September 1989, Page 4

Letters To (and From) The Editors

Orwellian Newspeak to Justify Arms Sales

In your July issue, Michael Dunn's "US Loses Mideast Arms Leverage" argues in favor of US weapon sales to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other Middle Eastern despots. His case runs from the traditional, "If we don't sell them, others will," to the new and ingenious, "Sales are good for Israel. If the Saudis buy them elsewhere there will be fewer restrictions on their use."

Washington is a byword in corruption. Rich campaign contributors buy ambassadorships from Republican and Democratic administrations alike. The US was the arsenal for the Shah, Sadat, Marcos, Somoza and endless other dictators. It only provides weapons to the vicious, to advance its "national interests."

The people of the Mideast are as fully entitled to democracy as the folks in the US Midwest. But Dunn wants us to arm their undemocratic rulers. And he justifies this with Orwellian doublespeak about how weapons sales will prevent war! The Washington Report destroys its credibility as an opponent of Zionist tyranny when it lends itself to such rationales.

Lenni Brenner, New York, NY

There are probably people who think the Washington Report "destroys its credibility" when its book catalog lists some of your titles. We do it because we think our readers want access to more than just our own views. Our opinion is if the US sold weapons to "advance its national interests," the Saudis, Jordanians, Kuwaitis and Egyptians wouldn't have to shop elsewhere.

How to Research Pro-Israel PACs

I was interested in your article on pro-Israel PACs and in particular in the report that John Miller, the congressman from my district, received $51,698 from such sources in the last election. That information should be made known to his consituents. I'm ready and willing to try and get the word out here but want to make sure that I can defend any statements I might make on the subject. Perhaps you can help me. As your article indicates, the Federal Election Commission reports contributions, but I wonder how one identifies which contributors are pro-Israel PACs? I'm aware of your statement that such PACs try to conceal their true identity. Any help you can give me on this will be appreciated.

John D. Blankinship, Seattle, WA

The pro-Israel PACs don't conceal their identity from potential contributors, so the first verification is usually via a telephone call. To decide whom to call, start with a PAC with a nondescript name. Then check the pattern on FEC printouts. Most pro-Israel PACs put some of thier money into certain designated critically close races, usually just 20 to 30 nationwide. If the PAC you are checking gives to the same incumbents or challengers in these critical races as do the previously identified pro-Israel PACs, it means you've found a pattern. At this writing we have the names of more than 130 that have been active at one time or another over the past six elections.

Israeli Censorship Alert

We have recently been made aware that the large subscription mailing we sent out May 10 has not reached most people.

The mailing contained Sanabel Report nos. 1-5 and a copy of our daily bulletin, plus subscription rates and general information regarding our rates and services.

Shortly after the mailing was to have left the post office, we were called to the military censor's office and told that we were not permitted to transmit materials abroad which had not been through censorship.

Traditionally, materials available to subscribers have been exempt from the prohibitions. But at the same time that they told us this, Sari Nuseibeh, who was printing a weekly report for subscribers, was told to discontinue his report. Sari's office has since been closed by military order.

We are attempting to determine the precise legal status of our reports and other materials. Pending thses decisions, we have ceased to print our report and are concentrating on daily materials, press releases, extended press briefings on special topics and research documents-all of which are exempt from censorship provided the receivers know that they have not been through censorship.

Letters have also not been reaching us. If you have written us and the letter has been returned, please be informed that the address we have given you is correct.

We will notify you when we are able to distribute materials effectively.

Ribhi al-Arouri and Beth Goldring, Sanabel Press Services, Columbia Building, Room 11, Opposite Schmidt's Girls College, Damascus Gate, Jersulam, Israel

Lebanon Coverage Not Objective

I take issue with the article by Mr. Curtiss about Lebanon in the June report. While attempting a certain objectivity, the writer conceals a strong bias against the Maronites. When Mr. Curtiss talks about the massacre at Tel Zaatar, he forgets the earlier massacres at Damour, Jieh and the isolated villages in the Shouf and the Bekaa. No one is innocent of the barbarism in this war. Certainly not the Palestinians who had no business fighting a war on Lebanese soil.

Furthermore, Mr. Curtiss suggests the Maronites were escalating the war in hopes of US intervention. Mr. Curtiss must be aware of the Kissinger plan to solve the Palestinian problem at the expense of Lebanon. It is precisely this US plan that the Maronites were fighting, so help in no way could come from the US.

Attempts at disfiguring the truth can only futher exacerbate the problem.

John Ataya, Boston, MA

We certainly agree that no party is innocent of the barbarism in Lebanon. In the period covered by Mr. Curtiss' article, some Lebanese referred to the spiraling reciprocal massacres that fueled the fighting as the war of Kemal (Jumblatt, the Druze leader of the leftist Muslim camp who eventually was assassinated) and Camille (Chamoun, the Maronite leader whose followers eventually lost their homes and sometimes their livess in the towns you mentioned). Certainly Palestinians, particularly followers of radical leaders such as George Habash and Ahmad Jibril, took hostages, committed atrocities and played by their own rules in destroying the country which had once provided them refuge. That said, we believe that until attention turns from assessing blame to reallocating power so that every Lebanese enjoys equal protection and opportunity, there will be no peace and no freedom from foreign intervention for any Lebanese citizen.