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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eashoa' M'sheekha who wrote (53171)	10/19/2002 11:56:58 AM
From: Eashoa' M'sheekha	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Actor Sean Penn Lashes Bush over Iraq War Drums Fri Oct 18,12:05 PM ET 3 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Actor Sean Penn (news) on Friday weighed in on the international debate over a possible war with Iraq, paying for a $56,000 advertisement in the Washington Post accusing President Bush (news - web sites) of stifling debate and threatening civil liberties. In an open letter to Bush taking up most of a page in the main section of the daily newspaper, the Oscar-nominated star of "I Am Sam" and "Dead Man Walking," urged the president to stop a cycle where "bombing is answered by bombing, mutilation by mutilation, killing by killing." "I beg you, help save America before yours is a legacy of shame and horror," Penn wrote, echoing voices of caution from around the world that have called for a measured response to allegations Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction. The letter was signed "Sincerely, Sean Penn, San Francisco, California." A spokesman for the Washington Post confirmed that it was placed by the Hollywood celebrity who has starred in more than 40 movies. Quoting Bush's declaration that the world was either "with us or against us" in the war on terrorism launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Penn, 42, said Bush was marginalizing critics, manipulating the media and promoting fear. Those actions and "your administration's deconstruction of civil liberties all contradict the very core of the patriotism you claim," wrote Penn, who is married to actress Robin Wright Penn (news), and was formerly married to pop star Madonna (news - web sites). "Sacrificing American soldiers or innocent civilians in an unprecedented preemptive attack on a separate sovereign nation may well prove itself a most temporary medicine," he said.

To: Eashoa' M'sheekha who wrote (53171)	10/19/2002 2:06:05 PM
From: maceng2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

OK, the French are forgiven... news.bbc.co.uk More importantly, they are our only contact with "Free Europe". I like a plate of snails myself. Vive la France thesun.co.uk BULLYING Customs officers who grab booze cruisers’ cheap alcohol and tobacco are facing a court showdown. A tough-talking European Commissioner is vowing action after Chancellor Gordon Brown failed to tell him why British trippers are being deprived of their legal rights. And The Sun today launches a major campaign to get the Customs bullies off our readers’ backs. We went into action 24 hours after a granny was thrown off a pensioners’ coach and left sobbing by the roadside after her sherry and cigarettes were seized. The Sun told yesterday how Pam Ellis, 63, was stran- ded 200 miles from her Nottingham home when Dover officials pounced following a day-trip to Calais. The High Court ruled in August that Dover Customs had exceeded their powers with random searches to trap cig and booze “smugglers”. Yet the searches have continued — even though current rules state that the millions of Brits who go on booze cruises every year CAN import as much as they like for their own use. Folk who breach unofficial “guidelines” of 800 cigs, 90 litres of wine and 110 litres of beer may have their goods and car confiscated. Protesters claim up to 20,000 vehicles have been impounded as “punishment” since 2000. CALL OUR HOTLINE If you are a victim of over-zealous Customs officers following a booze cruise , call The Sun today on the number below. Don't worry about the cost, we'll ring you straight back. 020 7782 4105 e-mail CUSTOMS@THE-SUN.CO.UK Fax: 020 7782 4108 Dozens of passengers have been stranded at Dover after being hauled off day-trip coaches. Critics say the tough stance is a bid to stop Britons shopping abroad and swell Mr Brown’s coffers by ensuring people pay duty at home. EU internal market commissioner Frits Bolkestein wrote to the Chancellor on September 18, asking him to explain the searches and penalties. He has so far had no response. Now the Dutchman is threatening to prosecute the Government for breaking EU rules. He said: “British consumers are getting a raw deal. The European Commission takes a dim view of the British Government’s policy.” Mr Bolkestein added: “While they understandably want to stop smuggling, people have a right to travel across borders with purchases of alcohol and cigarettes for personal use. “As the High Court has said, the burden of proof should be on Customs and Excise that such purchases are not for personal use. “Cross-border shopping within the internal market is a fundamental right. It should not be regarded as tax evasion, even if it gives rise to revenue losses to the UK exchequer.” End this customs outrage Still at it ... customs officer with sniffer dog prepares to search the boot of traveller's car By TIM SPANTON and NIC CECIL THE Sun today calls on its army of ten million readers to take on the Customs bullies picking on booze cruise trippers. We are mounting a campaign to stop the arrogant officials defying a High Court ruling that outlawed random searches at ports. Customs officers make life hell for people stocking up on alcohol and cigarettes that they can buy more cheaply in other European Union countries. Adults making the cross-Channel shopping journeys are legally entitled to bring back as much as they like — as long as it is for their own use. That includes presents for family and friends. But Customs chiefs reckoned they knew better and set their own limits. The Treasury feared losing excise duty because people were shopping abroad to save cash. So Customs officials started confiscating items bought in bulk, claiming they were destined for the black market. Frequently, cars, vans and trucks carrying the goods are also confiscated — an amazing TEN THOUSAND last year alone. The vehicles are scrapped or auctioned — with ALL proceeds going into government coffers. The High Court decided in August the scandalous random searches were illegal. And it stated that trippers did NOT have to prove that goods brought from the Continent were for themselves only. The action was brought by ferry operator Hoverspeed which was sick of customers being intimidated and falsely accused of smuggling. But the know-all jobsworths IGNORED the ruling and will challenge it in the Appeal Court on November 5. If they lose, they could be sued for compensation running into millions of pounds. It would also be a huge bonus for passengers pouring on to ferries for pre-Christmas booze cruises. Customs began their current “zero tolerance” campaign two years ago after being ordered to get tough on shoppers. They claim that the Exchequer loses £4billion a year though cigarette and alcohol smuggling. Chiefs boast they cut illegal importing by 76 per cent. A spokesman said: “We want to stop smugglers ripping us all off by evading taxes which the rest of us pay to fund schools and hospitals and other vital public services.” Customs have always had the right to target real smugglers. But The Sun’s Hands Off Our Booze Cruises crusade is aimed at protecting ORDINARY people. At present they could hit problems if they exceed the unofficial limits. Customs say smokers can bring back 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars and one kilo of rolling tobacco. Drinkers are OK with 110 litres of beer, 90 litres of wine — including up to 60 litres of Champagne and other sparkling wines — ten litres of spirits and 20 litres of fortified wine, such as port and sherry. The Sun is being backed by shoppers’ rights groups. David Ash, 42, uses his website — www.day-tripper.net — to campaign for booze cruisers. The businessman said: “None of this would happen if Britain didn’t have such ridiculously high excise duties. “Taxes on alcohol and cigarettes mean we pay much more than other EU members.” He added: “It really is very unfair, if not criminal, what the Government has been doing. “People who have never done anything wrong are now returning to our shores in fear.” He said of Customs: “They are acting like little Hitlers. People are being bullied and frightened. Somebody has to stop it.”

To: Eashoa' M'sheekha who wrote (53171)	10/19/2002 2:53:02 PM
From: bela_ghoulashi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

>>Norwegian journalist Erik H. Thoreson tosses off a list: HMOs, unaffordable drugs, household guns, fast food, obesity, factory farms, universal Wal-Mart, two weeks of annual holiday, SUVs compulsory, oil and coal vs nitrogen as fuel, and credit-card debt as a social asset. I would add: white plastic patio furniture, novels with only nice characters, the copyrighting of everything, hostility toward clever, literate people...<< Yes, Iraq is certainly better off as it is.