Posted September 25, 2002

Regime Change

Dr. Ron Paul is one of the finest congressmen in Washington. He thinks for himself instead of following his party's line. If we need a "regime change," why not replace Bush by Paul?

~ Peter Y.

Would Appreciate More from Leftists

This Ilana Mercer you gave the spotlight ["Save America from the War Party"] to is a rabid Zionist. Her piece didn't seem unique or insightful enough to give further voice to the most extreme of war mongers. (See "Israel Belongs to the Jews" and other other articles at http://www.ilanamercer.com/MiddleEast.htm.)

I suspect you give her exposure because she is ostensibly some species of libertarian. People like her discredit libertarianism. She is a right-wing Zionist. And since Zionism cannot exist but for the massive support of the US state, I don't see any consistency with her alleged libertarianism either. Her political economy pieces all point to a libertarianism to benefit the greed heads. ...

I for one would appreciate reading more on Antiwar.com from leftist libertarians or even traditional leftists like Chomsky. ...

~ YK

Fallible Order

Regarding "Corps, God, Country," 11th Sept:

What utter rubbish!

It is precisely this blind, unthinking, unblinking attitude that allowed the Nazi death camps of World War II to function, the slaughter of a million Rwandans' to take place, the Sept 11th atrocities to succeed.

I would be quite willing to serve my country in a time of real need, but primarily to protect my loved ones and not to serve some 'higher order' that, let's face it, is as fallible and weak as the rest of us. ...

~ Neil Lowrie, UK

Peace Navy

The Peace Navy is looking for recruits to participate in a sail-by during Fleet Week, October 12-13th, San Francisco. The counter-fleet will be flying Earth flags and other symbols of international peace and goodwill to remind folks that militarism is not patriotism. To sign your boat up, contact:

~ Ken Meyercord, (925) 827-3373

DynCorp

The New York Times article about how the State Department wants to turn over security of President Karzai was really interesting. Particularly, the last two paragraphs which name DynCorp.

Someone really should do an in-depth investigation of DynCorp. That company is "into" a whole lot of stuff, including, sex/slave operations in Bosnia, fumigation of Colombia (and shooting down missionaries), managing the computer systems of the Justice Department, HUD (where did all those billions go and how? ...) -- and on and on. A subsidiary is even involved in biological research.

"Pug" Winokur is on their board. He is (or was) also on the boards of Arthur Andersen and Enron.

One could easily develop a juicy conspiracy theory around DynCorp. It might even be true.

~ Karen A., California

The Corporatist System

You guys are great. Justin is so frank, he's refreshing

I can't say I agree with Justin and company 100% of the time, or even 90%, because I'm definitely a mainstream liberal (not a socialist) with a very strong pro-peace/anti-imperialist bent. I agree that many of your criticisms of the current system of crony capitalism where large corporations control our government is not necessarily an endorsement of socialism, but can actually be a call for a genuinely free market system. The corporatist system is something that both liberals like myself and libertarians can both oppose!

~ Jon R.

US Vetoes

Since the USA is again buying votes and trying to legitimize the murder of Muslims I thought it would be worthwhile to show everyone a list of the USA's vetoes [in the UN Security Council] concerning the Arabs. I thought it might be especially interesting for my ... fellow Americans who can't get it through their brainwashed heads why the Muslim world is mad at us.

Here are a few reasons:

1. 10 Sep. 1972 -- Condemned Israel's attacks against southern Lebanon and Syria. Vote: 13 to 1 with 1 abstention.
2. 26 Jul. 1973 -- Affirmed the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, statehood and equal protections. Vote: 13 to 1 with China absent.
3. 08 Dec. 1975 -- Condemned Israel air strike and attacks in southern Lebanon and its murder of innocent civilians. Vote: 13 to 1 with 1 abstention.
4. 26 Jan. 1976 -- Called for self-determination of Palestinian people. Vote: 9 to 1 with 3 abstentions.
5. 25 Mar. 1976 -- Deplored Israel's alteration of the status of Jerusalem, which is recognized as an international city by most of world nations and the United Nations. Vote 14 to 1.
6. 29 Jun. 1976 -- Affirmed the Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Vote 10 to 1 with 4 abstentions.
7. 30 Apr. 1980 -- Endorsed self-determination of Palestinian people. Vote 10 to 1 with 4 abstentions.
8. 20 Jan. 1982 Demands Israel's withdrawal from the Golan Heights. Vote 10 to 1 with 4 abstentions.
9. 01 Apr. 1982 -- Condemned Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza strip and its refusal to abide by the Geneva Conventions Protocols of
   civilized nations. Vote: 14 to 1.
10. 02 Apr. 1982 -- Condemned an Israeli soldier who shot 11 Moslem worshipers in the Haram al Sharif near Al Aqsa mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. Vote: 14 to 1.
11. 08 Jun. 1982 -- Urged sanctions against Israel if it did not withdraw from its invasion of Lebanon. Vote: 14 to 1.
12. 26 Jun. 1982 -- Urged sanctions against Israel if it did not withdraw from its invasion of Beirut, Lebanon. Vote: 14 to 1.
13. 06 Aug. 1982 -- Urged cutoff economic aid to Israel if it refused to withdraw from its occupation of Lebanon. Vote: 11 to 1 with 3 abstentions.
14. 02 Aug. 1983 -- Condemned continued Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, denouncing them as an obstacle to peace. Vote: 3 to 1 with 3 abstentions.
15. 06 Sep. 1984 -- Deplored Israel's brutal massacre of Arabs in Lebanon and urged its withdrawal. Vote: 14 to 1.
16. 12 Mar. 1985 -- Condemned Israeli brutality in southern Lebanon and denounced Israeli "Iron Fist" policy of repression. Vote: 11 to 1 with 3 abstentions.
17. 13 Sep. 1985 -- Denounced Israel's violations of human rights in the occupied territories. Vote 10 to 1 with 4 abstentions.
18. 17 Jan. 1986 -- Strongly deplored Israel's violence in southern Lebanon. Vote : 11 to 1 with 3 abstentions.
19. 30 Jan. 1986 -- Deplored Israel's activities in the occupied Arab East Jerusalem, which threatened the sanctity of Muslim holy sites. Vote: 13 to 1 with 1 abstention.
20. 06 Feb. 1986 -- Condemned Israel's hijacking of a Libyan airplane on Feb. 4. Vote: 10 to 1 with 1 abstention.
21. 18 Jan. 1988 Strongly deplored Israeli attacks against Lebanon and its measures and practices against the civilian population of Lebanon. Vote: 13 to 1 with 1 abstention.
22. 01 Feb. 1988 -- Called on Israel to abandon its policies against Palestinian uprising that violate the rights of occupied Palestinians, to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention and formalize a leading role for the U.N. in future peace negotiations. Vote: 14 to 1.
23. 15 Apr. 1988 -- Urged Israel to accept deported Palestinians, condemned Israel's shooting of civilians, called on Israel to uphold the Fourth Geneva Convention and called for a peace settlement under UN auspices. Vote: 14 to 1.
24. 10 May 1988 -- Condemned Israel's May 2 incursion into Lebanon. Vote: 14 to 1.
25. 14 Dec. 1988 -- Strongly deplored Israel's Dec. 9 commando raids on Lebanon. Vote: 14 to 1.
26. 17 Feb 1989 -- Strongly deplored Israel's repression of the Palestinian uprising and called on Israel to respect the human rights of the Palestinians. Vote: 14 to 1.
27. 09 Jun. 1989 -- Strongly deplored Israel's violation of the human rights of the Palestinians. Vote: 14 to 1.
28. 07 Nov. 1989 -- Demanded Israel return property confiscated from Palestinians during a tax protest and allow a fact finding mission to observe Israel's crackdown on the Palestinian uprising. Vote 14 to 1.
29. 31 May 1990 -- Called for a fact-finding mission on abuses against Palestinians in Israeli occupied lands. Vote 14 to 1. ...
30. 04 Apr. 1992 -- Condemned Israel for the killing of four Palestinians and injuring 50 more, 10 of them seriously, in Rafah. Vote: 14 to 1.
31. 04 Dec. 1993 -- Urged Israel to allow the return of 101 Palestinian deportees. Vote: 14 to 1.
32. 17 May 1995 -- Condemned Israel's intention of confiscating 134 acres of land in East Jerusalem. Vote: 14 to 1. ...
33. 15 Apr. 1996 -- Condemned Israel's closure of the occupied territories. Vote: 14 to 1.
34. 25 Apr. 1996 -- Condemned Israel for bombing UN quarters in Qana, South Lebanon, and the continuous Israeli attacks. Vote: 14 to 1.
35. 28 Sep. 1996 -- Condemned Israeli settlements in Ras Al Amud in Jerusalem. Vote: 14 to 1.
36. 07 Mar. 1997 -- Called for Israel to stop plans to build settlements in Jabal Abu Ghuneim (Har Homa) in Jerusalem. Vote: 14 to 1. ...
37. 21- 22 Mar. 97 -- Condemned Israeli settlement in Jabal Abu Ghuneim. Vote: 14 to 1. ...
38. March 27, 2001 -- United States vetoes resolution backing a UN observer force to protect Palestinian civilians.

~ Giuseppe Matoussi

Editor's note:

Backtalk editor Sam Koritz is profiled in the Real World section of October's Smart Money magazine (print version only, not available online).