Al Gore endorsed Barack Obama today. The only major force that is right now missing are the Clintons. I would be very interested in finding out how they come out and in what fashion in they come out.
Now, on another note, the Iraqi Foreign Minister claims that negotiations over the Iraqi-US Status of Force agreement is a sovereign Iraqi decision. Sorry, Mr. Foreign Minister, that is as big a joke as I have ever heard. I don't know who to believe. For the sake of Iraqis, I do hope that the insurgency has been defeated.
As for Afghanistan, the so-called good war, Karzai the puppet spoke up yet again. He threatened to send his forces into Pakistan. He can't even fix his own country, yet he wants to attack Pakistan. Now, Al Jazeera is reporting that the Taliban are threatening to take over Kandahar, Afghanistan's Second City and Karzai's home town. Of course, the coalition will probably destroy the city in order to save it (remember falluja). The British are also sending more troops to fight the "good war". The wars seem never to end.
Showing posts with label Al Jazeera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Al Jazeera. Show all posts
6/16/2008
5/24/2008
Jihad
Osama Bin Laden and his followers have done the utmost disservice to Islam. I view their misrepresentation of Jihad as one amongst the many. In reading a recent article in the Chronicle Review (http://chronicle.com/review/, retrieved May 23, 2008), there was an analysis done on Islam & Jihad. I think the scholars have done an excellent job on the literal meaning of it, providing an underlying understanding of the context and the continued debate that is going on. I have noted an excerpt here below:
"....'There is a perennial argument that goes on among Muslims about whether jihad is really about war or peace. I guess the short answer is that it is both, ' explains Michael Bonner, a professor of medieval Islamic history at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and author of Jihad in Islamic history (Princeton University Press, 2006). In the (Holy) Koran, 'jihad means more than war. It means striving, doing the right thing, going the extra mile, convincing, persuading and, if necessary, fighting,' said Bonner."
As I read certain historical accounts (i.e. Robert Fiske's work on the current history of Middle East) I am not at all convinced and do not believe that Osama Bin Laden lived up to exactly what jihad required. We must strive for peace and harmony. What has war brought us? Nothing but misery. The policies pursued by the United States has not only been unhelpful, it has contributed greatly to the disaster we are currently faced with. What is bothersome is how the attention is again shifting towards Iran. Iran is the new bogeyman. The nature of the Government in Iran is again not the focus. The issues is the misguided policy which has led us to where we are today. We could have done wonders with 600 Billion Dolllars. Now, we'll be faced with unforseen costs for years to come...just because as Gore Vidal recently said during an interview with Sir David Frost on Al Jazeera, President Bush wanted to be a War Time President.
"....'There is a perennial argument that goes on among Muslims about whether jihad is really about war or peace. I guess the short answer is that it is both, ' explains Michael Bonner, a professor of medieval Islamic history at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and author of Jihad in Islamic history (Princeton University Press, 2006). In the (Holy) Koran, 'jihad means more than war. It means striving, doing the right thing, going the extra mile, convincing, persuading and, if necessary, fighting,' said Bonner."
As I read certain historical accounts (i.e. Robert Fiske's work on the current history of Middle East) I am not at all convinced and do not believe that Osama Bin Laden lived up to exactly what jihad required. We must strive for peace and harmony. What has war brought us? Nothing but misery. The policies pursued by the United States has not only been unhelpful, it has contributed greatly to the disaster we are currently faced with. What is bothersome is how the attention is again shifting towards Iran. Iran is the new bogeyman. The nature of the Government in Iran is again not the focus. The issues is the misguided policy which has led us to where we are today. We could have done wonders with 600 Billion Dolllars. Now, we'll be faced with unforseen costs for years to come...just because as Gore Vidal recently said during an interview with Sir David Frost on Al Jazeera, President Bush wanted to be a War Time President.
5/15/2008
Iraq: Five Years On....
Al Jazeera has done some analysis of Iraq, five years on. Here is the link: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/53540CEC-7A04-4E85-935B-88B0E3C77E41.htm (retrieved May 15, 2008). It is an alternative point of view...something more believable than Fox News.
5/06/2008
Al Jazeera
I have been listening to Al Jazeera. I can't stop listening to it...the information is straightforward, refreshing and frankly, reliable. My hat's off to the Emir of Qatar for what he's done in building such a wonderful jem for us all. The United States Government, though, is at it to tell the "truth". The various organs of the government are working to launch websites to tell the "truth" as they see it. I wonder if the President of the United States heard the plea of the 8-Year Old Boy in Baghdad when he talked about his Father who died. I can't understand the decision and really can't justify the rationale. Now, of course, Senator Clinton wanting to annihilate Iran upon a Iranian Nuclear attack on Israel is just beyond belief. Our political leaders just want to be tough. We have had eight years of a "tough" guy in the White House..and look at where we are. When will we wake up and deal with the real challenges? Just in case anyone forgot, oil hit $ 120/Barrel Monday...that's the real problem, not the side issues that deflects attention from the real challenges real people face.BTW, the Prime Minister of Israel, Ehut Olmert, is facing another investigation into corruption.
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