Readers' corner
Inventing Israel
Sir-- My Egyptian friends tell me if Israel did not exist, the Arabs would have to invent it so that they could explain away all their own failures. Why so many good people in the Middle East permit themselves to be shackled to such an enfeebled mindset is beyond comprehension.
Robert Harper
Toronto
Canada
What we should do
Sir-- 'Message to Olmert' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 27 April-3 May) is full of what Ehud Olmert should do. There is not one word in there about what the Palestinians and the Arab world should do. There is not one word in there about Hamas and the daily attacks against Israeli civilians. There is not one word in there about Iran's threats to exterminate Israel. Nothing is said about Hizbullah in Lebanon, funded by Syria and Iran and a threat to Israel and Lebanon. You do not say anything about the constant anti- Semitic attacks on Jews in the Arab world media. Before you tell Ehud what to do, you need to take a look at what the Arab world is not doing.
Naftali Muenz
Vancouver
Canada
Same old story
Sir-- Your editorial 'The culture of terrorism' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 4-10 May) devoted exactly one brief paragraph to the Muslim world's responsibility for the culture of terrorism and the remaining five paragraphs to the inevitable mantra of blaming America and George Bush. I sincerely hope that wiser heads prevail in your part of the world because I fear that if this is the conventional wisdom, there really is no hope in sight for your beleaguered people.
Victoria Zaper
Chicago
USA
Too many
Sir-- The fact of the matter is that the Arab/Palestinians have more children than they can afford to feed. Then they cry regarding the lack of resources like food and water.
Kerry Winn
Nevada
USA
State of success
Sir-- It is unfortunate that the same level of superficial analysis that the Western media affords to Sudanese affairs is utilised in 'Facing the future' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 4-10 May) by Gamal Nkrumah. Claims such as the American assertion that Sudan is the world's premier failed state, more failed than Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, are laughable. Only four of Sudan's 26 states function under emergency laws while peace reigns supreme in Sudan's south which is larger than Darfur and which was wracked by war for close to 50 years. The Western discovery of Sudan, through Darfur, in the past three years and the indignation at the humanitarian situation, which is admittedly very bad, can only be described as a fad in light of the blind eyes the West turns to the plight of the south Sudanese, the Somalis and the Congolese amongst others. Why are Western pressure groups not pressuring their governments to fulfil their financial pledges to peace in Sudan which would contribute to a speedier implementation of the CPA in Sudan? The brunt of the failure of the peace talks in Abuja so far falls on the rebel groups. The rebels' only claim to legitimacy is through the barrel of the gun and their refusal to accept a referendum by the people of Darfur as to whether they want to amalgamate into one single region, or continue with the decentralised three-state system is testament to the rebels' undemocratic credentials. Also designating a new vice-president would run contrary to the CPA and would be a dangerous precedent where it becomes acceptable to alter the rules of peace, whatever the motivations may be. When will the Sudanese be given their due respect through the objective as opposed to impulsive and superficial analysis of their affairs?
Abdullah Barshambu
Khartoum
Sudan
In name only
Sir-- We all know that Ahmadinejad is nothing more than a figurehead. He follows his instructions from the mullahs and oversees no important issues without the chosen few.
Gregory Dillon
Ohio
USA
No better
Sir-- The article by Galal Nassar, 'Flu and mismanagement' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 13-19 April) is the most articulate description that I have read to date of the futility of relying on government band aid solutions to major crisis. This stinging condemnation could as easily have been applied to any of the governments which have tried to deal with avian flu. I should perhaps exclude Vietnam, which seemed to deal swiftly and cohesively, with an even greater problem. I do not expect North American countries to perform any better than Egypt when the flu eventually hits here in large scale, as seen in the Katrina hurricane. Departmental infighting and vested interests are certain to cause the breakdown of any plans and directives.
Paul Repstock
British Columbia
Canada
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