Ayoon Wa Azan (The Military-Industrial Complex)
Jihad el-Khazen Al-Hayat - 04/12/08//
Arab readers, or specifically this column readers, are divided over most salient issues, from the coming US administration, to the Palestinian rift, to the international financial crisis, among others.
I reply to the readers' letters regularly or as long as I am in London, but I rely on my secretary to type the replies as I do not type in Arabic. I have never belonged to the "typewriter" group, an allusion understood by the Lebanese and said in reference to writers of unsigned reports for the security apparatuses.
Today I have chosen some letters for publication, as I usually do once per month. As a matter of fact, mail is a spontaneous public opinion poll with all the consistency and contradictions it includes.
- According to reader Abdul Malak Al-Firash, all the Arabs wish to see their states possess nuclear weapons, the sign of power in our epoch. For states, as individuals, fear the powerful. This is why the West is now scared of Iran.
- Reader Hisham Al-Taki hopes that Ehud Olmert would not one day thank Barack Obama for rescuing Israel from Iran, the greatest strategic enemy, as he did when he thanked Bush for eliminating Iraq, one of the most serious threats to Israel.
By way of comment, I can add that Olmert will not become prime minister during Obama's term. He will be tried for corruption. Olmert's words to Bush is an ultimate assertion of our opinion that the war on Iraq was waged to serve Israeli interests. It was orchestrated by Likudist Americans whose allegiance is to Israel alone at the expense of their country's interests.
- Reader Nayif Al-Jugheiman asks: Does the US regime provoke then challenge crises to ensure its survival? Does it reap the benefits by defeating its enemies? Or has the regime anticipated future crises then turned to Afghanistan and Iraq to solve them?
In my opinion, the war on terror, as a crisis, has not solved any problem but has rather intensified terror around the world. I have chosen a recorded opinion by President Dwight Eisenhower who warned of the domination of the "military-industrial complex" over political decision-making in the US. This is exactly what has happened in the Bush administration with the increasing clout of the Israel lobby.
- Reader Abdullah Al-Husayni Al-Hashimi finds an additional reason for concern amidst the global financial crisis which is similar to the 1930s crisis. He asks: Can America's cowboy do anything before he leaves the White House on January 19, 2009?
As a reply, I would say that the cowboy's nails and teeth have been removed this time - the only thing left is for him to leave. I read an American request for his resignation.
- Reader Wadih Al-Rezz says the financial crisis is not international but rather American from the start. For him an 8% unemployment rate is not catastrophic as it generally hovers around 5% in prosperous days. He finds another world war at the end of the crisis unlikely.
- Reader Haytham Al-Shishani asks why we are concerned. What matters these days is the price of the sacrifices. The reader also asks why winter is late this year.
The topic that has attracted the largest number of letters over the past two weeks has to do with the Palestinian rift and the direct information I reported from Fatah, Hamas and Arab officials, without expressing any personal opinion. The letters have reflected the rift itself. They were divided between the supporters of this or that party. I also got some harsh letters unsuitable for publication. Here are the letters I will refer to:
- A reader who wrote under the name - "an ashamed Palestinian" - lamented the situation in Gaza, attributing the rift to Israel and stating that 80% of the Gazans want to emigrate.
- In the eyes of Mohammad Al-Muftah, the Palestinian situation is as bad as the Arab situation it mirrors. President Mahmoud Abbas is vulnerable, while the Americans and the Israelis have accepted Colonel Mohammad Dahlan only because they believe he will trigger a civil war, as Israel desires.
- Reader Abdul Nabi holds all the Palestinian factions responsible, most notably Hamas and Fatah.
Finally, I need to thank reader Abdullah bin Saoud Al-Juhni who sent me a website address and drew my attention to its publishing an article against Saudi Arabia bearing my name. I am not familiar with this website and I certainly did not write the article. I do not publish articles in any media other than Al-Hayat and I always sign my name. All the rest is mere lies fabricated by those whose barks are to no avail.
http://www.j-khazen.blogspot.com/
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