Smile With a Knife

Lubna Hussain has written, for three successive weeks, on the terrible humanitarian tragedy in Lebanon, reminding us that the same thing is still happening in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan. She wants us to relate to the full tragedy of the Middle East, not just to today’s awful events.

I am British and have been living in Saudi Arabia for the last 14 years. I cannot believe the way the British government is supporting the horrible carnage by Israel in Lebanon with the wholehearted support of America. Like the Americans, the British too are pretending to be trying to stop the fighting, while making sure that the Israelis get what they want first — even if that means destroying Lebanon in the process. It is the proverbial smile with a knife in the back — we will give you aid and try to stop the war but we will give the Israelis the armaments to kill you first. Have we now become so desensitized to human suffering that we can sit back and watch the lives of innocent men, women and children being wantonly destroyed? America is playing a perverse game of politics and Tony Blair is making the British dance to the American tune. It is high time that we stood up and were counted for what we believe in. Or have we gone completely soft? Are we afraid that we might lose favor with the American superpower?

The same can be said of the Middle East. What immense power the Middle East has in the control of oil! In 1973 the price of oil tripled and it crippled the West for a considerable time. I’m not suggesting that this should be repeated, but applying sanctions on the Americans (and even the British), as they are so quick to impose them on those who do not comply with their wishes might let them know that they do not control the world despite their military might. If done in consort throughout the Middle East, it would shock them into some realism.

Besides, why do the Americans think that their “great democracy” should be imposed upon other nations? Could not a benevolent autocracy or monarchy work equally well? In the Middle East it suits the culture much better. For all that is said in the UK, we vote in a government and then have no control over what it does or how it manages the country for four or five years. That’s democracy. Maybe democracy sort of works in America and Europe (although that is debatable) but it won’t necessarily work in the Middle East. Each country must choose its own destiny — that is its sovereign right. And the Western press does not help. It grossly misrepresents events in the Middle East. Western journalists (with a few exceptions such as Frank Gardner) flit in and out without really understanding the people or their culture. They apply a bias that leaves you with the impression that all the world’s ills are the fault of the Arab people. They are wrong. They blame Arabs for the rise in terrorism. Wrong again. It was no different before 9/11 with terrorist organizations such as the Red Brigade, the IRA, Black September, the OAS to name but a few. All these are now gone and we conveniently forget. The problem is that terrorism suddenly arrived in America and shook it awake. That and the fear that it could possibly affect the flow of oil and the control of the region gave Uncle George and now Auntie Condi the excuse to wage this so-called “war on terrorism” — the backlash to which is terrorism. Tony Blair saw this as a means to set his name firmly in the history books but it simply diminished his own standing. I certainly don’t condone terrorism in the least. I condemn it, but put yourself in the shoes of the Arabs who see all the blame being dropped in their laps and you have the perfect scenario for the extremists to do their worst. And then we blame them all! Somewhere it has gone sadly and badly wrong — the British used to have a reputation for fairness, justice and an innate understanding of world politics that meant they were always held in high regard throughout the world. Now they are laughed at as being no more than the lapdog of George Bush. What a comedown! And how pathetic!

And the Americans — well, they have never had a reputation for an understanding of world politics. I have a mental caricature of the American people all holding hands around the national borders and all looking in. They don’t know — and generally don’t care — what goes on outside their country as long as it doesn’t affect them. We need to get out of this ever-tightening spiral and develop an understanding of each other — Western, Arab, Chinese, Indian et al and see that what we hold dear may not be dear elsewhere and not be afraid to embrace others’ culture as being as important to them as ours is to us. This is surely the way forward. It is not easy and it is fraught with pitfalls all the way. But, in the words of Lubna Hussain, “What a wonderful world it would be!”

Peter Deboeck, Riyadh published 13 August 2006

Averted Terror Attack

I am gratified to read that it was a tip from a British Muslim that put the British authorities on the trail of the terrorists who are accused of planning to blow up passenger planes over the Atlantic. It is the duty of every human being to prevent human death. This is especially so in the case of Muslims who have to obey the Qur’anic principle “If any one slew a person — unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land — it would be as if he slew the whole people; and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” The man’s action, I hope, will give pause to those who rush to accuse the whole community for the misdirected anger of a few. There is every reason to blame the Blair government for many atrocities perpetrated upon Muslims, but it would be no less of an atrocity if innocent Britons were to be made to suffer for Blair’s “poodleness.”

One Muslim has proved different from Blair. Placed in a similar situation, where the lives of hundreds of people depended on his decision, Blair decided differently. When Israelis are killing the Lebanese with indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, Blair could have worked for a UN cease-fire more honestly. But he decided, as ordered by Bush, to give the Israelis the month they wanted in order to complete their murders, before letting his sadness at the killing of innocents get out of control.

The British Muslim could have done the same thing. He could have waited until the planes had been blown up before opening his mouth. Luckily for all, he did not follow the example of either Blair or Bush.

Basil Raheem, Jeddah published 13 August 2006

Kissinger’s Brainchild

This refers to Nasim Zehra’s article “Illogical, Illegal and Ill-Fated” (Aug. 5). It was America’s former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger who recommended the building of settlements throughout the West Bank to the exclusion of the Palestinians. The US provided ten billion dollars from time to time for this project, a sum which was alleged to have been a loan but which was not expected to be repaid.

Juanita C. Griffing, United States published 13 August 2006

Hope for Peace

I was glad to read Tariq A. Al-Maeena’s “Voices From the Street” (Aug.5) and to hear what is being said on the street. It is important for Americans, particularly, to know what is being said and to understand why. Personally, I believe an immediate cease-fire should have been called for weeks ago, and Israel condemned for this war they continue in clear violation of the sovereignty of the nation of Lebanon. I blame my government for not moving swiftly in this direction. Yet another mistake of the Bush administration.

I wish for peace in the Middle East and a just and swift settlement to the root causes of the problems that ultimately affect us all. I particularly look forward to the day when the Palestinians can have a homeland with internationally recognized borders and sovereignty, so they can again stand proud and at long last experience the peace and prosperity they so richly deserve. I long for the day they can raise their children without having to fear that their lives will be cut short by Israeli missiles and tanks.

Julie, United States published 13 August 2006

Zionist Power

Some of us living in the United States are really horrified by the murder and mayhem being perpetuated by the Zionist government. I have gone as far as not voting since the 1976 election as a protest against my government’s support to Zionist atrocities and because I don’t want to feel responsible for what it would do in the future. Ever since Ronald Reagan (and through Burning Bush I and slick Willy to — horror of horrors — Burning Bush II) this country has gone downhill. The Reagan years had us talking about Russia and communism. The four years of Bush I was about inducing Saddam to take back its former colony annexed by Britain in 1923. The past six years of Bush II have been hell. The invasion of Iraq on the fiction of weapons of mass destruction has caused the death of thousands of human beings.

We, the US citizens in the blue states — as opposed to the red states — have our hands tied. We are suspicious about the last two presidential elections. Propaganda machines keep pushing out disinformation and intimidation. In fact, the neocons are implementing the master plan of zealot rabbis who, along with the southern Christian churches, are preparing for the second coming of Jesus on a mushroom cloud. This master plan isn’t political; it’s religious. How many thousands more must die for such fantasies?

Thomas J. Mahoney, United States published 13 August 2006

The (Neo)Con Game

The Bush administration wants to start a civil war in Iraq. In the last two months, 6,000 Iraqis have died. They are dying at a rate of 100 people per day. In the past, Israel and Paul Wolfowitz and gang have publicly speculated about trying to reduce the Muslim population through civil wars or worse. The neo-cons and Israel have what they want (dead Muslims!) when Muslims turn against Muslim. I wonder: Do the Muslims in Iraq hate each other more than they hate Israel? They must, because this civil war in Iraq is exactly what Zionists and the neo-cons want!

Chris, United States published 13 August 2006