re: I am sad

[Dnkwilson4100@aol.com]

In response to Mazine's comments I have the following remarks.  Firstly, I agree with you that most Americans are not aware of cultures outside of their own immediate influence.  You cannot generalize, however, that because you are an international student that you must have traveled more than anyone else in the class.  I personally have lived in Germany, traveled extensively through Europe; I've lived in Oman and traveled extensively throughout the Gulf, the Levant and North Africa; I've also lived in six US states from Maine to California and visited all but eight of them.  I'm also sure that I'm not the only one to have such extensive travels.  I have been the guest of Beduins in the Rub al-Khali and shared their tea.  I have offered aid to an old man in the middle of nothing in Syria and in return shared his meager rations over a wonderful lunch.

To respond to the questions you set forth:
1) Does Iraq posses Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Weapons?  You're response was maybe and maybe not.  Come on!  Yes, of course it has at least chemical weapons.  Saddam has proven he has chemical weapons by using them on Iranians during the first Gulf War and against Kurds in his own country.  Does he have Nukes?  Well, that's what we're trying to determine through inspections.  However, Saddam is very good at hiding and moving any evidence he may have.

2) Has Iraq ever used nuclear weapons?  You're response was maybe, maybe not.  Well, open your eyes.  Of course he hasn't.  First of all, we don't even know if he has any, secondly, if he had USED nuclear weapons we would all know about it.  Does he have the ability to project power through Nuclear weapons?  What do you think the Scud missile was designed to do?

3) Does the US have Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Weapons?  Unfortunately, you are right that we do.  But what you fail to bring up is that we are destroying many of our NBC weapons.  There is a program within the Defense Department to destroy most of our existing Chemical Weapons and we should all be familiar with the treaties between the United States and Russia aimed at reducing the number of nuclear warheads we possess.  Will the US ever get rid of all its WMD?  Let's not be naive and say yes.  Of course we won't.  But we also will never use WMD as a first strike weapon.  US strategic policy states that we will never use Chemical or biological weapons and the US reserves the right to use nuclear weapons only in the case of reprisal, against an enemy which has used WMD against us first.

4)  Has the US ever used nuclear weapons?  Sadly, once again, you are correct.  Yes, we have used nuclear weapons in the past.  But after the first uses in World War II our nation realized the destructive power available and vowed to never use them again except in a case as outlined above.

As far as your comments on the US involvement in the Israeli - Palestinian issue.  Be careful that you don't commit the same crime you accuse the rest of us of doing.  Arab media colors it's broadcasts just as much as US media.  I have watched al-Jazira, LBC and most of the other Middle Eastern news casts and have been amazed at how one sided they present many issues dealing with the US.  This is not to say that US media is correct.  I am often disappointed with inaccurate portrayals of Middle Easterners, Arabs and Muslims.  I often wonder why I even watch the news.

And lastly, please don't generalize that "most of us voted for Bush."  Although I personally did, I would wager a bet that more than 50% of our class voted for Al Gore (of those that voted that is).  And one more personal opinion: I hate to imagine how Gore would have handled Sept 11.