Bin Laden Dead & Gone?

Ok so unless you have been living under an isolated rock of sorts you will probably already know the hoopla surrounding whether Osama Bin Laden is dead or not. There are conflicting views and that is mainly because the circumstances surrounding Osama Bin Laden’s death have been vague and mysterious to say the least. But I’m not here to re-hash the many different views or opinions on whether he is dead or not, rather what I’m going to talk about is how all these different scenarios still lead us to the same conclusion.

So the options surrounding what has happened mainly fit into these 3 categories:

1> Osama Bin Laden Is dead and the narrative given by the US is what occurred.

2> Osama Bin Laden is not dead and this is all a ruse to distract us from the issues at hand i.e. Middle East unrest.

3> Osama Bin Laden has been dead for a while or has died already and it’s now just coming to light as it is being used as propaganda for one reason or another by the US.

So those are the 3 main positions I have ascertained from people, if it isn’t exactly that, then it is something that is very similar to 1 of the 3 points.So regardless which camp you fit into let me tell you how regardless what you believe the aftermath is the same. Here are the facts:

Osama Bin Laden was already rumored to be very ill due to kidney failure and was already on a dialysis machine. He was an old man stricken with illness and was therefore a shadow of the man he was before. Regarding Al-Qaeda Osama Bin Laden was never really the brains behind the operation; he was more a figurehead and leader and had a devoted team around him that helped him execute plans or decisions. But this network had been greatly diminished in strength, size, importance and capability if not completely demolished. This is mainly because of the many US led attacks on the organization and the many members that have been killed off or arrested in the time between 9/11 till now. So overall, the operation was a hollow shell of its former self.

So what about all the failed attacks we saw occurring in the US by so called Al-Qaeda members i.e. shoe-bomber? Well the attacks we have seen in the past few years where actually those orchestrated by self-made small Al-Qaeda type cells like the one in Yemen that spurned the failed shoe-bomber attack. So these weren’t really branches from the organization but more a fact of groups trying to emulate and share in the familiarity associated with an already world-renowned and recognizable network like Al-Qaeda.

So what now? Basically, regardless of whether he is dead or not, or died a while ago Osama Bin Laden and the original Al-Qaeda network he spurned is no longer the main focus or worry for many state leaders and terror analysts. His irrelevance has been greatly highlighted especially by the recent Middle Eastern uprisings. Reform and revolution were simply brought about by the people on the ground and not by Al-Qaeda. The so-called and self-imposed ‘bastions of change’ were noticeable by their absence as the nation’s people showed how much can be done through simple unity and determination. A case in point being the fact that Osama Bin Laden released a tape calling for the overthrow of Mubarak a WEEK after Mubarak had already been overthrown by the Egyptian people.

So in summary, I don’t mourn nor care much for Osama Bin Laden and the twisted organization he founded. Mainly because he not only caused countless innocent deaths but also tainted a region’s people and religion.  The people in the Middle East have managed to swell the hearts of their nations with pride and honor through pacifism and unity, something which Osama Bin Laden never could or did. He divided rather than united, destroyed instead of built. He is the antithesis to the brave uprisings we see occurring in the Middle East.  He is an irrelevant and unnecessary stain in the narration of the momentous and historical events we see unfolding in the Middle East. The perceptions of him greatly outpace the reality of the situation. A man whose time was up well before his death.

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Till Next Time,

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Jordan? As in Katie Price?? No.. Jordan as in the country -_-

Never heard of it? I wouldn’t be surprised, not many people have. Though I have a feeling that if I was to show you a picture of our Queen it might help jog a few memories. This is simply because Queen Rania is well-known figure abroad for her humanitarian and development work, inside and outside of Jordan. Plus…as countless guys have pointed out, she is good looking.  But that isn’t what this article is going to be about.

I’m writing to you in the shadow of a saddening event that has recently transpired. A Jordanian man named Mohammed Abdul Karim recently set himself on fire in front of the Jordanian prime ministers office in an act of defiance and desperation. Let us not belittle the event, regardless of whether or not you agree with the man’s motives, setting yourself on fire or taking one’s life is never an easy matter. But this act of protest eerily echo’s those of Mohamed Bouazizi the young Tunisian fruit seller who initially spurred the recent revolutionary currents we see occurring in the Middle East. This act started off by stirring the hearts and minds of the Tunisian people and like an unstoppable domino effect has spread throughout the prevailing region. But it is important to note that Mohamed Bouazizi hasn’t been the only man to have set himself alight to get things moving in his country, there have been countless other victims.

But the point is that it shouldn’t have to lead to this…we shouldn’t have to wait for someone to carry out such a heart-wrenching act for us to acknowledge the despair or turmoil within a country and for us to pay it due attention and heed. But surprisingly enough, this event in Jordan has not really been covered adequately enough by the media. This has left many people none the wiser.

Jordan is a small country, it’s rarely in the world news, and that is something which has been highlighted once again by the protests that have occurred in Jordan. The March 24^th protests was Jordan’s answer to the movements that have swept up the Middle East in progressive fervor. It’s a current that demands it’s people’s voices be heard, acknowledged and respected. A demand for democracy, an end to corruption and a drastic movement towards freedom, free speech and an end to governmental censorship.  These protests had also even at their inception already cost the life of a protester.

I am a proud Jordanian, though I was born and raised in London I visit Jordan yearly. I see the stark differences between there and here, some good and some bad. But what strikes me most is how little the majority of people know about their own country. I don’t mean the day to day runnings of their lives but what I mean by that is what goes on in the echelons of Power. When I was younger, I remember carelessly chatting or airing a view of the politics of the country. I remember distinctly being hushed and told to be mindful of what I say. This confused me, as living in London I had never been asked to censor my views on what I think of the politics of the country, or of the leaders. But here was I, being told that what I wanted to express, though temperamental in the light of what I know now, should be kept to myself for fear of being overheard by the dreaded ‘mukhabarat’ aka the secret police.

The fact I can sit here and express my views on Jordan is something I used to take for granted living in Britain. But especially ever since I have witnessed the backlash of Middle Eastern governments towards their people over the minimalist of demands, I am reminded how lucky I am to live where I do.

Many people accuse me of hating the King or Queen, or even worse, hating my country. These points are not only wrong but absurd and offensive to say the least. Hate is a strong word which I, like any other person, do not toss around lightly. Instead I say to them they are wrong, I love my country, its people, BUT I simply disagree with the people in power. I disagree with the fact that we as a people are censored on monitoring what or governments do or don’t do. That the simple demand of a handful of protests for minimalist reform was met with a barrage of rocks and misunderstood hate.

Things like for example, the fact that the FBI view the dreaded security police in Jordan as their own personal torture chamber upsets me. This was highlighted in a quote expressed by a senior FBI agent about how its institution and agents largely view the Jordanian secret police. The quote centered over the fact that after Israel and Egypt, Jordan is the third largest receiver of American monetary aid with a segment of that aid getting pumped into its security apparatus. His view was that the US practically ‘owned it’. It was in other words, an extension of their force, a place much like Guantanamo bay, where they could get away with torture through simply delegating it to the morally lax but cruel security force.

This upsets me as I don’t want my country to simply be remembered in all the wrong circles or manners. I want it to truly represent what it claims to be, that is a free, open, liberal and democratic country. We need to shed this perpetual cloak of secrecy, corruption and nepotism within our governments and state, and move our country forward progressively rather than continue to stagnate in a field of complicity. Jordan is one of the poorest countries in the Middle East and this will be a hard fact to alter if we are not allowed to demand accountability, transparency and honesty from our governments and reliable information from our media.

And on this last note I would like to remind people that blind and utter subservience to those in power is NOT patriotism. Jordan is not made or defined through its governments; no rather, Jordan is made and defined by its nation’s people. Jordan is your homeland and not merely a land bestowed upon to the rich and powerful. It’s soil, earth and land belongs to you and to you alone as a nation. The sooner we acknowledge this basic and pivotal fact the brighter and more prosperous our futures will be.

And let us not allow the plethora of diverging views in our society to divide instead of bind us in healthy & progressive debates.

Till Next Time,

 

Ripple Effect: Bahrain

I meant to post this a while back but then the events in Libya started to unfold so never really got the chance to finish this up. So sorry about lateness.

So this post is going to deal with the current turmoil we see occurring in Bahrain. Hopefully to those who don’t know much about what’s exactly going on this might help to shed some light on the situation as I know the situation is one that is albeit a bit more complicated.

The revolutionary mood that has struck Bahrain has caught many people off guard for the simple reason that it was always seen economically speaking as better off than its Middle Eastern partners. The situation in Bahrain is tinged with a slightly different problem then we have seen voiced previously within Egypt and Tunisia, though the concerns and demands of the people remain just as legitimate.

The dilemma in Bahrain has an element of discrimination in it which wasn’t generally present in the previous countries. Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni monarchical family which has been in power since the inception of Bahrain. It, like every other Middle Eastern country, claims a monopoly on power and the exercise of power. The country is ruled by the Al-Khalifa family who are of course the unelected heads of Bahrain. The ‘problem’ with Bahrain is the fact that its majority population is 60-70% Shia and this fact doesn’t sit well with the paranoid ruling class. And unfortunately, this percentage of the population faces discrimination by those in power because of their general numbers. For example, many high level or senior positions are reserved solely for Sunni’s.  It’s also gotten to the point where the people in power constantly grant Bahraini citizenship to Sunni’s around the Middle East to help balance the figures in their favour.

Once again we see the interests of the powerful eclipsing that of the people. Rather than disregard the religious identity of the people in its country it chooses to make an issue out of it, go figure. This is a constant issue I have with many leaders in the Middle East, they take the mantra of ‘divide and rule’ to heart. We have seen this in Egypt where Mubarak went on a rant and rave about how he was the only man standing between Egypt and an Extremist Al-Qaeda led take-over of Egypt. Well, looking at Egypt today, I think we can all rightfully call Bull**** on his rabid claims.

The Bahrani government has of course also followed suit in the same vein though adding its own take on who the ‘enemy’ is. It has claimed that these protesters are simply proxies of Iran and if it wasn’t for their brave stance against the protesters we would have a mini-me Iran on our hands. I find this pathetic excuse which is insulting to everyone’s level of intelligence and intellect.

It’s this simple –minded view that ‘oh they are Shia, and Iran is Shia’ THEREFORE they MUST support each other and be one and the same. There apparently is NO divergence of opinion. Really? Because if that’s true then that means every Sunni I know *me included* should be waving and extolling the virtues of Saudi Arabia just because it’s corrupt, extremist-and-distorted Wahabist outlook has some sort of Sunni strand in it. But the truth is, THAT isn’t the case. I’m no fan or supporter of what’s going on in Saudi regardless of what they claim to be religiously. And the same goes for Iran. Iran itself is facing protests over its rule from within its population a fact Bahrain should take note off.

I’m not a blind human who overlooks injustice simply because of how it’s packaged and presented, and for the Bahrani government to claim the same kind of thing about the protesters legitimate demands is an INSULT and a DISGRACE. Don’t belittle your people’s legitimate concerns just to fit your political agenda. It’s especially disrespectful to the protesters you have gunned down and slain in your efforts to quell the protests.

But having said that i must reinforce that this is not simply a Shia protest, Sunni’s have also laid a stake in this movement and are protesting side by side with the Shia’s demanding their rights to freedom, equality and a demand for real democracy. One of the main claims being spearheaded by the protests is that the ruling family should replicate the monarchy in Britain, by simply being no more than a figurehead of state and taking an apolitical back seat. It’s a claim which ‘shock horror’ has no religious connotations to it. What frustrates me is that this so called divide between Sunni and Shia is constantly perpetrated and reinforced by those in power and therefore magnified to preposterous levels. At the end of the day Sunni or Shia, we are all Muslims.

Let us not fall into the trap laid by our power-hungry and corrupt leaders and show them that regardless of colour, creed, religious outlook and gender, we are all human and deserve to be treated as such with dignity and not as cheap pawns in their petty power-driven-selfish-ego-tistical games.

Till Next Time,

 

Viva La Revolution EGYPTIAN style!

Right off the bat I want to congratulate all the fearless Egyptians who have come out throughout these protests to voice their rights and unequivocally demand that they be recognized and heard. That also includes the many brave souls and hero’s who have risked and lost their lives in this movement. May you rest in peace and may your actions resonate throughout time in the hearts of every Egyptian. It’s a bittersweet moment knowing that those who risked the most cannot be part of the joy and celebration that all the Egyptians are participating in today

But I do think the question that people will be faced with after the celebrations and festivities  have died down will be what happens next? It’s important that things are not left up in the air as the revolution of change does not simply stop with the door hitting Mubarak forcefully on the way out. So here is my brief summary about some overall important points:

Firstly, the fact that Mubarak has been forced out is of course in itself an amazing achievement ..It’s also very powerfully symbolic as it shows that no leader can claim to be immune from the movement and will of his people… It’s also helps in making the remaining corrupt, dictatorial and autocratic Arab leaders hopefully shake uncontrollably in their custom-designed-fur-lined-dolled-up-gold-embroidered-slippers… in other words the demand for sleeping pills will shoot up drastically as restless nights take their toll…so if anyone is looking to make a quick buck that’s a heads up to which shares you should invest in. If the guy who gives extra strong super-glue a run for its dam money *on what can act as better adhesive to the throne of power* can eventually haul on out than ANYONE is susceptible to getting the Alan Sugar ‘Your fired’  dress down.

But Mubarak didn’t of course survive as long as he did in throes of power without having sweetened the deal for the people he has placed around him. So therefore anyone who is seen to be a dummy or cronie of Mubarak should be also swiftly shown the door….. preferably the door of the garbage disposal chute… when the disease -ridden head rolls the body should swiftly follow… and that includes that TWAT Suleiman who i think has proven that no matter who you are, there is always some prick waiting in the wings who will eclipse you at whatever area you choose to specialise in… in Mubarak’s case…that area is : Bastard-ness…yep Mubarak…you officially have someone you can favourably contrast yourself against..

These changes need to be coupled with a complete overhaul and reform of the flawed constitution and electoral process. This will allow things like limits to presidential term to be added so that no one else will be able to do a ‘Mubarak’….if the constitution and electoral process are not addressed fairly and properly, then the foundations of democracy will be weak and anything that is built on it will be inherently shaky and susceptible to failure.

And another thing is that caution should be exercised with regards to the military who are now effectively in power…. that is for the simple reason that Mubarak himself and the presidents that have preceded him have all come from the military……coupled with the fact that the many heads of the military are BFF’s with Mubarak … I heard they even have those tacky BFF necklaces  … someone needs to tell them that’s SO 2000 & late.. Plus the proof that they receive millions in funding from the U.S means that people should be wary of where their loyalties actually lie….And by the military I’m only really referring to the top brass…not the brave underlings who have generally shown that their loyalties are to the Egyptian people first and foremost.

So therefore the interm government that will rule and look after things till elections are actually held should include the opposition figures that have been instrumentally part off and supportive of the movements in and out of Tahrir square and who have stood firmly by the Egyptian people.

This is an unprecedented moment in the history of the Middle East and the momentum should not be lost as this change can hopefully reform not only Egypt’s destiny but the destiny of the whole region…

Egypt is, after all, Om El-Donia: Mother of the world

Till Next Time,

 

Way to Pop an Egyptian party Hillary

So the story that everyone has been hooked on in the news is of course the goings on in Egypt….well…i say everyone…seems the USA has gone a bit quiet on what’s going on. Actually wait…my bad…i spoke to soon, i have come across a statement by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…USA the so called beacon of democracy….USA the lauder of people’s liberties…This should be riveting:

‘U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday urged all sides in Egypt to exercise restraint following street protests and said she believed the Egyptian government was stable and looking for ways to respond to its people’s aspirations.’

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSWAT01483220110125

*scrolls down webpage…double checks the quote…checks Google and other articles for the extended version…goes back to page and searches for a to be continued….checks if this statement is a teaser trailer to a forthcoming fully detailed response….*

W-T-F …is that ALL? *puts down Cheerleading USA Pom poms…takes of Statue of liberty inspired crown…* I heard it was going to be a good ‘un….the character profile promised so much….yet delivered so little….Hooooooooooooooooold up DJ and PLEASE re-wind that track…is that REALLY all you have to say?

If so then I have a little story to tell that will beggar belief that THIS is all the U.S or Hillary could really fathom…huddle round kids:

Back in 2003 a war was waged on Iraq…one of the many reasons to go to war was to bring democracy to Iraq…we had George Bush aka dog and Tony Blair aka tail spreading word of how they were going to be the righteous victors to bring this elusive concept of democracy to the shores of Iraq. Yes theeeeeeeey where the ones who would bring forth this mystic beast called democracy and impart it on the Iraqi people…and they were going to stick to their guns and like  true cowboy’s in a Wild Wild West era where going to wage war to bestow this selfless gift to the Iraqi’s…..yes i know there were other claims to war e.g. Nuclear weapons etc…. but if you’ve been listening to anything Tony Blair’s been droning on about you’d be forgiven for thinking there where no other points to war…plus, even if their where no weapons he still would have gone to war he claimed..Because Saddam is a ruthless dictator etc. ….I’m not disputing the ruthless dictator credentials by the way for those up in arms.

So because they were on this virtuous mission they weren’t going to heed the calls of the namby-pamby UN to hold back till they secured some sort of resolution for the war….SCREW THEM!..They had no BALLS the US cried…they didn’t CARE about the Iraqi people…oh NO they were on a ‘humanitarian’ democratic mission…and no one was going to stop them…they were bringing the democratic party bus to Iraq…they were going to impart this precious baby of the west  to Iraq.. And as a famous wise film *cough cough dirty dancing* once eschewed: ‘NO-ONE puts baby in a corner’ ….not on this dance floor they don’t…

Actually….depends who’s idea it is to bring baby to the dance floor…if it’s the population then F*** that b**** can stay in the corner…that S*** is asking for trouble if she is running out on us…she’s OUR date….we bring her to the dance floor you hear?  And then we let you have a dance or two with her…but in the end she is coming home with US *holla at me Hamid Karzai if u know what I’m talking about….U KNOW what I’m talking about…we all know those elections where as dodgy as Hosni Mubarak’s face…you lil rascal you*

Anyways after all this hoopla….. Iraq isn’t what you would call a pin-up style democracy…so thankfully you would think this Egyptian  street level call to democracy could  be pounced on by you lot to salvage your street cred…since you did also claim that bringing democracy to Iraq would act as a domino effect in the region bringing democracy to other countries.. But funnily enough when Hillary Clinton and the USA, where handed this democratic movement on a plate…. I mean literally on a silver platter with a silver knife, fork and BUTLER to boot they didn’t want much to do with it???? Well the only thing they wanted with it was to tell the population who are striving for it to show ‘restraint’?

Now I’m not saying the population should go anarchic and cause as much destruction as possible for maximum effect but what I DO understand and see is that the people who are protesting when faced with the beating batons and rubber bullets of the police should not just sit back and take it…no they SHOULD fight….why? Because it is their right’s and the rights of future generations they are fighting for, and regardless of what you say no revolution from the bottom-up has ever come without a struggle of sorts…if you have forgotten this ample fact America refer back to the history books…the French revolution…the AMERICAN revolution…the revolution against apartheid in South Africa the U.S etc.

Point being if, as i have said before, you are going to claim to be the bearer of democracy, human rights, liberty etc. Then you better well check yourself before you wreck yourself and defend those who need defending…No No NO NO NO…GEORGE AND TONY…PUT DOWN YOUR DAM GUNS…not that way…sheeeeesh talk about jumping the gun….it can be through simply pulling back the unbridled support Mubarak has from you in aid and foreign policy initiatives. …It’s a surprise why you aren’t acting on this…

Well actually not a complete surprise…I do know that the reason why Hosni Mubarak is on the Paris Hilton US version of the hottie list and not the nottie list is simply because he is our b****…and we are a nation of dog lovers aren’t we?

The same old crap is lauded about….Mubarak is a bastard…but he is OUR bastard…he keeps them radicals at bay…you know who I’m talking about …those gun-totting-suicide-bombing-turban-loving-slipper-hurling-camel-riding-falg-burning-islamic-extremists….

But last i checked Osama Bin Laden was NOT running for presidency in Egypt or any other region and that goes for the rest of that radically deluded bunch……most people in the middle east *the majority save a few* don’t agree or like Osama bin laden and his cronies or even other  extremist forms and versions of his ideals and values…yea shock horror….the people who bomb weddings in Jordan,  kill Shia’s and Sunni’s alike in Iraq and massacre Christians and Muslims in Egypt aren’t well received? So no we won’t be having a BLAST with the extremists when Hosni Mubarak leaves…

But what you are doing by keeping silent and continuing your hypocritical foreign policy stances IS pushing more vulnerable individuals TOO extremist means, because violence whether we like it or not, becomes the only possible solution or outlet in a desperate dead-end situation  for desperate people.  So if you want to call for restraint Hillary your targeting the wrong people, call for restraint on your aid budgets and foreign policy activities that back-up dictatorships like Hosni Mubarak…that way you can help in actually solving a crises….and working your way to de-tarnishing your really grimy image abroad,

And if you are lost for words on what to say to the Egyptian population than look no further than your own constitution for inspiration

‘We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.’

‘No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.’

And if you’re not bothered to read….just take a glance at the statue of liberty and all it stands for….maybe then you will have more to say on this subject then a few pitying words on restraint..

The values your country was built on are values that are not and should not be restrained to your shores alone….but remember that they must not be forced on a population they must COME from the population….after all…isn’t that what democracy is about? Rule BY the PEOPLE, FOR the PEOPLE.

Till Next Time,

 

Tunisia- viva la revolution!

Well, who-da-thunk-it? A well deserved congratulations to the Tunisian people.

It’s been quite an eventful few days in the Middle East region *yea anyone who wants to argue the geographic location of Tunisia with me is obviously missing the big picture*. The whole Tunisian overthrow of Ben Ali came as a shock to many who didn’t really know much about the region…It’s especially eventful since many news outlet in the western world didn’t really cover the protests and riots *which had been going on for around a month or so* till Ben Ali himself decided to get on a plane and high-tail his dumb ass out the region……welll…i say region…he did leave the region to try to get into France but was rejected *yea…France…the country that gave refuge to the Shah of Iran thinks you’re not good enough for it….talk about kicking a person when he is down…that had to burn*….But not to worry….he managed to find a place called home in Saudi Arabia…which considering how its government and leaders run things…must be realllllly confused over why exactly he got his ass served on a plate to him by his people:

Saudi Official; you mean to say you ALLOW your woman to drive…..you allow a sort of religious freedom…. you allow your woman to dress as they please….you allow your woman to go out and about on their jack-jones…….*let’s just cut the woman list short for the sake of the post not turning into a book of sorts*…you also don’t claim a monopoly on the Islamic religion whilst hypocritically not following those rules….and THEY still weren’t happy? PSHTT… youth these days….so inconsiderate.

But regardless of all that…..the point still stands that what the Tunisian’s did is something which is practically unheard of in the middle eastern region…they did something that is commendable…they stood up for their rights and they did not accept anything less than what they were truly owed….when Ben Ali offered to step down after his term ends in 2014* yea…boi thought that it was the idea of his seeking re-election that had grinded people’s gears….26 years of rule…. alright….anything more..and boi is pushing his luck*  years to quell the protest the people did not stop. It’s something which has rightfully sent shock waves through the region and throughout the world….and …it is hoped…that it might finally have woken up the Arabs in the region and shown them that nothing is impossible if they put their minds, heart and soul into it and if they UNITE to achieve the goal…

These corrupt, despotic leaders do not claim a monopoly over their people if the people don’t allow them to.

But of course…..events should be seen in context….there are factors in Tunisia which played into the hands of the population,

Firstly: the employment rate amongst the youth was around 50%….why this is important is because it is the youth who are usually at the forefront of any type of revolution, so their dissatisfaction adds a huge amount of fuel onto the fire

Secondly: the high gas and food prices…as everyone knows when the people are hungry..that is when they are most dangerous…it’s also why you’ll probably see a lot of countries now in the middle east re-assessing and lowering prices …keep people fed and warm…and you will breed a certain amount of complacency.

Thirdly: believe it or not…..the fact that the Tunisian youth are socially active online…the use of things like fb and twitter and other social mediums was instrumental in getting the movement started…so the next time your parents/friends/lecturer/sister tell you to get your face off of fb and into a book…just tell them when a revolution of sorts is needed…they will be rueing the day they asked you to shift on out…books don’t connect people…websites do *respect*…you reap what you sow ay?

The fact that Egypt ticks two of those boxes is the reason why people are looking to it to carry the mantle of the Tunisian movement through onto it’s shores. In fact, Egypt compared to Tunisia is worse off in the first two points in general…. but it’s the 3rd factor which is missing in Egypt that experts say is a problem…they aren’t as well-connected as Tunisia was.

Plus….the reason why this might not be so easy to replicate in countries like Egypt or Saudi or Jordan etc. is because in Tunisia, the military *and even police to a certain extent* where less willing to get extremely violent with the protesters as would have happened in the former countries….That is not to say that they weren’t violent…they where…especially the police …as lives were lost in the protests unfortunately…but the army in a sense took more of a back seat which wouldn’t have occurred in the other countries where they would probably be knee-deep in blood… as nearly everyone knows in the middle east region, generally…the army…instead of the police….would probably the be the first people on the scene of any type of  protest….yea….in the middle east…when you join the army…you do end up fighting contrary to what people think…..it’s just you end up fighting your own people.

So in summary, I’m completely in awe of all those people who participated and did what they did in the protests *even though they had been intimidated and threatened with violence* to secure justice for their people….And for those who lost their lives, May your actions be forever remembered in the hearts and minds of the current and future generations…let’s hope your deaths will not be to no avail…and that real change comes to a country which has fought and truly deserves it.

And also, as a sign of respect and recognition to the man who sparked these calls to protest through the actions he carried out in the last few moments of his life, I give a brief summary of what his story is:

‘ Mohamed Bouazizi, aged 26, from Sidi Bouzid, in southern Tunisia, had graduated from Mahdia University a few years ago, but could not find a job. Being the only breadwinner in his family, he decided to earn a living and with his family’s help, he started selling fruit and vegetable from a street stall. His venture gave him very little, enough to guarantee the dignity of his family. But city hall officials were on the look out, and have seized his goods several times. He tried to explain to them that what he was doing was not his choice that he was just trying to survive. Each time, his goods were confiscated; he was also insulted and asked to leave the city hall premises. The last time this happened, Mohamed lost all hope in this life and decided to leave it forever. He poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire.’

I paraphrased his story from this website for those who are interested:

http://inmytrends.com/tunisia-unemployed-mans-suicide-attempt-sparks-riots.htm

R.I.P

Till next time,

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” – Malcolm X

 

Iran and the constant denial

Now reading the title you might be thinking that I am going to talk about the obvious issue of whether Iran seeks or doesn’t seek to build nuclear weapons. But that’s not the issue I want to actually talk about. The issue I want to talk about is Iran’s constant denial that there is any sort of internal rift in its populations over the current leadership of Ahmadinajad. Any sort of evidence to the contrary is blamed on ‘western’ interference and influence. The election demonstrations back in June- the west’s doing, claims of election fraud- the west’s doing, the recent alleged ‘assassination’ attempt on Ahmadinajad- a fabrication of the west.   Now the last point is what initially brought me to post on this subject.  On Thursday the president was visiting the city of Hamedan and during the procession a loud explosion was heard near his motorcade. In initial comments to western agencies the Iranian officials seemed to indicate that this was an attempted attack and that someone had been arrested. But this version changed during the rest of the day and the official response now was that it was just an over excited supporter letting of ‘steam’.

Now, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about celebrating, but not once have I felt the urge to throw a handmade grenade at a the person I am celebrating for. Wedding? throw a grenade at the bride and groom. Graduation? through a grenade at the graduate. Show them you REALLY care with a good old bang. A congratulatory hug just doesn’t cut it any more.  And when the western news agencies round the world reported it was an attack the Iranians responded that the west where just doing what they do best and trying to undermine the government and make a story out of nothing. If I was Iran, id be firing my dam spin doctor, if your going to cover up something, do it right. Don’t just hand us your deceit on a silver platter. And if your going to lie badly, then go all the way, do it the North Korean way and realllllly push the boat out.

It seems like Iran out of all nations has achieved the impossible and has a government and leadership in place that apparently is supported by the whole nation. The citizens who don’t fit this criteria are apparently stooges and lackeys of the west. Though there is no denying that Ahmadinajad does have a great share of support within Iran it’s not to say that the support against him is not large. And its this point that the Iranian leadership just won’t publicly own up to. No matter how many times you try and sweep crap under the carpet you know its still there cause you can dam well smell it. And one day the Iranian leadership is going to have to face up to it, the more they lie the more they loose the support and trust of the people. The big bad wolf aka the west won’t be a good enough excuse forever.

Till next time