Posted December 19, 2002

Note: Alan Bock replies to Backtalk letters in his column "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?"

Frustrating Lemmings

Regarding "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?" by Alan Bock:

Good column. It must be frustrating, though, to have to try to explain yourself to the lemmings. Remember, the average I.Q. among Americans of European descent is 100. Lots are way below that.

~ Dave Vincelette

Padilla Incarceration

Regarding "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?" by Alan Bock:

I am not usually (hell, almost never) moved to respond to some of the articles I read, but I have to agree totally with Alan Bock's recent defense of our civil liberties as embodied in his criticism about the illegal and unconstitutional incarceration of Jose Padilla.

The man may be a terrorist, and he may be a threat, but if he is, let's prove it. Whatever else he may be, he is an American citizen and deserves the same constitutional rights as everyone else who was born in this country.

There can be no better comment on this terrifying trend than to quote Pastor Martin Niemoller, imprisoned by the Nazis for four years after criticizing their increasing assault on the civil liberties of German citizens:

"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats, but I was not a Social Democrat, so I did nothing. Then came the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did little. Then when they came for me, there was no one left to stand up for me."

If we allow our government to deny us our fundamental rights, whatever their excuse, then we have taken a big step away from the representative democracy which has made this country so great and towards totalitarianism.

And once we have started down that road, can we ever go back?

~ Tim Tyson

Television

Regarding "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?" by Alan Bock:

Thanks, Alan, for putting into words what my gut feeling is every time I hear people flipping out the slogans they've memorized or had burned into their brains by the television, as if they thought of them themselves, and as if they were anything more than manipulative efforts to get the public in line without thinking about anything.

Up here we get to see Canadian public TV (CBC), and the difference in reporting is striking. They actually have intellectual discussions about the benefits/costs of attacking other countries and rarely resort to the brainwashing tactics seen nearly 100% of the time on American TV, at least on this issue.

One thing that keeps recurring to me is that PhD psychologists and engineers are free in this country to devise any sort of message and delivery system, and to aim it at the weakest members of the culture – our children, elderly, anyone with a weakness – to accomplish whatever end might be desired. Mostly it's to buy something, but it's also used to push killing for peace, blind obedience, and "faith in the system," which as we all know keeps it in power longer, longer, longer.

~ John McGill, East Glacier, Montana

Contrived Divide

Regarding "What Does Regime Change in Iraq Really Mean?" by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX):

How is it that I can be a liberal Democrat from the Midwest and agree 100% with Representative Ron Paul, a conservative Republican from Texas?

Can it be that the whole left/right, Republican/Democrat, liberal/conservative divide is only a contrivance, encouraged by criminals to distract us while they pillage and plunder? Can it be that I am not a commie and he is not a fascist? Could it be that those of us who have no hidden agendas or special interests agree on much more than just a noninterventionist foreign policy, but we remain divided by misunderstanding and misinformation?

~ Pat Rathburn, Merrillville, Indiana

Clone Paul

Regarding "What Does Regime Change in Iraq Really Mean?" by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX):

I wish we could clone Ron Paul and send all the carbon copies to all the 50 states.

~ Chris Hewlett, Clinton, Mississippi

Collect a Congressional Coalition

Regarding "What Does Regime Change in Iraq Really Mean?" by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX):

Paul is on the right track but not being heard. Until Congress collects a coalition of members, and steps forward collectively, this foreign policy is going to remain off course for America.

Thomas W. McGuire, Montgomery, Alabama

Techniques of Propaganda

Regarding "The Interview That Never Happened" by Christopher Deliso:

Very good analysis, very worthwhile to have such a useful reminder of the methods used to mold the public mind.

~ RvW

Christopher Deliso replies:

Thanks.

When I was in the 3rd grade, a rather unorthodox teacher gave us lessons in the techniques of propaganda: the bandwagon method, repetition, the use of surveys and statistics, etc. It's a lesson I've retained to this day.

Ethnic Cleansing (I)

Regarding "The Interview That Never Happened" by Christopher Deliso:

This is an interesting and informative article. However, I must dispute one point that I feel discredits the author. Maybe I am ignorant of the truth, but I visited Bosnia, I know people who were rounded up and sent to camps and I know people who have lost family members to the "war." To say that the ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims is a "myth" is a lie, is unethical, and in my mind is a crime.

Maybe the author is stating is that the US/NATO did not involve itself with Bosnia or Kosovo or Yugoslavia until after the majority of ethnic cleansing took place, and then proceeded to use it as an excuse anyway. But it sounds far more like somebody who is either so knee-jerk in his reaction to war propaganda that he must dismiss the subtlety of truth that is being manipulated by the war mongers or somebody who has a blind spot for Serbian propaganda. Whatever the case, the author does the antiwar effort a disservice by refusing to acknowledge reality. The antiwar movement should be about pursuing justice and peace for all people. We should be able to distinguish between the manipulations of those who perpetuate injustice and those who suffer from it. We only further the suffering of the oppressed if we forget what has been done to them.

~ Omar Kathwari

Christopher Deliso replies:

Perhaps I was not clear enough, but I was referring to alleged ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians in 1999 as being the stuff of fiction.

Of course Bosnia was a different situation, but I have not investigated it sufficiently to talk about it – I defer to our resident Bosnian, Nebosja Malic.

However, while there were certainly atrocities carried out on all sides there, the media – and hired PR firms – still exaggerated them when necessary. I know some journalists here who have made a serious investigation and of the "8,000 dead" in Srbrenica, for example, they found that many had multiple ID's, and actually visiting the place discovered that 25 percent of the people from a representative number of cases were actually alive and well. They also found that a "sports hall" where hundreds of victims were allegedly murdered was a small gym big enough to hold about 20 people. So even there I would tentatively suggest that PR and the media helped make a tragedy even worse – by exaggerating it for the narrow interests of certain world players. But again, I defer to Nebosja.

Nebojsa Malic replies:

From the context of Deliso's article it is obvious that the ethnic cleansing myth he mentioned was referring to Kosovo. However, the text did say 'Bosnia,' causing a most unfortunate misunderstanding. There is no dispute that ethnic cleansing occurred in Bosnia – only to whom, to which extent, and whether it was part of an organized conspiracy. My column, Balkan Express, deals with these disputes on an ongoing basis, and explaining them would take too much space to try here.

Ethnic Cleansing (II)

Regarding "The Interview That Never Happened" by Christopher Deliso:

I am a United States Army Officer, and although I share your skepticism about need for a war with Iraq, your article lost all credibility, when you claimed Clinton created the "ethnic cleansing myth" to justify US actions in Kosovo. I just returned from Bosnia (Republic of Serbia) and 7 years after the war, there is evidence everywhere of both ethnic cleansing and an unparalleled medieval brutality that occurred during the 1992-1995 war. It is irrefutable what happened there – and this is from one who was in an area that was almost 100% Serb, and I heard their version of events almost everyday. What is sad is that the Europeans stood by and did largely nothing while the violence continued. That war could have been easily prevented, if someone, the US, would have stood up to the Bosnian Serbs and their backers in Belgrade.

War is a horrible, terrible thing. But so are, sometimes, the realities that lead us to war.

~ Yoshimi Huntanar

Nebojsa Malic replies:

Mr. Huntanar's noble sentiments are unfortunately misinformed. Europe was actively involved in the Bosnian War, and so was Washington; their influence, pressure and military aid were instrumental in starting, encouraging and ending the Wars of Yugoslav Succession. The notion that such wars could have been stopped or avoided had someone only stopped the Serbs early on is an excuse concocted by interventionists who championed U.S. involvement in the Balkans as a way of reasserting dominance in European affairs. In reality, problems cannot be solved by the very means of their creation.

Rendon Group

Regarding "The Interview That Never Happened" by Christopher Deliso:

Not a bad article except you omit several key facts about the Rendon group. Look at the people who run it – both Rendons worked for Jimmy Carter David Perkins worked as a Peace Corps volunteer.

You list their clients conveniently omitting the UN.

Of course the article would be a lot less convincing if you mentioned these facts – took me about two minutes to find these things out once I linked to the Rendon website. ...

~ Andrew Obin, Illinois

Christopher Deliso replies:

Yes, of course the UN and other clients are obviously there. I did not have space to include all of them!

Thou Shalt Not Commit Homicide

Regarding Michael M.'s letter of December 16:

After studying theology extensively and understanding the art of interpreting Biblical text, I would like to correct a misquotation of scripture commonly used by pacifist and antiwar activist.

The Bible does state "thou shalt not kill," that however is in the context of homicide.

As Jews and Christians believe in Ten Commandments and the teachings of the Old Testament, (Jews, however have yet to embrace New Testament teachings) we understand that if the commandment weren't in reference to homicide, then the Scriptures contradict themselves.

God in the Old Testament ordered the Israelite nation to overrun several kingdoms in the context of war and to kill them all and spare no one. Failure to see that there is a difference between homicide and killing in the act of war, is to suggest that God violated his own commandments. There was also death as judgment for particular sins in violation of the Law of Moses. ...

I'm sure this will never see print as it dispels the misinformed notions that God views killing in a generic context as well as the Bible needing to be applied in context and not changed to fit personal agendas.

~ Ray Ruiz

Horrendous Toy

I was looking for a place to voice my outrage and after calling the corporate office of J.C. Penney, I wanted to voice my disgust with an organization as well. I hope this is appropriate. J.C. Penny currently is selling a toy for kids ages 5 and older called "Forward Command Post." Essentially, it is a destroyed doll house with an American soldier (fully available with an American flag), guns, etc. The house (someone targeted by the US military) has been bombed out with not indication of where the inhabitants of this traditional house have gone. The house is currently being used as a command force for the military. I almost feel like there are no words for how horrendous this toy is. Not only does it glorify war but J.C. Penny is seeking to make a profit off of that! How on earth are we going to encourage young kids to play with a toy that depicts a dead family, destroyed house, and the trauma of hateful killing?

I just thought you all may be interested in checking out the website: www.jcpenney.com, then click on toys, then action figures, then military. It's called "Forward Command Post."

~ Kelly F.

Managing Editor Eric Garris replies:

Yes, we ran a story on it:
http://www.antiwar.com/comment/jcpenney.html

Thank you for calling them.

War Toys Should be Realistic

Regarding "J.C. Penney Catalog: Toy Soldier Commandeers Barbie's Dream House" by Eric Garris:

Regarding this toy [Forward Command Post], I think it is great. It's time to unromantisize war and show its realities include bombing people's houses and taking them over. The one I have a problem with is the one below:

"World Peace Keepers Battle Station
$24.99 Includes one 12"H poseable action figure, cannon with tripod and 40-pc. accessory set. Cannon has working lights and sound; requires 2 'AA' batteries, included. Accessory set includes everything needed to stage a battle. Plastic. 2 pounds Ages 3 and up."

Give me a break, war is peace?

~ J. Laskey

Iraq

After 9/11, like most Americans, I thought that we needed to kick some ass. But after I seen the devastation that we caused and the anti-American feelings we created I realized that we are approaching this all wrong.

I think President Bush is out of control and needs to back up and take a look at what he has done and the problem he may create for our future.

I believe that someone needs to be held accountable for 9/11 but stomping all over the world like a bully that has been kicked in the nuts is not the answer.

If I could, I would like the people of the world to know the most Americans wish nothing but peace and that most of us do not agree with what the United States government does around the world.

I am sure that Saddam Hussein is not an ideal leader, but after watching National Geographic Explorer the other day about Iraq and Iran I believe these people don't deserve what the U.S. government has in store for them.

I think peace loving people like myself and the people of the world need to communicate with each other and stop our leaders from telling us what is right and wrong.

~ David A., Michigan

WMD

The only weapons of mass destruction are nuclear. They can obliterate tens and hundreds of thousands in a flash, with no defense. Chemical and biological agents are not in this class. They have been around for the past half-century or more. Militarily, they have been found to be unreliable and of negligible effect. Their use would require the attacking side to burden its own troops with an additional 10-20 pounds of protective material, and even then they could even be counterproductive, as a retired military colonel disclosed on an O'Reilley Factor that about 40,000 of our own troops were disabled in Desert Storm by our own chemical agents. Their success, limited though tragic, during World War I was their surprise attack by the Germans. And even then, wasn't Hitler, then a corporal in the front lines, gassed on this occasion? As agents of terrorism, they are vicious and deadly. However, to be effective, they can only be used in congested areas, and again, according to all evidence for the past decades, they have taken place rarely and the number of victims in no way can be described as massive or catastrophic, lamentable of course even in a single case. Their delivery is chancy, there are defenses against them and in the case of public utilities installations, tunnels, bridges, ships, vigilance and counterintelligence are formidable obstacles in their path.

We have the nuclear bomb, and so does India, Pakistan, China, Russia, and maybe N. Korea. How come they are no threat, but Hussein, who has none, is? Nevertheless, scary sensationalism pictures Iraq, a basket case militarily and industrially, as capable of covering the skies of continents with poisonous gasses, and infecting the world with bubonic plague.

~ Louis Miccio