Readers' corner
At last
Sir-- I can finally say that the intellectual Egyptians now have something to read and enjoy. I commend your people for the balanced, honest and accurate news and editorials.
I wish that your publication was translated into Arabic to enrich the thirsty minds of our young Arabs who are essentially fed up with the controlled, empty media.
Mahmoud Eltaki
New Jersey
USA
Why help?
Sir-- Thank you for your article 'The American way of death' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 15-21 September) in which Azmi Bishara discusses the lack of preparedness of the American government to properly respond to the New Orleans disaster. It took a great disaster for the American press to finally report the lack of enthusiasm the Bush administration has for the American middle and lower classes.
According to the Republican Party, there is no value in helping the poor. That is why the conservatives are intent on dismantling all social programmes enacted since President Franklin Roosevelt. Their goal is a pure laissez-faire economy and social system.
New Orleans shows how much the Bush administration cares about the poor. Now with the billions of dollars in aid to the Gulf coast, does it surprise anyone that the true beneficiaries are the corporate friends of the Republican Party who are getting the contracts for redevelopment. And, by the way, Bush is proposing funding the redevelopment by cutting even further social programmes for the poor and middle classes, while proposing cutting taxes again for the wealthy.
Mike Halle
Kansas
USA
Not for food
Sir-- 'The American way of death' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 15-21 September) had some errors of fact. I will point out one.
The author states, "no distinction was made between shops being looted for DVD players and grocery stores raided for water and food." Not true. The authorities specifically did not go after those getting food from grocery stores.
Lenny Robinson
Texas
USA
From Fort Bragg
Sir-- You obviously need to do some research, 'The American way of death' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 15-21 September). There were no soldiers brought back from the war in Iraq to help in New Orleans. Those soldiers came from Fort Bragg. The soldiers that came home had already done their time in Iraq.
Scott Jones
Tennessee
USA
Should be ashamed
Sir-- What happened in Beni Sweif is something to make us ashamed of ourselves.
Globally, people go to the theatre to enjoy and learn, not to be burned to death. The minister of culture and all his men in Beni Sweif must be questioned. Both the ministers of culture and interior must be questioned and be excluded from their work until the investigations are over.
The president gave so many promises about freedom and transparency during the campaign. Slogans need proof to make them credible. Will the day come when we read in the headlines: 'the minister was sacked because of negligence and weak performance?' I hope it will.
Ali El-Sharkawy
Mansoura
Egypt
Might be next
Sir-- What a tragedy is going on before our eyes, 'Nowhere to run' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 15-21 September). The only country that wants a civil war in Iraq is the USA. We can be forgiven for thinking that it is just a repeat of Vietnam. All those civilians killed in the villages of that country. All the lies we are being told about the true situation in Iraq is just a repeat.
What I do not understand is the passivity and acceptance of the situation by the rest of the Arab world. It won't stop you from being next on their list. Saddam was their friend once upon a time.
Johanna Moren
Sunnemo
Sweden
Think again
Sir-- In 'UN engulfed in a war of words' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 15-21 September) Kofi Annan is described as highly esteemed in Africa. Perhaps that was the case before Volcker's report ascertained that Kojo Annan, who is Kofi Annan's son from his first wife who was a Ghanaian African, was involved in the food-for-oil scam by being employed by a Swiss company that was "managing" the scam-programme. If such an esteemed man can be oblivious to both the nepotistic streak in his son's recruitment to such a position and the financial abuse that took place in the programme, then as Africans we need to reconsider our judgement.
Geli Buram
Port Sudan
Sudan
As one
Sir-- I believe Iraqi Shias should hunt down their enemies. I do not think this will start a civil war, and even if one does start, I think, for now it would be better that the Sunnis have their own country and Shias their own. They could become one, like Germany, sometime in the future.
Muna Ali
Edmonton
Canada
On our own
Sir-- The withdrawal of illegal Jewish settlers was long overdue. However, this means that the Palestinians need to take responsibility for the Gaza Strip and crack down on all those who would love to milk this pullout for all its worth.
Furthermore, this is a chance to show the Israelis and the world that we can run a functional, independent territory on our own without allowing others to dominate. We can crack down on corruption and refuse to let corrupt PA officials take all of the economic benefits from the withdrawal.
Life will get easier for the people of Gaza as the checkpoints and roadblocks disappear but there is also the potential to revitalise the economy of Gaza. The Palestinian people are more than capable of this with the right help and support.
Sabiha Mahmood
Birmingham
United KingdomCaption:
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/761/letters.htm