Barbaric Treatment of Muslim Prisoners
By Sandra Clair, Arab News, March 12, 2003
We all know that the current state that the world is in is sad and pathetic. But today I read an article in the March 4 issue of the New York Post newspaper, that further illustrates the depth of the depravity that the world has sunk into. And more specifically, it is a pitiful reminder of the ghastly condition and impotence of the Muslim world today. I read in utter horror and disbelief as this article discussed for the whole world that American law enforcement officials have the 7 and 9-year old sons of the so-called Al-Qaeda mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and plan to use them as “leverage” against him. This report went on to say that officials will use “all appropriate measures to convince the just-captured mastermind of the 9/11 attacks to talk — including dangling freedom for his two young sons, who are in US custody” and have been since September of last year. Regardless of what this man is accused of, what use could a 7 and a 9-year old child be to law enforcement officials except to try to inflict the cruelest of torture on a man using whatever methods their perverted minds can come up with? What kind of world do we live in when young children can be used as pawns or as negotiating chips for interrogation tactics of governments who claim to be the leaders of the civilized world? Have they no sense of decency?

For American Indians, Sept. 11 Began 500 Years Ago and Still Continuing
By Tim Giago, Arab News, March 12, 2003
There is a terrible fear sweeping across America. Since Sept. 11, the American people have had to face their own vulnerability. The threat of terrorism hangs in the air. Sudden death can strike anywhere at anytime. There is no timetable nor is there a country America can strike in the event of another horrible attack by the terrorists. After Sept. 11, the question was asked: Why do they hate us? Perhaps that question should be rephrased to ask, What have we done to them to make them hate us? America is now experiencing the fear American Indians have felt for more than 500 years. Our ancestors never knew what act of violence or terror would befall them from the American invaders. But death did come. It came in the form of biological warfare when smallpox-tainted blankets were distributed to the unsuspecting victims. It came to them from the muzzles of guns that did not distinguish between warriors, women, elders or children. It came to them in the ruthless name of Manifest Destiny, the American edict that proclaimed God as the purveyor of expansion westward.

Amnon Rubinstein's lazy -- and misleading -- math
By Jonathan Cook, The Electronic Intifada, March 11, 2003
There are not many aspects of Israeli life untouched by the celebrated Amnon Rubinstein, a lawyer, turned professor, turned political party founder, turned government minister, turned journalist and writer. After his recent retirement from politics and the mildly dovish Meretz party, he is spending more time pontificating in the Israeli media on his favorite topics. Which unfortunately means more of Rubinstein's regular columns in the daily Ha'aretz newspaper using figures, usually supplied by the Central Bureau of Statistics, designed to prove that Israel is being unfairly demonized. A week ago, he turned his attention to the large gaps in educational achievement between Israel's Muslim and Jewish population. In his usual style, he also presented comparative examples from Britain and America to show that each country suffers equally serious problems with the exam pass rates of their respective deprived social groups.

Inconsistency Has Already Made the UN Irrelevant
By Sherri Muzher, Media Monitors Network, March 12, 2003
To be relevant or not to be relevant, that is the burning question for the United Nations. In his January 28 State of the Union address, President Bush said, "The course of this nation does not depend on the decisions of others." Only three days later, President Bush told Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair, "1441 gives us the authority to move without any second resolution." So, if the majority at the UN Security Council doesn’t agree to force Iraq into complying with UN Resolution 1441, the UN may become irrelevant. On the other hand, if war occurs, then the United Nations will be relevant because it will demonstrate that UN resolutions have teeth. Such is the quagmire that the Bush Administration has put forth before the world. Well, guess what? The UN has been irrelevant for decades now because of its own inconsistent record. As an American Republican of Palestinian descent, the recent speeches about the necessity of Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions have been less than amusing. Nobody doubts that Saddam Hussein is a tyrannical dictator, but to obsessively focus on Hussein while rolling out the unending red carpet for Israel’s Ariel Sharon is hypocrisy at its best. Please note that Sharon may still be brought before the Belgian courts when he leaves office - for his part in the Sabra and Shatila massacre of 1982.

Just One of 52 Weeks
By Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, Palestine Chronicle, March 10, 2003
(PalestineChronicle.com) - This is an open message to anyone who can hear to understand, see to be influenced, think to reflect, and speak, write, and walk to act. For those who have been receiving messages and are silent, maybe it is time to chose to stand up or give up on your humanity. Let us review scenes from this week and reflect: Last Sunday at noon, and every Sunday at noon, a group of activists in New Haven stood at a street corner holding signs and distributing flyers at an intersection - On the same Sunday, so many people slept in then had food and drinks with their families and friends while millions around the world are starving, while over 40% of Palestinian Children are malnourished. On the same Sunday, an article in the Observer in England revealed that a " Secret document details American plan to bug phones and emails of key Security Council members" and this revelation went ignored in the US media. This past Monday, groups of citizens were at Federal buildings protesting the war. On the same day, millions went to jobs oblivious to the plight of Palestinians. Israeli forces continued to keep Palestinians in Ghettos & not allowed to move from one Ghetto to another, not allowed to get to schools and jobs and even hospitals. On the same day, AIPAC & ADL refused to condemn inclusion of ethnic cleansers in new Israel government. See this article by Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada, 3 March 2003 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article1210.shtml

Obviously Oil
By Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Truthout, March 11, 2003
Alternet Editor's Note: Although Dennis Kucinich was aggressively attacked by Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen for suggesting that the preemptive strike on Iraq was based on oil, the Post refused to print the presidential candidate and Ohio Democrat's response. This was especially frustrating, since the Post editorial stance and balance of editorial page columns have been decidedly pro-war. You can tell the Post how you feel about this omission at ombudsman@washpost.com. --  Is President Bush's war in Iraq about oil? Of course it is. Sometimes, the obvious answer is the right one: Oil is a major factor in the President's march to war, just as oil is a major factor in every aspect of U.S. policy in the Persian Gulf. Ask yourself: What commodity accounts for 83 percent of total exports from the Persian Gulf? What is the U.S. protecting with our permanent deployment of about 25,000 military personnel, 6 fighter squadrons, 6 bomber squadrons, 13 air control and reconnaissance squadrons, one aircraft carrier battle group, and one amphibious ready group based at 11 military installations in the countries of the Persian Gulf? (Note, the disproportionate troop deployments in the Middle East aren't there to protect the people, who constitute only 2 percent of the world population.)

Letter to Ashcroft: Objection to USA Patriot Act 2
By Members of Congress John Conyers, Jr., Robert C. Scott, and Sheila Jackson Lee, Truthout, February 10, 2003
Dear Mr. Attorney General: We write to express my profound disappointment about your Department's handling of anti-terrorism policy. Recent reports irrefutably indicate that the Department of Justice has been working on a successor bill to the "USA Patriot Act" for some time. Notwithstanding the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction in this matter and outstanding record of dealing with this legislation, the Committee reported a bipartisan version of the Patriot Act by a unanimous vote, according to the Chairman's spokesman, there have been no consultations with the Committee on this bill. Your spokesperson, Barbara Comstock, claimed in a February 7 statement (attached) that the new draft bill was still in "internal deliberations" within the Department and still being discussed at "staff levels" and has not been "presented... to the White House." This is blatantly false in several respects, yet a Department of Justice "Control Sheet" (attached) plainly indicates that the bill was forwarded to the Speaker of the House and Vice President on January 10. The Department's handling of this matter has only lent credence to suggestions that this Administration is intent on using the war on terrorism as a partisan political tool and the Justice Department is waiting to spring this bill on the Congress when the nation once again has endured a terrorist attack or is in the midst of war.