We are told :"Apparently, Bush understands Sharon's requirement for'quiet'." However, it is apparent that neither Bush nor Sharon have any understanding of the Palestinians' need for freedom from illegal foreign occupation associated with systematic brutality, humiliation, expropriation of property for illegal Jewish settlement, demolition of thousands of their homes and unlawful imprisonment, torture and extra-judicial assassination, all in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. This illegal occupation has been allowed to stand for over 33 years, in defiance of international law and repeated Security Council resolutions.

It is interesting that Mr. Safire is now concerned about the enforcement of "UN resolution # 425". Perhaps he may care to remember that this resolution was passed by the Security Council in March 1978 demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces, illegally occupying Lebanese territory. This withdrawal was forcibly accomplished 22 years later as a direct result of the heroic struggle for liberation by Lebanese Hezbollah and other national resistance movements, which he has the audacity to describe as "terrorist". The Syrian forces are in Lebanon on the direct invitation of the Lebanese government, and not as a result of illegal occupation.

Bush, Sharon and Safire, we are told, are concerned about " the threat from weapons of mass destruction now being built [sic] in Iraq and Iran with aid from Russia and North Korea." However, obviously, it should be of no concern to anybody that Israel has already built masses of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, with the direct aid of the USA. But, of course, we should know that Israel is above international law.

Surely, there has to be a limit to Mr. Safire's contortions and diatribe. And, surely, the readers of The Herald deserve better than that.