‘Defence force out of line?’ With reference to the article ‘Road block jams Beitbridge’ (FTW April 4, 2003), by what right does the Defence Force set up roadblocks! My understanding is that road blocks are the domain of the South African Police Services, but may be assisted by the military, where necessary. Whilst I’m aware that the military does assist SAPS in curbing illegal immigrants, I’m sure that their hold up of commercial vehicles is a flagrant violation of our constitution, apart from adding to the expenses of the transporters, therefore making our exports less attractive, alternatively eroding the exporter’s profits. To what end, I’d like to know. Anyone have any answers? Clive King, Jacobsen’s ‘SAA an example for US airlines?’ With reference to the item regarding Air Canada’s bankruptcy, it seems that South Africans can do some things right. With many US airlines facing bankruptcy and Air Canada finding itself in the same trouble, it is nice to see that a South African managed to turn our national carrier around after an American had SAA heading that way as well! Glenn Kasner Last week’s poll on FTNow, FTW’s sister publication on the internet, questioned whether human shields in Iraq were performing a meaningful role. The overwhelming majority believe not, and these are a few of the comments received. ‘Cheap publicity’ In my opinion, it was a lone and futile attempt at some cheap publicity and achieved absolutely nothing apart from the mental anguish which they imposed on their respective families. By email. ‘No idea of the reality of war’ The majority of people who try to act as “human shields” in a war that doesn’t concern them are idiots and have never been involved in military conflicts, not like some of us have. It’s damn frightening. Ron Peterson, Samsung. ‘Short-sighted’ If the UN could not stop the war how on earth did a handful of ‘human shields’ think that they could make a difference. They are not heroes, just short-sighted individuals who put their respective families through a lot of anguish. Anonymous ‘What have the rest of us done?’ At least there was an attempt to do something and not just sit back and criticise. Just look at the Star newspaper (April 2, 2003). Women and children are being k illed and the world sits back too afraid of the big power called Bush. What have the rest of us done or do we approve of the slaughter of children? Mahmood Ravat
