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We get a lot of letters, and publish some of them in this column, "Backtalk," edited by Sam Koritz. Please send your letters to backtalk@antiwar.com. Letters may be edited for length (and coherence). Unless otherwise indicated, authors may be identified and e-mail addresses will not be published.

Posted February 1, 2002

Equal Rights

The Albanians claim that they are treated as "second-class" citizens by the Macedonians in Macedonia. That is complete absurdity and only a mask for their plan to carve out portions of not only Macedonia, but also Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro, and create an ethnically pure "Greater Albania," an act which they hope will accomplish with the use of Albanian terrorism. Here are what rights the Macedonians had given to the Albanian minority and every visitor in Macedonia can clearly see: elementary schools exclusively in Albanian language, high schools exclusively in Albanian language, university exclusively in Albanian language, TV exclusively in Albanian language (the first TV broadcast in Albanian ever was provided by the Macedonian Television, before Albania even had its own TV), radio exclusively in Albanian language, newspapers exclusively in Albanian language, exclusively Albanian political parties, Albanian ministers in the government of Macedonia, 2 of the top 10 generals are Albanians, numerous business in Macedonia are Albanian-owned, numerous mayors of the cities and villages are Albanians, complete freedom to practice their Muslim religion. ...The above facts reduce the so-called Albanian "freedom-fighters" into liars for spreading false propaganda that they are "second-class" citizens in Macedonia. It is unfortunate ... that there are ... a great number of propagandists in the western press who never fail to mention the Albanian claim that they are fighting for "equal rights," while never mentioning the extensive human rights the Albanian minority already enjoys.

~ Robert N.


Spann Tape

[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of January 28, "The Tali-boy: Made in the USA":]

You mention the videotape of Spann, etc. But you didn't comment on the portion of the tape that I found the most interesting – in which Spann and partner essentially are telling Walker, "talk, or we'll let you be killed." Now, I don't know a lot about interrogation techniques ... but I strongly suspect that Spann was using this same line on others he interrogated at that prison. And since the prisoners already knew about other prisoners in Northern Alliance hands having been killed, these were probably taken as genuine threats. In other words, Spann was telling a large group of semi-subdued prisoners that a lot of them would be killed, and soon. To me, this looks like Spann set off the revolt (I knew somebody who, at the time working for the UN, almost caused a somewhat similar riot in East Mostar, not with prisoners but with a large group of Croats trapped behind Muslim lines, somewhere around 1993-4, if I recall correctly, and he had to be rescued by APC). It looks like the grossest, most complete incompetence on Spann's part. Indeed, instead of lauding him as a hero I think the USG would have been better advised to publicly distance him from approved policy. Whatever, contrary to your speculation, the Spann tape may well produce an even stronger Walker defense at trial.

~ G.K.


Entangled

[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of January 28, "The Tali-boy: Made in the USA":]

...The "Enron scandal" is rapidly appearing to be attributable to both Clinton and Bush – if not Bush Sr., and Reagan! I know most news media will gladly see this as a chance to "get back at the Republicans," but Clinton's dealings with Enron in India, etc., leave little to the imagination of anybody who can read (or who listens to both sides of the news) that Enron has entangled both Republicans and Democrats.

~ George F.


#1

...Although I'm no longer a libertarian (I'm a Catholic and my political and social views are similar to the paleocons), I think that Antiwar.com is doing a splendid job. It's definitely my #1 site for news, and I'm sure I speak for many others when I say that. Please keep up the excellent work!

~ Matthew H.


Miller's Madness

[Regarding Joseph Stromberg's column of January 26, "Fast Times at National Review":]

Particularly struck by the reference to James D. Miller's madness, not only wanting to invade the world but to make it totally subject to US economic hegemony, in every way possible. It also struck me that a reference to the prophecy of Revelations regarding the mark of the beast would have been most apt here, particularly as many self-styled conservatives adopt a cloak of ultra-Christian respectability. For the record: Rev 13:15-17 5 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (bombed back to the stone age, perhaps?) 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (KJV)

~ Denver F., New Zealand

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