Free the Burmese

I was happily surprised to see the issue of Francoism dealt with in your magazine. As a Catalan, I always feel that the problem is not given proper attention in the international media. I thank Sarah Wildman for her effort in analyzing the present political situation in Spain, which is indeed very complex. But I'd like to point out a few inaccuracies in her account. First, the autonomy granted by the Spanish Constitution to Catalonia is far from generous—not only in the political sense but also culturally and economically. Second, the writer unfortunately refers to the Catalan language by calling it a "local language." Catalan has been the language of the Catalan people since long before Spain conquered Catalonia and, naturally, our children learn it. And last, I do not believe that Spaniards from elsewhere have any problem moving in and finding work in Catalonia. To prove it, just walk the streets of Barcelona (or any other city in Catalonia) and speak Spanish, not Catalan. You will have no problem.
Neus Portet
La Garriga, Spain

Tony Blair as Mideast Mediator
Tony Blair will never keep a low-enough profile to avoid what must be his inevitable war-crimes trial ("Seeking Center Ground," Oct. 15). George W. Bush will probably escape, but Blair and his fellow ministers who signed on to the International Criminal Court must stand trial at The Hague for their part in this disaster in Iraq. The chief prosecutor at the ICC has said Bush and Blair could face charges when Iraq signs on to the court. Muslim countries need to see that this court is not only for enemies of the United States and Western governments.
John Garrett
Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka

Anyone who knows anything about Tony Blair's dismal record of anti-Arab bias in the Middle East conflict and, hence, the Arab people's perception of him as least qualified for a mediator's role, must be quite amazed at the European Quartet's brazen nomination of him as the Middle East envoy. Of course their ready alibi, if they ever needed one, is the expression of support by the West's pet Arab rulers. But I wish the Quartet would remember what history teaches us—that dictators never have the last word. Such arrogant disregard of the popular sentiment of a key party to the conflict by the powers who keep lecturing us on democracy is a premeditated insult to the Arab people.
Yehia A. El-ezabi
Cairo, Egypt

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair the new Middle East envoy representing the Quartet? I cannot think of a worse person for the job. Blair has no credibility for this position, which demands an impartial candidate, one with an excellent grasp and healthy respect for human rights and international law. He is the co-architect of the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. He supported the illegal invasion of Lebanon by Israel. He has supported the illegal withholding of Palestinian funds by Israel. He has helped undermine the democratically elected Hamas government in the Palestinian territories. He has never spoken out against the inhumane treatment of "enemy combatants" at Guantánamo. His foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, expressed her delight at the sentencing to death of Saddam Hussein in a Coalition-backed kangaroo court (despite the fact that capital punishment is outlawed in Britain). His Defense secretary, Des Browne, permitted the Royal Navy to enter Iranian territorial waters illegally, sparking an international incident. It is patently clear that Blair represents the interests (exclusively?) of Israel and of American foreign policy in the Middle East. Consequently, he has no credibility in the Middle East whatsoever. Bush's puppy will make a mess. Again.
Rory E. Morty
Giessen, Germany

I was dismayed to learn that Tony Blair has been appointed to represent the Quartet on the Middle East to hammer out a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian territories. First of all, no permanent peace solution between Israel and the Palestinian people can be achieved without the participation of Hamas. The Bush administration and the Israel government, which once discredited the PLO's Fatah under Yasir Arafat, are now trying to coax the same political party in the West Bank without Gaza or Hamas? Why do the U.S. foreign-policy makers bet on the wrong horse time and time again? The findings of Tony Blair may have a positive response in Washington and Jerusalem, but the backbone of the Palestinian territories is closer to Hamas than to Fatah. This hide-and-seek game called shuttle diplomacy has been going on for more than five decades now without any concrete results. The real will for peace has been lacking on the Israeli side under U.S. sponsorship and its strong Jewish lobby. As we know, where there's a will, there's a way. Tony Blair's role as a successful negotiator in Northern Ireland is a shining example. But achieving peace in the Middle East is a different ball game, even for this seasoned English political broker. The time bomb is ticking and no further delay can be permitted. The suffering Palestinian people have become not only the prisoners of Israeli occupation but also their own Palestinian brothers. The waiting game is over.
Syed Rashid Ali Shah
Vroomshoop, Netherlands

Socialist Spending in Sweden
In your article about the liberal benefits in Sweden ("A Stressful Situation," Oct. 15) you write that our nonsocialist government under Fredrik Reinfeldt may have gone too far in limiting paid sick leave. I disagree. Decades of social-democratic governments have destroyed the morale of the Swedish people. And the spending has been a way for socialists to buy voters. A recent government report shows that nearly $10 billion is spent every year in fraud and incorrect payments of paid parental leave, sickness pay and early disability insurance. Such unfair spending has a bad effect on those who really need help.
Dennis Brinkeback
Stockholm, Sweden