Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July/August 2004, pages 5, 93-94

Letters to the Editor

Missing Letter

I heard on the BBC World Service about the letter signed by 50 American diplomats protesting our Middle East policy. I’ve been struck, however, by the fact that it seems to have received no coverage whatever in the U.S. itself. I’ve heard nothing about it on NPR, and searches on The New York Times and Washington Post online (with such keywords as “Killgore,” “diplomats,” “letter,” “Middle East”) have turned up nothing.

Have you noticed this? How do you account for it?

George Dyke, via e-mail

Aside from a few sightings in local newspapers—the largest being the San Francisco Chronicle—America’s national media studiously ignored the letter. Alison Weir, the admirable and effective founder of If Americans Knew (<www.ifamericansknew.org>), took it upon herself to contact New York Times ombudsman Dan Okrent concerning the paper’s lack of coverage. Okrent agreed to investigate the omission. “There’s no question in my mind that this belonged in The Times,” he wrote in his Internet column (but not in the paper’s print edition). The complete text of Okrent’s column can be found at <http://forums.nytimes.com/top/opinion/readersopinions/forums/thepublic
editor/danielokrent/index.html?offset=29&fid=.f555e99/29>.

Letter Found—Abroad

Newspapers and other media in Holland have given attention to the letter which was written by 53 American diplomats to Mr. Bush about his Middle East policies.

It was difficult to find the full text of your letter on the Internet, and I finally found iton the sites of The Financial Times and The Guardian. Still I have not been able to find the full list of 53 names of diplomats who undersigned the letter.

Maybe your Washington Report on Middle East Affairs could publish the letter plus all the names under it, on its site. It seems to me that the American media are not very keen on bringing to the American public what your points of view are.

With respectful greetings from the Netherlands,

Jeanne van Ammers, via e-mail

The text of the letter and an updated list of signatories (currently numbering 82) can be found at <http://www.wrmea.com/letter_to_bush.html>.

Heartfelt Thanks

As an utterly frustrated Arab American who found your organization after searching the origin of the diplomats’ letter to President Bush, I simply want to thank you a thousand times over for the wonderful work you have done in helping to spread the word on America’s wrong-headed and self-destructive policy in the Middle East.

I am grateful that there are still decent Americans out there who have not turned the other cheek on the suffering and injustice that has been borne by the Palestinians. It is so ironic that the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave is so blindly on the wrong side of what is just and humane in this conflict.

Keep up the good work, and more power to you in helping all Americans learn of the Israel lobby’s influence in Congress and the heartbreaking legacy of injustice it has fostered over the years.

C. Maalouf, New York, NY

We Give Up

Thank you for promptly sending me the letter to President Bush and the list of those who signed it. The last paragraph of the letter begins with the statement that it is not too late to reassert American principles of justice and fairness in relation to the Middle East. I would apreciate knowing when in the opinion of Ambassador Killgore the United States abided by those principles in U.S. relations with the peoples of the Middle East.

Dr. Joseph Lerner, via e-mail

Uhh...sometime before 1947? Even from 1957 to 1959, however, when the ambassador was consul in Jerusalem, Palestinians and Arabs expressed good will to the United States and Americans. Over the years, that good will was withdrawn from the U.S. government, but not from its citizens. Now, we fear, U.S. Mideast policy may have killed that civilized distinction, from which so many of us benefited.

Diplomats can still sign the letter, by the way, by calling or e-mailing the Washington Report.

Thank You for Existing!

I recently became aware of your publication from a Palestinian patient of mine here in Denver, CO. I just wanted to e-mail you and thank you for existing! I am a 35-year-old, Caucasian mother of four with very little interest in Middle Eastern history until recent world events. I am learning so much from your magazine, I’m like a sponge. I feel frustrated by the biased reporting we get in mass media, and never feel likeI really know what the heck is going on and why.

Reading your magazine, I feel like I now have at least some non-biased, real information by which to form opinions, and possibly be able to contribute in some way some day to educating Americans and creating change.

Thank you!

Shawna Jamison, via e-mail

P.S.: How do I receive your magazine?

Would-be subscribers (and we hope there are millions of you!) have three options: the Washington Report Web site (<http://www.wrmea.com>), which uses the PayPal system; our toll-free telephone number, (800) 368-5788, ext. 1; and snail mail: WRMEA, P.O. Box 1686, Williamsport, PA 17703-1686 (see postcard in each issue).

We’re All in the Same Boat

Your excellent magazine is very important to know the springs and powers behind the events and politics happening to this poor crazy world, to see the real Axis of Evil ruling America, Russia, Europe and Australia...as evidenced by Andrew I. Killgore’s article on “Israel’s Failed Assassination Attempt on U.S. Ambassador.”

Thanks for your brave endeavors!

Best from sinking Russia,

SD, via e-mail

A Matter of Priorities

As an 84-year-old who, two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, closed my prosperous business in Concord, NH with a sign in my glass window—“CLOSED to enlist in the army for duration of the War”—I now want an explanation and answers as to why our government thought that the Holocaust Museum, which opened in 1993, was more important than the World War II Memorial that is now about to be completed. The World War II Memorial should have come first.

Has our government given as much money for the War II Memorial as it has for the Holocaust Museum? Why did our government donate free land to the Holocaust Museum? What was the value of said land and what was its size? Do American tax dollars subsidize maintenance cost of the Holocaust Museum?

Carl Greeley, Barefoot Bay, FL

In addition to the information contained in managing editor Janet McMahon’s article, “The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: A Decade of Increasing Taxpayer Funding” (December 2003 Washington Report, p. 9), many of the answers to your questions are available on the Holocaust Museum’s Web site, <http://www.ushmm.org>.

Who’s Minding “Our” Store?

Speaking at the United Jewish Communities Washington Conference in March 2004, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) told conferencegoers, “Making sure our people were never in a position of powerlessness again…this is why I ran for Congress. Our clout far exceeds our numbers. The secret is going to be how to keep it that way.” Her remarks were quoted by Ron Kampeas in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (the “Global News Service of the Jewish People”).

What will the overwhelming majority of her Nevada constituents who are NOT Jewish think of her “calling”? What about the rest of us, what of OUR “people”? What about E Pluribus Unum?

Joe and Merry Boysen, Shell Beach, CA

It’s perhaps precisely because she doesn’t have a natural ethnic constituency that Berkley, in the short time since she was first elected to Congress in 1998, tops the list of House recipients of pro-Israel PAC contributions at a staggering $201,445. See our lastest compilation starting on p. 26 of this issue.

Ashamed of the Government

I just finished watching the story of the USS Liberty. As a Navy vet of the Korean War I am so ashamed of the United States government for treating the crew of that ship the way it did.

Jim Robinett, via e-mail

A Gracious “Mea Culpa”

On May 8, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Herbert J. Grover addressed the annual dinner/fund-raiser of the Fox Valley Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He spoke as a representative of Common Cause. He is a member of the Wisconsin Common Cause Board of Directors.

Grover’s remarks were addressed to the problem of money in politics and how it has become the determining factor in forming public policy. Politicians vote for those programs and policies bought and paid for by the special interests that paid for their campaigns.

During the question/answer session I asked our guest speaker why he opposed the naming of the then-about-to-be constructed new Grafton public library the USS LIBERTY MEMORIAL LIBRARY in honor of the 34 Americans killed by the Israelis during their air and sea attack on the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967.

Grover’s opposition was expressed in a letter to the Grafton Library Board of Trustees in 1988, when he was Superintendent of Public Instruction and had supervisory responsibilities respecting public libraries.

To my surprise, Grover did not defend that act. He admitted that he had made a mistake. He said he was wrong for doing so. His gracious “mea culpa” was met with a round of applause from the audience.

Grover went on to make a brief peroration to the effect that one of the reasons the United States is so hated by much of the Arab population of the Middle East has been America’s uncritical moral and financial support of Israel and the latter’s continual denial of justice to the Palestinian people.

It was indeed refreshing to hear a former politician admit that he was wrong on an important issue and confess that he might have been doing a little pandering to one of those special interest groups himself.

Robert E. Nordlander, Menasha, WI

Where’s the Cole Link?

There’s no USS Cole Memorial Page link on your Web site? Why not?

Judith Stefchak, via e-mail

Because that attack on a U.S. vessel was fully investigated, as was every other attack on an American ship—except Israel’s.

President or Dictator?

Enclosed please find my personal check for $250.00 for AET. This gift is in response to the excellent work you and your colleagues are doing to keep the public informed about Middle East affairs. I shall continue to support your work, although I have been ill and now face rising medical costs, factors that may influence my ability to give generously to your work in the future.

I am greatly troubled by President Bush’s recent pronouncements in favor of Israel during and after his recent meeting with Sharon as he swept away in dictatorial fashion long-standing international laws and further denigrated the rights and hopes of the Palestinians. Bush has seemingly welcomed—and backed—the murder of three Palestinian leaders in his efforts to please a bloody butcher who apparently has no social conscience. Sharon obviously sees Palestinians as “nonpersons.”

I believe Bush has “sold out” to Sharon and the Zionist settlers. In the process, he has become a dictator superior to any laws except his own ideas. He fails to understand the deep ethnic and religious differences in the entire Middle East. Further, he fails to support even his own now-defunct road map to peace. It’s dead! All the while he is arrogantly dictating to others how they should think and act! Isn’t it about time to have Bush impeached?

Do keep up your work to bring insights and balance and peace with justice in the Middle East.

Harold Fisher, Salem, OR

A Long, Hard Look Needed

Recently, I saw President Bush on TV making a presentation to some law enforcement people regarding the renewal of the PATRIOT Act. He spoke adamantly about the motives of those who attacked our country, and want to attack us again. He spoke about how they hate our values, our freedom of religion, and our freedom in general. I have heard this analysis from the president over and over again, namely, that they hate us because of our “freedom” and, therefore, by fighting the “war on terrorism” we are, in reality, fighting for our “freedom.”

I agree with the president that our attackers hate us, but I don’t at all agree with him as to why they hate us, or as to what we are actually fighting for. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, a tape of Osama bin Laden was shown on TV, in which bin Laden said, as I recall, that we were attacked because of 1) our pro-Israeli, anti-Palestinian policy, 2) the presence of our troops in Saudi Arabia, and 3) the sanctions against Iraq (note, this was well in advance of our invasion of Iraq). As far as I know, bin Laden said nothing about hating us because of our “freedom.”

Now, if our policy in the Middle East, and the Arab world in general, is such that we are hated by untold millions of people, even to the point that many are willing to carry out 9/11-style attacks against us, then we should be giving our policy a long, hard look. And I do recommend that the American public try to educate itself regarding the history of U.S. policy in the greater Middle East part of the world, particularly our Israeli/Palestinian policy. Personally, I believe that we are hated and were attacked because of our unjust policies that have resulted in injury to, and oppression of, many people in the greater Middle East region.

In any event, I am not in favor of the president, or others, misleading the American people regarding WHY we are under attack (it’s not because of our “freedom”), or regarding WHAT it is that we are fighting for (once again, it’s not “freedom”).

Tom Ward, Berwyn, IL

Being Held to Account

Why are British and American troops being granted immunity for war crimes committed against the Iraqi people? [See The Observer, London, May 23, 2004] The rest of the world is watching us very carefully to see whether we are walking the walk, as well as talking the talk, in our inquiries into the prisoner abuse and torture, in addition to how the recent massacre of 45 people—mainly women and children—at a wedding party is handled.

The fact that we, as a people, are being held to account by the citizens of our planet for the actions of our administration, intelligence service, and military, does not make me feel proud to be an American, and I feel ashamed to travel abroad. If we are to have any credibility as a world-class power dedicated to democracy, should we not be subject to the same standards as other people?

Jim Stillwell, Los Angeles, CA

Crazy Coincidences?

Has anybody looked at the picture released from Abu Ghraib, showing a white, plastic chair in the foreground. If you compare this with the picture of Nick Berg prior to his “execution,” you will notice that he is sitting on an identical chair. He is also wearing an orange jumpsuit, identical to the ones worn in Abu Ghraib. And the floorboards and walls in the Berg execution video are identical to those shown in the torture pictures at Abu Ghraib. Am I going crazy?

Christine Rice, Carthay Circle, CA

Sabeel Revealed

As Reservists with Christian Peacemaker Teams, my husband and I go once a year to work with the CPT team in Hebron and environs. This year we went in April so that we could also attend the 5th International Conference of Sabeel on Challenging Christian Zionism. It was a wonderful conference in every way—extremely well organized with first-rate presenters on every aspect of the history, theology, and political and social impact of Christian Zionism. The conference also included a day in Ramallah at the Friends Schools, including a visit with President Arafat and a first-hand, up-close visit to Abu Dis families experiencing the encroachment of the Wall.

I assumed that there would be coverage of the conference in your magazine, but when the current issue arrived today, alas—nothing. Hence, I enclose a copy of the statement which came out of the conference and urge you to access Sabeel’s Web site for a rundown of the program and presenters, etc. This event was much too important not to receive some attention in your pages.

Genie Durland, Colorado Springs, CO.

We agree entirely—which is why you’ll find Sister Elaine Kelley’s report, along with the final conference statement, on pp. 70-72 of this issue. The conference was under way as we were putting the June issue to bed, hence the one-month delay in reporting on it. We hope we’ve compensated for that with the thoroughness of Sister Elaine’s coverage.

We also hope you’ll indulge us as we take this opportunity to say that our admiration for the work of CPTers such as yourselves borders on awe.

India’s Surprise Election

As a subscriber, I am requesting that your outstanding magazine begin an in-depth coverage and analysis of the surprise election in India of Sonia Gandhi and the National Congress Party.

The U.S. and European media paid little attention to this, considering its significance. I’ve enclosed articles on this for you to read. The West pays little attention to this important area of the world. Too bad.

I for one am relieved at the outcome. A secular government replacing a Hindu extremist one in New Delhi can only bode well for an autonomous Kashmir. Also, this takes the wind out of the sails of hard-line Muslims in Pakistan who saw a menace over the border in “hindutva.”

Unlike many people I don’t see this unexpected outcome derailing peace talks between Pakistan and India at all. To my way of thinking, the fallen Prime Minister Vajpayee was offering an “Oslo accord’ and trying to give George Bush a foreign policy plum for November. After Bush’s re-election, all bets would have been off. Now Pervez Musharraf will have a true peace partner and won’t be tempted to saber-rattle over the nuclear issue.

Is there any doubt about Washington’s reaction to this? Remember the recent election in Spain?

David Myer, Scottsdale, AR

You’ll find Prof. M.M. Ali’s analysis of the election on p. 36 of this issue.

PCWF’s Tree Program

I am interested in contributing to the tree program of Palestine Children’s Welfare Fund, as reported p. 96 of your June issue, but I don’t have a computer and need their mailing address. Would appreciate your supplying it.

Jeanne Riha, Corvallis, OR

Anyone wishing to help plant an olive tree or orange tree in Palestine may send a $25 donation to Riad Hamad, PCWF Coordinator, 201 W. Stassney #201, Austin, TX 78745

The Greek Cypriot Perspective

In his June 2004 article, Jon Gorvett fails to adequately address or discuss the Greek rejection of the Annan Plan. The U.N. Plan for Cyprus that wasconceived by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and which was endorsed by the United States and the European Union, was not intended to benefit Cyprus. The main concern of Washington was to get Turkey into the European Union, and as such the U.N. Plan was intended topressure Cyprus and its democratically elected leader into submission.

The Annan Plan offered Cypriots nothing but great power threats and blackmail. Under the cover of diplomacy, what has been happening in Cyprus is a repetition of the great power tactics previously used by Great Britain and the United States to force an “agreement” on Cyprus that has been clearly rejected by the population. It is this complete disregard for the rights of the Greek Cypriot majority that established the origins of tension in Cyprus, and which allowed Turkish leaders to begin making unsubstantiated and illegal claims to Cyprus, and which finally paved the way for the twin Turkish invasions and ethnic cleansing of Cyprus during the summer of 1974.

The United States, European Union, United Nations, and the international media should respect the outcome of the referendum. All the political participants in this scheme have entirely ignored the concerns and protests of the Greek majority in Cyprus. The U.N. Plan would solidify the Turkish occupation of Cyprus by ensuring that Turkish troops and settlers remain, and that Greek Cypriot refugees would be denied property rights and freedom of movement in the occupied territories. The international media have wittingly or unwittingly become pawns in the propaganda campaign against Cyprus, and have failed to note or report that this activity on Cyprus began just as Nicosia was about to formally enter the European Union. The United States, Great Britain and the United Nations are guilty of colluding against the European aspirations of the Cypriot people, and of rewarding the bloody expansionism of Ankara’s authoritarian regime, at the cost of Cypriot democracy and independence.

Theodoros Georgiou Karakostas, Byzantine Cultural Project, Boston, MA