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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 1983)
Pag* 4 Portland Observer, September 14.1963 EDITORIAL/OPINION Reagan diverts citizen anger The loss of the Korean airliner over the Soviet Union is being used to build pro-war, anti-Soviet hysteria which will result in vastly increased ex penditures for war, including the M X missile and deployment of Pershing II missiles in Europe. Five days passed after the disappearance of the jetliner before the U.S. admitted that a spy plane was in the area. As more information is re leased it becomes apparent that the USSR’s ver sion is true — that the airline was warned and re fused to respond and that the USSR believed that airliner was a spy plane. The question that remains is whether the Korean airliner was really a spy plane or whether it was being used by other U.S. spy planes in the area. The C IA and other U.S. intelligence services and the Japanese intelligence services were watching the flight for 2 Vi hours as it pene trated Soviet air space. Why didn’t they warn it? And why was the Korean pilot afraid to land? South Korea is one o f the most repressive countries in the world, and the plane’s pilots were reportedly military reserve officers. The nation was created by the U .S., which perma nently partitioned Korea. Its government, mili tary and economy were constructed in large part by U.S. economists and intelligence agencies and it is dominated by U.S. transnationals. Over strengthen anti-Soviet feelings in the U.S. tnd end any moves toward detente. Docs the Korean plane incident have the same purpose? The hysteria campaign launched by the U.S. government and the press diverts attention from the U.S. intervention in Centrai America, the Middle East and Africa. It diverts the public attention from the fact that the U.S. is waging war against Nicaragua and propping up the dic tators of El Salvador, Chile, Guatemala, Philippines, etc. etc. It also diverts the attention of the American people from the real problems at home — poverty, unemployment, racism, sexism, poor education, lack of medical care and housing, etc. The people of the United States are justifiably angry over the social and economic conditions imposed on them while their government builds an ever larger war machine, but the Reagan ad ministration — the target of that anger — is suc cessfully diverting it into anti-Soviet hysteria. The Korean airline incident meets two objec tives for the Reagan administration — it aids their plan for a new military build-up and it turns the attention o f the people from problems at home to an “ enemy” abroad. 40,000 U.S. military forces and hundreds of intelligence agents are stationed in Korea. Was the flight merely a spy mission or was it designed to create a climate favorable to the war industry? Recently the U.S. and the USSR have made some progress with economic, diplomatic and cultural agreements. The nuclear freeze, anti war movement is growing world-wide and in the U.S. But there are forces in the Pentagon, the C IA and the Reagan administration that are op posed to normalizing relations with the Soviet Union. In 1960 there was a similar period in which the cold war relations were beginning to thaw. On the eve of President Eisenhower’s planned visit with Premier Kruschev, a U.S. spy plane was shot down over the USSR. The U.S. first blamed the USSR but later admitted the U-2 was on a spy mission. This incident was calculated to I mp 5AV r Lebanon: Land of conflict, pain Letters to the Editor Equality, justice k n o w no race To tha Editor: The case for justice knows no race or religion. One has to rise above in dividual deprivation and suffering to recognize it for what it is and speak out against it when it occurs, be the victims, Jews. Chinese, Indi ans, Hispanics, Japanese or Blacks. Washington State Senator George Flemming recognized the injustice done against persons o f Japanese ancestry during W orld W ar I I and not only spoke against it but spon sored a bill which subsequently led to reparations o f 32,300 for each victim. In the battle for equality and justice for all there is little to be '7 usa'ta tall oat laughin' in school whan they said anybody could become Pnsldant, hut that eras halon that put this ttaagaa la !” gained and much to be lost in argu ments about who suffered the most, who should be compensated first, second, etc. That kind o f divisive reasoning serves only those who would discriminate against us. In the end, the women and minorities will be the losers. Walter Sakai Emergency food donations increase To tha Editor: word out, contributions to The Sal vation A rm y’s Family Services offices in our area have increased. I hope it's a trend that continues; be sides Christmas, late summertime traditionally has been a very tough month for us in terms of the number of people coming to us for food and help. The N e w P o rtla n d O bserver’ s continuing support for people-help ing agencies is another outstanding example o f editorial leadership and commitment to upgrading the quali ty o f life for our whole community. M ay God bless you and this news paper for your support. Thanks for the lovely surprise — a story about our emergency appeal for food items. . . on page I no less! It may interest you to know that thanks to your help in getting the Sonia Fatharaton Madia Ralatlona Coordinator Cascada Division Tha Salvation Army On June 4 , 1982, under the code name “ Peace for Galilee,” Israel launched an air, sea and land attack against Lebanon. More than 120,000 soldiers armed wjth the most sophisticated U .S. arms parti cipated in the assault. The invasion destroyed I I Palestinian refugee camps and four principal cities of Lebanon — among them the capital, Beirut. M ore than 20,000 people were killed, 40,000 wounded and 20,000 detained. Twenty-five com munities were destroyed. 800,000 made homeless and 10,000 are miss tag. The invasion was a massive e f fort to destroy the Palestinian L ib eration Organization, the progres sive Lebanese National Movement and units o f the Syrian army. The goals o f Israel and its part ner, the United States, were to: • Eliminate the Palestinian cause and impose a so-called “ autonomy” in the West Bank • Install a fascist government in Lebanon that would form an alliance with Israel and Egypt • Annex southern Lebanon to Israel • Force the withdrawal o f Syrian troops from Lebanon. The Cam p David accords would be imposed on the Arab nations — one by one. This would assure making the Arab countries political ly, economically, and militarily de pendent on the U.S. and insure its access to oil. The weakness o f the Israeli plan was that the new Lebanese govern ment was not able to impose its will on all o f the people o f Lebanon and as the Israeli troops withdrew, the civil war, in a state o f truce when the Israelis invaded, erupted again. Background to civil war ill Oregon I Newspaper Í Publishers Asstxijtion Portland Observer asa* .was The P o rtla n d O bserver IU S P S 969 6801 is published every Thursday by Esie Publishing Company, Inc . 2201 North Killings worth Portland. Oregon 97217. Post Ottice Bos 3137, Portland Oregon 97708 Second class postage paid at Portland Oregon M Tha Portland Observer was established m 1970 MEMBER Subscriptions »16 00 per yaar m tha Tri County eras Poet m aetar Sand address changes to tha Portland Observer. P 0 Bos 3137. Portland. Oregon 97208 A lfre d L. Henderson. Editor/Pubhsher A ! Williams. Advertising Manager Association - fo u n d e d I M S " "t™ to ™ ™ ™ "TnTwv/w/™ ™ ■ ■ ■ ; PORTLAND OBSERVER News fo r and about you. PLEASE PRINT Mail to Portland Observai Bos 3137 Portland Oregon 97200 N aw 283 2486 N a tio n a l A dvertising R ep resentative A m a lg a m a te d Publishers Inc N a w York Subscribe today! I I Yes. I would lika ■ aubacriptionl to tha Portland Observer. □ I have ercloaed my check or money order for * 15, for a one-year subacriptior I J ■ The influence of Western Europe was strong in the development o f Lebanon's political system. The upper class, which in Lebanon is predominantly M aronite Christian (followers o f M aron, a hermit monk who lived in the 3th and 6th centu ries). control the wealth of the nation and have held political power since the establishment o f the "G reat Lebanese State” by France in 1920. In 1943, when the nation became independent, a verbal agreement called the "N atio n al Pact” was made between the Maronites and the weak Arab entrepreneur class who were competing for power. The Pact insures that the president will always be Maronite; the Sunni Moslems would have the chairman ship o f the Council o f Ministers; the Shiite Moslems would nave the head o f Parliament and the Greek O rtho dox the vice-president o f Parlia ment. Parliament is 34 Christians and 43 Moslems, although the coun try is 38 percent Moslem. Faianglata In 1936, Pierre Gemayel estab lished the Kateb Party (the Falan gists). Param ilitary bands were formed to attack anyone who op- posed their plans and terrorism was used to impose their rule. By the 1930s, Lebanon was a showcase for the rich — the "Switzerland o f the Middle East” — but it was being de stroyed by internal conflict. The 1950s were a period o f growth o f Arab nationalism and de velopment o f new Arab-based parties. In April 7, 1973 civil war broke out, lasting until the next summer. This was a period o f grow ing strength for the Falangi-.ts, who were allied with the Lebanese National Party o f ex-President Chamoun and the followers of ex- President Frangie. They were all Maronites and all were representa tives o f the aristocracy, united mo mentarily to crush the progressive forces and their allies, the Palestini ans. Large contingents o f Palestini ans had moved into Lebanon after the 1970 massacre o f Palestinians in Jordan. In 1976, Bashir Gemayel became the chief of the M aronite militias o f the “ Lebanese F ro nt.” The country was divided, some ports under the pro-Western fascist Maronite rule and some under the rule o f the pro gressive forces. Beirut was divided: the Falangists controlled the eastern sector, while the western sector was held by the Palestinian-Lebanese command. In 1978, Gemayel killed his ally, Frangie, and many o f his followers, and attacked the L N P , at last consolidating his power over the right-wing factions. Saad Haddad In 1979, Saad Haddad pro claimed a "Free State o f Lebanon” in the southern area bordering Israel. In 1977, he had publicly called for an Israeli invasion. W ith Israeli fi nalising and arms, he has main tained a type o f mini-state which has expanded greatly as the result of the Israeli invasion. M ore than 23 years ago Moshe Dyah said, "W h a t is needed to create a M aronite state in Lebanon is to find an officer — even if he's only a major — and convince him to declare himself a savior o f the M aronite population . . then the Israeli army will go into Lebanon, occupy the necessary territory and create a Christian regime that will be allied with Israel.” Labanasa National Movamant In 1975 Kamul Joumblatt and other progressive leaders created the Lebanese National Movement — the only opposition fo fascism in the country. The L N M from the very beginning took the position o f prac tical solidarity with the Palestinian people. This position, together with growing popular support, gave it the strength to resist the bloody offen sive of the Lebanese Front in 1973- 1976 as well as Israeli invasions and incursions. Joumblatt, a Druse by origin, was killed in 1977. His son, W alid, re placed him and in 1980 was elected head o f the L N M . Since its foundation, the L N M has announced its program of “ channeling the struggle o f the Arab masses in favor o f a united Arab, democratic, non-sectarian Lebanon allied to the Palestinian resistance.” Gamayal govarnmant The president is elected by Parlia ment every six years and the people elect members o f Parliament every four years. The current Parliament was elected 10 years ago and when it was elected, it represented only 28 percent o f the population. Today Parliament represents only the up per class and the remnants of feudal ism (4 percent control 40 percent of the economy). The August, 1983 election o f the president was held in an occupied city, with the parliamentary build ings surrounded by Israeli and Falangist tanks and with many members o f Parliament threatened with death. Bashir Gemayel was elected presi dent and immediately assassinated. Israel entered West Beirut. Gemayel’s brother, Am in, was elected presi dent; nobody dared vote against him. The Gemayel government does not have the support o f the vast m ajority o f the people and he has not been able to consolidate his power over the nation. Tha United States The U .S ., which supported and financed Israel's war against Leba non, has established a beachhead in the oil-rich, militarily strategic M id dle East through its participation in the United Nations peace-keeping force. W ith troops caught in the fire from the L N M , the Navy has moved in reinforcements and has shelled L N M positions. The British and French have strafed L N M positions from the air, ostensibly to protect their own armies. W hat began as a force to keep Lebanese, Israeli and Syrian troops apart and to protect the civilian population has become a military program to aid Gemayel. Defense Secretary Weinberger has indicated the possibility o f expanding the force from 1,300 to as many as 10,000 and to expand its role outside of the Beirut region. There are re ports that U.S. advisors are accom panying, if not leading, the Leba nese Arm y in their battles and Ronald Reagan has talked about sending Marines to southern Leba non to “ guarantee" Israel's borders. The Reagan administration has attempted to avoid <.»ngressiona] scrutiny by denying that the Marines are in "h ostile" territory. This week. Congress should consider in voking the W ar Powers Act o f 1974, which slates that the president cannot place military personnel in hostile territory for more than 60 days without congressional approval.
