An Alternate View

hijack Drama WAS ATTEMPT TO LINK WITH ILLEGAL BANNING OF S.I.M.I.







OZHIKODE: Kerala state president of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) K T Muhammed on Thursday took strong exception to the alleged attempt by the authorities to link Wednesday`s ``hijack drama`` with the ban on the organisation even before the details of the hijack were available.

The reported claims by authorities that the hijackers could be those who were against the ban on SIMI, even before getting details, was part of ``the game plan by the Centre to defame the organisation and project it as an extremist outfit,`` he said in a statement here.

The move was significant as the government was finding it difficult to place detailed proofs to endorse its ban before the proposed tribunal, he said, alleging that the ``Government is trying to foist charges to keep the ban on.``

Claiming that the efforts were on by the Centre to link SIMI with any extremist activities in the country, Muhammed said the organisation would fight the ban legally.

Sadna

Thanks for your support...I`d rather have you on my team than not.

The U.S. government is really using this time of confusion and pain to pass a broad base of laws that will be punitive for immigrants and people of color. For example, the detentions, surveillance, charity donations, the threat of deportation. And while we have the Pakistani govt. ambivalently cooperating with the US, it seems that a potentially dangerous situation is likely in Pakistan viz the pro-Taliban minority. Unfortunately, I have read and heard reports from progressive sources and South Asian Americans who live and work in Hindu middle class communities that the Hindu right wing is really aligning itself with the US and Israel right wing. A logical partnership, but the progressives I work with are working on organizing platforms that challenge these agendas within South Asian American communities.

The conversation on Chowk tends not to stray from the box in terms of examining a lot of strongly held prejudices against Muslims/Hindus, etc. You see the same polarities represented on each message board, the same unexamined arguments. On the other hand, I know of ONE Chowkie who is reading Said to understand a differing viewpoint...so I guess theres hope.

regards

ylh #22 ``Since Chowk doesn`t value what is really important anymore, writers like myself have been forced to take refuge elsewhere...``

Oh the tragedy! (violin please).

Oh the shame!! (more violin please).

Just like Abdus Salaam, one day you will get the Nobel Prize and all chowk citizens will hang their heads in shame (remember to put in a good word for me in your memoirs though - for posterity`s sake you know).

PS I will get to the article you pasted too perhaps later on...

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

If you want to be informed of BEHIND THE SCENE actions of FBI,CIA,MOSSAD,Counter TERRORISM,ASSASINATION without tear or blinking of eyes of the same grand presidents whom Jery Farwell & Pat Robertson bless with New & altered polluted BIBLE ,IN THE NAME OF GOD,whom shamless sinner ,in public crying for GOD -hypocrites

http://geocities.com/americanterrorism/

ali1 reply 25

``Ah... It is so difficult to explain the concepts of freedom, liberty and honor to Punjabis like you, SameerJB. ``

Lets exclude Punjabi sikhs in this shameless category.

saminashah #24
``NOW I understand why there are certain Chowkies who make all kinds of whinging excuses for the versions of democracies we are seeing at work.``

Not to worry, just name them and we`ll go get `em ! :)

Did i not say TERRORISM linked with U.S. Foreign POLICY ?

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/011004/6/bfeo.html



Women must work to temper U.S. `cowboy` response to terror crisis, says group

By STEPHEN THORNE



Click to enlarge photo

OTTAWA (CP) - Canadian women should focus on tempering America`s ``cowboy-inspired`` response to the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and push for justice through the courts, a major women`s group said Thursday.

The Canadian Women`s March Committee also defended the right of Sunera Thobani, a well-known feminist, to make a controversial link between the attacks and U.S. foreign policy. Thobani, former head of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, told a conference on Tuesday that Canadian women should not be coerced into supporting a U.S. foreign policy that is ``soaked in blood.``

The March Committee emphasized that women have more pressing issues to address than blame.

``War is not the answer to the atrocious crime against humanity committed on Sept. 11, 2001,`` said the group, which says it represents a majority of women`s organizations across Canada.

NAC vice-president Denise Andrea Campbell said Thursday that Thobani broadened discussion on the issue and put some context to the attacks.

``We really support her right - and, actually, all Canadians` right - to ask: why is this happening?`` Campbell told a news conference.

``But on behalf of women across the country . . . we are certainly more interested in looking at the immediate issue at hand, which is: how do we respond to what has happened?``

The committee opposes what it calls U.S. President George W. Bush`s ``vengeful and war-mongering response`` to the attacks. It says the world should follow United Nations guidelines and seek justice in courts of law.

``We expect our governments to lead through compassion, justice and respect for the dignity of all people,`` said the committee declaration.

There is no justification for a full-scale military response to the attacks under UN-defined grounds of self-defence, said Andree Cote, director of law reform at the National Association of Women and the Law.

``It`s so very dangerous in times like this to have unilateral, cowboy-inspired actions that will create possibly a lot of deaths of innocent civilians and international unrest,`` said Cote.

Thobani, a women`s studies professor at University of British Columbia, called the United States ``the most dangerous and the most powerful global force unleashing horrific levels of violence`` in the world today.

Her remarks were condemned by politicians and others as outrageous.

Cote said the reaction to Thobani`s statements has been more troubling than the statements themselves.

``I think this is one of the reasons that we`re opposing war,`` said Cote.

``It creates a climate of intolerance; it creates a climate where basic civil liberties can be violated, where basic freedom of expression is put in jeopardy. We`re very worried by this type of thing.``

She said media and other responses to Thobani`s speech harkened back to the 1950s era of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, who conducted a witchhunt for phantom communists, destroying many innocent lives in the process.

``We want to have a democratic discussion on how to solve this horrible crisis,`` said Cote.

Campbell described Canada`s response so far as an encouraging reinforcement of the country`s traditional values of humanitarianism and peace.

Ref Fatuous #: 22

So, I suppose you want me to believe that the hearts of Arab mo-fo`s who flew planes into the WTC Towers bled for the Vietnamese, Cubans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Koreans and all other people oppressed by the US.

How come the Vietnamese, Cubans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Koreans and all other people oppressed by the US didn`t fly even one plane into any US building in the last 50 years?

And why is it that your Pakistani black heart bleeds for the Palestinians and attempts to whitewash the crimes of the Islamic Ummah?

Pea-brained idiot!

And all of you who were posting articles about how it was all a Jewish conspiracy because 4,000 Jews who worked in the WTC Towers did not show up for work and thus escaped death? Isn`t Pakistan, by the same logic, the ONE AND ONLY LOGICAL CULPRIT, being the largest recipient of benefits such as lifting of all sanctions?

What is the difference b/w Pakistanis and Afghans in terms of their representaion at the state level?

In a way there is no difference b/w Afghans and Pakis. Afghans have Talibans (ex-American-lovers) on their heads, and we have Paki Army on our heads. They can not get rid of Taliban type jahil and self-righteous ppl, and we can not get rid of Paki military type `jungjoo` and self-righteous ppl, who like to get involved in every conflict around the world without seeing their size.

But atleast there is a big differnce b/w Taliban and Paki Army. No one can in this world can say that Talibans hand over their declared guest to an arrogant and threatening army (This is Pathan culture, of which they r rightly proud of). But an attorney in USA (back in 95-96) has said that `Pakistanis can sell their mothers for few bucks` (in context of handing over Ramzi Yousuf to USA without any legal process).

No wonder why Pakistani Army is again pimping their mother land.

RE: Sameer JB # 3

[``Why did Afghans fought against Russians? All the problems of Afghans lie in answerinig this simple question.

How many Hungarians, Czech, Poles etc died to get rid of Russian occupation? What made Afghans a special case. The answer is illiteracy, faith, blind following, tribal culture``]

Why did Americans fight against the British?

Why did Algerians fight against the French?

Why did Vietnamese fight against the Americans?

Why are Kashmiris fighting against the Indians?

They are all illiterate, tribal people I think.

Why have the educated, cosmopolitan Punjabis never fought against any occupier?

Ah... It is so difficult to explain the concepts of freedom, liberty and honor to Punjabis like you, SameerJB. But think... if it wasn`t for the ``illetrate, tribal and blinded by faith`` George Washington, scums like you wouldn`t be enjoying the fruits of freedom today.

But hey, maybe you would`ve been happier to have been raised in Sardar Lehna Singh`s harem and scrubbing his horses for a living.

The US spent two billion in fighting the USSR in Afghanistan. They allied with militant Islamists like bin Laden, as they allied themselves with drug traffickers in the eighties. They destroyed the Afghani landscape and orchards. They did not put a single penny into the Afghani infrastructure. And then they washed their hands and walked away on one of the poorest nations in this world.

Not only will the ``war on drugs and terrorism`` last for many years, but the trafficking and terrorism will increase, as the US continues to make unscrupulous deals with questionable allies.

On the upside, my dear hawks, weaponry sanctions have been lifted from both India and Pakistan. We can expect to see an escalating amount of tension and saber rattling on the border between India and Pakistan next year, all superboosted by new US military toys! Also, it has been reported that the BJP-led Indian government has been less than protective of their Christian and Muslim minorities. NOW I understand why there are certain Chowkies who make all kinds of whinging excuses for the versions of democracies we are seeing at work. This is their version of democracy at work, not ours. Ah, the joys of pragmatism.

Re: Deepika Reply #17

#############################################

Indian minister says reported hijack a false alarm: NEW DELHI, Oct 4: A reported hijack of an Indian plane on a domestic flight Air Boeing 737 from Bombay to New Delhi was a false alarm, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said today. ``It was a false alarm. The confusion arose between ATC Ahmedabad and the pilots,`` Hussain told reporters, adding that all passengers had left the plane safely.

#################################################

Dont get me wrong i mourn death of 9-11 tragedy ,just as mine

BUT I DO THE BURNT ALIVE VIETNAMESE,KOREAN,NAPALM OVER PALESTENIANS HOUSE,STARVING IRAQI WOMEN & CHILDREN TOO

Those who were also father,sister,mother,sons & daughters but not repeatedly flashed every 5 mins for 3 weeks.Do our mind need repititons to FEEL?

Ever since the United States Army massacred 300 Lakotas in 1890, American

forces have intervened elsewhere around the globe 100 times. Indeed the

United States has sent troops abroad or militarily struck other countries`

territory 216 times since independence from Britain. Since 1945 the United

States has intervened in more than 20 countries throughout the world.

Since World War II, the United States actually dropped bombs on 23

countries. These include: China 1945-46, Korea 1950-53, China 1950-53,

Guatemala 1954, Indonesia 1958, Cuba 1959-60, Guatemala 1960, Congo 1964,

Peru 1965, Laos 1964-73, Vietnam 1961-73, Cambodia 1969-70, Guatemala

1967-69, Grenada 1983, Lebanon 1984, Libya 1986, El Salvador 1980s,

Nicaragua 1980s, Panama 1989, Iraq 1991-1999, Sudan 1998, Afghanistan 1998,

and Yugoslavia 1999.

Post World War II, the United States has also assisted in over 20 different

coups throughout the world, and the CIA was responsible for half a dozen

assassinations of political heads of state.

The following is a comprehensive summary of the imperialist strategy of the

United States over the span of the past century:

Argentina - 1890 - Troops sent to Buenos Aires to

protect business interests.

Chile - 1891 - Marines sent to Chile and clashed with

nationalist rebels.

Haiti - 1891 - American troops suppress a revolt by

Black workers on United States-claimed Navassa Island.

Hawaii - 1893 - Navy sent to Hawaii to overthrow the

independent kingdom - Hawaii annexed by the United

States.

Nicaragua - 1894 - Troops occupied Bluefields, a city

on the Caribbean Sea, for a month.

China - 1894-95 - Navy, Army, and Marines landed

during the Sino-Japanese War.

Korea - 1894-96 - Troops kept in Seoul during the war.

Panama - 1895 - Army, Navy, and Marines landed in the

port city of Corinto.

China - 1894-1900 - Troops occupied China during the

Boxer Rebellion.

Philippines - 1898-1910 - Navy and Army troops landed

after the Philippines fell during the Spanish-American

War; 600,000 Filipinos were killed.

Cuba - 1898-1902 - Troops seized Cuba in the

Spanish-American War; the United States still

maintains troops at Guantanamo Bay today.

Puerto Rico - 1898 - present - Troops seized Puerto

Rico in the Spanish-American War and still occupy

Puerto Rico today.

Nicaragua - 1898 - Marines landed at the port of San

Juan del Sur.

Samoa - 1899 - Troops landed as a result over the

battle for succession to the throne.

Panama - 1901-14 - Navy supported the revolution when

Panama claimed independence from Colombia. American

troops have occupied the Canal Zone since 1901 when

construction for the canal began.

Honduras - 1903 - Marines landed to intervene during a

revolution.

Dominican Rep 1903-04 - Troops landed to protect

American interests during a revolution.

Korea - 1904-05 - Marines landed during the

Russo-Japanese War.

Cuba - 1906-09 - Troops landed during an election.

Nicaragua - 1907 - Troops landed and a protectorate

was set up.

Honduras - 1907 - Marines landed during Honduras` war

with Nicaragua.

Panama - 1908 - Marines sent in during Panama`s

election.

Nicaragua - 1910 - Marines landed for a second time in

Bluefields and Corinto.

Honduras - 1911 - Troops sent in to protect American

interests during Honduras` civil war.

China - 1911-41 - Navy and troops sent to China during

continuous flare-ups.

Cuba - 1912 - Troops sent in to protect American

interests in Havana.

Panama - 1912 - Marines landed during Panama`s

election.

Honduras - 1912 - Troops sent in to protect American

interests.

Nicaragua - 1912-33 - Troops occupied Nicaragua and

fought guerrillas during its 20-year civil war.

Mexico - 1913 - Navy evacuated Americans during

revolution.

Dominican Rep 1914 - Navy fought with rebels over

Santo Domingo.

Mexico - 1914-18 - Navy and troops sent in to

intervene against nationalists.

Haiti - 1914-34 - Troops occupied Haiti after a

revolution and occupied Haiti for 19 years.

Dominican Rep 1916-24 - Marines occupied the Dominican

Republic for eight years.

Cuba - 1917-33 - Troops landed and occupied Cuba for

16 years; Cuba became an economic protectorate.

World War I - 1917-18 - Navy and Army sent to Europe

to fight the Axis powers.

Russia - 1918-22 - Navy and troops sent to eastern

Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution; Army made five

landings.

Honduras - 1919 - Marines sent during Honduras`

national elections.

Guatemala - 1920 - Troops occupied Guatemala for two

weeks during a union strike.

Turkey - 1922 - Troops fought nationalists in Smyrna.

China - 1922-27 - Navy and Army troops deployed during

a nationalist revolt.

Honduras - 1924-25 - Troops landed twice during a

national election.

Panama - 1925 - Troops sent in to put down a general

strike.

China - 1927-34 - Marines sent in and stationed for

seven years throughout China.

El Salvador - 1932 - Naval warships deployed during

the FMLN revolt under Marti.

World War II - 1941-45 - Military fought the Axis

powers: Japan, Germany, and Italy.

Yugoslavia - 1946 - Navy deployed off the coast of

Yugoslavia in response to the downing of an American

plane.

Uruguay - 1947 - Bombers deployed as a show of

military force.

Greece - 1947-49 - United States operations insured a

victory for the far right in national ``elections.``

Germany - 1948 - Military deployed in response to the

Berlin blockade; the Berlin airlift lasts 444 days.

Philippines - 1948-54 - The CIA directed a civil war

against the Filipino Huk revolt.

Puerto Rico - 1950 - Military helped crush an

independence rebellion in Ponce.

Korean War - 1951-53 - Military sent in during the

war.

Iran - 1953 - The CIA orchestrated the overthrow of

democratically elected Mossadegh and restored the Shah

to power.

Vietnam - 1954 - The United States offered weapons to

the French in the battle against Ho Chi Minh and the

Viet Minh.

Guatemala - 1954 - The CIA overthrew the

democratically elected Arbenz and placed Colonel Armas

in power.

Egypt - 1956 - Marines deployed to evacuate foreigners

after Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal.

Lebanon - 1958 - Navy supported an Army occupation of

Lebanon during its civil war.

Panama - 1958 - Troops landed after Panamanians

demonstrations threatened the Canal Zone.

Vietnam - 1950s-75 - Vietnam War.

Cuba - 1961 - The CIA-directed Bay of Pigs invasions

failed to overthrow the Castro government.

Cuba - 1962 - The Navy quarantines Cuba during the

Cuban Missile Crisis.

Laos - 1962 - Military occupied Laos during its civil

war against the Pathet Lao guerrillas.

Panama - 1964 - Troops sent in and Panamanians shot

while protesting the United States presence in the

Canal Zone.

Indonesia - 1965 - The CIA orchestrated a military

coup.

Dominican Rep- 1965-66 - Troops deployed during a

national election.

Guatemala - 1966-67 - Green Berets sent in.

Cambodia - 1969-75 - Military sent in after the

Vietnam War expanded into Cambodia.

Oman - 1970 - Marines landed to direct a possible

invasion into Iran.

Laos - 1971-75 - Americans carpet-bomb the countryside

during Laos` civil war.

Chile - 1973 - The CIA orchestrated a coup, killing

President Allende who had been popularly elected. The

CIA helped to establish a military regime under

General Pinochet.

Cambodia - 1975 - Twenty-eight Americans killed in an

effort to retrieve the crew of the Mayaquez, which had

been seized.

Angola - 1976-92 - The CIA backed South African rebels

fighting against Marxist Angola.

Iran - 1980 - Americans aborted a rescue attempt to

liberate 52 hostages seized in the Teheran embassy.

Libya - 1981 - American fighters shoot down two Libyan

fighters.

El Salvador - 1981-92 - The CIA, troops, and advisers

aid in El Salvador`s war against the FMLN.

Nicaragua - 1981-90 - The CIA and NSC directed the

Contra War against the Sandinistas.

Lebanon - 1982-84 - Marines occupied Beirut during

Lebanon`s civil war; 241 were killed in the American

barracks and Reagan ``redeployed`` the troops to the

Mediterranean.

Honduras - 1983-89 - Troops sent in to build bases

near the Honduran border.

Grenada - 1983-84 - American invasion overthrew the

Maurice Bishop government.

Iran - 1984 - American fighters shot down two Iranian

planes over the Persian Gulf.

Libya - 1986 - American fighters hit targets in and

around the capital city of Tripoli.

Bolivia - 1986 - The Army assisted government troops

on raids of cocaine areas.

Iran - 1987-88 - The United States intervened on the

side of Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War.

Libya - 1989 - Navy shot down two more Libyan jets.

Virgin Islands - 1989 - Troops landed during unrest

among Virgin Island peoples.

Philippines - 1989 - Air Force provided air cover for

government during coup.

Panama - 1989-90 - 27,000 Americans landed in

overthrow of President Noriega; over 2,000 Panama

civilians were killed.

Liberia - 1990 - Troops entered Liberia to evacuate

foreigners during civil war.

Saudi Arabia - 1990-91 - American troops sent to Saudi

Arabia, which was a staging area in the war against

Iraq.

Kuwait - 1991 - Troops sent into Kuwait to turn back

Saddam Hussein.

Somalia - 1992-94 - Troops occupied Somalia during

civil war.

Bosnia - 1993-95 - Air Force jets bombed ``no-fly zone``

during civil war in Yugoslavia.

Haiti - 1994-96 - American troops and Navy provided a

blockade against Haiti`s military government. The CIA

restored Aristide to power.

Zaire - 1996-97 - Marines sent into Rwanda Hutus`

refugee camps in the area where the Congo revolution

began.

Albania - 1997 - Troops deployed during evacuation of

foreigners.

Sudan - 1998 - American missiles destroyed a

pharmaceutical complex where alleged nerve gas

components were manufactured.

Afghanistan - 1998 - Missiles launched towards alleged

Afghan terrorist training camps.

Yugoslavia - 1999 - Bombings and missile attacks

carried out by the United States in conjunction with

NATO in the 11 week war against Milosevic.

Iraq - 1998-2001 - Missiles launched into Baghdad and

other large Iraq cities for four days. American jets

enforced ``no-fly zone`` and continued to hit Iraqi

targets since December 1998.

These * *100 * * instances of American military

intervention did not include times when the United

States:

(1) deployed military police overseas;

(2) mobilized the National Guard;

(3) sent Navy ships off the coast of numerous

countries as a show of strength;

(4) sent additional troops to areas where Americans

were already stationed;

(5) carried out covert actions where American forces

were not under the direct rule of an American command;

(6) used small hostage rescue units;

(7) used American pilots to fly foreign planes;

(8) carried out military training and advisory

programs which did not involve direct combat.

U. S. Government Assassination Plots



Following is a list of prominent foreign leaders whose assassination

(or planning for same) the United States has been involved in since

the end of Second World War. The list does not include several

assassinations in various parts of the world carried out by anti-Castro

Cubans employed by CIA and headquartered in the United States:

LIST A: NON MUSLIMS

1949 - KIm Koo, Korean opposition leader

1950`s - CIA/Neo-Nazi hit list of numerous political figures in

West Germany

1955 - Jose` Antonio Remon, President of Panama

1950`s Chou En-lai, Prime Minister of China, several attempts

on his life

1951 - Kim Il Sung, Premiere of North Korea

1950s (mid) - Claro M. Recto, Philippines opposition leader

1955 - Jawar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister of India

1959 and 1963 - Norodom Sihanouk, leader of Cambodia

1950s-70s - Jose Figueres, President of Costa Rica,

two attempts on his life

1961 - Francois ``Papa Doc``Duvalier, leader of Haiti

1961 - Patrice Lumumba , Prime Minister of Congo (Zaire)

1961 - Gen. Rafael Trujillo, leader of Dominican Republic

1963 - Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam

1960s - Fidel Castro, President of Cuba, more than

15 attempts on his life

1960s - Raul Castro, high official in government of Cuba

1965 - Francisco Caamanao, Dominican Republic opposition leader

1965 - Pierre Ngendandumwe, Prime Minister of Burundi

1965-6 - Charles de Gaulle, President of France

1967 - Che Guevara, Cuban leader

1970 - Salvadore Allende, President of Chile

1970 - General Rene Schneider, Commander-in-Chief of Army, Chile

1970s and 1981 - Gen. Omar Torrijos, leader of Panama

1972 - General Manuel Noriega, Chief of Panama Intelligence

1975 - Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire

1976 - Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica

1983 - Miguel d`Escoto, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua

1984 - The nine commandantes of the Sandanista

National Directorate

1980`s - Dr. Gerald Bull, Canadian Ballistics Scientist

assassinated by Mossad in Belgium.

Partial List of Muslim Leaders Assassinated or

Attempted Assassinations

1950`s Sukarno, President of Indonesia

1957 Gamal Abdul Nasser, President of Egypt

1960 Brigadier General, Abdul Karim Kassem, Leader of Iraq

1980-86 Muammar Qaddafi, Leader of Libya, several plots and

attempts upon his life

1982 Ayatullah Khomeini, Leader of Iran

1983 General Ahmed Dlimi, Moroccan army Commander

1985 Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadllallah, Lebanese Shiite Leader

(80 people killed in that attempt)

1991 Saddam Hussein, Leader of Iraq

Reference: Blum, William, ``KILLING HOPE - U.S. Military and

CIA Interventions Since World War II,`` Appendix III

U.S. Government Assassination Plots, page 453,

Common Courage Press, Monroe, Maine 1995. ISBN 1-56751-052-3

Very likely Victims :

April 4, 1979 - Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Leader of Pakistan, for pursuing making

of

Nuclear Bomb.

August, 1988. General Ziaul Haq, Military Leader of Pakistan.

1995 - Murtaza Bhutto, Son of ZUlfiqar Ali Bhutto, Anti-American

would-be Leader - Pakistan.

March 25, 1975 - King Faisal of Saudi Arabia through his Nephew, Saudi

Arabia

for imposing 1973 Oil Embargo.

August 24, 1999. Mullah Mohammad Omar, in Kandhar, Afghanistan.

|

``À``List of Known Assassination Plots

1950`s Sukarno, President of Indonesia

1957 Gamal Abdul Nasser, President

2001 Since early this year more than 40 Palestinian leaders assassinated

through surrogate Israel.

Here is an interesting article. Please read.

http://www.timesofindia.com/articlelist.asp?catkey=-21289bullsht=enormous

Grateful India celebrates Powell`s statement

NILANJANA BHADURI JHA

NEW DELHI: Celebrations broke out and sweets were distributed in the streets of the capital after US Secretary of State Colin Powell denounced the ``terrible terrorist act that killed innocent civilians`` in Kashmir.

Foreign Secratary Chaptila Iyer told reporters that India was ``pleased`` and ``indebted`` for Powell`s kind words. ``We have been trying to draw the world`s attention towards Pakistan sponsored aatank-waad in different parts of India but we have been ignored so far``, she said.

Foreign Minister Bhadwant Singh sounded even more positive. ``Our coming generations will be grateful to Colin Powell``, he said. He also said that India has asked all of its states to provide 5000 kunwari kannhya (virgins) each for the American soldiers, if they ever decide to use the Indian bases and facilities. He said that we would have done ``more`` but for the precarious male/female ratio in the country`s population. In response to a question he said that we can always ``provide`` Shammi Kapoor and Prem Chopra if there is a battallion from San Francisco`s Castro district.

He contemptously dismissed a reported statement by Maulana Manhoos Azhar in which the Maulana had accused the Indians of being a nation of castrated eunuchs which was not willing to fight its own wars. ``He has been in our custody for 3 years and we have repeatedly checked his shalwar. He is a casarated eunuch himself``, Bhadwant Singh said. ``In fact both of us played eunuch-eunuch on our flight to Kandahar``, he recalled.

Dear Priya,

Thanks for making Tamin Ansary`s letter available to us. The ways in which we can help to educate ourselves and the U.S. public about some of political, historical, social and economic realities attendant to Afghanistan involve a little commitment on our parts, esp. in the U.S.A.. If you are part of a university community, go to events or lectures that discuss some of the issues being discussed in Tamim`s letter. If you are not involved in a college community, find relevant groups and get involved in amd sponsor/organize opportunities for public rational discourses. Push your university or spiritual/religious/social/political community centers to invite speakers who will offer little heard viewpoints as Tamim`s. And then go and be a part of the dialogue.

Priya, are there organizations to which we can offer our assistance?

regards