Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July/August 1999, pages 3, 99-103

Letters to the Editor

An Introduction Was Needed

I recently noted a young Muslim woman working in my opthamologist’s office. I introduced myself and proffered last month’s Washington Report. She’s from northern Minnesota and married to, I believe, a Kuwaiti and had never heard of the Washington Report or ADC. I pointed out the section on what Muslims in the United States are doing and opined that I was sure that she and her husband would be interested. She seemed pleased and surprised. She opened the magazine, saw the return envelope, and said, “I see we can subscribe,” which is the idea!

H. Overdiek, Hopkins, MN

Reporting Results From Card-Mailing

Aloha. In a past issue of the Washington Report you had some postcards to mail out concerning the destruction of Arab homes. I mailed the three cards to three members of our Hawaiian congressional delegation and received two replies—both quite positive—from Senator Daniel K. Akaka and Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink. Congressman Neil Abercrombie did not answer. A card was not sent to Senator Daniel Inouye because there were only three postcards. Enclosed are the replies for your interest and information.

David Bohn, Honolulu, HI

Great. And if you ever get a positive reply from Senator Inouye, who’s much busier slipping taxpayer money to Israeli institutions than worrying about his Hawaiian constituents, we’ll put out an extra edition.

“Action” Postcards

The idea of inserting “action” postcards in the WRMEA is a wonderful one. United we can be more effective.

Susan Dendinger, Exton, PA

A Yugoslav Perspective

My name is Darko Nadic, Ph.D., and I am a professor on the faculty of political science in Belgrade University, Yugoslavia. I am 35 years old, married, with one child, a civilian, a potential target, still alive, and hope to be alive tomorrow.

First of all I would like to say that an American friend told me about your magazine. Second, about Kosovo, I must say that you are hearing about the problem of Kosovo in a wrong way.

American journalists, and their government, too, said that the U.S. government must protect the Albanian community in Kosovo. What about the Serbs in Kosovo? And what about Turks, Gypsies and other minorities who are living, oh, sorry, who used to live down there before NATO started bombing them in the name of peace and humanity? What a strange way to protect one national community.

Well, the problem exists in two terrorist organizations, one is KLA—the Kosovo Liberation Army—former Marxists and Leninists, who, by the way, never had anything in common with communist ideology. Au contraire, they are Stalinists if you look at their ideology and by practice they’re fascists.

The KLA is also a criminal drug ring. See Jerry Seper’s report in the May 3 edition of The Washington Times. The second terrorist organization is NATO. Yugoslavia didn’t attack, by ground forces or by planes, any country in the world. We didn’t attack USA or Albania, Hungary, or Croatia, Bosnia or Romania, Macedonia or Bulgaria. NATO and U.S. officials know that. That is true.

Well, that’s all folks, from Belgrade, a city under debris. I hope you will publish this letter and prove your dedication to free speech.

Darko Nadic, Ph.D., Belgrade, Yugoslavia

We think if you could have seen the daily television footage from Albania and Macedonia (since foreign correspondents were banned from Kosovo by the Serbian government) recording the arrival of more than 800,000 refugees driven out of Kosovo, not by NATO bombs (according to the statements of the refugees themselves), but by the Serb police, military and militias you might understand why NATO was determined to bomb until the refugees could go home with NATO armed guards to protect them. But maybe not, since the two letters that follow are from Americans who saw what we did but reached different conclusions.

The Attacks on Yugoslavia and Iraq

Your cover story on the NATO bombing of Kosovo is a vivid reminder of the terrible destructive power of modern weapons systems, the violence of air assaults on human populations, and the tragic failure and disregard, by our nation and the other nations engaged in the assault, of the Geneva Conventions and other rules devised during the 20th century to protect human populations in time of war.

Despite the passions aroused on both sides of the divide over NATO’s tactics, history and future generations will surely judge this attack a totally uncivilized and barbaric act of destruction. One can only hope that the attacks on Kosovo and Iraq do not signify the beginning of the end of protective restraints on the waging of war inherent in diplomatic traditions and human rights’ protocols.

In regard to Richard Curtiss’s article, I would like to bring to readers’ attention that, contrary to his description of organized opposition to the air campaign as only half-hearted at best, there is strong opposition at the grassroots and among the international NGO community, calling for an end to the NATO air campaign and a restoration of Kosovo’s civilian infrastructure by the responsible parties. Here in the U.S. there have been ongoing demonstrations in front of the White House, a national mobilization scheduled on June 5 at the Pentagon, weekly vigils and a number of teach-ins held in cities and towns and on campuses from Maine to California, and these actions have been replicated in every capital in Western Europe.

Among the groups calling for an immediate halt to NATO’s campaign and a redirection of national and international policy to prevent future actions targeted at the destruction of other nations, as with Kosovo and Iraq, are the American Friends Service Committee, the Roman Catholic Pax Christi, the Serbian Orthodox Bishops and their flock, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (established in 1917 with its headquarters in Geneva, and accredited to the U.N.), Peace Action, and 16 other NGOs uniting with them to conduct demonstrations across the U.S. and in Europe. To list national leaders who have spoken out, such as Bishop Gumbleton and others, would take up too much space in this column. I end with the hope that this bombing campaign be terminated soon and that we never witness a human tragedy of this magnitude in the future.

Joan W. Drake, Washington, DC

International Law Dead

The cowardly NATO bombing of Serbia was undertaken in violation of its own charter. The purpose of NATO, as described in the preamble of its charter, is to “promote the common values of its members” and to “unite their efforts for collective defense.”

Article I of the NATO charter emphasizes NATO’s commitment to the “peaceful resolution of disputes,” while Article 5 reserves the use of NATO’s armed forces for “collective self-defense” only.

It is indeed a travesty on the purpose for which NATO was created in the first place—the collective defense of member nations—for it to viciously and savagely attack a sovereign nation which has inflicted no aggression against a NATO country nor has it harmed a NATO country in any way.

There is no measuring the harm to international law and justice that the capricious use of NATO power in Yugoslavia will cause. Nor will we be able to measure the mischief which will result when future aggressors decide international law is dead since NATO and the president of the United States drove a stake through its heart.

Jane Waldron, Appleton, WI

We’re pretty old so we remember as clearly as if it were yesterday the diatribes that filled American publications during the buildup to and during the first two years of World War II (before the U.S. entered it) as members of the German American Bund, the Communist Party USA (before they switched sides, for the second time, on June 22, 1941), and well-meaning pacifists filled the letters columns of U.S. newspapers explaining why it was not the business of the League of Nations or of anyone else to interfere in whatever Hitler’s Germany chose to do to or about the minorities inside its borders. So at the end of World War II when we vowed “Never again,” we meant it, with no loopholes or exceptions, regardless of whether the perpetrators were Nazis or American segregationists or are Israelis, Turks or Serbs who discriminate on ethnic or religious grounds against minorities within their own land. We also believe in intervening to help victims of over-the-border aggression (Kuwait, Bosnia) when we have the power to do so, and in our personal lives we go to the assistance of people being mugged, even at the risk of injuring or violating the freedom of expression of the muggers. Clearly, in this case, it was the Kosovars who were being mugged. So although we think the administration seriously messed up by publicly ruling out any possible use of ground troops at the beginning, nevertheless we’re extremely, outrageously, teary-eyed and choked-up proud of our country for going to the support of the underdog while there still were lives to be saved and refugees to be restored to their homes. We also think “never again” definitely applies to the expulsion of the Palestinians, and we’re going to demand that the precedent we are setting in Kosovo also be applied to Palestine. Better half a century late than never!

Enlightenment and Peace

Enlightenment and peace for us all! I hope to see the Washington Report find a common ground with the growing U.S. anti-war movement and help put an end to the escalating madness—before it is too late. Your heart-rending June cover photo tells it all.

R. Schneer, Williamstown, MA

Disappointed in My Government

The Washington Report is the only publication in the U.S. that gives truthful and objective information on the situation in the Middle East and on the shameful purchase of the consciences of too many members of our Congress. The reality shown by the WRMEA makes me angry and extremely disappointed in my government.

R. Espinosa, Sr., Falls Church, VA

Where Are We Even-Handed?

The articles in the Washington Report make me so sad that I often do not start, read or finish them—Re: Israeli treatment of Palestinians; problems in Lebanon. Where is the even-handed treatment of the United States?

Catherine Aborjaily, Westfield, MA

The U.S. will become even-handed when Muslim and Arab Americans begin to work together (in the voting booth) so that their superior numbers in the key industrial states neutralize Israel’s well-funded Washington lobby in both presidential and congressional elections.

Institutional Graft

I’m a citizen of the world, temporarily residing in Texas. You keep me informed about the institutional graft by the state of Israel in the form of constant borrowing from the U.S. tax revenues and their entrancing mechanism “for repaying the loans with another loan.” That might be forgiveable if it was practiced on a five-year-old or a half-wit. When it’s done every year on grown-ups it’s a distinct embarrassment.

William Christian Smith, Austin, TX

More Texas Gratitude

Your magazine is extremely helpful in telling the truth about Palestinian rights, Israeli actions and the U.S. role in that part of the world. Keep up the good work and thanks.

Saad Shaqaidef, Plano, TX

Peace With Justice

I am particularly impressed with your candor, courage and coverage of issues concerning the Middle East from a perspective based on the real interests of the United States, rather than from one based on Israeli interests alone. Keep emphasizing the need for a foreign policy geared to peace with justice, not the rabid inhuman British policy in the material interests of corrupt big business.

I appreciate that you represent the voiceless in the world. I’m disappointed that you oppose Islamic governments (not Muslim governments) based on peace with justice. You’re not giving us enough of both sides of the story on Islamic issues.

Dilnawaz A. Siddiqui, Shippenville, PA

We think you’re a mite hard on both the British and the Washington Report—but keep on reading and give us a second opinion in a year or so.

America’s Blind Spot

To all of you at the Washington Report, you are a beacon of sanity and truth against an incredible landscape of hypocrisy, cowardice and evil. When it comes to the Middle East, America’s blind spot, intentionally cultivated or not, is the reason the region remains such a dangerous tinderbox and innocent people suffer.

Never, never, never give up this sacred and special mission you perform so well. Thanks again for being such a comprehensive and lucid source of information on the Middle East and how that region affects and relates to the rest of the world. You are unique.

Raymond Nakley, Jr., Youngstown, OH

Should Saddam Go?

We need to know more about the behind-the-scenes intelligence-type activities shaping United States Mideast policy and the true colors of many Arab rulers in relation to that.

We also need to know more about the true, undeclared intentions of the present seemingly endless situation in Iraq. Do the U.S. and Israel truly want Saddam to go?

S. Aljundi, Sterling Heights, MI

Clearing Up A Few Things About the Hadash Party

In your article “Arabs May Hold Key to Next Israeli Government,” a number of factual errors were made. The 1996 elections gave Hadash 5 seats and the Arab Democratic Party 4, not the other way around. Secondly, Hadash is not the name of the former Communist party. Hadash is the acronym for the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, founded in 1977 as a coalition of various political forces, including the communists, who remain the largest and most influential part of this coalition.

Hadash defines itself as a Jewish-Arab party and has threatened to sue various Israeli media for referring to it as an Arab party. The top leadership of the party contains Arabs and Jews, leading to attacks by both Jewish and Arab political forces that the party is actually controlled by Jews/Arabs alone. Noted new historian Ilan Pappé is a senior member of the Hadash leadership, as well as Tamar Gojansky, now serving as an MK.

In the run-up for the May elections, Hadash actually has only three seats, since Azmi Bashara and Hashem Mahammed defected and made plans to run separately, on their own. Some commentators have predicted the demise of Hadash, due to competition from other Arab parties and the defection of non-communists. Others predict a massive increase in the number of Jewish voters, perhaps double that of the 1996 elections. By the time this letter appears, we will know the answer.

Charles Lenchner, Tel Aviv, Israel

Thanks for the corrections. For the rest of our readers, the total of Knesset seats won by the various parties in the May 17 Israeli election are printed on p. 26 of this issue.

Holocaust Teaching in the U.S.

I am a Palestinian whose Jewish parents emigrated from Germany to Palestine in the 30s. I was born in Palestine in 1941. The Holocaust is therefore a familiar concept and a subject I have read very much about. I have lived in Iceland since 1962 and am a composer by profession.

I was in Auschwitz a few years ago where I conducted an interview with the manager of the Auschwitz museum. I asked why Auschwitz was not a center for education against racism (which was the main motivation for the Holocaust). He said that they in Auschwitz were not interested in “politics.” Racism is still a scourge today in different parts of the world, including Israel. But to discuss the Holocaust on the basis of the universal condemnation of racism is out of bounds for Zionists.

Those who choose to teach the Holocaust, per se, are not interested in the universal dimensions of the phenomenum. They use the Holocaust for clear ideological reasons. For there is certainly a universal approach to the Holocaust, such as discussing the various forms of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and referring to the various examples, attempting to extract their common and distinct features, asking about why some violators have been brought to justice and others not, and so on. This is the approach by the scientific community dealing with the various forms of state crime. There is no reason why this approach cannot be adapted to school use.

A letter by Hamza Elami is very charitable in my opinion and unnecessarily apologetic. He writes:

“The Holocaust must not be used by any interest group to promote suffering of one group while denying other peoples’ suffering. Such as: the Palestinians, the Africans, the Bosnians and many other people in Asia and Europe who continue to suffer from occupation, oppression, ethnic-cleansing and persecution.”

I completely agree, but this is hardly sufficient, in my opinion. It is certainly important to explain to American kids how Nazi policies affected the despoliation of the Palestinian people and show them that Zionism is a racist ideology. All of that should become an integral part of the normal historical curriculum.

But there is more to it. It is simply unacceptable that U.S. schoolteachers teach a genocide happening half a century ago somewhere else and refrain from discussing a genocide committed today with the participation of their own government. What such teachers are doing is in effect the same that many Germans did when informed about the persecution of Jews: They feigned ignorance. These people paved the way for the Holocaust. Those U.S. teachers and public opinion makers who refrain from talking about the Holocaust inflicted today by the U.S. on Iraqi civilian society (over a million civilians have been killed by the killing sanctions) cannot be trusted in the areas of education and information. They are, in fact, accomplices to genocide.

Surely the ghastly extermination of Jews in gas chambers is not comparable to the slow deaths inflicted upon Iraqi children by deprivation. But from another angle, the latter is even more despicable. The genocide against Jews was perpetrated in secret and without the blessing of the “civilized world.” The crimes against Iraqi civilians are committed in full daylight, with the blessing of the ruling “civilized nations” and with the tacit support of the educated classes in these nations. Those who keep silent and are legally able to speak up are, morally, accomplices to this crime.

I urge the readers of this letter to call upon those in charge of education to inform young people about the crimes committed by their own government today. There is enough material on the subject.

Elias Davidsson, Reykjavik, Iceland

Jewish Moderate Voices

The Washington Report gives a variety of opinions, including the Jewish moderate voice, which I did not realize existed until I started reading the Washington Report. I think your writing is balanced and gives both sides of the story most of the time. Please keep it this way.

Walid Saffouri, Baltimore, MD

Jews in Opposition Overlooked

I think you don’t acknowledge sufficiently the efforts of the Israeli Peace Movement or the existence of many Jews who oppose Israel’s policies. I say this as a “secular” Christian.

John Reinke, Redmond, WA

If you’re right, we’re wrong, and we’d better shape up. We realize it’s even more difficult to be Jewish and to criticize unjust Israeli policies than it is for most of the rest of us. We don’t risk family or community ostracism as do some of our regular Jewish writers and financial contributors.

Facts Not Readily Available

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs furnishes facts and information not readily available elsewhere. It is encouraging to know that one is not alone in this world. The Washington Report is also effective for people not from the Middle East.

It would be nice to see more articles on Jewish-Palestinian solidarity. Please include Felicia Langer’s books in your book catalog if possible. Let me know if you need help in getting in touch with her.

Sami A. Esmail, Naperville, IL

Okay, help us contact her or her publisher.

Re-publish Lilienthal’s Article

We like the Washington Report’s work in keeping us informed—especially what we can do to improve things.

We wish you would re-print Alfred Lilienthal’s “Israel’s Flag is Not Mine.”

John and Helen Zunes, Chapel Hill, NC

Perhaps we can talk him into doing an updated or half-century-later version.

A Source of Inspiration

I thank all of you who are responsible for the regular issues of the Washington Report. It is a source of hope and inspiration for me to see and read it and to know that there are still U.S. citizens who are fair-minded and see both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Such people are proud of the U.S.A. and brave enough to defend its interests in public. Good luck!

Ali Attiga, Amman, Jordan

A Tip for Travel

Book your air fare with a Palestinian travel agent. Just as I am interested in helping the local Palestinian economy, I am sure your readers are too. Please print this letter to make them aware that they should fax Jerusalem or the West Bank, and Gaza Tour Agents to order their airline tickets so these industrious, knowledgeable people can profit from the commission and facilitate the best schedules and hotels due to their local expertise.

Two wonderful and helpful agencies are :

1. UniversalTourist Agency, fax 011-972-2-626-4448 or phone 011-972-2-628-4383, e-mail uta@painet.com/youfU.S.TravelAgent

2. Shepards Tours at Shepard@baraka.org

Some information that will help you in planning your tour to the Middle East is to book the first leg of the trip from the U.S. to Frankfurt and then the Palestinian agent will book you from Frankfurt to Amman to Tel Aviv to Amman to Frankfurt, since the Israelis make it hard for Palestinians to book the whole trip.

Either send a suggested itinerary or ask the travel agent to suggest one for say a five- or seven-day stay. Remember as you fax back, the fax they send you has excessive tax and surcharges and offer to cover these—and phone calls will be very expensive so try to avoid them.

Always ask your travel agent for Palestinian-run hotels and restaurant suggestions.

The Jerusalem Hotel is a beautiful old home with 12-foot-high stone walls and arch-shaped windows looking out to gardens of large old trees. Even the floors are white stone and breakfast is served with international (mostly European) travelers sharing travel tips and itineraries. The walls are decorated with beautiful cross-stitch antique textiles. Bethlehem Star Hotel has a breathtaking view over Bethlehem from their restaurant on the roof. Both hotels are clean and charming hotels charging less than $100 per day for a double and are in safe central areas with English-speaking employees.

My visit to Gaza was the most life-changing experience—the people are so wonderful and friendly. Don’t miss Gaza and, if at all possible, go with the excellent tour offered through the World Vision Jerusalem.

We would like to hear from other readers their travel agents’ suggestions for Palestine as well as the surrounding countries—Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. I will report back to you after my upcoming honeymoon to Beirut, Baalbek, Damascus, Jerusalem, Golan, Gaza and Petra.

Also another topic of interest is the Palestine stock market. Please print more in depth about this and also much more in the way of book reviews on the area. Thank you for the great work you’re doing.

Robin Oberlander, Dallas, TX

Reflecting Great Care

Your WRMEA is comprehensive, yet succinct. Its content, arrangement of articles and photographs are excellent and reflect great care and attention to the myriad details involved and required in such an undertaking. I appreciate and applaud your effort and organization.

E. Shamoon, Encino, CA

Sounds like you’ve been in publishing yourself. Nothing is harder or more labor-intensive. And nothing’s more satisfying.

Dedicated People

Each time I see the Washington Report I cannot help but think of a group of dedicated people who work so hard and sacrifice so much to tell the American people the “truth” about the injustices that are being done to so many people.

To this group of people, I say thank you ever so much, and I want you to know that we appreciate you and may God bless you and keep you.

Hugh Ziada, Garden Grove, CA

Scheme and Trick if Necessary

The Washington Report is the best source of news I receive dealing with the Middle East. Whatever ruse, scheme, campaign, trick you need to use to keep publishing—use it. We simply cannot stay current without you. Don’t ever quit.

Theodore Shannon, Middleton, WI

A Remarkable Standard

As I’ve written before, your magazine sets the standard for reportage on the Middle East. Moreover, so inadequate and biased is mainstream reportage on Middle East affairs that without your publication those who don’t have access to publications from the region would be woefully uninformed.

The vitality of the reporting that graces WRMEA’s pages and the breadth and depth of experience and understanding your columnists and writers represent is truly remarkable. Keep up the good work!

M. Gillespie, Maxwell, IA

A User-Friendly Web Site

I commend you on the wonderfully redesigned Web site. It’s impressive, eye-catching and user-friendly. I’m a WRMEA member/subscriber and contributor.

One of the most helpful things that I’d like to see are resources we can download/print that will assist people such as myself who give lectures on Middle East issues to various groups such as churches, schools and clubs.

Such resources can be in the form of slides, bulleted information, short briefs that can be distributed to the audience, as well as bibliographies of resources. In particular, concise information on:

1. The history of the Middle East conflict in the 20th century. Formation of the State of Israel. Role of the U.S. History of the five wars, with human and economic costs.
   
   
2. Brief history of Zionism in Europe and U.S. and its major players, with short biographies.
   
   
3. Brief history of the Palestinian people. Who are they and where are they now?
   
   
4. Information on the economic and military aid to Israel since its inception. Amount and graphic representation over the years. Listing of Jewish/Israeli-sponsored terrorism here and abroad.
   
   
5. Specific congressional (by name) Senate and House votes on issues relating to Israel.
   
   
6. Overview of Arab Americans in U.S. How many, their professions, and what are their contributions (famous names).

As you can see, this is an overwhelming request and task. But for many of us who speak and write to our local papers such information is invaluable. I know you’re short of funds and staff but this could be a long-term project, especially if you can partner with similar organizations to develop such information. The other ideas are equally good. Again, my enormous appreciation for your work and the fabulous Web site. Good luck.

Mohamed Khodr, M.D., Winchester, VA

Thanks for the encouragement. Perhaps your suggestions will give others ideas for articles they would like to submit.

Boost From an Arabist

Yours is the only magazine I could actually read (if I had the time) from cover to cover. I am also interested in inter-Arab issues, minorities in the Middle East, and, as an Arabist, articles on the language itself and/or on the relationship of the language to the culture and specifically to Islam.

G. DeRosa, New York, NY

Rekindling the Flame

Whenever my commitment for justice and truth in the Middle East flags (because I’m too busy to stay informed), your magazine rekindles my guilt and anger at the U.S. role in the devastation of the Palestinians. Do you think some day Americans will ever look back and realize what we’ve done? Or will this shameful episode in our foreign policy never be recognized? Will the Israel lobby and Zionists rewrite our history books? Will our grandchildren ever know how Palestinian children have suffered?

Gretchen Theobold, Washington, DC

Helping Me Express My Views

The Washington Report is the only credible publication on the Middle East in the United States. Without it there would be no “other side” for readers. It keeps me informed, fires me up and definitely spurs on my active participation in the democratic process of expressing my views to our president, secretary of state, senators and congressmen—and anyone else who will listen.

Rosemary M. Levine, Indian Harbour Beach, FL

The Light of Day

I thought I would share the enclosed article from the Jewish Bulletin of Northern California with you. I am sure my response will never see the light of day.

Elaine Pasquini, Ignacio, CA

Maybe not in the JBNC but most certainly in the WRMEA on pp. 92-93 of this issue’s “Other People’s Mail.” It’s interesting that the writer casually mentions that he’s a “Germanophobe” before setting out to demonstrate at some length with his tales of travails on the road to Morocco (obviously on a press junket) that he’s an Arabophobe as well. Poor baby.

Fewer Criticisms of Israel

I just got the June issue of WRMEA today; it is great, as usual. I dwell upon the “Letters” sections first. The barbs and WRMEA’s responses are most interesting. And, any “Letters” section with one by Ali Abunimah, of Chicago, is well worth a read.

I’m submitting a short letter for “Other People’s Mail” that I sent recently to my local newspaper (Austin American-Statesman), but which I believe will never be published. Fewer subscriber criticisms of Israel are seen compared to several years ago.

William V. Kelly, Austin, TX

Your letter to the Austin American-Statesman is in “Other People’s Mail” on p. 90 of this issue, along with one by Ali Abunimah.

More Interesting Than I Realized

From the mild acquaintance I’ve had with Joe Hunt over the past 10 years or so, I found him to be a potentially interesting guy. But, my God! I had no idea how interesting until I read your executive editor’s wonderful piece on him in your June issue. And it made the author, whom I do know fairly well, even more interesting than he already was.

Don Bustany, Los Angeles, CA

Washington Report editor’s note: Don Bustany hosts a weekly half-hour program, Middle East in Focus, on KPLA, Los Angeles, on Friday afternoons.

Tribute to a Great Man

Thank you for doing such a wonderful job with the article about Captain McGonagle in the May issue of your magazine. He was a great man and you wrote very truthful words regarding him. I plan to share the article and the Washington Report with many people.

John Hrankowski, Rochester, New York, USS Liberty survivor

The McGonagle Obituary

Thank you for the complete obituary of Captain McGonagle. I was so sorry to hear of his passing.

I am the younger sister of one of the 34 men killed on the USS Liberty during the 1967 attack. His name was Jerry Converse. The Liberty Association has been very active in trying to get the correct information out to the public. We all appreciate your efforts and thank you for telling the truth.

Mary Converse Pepper, via e-mail

A Review of the Review

The following review, done by myself, of Dr. Borne’s review of Dr. Cristol’s dissertation of The Liberty Incident is being sent as a courtesy. I do not expect it will be printed in a future issue, as: one, it’s very long, and two, it does not support the aims of the Washington Report.

However, since the original review was posted out on the Internet by a member of the Liberty Veterans Association, this reponse is being posted on the Internet also.

Mike Weeks, via e-mail

Yes, your review of our review is too long for our magazine. But when you post it on the Internet we will provide readers with the appropriate Web site information “as a courtesy” so that readers can judge for themselves. Just let us know.

Collecting Claims

I write in response to Mr. Jamal Zied’s e-mail in the June 1999 issue of the Washington Report. He asks what can be done to obtain compensation for property taken by Israel from Palestinian refugees who are now living in the United States. I believe that now is a propitious time to raise the issue publicly. A new group of refugees, like the Palestinians, has now been created in the Balkans. Americans are very sympathetic to the tribulations of refugees. The June issue makes a good start on linking the experiences of the Kosovars to that of the Palestinians. The U.S. government is now actively working to identify and return lost property of Holocaust victims. The Congress recently enacted the Helms-Burton Act to assist Cuban-Americans in collecting damages for the use of their property that was confiscated by the Cuban government.

Information must be collected urgently to document the claims of Palestinian-Americans who lost property when they were forced to flee their homes in 1948. Those refugees, like the Holocaust victims, are now elderly and their information may be lost if it is not collected as soon as possible. This collection effort is probably best done by Arab-American organizations.

The United States government may be enlisted to aid in this effort. Last year, the Congress enacted the Holocaust Assets Commission Act of 1998 to gather information about assets obtained from Holocaust victims. Palestinian Americans should petition their senators and congressmen to legislate the collection in a similar manner of all available information about their property that was confiscated by the Israeli government under Israel’s Absentees’ Property Law. Alternatively, Congress could direct the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to document the claims of Palestinian-Americans and their heirs against Israel.

Once the individual claims of Palestinian Americans are identified, the U.S. government should be petitioned to present them to Israel for payment. The government has successfully collected claims that arose before the claimants became United States citizens. If Israel cannot be persuaded to settle the claims, the U.S. government could collect them by offset from U.S. foreign aid to Israel.

I agree with Mr. Zeid that it will take a great deal of effort to obtain compensation from Israel for the Palestinians’ confiscated property. However, I believe that gathering the necessary information and enlisting the U.S. government’s assistance through well-publicized efforts like those I have suggested is more likely to be successful than through private litigation like that discussed in Mr. Zeid’s e-mail.

Milton J. Stickles, Jr., Chevy Chase, MD

Moving North?

Without the Washington Report, I would seriously consider moving out of the United States and living in Canada.

Jill J. Drew, Eastpoint, FL

We’ll try to stick around but you’d better read the next letter before you do anything rash.

Feeling Isolated in Canada

I’d feel very lonely in the world without the Washington Report. It is very isolating to hold a different perspective from the mainstream, and so comforting and validating to be connected with those who share the passion of these views. I’ve been interested in Palestinian issues for many decades.

I couldn’t bear to have anything happen to the Washington Report. It’s a constant “must have.”

Karin Brothers, Toronto, Ontario

Lack of Knowledge

I would feel totally un- or misinformed without the Washington Report. I am always amazed at the degree of lack of knowledge about Middle Eastern issues, especially concerning Israel/Palestine, on the part of average supposedly well-educated and well-read Americans.

Irene E. Ammann, Arlington, VA

Message to Americans

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs keeps me informed, enthusiastic and motivated to participate in activities. In fact, it has become a part of my life.

I have a suggestion. You may consider designing one page as a brief but informative, provocative message to Americans who know nothing about the unjust policies of their government toward Arabs so that the reader can make several copies of the page and hand them out to reasonable American acquaintances. This may spread the truth effectively, particularly when the author has an American or Jewish name.

Mohamed Elsamalin, Carbondale, IL

It’s a good idea but what we’d like most is to have someone volunteer to do this for each issue. Don’t call. Just send a draft layout.

No Choices Could Be Made

I could hardly make choices about WRMEA’s coverage. It’s all either excellent or very good. I do have a special interest in the Caucusus and Central Asia.

Ken Barkland, Edina, MN

We do too but so far haven’t found a correspondent who can give us one good political article on Central Asia for every issue. Any takers? Don’t call, send us a sample.

Overwhelming Information

I appreciate the information you provide—it’s overwhelming! Most of what you write about never appears in the mainstream press.

I think what you are doing to inform us is excellent, including the book titles and reviews (Islamic and social and political, etc.). Please give us a little more background historical information on each Middle Eastern country that was “created” by the English/French governments, and whose historical boundaries were changed after World War I. Thanks a lot.

George Heywood, Nishinomiya, Japan

A Magazine for Grownups

You are one of the very few magazines left for grownups. Time, Newsweek, etc. have become forums for silly gossip—items which used to appear only in tabloids and movie magazines. Since I am interested in the Islamic world you are the only publication I can find to read about this important, sometimes explosive, always interesting part of the world.

Please accept my contribution of a subscription to go to someone who will learn by reading your fine magazine.

Patricia Ziegner, Westford, MA

Your gift subscription went to a very popular, open-minded radio and television talk show host. We’ll give you his name if you call.

National Council of Resistance of Iran Replies

I would like to respond to the allegations regarding the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran raised in your June issue by Mr. Abbas Sheikhzeineddin. These charges are but a repeat of allegations by the mullahs’ regime over the past 18 years.

Contrary to Mr. Sheikhzeipeddin’s claim, the Mojahedin are the most popular grassroots political movement in Iran’s contemporary history. Their relentless struggle for democracyand human rights spans 33 years and two dictatorships, that of the shah and the mullahs, For two decades, the mullahs have committed countless atrocities against theMojahedin, including 120,000 executions and the systematic arrest and torture of an even larger number. Despite all this, the Mojahedin remains Iran’s strongest and most popular force, and hence the subject of fierce propaganda.

Iranian Americans have on numerous occasions expressed their support for the Mojahedin, the National Council of Resistance, and its elected president Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, including the rally by 10,000 Resistance supporters protesting Khatami’s presence at the U.N. in September 1998. Can Mr. Sheikhzeineddin name any other Iranian political organization or movement able to organize an anti-mullah protest in the U.S. of even 500 people?

Again contrary to Mr. Sheikhzeineddin’s claim,the Mojahedin started the peace movement in the early ’80s, in opposition to the Iran–Iraq war perpetrated only by Khomeini. As early as 1983, the National Council of Resistance had proposed a draft peace treaty, accepted by Iraq and supported by 5,000 political officials from various countries. Even the regime’s officials acknowledge that the war resulted in one million casualties on the Iranian side alone and caused one trillion dollars in damages.

The National Liberation Army (NLA), the military wing of the Iranian Resistance, is an all-volunteer, modern mechanized army, equipped with tanks and artillery divisions based along the Iran-Iraq border. The New York Times (Dec. 30, 1996) reported, “By all indications, the NLA represents the most powerful armed opposition force of a country outside its borders in today’s world.” In the last decade, the NLA has proven its political and military independence, and hundreds of international reporters have visited its bases and dispatched reports.

To assess the Mojahedin’s undeniable role as a serious threat to the regime, we need only assess the mullahs’ fear of the “third force.” In 1998, the public demonstrated widespread support for the growing military operations in Iran carried out by Mojahedin operational units. These coincided with three extensive political campaigns in hundreds of cities across the country. This support is embodied in the willingness of Iran’s youth to leave the country, despite the risks, to join the NLA.

It should also be emphasized that accusing a just resistance of terrorism is in practice an endorsement of the criminal ruling regime. The Iranian Resistance is waging a war of liberation within the guidelines of international conventions, including the Geneva Convention. In a statement issued in September 1998, the majority of U.S. congressional representatives declared their support for the resistance led by the Mojahedin, which the bipartisan statement by 220 members of Congress described as “a legitimate opposition against the mullahs’ regime.”

In concluding his string of accusations, Mr. Sheikhzeineddin appeals for coverage for groups that not only do not consider themselves as opponents to the regime, but also serve the mullahs’ propaganda purposes. The Freedom Movement of Iran has acted as the regime’s mouthpiece for two decades, and has declared its support for such hideous crimes as the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners during the summer of 1988.

As we near the last phase in the regime’s collapse, we can expect to see a series of phony oppositions try in vain to legitimize a criminal regime by slandering the Iranian Resistance. Too little, too late!

Hedayat Mostowfi, Foreign Affairs Committee, National Council of Resistance of Iran, Washington, DC