I have two responses to this.  Firstly, I had no idea he was Jewish.  I'm
not sure whether there's special relevance in his religion - I know it's
fashionable to slander Chomsky as anti-Jewish due to his concern for
Palestinians, so perhaps that's why you mention he's a Jew.  In addition,
it highlights the US-centric nature of your opinions... why should I care
more for an American journalist than a Zimbabwean one?

Secondly, I reckon there's no real need to go into this.  This was not
exactly hidden, after all.  If you wanted news about him you could find it
anywhere.  There was no need for deeper analysis of what was widely known
and reasonable unambiguous.  Neither the US and Pakistani governments were
not covertly supporting the kidnappers (if they were, then it would be
something to investigate).  It's not like, say, shooting down an Iranian
airliner in a commercial corridor, killing 290 civilians, and then the
nation's leader saying, "I will never apologise for the United States of
America.  I don't care what the facts are.", and this remark being
considered uncontroversial in (or even supported by) media outlets.

Alister

At 04:20 PM 25/02/2002, D. Simmons wrote:
>It's been days and not a peep out of the chomskyite faction concerning the
>treatment of an American Jew held prisoner by the Islamic 'Freedom Fighters'
>of Pakistan. No demands for the Red Cross (or even the Green Crescent) to be
>allowed a visit? Oops! That's right, they would only have a bodiless head to
>speak to! That wouldn't do.:-)
>
>   Oh well, I guess we have to keep in mind that these 'Freedom Fighters' have
>legitimate grievances against the imperialist forces of evil descending upon
>their peaceable kingdom.
>Yours,
>Issodhos



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