Kosovo, the Most Dangerous Game

Let us put aside for the moment the fact Kosovo is at the very heart of an area that has known bloodshed, civil strife, war and religious or ethnic cleansings and battles since the Ottoman Empire, an area that has not known twenty years of continuous peace since before the 14th century. Let us put aside that NATO may be doing the ethically and morally correct thing in Serbia at this time. Let us look close and hard at the prime motivator and instigator of the bombings in Serbia -- the United States.

Rarely will you find any political position within it filled that does not have tremendous financial power behind the scenes. Vested interests, corporate dollars, are invested in the tens of millions in lobbying, in financial campaigns, and in a myriad of other ways to sway the entire government towards their own aims.

Right now, during this crisis in Kosovo, corporations are reaping incredible profits. Profits that plain and simple they would not gain if there was peace.

Without any doubt, there are millions of dollars being funneled into corporate pockets each minute the conflict goes on. Until there is no profit in advocating and engaging in war by the United States, we the people must assume human rights may not be the first and foremost issue in any military endeavor our country involves itself in. We cannot claim to be homo sapien and ignore that gross blatant fact. That bloodshed means money, profits and power and our present government is motivated by and undertakes actions based soley upon promoting corporate profits.

"Thec"

So the United States has picked one human rights abusing country out of the whole lot of them, and the CIA is funding the rebels or "good guys," with drug money, the military is using taxpayer's money to bomb men, women, and children both Serbian and Ethnic Albanian, driving people out of their destroyed homes, ensuring an increased rate of racism toward Ethnic Albanians, and the government is lying to the people through the media. The government is doing this because of the beast we created -- the Military-Industrial Complex. Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists and the hopes of its children."

Eric Lang

I am not able to pay your fee for other articles. Do you have any special offer for countries in war?

Prof. Dusan Pajin (Yugoslavia)

Growing Call For Ethics Investigation Of Henry Hyde

An open letter to the editor of the suburban Chicago Daily Herald:

This article is but one example of literally dozens of stories being published nationwide, both in print and on-line, detailing alledged ethical abuses either ordered or personally implemented by the Congressman from the 6th Illinois district, Henry Hyde.

And yet, the silence from the Daily Herald, in this matter of both national and local importance, has been deafening.

I am disappointed that the largest suburban newspaper in Chicagoland has chose to turn a blind eye to a story such as this.

I realize that the Herald, which has consistanly endorsed Mr. Hyde's continued tenure in the House, might now find it a little embarrassing to call for his investigation or, dare I say, to initiate it's own in-depth investigation of a powerful politician in its own backyard.

The Herald does remember the concept of independent, investigative journalism, doesn't it?

After all, what defines journalism more, being a watchdog for the citizenry (explain the silence to former Clyde S&L customers who lost what they worked for), or being a lap-dog for a politician who, even in this staunchly conservative area, would be thrown out on his ear if his constituents were truly being informed of his shenanigans?

Why is it the people of suburban Cook and DuPage counties have to turn to "outside" sources to be informed about news that directly effects us and our voting decisions?

It is my hope that the Herald will reflect upon whose interests are being served by such editorial decisions and intensify it's commitment to serve the people of DuPage/Cook counties, not the big-monied lobbies who have bought and paid for the "Christian, family-values" votes of one Mr. Hyde.

I call upon the editors of the Herald to join (its fellow conservative publication) the Tribune in its call for an investigation into Mr. Hyde's dealings.

Glynn Ash (Illinois)

1997: Pat Robertson Caught Making Illegal Plans For Election Influence

I am appalled that the Christian Coalition can engage in partisan politics while hiding behind a veneer of religion. The religion Pat Robertson claims to believe in calls for honesty, even when it hurts -- in his case, hurts financially -- nevertheless. Other organizations have to create PACs for donations so those political arms can legally work for or fight against legislation.

Brenda Schory

The Christian Coalition has operated since its founding in 1989 under a provisional 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. Robertson and other Coalition leaders have repeatedly claimed that the group is non-partisan and does not endorse or work for candidates. But the IRS has so far refused to grant the status on a permanent basis. Groups with this status may not engage in politicking as their primary activity. -- Editor

The Fight For Headwaters Forest

I must honestly say, I was never really interested in environmental issues until I heard a live interview from Julia Butterfly Hill and I started getting curious. I just couldn't belive that someone would be that dedicated to the life of tree, at the risk of their own life. Now I am taking a course in environmental science and one of our projects was on the redwood trees -- This has certainly been an education for me.

"Denise"

How often, what's the source, can I copy?

I enjoy visiting your web page and reading your stories. I was just wondering if you in future plan to add the number of stories on your page since they are quite interesting.

Sam Chege

I'm wondering how I can find out the full names for the parenthetical abbreviations on your stories (is PNS "Pacific News Service," for instance?) If there is a key available for your abbreviations, I'd be interested in it.

John Graf (Wisconsin)

"Enrique"

Yes, "PNS" is Pacific News Service. We are currently preparing a FAQ section that will answer these (and other) questions in detail. The Monitor is updated at least twice weekly, with about 90 stories added each month. The front page "turns over" roughly every three weeks. -- Editor

Nationwide Demonstrations For Jamal

Can you do an announcement on the upcoming April 24th Millions for Mumia march in San Francisco? Assemble at 10:30AM at Dolores Park (19th & Dolores Streets in San Francisco) with march to Civic Center and mass rally at 1:00PM. Contact the Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal at 415-821-0459 or by e-mail.

Nancy Reiko Kato

Who Killed Martin Luther King?

I read the book ["Orders To Kill: The Truth Behind the Murder of Martin Luther King" that Wiliam] Pepper wrote before James Earl Ray's death. It was very compelling in its speculations and seemed for all I could tell make sense of many otherwise unusual facts.

For example: There were two last minute changes in his plans to (1) stay at the Lorraine Hotel, and (2) to take a room on the second floor, both items different from his original plans. Quite simply, how could Ray known of these things?

The byzantine conspiracy the book recounts is engaging reading -- I finished it in just over two days. Did I believe it? I'm not sure. Do I believe it's possible? Yes!

"Austin"