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U.S. aids Colombian progress, not corruption

After reading Matthew Kennard’s “Bush twists democracy for own purposes (Jan. 28),” I began to wonder if he actually knew anything about what he was writing. I researched several of the topics he mentions, and it seems as if Kennard is the one twisting the truth for his own purposes.

He slams President Bush for giving aid to the Colombians, but he must have forgotten to include how Plan Colombia was actually started by Bill Clinton, and was only extended by Bush. But Colombia is a country run by drug lords and paramilitary forces. Should we let the innocent Colombians continue to be caught in the middle of a deadly war just because their government has made mistakes?

Perhaps Kennard has also forgotten how the conditions for the aid package included the prosecution of human rights violators and severing ties with illegal paramilitary organizations, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy. Actually, a former U.S. ambassador to Colombia during the Clinton administration remarked last year that “Colombians feel more secure and have hope. Continued U.S. support will support economic growth, democracy and stability in the entire Andean region.”

It must be so convenient to write newspaper columns and be able to decide what you want to include and what facts you can leave out. Kennard should not be using these people’s suffering as a means of furthering his own liberal agenda.

Stephen Campbell First-year, undeclared

Anti-Semitism remains a problem in Europe

A few days ago, I came to the column “Civil rights orators must inform, inspire (Jan. 25).” Despite the good quality of your column and the necessity to remind each of us how civil rights are an important pillar of our society, I have been utterly disappointed and shocked by Matthew Kennard’s assertion that “the battle against European anti-Semitism has been partly won.”

I wish I could have agreed that the battle has been partly won, but not only is this information wrong, it contradicts the news and reports anyone can find and read on the topic.

Here in France, the government recently reported that there were 1,513 anti-Semitic incidents (both actions and threats) in 2004, as compared to 593 for all of 2003.

In France, there have been so many attacks on Jews, that the chief rabbi has urged Jews to wear baseball caps instead of yarmulkes outside their homes.

Diana Pinto, a historian and author, claims that, “We live since 2001 in an extremely dangerous world where a new type of anti-Semitism among some Muslims has surfaced, whose tenets are worthy of the worst Nazi propaganda, and whose hatred is no longer aimed at Israeli ‘Zionists’ but at the entire Jewish people.”

Synagogues have been fire-bombed, Jewish schools have been attacked, and individuals have been cursed and harassed on the street.

In January 2005, the U.S. State Department’s “Report on Global Anti-Semitism” stated, “The increasing frequency and severity of anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the 21st century, particularly in Europe, has compelled the international community to focus on anti-Semitism with renewed vigor.”

Kennard, the battle against European anti-Semitism has not been partly won – yet. Anti-Semitism still haunts Europe. As Cobi Benatoff, president of the European Jewish Congress said, “Anti-semitism should have been part of the history of old Europe by now, but unfortunately it is very present and alive in the Europe of today.”

Michael Herszbein UCLA alumnus