Al-Ahram Weekly | Letters

		Al-Ahram Weekly Online 25 - 31 October 2001 Issue No.557
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue \| Previous issue \| Site map

Time to act

Cartoon by Osama Qassim

Sir- I am writing this letter as an American, a Jewish American, to the Islamic and Arab political leaders of the world, urging you to act now -- strongly, decisively, and with great perseverance -- to take back your religion and people from the radicals and terrorists that I fear could lead this world into a dark era even more treacherous than that of the Second World War.
These people, led by Bin Laden and his associates, have, in the name of Islam and God, been preaching and teaching hate and condoning murder -- even claiming it is mandated by Islam and God. This is clearly a perversion of the principles of your great Islamic religion and cultures. They do so to foster hatred against the Jews, Christians, and all of Western culture, to radicalise your people and recruit them to commit their acts of terror. Their actions desecrate your religion and the name of God.
Do not underestimate them, or be misled by them. They are not truly religious people. They do this not to help the fair-minded, righteous Muslims, or the Palestinian people, or the moderate Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, or Saudi Arabia. They do this to further their goal of creating, first, a monolithic radical and repressive Islamic state in all of the Middle East, and then seeking to impose that system on the rest of the world by ridding it of the "infidels" and "heathen" -- all Jews, Christians and "insufficiently observant" Muslims. Their quest for world dominance is one of power -- not religion or faith, though they claim to act in the name of faith.
Their assertions that they only want to rid the Middle East of US military influence and Israel are lies. Those are not their end goals. The US and Israel are just obstacles in the way of their ultimate goal of world dominance. They don't truly want to help the Palestinians create an independent state either, with or without Israel. The Palestinians are only a tool to be used as a means to their ultimate end. They have no interest in allowing moderate Arab states or a Palestinian state to exist. They want to destabilise all the moderate Arab states and the Palestinian Authority to take control of all their lands and military assets, including nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. They want to take control of the oil fields and create a repressive terrorist Islamic superpower to intimidate the rest of the world and bring the Western industrial nations to their knees. If they get the power, they will have no use for the Arafats or Mubaraks of the Arab world. They truly want to become the Hitler of the 21st century, and create their own version of the "Aryan State."
I believe that whatever your feelings are about US policy in the Middle East, or the Israeli- Palestinian situation, in your heart, you understand this and know this is true, and know that these people are mortal threats to your true religion, to your countries and your way of life.
You must not sit passively by and allow them to continue to teach hatred, to recruit terrorists, and use your neighbourhoods and countries as shelters from which to plan and implement their terror actions. You cannot appease them or negotiate with them any more than one could do so with Hitler. You cannot simply watch and delude yourselves that they are working in your national or religious best interests. You cannot stand aside, waiting to see which side gets the upper hand, ready to join the winner.
You must act now, with acts as well as words. You must denounce these people in the harshest terms. Not just in the Western countries and their media, but also in your neighbourhoods, mosques, schools, newspapers and on the radio and television, using your own languages. You must stop teaching your children hatred of Jews, Christians, and the US. You must stop brainwashing your people and tell them the truth -- the truth about these people and what they really want. You must round up these people and their supporters and put them away. You must stop their flow of money and weapons. You must not allow them to gain shelter among your people and use them as shields against their capture.
The longer they are allowed to recruit, find funding, and radicalise your people, the harder it will be to rid this world of them, and the greater and more widespread will be the military actions needed to do so, which will only bring about more refugees, starving people, and dead innocent civilians.
You are in the best position to do what is necessary. Our words too often fall on doubting ears, as outsiders. We can only do so much without your cooperation.
And make no mistake about it; this will not be easy or quick. Decades of brainwashing and recruiting will take decades or generations to undo. This will be dangerous. These people, like Hitler and Stalin before them, will kill and assassinate those that oppose them. They will stir up riots and demonstrations and try to overthrow your governments. They have no morals or inhibitions in this regard. It will take great courage and resolve.
We have all let this cancer grow too long without aggressive action. You must act now, strongly, courageously, and with the determination necessary to stop this cancer before it grows out of control and consumes us all, and along with it, our civilisation. I pray that you will do what you must -- what is right. Hopefully, one day, we can all learn to live together peacefully and as friends, just as my Jewish son, and his Muslim Pakistani and Christian Chaldean friends do. May God be with us all.
R Phillips
Farmington Hills, Michigan
US
Opposed to the war

Sir- Please count me as part of the opposition to the US bombing policy in Afghanistan. I will not bother adding more justification for my position. I agree with those who see these actions as cold and cynical (I call them stupid and immoral).
I have been teaching foreign policy and international relations for 36 years and am embarrassed to hear the news every day. I am proud to be an American, thanks to my country's tradition of opposition to criminal, military policies. Please include my name in any formal literature opposing US policy in Afghanistan.
Rev. Claude Pomerleau, CSC
Associate professor
Department of history and political science
University of Portland
US
Watch out for Kaiser

Sir- Reading the invective by Lt. Col. Michael Kaiser ("Fires of resentment", Letters to the editor, Al-Ahram Weekly, 11-17 October), one is reminded of a certain A Hitler, Esq., who espoused similar wholesome, humane ideas that cost the world well in excess of 30 to 40 million people killed. Hitler, like Kaiser, warned the world of his plans (or dreams) in Mein Kampf.
I don't know where Kaiser ranks in the US military hierarchy, and what weight his opinions carry, but I at least admire the honesty of his vitriolic outburst (which in parts could be described as an adolescent tantrum).
Having many American friends, I am aware that Kaiser's rantings are those of the so-called "crazies" that are on the fringe of all societies. I remember in the '60s the turn of phrase "ugly American" was coined by an American to describe the Kaisers that sprout like a fungus in American (and indeed all) society.
The whole world needs to rethink where it is at and where it is going before the Kaisers really take over.
Mohamed Islam
Egyptian TV
Stop terrorism

Sir- It is very disappointing that the people of most Islamic countries have not taken to the streets en masse to demand an end to terrorism and the surrender of all terrorists. Instead, many Muslims have defended and supported these barbaric and ultimately self-defeating tactics by saying, in essence, "Well, we're very sorry it happened, but basically America deserved it." Let me spell out why this milquetoast attitude is both wrong-headed and dangerous.
First, what happened to us could happen to you. Do you think Osama Bin Laden will stop with the United States and the so-called infidel nations? Ask yourselves if you are willing to follow Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, or any other terrorist for the rest of your lives, because if you're not, they'll surely turn their tactics on you. Do you really want to live like the oppressed peoples of Afghanistan and Iraq?
Second, terrorists are not as smart as they think they are. When they attacked the USS Cole and the US embassies in Africa, most Americans didn't demand a national response. Now the terrorists have made themselves the personal enemies of practically every American. If you were a terrorist, would you rather have a dedicated, resourceful enemy of a few hundred thousand, or 270 million?
Third, the terrorists have been able to sell a few gullible and psychopathic followers on the selfish belief that if they kill their enemies, they will gain eternal life. This implies that if these followers don't have enemies, they should create some, all for the sake of their personal salvation. Is this interpretation of Islam acceptable to you? If not, you have allowed a few gangsters to hijack not just airplanes, but your religion.
Fourth, it's been said that terrorists cannot be defeated; that terrorism cannot be stopped. This is incorrect. Terrorism is a tactic with identifiable leaders. It is these men who can hold up their hands and say, "Enough." It was done by the men who condemned Salman Rushdie; it was done by the Japanese emperor after millions of lives had been wasted. It can be done now.
Finally, there are the fundamental disagreements that much of the Islamic world has with the United States over its foreign policy. These disagreements won't be solved easily, but they certainly won't be solved through terrorism. Like it or not, there is strong support for Israel in the United States, not only because most people here feel that, after losing six million people in the Holocaust, Jews deserve their ancient homeland, but also because Americans feel that an isolated democracy the size of New Jersey has a right to defend itself against bombardment, invasion, and suicidal maniacs.
America also needs oil, of course, and it is willing to pay a hefty price for it, even to a cartel. The deal must be, however, that oil will continue to flow; that it won't be interrupted by a few pirates seeking to hold the rest of the world hostage.
It is for these reasons that the Islamic world must demand an end to terrorism.
Christopher J Lahoda
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
US
Giving notice

Sir- Hani Shukrallah's opinion piece, "Operation enduring madness" (Al-Ahram Weekly, 11-17 October) is a clever piece of cynicism... but not much more. Does Mr Shukrallah hope to confuse his readers with non sequiturs and banal jokes about America's "information war" in Afghanistan? The United States government is trying to reach the people of Afghanistan so they will know that this is not a war against the citizens of that country or against Islam, but a war against cold-blooded killers of innocent men, women, and children.
Perhaps we shouldn't try to assuage the fears of the Afghans but simply bring war to their doorstep without any warning. Mr Shukrallah should be made aware that there are many Americans who would prefer to do just that.
Perhaps your think pieces should be less smarmy and more thoughtful.
M Frost
New York
US
Other sides

Sir- Thank you for publishing an on-line newspaper. I am an American who is grateful to be able to read your newspaper.
While the stories are sometimes painful, at least they are not written for the benefit of Americans. At least I feel I am getting unbiased (toward America) data. Also, I am a frequent traveler to Egypt and I love your country -- and especially its people. I have forwarded your piece on the Afghan refugees in Islamabad (Katchi Abadi) to Dan Rather at CBS News. Again, thank you for an excellent publication.
Mary East
Florida
US
Diffusing insight

Sir- I am a 20-year newspaper reporter in West Virginia in the US, who reports on political corruption, labour unions, environmental problems, insurance problems and a variety of other topics. I also read widely in the US press and a variety of books. I received a PhD from Columbia University in 1974.
I have begun reading your weekly paper on-line recently, having found it through reading the works of Edward Said, whom I have admired since I read Orientalism, Culture and Imperialism, and Covering Islam.
It is depressing that the various insights and information you offer do not make it into the US press more often to expose more people in our nation to differing points of view. For years, I have questioned US foreign policy. I opposed the war in Vietnam shortly after I began attending Columbia as an undergraduate. My own political views are probably reflected in our children's names -- Carrie Mandela, Katharine Allende and Christopher Du Bois. The very best of everything to you, and thank you for your fine work to keep people informed.
Paul J Nyden
The Charleston Gazette, West Virginia
US
Thanks for understanding

Sir- I would like to thank Egyptians around the world for their courageous and heartfelt sentiments during this very troubling time in the United States.
Many people in the United States are quick to adopt a reactive attitude to global events. They cast a blind eye at factual details and lash out without any thought as to what the most deliberated response should be. As your readers have pointed out, most Egyptians know more about America than vice versa. As an American, this is an embarrassing but honest observation.
Americans have a unique passion that runs throughout our culture. The United States is a country that has been blessed by more fortune than misfortune, more successes than failures and more victories than defeats. Americans can be boastful and stubborn, but it is rooted in our collective psyche. As children, we are told that there are no limits to our dreams or goals. That we can achieve anything we want to achieve. This mindset has helped America to claim a place among the global leaders. It can, however, also have the unintended effect of creating an "entitlement" mindset.
I would like to apologise to people across the globe who have been offended by the arrogance of America and Americans. In a global sense, we can be exceptionally ignorant and blind to the concerns of others. At the same time, Americans are among the most generous people in the world. Our people donate their time and earnings to millions of people across the globe, expecting little or nothing in return.
On behalf of my countrymen, thank you for your tolerance and sympathy towards our country. Although we do not say it frequently enough, we share with the people of Egypt a strong desire to see a world with more understanding than ignorance, more tolerance than hatred and more peace than war.
Kevin Donahue
Fort Worth, Texas
US
Self-defeating prophecy

Sir- Gamal Nkrumah ("Ignoble Nobel?", Al- Ahram Weekly, 19-24 October) affirms the unimaginative, Huntingtonian "Clash of Civilizations" rhetoric by stating that both V S Naipaul and Kofi Annan have made their Nobel-destined path by pandering to Western values and scorning those of Arabs and Muslims. This is self- defeating, culturally deterministic thinking pits Islam against the West, and ignores that there have been many shortcomings in the UN that are not Middle East-specific: these range from Rwanda to Bosnia. If we believe there is a baseline of values that we all share as humans -- the baseline we commonly choose to call human rights -- we will cease to think that some shortcomings are not more unacceptable than others just because they happen to us.
Nkrumah correctly points out that the present world order is a Pax Americana. There are rules of engagement in this reign, and they include a consistent lack of sustained interest in rights of persons without an immediate, significant influence on US policies. Everyone does not shout foul when they are at the receiving end of these clearly unjust rules. We must believe that this is not a war against Islam, because we know that Bin Laden represents a radical faction within a large and diversely practiced religion, and therefore does not embody Islam.
Of course the unacceptable and unwise references to "Crusades" or "infinite justice" have put many Muslims on the defensive, but the prompt change of this language also reflects an admission of the lack of prudence of the US administration.
Let's not create a self-fulfilling prophecy; as William Pfaff says, the clash of civilisations belongs in history's dustbin.
Lydiah Bosire
Cornell University
US
Alive, in Egypt

Sir- Thanks for your informative, well-written newspaper. I have had the pleasure of reading it for five years now, since moving to Egypt from the US. I am American. The more I get absorbed into Egyptian culture and way of life, the further distanced I feel from my American compatriots (not all of whom are "bad," to use my husband's terminology, but unfortunately "misguided").
I hadn't realised how little Americans knew about other cultures until I found out how much Egyptians knew about us: our behaviour, beliefs, etc.
Americans, for one thing, don't always think. Life has been good to them, so they haven't had to. Americans are rather living in a fantasy world which has nothing to do with reality. After being away for some time, I'm finally waking up from the dream. If only Americans knew and believed that there was no such thing as manic depression, for example, which thousands of them are falsely diagnosed with each year, and that its symptoms are merely an outward expression of the inner distance they feel from their true selves.
Generally speaking, though, Americans don't know (and largely don't care) about what's going on past their front door. They have mainly petty concerns. Almost all of their problems, whether social, economic, or personal, they have created for themselves, by themselves. Far from trying to condemn them, I wish to inform them, to wake them up from their long stupor. Nap time is over. My older sister once told me: "You haven't truly lived until you've been away to college," alluding, no doubt, to the complete sense of freedom one has when out of sight of Mom and Dad. Where has that freedom led to, my dear? The highest rates of teenage pregnancy, depression, crime, divorce and suicide in all the "developed" world; a "superpower" splitting at the seams. After attending college and witnessing the atrocities firsthand, I can safely amend her statement to read: "You haven't truly lived until you've been away to Egypt, or at least opened your mind to some sensible thinking, all of which might be found, by the way, in the example of the Prophet Mohamed, peace be upon him, who brought immense guidance to those who had completely lost their way.
Kimberly Sherman
Zaqaziq
Declaring jihad

Sir- I am a believer in Islam, and as such I declare Holy Wars on poverty, violence and ignorance. Peaceful Wars, of course. Wars stands for World Arising Responsibly and Spiritually.
The weapons of choice are education, forgiveness, tolerance, consultation and prayer, and the ammunition of choice is the Holy Qur'an and the holy books of Christianity and Judaism, supported by science. Some other weapons of choice are patience, accountability, compassion and action with consultation.
Our allies in this are Christians, Jews and all non-Muslims and Muslims alike.
The best plan of attack is leadership by good example with good behaviour and kindly words and actions toward all beings, Muslim and non- Muslim. This will draw non-Muslims to Islam.
You and all brothers and sisters are the mujahidin in these holy great wars. This is the jihad to end all jihads.
Brothers and sisters, what are you willing to do for Islam and the world?
Anne Marie Habibi
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
Enough of a bad thing

Sir- Forgive me for not thanking you for your generosity in opening the pages of our beloved Al- Ahram Weekly to all writers of the thinking ability of that Texan "assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin..." ("Words in Bin Laden's mouth," Letters to the editor, Al-Ahram Weekly, 11-17 October) who regurgitated what our not-so- innocent administration and its image makers concoct to justify their savage war on the Afghan people, whom they call "Taliban!"
For example, the idiocy of writing that our valiant army is in Saudi Arabia to "defend [it] from imminent invasion by Saddam," etc ad absurdam, I am sure you know only too well, is utter nonsense and so are several other phrases in his letter to you. So please save the space for opinions that express our countrymen's and -women's humanity rather than jingoism, the opinions of those who abhor violence not only against the US but also against others, e.g., Afghanistan, Iraq, etc to mention only the most recent.
Khalil I Semaan
Vestal, New York
US
Question mark

Sir- Your newspaper is one of the best! I really like the dialogue that is developing among readers all over the world. Even though we may all have different information and thus have formed different conclusions, you are allowing us all a chance to discover a new reality. Thanks so much.
Also, I have a question that perhaps someone on your staff could answer, since I want a real answer and not some US propaganda. The question is: Why didn't Egypt deal more severely with Anwar El-Sadat's assassins? From what I have learned, one of Bin Laden's top comrades is an Egyptian who was directly involved in assassinating Sadat and was released from prison after a few years. I would appreciate any light you could throw on this subject. In our culture, the cold-blooded killing of the head of state would be treated as the most heinous of crimes and punished severely. Thanks for your help.
Sandy Wetmore
US

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