Readers' Letters & Announcements, November 6, 2009

BOSTON GLOBE:

CLINTON says Israel makes 'unprecedented' concession

To: secretary@state.gov, info@hillaryclinton.com
 
Mrs. Clinton:
 
So you are up to your neck using the same, old rhetoric.
 
Sending politicians from the United States from time to time only to give a little hope, but again, giving great disappointments come to the Palestinian people.
 
We hope the American people will awaken and see what's really being done in the Holy Land.
 
Why bother traveling to Israel? The dire needs of the Palestinians are totally ignored, and the tortures that they suffer under this way-too-long-60+ Occupation are not being put to a stop.
 
Saeb Erekat makes much more sense than do you, or any of the Israeli "leaders."Israel calls itself a "democracy," but continues poisoning Palestinians' water, destroying homes, and stealing even more land as we speak.
 
You, and all other politicians are under the sway of AIPAC and other pro-Israeli groups. We know it. Everyone should know this most important fact.
 
Please, Mrs. Clinton, do not waste our American taxpayers' dollars any more. Stay home.
 
Stay here, but tell the truth. Stop giving strength to Netanyahu.
 
Sincerely
Paul Bradford
Carol Bradford
Email: cbrad4334@aol.com
 

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Two weeks to amend the PATRIOT Act. Can we do it? YES WE CAN!

We have less than two weeks to urge our representatives on the House side to draft reforms to the PATRIOT Act that will keep our country safe while restoring and protecting our civil rights and liberties. Let your representatives know you want a good bill that will keep individual freedoms and protections without sacrificing our country's safety and security.

TAKE ACTION NOW! click here.

WATCH: Bill Press' remarks regarding the Senate sessions on the Patriot Act

Tina Tchen praises joint session, urges continued efforts for peace

Sunday's sessions at AAI's Leadership Summit included a powerful joint session with J Street, the new face of the pro-peace, pro-Israel movement. Tina Tchen took the podium to speak to a room filled to overflowing with Arab and Jewish American business and community leaders from around the country. Arab and Jewish American leaders weave a message of common ground and common goals Click here to read comments by Jeremy Ben-Ami, George R. Salem, Nick Rahall, Steve Jacobs, and Dr. James Zogby.

Gen Jim Jones: Arab Americans Play a Key Role General Jim Jones, National Security Advisor to the President's address at the close of the Arab American Institute's fall Leadership Summit outlined the Obama Administration's views on a broad range of Middle East issues. Jones made it clear that Arab Americans play a key role in bridging the gap between the United States and the Arab nations, and are a fundamental part of what makes the U.S. a great country. He stated that the Administration's policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue has been consistent and unambiguous. "In his Cairo speech, the President also made clear his commitment to achieving two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. He is committed to this goal because he believes that peace is in America's interest, just as it is in the interest of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples." In addition to stopping settlement growth and outposts, the Administration's approach includes building an infrastructure for peace in the Palestinian territories, and improve conditions, with the ultimate goal...

Click here to read the full article and transcript

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CAIR Seeks HBO Apology for ‘Curb’ Episode Mocking Jesus

‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ main character splattered urine on painting of Jesus
 
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/29/09) –

A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called on HBO to apologize for an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in which the main character splattered urine on a painting of Jesus.
 
SEE: Larry David Blasted for 'Curb' Episode Where He Urinates on Jesus Painting
http://tinyurl.com/hboepisode
 
In a letter to HBO Chairman and CEO Bill Nelson, Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote:
 
“It is beyond tasteless to insult the religious sensibilities of billions of people in America and around the world with such a cheap and vulgar publicity stunt. Jesus, peace be upon him, is loved and revered by both Christians and Muslims. Muslims view him as one of God's greatest messengers to mankind.
 
“The Quran, Islam’s revealed text, states: ‘Behold! The angels said: ‘O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company of) those nearest to God.’’ (The Holy Quran, 3:45)
 
“The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘Both in this world and in the hereafter, I am the nearest of all people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.’
 
“We understand the drive for ratings, but no one benefits from such a crude attempt to boost the network’s bottom line by manufacturing a religious controversy. HBO should apologize.”
 
Awad added that American Muslim television viewers contacted CAIR to express their concerns about the HBO episode.
 
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
 
 
CONTACT:

CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726,

E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com;

CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171,

E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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Taliban: If You Can't Beat Them, Buy Them!

The story the New York Times published this week on Hamid Karzai's drug-dealing brother Ahmed Wali and his ties to the CIA is very revealing, considering it comes just few days before Afghanistan's run-off election; however, it is not the real news. It has been rumored for years that Wali has been involved in opium trafficking and has been receiving payments from the CIA. The big story is the United States' government plan to buy out the Taliban -- officially, so to speak.

On Wednesday, President Obama signed a $680 billion defense appropriations bill, which is supposed to cover military operations in the 2010 fiscal year. The bill includes a Taliban reintegration provision under the Commander's Emergency Response Program. Don't you love the terminologies used by government bureaucrats? Call it buyout, bribes, protection money, but please don't call it integration.

The idea, according to Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is to separate local Taliban from their leaders, replicating a program used to neutralize the insurgency against Americans in Iraq. If you can't beat them, buy them!

Read more & share your thoughts on the Huffington Post Watch MIR Videos

Tour highlights systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children by the Israeli authorities

Mohammad Salem Abu Eid was 14 years old when he was detained by Israeli forces in February 2008 and accused of throwing stones at the Separation Wall, which cuts through the Palestinian West Bank.  

He was beaten, interrogated in the absence of a lawyer and family member, deceived into signing a confession, prosecuted in a military court and sentenced to four months imprisonment.  

Whilst in prison, he received no education and no family visits.   

Mohammad, accompanied by his mother, Sumya will be speaking about his experiences on a tour of Liverpool, London, Sheffield and Oxford in November 2009. 

Also speaking: