US forces in Iraq

What is so very strange about Moqtada Sadr, the man who represents Iraqi patriotism, demanding that the occupying forces should leave the country they invaded on the strength of big lies? The occupation should have ended when the lie unraveled.

There was no shame on Iraq when it had to fall before the military might of the most powerful army in the world. The Iraqis — the Shiites, Sunnis, Christians and others — fought the invaders to the best of their ability; they used all weapons they had — artillery, rifles, handguns, roadside bombs and suicide kits. They preferred to die than to bend and, as a result, can claim the glory that belongs to those who die defending their dignity. So, after having given a manly account of themselves, Iraqis had no need to feel shame when the American soldiers walked on the road.

But there would be shame when the same solider walks on Baghdad’s or Fallujah’s or Basra’s roads after Dec. 31. It is so because they would be there only because the Iraqis surrendered and gave the occupiers legitimacy.

History has defined the proper attitude of the invaded toward the invader, everywhere, at every time. Kill them. Follow them to their hiding holes, and eliminate them. If this is true for Osama Bin Laden, it should be true for George Bush also.

Habibullah Khan, Dammam published 26 October 2008

Women in MCCI

My first response to the report “Businesswomen pull out of MCCI board elections” (Oct. 19) was one of pleasant surprise: I never imagined that the number of registered businesswomen in the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry was so high: 800 out of 5,000. That there are so many businesswomen in Makkah is encouraging news.

As for membership in the chamber for them, it is quite adifferent thing altogether. It will take a Saudi “princess” to get women into that exclusive male domain. Without such a connection, there is little hope of any meaningful change occurring in the male-dominated status quo.

Shujaa A. Kamal, Jeddah published 26 October 2008

US election

This is in response to “In black, white and gray” (Oct.19) by M.J. Akbar. The majority of US citizens do not want war. I was appalled that our current president, George Bush, was so dumb as to start one. I am glad to be rid of him. Donald Trump was right about impeachment.

I have cast my vote for Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Biden. I hope my fellow Americans do the same. Obama will make a great leader for us and the world too. Thanks for a well-written article.

Joe Martin, United States published 26 October 2008

Blessing in disguise

The massive demonstration that supporters of the Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr staged in Baghdad against the plans to extend the US presence in Iraq was an expression of public will as against the wishes of politicians. Under the agreement negotiated by the Iraqi and US negotiators, the foreign troops will leave Iraq by 2011. Iraq will have the right to prosecute Americans who commit crimes while off-duty. That means nothing. The question is: What will happen if the crimes are committed while on duty? That is when they commit crimes.

While the present economic meltdown is something that should worry us all, it has its bright side also. The worry in the US has caused it to drop the plans for another war which was considered imminent a few months ago.

This is a case of blessing in disguise for all peace-loving people in the world.

S.H. Moulana, Riyadh published 26 October 2008

Culture of abuse

The report “Abuse victim remains in coma at Taif hospital” (Oct. 19) made horrifying reading. It is atrocious that the abuse was so cruel and went on for a such a long time that “she came to the hospital suffering from high acidity in blood, a sharp drop in hemoglobin levels, blood poisoning, kidney failure and scarcity of urine.” Layla is no rare case in this country. So many girls suffer violence and abuse at the hands of their “fathers” — the persons who are supposed to protect them from all types of violence and help them to fill their lives with joy and accomplishments.

Instead of getting such love and care, Layla “had been tortured for one month, her wounds were left uncleaned for a long time, which caused infections and rotting. She was suffering from gangrene in her legs but after a few surgical procedures, her legs were saved.”

What is the problem with these men here, in the land of the religion of love, mercy, compassion? How were these men raised that the only thing in their hearts is hate and no mercy even for their own flesh and blood? Something is really wrong here.

I hope this man gets the punishment he deserves and is made to pay for his heinous crime. Justice has to be done, and has to be seen to be done, so that other “fathers” would know that justice would come to them too, sooner or later.

Marie, Riyadh published 26 October 2008

Culture of abuse 2

Frankly, what surprised me in the report was the sentence that the father was in police custody. That does not happen normally. I expected the male mafia controlling the Kingdom’s social order and value system to decide, in spite of the keen desire for reforms and changes at the highest levels of the government, that it was a Saudi father’s right to torture his daughter. The man should be put away for a long time to come. I wish he could also be tortured, allowing gangrene to develop in his limbs and his kidney to fail.

But I am sure that none of these will happen. The man will be released. This is a misogynist society that still regrets that Islam put an end to the old tradition of burying alive newborn girls.

Anis Mubarak, Jeddah published 26 October 2008

Support for Kashmir

This refers to the report “OIC backs Kashmiris’ right for plebiscite” (Oct. 18). What does that mean? Will the backing be in just words, pouring more fuel on the already burning fire? Or does the organization have any concrete plans of action for a lasting peace?

Secondly, who has got its backing? The Kashmiri people as a whole, or one of the various groups fighting in the guise of representing the Kashmiri people? If the latter, which? The one fighting for independence or the one fighting for autonomy or the one fighting to join Kashmir with Pakistan or those fighting without any specific agenda?

The OIC should first understand the complex realities of the problem and then use its good offices to unite the Kashmiri people to work for one common agenda or goal, and then give them backing. Will this be a reality?

Noel Frank, Jeddah published 26 October 2008