[MoscowTimes] Ramadan began in Moscow on June 28, as it did throughout the Arab world. When that period of fasting ends one month later, tens of thousands of believers will gather at each of the capital city's four mosques. The structures cannot hold so many of the faithful, and, as always, the mass of worshippers spills over and fills the side streets.
Such a scene might sound more typical of Cairo or Tehran, but it is just one face of the rapidly changing capital. Muscovites nervously joke that the city will soon turn into the Islamic metropolis of Moskvabad, but in that quip can be discerned the outlines of a very possible future.
Russia is a Moslem land — an estimated 10 million to 15 million Moslems live here, or 10 percent of the population. Although this number is too small to put Russia in the same category as Egypt, Pakistain or Indonesia, it is large enough to seriously change the country's familiar cultural landscape.
Continued on Page 49
A recent Gulf News report sheds some light on how and why the United States helped bring the Moslem Brüderbund and its Islamist allies to power, followed by all the subsequent chaos and atrocities in the Mideast region.
Large portions of the report follow with my commentary interspersed for added context:
Herewith a taste for fair use. Click on the headline to read the whole thing.
Dubai: For the past decade, two successive US administrations have maintained close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Libya, to name just the most prominent cases.
The Obama administration conducted an assessment of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2010 and 2011, beginning even before the events known as the "Arab Spring" erupted in Tunisia and in Egypt. The President personally issued Presidential Study Directive 11 (PSD-11) in 2010, ordering an assessment of the Muslim Brotherhood and other "political Islamist" movements, including the ruling AKP in Turkey, ultimately concluding that the United States should shift from its longstanding policy of supporting "stability" in the Middle East and North Africa (that is, support for "stable regimes" even if they were authoritarian), to a policy of backing "moderate" Islamic political movements (emphasis in bold added throughout).
And we have certainly witnessed this shift. Chaos and the Islamic ascendancy in the Middle East and North Africa never flourished as under the Obama administration—and precisely because the administration shifted from supporting stability under secular-minded autocrats.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
07/08/2014 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood
#1
In light of all the chaos the Islamists have been responsible for in Libya, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, et al—is it now obvious why Arab autocrats like Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak, and currently Bashar Assad have always “banned” and “fiercely pursued” the Brotherhood and its affiliates?
The overthrowing of autocratic regimes generally presents the opportunity for confusion, constructive turmoil, deal brokering, and political re-starts. None of these events fit together or form a logical pattern if you're a firm advocate of coincidences.
Section 2381 Treason
Section 2382 Misprision of treason
Section 2383 Rebellion or insurrection
Section 2384 Seditious conspiracy
Section 2385 Advocating overthrow of Government
Section 2386 Registration of certain organizations
Section 2387 Activities affecting armed forces generally
Section 2388 Activities affecting armed forces during war
Section 2389 Recruiting for service against United States
Section 2390 Enlistment to serve against United States
Section 2391 Repealed.
- See more at: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/115#sthash.LgpMmCKy.dpuf
#4
g(r)om says: Never invoke malice where simple stupidity (going back to long before the Messiah) will suffice as an explanation.
Problem with that is that it excuses the malevolent for their malice. Malice exists and can be seen in many forms, especially in off the cuff comments.
Thankfully malice and stupidity/incompetence are NOT mutually exclusive.
#5
Hey, FF, if the one refuses to enforce other USC law, why should any of the rest apply other than selectively and prejudicially? Capricious and arbitrary application undermines the very nature of law. Get a hint.
#7
Except when the name of tghe President is Barack Hussein Obama, when he writyes a book about praising a Muslim father who in fact was a despicable man, when part of his life jhe was raised as a Muslim and when he has told things like "most beautiful sound in world is call to prayer".
Don't assume every fuck up is due to malice instead of mere incompetency but keep your eyes open for astute bad guys masking malice as mere incompetency.
853 days
20495 hours
1229730 minutes
73783821 seconds
until Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 7:00:00 AM (San Bernardino time)
Posted by: Herb Hatrack6046 ||
07/08/2014 11:31 Comments ||
Top||
#11
Never invoke malice where simple stupidity (going back to long before the Messiah) will suffice as an explanation.
The problem is, if it were stupidity, some of the mistakes should go the other way. Obama has been consistent and on target when it comes to hurting the American people.
So no, I don't think he's stupid at all.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
07/08/2014 13:23 Comments ||
Top||
#12
It's easy to say "Ooops" when you meant the shit to happen all along.
#16
#14 ROFLMAO!! The Archie Bunker's on the Right still can't swallow having a black man as President!!
You can't be serious. I know Chinese Mormons blacker than Manly Momjeans. Anyhoo...
If one-drop were rain, you'd be pouring;
If bullshit had horns, you'd be goring;
If hooting were shooting,
You'd have us all scooting.
If you're so bright, why are we snoring?
[DAWN] THE fundamentals of the Constitution are clear. Policies will be formed by the elected civilian government, laws will be made by an elected parliament, and the same laws will be interpreted by the judiciary. Lacunae in foreign, internal and external security policy and in state departments will be dealt with by the government, which must also oversee its citizens' economic wellbeing, the equitable distribution of power and fair implementation of the rule of law.
Failure to do so because of vested interests and inefficiency would be a failure of the state itself.
It is against this backdrop that we must view extremist violence resorted to by militias representing a particular type of religious interpretation. Their formation divests people of their share in the social contract outlined in the Constitution
Militias, whether they strike against the state itself or against other states, negate the principles of the social contract. Complaints against the state can be addressed through mechanisms designed to bring about amendments to the social contract or to implement the latter. The government has a monopoly on power, for a specified tenure under the Constitution. It has at its disposal institutions that can act on behalf of the people to counter internal and external forces that jeopardise public security.
Civil society is the major stakeholder in the social contract, comprising as it does professional groups, trade unions, academia, non-profit organisations and political parties. It must resist and stand up to any violation of constitutional basics. That is its right and responsibility.
Any decrease in instances of violation of basic rights is seen as directly proportional to an increased level of vigilance and the adoption of due process by civil society. In fact, such checks help raise the level of trust that ordinary people have in the state. This in turn helps the state move towards a better future for its people.
On the basis of this, lobbying for bringing peripheries into the mainstream and advocating equity in the distribution of power and resources is a prime responsibility of civil society. And one place where such change is necessary is Fata, whose administrative, political and economic structure is more than simply anachronistic — the area has become a breeding ground for militias and for organised crime to thrive in.
Militias and crime cartels are manned by both Pakistanis and non-Pakistanis. They have developed a lethal nexus with sectarian groups and international jihadists in and around Pakistan to embark upon a three-pronged strategy to disrupt the social contract of the state.
First, they have perpetrated terror to instil fear in civil society and to convince the people that their social contract with the state is not worth their trust. Second, these networks and cartels have disrupted the governance machinery, putting pressure on the state in an attempt to bankrupt it and isolate it from countries in the neighbourhood and beyond. Third, the network has achieved some success in developing ideological, political and financial constituencies among certain elements, groups and areas.
Those that have stakes in fomenting extremist violence, supported by crime cartels, aid the overall terror network by extending a helping hand to each other when the state uses force prescribed by the Constitution to disrupt the terrorism structure.
What they are capable of is well known. They spread irrational propaganda to misguide the common people, often resorting to their own print and electronic media resources to reach as many people as possible to put pressure on the state. Additionally, they mobilise their 'welfare' wings to create a trust deficit between the state and its citizens. By winning the people's trust, the terror network finds the space to melt away, re-organise and reshape its anti-state strategies.
This can best be observed in the current military operation in North Waziristan. The humanitarian tragedy, in the shape of thousands of IDPs, could have been easily managed. The space that 'welfare' wings of militant groups achieved could easily have been denied to them with a little hard work and some coordination among civilian relief departments.
The Fata Disaster Management Authority and KP's Provincial Disaster Management Authority should have coordinated their efforts, and a workable liaison among various departments of the KP government would also have been welcome under the circumstances.
A system of coordination could have easily been developed among the local Bannu administration, KP's social welfare department and local civil society groups to minimise IDP suffering. One can see that those espousing extremist violence want to push matters to a stage where the federal government and military come under immense pressure to halt the much-needed operation in North Waziristan.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/08/2014 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[DAWN] THERE may be two ways of looking at the latest episode involving an angry Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ...Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz Uncle Fester Sharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that. since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture... . It could be frowned upon as fresh proof of old tribal tendencies, of how personal egos can make individuals act in strange ways in the most demanding of times, with Chaudhry Nisar pulled up for making a habit of it. Or it can be taken as an example of someone asserting his democratic choice to dissent within the party, rather than submitting blindly to the leadership. In either case, it is ill-timed, and in both scenarios, it can be presumed that we are far from having seen the last of it. 'Informed' reports about the meetings in Rawalpindi and Lahore, which pictured the PML-N leadership as trying to pacify an old party lieutenant, indicate only partial success. Chaudhry Nisar, who happens to be in charge of the interior ministry of a country that is fighting a crucial battle, is said to have been persuaded to continue in the post even when he stands by his right to disagree. Thus, this could well be momentary relief rather than a long-term solution. With speculation about factions within the PML-N filling the vacuum created by silence on the actual reason behind the differences, the problem could resurface soon.
If a democracy is strong enough to allow visible disagreement between a prime minister and his interior minister, the next level should be where these differences are identified and are seen to be discussed. Also, it is inevitable for a party of the parliamentary size of the PML-N to have groupings. But by creating the impression that the Chaudhry Nisar issue is something that can only be resolved by secret parleys and a resort to old notions of loyalty, the PML-N is fanning all kinds of rumours. At this stage of his long political career, the prime minister must be able to display not only tolerance of intra-party dissent but the skill and patience to address and resolve it.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/08/2014 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
#1
My sense is the operation to move children from Central America north has been in the planning stages for months. Under the current regime, I suspect it would have happened with or without so-called immigration reform.
#2
A community organizers dream; moving liabilities right into the heart of your enemies territory. And making your enemy look like the bad guy while doing it.
#5
ValJar has now invited Perry to a 'round table style substantial meeting' discussion with the Champ and other "leaders." Looks like a PR/photo ambush. I hope Perry declines and invites Champ to his office for a one-on-one instead.
#7
Refusing Champ's photo-op? Texas will pay -- send in a few more 100k disease ridden gang members from Central America.
Posted by: regular joe ||
07/08/2014 10:11 Comments ||
Top||
#8
Rick Perry trying to talk to Obama would be like the Israelis trying to negotiate with Hamas. How do you negotiate with an enemy whose central aim is to destroy you?
#11
Took the Iraq fiasco and Benghazhi fiasco off the front pages and created a crisis the left could slough off as humanitarian but which would obviously upset the right. Lots of coincidences in there that help the One, or at least Democrats.
Republicans really shoudl be using words such as human trafficing and suggesting that if these are indeed refugees that there are some failed states down south that perhaps the Marines should be looking into (as was the case with Haiti a decade or so back).
#14
He's doing it to be oppositional. To piss people off, and make them scream louder, which makes him feel important. Everyone is paying attention to him, and arguing about the chaos, misery, and destruction he's sowing. He has probably never felt so powerful, and is likely to transgress more and more boundaries. The same way a drug addict needs more and more to feed the addiction.
Unfortunately, it's pointless to impeach him without a good chance the Senate will then convict and remove him. But the longer consequences are delayed, the more emboldened he will feel, and the more damage he will do.
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.
Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz 
