Posted November 21, 2001

Freedom Fighter

This is in response to Ran HaCohen's response to Chabad at USC's letter from November 17. Mr. HaCohen defines "freedom fighter" as "a person who fights against an oppressive regime." I'm afraid he only has half the story, for a freedom fighter is defined not only by what he's fighting against, but more importantly by what he's fighting for. It's that latter portion that I find disturbingly lacking in the case under discussion. I have no doubt that the Palestinian people desire freedom for themselves, but I'm not so sure I (or Mr. HaCohen) can definitively say the same for individuals claiming to act on their behalf. The track record of the Palestinian Authority in dealing with its own subjects would in fact suggest otherwise.

~ Daniel Basken

Ran HaCohen replies:

A good point. One may argue that the Palestinian freedom fighters deserve the title twice: their Intifada, as experts agree, is aimed both against the Israeli occupation and against the corrupted dictatorship of the Palestinian Authority. Arafat is now torn between two opposite forces: the pressure from within to democratise his regime and to insist on the Palestinian cause, and the American-Israeli pressure to sell out this cause and oppress the inner opposition violently, i.e. to become even more tyrannical.

[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of November 14, "'Islamo-Fascism' -- the New Bogeyman":]

Your recent column really pissed me off. I didn't agree with a word. Keep up the good work.

~ Tom G., California

The Antiwar Theme

I like your website. It is a little pessimistic though. Sometimes a more balanced view would serve you better, and still keep the antiwar theme. Still, very good website. Keep up the good work.

~ MF

The House of Saud

I enjoy your columns very much but I fail to understand the apparent contradiction between ... [Justin Raimondo's column of November 14, "'Islamo-Fascism' -- the New Bogeyman"], where you criticize those who criticize the Saudis, and the column you wrote on Oct. 12 ["A Saudi-9/11 Connection?"], in which you pushed the idea of "a Saudi connection." Well, which is it? Is it a neo-con conspiracy to criticize the Saudis? Or is it just factual reporting that the hands of the House of Saud aren't that clean? Please explain. Thank you.

~ Michael Chapman, the Cato Institute

Engine 23

I just read ... [Bowen Smith's guest column of September 20, "The Lost Heroes of Engine 23"]. I am the Captain's wife of Engine 23, I would like to say it brought tears to my eyes. I was so proud to read about my husband's men. I hope everyone says hello when they see firemen. They sure do need it.

~ Madeline B.

Patriot Act

As an admitted criminal I must say that after reading H.R.3162, the "USA Patriot Act," that there will soon be many people that otherwise would be free in the prison space I occupied.

Beware as you willingly give up one freedom you open the door to the taking of another. Was 9/11 allowed to happen (as many believe Pearl Harbor was) in order to set us up for the stripping of our liberties?

Also it seems that if the president can order military trials for terrorist that are not members of the military of any nation he can do it for anybody!

These are just some thoughts from somebody that knows many people in American prisons that should not be.

~ Carter Nash