Cartoon by Ossama Qassim
Closer than you think
Sir-- Please don't judge Americans by their current president. I have been fortunate to have travelled in Egypt, and found the Egyptian people very friendly and possessed with a great sense of humour. Generally, most Americans are the same; but unfortunately our government is not. Over 50 per cent of Americans also regard the authoritarian style of our current president with alarm and fear; we feel we are at the beginning of George Orwell's 1984.
I would like you to spread the message that there are a great number of Muslim people who are American citizens and live a life of freedom of choice. So please inform your people that they should protest against George W Bush and his policies rather than against the American people.
We are closer to agreement with your article 'Confronting the empire' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 27 February - 5 March) than you might be aware.
Brett Smith
Minnesota
USA
A bright future
Sir-- Excuse me for being very blunt about 'Confronting the empire' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 27 February - 5 March). The comments expressed by Samir Amin about the ambitions of the United States are nonsense, pure and simple. I read again the continuous snide insults that convey complete ignorance of the real US position in the world and US objectives.
Your basic summations about America's place in the world are essentially correct, however your conclusions are simply drivel and coached in your own prejudice. Your conclusions that we seek world hegemony are wrong; we do seek stability in such things as the world energy markets, but I would hardly qualify that as traditional imperialism. Are we turning into the world policeman? Well, unfortunately, yes; but who else was willing to commit to save the Muslims of the former Yugoslavia from the Serb Christians?
Yes, we have traditionally supported Israel; but surely you realise that the tide of opinion in the USA is changing, and that some day soon the Palestinians will have a country of their own. We will, sooner or later, compel Israel to stop the delay in allowing the emergence of Palestine because this is a historical injustice that needs to be corrected.
Concerning the Iraq situation, look at a future Iraq post-Saddam, with liberty and justice for all. Yes, war will cause harm to the Iraqi people and it is something that every person regrets, but Mr Amin try to look to the future. There can be a peaceful and prosperous Middle East some day. And yes, the US will probably play a role in it; but if we come we will not stay.
James Harper
Chicago, IL
USA
NAFTA awakening
Sir-- 'Confronting the empire' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 27 February - 5 March) summed it all up from all angles. I have observed the American government, and since NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) I have watched 'resource looting' plus other policies left, right and centre. I am recommending this site and article to my friends and family.
I hope that Canadians are not viewed as Americans because although we are still north American, we were just one of the first ones to be imposed upon since we share the continent. I think that NAFTA has woken us up.
Judy Bewick
Nanaimo, BC
Canada
Certainly not war
Sir-- I was happy to read 'Sleeping splendour' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 13-19 February) about the magnificence of Baghdad and the urbanity of the Baghdadis.
I worked in Iraq in 1975 and then again from 1981 to 1983. I saw the city develop and yet retain its ancient splendour and I appreciated the keen interest of the Baghdadis in everything cultural and educational. I wish Mr Bush and his trigger-happy administration could read this article and understand that Iraq (and the Middle East) is neither a terra nullus, nor that it can be reorganised as per the wishes of the most powerful nation on earth embarking into remaking an uncertain new world order.
As an Australian citizen, I took pride in marching against the war in Hyde Park, Sydney, together with around 250,000 fellow citizens from all walks of life. As a woman, born in France, I am proud of the stand of my birth country; any step necessary in order to prevent the incoming madness is a welcome one. Some interaction is needed between the so- called powerful and cultural 'West' and the 'non- Western' civilisations -- but certainly not war.
France Betbeder
Sydney
Australia
Taking a stand
Sir-- I wish to extend to your readers an apology for the behaviour of the Bush administration in its arrogant, reckless and stupid handling of international affairs. Millions of Americans are appalled and enraged by its disdain for the rest of the world and its insistence on doing whatever it feels like, without regard for the opinions of others or for long-term consequences. George W Bush has undertaken a deviant path of governance that does not reflect the wishes of the majority of the American people and betrays some of our most cherished traditions.
For the first time in my life, I have been engaging in political protest to oppose an invasion of Iraq; I have been participating in rallies, distributing leaflets on the streets, calling and e-mailing politicians and writing letters for publication. I urge those in the Middle East who are similarly opposed to further US aggression against Iraq and opposed to a US military occupation of Iraq to take a public stand. Make your voices heard. Please be silent no longer. Soon it may be too late. Do not permit our rogue president and his cronies to rape your region.
Steven Goldsmith
Brooklyn, NY
USA
Kinds of democracy
Sir-- Turkey has learned the concept of democracy only too well for the White House. Even though Turkish leaders stood to lose a bribe worth billions of dollars, parliament voted against letting the US use their country as a northern front on a war with Iraq.
And now it appears that the Bush administration is pressuring Turkey to reconsider.
How can President Bush preach the benefits of democracy to a sceptical Arab world and then try to reverse a democratic decision that reflects the will of the Turkish people?
Jack Slade
Knoxville, TN
USA
No more secrets
Sir-- I hope that the ordinary/extraordinary Arab summit where Arab leaders could not contain their anger and hatred for each other will make you realise that nothing can be kept secret anymore.
We, as Egyptians living overseas, have had enough of the conniving chameleon role of Egyptian journalists over the last 50 years. Enough is enough. Let the people scream their anger; let them feel they are humans.
Thank you for Omayma Abdel-Latif's article 'Arab apathy' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 27 February - 5 March). The question still remains: When will we wake up and behave as a dignified people and not as cattle in a herd? There is huge frustration on the streets and when (and if) the lid is removed, it will be very bloody indeed.
Aliaa Zayed
Hong Kong
China
Defying the US
Sir-- As a citizen of the USA, I am grateful for your publication because it lets me see the world from a perspective that is mostly ignored or hidden by my country's news media. While one can point to positive things the US has contributed to the world at large, it is however time for the rest of the world to stand firm against our current administration's bullying.
I realise that many countries will risk reprisals from my government by doing so, but I would think that the sheer pleasure that would come from standing up to Bush and Co. could actually off-set the losses.
A world boycott might be the very thing to get my country's attention. I am afraid that if the US is not finally taken to task for its current mad designs, the world will have unleashed something far more worrisome than Saddam Hussein.
Adele Schmalenberger
Ojai, CA
USA
Damned if you don't
Sir-- Since President Bush has declared that compliance with the Blix order to destroy the Al- Samoud missiles will not stop the "liberation" of Iraq, it would be unreasonable to expect Saddam Hussein to weaken his defences against a certain American assault.
The Iraqi leader has correctly surmised that President Bush will force a war regardless of what he does or what six million protesters think -- so why disarm?
Jack Slade
Knoxville, TN
USA
Well stated view
Sir-- I wanted to express my appreciation of 'Bush's 'anticipatory' war' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 6-12 February). Even though I do not agree with Mohamed Sid-Ahmed's view of the US, I enjoyed the intelligence, intellect and tone of this view. It is based on an interpretation of real events and policies and not emotional diatribe.
Just recently, I began to read a variety of Middle East newspapers to expand my information base and expose myself to varying points of view. I truly appreciate views which are well stated, which this was.
Michael Shelton
Yuma, AZ
USA
Drawing parallels
Sir-- If your readers have done the research well, they will realise that many of the truths in 'A means and not an end' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 7 February - 5 March) by Anouar Abdel-Malik have been weaved together in such a way as to contort facts to fit the writer's belief about how my country is behaving; as I am sure some of my countrymen are doing the same to distort the facts of those who disagree with us.
But let us get down to a more basic level. My family is most likely similar to Mr Abdel-Malik's own; we wish for good health, security and happiness in the lives of our loved ones; we will protect those we love with our lives; we will use the tools at our disposal necessary to protect our loved ones; those people or objects which represent a threat, whether real or imagined, will be confronted and if we cannot come to a beneficial solution we will try our best to vanquish them.
As a person who loves his family, friends and the lifestyle that a freedom-loving United States provides, I can assure you that those like me, including the president, will do whatever we decide is necessary to protect ourselves. I am sure you, your family and your friends will do the same.
I wish you health, security and happiness in your life. Good luck.
Derrick Dumoulin
Connecticut
USA
Beyond the obvious
Sir-- The article, 'A means and not an end' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 7 February - 5 March) by Anouar Abdel-Malik was very insightful and well-written. I would, however, like to see the author's notes and references, especially the documents presented to the American congress on China.
Like a good investigator, he puts the pieces together and teaches us to be more imaginative and not take things at face value. We should all not only seek to understand the movements by the US, but those of China and any other nation seeking to mimic the empire status of the US.
Khalil Tian Shahyd
Alabama
USA
Evil profits
Sir-- I enjoyed reading the very astute analysis in 'A means and not an end' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 7 February - 5 March).
Mr Abdel-Malik mentions that the hawks in the Bush administration desire to gain control of Middle East oil and the reserves in the Caspian Sea to obstruct China's growth. I believe the aim is to profit enormously from China's growing need for oil, but the means to achieve this end are criminal.
Perhaps Arab unity in defence of the Iraqi people has never been so important as now.
Max Lewels
Los Angeles, CA
USA
A crazy notion
Sir-- I find Anouar Abdel-Malik's article 'A means and not an end' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 7 February - 5 March) an imaginative work of creative fiction and speculation worthy of the greatest masters of that genre. While I agree that China is likely to emerge as the world's other superpower sometime early this century, I can assure you that the United States' incursions into Afghanistan and Iraq have little to do with containment of that nation.
First, I submit that preventing a rising Chinese Communist power has been a topic of US strategic thinking and global positioning since the 1950s. Second, China is already 'contained' in the North and West by traditional regional rivals and emerging national powers, Russia and India. Third, if the United States intended to use Afghanistan as a buffer designed to limit Chinese expansion into Central and Arabian Asia, then the States would have implanted a regime predisposed to its policies after the defeat of the USSR in the late 1980s. Fourth, if the United States had designs on controlling Iraqi oil fields to prevent the export of oil to China, then they would have completed the conquest of that country during the 1991 Gulf War. Finally, if the United States wished to exert control over the flow of oil, then they would continue to support economic sanctions prohibiting sales of oil from Iraq and not bother with freeing an oppressed people from a vile dictator.
No matter what the opponents of the coming war would like the world to believe, or would like to believe themselves, this war is about the protection of United States citizens, the liberation of an oppressed people, and the free flow of oil to the entire world. The United States' desired control of Iraqi oil and the Afghan oil pipeline are figments of the imagination of a crazed world. A world crazed by Franco-German self-interest, African self-loathing, Asian self-doubt and an apparent lack of Arab self- esteem.
Aaron Davison
Chicago
USA
Point of order
Sir-- As I read through your various essays and other "non-Western" papers I am struck by something. Nobody wants to admit they may be wrong. Not on your "side" or mine. Let's get a few points out in the open. The US should not have military presence on Saudi soil and Israel needs to be straightened out and held accountable, but at the same time nothing justifies the events of 9/11 and the Palestinians have done even less to help their cause than the Israelis. Most important of all is the fact that neither is America the evil empire, nor are all Muslims terrorists.
If we can put our emotions aside and focus on the final point, maybe level-headed people could start dealing with the other points -- not that I have seen this happen in the press on either side.
John Terst
New York, NY
USA
Democratic workings
Sir-- I'm tired of all the whining. I agree that our support of Israel is one-sided, but that's the way democracies work.
The Jews in America got it together and formed effective lobbying organisations, and politicians respond to this sort of thing. The Israel lobbies can deliver (or withhold) votes; why don't the Middle East countries put more effort into organising in America, rather than just sitting around and complaining to each other?
Jack Fulcher
Danville, CA
USA
Devil's advocate
Sir-- Does anyone know how many Palestinians are being killed each day? If the Arabs and Muslims cannot get a UN resolution to stop the killings, then maybe instead they should work with the UN to pass a resolution glorifying the killings, supporting and praising the killers for their marvellous act. However bad this may sound, it may be an eye- opener for the UN and its ever-blind and ever-deaf members. Either the UN must condemn and stop the killings or praise and encourage them. Either solve the problem or get rid of the problem.
Another question: when will the Arab and Muslim states ask for UN help to get Israel to comply with numerous UN resolutions which go ignored? I hope the UN Charter doesn't state that only Arab and Muslim countries must abide by the will of the world and others are exempt.
Mohamed Ashroff
San Francisco, CA
USA
Not so credible
Sir-- I have started reading Al-Ahram Weekly in recent months, and while I frequently find myself in disagreement with the views expressed in the op-ed section, I do value having an understanding of other perspectives and enjoy the quality of the writing, and in most cases the intellectual integrity and consistency (again, even when the view is divergent from mine).
That said, I found that 'Traces of poison' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 27 February - 5 March) was indeed poisonous, and could only serve to discredit your respectable publication in the eyes of a dispassionate reader (which would be the closest to an objective observer). The bits and pieces of information, conjecture and all-to-easy conclusions about the (once again) "Zionist conspiracy" could hardly be viewed as scientific or historically credible.
This isn't serious historical analysis, but rather another "blame the Jews" piece that is neither accurate nor constructive to any legitimate debate about the geo-political circumstances that people of the Middle East are dealing with.
That is really too bad.
Daniel Friedman
New York, NY
USA
False epidemic
Sir-- Salman Abu-Sitta's less than scientific and certainly inflammatory article 'Traces of poison' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 27 February - 5 March) suggests that typhoid "injected" into the Acre water supply was the source of the disease among the indigenous population and the British.
What is the source of the bacterium? A laboratory concentration of the bacterium (not technologically available at that time) would have been needed to feed the bacteria through the water supply over a prolonged period in order to reach concentrations high enough to begin this process. The numbers of people infected was quite small and suggests a discrete source of infection among a rather circumscribed group.
Also, Mr Abu-Sitta does not take into account the epidemiology of typhoid (when he questions why the "hygienic" Brits would ever get sick) and that among the people sickened may have been individuals/workers in contact with the British and a myriad of other forms of contact. Mr Abu-Sitta is certainly not an epidemiologist and only a fair propagandist.
Richard Koplin
New York, NY
USA
The way forward
Sir-- The peace overtures to Mr Sharon by the Egyptian president and foreign minister are the initial step in stabilising the Middle East. Credit is due to President Mubarak for taking the initiative.
The difficulty facing the Israel/Palestinian dispute is that Hamas and other similar groups want to destroy Israel despite the fact that the rest of the world wants to see a two-state solution. I hope that the rest of the region will follow President Mubarak's initiative and try to reconcile what appears to be an insolvable situation.
Asher Drapkin
West Yorkshire
UK
Paying homage
Sir-- I personally owe Professor Halim Grace, the subject of the profile 'Challenge of the cure' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 20-26 February) almost everything.
He not only taught me the alphabet of medicine, but also how to treat patients as fellow humans with great dignity and respect. A great man by all measures, he certainly deserves tribute and a salute as a man for all seasons.
Adel Bishai
Syracuse
USA
Politicians' tricks
Sir-- It is a great loss that transportation along the Nile was out of order over the past 15 years because of politicians.
The people of Nubia especially paid a high price for this. We have to study well how much we have lost and how much more we will lose as a result of politicians playing their games. I hope we will win, for the sake of our society, economy and countries.
Abdelmalik Farah
Ferreig
Sudan
From pet to meal
Sir-- I enjoyed your article 'Less sheep for sharing' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 13-19 February). It is very interesting to see how people cope in Egypt these days.
I was concerned about the family that allowed their kids to play with the sheep in their garage. Aren't they afraid that their children may get attached to the sheep? There is always the fear that they will have to endure the shock when they find out that their "pet" has been slaughtered.
It is interesting to know how parents in Egypt deal with this type of situation. Fortunately I never had a sheep as a child, so I have no idea what it would be like to lose your sheep.
Saad and Amal Alexan
Vancouver
Canada
Day to day
Sir-- Please, can Al-Ahram Weekly be published daily as soon as possible, so we can keep up with daily and current events from an Egyptian and Arab perspective?
Please, please.
Fahmy Ma'awad
Santa Cruz, CA
USA
Happy birthday
Sir-- Congratulations on your 12th anniversary; yours is a world class publication, a journalistic masterpiece of content and style and an achievement you -- as well as your readers -- are entitled to be proud of.
More power to your editors and contributors and more heavenly guidance to your newsmakers on our continent and yours.
Khalil Semaan
Vestal, NY
USA
