Jul 22, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Daily News

Mideast conflict

Dear Editor: In his July 19 letter, Jagjit Singh makes numerous unsubstantiated claims against Israel, and further propagates the recent myth of an attack on Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer at an Israeli checkpoint. This claim has proved to be a scurrilous fabrication and, while it is known that Omer did feel unwell during the routine interrogation, he was examined by an Israeli paramedic and later by an Arab doctor, Diaa Husseini, at the hospital. Both confirmed there were no signs of physical abuse whatsoever. Dr. Husseini treated Omer for a nervous condition and gave him stomach medication, whereupon he was released soon after.

Mohammed Omer then proceeded to invent a litany of conflicting stories, accusing Israeli personnel of spraying him in the face, and later saying his eyes were clawed and skin torn. When there was no evidence of this, he claimed instead to have been beaten unconscious, resulting in painful broken ribs. Again, none of this fits with any medical evidence, and this whole deceit has been exposed as a sham by official Israeli reports and respected newspapers worldwide.

Nevertheless, the Arab media, aided by propagandists and naive supporters in the West, have circulated this story to thousands of media Web sites, on the presumption that a lie repeated often enough will be believed. Hopefully, the West will gradually wake up to such unethical techniques and propaganda being used in an attempt to gain political advantage.

Mary Werther,

Stanford



Dear Editor: It is time to ask Rachelle Marshall and Jagjit Singh to present reliable sources for the statements they have made in their letters of July 7 and July 13, respectively. Marshall claims that Mohammed Omer had broken ribs and a punctured lung after his interrogation by Israeli border guards. Singh makes reference to a "savage assault." No one seems to know where these reports were initiated but if they came from a hospital in Hamas-controlled Gaza, only a fool would give it an ounce of truth.

It is just such false reports about the alleged death of Mohamed al Dura by Israeli soldiers which were responsible for the beheading of Daniel Pearl in Pakistan at the hands of Islamic terrorists. Let's not have a rerun of that incident caused by people in this country who jump on every opportunity to demonize Israel.

I heard Omer speak on radio on July 7 and he made no mention of broken ribs or a punctured lung. Could he have forgotten his injuries that quickly or made a miraculous recovery in the matter of hours? Something doesn't smell right.

Phil Smaller,

Palo Alto



Presidential race

Dear Editor: I'm an independent, still deciding.

Sen. John McCain wants America's continuation in Iraq to "win" this war. His comment on July 15, "I will get Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice," does not leave me hopeful. Capturing Bin Laden wouldn't win the war or keep our country safe.

Sen. Barack Obama has expressed good ideas. End the war in an educated way. If not executed correctly, another terrorist group will take over. Mistakes of our past. ...

Anyone who's knows Greg Mortenson's story, "Three Cups of Tea," realizes there are longer-lasting, more effective ways to stop terrorism. If one man, with no money or power, can do so much, imagine what our powerful nation could do.

If one candidate convinced Greg Mortenson to head his advisory board, my vote's his. He knows Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq - the people, struggles, needs and real issues behind terrorism. With his wealth of knowledge, we would make change and find success. I don't know Greg personally, but I trust him. His assistance would win the election.

Juliet Atchison,

Palo Alto