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border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="10"> </td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="510"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="64%">Letters</td> <td width="36%"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="middle" height="51" valign="center"> <div align="right"> <script language="javascript"> function showDate(){ var monthArray=["Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun", "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec"] var days=["Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday"] var d=new Date(); var month=d.getMonth() var day=d.getDate() var year=d.getYear() // document.write("Today is " + days[d.getDay()] + " ") document.write(monthArray[month]) document.write(" ") document.write(day) document.write(", ") if(d.getYear()<2000){document.write(year+1900)} if(d.getYear()>2000){document.write(year)} } </script> <script language="javascript">showDate()</script> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="65%"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="406"> <tr> <td width="406"> Please write to us at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/mailto:letters@atimes.com"> letters@atimes.com</a> Lengthy letters run the risk of being cut. <hr> I was misquoted in [the Inter Press Service] article <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EC27Ak01.html " target="_blank"> 'Silver bullets' that kill, and kill again</a>, by Cristina Hernandez-Espinoza (Mar 27). I told Hernadez-Espinoza that exposure to dangerous levels of DU [depleted uranium] is a concern only for soldiers who are in vehicles that are struck with DU penetrators, or individuals who subsequently enter such vehicles for extended periods of time. I said that about half of US soldiers who were in vehicles that were hit by DU munitions in friendly-fire incidents during the 1991 Gulf War had survived, that the health of these soldiers was being monitored by the VA [Department of Veterans' Affairs], and that they have experienced no adverse health effects that can be attributed to DU. The soldiers who died were killed by the direct effects of the attacks; their deaths had nothing to do with the radioactivity or toxicity of DU. Prof Steve Fetter College Park, Maryland (Apr 7, '03) I want to thank you for the insightful commentary <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5, by Henry C K Liu. In it he notes: "The US must bring the war to a successful conclusion within a matter of weeks, or it will be fighting a defensive war on all fronts. There is only one thing worse than an empire, and that is an empire that fails to conquer a small nation." Interestingly in that regard, the US government announced today that it is not necessary to win the war decisively after all. The new plan is to form the Iraqi interim "government" without waiting for an official Iraqi surrender. Sounds eerily like Vietnam. V Makrides (Apr 7, '03) Henry C K Liu, Saddam [Hussein] is a "freedom fighter"? Please go ask any Iraqi living here in the United States or in Iraq, who is not being shadowed by Saddam's henchmen, if Saddam is a "freedom fighter" [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5]. It seems China, Russia, Germany and France want the United States to fail at this war. Why? Because [those] countries can't stand it that they don't have the power or might to stand up militarily to the United States. Steve Miller (Apr 7, '03) I have only a single opinion about the latest commentary by Henry C K Liu [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5]. I found his piece regarding Iraq, the war, the US, and most of his references or hypotheses in general to be rather immature and full of the trite language of the uninformed. The editorial reminds me of the child who throws every possible answer out there. They do this to cover the fact that they know none of the answers. I only advise he go back and actually read Resolution 1441, since he obviously has not. The bias being shown by your editorialists over the last three months in specific is horrendous. Being from a family with more then 35 years living in a cosmopolitan and informed Hong Kong, I expected more from this publication. Mathew Rhoades San Francisco, California (Apr 7, '03) I just wanted to let you know what an excellent article I found this to be [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5] by Henry C K Liu. I don't think he was wrong in any of his observations. It was truly a pleasure to have read such a well-balanced and -thought-out commentary. It is rather sad that such truth cannot be readily found in the US media. My complements to Liu and your paper for such fine journalism. You are a credit to your trade. Stephen Homer Los Angeles, California (Apr 7, '03) If you want Asia Times Online to be taken seriously, you might want to consider not using any more items from Henry C K Liu [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5]. To refute every point of error or absurdity in his article would result in something longer than his original essay. Surely you can do better. Suggestion: Reread his article six months from now as a test of his ability to prognosticate. A reader (Apr 7, '03) An excellent, cogent article [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html" target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>,  Apr 5]. Although it is not possible to agree with [Henry C K Liu], I admire the breadth of his understanding and the sincerity of his position. I congratulate you for having such an excellent spokesman on your team. Carlos Urbina Irving, Texas (Apr 7, '03) [Henry C K] Liu's article in regards to the cost of the war in Iraq is correct. We should have just nuked them [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5]. R P Fredette (Apr 7, '03) Could [Henry C K] Liu [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5] be pushing an agenda? Will the sky fall on America and Britain on account of a fatally flawed, naive attempt to relieve the Iraqi people of a vicious dictator, to replace a heinous regime (why does Liu refer to refer to it as an "alleged repressive regime" - his fourth paragraph - is he not yet convinced?) with one of/by/for the Iraqi people, to remove one of the world's research and supply centers for weapons of mass destruction, to put all amoral despots and purveyors of terror on notice that their actions will not, in contrast to pre-September11, 2001, go unnoticed and unaddressed? Is it not likely that the coalition forces, at the outskirts of Baghdad as Liu's piece was published, will prevail quickly? Is it not plausible that American intentions [are] noble in comparison to war-detractor nations who would commit neither blood nor money to relieve the Iraqi people from a regime they obviously could not unseat on their own? (Does Liu not recall the results of Shi'ite and Kurd uprisings against the current Iraqi regime? Yes, it was a serious error by the 1991 coalition to not finish the job then.) Is he unaware or simply tolerant of torture chambers, summary executions and the other repressive methods of the Iraqi regime? What is the evidence for a motivated indigenous Iraqi guerrilla movement? Is an attempt by outside Islamic forces to maintain the status quo within Iraq, thereby perpetuating oppression of the Iraqi people, somehow morally superior to the actions of the coalition? Henry Scovern, MD Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Apr 7, '03) Henry C K Liu's April 5 commentary, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, was stunning in its simplistic analysis and rambling construction. Let me quibble with just one point, but one that is indicative of his lack of critical thought. Liu writes, "To dismiss widespread national resistance against foreign invasion as the handiwork of coercive units of a repressive regime insults the intelligence of neutral observers. All military organizations operate on the doctrine of psychological coercion. No one will voluntarily place him/herself in harm's way unless they are more apprehensive of what would happen were they to do nothing." Really, Liu? I'm sure that is news to the Iraqis fighting, and losing quickly, to America's all-volunteer armed forces. Joel Christopher Wausau, Wisconsin (Apr 7, '03) I just finished reading the article by Henry C K Liu and was amazed at how many errors he had in his article [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak01.html " target="_blank"> The war that may end the age of superpower</a>, Apr 5]. Do 40 cruise missiles really cost US$1 billion? Does that war in fact cost $2.5 billion per day? It seems Liu has a political message and has used half-truths and opinions to express his distorted view. Incidentally, World War II lasted several years and cost the equivalent of $1 trillion in today's dollars. That war didn't ruin the US and this one won't either. Anon (Apr 7, '03) [Pavel] Ivanov has missed the point [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED05Ak05.html " target="_blank"> The place where the walls are shooting</a>, Apr 5]. As an American I can tell you that the war against Iraq is a response to terrorism, not exporting American ideas. We have been at war since September 11, 2001, with or without the United Nations. We are disgusted with the UN's incompetence, hypocrisy and unwillingness to follow through with its own resolutions. I personally would like to kick the UN off American soil. Paris would be a good place for it. Matthew Rensen (Apr 7, '03) I am impressed by the good qualities of your articles. This is the best online news site I have found so far. Please keep up the good work. Sherry Ottawa, Ontario (Apr 7, '03) Regarding  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED04Ak07.html " target="_blank"> Cluster bombs liberate Iraqi children</a>, Apr 4 by Pepe Escobar: What, no pictures? Why aren't you guys reporting on suicide bombers who are blowing themselves up [among] American troops? Or how about Saddam [Hussein]'s Lion Cubs? Would you be in Iraq reporting today had Saddam just stepped down? Whatever happened to objective journalism? R W Covello (Apr 7, '03) Mongols and Manchus are Chinese nationals. Their governments are just dynasties of China. China's Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Taiwan are their territories. They are also Chinese territories, because Mongols and Manchus are Chinese too. Whether or not they are masters or slaves, that is China's internal affair. Instead of peacefully withdrawing from occupied Kashmir, Nagaland, Sikkim and Assam and allowing Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Harijans or Untouchables and Indian Tibetans to establish their own countries, India has been trying to interfere with other countries' internal affairs, and blaming others for India's own historical social and economical problems. Instead of allocating resources to improve people's life, India has been wasting its resources on developing weapons of mass destruction. The existence of India's caste system proved that India does not have much democracy or equality. China is not a perfect country. Neither is India. For people who like competitions, Olympics are the most legitimate place for a fair competition. I challenge India to host one Olympic Games, or at least one Asian Games, to show off their cities. Have we ever seen any oppressed women win a gold Olympic medal? That indisputable fact should silence all the misconceptions about Indian or Chinese women's status. Other than a bunch of hot air, hard evidence speaks for itself. I noticed there are more India writers than Chinese contributors here. I hope Asia Times Online is not biased towards India. Or it better changes the name to India Times. Frank Seattle (Apr 7, '03) As a former Asia resident for more than 30 years (Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, etc), I wanted to say how much I appreciate receiving your Asia Times Online. It really keeps me in touch with what is happening in a part of the world that I know and love so much. I hope that I will continue to receive it. Sanford J Kornberg (Apr 4, '03) I was quoted extensively in the article<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED03Ak07.html " target="_blank"> Coming to terms with the 'great equalizers' </a> written by Ferry Biedermann and published in your newspaper (Asia Times Online) on April 3. While the content of my analysis comparing Palestinian terror tactics with those employed by the Iraqi regime was reflected accurately in this article, terms were attributed to me that I would never use. For example, in the article, I am quoted as referring to the Palestinian "intifada". This term was coined deliberately in the public relations effort in order to falsely portray a carefully planned terror campaign as a "popular uprising", and therefore, it is not in my vocabulary. Similarly, I never refer to Palestinian terrorists and suicide bombers as "militants" - this is a blatant example of Orwellian double-speak that seeks to disguise the immoral inherent in the deliberate murder of civilians. Prof Gerald M Steinberg Director, Program on Conflict Management and Negotiation Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan, Israel (Apr 4, '03) Dear [Pepe] Escobar: Each month Saddam [Hussein] allowed 5,000 children to die because he diverted oil-for-food funds to his military's use [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED04Ak07.html " target="_blank">Cluster bombs liberate Iraqi children</a>, Apr 4]. So, if a few hundred children died (which is a great tragedy), nevertheless thousands of lives have been saved. Furthermore, every time a stone is turned over in the regime, we find new evidence of unimaginable treachery and savagery. The Iraqis were far likelier to have caused the death of those children than the Americans were. The regime of Saddam will do absolutely anything to win this war. You are doing a great disservice to your readers and to freedom lovers everywhere by your misinformation. Molly Meade San Francisco, California (Apr 4, '03) The editorial staff of Asia Times Online must have been asleep at the wheel lately, as they have allowed Marc Erikson's recent columns to endanger ATol's reputation as staunch defenders of the Islamic fundamentalist way and the Iraqi Information Ministry's version of the truth [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED04Ak08.html " target="_blank">Baghdad: Outside in and inside out</a>, Apr 4]. Perhaps Pepe Escobar can take a break from his moonlighting as ghostwriter for the speeches of Iraq's most popular TV drama ("Our Dead Leader and His Two Dead Sons") and refute Marc's obviously flawed assessment of the progress of the allied forces. If I hadn't been enlightened by ATol's crack team of investigative journalists, I might have considered [the April 4] Erikson piece the finest analysis of the allied battle plan in print. However, having been a faithful ATol reader, I am fully aware that all US military briefings are propaganda, and the Iraqi briefings are absolute truth. Dave Docherty Atlanta, Georgia (Apr 4, '03) I just read Baghdad: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED04Ak08.html " target="_blank"> Outside in and inside out </a>[Apr 4] by Marc Erikson and smiled at his analysis of the great, historical military maneuver by General Tommy Franks. A letter to the editor does not lend enough space to cover all things worthy of smiling about, ie "the University of Texas drop-out" and "how did the [coalition] get so far so fast". However, I must ask, Do "analysts" write for self-amusement? "After being written off by many as a failure when the US advance on Baghdad paused, General Tommy Franks, the University of Texas drop-out and 'muddy boots' soldier who never made it to West Point, appears to have carried out a maneuver to outflank the Republican Guard on the outskirts of Baghdad that military historians will write about for years to come." We "outflanked the Republican Guard". Is he serious? The United States is the most powerful, wealthiest, most technologically advanced nation the Earth has ever known. In addition, we have built up one of the most formidable military forces in recent history and staged it in the back yard of a poorly prepared, ill-equipped and morally defeated, ragtag army that has been isolated, systematically disarmed and de-funded for more than 12 years! Of course we will outflank them! However, what about our flank? Even if this administration does not achieve a second term, our nation, the world will be paying for this war in blood ... And the "unshared" sacrifice to our children, elderly, middle class, and poor? A topic that very few want to discuss now, or later. Outflanked? Yes, I believe we were. lbrodie San Francisco, California (Apr 4, '03) I just read a great article about General [Tommy] Franks and his battle plan [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED04Ak08.html " target="_blank">Baghdad: Outside in and inside out</a>, Apr 4]. I was impressed with your insight and knowledge of detail. Kudos to the author, Marc Erikson. We need more journalists like him. Ronnie (Apr 4, '03) Gregory Sinaisky is a dreamer [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED03Ak02.html " target="_blank">Detecting disinformation, without radar</a>, Apr 3]. I don't believe all that I read and his article was pure fiction. Anon (Apr 4, '03) As a US citizen trying to survive life at Ground Zero of the disinformation assault, I cheered Gregory Sinaisky's article [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED03Ak02.html " target="_blank">Detecting disinformation, without radar</a>, Apr 3]. I, too was puzzled by the Basra reportage. First gunfire [was] exchanged between the Iraqi militia and the British "in the vicinity of" civilians who were "waiting" at a bridge. The civilians then wisely took cover. Within hours, it was Iraqis [who] "fired on" their own people (a phrase we are conditioned to believe without question). Then they "fired at" their own people. By the following day they had "fired into the crowd of fleeing civilians, and one woman was severely wounded". (Note the passive, neutral wording here. This is a tip-off that the poor woman was probably not wounded by an Iraqi because if she had been, no embedded reporter would shield an Iraqi that way. Rosamond Fogg Hermosa Beach, California (Apr 4, '03) I have recently discovered your website, which is a welcome relief from the narrow and dysfunctional perspective of the US media. Many of us are tired of the football analogies and almost-gloating coverage of the most recent military "advances". Even those in favor of the war should be able to realize that there is little to be pleased about. Since even establishment supporters of the war have acknowledged the problems being created, why not cover these things? It is beyond disturbing to see the extent to which dissent is either not tolerated or is viewed as unpatriotic in the most powerful country the world has ever seen. Bill USA (Apr 4, '03) Yesterday I read that al-Jazeera TV had announced that its correspondents in Iraq would no longer be reporting from there, one having been expelled by the Iraqis and another forbidden to report. Now why on earth would they do that? I thought. Then I read on the website of the Qatar News Agency that their emir had just received a phone call from George W Bush. Coincidence? Victoria Brago (Apr 4, '03) On yesterday's evening TV news, I was shown "shocking" video of a "torture chamber" uncovered by US forces in a southern Iraqi town. Also on TV yesterday, I heard about the deaths of an Iraqi family at a US checkpoint. I saw mushroom clouds appearing over an Iraqi city. As terrible as torture is, what we are doing, what is being done in the name of "freedom", is appallingly worse! And now there is talk of waging urban warfare by simply leveling the city with bulldozers! This war was illegally started and the waging of this war is a moral outrage. It's a crime of historic dimensions. This war must stop. Bob Fleischer Groton, Massachusetts (Apr 4, '03) The letter from Frank below is a little off in its facts. Regarding J&K [Jammu and Kashmir] and parts of Pakistani Punjab, they belonged to the Sikh kingdoms with [their] capital in Lahore. Just before independence, J&K was nominally ruled by the Dogra rulers who opted to be part of India under Pakistani invasion. If we want to go further back in time, at some point under Emperor Ashoka and the Maurya/Gupta dynasties, India or Bharat extended from Afghanistan to Burma. The only parts that did not belong to Bharat then were the present-day Indian southern states ... Having said that, your comparison of China and India is fair but selective. There is no question about the degree of freedom available in India (be it personal, religious, etc). A case in point is SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome], where the Chinese government chose not to report it. So does China have any independent media? The problem in India is that of economic freedom (or lack of it). The Indian government has chosen a misguided policy of "equality of result" rather than "equality of opportunity". So India has quota systems and reservations and so forth to uplift so-called disadvantaged people. It is very questionable whether this policy can work, but it is in place because of political inertia to change it; that also includes vast opportunities of corruption and patronage. AP (Apr 4, '03) This is in response to Frank [letter below] and comments about Jayanthi Iyengar's article  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ED01Df01.html " target="_blank"> Wrong turn seen in China's economic roadmap</a>, Apr 1. [Asia Times Online's] comment below his letter stating that the above author is a female would have addressed some of the letter writer's anxiety. I was waiting for Jayanthi to respond to the letter, but either she did not get to read the letter or it was magnanimity or ambivalence on her part. No doubt that overall status of women in India leaves a lot to be desired but they have excelled throughout history and present times. Frank's view of Indian women may have been tainted by reading negative articles. Indian women have occupied the highest elected office of prime minister, scientists, Speakers of parliament, astronauts and the list goes on. My opinion of American women is not based on Jerry Springer shows. Reality check for Frank, two of the regular writers for ATol are Jayanthi Iyengar and Sudha Ramachandran, both women and Indian. Not many women writers from elsewhere. D Bhardwaj (Apr 4, '03) Frank's claim (letter below) that "China's [former] colonial masters, the Mongols and Manchus, are Chinese nationals" is nothing but self-serving Chinese communist propaganda. The contempt and distrust that Mongols, Tibetans and Uighurs have for the Chinese is well known and well documented. Frank is absolutely right when he says that ironically "[former] slaves" [Hans] are now occupying their masters' land ... It is time to return the land back to the original owner [Tibetans and Mongols]". As for the Taiwanese, they have not been ruled by the Manchus or the Hans for more than 100 years. In contrast, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Kashmiris of the Chinese- and Pakistani-occupied Kashmir were part of India up until the late 1940s. Frank's remarks about Nagas and Assamese are quite revealing and explain the rationale for four-decade-long Chinese military support for insurgencies in India's northeastern states of Nagaland and Assam. M Malik (Apr 4, '03) "Anti-US" Americans and the people of the world are not [so] naive or gullible to believe that this unjust war is being forced to "liberate" Iraqis. The Israeli occupation of Palestine is far more brutal and immoral and has flourished for 40-plus years thanks to undying support from the White House. If you're so worried about liberating "oppressed" people, try starting with the Palestinians. Adil Imtiaz Khan (Apr 4, '03) USA We Americans are bombarded with images of the war in Iraq on a daily basis. In the pictures, we are winning, and the mean old Saddam Hussein is losing. No matter what happens Americans are seen as the "Good Guys", and the Iraqis are "Evil". We are told that America is freeing the Iraqi people, by bombing the cities where they live. When asked how a 4,000-pound bomb can free Iraqi civilians, we are called anti- Americans and Saddam lovers. These days the streets of America are as oppressive as the streets of Baghdad. Just as citizens in Baghdad could not speak out against Hussein, Americans are wary about speaking out against the [George W] Bush administration. Anita L Wills (Apr 4, '03) There is nothing I can do if people (see letters below) try to excuse the My Lai Massacre by US soldiers. William Calley was excused from his murderous act with a pardon from [the late] US president Richard Nixon. Just remember that former US secretary of defense Robert McNamara said that 3.2 million Vietnamese were killed, and he said it was the wrong thing to do. The Vietnamese nationalists took more than 30 years to free their homeland - first from Japanese colonialism, [then] French colonialism and then from US colonialism. Chiu Canada (Apr 4, '03) Gregory Sinaisky, great work with <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED03Ak02.html " target="_blank">Detecting disinformation, without radar</a>, Apr 3. Nice to see that critics of such caliber exist in times when Faux (Fox) News' shameless, racist, illogical, unethical and deceitful propaganda is beamed all over the United States and Canada. The images of children shouting slogans in the favor of Saddam [Hussein] in Arabic are portrayed as a warm welcome by such networks. Anyone with a little intellect can detect that such networks are in bed with the White House and on the Pentagon's payroll. A Choudhry (Apr 3, '03) The article<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED03Ak02.html " target="_blank"> Detecting disinformation, without radar</a>, Apr 3, by Gregory Sinaisky is an excellent statement to shed the light of new world deception. Duc Anh Trinh California, USA (Apr 3, '03) From what I gather, the 13th-century Iraqi king Bahram Jour was a successful disciple of Sun [ <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED02Ak02.html " target="_blank"> Sun Tzu: The real father of 'shock and awe'</a>, Apr 2]. Having a reputation as a drinker, womanizer and a lover of food, he apparently ignored advisors begging him to change his ways and attend to an invading Turkish army until announcing one day his intention to go off on a sporting hunting trip with 7,000 horse archers, each accompanied with dogs and bugles. After sending cheery messages back to Baghdad of bagging lots of game, he suddenly ordered his army to march by night and hide by day until he positioned his forces on a palisade above the Turkish bivouac area, which numbered 300,000 troops. At dawn he ordered each man to blow his bugle and release the game that fled towards the bivouac area. The attacking forces panicked and he decimated them. He then went back to Baghdad and, after beheading a few traitors, declared a tax holiday of thanksgiving to God and promptly returned to food, drink and women. Anon (Apr 3, '03) I just read some of the letters posted to Asia Times Online. It seems that there are kooks all over the world ... yes, even the USA. The large preponderance of anti-USA letters are apparently from people who are ignorant or most likely wish to ignore the atrocities that Saddam Hussein did to his own people. I would say to these people, try living under a regime such as the one Saddam built up over his own people. Now that he is gone - and he is gone - maybe Syria would be a more appropriate place for you to establish residence. Backing the regime of Saddam does not promote freedom or peace. Being anti-war - anti-USA - will certainly not stop the Saddams of this world from oppressing the people in their own countries. US Citizen, AWP, US Navy (Retired) (Apr 3, '03) Half of all Americans surveyed believe Saddam Hussein was a September 11, 2001, attacker! This is an outrage, and a product of government-sponsored lies! There was a recent presidential address where [George W Bush] referred to "al-Qaeda like" units operating in Iraq. There was also the widely circulated planted story that Saddam ordered nuclear material from Niger. This was totally fraudulent. We get 90 percent propaganda here, so your newsletter is very welcome. R T Carpenter Florida (Apr 3, '03) I am an Indian who lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The vitriolic attacks on the USA while it goes around liberating the people of Iraq and making the world a safe place are disgusting. Yes, the USA erred in Vietnam but let's look at its present conduct. The reason for embedded reporters is to present a transparent picture of the war. One can hardly rely on al-Jazeera, which is busy inflaming Arab passions, or the Iraqi state-owned service to provide a true picture. The USA is at war and it is highly commendable that the US mainstream media have been able to inform the world about the truth and stand behind its commander in chief. One can hardly expect CNN or Fox to be backing Saddam Hussein, which is incidentally what the anti-war protesters are effectively doing. Dharmayudh Singh USA (Apr 3, '03) You guys are so far out in left field you must have not heard the dinner bell. Disinformation abounds on your site. Saddam [Hussein] is a murdering child killer. Any excuse to rid the world of his DNA is appropriate. RLS (Apr 3, '03) Regarding Malik's letter [below]: As a frequent traveler to China, Malik should be aware that China's colonial masters, the Mongols and Manchus, are Chinese nationals now. India's [former] colonial masters are not Indians, are they? That is the major difference between China's Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Indian- occupied Kashmir, Nagaland, Sikkim and Assam. The British occupied India as well as part of China before. Now they have been kicked out of these two countries. [Former] slaves are now trying to inherit their master's occupied land. That is wrong. The land never belonged to that colonial master in the first place. It is time to return the land back to the original owner. If the resources allocated to inherit their master's glory were used to improve people's life, we would not have these discussions. Just as Malik noticed that China has adopted capitalist economic policies, which have improved people's life substantially. Frank Seattle, Washington (Apr 3, '03) What happened in My Lai was caused by Viet Cong, who cowardly hid behind people and shot at Americans. I was a soldier, I know Viet Cong too well. However, [My Lai] was nothing compared to the 1954-55 Land and Field Revolution. Killer Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese communists dau to or tortured and killed over half a million of people in North Vietnam. In 1955 Viet Cong killed hundreds of thousands of people in South Vietnam in a so-called "Viet Minh Uprising". In 1968 Viet Cong killed [thousands] of people in Hue. And many, many more. Bui Hung Viet (Apr 3, '03) I am an anti-communist Vietnamese. Here is my reply to Chiu's letter [below]. The My Lai incident should be compared to the Viet Cong's Hue massacre in 1968. Lieutenant [William] Calley, the one who was responsible for the [My Lai] incident, was convicted by a US criminal court of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison. Where are the Viet Cong responsible for the Hue massacre now? Anon (Apr 3, '03) Re: Jason Leopold's <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED02Ak03.html " target="_blank"> Rummy's flawed war plan</a>, Apr 2. I see that you have your own Peter Arnett contributing to your paper. I have been reading your website faithfully but I now think I will delete it from my list of Favorites as of today. If we would have had media like we have today we would have lost World War II. I am absolutely convinced of that. I consider many of the media to be equal to the enemy our gallant men are fighting in Iraq. Perhaps they are even more dangerous. Print this - if you dare. Ruth Lindemann Colorado Springs, Colorado (Apr 2, '03) Thank you for your excellent commentary. I am afraid to say any more. Anon (Apr 2, '03) Interesting article [<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED02Ak05.html" target="_blank">Iraq vs Vietnam: Similarities and differences</a>, Apr 2]. We are not fighting for the "hearts and minds" of Iraqis. That notion is archaic bull that was shoveled by Richard Nixon, and there is no connection between his bull and America's current conduct. You must have missed the past 30 years of evolving Americans' view of themselves. No spokesmen in America have made that statement in regards to activity in Iraq, nor will they. We do not want Iraqis' hearts or minds. We believe their hearts and minds cannot be owned by a tyrant, nor do we wish to own them. We want them to be able to do with their hearts and minds as they as individuals choose - except for mass-murdering innocent persons. Although we do not want to own their hearts and minds, we do wish to liberate them to rationality. That is our wish, and it is only a wish. What we will do, and not in a wishful manner, is rid them of danger to the world, and show as ridiculous their scapegoating us for their own failures. We will do that, and you can take that to the intellectual bank. As to their hatred of us, it will soon be lessened. Anon (Apr 2, '03) S Lange, your letter [below] - and many others' expressing similar views so freely on our capitalistically created Internet - leaves a sour taste of suspicion in my mouth. Could you possibly be acquainted with one of Saddam [Hussein]'s secret cells located in your comfortable and beautiful state of Minnesota? If not, I, and so many loyal Americans, think it's time you and your ilk adopt a country (or return) that best suits your distorted sense of freedom. A Proud American (Apr 2, '03) I am an Indian who lives in Portland, Oregon. I am outraged by the bias that American TV channels like CNN, MSNBC and Fox News show in their coverage of the war with Iraq. My American friends are just and well-meaning people. Opinions about the war are almost equally divided between the for and against camps. Unfortunately, the American media are portraying a one-sided picture of American opinion. Even more surprising is the fact that the local channels in Oregon have been more fair and balanced in their war coverage than big corporate media like CNN. Congratulations to Asia Times Online for bringing balanced coverage and analysis of the events. Krishna Oregon (Apr 2, '03) This refers to Frank's disparaging comments about India's "unrealistic ambitions", its economy, media and the status of women in India [letter below]. He seems ignorant of the status of women in Indian society and politics in general and media in particular. It's about time for Frank to pay a visit to India. As a frequent visitor to China, I have noticed marked improvement in living standards over the last two decades. In fact, the Chinese Communist Party remains in power only because of the capitalist economic policies that it has pursued in the post-Mao period. [Also], Frank forgets that no woman has ever been allowed to occupy an important position in the Chinese government, apparently because of the havoc wreaked by Mao's wife, Madam Jiang Qing. As for his "hope [that the India-China] competition is not about the inheritance of their colonial master's dominance in the area", I find myself in complete agreement with him. I hope the Chinese government would give up its "unrealistic hegemonic ambitions" of restoring the boundaries of China's colonial masters in Asia - the Mongols and Manchus. Beijing should peacefully withdraw from Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia because the days of empire-building are long over. China should not make outrageous claims to the territories of Tibetans, Taiwanese and Uighurs because these people, much like the Chinese, were colonized and subjugated by the alien Mongol and Manchu empires. After all, India has never laid claim to Burma, Malaya, or Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) because they were part of the British Indian Empire! M Malik (Apr 2, '03) Chiu [letter below] has brought up the subject of [what happened in] My Lai, Vietnam. He will not get a response from any anti-communist Vietnamese. Unlike the noble Iraqis currently fighting for their homeland, a minority of Vietnamese, mostly Catholics, fought with America against their own people. These same shameless Vietnamese live in America today, where they refuse to acknowledge the atrocities committed by Americans on Vietnamese soil. To acknowledge those atrocities is to conclude that Vietnam under communism will never be as bad as Vietnam under American military occupation. Instead, these Vietnamese will always bring up fictitious American motives of "freedom and democracy" to counteract the reality that Vietnam has many real challenges to face after the devastating American War, and that the communists are the only ones to face up to those challenges. Bao Dinh Nguyen (Apr 2, '03) Pepe Escobar wrote (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED01Ak05.html" target="_blank">The Gaza or Grozny choice</a>, Apr 1) that to win the war the US and UK need either the "Gaza option or the Grozny option". He also said suicide bombing near Najaf is proof that the "Palestinization" of Iraq is in full swing. He referred to the repeated calls for jihad from Islamic scholars in al-Azhar in Cairo, the Grand Mufti of Syria and elsewhere. First, let me make note that "jihad" here obviously means physical battle, because [Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat several years ago called for jihad to "free Jerusalem" and then later said it doesn't mean that when he saw he was taped. Just as in Gaza when Israeli tanks enter it is because of the persistent terrorist attacks aimed openly against Israeli civilian men, women and children by terrorists who find a welcome haven and moral support on Israel's doorsteps in Arafat's controlled areas, here the US and UK invaded Iraq because having a cruel dictatorship is one thing, as long as it doesn't impact dangerously on other countries. Iraq invaded Kuwait and Iran in the past, showing its desire for territory and power. And now there was intelligence that indicated Iraq was accumulating weapons of mass destruction and indeed Saddam [Hussein] used poison gas on his own countrymen and fired missiles at cities of a country not even fighting him in 1991. Liberty and the removal of a tyrant that tortured so many of his own people to death to a greater degree would be a bonus, but is not the main goal here. It's a problem, though, if Arab media run by their dictatorships blatantly ignore the other side of the story and always only see it as Muslim versus infidel. Ben New York (Apr 1, '03) I am writing about the article <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ED01Df01.html " target="_blank"> Wrong turn seen in China's economic roadmap</a>, by Jayanthi Iyengar, Apr 1. In his article - I presume the author is a male based on Indian women's poor status - Jayanthi stated that "until now, the Chinese have won nothing but accolades for their economic performance". I would like to ask Jayanthi what he meant by "won"? Is there a competition going on between India and China? If so, I hope the competition is about improving people's life. I hope it is a competition about peace and prosperity. That it is about the equality of human beings. I hope the competition is not about the inheritance of their colonial master's dominance in the area. I hope it is not about the territory claims of some useless land. If you have been to China recently, you would find out that China's economic performance has improved people's life greatly. I hope Indian will try to catch up on that subject instead of other unrealistic ambitions. Frank Seattle, Washington (Apr 1, '03) Editor's note: Jayanthi Iyengar is a female journalist. I read with alarm your article <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/ED01Ad01.html " target="_blank"> Jackhammer breakthrough in Hong Kong</a> [Apr 1]. As a scientist I know that a series of small blows is eventually much more effective than a single hard knock. This is why golfers, for example, try to get the ball into that little hole with several strokes of their clubs rather one single hit. Anyway, enough about golf, I am concerned about the unity of Hong Kong. I am afraid that the repeated impact of this new jackhammer bit will have the cumulative effect of splitting Hong Kong suddenly into two parts, despite the "holding together effect" of the underground network described in the article. One part might float off into the South China Sea and the other part might stick to mainland China. This would be most inconvenient for residents, especially when they wanted to visit their friends, or go shopping. I recommend banning this dangerous new drill bit and using single, large impacts instead, possibly from explosives. The Americans might help Hong Kong out here, as they seem to be experts in delivering big bangs into the middle of cites without hurting anyone. I am sure they would have a few cruise missiles left over they could place under the direction of the Hong Kong Municipal Authority Department (MAD for short) to help the city maintain its infrastructure. Paul Stapleton Samoa (Apr 1, '03) Asia Times Online seems the brightest light remaining on this dark planet. It appalls me how anyone could decry a journalist like Pepe Escobar as offensively one-sided, as if there were no irony in the fact that the English-language media are dominated by a dubious trickle of official US press releases. The English-language press by and large contains only soft tokens of dissent at present (usually sentimentalism as opposed to Escobar's incisive analysis) as a counterpoint to a barrage of pseudo-patriotism, logic-chopping propaganda and desperate lying rhetoric like "the war is going extremely well" (as said by Prime Minister [John Howard] of Australia - really, John, that much better than just fine, despite disappointments and a prospect of stalemate for months?). Your critics on this letters page seem to lack any sense of perspective. There is another word that doesn't sit well next to democracy, besides "propaganda" and "censorship", and that's "hypocrisy", as in, "we can't tolerate other views now; we're seriously fighting for freedom". Simon Floth Uralla, Australia (Apr 1, '03) Thank you for supplying objective news about this war, as the news I receive in the US is obviously slanted and extremely biased. Anon (Apr 1, '03) Duong Thi Phuong Hang says he does not understand why the Vietnamese people support the Iraqis [letter below]. Well, I just read that American soldiers shot up a carload of Iraqi women and children, killing seven and wounding others. This brings back memories of My Lai in Vietnam, where American soldiers massacred over 500 women and children and some old men during the Vietnam War. Vietnamese people can very well understand the suffering the Iraqi people are going through. I hope some time in the future the world will bring those in the United States responsible for such actions to face trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Chiu Canada (Apr 1, '03) I like the use of the term of Palestinization in (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030801125200/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EC27Ak05.html " target="_blank">The 'Palestinization' of Iraq</a>, Mar 27, by [Pepe] Escobar) and would like to promote it as the word that can unite different people, in different countries and different cultures. In general and in my view, this term perfectly describes many questionable methods that are used to globalize this world on many platforms. However, we should find this term not only in reference to the literal/brutal killings but also when analyzing a more subtle indoctrination of our minds by the corporate media in those supposedly very democratic/free countries. Only in this wide perspective people can understand better the common motives fueled by the extreme greed and arrogance that are substituting the empty space of egocentrism - without love and respect for others. Slawomir Poplawski Canada (Apr 1, '03) All citizens must simply join hands and march out to the tanks and demand that they get out of their (Iraqis') country. Worked for [Mahatma] Gandhi. Worked for Martin Luther King Jr. I bet on a large scale, it will work. Russ Conner Mesa, Arizona (Apr 1, '03) Let Saddam [Hussein] stay in Baghdad and be mayor of Baghdad, seal him off and start pumping his oil wells dry - that will bring him out. Anon (Apr 1, '03) Every war has its psychological side, which is a determining factor for the final result - like in sports. The collective inside in the situation develops slowly, but than there are marked turning points. In World War II, after the battle of Stalingrad, everyone, the soldiers and the civilians in Germany, knew that the war was lost. Still, Hitler could hold on for two years as a ruthless tyrant. In the Vietnam War, things were more complicated. In the early '60s, the Americans moved in to support a faltering government in the South. When this did not work out, the military and political leadership of the US decided to send more and more troops and extend bombing to ever new areas. Finally, the South Vietnamese government and army were more or less bystanders in a war of America vs Viet Cong and North Vietnamese. The Tet offensive marked the turning point. This was not a military victory by the Viet Cong, but it was a psychosocial one. And now in Iraq, psychologically the United States has already lost. Of course, they can occupy the whole country and they can destroy it. Saddam [Hussein] may be killed, or more likely he will disappear, like [Osama] bin Laden. If you lose the psychological battle, you have lost. BBB politics - [President George W] Bush Bombs enemies and Buys friends - will not do. Dr Walter Molt (Apr 1, '03) This site is one of the best sites I have found. Your coverage, besides being interesting, is also very well balanced and thoughtful. 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