Dear Editor:

Encouraging - but will the politicians listen and then take action? By action I mean opening national debates and organising co-operative research and development in such areas as photo voltaics, and providing developing countries with the new technologies - not as charity but as insurance against an increasingly uncertain future.

Roger Gill

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Dear friends,

I was pleased to read your article about the blast in Mumbai. You have very clearly put down what is really happening in India.
Every day we hear about the violence done to the poor and marginalised. Very few report or speak on behalf of the poor and suffering.

May God bless you.
Annmary PBVM
India

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Dear Editor:

Sometimes draconian methods are the only way to bring normality into society. I am a firm believer in an eye for an eye philosophy. Where do the human rights of victims come into play when too much effort is put into defending the rights of the perpetrators?
I find it strange that the government is doing absolutely nothing to fight crime in South Africa. Maybe they are reaping some benefit from it??
How is South Africa going to cope with the World Soccer tournament in 2010? It’s going to be very interesting.

Ronica Hart

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Dear Editor,

In “50,000 Dead, But Who’s Counting?” Juliana Lara Resende writes:

After famously telling reporters that they “don’t do body counts”, Pentagon officials now say that they have in fact been keeping a record of civilian casualties in Iraq for one year. And while that number remains classified, independent estimates suggest that at least 50,000 people have died in the country since the 2003 invasion.

Why do you write “independent” to refer to “statistics compiled by the Baghdad morgue, the Iraqi Health Ministry and other agencies, as reported recently in the Los Angeles Times, that total is 20,000 higher then the George W. Bush administration had previously estimated”?

How can the PUPPET Iraqi Government be considered INDEPENDENT by IPS ?

Also in your article you report IBC’s figures but NOTHING IS SAID OF THE LANCET STUDY’S FINDINGS. WHY?

If you care for the Iraqi People and for an item very rare to find in these dark times, the truth, please read:

Iraq between genocide and coincidences
http://www.thecatsdream.com/blog/2006/06/iraq-between-genocide-and-coincidences.htm

Darkness and Light
http://www.thecatsdream.com/blog/2006/06/darkness-and-light.htm

An exchange between Les Roberts and John Sloboda on Iraq Body Count and the Lancet
http://www.thecatsdream.com/blog/2006/06/exchange-between-les-roberts-and-john.htm

Many other people have extensively written on this matter and you will find many links to studies and articles in my three articles above.

I urge you to consider a formal correction to what you reported in “50,000 Dead, But Who’s Counting?”

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,
Gabriele Zamparini
The Cat’s Dream

IPS Responds:

Dear Gabriele,

Thanks so much for your comments on Juliana Lara Resende’s recent article on civilian casualties in Iraq. To address your concerns, I would first say that the use of the word “independent” in the lead suggests data independent of what the U.S. government has put forth. I also made sure to use to qualifier “at least”. If you have evidence that agencies like the Iraqi Health Ministry and Baghdad morgue are issuing doctored figures, I would be very interested in hearing about it. We have also written about the Lancet findings in the past (see “Balancing the Iraq Equation“), but that study is almost two years old now, so we focused on the most current data available. While we may never know precisely how many innocent people have died in this senseless war, IPS is committed to telling the stories of the Iraqi people living under the brutal occupation and insurgency — and in fact, one of our writers, Alaa Hassan, just lost his life because of that commitment.

Best,
Katherine Stapp
IPS Regional Editor for North America and the Caribbean

*****

To the Editor:

I was shocked to read this story and see no mention of the most authoritative estimate of Iraqi deaths due to the coalition invasion, the one published in Britain’s leading medical journal The Lancet in November 2004 by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health professors Les Roberts and Gilbert Burnam. That study estimated the invasion and occupation of Iraq has caused 98,000 excess deaths in Iraq, that “violence accounted for most of the excess deaths and air strikes from coalition forces accounted for most [of the] violent deaths.” Furthermore, “most individuals reportedly killed by coalition forces were women and children.” This estimate excluded all deaths in Fallujah, which was largely destroyed in a Grozny-style assault by US forces. Furthermore, this estimate was made in October 2004, and the number of deaths has obviously increased since then: if it continued at the same rate (about 5,500 per month), then today we can estimate 220,000 excess deaths today. All indications are that the pace of killing has increased, not decreased, so we can actually estimate “at least 220,000 excess deaths”.

Obviously the data can be interpreted in slightly different ways and reach “most likely” numbers that are slightly different, confidence intervals can be expanded or narrowed, etc., but this is probably the most important study of the human cost of the invasion to date. The Lancet was bitterly attacked in the US media for publishing the report, which reporters took turns misrepresenting (probably out of ignorance rather than malice) or even falsifying outright.

But IPS is the news agency I look to for comprehensive, serious news coverage of Iraq and the rest of the world, and the one I assume will not ignore facts just because we might not want to hear about them. I hope IPS will include mention of this study in future articles on Iraq, and especially in articles specifically about Iraqi deaths.

Sincerely,
Feroze Sidhwa
Sugar Land, Texas
USA

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Dear Friends

Jim Lobe utilizes the term “abducted” when referring to the Israeli soldier captured by the Palestinian resistance — this is a sloppy usage of words. One “captures” soldiers, and one “abducts” hostages. The latter is the Israeli-centric version where the soldier was “kidnapped”, and unfortunately, Lobe used the same terminology (thankfully he didn’t use kidnapped) — in the Israeli-centric media kidnap/abducted are used concurrently.

Kindly fix your language…

Kind rgds,
Paul de Rooij
London

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Dear Editor:

This article is such an absurdity. It treats George W. Bush as if he had been elected President.

It treats that man as if he deserved consideration as some kind of articulated leadership figure: he can’t open his mouth without sticking his foot in it.

It treats his presidency as if it were real; it treats the polls and surveys as if they were real. It ignores the absolute FACT of the manipulation of the entire media apparatus, a la the style of Pravda in the 1950s and 1960s.

What a joke this is; it’s almost a parody, in and of itself. Who is supposed to take this seriously?

The man is a criminal kept in place by a Globalist international cabal.

When are you going to get real too?

M. Emily Cragg
San Jose, California

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Dear Friends,

We at Antiwar.com are saddened and shocked to hear of the death of Mr. Hassan. He was an excellent and courageous journalist. He will be missed by many.

We wish to send our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and colleagues. Please let us know where people can send donations or messages of condolence.

Thank you,
Eric Garris
Managing Editor, Antiwar.com

*****

Dear Editor:

Please give my deepest sympathies to his wife and children.

It’s small consolation, I know, but let them know that millions of Americans DO NOT support the senseless invasion and occupation of Iraq which has led to the civil war destroying so many families.

As US citizens, we seem to be unable to change the bloody path our own country has taken.

Hussein had his own people tortured and murdered. Bush has his torture and murder done in other countries.

Peace,
Marta

*****

Dear Editor:

Please accept my condolences, and extend them to Alaa Hassan’s family.

Thank you for telling this tragic tale, painful though it must have been for you to write it. There are not enough tears to shed over the death of this brave young man, and all the other reporters who have perished in Iraq.

Will you be establishing any prize, fellowship, or scholarship in his name? If so, I would very much like to contribute to it.

Many thanks,
Judith Ince
Vancouver, Canada

*****

Dear Editor:

I have just read about Alaa Hassan - I wish to send my condolences. I have for some time used IPS as a trusted news service - initially in Brazil and Latin America and more recently regarding Iraq.
This is a tragedy not just for Hassan’s family, and for IPS but for audiences worldwide. We rely on people like him to deliver fair and accurate news.
Regards
Clare Davidson, reader

*****

Could you please tell me where I can send a card and donation to his wife? Thank you.
Echo June

*****

Another murder caused by George Bush.

Otto Schiff
Carmel, California

*****

Dear editors:

I still remember the pain and tears we shed when we got the news in IPS Rome that Richard de Zoysa was killed. I can imagine the same is happening now with Alaa Hassan’s death. My prayers and thoughts are with Hassan’s family and with you.

God bless.

Jackie Netto

*****

Dear Editor:

Thank you for your moving story about Alaa Hassan.
In an age of writerly devices used to jump start readers interest, the stark facts of the terrible situation in Iraq as told through Hassan’s senseless death is more than enough to compel anyone to repulsion and rejection of violence. I found myself feeling great sympathy for the valient colleague(s) of this person who wrote this story, and I would like to do some small thing to help. Is there a fund for the family or Alaa’s future child to which we can contribute?

Dawn Makinson
freelance journalist
Buenos Aires
Argentina

*****

Dear Editor:

I was deeply moved and saddened by your tragic story. Indeed, I have been enraged by our unAmerican invasion of Iraq on spurious accounts of weapons of mass destruction and a so-called War on Terror. For Whom does the Bell Toll? I am now in my mid 80s and absolutely appalled at the behaviour of my country. I hope that you know there are literally millions of American people who share my feelings .

Sincerely,
Jane Hopkins

*****

Dear Editor:

We send our condolences to his family and to IPS for yet another needless killing.

The work he was doing is so vital, because the world needs to know the horrible realities of Iraq. We feel unjustified in asking, but we hope others will carry on so that the truth can continue to be told; some of us are paying attention and are deeply affected.

We are so ashamed of the obscenities being committed by our so-called leaders — too ugly to watch, but WE WILL NOT CLOSE OUR EYES.

Sincerely,
E Rivers

*****

Dear Aaron,

Please give my condolences to Alaa Hassan’s wife and family. I was touched and horrified by the story of his death and how his family had to walk through fire to get to his body. It seems too much to bear. I think about his child, the loss to his young wife, and to the grieving parents and extended family. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for all of us who live through this daily nightmare, but most of all, my heart aches for the Iraqi people, the victims in this deadly design, and most particularly, to the Hassan family. Nothing can make up for it, nothing can wash it away. Perhaps our tears mingled with theirs — do you think that will move God or the perpetrators? We must all be strong. Pray to the heavens for strength to endure. Be strong, dear friends. My thoughts are with you every day.

Thank you for your important work, Aaron.

Sincerely yours,
Dorothy Lavalle

*****

Dear Editor:

I am appalled at the senseless killings that continue to dominate in Iraq. The violence and killings are senseless. When will it stop? I pray for his family, wife and unborn child. I only wish our country could offer you a safe haven to live, my regards to Alaa’s family at this sad time.
Mrs Rae Cottam
Waikiki,
Western Australia

*****

Dear Editor:

I have been reading the stories from Iraq and very much am shocked to hear the news. The level of conflict and unrest in Iraq, having claimed the lives of 131 members from the media community goes to show the level of vulnerability of the community. As a fellow journalist, I wish to convey my thanks and deep condolences to the family.

Jayalakshmi Chittoor
India

Read:
IRAQ: A Story IPS Never Wanted to Tell
By Aaron Glantz - Alaa’s co-writer

IRAQ: A Story Left Incomplete
By Sanjay Suri - Alaa’s editor

Dear Editor:

All the participants interviewed for this report were men. Surely there were some women present at the Forum who had ideas to contribute!

Wendy Flannery

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Dear friends,

the BRussells Tribunal has the most complete list of murdered media workers worldwide, also thanks to our contacts inside Iraq. link: http://www.brusselstribunal.org/JournalistKilled.htm

Our score is:

130 Iraqis
23 Non Iraqis

That is 153 killed mediaworkers. You mention only 131.

Could you please mention this somewhere?

Best regards, and congratulations with your ever valuable work.
And if you can, could you please give our condolences to the victim’s family.

Dirk Adriaensens
Member, executive committee BRussells Tribunal

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Dear Editor:

No, it was not an Israeli response to Palestinian rocket attacks. Various analysts have done a count of the number of Israeli shelling and rocket attacks on Gaza since the start of June. They show that Israel has been
increasing its attacks and kidnapping of Palestinians (2 were taken just the day before). The present reinvasion of Gaza was planned well in advance of this event.

John Earls

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Dear Editor,

I am a bit puzzled by Sisa Njikelana’s comment:

Sisa Njikelana, a South African member of parliament, concluded that solutions “should not be limited to the provision of infrastructure and services, important as these are. Rather, the kind of healthy urban life we are talking about is one that is human-friendly. One in which money is not placed above our humanity.”
Please this letter is not for publication but rather for amplification and clarification.
Living as I do in South Africa where the general population is getting poorer I don’t understand what Njikelana means when she says that a healthy urban life must be human-friendly and money should not be placed above our humanity.
How do we get and sustain human-friendly urban areas when there is actually very little humanity right now because people are so poor and so wretched that many are starving and turn to crime to support their families. How does Njikelana expect the urban dwellers to be human-friendly when there is so little money available to ordinary people? Urban dwellers are hijacking buildings and live without water, electricity or services because they are so desperate for a roof over their heads. Very few ordinary people in SA can put money above humanity because they don’t have any money to begin with. We need money, infrastructure and services. Would Njikelana be able to live without money, services and structures? This type of comment from government officials makes me very angry because they live in their ivory towers and even when they see the poor and wretched they can’t or don’t want to identify with them.

Please take note I write in my personal capacity.

Silla Grobbelaar

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Dear Editor:

For one who lives every day with this invasion and for 30 years in Arizona, Lou Dobbs is correct about 95% of the time. Please walk in my shoes before publishing your uninformed stories on immigration.

John Persichilli

*****

Hello:

Interesting but frankly a somewhat racist article. You attempt to marginalize Lou Dobbs by quoting the Southern Poverty Law Council (SPLC) numerous times in this article, as though they represent an unbiased source that should determine credibility and legitimacy of organizations in matters of immigration.

The SPLC is considered as an extremely biased and leftist organization by most in these matters. If you are going to be fair either take the view of a centrist organization as your source, or average out the views of organizations on both the left and right. The SPLC’s mission is to capitalize on the illegal immigration issue in order to gain influence and contributions, similar to what the anti-illegal immigration groups do on the other side. The SPLC is as racist as any of these groups….but disguise it using reverse racism.

Tom Varner
Pennsylvania USA

*****

Dear Editor:

I would like to comment on Bill Berkowitz’s opinion on July 2. From the sounds of his commentary we should simply remove our border and open America to the world. As an American citizen I am tired of seeing my taxes spent on aid to illegal imigrants. We have working poor citizens who can’t afford health insurance and are unable to get government health care because to much is spent on illegal immigrants. Our schools have to spend large sums of money educating non English speaking students instead of giving citizens a better eduation and special classes for those that need help. The sad part is 50% of the immigrant students don’t finish high school and we have an increase of people in poverty. Our biggest source of drugs cross the Mexican border and our government saw no need to fix it for years. Even though drugs were destroying lives and killing our young people. Illegal immigrants work for much less than legal immigrants and American citizens with no bennefits or on the job safety protection from dangerous work. I could go on, entire books have been written about the problem illegal immigrants cause. States that have had the opportunity to vote on stricter immigration control did so over whelmingly, 60% to 90%. That is a poll with out error. Lou Dobbs is only saying what the American citizens are saying and how they feel about our impotent Senate and Congress.

Roger Dietrich
Minnesota USA

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Dear Editor:
This is a very good article. Omid has done justice to the matter and congratulations to him! You should publish more of this quality.

Hooshang Amirahmadi
Professor, Rutgers University
New Jersey, USA

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