Posted August 1, 2002

Fascism

I hope Mr. Malic will be so kind to clarify a part of his statement "After 25 years of fascism..." ("Snapshots Of A Nightmare," July 25th, 2002). If he means -- as I presume -- the period of Yugoslav history between World War I and World War II, then we have two question marks, the designation and the arithmetic.

~ J.K.

Nebojsa Malic replies:

I admit to using the term 'fascism' rather loosely to describe an interbellum period of rising authoritarianism and increasing fascination with fascist ideas (1920-1941), in addition to an outright Nazi occupation and administration by fascist quisling regimes (1941-1945). Yet in this respect, Yugoslavia was no better or worse than the rest of Europe of that time, when fascism and communism vied to replace the decrepit system that sent millions to die in the trenches of the Great War.

Moral Equivalency

[Regarding "I Have In My Hand a List" by Justin Raimondo:]

Terrific article/exposé, as usual. This gets better and better (or worse and worse, depending on your point of view) and I wonder how Israel is going to squirm out of this one. Of course they always manage somehow. I just bought the History Channel video on the USS Liberty and wondered how they got away with that; the evidence of intent was overwhelming.

As to the "moral equivalency" issue, I find it very similar to what we are seeing right now in the corporate crime wave. Is there a moral equivalence between a crackhead that sticks up a 7-11 and Kenneth Lay? No, Kenneth Lay is a billion times worse (literally). Is there a moral equivalence between a lone suicide bomber who kills himself and a few, or even a few dozen, civilians and a government that routinely slaughters and maims civilians by the hundreds and thousands, while stealing their land, water and hope, bulldozing their homes and uprooting their crops? No, the government is much worse. I think people are starting to grasp this concept, thanks to our corporate felons....

~ M.J., Hawaii

McCarthy / McKinney

[Regarding "I Have In My Hand a List":]

So McCarthy is now "a great American" and I suppose we should all be pledging allegiance to the flag and the almighty state which it represents "under God" in order to prove our "loyalty" regardless of whether or not one believes in God (or the state for that matter)? Justin Raimondo does a lot of good work but, sadly, at times he remains more authoritarian (and mired in Cold War think) than libertarian. Perhaps, this is why he claims Cynthia McKinney is "anti-American" despite her praise of American ideals in the heavily (but selectively) quoted radio interview with KPFA (in which she dared to call for an investigation into Sep. 11) and her subsequent clarification in a written statement that she did not accuse the Bush administration of having prior knowledge.

As for Justin's much hyped "Israeli agents knew" theory it fails to explain the bizarre behavior of top officials in the Bush administration as well as the utter failure of jets to intercept any of the hijacked planes on Sep 11. The place to look here is the U.S. not Israel....

His criticism of Israel's government and its policies is otherwise pretty accurate.

~ Dimitri O.

Gentle Mammals

I am very grateful that your site brings up US military presence problems in Okinawa, Japan from time to time. Several days ago, Marines at Camp Schwab (located in Nago City, northern Okinawa) had live ammunition practice at that base. A bullet from an M10 landed at pineapple fields, only few feet away from a farmer. Marine Corps admitted that the bullet was American made but denied ... firing to the civilian area. They announced that the bullet looked too old to be fired at that practice. This was not the first time American made bullets hit civilian properties. There was a time in the '80s, a bullet hit a moving taxi cab, another time a water tank at a pig farmer's. No civilians died from these incidents, but you can imagine the horror and trauma of those civilians who happened to be near by. This base is not large enough for any live ammunition practice. I would appreciate it if your site could report the recent incident, since no American media seem to care. This base happens to be ... by the shore where sea cows -- Dugong -- (listed as an endangered species) live. The Japanese and American governments are in the process of planning to make this camp bigger by filling the coral reef with tons and tons of cement and building a heliport to accommodate US Marines. If the heliport is built, Dugong would lose their habitat. Not only that, marine lives and environment would be destroyed forever. Dugong are like their cousin Manatee, very sensitive to the environment and very gentle mammals.

~ M.M.

Powell

Thank you for this important site; important news to share. I'm puzzled why you have included the Newsday article on Colin Powell not being a quitter.

A review of his public record (re Vietnam, Iran contra, Panama and Iraq) would reveal total support for genocidal policies that you evidently oppose. He is part of the problem; and real justice and peace would have him facing a war crime tribunal along with Kissinger, et al.

~ John Marciano, emeritus professor, SUNY Cortland, chair, Ithaca, NY Human Rights Commission, 1991-96

Lantos

I was not surprised that Rep. Tom Lantos, D-CA., is a key member of the trio now advocating a change of regime in Iran. What is really surprising is that this leading member in congress was never held accountable for his role in promoting the infamous "incubator hoax" which played a major role in getting the American people's war juices gurgling in George Bush the Elder's high-tech massacre in Iraq. Lantos has been repeatedly returned to office with overwhelming support from his constituents despite his collusion in that hoax even after his involvement was shown on 60 Minutes....

~ World War II Vet

Spectacle

Thanks to Antiwar.com, I don't have to sift through the mainstream propaganda and try to judge what the news really is. Or watch the spectacle of Paula Zahn falling all over herself trying to ask questions intended to justify Israel's latest acts of terrorism (those too conspicuous to hide), usually on the basis that "Israel has a right to defend itself" (while it simultaneously steals, illegally occupies, kidnaps, assassinates, tortures and further perfects its status as a world-class liar).

I go to those sources for "entertainment" and edification of a different kind.

I and many others worldwide are most grateful for your courage and integrity.

~ M. McCormick

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