Notations From the "Grid": On the Latest on #FreeAJStaff & #Egypt

As we assessed the overnight developments, we saw this courtesy of the Independent of London:

Al Jazeera journo Mohamed Fahmy 'gives up Egyptian citizenship' ahead of 'imminent' release http://t.co/pDFXx6Fsrs pic.twitter.com/jmn8ssFb9B
— The Independent (@Independent) February 3, 2015

It may well have been an agonizing decision by Mr. Fahmy-We believe that he can continue the fight in a more effective way by being out of Prison.  .   The Canadian Foreign Minister underscored this earlier.   However, Baher Mohammad's fate will continue to be unclear due to the fact that he does not have a Western Passport.   Sahar Aziz, the President of the Egyptian American Rule of Law Association, was ever so eloquent as she appeared on Al Jazeera underscoring the despicable state of Egypt's Judiciary.   One of the key things she  noted was that Egypt had already won by the concessions it had  gotten out of Qatar as Al Jazeera Mobasher was cut off.

As we await further developments, a bomb went off in Cairo and a number of bombs were discovered at Cairo Airport.   The insurgents are bringing the fight to the center of power in Egypt.  

Notations On Our World (2/2/2015): A Challenging & Reflective Morning

It was gratifying to see the Al Jazeera Correspondent as he reflected upon his release: 

Glad to see @PeterGreste..we will not rest until all the team is released #FreeAJStaff now (all of them!!): http://t.co/UDzAiDmK29
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) February 2, 2015

It was striking how how he reflected upon what he looked forward to:  Watching a Sunset & having sand underneath his feet and spending time with his family.   We look forward to him getting back on the beat soon.    We here @ #outsiders have been privileged to join the World Wide Campaign to keep the spotlight on Egypt over the past 400+Days and will continue to do so.    It was heart wrenching as we saw the interview with Baher Mohammad's Wife and her anugish at being left behind.   I hope the Al Jazeera Team underscores the simple fact:  he will not be forgotten as Mohammad Fahmy won't be either.   We understand that the price for Mohammad Fahmy's Release is for him to revoke his Egyptian Citizenship.    Our view is that holding a simple passport will not define him and will await his release as well.

The tragedy of Egypt is continuing as 183 Egyptians were sentenced to death.  The same Judge who had sentenced the Al Jazeera Three (and we understand the others in absentia) handed down the sentence.     What was laughable was how Sisi was so proud of Egypt's Judiciary--this is the same judiciary that found Mubarak and his sons not guilty and even the highest court in Egypt found flaws with the verdict itself.    This is also as Egypt continues its' heavy handed tactics in the Sinai and throughout Egyptian cities.    

Beyond the tragedy of Egypt, there is Israel.  The campaign has begun in earnest and the back and forth is becoming intense.   As the right has accused the so-called left of bringing so-called Obama Operatives, the Right (and Likud specifically) have brought on a so-called New Media Maven to help with the campaign as noted in our daily feed "over the grid" this morning:

he must be nervous: i24news exclusive comes on heels of #Likud accusing #Israel left of breaking campaign fin laws http://t.co/wkfFPCRRfe
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) February 2, 2015

It is also quite striking that the Polling-Industrial Complex is also hard at work in Israel.   The latest published by +Haaretz.com is showing the Israeli Prime Minister at 26 Seats.  It is said that Labor will gain 23 Seats.      This is as the controversy over the Israel Prime Minister's Speech to Congress continues to be the "talk of the Conservatives".     President Obama said that there is a long-standing practice of not meeting foreign leaders in the midst of an election season.     This is as Senator McCain came out and said that relations with Israel are at an all-time low.   What Senator McCain apparently failed to underscore is the role of the current Israeli Prime Minister.  It will be interesting to see if the Livni-Herzog Partnership with the support of the unified Arab Slate can defeat the Prime Minister.  Our view is that it is going to be a nail-bitter especially as Israel has to contend with the chaos across the border in Syria.      

Beyond the reality on the ground on the Middle East, there is Ukraine.   Reuters reported that Vladimir Putin is "worried about the situation in Eastern Ukraine".   This is as the Eastern Separist Leader called for a mass moblization of 100,000 Troops.    We here at Outsiders find it ppreplexing as to the tenacity of the separaists to sustain such a campaign as they have launched their latest onslaught.     There seems to be no talk of peace right now.

On a side note, we were amused when we saw reports of Iran's former President launching his new Website.  We had a chance to review it and could not help but be amused when we checked it out.  We were reminded of an open letter that the eminent scholar Dr. Sadegh Zibakalam of Tehran University sent out to him underscoring the fact that the people rejected him when they elected Hassan Rouhani President.  We underscored this during our morning round "On the Grid": 

He's got nerve 😨😨even though people said no to him otherwise his protege Jalili would be Pres http://t.co/pcbujekjNn
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) February 2, 2015

Mid-Term Elections in Iran are before us.   We here @ #outsiders continue to be optimistic about the prospects of a deal.   Yet, the dead-enders in Iran continue to be on the prowl as epitomized by a recent effort to recall the Foreign Minsiter, Dr. Zarif, to the Majlis (Parliament) for questions.   We also were quite taken aback by the recent tirade by the Majlis Speaker (and a former nuclear negotiator) about the "conduct" of the US.    We are in agreement with President Obama that not agreeing to a deal and the threat of renewed sanctions will again create a new challenge which the region does not need right now.  

As we saw a perceptive report from Ann Curry on the roadmap to the deal, ,(and the very disturbing comment by Sheldon Adelson in the United States and the same dead-enders in Iran were at it too), our mind drifted back to the time Rouhani took the oath of office and the sentiment expressed in this classic YouTube clip:  



Will we all have the courage to realize this sentiment?    

An #Outsider Newsflash (2/1/2015) : On #FreeAJStaff & The Plight of Journalists

We here @ #Outsiders were gratified of the news that Peter Greste, the imprisoned Al Jazeera Journalist,  was released earlier today by Egypt and has been deported.      We join all around the World as  we call for the release of his colleagues as #FreeAJStaff continues for the detained Journalists along with their colleagues who have been convicted in absentia.   

As we assessed this development, this was reported by +Haaretz.com on the Grid: 

Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Fahmy expected to be released from Egyptian prison within days, says security official http://t.co/zdNrMstpVn
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) February 1, 2015

This is also a welcome development--even though the third team members will continue to be detained.   We also  remember all those who have continued to be detained in Egypt and throughout the World that we have remembered here @ #outsiders.   We also Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post who is supposed to be "tried" soon for unspecified crimes--The Washington Post latest is noted here for reference.     

Journalism is Indeed not a crime.

Notations From the Grid On the Eve of a New Month: On the Sheer inhumanity of Dayesh

It is the dawn of a new month here in the #Outsider Network.   January is now history and it has been quite a challenging month.

We here @ #Outsiders were shocked beyond words by the cold-blooded murder of the Japanese Journalist Kenji Goto.    As we saw the reports over the "Grid", it was absolutely unbelievable as we noted this in our daily feed: 

the inhumanity had no limited 😓😢 as New #ISIS /Daesh video purports to show beheading of Japanese hostage😪😥 http://t.co/RARycJ3QgT
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) January 31, 2015

The Daesh Gang had said at one time that they wanted to trade his life and the life of the Jordanian Pilot for the life of the convicted suicide bomber sitting in a Jordanian Prison.    The Government of Jordan had asked for proof of life before the release.  As in the case of the cold-blooded murder of all others so far, the Daesh Gang has shown that they have no regard for life.     The Prime Minister of Japan spoke for the World when he underscored his anger at this senseless murder.    Gandhi Ji reflected upon how forgiveness was the attribute of the strong--because the weak can never forgive.  However, those who have done this unspeakable crime who have not heard the pleas of a Mother, a Wife and understood that this man had nothing to do with Japanese Government Policy can never be forgiven.    

When one thinks Dayesh can't exceed the level of brutality and senseless act of purpose, this report shows the absolute lack of regard by Daesh:

😱😢Iraqi libraries ransacked by ISIS in Mosul @timesofindia http://t.co/PsrJjZjcsg
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) January 31, 2015

How can one overcome such senselessness?  

Notations for the Week-End (II): Missing #Madiba On this Tragic Day

As the shock of the senseless brutality of the latest Dayesh (also known as IS/Islamic State) continues to be before us, our thoughts this week-end drifted away to #Madiba.     In researching to share a clip for a comment we wanted to share on Facebook earlier,  we ran across this: 



The humanity, broad vision and understanding of this man is ever so evident as all who tried to question his humanity and sense of purpose were addressed in such a beautiful way.  We could not help but wonder what Madiba would say if he was witness to such viciousness that defies a simple sense of humanity.    One leading Nasa Scientist was even more brutal:  How Humanity is ever so brutal on the "little piece of dust" that is Earth.

Oh how such beautiful souls are missed today as the World burns......

Notations For the Week-End: Ted Talk Classics

Welcome to the Week-End here in #Outsiders.    As January 2015 goes into the history books, we here wanted to share this "clip" courtesy of the team @ +TED that epitomizes the ever so art of  the possible:

PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK

11 must-see TED Talks (11 talks)

What is TED? This primer of 11 classic TED Talks show you the wide range of topics covered -- and introduce you to beloved speakers like Amy Cuddy, Brené Brown, Sir Ken Robinson and Chimamanda Adichie. Find your next favorite talk ... Watch »

Total run time 3:19:26

V-Thought For the Week: How Interesting On the State of Politics Today

As we here @ #Outsiders have been assessing the state of our affairs over the past 24 hours and assessed the view from Israel on the state of the pending Israeli Prime Minister, the Senator reminded me of the US Speaker of the House: