COMMON SENSE
By Hassan Al-Haifi
In reflecting on the recent developments in the region, it seems clear that the region is not geared for any rest from tumult, disappointment and tragedy. For one thing we have a demagogic hawk for a president of the United States, who has no other direction to go except war to solve all the elements of an apparent disability to bring verve back into the mainstream of American economic life.
After the sad events of September 11, 2001, President Bush has seen no other means of convincing the American people that the United States is well on its way of coming out of the shock of the tragedy. His miscalculated efforts in Afghanistan have not brought about the fully opted for goal of liquidating the alleged culprits of that horrific event. Because there is so much weaponry of mass and no so mass destruction in the United States, Bush thinks that unleashing some of that hardware here and there is bound to bring an end to the difficulties he is facing domestically, of an economy that seems unsteady and unsure of the course its President is taking.
In any case, that is as far as the United States is concerned. In the region, it is clear that the other demagogic hawk of the world, Bush's "good friend" has been given a mandate to proceed with his relentless destruction of whatever remains Palestine. The poor Palestinian people have nothing to look for in the future, as they see a White House Administration that has not only let them down, but apparently supports all the madness that they have been seeing.
Ever since Ariel Sharon decided to take on any hopes for peace in the region with his intimidating walk through the Al-Aqsa Mosque at the turn of the Millennium to remind the Palestinians - and the rest of the world that Zionist demagogues have a whole different outlook on the way things should proceed in the region, and it is not towards peace. Bloodshed was the cause d'etre of the State of Israel and it is bloodshed that it must thrive on to exist!
What a whole different atmosphere has Ariel Sharon and his unfailing backers in the international Zionist establishment produced in the region! We are baffled by the blindness, which the Bush administration seems to view this region, relying on misguided aspirations of the many strong Zionist demagogues within his administration, who will believe anything Ariel Sharon and his backers in the Zionist lobby in the United States, who enjoy seeing every bit of blood of innocent Palestinian children shed in the Holy Land.
For these demagogues, American interest and the interests of peace in the world are the last things in their mind, as they clandestinely railroad the United States into a world of mayhem and confusion, inspired by an obvious incoherent foreign policy that is resolved to convince the world that there is nothing that stands in the way of the power of the sword. We really do not understand how America can expect to see a world approving of such misguided approach to foreign policy, with the only winner in it being the Zionist interests that have infiltrated every facet of American economic, political and social fabric, who care the least for American interests or for world peace.
The people of the region seem to be heading for further tragedy, now that Sharon is firmly entrenched in his operations room for the destruction of the Palestinian people. With Bush driven by the strong Zionist elements that plague his administration, we should expect any surprises to confront us from where we least expect them. The demagogues are firmly in place to decide the fate of an already overburdened world with problems. Carry on Ariel, for the White House is right behind you and frankly speaking there is nothing that anybody can hope for with the atmosphere in the world needing some fumigation from all this demagoguery in the air.

BY HASSAN AL-ZAIDI
The taking of hostages in tribal areas is still a worry among security authorities and human rights and freedom activists in Yemen.
This method has been one of the systems that Yemen's former Imam regime used.
The revolutionaries, who tried to bomb the 26th September, also used this method as one of the means to put an end to Imam regime.
Zaid Mutea Dama'ag, one of the well-known intellectuals and novelists, composed a famous novel called "Hostage".
Yemen's Imam regime forced every tribe in Yemen to submit a hostage called an "obedience hostage," to force those tribes to avoid any rebellion and disobedience.
It was asked from each tribe to necessarily submit additional hostages called 'sympathy hostages' in case one of its individuals made any violation.
Perhaps this system, which violates rights and freedom, was taken in the Imam's security procedures in order to serve its domination and sovereignty. The tribal society was governed by strict norms and traditions that prevented rebellion or attack against a a tribe with a hostage.
The tribal norm obliged every one to pay the cost of the hostage with a hostage "fine".
Currently, society believes that this system is one of the negative aspects of Imam tyrannical rule. However, we find that the authorities bring it back to existence in many cases and events that happen in Yemen. This is in spite of the obvious and bold violation of the constitution, laws and national and international convention related to human rights.
This distorts Yemen's image in front of the public and the local and international world.
Here I will cite some examples of using this technique.
There was a conflict between the security and the Abeeda tribe at the end of 2001 to hunt down "Abu Asem" The security forced the Abeeda tribe to submit fifty hostages from its clans who were released just last November.
And the event of putting five persons from al-Zaidi tribe and I behind the bars in December 1997 in one of the capital prisons for three months considering us as hostages is still in memory as well as the other events that happened and still happen so far.
Perhaps this method is taken currently by the authorities. It is considered unsuccessful and mistaken that does not serve the security and stability because most tribal members in the meantime do not respect the norms and traditions that the Imam used to exploit them in imposing his control.
What happens when there is a problem, or anyone who belongs to a special tribe has done something wrong, is that everyone belonging to this tribe or area is arrested too and put behind bars.
They're considered a hostage because the behavior of outlaws from his clan or tribe. That creates resentment for the peaceful and secured members.
That's also violation of the valid constitution laws.
A lot of the tribes consider that what security authorities do in these cases is not different from the kidnapping that some tribes practice.
The process of kidnapping and counter-kidnapping happens among a few members that belong to special tribes aiming to get things from the government.
So is kidnapping secured citizens from the roads, towns and streets and putting them in the prisons under the pretexts tribal belonging?
These methods and procedures are against the constitutions and laws. We find the continuity of this phenomenon in spite of political opposition. However, it seems that the problem is the result of government weakness.
Some see that it is a result of fair and just procedures and solutions for problems while others think it is a result of misbehavior for security that has no system and plan for the government to take. Others believe it is a result of authorities and Sheiks seeking for a return to Imam traditions.
Thus, we still need to find solutions to put an end to the violations that within this. There is injustice and confiscating of human rights.

BY JAMES WILLAMAN
VOLANT, PA USA
In response to 'Lessons from World War II' editorial (Jan. 27) first of all, let me say that I was moved by its picture of the war's devastation on those two countries but I also became deeply sympathetic to the hopes and dreams expressed in it for the Yemeni people. Let me also say that I agree with the author and that there are many similarities between modern Yemen and postwar Germany and Japan.
And, just like Germany and Japan the obstacles to your vision of Yemen are surmountable with public consensus on your side and international help.
Nothing on the magnitude of nation building can be done, however, without the true support of Yemen's people. The great majority, through the equal dissemination of information and the exercise of democracy, must be unified in its vision of the future Yemen and of the path to that future. In short, my answer to the article1s question is, 'Yes Yemen, you can do it... if you want to.'
With the new 'war on terror' focusing the world1s attention on the Persian Gulf region, Yemen has a perfect opportunity to emulate Cold War era West Germany and to benefit from international aid and investment.
The risk of openly accepting such aid is, of course, an anti-western backlash which could destabilize the government, sever ties with the west, and retard economic growth. The tightrope is narrow but the potential rewards of billions of dollars in aid and the political consolidation of Yemen's government may be worth the risk.
Your editorial finished with the question 'why not us?' which prompted me to leave with some questions of my own.
1. Can Yemen, including the tribal areas, be effectively unified as one highly organized and highly centralized political body in order to move the country, as a whole, in a single direction?
2. Is the vision of an industrialized and globally integrated Yemen which has a free market system and all the secular and western trappings such developments invariably entails, a vision of Yemen that the people of your country will lend their support to?
3. Will the Yemeni people be willing to accept the personal and cultural sacrifices that unity calls for in order to enjoy the benefits it will surly bring?

BY MUSA A AL -MODAFFARI
MODAFFAR60ISLAM@YAHOO. COM
The ultimate objectives of Yemen's revolutions was to bring positive change of the so-called tyrant Imamate era. In other words, revolutionaries wanted to alter the bad conditions of Yemen at that time.
Since then, we pretend to have come a long way from the conditions of injustice, poverty and tyranny to the conditions of justice, development and prosperity. Those sincere people have sacrificed their lives along with their sweat and blood and virtuous souls to bring their nation to freedom and comfort.
Unfortunately, these objectives are obviously just ink on paper, since we have never seen them applied in real life. Now we notice the democratic experience in our country is just a beautiful piece of cloth seeking to satisfy the world.
It is too bad that all what we have been offered from those courageous people of revolution foes in vain. Are we seeking to satisfy the new world system at the expense of the Almighty?
This must be a dilemma and crucial situation that we could never escape the punishment of God.
We are actually confronted with so many negative behaviors that are hypocritically practiced in the name of revolution and its objectives. These allegations are absolutely vacant of truth and realty.
What would you guess the stance of those people Is who are still alive since the revolutions? They only notice the conditions go from bad to worse. They see that democracy is merely a beautiful decoration wrapped up with unbelievable secrets.
I think that is unsuitable treatment to those faithful revolutionaries and their great achievements in their anniversaries of September and October.
In conclusion, it is the educated people and thinkers' responsibility to have all those objectives of revolution applied. Consequently, they can help Yemeni people taste the freedom.