Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(November 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Sean writes from the UK - (Letter #1).
 I’ve
read your most recent newsletter on the Huddersfield One
website, and as usual I consider that practically every
subject discussed appears to make sense.
The more I read of the happenings in the United States,
I have come to the conclusion that sometimes I feel the
world is going mad and I can’t really claim to have
much faith in ’your’ President’s go-it-alone
attitude to alleviate that feeling any time in the near
future.
It is very easy for America to go into a war, and it should
be reasonably easy enough with their military might to win
such a war as a defeat would be unthinkable. Winning the
war isn‘t what really counts---the major objective
should be winning the peace. Peace isn’t just defeating
an enemy on the battlefield but should be followed by the
process of teaching and inspiring the conquered people to
think and act differently.
 Let
us for instance look back at the difference of the German
nation in the 20th century and compare it to the German
nation of the 21st century.
Lessons were obviously learned by the German people and
Germany rose from the ashes of war as a reborn democracy
by reflecting upon their future and striving to move unfettered
from the virulent militarism of their past.
For history to record a successful war against Iraq it
will take more than a few so-called ‘smart bombs’
and edited TV highlights of missiles finding and hitting
their targets. What it will take, are years of effort, endeavour,
and commitment to the region in order to ensure that all
factions strive to rebuild.
One cannot but imagine that if the question of Palestine
is not addressed and answered the same problems that now
exist will reoccur within a few short years. The more bombs
that are dropped the deeper your enemies will go underground
and until the United States recognizes the legitimacy of
a Palestinian state and its people, America will continue
to antagonize Moslems across the world.
 To
people who grow up in refugee camps, whose parents grew
up in refugee camps, and who’s grandparents were driven
from their homes so many years ago, how can ‘they’
see Yasser Arafat as a terrorist.
In the eyes of the Palestinian people, attacks against Israel
are not attacks of terrorism but a continuation of the war
that has been fought since the advent of the founding of
an Israeli State.
If the American president thinks that he is solving the
Middle East problems by attacking Iraq, I think that he
may be in for a big surprise. Like most sensible people
of this world I wish for peace across the Middle East and
yet at the same time hope that Saddam Hussein will be removed
from power and a new and more civilized regime be put in
his place.
I hope that the current sabre rattling does not end up
in a conflagration, which will spread terror across the
world.
If Mr. Bush can pull this one off I must say that he may
be a better man than I ever thought that he could be.
I’m not holding my breath at this time for a peaceful
and just solution.
Sean.
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