We, the undersigned people of conscience who respect international law and the sanctity of human life, urge you to speak out for peace and justice for all parties in the Middle East crisis.

We are concerned that the current violence and ongoing humanitarian crisis is further eroding America’s international image. For this reason, a strong, balanced stance from you that is aimed at fostering an enduring peace is vital.

Unfortunately, all parties in the Middle East conflict have committed violence against civilians. We unequivocally condemn all of these actions.

The European Union (EU), Russia, the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and other international bodies are all urging Israel to end it attacks.

Middle East Envoy Tony Blair deplored the "tragic of loss of life,” while French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned Israel’s “disproportionate use of force.”

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the Israeli attacks were "inflicting an unacceptable toll on Palestinian civilians and will only worsen the humanitarian crisis as well as complicate the search for a peaceful solution.”

Unfortunately, our nation’s one-sided response to this tragic episode will only serve to fuel anti-American sentiments in the Muslim world and beyond.

We therefore call on you to demonstrate your commitment to changing our nation’s current one-sided Mideast policy by speaking out now in favor of peace and justice for all parties to this decades-long conflict.

Dear Publisher/Editor,

Thank you for including a copy of the film ‘Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West' in your newspaper. I appreciate that you stood up against those who would have you suppress freedom of speech. ‘Obsession' was very educational, providing me access to what the radical Islamists say, in their own words.

In particular, it was good how the film made a clear distinction between the radicals, who are the minority, and law-abiding Muslim citizens, who are the majority.

Actually, I am not sure why the Muslim community is so upset about the film. I would think that they would be the first to denounce the radical Islamists who tarnish the name of Islam.
 
They should be speaking out against the radicals instead of condemning the film.

Again, thank you for sending the DVD and doing the right thing.

David Sweet, writing for Raw Story, characterizes the Clarion Fund as a “shadowy group” distributing a 60-minute DVD, titled “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.” The DVD “is being distributed in millions of newspapers across the country this week primarily in swing states,” including Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, and elsewhere in order to “ensure we can all make an informed vote in November,” that is to say vote for the neocon candidate, John McCain. Distributing 145,000 DVDs is a last ditch attempt to keep the neocons in the driver’s seat and stretch out the “clash of civilizations” into the indeterminable future.

(UPDATE 9/13 - 70 newspapers in swing states have been paid to distribute Obsession this weekend and next, which means not all the DVDs have been delivered yet. Check the list at the end of this post to see if your newspaper is one of them, and let them know how you feel about their participation in this shameless propaganda campaign.)

This week, 28 million copies of a right-wing, terror propaganda DVD are being mailed and bundled in newspaper deliveries to voters in swing states. The 60-minute DVDs, titled Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West, are landing on doorsteps in a campaign coinciding with the 7th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Funding is coming from a New York-based group called the Clarion Fund, a shadowy outfit whose financial backers are unclear.