Letters to the editor - Daily News (updated 12/02/2011)

12 Feb 2011

The Editor

The Daily News

Fax: 031 308 2715

Dear Sir

Re: Intelligence failures surrounding the recent regime changes

In the wake of the political tsunamis in Tunisia and Egypt, the total failure of the US and Israeli intelligence communities to even anticipate these has been questioned.

The answer may be found in this quote by Karl Rove, consultant and political advisor to former US President George W Bush, “We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors ... and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.”

When people become deluded into thinking that they alone create the realities of our existence, they show absolute contempt and disregard for everyone else. They are so preoccupied with the next “illusion of reality” they are going to create, they do not believe it possible for any other reality to exist.

It is people with this mindset that occupy the corridors of power in the world today. This tsunami that started in the Middle East is going to sweep across the globe. For once, these people are left to study what others are doing, and how they are changing the world.The way of the past is over, and this bodes well for Democracy, liberty and freedom.

NC Kamdar

Chatsworth.

07 February 2011

The Editor

The Daily News

Fax: 031 308 2715

Re: Change in Egypt

The Egyptian President says he will not seek re-election and will use the remaining time before the end of his term in September to introduce democratic reforms.

Since then we have seen

1. Demonstrators attacked and killed by thugs, some of whom were shown to be carrying police ID and others who claimed they were paid by government officials to carry out the attack
2. Ongoing arrests and assaults on reporters and media offices
3. A continuation of the State of Emergency with regular imposition of curfews.

A person is best judged by what he does, not what he says.

With the entire government apparatus still intact, there is nothing to prevent this dictator keeping himself in office on one excuse after another and continuing his persecution of opponents including those involved in the demonstrations.

He and his associates cannot be trusted. Pressure must be brought to bear to force the immediate resignation of the Presidency and the People’s Assembly. The provisions of Article 84 of the Egyptian Constitution will see the

Constitutional Court

supervising the return to Democracy. There is no need to delay.

The South African government should do what is right and add its voice to that of President Obama in calling for immediate change.

NC Kamdar

Chatsworth.

06 Feb 2011

The Editor

The Daily News

Dear Sir

Re: Crisis in Egypt

There is much talk about Hosni Mubarak remaining as Egypt’s President until the end of his (self) appointed term, and how this is a stabilizing factor, and that those who reject this generous offer should not be supported. This is true for the USA and Israel, giving them time to insinuate someone suitable to their goals and objectives, but not for those who risked everything to take to the streets against a tyrant of his stature. They simply do not trust him.

How can any sane person expect a three decade long dictator, who mercilessly crushed pro-democracy demonstrations in the past, to suddenly become a champion of democracy? No one believes this is remotely possible.

There is unlikely to be a single protestor who does not believe that the helicopters overhead are recording everything, and that when things "settle down" they will be taken out, tortured and killed.

 The only way open to the protestors is to hold their course until the Cabinet, Parliament and Presidency resigns. They have no plan B.

The western Democractic governments prefer Mubarak while publicly voicing their support for the "principles" of Democracy. Their hypocrisy and double standards are well known to the protestors.

Israel’s open support for Mubarak emphasizes their confidence that their henchmen will prevail. If that is the case, it does not bode well for Democracy.

Or is this just wishful thinking on their part?

NC Kamdar

Chatsworth

04/02/2011

Re: Is this how Tel Aviv treats its friends? 

It makes one wander what Tel Aviv was really thinking when it decided to openly support Hosni Mubarak in his stand off with the pro-democracy demonstrators, and to call for western leaders to end their criticism of his rule.

Is this how they help a friend, which we all know Mubarak is? In so doing thay have, in the public mind, consolidated the image of Mubarak being one with Mahmood Abbas, the leader of the Palestine Authority, a puppet of the Zionist State who serves no other purpose but to suppress his people, and kill them, for the good of Israel.

If this is the way one treats ones friends, who needs any enemies?

NC Kamdar

Chatsworth