FOS Editor Exchange With Gary Keenan Canadian Arab Justice Committee (ADALA) Activist On The Events in Libya

FOS Editor Exchange with Gary Keenan
Canadian Arab Justice Committee (ADALA)
Activist on the Events in Libya
Don Currie
Chair Canadians for Peace and Socialism
Editor Focus on Socialism
February 25, 2011

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

Dear Friends.
The editor of Focus on Socialism (FOS) received a press release from the Canadian Arab
Justice Committee (ADALA) on the events in Libya i , over the name of Rafeh Hulays Ph.D.
forwarded by Gary Keenan a well known activist on behalf of the just struggle of the
Palestinian people.
The FOS editor posed a number of comments and questions to Gary Keenan arising from the
demands contained in the ADALA release in particular its call upon the Canadian
government to impose a no‐fly zone over the territory of Libya.
Focus on Socialism readers can read the questions posed and the answers provided by
Hulays and Keenan.
Our concern remains the possibility of a US‐NATO imperialist fomented war in Libya that
would compound immeasurably the struggle of the Libyan people for a progressive
outcome to their struggle for economic democratic struggle and increase suffering and
misery for the Libyan people.
Both Hulays and Keenan have dismissed such concerns. They declare those who express
such concerns are “mad”, “ill‐informed” and if they have not lived in the middles east,
poorly educated and living in a fantasy world.
Canadians for Peace and Socialism (CPS) have issued a brief statement in addition to what
we have said in our discussion with Hulays and Keenan.
We have shared this email string with an email list of Communists, peace activists and youth.
In a separate item Focus is publishing responses from Focus readers on this issue.
In Solidarity
Don Currie, Editor, Focus on Socialism

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca FOS Editor Exchange with Gary Keenan Page 2 of 11

Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Gary Keenan [mailto:garydkeenan@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 9:09 AM
To: Gary Keenan
Subject: FW: Adala Press Release re Libya

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rafeh Hulays, Ph.D.
Phone: 778‐893‐9348

Vancouver, February 23, 2011: ADALA – The Canadian Arab Justice Committee condemns, in
no uncertain terms, the regime of Gaddafi and his cohorts for the killings they are inflicting
on the people of Libya. The people of Libya have been suffering under the yoke of this
brutal dictator and his thugs for the last 41 years. In his speech Gaddafi threatened to inflict
further death and destruction upon the Libyan people. We can no longer stand silent while
he declares total war on the people of Libya,whose only crime is a desire to live in freedom
and dignity.
Hundreds of innocent people have been killed and thousands wounded. He must be
stopped and made to pay for his crimes.
ADALA calls on the Canadian government and the international community to:
1. Strongly condemn, in no uncertain terms, the Gaddafi regime and its crimes.
2. Make it clear that anyone associated with this regime and anyone suspected with
crimes against humanity will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
3. Form a war crime tribunal to investigate and prosecute those involved in war crimes
and crimes against humanity.
4. Freeze any accounts belonging to the regime and those associated with it.
5. Support the struggle of the people of Libya for freedom and liberty and assist them
in any way possible to overthrow this tyrant.


6. Impose a no fly‐zone over Libya to prevent Gaddafi from using his air force to
terrorize and kill the Libyan people.

We demand the Canadian government and the international community to immediately
move to assist the people of Libya.
Any delay will cause more suffering and death. This is a mad man that in one day in 1996
murdered over 1200 prisoners. He will not hesitate to kill thousands more.
The time for Action is now.
ADALA – The Canadian Arab Justice Committee is committed to heightening public
awareness of Arab issues, fostering participation of Arab‐Canadians

From: editor@focusonsocialism.ca
editor@focusonsocialism.ca>
Subject: RE: Adala Press Release re Libya
To: "'Gary Keenan'" <garydkeenan@yahoo.com>
Received: Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 10:55 AM
Dear Gary Keenan
What will be said if it is NATO under the terms of its Mediterranean Dialogue
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID‐0DD5D358‐A8DC43B1/natolive/topics_60021.htm that
includes such democracies" as Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and
Tunisia, that acts to impose a no fly zone over Libya? The mounting hysteria in the privately
owned and controlled corporate media now include unsubstantiated reports of the
"possible" use by Gaddafi of chemical and biological warfare, reminiscent of the weapons of
mass destruction frenzy preceding the US invasion of Iraq.
Far‐fetched? NATO General Secretary Rasmussen met with Prime Minister Netanyahu on
February 8‐9 2011 just a week prior to events in Egypt speaking of "security" in the region
meaning of course continued Israeli dominance. To imagine it was a courtesy call is for the
gullible not for serious observers of events in the Middle East.
The US‐NATO‐Israel planners in the Middle East are alarmed at the popular uprisings there
and have contingency plans to intervene with massive military presence if it is deemed


necessary to "protect their vital interests" (code for oil and the unrestricted passage of oil
through the Suez Canal) and all other oil routes to markets in Europe and the USA.
They will be seeking kinder and gentler despots to replace those who have fled. Serious
observers of unfolding events in the region besides reacting to news reports need to begin
to include the monitoring of the movements of the US naval fleet in the area as well as
AFRICOM and the NATO‐EU‐US military presence in the region. Let us not forget that the
USA maintains 800 military bases world‐wide.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=5564
Canada's middle‐eastern and Mediterranean foreign policy is made at NATO. Go to the
NATO website and witness the difference in tone used by Rasmussen in dealing with
Mubarak and Gaddafi...it is identical to the statements of Harper and Cannon that used kid
gloves on Mubarak and now the mailed fist for Gaddafi.
The difference in tone is due to the fact that Libya is not and was not a willing tool of the US‐
NATO‐Israeli imperial vision of perpetual dominance of big big oil, big US‐Israeli military
dominance in the region.
Libya exports 1.5 million bbls/daily. The US‐Israel investors covet control of that business.
Egypt has no oil. Egypt has the Suez Canal that events in that country have thus far not
threatened. However, Britain and Israel have long memories and would welcome the
opportunity, after being kicked out by Nasser, to once again be more directly involved in the
control of that vital passage.
Imperialists learn nothing from their defeats except to harbor a thirst for revenge. Since
when has Rasmussen, Harper, Cannon, Netanyahu, Hillary Clinton cared a damn for
democracy and human rights in Libya or for that matter anywhere in North Africa and the
Middle East. They care for human rights and democracy for the people of Libya as much as
they care for human rights and democracy for the people of Palestine ...not at all...
How quickly we have forgotten that Reagan bombed Libya at the behest of Israel and in the
course of doing so killed Gaddafi's children.
Castro is warning to exercise some restraint before rushing to judgment on events in Libya. I
consider that advice worth considering.


Don Currie, Editor Focus On Socialism

Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:45 AM
To: editor@focusonsocialism.ca
Hi Don
Here's a reply to you from Rafeh Hulays of Adala. BTW, I concur with Mr. Hulays. Gadaffi is
and has always been a demented murderous thug. I look forward to seeing him and his
cohorts hung in Tripoli's main square.
Gary
Hi Gary
Thank you for forwarding the email. Don neglects the fact that Gaddafi gave the Europeans
and Americans all they wanted: Access to the oil and gas wealth of Libya. The US and
Europe had nothing to do with the revolt. The Libyans have had it with the lunatic who
destroyed their country. Gaddafi did not build a country that can be an real actor anywhere.
He built a state of chaos where medical, educational and job opportunities were dismal for
Libyans.
People who like to get fooled by Gaddafi's purported revolutionary rhetoric should ask
themselves: What is the duty of a government? It is to serve its people. Did he do a good job?
Anyone who says "yes" is as mad as he is.
Rafeh


From: editor@focusonsocialism.ca
editor@focusonsocialism.ca
Received: Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 1:51 PM
Dear Gary Keenan and Mr. Hulays
The questions posed in my response to your email related to the role of US‐NATO‐Israeli
planners in responding to the popular uprisings erupting in the region of North Africa and
the Middle East and specifically Libya. I presented you with ample evidence of meetings that
have taken place in this regard. To pretend that US‐NATO‐Israeli military planners are basing
their plans by observing events on BBC television are infantile. NATO planners are busy at
Brussels with contingency planning to intervene.
I would be more inclined to consider Mr. Hulays’s and your response had you not evaded
comment on the disparity between the statements of the Government of Canada, NATO,
the USA and Israel in responding on the one hand to events in Egypt and on the other to
events in Libya.
These states and organizations are all on the same page in support of Israel and ignore the
UN resolutions that uphold the struggle of the Palestinian people. These states that support
Israel now share the same standpoint on events in Libya. Should that not cause us to
consider more deeply what is unfolding on the level of diplomacy, foreign policyand military
strategy and in particular the motivation of our own government to events unfolding in
Libya?
Should we not be concerned about another US‐NATO‐Israeli fomented war, this time against
Libya or is that an acceptable option?
The issue could very well be US‐NATO‐Israeli military intervention and war. I am not
predicting it and neither did many observers who supported the deposing of Hussein. Had
the people of Iraq been permitted to settle accounts with their own autocrats without US‐
UN interference, Hussein and his regime would have been deposed and millions of Iraqis
would be alive.


Everyone who is not a dupe of the privately‐owned and controlled corporate mass media is
aware that talk of Hussein possessing weapons of mass destruction were CIA lies and a
pretext for Bush launching a war.
Were we all wrong to oppose US intervention into the affairs of the people of Iraq and
Afghanistan and should we be welcoming it now in Libya?
Anyone who was on the streets in those days will recall being accused of being supporters
of Hussein because we opposed US military intervention in Iraq and supporters of the
Taliban because we opposed the war in Afghanistan.
I do not know better about the moment to moment events on the ground in Libya than Mr.
Hulay nor do I doubt that terrible events are unfolding there.
What I know is the perfidy of my own government and its uncritical support for the foreign
and military policy of NATO‐the USA and Israel. In case I missed it, please inform me of
Israel's warm relations with Gaddafi. Israel did have warm relations with Mubarak. Don't you
and Mr. Hulay think there is just a bit of double standard in all of this?
What I am hearing on the CBC news are reports by Canadian correspondents about
anonymous cries for help from inside Libya to the "west" and "unconfirmed reports of the
use of chemical and biological weapons" accompanying appeals to the "international
community" code for calling for EU‐US‐NATO military intervention. Who are the forces inside
Libya calling upon the USA and presumably Israel to liberate them? The people of Egypt
when they rose up did not call upon US imperialism to come and rescue them.
There were no US flags and no Muslim Brotherhood symbols. Do you not find that
significant in contrast to the outcry to "rescue" Libya?
The Libyan people will decide the course of developments in their country. When you and
Mr. Hulay include in your appeals, a stern warning against US imperialist interference into
the internal affairs of Libya, I will consider your standpoint as consistently democratic and in
accord with the principles you claim to uphold.
As to Mr. Hulays's question as to what is the duty of government and then answers his own
question with the reply > that it is to serve its people, I can only say that question is not
answered in the abstract but concretely.


Which people is he speaking about?
My long experience with government is in Canada and what I have learned is that it exists to
serve some class interest. In our country that class interest invariably is the class of wealth
and privilege and those who live well from the labour of those who are not wealthy nor
privileged.
I do not believe it is possible to separate domestic from foreign policy. That Canadian
government speaks for vested interests domestically and globally.
To paraphrase Mr. Hulays anyone who believes that a right wing minority Conservative
government of Prime Minister Harper is doing a good job for the people of Canada is not
mad but I assert is gullible and in denial.
Those who call for hangings in the square are motivated more by emotionalism than
common sense. The people of Libya, given the opportunity will decide on what justice
should be accorded to their tormentors. It is my opinion that it is inappropriate for us
Canadians to suggest how that should be done.
Don Currie, Chair Canadians for Peace and Socialism
PS I do not have Mr. Hulay's email address and I would appreciate it if you will forward the
above.

Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 3:45 PM

Mr. Currie

While I don't doubt your sincerity and setting aside the documented fact that only a fool or
the grossly un/misinformed fails to understand that Israel is a


racist/expansionist/occupier/oppressor state, I regret to
say you live in a fantasy world when it comes to current events in Libya.
As with those in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan and other Arab
states, the uprising/revolution in Libya is indigenous and has been brewing for years.
I suspect you have not resided in the Middle East, i.e.,for months or years.
Gary

From: editor@focusonsocialism.ca <editor@focusonsocialism.ca>
Received: Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 5:14 PM
Gary Keenan

My last word...

Two days ago US forces bombed and killed 76 defenceless Afghan villagers, another crime
among in an endless stream of US‐NATO atrocities. Prime Minister Harper was mute on that
while condemning alleged government violence in Libya.
So are you.

You have evaded an explanation as to why you are in the same camp as Clinton, Harper,
Sarkozi (now president of the (EU), Netanyahu, and NATO on events unfolding in Libya. You
have not uttered one word in condemnation of their hypocrisy.
If there is war, and the UN will be meeting this week at the behest of Hillary Clinton, to
consider it, you will be on the side of the western G7 imperialists, the same cabal that
invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, supports Israel's embargo
of Palestine and Cuba and that laments Mubarak's departure.

I have been patronized before by people who considered their views to be infallible. That is
why I don't take it seriously.

No I have not lived in the Middle East or Asia or South America, but I have been privileged to


know many who have, now dead at the hands of US imperialism and their puppets for
daring to expose and oppose their plans.
Don Currie

Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 5:38 PM

Mr. Currie

My last word:
Setting aside the fact that you have offered no credible evidence that a NATO invasion of
Libya is in the offing, what makes you think I am on the side of Harper, Sarkozi, Clinton,
Netanyahu and NATO?
It seems you have not understood a word I've written or you are a victim of a warped
ideology. The world is much more complicated than you appear to believe Mr. Currie. I
suggest you expand your horizons and get educated.

Gary

i
The formal name of Libya is the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al
Libiyah as Shabiyah asl Ishtirakiyah al Uzma)


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