M A I L B A G

All set for the great oil robbery

The war on Iraq is being foisted in the name of disarming this hapless country of the so-called weapons of mass destruction. Iraq is already reeling under the punishing UN sanctions. How can such a famished and oppressed country can think of producing lethal weapons when it has not enough means even to buy medicines for its suffering people.

UN inspectors have neither found smoking guns and nuclear weapons nor infrastructure for their manufacture. Even if Colin Powell has any clinching evidence about the existence of WMD in Iraq he should share it with the UN inspectors for verification of the credibility of such evidence. Scepticism is often expressed about the veracity of US intelligence reports against Iraq’s WMD. However, if such evidence is found true then the hidden weapons can be got destroyed through international pressure under the supervision of the UN and thus averting the impending war. But it seems the oil-mad Bush is bent upon waging war and lately added another unconvincing and slanderous accusation of Iraq having links with al-Qaida. Iraq is not known to have truck with terrorist organisations in the past.

The mighty USA should feel threatened by tiny Iraq’s weapons also appears a cooked-up story. The real reason behind all this hullabaloo seems to be that America is nurturing imperialistic ambitions to rule Iraq by proxy and dictate terms to the neighbouring oil producing countries to control to its advantage the global oil market. And that is why it is working on the age-old saying — give the dog a bad name and kill it. However, if Iraq is invaded, which is most likely the case, this will be termed as a great oil robbery. Saddam Hussain, the proprietor of Iraq Oil, is slated to be killed or banished from his country and his oil plundered.

Majority against war

More than 90 per cent people of five continents, both Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, and 41 US Nobel Prize winners are deadly against a unilateral attack by the USA on Iraq.

Under UN sanctions, Iraqi people, young and old, men, women and children have been passing through extremely hard days for the last 12 years. Attacking a distressful, anti-fundamentalist and anti-terrorist country like Iraq would be a crime against humanity.

Having miserably failed to achieve a major US-Taliban war goal of arresting the main suspect of 9/11, Osama bin Laden. the Bush Administration started planning a war strategy against President Saddam Hussain to cover up its failure and frustration in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan had no regular army of its own, whereas President Hussain has a half a million strong regular army of highly trained, battery-equipped and well-spirited soldiers, and a volunteer force of brave Iraqi people.

If Mr Bush does not heed the voice of united conscience of more than 90 per cent peace-loving people of the world and 41 US Nobel Prize winners to avert war against Iraq and still insists on attacking WMD-free Iraq, a repetition of the American disaster during the 20-year-long Vietnam war cannot be ruled out. It is a most timely warning to all favouring and supporting US-Iraq war.

S.S. PARMAR, Nadalon (Hoshiarpur)

Should Saddam quit?

MSN Menon in his article “The world is unsafe under American leadership” (Jan 24) has made out a forceful case for Saddam Hussain to quit on his own, strangely though the headline doesn’t seem to convey that. The 20 per cent of Iraq’s population (Kurds) openly opposing him, little support for him in the Arab world and 24 years already in power should be enough reasons for him to honourably quit to save his country from destruction.

Wisdom is better than valour especially if the opponent is disproportionately mightier, besides being mad.

Wg Cdr C.L. SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

No image tarnishing

This refers to the PCMSA statement (Feb 6) alleging that I had “misinterpreted its earlier statement issued by the press secretary, Dr Ajay Bagga, and had “tarnished the image of its members”. Both the allegations are unwarranted and wrong.

My statement had refuted the arguments in favour of trading in kidneys listed by Dr Bagga. How can this be considered tarnishing the image of the PCMSA or its members?

SATYA PAL DANG, Amritsar

Democracy losing direction?

Apropos of K.F. Rustamji’s article, we must take urgent corrective measures to strengthen democracy in India. The following measures are suggested: (1) Evil activities of criminals, whether political, economical, social or communal must be banned on TV channels and in the Press. TV and the Press should not glorify them. (2) If a criminal falls sick when arrested, all expenditure incurred on his, illness must be charged from him, and not the state, during his stay in hospital (3) Names of all bank loan defaulters be made public after every six months. Their huge properties be confiscated (4) The Commission of Enquiry Act, 1951, be amended in such a way that findings of judicial commissions and recommendations of the Election Commission, the national and state human rights commissions, the Minorities Commission and the Lokpal be made legally binding on the government. These findings and recommendations must be made public and published within six months of their submission. (5) DCs and SSPs be made responsible and answerable for any mishappening in their areas.

The Contempt of Court Act, 1971, be withdrawn. Healthy criticism of courts be allowed. Every court case must be decided in not more than a year’s period. Every judge must declare his judgement within two months after the completion of arguments.

HAMDARDVIR NAUSHEHRVI, Samrala

Liberty of Corruption

The World Bank-sponsored “water-shed project” and “kandi project” meant for development at the grass-roots level — in the absence of any tender system, blue-prints, measurements and valuation of works on the ground and corresponding accountability — are obviously “Internationally Aided Scams” (IAS) to promote and protect “liberty of corruption” (LoC)

S.D. MINHAS, Sangnai, (Una)

Of Life Sublime

I am distressed to read a write-up in the column “Of Life Sublime” about Sai Baba (Nov 21, 02). Declaring him to be the incarnation of Rama and Krishna, the author says that the Baba can turn sky into earth and vice versa. I don’t know what does he mean by this. If he can make all stockpiles of weapons ineffective, then what on earth is he waiting for? He was born in 1926 as reported in the write-up. Then after that why so many wars were “allowed” to take place? Why are so many cases of violence there in the country of his birth? If the Baba can clarify all queries regarding the existence of life on any planet, then he should guide NASA and other space centres about it.

KULBIR SAGGU, Batala

Playing loudspeakers

My village, Kathu Nangal, has five big and small gurdwaras. One of them is under the SGPC and the rest are individual concerns. They play loudspeakers in such high volume that each speaker tries to outdo the other. The meaning of Gurbani is lost in the intolerable din, which particularly affects students, patients and elders.

KARANBIR SINGH, Kathu Nangal (Amritsar)

Tailpiece

When the U.S.A. claims that it can tell the colour of President Saddam Hussain’s underwear, how come it cannot detect the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA, Amritsar