Top Scoops

Scoop

Network

Book Reviews | Gordon Campbell | Scoop News | Wellington Scoop | Community Scoop | Search

Scoop Top Scoops

Sludge Report #70 – Hope's Chance - Ariel's Ask

Wednesday, 23 May 2001, 6:26 pm
Column: C.D. Sludge

NOTE: Authors of this report will be anonymous and wide ranging, and occasionally finely balanced. Indeed you are invited to contribute: The format is as a reporters notebook. It will be published as and when material is available. C.D. Sludge can be contacted at sludge@scoop.co.nz. The Sludge Report is available as a free email service..Click HERE - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/myscoop/ to subscribe...

Sludge Report #70

Hope's Chance - Ariel’s Ask

See also…

Palestinians Refuse Cease-Fire
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010522/ts/israel_palestinians.html

Israel’s leader Ariel Sharon has now – according to reports (See above link) - ordered his troops to stop firing – except where it is necessary to protect human life. The Palestinians, unsurprisingly, do not believe him.

Sludge however, for the sake of hope, is prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.

And if the self-styled War Hero Ariel Sharon wants to stand a chance of going down in history as a hero, rather than as a child killer and war criminal, he now has a choice.

He can speak with forked toungue, and maintain the cycle of violence, or he can take the one sure action which will assure Palestinians, and the world, that Israel truly wants peace.

And this is an option that takes courage.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Ariel faces the same choice that General Wiranto and President Habibe of Indonesia, when the situation in East Timor spiralled out of control in September 1999.

Then nobody thought it remotely possible. But it happened.

Then there was a miraculous peace. Maybe we can have another one. And now basically, it is all up to Ariel.

It is time to call in the International UN peace keepers. Go to it Ariel!

Anti©opyright Sludge 2001

Alastair Thompson

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

Top Scoops Headlines

COMMENT

Gordon Campbell: On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism

The meaning of the word “racism” is being deliberately blurred, for political reasons. Lets re-state the obvious: when people are chronically experiencing worse social outcomes and lower life expectancy due to the colour of their skin, that’s racism. But the targeting of measures to redress those wrongs is not racism – it is justice, long overdue.

Peter Dunne: Newshub And TVNZ Tip Of Media Iceberg

There has been a positive but restrained response to the deal announced between Stuff and Warner Brothers Discovery to “save” TV3’s six o’clock nightly news bulletin, currently screened under the Newshub label. According to Stuff, the deal will mean that around 40 of the jobs involved can also be saved.

Harry Finch: Austerity – For And Against

It’s a word that politicians love to hate and as much as the current government is telling us that the measures they are taking don’t amount to austerity, by definition, they do. And as other commentators have noted, New Zealand has elected a government of austerity, so let’s weigh up the pros and cons.

Gordon Campbell: On Winston Peters’ Pathetic Speech At The UN

Tens of thousands of Gazans have been slaughtered, two million are on the brink of starvation and what does our Foreign Minister choose to talk about at the UN? The 75 year old issue of whether the five permanent members should continue to have veto powers over Security Council decisions.

Binoy Kampmark: Flicker Of Hope, Biden’s Throwaway Lines On Assange

Walking stiffly, largely distracted, and struggling to focus on the bare essentials, US President Joe Biden was keeping company with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, when asked the question. It concerned what he was doing regarding Australia’s request that the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be returned to Australia.

Media Matters NZ: Here We Go Again

The News Makers are in the News again and this time because of mass layoffs laid on for the delectation of the staff involved, mainly news and current affairs people, which has, its fair to say, given them a thoroughly justified bellyache.

Become a Member

Community Scoop

More RSS News Alerts

Wellington Scoop

More RSS News Alerts

Comment Section