"Yep. Gotta get this here information thing off the ground..."
On this occasion, Dr. Al-Turki highlighted the importance of coordinating media efforts which are being conducted in the Muslim countries in the field of propagation to Islam. He noted that confronting the campaigns directed against Islam is an essential matter, affirming that the Commission will do its job in supporting integration among the Muslim countries in the field of mass media. For his part, the Grand Mufti sited [sic] the effective role of media in this age and its ability to direct the world through bringing up facts and highlighting a great number of issues. He pointed out that Islamic media is known of credibility in showing facts and clarifying the real image of Islam as well as calling people to the correct form of Islam.
Yep. Ain't nothin' quite so credible as Islamic media...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
06/19/2003 10:18 pm ||
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A woman who tried to get around a ban on female drivers in Saudi Arabia by dressing up as a man was caught out when she was ordered to undergo medical checks, a newspaper reported on Thursday. Police became suspicious when they stopped the woman's car at a patrol point in the northern town of Hail. "She was sent to hospital where medical examinations proved without a doubt that she was a woman with all the natural female body parts," the daily al-Riyadh said.
"Ahah! And where's Captain Happy, sir?"
"Musta left 'im in my other pants..."
Truly shocking!
It was not clear what punishment the woman would now face. Women in the strict Islamic state, where they must wear a veil in public, usually have a male driver. Although Saudi laws do not allow women to drive, police nonetheless hold them responsible for numerous traffic violations as more than 75, 000cars are owned by Saudi women, according to a report carried by Al-Watan newspaper. Some traffic violations are registered in the name of women because the law holds the owner of a car responsible when the actual violator cannot be found. (Arabnews)
Translate: Can't drive but can be flogged for it anyway.
Posted by: True German Ally ||
06/19/2003 03:54 pm ||
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#2
Her husband/father/brother is going to have to explain why he let her perform such hijinks. Might have his passport revoked.
Posted by: Michael ||
06/19/2003 16:17 Comments ||
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Can't blame her for trying. S***, if I was unfortunate enough to be imprisoned as a female citizen in Saudi , I'd be dressing up as a man every goddam day of my life until I could cross a border and get out of there!
Guess what?
6 US boats have come into harbour today:::: Yipppeeeeeeee
I'm gonna get my US flag, wrap it round my head and go down and make them welcome.
I'm gonna take them on a siteseeing tour of Bondi on Sunday (got my phonetic alphabet test on Saturday for the Volunteer SES of which I am one).
Hooray!!!
They can come whalewatching if they want though no doubt they prolly just want bars and women. Well I am female but not like that...
#4
Anon, we'd celebrate with you, if we only knew where you were: city, country. Might even recommend a stop by some friends of mine in the blue suits!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/19/2003 17:40 Comments ||
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Apologies, Old Patriot,
The country: Australia
The city: Sydney
Hoorah hooray the americans are here
and guess what? Just two weeks ago, I painted over some offensive anti-US, anti-war, anti-John Howard graffiti at Bondi with a nice panel of attractive dark blue paint so it is all looking spic and span and nice for the US Marines! I didn't even know they were coming so hooray I'm glad I did it now as I wouldn't like them to see it and get offended and think all Aussies are idiots.
Welcome to the future of the EU, Aris
By Philip Delves Broughton
(Filed: 19/06/2003)
A Paris court last night halted publication of a book by a former investigating magistrate that claims France is institutionally corrupt.
The book by Eva Joly, who uncovered political and financial corruption at the Elf oil company, is the first by a judge to have been blocked by the French courts. Could Eva have a stake in the graft? Everyone else seems to
The court ruled that publication of Is This The World We Want To Live In? might prejudice the trial of former Elf executives, now in its third month, which has already revealed the extent of political and financial corruption in France. No word on whether the jurors were precluded from reading it, just ban all of society from knowing what happened, huh?
The court ordered that publication, intended for today, must be postponed until the trial is over. Mme Joly said she would appeal.
Arnaud Montebourg, a Socialist MP, said she should be given the Legion d'Honneur rather than be attacked for her honesty.
Mme Joly, 57, said the French establishment was one of the most rotten in Europe. "It is a country of networks that don't like to be challenged."
Why don't you listen to your better Mme Joly?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/19/2003 07:29 pm ||
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#1
Email it to me and I'll put it on my website with my novels.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/19/2003 23:04 Comments ||
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LONDON -- A sampling of public opinion in 11 nations finds many see the United States as an arrogant superpower that poses a greater danger to world peace than North Korea.
President George W. Bush failed to impress 58 percent of those questioned by pollsters for a British Broadcasting Corp. broadcast Tuesday night. They said they had a fairly unfavorable or very unfavorable view of the American president. If the American respondents were removed from the sample, the number rose to 60 percent. Hmmm ... maybe Terry McAuliffe of the DNC should petition to have the 2004 election moved to the UK ... or even France (Kerry would win big there).
The poll questioned 11,000 people in May and June in 11 nations: Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
Not all the news was bad for the United States.
Even though 67 percent said they wouldn't want their countries to copy U.S. economic policies, ("we enjoy bleeding to death slowly from our moribund socialistic economies thank you very much) 67 percent would aspire to U.S. gains in science and technology, and 56 percent to the opportunities for advancement available to people in the United States. Forty percent aspired to U.S. freedom of expression.
Sixty-five percent overall -- and a majority in every country, including the United States -- said America is arrogant. It's not easy being green. How would France poll on this question? Forty-seven percent said America is friendly, and 33 percent find the United States antagonistic.
Fifty-six percent said the United States was wrong to attack Iraq. That number reached 81 percent in Russia and 63 percent in France, two nations that led world opposition to the war. Overall, 37 percent said the war was right -- 54 percent in Britain, 74 percent in the United States and 79 percent in Israel.
The al-Qaida terrorist organization was ranked more dangerous than the United States, but the Americans were judged to be a greater threat than Russia, China, Syria and two members of Bush's Axis of Evil -- Iran and North Korea.
In a studio panel of commentators, former British Cabinet member Clare Short, who quit her post to protest the invasion of Iraq, said post-Sept. 11 America was "a wounded giant, full of anger ... that feels it's got to exercise its power all over the world; I think that's becoming a frightening America."
#1
BBC cites poll saying Americans are bad, ugly, stupid, mean and smell bad. Yaawn... wasn't that yesterday's news...and the day before. I thought news was supposed to be news.
#2
There's two large groups of people that appear at every US embassy: the violent anti-American protestors and the lineup for visas. They switch off every other day.
#4
Well, we could always do a scientific experiment and let NKor start up a Sea of Fire demo and see what they think after that, or we can let Hookboy loose and say, "Go get 'em!" Then we can retake the poll.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/19/2003 23:00 Comments ||
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Oh the weenie wimps are "upset"? Well boo-hoo!
About time the rest of the world thought about doing some heavy lifting instead of whining. I sleep safer at night knowing those arrogant Americans are on patrol. God Bless America.
from Canada,
Posted by: john ||
06/20/2003 1:34 Comments ||
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BBC cites poll saying Americans are bad, ugly, stupid, mean and smell bad. Yaawn... wasn't that yesterday's news...and the day before. I thought news was supposed to be news.
Belgium said on Thursday it had received lawsuits against President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair under a controversial war crimes law. But it said it had forwarded the cases to the defendants' countries, reducing their chances of reaching a court. "Hot Potato! Here, catch!"
Anybody still up for an ICC with these cases flying around as examples?
Belgium has come under harsh criticism especially from the United States for the law, which empowers its courts to try foreigners for serious war and human rights crimes no matter where they were committed. In an effort to discourage so-called "propaganda" cases, it reformed the law to allow a lawsuit to be sent to a defendant's country if that country were democratic with a legal system that could handle it properly. Belgium's justice ministry said legal authorities had received lawsuits against Bush, Blair and a host of senior U.S. officials for crimes against humanity in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Might want to try handing the bill for handling the case and forwarding it to the plaintiffs.
One lawsuit accused Bush, Blair, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and U.S. General Tommy Franks of crimes against humanity in the recent Iraq war, a ministry statement said. A second lawsuit was against Powell, also regarding the Iraq war. A third was against Bush, Rumsfeld, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz for crimes against humanity in Afghanistan and Iraq. Poor Dick Cheney, he's going to feel left out.
Thuy declined to say when or by whom the lawsuits were filed. The usual group of suspects, no doubt.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/19/2003 03:35 pm ||
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#1
Hope they don't run out of stamps with all the forwarding.
#3
Convenient for the filers that their names can't be released, but the Belgians will release the names of the defendants. That way, they filers get the press they want, and the filees get teh shaft.
#4
Under the English court system, the loser pays the other sides attorneys' fees, as a general matter. However, given this is in the criminal context it is probably n/a.
Helllllooooo Murat! Are you out there?
Turkey's military has approved the launch of a high-level dialogue with Iran.
Turkish officials said the decision by the General Staff could threaten efforts to improve relations between Ankara and the United States. They said the Bush administration has warned Turkey not to improve military relations with either neighboring Iran or Syria. Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok has approved an Iranian request for the visit of a high-level delegation to Ankara. Officials confirmed that Turkey has approved the visit. On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said the government is examining a date for the Iranian general's visit to Turkey, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said Ozkok agreed to invite Iran's army commander, Gen. Mohammed Selimi, in a visit that could take place within the next few weeks. Milliyet reported on Wednesday that the Iranian embassy in Ankara relayed the request to the General Staff for the visit by the Iranian army commander. The daily said Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul expressed reservation over the Iranian visit. Officials said the visit by the Iranian military delegation could torpedo efforts to restore defense and military relations between Ankara and Washington. The U.S. Defense Department has suspended its dialogue with Turkey's Defense Ministry and imposed conditions for its renewal. One of the conditions was that Turkey refrain from improving relations with Iran or Syria. The administration has allocated $1 billion to Turkey as special aid for the Iraq war in 2003, but Congress has imposed a series of conditions.
The Turkish invitation to Iran came during the current visit by Turkish Foreign Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal to Washington. Ziyal has met senior administration officials, including Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who has been a severe critic of Ankara's refusal to allow U.S. troops through Turkey during the war in Iraq. The semi-official Anatolia news agency said Ziyal submitted a plan for Turkish cooperation with the United States in Iraq. On Tuesday, State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker called Turkey a strategic ally of the United States. Reeker, in a departure from the criticism at the Pentagon, said this partnership will endure despite the lack of cooperation during the war in Iraq. "Our relations with Turkey are strong, broad," Reeker said. "We have a long, deep history together, and we have a lot of work to do in the future. We have got a lot of shared interests, and certainly value Turkey's friendship." At the same time, Ziyal was lobbying for a restoration of U.S.-Turkish relations. Speaking to the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute, the Turkish official termed strategic relations between Ankara and Washington as robust. "There is a strategic partnership between us," Ziyal said. "There are common goals. There were important problems between the two countries in the past, however all those problems were completely overcome."
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/19/2003 02:43 pm ||
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#1
I said it before and I'll say it again... many diplomats are making the mistake of dealing with Turkey as it used-to-be rather than as-it-is-now.
It is like assuming that the US, with Bush in charge, will respond to threats in a similar fashion as it did when Clinton was in office. It ain't gonna happen that way anymore.
#2
Man, if THIS doesn't bring Murat back for another round.....but I thought the Turk military was secular, and it was the new GOVERNMENT that was chock full of nuts...er...jihaddis. Time to crank up the eartquake machine again.
#3
"Time to crank up the earthquake machine again"
Sorry, you'll have to wait till we get the shuttle flying.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/19/2003 15:30 Comments ||
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I would like to see more on this in the near future. It sure sent up flags for me when I read and posted it.
The Turkish military can't have it both ways. If they get palzy-walzy with either Iran or Syria our cooperation has to dry up with Turkey. Hostiles would have a back door to our ops.
If we are putting Turkey up to this, then expect a spy thriller book to come out.
If Turkey is initiating this, then their $1 billion from us for flyover and limited surface rights is at risk.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/19/2003 15:36 Comments ||
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#5
Or the Turkish military might be giving some hints to the Iranian military about how to set up a secular govt after a revolution or things like that.
#7
I said it before and I'll say it again... many diplomats are making the mistake of dealing with Turkey as it used-to-be rather than as-it-is-now.
It is like assuming that the US, with Bush in charge, will respond to threats in a similar fashion as it did when Clinton was in office. It ain't gonna happen that way anymore.
SPA — Unknown gunmen on Thursday shot to death a police officer and his friend in southern district of Karachi. The attacker riding on a motorcycle targeted the police officer, who was standing at a shop with his friend in the Lyari neighbourhood of old Karachi, police said. One bystander was also injured. It was not immediately clear if the shooting was an assassination or a random crime.
Or a random assassination...
The police officer was off duty and was in civilian dress when attacked. Two men riding on a motorcycle shot at the shop and riddled him from close range.
Doesn't sound too random. When I'm out shooting people at random, just a shot or two does it for me. Only when I seriously want to assist someone from this vale of tears do I actually riddle them...
The officer and his friend died while being transported to a hospital. The third victim was in stable condition at the hospital. The slain officer was associated with the police crime investigation department. The department was established to deal with investigations and was focussing on terrorism.
Hey! Careful with that feather! You almost knocked me over!
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
06/19/2003 10:12 pm ||
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An Iraqi group warned US forces Wednesday that they would face more hostile acts unless they resolved the "serious" problem of back pay for members of the former Iraqi army. "We told the Americans that the issue of outstanding payments was of paramount importance and that if you do not solve it you must expect more operations against you," said Najib as-Salehi, secretary general of the Movement of Free Iraqi Officers and Civilians.
That would seem to cover everybody but the enlisted men. As usual...
"Failure to resolve this problem is a mistake whose consequences the Americans will have to bear," the formerly exiled ex-army officer told a conference on the role of his group in the new Iraq. Salehi however added that "both parties," which he did not identify, had "blown the payment problem out of proportion in pursuit of political ends."
Last time this came up, I suggested paying them off and giving them a hearty handshake and a good-bye. Does anybody listen to me? No-o-o-o-o-o!
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
06/19/2003 08:26 pm ||
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#1
Tell them they have to submit DNA samples to get the back pay. Then tell them we have ways of detecting if they handled money that was found to buy illegal weapons.
Maybe it would work, maybe it won't. The price of latex gloves would sure go up in Tikrit.
#2
There's an old saying that if you stick out, you'll get hammered down. Maybe we need to hammer a few of these arrogant nutcases that think the WINNER should pay the LOSER back wages. Tell them to get a shovel and start digging. There are lots of things in Iraq that need doing.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/19/2003 23:36 Comments ||
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The War Reparations are coming. Guess who pays!
Posted by: john ||
06/20/2003 1:40 Comments ||
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EFL
A mortar shell has hit a coalition office in a town north of Baghdad, killing one Iraqi and injuring 12 others. The US military said the 82mm mortar round crashed onto the Civil Military Operations centre in Samarra, an office that co-ordinates military and civilian humanitarian aid. American soldiers said they heard three explosions. Local police arrived at the scene and found the dead and wounded. "Soldiers were unable to respond or find the perpetrators," US Central Command said in a statement. "This is one of numerous incidents recently where Iraqi resistors have attacked Coalition forces or Coalition Provisional Authority locations and injured or killed Iraqi citizens," it said. CentCom said no US forces were injured in the attack and that an investigation had been launched. It was the third known mortar attack on coalition facilities since major combat was officially declared over on May 1. In a shift of tactics this week, insurgents have also started targeting fellow Iraqis deemed to be too close to the US-led occupation forces.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
06/19/2003 04:47 am ||
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Women accused of sorcery in Papua New Guinea are being burned at the stake, stoned, raped, axed, buried alive, electrocuted, forced to drink petrol and dragged behind vehicles, according to a government minister. Minister for Welfare Lady Carol Kidu said this yesterday in an appeal to foreign aid donors to fund research into sorcery in PNG, where many citizens cling to ancient beliefs in black magic and "payback" attacks. After receiving evidence from doctors working with victims, Lady Kidu said she was horrified by the brutal methods of torture and murder employed against the accused â most of whom were older women. She said the sorcery interrogations were usually carried out by young men. The methods of torture included beating (often with barbed wire), breaking bones, burning with red hot metal, raping, hanging over fire, cutting body parts slowly, amputating and pulling behind vehicles, she said in a statement. "Mostly, however, if the victim is not dead she is then killed by one of the following methods: Execution, being thrown over a cliff, into a river or cave, burned alive in a housefire, buried alive, beheaded, hanged, choked to death, starved, axed or electrocuted, suffocated with smoke, forced to drink petrol or hot liquid, stoned or shot". Lady Kidu said bystanders were afraid to intervene as they themselves might be accused of sorcery.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/19/2003 04:54 am ||
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So I'm guessing the new Harry Potter will NOT make the PNG-Times bestseller list?
(Oh, wait...maybe it's just that Lord Voldemort is taking control of PNG. Quick, send an owl to Dumbledore!)
Let's not force our cultural mores and stereotypes on these fucking whackjobs. What are you, culturally insensitive?
They're using standard Anglo-Saxon criminal procedure to perform these interrogations.
Unfortunately, the more recent law books were already checked out at the library -- the only copy left was printed in Massachusetts in the late 1600s...
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad launched a vitriolic attack on the European race today, accusing them of warmongering, indiscriminate attacks on Muslims, greed and sexual deviancy. Europeans, including "those who migrated and set up new nations in America, Australia and New Zealand", wanted "to control the world again", he said. Predicting that he would be condemned as a "racist", the veteran Southeast Asian leader said he was "not anti-European. I have many friends and acquaintances who are Europeans." Some of my best friends are...
"They are very clever, brave and have an insatiable curiosity, unfortunately they are also very greedy and like to take forcibly the territories and rights of other people." Mahathir was speaking at the annual congress of his ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) for the last time before retiring in October after 22 years in power. The leader of a moderate Muslim government, Mahathir said the September 11 2001 terrorist attack on the United States was "an excuse for the Anglo Saxon Europeans to return to their old violent ways. "Their strategy to fight terrorism is through attacking Muslim countries and Muslims, whether they are guilty or not."
Which ones haven't been guilty?
Just over a year ago Mahathir was invited to the White House to be thanked personally by President George W Bush for his support in the war on terrorism, but his strong opposition to the war in Iraq has seen relations sour. Mahathir said Europeans also wanted to impose their cultural values on the world, including "unlimited freedom for the individual" and "the practice of free sex including sodomy as a right."
The freedom to diddle each other kind of falls under the heading of individual freedom, most of us perverts think...
"Marriage between male and male, between female and female are officiallly recognised by them. What we call incest is not regarded as serious by them.? The culture and the values which they will force us to accept will be hedonism, unlimited quest for pleasure, the satisfaction of base desires, particularly sexual desires. Our way of life must be the same as their way of life. Asian values do not exist for them."
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/19/2003 04:45 am ||
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this isnt only the usual muslim raving about sex. Muhatir had a powerful political opponent some years back, whom he accused of sodomy. So the sexual deviancy thing is a political tool, and this is probably an oblique reference to his political opponent.
Malaysia is "moderate", cause he needs to trump up a charge like that to put someone in prison - cant just shoot them in the middle of the night, or even imprison them for crimes against the state. And of course he lets the local Chinese live unmolested - and has cracked down on Al qaeeda affiliated Salafist loonies. Not everyone who is threatened by Islamic fundamentalism is a friend of the west - but then we already knew that - whats off about Mahatir is that hes muslim and strongly anti fundie and also strongly anti-western and anti/liberal and yet not Baathist/secularist. Dont know of any equivalent combination anywhere else quite like him
#3
What we call incest is not regarded as serious by them.
However, we do take a dim view of old men buying and marrying nine year olds, so we can't be all that bad, can we?
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/19/2003 14:39 Comments ||
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I would flee if I were one of his friends. Just remember what Muhammad did to the Jewish tribe who had succoured him when he was cast from Mecca: he killed all the men and all the boys who had pubes, the women (and part of the remaining boys) were raped and shared between him (he got one fifth of everything) and his soldiers, sae thing for the lands and the gold. So if you are not a Muslim and Malathir call you a friend kill the bastard if you can and flee as fast as possible if you can't.
#5
Liberalhawk said, "Dont know of any equivalent combination anywhere else quite like him"
You'd be safe calling him a proto-fascist.
Dr. Mahathir is an anti-Semitic, ethnic demagogue who favors Malays over Chinese and Indian Malaysians, Anti-individualist, anti-modern/Western, cult of personality, terrible state security apparatus (ISI). This is the fascist part of Islamo-fascism.
#6
This guy Mahathir is moderate in the sense that he only hates our guts - the extremists both hate our guts and actually act on that feeling. I think he's also a tad parochial - much of modern Malaysia is shaped by Western values - of equality of the sexes, the right to vote, the right to free expression and freedom of religion. None of these values existed in Malaysia, until the Britain's empire-builders enforced them on Malaysia's principalities.
#7
"....accusing them of warmongering, indiscriminate attacks on Muslims, greed, and sexual deviancy."
Well, one out of four isn't bad. On the other hand, I'm not too eager to see a wall pushed over on my local hair stylist. Guess I'd make a bad muslim.
"The culture and the values which they will force us to accept will be hedonism, unlimited quest for pleasure, the satisfaction of base desires, particularly sexual desires."
Ohhh..."forced" to accept it...yaas...that's it...Honestly Fatima, I didn't go in that gay bar voluntarily, these two sweaty leather clad stud-muffins forced me to my knees and then...
#10
Putting his foot in his mouth? This isnât new for the good âDr.â as he spouts off every now and then.
Remember, his family immigrated to Malaysia from Pakistan and he is not ethnic Malay. Maybe that contributes to his constant vitriol against the West.
As for Malaysia itself, a friend of mine is an engineer there. Itâs a great country with wonderful beaches, beautiful women and friendly people.
But A lot of people tout Malaysia as a successful example of a moderate Muslim state, but I beg to differ. I was reading somewhere that up to 75% of Malaysiaâs wealth is held by ethnic Chinese, most of whom are located in KL, which is a really nice city. The rest of the country is quite poor and Islamic fundamentalism is pretty ripe, contrary to Mahatirâs purported claims. As someone mentioned above, the Chinese are not treated too well and ethnic tensions run pretty high. So much for our âmodelâ moderate Muslim state.
#11
AWAS! Watch out for the august Datuk Seri Doctor Mahathir Mohamad! Ever notice how when folks list the 9/11 borg they say that most of them came from Saudi land? Ever wonder where the other two came from? I'm certain that one of them came from Malaysia (I had a bizarre conversation with him when I lived there)
From a MEMRI translation of a series of articles by deputy editor of the independent Egyptian weekly Roz Al-Yousef, Wael Al-Abrashi.
Wahhabism prohibits the woman from working, forbids her to drive a car, and bans democracy, treating it as a religion in addition to the religion of Allah. Wahhabism attributes great importance to the [outward] forms of Islam — growing a beard, ankle-length garments for men, and the requirement to use toothpicks instead of the satanic Western toothbrush. One Wahhabi leader, Sheikh bin 'Athimein, prohibited smoking, praying behind a smoker, shaving one's beard, praying behind a clean-shaven man, and wearing European clothing because it is polytheists' clothing⊠I say that this Wahhabism is incapable of establishing a modern state and incapable of spreading the values of tolerance that Islam has set out. On the contrary, this Wahhabism leads, as we have seen, to the birth of extremist, closed, and fanatical streams, that accuse others of heresy, abolish them, and destroy them. The extremist religious groups have moved from the stage of Takfir [leveling charges of heresy against Mulsims] to the stage of 'annihilation and destruction,' in accordance with the strategy of Al-Qaeda â which Saudi authorities must admit is a local Saudi organization that drew other organizations into it, and not the other way around. All the organizations emerged from under the robe of Wahhabism.
The ideas of the Wahhabi sheikhs and the funds of the charities turned into rifle bullets in the breasts of the innocent. An official memo by the Egyptian Interior Ministry immediately after the assassination of the late president Anwar Sadat enumerated the reasons for the buildup in extremist religious activity in Egypt. It was written there â and first published here â that the investigations and the confessions of the terror organization members showed that Sheikh Omar Abd Al-Rahman, the mufti of the [Al-Gam'ah Al-Islamiyya] organization, brought a tape-duplicating machine from Saudi Arabia and, from his home in Al-Fayoum, recorded and disseminated numerous cassettes of lectures and sermons expressing the ideology of the organization and serving its strategy and its plans. The cassettes accused the ruler of heresy and said there must be a coup against himâŠ
We used to ask the Wahhabi sheikhs and the members of extremist Egyptian religious groups: 'You demand obedience to the Saudi ruler and refraining from rising up against him, while you call for Jihad against the ruler and toppling the regime in Egypt and in other Arab countries. What is the meaning of this contradiction?' Their answer was: 'The difference is that Islamic religious law is implemented in Saudi Arabia, and not implemented in the other Arab countries.' But the day came when Saudi youth accused the Saudi authorities too of heresy, called for [Jihad] against them, and accused them of defiling the places holy to Islam via the American forces. Anyone who adopts the Takfir ideology and uses it for his own interests will be burned in its fire, because no one can control itâŠ"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
06/19/2003 10:01 pm ||
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Ingushetia and Chechnya used to make up the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Area. The two groups are ethnically distinct
Five militants were killed by the Russian Defence Ministry's special task force in the Sunzha district, Ingushetia, bordering Chechnya. According to a source in the Ingush Interior Ministry, a group of 40 militants was discovered outside the village of Chemulga in the course of a 'mopping-up' operation. "The special task force entered into a clash with the bandits, killing five of them, while the rest escaped into a forest," said RIA Novosti's source. "The commander of the special task force's reconnaissance group was slightly wounded." Earlier, on June 17, a group of bandits had attacked a reconnaissance group of the Russian Defence Ministry near the village of Muzhichi, Sunzha district. The gang, which consisted of up to ten people, attacked the reconnaissance group of the Defence Ministry's army commandant's office but was dispersed by fire and escaped into woodland. Searching the site afterwards, the law enforcers found seven grenade launchers and a cache of ammunition.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
06/19/2003 10:52 pm ||
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The Supreme Court of the Chechen Republic has sentenced Sergei Kamenichenko, a Russian national, to 18 years in high security prison after finding him guilty of committing a number of grave crimes, a representative of the local Prosecutorâs Office reported on Thursday. Investigators have established that the 28-year-old Russian man joined a gang of Chechen terrorists in 1996 after converting to Islam. In July 2002 a group of terrorists, including Kamenichenko, killed 4 policemen and a civilian citizen.
Hope you like permafrost, Sergei...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
06/19/2003 10:46 pm ||
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In an interview with Al-Ahram hebdo, Muhammad Moussa, chairman of the Legislative Commission of the Egyptian Assembly of the People (Parliament) and member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), stated that Egypt does not need democratic reform or revision of its political system. The following are excerpts from the interview: Al-Ahram Hebdo: "Political reform is the watchword we hear in political circles. Do you think it is a necessary thing?" Muhammad Moussa:"There is no reason for political reform in Egypt. Our country has adopted a political system similar to those of democratic countries all over the world. We have a constitution, an assembly of the people [parliament], a consultative council, an executive power, an independent judiciary power. What is meant by political reform? I would like to know the meaning of that phrase! What is its purpose? What is it we are lacking that we are asked to implement such reform?"
"Nope. Nope. Nothin' wrong with me. Many women tell me they find that thing growing out of my forehead attractive. And I think of it as a musky odor, not a stench..."
We have freedom and democracy based on elections that are monitored by the judiciary. The citizens are perfectly free to vote. Thus, the 2,000 elections took place under the supervision of judges in every voting commission. As for democratic culture, let me remind you that freedom of expression exists [in Egypt]. Every opinion is expressed in the national and opposition press. The national press isn't prevented from publishing critical views. We are granted political freedom as well as an effective parliament whose members represent almost all parties."
Taking this blather in conjunction with Mahathir's remarks, below, I'd say that true-believing Muslims simply can't grasp the idea of individual liberty. It's beyond their comprehension. They literally can't wrap their minds around the fact that the individual, doing what he damned well pleases, can be a good thing for everyone one, with the possible exception of the local mullahs.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
06/19/2003 10:34 pm ||
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Fred, like it was said before, they just are NOT wired to code. It will take a generation or two after their system dies to start things up right, and that is a tall order!
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/19/2003 23:12 Comments ||
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We don't only eat it, we also traffic in it!
A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry today gave the following answer to the question raised by KCNA as regards the accusation made recently by the U.S. against the DPRK over the issue of "flesh traffic": On June 11 the U.S. State Department, referring to the flesh traffic in various countries in a "report on flesh traffic," made an unreasonable accusation against our country, too, asserting that it is a source of flesh traffic and it has taken no measure to combat it. So is Kimmmie a pimp, too? Tooling down Big Kimmie Boulevard in his mink and tricked out Escalade? "Where my money, bitches!" Or is he just a mere slave trader?
The U.S. has so far cited all sorts of issues including terrorism, human rights abuse, drug trade and suppression of religion to pull up our country. You left out cannibalism, illegal arms sales, counterfeiting, nuclear blackmail and a bunch of other stuff I forgot.
And this time it went to the lengths of groundlessly charging the DPRK with "flesh traffic" in a bid to defile its system and increase pressure upon it. This is one more despicable charade which can be orchestrated only by the U.S. ruling quarters steeped in the hostility towards the DPRK to the marrow of their bones. I've noticed that the louder they scream, the better the chances the accusation is true.
By nature "flesh traffic" is something that can occur only in the American society where the fin-de-siecle tendency based on the money-is-everything principle and the jungle law prevails. "Fin-de-siecle"? Somebody want to enlighten me? I doubt they even know what it means. But it sure sounds good. Does it have anything to do with "the jungle law"?
When looking back on human history, the United States is the country with the poorest human rights record as it has grown rich because of slave trade for several centuries after it was built as a result of genocide. It is, therefore, the height of folly for the U.S. to talk about a sort of "flesh traffic". Yeah, we must be getting pretty low on all that slave trade money we had saved up. It's only been outlawed for, what, 140 years?
Such social ills are unimaginable under our socialist system under which the whole country has become a big family and the leader, the party and the masses are singleheartedly united. Now I know why they call it "The Party"! It just sounds like so much fun! Party on, you starving White Slag addicted Jucheheads!
This notwithstanding, the U.S. fabricated the issue of "flesh traffic" to attack the dprk. This is an indication that the anti-DPRK racket kicked up by the U.S. while internationalizing the nuclear issue and putting its "blockade operation" against Pyongyang into practice has reached a senseless and reckless phase. How is the "blockade operation" going? I haven't read much about it lately. I'd hate to see it be so effective that the'd have to start eating tree bark and barnyard grass and their kids and stuff. Unless that's what they like. I'm not gonna lay my cultural sterotypes on them.
There is an increasing number of refugees and flesh traffic and all other crimes and social evils are rife in various dispute-torn regions of the world. But not here in the NK! Here "the Party" rules! Soon we'll be calling it "The Par-tay".
This is a product of the policy of war pursued by the Bush administration against humanity in a bid to realize its wild ambition for world supremacy. The Evil Bush ponders.... and waits.
It is an already known fact that the U.S. intelligence bodies made sustained sinister attempts to kidnap inhabitants in border areas of our country and take them to neighboring countries and they are under open debate even at congress. Maybe you can give us some lessons on kidnapping foreigners. The Japanese say you're pretty good at it.
Desperate efforts of the U.S. to topple our social system will only touch off stronger resentment at the Bush group and harden our people's determination to resolutely defend our socialist system. Party on Pimp Dog Il!
Since Ptah hasn't entered his score, I'll enter mine. Very nice rant, strong on big family and the masses, and excellent fin de siecle to confuse the running dogs. But no mention of 'army based policy' or 'songun'. Overall excellent but not quite Olympic medal caliber.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/19/2003 18:56 Comments ||
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Speaking of jerks and the EU, a French frigate is moored in the river next to my fair city. Any suggestions for a polite gesture of welcome?
And the crew plans to visit the National D-Day Museum, I'm told.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/19/2003 15:23 Comments ||
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Matt,
Station a group of people in lifeguard suits with full lifesaving equipment in plain view. Tell them you're there to protect them in case this vessel was built in the same yards as the DeGaulle
Fidel Castro was apparently taken in by Florida radio station presenter pretending to be the Venezuelan president and unleashed a string of profanities on air when he realised he had been fooled. Joe Ferrero, of El Zol 95.7 telephoned the Cuban leader's office, saying he was Hugo Chavez and wanted to talk about documents left in a Venezuelan hotel. When the man believed to be Mr Castro answered, Santos shouted: "You sucker, you fell for it."
He replied: "What did I fall for, you shit? What did I fall for, bastard?"
Didn't the same thing happen a couple months ago? Or is this a retell on the same story?
Posted by: Bulldog ||
06/19/2003 05:02 am ||
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Robert Mugabe is considering stepping down as Zimbabwe's president within a year under "certain conditions", South African government sources said yesterday. His demands include the right to nominate his successor and international and local recognition that he remains the country's properly elected founding president to enable him to enjoy "honourable retirement", they said.
Yeah, yeah. You're father of your country. Now get the hell out...
The 79-year-old autocrat, whose obsession with clinging to power has brought his once-prosperous nation to the edge of economic collapse and political chaos, is said to have assured President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa of his retirement plans in a telephone call last week. Mr Mbeki sees Mr Mugabe as a major impediment to his dream of successfully launching Nepad — the "new partnership for Africa's development" under which African nations commit themselves to good governance in return for international financial aid. "Nepad"?! And I thought Artemis was crap.
Pronounced "Kneepad"?
Mr Mbeki called Mr Mugabe on the eve of the World Economic Forum Africa in Durban, a crucial meeting for Nepad ambitions, at which the South African leader was host. Mr Mbeki was said to have been enraged by images emerging from Zimbabwe of Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change being hauled before court in chains to face a second charge of high treason for organising protests against the Mugabe government. According to sources, Mr Mbeki told Mr Mugabe of South Africa's "displeasure". A surprisingly conciliatory Mr Mugabe assured the South African leader of his plans for conditional retirement but emphasised that he would not quit under pressure from "troublemakers" or "international subversives". But Mr Mugabe has repeatedly broken assurances given to South Africa. His office issued a statement yesterday rejecting any suggestion of his resignation. Here's hoping he dies in office. Sooner rather than later. No strings. Ropes, maybe.
Yeah. Chuck Taylor's talking about "retirement," too. You see where that went. And Bob brings this subject up periodically, because he's a sadistic bastard.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
06/19/2003 04:32 am ||
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Mugabe's 3 conditions to step down.
1. right to nominate successor
2. recognition that he remains the country's properly elected founding president to enable him to enjoy "honourable retirement
3. he takes his last breath
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
