This is expanded on in an article in the November 22 International Herald Tribune by Nayan Chanda, of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization. Chanda points out that the dispatch of four destroyers, a support ship, and eight aircraft by Tokyo "marks a major turning point: the reemergence of Japan's naval forces from constitutionally mandated quarantine."

While noting Tokyo's moves to mute opposition to the deployments from the governments of China and south Korea, he adds that although "a large majority of Japanese public opinion is sympathetic to the American-led war against terrorism, recent polls show only 8 percent in favor of active Japanese cooperation."

Prime Minister Koizumi's move to send destroyers equipped with the Aegis battle-management system, was, in the end, blocked, "out of concern that state-of-the-art intelligence, communications and command and control capabilities might be seen as overly aggressive," Chandra says.

Bill Kalman
Albany, California
 
 
New support for Italie
New Jersey supporters of the fight to reinstate Michael Italie won support from women's rights fighters at the New Jersey State NOW conference held in New Brunswick, New Jersey, November 17. Conference participants registered strong opposition to attacks on democratic rights during the discussion on "Civil Liberties and the Future," rejecting the false argument that workers must give up some rights in order to gain "security."

The discussion began with an older activist denouncing the proposed national identity card. A teacher pointed to the increased policing and harassment of public school students that started long before the war against Afghanistan. A Black woman described recent harassment at a movie theater and explained that the theater chain has a written policy stating it has the right to search moviegoers' purses in order to promote safety.

Support for Mike Italie's fight against his political firing was raised during the discussion and 15 activists signed the petition. Additionally, truth kits were distributed to some individuals who are considering writing protest letters.

Sarah Harris
Newark, New Jersey
 
 
Tribunals and executions?
How can there be freedom or justice in a land with secret military tribunals and secret executions? President Bush is now warning Iraq not to develop "weapons of mass destruction" to "terrorize nations." I wonder how the untold thousands (who's counting?) of dead Afghan civilians feel with American weapons of mass destruction raining terror upon them daily.

If we are defending civilization, where are the calls for democracy in Afghanistan? If we are pursuing justice, why did Bush refuse the Taliban's offer to extradite bin Laden to a neutral country for trial? No, the world's richest nation is spending billions to attack the world's poorest people over a new oil pipeline valued at several trillion dollars.

Think of it as an investment in Bush's energy policy which will guarantee we'll need all that oil.

Wayne Skipper
Eugene, Oregon
 
 
Opposes Patriot Act
The passage of the Patriot Act and its goal of ending terrorism is a cover-up for its real purpose, and that is to silence opposition to the U.S. global imperialists' interventions throughout the world and at home, and catching alleged "terrorists" and disposing of them by military tribunal, even allowing summary execution. It is a shameless attack on all of our civil rights.

I recently came across the matter of Ali Yahgi, a 15-year resident of Albany, New York, from Jordan, who is one of the 1,000 individuals picked up after the September 11 attacks. He owns a pizza store there.

According to the Times Union article written by Phil Bayly, Yahgi's only crime is being an outspoken public critic of U.S. policy and he is to be deported any day now. His family assures the Times Union he has no association with any terrorist group and that it is his political opinion that is causing his deportation.

I would like to suggest that there is a possibility of establishing a coalition or committee to oppose the Patriot Act from a farmer and working people's perspective. What is being done is just like the Palmer Raids; it smells of Cointelpro and other activities by the U.S. intelligence community.

Tom Siblo
Catskill, New York

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people.

Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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