LEADER OF AL QAEDA IN SAUDI ARABIA IS STILL ALIVE. REALLY?

Dear Peggy A posting Saturday on an Islamic militant Web site denied the reputed leader of al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia was killed, saying such false claims are "aimed at dissuading the holy warriors and crushing their spirits." Abdulaziz Issa Abdul-Mohsin al-Moqrin, 31, was believed to be the leader of the group calling itself al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which claimed responsibility for beheading American hostage Paul Johnson Jr. He was said to have been killed in a shootout after Johnson's body was dumped. The authenticity of the denial, appearing on an Internet forum where past statements and claims have been posted, could not be verified. The statement, which opened with a Quranic verse that urges believers to ensure the truth of information they receive, was similar in appearance and tone as past ones. "Some satellite networks and news agencies have been propagating the false news that Abdel Aziz al-Moqrin, God preserve him, has been killed," the statement said. "We would like to say that such claims, unleashed by the tyrants of Saudi Arabia, are aimed at dissuading the holy warriors and crushing their spirits."  Peggy, you have something here to sink your teeth in. Phill Sokolov, Washington, DC, USA.

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY'S LESBIAN DAUGHTER

Dear Peggy: The Democrats are really disgusting. The Republicans are hypocrites. So where do we stand? A campaign to compel U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter to oppose a proposed ban on same-sex marriage is launching its first Internet ad Monday. A series of simply animated cartoon panels features stick figures of Mary Cheney and her father. One image reads: "Dick's daughter sold out to help Dick run again." The story line refers to Mary Cheney's job as director of vice-presidential operations for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. She held a public role as her father's assistant in the 2000 campaign and helped Republicans recruit homosexual voters during the 2002 midterm elections. She has been less visible this year while travelling with the vice-president or working at campaign headquarters in Arlington, Va. President George W. Bush, meanwhile, has disturbed many homosexuals, Republicans included, by asking Congress to move on a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in the United States. "They've clearly made the decision to keep her in the closet for this campaign," said John Aravosis, who in February launched the Web-based campaign www.DearMary.com, which started running the ad for free Friday. "They clearly understand the contradiction between having a lesbian run the vice-president's campaign at the same time they want to bash gays in the Constitution." Nicolle Devenish, communications director for the Bush campaign, called Mary Cheney "a tremendous asset to the campaign" and dismissed such tactics as going after a politician's offspring. "I think any group's actions are going to speak for themselves," she said. Devenish said Mary Cheney will become more visible as the election nears, though she would not comment whether the vice-president's daughter would be reaching out to gay voters or Republicans who oppose the amendment. Among sites running the ads are WashingtonPost.com, the satirical newspaper The Onion and several liberal Web blogs, Aravosis said. He said $23,000 has been raised to launch the ads, which could last a week or more depending on funding. But the majority of the costs - at least $50,000, he said - has been donated in services by an advertising firm and a Web advocacy firm that support the message. Jeff Rosenblum, Bethesda, MD, USA.

 

ARABS ARE FANATIC

Dear Peggy: The Saudi al-Qaida group who beheaded U.S. engineer Paul Johnson, posted grisly photographs of the hostage's severed head. Hours later, Arab TV reported the death of the chief suspect. President George W. Bush said: ''America will not be intimidated by these kinds of extremist thugs.'' Shortly after Johnson's body was found outside Riyadh, Saudi security forces were engaged in a firefight with al-Qaida militants in the capital, said Adel al-Jubeir, foreign affairs adviser to the Saudi crown prince. A number of the militants had been killed, he said in Washington. The Arab satellite stations Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera reported Abdulaziz al-Moqrin, the chief suspect and alleged leader of al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia, was killed Friday. The news was given in a scrolling news bar at the bottom of the screens and it was unclear whether he was killed in the firefight. The CIA and Saudi officials in Washington were unable to immediately confirm the report of al-Moqrin's death. This show us that the CIA is up to no good. Also, it shows that Arab are barbarians. We have to stop kidding ourselves and play games on each other. Muslims hate the United States. They were born fanatic and they will die fanatic. Robert Green, Reno, Nevada, USA.

THE SAUDIS ARE LYING

Dear Peggy. Do not believe any statement issued by the Saudis. A Saudi interior ministry statement read on a Saudi television said the four militants died in a gun-battle with security forces shortly after Mr Johnson's body was discovered. At the same time, A posting on an Islamist website  connected to members of the Saudi royal family and Saudi police had denied the militant chief was dead. On the official Saudi television network, one of the broadcast photographs was of Abdul Aziz al-Muqrin. The network  showed the face of a young man with a moustache, which resembled previous pictures of him, but it was not him, many Saudis told me. This SOB is still alive. B.D. (A concerned American citizen), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

 

ISRAELIS ARE SHOOTING AT ENGLISH STUDENTS AND DIPLOMATS

Photo: Labour MP Huw Irranca-Davies was part of the delegation to Rafah.

Dear Ms Peggy: The cross-party group was on a visit to Rafah in Gaza, where UK student Tom Hurndall was killed, when they  came under fire. Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Northover said machine gun fire from an Israeli observation post passed closely over their heads. The group also included MPs Huw Irranca-Davies and Crispin Blunt. Following the gun fire they pulled back to their vehicle, which was marked with the UN logo, when further shots where fired at the building next to the car. Baroness Northover said: "This incident has shown me first-hand the indiscriminate violence faced by Palestinians on a daily basis. "If the Israeli Defence Force is prepared to shoot at a delegation of parliamentarians under the supervision of the UN, one wonders what treatment ordinary Palestinians are given," she said. She said the action may have been an attempt to stop the group seeing the effect of Israel's policy of demolishing Palestinian housing in Gaza. Tom Hurndall, 22, from Tufnell Park, north London, was shot in April last year while trying to help Palestinian children to safety in Rafah. An Israeli soldier is being tried for the killing. I thought your readers should know about this...Ken West, London, UK.

 

YOU WERE NOT TOTALLY FAIR. YOU WERE BIASED
Your article on the "freedom fighters" started good but later you shifted and became biased and anti-Arab. Why did you call them bloody terrorists? They were nice to you. They gave you presents and invited you to their home. You are ungrateful. People like you make me vomit. I like a lot your magazine, I have all the old copies but now I will never read again your magazine. Salim Jabbar, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

I read the whole article you wrote about Al Qaeda. I congratulate you. You hit it on the nose. You showed us how dangerous those thugs are. Write more. Ray Miller, Kent, UK.

ANDRE RIEU       

Photo: Grand maestro Andre Rieu.

Dear, dear Mr. Lafayette. Have the Lafayettes come to our rescue AGAIN!!!!? The article is superb, and gets right to the core of the "Rieu Mystique".  Faith Carlton e-mailed me your reply to her.  Both Faith and I spent hundreds of hours attempting to promote the North Carolina concert in our areas.  She lives in the "big city" and I live 65 miles from Raleigh in the country, so it was a real task to get publicity here---BUT we did---and I plan to donate my time again next year IF we are rewarded with his presence. It is INCOMPREHENSIBLE that YOU cannot gain access to Maestro's "ear." From this end, we will try to get through in whatever way we can. Thank you for bearing witness and validating his genius---it makes the rest of us seem a LITTLE less terminally OBSESSED! Marsey Peterson   NC, USA.

I have read your wonderful article about André Rieu at the Web-Site. As a big fan of him from Germany makes this article me very happy! Thank you very, very much for your marvelous work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You makes many peoples happy with it!!! Best regards, Helma Kindler, Germany.

Please help to promote Andre Rieu and the JSO in the USA for his tour next year. I understand you know of him. He is not well known in the United States and he and his orchestra are superb musicians. Would appreciate anything you can do. His web site is www.andrerieu.com. Thank you from an avid Andre fan, Faith Carlton, NC, USA.

 

IT IS A SHAMEFUL SCHEME!

Photo: OAPs have protested over pension rights.

Dear Peggy: It costs about £4 per week to administer each pension credit claim but 65,000 people get less than that in their pockets. And 12,000 pensioners get less than £1 a week - a quarter of the actual cost of giving them the money. Pension credits are a means-tested benefit worth on average £42 a week. The figures were obtained by Lib Dem work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb, from the House of Commons library. He said the cash would be better spent on the universal state pension which he argues costs just 60p a week to administer. Peter Huntington, Bristol, UK.

 Anti-Christian sentiment

Jews are protesting against Mel Gibson masterpiece because he depicted them exactly the way they are. I do agree with the criticism directed toward some violent passages in the film. Nevertheless, the violent scenes are an historical fact. What do you expect to see on the face and body of a crucified person but blood and pain? The Jews are complaining because  The Passion of the Christ exposed the brutality of a group of powerful Jews who were in a position to inflict wounds and sufferings to Christ.... Jonathan Selby, Yorkshire, UK.

The mistake of the Jews

Should the Jews have accepted Jesus as the savior, the whole world by now would be Jewish. Too bad, they missed on this one...Have you ever argued with a Jew? He is always right. And if he is not, he will do whatever it takes to convince you that you are on the wrong  side of the fence. Rhetoric and arguments ad nausea is a trade mark of the Jews. Just go to a tribunal, it would not take you long before you   find out who is the Jewish lawyer...Now, they have a juicy piece of meat to bite on: Gibson film. I found their hatred campaign toward Mr. Gibson extremely unjustified and self serving... Nat Rollins, Calgary, Canada.

Your criticism is disgusting

The Monthly Herald  is adding more fuel to the controversy surrounding the global misunderstanding of Christianity. Your film review of The Passion of the Christ betrayed the truth and accuracy in media. I was chagrined by your harsh criticism of the film. If you do not agree with the New Testament, then, I would not expect decency and fairness from you. I used to read the Herald and enjoy the informative articles on world issues. But after having read your reviews, I began to have some doubts about the integrity of your journalism. Out of a pure intellectual curiosity, I took the liberty to count how many Jews are on your editorial board. They are everywhere, no wonder, why such a biased criticism of Mel Gibson dominated the pages of the Herald... Your criticism is disgusting! Joel Severini, Naples, Italy.

$140 Millions for Bush

..It is hard to believe George Bush is planning on spending $140 millions on ads to be re-elected. Imagine what the poor and the needy in America could do with this money. Politics is poison. Phill Darby, Jamestown. SA.

We are safe with Bush

Don't kid yourself, John Kerry will not win the elections. Americans feel safer with George Bush. He might not be totally candid but at least he is a real American and this is what the US needs now. A strong anti-terrorism leader. We are safe with Bush. Robert White, New Jersey. USA.

Martha Stewart and the rich people

...She  should be locked up for long time. She made her fortune out of tricking and cheating the dumb and innocents  who invested in her company and trusted her word. No way you can get rich in America unless you are heartless, ruthless and a manipulator. Martha Stewart and the rich people are the source of all evil. Greed is good in America. lock her up and throw the key... Ismael Fakhri, Cairo, Egypt.

Worldwide, gays have marriage rights. So why the Yanks are making a big fuss...

Around the world, countries are coming to terms with how to treat homosexual couples - and the trend in many is toward liberalizing laws. In Denmark, civil unions with the same rights as marriage have been around since 1989, and other Nordic countries followed suit in the 1990s. The Dutch were the first to eliminate any distinction between gay and straight, striking all references to gender in the marriage laws. Belgium soon did the same. Canada jumped to the forefront of gay rights in North America in June when it announced plans to legalize same-sex marriages. Many U.S. same-sex couples streamed north to marry in Ontario and British Columbia after courts in those provinces authorized such weddings. In most of Africa, homosexuality is illegal and gay marriage unthinkable. But in South Africa, gay rights were enshrined in the post-apartheid constitution and some groups are lobbying for the right to marry. In Japan, homosexuality is no longer considered a mental illness, but many gays still feel pressure to go through a sham heterosexual marriage. Japan is more progressive than most of Asia. Strongly Roman Catholic countries such as Spain and Italy refuse to recognize gay couples. But there are important exceptions. In Portugal, and in Spain's Navarra and Basque regions, gay couples who live together long enough receive the same benefits as heterosexuals under common law unions. In Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, gay couples can register for a civil union. France and Germany have civil union laws, and Britain is in the process of adopting them. The Dutch have watched the hoopla in the United States with some bemusement. Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen, who married six couples at the stroke of midnight on April 1, 2001, when the Dutch law took effect, sent a note of support to Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor who set off a rush to California when he officiated same-sex ceremonies. So, why  the Yanks are making a big fuss about gays rights? Norma Grimm, London. UK.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all have commonalities.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all have commonalities. The Jews don't believe in Jesus; Christians do. Muslims recognize Jesus but only as a prophet, not as a deity. An outsider would say all religions worship the same God, but a person belonging to one of the three religions would disagree. What's my point? I dunno, there are more religions than those three. Religions aren't a threat, it's the human race that is. Certain Christians may be lunatics, and some Muslims too, but that doesn't mean the "cult" as a whole is what's causing the problems. You can't make blanket statements like that. Rodney Blass, Birmingham. UK.

 I accuse the Bush administration of "systematically misrepresenting" the threat posed by Iraq.

I accuse the Bush administration of "systematically misrepresenting" the threat posed by "Iraq's weapons of mass destruction" .A report, by four experts on weapons proliferation at the respected Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,  verified this.. According to the report, the absence of any imminent threat from Saddam Hussein's chemical or nuclear programmes was "knowable" before the war. There was greater uncertainty over biological weapons but no evidence strong enough to justify war. The American intelligence community began to be unduly influenced by policymakers' views "sometime in 2002". Repeated visits to the CIA by the US vice president, Dick Cheney, and demands by top officials to see unsubstantiated reports, created an atmosphere in which intelligence analysts were pressed to come to "more threatening" judgments of Iraq. The Bush administration officials systematically misrepresented the threat from Iraq's WMD and ballistic missile programmes. Jay Borger, London. UK.

Democracy in Iraq? America's most deadly mistake

Some commentators argue that the relatively secular Iraqi culture will not opt for a full-fledged theocracy like Iran's. Perhaps—but leaving the issue to be decided by unlimited majority rule could be America's most deadly mistake. Yet 62 percent of respondents to a recent ABC News poll said America should support an Islamic fundamentalist state in Iraq, if it gains power by "democratic" vote. Leaving such a democracy in Iraq would be a betrayal of every value we sought to gain in this war. The essential evil of Saddam's Baathist ideology was its collectivism, the view that the "Arab Nation" is supreme and that the rights and interests of the individual may be sacrificed in service to its dictates. It makes no difference, in principle, if this "collective will" is divined by the edicts of a dictator or by majority vote—so long as the rights of the individual may still be sacrificed. Anything-goes democracy in Iraq could be an even greater threat to American interests than the regime we have spent so much blood and money to topple. It is vitally important that our leaders make clear that they are attempting to leave behind a system of liberty, not democracy, in Iraq. It would be obscene to spend American lives to establish such a profoundly anti-American idea as the tyranny of the majority. Robert Garmond, California, USA.

Rights of Muslims in Britain

If you’re a Muslim in the UK today, you’re two-and-a-half times more likely to be unemployed than a non-Muslim, you’re three times more likely not to have a phone in your house, and you’re twice as likely to die in childbirth. And so it’s perhaps not surprising that Muslims in the UK, contrary to popular fears, are very keen to become better integrated into the mainstream of British society. In fact, many of us, Muslims, support  government measures to introduce compulsory English language tests for migrant Muslims. But our rights as Muslims are not protected... Layla Badri, London. UK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN SAUDI ARABIA IS A JOKE!

Dear Peggy: One on one, Saudis are  good people, but put three or more of them together, and you are in trouble. Our Government are afraid of them. Get in trouble in Saudia, don't try to get help from the US Embassy, they will tell you that if they step in the Saudis will get upset with the US, Go to the Canadians, they will help you, even if you are an American. What is their ONLY economy. OIL, what do they depend on the outside world for everything else. In the 1980's when I lived there, every citizen received $18000US Royalty per year with Oil at $10 per barrel. The country oil industry is run by Houston ,Texas under the name Aramco. We use more mid-east oil than the rest of the world combined, so we should set the price, not them, say to all of the cartel countries, we will pay you $10 a bill., take or leave it, we will only be cut off for about a month, and they will cave or crash. I have heard the largest land owner in Texas is a Saudi Prince, and he is receiving land bank payments in the millions from our government. They even own their own city in Texas (plus a few more) Sugarland. They are the biggest hypocrites in the world. Let their women out of the country, the first thing they do is get into mini skirts, light a cigarette, order a drink, and then get in a car, and drive to the next bar. While I was living there, I could have all the booze I wanted, and they would sneak the Americans in the back door of their whore houses, but only those Americans that could make money for them. Lets look at their Oil Industry, Airports, Hospitals, Military, all built by ex-pats, mostly with US Money, that was never repaid, Almost all Construction Companies are American (but only the ones our Government put in there. If America had the guts to cut them off for awhile, they would come around to our terms, and they would give some respect, and we don't have that now, we in fact are subservient to a third world nation. Stand up America. Dan Horrowitz, New York, USA.

KAREN KOHLER

From time to time I surf the bios and personal statements of cabaret performers. Well, this time I fell on something unusual; an auto-portrait description of an American singer. It caught my attention. I would like to share it with you, and your readers, should you find it interesting The artist's name is Karen Kohler. Here is what she wrote about herself: "I am a choreographer. I use gestures to accentuate an idea, a line or a word. My sensuality is expressed gutturally. I am a masquerader; I love to dress a part. I am an exhibitionist; the most essential Karen Kohler exists before a receptive and open audience. I am a thief. I don't borrow something; I steal it. Then I put my own stamp on it, and offer it as a new idea, an enhanced version of the original. Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but flattery is the highest form of pathos. And while copying others is futile, claims of originality are at least disingenuous and at most plagiarism. There will only ever be one Marlene Dietrich, only one Sarah Vaughan and Anita O'Day. Let us honor who and what has come before by imparting ourselves fully to what we appropriate. This is honest art-making. I have my own mentors and muses who have gone before, whom I have heard and watched, from whom I've stolen and whose character and style have influenced my own. Besides Dietrich, Vaughan and O'Day, there have been for me most notably: Fred Astaire, Yvette Guilbert, Lotte Lenya, Julie Andrews, Bing Crosby, Catherine Deneuve, Teresa Stratas, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand, Edith Piaf, Connee Boswell and Mel Tormé." Martin Positano, Brussels, Belgium.

SUE MATSUKI

Dearest Peggy: Here is an "unusual" auto-bio introduction written by the artist herself. It is catchy and interesting. I am sending it to you because I noticed you published the auto-biography of Karen Kohler. Well, now you have a pair. See if you like it. I love to see it in print. "Hi, I’m Sue Matsuki. No, I am not Japanese. I come to my name through my Japanese husband. I took his name when we married because it was a "trade up" name. You see, my maiden name was Trosell, which made me "Suetrosell" which, to me, always sounded like an antacid. At least "Susiematsuki" makes me sound like an Asian Porno Star. I am actually of Swedish and French descent which means nothing really expect that I’m a big chested, great kisser!" written by Sue Matsuki. Evangeline  Lopez, Houston, Texas, USA.

BUSH IS A WIMP. REALLY?

Dear Peggy: A recent SRA Commentary by Chris Sandersdrew attention to the astonishing swiftness with which Howard Dean’s candidacy was displaced by John Kerry’s. Now that the dark horse  candidate, Kerry, has indeed won the Democratic nomination, and given that he has campaigned against the Bush administration on the war on terror, what exactly are the foreign policy views of this man who, like Bush, is a member of the Skull & Bones society? Kerry’s position was made clear in two speeches, one at the University of California in Los Angeles on 27^th February 2004, and the other given on 3^rd December 2003 to the Council of Foreign Relations in New York.Both speeches show that Kerry subscribes to all the same doctrines of militarism, worldwide democratisation and interventionism as his rival, the incumbent president. Kerry told his audience at UCLA that, “Americans deserve a principled democracy … backed by undoubted military might … a diplomacy that commits America to lead the world toward liberty and prosperity.” He called for “a bold progressive internationalism that focuses not just on the immediate and imminent, but insidious dangers that can mount over the next years and decade, dangers that span the spectrum from the denial of democracy, to destructive weapons, endemic poverty and epidemic disease. These are not just issues of international order, but vital issues of our own national security.” Fine words. So fine, in fact, that they are effectively identical to those contained in George W. Bush’s National Security Strategy of September 2002, in which exactly the same claim is made that America cannot be safe until the whole world subscribes to American values, and until every possible source of tension, including things like AIDS and lack of education in third world countries, has been removed. Far from calling for a more humble foreign policy than that pursued by George W. Bush, Kerry in fact says he wants “a stronger, more comprehensive strategy for winning the war on terror than the Bush Administration has ever envisioned.” For Kerry, Bush is a wimp. He attacks George Bush for not having caught Osama bin Laden and blames the use of local warlords for this failure: the logical implication of this is that the West should take over that country directly (even though this is just what the current administration is trying to do in getting NATO involved in Afghanistan.) Interestingly Kerry adds that the current arrangements are insufficient to “bring the billion dollar drugs trade under control.” Surely he meant to say “eradicate it”? Kerry says, “I do not fault George Bush for doing too much in the war on terror; I believe he’s done too little.” Neither the war on terror nor the Department of Homeland Security is enough for Kerry: in the war for American security, the Bush administration “has done nothing or been too little and too late.” George Bush has “weakened” the military, so Kerry promises 40,000 more active-duty Army troops. Kerry has even promised to “strengthen the capacity of law enforcement at home” and to “break down the old barriers between national intelligence and local law enforcement”, even though every first-year student of political science knows that one of the cardinal rules in a democratic state of law is precisely that there should be a firm division between law enforcement and intelligence. Kerry even reproaches Bush for weakness an Iraq. He said ten days ago, “Their (i.e. the Administration’s) sudden embrace of accelerated Iraqification and American troop withdrawal without adequate stability is an invitation to failure. The hard work of rebuilding Iraq must not be dictated by the schedule of the next American election.” Kerry promises to “stay in Iraq until the job is finished”--whatever the job is--and quotes Franklin Roosevelt against Bush, saying, “It is useless to win a war unless it stays won.” Kerry comments, “This Administration has not met that challenge; a Kerry administration will.” Astonishingly, Kerry even, in the CFR speech, attacked the Bush administration for “jeopardising the security of Israel” and “encouraging Palestinian extremists.” Such nonsense recalls Frank Gaffney’s lunatic attacks on Bush for frequenting “Muslim extremists” (in the form of Grover Norquist). Like Bush, Kerry promises to act against the “flow of terrorist funds”. Interestingly, he singles out Saudi Arabia for special mention in connection with the laundering of terrorist money, and he accuses George Bush of adopting a “kid glove” approach to that country. Kerry promises to launch a ‘name and shame’ campaign “against those that are financing terror” and to shut them “out of the US financial system”. He also, again like Bush, claims that “we must act immediately to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.” Kerry even has the cheek to say, in his CFR speech, that “the gravest threats” comes from “terrorists or unstable states” acquiring “weapons of mass destruction”. “As President,” he told the CFR, “ I will elevate non-proliferation to the top of the global agenda.” How could it be elevated any further to the top of the global agenda than under Bush?In considering all this, ask yourself the following question: if you were a neoconservative strategist, with all the huge plans for world-wide “democratisation” which that entails, who would you rather have in the White House? A red-neck Texan surrounded by a bunch of corporate war profiteers, whose very selves excite furious opposition from whole swathes of leftish public opinion in America and around the world, or a smooth multilateralist Patrician with a pleasing mix of patriotic and liberal credentials? Go figure. J. Laughland, Washington, DC, USA.                                                                                                                                            

JOHN KERRY IS OFFICIALLY EVIL! WHO SAID SO?

Dear Peggy: Please print this. "Sorry John, looks like the church is going to take votes away from you for being inherently evil.

Noting that "the question has been raised" whether it is necessary to deny Communion to Catholics in public life who support abortion on demand, the bishops said that "all must examine their consciences" about their worthiness to receive Communion, including with regard to "fidelity to the moral teaching of the church in personal and public life." They added that "given the wide range of circumstances involved in arriving at a prudential judgment" in that matter, the bishops "recognize that such decisions rest with the individual bishop in accord with established canonical and pastoral principles." "Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action" in confronting individual cases, they said, but the bishops share an "unequivocal commitment to protect human life and dignity." They urged Catholics in public life to protect the unborn and oppose legal abortion "lest they be guilty of cooperating in evil" -- which in Catholic teaching is itself sinful. They said they would counsel Catholic politicians who consistently work against restrictions on abortion that their support for abortion on demand "risks making them cooperators in evil in a public manner." John Kerry claims he is a Roman Catholic. The American Citizen, Washington, DC, USA.

ABU GHRAIB ATROCITIES. THE MILITARY IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. THERE IS A COVER UP HERE!

 

Dear Peggy: The American general who was in charge of Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison claimed she was being made a scapegoat for the abuse of detainees and said the current head of the jail believed prisoners should be treated "like dogs." I don't believe her. She lying to her teeth. In an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. radio broadcast , Brig.-Gen. Janis Karpinski said Maj.-Gen. Geoffrey Miller _ who was in charge of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and now oversees U.S. prisons in Iraq _ told her last autumn that prisoners "are like dogs, and if you allow them to believe at any point that they are more than a dog then you've lost control of them." As you know, Peggy, Karpinski was suspended last month from command of the 800th Military Police Brigade after she and other officers were faulted by army investigators for paying too little attention to the prison's day-to-day operations and not acting strongly enough to discipline soldiers for violating standard procedures. Now, several soldiers are facing courts martial over abuse allegations at the jail. In her defense, Karpinski has said that interrogations at the prison were not under her command but were run by a military intelligence unit that was "under increasing pressure to get more, as they call it, actionable intelligence.

Photo: Iraqi prisoners being abused by US personnel.

ATROCITIES AT ABU GHRAIB PRISON

" Karpinski said that during a visit to Iraq in September, Miller _ then head of the Guantanamo Bay camp for Taliban and al-Qaida suspects _ spoke of wanting to "Gitmoize" Abu Ghraib by applying the Cuban facility's regimented detention and interrogation techniques. Do you believe this, Peggy? I don't.

"He talked about Gitmoizing in terms of what the (military police) were going to do, he was going to select the MPs, they were going to receive special training," she said. "That training was going to come from the military intelligence command," Karpinski added, noting that the troops under her command had no training in such interrogation techniques. Karpinski said she was being made "a convenient scapegoat" in the abuse scandal. 

I think Peggy, you should investigate the matter. We don't know for sure who is lying and who is telling us the truth. I think this woman general was responsible. I think Bush is responsible too. No doubt, Rumsfeld should be held responsible for Abu Ghraib atrocities. Shame on us Americans! Lamonte Townsend, New York, USA.

THE SAUDIS ARE ANTI-AMERICAN, ANTI-SEMITIC

Dear Peggy: The Saudi's should apologize or something. Until they do so, and until oil prices are lowered we showed increase taxes and tariffs on American products bought by Saudi companies. Let them know we mean business. It may look bad we are using our production power, but they too, have messed with us by their production power of the millions of gallons of oil per day that they have cut. And if they cut our oil, they lose money because business over there will suffer if they cannot receive these goods because almost all of the modes of international transportation in the export of of good includes some type of fuel processed from oil. So our countries need to get in agreement or this could get ugly. So apologize! All the information we've heard about the Saudi government tells us that they should pay for crimes and should live in the present not the past. The Saudis are living in the 17th century and have a barbarous terrible  government. .The Saudis are anti-American, antis-semitic assholes. They deserve to be kicked hard. All the terrorists in the 911 attacks were Saudis, why was nothing done about it ? America needed an excuse to make itself a POLICE state and execute urban control in what is going to be civil in their country . My country CANADA already imposed gun control over law abiding citizens at the tune of 1 BILLION dollars only to have the criminals get three square meals ad ay. Our nations are preparing for civic unrest and we must no longer trust our big brother USA because soon you Americans will be jailed for your freedom of expression and views , if you don't trust your government,  then come to Canada we will protect you from your rouge and cruel nation run by the war monger BUSH! Regina C., California, USA.

 GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!

You reported that a German  movie which depicted Adolf Hitler's softer side and humanistic character. And you reported that the film  has topped the German box office. Also you wrote " Ironically enough, German historians and scholars who constantly reputed and criticized the Nazi regime were among the first viewers who applauded the film. “ The Downfal” attracted 510,000 viewers in its opening weekend, distributor. The film shows Hitler's humanity as well as his diabolical nature, as it depicts the final 12 days of his life. However, the film portrayed Hitler as a caring and a tender human being. To the alert mind, such depiction betrays accuracy in history. “The Downfall” is told from the point of view of Traudl Junge, who was one of Hitler's secretaries in his Berlin bunker. His account might appears genuine on the surface. Nevertheless, Junge would not denounce his master as a tyrant and mass murderer.  The film is also based upon eyewitness accounts from a book of the same name by German historian Joachim Fest. Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl hailed “The Downfall” as a way for young people to be reminded of the horror of Hitler. European  critics were divided. The film is shown throughout continental Europe and Japan, and producers aim to distribute it in North America and the United Kingdom on a very large scale. Do you believe what your magazine wrote? Where from  did you get your information? From an Israeli agency? It seems so! The film described the different aspects of Hitler, not only his kind nature. I am not a Nazi or a Neo-Nazi. I, simply believe in historical accuracy and fair reporting. Please get your facts straight. Thank you. Ernest Miller, Baden Baden, Germany.

We got our facts straight! Where from? From the film distributors and box offices sales report through out the country.

 

England is the base camp for international Islamic terrorism

One of the toughest critics of Britain's tolerance of these radicals is a Muslim — Mohammed Sufawi, a French journalist of Algerian descent who spent four months infiltrating Islamist groups in France and Britain. He says many of the most dangerous Islamists, men refused entry into France or deported by the French, have found sanctuary in the United Kingdom. The foxes, as he puts it, are already among the chickens. England is the base camp for international terrorism, Sufawi told everybody. He knows what he is talking about. He told me: "Most Islamists see Britain as a target. They're not bluffing. I heard it with my own ears. There were some arrests. They're not nearly enough." Even when British authorities do make arrests, few suspects ever are prosecuted. Fewer still are convicted. Since 9/11, there have been 499 terror arrests in the United Kingdom, but there have been only two actual convictions for terrorist offenses. Under British law, it is difficult to make charges stick before an attack has occurred. There is no Patriot Act there, and Britain has no offshore detention facility like Guantanamo.  Herbert Langstone, Bristol, UK.

Anti-Americanism in Norway? No, the Americans are not more stupid than the Europeans.                                              

Norwegians are not anti-American, but very skeptical .

I want the American people who read the Monthly Herald to take notice of this, especially about the statement of Mr. Hanson regarding the American foreign policy which created confusion in America. The book fair, "Bok i sentrum", took place in Oslo from October 23 to October 26. And once again, the event was a big success. A lot of people found their way to Sara’s Telt at Karl Johan. On the first day more than 10,000 visited the fair, which consisted of 90 arrangements and over 150 participating authors. The discussion regarding the U.S. was one of the most popular events. "I believe in a permanent split between the European Union (EU) and the United States when it comes to foreign policy," Steinar Hansson said, former Editor in Chief of Dagsavisen, a national newspaper in Norway. Hansson just published the book "Vestens fronter", The Frontiers of the West, which can be read as a pro EU statement. In the book, Hansson explains his idea of a U.S. hyper-power that will be met by a European contra-power. Norway will be powerless in this setting, because the county is not a member of the EU, nor did it support the Iraqi war. "Americas solo-walk will lead to a growing frustration within the EU," Hansson predicted. Addressing the lead question of the evening Hansson said: "No, the Americans are not more stupid than the Europeans.

Maybe on the contrary: Just take a look at the vast amount of Nobel Prizes Americans have won. But every single powerful nation has lost influence after warmongering, except the U.S.. even despite the Vietnam-war. Hansson doesn’t think that the United Nations will be the solution for world peace, and that the EU has to grow stronger so that it can moderate the U.S.’s foreign policy. He hopes that the process with the military union within the EU will continue. "Anti-Americanism and opposition against the U.S. foreign policy are two very different things," said Hansson. Norwegians are not anti-American, but very skeptical to the neo cons in the Bush Administration. We have stopped dreaming the American dream, and found a new European dream.
Dag Herbjørnsrud, journalist in Aftenposten has also published a book, "Frykten for Amerika", The Fear for America. He doesn’t fully agree with Hansson. "The anti-Americanism started long before September 11. Our skepticism towards America isn’t really about politics, but about culture," claims Herbjørnsrud. He thinks that the basic fear of America comes from conservative ideas, and not from the left wing on the political scale. Further, he asserts that our imagination about the "real America" does not depart from the U.S., but from the EU and Norway. "This skepticism is healthy, but we also have to include the Asian countries in our discussion. I tried to ask Chinese people whether they think that the Americans are stupid, with the single result that the Chinese thought that I was the stupid one," Herbjørnsrud said. Borg Nilsen, Oslo