Pubdate: Mon, 04 Jan 2010 Source: China Daily (China) Copyright: 2010 China Daily Contact: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4379 Author: S.R.H. Hashmi BROWN, CLEAN UP YOUR OWN HOUSE According to press reports, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was furious over the death sentence given by Chinese courts to Akmal Shaikh, a British national who was arrested with 4 kg of heroin in his possession. A few countries grant death sentence for drug offences. The execution of Shaikh is in accordance with Chinese law so there is absolutely no need for Brown to raise too much fuss over it. I have seen what drugs can do to people, to families and to communities and I strongly feel that the drug trade is one offence that should carry a mandatory death sentence. If Gordon Brown had to express outrage at all, he should have done so over the criminal conduct of the former British government led by Tony Blair, which launched an illegal, unjust and brutal attack on Iraq that resulted in the death, wounding and displacement of a few million innocent Iraqis. Far from condemning the war, he did his best to shield the culprit. And now Gordon Brown's own government is part of a criminal gang that is going around killing a lot of innocent Afghan men, women and children through indiscriminate bombardment. Instead of criticizing China, Gordon Brown better put his own house in order. S.R.H. Hashmi Karachi, Pakistan - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr