Podcasting — the next recording
My second appearance on The Jesse Stout Show. Topics that come up include Anders Behring Breivik, The “Occupy Movement”, economics, and the Secret Service Scandal.
I will be looking forward to hearing feedback and I am open to everything, from praise to criticism.
Podcasting has started
On Monday I made an appearance on “The Jesse Stout Show”. My friend Jesse and I debated and discussed several of the major issues happening in the realm of current events, from the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida to the future of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Enjoy the broadcast…and please feel free to leave feedback on the positives and negatives of the show.
This is my first recording with Jesse and we plan on doing more. You can follow the link to it here.
The Iraqi Blogosphere + Israel and Palestine debates = Mayhem
While we have watched Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and the people of Iraq triumph in the face of terrorism, there is another struggle, maybe even a war, that is taking place, and it is happening in the Iraqi blogosphere.
First, my friends over at Iraqi Bloggers Central have announced they are closing their doors. While this is a bit depressing, I am very happy for them…they have run the blog for 5 successful years. I don’t always agree with them–particularly Mr. Ghost, but nonetheless they have all at one time or another done something to help Iraq and its people. Jeffrey, the most frequent poster, has noted there has been a decline in English-language Iraqi blogs…my link list has quite a few of them, I might add. But on the other hand, there is a growing number of inactive Iraqi bloggers, as evident by the growing list on IBC.
Speaking of which, those blogs that have been a good read are experiencing some trouble. Iraqi Mojo has always been one of my favorite Iraqi bloggers with his spot-on analysis of the situation in Iraq and willingness to stand up for what is right. Today though, the blog has been overrun with haters, many of which come Healing Iraq, a run-down, inactive site that was run by Zeyad Kasim, who also had some good thoughts to offer at one point. Anyway, Mojo’s blog has been the center of a debate that tends to invoke nothing but hate and anger for 60 years: Israel and Palestine.
A residential neighborhood in Ramallah, the capital of the West Bank. Anyone who knows about the debate knows that this is a frequent battleground between Israelis and Palestinians.
The lines have been drawn over at Mojo’s, and commentators who were once friendly with each other are know bashing each other, tossing insults around, and getting worked up over nothing because anti-American supporters of the Iraqi “Resistance” like Arab Advocate and his side-kick, Bruno, the Afrikaner, have figured out how to stir up trouble and get their sick kicks. In the year and a half I have been commenting at Mojo’s, I have been able to avoid the discussion…I always feared that because I vehemently stand beside Israel’s right to exist and believe that Israel offers light in a region overrun by darkness I would forever be labeled a “Zionist”, a “Zionut“, or as some haters will say, a “fascist”, or a “Nazi”, words which I believe are deliberately used to cause hurt the people of the Jewish Homeland, given their historical significance.
However, when Arab Advocate calls for Israel to be “dismantled”–a codeword for “destroyed”–I have no choice but to speak up. In the midst of my defense, I have been accused of supporting “the deportation of Palestinians to Jordan”, supporting Avigdor Lieberman and his policies, supporting the West Bank settlers, and worst of all, not caring about the right of Palestinians. This stuff is so out of proportion I don’t even know where to begin. For starters, I am strongly opposed to the settlements and their inhabitants who regularly attack both innocent Palestinians and Israelis who try to protect them. I think they, alongside terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, are one of the biggest obstacles to peace in the region. Not only that, they really aren’t any different from each other. Militant Zionists like those mentioned in the above link are just as bad as the Palestinians who fire rockets and mortars into Israel. At the same time, I don’t think it makes me “anti-Palestinian” to point out that Jordan, in addition to Israel, snatched up Palestinian land in the first partition. Am I anti-Palestinian when I express my sheer outrage over what Hamas does to its own people? I hope anyone who cares about Palestinians wouldn’t think this.
Israel has no doubt done bad things in its 60 years history, while at the same time attempting to offer things that no other country in the region will offer, like free press, democracy, women’s rights, and major technological advantages, things that I believe are necessary for any society to truly succeed. Perhaps its difficult for some Americans to focus on the bad things Israel has done because they blindly support Israel for religious reasons–a means to an end, if I may say so. Or maybe its because Israel is surrounded by regimes so evil and repressive, like gender-apartheid Saudi Arabia, Bashir’s blood-soaked Sudan, and Big Q’s Libya, that it makes the settler violence seem mild in the eyes of the world.
If a fair international forum could exist, Israel would have things to answer for. Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to take the UN “Human Rights” Commission seriously when they give their posts and chairmanships to countries like the 3 mentioned above (Libya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia) and expect the world to take action against Israel. While the Gaza War erupted backed in December, an even worse conflict raged on in the jungles of Sri Lanka…just recently, 60 civilians were blown up by mortar fire but no one cares because this debate does not invoke political passion like Israel and Palestine do. During the the Gaza war, pro-Hamas protests broke out here in San Francisco, believe it or not. I haven’t seen any protesters in San Francisco march through the streets waving Tamil Tiger flags and calling for the destruction of the Sri Lankan government, which could meet all the same criteria of being a “racist state” as Israel might. America has provided aid to Sri Lanka and has the Tamil Tigers on their list of terrorist organizations as well.
Recently, on Angry Arab’s Comment Section, a blog I often visit, one commentator made a joke about Israeli immigrants moving to India and stealing Indian land, completely oblivious to the fact that India is already being “occupied” by Pakistan and Bangladesh, but I guess maybe its okay for these people because the occupiers are Muslims, instead of Jews. I’ve seen many of the commentators go after the Hindus of India for being the oppressive ones while falling silent over what Pakistani and Bangladeshi militants have done to India’s civilian population. And no, I am not going on an anti-Muslim rant. Any regular reader of this blog would know that I have fiercely defended Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and that its harder to find a bigger defender of the Islamic religion than myself. I just don’t think that blatant hypocrisy is fair.
My point in going on about this is that I really wish that people would completely and totally avoid this debate UNLESS they are willing to hear the other side and listen to their concerns. At the beginning of the month, I attended a debate featuring As’ad Abukhalil, the “Angry Arab” and Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor. I was disgusted by the people who claimed to be “Pro-Palestinian”–they were extremely disrespectful to the Consul General by shouting insults and yelling at him when he was trying to speak. Somewhere in the crowd, conscientious supporters of the Palestinian people must have been very embarrassed by what was happening. The event was advertised as though it would be a forum to discuss the issue…it was anything but. While it was very exciting to meet the two speakers, the “forum” managed to attract the worst of American Society.
I have met Palestinians…and I have met Israelis. Sometimes it seems they are more willing to discuss the issues than their supporters in other countries, believe it or not. Unless you are willing to bring your opponent into a cafe, drink coffee, and talk things over, you should avoid talking about anything involving Israel and Palestine for your own well-being and the well-being of others. I’ve heard that this conflict has wrecked many political careers over its perplexity and inability to be solved…I would say that the debate has wrecked many good and decent friendships over the inability to find any common ground.
Mission Accomplished
Today was another defining moment for the people of Iraq. Last night, I spoke with several of my friends who live in the country and I was nearly moved to tears as they talked about getting ready to vote. I think it is safe to say that Iraq is ready to be the beacon of hope for freedom and democracy in the Middle East.
Those who wanted Iraq to fail have only failed themselves. Al-Qaeda’s roots have been smashed thanks to the courage of the Iraqi people, the Lions of the Iraqi Army, and of course the Surge Strategy implemented by a true American hero, General David Petraeus. As for Saddam and the Baathists, they are nothing but a closed chapter in a dark history.
Iraqi heroes patrol the Tigris River
Usually, when I think about the people who looked down on Iraqis, I think of terrorist scumbags who suicide bombed mosques or Militiamen who trained in the art of torture from a compound outside of Tehran. But we cannot forget people like Harry Reid and the other democrats…I don’t want to dwell too much on that. Our country is focused on another crisis, and the last thing we need is more division, but I will stand by this statement: Harry Reid should have stepped down a long time ago after his reprehensible statements.
I am very proud of my president, Barack Obama, for commending the Iraqi people and praising the success of today’s elections, which passed free of violence and proved to the world that Iraq, its people, and its freedom are truly a force to be reckoned with. I must say that I am even prouder of the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri Kamal Al-Maliki, who has strong that he is a strong and gracious leader.
The Iraqi people have stood up for their security
But I am most proud of my former president, George W. Bush. I suppose if I ran into him tomorrow, this is what I would say to him:
Mr. President, now that you have stepped aside and are enjoying a calm, quiet life in the Dallas suburbs, remember that you are a real hero. You stood by Iraq’s side in its time of need…you outsmarted those who wanted Iraq to fail, from the congressmen who verbally ravaged you day in and day out to the terrorists who arose from the sands of North Africa and Saudi Arabia to inflict terror and fear on the Iraqi people.
The democrats won the election. They got the White House and they consolidated their power in Congress. For now, they have even won the trust of the American people. But each morning, when you and your wife get ready to have coffee, just think of the millions of Iraqi families who are going to live in peace, and the future generations who are going to lead Iraq and the Middle East to greatness. The Democrats never got their new direction. You looked them in the eye and exposed them for the frauds they were when they threatened to cut funding or tie in a “troop withdrawal” to one of their so-called “blank checks” they were handing you.
History will judge you very differently, sir. You will be remembered with heroes of the Middle East like T.E. Lawrence and Benazir Bhutto, except your accomplishments are even greater.
Hhhhh…maybe I need to do some work with it, lol. But that is pretty much what I would say if I met the former president. Anyway, even as the Bush hatred remains solid in this country, there are plenty of images that will show just the opposite.
A bustling Baghdad comes to mind. As George and Laura go about their golden years, I hope that they will find the time to visit it. I’ve heard reassurances from some of my Iraqi friends that they will be warmly welcomed one day, and I trust this will be true.
Bush did a great thing for Iraq, for the world, and for humanity. It disgusts me when I hear about Republicans who urged the president to give up during the bloodshed that peaked in 2006-07, when Iran, Syria, Al-Qaeda, and the Baathists were hard at work trying to destroy the country. While they all had different goals, the above mentioned thugs seemed to agree that a democratic Iraq was a threat to their despotic way of life.
Another question comes to mind…is Iraq even still a “war”? Obviously, the Iraqi people will always be at war with so-called Islamists who wish to destroy their way of life, but perhaps the media can look at stories coming out of Iraq as something other than “war news”.
The struggle is far from over…Iraq is going to serve as a role model for the Middle East, and we will have to wait and see what happens. Iraq’s future is just beginning.
Stuck on stupid
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, invited Iraq’s Prime Minister into his bubble of ignorance today, holding a strongly-worded meeting on the Security Pact known as SOFA and warning Maliki about what he sees as the “treacherous” United States. Khamenei made his usual statements about the US being responsible for everything that is happening in Iraq, and blaming the continuation of violence on US troops that are still operating inside of the country.
Meanwhile, as Khamenei blasted the US, a suicide bomber attacked Iranian pilgrims who had gathered near a shrine in Baghdad, killing dozens of them. The idiot bomber no doubt harbored the same anti-Shia/Persian sentiment expressed by those who have kidnapped and killed Iranian police and bombed military buses INSIDE of Iran’s borders. It was the “treacherous” US who joined side by side with Iraq’s exiled Shia community (also with Iran’s blessing) to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Let’s not forget that it was also the “treacherous” US that routed the Taliban, Iran’s other nemesis, from Afghanistan…the same Taliban that kidnapped 9 Iranian diplomats back in the 90′s, crammed them into a box, and executed them in a hail of gunfire. Things were certainly going great for Iran before the “treacherous” US barged into the region, weren’t they?
Iranians inspect the damage after Sunni insurgents, likely based in Pakistan, bombed a bus transporting a Revolutionary Guard Unit.
I’d like to note that I believe the anti-Shiite sentiment that is taking place around the world today is akin to a new form of anti-Semitism. I’ve heard Baathist sympathizers, right-wing conservatives, and the the so-called “antiwar” movment all express the same anger towards Iran, as well as Iraq’s majority Shiite population that played a critical role in overthrowing Saddam Hussein and now maintains a majority in the democratically-elected government. The Shiite Islamic Republic has no doubt been a destabilizing force in Iraq and elsewhere these last few years, but if Khamenei had a brain, he would realize that his country and the United States share many common interests and working together to accomplish them might not be such a bad idea.
What’s happening in the Middle East right now is mind boggling, so much so that its difficult for a single mind to try and make sense of it all. Its sort of like trying to figure out how the Universe came to be and what lies beyond it…its enough to drive someone mad.
As if the above story isn’t enough, have a look at this post from my good friend Iraqi Mojo about the situation in Gaza and the hypocrisy among the “resistance”.
Something we should all unite for
America is divided today…perhaps more so than ever. The event below is one issue America and the world should be able to unite together for, but apparently those further on the left (and the right, in some cases) were too afraid of being called a “neocon” to express their outrage over Iran’s actions in the Mideast. But most importantly, if only the US would reach out to the Iranian community, and have some Iranian flags being waved by Iranian exiles longing for freedom, mingled in with this protest. I would like to stress very much that I do not believe Iran–a country that I love–is the enemy. Only the madmen in control of it who continue to threaten their neighbors, including Iraq and Israel, as well as their own people.
Thousands attend NYC anti-Iran rally
Efforts by the Jewish organizers of a New York City rally against Iran Monday to keep the event free of politics failed to stop protesters from voicing their avid support for the Republican presidential ticket of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin.
Interspersed with Israeli flags and placards calling for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to “take your hate back to hell” were a fluttering of blue McCain-Palin campaign signs along with more strident handmade ones sticking out above the crowd, including one that read: “Prevent a nuclear Iranian Holocaust on Israel, vote McCaine-Palin [sic].”
The event, organized by Jewish groups including the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the United Jewish Communities, the UJA-Federation New York and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, drew several thousand cheering students and activists from as far away as Baltimore and Detroit to protest the Iranian government and its nuclear program.
“These weapons will not only threaten Israel, they will threaten Riyadh, Paris, London and New York,” Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik told the cheering crowd.
“The free world must not allow the threat of destruction like this without taking proper action to stop him. We have to stop him, to stop him, to stop him!” she exhorted.
“When I hear these threats I see the concentration camps, I see the horrors, I see the gas chambers,” Itzik said. She described Ahmadinejad as “the man who has brought this nightmare back, the man who is responsible for bringing back the horrors of the past.”
Who’s the real enemy?
This post is a plea to the people of Iraq. Anyone has read any history of the Middle East obviously knows that Israel and the Arab states are historic enemies. A member of Iraq’s parliament, Mithal Al-Alusi, could face prosecution for visiting Israel to attend an anti-terrorism conference. While the two state may have their differences, there’s no question that Israel and Iraq face the same common enemy: political fundamentalists justifying murder under the religion of Islam. In fact, Al-Alusi’s two sons were murdered at the hands of terrorists in Iraq.
Iraqi soldiers take part in a counter-terrorism drill.
The terrorists who are capitalizing off of this violence will never be defeated unless the countries of the world can find away to put aside their differences and confront them.
Sadly, two of the lawmakers pushing for Al-Alusi’s punishment are Sunni and Shia. This is not how unification should work. Personally, I think that Maliki’s government is getting way to close to the regime in Tehran. Iraq will forge a relationship with a country it fought a bloody 8-year war with, in addition to Iran’s support for extremists in southern Iraq, but apparently its too much to cooperate with Israel in fighting terrorism. For the sake of a peaceful future for the Middle East, Iraqi lawmakers should drop any and all charges that might be coming against Al-Alusi.
Iraq punishes MP for visiting Israeli conference
by Jpost and AP
Iraqi legislators said Sunday that parliament had voted to lift the immunity of a Sunni Arab lawmaker who visited Israel.
The parliament has also banned Mithal al-Alusi from traveling outside Iraq or attending parliamentary sessions, they said.
Sunday’s punishment was confirmed by Osama al-Nujeif, a Sunni Arab lawmaker, and Haider al-Ibadi, a Shi’ite lawmaker.
The two men said Alusi’s trip was illegal and a humiliation for Iraqis who see Israel as a historical enemy. Without parliamentary immunity, Alusi could be subject to prosecution.
Alusi, chairman of Iraq’s Democratic Party, Mithal al-Alusi, surprisingly arrived at a conference on terror in Herzliya last Wednesday, calling for the establishment of a joint intelligence network with Israel and the United States.
“In Israel, there is no occupation, there is liberalism,” Alusi said to the sound of roaring applause.
Alusi made his first trip to Israel in September 2004 to participate in a counter-terrorism conference. Apparently as payback, extremists murdered his two sons, 22 and 30.
The terrorists “will try to kill more. They will try to stop us. It should give us power to continue, to believe in ourselves,” he told The Jerusalem Post in an interview at the time.
Alusi was given the American Jewish Committee’s Moral Courage award following his sons’ deaths.
Iraq could benefit by following India, which is seeking Israeli help in curbing a resurgent militant threat in Kashmir. What does either side have to lose right now?
Condi’s new friend
Now here’s a nice story about hypocrisy…
Just look at my post last month, about Condoleeza Rice’s attitude towards former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who she threw under the bus because of his decision to declare a state of emergency in a country that is being overtaken by terrorist violence.
But wait a sec, look who Condi wants us to get along with…
So its okay to dine with Gadafi? Rice will beat the drums over a state of emergency (which we would have done to, if such a threat hit the US) but she’s okay with overlooking Lockerbie and the other hiddeous acts committed by her new friend?
Sad. So sad.
Musharraf’s legacy and how the US should look back…
Earlier, I heard a report that Condoleezza Rice put down any suggestion that the US would be willing to give sanctuary to the Pakistani President, who is under threat of impeachment from the recently elected “coalition” government, led by the late Benazir Bhutto’s husband, Asif Zardari, and Nawaz Sharif, a former Pakistani prime minister. First of all, let me just say that I am completely disgusted with Rice’s statements, and the US should be ashamed of itself, given the decision by Musharraf’s opponents to attempt to negotiate people who blow up innocent people-security forces, civilians, Shia AND Sunni Muslims. When I thought about writing a post on this subject, I wanted to begin by saying that Nawaz Sharif is a vindictive, fat-headed moron (Musharraf ousted him in a coup almost ten years ago, and he has gone so far as to say Musharraf should be sentenced to death), but then I read this letter.
An Open Letter to Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari
I AM writing this to you sitting outside a coffee shop in Virginia, a little outside Washington. I hope that my letter will be taken in the spirit in which it is written — from someone who deeply loves Pakistan and sincerely cares about it.
Over the years, I have watched the situation in Pakistan, analyzed it and have come to the conclusion that the problems of Pakistan can be solved by the people of Pakistan themselves provided they set aside emotions and self-interest. A country of about 150 million people facing so many dangers from within and without cannot afford to be hostage to the whims and caprices of anyone — even elected leaders.
Sitting thousands of miles away but emotionally present in Pakistan, I feel that the time has come for everyone to rise up and confront the danger, reject revenge, put aside personal ambitions, remove malice and enter into a new phase of reconciliation.
I read in the papers here of calls for the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf. I read of statements saying he will not be granted safe passage. I read of charge sheets being prepared against him by hitherto unknown politicians. I also read about the president calling for reconciliation.
I tell you in all honesty that Pakistan does not have the luxury of time or money to embark on an impeachment move. Neither is it the time to focus on such divisive issues. Suddenly political pundits and inexperienced lawmakers are seen making statements. They talk about the interest of Pakistan. What interest, I ask them. It is good for the ego to get 15 minutes worth of fame by talking to a local television network or The Washington Post.
HOWEVER, it is more difficult to show generosity and tolerance by reaching out and closing ranks, and history is full of such examples.
And I will start with our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who forgave all his enemies. It was he who told the Archangel Gabriel that he would forgive all those who threw stones at him in Taif. Let us honor ourselves by following him.
Let us take a great man of our time — Nelson Mandela. After 27 years in prison, he spoke of truth and reconciliation. Mandela sat with Pik Botha, who served as South Africa’s foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era, immediately after his release and helped guide South Africa to its promising future. After the black majority came to power, Mandela’s followers did not go on a rampage. They did not burn or loot. Mandela commanded respect.
I asked him was there any rancor or hate in his heart for those who oppressed him and his people. He replied that South Africa was too important for him to feel anger. Imagine what would have happened if Mandela had taken the road of personal revenge.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is indeed on his way down the dark pathway of revenge…and in the process is dragging his country with him.
Now allow me to offer my thoughts. Musharraf is obviously not a perfect man, but I think he understands the nature of the situation his country his facing. Condoleezza Rice feels the need to go off on him for declaring the much vilified state of emergency, but there is no doubt in my mind that President Bush (or any world leader, really) would take the exact same course of action if thousands of soldiers had died on his nation’s soil, if suicide bombers were victimizing American cities on a daily basis, and if countless civilians continued to fall pray to terrorism in a savage attempt to disrupt the political process. If this was happening in the United States, what would we do? Please Ms. Rice, would you be willing to answer this question? I suppose this could be my open letter to Condoleezza Rice, or even the Bush Administration in general.
Musharraf tried to do the right thing…he wanted to do what the US asked of him while trying to put his country first. I believe what ultimately led to his political was the targeting of Pakistani civilians by militant groups based in the Northern mountains, which turned the population against him. Many far-left and so-called “antiwar” groups also allege that Musharraf “wasn’t doing enough to fight terrorism”. To me, that is complete nonsense, given the above scenario, Musharraf was probably afraid of a full-scale confrontation because of the bloody backlash it had against his people.
All I can say now is that I hope that Nawaz and Zardari will heed the calls in that letter, because the very last thing Pakistan needs is more tension. Sharif’s vengeance may ultimately prove to be just as divisive as the bombing campaigns ordered by Taliban warlords, who are very likely laughing it up in a cave somewhere in the mountains right now…
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