Feedback: Lebanon, Flight Delays and Moonlighting

Wednesday, 2 August 2006, 11:40 am
Opinion: Scoop Feedback

I am inviting your readers to take part in an international discussion online regarding the Middle East crisis and terrorism in general.

We’ve had every type of expert take a shot at finding a solution to the mess in Israel and nothing has worked. We’ve heard from pundits and politicians, from analysts and ambassadors, from terrorists and trade union leaders. And still there is no solution.

It’s time to give the average citizen a try. Those of your readers that participate will be talking to people just like them from around the world, including the trouble spots. My hope is that this talk will promote international understanding of all sides of the conflicts and provide the participants in the conflict with a reality check from the rest of the world.

To visit this discussion group, start from the Google homepage, click on “groups”, and type in “SOL-III-FORUM”. Click on “Introductory Message”( the first hit), and then follow the instructions.

Terrorism and the Middle East crisis have become everybody’s problem. I invite your readers to become part of the solution.

You call yourself "Independent News"? I've never seen a newsite with so much bias in my life. You might as well call yourself "The Jihadist". How about bringing in the other side of the story of the Israel-Lebanon crisis? Or is unbiased reporting not your style?

The Editor, Scoop

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to say, the words of a Canadian United Nations observer written just days before he was killed in an Israeli bombing of a UN post in Lebanon are evidence Hezbollah was using the post as a "SHIELD" to fire rockets into Israel, says a former UN commander in Bosnia.

Those words, written in an e-mail dated just nine days before the attack, offer a possible explanation as to why the post, which according to UN officials was clearly marked and known to Israeli forces, was hit by Israel on Tuesday night, said retired Maj.-Gen. Lewis MacKenzie.

Look, instead of campaigning against the Taser you PC idiots should get off yor arses and sppend a bit of time with our Police and see what crap they have to deal with, and how these Tasers will assist them in their job. If Taser's were in use years ago Steven Wallace would still be alive today. They are a less than lethal option than a firearm. Come on then bright sparks, put your self in the Cops shoes, your standing there confronting a P fuelled crim holding a knife, what do you guys suggest then aye??? Offer him a cup of herbal tea?? Get real, wake up, you idiots havn't a bloody clue!!!

As I sat in my empty Jumbo jet on exotic Ohakia airport runway last week I had to wonder what the foreign tourists thought of it all. Was this the ultimate adventure holiday or was it the first sight of a Banana republic? I have landed at Heathrow in zero visability. Our captain said he needed 600 meters at foggy Auckland airport.

Our 5 hour sojourn without food, drink or even the earphones for the inflight entertainment system, was memorable enough, but there were distractions. As the lucky owner of the seat beside the door on the not-so-hot side of the plane I was doubly blessed. The door in question was opened. This guaranteed a welcome cool breeze. The door was opened I am informed, to comply with regulations regarding the refueling of planes containing a full complement of disgruntled passengers who were unable to use cellphones or other electronic devices so that we would not consign ourselves to a Bagdad farewell.

As is usually the case there was a Catch 22. The doors are not allowed to be opened unless there are disembarking steps to place against them. Perhaps here in NZ ACC feel that is OK. It seems that at Ohakia disembarkation steps are rationed. In our case no disembarkation was contemplated in case a deranged Mid Eastern terrorist sought a cup of tea in nearby Palmerston North. The result was gaping open doors with direct access to the tarmac 10 meters below. Unfortunately the airline concerned did not anticipate this situation and were unable to provide a barrier against the yawning gap of the open door. Their answer was a vigilant member of the cabin crew standing across the said gap in a pose reminiscent of a religious image. The curious passengers and children added excitement as they tried to look out.

Eventually the exhausted crew member concerned showed serious signs of falling asleep and thus falling out of the gap in the door to the tarmac below. I advised him to sit in the jump seat and put on his belt. Fortunately he took my advice. I spent the rest of my stay talking to him in an effort to keep him awake. At least it made my stay seem worthwhile.

I would like to thank the NZ aviation authorities for their help and look forward to their increased airport taxes next year to make Auckland an even more appalling destination.

Dear Editorial,

I am from Northern Ireland, and I am extremely worried about my friends in Lebanon who have been under constant attack by the state of Israel for almost two weeks.

The state of Israel, disregarding all international laws and conventions such as the Geneva Convention (that explicitly prohibits it), is launching a maritime and air siege targeting the entire population of the country. The people are being collectively punished in Lebanon by the state of Israel in deliberate acts of terrorism as described in Article 33 of the Geneva Convention. These acts put the state of Israel in clear violation of international law and can be described as crimes and state terrorism. They may feel left out by the world that is turning a blind eye on the savagery of the Israeli state which does not seem to be capable of approaching any problem outside the realm of the military power bestowed on it by the United States of America.

I am writing you this letter in the hope that editors and journalists such as yourself can play the role that free society bestows on journalists: defend the innocents and expose the truth. The numerous civilian victims of the Israeli savagery are increasing by the hour.

The viciousness of the attacks, as you can witness by the pictures, has attained terrifying levels where we saw a child cut in three and another half burned. The Israeli war machine, in its blind savagery, is destroying not only their lives but the foundations that could help them survive beyond the Israeli massacre (if the international community has the courage to stop them).

Up until now over 260 Lebanese civilians have been killed, 582 injured, bridges and infrastructure destroyed, refugees are leaving Beirut in droves and worst of all the enforced siege might lead to a human catastrophe in the next 48 hours.

I hope that this lonely letter can push you to help us help awake the consciousness of your readers, viewers and listeners. I hope it can prompt them to pressure their elected officials to intervene to end this cycle of violence and halt the continuous violation of international laws and basic ethical behavior.

Among the blindness of the international community and the deafness of the Arab one, you are our most serious hope.

Finaly I invite you, as I invite the international community to witness and dennounce the Israeli Aggression being comitted against lebanese innocent Civilians, stepping over all human rights and values.

Best Regards,
Roy J Dodds

A friend of Lebanon, from Northern Ireland

Here is set of links showing the Israeli genocide in Lebanon:
http://www.albaladonline.com/index1.php?pnumber=1
http://www.albaladonline.com/index1.php?pnumber=15
http://www.lebwar.org/lebanonwar.jpg
http://www.stopdestroyinglebanon.com/
http://www.lgic.org/en/israel-lebanon-2006.php
http://www.videos.informationclearinghouse.info/aaaaaaaz.jpg

MOONLIGHT POEM

It was Friday night at the parlour
With everything ready to go
the chandelier twinkled and glittered
On the plush velvet cushions below

The tape deck poured bourbon and honey
Through a cd from old Barry White
And the bookings were heavy as usual
But something just wasn't quite right

The ladies sat round on the sofas
Each one of them looking quite blue
The champagne sat untouched in its bucket
Untasted from anyones shoe

Then a client came into the parlor,
a Friday night regular john
he said, girls you do look most unhappy
what is it that's brought all this on?

The ladies all lowered their faces
As though not inclined to reply
Except for the steely old madame
Who looked the john fair in the eye

We usually keep up a high standard here
As I'm sure you'll be quick to agree
But the best of intentions can't anticipate
Every possible contingency

It's a blot on our fine reputation
Shame has been brought upon this knockshop
-we've just heard on the news that one of our staff
Has been moonlighting, as a cop

Don Franks

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