Evangelical Zionists’ ignorance, fanaticism about Islam

By Khaled Amayreh

It is very dangerous when ignorance and fanaticism are allowed to dictate and shape our views of the other. Ignorance is the enemy of the ignoramus, and fanatics don’t really  hold ideas, but are held by them. These are the people Jesus often referred to as “having eyes that see not, having ears that hear not, nor do they understand.”

Unfortunately, such is the case with many, actually too many, evangelical “Christians” whose morbid hatred of Islam goes beyond the pale of acceptable reason.

What Every American Should Know About Iraq

By David Michael Green

Some people think that anyone who disagrees with the American invasion and occupation of Iraq is either a bleeding-heart liberal appeaser, a George W. Bush hater, a blame America firster, an underminer of the troops, a traitor, or a geopolitical naif.

To those who see opponents of the war as fitting into one, several, or all of these categories, I say read this page. I will make no arguments herein, nor even commentary. I will twist no data nor spin any tales. I will even include some of the comments and arguments made by the administration and its supporters.

Instead of arguing against the war, I will try to offer a fairly complete account of the relevant facts one might wish to consider when evaluating America’s policy in Iraq. Especially for those who continually claim that they, more than others, have the best interests of the troops at heart – but actually for all citizens in a democracy – it is incumbent upon us to educate ourselves about this most important of national policies.

Those troops are being maimed and are dying on our behalf every day. The very least we can do is spend a brief amount of our time learning about this question so that we can decide whether their continued sacrifices are justified.

So, in that spirit – and as the Founders themselves said – “let Facts be submitted to a candid world”.

The Measure of an Iraqi`s Life, in Dollars and Cents

By Walter Pincus

What’s an Iraqi life worth? How about an Iraqi car?For the U.S. military in Iraq, it may be roughly the same.A report released late last month by the Government Accountability Office examines the practices and rules guiding condolence payments that the U.S. military can distribute to families of Iraqi civilians killed “as a result of U.S. and coalition forces’ actions during combat.” These voluntary payments — known as “solatia” payments — can also cover injuries and loss or damage to property. They constitute “expressions of sympathy or remorse based on local culture and customs, but not an admission of legal liability or fault,” according to the report.

The Pentagon has set $2,500 as the highest individual sum that can be paid. Most death payments remain at that level, with a rough sliding scale of $1,000 for serious injury and $500 for property damage. Beginning in April of last year, payments of up to $10,000 were possible for “extraordinary cases” but only with a division commander’s authorization.

9/11 Widows Demand Release of Secret CIA Report

 

A group composed of widows of 9/11 victims are demanding the release of a key CIA report.”The report, prepared by the CIA’s inspector general, is the only major 9/11 government review that has still not been made publicly available,” Michael Isikoff reported in January. “When it was completed in August 2005, Newsweek and other publications reported that it contained sharp criticisms of former CIA director George Tenet and other top agency officials for failing to address the threat posed by Al Qaeda, as well as other mistakes that might have prevented the attacks.”