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Jewish Committee’s Seattle Regional Office), the authors identified Hamas as the problem rather than Israel’s attacks on civilian ships flying the flag of Turkey—a country with whom Israel has full diplomatic relations—in international waters. Rather than debating further the Gaza Flotilla incident, why not examine the record in the American and Israeli mainstream press that questions the veracity of the authors’ portrayal of Hamas as Israel’s intractable foe? In a June 20, 2007 New York Times oped, “What Hamas Wants,” written by Ahmed Yousef, political adviser to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, the offer of a 10-year cease-fire was made “to create an atmosphere of calm in which we can resolve our differences.” In the Nov. 9, 2008 issue of the Israeli daily Haaretz, “Haniyeh: Hamas Willing to Accept Palestinian State with 1967 Borders,” Prime Minister Haniyeh, in front of 11 members of the European Union Parliament visiting Gaza, said that he would accept the 1967 borders with Israel and offered a long-term hudna (truce) in return for Israel’s recognition of Palestinian national rights. In a story in the Wall Street Journal’s July 31, 2009 edition, “Hamas Chief Outlines Terms for Talks on Arab-Israeli Peace,“ exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshal, speaking from Damascus, offered an immediate cease-fire, including prisoner swap (specifically naming Israeli POW Gilad Shalit) and the acceptance of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with Israel. This offer was conditional with the right of return for Palestinians (a guarantee to all refugees under international law) and that East Jerusalem become the capital of the Palestinian state. The above three references show that,
over a two-year period, Hamas made serious offers that could have started real negotiations toward a just resolution of the conflict. Where were the Israeli counter-offers? More, importantly, where was the pressure from the United States to lead Israel to the negotiating table? David-Israel Sandler, Seattle, WA For starters, we hope voters in November will apply their considerable electoral pressure to their “representatives” in Congress.
Sociocide vs. Genocide Anyone who has followed the news since 2001 had to learn piecemeal of the damage done to Iraq by massive U.S. bombing, followed by 10 years of crippling sanctions, a full-scale invasion, and finally, an occupation administered by officials with no knowledge of, or concern for, Iraq’s people, history or culture. Thanks, therefore, to Jeremy R. Hammond for describing so clearly the cumulative impact of those ruinous actions (August 2010 Washington Report, p. 43). In his review of Mike Otterman’s book, Erasing Iraq: The Human Costs of Carnage (available from the AET Book Club), Hammond cites Otterman as aptly calling the result, “sociocide.” Sadly, we are seeing Israel attempt to carry out the same crime in Gaza. Rachelle Marshall, Mill Valley, CA Not to minimize the horrific death and destruction to which Iraqis have been subjected by the U.S. (for the benefit of Israel), we would suggest that the U.S. goal of “regime change” did not include the expulsion of Iraqis from their homeland. (That was, of course, a terrible consequence.) To quote an Aug. 14, 2009 editorial in The Forward entitled “Save Sudan” (see November 2009 Washington Report, p. 67): like the people of Sudan, the Palestinians’ suffering can be described as “the result of a systematic offensive to drive… Other Voices is an optional 16civilians from [difpage supplement available only to ferent] ethnic groups subscribers of the Washington off their land and Report on Middle East Affairs. For to destroy their lives. an additional $15 per year (see In other words, an postcard insert for Washington act of genocide.” Re port subscription rates), sub-
scribers will receive Other Voices bound into each issue of their Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. Back issues of both publications are available. To subscribe telephone 1 (800) 368-5788 (press 1), fax (202) 265-4574, e-mail <circulation@wrmea.com>, or write to P.O. Box 53062, Washington, DC 20009.
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trayal of an utterly failed mission in Afghanistan. The documents include 144 attacks which have resulted in the killings of scores of civilians, and military strikes which often missed their intended targets and caused hundreds of deaths. Extremely troublesome are references to the actions of Task Force 373 — a James Bond 007/Rambo/Charles Bronson vigilante-type killer unit which acts as judge and jury and assassinates or detains suspected terrorists. Inevitably mistakes have been made and large numbers of innocent civilians reportedly have been killed. Reaper drones are increasingly being used. These are fraught with human errors and misjudgments, and often miss their targets. It is apparent that the U.S. military has been whitewashing the war in Afghanistan for years and has systematically covered up civilian casualties. Contrary to Pentagon reports, the war has emboldened Taliban recruitment. The leaked reports demonstrate that the Taliban have become more resilient and appear to be winning the war on the ground. According to the documents, Pakistan’s internal security agency, the ISI, has been playing a “double game”—accepting U.S. tax money while cavorting with the Taliban. Predictably, the Pentagon and the Obama administration have vilified the messenger, WikiLeaks, and launched a concerted effort to plug the “leaks,” with no concern of the underlying message— namely, that the war in Afghanistan is an unmitigated disaster and fraught with actions which border on war crimes. Jagjit Singh, Los Altos, CA The leaks certainly make it more difficult to follow the first part of a suggestion made during the Vietnam War: that the U.S. “declare victory and leave.” The operative “leave,” however, remains as valid as ever.
The Back of the Bus In the July 2010 “Publishers’ Page,” you imply that Israel’s Arab citizens are required to ride in the back of buses. Is this literally true, or were you being metaphorical? Failed Afghan James Grodd, via e-mail Mission We confess to the latter. However, we did T h e m a s s i v e read in the June 25, 2010 issue of the Jewtrove of classified ish weekly Forward about the 322 autobus military records mehadrin running to and from Tel Aviv: released by the “The phrase autobus mehadrin…literally whistleblower means beautified bus. It refers to a route Web site Wiki - that meets Haredi standards of modesty: Leaks reveals an Men sit at the front and women at the unvarnished por- back.” Shared values, indeed! ❑
THE WASHINGTON REPORT ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010