posted 05/10/07
Here in Washington, all this week Blackwater, the private militia of Condi Rice, the US Secretary of State was the center of attention by the media, the headline news and in Congress.
Mr. Prince the very young and very rich and very powerfully connected Republican was on Capital Hill defending his company’s cold blooded murder of Iraqis and to the great surprise of many in the media especially Fox News and other Republicans and NeoCons. There was nothing wrong with the murder and killing of innocent Iraqis as long as it saves our very VIPs in Iraq. The hell with the Iraqis, who gives a damn about them any more, certainly not George Bush and Dick Cheney who went to war to save them only to kill them later and destroy the country at a very expensive price.
Blackwater, the mercenary army of the US State Department is a private militia totally funded by US tax payers and managed by the US State Department, and unlike our uniformed soldiers who have to follow the rules and subject to military discipline and the rule of law, Blackwater misfits are immune from any prosecution for any wrong doing. That is the way privatization of war efforts under Republican leadership works.
While poor US soldiers are held accountable for every wrong doings, of course and as we know, most if not all die hard Republicans and supporters of the war are COWARDS and draft dodgers and drug addicts, they chose to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to a company like Blackwater to do the job that US soldiers will be court-martialed if they commit such a crime. Of course, the slogans of these coward Republicans is supporting the troops.
Blackwater went from a company with $3 millions in contract to a company with over $300 millions in contract in couple of years and now approaching a billion. Of course all without bids and free and open competition keeping up with the Republican theme of free economy, of course as long as the recipients of the tax dollars are Republican businessmen and big time donors to Republican Party. To Republicans cheating the government is a duty, in fact an honor and part of the Republican patriotism. We may need to add to that the new standard of Republican Patriotism is looking for male to male sex in public toilets. Do not be surprised if the next time you are at an airport to see three types of toilets; men, women and Republicans.
The US State Department put up a hell of a defense in Congress, giving Blackwater all kind of excuses for killing innocent civilians and of course that was expected since Blackwater is the private army of the US State Department. Under this Republican Administration every government agency will have its own private army. A drunken Blackwater soldier killed the private guard of an Iraqi high ranking officials and the only thing that happened to him, is that he as whisked out of the country making sure he gets away with murder.
Finally after hundreds if not thousands of innocent Iraqis have been killed by the private militia of the US Department of State, Congress passed a legislation that subjects these thugs to court jurisdiction. Will see if George Bush will veto such laws upholding the Republican article of faith “though shall kill”.
Blackwater thugs and misfits must have thought of themselves as part of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie production where heroes get away with murder. Perhaps they thought of themselves as French Foreign Legion. Of course with a big difference.
This Republican Administration will no doubt is the worst American administration in the last couple of hundred of years. Full of failures, lies and certainly have nothing to do with any of the ideals and dreams that made America the great country it is. This Republican Administration not only sanctions cold blooded murder of Iraqis but also justifies and carried out brutal and violent interrogations of suspects, contrary to what this country stand for. It is also an administration that sanctions and promote the fleecing of the US Treasury by its crooked friends and associates. And given its history of draft dodging and deferments no doubt an administration of cowards and crooks, not to mentioned incompetent stupid ideologue. Not to mention a Republican Party where its family values, private and public morality are played out at public toilets.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
For the last week or so, I have been watching with much interest on PBS Ken Burns’s documentary titled the “War”. Perhaps one of his best that can be
posted 07/10/07
For the last week or so, I have been watching with much interest on PBS Ken Burns’s documentary titled the “War”. Perhaps one of his best that can be added to his other master piece the “Civil War”.
Unlike what one would expect from a documentary with this title, the “War” is more of a human journey of people rather than a cold review of historical facts that are deprived of any sense of human drama.
Ken Burns succeeded in giving his documentary on the war that very human touch rarely found in similar documentaries. He succeeded in having living witnesses talks of the war past and present. While the entire documentary is mesmerizing and one is forced to sit and watch there were several events of the war that I thought were so moving and perhaps it brought out what is best in humanity and also what is worst.
Unlike Lyndon Johnson’s Vietnam War and George Bush’s Iraq War where the two presidents, one a Democrat and the other a Republican both have something in common. Johnson and Bush both lied to the nation and lied to the Congress to get authorization to go to wars concocted by their national security advisors that cost the nations tens of thousands of dead, hundreds of thousands of wounded not to mentions hundreds of billions of dollars wasted because our Congress and as usual failed to exercise its rights as an equal branch of government and failed to protect our national interest and the people interest. The Korean War was another make believe.
World War II was for sure the right war and for the right reasons. The US did not initiate war but has to respond to attacks on our soil as is the case with Pearl Harbor and we went to war against Nazi Germany because Hitler threatened with his killing machine and his National Socialism ideology the very fabric of societies in Europe.
Four things in the documentary that moved me the most. The first was the story of our Black citizens who were called to war and to fight for freedom and democracy overseas when they did not have that for themselves in their own country.
The second was the very moving story of Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii and his war experience in Italy where he kept fighting while losing his arm. His courage war efforts earned him some forty years later with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation highest honor. While our Black troops were segregated due to their color, their donated blood, no doubt the same color red was not segregated and contributed to saving the life of Senator Inouye.
The third was of course the tragic and so un-American experience of relocation and concentration camps for Japanese Americans and how our government, even our Supreme Court was able to justify and order all Japanese American to relocations camps. That episode is for sure a dark side of American history; we hope will never happen again. Fear and racism like now where the only reason to intern our Japanese American citizens. With the present atmosphere in this country may be it will be the turn of Muslims and Arabs to be moved to relocation and concentration camps.
The fourth was the horrific scenes of Nazi concentration camps where over 6 million Jews perished simply because they were Jews. I have seen these pictures before, but one could not help but wonder how this can happen, and it did happen. Of course the German and the Austrian people denied they knew of these concentration camps and denied the gas ovens that turned human flesh to ashes. How can these people deny this mass murder when it was taking place in so many places? Hitler was able to kill and murder, in addition to the 6 million Jews, 2 million Poles, over 4 million Russians and killed several hundred thousands of Gypsies, homosexuals and mentally and physically retarded people. Hitler did not do it alone. He has an entire army of people to do it.
World War II where Americans young and old, rich and poor, men and women all joined together to liberate Europe and Asia. This is perhaps the proudest moments in American history and our commitments to liberty and democracies around the world. Too bad, Lyndon Johnson and George Bush did not learn any thing from this war and waged their own ideological war for nothing more than their own selfish agenda and their own selfish and pity ego. When our presidents call on us to fight a war, we want these wars to be our wars not their own individual wars where we as citizens have to pay the price. World War II no doubt was the people war and not the president’s war. Ken Burns’s story of the War continues.
For the last week or so, I have been watching with much interest on PBS Ken Burns’s documentary titled the “War”. Perhaps one of his best that can be added to his other master piece the “Civil War”.
Unlike what one would expect from a documentary with this title, the “War” is more of a human journey of people rather than a cold review of historical facts that are deprived of any sense of human drama.
Ken Burns succeeded in giving his documentary on the war that very human touch rarely found in similar documentaries. He succeeded in having living witnesses talks of the war past and present. While the entire documentary is mesmerizing and one is forced to sit and watch there were several events of the war that I thought were so moving and perhaps it brought out what is best in humanity and also what is worst.
Unlike Lyndon Johnson’s Vietnam War and George Bush’s Iraq War where the two presidents, one a Democrat and the other a Republican both have something in common. Johnson and Bush both lied to the nation and lied to the Congress to get authorization to go to wars concocted by their national security advisors that cost the nations tens of thousands of dead, hundreds of thousands of wounded not to mentions hundreds of billions of dollars wasted because our Congress and as usual failed to exercise its rights as an equal branch of government and failed to protect our national interest and the people interest. The Korean War was another make believe.
World War II was for sure the right war and for the right reasons. The US did not initiate war but has to respond to attacks on our soil as is the case with Pearl Harbor and we went to war against Nazi Germany because Hitler threatened with his killing machine and his National Socialism ideology the very fabric of societies in Europe.
Four things in the documentary that moved me the most. The first was the story of our Black citizens who were called to war and to fight for freedom and democracy overseas when they did not have that for themselves in their own country.
The second was the very moving story of Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii and his war experience in Italy where he kept fighting while losing his arm. His courage war efforts earned him some forty years later with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation highest honor. While our Black troops were segregated due to their color, their donated blood, no doubt the same color red was not segregated and contributed to saving the life of Senator Inouye.
The third was of course the tragic and so un-American experience of relocation and concentration camps for Japanese Americans and how our government, even our Supreme Court was able to justify and order all Japanese American to relocations camps. That episode is for sure a dark side of American history; we hope will never happen again. Fear and racism like now where the only reason to intern our Japanese American citizens. With the present atmosphere in this country may be it will be the turn of Muslims and Arabs to be moved to relocation and concentration camps.
The fourth was the horrific scenes of Nazi concentration camps where over 6 million Jews perished simply because they were Jews. I have seen these pictures before, but one could not help but wonder how this can happen, and it did happen. Of course the German and the Austrian people denied they knew of these concentration camps and denied the gas ovens that turned human flesh to ashes. How can these people deny this mass murder when it was taking place in so many places? Hitler was able to kill and murder, in addition to the 6 million Jews, 2 million Poles, over 4 million Russians and killed several hundred thousands of Gypsies, homosexuals and mentally and physically retarded people. Hitler did not do it alone. He has an entire army of people to do it.
World War II where Americans young and old, rich and poor, men and women all joined together to liberate Europe and Asia. This is perhaps the proudest moments in American history and our commitments to liberty and democracies around the world. Too bad, Lyndon Johnson and George Bush did not learn any thing from this war and waged their own ideological war for nothing more than their own selfish agenda and their own selfish and pity ego. When our presidents call on us to fight a war, we want these wars to be our wars not their own individual wars where we as citizens have to pay the price. World War II no doubt was the people war and not the president’s war. Ken Burns’s story of the War continues.
Diaspora Palestinians Should Have their Own Representatives at the Peace Conference.
posted 10/10/07
Though preparations are underway in Annapolis, Maryland for the hosting of a Middle-East peace conference, the one called for by President George Bush, it is very unlikely that this conference will take place and if it does, the pressure is building up on the Ramallah leadership (but not the Palestinian leadership) to give up in advance many of its previously announce positions.
Secret talks are already underway between the Ramallah leadership and the Israelis and the Palestinians have already retreated from demanding a set of pronounced goals and objectives for the conference to agreeing to a set of principals that are not binding on Israel. The Ramallah leadership has appointed the brilliant negotiator Ahmed Qurai to lead the negotiation, the same man who is responsible for the disaster that is Oslo. So much so for having the best and the brightest to lead the negotiations.
The word is out that even Mahmoud Abbas the head of the Palestinian Authority confirming to his best friend Uhud Elmer that when he speaks of the Palestinian refugee’s “Right of Return” he (Abbas) is only speaking of their rights to return to the areas of the West Bank and Gaza but not to Israel of 48.
Israel with the support of the US, its partner in the occupation, having succeeded in getting the trio ( Arafat, Abbas and Qurai) to recognize Israel, without ever defining the borders of the state is now pushing for a recognition of the “Jewishness” of the State, making sure that not only it denies the right of Palestinians refugees to the possibility of return or admitting the responsibility for their exiles and expulsion, is now putting at grave risk the more than 1.4 million Palestinians who continue to reside in Israel after the 1948 war. From experience and giving the level of intellectual and legal sophistications of Ahmed Qurai, most likely he will agree to this provision just like he agreed to the continued expansion of the settlements and confiscations of Palestinian land and the continued building of the Apartheid Wall, making sure he gets a piece of the business action from Israel in return.
Dr. Salman Abu-Sitta of Al-Awda in London with doubt a great scholar and nationalist published an open letter few days ago in Al-Quds Al-Arabi, addressed to Mahmoud Abbas as both the president of the PA and chairman of the PLO warning him of the pitfalls of agreeing to such recognition. However and with all due respect the call of Dr. Abu-Sitta to reform the PLO to represent all Palestinians is little too late. The conference is only few weeks ago and there is no way Abbas-Qurai will agree to that let alone manage to that within the short time. The PLO leadership failed to reform over the last 30 years it is unlikely they will do it now.
As it stand, the Ramallah leadership, though elected by the people under Israeli Occupation is going to the conference with the claim it represent all 10 million Palestinians. Of course those in Gaza Hamastan, Ramallah Fatahland, the more than 6 million Diasporaland.
The PLO as corrupt and inept as it was even its heydays never did represent all of the Palestinian people. The Palestine National Congress was nothing more than a “yes” organization, bought and sold and traded by Arafat and his henchmen. The PNC never had the backbone or the courage to ever have a say so and sat on its behind while the Palestinian Troika of Arafat, Abbas, and Quarie committed one blunder after another. With all due respect to Dr. Abu-Sitta, the PLO is dead and died long time ago.
As a matter of urgency, I call on all of the Palestinians in the Diaspora especially those organizations committed to the right of return to convene in Washington, DC under the banner of the Palestine Agency and hold a press conference and demand a seat at the table equal to that offered by George Bush and Israel the guys from Ramallah.
It is true and no one can deny it, that the guys from Ramallah do represent the Palestinians under Occupation, having been elected in fair and open elections, However this Ramallah leadership was never elected by the Palestinians of the Diaspora and in NO way represent the Palestinians in the Diaspora, and have NO rights whatsoever to represent them and compromise their rights of return and their rights to reclaim their lost properties. Abbas can waive his rights in Safad but he has no right to waive the rights of people in Haifa, or Acca or Yafa.
Mahmoud Abbas, Ahmed Qurai and Yasser Abed-Rabou are not the Palestinian people of the Diaspora and were never elected by any one. They are the leftover of a defunct organization that lost its legitimacy long, long time ago.
A press conference should coincide with the convening of the peace conference where representatives of the Palestinians from the Diaspora from around the world make it clear to the Ramallah leadership, the Tel-Aviv leadership, certainly to Washington that only the representative of the Diaspora are the one who can make the decisions for the Palestinians of the Diaspora. Even if it means re-convening the peace conferences at a later date. Yes, Israel has to deal with the Palestinians of the Diaspora and not with guys from Ramallah or for that matter the guys in Damascus and their proxies in Gaza making such decisions. I am sure the Palestinians of the Diaspora want peace, but not the kind of peace that Abbas and Quari are out to achieve. Time for the Palestinians of the Diaspora to put their act together separate and independent of the PLO of the Palestinian Troika.
Though preparations are underway in Annapolis, Maryland for the hosting of a Middle-East peace conference, the one called for by President George Bush, it is very unlikely that this conference will take place and if it does, the pressure is building up on the Ramallah leadership (but not the Palestinian leadership) to give up in advance many of its previously announce positions.
Secret talks are already underway between the Ramallah leadership and the Israelis and the Palestinians have already retreated from demanding a set of pronounced goals and objectives for the conference to agreeing to a set of principals that are not binding on Israel. The Ramallah leadership has appointed the brilliant negotiator Ahmed Qurai to lead the negotiation, the same man who is responsible for the disaster that is Oslo. So much so for having the best and the brightest to lead the negotiations.
The word is out that even Mahmoud Abbas the head of the Palestinian Authority confirming to his best friend Uhud Elmer that when he speaks of the Palestinian refugee’s “Right of Return” he (Abbas) is only speaking of their rights to return to the areas of the West Bank and Gaza but not to Israel of 48.
Israel with the support of the US, its partner in the occupation, having succeeded in getting the trio ( Arafat, Abbas and Qurai) to recognize Israel, without ever defining the borders of the state is now pushing for a recognition of the “Jewishness” of the State, making sure that not only it denies the right of Palestinians refugees to the possibility of return or admitting the responsibility for their exiles and expulsion, is now putting at grave risk the more than 1.4 million Palestinians who continue to reside in Israel after the 1948 war. From experience and giving the level of intellectual and legal sophistications of Ahmed Qurai, most likely he will agree to this provision just like he agreed to the continued expansion of the settlements and confiscations of Palestinian land and the continued building of the Apartheid Wall, making sure he gets a piece of the business action from Israel in return.
Dr. Salman Abu-Sitta of Al-Awda in London with doubt a great scholar and nationalist published an open letter few days ago in Al-Quds Al-Arabi, addressed to Mahmoud Abbas as both the president of the PA and chairman of the PLO warning him of the pitfalls of agreeing to such recognition. However and with all due respect the call of Dr. Abu-Sitta to reform the PLO to represent all Palestinians is little too late. The conference is only few weeks ago and there is no way Abbas-Qurai will agree to that let alone manage to that within the short time. The PLO leadership failed to reform over the last 30 years it is unlikely they will do it now.
As it stand, the Ramallah leadership, though elected by the people under Israeli Occupation is going to the conference with the claim it represent all 10 million Palestinians. Of course those in Gaza Hamastan, Ramallah Fatahland, the more than 6 million Diasporaland.
The PLO as corrupt and inept as it was even its heydays never did represent all of the Palestinian people. The Palestine National Congress was nothing more than a “yes” organization, bought and sold and traded by Arafat and his henchmen. The PNC never had the backbone or the courage to ever have a say so and sat on its behind while the Palestinian Troika of Arafat, Abbas, and Quarie committed one blunder after another. With all due respect to Dr. Abu-Sitta, the PLO is dead and died long time ago.
As a matter of urgency, I call on all of the Palestinians in the Diaspora especially those organizations committed to the right of return to convene in Washington, DC under the banner of the Palestine Agency and hold a press conference and demand a seat at the table equal to that offered by George Bush and Israel the guys from Ramallah.
It is true and no one can deny it, that the guys from Ramallah do represent the Palestinians under Occupation, having been elected in fair and open elections, However this Ramallah leadership was never elected by the Palestinians of the Diaspora and in NO way represent the Palestinians in the Diaspora, and have NO rights whatsoever to represent them and compromise their rights of return and their rights to reclaim their lost properties. Abbas can waive his rights in Safad but he has no right to waive the rights of people in Haifa, or Acca or Yafa.
Mahmoud Abbas, Ahmed Qurai and Yasser Abed-Rabou are not the Palestinian people of the Diaspora and were never elected by any one. They are the leftover of a defunct organization that lost its legitimacy long, long time ago.
A press conference should coincide with the convening of the peace conference where representatives of the Palestinians from the Diaspora from around the world make it clear to the Ramallah leadership, the Tel-Aviv leadership, certainly to Washington that only the representative of the Diaspora are the one who can make the decisions for the Palestinians of the Diaspora. Even if it means re-convening the peace conferences at a later date. Yes, Israel has to deal with the Palestinians of the Diaspora and not with guys from Ramallah or for that matter the guys in Damascus and their proxies in Gaza making such decisions. I am sure the Palestinians of the Diaspora want peace, but not the kind of peace that Abbas and Quari are out to achieve. Time for the Palestinians of the Diaspora to put their act together separate and independent of the PLO of the Palestinian Troika.
A Succesful Peace Conference May be the Price for Joint Israel-US Attack on Iran.
18/10/07
I was down in Tampa, Florida visiting my brothers and sister for the Eid and while there I always look forward to having deep and provocative discussions with my nephew Jamal, who is a reporter/journalist with a major and national newspaper.
Jamal, is well read with a house full of books, something you do not see in homes of young people. But then Jamal is too exceptional He is an avid reader in history, and he is well read and well versed in conservative ideology and thoughts and of course he and I share a very critical view of both the Bush administration and Arab politics and governments, especially Palestinian politics.
As a rule I do not patronize Starbucks Coffee due to its supports of Israeli settlers and settlement policies and theft of Palestinian properties, I agreed to go with Jamal to his favorite Starbucks for a late evening orange juice.
For over 2 hours we discussed US politics and how the Democrats are having difficulties competing with the Republicans since the Democrats do not have an ideology driven constituency. This is one area that Democrats have to work on in order to win elections and to win a solid electoral base other than the coalition it has to build and rebuild every election. The Republican Party with strong support from the religious rights and Zionist organization worked very hard over the last 30 years or more shaping a constituency shaped by dangerous ideology. The result of which we see in George Bush war on Iraq and his war on civil liberties here in the US.
Both of us, I as an immigrant and Jamal as first generation American we both shared our fear that this administration and the atmosphere of fear that drives this nation does create an immediate danger for us as Arab-Americans. Of course so far, the administration did not push for drastic measures such as interning of Arabs and Muslims in prison camps, however the possibilities are out there.
Of course the Arab-Israeli conflict was among the many topics of discussions since Condi Rice was in the Middle East promoting George Bush conference sometimes in later this year.
The problem with this conference is that Israel so far is not clear on its intentions on major issues such as ending the Occupation, Jerusalem, Settlements and of course the 48 refugees. It is very unlikely that the conference will take place. Already the World Zionist Organization is working to undermine the conference placing full page ads in the NYT calling Fatah a terrorist organization ( even though Fatah is for all practical purposes a security contractor for Israel just like Blackwater is a security contractor for the US) with a Ten Commandments that calls for the destruction of Israel. As if Zionist Jews themselves have any use or respect for their Ten Commandants.
Over the last 40 years of so, since the 67 Occupation, both Israel and Arafat worked very hard to make sure there is no clean competent leadership that can conclude peace with Israel.
Israel made sure over the years it assassinate, exile, and destroy any and all emerging leadership that has some credibility within the Palestinian community. Israel did all to make sure that the Palestinian do not have an alternative leadership to Arafat and his PLO. Again murdering all credible local and exile leadership. It killed all possibilities for an emerging leadership that can sit with Israel and negotiate peace. By all means one could not count Dahlan and Rajoub as leaders even though they served jail sentences in Israel. Israel like other colonial powers before, use jails to give legitimacy to certain prisoners who then go out and join the exiled leadership that eventually negotiate with colonial powers.
Arafat on the other hand, also made sure during his tenure as leader of the PLO that there are no competent, qualified leaders whether from areas occupied by Israel or within the exiled communities who can challenge his leadership. Arafat did exactly what Israel wanted and planned. Both shared in the goal of having no alternative leadership to the PLO leadership when it comes to negotiating with Israel.
Many smart, clean, competent, committed Palestinians died in exiles at the hands of both Israel and Arafat. Both perhaps working together perhaps independent of each other making sure only Arafat team is the one that can conclude any agreement with Israel Oslo was the first one such agreement and unless the Palestinians give up every thing there will be no second agreement.
Arafat having delivered to Israel what it wanted all along, formal recognition of Israel as a state and formal recognition of its occupation and expanding settlements, became of no use to Israel and Israel working with some of his closest aids killed him after jailing him for years creating a hero out of him instead of the total failure he was.
Many Palestinians died as a result of Arafat policy of making sure there is no alternative to him and his buddies. PLO assassination teams were dispatched to many parts of the world making sure that Arafat was the only one who can deliver peace to Israel and deliver it at Israel’s terms. It is very unlikely that the present Palestinian leadership will do any better than Arafat did. Israel never respects and honors those who betray their own people.
Too bad Israel and Arafat never allowed the emergence of a leadership that has the credibility and commitments to the Palestinian people that is competent, honest and smart. The Palestinian people are victims of Israel, Arafat and the PLO.
As for George Bush peace conference it is very unlikely it will take place. Israel and its allies here in the US especially within George Bush own administration, within the US Congress and within the media will make sure it fails. Supporting the peace conference that will end the Israeli Occupation does not fit with the loyalty and commitments to Israel of those within the power elites of Washington.
But then who knows, perhaps a successful peace conference will be the price that the Palestinians, the Arabs and Muslims will pay for a joint Israel-US attack on Iran.
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I was down in Tampa, Florida visiting my brothers and sister for the Eid and while there I always look forward to having deep and provocative discussions with my nephew Jamal, who is a reporter/journalist with a major and national newspaper.
Jamal, is well read with a house full of books, something you do not see in homes of young people. But then Jamal is too exceptional He is an avid reader in history, and he is well read and well versed in conservative ideology and thoughts and of course he and I share a very critical view of both the Bush administration and Arab politics and governments, especially Palestinian politics.
As a rule I do not patronize Starbucks Coffee due to its supports of Israeli settlers and settlement policies and theft of Palestinian properties, I agreed to go with Jamal to his favorite Starbucks for a late evening orange juice.
For over 2 hours we discussed US politics and how the Democrats are having difficulties competing with the Republicans since the Democrats do not have an ideology driven constituency. This is one area that Democrats have to work on in order to win elections and to win a solid electoral base other than the coalition it has to build and rebuild every election. The Republican Party with strong support from the religious rights and Zionist organization worked very hard over the last 30 years or more shaping a constituency shaped by dangerous ideology. The result of which we see in George Bush war on Iraq and his war on civil liberties here in the US.
Both of us, I as an immigrant and Jamal as first generation American we both shared our fear that this administration and the atmosphere of fear that drives this nation does create an immediate danger for us as Arab-Americans. Of course so far, the administration did not push for drastic measures such as interning of Arabs and Muslims in prison camps, however the possibilities are out there.
Of course the Arab-Israeli conflict was among the many topics of discussions since Condi Rice was in the Middle East promoting George Bush conference sometimes in later this year.
The problem with this conference is that Israel so far is not clear on its intentions on major issues such as ending the Occupation, Jerusalem, Settlements and of course the 48 refugees. It is very unlikely that the conference will take place. Already the World Zionist Organization is working to undermine the conference placing full page ads in the NYT calling Fatah a terrorist organization ( even though Fatah is for all practical purposes a security contractor for Israel just like Blackwater is a security contractor for the US) with a Ten Commandments that calls for the destruction of Israel. As if Zionist Jews themselves have any use or respect for their Ten Commandants.
Over the last 40 years of so, since the 67 Occupation, both Israel and Arafat worked very hard to make sure there is no clean competent leadership that can conclude peace with Israel.
Israel made sure over the years it assassinate, exile, and destroy any and all emerging leadership that has some credibility within the Palestinian community. Israel did all to make sure that the Palestinian do not have an alternative leadership to Arafat and his PLO. Again murdering all credible local and exile leadership. It killed all possibilities for an emerging leadership that can sit with Israel and negotiate peace. By all means one could not count Dahlan and Rajoub as leaders even though they served jail sentences in Israel. Israel like other colonial powers before, use jails to give legitimacy to certain prisoners who then go out and join the exiled leadership that eventually negotiate with colonial powers.
Arafat on the other hand, also made sure during his tenure as leader of the PLO that there are no competent, qualified leaders whether from areas occupied by Israel or within the exiled communities who can challenge his leadership. Arafat did exactly what Israel wanted and planned. Both shared in the goal of having no alternative leadership to the PLO leadership when it comes to negotiating with Israel.
Many smart, clean, competent, committed Palestinians died in exiles at the hands of both Israel and Arafat. Both perhaps working together perhaps independent of each other making sure only Arafat team is the one that can conclude any agreement with Israel Oslo was the first one such agreement and unless the Palestinians give up every thing there will be no second agreement.
Arafat having delivered to Israel what it wanted all along, formal recognition of Israel as a state and formal recognition of its occupation and expanding settlements, became of no use to Israel and Israel working with some of his closest aids killed him after jailing him for years creating a hero out of him instead of the total failure he was.
Many Palestinians died as a result of Arafat policy of making sure there is no alternative to him and his buddies. PLO assassination teams were dispatched to many parts of the world making sure that Arafat was the only one who can deliver peace to Israel and deliver it at Israel’s terms. It is very unlikely that the present Palestinian leadership will do any better than Arafat did. Israel never respects and honors those who betray their own people.
Too bad Israel and Arafat never allowed the emergence of a leadership that has the credibility and commitments to the Palestinian people that is competent, honest and smart. The Palestinian people are victims of Israel, Arafat and the PLO.
As for George Bush peace conference it is very unlikely it will take place. Israel and its allies here in the US especially within George Bush own administration, within the US Congress and within the media will make sure it fails. Supporting the peace conference that will end the Israeli Occupation does not fit with the loyalty and commitments to Israel of those within the power elites of Washington.
But then who knows, perhaps a successful peace conference will be the price that the Palestinians, the Arabs and Muslims will pay for a joint Israel-US attack on Iran.
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Bigotry and Racism Run Deep in the Republican Party of Virginia.
posted 22/10/07
It seems that every time the Republicans have nothing to offer to the people, they come up with the already failed “terrorism agenda”. Every Republican from Rudolph the “Reindeer” Giuliani to two unknown and obscure candidates for delegates in Virginia, Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah and Clay Athey Jr. of Warren are out to get the votes by using “terrorism” as a platform for winning elections, rather than offering voters better housing, better schools, better transportation and of course health care.
Giuliani who was the mayor of New York City when Osama Bin Laden terrorist struck the World Trade Center is using the shining, heroic moment of the men and women of the police and fire department and trading their names and bloods to his advantage in winning the Republican nomination. Nothing that Giuliani did as mayor made a difference. He was nothing more than a by-stander as the men and women of New York Police and Fire Department did what they know best. Whether it was an elephant or donkey that was the mayor it would not have made much difference.
Chicken Hawks Republicans always call on others to fight and die for the country, always try to show patriotism while they hide in their rat holes, behind shining desks and as they rob and fleece the nation and the case of the coward dope head Rush Lemphow hiding behind microphone making tens of millions of dollars insulting the intelligence of the nation.
In Virginian, these two obscured delegates who did not achieve much for their constituency in Virginia, as reported in Sunday’s edition of the Washington Post, came out with strong and inflammatory language against the Democratic Governor of Virginian, Timothy Kaine accusing him to patronizing Muslim groups and organizations that sponsor terrorism, accusing the Muslim American Society and Dar Al-Hijra Mosque in Fall Church of “maintaining radical beliefs”.
Also in today’s “Outlook” section of the Washington Post, it published an open letter titled” Why I Resigned” by Dr. Esam Omeish who resigned couple of weeks from an appointed commission that was looking at the issue of immigration. Rather than allows the Republican bigots of Virginia to destroy whatever good that may comes out of the commission, Dr. Omeish a first rate surgeon and a Muslim activists was accused of supporting Jihad when his accuser posted on YouTube a thirty second footage where the word “Jihad” was mentioned. Of course supporters of Israel went bezerk and as always become mentally deranged and rabid when a Muslim uses the word “Jihad”.
No doubt Republicans of Virginia are in desperate situation. Having lost the US senatorial race and the governor race and now facing a tough challenge in local and state wide elections are resorting to defamation and reckless statements about Arabs, Muslims and of course trying so desperate to tie Muslims in Virginia to terrorism.
Republicans of Virginian have not done the Commonwealth much good when they controlled the governor office and controlled the two US Senate seats. I do not recall a single legislation that this not so brilliant party put forward to the betterment of the state.
The Car Tax which former governor Gillmore won the election on was nothing but a big fraud and a big lie that did not materialize in any saving to the citizens other than winning him the election. The other not so brilliant idea is the stiff “over five hundred dollars” for traffic violation as a way to fight illegal immigrations. Rather than concentrating on the issue of education, transportation, job creations, health services, the Republican Party has nothing to offer the citizens except fear and bigotry and the much opportunities to Republican consultants and so called “experts” on terrorism to fleece the state and the nation.
We need to keep in mind; it is the same Republican Party that chose a liar and a felon as its candidate for the US Senate. Oliver North who made his reputation not in the battle field but in lies and disgracing the Marine uniform won the party nomination because the state Republican Party could not find one qualified candidate other than a liar and a convicted felon to represent the party in the US Senate. Of course Oliver North with more than twenty five million dollars raised by nationwide from conservatives lost the election badly, because we the people of Virginian simply did not want a liar and a felon to be our voice in the US Senate.
Ah, one last thing, about these rabid Republicans. Michael A. Ledeen, a “scholar” at the American Enterprise Institute, a NeoCon/Zionist organization writing in this weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal declaring “Victory is Within Reach in Iraq” forgetting that George Bush declared victory in Iraq few years ago. Of course these Zionist NeoCons are now working very hard to get the US into a fight with Iran as a way to protect and safe guard Israel. It is seems this country is destined by these die hard Zionist to pay blood and money to safe and protect the Jewish State. Before you know it we might end up declaring war on China because its existence might be perceived as a strategic threat to Israel. Mr. Ledeen like other Zionist Jews in the US is lobbying so hard for the US to declare war on Iran. As if their war on Iraq with its very expensive costs in American and Iraqi blood is not enough.
It seems that bigotry, racism, hate and lies run deep in the blood of Republicans that they may need some mental and physical treatments, not to mention a possible blood transfusion. Republicans are losers because they made this country a loser and because they fleeced this country with their greed and incompetence.
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It seems that every time the Republicans have nothing to offer to the people, they come up with the already failed “terrorism agenda”. Every Republican from Rudolph the “Reindeer” Giuliani to two unknown and obscure candidates for delegates in Virginia, Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah and Clay Athey Jr. of Warren are out to get the votes by using “terrorism” as a platform for winning elections, rather than offering voters better housing, better schools, better transportation and of course health care.
Giuliani who was the mayor of New York City when Osama Bin Laden terrorist struck the World Trade Center is using the shining, heroic moment of the men and women of the police and fire department and trading their names and bloods to his advantage in winning the Republican nomination. Nothing that Giuliani did as mayor made a difference. He was nothing more than a by-stander as the men and women of New York Police and Fire Department did what they know best. Whether it was an elephant or donkey that was the mayor it would not have made much difference.
Chicken Hawks Republicans always call on others to fight and die for the country, always try to show patriotism while they hide in their rat holes, behind shining desks and as they rob and fleece the nation and the case of the coward dope head Rush Lemphow hiding behind microphone making tens of millions of dollars insulting the intelligence of the nation.
In Virginian, these two obscured delegates who did not achieve much for their constituency in Virginia, as reported in Sunday’s edition of the Washington Post, came out with strong and inflammatory language against the Democratic Governor of Virginian, Timothy Kaine accusing him to patronizing Muslim groups and organizations that sponsor terrorism, accusing the Muslim American Society and Dar Al-Hijra Mosque in Fall Church of “maintaining radical beliefs”.
Also in today’s “Outlook” section of the Washington Post, it published an open letter titled” Why I Resigned” by Dr. Esam Omeish who resigned couple of weeks from an appointed commission that was looking at the issue of immigration. Rather than allows the Republican bigots of Virginia to destroy whatever good that may comes out of the commission, Dr. Omeish a first rate surgeon and a Muslim activists was accused of supporting Jihad when his accuser posted on YouTube a thirty second footage where the word “Jihad” was mentioned. Of course supporters of Israel went bezerk and as always become mentally deranged and rabid when a Muslim uses the word “Jihad”.
No doubt Republicans of Virginia are in desperate situation. Having lost the US senatorial race and the governor race and now facing a tough challenge in local and state wide elections are resorting to defamation and reckless statements about Arabs, Muslims and of course trying so desperate to tie Muslims in Virginia to terrorism.
Republicans of Virginian have not done the Commonwealth much good when they controlled the governor office and controlled the two US Senate seats. I do not recall a single legislation that this not so brilliant party put forward to the betterment of the state.
The Car Tax which former governor Gillmore won the election on was nothing but a big fraud and a big lie that did not materialize in any saving to the citizens other than winning him the election. The other not so brilliant idea is the stiff “over five hundred dollars” for traffic violation as a way to fight illegal immigrations. Rather than concentrating on the issue of education, transportation, job creations, health services, the Republican Party has nothing to offer the citizens except fear and bigotry and the much opportunities to Republican consultants and so called “experts” on terrorism to fleece the state and the nation.
We need to keep in mind; it is the same Republican Party that chose a liar and a felon as its candidate for the US Senate. Oliver North who made his reputation not in the battle field but in lies and disgracing the Marine uniform won the party nomination because the state Republican Party could not find one qualified candidate other than a liar and a convicted felon to represent the party in the US Senate. Of course Oliver North with more than twenty five million dollars raised by nationwide from conservatives lost the election badly, because we the people of Virginian simply did not want a liar and a felon to be our voice in the US Senate.
Ah, one last thing, about these rabid Republicans. Michael A. Ledeen, a “scholar” at the American Enterprise Institute, a NeoCon/Zionist organization writing in this weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal declaring “Victory is Within Reach in Iraq” forgetting that George Bush declared victory in Iraq few years ago. Of course these Zionist NeoCons are now working very hard to get the US into a fight with Iran as a way to protect and safe guard Israel. It is seems this country is destined by these die hard Zionist to pay blood and money to safe and protect the Jewish State. Before you know it we might end up declaring war on China because its existence might be perceived as a strategic threat to Israel. Mr. Ledeen like other Zionist Jews in the US is lobbying so hard for the US to declare war on Iran. As if their war on Iraq with its very expensive costs in American and Iraqi blood is not enough.
It seems that bigotry, racism, hate and lies run deep in the blood of Republicans that they may need some mental and physical treatments, not to mention a possible blood transfusion. Republicans are losers because they made this country a loser and because they fleeced this country with their greed and incompetence.
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Crooked American Executives Are Out to Fleece the World.
posted 05/11/07
The recent financial turmoil arising out losses in the tens of billions of dollars for those companies that decided to become predatory lender. The behavior of these corporations is no different from infectious germs that attach the immune system of the weak succeeding in the end to kill the patient.
Unlike diseases which can be fought with anti-biotic and drugs and medical facilities, the poor and the sub-prime have no where to turn to for help. Our not so great Congress especially under the Republican leadership have left consumers and citizens at the mercy of these predators whether mortgage companies, credit card companies or even lenders. Every Tom, Dick and Harry in crooked and unethical American found an alliance in members of Congress who are willing to sell their own mothers to raise money and get re-elected.
The crisis of the sub-prime mortgage is nothing new. Every few years the great brains of crooked America sit down in their corporate board room eating fancy food and traveling by private jets, and having succeeded in buying member of Congress sit down and decide who to fleece the nation again.
Over the last 20 years or so we have witnessed one financial crisis after another. First there was the crash of the stock market where the people’s fortune and life time saving went down the drain. Then came the saving and loan association where again, the saving of average citizens went down the drain in a criminal collusion between saving and loan executives and developers and the consumers and tax payers ending paying twice to save these institutions with officers getting away with tens of millions of dollars in fees and salaries, leaving the nation holding the bag.
Then came the junk bond fiasco where corporations saw their value melt down in days if not weeks while the king makers of Wall Street where making hundreds of millions of dollars in annual compensations arising out of servicing the same corporation they helped to destroy.
Of course we not mention the Internet bubble where ideas and not real products attracted billions of dollars of investors money, where the majority of investors lost and the one who made the money where the middle brokers who raised the money from investors and who gave it to the guys with the best bullshit marketing scheme.
We need not forget the telecommunications like WorldCom and the Enron’s of the nations where people saw their life saving and pension disappear over night because executives not only lied about the financial health of their companies but lied to the very people who entrusted them with managing the companies. All along the smart kids, the analyst of Wall Street where making tens of millions of dollars in annual compensation simply because they went along with the lies and appearing on television telling consumers to buy when they supposed to warn consumers of the crooks sitting behind big and fancy executives offices.
Now that American executives succeeded in fleecing the American public they are no their way by corporate jets and first class travel, on their way to the Arabian Gulf to convince wealthy executives and financial institutions to come to American and make investments. Of course I hope the Arab Gulf people will not be fooled by these sweet talking executives who succeeded in fleecing America and are on their way to fleece the world.
Beside, Arab and Gulf investors have to be weary of members of Congress and a hostile administration that are pent of freezing the funds and assets under the pre-text of fighting terrorism. The Arab investors should be leery, if the US does not start a war to make sure all the money and wealth of the Gulf disappear then the business executives will make sure they do that. Microsoft and Bechtel are of the few exceptions of good citizenship.
No doubt at one time, no one could ever match the American executives and American corporations with their very high standard of ethics and business dealings. No more. It is much safer for the Arab Gulf wealth to go to markets in the East such as Malaysia, India and China and make investment there, since there are some business ethics remaining.
Well what about investing in the Arab countries. Well one only need to see the difficulties of getting any thing going. With ministers waiting to take their unpaid shares, while local officials putting every obstacle in the way to get paid for solving the problem. The Arab countries and Arab governments need to convince investors they are in support of investment not an obstacle to it. So far, the number of governments and countries that are obstacles to investment outnumber those who created the right conditions for investment. Transparency and not much bureaucracy are solutions to inviting investment in country of course not to mention good and fair labor laws and good and skilled and not so much lazy labor and work force.
Arab governments do not share in or guarantee investor’s losses, why are they making all of the decisions as to where and when and how to manage the investments? If government bureaucrats are that smart they will not be sitting behind desks in some ministries but will be out there making things happen.
The recent financial turmoil arising out losses in the tens of billions of dollars for those companies that decided to become predatory lender. The behavior of these corporations is no different from infectious germs that attach the immune system of the weak succeeding in the end to kill the patient.
Unlike diseases which can be fought with anti-biotic and drugs and medical facilities, the poor and the sub-prime have no where to turn to for help. Our not so great Congress especially under the Republican leadership have left consumers and citizens at the mercy of these predators whether mortgage companies, credit card companies or even lenders. Every Tom, Dick and Harry in crooked and unethical American found an alliance in members of Congress who are willing to sell their own mothers to raise money and get re-elected.
The crisis of the sub-prime mortgage is nothing new. Every few years the great brains of crooked America sit down in their corporate board room eating fancy food and traveling by private jets, and having succeeded in buying member of Congress sit down and decide who to fleece the nation again.
Over the last 20 years or so we have witnessed one financial crisis after another. First there was the crash of the stock market where the people’s fortune and life time saving went down the drain. Then came the saving and loan association where again, the saving of average citizens went down the drain in a criminal collusion between saving and loan executives and developers and the consumers and tax payers ending paying twice to save these institutions with officers getting away with tens of millions of dollars in fees and salaries, leaving the nation holding the bag.
Then came the junk bond fiasco where corporations saw their value melt down in days if not weeks while the king makers of Wall Street where making hundreds of millions of dollars in annual compensations arising out of servicing the same corporation they helped to destroy.
Of course we not mention the Internet bubble where ideas and not real products attracted billions of dollars of investors money, where the majority of investors lost and the one who made the money where the middle brokers who raised the money from investors and who gave it to the guys with the best bullshit marketing scheme.
We need not forget the telecommunications like WorldCom and the Enron’s of the nations where people saw their life saving and pension disappear over night because executives not only lied about the financial health of their companies but lied to the very people who entrusted them with managing the companies. All along the smart kids, the analyst of Wall Street where making tens of millions of dollars in annual compensation simply because they went along with the lies and appearing on television telling consumers to buy when they supposed to warn consumers of the crooks sitting behind big and fancy executives offices.
Now that American executives succeeded in fleecing the American public they are no their way by corporate jets and first class travel, on their way to the Arabian Gulf to convince wealthy executives and financial institutions to come to American and make investments. Of course I hope the Arab Gulf people will not be fooled by these sweet talking executives who succeeded in fleecing America and are on their way to fleece the world.
Beside, Arab and Gulf investors have to be weary of members of Congress and a hostile administration that are pent of freezing the funds and assets under the pre-text of fighting terrorism. The Arab investors should be leery, if the US does not start a war to make sure all the money and wealth of the Gulf disappear then the business executives will make sure they do that. Microsoft and Bechtel are of the few exceptions of good citizenship.
No doubt at one time, no one could ever match the American executives and American corporations with their very high standard of ethics and business dealings. No more. It is much safer for the Arab Gulf wealth to go to markets in the East such as Malaysia, India and China and make investment there, since there are some business ethics remaining.
Well what about investing in the Arab countries. Well one only need to see the difficulties of getting any thing going. With ministers waiting to take their unpaid shares, while local officials putting every obstacle in the way to get paid for solving the problem. The Arab countries and Arab governments need to convince investors they are in support of investment not an obstacle to it. So far, the number of governments and countries that are obstacles to investment outnumber those who created the right conditions for investment. Transparency and not much bureaucracy are solutions to inviting investment in country of course not to mention good and fair labor laws and good and skilled and not so much lazy labor and work force.
Arab governments do not share in or guarantee investor’s losses, why are they making all of the decisions as to where and when and how to manage the investments? If government bureaucrats are that smart they will not be sitting behind desks in some ministries but will be out there making things happen.
Poor American Executives; Their Companies lose Billions of Dollars, they take home hundreds of millions paid for by Shareholders and Consumers.
posted 06/11/07
During the last few weeks, the news of major financial groups losing tens of billions of dollars as a result of loses in what is called “sub-prime lending” all over the place and forms major headlines. Major financial groups lost billions in an effort to fleece the very poor targeting this segment of consumers with predatory lending practices.
Given the salaries and benefits of these top American executives, one would presume these executives are highly paid because they are smart businessmen who study their prospective decisions very carefully and not make decisions bound to cause big time losses. The question I have how can it happens that these big time executives make such big time mistakes? And end up getting paid tens of millions.
Every big time executive knows that American consumers are under constant attack from major financial companies such as mortgage companies, credit card companies, care financing companies, credit rating companies among others. All are dedicated to fleecing what they refer to as “sub-prime”. Those who are hardly making it, and who are on shaky financial grounds and who for the most part are having a hard time making ends meet.
American consumers are under attack by these big time bullies, with the support of our illustrious congress who gave the power and authority to the lobbyist to make laws that make it legal to go after these poor people and fleece them.
Financial institutions when making the decision to actively engage in predatory lending knew they are targeting a class of consumer who are “high risk” and they went ahead any way because they knew they can make quick bucks initially and they knew in the end, these high risk consumers will have a hard time meeting their financial commitments to lenders. Yet they went ahead and they knew they will lose in the end. However they also knew that while they (executives) can make hundreds of millions of dollars in salaries and compensation during a certain period of time, they knew their companies, companies entrusted to their care and proper management will lose in the end. Yet they went ahead any way with their attack and assault to fleece consumers.
Who would believe that in the US credit card companies charge consumers some 25-30 % in annual interests? Making it almost impossible for any one to pay in full the amount even if they end up paying for many years. Our Congress, full of crooks and full of members who sold their souls and ethics to big time corporations and lobbyists making it legally possible for American executives and corporation to fleece, rob American consumers and tax payers.
Only in America the land of the professional crooks “business executives” where consumers and shareholders end up paying for well organized and well executed reckless decisions causing companies to lose tens of billions of dollars.
Only in America, where business executives can lose tens of billions of dollars during their tenure as top managers and walk away with tens of millions if not hundreds of millions laughing all the way to the bank and laughing at board of directors who allows them to fleece the companies and fleece shareholders and consumers. Yes these executives have every reason to laugh all the way to the bank and have contempt for board members, shareholders and consumers.
I know of business executives who left lucrative salaries to go and sell cars to the very poor making sure the very poor end up paying for the car many times over. I also know of dealers who charged consumers thousands of dollars in added insurance and other benefits knowing that consumers will never make a use of such insurance.
It is not so surprising that someone like Stan O’Neal, the former head of Merrill can walk away with some $250 millions when he presided over the lose of some $ 7 Billions by Merrill.
Angelo Mozila the CEO of Countrywide can cash in some $ 130 millions in stock during a time when his company was about to declare billions of losses arising out of its practices of predatory lending and its active involvement in lending to sub-prime consumers.
Also it is not so surprising that the top executives of one of the major credit card companies can make over $250 millions in annual compensation when his company is charging poor consumer interest rates that are USUARY by all means. One has to wonder how many households have to scrap the $50 or $ 100 a month so that this Mr. Executives can make his $ 20 million monthly salary.
During the last few weeks, the news of major financial groups losing tens of billions of dollars as a result of loses in what is called “sub-prime lending” all over the place and forms major headlines. Major financial groups lost billions in an effort to fleece the very poor targeting this segment of consumers with predatory lending practices.
Given the salaries and benefits of these top American executives, one would presume these executives are highly paid because they are smart businessmen who study their prospective decisions very carefully and not make decisions bound to cause big time losses. The question I have how can it happens that these big time executives make such big time mistakes? And end up getting paid tens of millions.
Every big time executive knows that American consumers are under constant attack from major financial companies such as mortgage companies, credit card companies, care financing companies, credit rating companies among others. All are dedicated to fleecing what they refer to as “sub-prime”. Those who are hardly making it, and who are on shaky financial grounds and who for the most part are having a hard time making ends meet.
American consumers are under attack by these big time bullies, with the support of our illustrious congress who gave the power and authority to the lobbyist to make laws that make it legal to go after these poor people and fleece them.
Financial institutions when making the decision to actively engage in predatory lending knew they are targeting a class of consumer who are “high risk” and they went ahead any way because they knew they can make quick bucks initially and they knew in the end, these high risk consumers will have a hard time meeting their financial commitments to lenders. Yet they went ahead and they knew they will lose in the end. However they also knew that while they (executives) can make hundreds of millions of dollars in salaries and compensation during a certain period of time, they knew their companies, companies entrusted to their care and proper management will lose in the end. Yet they went ahead any way with their attack and assault to fleece consumers.
Who would believe that in the US credit card companies charge consumers some 25-30 % in annual interests? Making it almost impossible for any one to pay in full the amount even if they end up paying for many years. Our Congress, full of crooks and full of members who sold their souls and ethics to big time corporations and lobbyists making it legally possible for American executives and corporation to fleece, rob American consumers and tax payers.
Only in America the land of the professional crooks “business executives” where consumers and shareholders end up paying for well organized and well executed reckless decisions causing companies to lose tens of billions of dollars.
Only in America, where business executives can lose tens of billions of dollars during their tenure as top managers and walk away with tens of millions if not hundreds of millions laughing all the way to the bank and laughing at board of directors who allows them to fleece the companies and fleece shareholders and consumers. Yes these executives have every reason to laugh all the way to the bank and have contempt for board members, shareholders and consumers.
I know of business executives who left lucrative salaries to go and sell cars to the very poor making sure the very poor end up paying for the car many times over. I also know of dealers who charged consumers thousands of dollars in added insurance and other benefits knowing that consumers will never make a use of such insurance.
It is not so surprising that someone like Stan O’Neal, the former head of Merrill can walk away with some $250 millions when he presided over the lose of some $ 7 Billions by Merrill.
Angelo Mozila the CEO of Countrywide can cash in some $ 130 millions in stock during a time when his company was about to declare billions of losses arising out of its practices of predatory lending and its active involvement in lending to sub-prime consumers.
Also it is not so surprising that the top executives of one of the major credit card companies can make over $250 millions in annual compensation when his company is charging poor consumer interest rates that are USUARY by all means. One has to wonder how many households have to scrap the $50 or $ 100 a month so that this Mr. Executives can make his $ 20 million monthly salary.
Arafat Was Nothing but an Incompetent, Corrupt, and Failed Narcissist Fraud.
posted 14/11/07
Couple of days ago, Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority commissioned and dedicated the Yasser Arafat mausoleum at a cost of $5 millions.
For over 40 years Arafat headed the Palestine Liberation Organization as the “sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinians around the world”. For over 40 years Arafat managed the PLO as a true dictator no different from the many around the world, like Somoza of Nicaragua, Noriega of Panama, Marcos of the Philippines, Suharto of Indonesia, Ceausescu of Romania, Assad of Syria, Saddam of Iraq just to name a few of this most infamous and corrupt club.
The PLO was founded to liberate Palestine from the occupying Zionist and restore the Palestinians to their former homes in what is now Israel and of course as an added bonus the PLO was also to liberate Palestine of 67 occupied by Israel in 67. However the fact is that Arafat and the PLO not only failed to liberate one single inch of Palestinian territories either of the historic Palestine or the one occupied by Israel in 67, but made such a big mess of the liberation by producing Oslo and producing perhaps the most corrupt and incompetent leadership anywhere in the world.
Making sure that he is in charge and no one else, Arafat carried out a policy of divide and rule and used money effectively to corrupt the entire PLO and all of those in it and corrupt the Palestine National Congress guaranteeing there will never be any accountability or transparency of decisions and financial matters.
Arafat was no different from the dictators who robbed their countries blind, creating and nourishing a group of parasites around them who did their biddings from killing and murdering innocent people as a way to intimidate the public into silence, but he made sure that his PLO is never in a position to ever liberate any thing but to create a bureaucracy with bunch of misfits whose only mission is to remain on the payroll and whose objective is making sure they keep the PLO alive and themselves at the helm at any costs as we see in Ramallah..
Arafat made sure there was never any room for competency and intellect, let alone loyalty and dedications to the cause of liberation. On the contrary, he made sure the PLO leadership has nothing but yes men and women who were ready to sell their souls to the devil in return for the financial privileges Arafat arranged for them. He did buy the conscious and loyalty of bunch of people whom he has nothing but contempt for and he made sure he treated them that way.
With his death, he left behind a big mess; with many competing security organizations he sawed the seeds of the present conflict. Arafat knowing well his PLO could never liberate Palestine and could never end the Israeli occupation, he made sure he entered into an agreement with Israel where he and his PLO became a security subcontractor and manager of the occupation for Israel. While his PLO and PA were enjoying billions in fees, Israel had free hand in the occupied territories and of course free to continue its outright theft of the people land and properties. Oslo legitimized the Israeli occupation and legitimizes the expansions of settlements and of course now the Apartheid Wall, not mention the theft of water resources and undermined international law and UN Security Council resolutions as core of conditions for peace with Israel.
During his tenure, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians died and where again exiled as direct of his failed policies and where his PLO was unable to provide any protections. Billions were raised and came into the coffer of the PLO but was never accounted for, stolen by Arafat and his army of thieves who made fortunes out of the misfortunes of the millions of Palestinians who trusted their faith to Arafat.
Making sure the Palestinians could never have independent, competent and clean leadership to liberate Palestine, Arafat directly and indirectly got rid of so many potential leaders and made sure the PLO will always be the closed club for his cronies and parasites forming the core of the PLO past and current leadership.
Forty years and billions of dollars, Arafat and his cronies were unwilling and never able to create the kind of efficient, competent institutions that one day will form the core of the new and independent nation. Instead, the Palestinians got exactly what they expected, a PA with police state mentality where security agencies and mokhabarat are the nation, no different from the dictatorship regime of Assad, Saddam and Ceausescu and of course with no institutions to manage the affairs of people.
While other nations put their corrupt, incompetent and failed leadership on trial, the Palestinians celebrate the life of a failed leader and have the money to build a mausoleum to honor his memory. One has to wonder how many hundreds of millions if not billions did Arafat and his family costs the poor people of Palestine. The Palestinian people need to remember Arafat and his PLO did not liberate them and did not succeed in removing one single major Israeli checkpoint and failed to stop the expansion in one settlement and of course failed to stop the uprooting of one olive tree or the demolition of a single home. While Arafat was spending millions on his wife so she can live the good life in Paris, he did not have the money to provide the temporary housing and shelters for those who lost their homes to Israeli bulldozers.
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Couple of days ago, Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority commissioned and dedicated the Yasser Arafat mausoleum at a cost of $5 millions.
For over 40 years Arafat headed the Palestine Liberation Organization as the “sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinians around the world”. For over 40 years Arafat managed the PLO as a true dictator no different from the many around the world, like Somoza of Nicaragua, Noriega of Panama, Marcos of the Philippines, Suharto of Indonesia, Ceausescu of Romania, Assad of Syria, Saddam of Iraq just to name a few of this most infamous and corrupt club.
The PLO was founded to liberate Palestine from the occupying Zionist and restore the Palestinians to their former homes in what is now Israel and of course as an added bonus the PLO was also to liberate Palestine of 67 occupied by Israel in 67. However the fact is that Arafat and the PLO not only failed to liberate one single inch of Palestinian territories either of the historic Palestine or the one occupied by Israel in 67, but made such a big mess of the liberation by producing Oslo and producing perhaps the most corrupt and incompetent leadership anywhere in the world.
Making sure that he is in charge and no one else, Arafat carried out a policy of divide and rule and used money effectively to corrupt the entire PLO and all of those in it and corrupt the Palestine National Congress guaranteeing there will never be any accountability or transparency of decisions and financial matters.
Arafat was no different from the dictators who robbed their countries blind, creating and nourishing a group of parasites around them who did their biddings from killing and murdering innocent people as a way to intimidate the public into silence, but he made sure that his PLO is never in a position to ever liberate any thing but to create a bureaucracy with bunch of misfits whose only mission is to remain on the payroll and whose objective is making sure they keep the PLO alive and themselves at the helm at any costs as we see in Ramallah..
Arafat made sure there was never any room for competency and intellect, let alone loyalty and dedications to the cause of liberation. On the contrary, he made sure the PLO leadership has nothing but yes men and women who were ready to sell their souls to the devil in return for the financial privileges Arafat arranged for them. He did buy the conscious and loyalty of bunch of people whom he has nothing but contempt for and he made sure he treated them that way.
With his death, he left behind a big mess; with many competing security organizations he sawed the seeds of the present conflict. Arafat knowing well his PLO could never liberate Palestine and could never end the Israeli occupation, he made sure he entered into an agreement with Israel where he and his PLO became a security subcontractor and manager of the occupation for Israel. While his PLO and PA were enjoying billions in fees, Israel had free hand in the occupied territories and of course free to continue its outright theft of the people land and properties. Oslo legitimized the Israeli occupation and legitimizes the expansions of settlements and of course now the Apartheid Wall, not mention the theft of water resources and undermined international law and UN Security Council resolutions as core of conditions for peace with Israel.
During his tenure, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians died and where again exiled as direct of his failed policies and where his PLO was unable to provide any protections. Billions were raised and came into the coffer of the PLO but was never accounted for, stolen by Arafat and his army of thieves who made fortunes out of the misfortunes of the millions of Palestinians who trusted their faith to Arafat.
Making sure the Palestinians could never have independent, competent and clean leadership to liberate Palestine, Arafat directly and indirectly got rid of so many potential leaders and made sure the PLO will always be the closed club for his cronies and parasites forming the core of the PLO past and current leadership.
Forty years and billions of dollars, Arafat and his cronies were unwilling and never able to create the kind of efficient, competent institutions that one day will form the core of the new and independent nation. Instead, the Palestinians got exactly what they expected, a PA with police state mentality where security agencies and mokhabarat are the nation, no different from the dictatorship regime of Assad, Saddam and Ceausescu and of course with no institutions to manage the affairs of people.
While other nations put their corrupt, incompetent and failed leadership on trial, the Palestinians celebrate the life of a failed leader and have the money to build a mausoleum to honor his memory. One has to wonder how many hundreds of millions if not billions did Arafat and his family costs the poor people of Palestine. The Palestinian people need to remember Arafat and his PLO did not liberate them and did not succeed in removing one single major Israeli checkpoint and failed to stop the expansion in one settlement and of course failed to stop the uprooting of one olive tree or the demolition of a single home. While Arafat was spending millions on his wife so she can live the good life in Paris, he did not have the money to provide the temporary housing and shelters for those who lost their homes to Israeli bulldozers.
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Time for The Arab People to Accept Responsibiity for Failed Nations.
posted 14/11/07
No doubts the political paralysis that is taking place in Lebanon, Palestine or Iraq has nothing to with the love and loyalty to country or what is in the best interest of the people, it has to do every thing with the best interest of a class of politicians who are at best selfish, incompetent and don’t give a damn about the country or the people.
In Lebanon and ever since the time of the late Camille Chemoun, electing a president of Lebanon or what they call in local lingo ( alestihqaq al-reasi) has been a mine field ready to explode indulging the country into a murderous civil war.
Sectarianism is the problem and the cancer that afflicts Lebanon and is the source of all of its problems and the direct cause of the death and murder of hundreds of thousands of people during the last century or so.
However the Lebanese, whether private citizens or politicians never want to admit that sectarianism is the core of the political problems and instability in Lebanon. One has to wonder why at this time and age, why the Lebanese do not force their parliament to change election laws and give the people themselves the right to directly elect and vote for a president? The Lebanese people are well educated and I am sure well qualified to make good decisions. Why they leave such a decision to elected members of parliament, who over the years failed the nation and the people? While Lebanon has the most enlightened people it has the worst class of politicians ever seen any where in the Middle East?
The situation is no better in Iraq where politicians appear on television well dressed, sitting on gold and leather chairs in fancy offices talking about what is wrong with the country, while the poor and desperate people face death every minute and every hour of the day all over the country. Rather than pulling the country together to end the American Occupation, they are working very hard to perpetuate it.
In Iraq, not only there is serious problem with politicians, ministers and members of parliament but also with religious leaders, Sunnis and Shiites who all forgot about the teaching of Islam and stand behind the sectarian conflict that took and is taking the lives of tens of thousands of innocent and poor Iraqis.
One has to wonder whatever happens to the people of Iraq, and why they allowed Saddam Hussein and his Ba’ath Party to commit the murder of hundreds of thousands of people. and allowed incompetent and corrupt politicians and religious leaders to take the nation to the abyss.
The situation among the Palestinians is no different, where selfish, corrupt and incompetent politicians, self appointed never the less, take charge of the fate of the nation for the last forty years, having failed to liberate and having succeeded in indulging the nation is petty fights that destroyed whatever sense of dignity and self-respect the people used to have.
A class of self appointed leaders who arrived from Tunis to manage the Israelis military occupation under a contract that is worth billions of dollars and who brought with them nothing but corruption, incompetence and failures.
The situation is no different with the home grown leadership sitting in Gaza who thought that (Islam is the way) and that their home made rockets and suicide bombings could alone liberate Palestine.
While the guys in Ramallah thought Oslo will end the Occupation, the guys in Gaza did not have a comprehensive and well thought out and detailed program to end the occupation.
Never could understand why the Palestinian people who claim to be the best educated in the Middle East, could ever put up with such a failed leadership all these years from the time of Hajj Amin Hussaini to Yasser Arafat to Mahmoud Abbas and Khalid Meshal?
With the tens of thousands of very well educated and well qualified professionals the Palestinian people could not find a dozen so to challenge the present leadership and for the first time give the people the chance to have hope for ending the occupation. Never understood why some of the most successful businessmen and some of the most successful and prominent intellectuals could not replace a class of politicians who are more interested in lining their pockets with ill gained income and fleece the nation rather than putting together the best and the brightest to lead the nation.
In the end, one should not blame the politicians of Lebanon, or Iraq or Palestine, for such failures. It is the people of Lebanon, of Iraq and Palestine are the one to blame. They are the one that should accept the responsibility for a failed nation.
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No doubts the political paralysis that is taking place in Lebanon, Palestine or Iraq has nothing to with the love and loyalty to country or what is in the best interest of the people, it has to do every thing with the best interest of a class of politicians who are at best selfish, incompetent and don’t give a damn about the country or the people.
In Lebanon and ever since the time of the late Camille Chemoun, electing a president of Lebanon or what they call in local lingo ( alestihqaq al-reasi) has been a mine field ready to explode indulging the country into a murderous civil war.
Sectarianism is the problem and the cancer that afflicts Lebanon and is the source of all of its problems and the direct cause of the death and murder of hundreds of thousands of people during the last century or so.
However the Lebanese, whether private citizens or politicians never want to admit that sectarianism is the core of the political problems and instability in Lebanon. One has to wonder why at this time and age, why the Lebanese do not force their parliament to change election laws and give the people themselves the right to directly elect and vote for a president? The Lebanese people are well educated and I am sure well qualified to make good decisions. Why they leave such a decision to elected members of parliament, who over the years failed the nation and the people? While Lebanon has the most enlightened people it has the worst class of politicians ever seen any where in the Middle East?
The situation is no better in Iraq where politicians appear on television well dressed, sitting on gold and leather chairs in fancy offices talking about what is wrong with the country, while the poor and desperate people face death every minute and every hour of the day all over the country. Rather than pulling the country together to end the American Occupation, they are working very hard to perpetuate it.
In Iraq, not only there is serious problem with politicians, ministers and members of parliament but also with religious leaders, Sunnis and Shiites who all forgot about the teaching of Islam and stand behind the sectarian conflict that took and is taking the lives of tens of thousands of innocent and poor Iraqis.
One has to wonder whatever happens to the people of Iraq, and why they allowed Saddam Hussein and his Ba’ath Party to commit the murder of hundreds of thousands of people. and allowed incompetent and corrupt politicians and religious leaders to take the nation to the abyss.
The situation among the Palestinians is no different, where selfish, corrupt and incompetent politicians, self appointed never the less, take charge of the fate of the nation for the last forty years, having failed to liberate and having succeeded in indulging the nation is petty fights that destroyed whatever sense of dignity and self-respect the people used to have.
A class of self appointed leaders who arrived from Tunis to manage the Israelis military occupation under a contract that is worth billions of dollars and who brought with them nothing but corruption, incompetence and failures.
The situation is no different with the home grown leadership sitting in Gaza who thought that (Islam is the way) and that their home made rockets and suicide bombings could alone liberate Palestine.
While the guys in Ramallah thought Oslo will end the Occupation, the guys in Gaza did not have a comprehensive and well thought out and detailed program to end the occupation.
Never could understand why the Palestinian people who claim to be the best educated in the Middle East, could ever put up with such a failed leadership all these years from the time of Hajj Amin Hussaini to Yasser Arafat to Mahmoud Abbas and Khalid Meshal?
With the tens of thousands of very well educated and well qualified professionals the Palestinian people could not find a dozen so to challenge the present leadership and for the first time give the people the chance to have hope for ending the occupation. Never understood why some of the most successful businessmen and some of the most successful and prominent intellectuals could not replace a class of politicians who are more interested in lining their pockets with ill gained income and fleece the nation rather than putting together the best and the brightest to lead the nation.
In the end, one should not blame the politicians of Lebanon, or Iraq or Palestine, for such failures. It is the people of Lebanon, of Iraq and Palestine are the one to blame. They are the one that should accept the responsibility for a failed nation.
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The Israeli Military and Settlers Occupation, is a Business, a Big Business.
post 25/11/07
The decision by the Arab foreign ministers to attend the Annapolis conference was the first Israel victory according to Zvi Ba’rel of Haaretz. Protestors on both side of the conflict are massing in apposition to the conference, which changed from a conference to settle the conflict to a conference to start a peace process that may take 100 years or so. Even with all of the protest and premature claims of victory there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a conference where all issues are put on the table and where US honesty and integrity if not partiality is put to the test.
Palestinians opposition group, like Israeli opposition group think that the Annapolis conference will change forever the face of Israel and Palestine and if all goes well may settle this 100 year conflict.
The Israeli Occupation of Palestine (67) has been a booming business for many Israeli and Jewish groups both in Israel and in the US and around the world. For many Jews, the Israeli Occupation of what is left of Palestine of 48 is a mission from God, a realization and revival of ancient Israel and reclamation of lost history. All of this adds up to one thing, big business, a cash cow that Zionist Jews were able to successfully use to raise close to a trillion dollars so far and more on the way.
By hook and many times by crooks, wealthy Jews and Jewish organizations, specially in the US with so much money available, some of it money fleeced from the poorest of poor Americans ( bingo games) are channeled to Israel to fund the fraudulent take over of Palestinian properties with active support from an Israeli Jewish legal system that allows and support theft, robbery and outright confiscation of Palestinians prosperities under the pre-text that this is God given and it is time to collect on God’s promise. Of course Jewish intellectuals, legal scholars, professors, educators, businessmen and most of all Rabbis simply sees nothing wrong with such actions and no one raise any issue of mortality or right or wrong as if God promise gave the Jews a blank check to do whatever they want with the land and the people living on it. In another word, there is simply nothing wrong with the Occupation that lasted for over 40 years and there is nothing wrong with all of the actions taken by Israel and the entire religious and settlers group. Morality and human values gave way to God’s promise and under such a promise every thing is permissible including murder.
On the other side of the issue, Palestinians opposition groups have been meeting in Gaza and else where to talk about Annapolis and the disaster arising out of such meeting. The Israeli Occupation has also been a booming business for many Palestinian individuals and groups. Ending the occupation is much feared by many individuals or group.
The first organization to fear ending the occupation is the PLO. For over 45 years the PLO presented itself as a “liberation” organization dedicated to restoring the historical rights of Palestinians in what is now Israel of 48 and later the mission was expanded to include the liberation of the remaining part occupied by Israel in 67.
For over 45 years, Palestinian leadership the likes of Yasser Arafat used the Occupation to justify monopoly over the cause and to use this monopoly to sustain a corrupt and incompetent leadership and to stifle any open and transparent debate and of course to silence any one that challenge such leadership. Tens if not hundreds met their death or were illuminated making sure that Arafat will never have any one who dare challenge him for the leadership let alone question his judgment.
The business of the Occupation has been excellent for the PLO and its leadership as it went about collecting and raising tens of billions of dollars from individual Palestinians and from Arab and Muslim governments. Of course without the needs for any accountability and transparency. Many if not all of the Palestinian leadership made a very good if not excellent living out of the Occupation and their continued leadership. Many made hundreds of millions of dollars from the cause, and many became very wealthy with assets in the tens if not hundreds of millions simply because they are officers or members and executives many various committees and organizations of the PLO and Fatah.
The same is true of many of the Palestinian intellectuals and professionals who learned the business of the NGO and who set so many NGOs within the Occupied Territories turning these NGO to private business, commercial and economic enterprise producing substantial income for themselves and members of their families with hardly any accountability or transparency of how the funds are spent. Of course with many donors from around the world, the occupation has been a booming business for Palestinian NGOs. The same is true of many of the heads of the Palestinian factions that also made a career out of the Occupation, whether these organizations are based in Damascus or in Gaza.
With the hope that Annapolis can bring about an end to the Israeli Occupation, there are so many Jewish and Palestinians individuals and organizations that will simply go out of business if the Occupation comes to an end.
Major Jewish organizations in the US especially the Jewish Lobby would have to look for another cause to raise money and to use and leverage this money to gain power over Congress, media and universities. With Israel at peace with its neighbors and with peace with the Palestinian what is there for them to do? Raise money for charity does not translate to power and influence over Congress and foreign policy.
The PLO, Fatah, and other liberation organizations will need to re-invent themselves and must take out “liberation” out of their names. Perhaps they become the commercial enterprise they were all along and go into real business not liberation bus selling fuel, consumers good and services. Perhaps there will be a need for these organizations to become political parties compete ting for the hearts and minds of the people and compete with each other to serve the nation. From past history, it very unlikely they will transform themselves and for sure will continue to dictatorial and corrupt parties they are and will always be.
Many heads of the NGOs would have to transform themselves into service organization serving the general public and not serving the personal interests of their officers and founders. They will have to deliver true and measured services.
Yes, the Israeli Occupation, if and when it comes to an end, will put out of business many Jews and Palestinians who made the Occupation a big business, while millions of Palestinians suffers the loss of life, property and most of all indignity of exiles.
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The decision by the Arab foreign ministers to attend the Annapolis conference was the first Israel victory according to Zvi Ba’rel of Haaretz. Protestors on both side of the conflict are massing in apposition to the conference, which changed from a conference to settle the conflict to a conference to start a peace process that may take 100 years or so. Even with all of the protest and premature claims of victory there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a conference where all issues are put on the table and where US honesty and integrity if not partiality is put to the test.
Palestinians opposition group, like Israeli opposition group think that the Annapolis conference will change forever the face of Israel and Palestine and if all goes well may settle this 100 year conflict.
The Israeli Occupation of Palestine (67) has been a booming business for many Israeli and Jewish groups both in Israel and in the US and around the world. For many Jews, the Israeli Occupation of what is left of Palestine of 48 is a mission from God, a realization and revival of ancient Israel and reclamation of lost history. All of this adds up to one thing, big business, a cash cow that Zionist Jews were able to successfully use to raise close to a trillion dollars so far and more on the way.
By hook and many times by crooks, wealthy Jews and Jewish organizations, specially in the US with so much money available, some of it money fleeced from the poorest of poor Americans ( bingo games) are channeled to Israel to fund the fraudulent take over of Palestinian properties with active support from an Israeli Jewish legal system that allows and support theft, robbery and outright confiscation of Palestinians prosperities under the pre-text that this is God given and it is time to collect on God’s promise. Of course Jewish intellectuals, legal scholars, professors, educators, businessmen and most of all Rabbis simply sees nothing wrong with such actions and no one raise any issue of mortality or right or wrong as if God promise gave the Jews a blank check to do whatever they want with the land and the people living on it. In another word, there is simply nothing wrong with the Occupation that lasted for over 40 years and there is nothing wrong with all of the actions taken by Israel and the entire religious and settlers group. Morality and human values gave way to God’s promise and under such a promise every thing is permissible including murder.
On the other side of the issue, Palestinians opposition groups have been meeting in Gaza and else where to talk about Annapolis and the disaster arising out of such meeting. The Israeli Occupation has also been a booming business for many Palestinian individuals and groups. Ending the occupation is much feared by many individuals or group.
The first organization to fear ending the occupation is the PLO. For over 45 years the PLO presented itself as a “liberation” organization dedicated to restoring the historical rights of Palestinians in what is now Israel of 48 and later the mission was expanded to include the liberation of the remaining part occupied by Israel in 67.
For over 45 years, Palestinian leadership the likes of Yasser Arafat used the Occupation to justify monopoly over the cause and to use this monopoly to sustain a corrupt and incompetent leadership and to stifle any open and transparent debate and of course to silence any one that challenge such leadership. Tens if not hundreds met their death or were illuminated making sure that Arafat will never have any one who dare challenge him for the leadership let alone question his judgment.
The business of the Occupation has been excellent for the PLO and its leadership as it went about collecting and raising tens of billions of dollars from individual Palestinians and from Arab and Muslim governments. Of course without the needs for any accountability and transparency. Many if not all of the Palestinian leadership made a very good if not excellent living out of the Occupation and their continued leadership. Many made hundreds of millions of dollars from the cause, and many became very wealthy with assets in the tens if not hundreds of millions simply because they are officers or members and executives many various committees and organizations of the PLO and Fatah.
The same is true of many of the Palestinian intellectuals and professionals who learned the business of the NGO and who set so many NGOs within the Occupied Territories turning these NGO to private business, commercial and economic enterprise producing substantial income for themselves and members of their families with hardly any accountability or transparency of how the funds are spent. Of course with many donors from around the world, the occupation has been a booming business for Palestinian NGOs. The same is true of many of the heads of the Palestinian factions that also made a career out of the Occupation, whether these organizations are based in Damascus or in Gaza.
With the hope that Annapolis can bring about an end to the Israeli Occupation, there are so many Jewish and Palestinians individuals and organizations that will simply go out of business if the Occupation comes to an end.
Major Jewish organizations in the US especially the Jewish Lobby would have to look for another cause to raise money and to use and leverage this money to gain power over Congress, media and universities. With Israel at peace with its neighbors and with peace with the Palestinian what is there for them to do? Raise money for charity does not translate to power and influence over Congress and foreign policy.
The PLO, Fatah, and other liberation organizations will need to re-invent themselves and must take out “liberation” out of their names. Perhaps they become the commercial enterprise they were all along and go into real business not liberation bus selling fuel, consumers good and services. Perhaps there will be a need for these organizations to become political parties compete ting for the hearts and minds of the people and compete with each other to serve the nation. From past history, it very unlikely they will transform themselves and for sure will continue to dictatorial and corrupt parties they are and will always be.
Many heads of the NGOs would have to transform themselves into service organization serving the general public and not serving the personal interests of their officers and founders. They will have to deliver true and measured services.
Yes, the Israeli Occupation, if and when it comes to an end, will put out of business many Jews and Palestinians who made the Occupation a big business, while millions of Palestinians suffers the loss of life, property and most of all indignity of exiles.
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Blaming America for Every Thing.
posted 24/11/07
Ever since I was a young boy growing up in Palestine, I heard the standard and often spoken words” America is always to blame”. The Majority of Arabs and Muslims blame America for every thing from failure of political systems and institutions, to failure in crops , failure in accountability and transparency, failure to tackle the presence of corruptions and incompetence, and of course failure to bring about political reforms and much needed changes.More…
Yes, America is to blame for some things, but not every thing. Why no one in the Arab world take the blame for centuries of failures? Why no one in the Arab world whether citizens, intellectuals, professionals, businessmen, and political and military leaders do not accept, perhaps lacks the courage to accept the responsibilities for such failures?
In Lebanon, political leaders and citizens blame America for failure to elect a new president, yet no one ask the question, “what about blaming a failed and outdated political system and blaming the war lords and family lords for such failure”?
Yes, American did supply the weapons and the bombs that killed thousands of Lebanese and destroyed Lebanon, but America did not force an outdated sectarian system on the Lebanese and is not responsible for the fleecing of the country.
With the exception of Professor Clovis Maqsoud of the American University in Washington, and Amin Al-Naqash, an intellectual and political analyst, NO Lebanese politicians or citizen whether from the majority and minority dare to speak out and come out openly and frankly and say, “Hey, this sectarian political system did not serve Lebanon well and must be changed”. It seems keeping a defunct sectarian system that serves the narrow interests of certain established political families but does not serve the interests of Lebanon, all of Lebanon with its entire 17 different sectarian group is ok. Do not understand why the citizens do not force change?
In Palestine, the story is no different. It is true that America did cancel the democratic vote that brought Hamas to power through political and economic boycott of the new government, but no one blame Fatah for also canceling the results of the election with its consistent failure to admit, it lost the election and for its refusal to hand over the government to Hamas. Every one blame America for the corruption of the Palestinian Authority, but no one blames those within the Palestinian Authority who robbed and fleeced the entire nation and stole billions of the people’s money.
Every one blame American for supporting a police state within the Palestinian Authority, yet no one blame those Palestinians responsible for running and operating such a police state and operate a security organization whose sole function is to terrorize the citizens.
In Iraq, the Arabs blame America for the terrible problems in Iraq, yes, of course, America is to blame for war on Iraq, blamed for the occupation and mismanaging the occupation and for corrupting the system. Yet, no one dare to speak out about the crimes of Saddam over 30 years. No one blame Saddam for taking Iraq and its wealth and people to the abyss with his dictatorial and criminal enterprise.
Every one blame America for the war between Iraq and Iran, yet no one dare to blame Saddam for agreeing to be the tools for taking both countries to war and ruining the economy of both countries, killed and murdered millions and of course took the country to the poor house. Every one knew Saddam was America’s boy yet no one blame Saddam for all of the ills of Iraq. Moreover, never understood why the Iraqis and the Palestinians do not take and accept the responsibilities for accepting and allowing such corrupt, dictatorial regime to co-opt them and undermine them and simply stated” bought the silence of every one”.
The same is true of Syria, Egypt, Sudan and many of the Arab countries. Every one from the average citizen to political leaders including opposition blame American and its interventionist policies. Yet no one blame the leaders who failed to properly manage and carry out the reforms needed and failed to bring about modern nation states. Every one blame America, yet no one blames the likes of Assad, Saddam, Arafat, Abbas, Qadaffi, Al-Bashir, and Mubarak for the ills and misfortune of their respective countries.
American is to blame for not living up to its ideal of promoting democracy and transparency and supporting honest governments, and for supporting Israel and supplying it with the missiles, jet fighters and cluster bombs to kill Arabs. America is also to blame for its stupid and reckless international policies that brought nothing but disaster for America and the world. But America is not to be blamed when political systems and leadership in the Arab world makes it possible for America to manage and operate dictatorial regimes and suppress freedoms and democracy. We can blame the Zionist, the NeoCons, Marion Robertson, Bibi Netanyahu, Israel, George Bush and Dick Cheney all we want, and that does not change a thing. We need to keep in mind the millions who were killed by dictatorial leadership and the thousands of billions wasted on stupid useless wars doomed to fail from the very start. It is time for the Arab people to accept total responsibility for such continued failure.
Ever since I was a young boy growing up in Palestine, I heard the standard and often spoken words” America is always to blame”. The Majority of Arabs and Muslims blame America for every thing from failure of political systems and institutions, to failure in crops , failure in accountability and transparency, failure to tackle the presence of corruptions and incompetence, and of course failure to bring about political reforms and much needed changes.More…
Yes, America is to blame for some things, but not every thing. Why no one in the Arab world take the blame for centuries of failures? Why no one in the Arab world whether citizens, intellectuals, professionals, businessmen, and political and military leaders do not accept, perhaps lacks the courage to accept the responsibilities for such failures?
In Lebanon, political leaders and citizens blame America for failure to elect a new president, yet no one ask the question, “what about blaming a failed and outdated political system and blaming the war lords and family lords for such failure”?
Yes, American did supply the weapons and the bombs that killed thousands of Lebanese and destroyed Lebanon, but America did not force an outdated sectarian system on the Lebanese and is not responsible for the fleecing of the country.
With the exception of Professor Clovis Maqsoud of the American University in Washington, and Amin Al-Naqash, an intellectual and political analyst, NO Lebanese politicians or citizen whether from the majority and minority dare to speak out and come out openly and frankly and say, “Hey, this sectarian political system did not serve Lebanon well and must be changed”. It seems keeping a defunct sectarian system that serves the narrow interests of certain established political families but does not serve the interests of Lebanon, all of Lebanon with its entire 17 different sectarian group is ok. Do not understand why the citizens do not force change?
In Palestine, the story is no different. It is true that America did cancel the democratic vote that brought Hamas to power through political and economic boycott of the new government, but no one blame Fatah for also canceling the results of the election with its consistent failure to admit, it lost the election and for its refusal to hand over the government to Hamas. Every one blame America for the corruption of the Palestinian Authority, but no one blames those within the Palestinian Authority who robbed and fleeced the entire nation and stole billions of the people’s money.
Every one blame American for supporting a police state within the Palestinian Authority, yet no one blame those Palestinians responsible for running and operating such a police state and operate a security organization whose sole function is to terrorize the citizens.
In Iraq, the Arabs blame America for the terrible problems in Iraq, yes, of course, America is to blame for war on Iraq, blamed for the occupation and mismanaging the occupation and for corrupting the system. Yet, no one dare to speak out about the crimes of Saddam over 30 years. No one blame Saddam for taking Iraq and its wealth and people to the abyss with his dictatorial and criminal enterprise.
Every one blame America for the war between Iraq and Iran, yet no one dare to blame Saddam for agreeing to be the tools for taking both countries to war and ruining the economy of both countries, killed and murdered millions and of course took the country to the poor house. Every one knew Saddam was America’s boy yet no one blame Saddam for all of the ills of Iraq. Moreover, never understood why the Iraqis and the Palestinians do not take and accept the responsibilities for accepting and allowing such corrupt, dictatorial regime to co-opt them and undermine them and simply stated” bought the silence of every one”.
The same is true of Syria, Egypt, Sudan and many of the Arab countries. Every one from the average citizen to political leaders including opposition blame American and its interventionist policies. Yet no one blame the leaders who failed to properly manage and carry out the reforms needed and failed to bring about modern nation states. Every one blame America, yet no one blames the likes of Assad, Saddam, Arafat, Abbas, Qadaffi, Al-Bashir, and Mubarak for the ills and misfortune of their respective countries.
American is to blame for not living up to its ideal of promoting democracy and transparency and supporting honest governments, and for supporting Israel and supplying it with the missiles, jet fighters and cluster bombs to kill Arabs. America is also to blame for its stupid and reckless international policies that brought nothing but disaster for America and the world. But America is not to be blamed when political systems and leadership in the Arab world makes it possible for America to manage and operate dictatorial regimes and suppress freedoms and democracy. We can blame the Zionist, the NeoCons, Marion Robertson, Bibi Netanyahu, Israel, George Bush and Dick Cheney all we want, and that does not change a thing. We need to keep in mind the millions who were killed by dictatorial leadership and the thousands of billions wasted on stupid useless wars doomed to fail from the very start. It is time for the Arab people to accept total responsibility for such continued failure.
The Lebanese Sectarian System Reduced Citizens to a Big Zero.
posted 18/11/07
Few minutes ago, I received an email from Al-Hewar Center in Washington enclosing an article written by professor Clovis Maqsoud titled (not correct) 72 hours separate salvations from chaos. 72 hours separate success or failure of having a new president.
Professor Clovis , no doubt on of the very few imminent Arab intellectuals committed to Arab liberations and causes, and one of the very few Arab intellectuals who were not on the payroll of Arab governments, who dared to challenge Arab governments and people toward liberation and democracy.
The article as I read it is an indictment of the sectarian political system in Lebanon and a clear indictment of the Lebanese political and sectarian system of war and sectarian lords.
At a time when both the majority and minority calls for freedom and independence for Lebanon, we can see a number of international politicians and statements and every who’s who, except Arabs, come to Lebanon to help in the selection of a new president. If any thing, this shows that decisions and decision making in Lebanon is not a Lebanese prerogative but an international one without the Lebanese people having a say so.
The sectarian and war lord and family lords system in Lebanon takes away much of the sovereignty of Lebanon and reduces the Lebanese people to a big “ZERO” when it comes to the fait of the nation and taking charge of the future of the nation.
The Lebanese with much sadness allowed their politicians to hold the nation and the citizen’s hostage to the different sectarian and family leadership. It is difficult to believe that the Lebanese people do not take the bull by the horn and bring to an end once and for all this sectarian politics that cancelled the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon since its “independence”.
It is so difficult to believe that in this day and age, that the “Church” makes the decision for the entire nation at a time when there is a move world wide to separate “church and state” so that the citizens and not the clergymen make the political decisions and subsequently all economic and social decisions and set the nation forward. There are no reasons for the Lebanese to go to exiles rather than change they very system that brought them nothing but war, conflict and exile.
It is also so surprising that so far there has been no popular movement calling for the cancellations and eliminations of the sectrarian/ta’efia in a country with such a sophisticated and much politicizes citizenship.
Hundreds of thousands went the streets to reclaim Lebanon from the Syrian military and political occupation and hundreds of thousands took to and occupied downtown to force a change in government. Yet both the majority and the opposition never dared to take on the issue of sectarian politics demanding an end to such an outdated system.
One thing for sure, the Lebanese sectarian system is hostage to the clergymen and the heads of religious parties ( Christians, Sunnis and Shiites) must come to an end and it is time for the citizens and not the politicians or the heads of church or mosques to makes the decisions for the nation. The Lebanese have no one to blame but themselves. I do not think that a new president no matter who he is will make much difference in a country divided along sectarian lines and paralyzed by a very corrupt and outdated political system that reduced people power to ZERO.
Few minutes ago, I received an email from Al-Hewar Center in Washington enclosing an article written by professor Clovis Maqsoud titled (not correct) 72 hours separate salvations from chaos. 72 hours separate success or failure of having a new president.
Professor Clovis , no doubt on of the very few imminent Arab intellectuals committed to Arab liberations and causes, and one of the very few Arab intellectuals who were not on the payroll of Arab governments, who dared to challenge Arab governments and people toward liberation and democracy.
The article as I read it is an indictment of the sectarian political system in Lebanon and a clear indictment of the Lebanese political and sectarian system of war and sectarian lords.
At a time when both the majority and minority calls for freedom and independence for Lebanon, we can see a number of international politicians and statements and every who’s who, except Arabs, come to Lebanon to help in the selection of a new president. If any thing, this shows that decisions and decision making in Lebanon is not a Lebanese prerogative but an international one without the Lebanese people having a say so.
The sectarian and war lord and family lords system in Lebanon takes away much of the sovereignty of Lebanon and reduces the Lebanese people to a big “ZERO” when it comes to the fait of the nation and taking charge of the future of the nation.
The Lebanese with much sadness allowed their politicians to hold the nation and the citizen’s hostage to the different sectarian and family leadership. It is difficult to believe that the Lebanese people do not take the bull by the horn and bring to an end once and for all this sectarian politics that cancelled the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon since its “independence”.
It is so difficult to believe that in this day and age, that the “Church” makes the decision for the entire nation at a time when there is a move world wide to separate “church and state” so that the citizens and not the clergymen make the political decisions and subsequently all economic and social decisions and set the nation forward. There are no reasons for the Lebanese to go to exiles rather than change they very system that brought them nothing but war, conflict and exile.
It is also so surprising that so far there has been no popular movement calling for the cancellations and eliminations of the sectrarian/ta’efia in a country with such a sophisticated and much politicizes citizenship.
Hundreds of thousands went the streets to reclaim Lebanon from the Syrian military and political occupation and hundreds of thousands took to and occupied downtown to force a change in government. Yet both the majority and the opposition never dared to take on the issue of sectarian politics demanding an end to such an outdated system.
One thing for sure, the Lebanese sectarian system is hostage to the clergymen and the heads of religious parties ( Christians, Sunnis and Shiites) must come to an end and it is time for the citizens and not the politicians or the heads of church or mosques to makes the decisions for the nation. The Lebanese have no one to blame but themselves. I do not think that a new president no matter who he is will make much difference in a country divided along sectarian lines and paralyzed by a very corrupt and outdated political system that reduced people power to ZERO.
Jerusalem for All; Is too Important to be left to the Present Israeli and Palestinian Leaderships!
posted 18/11/07
Istanbul, that very beautiful city recently (November 15-17) hosted the first Al-Quds International Institution (Jerusalem Forum) with more that 2,000 delegates from all over the world attending the conference with the objective of making sure that Jerusalem will always have a Muslim and Christian presence and that such communities will never be excluded from the city as a direct result of the continuous Jewish war on Jerusalem.
The conference initiated by the International Jerusalem Establishment in cooperation with the Turkish Organizations for Endowments and Federations of Public Societies. This is indeed the first such efforts on the part of Muslims and Middle East Christians to stand up and make sure they are present and will always be present in Jerusalem.
For over 60 years ever since the founding of Israel, Jerusalem was administer first by Jordan until the 67 War with the resulting transfer of the entire city of Jerusalem, East and West under the total control of Israel.
It is true that there was a separation wall between East and West along the armistice line of 48 and it is true that Israelis were not permitted to visit and worship at the Wailing Wall; however Jordan never planned and carried out anything that will erase Jewish history in Jerusalem. Unlike Israel which is making sure that its 67 War does not stop and its assault on Jerusalem never stop making sure that it erases all Muslim and Christian presence in the Holy City.
The Palestinians especially under Arafat PLO never gave Jerusalem any importance and when Arafat and the PLO had tens of billions in its coffers never took any concrete steps to help the Arabs, Christians and Muslims, to withstand the on going assault on their presence in Jerusalem and never had a well funded plans to offset the well organized ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem of its Muslims and Christians citizens, which culminated in the ethnic cleansing of more than 100,000 Arab citizens who were forced to leave the city where they lived for centuries to allow room for new immigrants with suspected Jewish origin to move in and take their place.
Neither the PLO nor the PA took any steps to give Jerusalem the importance and the priorities needed to offset the Christian-Zionist and Israeli Jewish efforts to make the city “Jewish” at the exclusions of Arab Christians and Muslims. With the very limited support Arafat gave to the late Faisal Hussaini, there was never the kind of financial support to offset the billions being spent by Israel. Arafat later on withdrew the carpet from underneath Faisal Hussaini when he sensed Husssaini may be a potential and competitive leader.
Jerusalem as a city does not belong to the Palestinians only and it will be a fatal mistake for the city if the present leadership of both Fatah and Hamas took total control and manage the affairs of the city. Both organizations and based on their experience of managing liberation not to mention garbage collections are simply unfit, and unqualified to look after and represent the world interest in the City of Jerusalem.
Future forums on Jerusalem must take into considerations that this city is not a Palestinian or an Israeli city; it is a city of the world. It is city for the Jews, for the Christians and for the Muslims and the world’s interest is not limited to holy and historical building but goes beyond toward the city and its unique culture and civilizations.
Jerusalem for All must not be left to the Israelis to make the decisions that affect other communities, and the world must never allow Israel to continue with its ethnic cleansing and exclusions of all non-Jews from the city. In the same time, the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah and Gaza lacks the vision and credibility to represent the interests of all citizens of Jerusalem, Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Jerusalem for All is too important to be left to the Lieberman and the Netanyahu of the Jews and too important to left to the like of Marion (Pat) Robertson and US Christian -Zionists and too important to be left to the like of Abbas or Qurai. What Jerusalem need more than any other times, is international leadership that has the qualifications and competence to represent and look after the interest of ALL the people of Jerusalem, Jews, Muslims and Christians.
Next May 2008, Israel announced that both former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush will lead the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Israel. Of course both presidents will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of a country that continues to be at war with all of its neighbors, they are celebrating a state that until now does not have declared borders and believe that its borders should be decided by its army. Both former presidents will be celebrating Israel that hosted more than 1 million Palestinians in its jails during the last 40 years. Both presidents will be celebrating a state that dropped more than one million cluster bombs on civilians’ targets in Lebanon and the forced exiles of more than 5 million Palestinians. This is a country that forbids (Arab) Muslims and Christians of a certain age from entering the city.
Both presidents will be celebrating the birth of country that builds Apartheid Wall separating Palestinians from their homes, families and farms and schools. They will be celebrating a country with a policy of destroying Palestinian homes as a matter of standard public policy. They are celebrating a nation whose legislative body in the middle of the night passes legislation depriving Palestinians of their rightful property. First they ethnically cleans the city of its Arab citizens and then they pass legislation to take over their properties under the laws of Absentee ownership.
Jerusalem of All is too important to be left to Palestinian and Israel leadership to decide the future of such city. What we need is to gather more than one million person in Washington, yes, Washington, to demonstrate and demand a Jerusalem for All, to take place and coincide with Israel celebration of its 60th anniversary. A million will be a good message for the American administration which the political and financial sponsor of Israeli Occupation of Jerusalem and a strong message to US Congress that the people of the world will not accept any thing less than a Jerusalem for All. An open, united city for Jews, Christians and Muslims and a city for the world.
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Istanbul, that very beautiful city recently (November 15-17) hosted the first Al-Quds International Institution (Jerusalem Forum) with more that 2,000 delegates from all over the world attending the conference with the objective of making sure that Jerusalem will always have a Muslim and Christian presence and that such communities will never be excluded from the city as a direct result of the continuous Jewish war on Jerusalem.
The conference initiated by the International Jerusalem Establishment in cooperation with the Turkish Organizations for Endowments and Federations of Public Societies. This is indeed the first such efforts on the part of Muslims and Middle East Christians to stand up and make sure they are present and will always be present in Jerusalem.
For over 60 years ever since the founding of Israel, Jerusalem was administer first by Jordan until the 67 War with the resulting transfer of the entire city of Jerusalem, East and West under the total control of Israel.
It is true that there was a separation wall between East and West along the armistice line of 48 and it is true that Israelis were not permitted to visit and worship at the Wailing Wall; however Jordan never planned and carried out anything that will erase Jewish history in Jerusalem. Unlike Israel which is making sure that its 67 War does not stop and its assault on Jerusalem never stop making sure that it erases all Muslim and Christian presence in the Holy City.
The Palestinians especially under Arafat PLO never gave Jerusalem any importance and when Arafat and the PLO had tens of billions in its coffers never took any concrete steps to help the Arabs, Christians and Muslims, to withstand the on going assault on their presence in Jerusalem and never had a well funded plans to offset the well organized ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem of its Muslims and Christians citizens, which culminated in the ethnic cleansing of more than 100,000 Arab citizens who were forced to leave the city where they lived for centuries to allow room for new immigrants with suspected Jewish origin to move in and take their place.
Neither the PLO nor the PA took any steps to give Jerusalem the importance and the priorities needed to offset the Christian-Zionist and Israeli Jewish efforts to make the city “Jewish” at the exclusions of Arab Christians and Muslims. With the very limited support Arafat gave to the late Faisal Hussaini, there was never the kind of financial support to offset the billions being spent by Israel. Arafat later on withdrew the carpet from underneath Faisal Hussaini when he sensed Husssaini may be a potential and competitive leader.
Jerusalem as a city does not belong to the Palestinians only and it will be a fatal mistake for the city if the present leadership of both Fatah and Hamas took total control and manage the affairs of the city. Both organizations and based on their experience of managing liberation not to mention garbage collections are simply unfit, and unqualified to look after and represent the world interest in the City of Jerusalem.
Future forums on Jerusalem must take into considerations that this city is not a Palestinian or an Israeli city; it is a city of the world. It is city for the Jews, for the Christians and for the Muslims and the world’s interest is not limited to holy and historical building but goes beyond toward the city and its unique culture and civilizations.
Jerusalem for All must not be left to the Israelis to make the decisions that affect other communities, and the world must never allow Israel to continue with its ethnic cleansing and exclusions of all non-Jews from the city. In the same time, the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah and Gaza lacks the vision and credibility to represent the interests of all citizens of Jerusalem, Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Jerusalem for All is too important to be left to the Lieberman and the Netanyahu of the Jews and too important to left to the like of Marion (Pat) Robertson and US Christian -Zionists and too important to be left to the like of Abbas or Qurai. What Jerusalem need more than any other times, is international leadership that has the qualifications and competence to represent and look after the interest of ALL the people of Jerusalem, Jews, Muslims and Christians.
Next May 2008, Israel announced that both former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush will lead the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Israel. Of course both presidents will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of a country that continues to be at war with all of its neighbors, they are celebrating a state that until now does not have declared borders and believe that its borders should be decided by its army. Both former presidents will be celebrating Israel that hosted more than 1 million Palestinians in its jails during the last 40 years. Both presidents will be celebrating a state that dropped more than one million cluster bombs on civilians’ targets in Lebanon and the forced exiles of more than 5 million Palestinians. This is a country that forbids (Arab) Muslims and Christians of a certain age from entering the city.
Both presidents will be celebrating the birth of country that builds Apartheid Wall separating Palestinians from their homes, families and farms and schools. They will be celebrating a country with a policy of destroying Palestinian homes as a matter of standard public policy. They are celebrating a nation whose legislative body in the middle of the night passes legislation depriving Palestinians of their rightful property. First they ethnically cleans the city of its Arab citizens and then they pass legislation to take over their properties under the laws of Absentee ownership.
Jerusalem of All is too important to be left to Palestinian and Israel leadership to decide the future of such city. What we need is to gather more than one million person in Washington, yes, Washington, to demonstrate and demand a Jerusalem for All, to take place and coincide with Israel celebration of its 60th anniversary. A million will be a good message for the American administration which the political and financial sponsor of Israeli Occupation of Jerusalem and a strong message to US Congress that the people of the world will not accept any thing less than a Jerusalem for All. An open, united city for Jews, Christians and Muslims and a city for the world.
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Time to Start Monitoring Teachings and Text Books of Jewish Yeshivas! Jewish Yeshiva Students Spiting on the Face of Christian Clergymen.
posted 16/11/07
The Washington Post on October 18th carried a story that an organization called US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommend the closing down of the Saudi Academy based in Alexandria, VA under the pretext that the Saudi Academy follows curriculum that teaches and promote hate of Jews, Christians and Shiites. Of course and as expected the organization did not bother to see and review the books used at the US based school, relying on hearsay and what it is told to do by powerful Christian-Zionist organizations and the Jewish lobby.
That of course reminded me of a story that I can across couple of days ago. Haaretz the Israeli daily carried in its 12/12/2004 a story written by Amiram Barkat titled ” Christians in Jerusalem Wants Jews to Stop Spitting on Them” a story that no American newspaper dared to publish and no columnist dare to write about out of fear of retaliations by certain Jewish groups in the US and certainly out of fear of losing their jobs and advertising revenue.
I am not so surprised by such behaviors of these Jewish Yeshivas students who for the most part are sponsored by US Jewish groups and who have no job in life other than to study the Torah and the Talmud and harass Palestinians on a daily basis when not in classes, destroying their farms and killing their live stocks and poisoning water wells, and committing frauds with substantial funding support from major and well known Jewish sponsors as they go about trying to take over Palestinian properties, by hooks and by crooks.
It seems the Jewish Yeshivas students are no different from Muslims studying in the Madrasas of Pakistan, who are taught to distain and contempt for other religions who are the subject of monitoring by this organization called US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Of course, we all know and we are reminded on a daily basis by Jewish and Christian organizations in the US of the efforts they put in monitoring Muslim schools. Of course this organization and others like it, never bother to look into what the Rabbis teach at these Jewish Yeshivas. Certainly they do not teach love they neighbor or teach the Ten Commandments.
However when the issue comes to Jewish Yeshivas students being taught by Rabbis to hate others, contempt for non-Jews and revenge with claimed sources in the Torah and the Talmud, no one bother to dare question any thing that goes on within these Yeshivas. One has to wonder what is the difference between the Muslim students at the Madrasas and the Jewish Yeshivas students who have nothing but contempt for others? Why the teaching of one is wrong and the teaching of the other is ok? Why do these organizations dare to challenge the Madrasas but not the Yeshivas?
The report in Haaretz goes on to state that many Christians clergymen have been subjected to such abuse by these Jewish Yeshivas students who are being taught modern Zionism and modern Jewish values. It is too bad Israeli judicial and police institutions do not take any actions to stop such abuse and in fact look the other way when such incidents take place. This reminds me of the days when police in the South used to look away when racists Whites harass and abuse Blacks even lynching them. What is the difference between the behaviors of these racists Whites and the actions of these Jewish Yeshivas students? Non what so ever.
Not only due these Jewish Yeshivas students spit on the face of Christian clergymen but also spit at the very symbol of Christianity, the Cross. The report include an incident where a young Jewish Yeshivas student” spat on the Cross being carried by the Armenian Archbishop during a procession near the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City, the archbishop’s 17th century cross was broken during the brawl”.
Such incidents are not isolated. Yesterday, the same Israeli newspaper, Haaretz carried a video of Jewish settlers hurling stones and kicking innocent Palestinians in Hebron, and shows young Jewish women hurling Molotov cocktail against Palestinians homes in the old city of Hebron. All of this takes place, whiles the Israel Army stand nearby protecting Jewish groups as they go about committing Crystal Nights against Palestinians on daily basis. No one could forget the behavior of young Nazis as they went about destroying Jewish properties in Munich, why should we allow these Yeshivas students and Jewish settlers commit the same crimes committed by the Nazis.
Perhaps Muslims and Arab Christians should form US based organization to look into the teaching of all Jewish Yeshivas and see and review what the Rabbis are teaching these young people. Would the US Commission on International Religious Freedom include Jewish Yeshivas in Israel within its scope of activities? Documented evidence is all over the place confirming Israeli Jewish Yeshivas teaches hates, contempt and even promote killing and murder of Palestinians and non-Jews. The behavior toward Christian clergymen in Jerusalem is a result and a byproduct of such teachings.
The Washington Post on October 18th carried a story that an organization called US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommend the closing down of the Saudi Academy based in Alexandria, VA under the pretext that the Saudi Academy follows curriculum that teaches and promote hate of Jews, Christians and Shiites. Of course and as expected the organization did not bother to see and review the books used at the US based school, relying on hearsay and what it is told to do by powerful Christian-Zionist organizations and the Jewish lobby.
That of course reminded me of a story that I can across couple of days ago. Haaretz the Israeli daily carried in its 12/12/2004 a story written by Amiram Barkat titled ” Christians in Jerusalem Wants Jews to Stop Spitting on Them” a story that no American newspaper dared to publish and no columnist dare to write about out of fear of retaliations by certain Jewish groups in the US and certainly out of fear of losing their jobs and advertising revenue.
I am not so surprised by such behaviors of these Jewish Yeshivas students who for the most part are sponsored by US Jewish groups and who have no job in life other than to study the Torah and the Talmud and harass Palestinians on a daily basis when not in classes, destroying their farms and killing their live stocks and poisoning water wells, and committing frauds with substantial funding support from major and well known Jewish sponsors as they go about trying to take over Palestinian properties, by hooks and by crooks.
It seems the Jewish Yeshivas students are no different from Muslims studying in the Madrasas of Pakistan, who are taught to distain and contempt for other religions who are the subject of monitoring by this organization called US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Of course, we all know and we are reminded on a daily basis by Jewish and Christian organizations in the US of the efforts they put in monitoring Muslim schools. Of course this organization and others like it, never bother to look into what the Rabbis teach at these Jewish Yeshivas. Certainly they do not teach love they neighbor or teach the Ten Commandments.
However when the issue comes to Jewish Yeshivas students being taught by Rabbis to hate others, contempt for non-Jews and revenge with claimed sources in the Torah and the Talmud, no one bother to dare question any thing that goes on within these Yeshivas. One has to wonder what is the difference between the Muslim students at the Madrasas and the Jewish Yeshivas students who have nothing but contempt for others? Why the teaching of one is wrong and the teaching of the other is ok? Why do these organizations dare to challenge the Madrasas but not the Yeshivas?
The report in Haaretz goes on to state that many Christians clergymen have been subjected to such abuse by these Jewish Yeshivas students who are being taught modern Zionism and modern Jewish values. It is too bad Israeli judicial and police institutions do not take any actions to stop such abuse and in fact look the other way when such incidents take place. This reminds me of the days when police in the South used to look away when racists Whites harass and abuse Blacks even lynching them. What is the difference between the behaviors of these racists Whites and the actions of these Jewish Yeshivas students? Non what so ever.
Not only due these Jewish Yeshivas students spit on the face of Christian clergymen but also spit at the very symbol of Christianity, the Cross. The report include an incident where a young Jewish Yeshivas student” spat on the Cross being carried by the Armenian Archbishop during a procession near the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City, the archbishop’s 17th century cross was broken during the brawl”.
Such incidents are not isolated. Yesterday, the same Israeli newspaper, Haaretz carried a video of Jewish settlers hurling stones and kicking innocent Palestinians in Hebron, and shows young Jewish women hurling Molotov cocktail against Palestinians homes in the old city of Hebron. All of this takes place, whiles the Israel Army stand nearby protecting Jewish groups as they go about committing Crystal Nights against Palestinians on daily basis. No one could forget the behavior of young Nazis as they went about destroying Jewish properties in Munich, why should we allow these Yeshivas students and Jewish settlers commit the same crimes committed by the Nazis.
Perhaps Muslims and Arab Christians should form US based organization to look into the teaching of all Jewish Yeshivas and see and review what the Rabbis are teaching these young people. Would the US Commission on International Religious Freedom include Jewish Yeshivas in Israel within its scope of activities? Documented evidence is all over the place confirming Israeli Jewish Yeshivas teaches hates, contempt and even promote killing and murder of Palestinians and non-Jews. The behavior toward Christian clergymen in Jerusalem is a result and a byproduct of such teachings.
God Makes Frequent Visits to Virginia Beach to Meet with Marion Robertson; I wonder if Home Land Security Submit God for Finger Printing?
posted 15/11/07
Few weeks left for Marion Robertson (Pat) prediction of the end of the world and of course the coming of Christ and the destruction of the Jews or their conversion and the appointment of Marion Robertson as the Prime Minister of a new Israel.
It seems that Marion Robertson who became a multimillion selling PS too many of his listeners on the 700 Club is the only one God chose to speak to. Even George Bush and Bin Laden, or the Pop do not claim special relationship with God and do not make the same claim that Marion makes.
You see God actually has nothing to do and when HE gets bored about the many ills of the world and gets fed up with the prayers of the poor and the forgotten of the world decided to take brake from world affairs and descends to Marion house in his bedroom and wakes Marion up for a chat and advice. We do not know if Marion wife is present during these very frequent visits from God since Marion do not share with us the setting for God’s visit to Marion and does not share with us if God gets a hot glass of milk since HE travels a long way to meet with Marion.
Well, Marion tells his 700 Club that God told him during a January 2007 visit that the US will be hit with a terrible attack that kills tens of thousands. Of course Marion claims he was not clear whether the attach is nuclear or not. However Marion is sure the world will come to an end, cheating George Bush out of his last year in office.
With frequent visits from God, Marion tells us on another occasion this time on 6 May 2006 that a great Tsunami will hit the Northwest with catastrophic storm. Well, it seems that God changed his mind without clearing it with Marion.
Marion is not only an expert on things that has to do with God, or the last day, but he also an expert on leftist professors who terrorizes American universities and poison the minds of clean cut Americans. On a March 21, 2006 televised 700 Cub, Marion commenting on David Horowitz book ” The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America” claims there are some thirty to forty thousands left wing professors who are murderers, racists, sexual deviants and supporters of Al-Qaeda. Of course to Horowitz and Marion these professors do not meet the requirement of the obligatory loyalty to Israel and to Zionism, and as such they are deemed enemies of Israel and subsequently of the US.
Forty years after the 1967 War and the conquest of Israel of the Dome of the Rock and East Jerusalem, Marion believes, not so sure if God made such a visit Virginia, that the end of the world is coming and we need to prepare for the second coming of Christ. Of course, Muslims and Jews will be put to the sword, except those who sign up for Marion 700 Club and of course if one is to follow up the teaching of Marion blood will flow in Jerusalem and will reach the neck, much more than when the Crusaders killed over 70,000 Jews and Muslims when they conquered Jerusalem.
Now Marion is a close ally of theocratic Jews like the late Rabbi Meir Kahana who believed and taught his disciples that war against the Arabs and Muslims is a must and that killing of Arabs and Muslims is a way to salvation and the creation of a true Jewish state that has no room for secular Jews.
Tens of thousands of Kahana followers known as the Hill Top Jews receive substantial funding and subsidies from both Israel and the US. These Hill Top Jews well organized and well trained to carry out terrorist’s activities against Palestinians receive much logistical support and protections from the Israel Defense Forces as they go about terrorizing Palestinian population and go about shooting and killings.
These Hill Top Jews, who are professionals at stealing Palestinian properties and destruction of Palestinians farms and live stock are committed to war and committed to the spelling of blood, both Jewish and Arabs as a way to redeem themselves and of course to help and expedite the coming of the Messiah.
While Marion and the Hill Top Jews are allies, it seems that Marion is much more of a buddy to God while the Hill Top Jews are much closer to the Messiah. As a Muslim, I have to admit, I am very confused if the Messiah of the Hill Top Jews is the same as God, Marion’s friend. However I do think I read somewhere that the coming Messiah is not God, but the Messiah who rules before God takes over and destroys everything.
Tens of thousands of Jews from all over the US and in Israel make annual pilgrim to the grave of Rabbi Kahana grave. The Rabbi, keeping to the good teaching of the Torah, advocated revenge and the killing and murder of Arabs and their forced transfer out of Israel. It seems that substantial number of Jews and Christians have some thing in common with our Muslim Jihadists. All believe in revenge, killing, murder, death, and blood, destruction of communities as a way to please the gods and as a way to salvation. Perhaps Bin Laden and the Kach Jews should each have their own 700 Club as a not for profit 503 (C) American organization.
Waiting for the next visit from God to Marion in Virginia Beach, stay good and do good since the end is coming in couple of weeks. If you are an American executive with business in sub-prime lending, I suggest you should fleece the largest number of the poor and wicked before it is too late and take the money and invest it with Marion 700 Club, since he is a good buddy with God and you will be assured of a first class trip to heaven. Marion just might, invite you to meet God for cocktail
Few weeks left for Marion Robertson (Pat) prediction of the end of the world and of course the coming of Christ and the destruction of the Jews or their conversion and the appointment of Marion Robertson as the Prime Minister of a new Israel.
It seems that Marion Robertson who became a multimillion selling PS too many of his listeners on the 700 Club is the only one God chose to speak to. Even George Bush and Bin Laden, or the Pop do not claim special relationship with God and do not make the same claim that Marion makes.
You see God actually has nothing to do and when HE gets bored about the many ills of the world and gets fed up with the prayers of the poor and the forgotten of the world decided to take brake from world affairs and descends to Marion house in his bedroom and wakes Marion up for a chat and advice. We do not know if Marion wife is present during these very frequent visits from God since Marion do not share with us the setting for God’s visit to Marion and does not share with us if God gets a hot glass of milk since HE travels a long way to meet with Marion.
Well, Marion tells his 700 Club that God told him during a January 2007 visit that the US will be hit with a terrible attack that kills tens of thousands. Of course Marion claims he was not clear whether the attach is nuclear or not. However Marion is sure the world will come to an end, cheating George Bush out of his last year in office.
With frequent visits from God, Marion tells us on another occasion this time on 6 May 2006 that a great Tsunami will hit the Northwest with catastrophic storm. Well, it seems that God changed his mind without clearing it with Marion.
Marion is not only an expert on things that has to do with God, or the last day, but he also an expert on leftist professors who terrorizes American universities and poison the minds of clean cut Americans. On a March 21, 2006 televised 700 Cub, Marion commenting on David Horowitz book ” The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America” claims there are some thirty to forty thousands left wing professors who are murderers, racists, sexual deviants and supporters of Al-Qaeda. Of course to Horowitz and Marion these professors do not meet the requirement of the obligatory loyalty to Israel and to Zionism, and as such they are deemed enemies of Israel and subsequently of the US.
Forty years after the 1967 War and the conquest of Israel of the Dome of the Rock and East Jerusalem, Marion believes, not so sure if God made such a visit Virginia, that the end of the world is coming and we need to prepare for the second coming of Christ. Of course, Muslims and Jews will be put to the sword, except those who sign up for Marion 700 Club and of course if one is to follow up the teaching of Marion blood will flow in Jerusalem and will reach the neck, much more than when the Crusaders killed over 70,000 Jews and Muslims when they conquered Jerusalem.
Now Marion is a close ally of theocratic Jews like the late Rabbi Meir Kahana who believed and taught his disciples that war against the Arabs and Muslims is a must and that killing of Arabs and Muslims is a way to salvation and the creation of a true Jewish state that has no room for secular Jews.
Tens of thousands of Kahana followers known as the Hill Top Jews receive substantial funding and subsidies from both Israel and the US. These Hill Top Jews well organized and well trained to carry out terrorist’s activities against Palestinians receive much logistical support and protections from the Israel Defense Forces as they go about terrorizing Palestinian population and go about shooting and killings.
These Hill Top Jews, who are professionals at stealing Palestinian properties and destruction of Palestinians farms and live stock are committed to war and committed to the spelling of blood, both Jewish and Arabs as a way to redeem themselves and of course to help and expedite the coming of the Messiah.
While Marion and the Hill Top Jews are allies, it seems that Marion is much more of a buddy to God while the Hill Top Jews are much closer to the Messiah. As a Muslim, I have to admit, I am very confused if the Messiah of the Hill Top Jews is the same as God, Marion’s friend. However I do think I read somewhere that the coming Messiah is not God, but the Messiah who rules before God takes over and destroys everything.
Tens of thousands of Jews from all over the US and in Israel make annual pilgrim to the grave of Rabbi Kahana grave. The Rabbi, keeping to the good teaching of the Torah, advocated revenge and the killing and murder of Arabs and their forced transfer out of Israel. It seems that substantial number of Jews and Christians have some thing in common with our Muslim Jihadists. All believe in revenge, killing, murder, death, and blood, destruction of communities as a way to please the gods and as a way to salvation. Perhaps Bin Laden and the Kach Jews should each have their own 700 Club as a not for profit 503 (C) American organization.
Waiting for the next visit from God to Marion in Virginia Beach, stay good and do good since the end is coming in couple of weeks. If you are an American executive with business in sub-prime lending, I suggest you should fleece the largest number of the poor and wicked before it is too late and take the money and invest it with Marion 700 Club, since he is a good buddy with God and you will be assured of a first class trip to heaven. Marion just might, invite you to meet God for cocktail
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Aljazeera International, it is about time!
posted 17/11/06
Aljazeera International was launched last week with generous funding by the Emir of Qatar. I have to admit I am one of those living in the west for such a long time, who simply stopped watching US television and CNN with the exception of PBS when I am home.
From what I read in the press and reviews, Aljazeera International will be broadcasting 24/7 and promoted as the international satellite channel with a mission to bring the views of those long neglected by the US and western media.
Shortly after September 11, the New York Times, CBS and ABC, the German and Japanese televisions visited our house in Fairfax, Virginia to see where someone like me, and Arab-American, professional and a US Army veteran gets the news and of course it is from Aljazeera, certainly not Fox News or CNN.
My biggest complaint about the US and western media is the fact that it does not give fair coverage of the Palestinians under occupation, Israel’s continued occupation, its destructions of entire town and villages and uprooting of trees and its failure to cover the crimes of Israel and its crimes of occupation and give coverage only to the “innocent” Israeli victims and its captive soldiers and never mention the more than 10,000 innocent Palestinians hostages in Israeli jails. Even an organization like the BBC gives 5% coverage to the Palestinians while giving Israel 95% of its coverage.
One of the main reasons that I watch PBS is the in-depth coverage of major news, its independence of certain pressure political and religious lobbies and groups and most of its famous program “Front Line” There is no other similar program with such in-depth coverage of issues and topic. If I want to get my information right, I turn to PBS and watch Front Line and of course I do watch Aljazeera. These are my two souce of news, with Alarabia to follow.
Yes, it is time for Aljazeera International and yes, it is also time for people of the world to have a different perspective on the news from that of CNN, Fox and BBC, and yes, it is time for the news from Africa, Asia and the Middle East to be a focus of an international news organization and not simple sound bites.
The Arabs should have invested in such an international news organization some 20 years ago. However all is not lost and it is never too late. Israel and its Zionist agenda always have an open forum in US media especially Fox News and major newspapers and the Arab point of view hardly ever get a hearing. There is never fair coverage.
I am watching Aljazeera International now as I write this note, and all I can say, it is very professional and yes, it does give major coverage to Arab and Muslim issues and yes, there is nothing wrong with that and yes it is time to challenge the primacy of the CNN.
I thank Qatar for the challenge it has taken to bring issues of concern by the people in the Middle East, Africa and Asia to the forefront and give the people of the world a different perspective on the news and issues coming out of the region. It is time for the people of Africa, Asia and the Middle East to tell their stories without going through censorship and without going through filters and too much editing by news editors sitting in New York, Washington or London and who can be fired at any time for taking Israel and its crimes on. News editors are always at the mercy of the Israeli lobby and serve its wishes.
Aljazeera International was launched last week with generous funding by the Emir of Qatar. I have to admit I am one of those living in the west for such a long time, who simply stopped watching US television and CNN with the exception of PBS when I am home.
From what I read in the press and reviews, Aljazeera International will be broadcasting 24/7 and promoted as the international satellite channel with a mission to bring the views of those long neglected by the US and western media.
Shortly after September 11, the New York Times, CBS and ABC, the German and Japanese televisions visited our house in Fairfax, Virginia to see where someone like me, and Arab-American, professional and a US Army veteran gets the news and of course it is from Aljazeera, certainly not Fox News or CNN.
My biggest complaint about the US and western media is the fact that it does not give fair coverage of the Palestinians under occupation, Israel’s continued occupation, its destructions of entire town and villages and uprooting of trees and its failure to cover the crimes of Israel and its crimes of occupation and give coverage only to the “innocent” Israeli victims and its captive soldiers and never mention the more than 10,000 innocent Palestinians hostages in Israeli jails. Even an organization like the BBC gives 5% coverage to the Palestinians while giving Israel 95% of its coverage.
One of the main reasons that I watch PBS is the in-depth coverage of major news, its independence of certain pressure political and religious lobbies and groups and most of its famous program “Front Line” There is no other similar program with such in-depth coverage of issues and topic. If I want to get my information right, I turn to PBS and watch Front Line and of course I do watch Aljazeera. These are my two souce of news, with Alarabia to follow.
Yes, it is time for Aljazeera International and yes, it is also time for people of the world to have a different perspective on the news from that of CNN, Fox and BBC, and yes, it is time for the news from Africa, Asia and the Middle East to be a focus of an international news organization and not simple sound bites.
The Arabs should have invested in such an international news organization some 20 years ago. However all is not lost and it is never too late. Israel and its Zionist agenda always have an open forum in US media especially Fox News and major newspapers and the Arab point of view hardly ever get a hearing. There is never fair coverage.
I am watching Aljazeera International now as I write this note, and all I can say, it is very professional and yes, it does give major coverage to Arab and Muslim issues and yes, there is nothing wrong with that and yes it is time to challenge the primacy of the CNN.
I thank Qatar for the challenge it has taken to bring issues of concern by the people in the Middle East, Africa and Asia to the forefront and give the people of the world a different perspective on the news and issues coming out of the region. It is time for the people of Africa, Asia and the Middle East to tell their stories without going through censorship and without going through filters and too much editing by news editors sitting in New York, Washington or London and who can be fired at any time for taking Israel and its crimes on. News editors are always at the mercy of the Israeli lobby and serve its wishes.
It takes Howard Stern 42 seconds to make $1,000 while it takes a policeman 43 hours to make the same amount. Something must be wrong!
posted 18/11/06
In its November 6 issue, Time Magazine, not only had an interesting cover and story on George Bush dubbing him the Lone Ranger, but it also ran an even more interesting story “Home Truth” about America; its politics, religion, income, population and population distribution and of course immigration, the subject of local election in the town of Herndon, Virginia, out to get those “illegal and dangerous immigrants”.
What struck me most about Time’s article was a little chart, a column of people, profession and income. It listed names and professions and the amount of money it takes to make $1,000. This is how it goes; Howard Stern, the radio host makes $1,000 in 42 seconds while a policemen and a teacher make the same amount of money in 43 hours. A janitor, no doubt an immigrant and possibly cleaning Howard Stern’ office makes that the same amount in 103 hours or 2.57 weeks and is at risk of being thrown out of country.
Of course all of us have heard of Howard Stern or even at one time or another watched his show late at night. But for someone to make that kind of money, $1,000, in 42 seconds is simply a telling a bout America and its core priorities. It takes Dr. Phil McGraw 2 minutes and 42 seconds to make a $1,000 and it takes an average doctor attending patients in a hospital or clinics 13 hours and 5 minutes to make the same amount of money that Dr. Phil makes telling people what they want to hear.
Howard Stern is the host of the Howard Stern Show on the subscription fee based Sirius Satellite Radio. He moved there on January 9, 2006 and his show is broadcast 4 times/week one week and 5 times/week another week.
Mr. Stern knew how to “outrage” America and how to insult its core sensibilities and laugh all the way to the bank. His show is all about things “outrageous” outrageous racial and sexual slurs and insults, and of course “outrageous” in the kind of people who appear o the show. That is where Americans seems not bothered with such payments.
With that kind of income disparity, it seems clear that America and its people put premium on outrageous things and do not give much value or don’t give a damn about critical services such as teaching, police and fire protection and of course medical services. It is hard to believe that our own teachers, policemen and firemen, the key elements in providing protection and education to our own families, children and homes are not thought of much and in most cases live on borrowed money and credit cards to make ends meet. I do not understand why we, in a county like Fairfax, perhaps the richest county in the US do not pay teachers, policemen and firemen, the average medium income for the county. What is wrong with policemen or firemen who put their lives on the line every day to make $80,000 or $100,000? I see nothing wrong with that. However I do see a lot wrong with someone like Howard Stern making $1,000 every 42 seconds only because he insults our sensibilities. It seems we always reward such TV and radio personalities for being outrageous and we do not reward our policemen, firemen and teachers because they are courageous and provide us with critical services. That is one reason why I do not subscribe to Sirius Radio, as I do not wish to contribute any money toward an ever-increasing income of someone like Howard Stern, but will be very happy to add few hundred dollars to my taxes to reward our own policemen, firemen and teachers in Fairfax County and across America. It is time to vote our dollars and recognition to those who deserve it and not to those who insult us.
In its November 6 issue, Time Magazine, not only had an interesting cover and story on George Bush dubbing him the Lone Ranger, but it also ran an even more interesting story “Home Truth” about America; its politics, religion, income, population and population distribution and of course immigration, the subject of local election in the town of Herndon, Virginia, out to get those “illegal and dangerous immigrants”.
What struck me most about Time’s article was a little chart, a column of people, profession and income. It listed names and professions and the amount of money it takes to make $1,000. This is how it goes; Howard Stern, the radio host makes $1,000 in 42 seconds while a policemen and a teacher make the same amount of money in 43 hours. A janitor, no doubt an immigrant and possibly cleaning Howard Stern’ office makes that the same amount in 103 hours or 2.57 weeks and is at risk of being thrown out of country.
Of course all of us have heard of Howard Stern or even at one time or another watched his show late at night. But for someone to make that kind of money, $1,000, in 42 seconds is simply a telling a bout America and its core priorities. It takes Dr. Phil McGraw 2 minutes and 42 seconds to make a $1,000 and it takes an average doctor attending patients in a hospital or clinics 13 hours and 5 minutes to make the same amount of money that Dr. Phil makes telling people what they want to hear.
Howard Stern is the host of the Howard Stern Show on the subscription fee based Sirius Satellite Radio. He moved there on January 9, 2006 and his show is broadcast 4 times/week one week and 5 times/week another week.
Mr. Stern knew how to “outrage” America and how to insult its core sensibilities and laugh all the way to the bank. His show is all about things “outrageous” outrageous racial and sexual slurs and insults, and of course “outrageous” in the kind of people who appear o the show. That is where Americans seems not bothered with such payments.
With that kind of income disparity, it seems clear that America and its people put premium on outrageous things and do not give much value or don’t give a damn about critical services such as teaching, police and fire protection and of course medical services. It is hard to believe that our own teachers, policemen and firemen, the key elements in providing protection and education to our own families, children and homes are not thought of much and in most cases live on borrowed money and credit cards to make ends meet. I do not understand why we, in a county like Fairfax, perhaps the richest county in the US do not pay teachers, policemen and firemen, the average medium income for the county. What is wrong with policemen or firemen who put their lives on the line every day to make $80,000 or $100,000? I see nothing wrong with that. However I do see a lot wrong with someone like Howard Stern making $1,000 every 42 seconds only because he insults our sensibilities. It seems we always reward such TV and radio personalities for being outrageous and we do not reward our policemen, firemen and teachers because they are courageous and provide us with critical services. That is one reason why I do not subscribe to Sirius Radio, as I do not wish to contribute any money toward an ever-increasing income of someone like Howard Stern, but will be very happy to add few hundred dollars to my taxes to reward our own policemen, firemen and teachers in Fairfax County and across America. It is time to vote our dollars and recognition to those who deserve it and not to those who insult us.
Why new Jewish immigrants are full of hate and racists, do they have a problem with being "Jewish" in the first place!
posted 19/11/06
“…. Settlement can thus develop under the protection of a force that is not dependent on the local population, behind an IRON WALL which they will be powerless to break down. ….a voluntary agreement is just not possible. As long as the Arabs preserve a gleam of hope that they will succeed in getting rid of us, nothing in the world can cause them to relinquish this hope, precisely because they are not a rubble but a living people. And a living people will be ready to yield on such fateful issues only when they give up all hope of getting rid of the Alien Settlers. Only then will extremist groups with their slogan ‘No, never’ lose their influence, and only then their influence be transferred to more moderate groups. And only then will the moderates offer suggestions for compromise. Then only will they begin bargaining with us on practical matters, such as guarantees against PUSHING THEM OUT, and equality of civil, and national rights.” With these word printed in Haaretz Daily 1923, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, the father of Revisionist Zionist, later the Likud declared his “Road Map” to get rid of the Palestinians, making sure they have no other choice but to give up all hope and accept the conditions laid out by the Zionist settlers. Transfer or Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians from Palestinians is the hard-core philosophy and ideology of Zionists, whether on the liberal left or the extreme right. Zionist leaders from Ben-Gurion, Moshe Sharett, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Haim Weizman, Yosef Weitz, Avigdor Lieberman, Shimon Perez, and Bibi Netanyahu among others, all subscribe to the racist and fascist ideas of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, not only to achieve a “Jewish Majority” in Palestine, but also to enable Israel and the Zionist movement to steal their land and property. It is a double edge sword with two missions achieved in one stroke. Of course to do that, the Zionist have to implement harsh measures, including the killing and murder of the largest number of innocent people. This was the case back in the 40’s and this is the case now in Gaza and the West Bank. Except this time around the Palestinians are not going anywhere. It is so ironic that the most committed advocates of such measures against the Palestinians happened to be European and American Jews, who somehow have some real issues and problems with being “Jewish” in their home countries. How could any one explain the ideology of these “immigrant/settlers” coming from Moldavia, Odessa or Poland or Brooklyn? These Jewish immigrants are so hostile, full of hate with racist attitude toward the Palestinian, not only they wish Palestinians simply disappear, but they also advocate their liquidations, assassinations and targeted killing. Of leading Palestinians as the case with the new deputy prime minister, Lieberman. They must have some serious psychological problems, perhaps too angry with themselves being born Jews. How can any one explain such attitude, ideology and philosophy? More to follow.
“…. Settlement can thus develop under the protection of a force that is not dependent on the local population, behind an IRON WALL which they will be powerless to break down. ….a voluntary agreement is just not possible. As long as the Arabs preserve a gleam of hope that they will succeed in getting rid of us, nothing in the world can cause them to relinquish this hope, precisely because they are not a rubble but a living people. And a living people will be ready to yield on such fateful issues only when they give up all hope of getting rid of the Alien Settlers. Only then will extremist groups with their slogan ‘No, never’ lose their influence, and only then their influence be transferred to more moderate groups. And only then will the moderates offer suggestions for compromise. Then only will they begin bargaining with us on practical matters, such as guarantees against PUSHING THEM OUT, and equality of civil, and national rights.” With these word printed in Haaretz Daily 1923, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, the father of Revisionist Zionist, later the Likud declared his “Road Map” to get rid of the Palestinians, making sure they have no other choice but to give up all hope and accept the conditions laid out by the Zionist settlers. Transfer or Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians from Palestinians is the hard-core philosophy and ideology of Zionists, whether on the liberal left or the extreme right. Zionist leaders from Ben-Gurion, Moshe Sharett, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Haim Weizman, Yosef Weitz, Avigdor Lieberman, Shimon Perez, and Bibi Netanyahu among others, all subscribe to the racist and fascist ideas of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, not only to achieve a “Jewish Majority” in Palestine, but also to enable Israel and the Zionist movement to steal their land and property. It is a double edge sword with two missions achieved in one stroke. Of course to do that, the Zionist have to implement harsh measures, including the killing and murder of the largest number of innocent people. This was the case back in the 40’s and this is the case now in Gaza and the West Bank. Except this time around the Palestinians are not going anywhere. It is so ironic that the most committed advocates of such measures against the Palestinians happened to be European and American Jews, who somehow have some real issues and problems with being “Jewish” in their home countries. How could any one explain the ideology of these “immigrant/settlers” coming from Moldavia, Odessa or Poland or Brooklyn? These Jewish immigrants are so hostile, full of hate with racist attitude toward the Palestinian, not only they wish Palestinians simply disappear, but they also advocate their liquidations, assassinations and targeted killing. Of leading Palestinians as the case with the new deputy prime minister, Lieberman. They must have some serious psychological problems, perhaps too angry with themselves being born Jews. How can any one explain such attitude, ideology and philosophy? More to follow.
Lebanon, more democracy to match it’s freedoms.
posted 19/11/06
In today’s Asharqalwsat, the columnist Samir Atallah used a quote from the former Lebanese prime minister, and I might add a Sunni, a quote that made me stop to think about writing this posting. Dr. Salim Al-Hos, alumni of Indiana University, was quoted as saying that Lebanon is about lots of freedoms and little democracy. How can any one disagree with that?
Lebanese, like Israelis always brag about their “democracy” and how their respective countries are a light unto other nations. Well, let us not take such statements too seriously otherwise George Bush might get a new ideas about democracy at home, in the US.
The sad facts and in both cases, in Israel and Lebanon, are built around and are “designer” democracy where ethnicity and religious affiliation, sectarian loyalty are at the core of such democracies. We know about the Jewish State and its special and selective democracy, where generals, murderers and criminals rule the country just like a mafia. In Lebanon, it “families” that rule Lebanon and it is the sectarian affiliation that is the basis for such a state. How can both countries, in the 21st century meets the requirements of modern day democracy, where citizenship, its rights and privileges are not based on religious affiliations and ethnicity, but where citizens are equal in the eyes of the law irrespective of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin.
In Israel non-Jews are thirds, perhaps tenth class citizens with rights and privileges are exclusive of Jews and where indigenous people, the “natives” Palestinians are at the mercy of the Jewish state every day of the week, with the possibilities of losing their property and land if not their lives to trigger happy and new Jewish immigrants.
Lebanon was and will always remain, a sectarian state, where citizenship and its rights and privileges are always defined by ‘religious affiliation” or “taifa”, not simply with the birthright. Where loyalties even among the most educated belong to the leadership of the “taifa” and not to the state. Lebanon is also most famous for its “families” like the Jumblat, Shamoun, Jemael, Arsalan, Asa’ad, Frenjeih and recently Harriri. So far Sayed Hassan Nasrallah and Nabih Berri did not try to build a ‘dynasty” where the mantle of power and authority is passed on from father to son irrespective of competence.
For a long time there was a collusion between the Maronite Christians and their Beiruti Sunnis where political and economic powers where shared between these two groups. The late Rafiq Al-Hariri changed all that being the son of Said and not Beirut. Lebanon is also the country, with the support of the late Hafiz Assad that appointed a criminal and mass murderer of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatilla as a minister. Also in Lebanon, leaders of militias responsible for the murder and killings of hundreds of thousands are the rulers and decision makers in the country, and where those responsible for the disappearance of tens of thousands roam free and are considered ‘socialites” invited to the best of restaurants and to national debates that determine the future of the nation.
Perhaps what Lebanon needs more of, is democracy to match its freedoms. Yes, there are lots of personal and social freedoms, but the most basic freedoms of all, the rights and privileges of citizens are dictated by old and rotten ideas of sectarian affiliations. Of course, unless and until such time, Lebanon gets over its “sectarian burden” Lebanon and its people will never be free and democratic. Of course Israel is a mental “Jewish” case and the only solution for Israel and its sectarian democracy is a one state solution, only then can the Jews reclaim the long stated phrase “a light unto other nations”. The only light now is the one coming from a tank and an F-16 killing and murdering people.
In today’s Asharqalwsat, the columnist Samir Atallah used a quote from the former Lebanese prime minister, and I might add a Sunni, a quote that made me stop to think about writing this posting. Dr. Salim Al-Hos, alumni of Indiana University, was quoted as saying that Lebanon is about lots of freedoms and little democracy. How can any one disagree with that?
Lebanese, like Israelis always brag about their “democracy” and how their respective countries are a light unto other nations. Well, let us not take such statements too seriously otherwise George Bush might get a new ideas about democracy at home, in the US.
The sad facts and in both cases, in Israel and Lebanon, are built around and are “designer” democracy where ethnicity and religious affiliation, sectarian loyalty are at the core of such democracies. We know about the Jewish State and its special and selective democracy, where generals, murderers and criminals rule the country just like a mafia. In Lebanon, it “families” that rule Lebanon and it is the sectarian affiliation that is the basis for such a state. How can both countries, in the 21st century meets the requirements of modern day democracy, where citizenship, its rights and privileges are not based on religious affiliations and ethnicity, but where citizens are equal in the eyes of the law irrespective of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin.
In Israel non-Jews are thirds, perhaps tenth class citizens with rights and privileges are exclusive of Jews and where indigenous people, the “natives” Palestinians are at the mercy of the Jewish state every day of the week, with the possibilities of losing their property and land if not their lives to trigger happy and new Jewish immigrants.
Lebanon was and will always remain, a sectarian state, where citizenship and its rights and privileges are always defined by ‘religious affiliation” or “taifa”, not simply with the birthright. Where loyalties even among the most educated belong to the leadership of the “taifa” and not to the state. Lebanon is also most famous for its “families” like the Jumblat, Shamoun, Jemael, Arsalan, Asa’ad, Frenjeih and recently Harriri. So far Sayed Hassan Nasrallah and Nabih Berri did not try to build a ‘dynasty” where the mantle of power and authority is passed on from father to son irrespective of competence.
For a long time there was a collusion between the Maronite Christians and their Beiruti Sunnis where political and economic powers where shared between these two groups. The late Rafiq Al-Hariri changed all that being the son of Said and not Beirut. Lebanon is also the country, with the support of the late Hafiz Assad that appointed a criminal and mass murderer of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatilla as a minister. Also in Lebanon, leaders of militias responsible for the murder and killings of hundreds of thousands are the rulers and decision makers in the country, and where those responsible for the disappearance of tens of thousands roam free and are considered ‘socialites” invited to the best of restaurants and to national debates that determine the future of the nation.
Perhaps what Lebanon needs more of, is democracy to match its freedoms. Yes, there are lots of personal and social freedoms, but the most basic freedoms of all, the rights and privileges of citizens are dictated by old and rotten ideas of sectarian affiliations. Of course, unless and until such time, Lebanon gets over its “sectarian burden” Lebanon and its people will never be free and democratic. Of course Israel is a mental “Jewish” case and the only solution for Israel and its sectarian democracy is a one state solution, only then can the Jews reclaim the long stated phrase “a light unto other nations”. The only light now is the one coming from a tank and an F-16 killing and murdering people.
Time for an Islamic Renaissance and to dump Al-Azhar.
posted 21/11/06
The case of the “top” Islamic cleric in Australia. Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly and his assumption that unveiled women invite rape and a similar retarded “fatwa” from Sheik Mohamed Kamal Mustafa, the former imam of the Spanish southern town of Fuengirola who published a book called” Women in Islam” in which he finds justifications if not promotion of “wife beating” as a way to solve marital problems and we need to add to that the likes of Syed Ikram Jilani of Oslo among others, raises serious problems and issues about how low can these “Islamic” clerics takes Islam.
Perhaps unlike other religions with a well defined hierarchy of “priest hood” and rabbinic hierarchy, there are no such hierarchies in Islam, and any Islamic hierarchy of “imams” is an invention of modern states but not of the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran has more faith and trust in the judgment of individuals that did trust in these new “inventions”.
These days, every Mohamed, Ali and Mahmoud or Taj eldin who failed at other professions becomes expert on Islam and takes over a mosques, such as the case in England, USA, Australia, among others, where mentally retarded and semi-illiterates becomes imams and start giving fatwas left and right and start to be the ugly, illiterate and retarded face of Islam.
As a testimony of how low these mentally retarded and illiterate imams came to be we are not surprise that some of these think that the mentally retarded and murderers Taliblans are the “perfect” caliphates putting forward the Taliban state as a model of an Islamic state. There must be something very wrong with these people. Simply mentally sick.
If Islam and early Muslims who opened the world to Islam where of such mentality and attitude, for sure Islam would not have left Mecca and would have been a religion that died before it started. These people and so many like them forget that Islam is a religion and faith of knowledge, of science, of education, of travel and most of all of social justice, with very strict and high standards of criminal accusation and convictions.
With so many of these illiterate and retarded imams, who not only hijacked our mosques, but also hijacked our faith, perhaps it is time for Islam to have another renaissance, similar to that of Europe in the Middle Ages. Perhaps what we need now more than ever is a “reformation movement” that will redefine again Islam as the way it was intended for “all ages”. Enough with today’s imams going back to thousands of years to find true and intelligent answers to days issue and concerns of Muslims. We all know that the “door” of “Ijtihad” or prudence was closed some centuries ago, as if modern day scholars are unable to reach for the truth except to going back in time. If Islam is the faith for all times, then we need scholars for the future and not only for the past and yes, why not for a new ‘reformation” movement that can take Islam to the future instead of keeping it in the past. Perhaps it is time for Muslims and those attending mosques to get more educated and more enlightened “imam:” than the retards we are getting these days to lead us in prayers. When I go to mosques I want to hear an intelligent and enlightened sermon, not to hear some imbecile who happens to recite few suras and never read another book in any language to give and share his ignorance with the believers. I am sure there are enough Islamic scholars in the US to take charge and lead us forward and liberate Muslims from retarded imams such as Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly or Sheik Mohamed Kamal Mustafa or someone like Abu-Hamza Al-Masry. It is time to throw out these retards out of the mosques and reclaims our mosques again. Who said that Al-Azhar have to be the only “religious” reference for Muslims. There are enough intelligent and smart scholars in the US and Europe to lead the way to an Islamic Renaissance.
The case of the “top” Islamic cleric in Australia. Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly and his assumption that unveiled women invite rape and a similar retarded “fatwa” from Sheik Mohamed Kamal Mustafa, the former imam of the Spanish southern town of Fuengirola who published a book called” Women in Islam” in which he finds justifications if not promotion of “wife beating” as a way to solve marital problems and we need to add to that the likes of Syed Ikram Jilani of Oslo among others, raises serious problems and issues about how low can these “Islamic” clerics takes Islam.
Perhaps unlike other religions with a well defined hierarchy of “priest hood” and rabbinic hierarchy, there are no such hierarchies in Islam, and any Islamic hierarchy of “imams” is an invention of modern states but not of the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran has more faith and trust in the judgment of individuals that did trust in these new “inventions”.
These days, every Mohamed, Ali and Mahmoud or Taj eldin who failed at other professions becomes expert on Islam and takes over a mosques, such as the case in England, USA, Australia, among others, where mentally retarded and semi-illiterates becomes imams and start giving fatwas left and right and start to be the ugly, illiterate and retarded face of Islam.
As a testimony of how low these mentally retarded and illiterate imams came to be we are not surprise that some of these think that the mentally retarded and murderers Taliblans are the “perfect” caliphates putting forward the Taliban state as a model of an Islamic state. There must be something very wrong with these people. Simply mentally sick.
If Islam and early Muslims who opened the world to Islam where of such mentality and attitude, for sure Islam would not have left Mecca and would have been a religion that died before it started. These people and so many like them forget that Islam is a religion and faith of knowledge, of science, of education, of travel and most of all of social justice, with very strict and high standards of criminal accusation and convictions.
With so many of these illiterate and retarded imams, who not only hijacked our mosques, but also hijacked our faith, perhaps it is time for Islam to have another renaissance, similar to that of Europe in the Middle Ages. Perhaps what we need now more than ever is a “reformation movement” that will redefine again Islam as the way it was intended for “all ages”. Enough with today’s imams going back to thousands of years to find true and intelligent answers to days issue and concerns of Muslims. We all know that the “door” of “Ijtihad” or prudence was closed some centuries ago, as if modern day scholars are unable to reach for the truth except to going back in time. If Islam is the faith for all times, then we need scholars for the future and not only for the past and yes, why not for a new ‘reformation” movement that can take Islam to the future instead of keeping it in the past. Perhaps it is time for Muslims and those attending mosques to get more educated and more enlightened “imam:” than the retards we are getting these days to lead us in prayers. When I go to mosques I want to hear an intelligent and enlightened sermon, not to hear some imbecile who happens to recite few suras and never read another book in any language to give and share his ignorance with the believers. I am sure there are enough Islamic scholars in the US to take charge and lead us forward and liberate Muslims from retarded imams such as Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly or Sheik Mohamed Kamal Mustafa or someone like Abu-Hamza Al-Masry. It is time to throw out these retards out of the mosques and reclaims our mosques again. Who said that Al-Azhar have to be the only “religious” reference for Muslims. There are enough intelligent and smart scholars in the US and Europe to lead the way to an Islamic Renaissance.
Time to bring the Lebanese civil war to an end!
posted 23/11/06
The assassination and cold-blooded murder of Pierre Jumael is a reminder that the Lebanese Civil War is not over yet and it will not be over until such time the Lebanese decide for themselves if they want a continuation of the war or they want a new, democratic and non-sectarian Lebanon.
I am one of those who may not forgive the Phalange Party and its leader Samir Geagea or the late Bashir Jumeal for the crimes committed in Sabra and Shatilla and the tens of thousands of innocent Lebanese killed during the war and the tens of thousands remain missing and specially their alliance with the criminal Israeli Defense Forces against Lebanon and against the Lebanese.
However the murder of the young and innocent Pierre Jumael is a cowardly act and it is intended to ignite the civil war again, and it is intended to make Lebanon again a blood path. I agree with Jihad Alkhazen when he said in his column today in Alhayat, that “ he does not accuse any one and does not exonerate any one” in this murder. However we know that both Syria and Israel have always played a major hand and roll in all political and sectarian assassination and always will have blood on their hands. The Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad is not different from his late father’s regime, with many murderers and killers high in government.
The murder of Rafiq Harriri, Basem Flehan, Samir Qasir, Gibran Tueni, George Hawi and the attempted murder of Marman Hamadi and May Shydiaq is a reminder of the long and murderous arms of the Syrian Ba’athist regime. No one believes that the late Ghazi Kan’an simply killed himself; he was murdered by the regime. Who else but Syria that killed Salim Al-Louzi and the late Kamal Jumblat?
What is surprising is the fact than non of the above murders have been solved and non of those accused of these murders and the murders of thousands of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatilla and Tel –Za’ater have ever been brought to trial. This is the sad thing about Lebanon. No one within Lebanon either have the determination, the skills not the courage to come forward and open a board of inquiry into all these murder and bring these murders to close, even it the accused are in absentia. No one can convince me that in all Lebanon, there are no competent and qualified criminal investigators that can open public hearing into these murders and attempted murder.
The murder of the young and innocent Pierre Jumael must be urgent calls for all Lebanese from all walks of life and from all political persuasions and religious sects to rise up to the occasion and have the courage once and for all and bring about a closer for the Lebanese Civil War. The first step will be for the Lebanese to hold a “referendum” on ending the sectarian system that is the cancer of Lebanon. It is time to go beyond Taif and to come up with something more original. Taif was to end the civil war, but not to rebuild Lebanon into a new modern and democratic state with religious and sectarian affiliation have no place and no role in Lebanese politics. It is time for all Lebanese to be equal citizens with equal opportunities. Let us never forget that Israel is the enemy number one for Lebanon, and always makes sure that the civil war never ends. It is time for the Lebanese to tell Syria and Israel that they are mature enough and that they will rebuild a new Lebanon that will be a challenge to Israel, Syria and the US and to all Arabs. May Allah/God have mercy on the soul of Pierre Jumael. Yes, he died a martyr for Lebanon.
The assassination and cold-blooded murder of Pierre Jumael is a reminder that the Lebanese Civil War is not over yet and it will not be over until such time the Lebanese decide for themselves if they want a continuation of the war or they want a new, democratic and non-sectarian Lebanon.
I am one of those who may not forgive the Phalange Party and its leader Samir Geagea or the late Bashir Jumeal for the crimes committed in Sabra and Shatilla and the tens of thousands of innocent Lebanese killed during the war and the tens of thousands remain missing and specially their alliance with the criminal Israeli Defense Forces against Lebanon and against the Lebanese.
However the murder of the young and innocent Pierre Jumael is a cowardly act and it is intended to ignite the civil war again, and it is intended to make Lebanon again a blood path. I agree with Jihad Alkhazen when he said in his column today in Alhayat, that “ he does not accuse any one and does not exonerate any one” in this murder. However we know that both Syria and Israel have always played a major hand and roll in all political and sectarian assassination and always will have blood on their hands. The Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad is not different from his late father’s regime, with many murderers and killers high in government.
The murder of Rafiq Harriri, Basem Flehan, Samir Qasir, Gibran Tueni, George Hawi and the attempted murder of Marman Hamadi and May Shydiaq is a reminder of the long and murderous arms of the Syrian Ba’athist regime. No one believes that the late Ghazi Kan’an simply killed himself; he was murdered by the regime. Who else but Syria that killed Salim Al-Louzi and the late Kamal Jumblat?
What is surprising is the fact than non of the above murders have been solved and non of those accused of these murders and the murders of thousands of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatilla and Tel –Za’ater have ever been brought to trial. This is the sad thing about Lebanon. No one within Lebanon either have the determination, the skills not the courage to come forward and open a board of inquiry into all these murder and bring these murders to close, even it the accused are in absentia. No one can convince me that in all Lebanon, there are no competent and qualified criminal investigators that can open public hearing into these murders and attempted murder.
The murder of the young and innocent Pierre Jumael must be urgent calls for all Lebanese from all walks of life and from all political persuasions and religious sects to rise up to the occasion and have the courage once and for all and bring about a closer for the Lebanese Civil War. The first step will be for the Lebanese to hold a “referendum” on ending the sectarian system that is the cancer of Lebanon. It is time to go beyond Taif and to come up with something more original. Taif was to end the civil war, but not to rebuild Lebanon into a new modern and democratic state with religious and sectarian affiliation have no place and no role in Lebanese politics. It is time for all Lebanese to be equal citizens with equal opportunities. Let us never forget that Israel is the enemy number one for Lebanon, and always makes sure that the civil war never ends. It is time for the Lebanese to tell Syria and Israel that they are mature enough and that they will rebuild a new Lebanon that will be a challenge to Israel, Syria and the US and to all Arabs. May Allah/God have mercy on the soul of Pierre Jumael. Yes, he died a martyr for Lebanon.
The recent election was a victory for America more than a victory for the Democrats.
posted 12/11/06
I have to admit, my entire family and I were so very happy with the Republican loss of both the House of Representative and the Senate and above all were very excited in particular with the loss of George Allen and the election of Jim Webb to the US Senate.
Yes, this past election was a referendum on George Bush and his policies of war on America, his war terrorism and his war on Iraq that his “Tel-Aviv” mafia got us in.
The election of George Bush was a declared war by the NeoCons and the evangelicals against American and all that it stood for. The election of George Bush in the first place was a war on a healthy and substantial budget surplus, which he and his friends squander on their own foolish adventure and it is nothing but a declaration of war on middle class American and the millions of taxpayers. George Bush chose greedy corporate American over his own people and we all know where did the hundreds of Billions of dollars left over from Bill Clinton went. It went to companies that took American for a ride and took the taxpayers for a ride.
The NeoCons declared war on America and its democratic values and tried to justify the erosion and suspensions of civil liberties and justified torture and abuse and murder of prisoners in the name of fighting terrorism and in the name of national securities. American, which was the most loved country during the Clinton years, became the most hated country during George Bush and Dick Chaney’s years. The NeoCons for their own personal and ideological gains which has nothing to do with the national interest of the US and it has every thing to do with “Tel-Aviv” made sure that George Bush followed their own path to self destruction and the war on Iraq, which was originally planned by Bibi and his Likkudist boys in Washington back in 1992-3 was a way to secure Israel and put American in grave danger. The war on Iraq did not provide the American people with more security, in fact it added a lot to our insecurity, and added a great deal to the resentment of America by so many people around the world.
The election loss of George Bush, his Republican Party, all of NeoCons and evangelical Zionists-Christians was a declaration of independence by the American people and a declaration and commitment to the moral and democratic values that made the US such a great country, admired for its democratic principals and more admired for its protections of civil and constitutional rights. The Republican Revolution was no less of a revolution than that of Hitler National Socialism and its war on the German people.
The Republican lost not because the Democrats put forward clear alternatives and put forward a clear plans to undo the damage done by George Bush in his 6 years in office, but because the American people no longer bought the lies of the White House and its political strategists. This election was a vindication that American will always be that great country with great values and principals and will always be the leader of the free and democratic world. Bush, Chaney, Rumsfled, Rice, Bolton, Faith, Edelman, Perle, Wolfowitz, Frumm, Robertson, Faldwell and all of the NeoCons are nothing but an exception to the rule and that American will always manage to make a self correction and bring back the country to the middle. Let us hope the Democrat will have the backbones to offer clear alternatives to George Bush and his NeoCons and offer a program of investing in American and its people and that exporting democracies is a good thing, when it is done by examples and not by B-52’s or F-16’s. Yes, there is so much good well out there for America and we hope the Democrats will make a good use of it. It is the good well of the people of the world that is the best guarantees for our security. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan proves the limited use and benefits of weapons and wars.
I have to admit, my entire family and I were so very happy with the Republican loss of both the House of Representative and the Senate and above all were very excited in particular with the loss of George Allen and the election of Jim Webb to the US Senate.
Yes, this past election was a referendum on George Bush and his policies of war on America, his war terrorism and his war on Iraq that his “Tel-Aviv” mafia got us in.
The election of George Bush was a declared war by the NeoCons and the evangelicals against American and all that it stood for. The election of George Bush in the first place was a war on a healthy and substantial budget surplus, which he and his friends squander on their own foolish adventure and it is nothing but a declaration of war on middle class American and the millions of taxpayers. George Bush chose greedy corporate American over his own people and we all know where did the hundreds of Billions of dollars left over from Bill Clinton went. It went to companies that took American for a ride and took the taxpayers for a ride.
The NeoCons declared war on America and its democratic values and tried to justify the erosion and suspensions of civil liberties and justified torture and abuse and murder of prisoners in the name of fighting terrorism and in the name of national securities. American, which was the most loved country during the Clinton years, became the most hated country during George Bush and Dick Chaney’s years. The NeoCons for their own personal and ideological gains which has nothing to do with the national interest of the US and it has every thing to do with “Tel-Aviv” made sure that George Bush followed their own path to self destruction and the war on Iraq, which was originally planned by Bibi and his Likkudist boys in Washington back in 1992-3 was a way to secure Israel and put American in grave danger. The war on Iraq did not provide the American people with more security, in fact it added a lot to our insecurity, and added a great deal to the resentment of America by so many people around the world.
The election loss of George Bush, his Republican Party, all of NeoCons and evangelical Zionists-Christians was a declaration of independence by the American people and a declaration and commitment to the moral and democratic values that made the US such a great country, admired for its democratic principals and more admired for its protections of civil and constitutional rights. The Republican Revolution was no less of a revolution than that of Hitler National Socialism and its war on the German people.
The Republican lost not because the Democrats put forward clear alternatives and put forward a clear plans to undo the damage done by George Bush in his 6 years in office, but because the American people no longer bought the lies of the White House and its political strategists. This election was a vindication that American will always be that great country with great values and principals and will always be the leader of the free and democratic world. Bush, Chaney, Rumsfled, Rice, Bolton, Faith, Edelman, Perle, Wolfowitz, Frumm, Robertson, Faldwell and all of the NeoCons are nothing but an exception to the rule and that American will always manage to make a self correction and bring back the country to the middle. Let us hope the Democrat will have the backbones to offer clear alternatives to George Bush and his NeoCons and offer a program of investing in American and its people and that exporting democracies is a good thing, when it is done by examples and not by B-52’s or F-16’s. Yes, there is so much good well out there for America and we hope the Democrats will make a good use of it. It is the good well of the people of the world that is the best guarantees for our security. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan proves the limited use and benefits of weapons and wars.
The recent election was a victory for America more than a victory for the Democrats.
posted 12/11/06
I have to admit, my entire family and I were so very happy with the Republican loss of both the House of Representative and the Senate and above all were very excited in particular with the loss of George Allen and the election of Jim Webb to the US Senate.
Yes, this past election was a referendum on George Bush and his policies of war on America, his war terrorism and his war on Iraq that his “Tel-Aviv” mafia got us in.
The election of George Bush was a declared war by the NeoCons and the evangelicals against American and all that it stood for. The election of George Bush in the first place was a war on a healthy and substantial budget surplus, which he and his friends squander on their own foolish adventure and it is nothing but a declaration of war on middle class American and the millions of taxpayers. George Bush chose greedy corporate American over his own people and we all know where did the hundreds of Billions of dollars left over from Bill Clinton went. It went to companies that took American for a ride and took the taxpayers for a ride.
The NeoCons declared war on America and its democratic values and tried to justify the erosion and suspensions of civil liberties and justified torture and abuse and murder of prisoners in the name of fighting terrorism and in the name of national securities. American, which was the most loved country during the Clinton years, became the most hated country during George Bush and Dick Chaney’s years. The NeoCons for their own personal and ideological gains which has nothing to do with the national interest of the US and it has every thing to do with “Tel-Aviv” made sure that George Bush followed their own path to self destruction and the war on Iraq, which was originally planned by Bibi and his Likkudist boys in Washington back in 1992-3 was a way to secure Israel and put American in grave danger. The war on Iraq did not provide the American people with more security, in fact it added a lot to our insecurity, and added a great deal to the resentment of America by so many people around the world.
The election loss of George Bush, his Republican Party, all of NeoCons and evangelical Zionists-Christians was a declaration of independence by the American people and a declaration and commitment to the moral and democratic values that made the US such a great country, admired for its democratic principals and more admired for its protections of civil and constitutional rights. The Republican Revolution was no less of a revolution than that of Hitler National Socialism and its war on the German people.
The Republican lost not because the Democrats put forward clear alternatives and put forward a clear plans to undo the damage done by George Bush in his 6 years in office, but because the American people no longer bought the lies of the White House and its political strategists. This election was a vindication that American will always be that great country with great values and principals and will always be the leader of the free and democratic world. Bush, Chaney, Rumsfled, Rice, Bolton, Faith, Edelman, Perle, Wolfowitz, Frumm, Robertson, Faldwell and all of the NeoCons are nothing but an exception to the rule and that American will always manage to make a self correction and bring back the country to the middle. Let us hope the Democrat will have the backbones to offer clear alternatives to George Bush and his NeoCons and offer a program of investing in American and its people and that exporting democracies is a good thing, when it is done by examples and not by B-52’s or F-16’s. Yes, there is so much good well out there for America and we hope the Democrats will make a good use of it. It is the good well of the people of the world that is the best guarantees for our security. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan proves the limited use and benefits of weapons and wars.
I have to admit, my entire family and I were so very happy with the Republican loss of both the House of Representative and the Senate and above all were very excited in particular with the loss of George Allen and the election of Jim Webb to the US Senate.
Yes, this past election was a referendum on George Bush and his policies of war on America, his war terrorism and his war on Iraq that his “Tel-Aviv” mafia got us in.
The election of George Bush was a declared war by the NeoCons and the evangelicals against American and all that it stood for. The election of George Bush in the first place was a war on a healthy and substantial budget surplus, which he and his friends squander on their own foolish adventure and it is nothing but a declaration of war on middle class American and the millions of taxpayers. George Bush chose greedy corporate American over his own people and we all know where did the hundreds of Billions of dollars left over from Bill Clinton went. It went to companies that took American for a ride and took the taxpayers for a ride.
The NeoCons declared war on America and its democratic values and tried to justify the erosion and suspensions of civil liberties and justified torture and abuse and murder of prisoners in the name of fighting terrorism and in the name of national securities. American, which was the most loved country during the Clinton years, became the most hated country during George Bush and Dick Chaney’s years. The NeoCons for their own personal and ideological gains which has nothing to do with the national interest of the US and it has every thing to do with “Tel-Aviv” made sure that George Bush followed their own path to self destruction and the war on Iraq, which was originally planned by Bibi and his Likkudist boys in Washington back in 1992-3 was a way to secure Israel and put American in grave danger. The war on Iraq did not provide the American people with more security, in fact it added a lot to our insecurity, and added a great deal to the resentment of America by so many people around the world.
The election loss of George Bush, his Republican Party, all of NeoCons and evangelical Zionists-Christians was a declaration of independence by the American people and a declaration and commitment to the moral and democratic values that made the US such a great country, admired for its democratic principals and more admired for its protections of civil and constitutional rights. The Republican Revolution was no less of a revolution than that of Hitler National Socialism and its war on the German people.
The Republican lost not because the Democrats put forward clear alternatives and put forward a clear plans to undo the damage done by George Bush in his 6 years in office, but because the American people no longer bought the lies of the White House and its political strategists. This election was a vindication that American will always be that great country with great values and principals and will always be the leader of the free and democratic world. Bush, Chaney, Rumsfled, Rice, Bolton, Faith, Edelman, Perle, Wolfowitz, Frumm, Robertson, Faldwell and all of the NeoCons are nothing but an exception to the rule and that American will always manage to make a self correction and bring back the country to the middle. Let us hope the Democrat will have the backbones to offer clear alternatives to George Bush and his NeoCons and offer a program of investing in American and its people and that exporting democracies is a good thing, when it is done by examples and not by B-52’s or F-16’s. Yes, there is so much good well out there for America and we hope the Democrats will make a good use of it. It is the good well of the people of the world that is the best guarantees for our security. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan proves the limited use and benefits of weapons and wars.
Bush and Rice justify and support Israel’s cold blooded murder in Beit Hanoun.
posted 12/11/06
For over 50 years, the Arabs are convinced that only the US can solve the Arab-Israeli conflicts. The same is true of so many Palestinian- Americans who share the views that the US is very much interested in peace in the Middle East and convinced that the US is interested in settling once and for all the Arab-Israeli conflict. I am one of those who disagree with all of this non-sense and who sees the US not only a party to the conflict on the side of Israel but share in the daily crimes committed by Israel toward the Palestinian people and recently the Lebanese.
The recent veto by the US of a draft resolution holding Israel responsible for the massacre of so many innocent civilians in Beit Hanoun and the more than 38 vetoes in support of Israel, its crimes and its continued occupation should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the US is, was never interested in peace in the Middle East, and in fact the US is one of the promoters and sponsors of all of the conflicts between the Arabs and Israel and could not, even if it wants to, due to domestic political reasons, sponsor any efforts that could lead to real peace between Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and the Arabs.
US foreign policies from the days of Lyndon Johnson to Bush Jr., was always against the Arab interests even as they pursue genuine peace with Israel. And it is not all because of the influence of the Israeli/Jewish lobby, which has something to do with it, but long established policy directives that want to keep the Middle East a source of conflict and instability drive US policies in the Middle East. Other wise the US is perhaps in the best position to push for and demand an immediate halt to the violence and conflict and can in no time organize a world conference between Israel and the Arab countries and push for a total and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflict.
The recent veto can only demonstrate that this Bush administration lacks any sense of moral values, and even devoid of any of its often-pronounced Judea-Christian values. How can a cold-blooded murder of innocent people of an entire family be justified? Even criminal Israel admitted the killings and murder in Beit Hanoun to be a technical mistake, yet Ms. Rice and Mr. Bush could never see any thing wrong with killing and murder of innocent Palestinian and could not see any thing wrong with killing of innocent Arabs. To Bush and Rice, the only good Arab is a dead Arab. This is the same Ms. Rice who not too long ago stood up and spoke at the annual conference of the American Task Force for Palestine and gave its commitments to do something about the daily crimes committed by Israel and who promised to work toward peace. It seem that peace is one defined by death.
The US is always covering up for Israel and always covering up for the daily crimes committed by Israel and its criminal army, and always find a way not only to provide international cover for such crimes, but fund it as well. We as taxpayers pay for all of the bombs and weapons that kill Palestinians and killed Lebanese. Someone like the ex-senator from Virginia, George Allen gave Tel-Aviv more than $30 BIILION, tens time the money he voted to give to his state of Virginia.
One day all of this will catch up with Israeli leaders, and US who will sooner than later will have to face international tribunals for the daily international crimes committed by Israel and its defense forces. For those who think the US is an honest broker should take notice and recognize once and for all that the US is not only a party to the conflict in the Middle East but is a partner in the daily crimes committed by Israel and its army, crimes committed on a daily basis in Gaza and in the West Bank.
For over 50 years, the Arabs are convinced that only the US can solve the Arab-Israeli conflicts. The same is true of so many Palestinian- Americans who share the views that the US is very much interested in peace in the Middle East and convinced that the US is interested in settling once and for all the Arab-Israeli conflict. I am one of those who disagree with all of this non-sense and who sees the US not only a party to the conflict on the side of Israel but share in the daily crimes committed by Israel toward the Palestinian people and recently the Lebanese.
The recent veto by the US of a draft resolution holding Israel responsible for the massacre of so many innocent civilians in Beit Hanoun and the more than 38 vetoes in support of Israel, its crimes and its continued occupation should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the US is, was never interested in peace in the Middle East, and in fact the US is one of the promoters and sponsors of all of the conflicts between the Arabs and Israel and could not, even if it wants to, due to domestic political reasons, sponsor any efforts that could lead to real peace between Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and the Arabs.
US foreign policies from the days of Lyndon Johnson to Bush Jr., was always against the Arab interests even as they pursue genuine peace with Israel. And it is not all because of the influence of the Israeli/Jewish lobby, which has something to do with it, but long established policy directives that want to keep the Middle East a source of conflict and instability drive US policies in the Middle East. Other wise the US is perhaps in the best position to push for and demand an immediate halt to the violence and conflict and can in no time organize a world conference between Israel and the Arab countries and push for a total and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflict.
The recent veto can only demonstrate that this Bush administration lacks any sense of moral values, and even devoid of any of its often-pronounced Judea-Christian values. How can a cold-blooded murder of innocent people of an entire family be justified? Even criminal Israel admitted the killings and murder in Beit Hanoun to be a technical mistake, yet Ms. Rice and Mr. Bush could never see any thing wrong with killing and murder of innocent Palestinian and could not see any thing wrong with killing of innocent Arabs. To Bush and Rice, the only good Arab is a dead Arab. This is the same Ms. Rice who not too long ago stood up and spoke at the annual conference of the American Task Force for Palestine and gave its commitments to do something about the daily crimes committed by Israel and who promised to work toward peace. It seem that peace is one defined by death.
The US is always covering up for Israel and always covering up for the daily crimes committed by Israel and its criminal army, and always find a way not only to provide international cover for such crimes, but fund it as well. We as taxpayers pay for all of the bombs and weapons that kill Palestinians and killed Lebanese. Someone like the ex-senator from Virginia, George Allen gave Tel-Aviv more than $30 BIILION, tens time the money he voted to give to his state of Virginia.
One day all of this will catch up with Israeli leaders, and US who will sooner than later will have to face international tribunals for the daily international crimes committed by Israel and its defense forces. For those who think the US is an honest broker should take notice and recognize once and for all that the US is not only a party to the conflict in the Middle East but is a partner in the daily crimes committed by Israel and its army, crimes committed on a daily basis in Gaza and in the West Bank.
Darfur, an Arab and Muslim Shame!
posted 12/11/06
Sometime I wonder when the Arabs and Muslims will get a sense of honor and feel the shame and take responsibility for the actions of Arab states when it comes to international crimes committed toward citizens of Arab states.
The long time silence over the crimes committed by the central government in Khartoum and its twenty years war against the people of South Sudan resulting in the death of over 2 million people and now the silence toward a similar crimes committed by the central government in Sudan and its allies in Darfur. How can any Arab and Muslims ever be so silent about what is going on in Sudan?
The central government of Sudan over the years justified its war against the animist and Christian south that its war is against imperialist and colonial interventions in the south that undermines the unity of Sudan and at times justified its war as a way to implement Sharia law in a region of the country without any Muslim majority.
While it true that colonial powers did support the south in the war with the central government and its it true that missionaries played a an important role in keeping the war going hoping to recruit more and more animist to its Christian ranks. However all of this could never justify the war the Sudanese government waged against its own people in the south and imposing Sharia could never be justified under any and all circumstance with the killing of millions of people and the wasting of the very few precious resource the country have. The central government in Khartoum is responsible for the war in the south and is responsible for the crimes its forces and its allies wage against the people of Darfur. Frankly, I could never find any justification for such wars and could never find any excuses for the central government in Sudan.
Now that the conflict in the south seems to be on its way of getting solves, the problem in Darfur and the daily killings going on and the uprooting of indigenous people and the racial uprooting and ethnic cleansing going on in Sudan, require the immediate intervention of the Arab states and the Arab League with the central government of Khartoum to its is crimes against its own people in Darfur.
One also has to question the wisdom of the government in Khartoum and its justifications of its actions in Darfur when the people of Sudan need urgently investment in development. One has to wonder how much infrastructure could have been built in Sudan if the government put all of its sources in development and not in stupid wars that only kills people, destroy infrastructure and keep army generals well fed and fat. How many rails line could have been rebuilt? How many schools and clinics could have been built with the billions wasted on such useless and criminal actions against its own people?
But then the Arab league and Arab states are not know for being ahead of time, always behind time. There was a chance to avoid the invasion of Iraq and Mr. Amr Musa made sure the Arab League does not take any action that calls for Saddam to step aside, thus saving the more than 600,000 victims and saving Iraq from destruction and disintegration. The same is true when recently the Arab League decided to break the total boycott of the Palestinian people and allow Arab Banks to provide funding to the Palestinian Authority and the people. This action was done of course in anticipation of the US agreeing to a lifting of siege over the Palestinian government when Hamas step aside. One has to wonder what this Arab League is for and what service it provide. With all due respect to Mr. Amr Musa, the time ran out for the Arab League and its time for it to fold and close shop. It is an organization without any bones and without any courage and leadership and without any sense of shame.
Sometime I wonder when the Arabs and Muslims will get a sense of honor and feel the shame and take responsibility for the actions of Arab states when it comes to international crimes committed toward citizens of Arab states.
The long time silence over the crimes committed by the central government in Khartoum and its twenty years war against the people of South Sudan resulting in the death of over 2 million people and now the silence toward a similar crimes committed by the central government in Sudan and its allies in Darfur. How can any Arab and Muslims ever be so silent about what is going on in Sudan?
The central government of Sudan over the years justified its war against the animist and Christian south that its war is against imperialist and colonial interventions in the south that undermines the unity of Sudan and at times justified its war as a way to implement Sharia law in a region of the country without any Muslim majority.
While it true that colonial powers did support the south in the war with the central government and its it true that missionaries played a an important role in keeping the war going hoping to recruit more and more animist to its Christian ranks. However all of this could never justify the war the Sudanese government waged against its own people in the south and imposing Sharia could never be justified under any and all circumstance with the killing of millions of people and the wasting of the very few precious resource the country have. The central government in Khartoum is responsible for the war in the south and is responsible for the crimes its forces and its allies wage against the people of Darfur. Frankly, I could never find any justification for such wars and could never find any excuses for the central government in Sudan.
Now that the conflict in the south seems to be on its way of getting solves, the problem in Darfur and the daily killings going on and the uprooting of indigenous people and the racial uprooting and ethnic cleansing going on in Sudan, require the immediate intervention of the Arab states and the Arab League with the central government of Khartoum to its is crimes against its own people in Darfur.
One also has to question the wisdom of the government in Khartoum and its justifications of its actions in Darfur when the people of Sudan need urgently investment in development. One has to wonder how much infrastructure could have been built in Sudan if the government put all of its sources in development and not in stupid wars that only kills people, destroy infrastructure and keep army generals well fed and fat. How many rails line could have been rebuilt? How many schools and clinics could have been built with the billions wasted on such useless and criminal actions against its own people?
But then the Arab league and Arab states are not know for being ahead of time, always behind time. There was a chance to avoid the invasion of Iraq and Mr. Amr Musa made sure the Arab League does not take any action that calls for Saddam to step aside, thus saving the more than 600,000 victims and saving Iraq from destruction and disintegration. The same is true when recently the Arab League decided to break the total boycott of the Palestinian people and allow Arab Banks to provide funding to the Palestinian Authority and the people. This action was done of course in anticipation of the US agreeing to a lifting of siege over the Palestinian government when Hamas step aside. One has to wonder what this Arab League is for and what service it provide. With all due respect to Mr. Amr Musa, the time ran out for the Arab League and its time for it to fold and close shop. It is an organization without any bones and without any courage and leadership and without any sense of shame.
When Bush and Rice justify cold blooded murder, in Israel they speak out
13/11/06 from the Israeli paper Haaretz... NO American paper dare publish this article. Both the writer and editors will be fired on the spot.
Last update - 09:39 12/11/2006
No one is guilty in Israel
By Gideon Levy
Nineteen inhabitants of Beit Hanun were killed with malice aforethought. There is no other way of describing the circumstances of their killing. Someone who throws burning matches into a forest can’t claim he didn’t mean to set it on fire, and anyone who bombards residential neighborhoods with artillery can’t claim he didn’t mean to kill innocent inhabitants. Therefore it takes considerable gall and cynicism to dare to claim that the Israel Defense Forces did not intend to kill inhabitants of Beit Hanun. Even if there was a glitch in the balancing of the aiming mechanism or in a component of the radar, a mistake in the input of the data or a human error, the overwhelming, crucial, shocking fact is that the IDF bombards helpless civilians. Even shells that are supposedly aimed 200 meters from houses, into “open areas,” are intended to kill, and they do kill. In this respect, nothing new happened on Wednesday morning in Gaza: The IDF has been behaving like this for months now. But this isn’t just a matter of “the IDF,” “the government” or “Israel” bearing the responsibility. It must be said explicitly: The blame rests directly on people who hold official positions, flesh-and-blood human beings, and they must pay the price of their criminal responsibility for needless killing. Attorney Avigdor Klagsbald caused the death of a woman and her child without anyone imagining that he intended to hit them, but nevertheless he is sitting in prison. And what about the killers of women and children in Beit Hanun? Will they all be absolved? Will no one be tried? Will no one even be reprimanded and shunned? GOC Southern Command Yoav Galant will say with exasperating coolness that apparently there was “a problem with the battery’s targeting apparatus,” without moving a facial muscle, and will that be enough? Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh will say, “The IDF is militarily responsible, but not morally responsible,” and will he thus exculpate himself? And who will bear the responsibility for the renewal of the terror attacks? Only Hamas? Who will be accused of the tumble in Israel’s status and its depiction as a violent, leper state, and who will be judged for the danger that hovers over world Jewry in the wake of the IDF’s acts? The electronic component that went on the blink in the radar? No one is guilty in Israel. There is never anyone guilty in Israel. The prime minister who is responsible for the brutal policy toward the Palestinians, the defense minister who knew about and approved the bombardments, the chief of staff, the chief of command and the commander of the division who gave the orders to bombard - not one of them is guilty. They will continue with the work of killing as though nothing has happened: The sun shone, the system flourished and the ritual slaughterer slaughtered. They will continue to pursue the routine of their daily lives, accepted in society like anyone else, and remain in their posts despite the blood on their hands. A few hours after the disaster, while the Gaza Strip was still enveloped in sorrow and deep in shock, the air force was already hastening to carry out another targeted killing, an arrogant demonstration of just how much this disaster does not concern us. Israel after the disaster was split: There were those who did their duty and “expressed sorrow,” like the prime minister and the defense minister, and there were those who hastened with appalling insensitivity to cast the responsibility onto the Palestinians, like the “moderate” foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, and the deputy defense minister from the Labor Party, Sneh. The silent majority did not bother to emerge from its yawning indifference. The entertainment shows on television continued to make people laugh, and one of the radio stations even broadcast, in a demonstrable lack of taste, Sarit Hadad’s song “You’re a Big Gun.” Mourning, of course, did not descend on Israel, and there was not even a single manifestation of genuine participation in the sorrow. It did not occur to Israel to promise compensation to the families and it did not provide help, apart from transferring some of the wounded to hospitals in Israel. We provided more aid to the victims of the earthquake in Mexico, even though there we didn’t have a hand in the disaster. For the most part, the media were not very disturbed by the killing and devoted less attention to it than to the Gay Pride parade. A day or two after the disaster it was totally forgotten and other affairs are filling our lives. But it is impossible just to go on to the next item on the agenda. This disaster is not an act of God. There are people who are clearly responsible for it, and they must be brought to justice. The fact that the International Court of Justice in The Hague still looks very far from Israel, and the various “Halutzes” and “Galants” can still move around freely in the world, because in Israel they forgive nearly everything, does not mean that war crimes are not being committed here. The IDF may well be a big gun, but an army that is responsible for needless killing in such large dimensions, as in recent months in Lebanon and in Gaza, is a failed and dangerous army that must urgently be repaired. The Defense Forces are not only killing Arabs for no reason, they are also directly endangering Israel’s security, disgracing it in the world and embroiling it again and again. The heedless and arrogant reaction to such deeds contains a dangerous moral message. If it is possible to dismiss mass killing with a wealth of technical excuses, and not take any drastic measure against those who are truly guilty of it, then Israel is saying that, as far as it is concerned, nothing happened apart from the faulty component in the radar system or the glitch in balancing the sights. But what happened at Beit Hanun, what happened in Israel on the day after and what is continuing to happen in Gaza day after day is a far more frightening distortion than the calibrating of a gun sight.
Editor note: this article appeared in Haaretz, the Israeli paper. No US paper and no US editor dare to write what this paper publish.
Last update - 09:39 12/11/2006
No one is guilty in Israel
By Gideon Levy
Nineteen inhabitants of Beit Hanun were killed with malice aforethought. There is no other way of describing the circumstances of their killing. Someone who throws burning matches into a forest can’t claim he didn’t mean to set it on fire, and anyone who bombards residential neighborhoods with artillery can’t claim he didn’t mean to kill innocent inhabitants. Therefore it takes considerable gall and cynicism to dare to claim that the Israel Defense Forces did not intend to kill inhabitants of Beit Hanun. Even if there was a glitch in the balancing of the aiming mechanism or in a component of the radar, a mistake in the input of the data or a human error, the overwhelming, crucial, shocking fact is that the IDF bombards helpless civilians. Even shells that are supposedly aimed 200 meters from houses, into “open areas,” are intended to kill, and they do kill. In this respect, nothing new happened on Wednesday morning in Gaza: The IDF has been behaving like this for months now. But this isn’t just a matter of “the IDF,” “the government” or “Israel” bearing the responsibility. It must be said explicitly: The blame rests directly on people who hold official positions, flesh-and-blood human beings, and they must pay the price of their criminal responsibility for needless killing. Attorney Avigdor Klagsbald caused the death of a woman and her child without anyone imagining that he intended to hit them, but nevertheless he is sitting in prison. And what about the killers of women and children in Beit Hanun? Will they all be absolved? Will no one be tried? Will no one even be reprimanded and shunned? GOC Southern Command Yoav Galant will say with exasperating coolness that apparently there was “a problem with the battery’s targeting apparatus,” without moving a facial muscle, and will that be enough? Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh will say, “The IDF is militarily responsible, but not morally responsible,” and will he thus exculpate himself? And who will bear the responsibility for the renewal of the terror attacks? Only Hamas? Who will be accused of the tumble in Israel’s status and its depiction as a violent, leper state, and who will be judged for the danger that hovers over world Jewry in the wake of the IDF’s acts? The electronic component that went on the blink in the radar? No one is guilty in Israel. There is never anyone guilty in Israel. The prime minister who is responsible for the brutal policy toward the Palestinians, the defense minister who knew about and approved the bombardments, the chief of staff, the chief of command and the commander of the division who gave the orders to bombard - not one of them is guilty. They will continue with the work of killing as though nothing has happened: The sun shone, the system flourished and the ritual slaughterer slaughtered. They will continue to pursue the routine of their daily lives, accepted in society like anyone else, and remain in their posts despite the blood on their hands. A few hours after the disaster, while the Gaza Strip was still enveloped in sorrow and deep in shock, the air force was already hastening to carry out another targeted killing, an arrogant demonstration of just how much this disaster does not concern us. Israel after the disaster was split: There were those who did their duty and “expressed sorrow,” like the prime minister and the defense minister, and there were those who hastened with appalling insensitivity to cast the responsibility onto the Palestinians, like the “moderate” foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, and the deputy defense minister from the Labor Party, Sneh. The silent majority did not bother to emerge from its yawning indifference. The entertainment shows on television continued to make people laugh, and one of the radio stations even broadcast, in a demonstrable lack of taste, Sarit Hadad’s song “You’re a Big Gun.” Mourning, of course, did not descend on Israel, and there was not even a single manifestation of genuine participation in the sorrow. It did not occur to Israel to promise compensation to the families and it did not provide help, apart from transferring some of the wounded to hospitals in Israel. We provided more aid to the victims of the earthquake in Mexico, even though there we didn’t have a hand in the disaster. For the most part, the media were not very disturbed by the killing and devoted less attention to it than to the Gay Pride parade. A day or two after the disaster it was totally forgotten and other affairs are filling our lives. But it is impossible just to go on to the next item on the agenda. This disaster is not an act of God. There are people who are clearly responsible for it, and they must be brought to justice. The fact that the International Court of Justice in The Hague still looks very far from Israel, and the various “Halutzes” and “Galants” can still move around freely in the world, because in Israel they forgive nearly everything, does not mean that war crimes are not being committed here. The IDF may well be a big gun, but an army that is responsible for needless killing in such large dimensions, as in recent months in Lebanon and in Gaza, is a failed and dangerous army that must urgently be repaired. The Defense Forces are not only killing Arabs for no reason, they are also directly endangering Israel’s security, disgracing it in the world and embroiling it again and again. The heedless and arrogant reaction to such deeds contains a dangerous moral message. If it is possible to dismiss mass killing with a wealth of technical excuses, and not take any drastic measure against those who are truly guilty of it, then Israel is saying that, as far as it is concerned, nothing happened apart from the faulty component in the radar system or the glitch in balancing the sights. But what happened at Beit Hanun, what happened in Israel on the day after and what is continuing to happen in Gaza day after day is a far more frightening distortion than the calibrating of a gun sight.
Editor note: this article appeared in Haaretz, the Israeli paper. No US paper and no US editor dare to write what this paper publish.
In Iraq, is it time for democracy or some bloodthirsty ruler!
posted 17/11/06
Any one, whether Arab, Muslim, or American must wonder what in the hell is going on in Iraq not today but for the last 30 years. Iraq was a blood bath for over centuries ever since the days of the Umayyad Empire and nothing has changed.
Arabs who are familiar with Iraq will tell you that “only a dictator could ever rule Iraq” may be right. The Umayyad rulers tried to subdue Iraq some centuries ago and succeeded only when they send Alhajaj Yousef Althaqafi to rule Iraq. On his first sermon in Al-Kufa he stood there silent for few minutes and as expected, some of the believer sitting waiting to hear the new ruler started to throw small pebbles at Alhajaj who was diminutive in stature. The scene continued for few minutes until Ahajaj began his most famous sermon, which we as young students had to remember and recite. He called the Iraqis “hypocrites” who deserver severe punishment and he ended his sermon with the beheadings of few people and that was the only way for the Umayyad to subdue Iraq. Saddam sad to say followed the same advice of Alhajaj to the letter. The daily carnage and the savagery of the crimes and the daily statements coming out of Iraq, make so many others and me a believer that Alhajaj may have been right!
It is even harder to imagine that such sectarian crimes take place on a daily basis killing hundreds of innocent people every day. When one sees the daily statements made by many of the politicians, Shiite and Sunnis one has to wonder where were these people when Saddam ruled and was killing and murdering hundreds of thousands. The Sunnis and some of the Baathist Shiites were not only silent during this time, but also actively participated in Saddam’s killing machine. No one can convince me or any one that Saddam can carry on killing hundreds of thousands if not millions of Iraqis without the support of a large segment of society. The same is true of Hitler. He could not have carried his crime of murdering millions of Jews and others with the active support of substantial number of the German people. Too bad that the same Sunnis who now are speaking out about the murder of Sunnis where so silent for many years. I am not aware of one single Sunni leader who ever came out and publicly spoke out against Saddam and his crimes against the Shiite and the Kurds. (I invite corrections here).
It is also sad to see the Shiites who suffered so much under Saddam commit similar crimes against innocent Iraqi civilians. What is wrong with these people? It is so hard to even imagine that such killing is taking place on a daily basis in Iraq in 2006.
Why so much killing and why so much murder? Perhaps the Iraqis, both Sunnis and Shiites want to prove Alhajaj right? That Iraq as a nation could never be ruled by democratic means but instead must be ruled by bloodthirsty dictators. If this is the case then there is no reason to even have a country called Iraq, as the people and their leaders proved to be unfit and unqualified to rule and manage such a country. It is time for those with ‘blood on their hands” to step aside. George Bush and his Zionist mafia could not have chosen a worse model for implementing democracy in the Middle East.
The only way out of this blood bath and the only way out of the American military occupation and the only way to end the sectarian violence is to make Iraq a ward of the UN or some other organization and place it under a trusteeship, thus putting an end to the senseless and sectarian killings and murder, saving American lives and tax payers money and of course putting an end to the big fraud committed by Bush and his Tel-Aviv mafia.
It is sad and simply too bad that the Iraqi leadership, both Sunni and Shiite could not and is unable to rise up to the occasion and prove to the world that both Saddam and Alhajaj are wrong, that Iraq can be a peaceful democratic country and a model for others.
Any one, whether Arab, Muslim, or American must wonder what in the hell is going on in Iraq not today but for the last 30 years. Iraq was a blood bath for over centuries ever since the days of the Umayyad Empire and nothing has changed.
Arabs who are familiar with Iraq will tell you that “only a dictator could ever rule Iraq” may be right. The Umayyad rulers tried to subdue Iraq some centuries ago and succeeded only when they send Alhajaj Yousef Althaqafi to rule Iraq. On his first sermon in Al-Kufa he stood there silent for few minutes and as expected, some of the believer sitting waiting to hear the new ruler started to throw small pebbles at Alhajaj who was diminutive in stature. The scene continued for few minutes until Ahajaj began his most famous sermon, which we as young students had to remember and recite. He called the Iraqis “hypocrites” who deserver severe punishment and he ended his sermon with the beheadings of few people and that was the only way for the Umayyad to subdue Iraq. Saddam sad to say followed the same advice of Alhajaj to the letter. The daily carnage and the savagery of the crimes and the daily statements coming out of Iraq, make so many others and me a believer that Alhajaj may have been right!
It is even harder to imagine that such sectarian crimes take place on a daily basis killing hundreds of innocent people every day. When one sees the daily statements made by many of the politicians, Shiite and Sunnis one has to wonder where were these people when Saddam ruled and was killing and murdering hundreds of thousands. The Sunnis and some of the Baathist Shiites were not only silent during this time, but also actively participated in Saddam’s killing machine. No one can convince me or any one that Saddam can carry on killing hundreds of thousands if not millions of Iraqis without the support of a large segment of society. The same is true of Hitler. He could not have carried his crime of murdering millions of Jews and others with the active support of substantial number of the German people. Too bad that the same Sunnis who now are speaking out about the murder of Sunnis where so silent for many years. I am not aware of one single Sunni leader who ever came out and publicly spoke out against Saddam and his crimes against the Shiite and the Kurds. (I invite corrections here).
It is also sad to see the Shiites who suffered so much under Saddam commit similar crimes against innocent Iraqi civilians. What is wrong with these people? It is so hard to even imagine that such killing is taking place on a daily basis in Iraq in 2006.
Why so much killing and why so much murder? Perhaps the Iraqis, both Sunnis and Shiites want to prove Alhajaj right? That Iraq as a nation could never be ruled by democratic means but instead must be ruled by bloodthirsty dictators. If this is the case then there is no reason to even have a country called Iraq, as the people and their leaders proved to be unfit and unqualified to rule and manage such a country. It is time for those with ‘blood on their hands” to step aside. George Bush and his Zionist mafia could not have chosen a worse model for implementing democracy in the Middle East.
The only way out of this blood bath and the only way out of the American military occupation and the only way to end the sectarian violence is to make Iraq a ward of the UN or some other organization and place it under a trusteeship, thus putting an end to the senseless and sectarian killings and murder, saving American lives and tax payers money and of course putting an end to the big fraud committed by Bush and his Tel-Aviv mafia.
It is sad and simply too bad that the Iraqi leadership, both Sunni and Shiite could not and is unable to rise up to the occasion and prove to the world that both Saddam and Alhajaj are wrong, that Iraq can be a peaceful democratic country and a model for others.
The French Socialist Party can teach the Democratic Party few things!
posted 17/11/06
Couple of days ago, the French Socialist Party, the last of Europe true socialist parties selected Segolene Royal as its candidate for next year French presidential election.
The selection of Segolene Royal by the 6,000 delegates over the former French prime minister Laurent Fabius and the former French economic minister Dominique Strauss-Khan means the French Socialist Party is serious about challenging and winning the next presidential over the presumed front runner and the candidate of the right, Nicolas Sarkozsy.
The French Socialist Party could not have done better and could not have selected a better candidate than Segolene Royal, who in her speech recognized the fact that France has changed and that France today is one of color, of diversity, and one where all French nationals regardless of their origin are French and are entitled the full right of citizenship, and that means the chance for a decent life and a chance for a good education.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother was in Washington couple of weeks ago, giving support to the Republican Party and to George Bush and his NeoCons in their war in Iraq, in their war on terrorism and in their war in Islam. Nicholas Sarkozy who is presumed the front-runner over Dominique de Villepin, the French Prime Minister is the present minister of interior with responsibilities for domestic policies including police, immigration and of course opportunities for sons and daughters of immigrants like him. While other immigrants are left to rot by the French domestic policies, someone like Sarkozy was able to become minister of interior and lead the war against immigrants and immigration, and his strength within the right.
The French Socialist Party with Ms. Royal as its candidate will have a good a chance of winning the election if it is able to convince the majority of French that France did change and that France can regain its economic health and reform without sacrificing its ideals and freedoms. Ms. Royal is offering the French a clear choice between the agenda of the French left and that of the French right.
The US Democratic Party must offer US voters clear and distinct programs from that of the Republican Party. It is too bad that the Democratic Party since Bill Clinton was unable to come up with a clear agenda for America, not only failed to challenge Republican of their presumed monopoly over national and security issues, but gave up its rights to challenge George Bush and his Tel-Aviv mafia over their fraud and lies and reasons for going to war in Iraq. Worst yet, it was unable, for the last two election to chose other than “too stiff” Al Gore and “too pompous and stuffy” John Kerry and could not offer smart candidates and programs to challenge George Bush and his agenda of recreating a new American in his image and in the image of his NeoCons.
Perhaps the Democratic Party can learn something from the French and offer us voters a candidate with clear lines of black and white. We are too tired of too many gray lines in our domestic and international policies. The Democratic Party failed American when it voted with George Bush knowing that he, Dick Chaney and the Tel-Aviv mafia lied all the way to the war in Iraq. The Democratic Party needs a candidate like Ms. Royal who is offering the French a clear choice between left and right, making sure there is nothing to be ashamed of in being on the left and being a liberal.
Couple of days ago, the French Socialist Party, the last of Europe true socialist parties selected Segolene Royal as its candidate for next year French presidential election.
The selection of Segolene Royal by the 6,000 delegates over the former French prime minister Laurent Fabius and the former French economic minister Dominique Strauss-Khan means the French Socialist Party is serious about challenging and winning the next presidential over the presumed front runner and the candidate of the right, Nicolas Sarkozsy.
The French Socialist Party could not have done better and could not have selected a better candidate than Segolene Royal, who in her speech recognized the fact that France has changed and that France today is one of color, of diversity, and one where all French nationals regardless of their origin are French and are entitled the full right of citizenship, and that means the chance for a decent life and a chance for a good education.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother was in Washington couple of weeks ago, giving support to the Republican Party and to George Bush and his NeoCons in their war in Iraq, in their war on terrorism and in their war in Islam. Nicholas Sarkozy who is presumed the front-runner over Dominique de Villepin, the French Prime Minister is the present minister of interior with responsibilities for domestic policies including police, immigration and of course opportunities for sons and daughters of immigrants like him. While other immigrants are left to rot by the French domestic policies, someone like Sarkozy was able to become minister of interior and lead the war against immigrants and immigration, and his strength within the right.
The French Socialist Party with Ms. Royal as its candidate will have a good a chance of winning the election if it is able to convince the majority of French that France did change and that France can regain its economic health and reform without sacrificing its ideals and freedoms. Ms. Royal is offering the French a clear choice between the agenda of the French left and that of the French right.
The US Democratic Party must offer US voters clear and distinct programs from that of the Republican Party. It is too bad that the Democratic Party since Bill Clinton was unable to come up with a clear agenda for America, not only failed to challenge Republican of their presumed monopoly over national and security issues, but gave up its rights to challenge George Bush and his Tel-Aviv mafia over their fraud and lies and reasons for going to war in Iraq. Worst yet, it was unable, for the last two election to chose other than “too stiff” Al Gore and “too pompous and stuffy” John Kerry and could not offer smart candidates and programs to challenge George Bush and his agenda of recreating a new American in his image and in the image of his NeoCons.
Perhaps the Democratic Party can learn something from the French and offer us voters a candidate with clear lines of black and white. We are too tired of too many gray lines in our domestic and international policies. The Democratic Party failed American when it voted with George Bush knowing that he, Dick Chaney and the Tel-Aviv mafia lied all the way to the war in Iraq. The Democratic Party needs a candidate like Ms. Royal who is offering the French a clear choice between left and right, making sure there is nothing to be ashamed of in being on the left and being a liberal.
$42 million dollars will not change Fatah and will not make less of a corrupt incompetent racketteering organization.
posted 21/10/06
While this US Administration continue to provide legal, political, financial and even criminal coverage of Israel’s crime within the Palestinian Occupied Territories, the US recently announce a $42 million fund to support Fatah re-organization plans making sure Fatah continue with its “agreed to” role as subcontractor for the Israeli Occupation.
It is so ironic that at a time when the US government and especially the White House and the State Department are silent on the humiliating treatment of its citizens within the Israeli Occupied Territories, as we have seen most recently with the denial of entry to Palestine of US citizens of Palestinian origins. Israel went even further by demanding that those US citizens of Arabic origin must leave the Occupied Territories. Sam Bahour is one case in point (visit the different website that covered his case in the US and international media) and the case of my sister Laila and her husband who planned to retire in El-Bireh but where denied residency. Of course if this treatment happened to any Jew, and especial to a US Jew by any country in the world all hell will break lose and congressmen and senators will be tripping over each other demanding freedom of residency and movement to members of the Jewish faith. Of course Arabs and Muslims are not entitled to this kind of coverage by US lawmakers and this administration.
While this administration is silent about all the crimes committed by Israel it is doing all it can to undermine the very democratic practices it advocate.
Every one, except the majority of the Palestinians do recognize that the Oslo Accord signed by the late Yasser Arafat and Ishak Rabin was nothing but a contractual agreement by an occupying power and representative of the occupied, where Israel as the occupying power cedes its role of managing the day to day affairs of the people under occupation to an organization such as the PLO and Fatah, with the US providing the political coverage to both Fatah and Arafat and the European Union providing the funding that keeps Fatah, the racketeering machine, well funded and in business. That is why we never hear any thing about ending the occupation, not from George Bush, not from Secretary Rice, not from Olmert, certainly not from any the Palestinian leaderships that is identified with Fatah. It seems that Fatah leadership have added the US State Department as client in addition to the European Union and Israel.
$42 million dollars will go a long way to fund and buy many of Fatah leadership who also made a financial killing since Oslo and who make sure that the Israeli Occupation continue as a steady source of income for Fatah and its leadership.
Since Oslo many of the Fatah leadership hardly ever talk about ending the Israeli Occupation and for the most part talk only of managing the occupation and talk about salaries for their army of thugs. These Palestinian officials talk nothing of the Israeli criminal occupation but talk of making life a “little easier” for those who have suffered some 39 years under the worst military occupation since Nazi Germany occupied most of Europe. No Fatah officials talk of the more than 750,000 Palestinians who were guest of Israeli jails, and no one talk of the hundreds of thousands who lost their properties. I am sure the US State Department in the next few months will go on a shopping spree buying the “conscious” and “themam” of many Palestinians in the US and around the world, making sure they complete the transaction begun with buying Fatah. I continue to say and repeat that Arafat and the PLO after the Palestinian exiles of 48 and the second exile of 67 and the military occupation are the worst thing that could ever happen to the Palestinian people. Oslo was nothing but a crime. Arafat, Fatah and the PLO should take the blame for failing to end the longest military occupation in modern history
While this US Administration continue to provide legal, political, financial and even criminal coverage of Israel’s crime within the Palestinian Occupied Territories, the US recently announce a $42 million fund to support Fatah re-organization plans making sure Fatah continue with its “agreed to” role as subcontractor for the Israeli Occupation.
It is so ironic that at a time when the US government and especially the White House and the State Department are silent on the humiliating treatment of its citizens within the Israeli Occupied Territories, as we have seen most recently with the denial of entry to Palestine of US citizens of Palestinian origins. Israel went even further by demanding that those US citizens of Arabic origin must leave the Occupied Territories. Sam Bahour is one case in point (visit the different website that covered his case in the US and international media) and the case of my sister Laila and her husband who planned to retire in El-Bireh but where denied residency. Of course if this treatment happened to any Jew, and especial to a US Jew by any country in the world all hell will break lose and congressmen and senators will be tripping over each other demanding freedom of residency and movement to members of the Jewish faith. Of course Arabs and Muslims are not entitled to this kind of coverage by US lawmakers and this administration.
While this administration is silent about all the crimes committed by Israel it is doing all it can to undermine the very democratic practices it advocate.
Every one, except the majority of the Palestinians do recognize that the Oslo Accord signed by the late Yasser Arafat and Ishak Rabin was nothing but a contractual agreement by an occupying power and representative of the occupied, where Israel as the occupying power cedes its role of managing the day to day affairs of the people under occupation to an organization such as the PLO and Fatah, with the US providing the political coverage to both Fatah and Arafat and the European Union providing the funding that keeps Fatah, the racketeering machine, well funded and in business. That is why we never hear any thing about ending the occupation, not from George Bush, not from Secretary Rice, not from Olmert, certainly not from any the Palestinian leaderships that is identified with Fatah. It seems that Fatah leadership have added the US State Department as client in addition to the European Union and Israel.
$42 million dollars will go a long way to fund and buy many of Fatah leadership who also made a financial killing since Oslo and who make sure that the Israeli Occupation continue as a steady source of income for Fatah and its leadership.
Since Oslo many of the Fatah leadership hardly ever talk about ending the Israeli Occupation and for the most part talk only of managing the occupation and talk about salaries for their army of thugs. These Palestinian officials talk nothing of the Israeli criminal occupation but talk of making life a “little easier” for those who have suffered some 39 years under the worst military occupation since Nazi Germany occupied most of Europe. No Fatah officials talk of the more than 750,000 Palestinians who were guest of Israeli jails, and no one talk of the hundreds of thousands who lost their properties. I am sure the US State Department in the next few months will go on a shopping spree buying the “conscious” and “themam” of many Palestinians in the US and around the world, making sure they complete the transaction begun with buying Fatah. I continue to say and repeat that Arafat and the PLO after the Palestinian exiles of 48 and the second exile of 67 and the military occupation are the worst thing that could ever happen to the Palestinian people. Oslo was nothing but a crime. Arafat, Fatah and the PLO should take the blame for failing to end the longest military occupation in modern history
Yes, the Jews should have the right to return to their homes in the Arab countries, and so do the Palestinians have the right to return to their homes
posted 24/10/06
Recently in Jerusalem, a committee was organized called “Justice for Jews of the Middle East”/ This organization is seeking more than $100 BILLION in compensation from Arab countries, and if the success of European Jews is an indication, then for sure “Arab Jews” will succeed in collecting the $100 BILLION and more.
Soon the US Congress will pass a law that will make it mandatory for Arab countries to pay and compensate Arab Jews for properties left behind. May be the US Congress will pass a law taxing every oil barrel, every bail of cotton, every can of olive oil produced in the Middle to raise the necessary funds and will add a $100 surcharge on every tax bill of any “Arab” living in the US and paying taxes. May be the White House will appoint a Czar to raise and collect this $100 BILLION in compensation to Arab Jews.
As a Palestinian American I am all for the Arab Jews seeking compensation for property loss and I have advocated this for a long time. I even go further, I advocate that Arab Jews have every right to return HOME to their countries in the Middle East, including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq among others. I also advocate and call for the establishment of an international commission that will investigate the circumstances behind the Arab Jews leaving their countries, and should open an investigation into the actions of the Jewish Agency and the Mossad in creating events that led the Jews to leave. This international commission should also have the same mandatory powers to investigate the circumstance that lead the Palestinians to go into exile. I am for the right of the Jews to return home to their countries, in Morocco, in Tunisia (not sure if Senator George Allen will chose to return to Tunis), to return to Egypt and Iraq and of course to the nation-state of the Borough of Brooklyn.
As a Palestinian American will property taken over by Jewish settlers in the West Bank of El-Bireh, who claim that G-d gave them my land and the property of my parents and their parents, I am willing to forego all of my rights to such a property and cede to any Jews from the US or any where in the world who will file a claim in any US District court and who can present to the court that he/she has a dead for the property signed by G-d or witness by Mohamed, Jesus, Moses, Noah even Abraham. If the US District court will formally and legally recognizes the right of a Jew to my property then I am willing to give it all up and accept the ruling of such court. Until this happens and until Jews from the US or any where in the world can prove that G-d gave them my property and prove it in a court of law in the US, then and only then will I accept the notion of the promise land.
I do hope that Arab Jews can succeed in claiming their rights to their properties in Arab countries and can succeed in their right of return. May be they can establish an added precedent for the Palestinian to sue for the right of return and sue for the right to recover their properties within Israel and perhaps then and only with such an international commission can we set aside all of the lies and discover the truth about the exiles of Palestinians by Israel Jews and the exiles of Arab Jews by Arabs.
Recently in Jerusalem, a committee was organized called “Justice for Jews of the Middle East”/ This organization is seeking more than $100 BILLION in compensation from Arab countries, and if the success of European Jews is an indication, then for sure “Arab Jews” will succeed in collecting the $100 BILLION and more.
Soon the US Congress will pass a law that will make it mandatory for Arab countries to pay and compensate Arab Jews for properties left behind. May be the US Congress will pass a law taxing every oil barrel, every bail of cotton, every can of olive oil produced in the Middle to raise the necessary funds and will add a $100 surcharge on every tax bill of any “Arab” living in the US and paying taxes. May be the White House will appoint a Czar to raise and collect this $100 BILLION in compensation to Arab Jews.
As a Palestinian American I am all for the Arab Jews seeking compensation for property loss and I have advocated this for a long time. I even go further, I advocate that Arab Jews have every right to return HOME to their countries in the Middle East, including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq among others. I also advocate and call for the establishment of an international commission that will investigate the circumstances behind the Arab Jews leaving their countries, and should open an investigation into the actions of the Jewish Agency and the Mossad in creating events that led the Jews to leave. This international commission should also have the same mandatory powers to investigate the circumstance that lead the Palestinians to go into exile. I am for the right of the Jews to return home to their countries, in Morocco, in Tunisia (not sure if Senator George Allen will chose to return to Tunis), to return to Egypt and Iraq and of course to the nation-state of the Borough of Brooklyn.
As a Palestinian American will property taken over by Jewish settlers in the West Bank of El-Bireh, who claim that G-d gave them my land and the property of my parents and their parents, I am willing to forego all of my rights to such a property and cede to any Jews from the US or any where in the world who will file a claim in any US District court and who can present to the court that he/she has a dead for the property signed by G-d or witness by Mohamed, Jesus, Moses, Noah even Abraham. If the US District court will formally and legally recognizes the right of a Jew to my property then I am willing to give it all up and accept the ruling of such court. Until this happens and until Jews from the US or any where in the world can prove that G-d gave them my property and prove it in a court of law in the US, then and only then will I accept the notion of the promise land.
I do hope that Arab Jews can succeed in claiming their rights to their properties in Arab countries and can succeed in their right of return. May be they can establish an added precedent for the Palestinian to sue for the right of return and sue for the right to recover their properties within Israel and perhaps then and only with such an international commission can we set aside all of the lies and discover the truth about the exiles of Palestinians by Israel Jews and the exiles of Arab Jews by Arabs.
Israel has been spliting Palestinian families for over 50 years. Nothing new in that, it is part of its ethnic cleansing.
posted 24/10/06
I was so surprised when I read this morning, with my morning coffee, an article in the Washington Post titled “ Stricter Policy Splits West Ban Families”. The Post refrains from publishing any thing that may embarrass Israel and its friends in DC. Don’t know what will happen to the writer or the editor. They may get fired if Israel’s friends decide to do so as it happens to all those who dare to write the truth about Israel.
In any case, the story of Sam Bahour, a friend of mine and also from the same hometown of El-Bireh has been in the news for few weeks now, in major media, both print and TV, ever since Israel decided not renew his residency visa. Sam, born in Ohio returned to our hometown soon after Oslo thinking that Israel has changed. It did not.
Israel has been splitting more families than it united and the number of over 120,000 waiting for re-unification is a small number compared with those Israel deliberately split. Israel not only exercises and with great styles its policy of ethnic cleansing, but also make sure that those it could not expel, turns their lives to hell.
My late father, who happens to be a US citizen decided at the insistence of my late mother to return to El-Bireh so that my mother, who happened to have an Israeli residency permit, can be with her aging and ailing mother. My parents returned to El-Bireh after spending 4th of July 1976 here in Washington DC. By the way, my late father was a die hard Democrat, talked always about labor unions and about FDR as if he was god. Now I can see why he was not a Republican, in any case we go back to the story.
Soon after its occupation of 67, Israel introduced a law that allows certain families, usually husband and wife, to reunite if one of the spouses happened to be a “resident” of the West Bank at the start of occupation. My mother qualified for that.
One would think that Israel, way back in 76, before terrorism, before Hamas will process these application at least with some slow speed. It did not. My father for over 10 years had to travel to Cyprus every few months and return so that he can renew his “ tourist” visa to his hometown and to be with his wife and his ailing mother in law. Well, my father did that for some 10 years until someone called “ Abu Daoud” an Israel Jew and an employee of the Israel’s civil administration suggested that my late father pay the sum of $15,000 and he will be able to get his permanent residency. My father did pay the bribe and he was able to get his residency permit. Of course, Israelis like all other people do accept and take bribes Sharon did that too! They may be “chosen” but they are also on the take and do take bribes and are corrupt like all other people.
When my late parents became ill, I was living in Geneva and I wanted to have a permit to be with them. They applied for me, but were turned down. With some European connections, I was able to have my file reviewed again. This time Israel did approve the application, but insisted that I leave my own family in Geneva and stay in the West Bank for a period of not less than one year. It was a difficult choice and after traveling to El-Bireh to meet with my parents we decided I would not take the offer.
This is in contrast to the fact that some American Jews armed with a gun and a deed from G-d decided to take over couple of our properties in an area of the town called “Jabal Altaweel” as part of the Israeli settlement. Of course, as US citizens of the Jewish faith they can, under both Israel and US laws take over any property they chose without due regard as to who own the property. They are the chosen one and we as Palestinian American do not rise to even a second-class citizens, with equal protection of the law.
I was so surprised when I read this morning, with my morning coffee, an article in the Washington Post titled “ Stricter Policy Splits West Ban Families”. The Post refrains from publishing any thing that may embarrass Israel and its friends in DC. Don’t know what will happen to the writer or the editor. They may get fired if Israel’s friends decide to do so as it happens to all those who dare to write the truth about Israel.
In any case, the story of Sam Bahour, a friend of mine and also from the same hometown of El-Bireh has been in the news for few weeks now, in major media, both print and TV, ever since Israel decided not renew his residency visa. Sam, born in Ohio returned to our hometown soon after Oslo thinking that Israel has changed. It did not.
Israel has been splitting more families than it united and the number of over 120,000 waiting for re-unification is a small number compared with those Israel deliberately split. Israel not only exercises and with great styles its policy of ethnic cleansing, but also make sure that those it could not expel, turns their lives to hell.
My late father, who happens to be a US citizen decided at the insistence of my late mother to return to El-Bireh so that my mother, who happened to have an Israeli residency permit, can be with her aging and ailing mother. My parents returned to El-Bireh after spending 4th of July 1976 here in Washington DC. By the way, my late father was a die hard Democrat, talked always about labor unions and about FDR as if he was god. Now I can see why he was not a Republican, in any case we go back to the story.
Soon after its occupation of 67, Israel introduced a law that allows certain families, usually husband and wife, to reunite if one of the spouses happened to be a “resident” of the West Bank at the start of occupation. My mother qualified for that.
One would think that Israel, way back in 76, before terrorism, before Hamas will process these application at least with some slow speed. It did not. My father for over 10 years had to travel to Cyprus every few months and return so that he can renew his “ tourist” visa to his hometown and to be with his wife and his ailing mother in law. Well, my father did that for some 10 years until someone called “ Abu Daoud” an Israel Jew and an employee of the Israel’s civil administration suggested that my late father pay the sum of $15,000 and he will be able to get his permanent residency. My father did pay the bribe and he was able to get his residency permit. Of course, Israelis like all other people do accept and take bribes Sharon did that too! They may be “chosen” but they are also on the take and do take bribes and are corrupt like all other people.
When my late parents became ill, I was living in Geneva and I wanted to have a permit to be with them. They applied for me, but were turned down. With some European connections, I was able to have my file reviewed again. This time Israel did approve the application, but insisted that I leave my own family in Geneva and stay in the West Bank for a period of not less than one year. It was a difficult choice and after traveling to El-Bireh to meet with my parents we decided I would not take the offer.
This is in contrast to the fact that some American Jews armed with a gun and a deed from G-d decided to take over couple of our properties in an area of the town called “Jabal Altaweel” as part of the Israeli settlement. Of course, as US citizens of the Jewish faith they can, under both Israel and US laws take over any property they chose without due regard as to who own the property. They are the chosen one and we as Palestinian American do not rise to even a second-class citizens, with equal protection of the law.
Saddam got what he deserves, what about the others!
posted 07/11/06
Saddam Hussein the darling of Washington, Paris, Bonn and London few years ago was found guilty of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court couple of days ago. The verdict was not so surprising given the fact that he ran a killing and murder machine through his Baathist Party and was and is responsible for the murder of millions of people within Iraq and also in Iran.
The surprising thing is that Saddam did not call for his defense the former heads of stated of the United States, both the late President Reagan and George Bush Sr., and did not call to his defense, Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister and did not call the former Chancellor of Germany, Mr. Kohl and not to mention Mr. France. All of these people made it all possible for a know criminal like Saddam Hussein to commit and continue to commit his crimes against his own people and against the Iranians. These people are as guilty as Saddam. They may not have pulled the trigger or order the killings, but they all made it possible for him to commit his crimes against his people and against his neighbor Iran. By the way, I was never a fan of the late Khomeini; I thought he was an evil man with nothing but vengeance and anger in his heart.
Of course we should not forget the honorable Donald Rumsfeld the present Secretary of Defense who was the Reagan connections to Saddam and who met with Saddam few days after the chemical attacks against the Kurds in Halabja and of course while there Mr. Donald made sure that Saddam knew how much he is appreciated by the United States and its allies in the Middle East, who also supported Saddam will tens of billions of dollars.
Saddam, like the late Shah was the darling of Washington, with his ambassador having an open check book to buy and trade congressmen and senators and buy any thing that darling Saddam wants from the US including giving him billions in line of credits, so that he can save his cash to buy weapons to kill his people and kill others.
Saddam got what he deserves. His own people should have hanged him long time ago, without the help from George Bush and his Tel-Aviv mafia. It is too bad that the Iraqi people did not stand up to Saddam and allowed him to get away with murder. Shame on all of the Sunni Muslims, who were part of Saddam killing machine and who stood in silent while Saddam waged his war and terror against their fellow countrymen, the Shiite and the Kurds.
Personally, I would be more happier if some of the western leaders who supported Saddam will also stand trial for their support of killer Saddam. May he hang for a long time and left to rot on his hanging robe. And may leading politicians and heads of states and military leaders everywhere in the world remember that NO one ever gets away with murder. It is never too late to bring to trial all of the men of the Reagan and Bush administrations and also bring to trial Thatcher and her boys and of course the Chancellor and his men and so many others. Perhaps we also need to dig up the grave of the late Khomieni and bring him to trial for his crimes against his own people. I wonder why these little dictators never learn lessons from the likes of the late Shah and Norriega.
Saddam Hussein the darling of Washington, Paris, Bonn and London few years ago was found guilty of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court couple of days ago. The verdict was not so surprising given the fact that he ran a killing and murder machine through his Baathist Party and was and is responsible for the murder of millions of people within Iraq and also in Iran.
The surprising thing is that Saddam did not call for his defense the former heads of stated of the United States, both the late President Reagan and George Bush Sr., and did not call to his defense, Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister and did not call the former Chancellor of Germany, Mr. Kohl and not to mention Mr. France. All of these people made it all possible for a know criminal like Saddam Hussein to commit and continue to commit his crimes against his own people and against the Iranians. These people are as guilty as Saddam. They may not have pulled the trigger or order the killings, but they all made it possible for him to commit his crimes against his people and against his neighbor Iran. By the way, I was never a fan of the late Khomeini; I thought he was an evil man with nothing but vengeance and anger in his heart.
Of course we should not forget the honorable Donald Rumsfeld the present Secretary of Defense who was the Reagan connections to Saddam and who met with Saddam few days after the chemical attacks against the Kurds in Halabja and of course while there Mr. Donald made sure that Saddam knew how much he is appreciated by the United States and its allies in the Middle East, who also supported Saddam will tens of billions of dollars.
Saddam, like the late Shah was the darling of Washington, with his ambassador having an open check book to buy and trade congressmen and senators and buy any thing that darling Saddam wants from the US including giving him billions in line of credits, so that he can save his cash to buy weapons to kill his people and kill others.
Saddam got what he deserves. His own people should have hanged him long time ago, without the help from George Bush and his Tel-Aviv mafia. It is too bad that the Iraqi people did not stand up to Saddam and allowed him to get away with murder. Shame on all of the Sunni Muslims, who were part of Saddam killing machine and who stood in silent while Saddam waged his war and terror against their fellow countrymen, the Shiite and the Kurds.
Personally, I would be more happier if some of the western leaders who supported Saddam will also stand trial for their support of killer Saddam. May he hang for a long time and left to rot on his hanging robe. And may leading politicians and heads of states and military leaders everywhere in the world remember that NO one ever gets away with murder. It is never too late to bring to trial all of the men of the Reagan and Bush administrations and also bring to trial Thatcher and her boys and of course the Chancellor and his men and so many others. Perhaps we also need to dig up the grave of the late Khomieni and bring him to trial for his crimes against his own people. I wonder why these little dictators never learn lessons from the likes of the late Shah and Norriega.
Marwan Mazhar, "Ba’edin" after!
posted 07/11/06
Last week we had the pleasure of traveling to Cleveland to attend the engagement of one of my wife cousins, actually Iyad is the son of my mother in laws uncle, Marwan Mazhar. While Cleveland will remain Cleveland like so may ill planned and ill designed American cities, the engagement was just terrific. It was held in the main hall of the old court house, a very majestic place and of course the beautiful setting was made more beautiful by the mother of Iyad fiancé’ who added her touch to every thing in the place, turning the place to a very beautiful court of justice.
Well, Marwan who attend and graduated from LSU back in 1953 and perhaps was the first Arab and Muslim to hit the shores of Louisiana was there and as we sat in the hotel he was as his usual self, full of life and full of stories about his wonderful experience with the people in Louisiana and how he kept in touch with so many of them all these years. I even suggested he should publish a letter in one of the major Louisiana journal. I was in Louisiana in the army, basic training and the only thing I remember is Fort Polk and its swampy environed. But Marwan had great stories to tell including his stories as a deck hand on the Great Mississippi.
I loved one of his stories of a Lebanese woman, living in London who placed an order for some household item from that great store in London, Harrods. The woman fed up with the delay and went to the manager and said “after” meaning “Ba’edin” in Arabic.
Well, one has to appreciate the real meaning of “Ba’edin” which means so many things, and it’s mentioned most often when people are fed up or “lose it” with something. It is almost similar in meaning with TOZ, that Arabic word which is full of so many meaning. I thought it was so beautiful and so original from this woman to walk in to Harrods and say “ After” “ Ba’edin” enough is enough. I guess the same goes to the Palestinian Authority and one has to say to both Fatah and Hamas, “Ba’edin” every one is fed up with the situation in the Occupied Territories, fed up with a useless government and fed up with useless and “rudless” leadership who are more interested in their own self interests than taking care of the people. Perhaps it time to let go of the greed and incompetence that kept the Palestinian Authority alive for so many years without ever having any positive impact on the Palestinians. We all should know by now that Oslo was nothing but a private deal between Rabin and Arafat, where Arafat became a subcontractor to Rabin to quash the First Intifada with financing for Arafat and his 4,000 thieves coming from Europe and the US.
Yes, Marwan, we very much enjoyed your visit to our home in Virginia and we hope you enjoyed our company, and as promised I am publishing this note on “After- Ba’edin” for your laugh. Keep in mind that the most telling expression I ever heard any one use the word “TOZ” was Shafiq Alhout, who was the PLO representative in Lebanon, when asked about the Israeli plans to bring more Russian Jews to Palestine, he said “ TOZ”. The Palestinians will always catch up with the Israelis even if Israel brings Jews from Indian and Japan.
Marwan, you have to keep your promise and write all your friends in Louisiana a ‘thank you note” I am sure they will all appreciate hearing from you. Yes, American is not what it used to be, but there are whole lots of so many great, honest, loving and caring people that will compensate for what George Bush and his gangs are doing to America.
Last week we had the pleasure of traveling to Cleveland to attend the engagement of one of my wife cousins, actually Iyad is the son of my mother in laws uncle, Marwan Mazhar. While Cleveland will remain Cleveland like so may ill planned and ill designed American cities, the engagement was just terrific. It was held in the main hall of the old court house, a very majestic place and of course the beautiful setting was made more beautiful by the mother of Iyad fiancé’ who added her touch to every thing in the place, turning the place to a very beautiful court of justice.
Well, Marwan who attend and graduated from LSU back in 1953 and perhaps was the first Arab and Muslim to hit the shores of Louisiana was there and as we sat in the hotel he was as his usual self, full of life and full of stories about his wonderful experience with the people in Louisiana and how he kept in touch with so many of them all these years. I even suggested he should publish a letter in one of the major Louisiana journal. I was in Louisiana in the army, basic training and the only thing I remember is Fort Polk and its swampy environed. But Marwan had great stories to tell including his stories as a deck hand on the Great Mississippi.
I loved one of his stories of a Lebanese woman, living in London who placed an order for some household item from that great store in London, Harrods. The woman fed up with the delay and went to the manager and said “after” meaning “Ba’edin” in Arabic.
Well, one has to appreciate the real meaning of “Ba’edin” which means so many things, and it’s mentioned most often when people are fed up or “lose it” with something. It is almost similar in meaning with TOZ, that Arabic word which is full of so many meaning. I thought it was so beautiful and so original from this woman to walk in to Harrods and say “ After” “ Ba’edin” enough is enough. I guess the same goes to the Palestinian Authority and one has to say to both Fatah and Hamas, “Ba’edin” every one is fed up with the situation in the Occupied Territories, fed up with a useless government and fed up with useless and “rudless” leadership who are more interested in their own self interests than taking care of the people. Perhaps it time to let go of the greed and incompetence that kept the Palestinian Authority alive for so many years without ever having any positive impact on the Palestinians. We all should know by now that Oslo was nothing but a private deal between Rabin and Arafat, where Arafat became a subcontractor to Rabin to quash the First Intifada with financing for Arafat and his 4,000 thieves coming from Europe and the US.
Yes, Marwan, we very much enjoyed your visit to our home in Virginia and we hope you enjoyed our company, and as promised I am publishing this note on “After- Ba’edin” for your laugh. Keep in mind that the most telling expression I ever heard any one use the word “TOZ” was Shafiq Alhout, who was the PLO representative in Lebanon, when asked about the Israeli plans to bring more Russian Jews to Palestine, he said “ TOZ”. The Palestinians will always catch up with the Israelis even if Israel brings Jews from Indian and Japan.
Marwan, you have to keep your promise and write all your friends in Louisiana a ‘thank you note” I am sure they will all appreciate hearing from you. Yes, American is not what it used to be, but there are whole lots of so many great, honest, loving and caring people that will compensate for what George Bush and his gangs are doing to America.
Arafat, more of a fraud than a hero.
posted 11/12/06
Couple of days ago, thousand of Palestinians gather in “Almoqata” the official seat of the Palestinian government in El-Bireh/Ramallah (actually, the “Almoqata” is officially in El-Bireh) to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of the late Yaser Arafat.
As a Palestinian American with strong views and opinion of the late Arafat have to respect the love and feeling many Palestinians continue to hold for Arafat. I guess for so many of them, he is the one that made the Palestinian cause an international cause and here no one can deny that. However the disagreement and argument over Arafat is about the way he managed and ran the Palestine Liberation Organization and the way he ran “ the revolution” and the big mess he got the Palestinians in with his Oslo.
I do not want to discount the love for Palestine the late Arafat had and do not doubt his original commitments to the cause, however no one can deny that over time, Arafat became “egomaniac” convinced he is the “cause” and he is “Palestine” and as such he blurred the clear lines between himself as a person or as leader and that of the “cause” and this is was the down fall of Arafat. In his quest for power and authority he made sure that his personal interest in power and authority over money and political decisions supercede that of what is good for the “cause” and for the people. Arafat was simply a little man with small mind and small dreams like all other dictators who put there own personal and selfish interest ahead of the interest of his “cause” and his people. How could any one justify the fact that Arafat opened the check book of the PLO and Palestinian Authority and transferred tens of millions of dollars to the private accounts of his wife and wrote millions to his personal and loyal friends when their contribution to the people and the cause was at best totally absent. If Arafat was a leader of democracy or the head of a corporation he will be in jail for life. Instead thousands of people gather to honor his memory. That is why after 100 years we remain under Israeli Occupation.
Not only Arafat was morally, ethically and financially corrupt, he made a big mess of such a great cause and in the end gave up the rights of our people to a free state within Palestine in exchange for a job as a subcontractor to the Israeli Occupation. Oslo no matter how rosy certain people within the Palestinian Authority makes it to be and no matter the justification that Fatah and the PLO give to Oslo remains the biggest fraud ever committed by Arafat. One may forgive financial fraud, misuse and embezzlement of the people’s money; Oslo justifies bringing to trial Arafat and all those who negotiated Oslo. Arafat desperate after his big mistake of supporting criminal Saddam and desperate to stay as a key player in the Palestinian cause agreed to the terms and conditions of Oslo. The Israelis up to their ears with the mess of the First Intifada knew Arafat too well, and knew he will sell his own mother, let alone his people to stay in power and convinced him to conclude the deal in Oslo, a deal that made Arafat and his gangs billions of dollars while helping Israel manage the occupation of his people and destructions of their homes and properties. I am sure in due time, the Palestinian people will wake up one day to discover that Arafat was not only a hero, but a very big fraud. That Oslo has nothing to do with liberation from Israeli Occupation, but a way to ‘manage for a fee’, the Israeli Occupation by giving Fatah, the PLO and the Palestinian Authority a “business”. The Palestinian people will soon discover this fraud and will soon discover that Arafat was out for himself and was never the leader they think he was. Arafat embezzled the people’s money for his own personal use, but also hijacked, destroyed and mismanaged a great cause and it will take the people decades to undo the damage done by Arafat.
Couple of days ago, thousand of Palestinians gather in “Almoqata” the official seat of the Palestinian government in El-Bireh/Ramallah (actually, the “Almoqata” is officially in El-Bireh) to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of the late Yaser Arafat.
As a Palestinian American with strong views and opinion of the late Arafat have to respect the love and feeling many Palestinians continue to hold for Arafat. I guess for so many of them, he is the one that made the Palestinian cause an international cause and here no one can deny that. However the disagreement and argument over Arafat is about the way he managed and ran the Palestine Liberation Organization and the way he ran “ the revolution” and the big mess he got the Palestinians in with his Oslo.
I do not want to discount the love for Palestine the late Arafat had and do not doubt his original commitments to the cause, however no one can deny that over time, Arafat became “egomaniac” convinced he is the “cause” and he is “Palestine” and as such he blurred the clear lines between himself as a person or as leader and that of the “cause” and this is was the down fall of Arafat. In his quest for power and authority he made sure that his personal interest in power and authority over money and political decisions supercede that of what is good for the “cause” and for the people. Arafat was simply a little man with small mind and small dreams like all other dictators who put there own personal and selfish interest ahead of the interest of his “cause” and his people. How could any one justify the fact that Arafat opened the check book of the PLO and Palestinian Authority and transferred tens of millions of dollars to the private accounts of his wife and wrote millions to his personal and loyal friends when their contribution to the people and the cause was at best totally absent. If Arafat was a leader of democracy or the head of a corporation he will be in jail for life. Instead thousands of people gather to honor his memory. That is why after 100 years we remain under Israeli Occupation.
Not only Arafat was morally, ethically and financially corrupt, he made a big mess of such a great cause and in the end gave up the rights of our people to a free state within Palestine in exchange for a job as a subcontractor to the Israeli Occupation. Oslo no matter how rosy certain people within the Palestinian Authority makes it to be and no matter the justification that Fatah and the PLO give to Oslo remains the biggest fraud ever committed by Arafat. One may forgive financial fraud, misuse and embezzlement of the people’s money; Oslo justifies bringing to trial Arafat and all those who negotiated Oslo. Arafat desperate after his big mistake of supporting criminal Saddam and desperate to stay as a key player in the Palestinian cause agreed to the terms and conditions of Oslo. The Israelis up to their ears with the mess of the First Intifada knew Arafat too well, and knew he will sell his own mother, let alone his people to stay in power and convinced him to conclude the deal in Oslo, a deal that made Arafat and his gangs billions of dollars while helping Israel manage the occupation of his people and destructions of their homes and properties. I am sure in due time, the Palestinian people will wake up one day to discover that Arafat was not only a hero, but a very big fraud. That Oslo has nothing to do with liberation from Israeli Occupation, but a way to ‘manage for a fee’, the Israeli Occupation by giving Fatah, the PLO and the Palestinian Authority a “business”. The Palestinian people will soon discover this fraud and will soon discover that Arafat was out for himself and was never the leader they think he was. Arafat embezzled the people’s money for his own personal use, but also hijacked, destroyed and mismanaged a great cause and it will take the people decades to undo the damage done by Arafat.
George Allen " Maccaca" is part of his Republican Values
posted 12/10/06
No one can tell me and convince me that Senator George Allen use of the word “Maccaca” was a slip of the tongue and is not a racially motivated feeling when he used this word to describe”native” citizens who happened to be of an Indian origin. The fact that George Allen used this word, which is often used, by French and North African Jews to describe dark skinned person should give us an idea as to his background and thinking. Being of Jewish origin, should be an honor not something to hid and be ashamed of. History is full of great Jews who made even greater contribution to humanity and to civilization, George Allen does not fit in this category, and this is perhaps why he was hiding his “Jewish origin” and try to sell himself as a great Republican conservative, even evangelical. How did George Allen came about to know and use this word if it was not part of the daily conversation at home and when describing people of color. Perhaps George Allen forgot that he too is a person of color given the fact that Sephardim Jews are not blue eyed and blond, but people of color. Senator Allen if you are ashamed of your religion, you should not be ashamed that you are a person of color like all of the Maccacas you see all over the State of Virginia.
Racism is alive and well and is part of George Allen Republican Values.
No one can tell me and convince me that Senator George Allen use of the word “Maccaca” was a slip of the tongue and is not a racially motivated feeling when he used this word to describe”native” citizens who happened to be of an Indian origin. The fact that George Allen used this word, which is often used, by French and North African Jews to describe dark skinned person should give us an idea as to his background and thinking. Being of Jewish origin, should be an honor not something to hid and be ashamed of. History is full of great Jews who made even greater contribution to humanity and to civilization, George Allen does not fit in this category, and this is perhaps why he was hiding his “Jewish origin” and try to sell himself as a great Republican conservative, even evangelical. How did George Allen came about to know and use this word if it was not part of the daily conversation at home and when describing people of color. Perhaps George Allen forgot that he too is a person of color given the fact that Sephardim Jews are not blue eyed and blond, but people of color. Senator Allen if you are ashamed of your religion, you should not be ashamed that you are a person of color like all of the Maccacas you see all over the State of Virginia.
Racism is alive and well and is part of George Allen Republican Values.
Conservative Republicans re-invented modern day Islamic Jihad, and we are paying the price for it!
posted 12/10/06
Republicans and so called intellectual advocates for the Reagan Doctrine such as columnist Charles Krauthhammer and ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick should always remember that they and the late president Ronald Reagan are the ones who re-invented, supported and financed modern “jihad” after it has been dead and forgotten by Muslims for over 700 years.
When Ronald Reagan declared in his 1985 State of the Union Message his support for the “Mujahideen” as Freedom Fighter, he set the stage for a monster in the making. Little did the conservative Republicans knew that these Mujahideen would one day haunt and attack the very hand that created and supported them.
In his determination to appose the Soviet Union and its expanding military and political influence around the world, the Reagan White House with input and management from the CIA sought to defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and else where. Someone must have been very clever within the Reagan Administration to even suggest the name “Mujahideen” as the name of Muslim fighters in Afghanistan. Billions of US dollars were spent on recruiting potential fighters from around the Arab and Muslim World to come to Afghanistan and join the Jihad. Like ideological armies before the Mujahideen, such as the Nazi Arm, Soviet Army and the Israeli Army, the CIA recruited political and ideological offices such as Sheik Abdullah Yusuf Azzam and Sheik Omar Abdul-Rahman (convicted of organizing the first attack on the World Trade Center) as the political officers of these Mujahideen.
Osama bin Laden was one of those recruited by the CIA to head to Pakistan and help organize the recruitment of Muslim Jihadists from around the world. Tens of millions of dollars of CIA money funded the office of “ Maktab Alkhadamat” Office of Services to facilitate Muslim Jihadists joining the American fight against the Soviet Union. It is these Muslim Jihadists that are now menacing their former sponsors. Many of the Arab governments that allowed the CIA to recruit its citizens for the fight in Afghanistan later became the victims of these very American Jihadists.
The late Robin Cook, the former British foreign secretary gave a very logical explanation of the meaning of Al-Qaida, which he defined as database, computer files of the tens of thousands of former veterans of the CIA Mujahideen War in Afghanistan.
One should not forget the great support and of course the greatest of benefits the Pakistani’s Inter-Service Intelligence Agency which was the commercial manager of the Mujahideen war against the Soviet, with officers and agents making millions of dollars. Please let us not forget and never let these Republican conservatives leading the war on terror that they are the one who in the first place are responsible for the resurrection and rise of modern day Islamic Jihad. It was they who redefined Jihad to fit their Reagan Doctrine and it was they who organized and managed the Holy War in Afghanistan. I think they owe the American people and all victims of terror an apology.
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Republicans and so called intellectual advocates for the Reagan Doctrine such as columnist Charles Krauthhammer and ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick should always remember that they and the late president Ronald Reagan are the ones who re-invented, supported and financed modern “jihad” after it has been dead and forgotten by Muslims for over 700 years.
When Ronald Reagan declared in his 1985 State of the Union Message his support for the “Mujahideen” as Freedom Fighter, he set the stage for a monster in the making. Little did the conservative Republicans knew that these Mujahideen would one day haunt and attack the very hand that created and supported them.
In his determination to appose the Soviet Union and its expanding military and political influence around the world, the Reagan White House with input and management from the CIA sought to defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and else where. Someone must have been very clever within the Reagan Administration to even suggest the name “Mujahideen” as the name of Muslim fighters in Afghanistan. Billions of US dollars were spent on recruiting potential fighters from around the Arab and Muslim World to come to Afghanistan and join the Jihad. Like ideological armies before the Mujahideen, such as the Nazi Arm, Soviet Army and the Israeli Army, the CIA recruited political and ideological offices such as Sheik Abdullah Yusuf Azzam and Sheik Omar Abdul-Rahman (convicted of organizing the first attack on the World Trade Center) as the political officers of these Mujahideen.
Osama bin Laden was one of those recruited by the CIA to head to Pakistan and help organize the recruitment of Muslim Jihadists from around the world. Tens of millions of dollars of CIA money funded the office of “ Maktab Alkhadamat” Office of Services to facilitate Muslim Jihadists joining the American fight against the Soviet Union. It is these Muslim Jihadists that are now menacing their former sponsors. Many of the Arab governments that allowed the CIA to recruit its citizens for the fight in Afghanistan later became the victims of these very American Jihadists.
The late Robin Cook, the former British foreign secretary gave a very logical explanation of the meaning of Al-Qaida, which he defined as database, computer files of the tens of thousands of former veterans of the CIA Mujahideen War in Afghanistan.
One should not forget the great support and of course the greatest of benefits the Pakistani’s Inter-Service Intelligence Agency which was the commercial manager of the Mujahideen war against the Soviet, with officers and agents making millions of dollars. Please let us not forget and never let these Republican conservatives leading the war on terror that they are the one who in the first place are responsible for the resurrection and rise of modern day Islamic Jihad. It was they who redefined Jihad to fit their Reagan Doctrine and it was they who organized and managed the Holy War in Afghanistan. I think they owe the American people and all victims of terror an apology.
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US State Department announced a $42 million dollar campain to support Fatah.
posted 14/10/06
While this US Administration continue to provide legal, political, financial and even criminal coverage of Israel’s crime within the Palestinian Occupied Territories, the US recently announce a $42 million fund to support Fatah re-organization plans making sure Fatah continue with its “agreed to” role as subcontractor for the Israeli Occupation.
It is so ironic that at a time when the US government and especially the White House and the State Department are silent on the humiliating treatment of its citizens within the Israeli Occupied Territories, as we have seen most recently with the denial of entry to Palestine of US citizens of Palestinian origins. Israel went even further by demanding that those US citizens of Arabic origin must leave the Occupied Territories. Sam Bahour is one case in point (visit the different website that covered his case in the US and international media) and the case of my sister Laila and her husband who planned to retire in El-Bireh but where denied residency. Of course if this treatment happened to any Jew, and especial to a US Jew by any country in the world all hell will break lose and congressmen and senators will be tripping over each other demanding freedom of residency and movement to members of the Jewish faith. Of course Arabs and Muslims are not entitled to this kind of coverage by US lawmakers and this administration.
While this administration is silent about all the crimes committed by Israel it is doing all it can to undermine the very democratic practices it advocate.
Every one, except the majority of the Palestinians do recognize that the Oslo Accord signed by the late Yasser Arafat and Ishak Rabin was nothing but a contractual agreement by an occupying power and representative of the occupied, where Israel as the occupying power cedes its role of managing the day to day affairs of the people under occupation to an organization such as the PLO and Fatah, with the US providing the political coverage to both Fatah and Arafat and the European Union providing the funding that keeps Fatah, the racketeering machine, well funded and in business. That is why we never hear any thing about ending the occupation, not from George Bush, not from Secretary Rice, not from Olmert, certainly not from any the Palestinian leaderships that is identified with Fatah. It seems that Fatah leadership have added the US State Department as client in addition to the European Union and Israel.
$42 million dollars will go a long way to fund and buy many of Fatah leadership who also made a financial killing since Oslo and who make sure that the Israeli Occupation continue as a steady source of income for Fatah and its leadership.
Since Oslo many of the Fatah leadership hardly ever talk about ending the Israeli Occupation and for the most part talk only of managing the occupation and talk about salaries for their army of thugs. These Palestinian officials talk nothing of the Israeli criminal occupation but talk of making life a “little easier” for those who have suffered some 39 years under the worst military occupation since Nazi Germany occupied most of Europe. No Fatah officials talk of the more than 750,000 Palestinians who were guest of Israeli jails, and no one talk of the hundreds of thousands who lost their properties. I am sure the US State Department in the next few months will go on a shopping spree buying the “conscious” and “themam” of many Palestinians in the US and around the world, making sure they complete the transaction begun with buying Fatah. I continue to say and repeat that Arafat and the PLO after the Palestinian exiles of 48 and the second exile of 67 and the military occupation are the worst thing that could ever happen to the Palestinian people. Oslo was nothing but a crime. Arafat, Fatah and the PLO should take the blame for failing to end the longest military occupation in modern history
While this US Administration continue to provide legal, political, financial and even criminal coverage of Israel’s crime within the Palestinian Occupied Territories, the US recently announce a $42 million fund to support Fatah re-organization plans making sure Fatah continue with its “agreed to” role as subcontractor for the Israeli Occupation.
It is so ironic that at a time when the US government and especially the White House and the State Department are silent on the humiliating treatment of its citizens within the Israeli Occupied Territories, as we have seen most recently with the denial of entry to Palestine of US citizens of Palestinian origins. Israel went even further by demanding that those US citizens of Arabic origin must leave the Occupied Territories. Sam Bahour is one case in point (visit the different website that covered his case in the US and international media) and the case of my sister Laila and her husband who planned to retire in El-Bireh but where denied residency. Of course if this treatment happened to any Jew, and especial to a US Jew by any country in the world all hell will break lose and congressmen and senators will be tripping over each other demanding freedom of residency and movement to members of the Jewish faith. Of course Arabs and Muslims are not entitled to this kind of coverage by US lawmakers and this administration.
While this administration is silent about all the crimes committed by Israel it is doing all it can to undermine the very democratic practices it advocate.
Every one, except the majority of the Palestinians do recognize that the Oslo Accord signed by the late Yasser Arafat and Ishak Rabin was nothing but a contractual agreement by an occupying power and representative of the occupied, where Israel as the occupying power cedes its role of managing the day to day affairs of the people under occupation to an organization such as the PLO and Fatah, with the US providing the political coverage to both Fatah and Arafat and the European Union providing the funding that keeps Fatah, the racketeering machine, well funded and in business. That is why we never hear any thing about ending the occupation, not from George Bush, not from Secretary Rice, not from Olmert, certainly not from any the Palestinian leaderships that is identified with Fatah. It seems that Fatah leadership have added the US State Department as client in addition to the European Union and Israel.
$42 million dollars will go a long way to fund and buy many of Fatah leadership who also made a financial killing since Oslo and who make sure that the Israeli Occupation continue as a steady source of income for Fatah and its leadership.
Since Oslo many of the Fatah leadership hardly ever talk about ending the Israeli Occupation and for the most part talk only of managing the occupation and talk about salaries for their army of thugs. These Palestinian officials talk nothing of the Israeli criminal occupation but talk of making life a “little easier” for those who have suffered some 39 years under the worst military occupation since Nazi Germany occupied most of Europe. No Fatah officials talk of the more than 750,000 Palestinians who were guest of Israeli jails, and no one talk of the hundreds of thousands who lost their properties. I am sure the US State Department in the next few months will go on a shopping spree buying the “conscious” and “themam” of many Palestinians in the US and around the world, making sure they complete the transaction begun with buying Fatah. I continue to say and repeat that Arafat and the PLO after the Palestinian exiles of 48 and the second exile of 67 and the military occupation are the worst thing that could ever happen to the Palestinian people. Oslo was nothing but a crime. Arafat, Fatah and the PLO should take the blame for failing to end the longest military occupation in modern history
What kind of Judea-Christian values they are talking about?
posted 14/10/06
These days and ever since the criminal attacks by modern day Islamic terrorist on the World Trade Center resulting in the cold murder of over 3,000 innocent lives, many in the US and Israel especially the alliance of Conservative Evangelicals and Zionist Neocons, have been trying their best to define Muslim and Islamic values as promoters of mass murder and killing and Islam as nothing but a religion of terrorism. Even the Pope has joined this alliance. And sad to say they have succeeded in creating nations of fear here in the US and around the world.
No one can deny, that Islam in its early days was spread by swords and by “holly worriers” but then all great empires of that time and prior, have engaged in wars for one reason or another using armies of tens of thousands of soldiers. Many of the great empires such as the Persian, Byzantine, and Roman Empires not to mentions Athens, Sparta and Carthage all engaged in wars and occupations. Why Islam is the only one that is targeted these days accused of violating human values. At least Muslim worriers NEVER committed the kind of war crimes committed by soldier of the Holy Roman Empire and the Great Crusade committed in the name of God and Jesus Christ and committed to save the Holy Land from the Muslim Infidels.
It seems that many of modern day Christian Evangelicals and Zionist Neocons forgot all about the hundreds of millions of people killed and murdered by armies of colonizers and occupiers armed with modern Judea-Christian values.
One only need to remember the Spanish Inquisitions against Muslim and Jews, the conquest of Latin America by the Conquistadors who killed tens of millions of native Latin Americans. They refuse to remember let alone admit the killings and murder of tens of millions of Africans by colonizing powers of Christian Europe and the killings of tens of millions of American Natives and forget about the killings and murder of tens of millions of African slaves killed by the longest running crimes of its kind in the world. These criminals where not Muslim Jihadists, but where committed by nations with Christian values. Of course since we always hear of Judea-Christian values, we also need to remember the Israeli Occupation and exiles of millions of Palestinian Arabs in the name of Judeo- Zionist values. The list of crimes continue with the murder of millions of Jews in Europe in the Second World War, the killing and murder of millions during the same war and the previous war, the killing of hundreds of thousands by allied planes in Germany and in Japan and the killing of millions in Central and Latin America. Of course no one talks of these crimes as crimes with its source in Judea-Christian values. Yes there are many Muslim criminals who committed terrorist crimes around the world, but then there are millions of Judea-Christian soldiers who committed murder in the hundred of millions. Those with glass houses should not throw stones. It is time for Muslims, Jews and Christians must admit they all committed crimes at one time or another.
These days and ever since the criminal attacks by modern day Islamic terrorist on the World Trade Center resulting in the cold murder of over 3,000 innocent lives, many in the US and Israel especially the alliance of Conservative Evangelicals and Zionist Neocons, have been trying their best to define Muslim and Islamic values as promoters of mass murder and killing and Islam as nothing but a religion of terrorism. Even the Pope has joined this alliance. And sad to say they have succeeded in creating nations of fear here in the US and around the world.
No one can deny, that Islam in its early days was spread by swords and by “holly worriers” but then all great empires of that time and prior, have engaged in wars for one reason or another using armies of tens of thousands of soldiers. Many of the great empires such as the Persian, Byzantine, and Roman Empires not to mentions Athens, Sparta and Carthage all engaged in wars and occupations. Why Islam is the only one that is targeted these days accused of violating human values. At least Muslim worriers NEVER committed the kind of war crimes committed by soldier of the Holy Roman Empire and the Great Crusade committed in the name of God and Jesus Christ and committed to save the Holy Land from the Muslim Infidels.
It seems that many of modern day Christian Evangelicals and Zionist Neocons forgot all about the hundreds of millions of people killed and murdered by armies of colonizers and occupiers armed with modern Judea-Christian values.
One only need to remember the Spanish Inquisitions against Muslim and Jews, the conquest of Latin America by the Conquistadors who killed tens of millions of native Latin Americans. They refuse to remember let alone admit the killings and murder of tens of millions of Africans by colonizing powers of Christian Europe and the killings of tens of millions of American Natives and forget about the killings and murder of tens of millions of African slaves killed by the longest running crimes of its kind in the world. These criminals where not Muslim Jihadists, but where committed by nations with Christian values. Of course since we always hear of Judea-Christian values, we also need to remember the Israeli Occupation and exiles of millions of Palestinian Arabs in the name of Judeo- Zionist values. The list of crimes continue with the murder of millions of Jews in Europe in the Second World War, the killing and murder of millions during the same war and the previous war, the killing of hundreds of thousands by allied planes in Germany and in Japan and the killing of millions in Central and Latin America. Of course no one talks of these crimes as crimes with its source in Judea-Christian values. Yes there are many Muslim criminals who committed terrorist crimes around the world, but then there are millions of Judea-Christian soldiers who committed murder in the hundred of millions. Those with glass houses should not throw stones. It is time for Muslims, Jews and Christians must admit they all committed crimes at one time or another.
When it comes to Iraq, Bush should have learned something from King Faisal 1.
posted 21/10/05
When it comes to Iraq, no Iraqis so far was and is able to describe the Iraqi situation and the failure of the Iraqi people to form and build a modern nation state than Foulath Hadid, the honory fellow at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford as he eloquently expressed his views in an article published in the International Herald Tribune (Friday, October 20, 2006).
Mr. Hadid quoting the late King Faisal I, shortly before his death describing the Iraqis as “ There is still— no Iraqi people but unimaginable masses of human beings, devoid of any patriotic ideas, imbued with religious traditions and absurdities, connected by no common tie, giving ear to devil, prone to anarchy, and perpetually ready to rise against any government what so ever” The late king Faisal was somewhat correct in the last instance. However the Iraqis did not rise in mass and throw out Saddam and his Ba’athist gang. Too bad the Sunni Muslims did not join the Shiites and Kurds when they revolted against Saddam.
It is very clear that not George Bush nor any one in his administration bothered to read the history of Iraq before they set of their reckless, ill advices, ill planned, and ill executed war on Iraq. It seems when it comes to history, members of this administration to do not bother to read, or are unable to read.
No one in their right mind, will disagree that Saddam Hussein is a killer, a murder, a war criminal who had to go, but many disagree with the lies of George Bush and with the way he ramp the war on Iraq, as a war on terror down the throat of congress and the public.
It is hard to believe how Bush allowed Paul Bremer to execute the plans for the post war Iraq without any due considerations to its history and its very complicated social, religious, tribal and ethnic structure.
More troublesome is the fact that Bush and Rumsfeld continue to believe in the same in what they are doing and thinking they are on the right course when the facts on the grounds tell them they better change plans and change tactics.
Bush afraid to admit he made a major blunder and made the biggest mistake of his presidency continues to make believe and continue to advocate, “staying the course”. What course are you talking about Mr. President? Your course is nothing but a disaster and all of the provado you can give and pretend will not change the facts on the grounds.
The Late president Lyndon Johnson lied to Congress when he claimed the North Vietnamese attacked US Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonking, thus escalating a conflict the murdered over 55,000 of our finest soldiers, crippled for life hundreds of thousands of GI’s and killed and murder over a million Vietnamese, he left in disgrace which he deserved.
Bush is doing the same like Johnson, lied about Weapons of Mass Destructions and continue to lie about the ties of Saddam to terror and of so far the number of murdered and killed Iraqis is approaching the 700,000. Do we expect that Bush will admit his lies and his failures before the death toll in Iraq reach a million, I doubt it?
The only beneficiaries of the Bush’s War on Terror are the so-called “security and terror experts” and those companies that sell to Department of Homeland Security. I do not believe the nation is safer or safer under Bush leadership.
It is time for Bush to admit to the people of the US that he lied, he made believe and he should apologies to the families of the more than 700,000 who died in Iraq so far. He should apologies to the nation and for taking the nation for a reckless, and joyless ride these past 5 years.
When it comes to Iraq, no Iraqis so far was and is able to describe the Iraqi situation and the failure of the Iraqi people to form and build a modern nation state than Foulath Hadid, the honory fellow at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford as he eloquently expressed his views in an article published in the International Herald Tribune (Friday, October 20, 2006).
Mr. Hadid quoting the late King Faisal I, shortly before his death describing the Iraqis as “ There is still— no Iraqi people but unimaginable masses of human beings, devoid of any patriotic ideas, imbued with religious traditions and absurdities, connected by no common tie, giving ear to devil, prone to anarchy, and perpetually ready to rise against any government what so ever” The late king Faisal was somewhat correct in the last instance. However the Iraqis did not rise in mass and throw out Saddam and his Ba’athist gang. Too bad the Sunni Muslims did not join the Shiites and Kurds when they revolted against Saddam.
It is very clear that not George Bush nor any one in his administration bothered to read the history of Iraq before they set of their reckless, ill advices, ill planned, and ill executed war on Iraq. It seems when it comes to history, members of this administration to do not bother to read, or are unable to read.
No one in their right mind, will disagree that Saddam Hussein is a killer, a murder, a war criminal who had to go, but many disagree with the lies of George Bush and with the way he ramp the war on Iraq, as a war on terror down the throat of congress and the public.
It is hard to believe how Bush allowed Paul Bremer to execute the plans for the post war Iraq without any due considerations to its history and its very complicated social, religious, tribal and ethnic structure.
More troublesome is the fact that Bush and Rumsfeld continue to believe in the same in what they are doing and thinking they are on the right course when the facts on the grounds tell them they better change plans and change tactics.
Bush afraid to admit he made a major blunder and made the biggest mistake of his presidency continues to make believe and continue to advocate, “staying the course”. What course are you talking about Mr. President? Your course is nothing but a disaster and all of the provado you can give and pretend will not change the facts on the grounds.
The Late president Lyndon Johnson lied to Congress when he claimed the North Vietnamese attacked US Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonking, thus escalating a conflict the murdered over 55,000 of our finest soldiers, crippled for life hundreds of thousands of GI’s and killed and murder over a million Vietnamese, he left in disgrace which he deserved.
Bush is doing the same like Johnson, lied about Weapons of Mass Destructions and continue to lie about the ties of Saddam to terror and of so far the number of murdered and killed Iraqis is approaching the 700,000. Do we expect that Bush will admit his lies and his failures before the death toll in Iraq reach a million, I doubt it?
The only beneficiaries of the Bush’s War on Terror are the so-called “security and terror experts” and those companies that sell to Department of Homeland Security. I do not believe the nation is safer or safer under Bush leadership.
It is time for Bush to admit to the people of the US that he lied, he made believe and he should apologies to the families of the more than 700,000 who died in Iraq so far. He should apologies to the nation and for taking the nation for a reckless, and joyless ride these past 5 years.
Time for the UN to save Palestinians from themselves.
posted on 21/10/05
When it comes to Iraq, no Iraqis so far was and is able to describe the Iraqi situation and the failure of the Iraqi people to form and build a modern nation state than Foulath Hadid, the honory fellow at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford as he eloquently expressed his views in an article published in the International Herald Tribune (Friday, October 20, 2006).
Mr. Hadid quoting the late King Faisal I, shortly before his death describing the Iraqis as “ There is still— no Iraqi people but unimaginable masses of human beings, devoid of any patriotic ideas, imbued with religious traditions and absurdities, connected by no common tie, giving ear to devil, prone to anarchy, and perpetually ready to rise against any government what so ever” The late king Faisal was somewhat correct in the last instance. However the Iraqis did not rise in mass and throw out Saddam and his Ba’athist gang. Too bad the Sunni Muslims did not join the Shiites and Kurds when they revolted against Saddam.
It is very clear that not George Bush nor any one in his administration bothered to read the history of Iraq before they set of their reckless, ill advices, ill planned, and ill executed war on Iraq. It seems when it comes to history, members of this administration to do not bother to read, or are unable to read.
No one in their right mind, will disagree that Saddam Hussein is a killer, a murder, a war criminal who had to go, but many disagree with the lies of George Bush and with the way he ramp the war on Iraq, as a war on terror down the throat of congress and the public.
It is hard to believe how Bush allowed Paul Bremer to execute the plans for the post war Iraq without any due considerations to its history and its very complicated social, religious, tribal and ethnic structure.
More troublesome is the fact that Bush and Rumsfeld continue to believe in the same in what they are doing and thinking they are on the right course when the facts on the grounds tell them they better change plans and change tactics.
Bush afraid to admit he made a major blunder and made the biggest mistake of his presidency continues to make believe and continue to advocate, “staying the course”. What course are you talking about Mr. President? Your course is nothing but a disaster and all of the provado you can give and pretend will not change the facts on the grounds.
The Late president Lyndon Johnson lied to Congress when he claimed the North Vietnamese attacked US Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonking, thus escalating a conflict the murdered over 55,000 of our finest soldiers, crippled for life hundreds of thousands of GI’s and killed and murder over a million Vietnamese, he left in disgrace which he deserved.
Bush is doing the same like Johnson, lied about Weapons of Mass Destructions and continue to lie about the ties of Saddam to terror and of so far the number of murdered and killed Iraqis is approaching the 700,000. Do we expect that Bush will admit his lies and his failures before the death toll in Iraq reach a million, I doubt it?
The only beneficiaries of the Bush’s War on Terror are the so-called “security and terror experts” and those companies that sell to Department of Homeland Security. I do not believe the nation is safer or safer under Bush leadership.
It is time for Bush to admit to the people of the US that he lied, he made believe and he should apologies to the families of the more than 700,000 who died in Iraq so far. He should apologies to the nation and for taking the nation for a reckless, and joyless ride these past 5 years.
When it comes to Iraq, no Iraqis so far was and is able to describe the Iraqi situation and the failure of the Iraqi people to form and build a modern nation state than Foulath Hadid, the honory fellow at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford as he eloquently expressed his views in an article published in the International Herald Tribune (Friday, October 20, 2006).
Mr. Hadid quoting the late King Faisal I, shortly before his death describing the Iraqis as “ There is still— no Iraqi people but unimaginable masses of human beings, devoid of any patriotic ideas, imbued with religious traditions and absurdities, connected by no common tie, giving ear to devil, prone to anarchy, and perpetually ready to rise against any government what so ever” The late king Faisal was somewhat correct in the last instance. However the Iraqis did not rise in mass and throw out Saddam and his Ba’athist gang. Too bad the Sunni Muslims did not join the Shiites and Kurds when they revolted against Saddam.
It is very clear that not George Bush nor any one in his administration bothered to read the history of Iraq before they set of their reckless, ill advices, ill planned, and ill executed war on Iraq. It seems when it comes to history, members of this administration to do not bother to read, or are unable to read.
No one in their right mind, will disagree that Saddam Hussein is a killer, a murder, a war criminal who had to go, but many disagree with the lies of George Bush and with the way he ramp the war on Iraq, as a war on terror down the throat of congress and the public.
It is hard to believe how Bush allowed Paul Bremer to execute the plans for the post war Iraq without any due considerations to its history and its very complicated social, religious, tribal and ethnic structure.
More troublesome is the fact that Bush and Rumsfeld continue to believe in the same in what they are doing and thinking they are on the right course when the facts on the grounds tell them they better change plans and change tactics.
Bush afraid to admit he made a major blunder and made the biggest mistake of his presidency continues to make believe and continue to advocate, “staying the course”. What course are you talking about Mr. President? Your course is nothing but a disaster and all of the provado you can give and pretend will not change the facts on the grounds.
The Late president Lyndon Johnson lied to Congress when he claimed the North Vietnamese attacked US Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonking, thus escalating a conflict the murdered over 55,000 of our finest soldiers, crippled for life hundreds of thousands of GI’s and killed and murder over a million Vietnamese, he left in disgrace which he deserved.
Bush is doing the same like Johnson, lied about Weapons of Mass Destructions and continue to lie about the ties of Saddam to terror and of so far the number of murdered and killed Iraqis is approaching the 700,000. Do we expect that Bush will admit his lies and his failures before the death toll in Iraq reach a million, I doubt it?
The only beneficiaries of the Bush’s War on Terror are the so-called “security and terror experts” and those companies that sell to Department of Homeland Security. I do not believe the nation is safer or safer under Bush leadership.
It is time for Bush to admit to the people of the US that he lied, he made believe and he should apologies to the families of the more than 700,000 who died in Iraq so far. He should apologies to the nation and for taking the nation for a reckless, and joyless ride these past 5 years.
We, as citizens can teach few Republicans what Us "Patriotism" is all about.
Original Post: 19 Nov 2005
What is the hell is going within the US Congress? Republican turned what should be a debate on the war in Iraq to a debate on patriotism and who is a coward? What a shame. But then Republicans these days have no sense of shame or patriotism.
It is very unlikely that finally the US Congress wakes up to its responsibility for the nation and decided to debate the War in Iraq couple of years later, couple of thousand dead soldiers later, and couple of hundred billion later? No, I do not believe it. What is going on in Congress has nothing to do with the war in Iraq but has every thing to do with the Republicans siege of the nation and the Republican definition of patriotism and loyalty to the country. It is war of intimidation and war against America.
Every debate that has to do with national security, or national interest or national priorities, or national rights and freedoms, or economic priorities always changed and manipulated by the Republican leaderships in the White House and Congress to debate on patriotism and loyalty to the country. I will not be surprised if the debate on abortion will also become a debate defined in terms of patriotism and treason.
The action of Representative Jean Schmidt is insult to all American and should be an insult to all Republicans as well. The personal attach on Congressman John P. Murtha is for sure meant to intimidate the nation and attempt by “Republican Chicken Hawks” to define what is America all about and who is a patriotic American and who is not.
One only need to see of those who where the “godfathers” of the war in Iraq how many of these in fact enlisted and joined the US military? Non-is the answer. Vice President Dick Chaney claimed had has some other “important” things to do that join the US military. Richard Perl, Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, perhaps fined it more compelling to join the IDF and lobby on behalf of Jonathan Pollard than join the US military.
One thing Representative Jean Schmidt and the entire Republican leadership have to understand and be reminded of is that a debate on war and peace, a debate that will send our men and women in harms way, have nothing to do with the crap that is “Republican Patriotism”. We must never allow these “Republican Chicken Hawk” define for us what is American Patriotism. We do need a lesson from Republican in Congress or the White House to teach few bits on US patriotism. Who in the hell they are to dare to tell us and define for us what is American patriotism is all about. Patriotism is standing up for America’s ideals and values. Standing up and fighting for America freedom and liberty, and standing up for freedom and liberty abroad, not to go to war on false pretenses and fraudulent claims and allow all the crooks and thieves the Republican Party can fined, to rape Iraq and raid our US and Iraqi national treasuries, and allow crooked businessmen and companies to defraud US Treasury out of billions of dollars of hard earned US tax dollars. We better see hundreds of crooks go to jail.
One thing Representative Schmidt failed to understand that a debate on the war in Iraq has nothing to do with American commitment to patriotism, but has every thing to do with Americas national interest and Iraqi national interest, and more importantly the very lives of those we decided to send to war to fight in a war that has no legitimacy what so ever. Instead of manipulating and hijacking the debate and make it about “patriotism” perhaps Republican and Democrats can wake up and live up to their responsibility of debating issues of national interests and rights, and leave patriotism to every single and individual Americans. We, as citizens can teach few Republicans what patriotism is all about. Let us put an end to this crap that is called “Republican Patriotism”.
What is the hell is going within the US Congress? Republican turned what should be a debate on the war in Iraq to a debate on patriotism and who is a coward? What a shame. But then Republicans these days have no sense of shame or patriotism.
It is very unlikely that finally the US Congress wakes up to its responsibility for the nation and decided to debate the War in Iraq couple of years later, couple of thousand dead soldiers later, and couple of hundred billion later? No, I do not believe it. What is going on in Congress has nothing to do with the war in Iraq but has every thing to do with the Republicans siege of the nation and the Republican definition of patriotism and loyalty to the country. It is war of intimidation and war against America.
Every debate that has to do with national security, or national interest or national priorities, or national rights and freedoms, or economic priorities always changed and manipulated by the Republican leaderships in the White House and Congress to debate on patriotism and loyalty to the country. I will not be surprised if the debate on abortion will also become a debate defined in terms of patriotism and treason.
The action of Representative Jean Schmidt is insult to all American and should be an insult to all Republicans as well. The personal attach on Congressman John P. Murtha is for sure meant to intimidate the nation and attempt by “Republican Chicken Hawks” to define what is America all about and who is a patriotic American and who is not.
One only need to see of those who where the “godfathers” of the war in Iraq how many of these in fact enlisted and joined the US military? Non-is the answer. Vice President Dick Chaney claimed had has some other “important” things to do that join the US military. Richard Perl, Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, perhaps fined it more compelling to join the IDF and lobby on behalf of Jonathan Pollard than join the US military.
One thing Representative Jean Schmidt and the entire Republican leadership have to understand and be reminded of is that a debate on war and peace, a debate that will send our men and women in harms way, have nothing to do with the crap that is “Republican Patriotism”. We must never allow these “Republican Chicken Hawk” define for us what is American Patriotism. We do need a lesson from Republican in Congress or the White House to teach few bits on US patriotism. Who in the hell they are to dare to tell us and define for us what is American patriotism is all about. Patriotism is standing up for America’s ideals and values. Standing up and fighting for America freedom and liberty, and standing up for freedom and liberty abroad, not to go to war on false pretenses and fraudulent claims and allow all the crooks and thieves the Republican Party can fined, to rape Iraq and raid our US and Iraqi national treasuries, and allow crooked businessmen and companies to defraud US Treasury out of billions of dollars of hard earned US tax dollars. We better see hundreds of crooks go to jail.
One thing Representative Schmidt failed to understand that a debate on the war in Iraq has nothing to do with American commitment to patriotism, but has every thing to do with Americas national interest and Iraqi national interest, and more importantly the very lives of those we decided to send to war to fight in a war that has no legitimacy what so ever. Instead of manipulating and hijacking the debate and make it about “patriotism” perhaps Republican and Democrats can wake up and live up to their responsibility of debating issues of national interests and rights, and leave patriotism to every single and individual Americans. We, as citizens can teach few Republicans what patriotism is all about. Let us put an end to this crap that is called “Republican Patriotism”.
Iraq needs responsible leadership for a change, not killers and murderers to rule it.
Original Post: 19 Nov 2005
Bayan Jaber Solaj, the Iraqi minister of interior not only should resign but should stand trial as well. The man is not only an arrogant minister who have a habit of insulting others (he called the Saudi “Bedouins” who could not teach him any thing) that is for sure, the Saudis could not teach such an arrogant and corrupt man any thing, he is too far gone to be salvaged by the Saudis and the Americans.
The discovery of “secret” prisons belonging to the ministry of interior where systemic abuse and torture takes places is enough reason for Solaj to step down and stand trial. The fact that he knew of such secrete prisons, and the fact that he know there was systematic torture of prisoners, are enough reasons for the man to get the hell out of the office and to take his place in the dock, in the court room with Saddam and his Baathist murderers.
Yes, one can understand the Shiite and what they had to endure during Saddam regime and one can understand the anger and frustration the Shiite have against the Sunnis who misruled and misused and abused Iraq and Iraqis for a long time, but that does not in any way ever, justify the abuses the Sunnis have to endure at the hand of Iraqi Shiites. This is not what this whole thing in Iraq is all about.
What the Iraqis need is not another Baathist regime like that of Saddam. What Iraqis need is not another Shiite regime like next door Iran responsible for the killing and murder of tens of thousands who challenged the mullahs of Iran. The Mullahs of Iran put to death, not supporters of the late Shah, but ordinary Iranians who saw that the Islamic revolution eating and devouring its sons and daughters. We do not need Shiite regimes like that of Iran. What the people of Iraq need is a democratic, secular state where citizens of Iraq can be equal in the eye of the law. What the Iraqi needs is not a secular criminal regime like that of Saddam’s Baathist regime, and do not need a regime of the Mullah, certainly, we do not need a regime like that of Paul Bremer and Solaj. Iraq and Iraqis more than ever needs freedom, freedom from fear, freedom of religion and from religion, freedom from war lords like those they had in Kurdish areas and certainly they do not need a Shiite or a Sunni majority, but an Iraqi democratic majority.
Hell broke lose when the Americans where caught on camera abusing prisoners in Abu-Ghraib prison, and the entire world jumped on the US demanding apologies and trials for those who committed such crimes. We should not demand less than that Now.
Well what the world now demands from Mr. Solaj is nothing less, and since he is directly responsible for authorizing such a systematic torture, then nothing short of resignation and trial will do.
I never could understand what is going on in Iraq and I like the recommendation of Dr. Salmeh, the former Lebanese minister of information and culture where he said in recent interview, that every one should have known that Iraq is quite an interesting and complicated country and once you open the door on such a complex problem you better come up with very original ideas, that address this strange combination of mosaic.
What is more surprising in the case of secret Iraqi prisons is the silence of the Shiite leaderships, a silence no less worrisome that the silence of the Sunni leadership at the ever increasing wave of suicide bombing and killing of innocent Iraqis committed by Sunni fighters. What Iraq needs is an outstanding secular leadership that keeps religious leaderships where it belong in the mosques and put criminal sectarian leadership behind bars for failing to stop all of the killings that is going on. The torture of Sunnis in secrete Shiite jails is no less dangerous that suicide bombing carried by Sunnis against Shiites. Iraq needs responsible leadership for a change not killers and murderers to rule it.
Bayan Jaber Solaj, the Iraqi minister of interior not only should resign but should stand trial as well. The man is not only an arrogant minister who have a habit of insulting others (he called the Saudi “Bedouins” who could not teach him any thing) that is for sure, the Saudis could not teach such an arrogant and corrupt man any thing, he is too far gone to be salvaged by the Saudis and the Americans.
The discovery of “secret” prisons belonging to the ministry of interior where systemic abuse and torture takes places is enough reason for Solaj to step down and stand trial. The fact that he knew of such secrete prisons, and the fact that he know there was systematic torture of prisoners, are enough reasons for the man to get the hell out of the office and to take his place in the dock, in the court room with Saddam and his Baathist murderers.
Yes, one can understand the Shiite and what they had to endure during Saddam regime and one can understand the anger and frustration the Shiite have against the Sunnis who misruled and misused and abused Iraq and Iraqis for a long time, but that does not in any way ever, justify the abuses the Sunnis have to endure at the hand of Iraqi Shiites. This is not what this whole thing in Iraq is all about.
What the Iraqis need is not another Baathist regime like that of Saddam. What Iraqis need is not another Shiite regime like next door Iran responsible for the killing and murder of tens of thousands who challenged the mullahs of Iran. The Mullahs of Iran put to death, not supporters of the late Shah, but ordinary Iranians who saw that the Islamic revolution eating and devouring its sons and daughters. We do not need Shiite regimes like that of Iran. What the people of Iraq need is a democratic, secular state where citizens of Iraq can be equal in the eye of the law. What the Iraqi needs is not a secular criminal regime like that of Saddam’s Baathist regime, and do not need a regime of the Mullah, certainly, we do not need a regime like that of Paul Bremer and Solaj. Iraq and Iraqis more than ever needs freedom, freedom from fear, freedom of religion and from religion, freedom from war lords like those they had in Kurdish areas and certainly they do not need a Shiite or a Sunni majority, but an Iraqi democratic majority.
Hell broke lose when the Americans where caught on camera abusing prisoners in Abu-Ghraib prison, and the entire world jumped on the US demanding apologies and trials for those who committed such crimes. We should not demand less than that Now.
Well what the world now demands from Mr. Solaj is nothing less, and since he is directly responsible for authorizing such a systematic torture, then nothing short of resignation and trial will do.
I never could understand what is going on in Iraq and I like the recommendation of Dr. Salmeh, the former Lebanese minister of information and culture where he said in recent interview, that every one should have known that Iraq is quite an interesting and complicated country and once you open the door on such a complex problem you better come up with very original ideas, that address this strange combination of mosaic.
What is more surprising in the case of secret Iraqi prisons is the silence of the Shiite leaderships, a silence no less worrisome that the silence of the Sunni leadership at the ever increasing wave of suicide bombing and killing of innocent Iraqis committed by Sunni fighters. What Iraq needs is an outstanding secular leadership that keeps religious leaderships where it belong in the mosques and put criminal sectarian leadership behind bars for failing to stop all of the killings that is going on. The torture of Sunnis in secrete Shiite jails is no less dangerous that suicide bombing carried by Sunnis against Shiites. Iraq needs responsible leadership for a change not killers and murderers to rule it.
Let us not confuse between terrorism and fight for liberation.
Original Post: 17 Nov 2005
After the tragic events in Amman and the murder of innocent people it is difficult to drop the subject of terrorism and the excuses it finds among Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East, not only among people in the streets but among intellectuals as well.
Fighting terrorism must start with every house, with every family, with every street and with every journalist and with every satellite channel, and of course with every mosque and with every imam in every mosque.
The sad events in Amman is a reminder that all of us, Arabs and non- Arabs, must stand united in fighting this scrooge that is out to kill and maim for the hell of it. These terrorist are worst that any creatures on earth. There must never be an excuse for killing people.
The Arab streets in Amman, in Riyadh, in Casablanca, in Sann’a, in Ramallah and Gaza must stand up against terrorism loud and clear and must condemn this new culture of death that is but a cancer among nations.
I was in Casablanca when terrorist attached several locations and killed scores of innocent people and I was very impressed with the hundreds of thousands of Moroccan as they took to the streets to condemn such terrorist attached and I did not see any single Moroccan who went to give condolences to the families of those who committed such murder.
What I have seen in Casablanca I would like to see in Cairo, in Damascus, in Beirut, in Ramallah, in Gaza and in Riyadh and Baghdad. We need to make sure the terrorists know that they have no support what so ever in the Arab streets, they must know that they do not represent any one and certainly they are not Islam. These terrorists are nothing but misfits and killers and murderers who should pay a very high price for the murder they committed.
I am also calling on Palestinians to openly and publicly reject suicide bombing and must give a clear message to those who plan suicide bombing their pictures and posters will not adorn walls and streets and people will not visit and give condolences to their families and that no one, no one in Palestine will ever celebrate the death of a suicide bomber.
Yes, there are many grievances the Arabs and Muslims have against their own governments and against the West in General and the US in particular. Certainly against Israel and its racist and murderous policies, but there must never be any excuses for committing murder against innocent people; Jews and gentiles, Muslim and Arabs.
Such a culture of terrorism is not an Arab and Muslim culture. Before Muslim and Arabs started to commit these acts of terror and suicide bombing, many nations, people and culture did engage in such criminal and uncivilized activities. I reject claims by so called experts on terrorism like Steve Emerson and members of Congress and their staff who always try to make it a point that terrorism is nothing but an Arab and Muslim intrinsic trait. Individuals like Steve Emerson and members of Congress have their own agenda and it is not an American agenda. The US should understand and accept the right of people to reject and fight foreign occupation and Iraq and Occupied Palestine must not be an exception to the rule and that not all resistance to occupation are acts of terror.
The US as the leader of the so-called “Free World” should take the lead in pushing for a world conference on terrorism and liberation making a distinction between the two. At the same time there should be no distinction between acts of terrorism committed by groups and individuals and acts of terrorism committed by a state in pursuit of its policies. Let us not confuse acts of terrorism and acts of liberation.
After the tragic events in Amman and the murder of innocent people it is difficult to drop the subject of terrorism and the excuses it finds among Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East, not only among people in the streets but among intellectuals as well.
Fighting terrorism must start with every house, with every family, with every street and with every journalist and with every satellite channel, and of course with every mosque and with every imam in every mosque.
The sad events in Amman is a reminder that all of us, Arabs and non- Arabs, must stand united in fighting this scrooge that is out to kill and maim for the hell of it. These terrorist are worst that any creatures on earth. There must never be an excuse for killing people.
The Arab streets in Amman, in Riyadh, in Casablanca, in Sann’a, in Ramallah and Gaza must stand up against terrorism loud and clear and must condemn this new culture of death that is but a cancer among nations.
I was in Casablanca when terrorist attached several locations and killed scores of innocent people and I was very impressed with the hundreds of thousands of Moroccan as they took to the streets to condemn such terrorist attached and I did not see any single Moroccan who went to give condolences to the families of those who committed such murder.
What I have seen in Casablanca I would like to see in Cairo, in Damascus, in Beirut, in Ramallah, in Gaza and in Riyadh and Baghdad. We need to make sure the terrorists know that they have no support what so ever in the Arab streets, they must know that they do not represent any one and certainly they are not Islam. These terrorists are nothing but misfits and killers and murderers who should pay a very high price for the murder they committed.
I am also calling on Palestinians to openly and publicly reject suicide bombing and must give a clear message to those who plan suicide bombing their pictures and posters will not adorn walls and streets and people will not visit and give condolences to their families and that no one, no one in Palestine will ever celebrate the death of a suicide bomber.
Yes, there are many grievances the Arabs and Muslims have against their own governments and against the West in General and the US in particular. Certainly against Israel and its racist and murderous policies, but there must never be any excuses for committing murder against innocent people; Jews and gentiles, Muslim and Arabs.
Such a culture of terrorism is not an Arab and Muslim culture. Before Muslim and Arabs started to commit these acts of terror and suicide bombing, many nations, people and culture did engage in such criminal and uncivilized activities. I reject claims by so called experts on terrorism like Steve Emerson and members of Congress and their staff who always try to make it a point that terrorism is nothing but an Arab and Muslim intrinsic trait. Individuals like Steve Emerson and members of Congress have their own agenda and it is not an American agenda. The US should understand and accept the right of people to reject and fight foreign occupation and Iraq and Occupied Palestine must not be an exception to the rule and that not all resistance to occupation are acts of terror.
The US as the leader of the so-called “Free World” should take the lead in pushing for a world conference on terrorism and liberation making a distinction between the two. At the same time there should be no distinction between acts of terrorism committed by groups and individuals and acts of terrorism committed by a state in pursuit of its policies. Let us not confuse acts of terrorism and acts of liberation.
Faith and Religion are missing in today’s world
Original Post: 17 Nov 2005
Sitting in Agadir, Morocco on a windy, hazy and lazy afternoon, I am enjoying reading Amin Maalouf’s book “ The Crusade Through Arab Eyes” a very well written and enjoyable book that takes one back in time to the “Christian Holy Wars” of time past.
In the chapter titled” The Cannibals of Ma’arra” I could not help but complete the chapter and go to my computer and write this short essay. For those who are familiar with Arab litterateur and poetry, most if not all recalls the blind poet Abu’l Ala’al-Ma’ari. I recall of his most famous verses where he blames his father for bringing him to this world and ask the question what did he do to his father to deserve such thing? I was so stuck with the following verses:
The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts:
Those with brains and no religion,
And those with religion, but no brains.
I read this verse few days after terrorist and suicide bombers attached 3 hotels in Amman, committing mayhem and murder and ask the question do these people have any brains or any religion? My conclusion is those terrorists have neither brains nor religion.
Amin Maalouf’s book is such a timely reading because it takes us back to the days of the Crusades and I knew from my days in middle school about the crimes and murder committed by these Christian Holy Worriers but I never knew the extent of murder and systematic killing these Christian Holy Worriers engaged in. More than 10,000 inhabitant of the town of Ma’ara where put to the swords. These Holy Worriers put more than 70,000 Jews, Christians and Muslims to death in the holy city of Jerusalem.
In the days of the Crusades, it was the “Christians” who were committing such crimes and these days it is the “Muslims” who are committing similar crimes. While the numbers of those killed by these “Muslim Jihadists” did not reach the number of death and murder committed by the “Christian Crusaders” the result and the motives are the same. Evil, murder and killing that took place some 1000-year ago, is the same that is taking place now, where killing of innocent people is committed by those who profess faith. Islamic Jihadists of today are no better than Christian Holy Worriers of the past.
We only need to go back to the above verses and see that the finding of Al’Ma’ari and his definition of world inhabitants have evolved to the worst. In today’s world the people have no brains and no religion. It seems that religion and brain are incompatible today as it was incompatible in times past. We only need to look at today’s world leadership and see that “they” do not have the brain nor the religion, because of there are brains, the world will not be in such a big mess it is in now, and if there was religion the world will not be the big mess it is in now!
We only need to look at some of those “brains” and “religion” out there to see that they nave neither. Those who planned and executed the war in Iraq did not have the brain or the religion. Those those who are carrying out the mayhem in Iraq of suicide bombing have no religion and certainly have no brains. Those big time names of Christianity and Islam, the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Pat Robertson have neither brain nor religion. The Christian Crusaders of time past are criminal and as evil as the Muslim Jihadists of today. Let us hope that world leaders of the future will be blessed with both religion and faith. Those those who continue to insist on occupation in the name of God have neither brains nor religion. There comes a time, when we need to live free from fear of these Jihadists and live free from dictatorships and live free from military occupation.
Sitting in Agadir, Morocco on a windy, hazy and lazy afternoon, I am enjoying reading Amin Maalouf’s book “ The Crusade Through Arab Eyes” a very well written and enjoyable book that takes one back in time to the “Christian Holy Wars” of time past.
In the chapter titled” The Cannibals of Ma’arra” I could not help but complete the chapter and go to my computer and write this short essay. For those who are familiar with Arab litterateur and poetry, most if not all recalls the blind poet Abu’l Ala’al-Ma’ari. I recall of his most famous verses where he blames his father for bringing him to this world and ask the question what did he do to his father to deserve such thing? I was so stuck with the following verses:
The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts:
Those with brains and no religion,
And those with religion, but no brains.
I read this verse few days after terrorist and suicide bombers attached 3 hotels in Amman, committing mayhem and murder and ask the question do these people have any brains or any religion? My conclusion is those terrorists have neither brains nor religion.
Amin Maalouf’s book is such a timely reading because it takes us back to the days of the Crusades and I knew from my days in middle school about the crimes and murder committed by these Christian Holy Worriers but I never knew the extent of murder and systematic killing these Christian Holy Worriers engaged in. More than 10,000 inhabitant of the town of Ma’ara where put to the swords. These Holy Worriers put more than 70,000 Jews, Christians and Muslims to death in the holy city of Jerusalem.
In the days of the Crusades, it was the “Christians” who were committing such crimes and these days it is the “Muslims” who are committing similar crimes. While the numbers of those killed by these “Muslim Jihadists” did not reach the number of death and murder committed by the “Christian Crusaders” the result and the motives are the same. Evil, murder and killing that took place some 1000-year ago, is the same that is taking place now, where killing of innocent people is committed by those who profess faith. Islamic Jihadists of today are no better than Christian Holy Worriers of the past.
We only need to go back to the above verses and see that the finding of Al’Ma’ari and his definition of world inhabitants have evolved to the worst. In today’s world the people have no brains and no religion. It seems that religion and brain are incompatible today as it was incompatible in times past. We only need to look at today’s world leadership and see that “they” do not have the brain nor the religion, because of there are brains, the world will not be in such a big mess it is in now, and if there was religion the world will not be the big mess it is in now!
We only need to look at some of those “brains” and “religion” out there to see that they nave neither. Those who planned and executed the war in Iraq did not have the brain or the religion. Those those who are carrying out the mayhem in Iraq of suicide bombing have no religion and certainly have no brains. Those big time names of Christianity and Islam, the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Pat Robertson have neither brain nor religion. The Christian Crusaders of time past are criminal and as evil as the Muslim Jihadists of today. Let us hope that world leaders of the future will be blessed with both religion and faith. Those those who continue to insist on occupation in the name of God have neither brains nor religion. There comes a time, when we need to live free from fear of these Jihadists and live free from dictatorships and live free from military occupation.
France, there is nothing to be proud of.
Original Post: 17 Nov 2005
The events of the last couple of weeks in France does not speak well of France, in fact does not speak well of all of Europe.
Unlike the US where, even with the problems and issues people and government have with immigration, for the most part the US is the only country in the world that immigrants have a chance, a chance to make it and become part of the American dream.
Not withstanding the xenophobic rhetoric we heard during this past election in the Commonwealth of Virginia where the Republican candidate tried but failed to succeed on promoting racism, and fear among Virginians and promoting and advocating fear from immigrants, American will always be the land of the free and home of the brave.
France like the rest of Europe has nothing to be proud of. The often mentioned logo of France; liberty, legality and fraternity does not fit with the reality that is France where immigrants even those who have lived in France for some 50 years will always find nothing but discrimination, and marginalization in France.
As an immigrant to the US and having lived in Europe (Switzerland) and having lived overseas for some 20 years I can testify to the marked difference between immigrants to Europe and immigrants to the US. A world of difference, where these immigrants enrich American.
My late father who immigrated to the US in his early fifties and who learned to read and write in night school sponsored by the YMCA and who worked as a labor in steal mills and with the City of Gary, always felt very proud of being an immigrant and his sense of belonging could never be higher that the date of elections when he always wear his political hat as a partisan Democrats who worked the poll stations. My late father always talked to me about Franklin Roosevelt and how Roosevelt, as a democrat always fought for the common and poor man who turned American around from a country of soup kitchens to America that liberated Europe and the Far East.
France like Germany and all countries of Europe never made any efforts what so ever to incorporate and integrate these immigrants to Europe and never gave them the opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty, violence and marginalization. I could never understand why children of immigrants are trapped into the lives of their fathers and why children of immigrants never find seats in some of the best universities in Europe where they can have an opportunity to become professors, scientists, businessmen, lawyers, economists and physicians. There is a world of difference between Europe and the US notwithstanding what Republicans like Kilgore believe in.
Dominique de Villepin, Nicolas Sarkosy and Jacques Chirac could ever have the vision that the US has. To these leaders and leaders all across Europe, immigrants are like the old Black salves in times past. Europe today is like the US of the turn of century when slavery and disfranchisement from society was the order of the day.
France and Europe don’t know what they are missing, and they are missing out a lot from the marginialization of immigrants and children of immigrants.
I always feel a great sense of pride and empowerments when I read in the papers that children of immigrants are top graduates in high school and in universities all across the country. Yes, American have lots of problems and we must never surrender to the xenophobic feeling of right wing politicians, but American remain the only country in the world that gives the opportunity to new immigrants and where children of immigrants are always proud of their immigrant roots. Let us not forget that the Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing and mass murder of Bosnians place in Europe.
The events of the last couple of weeks in France does not speak well of France, in fact does not speak well of all of Europe.
Unlike the US where, even with the problems and issues people and government have with immigration, for the most part the US is the only country in the world that immigrants have a chance, a chance to make it and become part of the American dream.
Not withstanding the xenophobic rhetoric we heard during this past election in the Commonwealth of Virginia where the Republican candidate tried but failed to succeed on promoting racism, and fear among Virginians and promoting and advocating fear from immigrants, American will always be the land of the free and home of the brave.
France like the rest of Europe has nothing to be proud of. The often mentioned logo of France; liberty, legality and fraternity does not fit with the reality that is France where immigrants even those who have lived in France for some 50 years will always find nothing but discrimination, and marginalization in France.
As an immigrant to the US and having lived in Europe (Switzerland) and having lived overseas for some 20 years I can testify to the marked difference between immigrants to Europe and immigrants to the US. A world of difference, where these immigrants enrich American.
My late father who immigrated to the US in his early fifties and who learned to read and write in night school sponsored by the YMCA and who worked as a labor in steal mills and with the City of Gary, always felt very proud of being an immigrant and his sense of belonging could never be higher that the date of elections when he always wear his political hat as a partisan Democrats who worked the poll stations. My late father always talked to me about Franklin Roosevelt and how Roosevelt, as a democrat always fought for the common and poor man who turned American around from a country of soup kitchens to America that liberated Europe and the Far East.
France like Germany and all countries of Europe never made any efforts what so ever to incorporate and integrate these immigrants to Europe and never gave them the opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty, violence and marginalization. I could never understand why children of immigrants are trapped into the lives of their fathers and why children of immigrants never find seats in some of the best universities in Europe where they can have an opportunity to become professors, scientists, businessmen, lawyers, economists and physicians. There is a world of difference between Europe and the US notwithstanding what Republicans like Kilgore believe in.
Dominique de Villepin, Nicolas Sarkosy and Jacques Chirac could ever have the vision that the US has. To these leaders and leaders all across Europe, immigrants are like the old Black salves in times past. Europe today is like the US of the turn of century when slavery and disfranchisement from society was the order of the day.
France and Europe don’t know what they are missing, and they are missing out a lot from the marginialization of immigrants and children of immigrants.
I always feel a great sense of pride and empowerments when I read in the papers that children of immigrants are top graduates in high school and in universities all across the country. Yes, American have lots of problems and we must never surrender to the xenophobic feeling of right wing politicians, but American remain the only country in the world that gives the opportunity to new immigrants and where children of immigrants are always proud of their immigrant roots. Let us not forget that the Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing and mass murder of Bosnians place in Europe.
Sons and daugthers of immigrants will not accept to be defranchised ever? France must re-think its policies again.
Original Post: 17 Nov 2005
Riots and more riots continue to take place in France notwithstanding efforts by the Sarkozy, the French minister of interior who also is now expelling thousands of kids away from France.
The fact that I am of an immigrant origin in the US, I can be more critical of France and the policy of France of not integration and down right racism.
The sad thing that we all need to remember is that France was, is and has always been a colonist country with racists streaks that runs deep in its politics and its cities. Let us all remember Jean Marie Lapin who are the leader of the French right always talked in very racist and plain language and who always accused immigrants, Arabs, and Muslims, winning at times more than 20% of the votes in the French National Assembly and in towns and cities. The French Right like its counter part in Republican Rights and German Rights always blame foreigners and immigrants for the problems and ills of France, US and Germany.
Fortunately for us in the US, we are a nation of immigrants and as such the hate for immigrants does come to and end, sooner than later, because even those xenophobic politicians in the end are from immigrant roots.
In France like all across Europe no efforts what so ever is made to integrate immigrants and give them a stake in the country of their choice. No efforts whatsoever to give these immigrants and their children an opportunity.
In the US, Congress recognizing that racism runs deep in our society, past many laws that made it illegal to discriminate based in race, color, religion, sex and national origin, even went further and past “affirmative action” to make sure that it gives Blacks and other minorities the playing lever field when it comes to education and employment.
Unlike American where those of Italians, Jewish, Irish, Slovak, Arabs, German, Russians are all considered Americans without ever giving up their “own” culture and heritage and where Muslims, Jews and Sikhs can be what they are in France, such rights are denied to people of other cultures. I can and do appreciate what it takes to “be an American” I could never understand nor ever understood what it takes to be French. In the US it does not take a whole lot to be an American, it takes only an oath and a pledge of allegiance and one can continue to eat Kosher, Halal, eat pasta, each Couscous, tabule, homos, chicken gulag, meat balls, wear the yarmulke, the hijab and be an American. In France, it seems it take more than that; it takes one to denounce one’s own culture and way of life to become French. Does it take to drinking wine, eat cheese, eat baguete and pork to become French? I don’t know and I don’t think that the “blue blooded” French know who is a French and what it takes to become French. Perhaps the French should go back to the world most famous French slogan “ L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte” and forget about Hijab, forget about drinking red wine with meals and recognize that France is for all French; White, Black, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and not only for “blue blooded, blue eyes, fair skin” French. France should give freedom and equality to all French irrespective of race, color, religion and national origin.
France must give true meaning to the words “L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte”. These words when carried out to the true meaning will make France a true and free country and take its rightful place as the birth of freedom and liberty. We are all saddened by the events taking place in France, however nothing short of drastic and fundamental changes are need to make a difference and give those immigrants a stake in France and its future.
Riots and more riots continue to take place in France notwithstanding efforts by the Sarkozy, the French minister of interior who also is now expelling thousands of kids away from France.
The fact that I am of an immigrant origin in the US, I can be more critical of France and the policy of France of not integration and down right racism.
The sad thing that we all need to remember is that France was, is and has always been a colonist country with racists streaks that runs deep in its politics and its cities. Let us all remember Jean Marie Lapin who are the leader of the French right always talked in very racist and plain language and who always accused immigrants, Arabs, and Muslims, winning at times more than 20% of the votes in the French National Assembly and in towns and cities. The French Right like its counter part in Republican Rights and German Rights always blame foreigners and immigrants for the problems and ills of France, US and Germany.
Fortunately for us in the US, we are a nation of immigrants and as such the hate for immigrants does come to and end, sooner than later, because even those xenophobic politicians in the end are from immigrant roots.
In France like all across Europe no efforts what so ever is made to integrate immigrants and give them a stake in the country of their choice. No efforts whatsoever to give these immigrants and their children an opportunity.
In the US, Congress recognizing that racism runs deep in our society, past many laws that made it illegal to discriminate based in race, color, religion, sex and national origin, even went further and past “affirmative action” to make sure that it gives Blacks and other minorities the playing lever field when it comes to education and employment.
Unlike American where those of Italians, Jewish, Irish, Slovak, Arabs, German, Russians are all considered Americans without ever giving up their “own” culture and heritage and where Muslims, Jews and Sikhs can be what they are in France, such rights are denied to people of other cultures. I can and do appreciate what it takes to “be an American” I could never understand nor ever understood what it takes to be French. In the US it does not take a whole lot to be an American, it takes only an oath and a pledge of allegiance and one can continue to eat Kosher, Halal, eat pasta, each Couscous, tabule, homos, chicken gulag, meat balls, wear the yarmulke, the hijab and be an American. In France, it seems it take more than that; it takes one to denounce one’s own culture and way of life to become French. Does it take to drinking wine, eat cheese, eat baguete and pork to become French? I don’t know and I don’t think that the “blue blooded” French know who is a French and what it takes to become French. Perhaps the French should go back to the world most famous French slogan “ L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte” and forget about Hijab, forget about drinking red wine with meals and recognize that France is for all French; White, Black, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and not only for “blue blooded, blue eyes, fair skin” French. France should give freedom and equality to all French irrespective of race, color, religion and national origin.
France must give true meaning to the words “L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte”. These words when carried out to the true meaning will make France a true and free country and take its rightful place as the birth of freedom and liberty. We are all saddened by the events taking place in France, however nothing short of drastic and fundamental changes are need to make a difference and give those immigrants a stake in France and its future.
Perhaps it is time to turn Congress into a public company, where we all can trade in the stock of each congressmen!
Posted on 24/01/06
The case of Jack Abramoff not only raises many questions, it demands more and creative measures to address the corruptions that have become the norm in a Republican led Congress.
It should not come as a surprise for us citizens to know that our Congress is up for sale. It has been the case for many years under both parties. However Republicans took corruption on the Hill to its highest levels ever. Democrats should not act as holier than though when they themselves benefited for a culture of corruption. All are guilty as charged.
I could never understand and I don’t want to understand the need for a member of Congress to engage on a daily basis to raise money for elections. It seems that members of Congress spend more time on raising money than on the people’s business and it shows in the quality of legislations coming out of our Congress.
I also could never understand and I don’t want to understand why it takes senators tens of millions of dollars to run for election. If they need to raise that kind of money, it goes without saying that they have to pay it back.
In our electoral system as it evolved over time, we have entrenched members of congress who with time become more and more powerful, with power comes more money and poor those who dare to challenge a sitting member of Congress. They hardly have any chance of winning let alone raising money. We are sitting a prime example of corruption to the world and since the world copy the US, I will not be surprised if the electoral system in France, Germany, England will evolves around the US system.
How could any one imagine that it costs more than $24 million for someone like Jesse Helms to run for Senate from North Carolina or for someone like Oliver North to raise more than $ 22 million to run for the Senate seat from Virginia.
I do have a suggestion and it may be far fetched but it does address the issue of both money and corruption. My idea is for us to divide the US House into two chambers, one chambers with 2/3 majority is for representatives to be elected by the people and for a limited tenure of some 6 years and the other 1/3 is for representatives to be appointed by US corporations and lobbyist. It is a fair and equitable distribution of powers. Those elected by the people will not need to raise lots of money to win and the maximum that any one single candidate can raise is $one dollar (yes one single dollar) for every registered voter in the congressional district. This way the field will be even for both present members of Congress and potential candidates. The same will be true for members of the US Senate.
However when it comes to taxes and our rights to be protected from big time corporations, it is the people representatives that has to make the decisions and if there is a conflict the issue goes to a conference committee for resolutions. Representative of corporation can vote on issues of war provided that such wars are entirely funded by corporations and entirely manpowered by corporate executives and lobbyist. Leaving us people to take care of our business, such as education, healthcare, housing, transportations, crimes, social justice among other issues of concerns to all of us. We leave those appointed by corporations and lobbyist to fight it out among themselves, and of course fighting wars they want and fund. It is only fair.
I also suggest that we establish a Congressional Bourse where members of Congress are traded publicly and openly on the market. This way we all can buy into the action.
The case of Jack Abramoff not only raises many questions, it demands more and creative measures to address the corruptions that have become the norm in a Republican led Congress.
It should not come as a surprise for us citizens to know that our Congress is up for sale. It has been the case for many years under both parties. However Republicans took corruption on the Hill to its highest levels ever. Democrats should not act as holier than though when they themselves benefited for a culture of corruption. All are guilty as charged.
I could never understand and I don’t want to understand the need for a member of Congress to engage on a daily basis to raise money for elections. It seems that members of Congress spend more time on raising money than on the people’s business and it shows in the quality of legislations coming out of our Congress.
I also could never understand and I don’t want to understand why it takes senators tens of millions of dollars to run for election. If they need to raise that kind of money, it goes without saying that they have to pay it back.
In our electoral system as it evolved over time, we have entrenched members of congress who with time become more and more powerful, with power comes more money and poor those who dare to challenge a sitting member of Congress. They hardly have any chance of winning let alone raising money. We are sitting a prime example of corruption to the world and since the world copy the US, I will not be surprised if the electoral system in France, Germany, England will evolves around the US system.
How could any one imagine that it costs more than $24 million for someone like Jesse Helms to run for Senate from North Carolina or for someone like Oliver North to raise more than $ 22 million to run for the Senate seat from Virginia.
I do have a suggestion and it may be far fetched but it does address the issue of both money and corruption. My idea is for us to divide the US House into two chambers, one chambers with 2/3 majority is for representatives to be elected by the people and for a limited tenure of some 6 years and the other 1/3 is for representatives to be appointed by US corporations and lobbyist. It is a fair and equitable distribution of powers. Those elected by the people will not need to raise lots of money to win and the maximum that any one single candidate can raise is $one dollar (yes one single dollar) for every registered voter in the congressional district. This way the field will be even for both present members of Congress and potential candidates. The same will be true for members of the US Senate.
However when it comes to taxes and our rights to be protected from big time corporations, it is the people representatives that has to make the decisions and if there is a conflict the issue goes to a conference committee for resolutions. Representative of corporation can vote on issues of war provided that such wars are entirely funded by corporations and entirely manpowered by corporate executives and lobbyist. Leaving us people to take care of our business, such as education, healthcare, housing, transportations, crimes, social justice among other issues of concerns to all of us. We leave those appointed by corporations and lobbyist to fight it out among themselves, and of course fighting wars they want and fund. It is only fair.
I also suggest that we establish a Congressional Bourse where members of Congress are traded publicly and openly on the market. This way we all can buy into the action.
One more right down the drain of liberty.
**Original Post: 9 June 2005
The US Senate, that great bastion of power, where lobbyist roam the great halls of the people and dictates the laws of this country, met in secrete session and voted on the new provisions of the Patriot Act. The new provisions give that other great police institution of this country, once run by the infamous J. Edgar Hoover for over 40 years. Lady J, ran it with an iron fist for his/her person and his/her personal agenda, making sure agents, where “straight as an arrow” while he/she was parading in a skirts and women handbags. The same man, oh, sorry Lady J, terrified so many sitting presidents and terrified the nation, using the hunt for communism as the agenda to control the nation, and no one dared to question him/her. That same institution now has power that went beyond the dreams of Lady J.
Under the new provisions of the Patriot Act, the FBI can issue orders; warrant for arrest, seizures, monitor and wire tap any and every one. Well, not really every one, but mostly Arabs and Muslims of this country, and can get all kind of information, including medical records and how many times couples have intercourse, and books checked out of the library. All of this power and more even if the person the FBI is after did not or is not suspected of doing any thing illegal or criminal, or have any connection with any foreign power or group. All that and more without the benefits of an independent federal judge to look at the evidence or pass a judgment on the request of the FBI.
Well, of course, we need to keep in mind that this great institution of ours have within its ranks and for so many years, spies and traitors who were responsible for policing others and protecting the nation.
Well, the question is does the nation trust the FBI to do all that, and have all of the powers without the danger of abusing such powers? Of course not!
Without any checks and balances, no police or security institution could ever be entrusted with the security of the nation and with the rights of citizens without an independent supervision of the judiciary, the only independent branch of the government we have, that is not subject to the dictates of lobbyist and people like Tom Delay, who if has it his way, federal judges will be at the whims of special interest groups, and even in danger for their lives. We only need to look at the Gestapo or Hitler’s Germany or the Stassi of East Germany or the KGP of the former Soviet Union and to the Savak of the late Shah of Iran, to know that such institutions with raw powers not only failed to protect the nations, they contributed to their demise. We only hope this will not be the case with the FBI.
Terrorism and the fear of terrorism is a big business and federal agencies asking and are getting hundreds of billions of precious tax dollars only to give it away to greedy and incompetent federal contractors who think they are providing the nation with added security, when in fact the citizens feel other wise and they are filling the pockets of their shareholders and executives.
I am not going to go to the intended victims, suspects and targets of the Patriot Act, the Arabs and Muslims. I will not be surprised if I walk up one night on the sound of someone knocking on my door at 4 am in the morning and asking me why do I shop at Safeway and not at Giant, and why do I buy smoked turkey and not roast beef. We should not be surprised if these things happen. Every thing we buy or a book we check out, or a restaurants we go out to, or food we eat, or music we listen to, we must first think what interest will the FBI have in such activities. Of course, we like the rest of the nation, it is our country and we care for it as any one else, perhaps more, we chose to be here.
The US Senate, that great bastion of power, where lobbyist roam the great halls of the people and dictates the laws of this country, met in secrete session and voted on the new provisions of the Patriot Act. The new provisions give that other great police institution of this country, once run by the infamous J. Edgar Hoover for over 40 years. Lady J, ran it with an iron fist for his/her person and his/her personal agenda, making sure agents, where “straight as an arrow” while he/she was parading in a skirts and women handbags. The same man, oh, sorry Lady J, terrified so many sitting presidents and terrified the nation, using the hunt for communism as the agenda to control the nation, and no one dared to question him/her. That same institution now has power that went beyond the dreams of Lady J.
Under the new provisions of the Patriot Act, the FBI can issue orders; warrant for arrest, seizures, monitor and wire tap any and every one. Well, not really every one, but mostly Arabs and Muslims of this country, and can get all kind of information, including medical records and how many times couples have intercourse, and books checked out of the library. All of this power and more even if the person the FBI is after did not or is not suspected of doing any thing illegal or criminal, or have any connection with any foreign power or group. All that and more without the benefits of an independent federal judge to look at the evidence or pass a judgment on the request of the FBI.
Well, of course, we need to keep in mind that this great institution of ours have within its ranks and for so many years, spies and traitors who were responsible for policing others and protecting the nation.
Well, the question is does the nation trust the FBI to do all that, and have all of the powers without the danger of abusing such powers? Of course not!
Without any checks and balances, no police or security institution could ever be entrusted with the security of the nation and with the rights of citizens without an independent supervision of the judiciary, the only independent branch of the government we have, that is not subject to the dictates of lobbyist and people like Tom Delay, who if has it his way, federal judges will be at the whims of special interest groups, and even in danger for their lives. We only need to look at the Gestapo or Hitler’s Germany or the Stassi of East Germany or the KGP of the former Soviet Union and to the Savak of the late Shah of Iran, to know that such institutions with raw powers not only failed to protect the nations, they contributed to their demise. We only hope this will not be the case with the FBI.
Terrorism and the fear of terrorism is a big business and federal agencies asking and are getting hundreds of billions of precious tax dollars only to give it away to greedy and incompetent federal contractors who think they are providing the nation with added security, when in fact the citizens feel other wise and they are filling the pockets of their shareholders and executives.
I am not going to go to the intended victims, suspects and targets of the Patriot Act, the Arabs and Muslims. I will not be surprised if I walk up one night on the sound of someone knocking on my door at 4 am in the morning and asking me why do I shop at Safeway and not at Giant, and why do I buy smoked turkey and not roast beef. We should not be surprised if these things happen. Every thing we buy or a book we check out, or a restaurants we go out to, or food we eat, or music we listen to, we must first think what interest will the FBI have in such activities. Of course, we like the rest of the nation, it is our country and we care for it as any one else, perhaps more, we chose to be here.
Why Jefferson Corner of campus?
Originial Post: 19 April 2005
I am sure all of you now are experiencing what we have experienced some years ago. The issues may be different now, but the needs for free speech on campus was and remains a big issue for every one.
While college campuses now enjoy the relative calms that was missing in the sixties and seventies, now it is not the government that is stifling free speech on campus, it is the administration, alumni, campus watch groups, special interest groups, that are now interfering and creating a chilling effect on the right of free debate and free speech on campus inside and outside the classrooms.
Students groups, professors and college administrations are threatened with law suites and loss of jobs. Powerful and rich alumni withholding funds from universities threaten colleges and universities and colleges because some professors and student groups take on subjects deemed controversial and not so politically correct. Registered student and not registered students now bring in video cameras to record the teaching and classroom discussions. All of these sad and tragic events are creating threatening and frightening conditions on campus for the right of free speech.
College campus is the one place where students not only get an education; they are exposed to many competing ideas, thoughts, and issues. And it is one the place where no one has a monopoly on knowledge. The university is the one place where great ideas are always debated in a civilized and enlightened atmosphere where people on the “other side’ of the issues would meet after a debate and continue the discussions into the late hours. Such was the case with me while at Indiana University in Bloomington, where the subject of Israel and the Palestinians was always a “hot” topic, but where students on both side of the issue would have very heated debates only to go out afterward to a bar of a coffee shop and continue the discussions. Many on both sides of this issue became lifetime friends. The same was with the issue of Vietnam, where students would have great and very moving debates and all in the interest of the nations. Great times and great moments in one’s college life. That was before interest groups and alumni change that.
I invite all student governments on campus to petition the university and sponsor a single location on campus, where students at any time, can mount a soapbox and exercise and enjoy the right to free speech, and where all can enjoy the fun and the knowledge that comes of such encounters. I am sure that most if not all of you heard of Hyde Park Corner, that great and famous Speaker Corner of London famous Hyde Park where speakers after speakers can mount that soap box and give great speeches, not so great and sometimes foolish speeches, but all have the right to speak out and express an opinion. The idea is for you, the students to sponsor a Jefferson Corner at your campus and make it and turn it into the great and central attraction it can be. I invite you to join me in celebrating our rights and tradition of free speech and celebrate a Jefferson Corner on every campus in this great country of ours. Thanks you.
Sami Jamil Jadallah, sponsor and promoter www.jeffersoncorner.com
Fairfax, VA
I am sure all of you now are experiencing what we have experienced some years ago. The issues may be different now, but the needs for free speech on campus was and remains a big issue for every one.
While college campuses now enjoy the relative calms that was missing in the sixties and seventies, now it is not the government that is stifling free speech on campus, it is the administration, alumni, campus watch groups, special interest groups, that are now interfering and creating a chilling effect on the right of free debate and free speech on campus inside and outside the classrooms.
Students groups, professors and college administrations are threatened with law suites and loss of jobs. Powerful and rich alumni withholding funds from universities threaten colleges and universities and colleges because some professors and student groups take on subjects deemed controversial and not so politically correct. Registered student and not registered students now bring in video cameras to record the teaching and classroom discussions. All of these sad and tragic events are creating threatening and frightening conditions on campus for the right of free speech.
College campus is the one place where students not only get an education; they are exposed to many competing ideas, thoughts, and issues. And it is one the place where no one has a monopoly on knowledge. The university is the one place where great ideas are always debated in a civilized and enlightened atmosphere where people on the “other side’ of the issues would meet after a debate and continue the discussions into the late hours. Such was the case with me while at Indiana University in Bloomington, where the subject of Israel and the Palestinians was always a “hot” topic, but where students on both side of the issue would have very heated debates only to go out afterward to a bar of a coffee shop and continue the discussions. Many on both sides of this issue became lifetime friends. The same was with the issue of Vietnam, where students would have great and very moving debates and all in the interest of the nations. Great times and great moments in one’s college life. That was before interest groups and alumni change that.
I invite all student governments on campus to petition the university and sponsor a single location on campus, where students at any time, can mount a soapbox and exercise and enjoy the right to free speech, and where all can enjoy the fun and the knowledge that comes of such encounters. I am sure that most if not all of you heard of Hyde Park Corner, that great and famous Speaker Corner of London famous Hyde Park where speakers after speakers can mount that soap box and give great speeches, not so great and sometimes foolish speeches, but all have the right to speak out and express an opinion. The idea is for you, the students to sponsor a Jefferson Corner at your campus and make it and turn it into the great and central attraction it can be. I invite you to join me in celebrating our rights and tradition of free speech and celebrate a Jefferson Corner on every campus in this great country of ours. Thanks you.
Sami Jamil Jadallah, sponsor and promoter www.jeffersoncorner.com
Fairfax, VA
Tampa jury celebrates our rights and freedoms.
**Original Post: 7 Dec 2005
The acquittal of Professor Sami Al-Arian of terrorism, perjury and immigration charges by a Tampa jury proves that freedom of speech and association still the law of the land even after September 11, notwithstanding our Justice Department.
For 10 years, over zealous and over ambitious prosecutors in both Washington and in Tampa spent tens of millions of dollars building “their case” and of course listening to some 20,000 hours of secrete wire tapping, with the prosecutor spending hundred of thousands of dollars airlifting hundreds of Israel citizens to testify against Dr. Arian. Of course the prosecutor did not see a need to fly in one single Palestinian who were the beneficiaries of charities supported by Dr. Arian. To the prosecution all Palestinians are terrorists, similar to the views held by the Israeli government.
The prosecution unsuccessfully tried to frame the issue of Palestinians and Muslims exercise their rights of political speech and association as a form of terrorism. The jury made up of average citizens made it clear it has better understanding and better appreciations of the US Constitution and First Amendment rights. That such rights did not cross the threshold even if speeches are supporting independence and freedom of Palestinians is very unpopular with the Jewish communities in Florida, within community of Jewish Campus Watch, within college professors and administrators and certainly with such creeps and assholes like Bill O’Reilly of Fox News.
The acquittal of Dr. Arian is a slap in the face of both former attorney general Ashcroft and present attorney general Gonzales, certainly the acquittal might have a chilling effect on the business of Steve Emerson to tape and video tape speeches at mosques or at Palestinians and Muslim gatherings. The jury made it clear hates for Israel and Zionism and hate for Israeli Occupation, support for freedom and independence for Palestinians is not against the law and is a protected speech and is not terrorism, and those US citizens of Palestinians origin are not second-class citizens and do have the same rights granted to all US citizens.
Once again, the Justice Department proved that the Patriot Act is a very bad act and while not protecting US against terrorism as it is infringing on the rights of citizens for free speech and association and of course it stands against every legal principal we have in the country. Moreover, relying on Israel as a source of information to prosecute Palestinians in the US who happened to speak up against Israel and against the occupation does not stand. Perhaps the US Justice Department needs to understand that the standard of justice in the US is quite different from that of Israel. While in Israel the law and justice depends on whether the defendant is a Jew or an Arab, the law and justice in the US is color and religion blind and does not differentiate between a US citizens who is a descendant of the Mayflower or a citizens who legally immigrated to the US and made the US his/her country of choice.
The Bush Administration and the US Justice Department have to understand that Arab American and Muslim American love this country, their loyalty to the US is no less than that of the Jewish community and no less than the descendants of the Mayflower or the Daughters of the American Revolution. The US Justice Department has to understand supporting freedom and independence for Palestinians and advocating an end to the Israeli Occupation and advocating and end to Israeli settlements and the Wall is not a form of terrorism and supporting Palestinian charities is not a form of terrorism and speaking out on Zionism is not a form of terrorism, it is freedom of speech.
Once again American celebrates our rights of freedom and liberty, thank you Tampa.
The acquittal of Professor Sami Al-Arian of terrorism, perjury and immigration charges by a Tampa jury proves that freedom of speech and association still the law of the land even after September 11, notwithstanding our Justice Department.
For 10 years, over zealous and over ambitious prosecutors in both Washington and in Tampa spent tens of millions of dollars building “their case” and of course listening to some 20,000 hours of secrete wire tapping, with the prosecutor spending hundred of thousands of dollars airlifting hundreds of Israel citizens to testify against Dr. Arian. Of course the prosecutor did not see a need to fly in one single Palestinian who were the beneficiaries of charities supported by Dr. Arian. To the prosecution all Palestinians are terrorists, similar to the views held by the Israeli government.
The prosecution unsuccessfully tried to frame the issue of Palestinians and Muslims exercise their rights of political speech and association as a form of terrorism. The jury made up of average citizens made it clear it has better understanding and better appreciations of the US Constitution and First Amendment rights. That such rights did not cross the threshold even if speeches are supporting independence and freedom of Palestinians is very unpopular with the Jewish communities in Florida, within community of Jewish Campus Watch, within college professors and administrators and certainly with such creeps and assholes like Bill O’Reilly of Fox News.
The acquittal of Dr. Arian is a slap in the face of both former attorney general Ashcroft and present attorney general Gonzales, certainly the acquittal might have a chilling effect on the business of Steve Emerson to tape and video tape speeches at mosques or at Palestinians and Muslim gatherings. The jury made it clear hates for Israel and Zionism and hate for Israeli Occupation, support for freedom and independence for Palestinians is not against the law and is a protected speech and is not terrorism, and those US citizens of Palestinians origin are not second-class citizens and do have the same rights granted to all US citizens.
Once again, the Justice Department proved that the Patriot Act is a very bad act and while not protecting US against terrorism as it is infringing on the rights of citizens for free speech and association and of course it stands against every legal principal we have in the country. Moreover, relying on Israel as a source of information to prosecute Palestinians in the US who happened to speak up against Israel and against the occupation does not stand. Perhaps the US Justice Department needs to understand that the standard of justice in the US is quite different from that of Israel. While in Israel the law and justice depends on whether the defendant is a Jew or an Arab, the law and justice in the US is color and religion blind and does not differentiate between a US citizens who is a descendant of the Mayflower or a citizens who legally immigrated to the US and made the US his/her country of choice.
The Bush Administration and the US Justice Department have to understand that Arab American and Muslim American love this country, their loyalty to the US is no less than that of the Jewish community and no less than the descendants of the Mayflower or the Daughters of the American Revolution. The US Justice Department has to understand supporting freedom and independence for Palestinians and advocating an end to the Israeli Occupation and advocating and end to Israeli settlements and the Wall is not a form of terrorism and supporting Palestinian charities is not a form of terrorism and speaking out on Zionism is not a form of terrorism, it is freedom of speech.
Once again American celebrates our rights of freedom and liberty, thank you Tampa.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The FBI should remember this is the great USA, not Syria, Iran or Israel.
It is so ironic that we are willing to go to war to defend democracy and to spread the rule of law, when we at home are doing exactly the opposite, by behaving like the dictatorships we defined as the enemy.
That was my conclusion as I read the front-page article in today’s Washington Post ‘FBI Papers Indicate Intelligence Violations” by Dan Eggen. Of course September 11, made it all possible for government security and intelligence to break the sound barriers and take many legal shortcut to get to potential terrorists. If our government was doing it job in the first place and if our FBI was doing it job in the first place and if our intelligence community was doing its job in the first place, and if we did not align and support those Mujahideens with billions of dollars, we not had September 11th. What happened on September 11th are an indictment of our intelligence and security organizations and an indictment of militant Islam that allowed theses thugs, criminals and murders to commit such a mass murder of innocent people. No one who truly confesses Islam could agree or condones or even find an excuse for what Al-Qaeda thugs did, and no one could ever find justification or excuses for what our government failed to do.
The Washington Post article speak of a case where the FBI continue to have a suspect under surveillance for 5 years with 16 month of this period without authorization or supervision from the courts.
Of course the FBI claim it was oversight, just like the oversight they committed when they failed to nap these terrorist before they committed their crimes against the American people.
The article also states that the FBI went ahead with it surveillance for some 18 months without filing the necessary papers. I would say this is real contempt for our courts and judicial system. With this in mind and with such a failure on our part why are we going to far away places to spread democracy, when our own freedom are eroding quickly and steadily by our government.
However all is not bad in this county, thanks to people and organizations like David Sobel and his organization the Electronic Privacy Center that sued the FBI to get this kind of information. Thanks God, Allah, G-d, Jesus, Moses, Mohamed and Buddha that we have such men and women like David Sobel and his organizations that went to court and file the necessary law suites under the Freedom Information Act to get such records. This can only happen in this country and as long as we have the contribution we have, American will always be alive and well and on the right side of freedom, notwithstanding what the Right Wingers and the NeoCons what to do and try to shape American in their ugly image.
As a matter of habit and routine, the FBI with contempt for our legal system does not file the necessary documents when they proceed to conduct their surveillance.
The FBI promised, according to the report “ we have set procedures to do the right thing” and we hope they do, so that all of us citizens also do the right thing for our country and our government. The FBI and all of the intelligence community should make it a point to be on the right side of the people. We as citizens are the eyes and ears in the service of our country, committed to its security and freedom, however people who are fearful for their lives and freedom could never be soldier in the service of a country that oppress them and violates their rights. Let us hope that the FBI live up to its mission of protecting the citizens of this country, and abiding by that wonderful documents we call “ constitution” The FBI should remember this is the great USA, not Syria, Iran or Israel.
That was my conclusion as I read the front-page article in today’s Washington Post ‘FBI Papers Indicate Intelligence Violations” by Dan Eggen. Of course September 11, made it all possible for government security and intelligence to break the sound barriers and take many legal shortcut to get to potential terrorists. If our government was doing it job in the first place and if our FBI was doing it job in the first place and if our intelligence community was doing its job in the first place, and if we did not align and support those Mujahideens with billions of dollars, we not had September 11th. What happened on September 11th are an indictment of our intelligence and security organizations and an indictment of militant Islam that allowed theses thugs, criminals and murders to commit such a mass murder of innocent people. No one who truly confesses Islam could agree or condones or even find an excuse for what Al-Qaeda thugs did, and no one could ever find justification or excuses for what our government failed to do.
The Washington Post article speak of a case where the FBI continue to have a suspect under surveillance for 5 years with 16 month of this period without authorization or supervision from the courts.
Of course the FBI claim it was oversight, just like the oversight they committed when they failed to nap these terrorist before they committed their crimes against the American people.
The article also states that the FBI went ahead with it surveillance for some 18 months without filing the necessary papers. I would say this is real contempt for our courts and judicial system. With this in mind and with such a failure on our part why are we going to far away places to spread democracy, when our own freedom are eroding quickly and steadily by our government.
However all is not bad in this county, thanks to people and organizations like David Sobel and his organization the Electronic Privacy Center that sued the FBI to get this kind of information. Thanks God, Allah, G-d, Jesus, Moses, Mohamed and Buddha that we have such men and women like David Sobel and his organizations that went to court and file the necessary law suites under the Freedom Information Act to get such records. This can only happen in this country and as long as we have the contribution we have, American will always be alive and well and on the right side of freedom, notwithstanding what the Right Wingers and the NeoCons what to do and try to shape American in their ugly image.
As a matter of habit and routine, the FBI with contempt for our legal system does not file the necessary documents when they proceed to conduct their surveillance.
The FBI promised, according to the report “ we have set procedures to do the right thing” and we hope they do, so that all of us citizens also do the right thing for our country and our government. The FBI and all of the intelligence community should make it a point to be on the right side of the people. We as citizens are the eyes and ears in the service of our country, committed to its security and freedom, however people who are fearful for their lives and freedom could never be soldier in the service of a country that oppress them and violates their rights. Let us hope that the FBI live up to its mission of protecting the citizens of this country, and abiding by that wonderful documents we call “ constitution” The FBI should remember this is the great USA, not Syria, Iran or Israel.
Thank you Rosa Parks, may God have mercy on your soul, rest in peace.
Who would ever have imagined, that a young Black woman, 42 years old saying “NO” to a bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama would change history and would change America for ever.
Rosa Parks was that woman, who was simply tired of taking all of the bull and crab from Whites and who at a young age, showed she could take care of herself and defend herself with force if necessary from bully young White kids. In those days in the south lynching of Blacks was elevated into a national past time, where White thugs, educated and uneducated all will get together and drag a young male Black and lynch him for daring to look at “their women”.
Well, Rosa Parks did not get lynched, she was able to lynch a system that tolerated and allowed legal segregation. Who in their right mind would imagine that a young Black woman of 42 years of age would be required to get up from her seat and make room for a White man? I thought in other cultures and in other countries, it is the man, who would get up and allow a young lady to sit down. Oh, I forgot, this was America of the 50’s when Blacks where allowed to ride only in the back of a bus and would have to get off the bus to make room for the Whites. It was America of the 50’s where Blacks could not even drink from the same water tap as Whites. I am not aware of any laws that require Blacks to use and travel on different roads as is the case in Israel now, where the main roads are for Jews, the secondary roads are for Arabs. Same idea.
Rosa Parks and the Black community in Montgomery decided to boycott the bus system that would take their money, the same fare as Whites and only allowed them to sit in the back and even get off to make room for Whites. 381 days made a difference.
Rosa Parks refusing to get up form here seat on the bus on that cold December 1st evening in 1955 and of course she was arrested and fined by the courts. The case was appealed to the US Supreme Court which finally, and after more than a century of segregation realized that segregation is illegal and ruled in favor of Rosa Parks. The ruling came out more than a year after the famous ruling of Brown vs. The Board of Education, which also tore down the walls of segregations in schools.
One would think that in a country like ours, it would be the legislative branch of government that will see that segregation is wrong and would do something about it. In this country, when our Congress does not have the vision or the guts to act to protect the rights of citizens, thanks God for our courts system that can see and decide on what is right and what is wrong. You can call it whatever you want, but the actions of the courts is right in any and all cases that has to do with freedoms and privacy.
The bus boycott in Montgomery propelled a young breacher with so much eloquence to the national scene and the late Dr. Marin Luther King would march on Washington and galvanize the nation and shock it out of it deep rooted racism with his famous speech “I have a dream”. Dr. King spoke for the millions of people here in this country and around the world when he declared” There comes a time, when people are tired of being trampled on by the iron feet of oppression”. Well it seems that oppression continue to be alive and well, all over the world. Thank you Rosa for making a difference and for changing the face of American, may God have mercy on your soul and my you rest in peace. You are courageous women. We will miss you. You can read a nice byline written by Elaine Woo in today’s Los Angeles Times.
Rosa Parks was that woman, who was simply tired of taking all of the bull and crab from Whites and who at a young age, showed she could take care of herself and defend herself with force if necessary from bully young White kids. In those days in the south lynching of Blacks was elevated into a national past time, where White thugs, educated and uneducated all will get together and drag a young male Black and lynch him for daring to look at “their women”.
Well, Rosa Parks did not get lynched, she was able to lynch a system that tolerated and allowed legal segregation. Who in their right mind would imagine that a young Black woman of 42 years of age would be required to get up from her seat and make room for a White man? I thought in other cultures and in other countries, it is the man, who would get up and allow a young lady to sit down. Oh, I forgot, this was America of the 50’s when Blacks where allowed to ride only in the back of a bus and would have to get off the bus to make room for the Whites. It was America of the 50’s where Blacks could not even drink from the same water tap as Whites. I am not aware of any laws that require Blacks to use and travel on different roads as is the case in Israel now, where the main roads are for Jews, the secondary roads are for Arabs. Same idea.
Rosa Parks and the Black community in Montgomery decided to boycott the bus system that would take their money, the same fare as Whites and only allowed them to sit in the back and even get off to make room for Whites. 381 days made a difference.
Rosa Parks refusing to get up form here seat on the bus on that cold December 1st evening in 1955 and of course she was arrested and fined by the courts. The case was appealed to the US Supreme Court which finally, and after more than a century of segregation realized that segregation is illegal and ruled in favor of Rosa Parks. The ruling came out more than a year after the famous ruling of Brown vs. The Board of Education, which also tore down the walls of segregations in schools.
One would think that in a country like ours, it would be the legislative branch of government that will see that segregation is wrong and would do something about it. In this country, when our Congress does not have the vision or the guts to act to protect the rights of citizens, thanks God for our courts system that can see and decide on what is right and what is wrong. You can call it whatever you want, but the actions of the courts is right in any and all cases that has to do with freedoms and privacy.
The bus boycott in Montgomery propelled a young breacher with so much eloquence to the national scene and the late Dr. Marin Luther King would march on Washington and galvanize the nation and shock it out of it deep rooted racism with his famous speech “I have a dream”. Dr. King spoke for the millions of people here in this country and around the world when he declared” There comes a time, when people are tired of being trampled on by the iron feet of oppression”. Well it seems that oppression continue to be alive and well, all over the world. Thank you Rosa for making a difference and for changing the face of American, may God have mercy on your soul and my you rest in peace. You are courageous women. We will miss you. You can read a nice byline written by Elaine Woo in today’s Los Angeles Times.
Mr. President, Islamic radicalism will be defeated by Islamic democracies not by your neocons!
Dear President Bush
I heard the speech you gave today in Norfolk, Virginia and your declaration that Islamic radicalism is the scrooge of the 21st century. Well Mr. President, here is my opinion.
With all due respect to the office you hold, your speech and statements are half-truth, and you only selected what suites you best and what suites your justification for the war on Iraq. The war on Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Mr. President, the problem and danger of Muslim radicalism are much older than you. While I agree with its danger I do not agree with its history of causes. It is too bad you failed to mention how this scrooge that threatens America and the world came about and what role did the US play in all of this? How did this cancer started and what was the contributing role the US and the West have in this great danger that engulf us all.
I know that you are only partial and selective in your history, a history made up and written by those who have ideological hostility and political fight with Islam and Muslims, way before there was Islamic terrorism. Listen to your evangelical friends.
For one thing Mr. Bush, the US and the great West always supported Islamic radicalism whenever it suited the US and its allies in the Middle East. The US supported Islamic radicalism, Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb Al-Taheer and other Islamic organizations to fight and to chip away at Arab Nationalism and Nasser. The US and the West saw Arab Nationalism as a great danger to its interests in the Middle East and as the greatest danger to Israel. The US support for Islamic organizations is legendary in the Middle East.
The US and beyond it the West have always fought national liberation movements and have always supported some of the ruthless dictatorships in the Middle East such as the support given to the Shah of Iran as he went ahead instituting one of the most ruthless country, run and managed by Savak; the Iranian secret police with substantial and material assistance from the CIA and Israel’s Mossad.
The US also played a material role in undermining Nasser nationalism, even when the US knew that Nasser’s management team was doomed to fail.
The US and the West also sat silent and did not do a damn thing about the Israeli occupation of Palestine and not only did the US failed to challenge one of the most oppressive occupation, in fact it supported the occupation with hundred of billions of dollars and with material and political support by Washington and at the UN. The US always made sure that Israel can do whatever it wants, even when in violation of international law and gets away with it. The US is a partner in the crime. The US also supported secular regimes like the Shah and Saddam when the US knew these regimes were killing and murdering hundreds of thousands of their citizens, and the list goes on and on. Just ask the CIA and you will be able to get lots of information.
If you want to talk about Islamic radicalism and who nurtured it and who sponsor it, then Mr. Bush you need to go the files of the Reagan Administration and see how the US in order to defeat Communism, recruited and organized Islamic misfits from all of the Arab and Muslim world, sent them to Afghanistan and with the help of another dictatorship, Pakistan, made Jihad a very vogue name. Well, Mr. Bush the CIA inverted the word Mujahideen and made and invented an “Islamic’ fighting force out of Afghanistan’s tribes. The US with the support of Pakistan, recruited “Muslim Clergy” to be the political officers of these “Mujahideen” the like of Sheik Azzam, Sheik Abdul-Rahman among others. These men became the ideology leaders of illiterate tribes in Afghanistan. The US used the same tactics of appointing “political officers” similar to that of the Soviet and the Nazi Army. Well, Mr. Bush, your Mujahideen are coming back to haunt all of us.
There misfits Mr. President where given all the supports denied to other legitimate groups fighting for independence and freedom, such as in Iran, Iraq and Occupied Palestine. Afghanistan was important and was crucial to the US interest, only because the Soviets where there. You did not support Muslims; you got somebody to fight the Russian.
Yes, Mr. President, the US packed its bags and left Afghanistan once the Soviet were defeated, leaving tens of thousands of these “Islamic” misfit in charge of the country, converting Kabul Stadium into a torturer field where heads, arms, legs where chopped while thousands cheered. Schools, nurseries, hospitals all where closed by the remnants of the Mujahideen. These illiterate stupid allies know nothing about Islam or democracy.
I am sure Mr. President, you know who recruited Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Dhawaheri. It was the US as the sponsor of Mujahideen that recruited Osama Bin Laden arranging that he takes with him some $20 million to establish his presence among starving Mujahideen. Well, these US recruits came back to haunt the US having been convinced that they can defeat Communists and of course if they could defeat Communists, they can defeat democracy and the US. Mr. President, the US made these Mujahideen invincible and gave them weapons like the “Stinger Missiles” denied to your best ally in the Middle East, which Saudi Arabia. The US did not care about Saudi Arabia and its security when denying the Stinger Missiles; it was only concerned with the safety of Israel, afraid that in the event of an attack by Israel, the Saudis will be able to defend themselves against the Middle East most powerful air force.
So please Mr. President, don’t tell us about US fight for freedom and democracy and about how the US cared for Arabs and Muslims. US supported dictatorial regimes all over the world. The US contrary to what you claim never supported freedom and liberty, not in Africa, not in Latin and Central America, not the Far East, certainly not the Arab Middle East. Yes in Europe only against Russia. In fact the US always supported killer regimes. The US never supported the people quest for freedom and democracy.
In your speech, you claimed that the US has supported Muslims throughout the world and were great contributor to disaster relief. Well, on that, my answer is yes and no.
In Bosnia, the US and the European West sat in silent, without ever raising a finger as the criminal Serbs went about the ethnic cleansing of “ Muslims’ in Bosnia. Mr. President over 250,000 Muslims were butchered in Bosnia in full view of the UN, the US and EC and NATO and off course the Organizations of Islamic States that sat on its hands, useless and unable to do any thing. Even when the US and the West authorized the UN to go in Bosnian over 10,000 Muslims died as the Dutch contingency in Bosnia watched without making any efforts to stop the killing. The US and the European all watched in silence as the “Christian” Serbs slaughtered the “Muslims” of Bosnia.
Thanks to the strong intervention of a woman, a Jewish woman at that, Secretary Albright who lobbied the White House and finally convinced President Clinton that the killing of Muslims must stopped. After what? After 250,000 innocent ethnic European Bosnians “ Muslims” got killed in Western Europe. How could you explain that!
Perhaps the only thing that I can agree with you on is the role the US and its humanitarian support and assistance given after natural disasters in Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. Well Mr., President, please keep in mind the US supported dictator Suharto for over 35 years while he killed and robbed the country. Well, Mr. President, I do not call this support of Muslims. Disaster relief yes, political relief no.
I don’t think any one in the Arab and Muslim world deny the sense of decency, integrity and generosity of the American people. In my mind, the American people are much more honorable, decent and honest than I can say about our government, and about our Congress and all administrations. Please keep in mind, that racial discrimination was alive and well in the US until recently, and only when Blacks where willing to put their lives on the line did our government and administration moved to do something about it.
Well, I am sure by now, you would think that I am unfair to you and to our country. Well that is not true because I do agree with you that Islamic radicalism is the scrooge of the 21st century, but I do disagree with the causes and the way to fight terrorism.
These criminal elements, the remnant of your “ Mujahideen” once the Soviet where defeated came back and took on the fight and started committing heinous acts of terrorism in countries like Egypt, Jordan, Turkey among others and now in Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Some of these criminals found heaven in Europe and the US.
In my mind, Mr. President, if these criminal misfits who “declared war on humanity” (my words as stated in the Washington Post) where the pioneering Muslims of times past, Islam would not have spread beyond Mecca and we would never see the likes of Al-Hamra, Taj Mahal, cities like Samarkand, Asfahan, Cairo, Damascus, Fez, Seville or Granada. These people Mr. President, know nothing about life. They only know about killing and what they are doing in Iraq; killing innocent people is a proof of that.
People who believe that the shortest way to heaven is to kill and commit suicide are not only crazy; they are real sick people with deformed minds and hearts and could never, ever create and establish an “Islamic” State. If I know Allah they will never see heaven.
How could such illiterate criminal ever get to heaven I would never know? Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda and the Talibans and Azzarqawi and Al-Dhawaheri could never capture the hearts and mind of people in the Arab and Muslim world. People who kill to go to heaven could never lead Islam to a “Renaissance” which is badly needed. Criminal and religious illiterate, who know nothing of the world, have hijacked Islam for a long time. Mr. President, these creeps and terrorist could never rise to level of Muslim scholars of old times, when knowledge and learning earned people respect and a place in history. These are the people who make Islam spread and widely accepted in the world.
What Islam needs more than ever is a “renewal” similar to the renaissance that took place in Europe and helped propel Europe out of the Dark Ages? We need that kind of Islam now more than ever, not only for the US but also for the billions of Muslims around the world.
The hope for Islam is right here in the US, with so many intelligent and intellectuals scholars and I am sure if these people are free to debate and with the right forum can make a big difference for the entire Muslim world. We, within the Muslim community need a reform movement that will also propel Islam into the modern time and the 21st century. However, Mr. President, you need to end the Israeli occupation and stop giving excuses for an occupation that made Muslims around the world see the hypocrisy of our democracy. How could you promote democracy in the Middle East while supporting the Israeli Occupation of Palestine and the ethnic cleansing taking place in Jerusalem and other cities? We do love America, but America is on the wrong side of Muslims
Islamic radicalism will be defeated by Muslims democracies, not by your Neocons.
I heard the speech you gave today in Norfolk, Virginia and your declaration that Islamic radicalism is the scrooge of the 21st century. Well Mr. President, here is my opinion.
With all due respect to the office you hold, your speech and statements are half-truth, and you only selected what suites you best and what suites your justification for the war on Iraq. The war on Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Mr. President, the problem and danger of Muslim radicalism are much older than you. While I agree with its danger I do not agree with its history of causes. It is too bad you failed to mention how this scrooge that threatens America and the world came about and what role did the US play in all of this? How did this cancer started and what was the contributing role the US and the West have in this great danger that engulf us all.
I know that you are only partial and selective in your history, a history made up and written by those who have ideological hostility and political fight with Islam and Muslims, way before there was Islamic terrorism. Listen to your evangelical friends.
For one thing Mr. Bush, the US and the great West always supported Islamic radicalism whenever it suited the US and its allies in the Middle East. The US supported Islamic radicalism, Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb Al-Taheer and other Islamic organizations to fight and to chip away at Arab Nationalism and Nasser. The US and the West saw Arab Nationalism as a great danger to its interests in the Middle East and as the greatest danger to Israel. The US support for Islamic organizations is legendary in the Middle East.
The US and beyond it the West have always fought national liberation movements and have always supported some of the ruthless dictatorships in the Middle East such as the support given to the Shah of Iran as he went ahead instituting one of the most ruthless country, run and managed by Savak; the Iranian secret police with substantial and material assistance from the CIA and Israel’s Mossad.
The US also played a material role in undermining Nasser nationalism, even when the US knew that Nasser’s management team was doomed to fail.
The US and the West also sat silent and did not do a damn thing about the Israeli occupation of Palestine and not only did the US failed to challenge one of the most oppressive occupation, in fact it supported the occupation with hundred of billions of dollars and with material and political support by Washington and at the UN. The US always made sure that Israel can do whatever it wants, even when in violation of international law and gets away with it. The US is a partner in the crime. The US also supported secular regimes like the Shah and Saddam when the US knew these regimes were killing and murdering hundreds of thousands of their citizens, and the list goes on and on. Just ask the CIA and you will be able to get lots of information.
If you want to talk about Islamic radicalism and who nurtured it and who sponsor it, then Mr. Bush you need to go the files of the Reagan Administration and see how the US in order to defeat Communism, recruited and organized Islamic misfits from all of the Arab and Muslim world, sent them to Afghanistan and with the help of another dictatorship, Pakistan, made Jihad a very vogue name. Well, Mr. Bush the CIA inverted the word Mujahideen and made and invented an “Islamic’ fighting force out of Afghanistan’s tribes. The US with the support of Pakistan, recruited “Muslim Clergy” to be the political officers of these “Mujahideen” the like of Sheik Azzam, Sheik Abdul-Rahman among others. These men became the ideology leaders of illiterate tribes in Afghanistan. The US used the same tactics of appointing “political officers” similar to that of the Soviet and the Nazi Army. Well, Mr. Bush, your Mujahideen are coming back to haunt all of us.
There misfits Mr. President where given all the supports denied to other legitimate groups fighting for independence and freedom, such as in Iran, Iraq and Occupied Palestine. Afghanistan was important and was crucial to the US interest, only because the Soviets where there. You did not support Muslims; you got somebody to fight the Russian.
Yes, Mr. President, the US packed its bags and left Afghanistan once the Soviet were defeated, leaving tens of thousands of these “Islamic” misfit in charge of the country, converting Kabul Stadium into a torturer field where heads, arms, legs where chopped while thousands cheered. Schools, nurseries, hospitals all where closed by the remnants of the Mujahideen. These illiterate stupid allies know nothing about Islam or democracy.
I am sure Mr. President, you know who recruited Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Dhawaheri. It was the US as the sponsor of Mujahideen that recruited Osama Bin Laden arranging that he takes with him some $20 million to establish his presence among starving Mujahideen. Well, these US recruits came back to haunt the US having been convinced that they can defeat Communists and of course if they could defeat Communists, they can defeat democracy and the US. Mr. President, the US made these Mujahideen invincible and gave them weapons like the “Stinger Missiles” denied to your best ally in the Middle East, which Saudi Arabia. The US did not care about Saudi Arabia and its security when denying the Stinger Missiles; it was only concerned with the safety of Israel, afraid that in the event of an attack by Israel, the Saudis will be able to defend themselves against the Middle East most powerful air force.
So please Mr. President, don’t tell us about US fight for freedom and democracy and about how the US cared for Arabs and Muslims. US supported dictatorial regimes all over the world. The US contrary to what you claim never supported freedom and liberty, not in Africa, not in Latin and Central America, not the Far East, certainly not the Arab Middle East. Yes in Europe only against Russia. In fact the US always supported killer regimes. The US never supported the people quest for freedom and democracy.
In your speech, you claimed that the US has supported Muslims throughout the world and were great contributor to disaster relief. Well, on that, my answer is yes and no.
In Bosnia, the US and the European West sat in silent, without ever raising a finger as the criminal Serbs went about the ethnic cleansing of “ Muslims’ in Bosnia. Mr. President over 250,000 Muslims were butchered in Bosnia in full view of the UN, the US and EC and NATO and off course the Organizations of Islamic States that sat on its hands, useless and unable to do any thing. Even when the US and the West authorized the UN to go in Bosnian over 10,000 Muslims died as the Dutch contingency in Bosnia watched without making any efforts to stop the killing. The US and the European all watched in silence as the “Christian” Serbs slaughtered the “Muslims” of Bosnia.
Thanks to the strong intervention of a woman, a Jewish woman at that, Secretary Albright who lobbied the White House and finally convinced President Clinton that the killing of Muslims must stopped. After what? After 250,000 innocent ethnic European Bosnians “ Muslims” got killed in Western Europe. How could you explain that!
Perhaps the only thing that I can agree with you on is the role the US and its humanitarian support and assistance given after natural disasters in Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. Well Mr., President, please keep in mind the US supported dictator Suharto for over 35 years while he killed and robbed the country. Well, Mr. President, I do not call this support of Muslims. Disaster relief yes, political relief no.
I don’t think any one in the Arab and Muslim world deny the sense of decency, integrity and generosity of the American people. In my mind, the American people are much more honorable, decent and honest than I can say about our government, and about our Congress and all administrations. Please keep in mind, that racial discrimination was alive and well in the US until recently, and only when Blacks where willing to put their lives on the line did our government and administration moved to do something about it.
Well, I am sure by now, you would think that I am unfair to you and to our country. Well that is not true because I do agree with you that Islamic radicalism is the scrooge of the 21st century, but I do disagree with the causes and the way to fight terrorism.
These criminal elements, the remnant of your “ Mujahideen” once the Soviet where defeated came back and took on the fight and started committing heinous acts of terrorism in countries like Egypt, Jordan, Turkey among others and now in Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Some of these criminals found heaven in Europe and the US.
In my mind, Mr. President, if these criminal misfits who “declared war on humanity” (my words as stated in the Washington Post) where the pioneering Muslims of times past, Islam would not have spread beyond Mecca and we would never see the likes of Al-Hamra, Taj Mahal, cities like Samarkand, Asfahan, Cairo, Damascus, Fez, Seville or Granada. These people Mr. President, know nothing about life. They only know about killing and what they are doing in Iraq; killing innocent people is a proof of that.
People who believe that the shortest way to heaven is to kill and commit suicide are not only crazy; they are real sick people with deformed minds and hearts and could never, ever create and establish an “Islamic” State. If I know Allah they will never see heaven.
How could such illiterate criminal ever get to heaven I would never know? Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda and the Talibans and Azzarqawi and Al-Dhawaheri could never capture the hearts and mind of people in the Arab and Muslim world. People who kill to go to heaven could never lead Islam to a “Renaissance” which is badly needed. Criminal and religious illiterate, who know nothing of the world, have hijacked Islam for a long time. Mr. President, these creeps and terrorist could never rise to level of Muslim scholars of old times, when knowledge and learning earned people respect and a place in history. These are the people who make Islam spread and widely accepted in the world.
What Islam needs more than ever is a “renewal” similar to the renaissance that took place in Europe and helped propel Europe out of the Dark Ages? We need that kind of Islam now more than ever, not only for the US but also for the billions of Muslims around the world.
The hope for Islam is right here in the US, with so many intelligent and intellectuals scholars and I am sure if these people are free to debate and with the right forum can make a big difference for the entire Muslim world. We, within the Muslim community need a reform movement that will also propel Islam into the modern time and the 21st century. However, Mr. President, you need to end the Israeli occupation and stop giving excuses for an occupation that made Muslims around the world see the hypocrisy of our democracy. How could you promote democracy in the Middle East while supporting the Israeli Occupation of Palestine and the ethnic cleansing taking place in Jerusalem and other cities? We do love America, but America is on the wrong side of Muslims
Islamic radicalism will be defeated by Muslims democracies, not by your Neocons.
Sons and daughters of immigrants will not accept to be defranchised ever? France must re-think its policies again.
Riots and more riots continue to take place in France notwithstanding efforts by the Sarkozy, the French minister of interior who also is now expelling thousands of kids away from France.
The fact that I am of an immigrant origin in the US, I can be more critical of France and the policy of France of not integration and down right racism.The sad thing that we all need to remember is that France was, is and has always been a colonist country with racists streaks that runs deep in its politics and its cities. Let us all remember Jean Marie Le pen who are the leader of the French right always talked in very racist and plain language and who always accused immigrants, Arabs, and Muslims, winning at times more than 20% of the votes in the French National Assembly and in towns and cities. The French Right like its counter part in Republican Rights and German Rights always blame foreigners and immigrants for the problems and ills of France, US and Germany.
Fortunately for us in the US, we are a nation of immigrants and as such the hate for immigrants does come to and end, sooner than later, because even those xenophobic politicians in the end are from immigrant roots.
In France like all across Europe no efforts what so ever is made to integrate immigrants and give them a stake in the country of their choice. No efforts whatsoever to give these immigrants and their children an opportunity.
In the US, Congress recognizing that racism runs deep in our society, past many laws that made it illegal to discriminate based in race, color, religion, sex and national origin, even went further and past “affirmative action” to make sure that it gives Blacks and other minorities the playing lever field when it comes to education and employment.
Unlike American where those of Italians, Jewish, Irish, Slovak, Arabs, German, Russians are all considered Americans without ever giving up their “own” culture and heritage and where Muslims, Jews and Sikhs can be what they are in France, such rights are denied to people of other cultures. I can and do appreciate what it takes to “be an American” I could never understand nor ever understood what it takes to be French. In the US it does not take a whole lot to be an American, it takes only an oath and a pledge of allegiance and one can continue to eat Kosher, Halal, eat pasta, each Couscous, tabule, homos, chicken gulag, meat balls, wear the yarmulke, the hijab and be an American. In France, it seems it take more than that; it takes one to denounce one’s own culture and way of life to become French. Does it take to drinking wine, eat cheese, eat baguete and pork to become French? I don’t know and I don’t think that the “blue blooded” French know who is a French and what it takes to become French. Perhaps the French should go back to the world most famous French slogan “ L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte” and forget about Hijab, forget about drinking red wine with meals and recognize that France is for all French; White, Black, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and not only for “blue blooded, blue eyes, fair skin” French. France should give freedom and equality to all French irrespective of race, color, religion and national origin.
France must give true meaning to the words “L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte”. These words when carried out to the true meaning will make France a true and free country and take its rightful place as the birth of freedom and liberty. We are all saddened by the events taking place in France, however nothing short of drastic and fundamental changes are need to make a difference and give those immigrants a stake in France and its future.
The fact that I am of an immigrant origin in the US, I can be more critical of France and the policy of France of not integration and down right racism.The sad thing that we all need to remember is that France was, is and has always been a colonist country with racists streaks that runs deep in its politics and its cities. Let us all remember Jean Marie Le pen who are the leader of the French right always talked in very racist and plain language and who always accused immigrants, Arabs, and Muslims, winning at times more than 20% of the votes in the French National Assembly and in towns and cities. The French Right like its counter part in Republican Rights and German Rights always blame foreigners and immigrants for the problems and ills of France, US and Germany.
Fortunately for us in the US, we are a nation of immigrants and as such the hate for immigrants does come to and end, sooner than later, because even those xenophobic politicians in the end are from immigrant roots.
In France like all across Europe no efforts what so ever is made to integrate immigrants and give them a stake in the country of their choice. No efforts whatsoever to give these immigrants and their children an opportunity.
In the US, Congress recognizing that racism runs deep in our society, past many laws that made it illegal to discriminate based in race, color, religion, sex and national origin, even went further and past “affirmative action” to make sure that it gives Blacks and other minorities the playing lever field when it comes to education and employment.
Unlike American where those of Italians, Jewish, Irish, Slovak, Arabs, German, Russians are all considered Americans without ever giving up their “own” culture and heritage and where Muslims, Jews and Sikhs can be what they are in France, such rights are denied to people of other cultures. I can and do appreciate what it takes to “be an American” I could never understand nor ever understood what it takes to be French. In the US it does not take a whole lot to be an American, it takes only an oath and a pledge of allegiance and one can continue to eat Kosher, Halal, eat pasta, each Couscous, tabule, homos, chicken gulag, meat balls, wear the yarmulke, the hijab and be an American. In France, it seems it take more than that; it takes one to denounce one’s own culture and way of life to become French. Does it take to drinking wine, eat cheese, eat baguete and pork to become French? I don’t know and I don’t think that the “blue blooded” French know who is a French and what it takes to become French. Perhaps the French should go back to the world most famous French slogan “ L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte” and forget about Hijab, forget about drinking red wine with meals and recognize that France is for all French; White, Black, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and not only for “blue blooded, blue eyes, fair skin” French. France should give freedom and equality to all French irrespective of race, color, religion and national origin.
France must give true meaning to the words “L’egalite-Fraternite-Liberte”. These words when carried out to the true meaning will make France a true and free country and take its rightful place as the birth of freedom and liberty. We are all saddened by the events taking place in France, however nothing short of drastic and fundamental changes are need to make a difference and give those immigrants a stake in France and its future.
Fighting terrorism must be house to house, mind to mind and heart to heart.
Fighting terrorism must be house to house, heart to heart, not by F-16s and tanks only. The tragic events of Amman and the daily events taking place in Iraq calls on all of us to be part of the fight against terrorism, and to enlist every one of us in the war against terrorism. The fight against terrorism, must not be left to George Bush’s “Neocons”, it must be our fight. The fight against terrorism must not be defined by war criminals like Ariel Sharon, but must be our fight too. The fight against terrorism must not be left to dictators like Musharraf, but must be our own fight. To start with we must all of us, Muslims and Arabs before any one else in the world must not ever define and call suicide bombing a “martyr operation” we must call suicide bombing for what it is a criminal act and murder and we must never accept any excuse for such operation and must never accept any justification for such a cold blooded murder. We Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians must never celebrate the lives of those who commit such cold-blooded murder and must never give recognition or value for these cowards and criminals and must never even attend or visit the families of such suicide bombers. We must never, ever give any recognition or contribution of suicide bombers to the cause of freedom and liberty. We also must admit and give recognition to the fact that such suicide and terrorist acts do not take place in complete silence and in complete secrecy. Some must know, and no suicide -bombing takes place in complete isolation of the community. Suicide bombing in Palestine does not take place in complete vacuum of families and friends knowing about it. The daily acts of terrors taking place in Iraq does not take place in complete vacuum and without the knowledge of at least few people, who are as guilty as the terrorist and suicide bombers. We all know that it committing suicide bombing and terrorist acts does not take place without the support of a number of people. To commit such acts of mass murder and killing takes more than one person. There are those who secure the explosive, who secure the cars, who secure and make available the detonators, who recruits these killers and murderers. It is an enterprise and every one in this enterprise is part of this murder incorporated. Let us not ever accept and hear from Arab journalist who tries to give excuses and put forward justification for such murder. Terrorism taking place in Amman, in Baghdad, in Casablanca, in Riyadh has nothing to do with the American occupation of Iraq. We must never accept proposition of leaders of certain organization that put forward justification for suicide bombers and terrorism. That is why I am convinced that fighting terrorism and suicide bombers must and should and will take place within every house, within every school, within every mosque. The killing that takes place finds no justification and we should never accept any excuses for terrorism and suicide bombing, even the Israeli and American occupation must never be used by any of us as an excuses. We must make sure that these killers and murderers must never find safe haven among us and among our people and among our mosques. Next time a terrorist or a suicide bomber commit acts of terrorism and murder we must make sure that no one, ever go and visit the families of these killers and murders and give the standard condolences. If any thing, we all must condemn terrorist and suicide bombing for what it is, killers and murderers. The fight against terrorism, is our fight and we must declare war on these terrorist.
Conservtives are out to eat George Bush alive.
Will Lester of the Associated Press write in an October 15 dateline, that domestic issues over take terrorism as the major concerns of American?
That is not so surprising given the big domestic mess we have in this country, especially after Katrina. But leave to Washington, soon some one will release a letter that will cause panic, of course only to turn out to be hoax, just like the shutting down the subway system in NY last week, based on a tip from a Pakistani informer in Iraq. Common people, how can you be so stupid. No doubt we only look for tips and intelligence form some odd sources, the same sources that told us Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, and it took non other than Colin Powel to travel all the way to the UN and make such an announcement. Of course we all know now that there was nothing of the sort, but that weapons of mass destructions are nothing but a fiction in the imagination of few people in Washington who were preparing for the war for a long time and were able to get non other that a convicted felon, and a bank robber to make such declaration that promoted the White House with some push from Tel-Aviv for us to go to war.
I would say dare say the entire Arab world was tired of Saddam, and in years of power in Iraq, Saddam was nothing but disaster for Iraq, for the Arab world, for the Muslim world. Saddam for over 25 years was actively supported by Republican administrations.
The man who killed over 2 million people and who used gas to kill and murder thousand of Kurds was the darling of Washington for many years, the same way the Shah of Iran was the dazzling boy of Washington. Of course with so much money put in Washington DC, a city known to accommodate money and power, criminals and dictators with money can always find a listening ear in Washington. This city and its politics have no sense of any moral values. The only value it accepts and recognizes is money and power. One can be the most vicious politician and as long as there is money and power, they get what they want
As things go in Washington, one day it is terrorism, one day it is Iraq and one now it is every day where conservative are out to eat George Bush alive for not naming one there “own” to the Supreme Court. With people like Tom Delay, Pat Robertson and Jerry Kilgore the US has some very serious problems on its hands, and our illustrious conservatives could not find issues of education, transportation, energy, health care, affordable housing of interest to their agenda, since these issues are affecting millions of people, now their agenda is abortion, and death penalty as if we don’t have other problems to worry about.
Conservatives have shown they do have a contract on American and they will not rest until they turn America to a nation of their image, save the aborting babies and then kill them later in the death raw. So much for the conservative agenda. By the way Jerry Kilgore, your ad on death penalty is not only disgusting but it shows that you are too pitiful to become the next governor of Virginia. As a lawyer, you know that lawyers are always asked to defend indigent criminal and as a lawyer defending a criminal does not mean one agrees or condone what they have done. And for you to use a Jewish father who lost his son and use this Jewish man to invoke Hitler in the campaign does not speak well for you. Tim Kaine could have done better by simply replying that the death penalty is the law of Virginia and as governor he will carry out the laws of the state and should have moved on, to next issue. Politics in American is down right ugly and nasty and does not speak well of us as a nation.
That is not so surprising given the big domestic mess we have in this country, especially after Katrina. But leave to Washington, soon some one will release a letter that will cause panic, of course only to turn out to be hoax, just like the shutting down the subway system in NY last week, based on a tip from a Pakistani informer in Iraq. Common people, how can you be so stupid. No doubt we only look for tips and intelligence form some odd sources, the same sources that told us Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, and it took non other than Colin Powel to travel all the way to the UN and make such an announcement. Of course we all know now that there was nothing of the sort, but that weapons of mass destructions are nothing but a fiction in the imagination of few people in Washington who were preparing for the war for a long time and were able to get non other that a convicted felon, and a bank robber to make such declaration that promoted the White House with some push from Tel-Aviv for us to go to war.
I would say dare say the entire Arab world was tired of Saddam, and in years of power in Iraq, Saddam was nothing but disaster for Iraq, for the Arab world, for the Muslim world. Saddam for over 25 years was actively supported by Republican administrations.
The man who killed over 2 million people and who used gas to kill and murder thousand of Kurds was the darling of Washington for many years, the same way the Shah of Iran was the dazzling boy of Washington. Of course with so much money put in Washington DC, a city known to accommodate money and power, criminals and dictators with money can always find a listening ear in Washington. This city and its politics have no sense of any moral values. The only value it accepts and recognizes is money and power. One can be the most vicious politician and as long as there is money and power, they get what they want
As things go in Washington, one day it is terrorism, one day it is Iraq and one now it is every day where conservative are out to eat George Bush alive for not naming one there “own” to the Supreme Court. With people like Tom Delay, Pat Robertson and Jerry Kilgore the US has some very serious problems on its hands, and our illustrious conservatives could not find issues of education, transportation, energy, health care, affordable housing of interest to their agenda, since these issues are affecting millions of people, now their agenda is abortion, and death penalty as if we don’t have other problems to worry about.
Conservatives have shown they do have a contract on American and they will not rest until they turn America to a nation of their image, save the aborting babies and then kill them later in the death raw. So much for the conservative agenda. By the way Jerry Kilgore, your ad on death penalty is not only disgusting but it shows that you are too pitiful to become the next governor of Virginia. As a lawyer, you know that lawyers are always asked to defend indigent criminal and as a lawyer defending a criminal does not mean one agrees or condone what they have done. And for you to use a Jewish father who lost his son and use this Jewish man to invoke Hitler in the campaign does not speak well for you. Tim Kaine could have done better by simply replying that the death penalty is the law of Virginia and as governor he will carry out the laws of the state and should have moved on, to next issue. Politics in American is down right ugly and nasty and does not speak well of us as a nation.
Kissinger purged Arabist from State Department, and US is paying the price.
Jennifer Bremer, a former State Department employee who was stationed in the Arab world and who studied Arab writes in the “Outlook” section in today’s Washington Post, writes about the lack of Arab speaking diplomats in the State Department and es writof the lack of interest from Arab American in joining the State Department. Of course there was something missing from the article, the way?
Back in the early and late 40’s, 50’s and 60’s there were many American diplomats who where called “Arabist” in the State Department. One has to ask the question what happened to all those “Arabist”.
When Henry Kissinger, the former National Security Council and the former Secretary of State during the Nixon years and a possible defendant in the International Court of Justice for War Crimes, when Kissinger took over the State Department he did what the United States did during the McCarthy era, he purged the State Department of all of its Arabist. Of course in the mind of Henry Kissinger, these diplomats by the very fact of their knowledge of Arabic they are influenced by the language and are sympathetic to the Arab cause and the Arab-Israel conflict and as such he made sure that there are non who may toe this line and he made sure to bring in new, young and committed diplomats from the Zionist work shops and organizations in Washington DC.
That is why for the last 30 some odd years, we did not see one single “Arabist” emerging as the lead in any of the Arab-Israeli negotiations, and all those who came to lead the US diplomacy in the Middle East came from the Israeli shop, AIPAC, the likes of Dennis Ross and Marin Indyke.
Of course one has to ask the question, why it that our State Department with the critical and many issues and conflicts facing the United States with the Arab and Muslim world did not have one single major player who is an Arabist and not one single Arabic speaking natives in any of our lead negotiating teams in the Middle East.
It is hard to believe that of the thousands of specialists around the United Stares in all major universities, leading diplomats are selected only from AIPAC and whenever there is a specialist on Islam, the specialist is not even a Muslim, again they come from, the Israeli workshop in Washington.
There are thousands of well-qualified Arab and Muslim candidates who are willing and able to serve this country and make a difference. However to do that, there is a need by the State Department to make it clear to these candidates that it is their loyalty to the US that is the determining factor in the selection process, not their loyalty or disloyalty to Israel. When the US policy becomes independent of Israel, I am sure there are thousands who are willing to join and serve. Kissinger for his own personal and his commitment to Zionism did such much damage to the interest of the United States and September 11th is only one example of the crimes he committed against the US interest home and abroad.
Back in the early and late 40’s, 50’s and 60’s there were many American diplomats who where called “Arabist” in the State Department. One has to ask the question what happened to all those “Arabist”.
When Henry Kissinger, the former National Security Council and the former Secretary of State during the Nixon years and a possible defendant in the International Court of Justice for War Crimes, when Kissinger took over the State Department he did what the United States did during the McCarthy era, he purged the State Department of all of its Arabist. Of course in the mind of Henry Kissinger, these diplomats by the very fact of their knowledge of Arabic they are influenced by the language and are sympathetic to the Arab cause and the Arab-Israel conflict and as such he made sure that there are non who may toe this line and he made sure to bring in new, young and committed diplomats from the Zionist work shops and organizations in Washington DC.
That is why for the last 30 some odd years, we did not see one single “Arabist” emerging as the lead in any of the Arab-Israeli negotiations, and all those who came to lead the US diplomacy in the Middle East came from the Israeli shop, AIPAC, the likes of Dennis Ross and Marin Indyke.
Of course one has to ask the question, why it that our State Department with the critical and many issues and conflicts facing the United States with the Arab and Muslim world did not have one single major player who is an Arabist and not one single Arabic speaking natives in any of our lead negotiating teams in the Middle East.
It is hard to believe that of the thousands of specialists around the United Stares in all major universities, leading diplomats are selected only from AIPAC and whenever there is a specialist on Islam, the specialist is not even a Muslim, again they come from, the Israeli workshop in Washington.
There are thousands of well-qualified Arab and Muslim candidates who are willing and able to serve this country and make a difference. However to do that, there is a need by the State Department to make it clear to these candidates that it is their loyalty to the US that is the determining factor in the selection process, not their loyalty or disloyalty to Israel. When the US policy becomes independent of Israel, I am sure there are thousands who are willing to join and serve. Kissinger for his own personal and his commitment to Zionism did such much damage to the interest of the United States and September 11th is only one example of the crimes he committed against the US interest home and abroad.
Couple of hundred thousand dollars will buy the most powerful congressmen in town!
One has to be a genius to understand the process of political and financial corruption of Republican operatives in the nation capital. The story of Tom Delay and the way he managed and transfer the money back and forth is a challenge to us poor souls. The Washington Post lead article on “How a Lobbyist Stacked the Deck” in today’s Washington Post is a must read for any one who want to understand how this nation capital work and how Republicans trade and use money to pass or kill legislations. It has nothing to with ideology or patriotism, or nationalism; it is all about money and how the money is used to advance the Republican Agenda.
One need to read the article and see and understand the graphics and charts to understand how money is used and how lobbyist and legislative assistants and congressmen uses the money to make a difference where American get screwed by the very few or American is the winner. For the most part, those guys who claim to be the most patriotic and “Christians” are out to screw America and screw every little guy in this country.
In Washington as the article shows, there are no red lines drawn between legislative aids and their bosses in Congress and the many lobbyist shops in Washington DC.
Jack Abramoff, that most famous Republican lobbyist who is under indictment is the main character in the scenario of money, politics, business and sleaze and how money and politics play a big role in the halls of Congress and how the money the money is channeled from the source and goes through many sources to companies and Jewish foundations to hide the they lobbyist work and how wives and family members get hired by these organizing as an indirect payments to congressional staffers.
$750,000 is used to defeat certain legislation in Congress, legislation that would have brought in millions of dollars to the national treasury. Then we always reminded by there patriotic American about the love of country. Who are these crooks and cheaters to teach us about patriotism and commitment to our nation? Certainly they are not the example top follow. It seems that few hundred thousands dollars channeled to Tom Delay and his staffers and his organizations will make all of the difference in Congress.
On another story concerning the election of governor in Virginia. It is interesting with over 500,000 persons living in absolute poverty, the Republican Jerry Kilgore have nothing to say about all of these poor souls who are on the verge of personal disaster, and who are at risk of losing every thing, and he has the audacity to talk and make a priority capital punishment. One would think that a person running for such a leadership position in the state of Virginia will make it a priority to help these poor souls and find ways to help with at a time when the economy is leaving them behind, forgotten by the Republican candidates and the only thing on his mind is the score of people on death row. Why in the hell make inmate on death row an issue when there are over 500,000 innocent and free citizen who are put on death row by a candidate who refuse to address their needs and who refuse to come forward with programs to help these poor souls. But then not much one expect from a Republican Party that nominates a convicted felon to be its candidate for the US Senate. If one is talk about sleaze they should talk about Republican leaders who are on their way to jail.
One need to read the article and see and understand the graphics and charts to understand how money is used and how lobbyist and legislative assistants and congressmen uses the money to make a difference where American get screwed by the very few or American is the winner. For the most part, those guys who claim to be the most patriotic and “Christians” are out to screw America and screw every little guy in this country.
In Washington as the article shows, there are no red lines drawn between legislative aids and their bosses in Congress and the many lobbyist shops in Washington DC.
Jack Abramoff, that most famous Republican lobbyist who is under indictment is the main character in the scenario of money, politics, business and sleaze and how money and politics play a big role in the halls of Congress and how the money the money is channeled from the source and goes through many sources to companies and Jewish foundations to hide the they lobbyist work and how wives and family members get hired by these organizing as an indirect payments to congressional staffers.
$750,000 is used to defeat certain legislation in Congress, legislation that would have brought in millions of dollars to the national treasury. Then we always reminded by there patriotic American about the love of country. Who are these crooks and cheaters to teach us about patriotism and commitment to our nation? Certainly they are not the example top follow. It seems that few hundred thousands dollars channeled to Tom Delay and his staffers and his organizations will make all of the difference in Congress.
On another story concerning the election of governor in Virginia. It is interesting with over 500,000 persons living in absolute poverty, the Republican Jerry Kilgore have nothing to say about all of these poor souls who are on the verge of personal disaster, and who are at risk of losing every thing, and he has the audacity to talk and make a priority capital punishment. One would think that a person running for such a leadership position in the state of Virginia will make it a priority to help these poor souls and find ways to help with at a time when the economy is leaving them behind, forgotten by the Republican candidates and the only thing on his mind is the score of people on death row. Why in the hell make inmate on death row an issue when there are over 500,000 innocent and free citizen who are put on death row by a candidate who refuse to address their needs and who refuse to come forward with programs to help these poor souls. But then not much one expect from a Republican Party that nominates a convicted felon to be its candidate for the US Senate. If one is talk about sleaze they should talk about Republican leaders who are on their way to jail.
Finally, Saddam on trial. I like to see few of our officials stand trail too.
Of course the world is looking forward to seeing Saddam stand trial for crimes against his people. As some simply hated Saddam and thought he was a war criminal when he started his war with Iran, I am very happy that finally he will be put on trial. GWU has an excellent resource center and I am taking the liberty to copy it here for the reader. Thank you GWU
“Washington D.C. October 18, 2005 - The National Security Archive today posted a series of declassified U.S. intelligence documents and other U.S. agency reports on Saddam Hussein’s human rights abuses, one of which is the subject of the first trial of Saddam which begins tomorrow in Iraq. The first set of charges concerns Saddam’s responsibility, along with seven co-defendants, for the 1982 massacre of 143 Shiites in Dujail, a town 35 miles north of Baghdad, after an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Saddam. Procedures for the trial are the subject of significant controversy, as reported by the New York Times’ John Burns today. The Archive’s posting gives a preview of the evidence that the U.S. government may be providing to the trial process.
Saddam may face up to a dozen trials for crimes alleged to have been committed by his regime - among them the gassing of Kurds in Halabja and the suppression of a Shiite uprising in the south. However, in September it was reported that the Iraqi government may waive further proceedings if Saddam is convicted in the first trial, a conviction which could bring the death penalty. (Note 1)
During his years in power, the U.S. Intelligence Community produced estimates and studies of Iraq’s foreign and defense policies, its military capabilities and activities, and analyses of the regime’s domestic policies and actions. Other U.S. agencies, both before and after the termination of Saddam’s rule, also produced reports on the regime’s internal activities.
The collection below contains a number of documents produced by U.S. agencies over the last thirty years concerning the Iraqi regime’s policies and activities directed at maintaining itself in power and eliminating or neutralizing opposition to the regime.”
There are a whole lots of people who should stand trail with him, not only his close associates, but all those who supported him and gave him poltical, economic and miliatry support. All should be on trial so that they neverr again support such criminal dictators. I would like to see few of our officials stand trail with him. He pulled the trigger, they gave him the gun
“Washington D.C. October 18, 2005 - The National Security Archive today posted a series of declassified U.S. intelligence documents and other U.S. agency reports on Saddam Hussein’s human rights abuses, one of which is the subject of the first trial of Saddam which begins tomorrow in Iraq. The first set of charges concerns Saddam’s responsibility, along with seven co-defendants, for the 1982 massacre of 143 Shiites in Dujail, a town 35 miles north of Baghdad, after an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Saddam. Procedures for the trial are the subject of significant controversy, as reported by the New York Times’ John Burns today. The Archive’s posting gives a preview of the evidence that the U.S. government may be providing to the trial process.
Saddam may face up to a dozen trials for crimes alleged to have been committed by his regime - among them the gassing of Kurds in Halabja and the suppression of a Shiite uprising in the south. However, in September it was reported that the Iraqi government may waive further proceedings if Saddam is convicted in the first trial, a conviction which could bring the death penalty. (Note 1)
During his years in power, the U.S. Intelligence Community produced estimates and studies of Iraq’s foreign and defense policies, its military capabilities and activities, and analyses of the regime’s domestic policies and actions. Other U.S. agencies, both before and after the termination of Saddam’s rule, also produced reports on the regime’s internal activities.
The collection below contains a number of documents produced by U.S. agencies over the last thirty years concerning the Iraqi regime’s policies and activities directed at maintaining itself in power and eliminating or neutralizing opposition to the regime.”
There are a whole lots of people who should stand trail with him, not only his close associates, but all those who supported him and gave him poltical, economic and miliatry support. All should be on trial so that they neverr again support such criminal dictators. I would like to see few of our officials stand trail with him. He pulled the trigger, they gave him the gun
Saddam. America’s wonder kid finally on trial.
Before Saddam assumed real power within the Iraqi Baathist party in November of 69, the wonder boy of Iraq used to meet almost every week with the CIA station chief at the US Embassy in Cairo. Saddam was not a stranger to the US, since he was adopted by the US at an early stage of his career. PBS’s “Front Line” had a two-hour documentary on the very warm and loving relationship the US had with Saddam.
The US continued to play a major role in mentoring Saddam and have insisted a number of Arab countries to give him this thug, this criminal legitimacy and power and money.
When Saddam started his proxy war with Iran for an on behalf of some Arab countries and the US, Iraq had over $50 BILLION sitting in international banks and Iraq unlike many of the Gulf countries had a very well educated citizens and a very bountiful agriculture and it has all the things the other Gulf counties did not have.
The US anxious to teach Khomeni, (another evil and war criminal) a lesson for humiliating the Shah and humiliating the US, the Reagan Administration was ready to go into action. It recruited a number of Arab countries to give financial support to Saddam and give him “Arab legitimacy” for his war against Iran. Of course some Arab countries, especially the Gulf States had good reason to fear Khomeni and his new and fire brand Islamic Revolution of Iran. Khomeni is as guilty as Saddam in the Iran –Iraq war and he is as guilty as Saddam for the killing and murder of millions of young and innocent lives and for wasting both countries wealth and its manpower, and for what?
Saddam went to war claiming he is reliving the glorious Arab past and claiming he is the guardian of the Arabs against the barbarian Persians. I know many Arab people went along with Saddam and where cheering him on, even when they knew the man was nothing but a total fraud and criminal.
Saddam went to war and the US was an active party to the war supplying Saddam with critical line of credit and of course satellite photos of the battlefield.
Oh, yah, the present secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld was the emissary to Saddam visiting him twice and offering military, political and financial support at a time when Saddam was using chemical weapons against the Iranian in the battle field and against the Kurds in northern Iraq.
Poor souls tens and hundreds of thousands died, without one single voice of dissent, not in the Arab world, not hear in Washington and not any where in any of the Western capitals. After all Saddam was Washington boy. He can get away with murder and he did.
Well now many years later this hero to many crawled out of his rat hall, like a beggar asking for mercy from the American soldiers who pulled him of his rat hole.
Sometimes, not really, all of the times I blame the Iraqi people for not going out in the millions defying Saddam and bring him down, just like the Iranians when they forced the Shah of Iran to leave in disgrace. Saddam killed millions of them and they could not go out and topple him down. What a pity, because they are now paying the very heavy price, perhaps much more than the one they would have to pay to bring Saddam down.
It makes me wonder about the people in the Arab world. They have no courage and no imagination to defy the odd and go out and topple all of these useless governments and criminal dictatorships. I guess, they are always used to have someone else do the fighting for them and they end up paying a very heavy price in all cases.
Well, Saddam on trial tomorrow and it must be a site to see. I hope his trial does not turn out to be a joke like the “Almahdawi court” the famous criminal courts of the Iraqi revolutions after 58. As a young boy I used to listen to these horrific courts.
The US continued to play a major role in mentoring Saddam and have insisted a number of Arab countries to give him this thug, this criminal legitimacy and power and money.
When Saddam started his proxy war with Iran for an on behalf of some Arab countries and the US, Iraq had over $50 BILLION sitting in international banks and Iraq unlike many of the Gulf countries had a very well educated citizens and a very bountiful agriculture and it has all the things the other Gulf counties did not have.
The US anxious to teach Khomeni, (another evil and war criminal) a lesson for humiliating the Shah and humiliating the US, the Reagan Administration was ready to go into action. It recruited a number of Arab countries to give financial support to Saddam and give him “Arab legitimacy” for his war against Iran. Of course some Arab countries, especially the Gulf States had good reason to fear Khomeni and his new and fire brand Islamic Revolution of Iran. Khomeni is as guilty as Saddam in the Iran –Iraq war and he is as guilty as Saddam for the killing and murder of millions of young and innocent lives and for wasting both countries wealth and its manpower, and for what?
Saddam went to war claiming he is reliving the glorious Arab past and claiming he is the guardian of the Arabs against the barbarian Persians. I know many Arab people went along with Saddam and where cheering him on, even when they knew the man was nothing but a total fraud and criminal.
Saddam went to war and the US was an active party to the war supplying Saddam with critical line of credit and of course satellite photos of the battlefield.
Oh, yah, the present secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld was the emissary to Saddam visiting him twice and offering military, political and financial support at a time when Saddam was using chemical weapons against the Iranian in the battle field and against the Kurds in northern Iraq.
Poor souls tens and hundreds of thousands died, without one single voice of dissent, not in the Arab world, not hear in Washington and not any where in any of the Western capitals. After all Saddam was Washington boy. He can get away with murder and he did.
Well now many years later this hero to many crawled out of his rat hall, like a beggar asking for mercy from the American soldiers who pulled him of his rat hole.
Sometimes, not really, all of the times I blame the Iraqi people for not going out in the millions defying Saddam and bring him down, just like the Iranians when they forced the Shah of Iran to leave in disgrace. Saddam killed millions of them and they could not go out and topple him down. What a pity, because they are now paying the very heavy price, perhaps much more than the one they would have to pay to bring Saddam down.
It makes me wonder about the people in the Arab world. They have no courage and no imagination to defy the odd and go out and topple all of these useless governments and criminal dictatorships. I guess, they are always used to have someone else do the fighting for them and they end up paying a very heavy price in all cases.
Well, Saddam on trial tomorrow and it must be a site to see. I hope his trial does not turn out to be a joke like the “Almahdawi court” the famous criminal courts of the Iraqi revolutions after 58. As a young boy I used to listen to these horrific courts.
The murder game finally caught up with Syria.
All Arab criminal regimes always hid behind Arab nationalism. Saddam killed millions and was an agent of the CIA (a must see PPS documentary- Front Line) while serving the interest of the US and the UK and his war on Iran was nothing but a proxy war on behalf of the West. Of course not to mention that lunatic in Tripoli. Hafiz Assad, the long time champion of Arab nationalism was also a big time criminal who managed to kill tens of thousands and who appointed a war criminal who killed thousands of Palestinians as a minister in Lebanon. The Phalangist under the watchful eye of the Syrian murdered over 4,900 Palestinians in Tal-Zaater.
The Ba’athist regime in Syria is not different from its brothers under Saddam, committing murder and getting away with it. So-called Palestinians nationalist in Syria are bought and sold by the Syrians and do Syria’s bidding, and Ahmed Jebril and Abu-Musa are agents of Syria, in the same way Saddam used Palestinians to commit crimes against the Kuwaitis. The murder of Rafiq Hariri finally caught up with the thugs running Damascus. These same thugs that can arrange the murder of thousands could not protect couple of Palestinians who where murdered in Damascus by the Israeli Mossad. A country that is run by stupid intelligence and security organizations will always fail.
For a long time, Syria has been committing murder and getting away with it. Syria killed Kamal Jumblat and got away with it, killed Ahmed Laouzi and got away with it. Conspired with the Phalanges of Lebanon in the massacres of thousands of Palestinians and got away with it. It was a party in the killing of many Lebanese nationalist, like the late George Hawi and Samir Qassir, and for sure organized and supervised the killing and murder of Rafiq Hariri.
However, Syria should not be the only that is blamed for the big mess in Lebanon. The Lebanese and especially the Lebanese politicians are also to blame for playing Syria’s game in Lebanon. There were the “kiss ass” big times. All Lebanese politicians at one time or the other took their cues and instructions from “Anjar” the border town, which was the seat of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon. The late Ghazi Kana’an ran Syria as it was a grocery store, and Syria ran Lebanon not for the sake of its security, but for the sake of all of the money, corruption and bootlegging could bring to Syria. It was the dollars and the Euros that Syria and its Baathis where after. Syrian could not and was unable to protect is own soldiers from frequent raids by Israel, how could it protect the Lebanese from Israel?
Perhaps the worst things after the Ba’athist in the Arab world are the Lebanese politicians. A very unique breed of sophisticated corrupt politicians unlike anywhere else. Who in their right mind would expect that the Lebanese as sophisticated as they are, (you know the high class there, converse only in French,) how could these politicians ever accept and promote sectarian politics, where citizenship and rights arising from it are based on “religious confession” of whether a Lebanese is a Muslim, Druze, Shiite, or Christians, and even Christians are not all equal? It is a country that after couple of hundred thousands dead, gave leadership of the country to warlords and war criminals. It is the only country in the Arab world, where the throats of innocent people were slashed based on the pronunciations of “tomato”. The Palestinians pronounced at “Bandoura” and the blue-blooded Lebanese pronounce it “Banadoura”. The letter A made the difference in life and death in Lebanon during the civil war. Yet with all of this Lebanon remains a country of sectarian warlords. I hope the Syrian people will put the Baathist out of business and not wait for the Americans to come in and take Bashar and his thugs out.
The Ba’athist regime in Syria is not different from its brothers under Saddam, committing murder and getting away with it. So-called Palestinians nationalist in Syria are bought and sold by the Syrians and do Syria’s bidding, and Ahmed Jebril and Abu-Musa are agents of Syria, in the same way Saddam used Palestinians to commit crimes against the Kuwaitis. The murder of Rafiq Hariri finally caught up with the thugs running Damascus. These same thugs that can arrange the murder of thousands could not protect couple of Palestinians who where murdered in Damascus by the Israeli Mossad. A country that is run by stupid intelligence and security organizations will always fail.
For a long time, Syria has been committing murder and getting away with it. Syria killed Kamal Jumblat and got away with it, killed Ahmed Laouzi and got away with it. Conspired with the Phalanges of Lebanon in the massacres of thousands of Palestinians and got away with it. It was a party in the killing of many Lebanese nationalist, like the late George Hawi and Samir Qassir, and for sure organized and supervised the killing and murder of Rafiq Hariri.
However, Syria should not be the only that is blamed for the big mess in Lebanon. The Lebanese and especially the Lebanese politicians are also to blame for playing Syria’s game in Lebanon. There were the “kiss ass” big times. All Lebanese politicians at one time or the other took their cues and instructions from “Anjar” the border town, which was the seat of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon. The late Ghazi Kana’an ran Syria as it was a grocery store, and Syria ran Lebanon not for the sake of its security, but for the sake of all of the money, corruption and bootlegging could bring to Syria. It was the dollars and the Euros that Syria and its Baathis where after. Syrian could not and was unable to protect is own soldiers from frequent raids by Israel, how could it protect the Lebanese from Israel?
Perhaps the worst things after the Ba’athist in the Arab world are the Lebanese politicians. A very unique breed of sophisticated corrupt politicians unlike anywhere else. Who in their right mind would expect that the Lebanese as sophisticated as they are, (you know the high class there, converse only in French,) how could these politicians ever accept and promote sectarian politics, where citizenship and rights arising from it are based on “religious confession” of whether a Lebanese is a Muslim, Druze, Shiite, or Christians, and even Christians are not all equal? It is a country that after couple of hundred thousands dead, gave leadership of the country to warlords and war criminals. It is the only country in the Arab world, where the throats of innocent people were slashed based on the pronunciations of “tomato”. The Palestinians pronounced at “Bandoura” and the blue-blooded Lebanese pronounce it “Banadoura”. The letter A made the difference in life and death in Lebanon during the civil war. Yet with all of this Lebanon remains a country of sectarian warlords. I hope the Syrian people will put the Baathist out of business and not wait for the Americans to come in and take Bashar and his thugs out.
Finally, and excellent choice from President Bush
With the selection of judge John Roberts as a Supreme Court Justice and then selecting him as the Chief Justice is perhaps the best and most qualified choice he ever made in his troubled presidency. One has to commend the President for his choice; it was simply excellent and outstanding. Congratulation Mr. Bush, finally after 5 years you made the right choice. Perhaps you should fire every one and start all over again. As the 17th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, all Americans, Democrats and Republicans, liberal and conservatives, well perhaps some conservatives, should applaud such a selection and Americans of all walks of life and of all political spectrum should now feel relaxed, with the US Constitutions in good and trusted hands.
While not able to watch all of the US Senate hearings on his nomination, I was able to
read what the Washington Post and the New York Times published on Chief Justice Roberts, and from what I read Chief Justice Roberts is the finest jurist there is.
At a time when America is divided more that ever, on every issue, from the war in Iraq, to the war on terrorism, to the divisions over taxes and immigrations, women rights, God, yes God, since some believe they have monopoly on faith and morality and God, one has to admire such a man. A brilliant jurist, a decent man, with values that transcend race, color and faith, with commitment and dedication not to political parties and ideologies but to the US Constitution, that one instrument that kept this country together and kept it from falling apart and at a time when ideologue want to change and interpret the US Constitution to be in their own image, and what an image!
For the last 50 or some odd years, since Brown vs. The Board of Education and Rowe vs. Wade, never in the history of the US when our Constitution have been under constant assault. So many people on the right want to change every thing about the US Constitution, wanting to change it to fit their mental retardations and in conformance with what they hear from radio talk hosts and TV pundits. I am sure if these people where in charge of drafting the US Constitution there will never be a USA and our Constitution will look like any constitution from third world countries, changing with every military takes over, and with every change in government.
Thanks God that the job of these justices is for life and I will not be surprised if some of these loonies will soon call for the impeachment of Chief Justice Robert as not being conservative enough. Never understood what is wrong with being fair and liberal.
Perhaps these conservatives want someone like William Bennett who believes the best way to solve crimes is for Black women to abort all of their babies. Now could you ever imagine that a guy like that and who thinks like this was Secretary of Education? Not to mention that axis of evil Tom Delay who have been indicted for conspiracy. Of course both guys believe in law and order, of course for others, but not themselves.
I do wish Chief Justice Robert well and we ask the almighty God to bless him and guide him to serve this nation well and protect all of our rights from those who want to erode and do away with what made this country such a great country, the US Constitution. Sami Jamil Jadallah
While not able to watch all of the US Senate hearings on his nomination, I was able to
read what the Washington Post and the New York Times published on Chief Justice Roberts, and from what I read Chief Justice Roberts is the finest jurist there is.
At a time when America is divided more that ever, on every issue, from the war in Iraq, to the war on terrorism, to the divisions over taxes and immigrations, women rights, God, yes God, since some believe they have monopoly on faith and morality and God, one has to admire such a man. A brilliant jurist, a decent man, with values that transcend race, color and faith, with commitment and dedication not to political parties and ideologies but to the US Constitution, that one instrument that kept this country together and kept it from falling apart and at a time when ideologue want to change and interpret the US Constitution to be in their own image, and what an image!
For the last 50 or some odd years, since Brown vs. The Board of Education and Rowe vs. Wade, never in the history of the US when our Constitution have been under constant assault. So many people on the right want to change every thing about the US Constitution, wanting to change it to fit their mental retardations and in conformance with what they hear from radio talk hosts and TV pundits. I am sure if these people where in charge of drafting the US Constitution there will never be a USA and our Constitution will look like any constitution from third world countries, changing with every military takes over, and with every change in government.
Thanks God that the job of these justices is for life and I will not be surprised if some of these loonies will soon call for the impeachment of Chief Justice Robert as not being conservative enough. Never understood what is wrong with being fair and liberal.
Perhaps these conservatives want someone like William Bennett who believes the best way to solve crimes is for Black women to abort all of their babies. Now could you ever imagine that a guy like that and who thinks like this was Secretary of Education? Not to mention that axis of evil Tom Delay who have been indicted for conspiracy. Of course both guys believe in law and order, of course for others, but not themselves.
I do wish Chief Justice Robert well and we ask the almighty God to bless him and guide him to serve this nation well and protect all of our rights from those who want to erode and do away with what made this country such a great country, the US Constitution. Sami Jamil Jadallah
When joining Al-jazeera becomes a treasonable act!
Does joining Al-jazeera new English network channel disqualify one from being a true patriot, verging on treason? I was quite surprised by the reaction I read today on AOL news section on the story of Josh Rushing joining Al-jazeera.
Josh Rushing, the former captain in the US Marine Corps announced that he is joining the new English Channel sponsored by Al-jazeera, that Arabic channel that made headlines and is giving the American media a run for its money. More surprising are the statements made by those who see themselves as guardian of American loyalty, value and patriotism. I guess these days when every incompetent and corrupt pundit is running for cover and hiding under the shroud of patriotism, I am not so surprised by the attack on Capt. Rushing. These days, any one and every one who does not hold allegiance to the like of Tom Delay or Rush Limbo or that guy on Fox, Bill O’Reilly is labeled as traitor and unpatriotic, as if draft dodgers, and those who had “other important things to do” are defining what is patriotism for all of us Americans.
Cliff Kincaid the appointed and anointed cardinal on patriotism who runs “Accuracy in the Media” criticizes Capt. Rushing joining Al-jazeera and who labeled Al-jazeera as the station that “incites Arabs and Muslims to hate America”. Not only we now have a watch dog to watch over the media and judge their contents, we also have that other wild dog, Campus Watch, that other organization run and operated by neocons with strong ties to Israel that has a chilling effects on the class room, video taping professors and judging them on how they view Israel. Of course if they view Israel favorably, they are accurate and patriots, and if they citizen Israel then they are labeled as intellectual cheats.
For so long, we in American have only one choice to accept and see what some editors or some owners or some lobbyist or some agent of a foreign government making a decision for us on what to see. The media today, especially these days, when news, with few exceptions, is nothing more than a show, a loud mouth show, as we see on Fox and other channels. With the exception of PBS, there are no serious news media and no serious news organizations. No one can match PBS “ Front Line” and being a regular viewer of Al-jazeera, all I can say it match and surpass any news organization here in the US. Of course it does not represent the US administration and it is not beholding to neocons who get this country in trouble and split and chicken out and leave the administration.
Al-jazeera has some great shows, and of course they also have not so great shows, and some even greater documentaries, that NO American media will dare to air, and of course not all of these programs are original Arabic. Many are produced by US documentary produces, but do to the atmosphere of fear that we all feel; no news organizations will dare to air. As for journalist, Al-jazeera has some great journalist that can compete and win with any persons, man or woman on US television. They are not personalities, they are true journalist. The US created “AlHorra” Arabic TV to reach Arab and Muslim audience, so what is wrong with Al-jazeera having an English channel? Capt. Rushing, as a former veteran, I am looking forward to seeing on Al-jazeera English channel.
Josh Rushing, the former captain in the US Marine Corps announced that he is joining the new English Channel sponsored by Al-jazeera, that Arabic channel that made headlines and is giving the American media a run for its money. More surprising are the statements made by those who see themselves as guardian of American loyalty, value and patriotism. I guess these days when every incompetent and corrupt pundit is running for cover and hiding under the shroud of patriotism, I am not so surprised by the attack on Capt. Rushing. These days, any one and every one who does not hold allegiance to the like of Tom Delay or Rush Limbo or that guy on Fox, Bill O’Reilly is labeled as traitor and unpatriotic, as if draft dodgers, and those who had “other important things to do” are defining what is patriotism for all of us Americans.
Cliff Kincaid the appointed and anointed cardinal on patriotism who runs “Accuracy in the Media” criticizes Capt. Rushing joining Al-jazeera and who labeled Al-jazeera as the station that “incites Arabs and Muslims to hate America”. Not only we now have a watch dog to watch over the media and judge their contents, we also have that other wild dog, Campus Watch, that other organization run and operated by neocons with strong ties to Israel that has a chilling effects on the class room, video taping professors and judging them on how they view Israel. Of course if they view Israel favorably, they are accurate and patriots, and if they citizen Israel then they are labeled as intellectual cheats.
For so long, we in American have only one choice to accept and see what some editors or some owners or some lobbyist or some agent of a foreign government making a decision for us on what to see. The media today, especially these days, when news, with few exceptions, is nothing more than a show, a loud mouth show, as we see on Fox and other channels. With the exception of PBS, there are no serious news media and no serious news organizations. No one can match PBS “ Front Line” and being a regular viewer of Al-jazeera, all I can say it match and surpass any news organization here in the US. Of course it does not represent the US administration and it is not beholding to neocons who get this country in trouble and split and chicken out and leave the administration.
Al-jazeera has some great shows, and of course they also have not so great shows, and some even greater documentaries, that NO American media will dare to air, and of course not all of these programs are original Arabic. Many are produced by US documentary produces, but do to the atmosphere of fear that we all feel; no news organizations will dare to air. As for journalist, Al-jazeera has some great journalist that can compete and win with any persons, man or woman on US television. They are not personalities, they are true journalist. The US created “AlHorra” Arabic TV to reach Arab and Muslim audience, so what is wrong with Al-jazeera having an English channel? Capt. Rushing, as a former veteran, I am looking forward to seeing on Al-jazeera English channel.
Free speech in time of war and campus police
Last week, George Mason University police used strong armed tactics deserving of harden criminal posing real and clear danger to the police to arrest a silent war protestor who also happened to be a veteran of the US Air Force and a Pakistani Muslim.
Veteran Tariq Khan who grew up in this country was making a statement in the Johnson Center against the war in Iraq, standing only few feet away from a military recruiting table. Protesting in silence Khan was wearing protest signs on his chest that read” Recruiters Lie, Don’t be deceived”. These words provoked the anger of those supporting the war, where a macho marine, yelling and screaming walked over to Khan and simply ripped the sign off Khan chest. I assume that the marine was fighting for our liberty and freedom, but perhaps he knows nothing of our constitution and our first amendment rights, perhaps he never heard of the first amendment rights.
The campus police, as usual where also ready for action, disparaging Khan and his Middle Eastern background jumped on him, threw him against the wall, handcuffed him and of course took him for booking at the county jail. All the while Khan, the guy who joined the Air Force for 4 years remained silent, but that did not help, a police and a marine, both of whom one would think, would have read the US Constitution and the First Amendment rights before putting the uniform as public servants. Well, may be these two happened to be an exception, we hope.
Without the need to go into the whole thing about the Iraq War and the whole thing about weapon of mass destructions that never existed and without going into the background of all those who planned for and pushed for war, supporting the troop is one thing, supporting the Administration position on the war is another thing.
In the case of George Mason University, the administration and faculty are taking the issue of freedom and free speech very seriously. Provost Peter N. Sterns promised to review policies making sure free speech is protected on campus, with 129 professors signing a letter calling for an independent review of the conduct of university police and a review of policies regarding free speech.
As it happens all administrations that found itself in very unpopular war invoke patriotism to keep the war going, to silence those who disagree and suppress the truth. The biggest casualties in time of war, especially the war in Iraq, is the truth which was scarified long time by lies and lies, and freedom of speech, where police and security agencies, all in the name of national security are abusing the powers and rights they have and creating an atmosphere of fear at all levels.
One have to commend the way George Mason University is dealing with the case, with the need to make sure all police officers on campus, read and memories the US Constitution and should take some short courses in First Amendment Rights. It will do the police lots of good, especially on a campus considered the most diverse in the nation. George Mason University is a great university with great people, administration, faculties, and students. Well, the police like all police have to understand we do lice in the great USA, and not in some dictatorships, and they are officers of the law, and not above the law.
Note: much of the information I got from my daughter Diala who is a junior at George Mason University and from the Washington Post, which had an excellent coverage of the incident in its October 6, 2005 edition. Perhaps it is time for a Jefferson Corner where Marines and students can engage in free speech.
Veteran Tariq Khan who grew up in this country was making a statement in the Johnson Center against the war in Iraq, standing only few feet away from a military recruiting table. Protesting in silence Khan was wearing protest signs on his chest that read” Recruiters Lie, Don’t be deceived”. These words provoked the anger of those supporting the war, where a macho marine, yelling and screaming walked over to Khan and simply ripped the sign off Khan chest. I assume that the marine was fighting for our liberty and freedom, but perhaps he knows nothing of our constitution and our first amendment rights, perhaps he never heard of the first amendment rights.
The campus police, as usual where also ready for action, disparaging Khan and his Middle Eastern background jumped on him, threw him against the wall, handcuffed him and of course took him for booking at the county jail. All the while Khan, the guy who joined the Air Force for 4 years remained silent, but that did not help, a police and a marine, both of whom one would think, would have read the US Constitution and the First Amendment rights before putting the uniform as public servants. Well, may be these two happened to be an exception, we hope.
Without the need to go into the whole thing about the Iraq War and the whole thing about weapon of mass destructions that never existed and without going into the background of all those who planned for and pushed for war, supporting the troop is one thing, supporting the Administration position on the war is another thing.
In the case of George Mason University, the administration and faculty are taking the issue of freedom and free speech very seriously. Provost Peter N. Sterns promised to review policies making sure free speech is protected on campus, with 129 professors signing a letter calling for an independent review of the conduct of university police and a review of policies regarding free speech.
As it happens all administrations that found itself in very unpopular war invoke patriotism to keep the war going, to silence those who disagree and suppress the truth. The biggest casualties in time of war, especially the war in Iraq, is the truth which was scarified long time by lies and lies, and freedom of speech, where police and security agencies, all in the name of national security are abusing the powers and rights they have and creating an atmosphere of fear at all levels.
One have to commend the way George Mason University is dealing with the case, with the need to make sure all police officers on campus, read and memories the US Constitution and should take some short courses in First Amendment Rights. It will do the police lots of good, especially on a campus considered the most diverse in the nation. George Mason University is a great university with great people, administration, faculties, and students. Well, the police like all police have to understand we do lice in the great USA, and not in some dictatorships, and they are officers of the law, and not above the law.
Note: much of the information I got from my daughter Diala who is a junior at George Mason University and from the Washington Post, which had an excellent coverage of the incident in its October 6, 2005 edition. Perhaps it is time for a Jefferson Corner where Marines and students can engage in free speech.
A day to remember all those braves who died for this country
Today we all stand honoring all those of our friends and fellow citizens who gave their lives to defend freedom and democracy. It is a day we honor the millions of those who died to save the country and freedom around the world. Today those who died and wounded during the Civil War, we honor all of them, not only those on the Union but on the Confederate side too. All of them, brave having fought and stood up to what they believe and because of them America is stronger than ever as a nation. We also honor all those who died in World War I and World War II and the Korean War. Brave men and women who gave up their lives for the cause of freedom, not only ours but other nations as well. We give special honor to all those who died and made it possible to end Hitler and his Nazi regime and his evil empire. We honor all those who saved Europe from the ravage of Anti-Semitism and those who saved the body and soul of inmates at the death camps.
We also give special honor for those who died and where wounded during that ill conceived, and ill managed war in Vietnam. I give due respect to some of my friends in high school, like Jack Nurse, and Tom McGee who where the first to die from Gary, Indiana. I also salute my friend Brad Barton, wherever you are who was paralyzed from the waste down as a young marine, during the Vietnam War. Of course, I give no honor and respect for all those politicians who lied about the war and who put us their in the first place. They are held responsible for the tens of thousands who dies, and for the hundreds of thousands wounded during the war, and responsible for the tens of thousands who came back really messed up, mentally and physically. While I give honor and recognize all those brave men and women, I have nothing but contempt for the politicians who put us in the war in the first place. They lied all the way, and the truth was buried with every single soul who died in Vietnam. The war in Vietnam had nothing to do with freedom and liberty for the Vietnamese, but it had to do with every thing for those politicians whose cause was to fight communism and to win votes.
I also raise my hat to my 4 brothers who, together with me served this country with honor. Nabil who retired from the US Army, Lutfi and Taiseer who served in the US Marines, and Sulaiman and I who served in the US Army. We are all proud of having served this country, our country honorably and we will not allow these chicken hawks, and neocons to defame us and challenge our rights as citizens of this great country, and we are not afraid and not intimated by the Patriot Acts and all those laws that are designed not to protect and save guard the nation, but to infringe on our freedom as citizens.
Special honor goes to the brave young souls who are fighting the war in Iraq, and to all those who died there. Iraq is no different that Vietnam based on lies and fabricated information, so that these neocons can come on TV and tell us how safe we are. I think taking out Saddam did not need to cost us more that 1,500 dead, over 25,000 wounded and over $200 billions. To the brave soldiers in Afghanistan, we honor their bravery for putting an end to a criminal regime like the Taliban, and for cleaning up the mess left behind by US administrations after the liberation of Afghanistan from the Soviet.
To the memory of all those who died we give salute and to all those who were wounded we give salute. May God protect American from its enemies overseas, and may God protect American from its own enemies within the government and within the many think tanks here in Washington.
We also give special honor for those who died and where wounded during that ill conceived, and ill managed war in Vietnam. I give due respect to some of my friends in high school, like Jack Nurse, and Tom McGee who where the first to die from Gary, Indiana. I also salute my friend Brad Barton, wherever you are who was paralyzed from the waste down as a young marine, during the Vietnam War. Of course, I give no honor and respect for all those politicians who lied about the war and who put us their in the first place. They are held responsible for the tens of thousands who dies, and for the hundreds of thousands wounded during the war, and responsible for the tens of thousands who came back really messed up, mentally and physically. While I give honor and recognize all those brave men and women, I have nothing but contempt for the politicians who put us in the war in the first place. They lied all the way, and the truth was buried with every single soul who died in Vietnam. The war in Vietnam had nothing to do with freedom and liberty for the Vietnamese, but it had to do with every thing for those politicians whose cause was to fight communism and to win votes.
I also raise my hat to my 4 brothers who, together with me served this country with honor. Nabil who retired from the US Army, Lutfi and Taiseer who served in the US Marines, and Sulaiman and I who served in the US Army. We are all proud of having served this country, our country honorably and we will not allow these chicken hawks, and neocons to defame us and challenge our rights as citizens of this great country, and we are not afraid and not intimated by the Patriot Acts and all those laws that are designed not to protect and save guard the nation, but to infringe on our freedom as citizens.
Special honor goes to the brave young souls who are fighting the war in Iraq, and to all those who died there. Iraq is no different that Vietnam based on lies and fabricated information, so that these neocons can come on TV and tell us how safe we are. I think taking out Saddam did not need to cost us more that 1,500 dead, over 25,000 wounded and over $200 billions. To the brave soldiers in Afghanistan, we honor their bravery for putting an end to a criminal regime like the Taliban, and for cleaning up the mess left behind by US administrations after the liberation of Afghanistan from the Soviet.
To the memory of all those who died we give salute and to all those who were wounded we give salute. May God protect American from its enemies overseas, and may God protect American from its own enemies within the government and within the many think tanks here in Washington.
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