From: Mason.L.Allen@dartmouth.edu (Mason L. Allen)
Newsgroups: alt.activism
Subject: Re: Saddam Symptom not Cause of Probs
Date: 24 Jan 93 02:53:05 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
X-Posted-From: InterNews1.0a5@newshost.dartmouth.edu

In article <1296500488@igc.apc.org>
pnews@igc.apc.org (Hank Roth) writes:

> [1]*Who sets the rules about the imposition of no-fly zones in the absence 
> of United Nations action, as is the case in southern and northern Iraq? 
> What follows next: no-drive zones? no-eat zones? no-raise-your-voice 
> zones? no-think zones?
>  
> [2]*How is the suffering of Iraqi Kurds in the frigid mountains of 
> northern Iraq different from the suffering of hundreds of expelled 
> Palestinians in the frigid mountains of southern Lebanon, other than 
> that the United States is the primary financier and supporter of the 
> Israeli state that expelled the Palestinians?

Hank Roth's post (albeit from another "official" source), reflects at
least two severe fallacies which are common in dealing with problems in
the middle east. His first point [1] deals with a flagrant use of
pathetic reasoning (logicians call it the slippery-slope argument). 
You can't equate a no-fly zone with a no-think zone or no-eat zone.  A
no-fly zone is an standard means of preventing an aggressor nation from
further military action.  Remember, the U.S. isn't the only nation
involved in this war - Iraq began the conflict by sending its army
across the borders of a previously sovereign nation - the use of
military weapons is not necessarily a naturaul right of any person or
nation.

Hank's second comparison is reflective of a much more disturbing
pattern in recent society.  Isreal's treatment of the Palestinians has
absolutely nothing to do with the Kurds - I can only attribute those
remarks to blatant anti-Semitism.  Hussein has repeatedly attacked the
entire population of Kurds, cut off their food supplies, and is engaged
in an OPEN war with them.  The Palestinians in southern Lebannon are
there because they chose to be there - the 400 leaders of the so-called
resistance movement ASKED THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT TO DENY THEM
ENTRANCE!!!  There situation is an artificial scam to gain publicity
and sympathy for their cause.  Furtheremore, in the palestinians case,
you're dealing with 400 enimies of the state - conspirators against the
government and the military brain trust behind dozens of terrorist
attacks and anti-government activities - not an entire homogeneous
population, as in the Kurd's case.  Meanwhile, the Kurds have been
denied a homeland through no fault of their own.  Back in 1946, when
Isreal gained independence, the Brits left behind territory for the
creation of a Palestinian state.  That land was stolen by the Arab
states, NOT Isreal. Furthermore, the U.N. resolution calling for the
creation of a Jewish homeland also provided for a Palestinian state -
the Palestinian leaders refused the terms of the agreement.  Meanwhile,
the land now termed "occupied" by Isreal was gained, rather fairly,
considering the odds, in times of war which the Arab states initiated,
NOT Isreal.  As to the treatment of Palestinians in the territories,
the Palestinians, as well as most of the surrounding Arab states,
consider themselves in a state of war with Isreal - normal rules do not
apply.  Meanwhile, there are indeed numerous Arab citizens of Isreal -
with the same voting rights as any Jewish Isreali.  Discrimination
still exists, but not as bad as for Palestinians in Kuwait, Jordan, or
Saudi Arabia (or for Arabs in this country, for that matter).  So why
does Hank bring up the fact that Isreal expelled 400 Palestinians who
were plotting the destruction of the Isreali regime?  Anti Semitism,
pure & simple.

Or did he simply forget that Kuwait expelled 300,000 Palestinian
(including women & children) with no motivation?

m.

Free your mind, your ass will follow.