Irrespective of what John Howard would like us to believe, Israel is far from being the innocent party in the Middle East crisis. If we are to respect Israel’s ‘right to exist’ let it exist within the boundaries allocated to it. Acquisition of territory by force, is and always should be ‘inadmissible’ as it takes away the rights of others to exist.

Weapons of Mass Destruction?

No country should be allowed to be in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction, yet so many do! Iraq was invaded because it was believed they possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. So why wasn't Israel invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to wipe most Arab Capitals off the face of the earth in the space of about ten minutes? Why wasn't the United States invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to target most countries on earth? We now have North Korea in the hunt for nuclear weapons... where will it end? Are we heading for a war in which all countries in possession of nuclear weapons, use them? What sort of a world will we be left with, if they do? What sort of an impact would it have on our planet? What sort of a world, if any, are we leaving for our kids???

When I think of the trillions of dollars being spent world wide on wars and weapons, when so many millions of people are starving, I have to ask, what happened to us leaving our kids a world they can be proud of? Let us together put an end to the stupidity of war, and unite in the name of peace.

A Right Way and a Wrong Way...

I appreciate that there has been a lot of injustice in the world, and that action must be taken to right the wrongs that have been done! There are right ways, and there are wrong ways of doing things. The old adage 'two wrongs don't make a right' remains true, today!

As I am sitting here typing, bombs are killing innocent civilians in Israel and Lebanon. I am a caring sort of person... if someone is treated unfairly, I am fully supportive of them receiving fair justice and compensation. What I don't support however, is 'revenge'! Killing innocent people is not the way to right a wrong.

I have heard a lot of talk over the past few years in relation to jihads. Whilst I don't wish to be critical of anyone's religious beliefs... I find it hard to understand how any 'war' can be regarded as being 'holy'. I'm not religious... but I do believe in God. The God I believe in would certainly not regard the killing of innocent people as being 'holy'. Nor would the God I believe in, regard someone who had been killed whilst in the process of killing someone else, as being a martyr! Murder is murder, no matter what fancy name it is given!

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or shouldn't believe. It certainly isn't my intention to force my beliefs on to anyone else. If God wanted us to all believe the same things, He would have created 'robots' instead of people! I respect your right to believe as you choose to believe. If your beliefs tell you that it is acceptable to kill innocent people, then I can only suggest that you should perhaps be challenging those beliefs!

We, as human beings, are happy to boast of how we are the most intelligent beings on earth. Yet, afte

I have no problem with accepting that all countries have the right to defend themselves against attack. Such 'defence' however, should be proportionate to the threat! What we are currently seeing in the Middle East, is just downright 'stupidity' and so very, very wrong!

I love Australia... It is the country of my birth, and my home of 55 years. Whilst I am still able to proudly call myself 'an Australian', I feel a great sense of shame in the knowledge that my country continues to participate in wars that are resulting in the slaughter of innocent men, women, children and babies!

There is no question that the events of September 11, 2001 which saw thousands of innocent people being slaughtered by terrorists, will find their way in the history books among the most catastrophic events of the century. That is of course, unless the events that are currently unfolding in the Middle East, don't make the recording of history, beyond the reach of man.

'Defence proportionate to the treat' was not the story in relation to the Invasion of Afghanistan. Whilst I appreciate that the families and friends of the thousands of innocent civilians killed on September 11 were entitled to 'justice', I don't believe that the targeting and killing of innocent men, women, children and babies, can ever be justified! An eye for an eye?... A life for a life?... Where will it end??? Surely, the families and friends of the thousands of innocent Afghani civilians who have been slaughtered since the invasion of their country, are also entitled to justice! If they seek their justice through the slaughter of innocent civilians, will it ever end?

And then there was Iraq!!!... Once again, this country I love, participated, and continues to participate in a war that is resulting in thousands of innocent civilians being slaughtered! Defence proportionate to the threat? Was there really ever a threat to begin with???

To anyone who may be wondering what Australia’s role in the Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq has to do with the current situation between Israel and Lebanon, may I suggest that our action in supporting US President George W. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ has been a contributing factor in relation to actions currently being taken by Israel against Lebanon. To gain an appreciation of my beliefs in this matter, you should perhaps ask yourself, “In the War against Terror, who are the real terrorists?” In order to answer that question, it is necessary to take a look at the definition of ‘terrorism’ particularly from the viewpoint of the United States of America.

According to Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dictionary of Military Terms… “Terrorism is the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.”

Using the above definition, a ‘terrorist’ could therefore be defined as someone who uses unlawful violence (or threatens to use unlawful violence) in order to achieve political, religious or ideological goals.

With the above definitions in mind, it is well worth defining just what ‘unlawful violence’ is. Something that is ‘unlawful’ can be described as being illegal, illicit, or immoral, according to the Collins Dictionary of the English Language. Using the same reference source, we can further define the words ‘illegal, illicit and immoral’ as follows: Forbidden by law; Unauthorised or prohibited by a code of official or accepted rules; Not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standard; Transgressing accepted moral rules; Corrupt; Unscrupulous or unethical.

The Collins Dictionary also defines ‘violence’ as being the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc.; An unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, especially such as tends to overawe or intimidate; To inflict harm upon; Damage or violate; To distort or twist the sense or intention of.

The following is a quote from George W. Bush’s ‘Presidential Address to the Nation’ on 7 October 2001... “Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader. Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground. If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers, themselves. And they will take that lonely path at their own peril.”

Many thousands of innocent Afghani and Iraqi civilians have been killed or injured as the direct result of the US-led invasions of their countries. They were not terrorists… they weren’t responsible for the September 11 Terrorist Attacks… they weren’t supporters of Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. They were innocent civilians who were desperately trying to live their lives as best they could, in conditions most of us would consider to be ‘atrocious’.

Men, women, children and babies, were slaughtered in the name of George W. Bush’s War on Terror. To our shame, Australia wears the blood of the innocent on our hands!

Let us for one moment, take a look at the United States, particularly in relation to its role as a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council. Membership in the United Nations is open to all peace-loving States which accept the obligations contained in the Charter, and in the opinion of the Organisation, are able and willing to fulfil them.

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, the United States is obligated to abide by the Charter of the United Nations Organisation.

Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations reads in part as follows… All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered; All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

One of the ‘Purposes of the United Nations’ is as follows… To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.

The Invasion of Iraq by US-led coalition forces went ahead, against the majority of the international community, and was clearly in breach of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations. As such, it can generally be accepted as being ‘a Breach of International Law’, and is clear justification for the ‘expulsion’ of the United States as a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council.

On accepting that the Invasion of Iraq was a breach of International Law, the question now needs to be asked… Was the Invasion of Iraq, an Act of Terrorism? Was it a calculated use of unlawful violence, intended to intimidate Iraq, in pursuit of President George W. Bush’s political, religious, or ideological goals?”

There is no question in my mind that the Invasion of Iraq was an ‘Act of Terrorism’ and as such, the instigators of the invasion, can themselves be classed as ‘terrorists’. To our shame, thanks to Prime Minister John Howard’s insistence that Australia supports George W. Bush’s War on Terror, we too are seen by many of the international community as being ‘terrorists’! We, contrary to the wishes of the International Community, used ‘unlawful violence’ in order to achieve political, religious or ideological goals!

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, the United States has repeatedly vetoed Resolutions that have been critical of Israel. The latest veto was in response to a UN Resolution calling for a halt to the “disproportionate” military reaction by Israel. There is no question that the force currently being used by Israel, and that being planned by them, is disproportionate to the threat, and the loss of life resulting from their actions, is totally unacceptable. If there is ever to be peace in the Middle East, then the expulsion of the United States from the UN Security Council is perhaps a good place to start!

Supporting the United Nations Organisation, also entails lending support to investigations of serious crimes against humanity. International Courts of Justice should be encouraged to investigate past atrocities that have resulted in the deliberate targeting and killing of innocent civilians, and to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. No country should be immune to such investigations. Bringing perpetrators to justice is an important part of the ‘international peace making process’!

There is no question that the targeting of innocent civilians in the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 is a matter that deserves to be fully investigated, with every attempt being made to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice. Whilst it is appreciated that the attacks took place on US soil, people from many countries were slaughtered in the attacks, and it therefore warrants investigation at an international level. Such investigation should supplement that conducted by The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission) http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf (Take note that this is a large file… 7.4 megabytes).

Also requiring investigation at an international level, are the thousands of innocent Afghani civilians who were slaughtered in retribution of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks; and the estimated 40,000 plus Iraqi civilians who have been killed since the invasion of their country.

"In the prospect of an international criminal court lies the promise of universal justice. That is the simple and soaring hope of this vision. We are close to its realization. We will do our part to see it through till the end. We ask you . . . to do yours in our struggle to ensure that no ruler, no State, no junta and no army anywhere can abuse human rights with impunity. Only then will the innocents of distant wars and conflicts know that they, too, may sleep under the cover of justice; that they, too, have rights, and that those who violate those rights will be punished." -- Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General

George W. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ was doomed to fail before it began, because fighting terror with terror, only creates more terrorists! If we are to defeat terrorism, the battleground must be a negotiating table, where the weapon used, is diplomatic dialogue. Irrespective of the criticism thrown at it by George W. Bush and John Howard, it is the United Nations Organisation, with the support of the international community, that holds the key to world peace. Many of the lessons of the future can be learnt from the mistakes of the past. With the crisis in the Middle East in particular, those past mistakes have been well documented in United Nations Security Council Resolutions dating back more than fifty years. Had those Resolutions been fully supported by the international community, we wouldn’t have the crisis that we have today. It is time to review those earliest Resolutions (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions.html), in particular, those titled ‘The Palestine Question’ and ‘The situation in the Middle East’ plus others relating to Israel and Lebanon. Other references: http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/561c6ee353d740fb8525607d00581829/f03d55e48f77ab698525643b00608d34?OpenDocument http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/62c13fb98d54fe240525672700581383/9b6d54abddb2d37e8525682c0054dd4b!OpenDocument and together, as part of the international family of man, to right the wrongs that have been done. The Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East is not drawn in blood… it is drawn in diplomatic dialogue!

Prime Minister John Howard has stated that the fundamental cause of the current outbreak is the refusal of the entire Arab world to accept Israel’s right to exist. According to the United Nations Security Council, Israel, in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, has no legal validity, and constitutes a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council deplores the failure of Israel to abide by numerous Security Council Resolutions. As an Occupying Power, Israel has been called on to abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War; to rescind its previous measures; and to desist from taking any action which would result in changing the legal status and geographical nature, and materially affecting the demographic composition of the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular, not to transfer parts of its own civilian population into the occupied Arab territories. Israel has been repeatedly condemned for its disproportionate acts of violence which have resulted in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives; and has on many occasions, been urged to refrain from further acts of violence.

Irrespective of what John Howard would like us to believe, Israel is far from being the innocent party in the Middle East crisis. If we are to respect Israel’s ‘right to exist’ let it exist within the boundaries allocated to it. Acquisition of territory by force, is and always should be ‘inadmissible’ as it takes away the rights of others to exist.

Weapons of Mass Destruction?

No country should be allowed to be in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction, yet so many do! Iraq was invaded because it was believed they possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. So why wasn't Israel invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to wipe most Arab Capitals off the face of the earth in the space of about ten minutes? Why wasn't the United States invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to target most countries on earth? We now have North Korea in the hunt for nuclear weapons... where will it end? Are we heading for a war in which all countries in possession of nuclear weapons, use them? What sort of a world will we be left with, if they do? What sort of an impact would it have on our planet? What sort of a world, if any, are we leaving for our kids???

When I think of the trillions of dollars being spent world wide on wars and weapons, when so many millions of people are starving, I have to ask, what happened to us leaving our kids a world they can be proud of? Let us together put an end to the stupidity of war, and unite in the name of peace.

A Right Way and a Wrong Way...

I appreciate that there has been a lot of injustice in the world, and that action must be taken to right the wrongs that have been done! There are right ways, and there are wrong ways of doing things. The old adage 'two wrongs don't make a right' remains true, today!

As I am sitting here typing, bombs are killing innocent civilians in Israel and Lebanon. I am a caring sort of person... if someone is treated unfairly, I am fully supportive of them receiving fair justice and compensation. What I don't support however, is 'revenge'! Killing innocent people is not the way to right a wrong.

I have heard a lot of talk over the past few years in relation to jihads. Whilst I don't wish to be critical of anyone's religious beliefs... I find it hard to understand how any 'war' can be regarded as being 'holy'. I'm not religious... but I do believe in God. The God I believe in would certainly not regard the killing of innocent people as being 'holy'. Nor would the God I believe in, regard someone who had been killed whilst in the process of killing someone else, as being a martyr! Murder is murder, no matter what fancy name it is given!

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or shouldn't believe. It certainly isn't my intention to force my beliefs on to anyone else. If God wanted us to all believe the same things, He would have created 'robots' instead of people! I respect your right to believe as you choose to believe. If your beliefs tell you that it is acceptable to kill innocent people, then I can only suggest that you should perhaps be challenging those beliefs!

We, as human beings, are happy to boast of how we are the most intelligent beings on earth. Yet, after

With the above definitions in mind, it is well worth defining just what ‘unlawful violence’ is. Something that is ‘unlawful’ can be described as being illegal, illicit, or immoral, according to the Collins Dictionary of the English Language. Using the same reference source, we can further define the words ‘illegal, illicit and immoral’ as follows: Forbidden by law; Unauthorised or prohibited by a code of official or accepted rules; Not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standard; Transgressing accepted moral rules; Corrupt; Unscrupulous or unethical.

The Collins Dictionary also defines ‘violence’ as being the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc.; An unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, especially such as tends to overawe or intimidate; To inflict harm upon; Damage or violate; To distort or twist the sense or intention of.

The following is a quote from George W. Bush’s ‘Presidential Address to the Nation’ on 7 October 2001... “Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader. Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground. If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers, themselves. And they will take that lonely path at their own peril.”

Many thousands of innocent Afghani and Iraqi civilians have been killed or injured as the direct result of the US-led invasions of their countries. They were not terrorists… they weren’t responsible for the September 11 Terrorist Attacks… they weren’t supporters of Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. They were innocent civilians who were desperately trying to live their lives as best they could, in conditions most of us would consider to be ‘atrocious’.

Men, women, children and babies, were slaughtered in the name of George W. Bush’s War on Terror. To our shame, Australia wears the blood of the innocent on our hands!

Let us for one moment, take a look at the United States, particularly in relation to its role as a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council. Membership in the United Nations is open to all peace-loving States which accept the obligations contained in the Charter, and in the opinion of the Organisation, are able and willing to fulfil them.

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, the United States is obligated to abide by the Charter of the United Nations Organisation.

Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations reads in part as follows… All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered; All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

One of the ‘Purposes of the United Nations’ is as follows… To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.

The Invasion of Iraq by US-led coalition forces went ahead, against the majority of the international community, and was clearly in breach of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations. As such, it can generally be accepted as being ‘a Breach of International Law’, and is clear justification for the ‘expulsion’ of the United States as a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council.

On accepting that the Invasion of Iraq was a breach of International Law, the question now needs to be asked… Was the Invasion of Iraq, an Act of Terrorism? Was it a calculated use of unlawful violence, intended to intimidate Iraq, in pursuit of President George W. Bush’s political, religious, or ideological goals?”

There is no question in my mind that the Invasion of Iraq was an ‘Act of Terrorism’ and as such, the instigators of the invasion, can themselves be classed as ‘terrorists’. To our shame, thanks to Prime Minister John Howard’s insistence that Australia supports George W. Bush’s War on Terror, we too are seen by many of the international community as being ‘terrorists’! We, contrary to the wishes of the International Community, used ‘unlawful violence’ in order to achieve political, religious or ideological goals!

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, the United States has repeatedly vetoed Resolutions that have been critical of Israel. The latest veto was in response to a UN Resolution calling for a halt to the “disproportionate” military reaction by Israel. There is no question that the force currently being used by Israel, and that being planned by them, is disproportionate to the threat, and the loss of life resulting from their actions, is totally unacceptable. If there is ever to be peace in the Middle East, then the expulsion of the United States from the UN Security Council is perhaps a good place to start!

Supporting the United Nations Organisation, also entails lending support to investigations of serious crimes against humanity. International Courts of Justice should be encouraged to investigate past atrocities that have resulted in the deliberate targeting and killing of innocent civilians, and to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. No country should be immune to such investigations. Bringing perpetrators to justice is an important part of the ‘international peace making process’!

There is no question that the targeting of innocent civilians in the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 is a matter that deserves to be fully investigated, with every attempt being made to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice. Whilst it is appreciated that the attacks took place on US soil, people from many countries were slaughtered in the attacks, and it therefore warrants investigation at an international level. Such investigation should supplement that conducted by The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission) http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf (Take note that this is a large file… 7.4 megabytes).

Also requiring investigation at an international level, are the thousands of innocent Afghani civilians who were slaughtered in retribution of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks; and the estimated 40,000 plus Iraqi civilians who have been killed since the invasion of their country.

"In the prospect of an international criminal court lies the promise of universal justice. That is the simple and soaring hope of this vision. We are close to its realization. We will do our part to see it through till the end. We ask you . . . to do yours in our struggle to ensure that no ruler, no State, no junta and no army anywhere can abuse human rights with impunity. Only then will the innocents of distant wars and conflicts know that they, too, may sleep under the cover of justice; that they, too, have rights, and that those who violate those rights will be punished." -- Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General

George W. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ was doomed to fail before it began, because fighting terror with terror, only creates more terrorists! If we are to defeat terrorism, the battleground must be a negotiating table, where the weapon used, is diplomatic dialogue. Irrespective of the criticism thrown at it by George W. Bush and John Howard, it is the United Nations Organisation, with the support of the international community, that holds the key to world peace. Many of the lessons of the future can be learnt from the mistakes of the past. With the crisis in the Middle East in particular, those past mistakes have been well documented in United Nations Security Council Resolutions dating back more than fifty years. Had those Resolutions been fully supported by the international community, we wouldn’t have the crisis that we have today. It is time to review those earliest Resolutions (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions.html), in particular, those titled ‘The Palestine Question’ and ‘The situation in the Middle East’ plus others relating to Israel and Lebanon. Other references: http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/561c6ee353d740fb8525607d00581829/f03d55e48f77ab698525643b00608d34?OpenDocument http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/62c13fb98d54fe240525672700581383/9b6d54abddb2d37e8525682c0054dd4b!OpenDocument and together, as part of the international family of man, to right the wrongs that have been done. The Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East is not drawn in blood… it is drawn in diplomatic dialogue!

Prime Minister John Howard has stated that the fundamental cause of the current outbreak is the refusal of the entire Arab world to accept Israel’s right to exist. According to the United Nations Security Council, Israel, in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, has no legal validity, and constitutes a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council deplores the failure of Israel to abide by numerous Security Council Resolutions. As an Occupying Power, Israel has been called on to abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War; to rescind its previous measures; and to desist from taking any action which would result in changing the legal status and geographical nature, and materially affecting the demographic composition of the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular, not to transfer parts of its own civilian population into the occupied Arab territories. Israel has been repeatedly condemned for its disproportionate acts of violence which have resulted in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives; and has on many occasions, been urged to refrain from further acts of violence.

Irrespective of what John Howard would like us to believe, Israel is far from being the innocent party in the Middle East crisis. If we are to respect Israel’s ‘right to exist’ let it exist within the boundaries allocated to it. Acquisition of territory by force, is and always should be ‘inadmissible’ as it takes away the rights of others to exist.

Weapons of Mass Destruction?

No country should be allowed to be in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction, yet so many do! Iraq was invaded because it was believed they possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. So why wasn't Israel invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to wipe most Arab Capitals off the face of the earth in the space of about ten minutes? Why wasn't the United States invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to target most countries on earth? We now have North Korea in the hunt for nuclear weapons... where will it end? Are we heading for a war in which all countries in possession of nuclear weapons, use them? What sort of a world will we be left with, if they do? What sort of an impact would it have on our planet? What sort of a world, if any, are we leaving for our kids???

When I think of the trillions of dollars being spent world wide on wars and weapons, when so many millions of people are starving, I have to ask, what happened to us leaving our kids a world they can be proud of? Let us together put an end to the stupidity of war, and unite in the name of peace.

A Right Way and a Wrong Way...

I appreciate that there has been a lot of injustice in the world, and that action must be taken to right the wrongs that have been done! There are right ways, and there are wrong ways of doing things. The old adage 'two wrongs don't make a right' remains true, today!

As I am sitting here typing, bombs are killing innocent civilians in Israel and Lebanon. I am a caring sort of person... if someone is treated unfairly, I am fully supportive of them receiving fair justice and compensation. What I don't support however, is 'revenge'! Killing innocent people is not the way to right a wrong.

I have heard a lot of talk over the past few years in relation to jihads. Whilst I don't wish to be critical of anyone's religious beliefs... I find it hard to understand how any 'war' can be regarded as being 'holy'. I'm not religious... but I do believe in God. The God I believe in would certainly not regard the killing of innocent people as being 'holy'. Nor would the God I believe in, regard someone who had been killed whilst in the process of killing someone else, as being a martyr! Murder is murder, no matter what fancy name it is given!

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or shouldn't believe. It certainly isn't my intention to force my beliefs on to anyone else. If God wanted us to all believe the same things, He would have created 'robots' instead of people! I respect your right to believe as you choose to believe. If your beliefs tell you that it is acceptable to kill innocent people, then I can only suggest that you should perhaps be challenging those beliefs!

We, as human beings, are happy to boast of how we are the most intelligent beings on earth. Yet, afte

The Invasion of Iraq by US-led coalition forces went ahead, against the majority of the international community, and was clearly in breach of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations. As such, it can generally be accepted as being ‘a Breach of International Law’, and is clear justification for the ‘expulsion’ of the United States as a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council.

On accepting that the Invasion of Iraq was a breach of International Law, the question now needs to be asked… Was the Invasion of Iraq, an Act of Terrorism? Was it a calculated use of unlawful violence, intended to intimidate Iraq, in pursuit of President George W. Bush’s political, religious, or ideological goals?”

There is no question in my mind that the Invasion of Iraq was an ‘Act of Terrorism’ and as such, the instigators of the invasion, can themselves be classed as ‘terrorists’. To our shame, thanks to Prime Minister John Howard’s insistence that Australia supports George W. Bush’s War on Terror, we too are seen by many of the international community as being ‘terrorists’! We, contrary to the wishes of the International Community, used ‘unlawful violence’ in order to achieve political, religious or ideological goals!

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, the United States has repeatedly vetoed Resolutions that have been critical of Israel. The latest veto was in response to a UN Resolution calling for a halt to the “disproportionate” military reaction by Israel. There is no question that the force currently being used by Israel, and that being planned by them, is disproportionate to the threat, and the loss of life resulting from their actions, is totally unacceptable. If there is ever to be peace in the Middle East, then the expulsion of the United States from the UN Security Council is perhaps a good place to start!

Supporting the United Nations Organisation, also entails lending support to investigations of serious crimes against humanity. International Courts of Justice should be encouraged to investigate past atrocities that have resulted in the deliberate targeting and killing of innocent civilians, and to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. No country should be immune to such investigations. Bringing perpetrators to justice is an important part of the ‘international peace making process’!

There is no question that the targeting of innocent civilians in the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 is a matter that deserves to be fully investigated, with every attempt being made to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice. Whilst it is appreciated that the attacks took place on US soil, people from many countries were slaughtered in the attacks, and it therefore warrants investigation at an international level. Such investigation should supplement that conducted by The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission) http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf (Take note that this is a large file… 7.4 megabytes).

Also requiring investigation at an international level, are the thousands of innocent Afghani civilians who were slaughtered in retribution of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks; and the estimated 40,000 plus Iraqi civilians who have been killed since the invasion of their country.

"In the prospect of an international criminal court lies the promise of universal justice. That is the simple and soaring hope of this vision. We are close to its realization. We will do our part to see it through till the end. We ask you . . . to do yours in our struggle to ensure that no ruler, no State, no junta and no army anywhere can abuse human rights with impunity. Only then will the innocents of distant wars and conflicts know that they, too, may sleep under the cover of justice; that they, too, have rights, and that those who violate those rights will be punished." -- Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General

George W. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ was doomed to fail before it began, because fighting terror with terror, only creates more terrorists! If we are to defeat terrorism, the battleground must be a negotiating table, where the weapon used, is diplomatic dialogue. Irrespective of the criticism thrown at it by George W. Bush and John Howard, it is the United Nations Organisation, with the support of the international community, that holds the key to world peace. Many of the lessons of the future can be learnt from the mistakes of the past. With the crisis in the Middle East in particular, those past mistakes have been well documented in United Nations Security Council Resolutions dating back more than fifty years. Had those Resolutions been fully supported by the international community, we wouldn’t have the crisis that we have today. It is time to review those earliest Resolutions (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions.html), in particular, those titled ‘The Palestine Question’ and ‘The situation in the Middle East’ plus others relating to Israel and Lebanon. Other references: http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/561c6ee353d740fb8525607d00581829/f03d55e48f77ab698525643b00608d34?OpenDocument http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/62c13fb98d54fe240525672700581383/9b6d54abddb2d37e8525682c0054dd4b!OpenDocument and together, as part of the international family of man, to right the wrongs that have been done. The Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East is not drawn in blood… it is drawn in diplomatic dialogue!

Prime Minister John Howard has stated that the fundamental cause of the current outbreak is the refusal of the entire Arab world to accept Israel’s right to exist. According to the United Nations Security Council, Israel, in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, has no legal validity, and constitutes a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council deplores the failure of Israel to abide by numerous Security Council Resolutions. As an Occupying Power, Israel has been called on to abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War; to rescind its previous measures; and to desist from taking any action which would result in changing the legal status and geographical nature, and materially affecting the demographic composition of the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular, not to transfer parts of its own civilian population into the occupied Arab territories. Israel has been repeatedly condemned for its disproportionate acts of violence which have resulted in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives; and has on many occasions, been urged to refrain from further acts of violence.

Irrespective of what John Howard would like us to believe, Israel is far from being the innocent party in the Middle East crisis. If we are to respect Israel’s ‘right to exist’ let it exist within the boundaries allocated to it. Acquisition of territory by force, is and always should be ‘inadmissible’ as it takes away the rights of others to exist.

Weapons of Mass Destruction?

No country should be allowed to be in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction, yet so many do! Iraq was invaded because it was believed they possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. So why wasn't Israel invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to wipe most Arab Capitals off the face of the earth in the space of about ten minutes? Why wasn't the United States invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to target most countries on earth? We now have North Korea in the hunt for nuclear weapons... where will it end? Are we heading for a war in which all countries in possession of nuclear weapons, use them? What sort of a world will we be left with, if they do? What sort of an impact would it have on our planet? What sort of a world, if any, are we leaving for our kids???

When I think of the trillions of dollars being spent world wide on wars and weapons, when so many millions of people are starving, I have to ask, what happened to us leaving our kids a world they can be proud of? Let us together put an end to the stupidity of war, and unite in the name of peace.

A Right Way and a Wrong Way...

I appreciate that there has been a lot of injustice in the world, and that action must be taken to right the wrongs that have been done! There are right ways, and there are wrong ways of doing things. The old adage 'two wrongs don't make a right' remains true, today!

As I am sitting here typing, bombs are killing innocent civilians in Israel and Lebanon. I am a caring sort of person... if someone is treated unfairly, I am fully supportive of them receiving fair justice and compensation. What I don't support however, is 'revenge'! Killing innocent people is not the way to right a wrong.

I have heard a lot of talk over the past few years in relation to jihads. Whilst I don't wish to be critical of anyone's religious beliefs... I find it hard to understand how any 'war' can be regarded as being 'holy'. I'm not religious... but I do believe in God. The God I believe in would certainly not regard the killing of innocent people as being 'holy'. Nor would the God I believe in, regard someone who had been killed whilst in the process of killing someone else, as being a martyr! Murder is murder, no matter what fancy name it is given!

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or shouldn't believe. It certainly isn't my intention to force my beliefs on to anyone else. If God wanted us to all believe the same things, He would have created 'robots' instead of people! I respect your right to believe as you choose to believe. If your beliefs tell you that it is acceptable to kill innocent people, then I can only suggest that you should perhaps be challenging those beliefs!

We, as human beings, are happy to boast of how we are the most intelligent beings on earth. Yet, afte

"In the prospect of an international criminal court lies the promise of universal justice. That is the simple and soaring hope of this vision. We are close to its realization. We will do our part to see it through till the end. We ask you . . . to do yours in our struggle to ensure that no ruler, no State, no junta and no army anywhere can abuse human rights with impunity. Only then will the innocents of distant wars and conflicts know that they, too, may sleep under the cover of justice; that they, too, have rights, and that those who violate those rights will be punished." -- Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General

George W. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ was doomed to fail before it began, because fighting terror with terror, only creates more terrorists! If we are to defeat terrorism, the battleground must be a negotiating table, where the weapon used, is diplomatic dialogue. Irrespective of the criticism thrown at it by George W. Bush and John Howard, it is the United Nations Organisation, with the support of the international community, that holds the key to world peace. Many of the lessons of the future can be learnt from the mistakes of the past. With the crisis in the Middle East in particular, those past mistakes have been well documented in United Nations Security Council Resolutions dating back more than fifty years. Had those Resolutions been fully supported by the international community, we wouldn’t have the crisis that we have today. It is time to review those earliest Resolutions (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions.html), in particular, those titled ‘The Palestine Question’ and ‘The situation in the Middle East’ plus others relating to Israel and Lebanon. Other references: http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/561c6ee353d740fb8525607d00581829/f03d55e48f77ab698525643b00608d34?OpenDocument http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/62c13fb98d54fe240525672700581383/9b6d54abddb2d37e8525682c0054dd4b!OpenDocument and together, as part of the international family of man, to right the wrongs that have been done. The Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East is not drawn in blood… it is drawn in diplomatic dialogue!

Prime Minister John Howard has stated that the fundamental cause of the current outbreak is the refusal of the entire Arab world to accept Israel’s right to exist. According to the United Nations Security Council, Israel, in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, has no legal validity, and constitutes a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council deplores the failure of Israel to abide by numerous Security Council Resolutions. As an Occupying Power, Israel has been called on to abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War; to rescind its previous measures; and to desist from taking any action which would result in changing the legal status and geographical nature, and materially affecting the demographic composition of the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular, not to transfer parts of its own civilian population into the occupied Arab territories. Israel has been repeatedly condemned for its disproportionate acts of violence which have resulted in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives; and has on many occasions, been urged to refrain from further acts of violence.

Irrespective of what John Howard would like us to believe, Israel is far from being the innocent party in the Middle East crisis. If we are to respect Israel’s ‘right to exist’ let it exist within the boundaries allocated to it. Acquisition of territory by force, is and always should be ‘inadmissible’ as it takes away the rights of others to exist.

Weapons of Mass Destruction?

No country should be allowed to be in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction, yet so many do! Iraq was invaded because it was believed they possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. So why wasn't Israel invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to wipe most Arab Capitals off the face of the earth in the space of about ten minutes? Why wasn't the United States invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to target most countries on earth? We now have North Korea in the hunt for nuclear weapons... where will it end? Are we heading for a war in which all countries in possession of nuclear weapons, use them? What sort of a world will we be left with, if they do? What sort of an impact would it have on our planet? What sort of a world, if any, are we leaving for our kids???

When I think of the trillions of dollars being spent world wide on wars and weapons, when so many millions of people are starving, I have to ask, what happened to us leaving our kids a world they can be proud of? Let us together put an end to the stupidity of war, and unite in the name of peace.

A Right Way and a Wrong Way...

I appreciate that there has been a lot of injustice in the world, and that action must be taken to right the wrongs that have been done! There are right ways, and there are wrong ways of doing things. The old adage 'two wrongs don't make a right' remains true, today!

As I am sitting here typing, bombs are killing innocent civilians in Israel and Lebanon. I am a caring sort of person... if someone is treated unfairly, I am fully supportive of them receiving fair justice and compensation. What I don't support however, is 'revenge'! Killing innocent people is not the way to right a wrong.

I have heard a lot of talk over the past few years in relation to jihads. Whilst I don't wish to be critical of anyone's religious beliefs... I find it hard to understand how any 'war' can be regarded as being 'holy'. I'm not religious... but I do believe in God. The God I believe in would certainly not regard the killing of innocent people as being 'holy'. Nor would the God I believe in, regard someone who had been killed whilst in the process of killing someone else, as being a martyr! Murder is murder, no matter what fancy name it is given!

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or shouldn't believe. It certainly isn't my intention to force my beliefs on to anyone else. If God wanted us to all believe the same things, He would have created 'robots' instead of people! I respect your right to believe as you choose to believe. If your beliefs tell you that it is acceptable to kill innocent people, then I can only suggest that you should perhaps be challenging those beliefs!

We, as human beings, are happy to boast of how we are the most intelligent beings on earth. Yet, afte

Irrespective of what John Howard would like us to believe, Israel is far from being the innocent party in the Middle East crisis. If we are to respect Israel’s ‘right to exist’ let it exist within the boundaries allocated to it. Acquisition of territory by force, is and always should be ‘inadmissible’ as it takes away the rights of others to exist.

Weapons of Mass Destruction?

No country should be allowed to be in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction, yet so many do! Iraq was invaded because it was believed they possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. So why wasn't Israel invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to wipe most Arab Capitals off the face of the earth in the space of about ten minutes? Why wasn't the United States invaded, if as is believed, they possess enough nuclear weapons to be able to target most countries on earth? We now have North Korea in the hunt for nuclear weapons... where will it end? Are we heading for a war in which all countries in possession of nuclear weapons, use them? What sort of a world will we be left with, if they do? What sort of an impact would it have on our planet? What sort of a world, if any, are we leaving for our kids???

When I think of the trillions of dollars being spent world wide on wars and weapons, when so many millions of people are starving, I have to ask, what happened to us leaving our kids a world they can be proud of? Let us together put an end to the stupidity of war, and unite in the name of peace.

A Right Way and a Wrong Way...

I appreciate that there has been a lot of injustice in the world, and that action must be taken to right the wrongs that have been done! There are right ways, and there are wrong ways of doing things. The old adage 'two wrongs don't make a right' remains true, today!

As I am sitting here typing, bombs are killing innocent civilians in Israel and Lebanon. I am a caring sort of person... if someone is treated unfairly, I am fully supportive of them receiving fair justice and compensation. What I don't support however, is 'revenge'! Killing innocent people is not the way to right a wrong.

I have heard a lot of talk over the past few years in relation to jihads. Whilst I don't wish to be critical of anyone's religious beliefs... I find it hard to understand how any 'war' can be regarded as being 'holy'. I'm not religious... but I do believe in God. The God I believe in would certainly not regard the killing of innocent people as being 'holy'. Nor would the God I believe in, regard someone who had been killed whilst in the process of killing someone else, as being a martyr! Murder is murder, no matter what fancy name it is given!

I'm not trying to tell people what they should or shouldn't believe. It certainly isn't my intention to force my beliefs on to anyone else. If God wanted us to all believe the same things, He would have created 'robots' instead of people! I respect your right to believe as you choose to believe. If your beliefs tell you that it is acceptable to kill innocent people, then I can only suggest that you should perhaps be challenging those beliefs!

We, as human beings, are happy to boast of how we are the most intelligent beings on earth. Yet, after countless wars, and the resultant deaths of billions of people, we still haven't learnt to live in peace with each other. To suggest for one moment, that war is a means of attaining peace, proves just how 'unintelligent' we really are!

World Peace is not an unreachable dream. It can be attained... by giving... not by taking! If the 'want mores' can learn to appreciate what they already have; and the 'haves' can help the 'have nots' to become 'haves'... World Peace will be well within our reach!

Many people have suggested that we should allow warring factions to just kill themselves off. Sadly though, in most conflicts, it is the innocent who pay the cost!

We, as guests on this planet, have a responsibility to look after it, so that future generations can appreciate the wonders that God created for us. With any conflict, it isn’t just a case of man killing man… with each exploding bomb, there is the damage to our planet that should be taken into consideration. Has anyone ever taken the time to consider what harm is done to nature? Do we ever count the number of animals that have been killed, as being casualties of war? Do we ever look at the holes in the ground that remain after bombs have been dropped, and shed a tear for the damage we’ve done to our planet? Nature truly is a casualty of war, and when we consider our future on this planet, it is perhaps the most costly!

It isn’t good enough to suggest that wars happening on the other side of the world aren’t our concern, because eventually, the harm being caused to our planet is going to affect us all! In any conflict, we need to pay close attention to damage that is done to the environment, and with an international voice, demand that it cease. Killing off our planet, is robbing our children of their future!

My Declaration of Peace

I do hereby declare my belief that all human beings (irrespective of their gender, race, religious beliefs, or community stature) have the right to live in peace, in a healthy environment, free from authoritarian and/or corrupt leadership;

I deplore the use of military force for any purpose other than in genuine self-defence; with sufficient force only being used as deemed necessary to ensure self-protection, in a manner which minimises loss of life, and damage to the environment;

I call on the United Nations Organisation to view with utter contempt, the massing of military forces aimed at the invasion or intimidation of any nation; and to declare such massing of military forces to be both illegal and immoral;

I call on the United Nations Organisation, through the use of International Courts of Justice, to act as a mediator in any known or reported instances of atrocity (past and present) where people are denied basic human rights; to take whatever action is deemed necessary (without force unless all alternate means have been exhausted) to restore the dignity and basic human rights of all people throughout the world;

I call on all wealthy nations of the world to work in unison with the United Nations Organisation, with a view toward helping the people of impoverished countries attain an acceptable standard of living that allows them a dignified existence;

I implore all wealthy nations of the world to wherever possible, free impoverished nations of the responsibility of debt repayment.

My Prayer for Peace

Dear God...
whom through different eyes, all man see...
I pray to you for 'peace'.
Weapons are drawn to the ready,
with 'fingers' itching to pull.
Brother is aiming at brother,through eyes that see hate and fear.

Dear God...
I ask, you close those eyes,
so my brother can see through his heart.
Place mirrors between each brother,
so their 'targets' they can learn to love!