Destructive progression
From Mr. A.Q., Abu Dhabi
I refer to Mr. Bleecker's letter ("Proof of progress" Gulf News, December 15). Agreed that modernity (not westernisation) has been slow in this region. But it is certainly happening and visible.

I would ask Mr. Bleecker which Arab country is responsible for over 100 million deaths in two world wars? Show me any Arab country responsible for innovating WMDs. Who supplied the tyrant Saddam Hussain with WMDs in the '80s?

The list of heinous crimes against humanity are endless, courtesy of the Western democracies. But I have one final question: Name one major religion courtesy the West?

The East is proud of its religious contributions, just as the West is of its scientific achievements.
Full name withheld on request

Progress is harmony
From Mr. M.A. Khan, Bangalore, India
With regard to Mr. Bleecker's letter, it is insane to compare a plane and car to progress. If that were so, what does the fantastically huge stack of arms treasured by US translate to?

Does it mean hatred towards the world, humans and life in general? Does democracy guarantee freedom? The fact that US tried to impose democracy in the Middle East shows how intolerant, freedom-restrictive and unjustified it is. Why can't it tolerate the freedom with which Arabs live?

Accumulating materialistic benefits is not progress; progress and freedom have more to do with harmony, which the US will not understand.

The right jury
From Mr. R.N., Abu Dhabi
"We demand a fair and legal trial, not one held by the Governing Council, which was appointed by the occupier," Raghad, the daughter of Saddam Hussain said (Gulf News, December 17).

Did Saddam deal fairly with his citizens during his rule? Or did the people have the right to demand anything during his regime? Even his own council of ministers were afraid to see him eye to eye.

How easy it is to demand a free and fair trial now by his descendants and an international enquiry. Saddam committed crimes against Iraqis and they have every right to try and punish him without any international scrutiny.
Full name withheld by request

News flash
From Ms O.Z. Al Suwaidi, Dubai
Congratulations on the extended coverage of Saddam's capture. Once again, though, I notice that the UK section is the first to be sacrificed, with only two inches of news, and India yet manages to squeeze out four pages!

I understand that there are probably more Indian Gulf News readers than British, but we still deserve some news - after all we pay the same price as any other reader.

Please note that the UK does extend further than London, so include news from other regions, too.

Prohibited photo
From Mr. K.H. Abdul Hussain, Ajman
I was ashamed and shocked to see a big photo of Saddam Hussain on your front-page of December 15. According to the Geneva Conventions, photographs of prisoners of war cannot be published.

Contrasting views
From Mr. A.F., Dubai
I listened with interest to Bush's speech recently, where he described China as a "great nation" and a "great civilisation".

However, there was no mention of China's repression and human rights abuses in Tibet or of China's lack of democracy. Moreover, Bush was critical of democratic Taiwan's aspirations for independence from its communist neighbour.

Contrast this with his speech a few weeks ago where he called for democracy throughout the Arab world.

So why is democracy in the region so important to Bush but not in China? Why is America so keen on building trading relations with China while enforcing a trade embargo on Cuba? Are the Chinese good communists and the Cubans bad communists?
Full name withheld by request

Blocked SMS
From Mr. A.M. Adam, Abu Dhabi
If Etisalat knows that SMS to UK through a certain provider (T. Mobile) are not delivered, then why do they charge customers? I found this from Etisalat and find it strange that they do not provide any kind of protection to their customers who are unaware of this.

Can you please inquire with Etisalat as to why they knowingly ignore protecting their customers?

Mr. A. Bin Ali, Manager Public Relations, Etisalat - Head Office, Abu Dhabi, replies:
Unfortunately (T. Mobile) Network in the UK had blocked all incoming SMS from our network, for their own internal reasons.

As for charges, customers get charged on sending SMS when they send it for utilising the service, as the execution of the process from the network is completed, even if the receiving mobile number was blocked.

Correct answer
From Ms L. Suresh, Abu Dhabi
I disagree with Ms Ward's letter ("Nothingness" Gulf News, December 16). If there is a question asked, "what did he say?" the answer "he said nothing" is not incorrect.

The sentence "nothing is said" is incomplete. "Nothing is said by him" is complete. "Did he say nothing?" is generally not used. "Did he say anything at all?" is normally the terminology used. So, the answer could be "he said nothing".

This terminology is generally used in grammar exercises, where usually a sentence needs to be converted without actually using the word "not".

Politics
From Mr. G. Radhakrishnan, Dubai
I thank Benazir Bhutto for being honest in admitting that the proxy war was started by her country, limited to the Kashmir Valley but one that spread to other parts of India (Gulf News, December 14).

Many civilians were murdered because of the decision. All the denials by Pervez Musharaff, especially at the press meets and universities, were lies.

A Pakistani friend told me that Benazir is a better-known devil than Musharaff. She could have had more respect had she apologised for the same and taken responsibility. She, too, is a politician at the end of the day.