The United States is finally going to let John Demanjuk be extradited to stand trial in Europe for alleged Nazi war crimes. Does that mean that the United States will not block war crimes extraditions for persons accused of more recent Nazi-style war crimes--like torture? Are George Bush, Dick Cheney, Daniel Rumsfeld, Condolezza Rice, and their underlings eligible now for extradition, when their turn comes? Or will we actually be courageous and honorable and trey them for such here at home?
The United States is dropping charges against pro-Israel lobbyists accused of spying, however. News stories so far don't make clear why the charges against these men are being dropped. One assumes, of course, that it is not because they are pro-Israel.
Vice-President Biden has given wise advice to Americans and others about the threat of swine-flu: avoid crowded places. That is why in several cities--in the United States and elsewhere--schools are being closed. That is why, in Mexico, churches and movie theatres are being closed. Mr. Biden suggested we avoid subway trains and airplanes. That makes good sense.
But the United States airline industry prefers profit to safety or health, and they have objected. And the news media have with one great capitalist, commerial accord blamed Mr. Biden for misspeaking--or worse. Absurd.
I remember when the CEO at Chrysler, many years ago, proclaimed confidently that "Americans can't afford clean air": meaning, of course, that we were so commercially, capitalistically stupid that we would happily die with our motors running.
I say, thank you Joe Biden. I wish there were more Americans as honest and wise as you.
Bert Hornback
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