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Letters to the Editor:

Governments of gore

John Howard yaps behind the US and British Dogs of War while 
his faithful warmongrel, Larry Anthony, obsesses with the vital 
events of our time -- the Casino/Murwillumbah railway and the 
Ocean Shores sports field -- in an attempt to blinker us from the 
effects of the criminal policies of the HoWARd regime.

The illegal invasion of Iraq has now cost over 1000 US military 
lives and many thousands of Iraqis have been killed. Vast areas 
of Iraq are irradiated with aeons-lasting depleted uranium (DU) 
which is thought to have boosted US 1991 Gulf War veterans from 
the initial 7035 wounded to the now 518,739 on medical 
disability.

US forces on Australian bombing ranges are no doubt busy 
irradiating our north with DU right now.

Perhaps the Minister for Youth and Children's Services will never 
know the full extent of the Iraqi civilian radiological 
casualties and perhaps will never visit the children's cancer 
wards.

He probably shares former US Secretary of State, Madeline 
Albright's view that the death of half a million Iraqi children 
from sanctions was "... a very hard choice, but we think the 
price is worth it".

As a direct result of our participation in the war on Iraq we 
have become a terrorist target of choice, fuel prices have 
escalated and the $1 billion of our taxes spent so far could have 
provided $100,000 degree scholarships, for example, to get 10,000 
doctors into rural areas.

Conscription bills have been passed already in the US and, if the 
Howard gang wins power, we won't be far behind.

A concerted anti-war effort can send Larry into political limbo 
and this could just oust Howard "the lying rodent".

News of this could well affect the US and UK elections as 
Australia joins Spain in getting rid of the governments of gore.

Let us all think global but vote local in this crucial election 
which will decide if law will prevail over war.

Gareth Smith
Byron Bay, NSW

With the 9th September, 2004, detonation of an explosive 
device outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, 
following on from the attack on the school in Beslan, the Madrid 
bombing in March 2004, the war on Iraq in March 2003, the bombing 
of the Sari Club in Bali in October 2002 and the attack on the 
Twin Towers of 11th September 2001, one should be forgiven for 
asking whether the war on terror is making the world a more 
secure place and whether democracy is growing or diminishing as a 
consequence.

Asserting, as do political leaders and candidates for political 
office that these are the works of barbarians and that they will 
not give in to acts of terrorism belies two quintessential 
consequences of the upheaval that this is causing -- the world is 
becoming a more insecure and less democratic place with power 
being concentrated into fewer and fewer hands (usually corporate 
and fascist).

In those parts of the world where they feel the power to make 
decisions over how they wish to live their lives is slipping from 
their grasp, they react in any way they can.

So long as the West continues its war on/of terror together with 
the social, cultural and economic marginalisation of those groups 
of people who do not agree with their worldview, the only 
questions people in the West need ask themselves is, where and 
when is the next catastrophe going to be.

Richard Titelius
Ballajura WA

I am deeply concerned having read recently that the UN is 
sending a team of experts to review the operations of the 
UNFICYP, its peacekeeping force in Cyprus. The UN says the aim of 
the review is to assess its size and its composition. The 
announcement of a review has provoked speculation that drastic 
reductions or even a withdrawal could take place. This force has 
been one of the most successful and productive of the UN's 
peacekeeping operations and at this delicate time of the peace 
process in Cyprus is still needed.

Fifteen Australian civilian police form part of the composition 
of this force. While maintaining a peacekeeping force is 
expensive, the Cyprus Government largely contributes to the costs 
of the operations.

It would be both wise and most supportive of the reunification 
efforts if the UN did stay on in Cyprus for some time yet, 
especially at this crucial and sensitive period.

The UN force should be maintained until the situation in Cyprus 
shows a marked improvement, for example a goodwill gesture on the 
part of Turkey, like withdrawal of most of the Turkish occupation 
army.

The Cyprus Government is against any changes to UN mandate or any 
reduction in the 1200-strong force, which has been on the island 
for 40 years mainly patrolling the 180km long Green Line buffer 
zone. Other than maintaining the ceasefire line, the UNFICYP also 
carries out other important activities, including facilitating 
bi-communal events, assisting the Committee for Missing Persons 
and other humanitarian activities.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said, "The facts on 
the ground have not changed because there are still 36,000 
Turkish soldiers with heavy armaments and mines in the north, as 
well as the enclaved persons". He further added that these were 
the reasons the UN was on the island in the first place.

While the Cypriot Government and people are working hard to 
promote the reconciliation process and seeking ways to resolve 
the Cyprus conflict, unnecessary pressure and instability does 
not assist the situation. As the Cyprus government spokesman 
Kypros Chrysostomides stated, "The abnormal situation continues. 
The presence of the occupation army continues. So the presence of 
the peace keeping force as defined by the Security Council seems 
to remain necessary."

The Cypriot people can and will resolve their differences. Let's 
hope that genuine peace and a comprehensive solution comes soon 
to Cyprus. Then the UN can leave the island. Until then Turkey 
and its occupation is still the key problem. 

The UN and the international community should be putting pressure 
on Turkey to withdraw its army and take actions to create the 
right conditions for a settlement. Until then the UN role is 
desired and should be encouraged to stay a little while longer.

Steven Katsineris
Hurstbridge, Vic

Some people claim that FAHRENHEIT 9/11 fans are a 
coalition of the gullible.

I wonder how would they describe the fans of the Coalition of the 
Willing (to do the killing) in Iraq?

These are the people who were also willing to believe that Saddam 
Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (read weapons of mass 
deception!) after UN inspectors said they were not there.

This is the reason why a small group of nations supported the 
unelected President of the US to be involved in a totally 
unnecessary war.

How many innocent Iraqis have to die before some people see what 
is happening? Do any of these people remember what happened in 
Vietnam?

Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Forestville, SA