this week, Martin was a guest on New York radio station WOR-AM,
where he defended Palestinian national rights.
Martin's forums have become the fulcrum of foreign policy analysis on
the
Internet. He has traveled through the Middle East; his family has been there
a
hundred years. His foreign experience includes Iran and Asia. Martin has
been
an adjunct professor of law and is a foreign policy consultant in the areas
of
military security and intelligence; he studied under the late Bernard Fall,
was an assistant to U.S. Senator Paul H. Douglas and founded the
Revolutionary
War Research Center.
Martin's radio program, heard Monday-Friday over WPBR-AM, West Palm
Beach,
covers Florida issues from noon-1 P.M. and foreign policy from 1-2 P.M.
Media contact: Andy Martin (866) 706-andy. Radio call-in (561) 641-8256.
Web site: http://andymartin.com. E-mail an...@andymartin.com. Internet radio:
1340wpbr.com.
/CONTACT: Andy Martin, +1-866-706-andy, or Radio call-in
+1-561-641-8256,
an...@andymartin.com/
/Web site: http://andymartin.com/
CO:
ST: New York, Israel, Palestine
IN:
SU:
AE
-- NYTH099 --
4255 04/11/2002 12:35 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
amigocabal
William A. Levinson <wlev...@ix.NOSPAM4MEnetcom.com> wrote in message
news:3CBA4089...@ix.NOSPAM4MEnetcom.com...
Stoning to death is an old European tradition. Borrow "Zorba the Greek" to
enjoy it!
James
"amigocabal" <par...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:Gasu8.89701$gA5.7...@e3500-atl2.usenetserver.com...
> Middle East Expert Andy Martin Demands European Union Take Action
Against
> Israel, Says Israel Must Be Demilitarized and Delegitimized
>
I'll borrow from one of Deborah Nyob's post, "When Pigs Fly"
ddb
"James" <jme...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:swsu8.89879$gA5.7...@e3500-atl2.usenetserver.com...