The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear CASI members, There are two separate issues being discussed which are being mixed. The first is whether one should or should not support the US in its plans to oust Saddam Hussein. Many people have different opinions, as shown in this list, and I respect and acknowledge that - even some of my friends do not agree with my analysis - but as long as the debate is healthy then it can be beneficial. I agree with M – the people of Iraq must be supported. The second issue being discussed is regarding Saddam Hussein's regime, the people involved in it, its oppression and cruelty, and the hypocrisy displayed by those who support it. VnStroope asks how this dialogue is productive. Well, in Iraq the regime says whatever it pleases unopposed, because it murders any who attempts to. I, and others who have noticed who is writing some of these emails, will not let the regime, its members and followers go unopposed on this list. We will not let them express the regimes views as if they are the views of the Iraqi people. They do not represent the Iraqi people, and their suppression of them and the 1.3 million dead Iraqis (this is a conservative estimate) are proof enough of this. Criticising the western media is something I always do, and regularly call or write letters to complain about media biased, especially with regards to Palestine. What disgusts me is how the Iraqi regime is attempting to jump on this bandwagon, asking us all to ignore and forget its appalling ways. Going to conferences about alternative media when you yourself are involved with a regime that suppresses and murders any differing voice is extremely contradictory, and it is important that people are made aware of these facts so they know where these opinions are coming from. Judging from the private responses I've had, many people are glad others and I are pointing these facts out. Felicity points out that everything is monitored here in the West, and seems to suggest that this is equivalent to Saddam's regime registering every machine in Iraq. Again, you've missed the point completely - in Iraq the reason every machine is registered is so if you do anything that might be judged against Saddam or insulting to him and his regime you are KILLED. These are lives we are talking about, executed for a few words. This isn't a game - these are real people. To simply disregard their humanity and equate what happens in Iraq with monitoring of telephones and faxes in the West is heartless. Finally, no accusations were made against Nermin, only facts about her were pointed out – facts which she admitted to. And it wasn’t my intention to imply Felicity was on any payroll – in fact I was thinking along the lines that she is so angry at the US and the West for all their injustices (and rightly so), that she overlooks Saddam Hussein’s injustices – what she said was quite shocking. I apologise for the length of this email and wish you all a good day. Regards, Yasser Alaskary _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk