"The Swiss bank UBS has become the latest casualty of raging 'Iran fever' on Capitol Hill..."
-- from the article that appeared in "The Telegraph"

This is an insulting way of describing the alarm -- intelligent and justified alarm -- of some membes of Congress. Describing it pejoratively as "raging 'Iran fever'" as if it is some kind of mental contagion that is going around those excitable Congressmen in what is basically silly America is infuriating. The phrase "the latest casualty" also implies a kind of hysteria that claims its victims, and the victims of hysteria, of course, are by implication innocent.

There cannot be too much alarm about Iran. And there cannot be too much alarm about the influence of recycled petrodollars on Western policy, and on the greed and consequent negligence, or worse, of many financial institutions in the West. Or does anyone need a little refresher course in the morality of Swiss banks, beginning, but not ending, with what happened to all those billions deposited by Jews before and during World War II?

There is no hysteria with innocent casulaties. There is no "Iran fever" that is "raging." There is at long last some alarm -- and not too much alarm, but too little.

Whoever is responsible for the woriding of this article -- a Telegraph correspondent, blase about the problem, yawningly conveying what he thinks of as those posturing and silly American Congressmen, in silly America (oh, the National Gallery is okay, and so is Dumbarton Oaks -- but that's about it), or some editor in London -- ought to be, but will not be, raked over the coals.

This is the kind of sneer that maddens. It is the sneerer who should be sneered at.

Posted by: Hugh at April 4, 2006 8:57 AM

Also transcript of recent interview with Congressman on this subject at:

Interview Transcript: Transcript: Follow the Money
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190323,00.html
Regarding Swiss UBS Bank and Funding of Terrorism

also March 31, 2006

Congressmen Grill Swiss Bankers Over Ties to Bin Laden, Iran, Cuba
http://www.nysun.com/article/30062?access=853047
Congressmen accuse UBS of helping Iran's nuclear program, facilitating Osama bin Laden, and refusing to respond to congressional inquiries

Posted by: jeffreyimm at April 4, 2006 9:59 AM

Nothing personal, just business.

Posted by: JanuaryMan at April 4, 2006 10:23 AM

Anyone who has worked in Swiss banking or has any knowledge about it knows that the "Nothing personal, just business" statement by JanuaryMan is spot on. Swiss bankers are apolitical and amoral and will be that way up to the day that the Islamic sword falls on their necks.

Posted by: Don Miguel at April 4, 2006 3:34 PM

Friends, Since you care for my arrest, I am sharing a letter I have written to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi March 24, 2006.

To,

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
Chairperson
United Progressive Alliance
10, Janpath
New Delhi

Respected Sonia Ji,

You may not remember me but I would like to remind you of my one and only meeting with you in 2001. After one year of Kargil conflict, when the then NDA government was busy in congratulating itself, I had returned as a special correspondent of Pioneer, from remote areas of Kargil- Drass valley. I had with me a delegation of local villagers from LOC whose lives were derailed and devasted during the war and they were facing hunger and destruction.

You had, in spite of your busy schedule given us a patient hearing and that very instant spoke to Mr. Wazahat Habibulla for detailed information. It was your initiative, which had forced the then Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee to announce a 10 crore relief package for the victims. I was and I am indebted for your sincere and sentimental approach.

I am now writing this to you to seek justice from the personal vendetta of Mr. K.K. Paul, the Delhi police chief. I am working as the political editor of a TV news channel-S1 and also edits two fortnightly magazines from the same group. In our Feb 15 issue we had carried a two Paragraph long piece denouncing the mindset that resulted in publication of prophet cartoons. Invariantly a postal stamp size cartoon was also reproduced to illustrate the issue.

I am told, madam, that the ministry of home affairs issued a notification for seizing all the copies of concerned issue and we ourselves recalled all unsold magazines from the stall. Then on Feb, 22 a large number of policemen entered in our office in Defence colony, Delhi and took me away to police station. Same day, after the courts closed, I was declared arrested. Next day instead of producing me (and my Group Chairman Mr. Vijay Dixit) in regular Patiala house court, the police took us to Tihar court and we were sent to 14 day judicial custody. We were charged for "conspiring to hurt the feelings of Muslim community". We were kept in high security ward in the company of Kashmiri and Khalistani militants. ( They were better behaved then olice and the jail staff) The police had told the police officers that we had sinned against Muslims and have a great threat from them. I was kept in a solitary confinement for 22 0ut of 24 hours and was not even allowed the bronchial inhaler in spite of magisterial orders. For four days I was not allowed any legal help and even my wife, a former Times of India journalist could not meet me.

The police told us that there is a riot at Patiala house court but I know for sure that this farce of protest was created by local Muslim leaders, including two of your party MLAs who ironically did no nothing about the magazine and me. The hon'ble court did not see any merit in police theory and bailed us out. As a matter of irony, the police could not find a single Muslim citizen to complain against us and the FIR was registered by one head constable of Delhi Police.

Now I come to personal vendetta of Mr. K. K. Paul against me. Mr. Paul's son Amit K. Paul is an advocate and known to take cases of the people wanted by Delhi police, headed by his father. The investigative officers could not dare oppose thier bossed son and his practice is thriving. In another case, the Police, under direct orders of Shri Paul arrested an 82 year old NRI for "stealing" his own car. the case was dismissed and the car was restored to the person by a court order. We as a responsible media faxed to Mr. Paul for his version but to our horror a letter came to us from one of the accused, in threatening language. Does Delhi police chief share his documents with the people wanted by his own force? Ask Mr. Paul for his explanation, if any for this unpardonable act.

We published these reports three months back and no denial ever came. Then Mr. Paul got a chance to settle score and that is what he exactly did. We represented before Mr, Shri Prakash Jaiswal and waiting to hear from him. My wife Supriya. approached Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, who in turn spoke to Shri Shiv Raj Patil. My wife was told by Delhi police officers that the orders of arrests have come from 10, Janpath. I know he was not telling the truth. I know you stand for justice and will never do a cheap thing like this.

I pray for a brief appointment with you for my wife and me in the presence of Mr. Vivek Tankha, my friend and advocate to apprise you with full facts of the case and malafide activities of Mr. K. K. Paul. I am sure that you will ensure justice as you did in Kargil episode.

With all my regards

Alok Tomar
Cell Number : 9871698805

(Supriya & Alok)
-----------------------------------------------------

About Mr. Alok Tomar

ALOK TOMAR
D-598 A Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi--110019
phone--51601123/51601423/9811162227

POLITICAL EDITOR S1 SATTELITE TV NEWS CHANNEL
Just before this was editing, the Hindi news service -- Dateline India and managing it's website.

Started the career in Gwalior from Swadesh, a daily, founded by Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee and blessed by Late Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia.Worked in UNIVARTA in New Delhi, on it's desk and contributed more then 100 exclusive news stories in 11 months.

Joined JANSATTA in 1983, got seven promotions in six years and left it in 1993 as special correspondent.

Worked for Rediff.com on net as its political reporter in Delhi.Worked in Pioneer, daily and it's Hindi weekly.

Writing a weekly column in many prestigious newspapers, including Dainik Bhaskar, where I was a consultant too.

TELEVISION EXPERIENCE
----------------------
Reported Charar E Sharief seize by Mast Gul, for Zee News in 1991· Scripted election programes for Zee news in 1991 and1998.

Hired by AAJ Tak

TV Today as consultant in 2000, for it's channel launch.· Scripted and directed " Hamre PM JI"--an interview based election programe for Zee TV.

Wrote more then 100 episodes for HOME TV.

Designed, adapted and scripted Star Plus programe--KBC·

Wrote serial "Khiladi" for Zee TV·

Wrote Serial " Agnipath" for Doordarshan Metro.

Adapted "Yes Minister" for NDTV to be telecasted on Star Plus as Ji Mantri Ji. The Script was later translated in to English and Published by Penguin India.

Presently an Media Expert member of the governing body of University Grants Commission, for guiding it's educational TV networks and net casting.

BOOKS
------
Five books on journalism related subjects published. One of these--Ek Hara Bhara Akaal was commissioned by OXFAM and translated in many languages.

PERSONAL

Born in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh on December, 27, 1960.

Graduated in Science and Did masters in Hindi Literature from Gwalior University, with Highest marks.

Posted by: Alok Tomar at April 4, 2006 11:23 PM

Wow,
the ferengei of the 21st century.

Posted by: daveconcerned at April 5, 2006 5:55 PM