Just a little research shows Arafat's bent for corruption

Just a little research shows Arafat's bent for corruption
EDITOR:
In a letter to the editor Sept. 23, a reader wonders whether Yasser Arafat deserves to be called a corrupt leader and an obstacle to peace. He correctly suggests that, & quot;No one can read another man's heart, but actions speak for themselves. & quot; Unfortunately, the reader did not make any serious effort to look at the record of Mr. Arafat. Consequently, he reaches the incredible conclusion that Arafat is the man of peace in the Middle East.
A more serious study of Arafat's actions over the past 40 years reveals an endless stream of cruelty and inhumanity that could fill volumes. Some of the highlights: In 1972 Arafat sent his gangsters to the Olympic games in Munich. These games are a symbol of international peace and cooperation. Arafat's contribution to the spirit of peace was the cold-blooded murder of 11 Israeli athletes and interruption of the games. In 1973, Arafat's gangsters kidnapped the American ambassador to the Sudan, Cleo Noel, his deputy, and the Belgian Charg & eacute; d'affaires, Guy Eid. They were later executed by the direct order of Arafat.
Arafat became addicted to the grand scale of international terrorism, which inflicted untold death and misery around the world. He conceived and started the airplane hijacking and bombing industry, which contributed immensely to the insecurity of the world. He cast his evil spirit not only on Israel and the international community, but also on his Arab brethren.
In September 1970, King Hussein of Jordan, the most benevolent Arab leader, declared an all-out war against Arafat and his gangsters, after they terrorized his country. In that battle, 20,000 Palestinians were killed in one month, much more than Israel killed in all the years of the conflict. Until today the Palestinians refer to this period as Black September. Arafat then moved to Lebanon and started terrorizing the Maronite community there, until he was expelled. Of course, his most recent contributions to world peace, the suicide bombings, are well-known. No doubt, Arafat earned a distinguished seat on the monsters list of the 20th century, right there with Hitler and Stalin.
The reader also doubts that Arafat is corrupt. Suffice it is to look at his house in Champs Elys & eacute;es, Paris, where his wife and daughter are living. An average terrorist's salary could never pay for a fraction of this mansion. During half a century, the Western world poured many billions of dollars to help the Palestinians refugees. Unfortunately, the Palestinian's leaders used this generous help to build enormous infrastructure of terror and to fatten their foreign bank accounts, while the refugees were left in their misery.
Palestinians bitterly complain in public about this tragic leadership corruption. According to his own people, Arafat is indeed corrupt.
A. Z. RABINOWITZ
Liberty
Building castles in the sand
EDITOR:
I watched President Bush's address to the United Nations. One line I considered rather amusing. When the president stated, & quot;This regime built castles while their schools deteriorated, & quot; it took me a while to realize he was talking about Iraq and not the United States.
JIM SPENCER
Lake Milton
A wedding objection
EDITOR:
You've planned a lovely wedding; it is a happy time in your life! Why then do you persist in this cruel custom of releasing tame white doves to starve and suffer? These are not wild animals; they do not survive in the wild. They cannot stand cold weather; other birds attack them; they cannot find food. Whoever started this foolishness anyway?
JEAN M. KELTY
Youngstown
President and CEO, Animal Charity