Posted October 29, 2002

Any Possibility?

Regarding "Patriots for Peace" by Justin Raimondo:

Any possibility that con men and government agents like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will be recognized for who they really are and ousted from participation in a truly effective antiwar movement?

These two bozos and all the rest of the opportunistic "movement manipulators" completely alienate the folks who could get the job done but will sit it out rather than associate with criminals.

I think Justin's views are right on target. So is there a real antiwar movement anywhere in sight? What I'm seeing thus far locally at UofM in Ann Arbor is pathetic and just what Justin describes about leftist sandbox politics.

It's probably going to come down to the individual as always, seeking the truth outside the mainstream or the movement, and living with the responsibility of sharing that quietly.

Thanks for your existence.

~ John F.

A Suspect

Regarding "A Man Named Muhammad":

Justin Raimondo wrote: "...the capture of the Maryland sniper... Ideology of any sort inevitably distorts the mental processes, and a writer -- that is, a serious writer, and especially one who has certain vivid opinions -- must be constantly on guard against this insidious deterioration."

It would seem that Justin Raimondo has himself slipped in to the crack between his very own ideology and "truth." I realize John Ashcroft has done a real number on our civil rights, but isn't John Allen Williams/John Allen Muhammad a "suspect"? As of 3pm MST time, I didn't see any newsblurbs that he had confessed.

~ Basirah Nur Abdu Al'Basit, Sedona, Arizona

The Skylark

I am very regular reader of your [Justin Raimondo's] articles in Antiwar.com. Many many times I pray for you to Almighty God gives you more wisdom and blesses your pen to write always very intellectual articles the way you are doing. There is a saying: "You can muffle the drum and you can loosen the string of the lyre -- but who shall command the skylark not to sing?" You are my skylark. Keep singing, Justin, as long as you have many many listeners to enjoy your singing. We all are full of flaws, gay or straight. ... Only Almighty God knows who is righteous and who is a sinner. My sincere prayer to you is: may the truth always be in your heart and your steps will never never slip, brother Justin.

~ L. Mohammed, Canada

Realize the Reasons

Regarding "Why Many Arabs Hate America" by Scott McConnell:

I just thought I would write this quick email to you to congratulate you on a very well written account of why Arabs do indeed hate Americans. I'm impressed that there at least a couple of people who have a bit of common sense.

As many others, I was disgusted at what happened but the sooner we all realize the reasons for this attack the sooner we can sort this out. Not that I think it will be sorted out this century or the next. There is too much hatred for America and it is such a big target how can they miss? I just hope it is not taken to the next level (biological or worse).

Your president is going to get us all killed if he doesn't take his itchy finger off the trigger.

~ Tom M., Wales, UK

Black Tuesday

Watching the antiwar demonstration this weekend in Washington, made me realize that there are many more people in this country who oppose the present administration's rhetoric of all war all the time than I was aware of. I would like to salute everyone who made the effort to stand up to be counted.

As a sign of respect for the death of Senator Wellstone and a show of solidarity with the antiwar movement, it would be interesting to see how much support could be generated for a call to the wearing of black clothing from now until the election. It would also be interesting if you could get some mainstream news coverage so the people who feel this way about war would see that they are not alone and could have a chance to show their support.

~ Tom C.

Was Wellstone Murdered?

I'm very concerned that Senator Wellstone may have been murdered. His antiwar stance made him the chicken-hawks' #1 enemy in the Senate. His Senate seat is key for Democrats to maintain control of the Senate, and prevent the neoconservatives from being handed a blank check. His death has greatly increased the chances that the neoconservatives will have complete control over the federal government, with dire consequences to the fate of our beloved republic.

Will there be an independent investigation of the crash? I don't trust the federal government to be honest. If no independent investigation is forthcoming, we ought to assume that a murder is being covered up.

I am more certain ever that we need a regime change -- in Washington. ...

~ A Humble Patriot

Time for Tariffs?

I'm not a big fan of tariffs or of government subsidies, but maybe this is the time to consider them. Way back in the '70s when OPEC launched it's oil shock on the world economy, even free market economist Milton Friedman advocated a discriminatory tariff on OPEC oil as part of a cartel busting plan. Maybe we need to dust off these ideas.

Getting the major oil consumers to agree on a tariff would be difficult, and may cause a flap in the WTO. So maybe a subsidy or tax break to non-OPEC petroleum suppliers would be a better bet. I am sure the renewable energy lobby would want a slice too, but targeting the payout to petroleum alone is more likely to payoff sooner.

The Gulf States, including "friendlies" like Saudi and Kuwait, and "unfriendlies" like Iraq and Iran, have got the major industrial states over a barrel, but it is a barrel of our own making. By reducing the strategic significance of Gulf oil we end the hostage status this unstable region has exercised over the world. Whatever the outcome of Bush's Iraq strategy or Saddam's nuclear program, that hostage status will remain until serious restructuring of the world energy market is implemented.

There is no unalterable or inevitable geological or economic imperative behind the current dominant role of OPEC or the Gulf. Like Texas and Titusville, the Gulf didn't always dominate petroleum supply and it won't have that status forever. We need to hasten it's demise. Oil reserves exist elsewhere and can be identified and developed if given appropriate incentives.

This would seem to be an issue that both Iraq War hawks and doves need to do some long term thinking about. Whatever temporary economic or strategic gains a successful Gulf War II brings, a long term solution would be a better buy.

~ Tim Gillin, Sydney, Australia