Responding to some letters in the Saudi Arab News
One of my favorite newspapers in the Middle East is the Arab News published in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, not just because they run my columns. But they are very progressive and open minded on issues and views.
Occasionally I get letters, which are posted in the paper but can’t respond to them. But I thought I would share two that were published this wqeek in response to my syndicated column on the failure to punish convicted murderer Marine Trent Thomas (also published here).
here are the letters:
Marines and Murders
I read Ray Hanania’s article, “Iraq: Marines Can Get Away With Killing Civilians” (July 22).
Hanania says the US Marine got off without a charge or penalty after killing an Iraqi civilian. Let me say that the silent majority agrees with you and we in Australia have said all along right from the word go when the Americans were going to invade Iraq that the invasion was always on the American political agenda. The world is slow to react but there is one way to stifle the American political scheme and that is for everyone to trade in euros. Once the dollar is not the benchmark then they can print as much as they like and it will be worthless (the American economy is actually bankrupt today but nobody admits it because they just print more.)
Saddam made the mistake of starting to trade Iraq’s oil with euros and that was also a catalyst for the US invasion. Could you imagine what would have happened if the rest of the world switched to euros. Why do you think that the Americans always have one of theirs at the helm of the World Bank? Now that the French and Germans have orchestrated the euro it is simply a matter of time. Even the Asians are now distancing themselves from the World Bank and have created their own insurance whereby the Asians will stick together in crisis times.
Anyway enough of this. I really just wanted to say that we in Australia agree with you and believe that the Americans through their political system have caused more deaths and maiming than Saddam ever did and it continues today. Thanks for the read.
John Anderson, Australia, published 26 July 2007
(Thanks John for the great comment. I love praise 
)
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Marines and Murders – 2
Hanania should consider reporting facts, not suggestions that “There are even many who believe that there are far more cases of Iraqi civilians who are murdered by American soldiers, but that those cases are hushed up to minimize the embarrassment.”
Do you call that journalism? Ray Hanania, you are retarded!
Joanne Healey, United States, published 26 July 2007
(Yes Joan, I am retarded, especially if I believe that racists in America are willing to open their eyes and start practicing all that mumbo jumbo about free speech, free expression, democracy, civil rights and fighting racism. You epitomize the corruption that has infested the American Principles. But thanks for writing anyway We all know the truth about the coverups in the murders of Iraqi civilians, don’t we? )
– Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com
Join the Conversation
Hey Ray out of curiosity who do you think is killing more Iraqis – Americans, other Iraqis, or foreign Jihadi fighters?
@levylevthuglife: Ray will probably answer your question, but let me ask you one: Are you saying that if iraqis are killing their own people then it is not important if american soldiers kill some more? is it all about numbers after all?
Levylevthuglife..
Are we talking about the actual do-ers of those killings? or the cause-ers of those killings to happen in the first place?
It’s a fine line to know who to blame on this, don’t you think?
Nadia:
No. Killing someone, anyone, is like destroying an entire universe. It’s just that I read somewhere that many in the Arab world believe that Americans are the ones killing civilians, but the western media say that such deaths are caused by Iraqis and/or foreign Jihadis. I don’t know for sure. Ray seems to be well versed in this topic, and he touched on this in his article above so I asked his opinion.
Ray,
I think there are 3 groups one can blame the killing on: the actual killers, those who planned the killings but may not have actually done the killing, and the Americans who stood by as it happened because the DoD forgot to plan for after the invasion. I guess my question is more theoretical than specific for Iraq, and can be applied to other conflicts in which there are executioners, planners, and those who knew about the killings but chose not to act. How much blame would you assign to each group? Again, I am just asking for opinion, since I haven’t formulated mine.
oops point 2 was meant for Lou K not Ray, but feel free to answer
levylevthuglife, yes Iraqis kill Iraqis, just like Americans sometimes kill Americans. They’re at war, what do you expect? No one is saying it’s justified, and no one is saying it’s solely America’s fault that these things are happening. However, most civilians are NOT killed by Iraqis. Certain American officers are out there are still murdering people, some in cold blood, and there are marines getting away with such things including rape. Their actions are provocative enough to keep stirring conflicts. If Bush had done his homework before attacking (or if one of his midgets did it for him) perhaps this wouldn’t happen. You don’t send a bunch of kids to Iraq with guns and tanks and tell them “show them what liberalism and democracy is all about.” It’s retarded, it’s destructive, and it pisses any sane person out there off.
Never justify murder. Iraqis, Americans, whoever did it and whoever lost their lives in the process, they’re innocent people who don’t deserve to be put through what they’re going through.
Esra’a, can you support your statement, “However, most civilians are NOT killed by Iraqis”? Not only does it seem that in a civil war most deaths would be at the hands of fellow countrymen, but Iraq Body Count puts the percentage of civilian casualties caused by American forces at just under 37%