| |||||||||
Posted December 18, 2001
Courageous Article
Mr. Raimondo's column of December 14th ["Et Tu Israel?"], on Israeli manipulation of America, is excellent. In my opinion, Antiwar.com deserves to be supported by the independent thinkers left in our country for his courageous article alone.
~ Ralph Raico, Buffalo, New York
Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001
Recently Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) introduced the Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 with the purpose of enhancing the security of U.S. borders. We wish to draw attention to one of its particular proposals: a near-categorical ban on the issuing of student visas to citizens of countries on the State Department's list of terrorist-sponsoring states. This list currently includes Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Syria, North Korea, and Cuba. We believe that such a ban would be unjust and ineffective. Extensive background checks already are in place for student visa applicants from these countries, so the US is not casting its net too loosely. Under the proposed bill, in contrast, visas could only be issued after direct review by the Secretary of State, which is hard to take seriously if you imagine Colin Powell under the burden of 1600 visa application reviews yearly. The overwhelming majority of student visa applicants from all countries, including those on the State Dept. terrorism-sponsoring list, are among the brightest and most open-minded members of their generation. We should welcome them with open arms and give them opportunities for constructive engagement in US academic institutions, for far from being a threat, they are our future best ambassadors, and greatest hope. In fact, they are the ones who can pave the way for the much needed Dialogue Among Civilizations that the United Nations has been trying to advocate. We urge you to contact your representative today and voice your opposition to this flawed proposal.
~ Roger Levy, Amber Baker, Ali Alemozafar, Stanford University Students
Imagine
The article, Justin put out on Israel ["Et Tu Israel?"] is wonderful. Can you imagine what our country would be like if we had politicians that would "put it on the line" as Raimondo has done.
Eye-Opening
[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of December 14, "Et Tu Israel?":]
Thanks to Justin for writing yet another eye-opening piece on Israel and its connection to several unseemly situations. Next to my deep hope that there be an end to the senseless violence in Afghanistan, a cession of the inhumane sanctions against Iraq and a halt to the killing and occupation in Palestine, I am enormously anxious to see the American public recognize the Israel Firsters and the Israeli government for what they really are.
Commie Santa
[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of December 14, "Et Tu Israel?":]
As always, your delusional paranoia is highly amusing. I fully expect to see an article where you accuse Santa Claus of being a commie because he wears a red suit and gives away toys.
Warned
I read Mr. Raimondo's latest comment "Et Tu, Israel?" and I'd like to point out that according to these two articles, the Israelis warned the CIA about the Sept. 11 attacks. So perhaps some folks at the CIA also knew these attacks were coming. [See] "Warning 'was given to US over terrorists,'" Sydney Morning Herald, and "Israeli security agency issued urgent warning to CIA," The Telegraph, UK.
Computers and Cocaine
I'm sure the vast majority of Americans are cheering the bombing in Afghanistan, no matter that we are killing cops and fireman and kids and the elderly and pets, much like what was done to us in New York, Washington DC, and western Pennsylvania. I think you expect too much from people, that they can somehow change their nature (or is it DNA, now?). Me, I watch the violence at home soar, even with two million in jail and another few million under court obligations, and I know we are getting nastier and bloodier, our music and films glorify it. Do you know any good peace movies or video games? Is NFL football popular because of the subtle strategies involved? People riot over a simple pass time.
As Americans, it is a bit bogus for us to decry the excesses of our military, we pay less than two bucks for our gasoline, we all have computers and cocaine, we drive and fly and care little of the resources we are using, it's the way we like things, and it is our military that allows us to do that, otherwise we'd not be here, a more aggressive nation would take our goodies from us and kill us, like we've been doing to them. Even if we stopped being warmongers and became pacifists, the hatred we spread will last forever. Do you think our enemies will forgive us?
~ Bill H., Pennsylvania