I read that al-Yawar has invited "rebel" Shite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr to join Iraqi politics after the June 30th US handover.
Do you think if al-Sadr is not arrested and tried, he will come back to haunt the fledgling democracy with his terroristic tactics?
I believe he may even be lie low for a few months until the American troops leave, and then make a forceful grab for power against the Iraqi government. He has learned that he will not be punished for his terrorist activities (and murder of fellow cleric). He will not be inclined to continue to use force to gain what he wants (power.)
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Brief History of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict Part 2. 1950-
Facts:
In 1956, Arab nationalist and Egyptian dictator, Gamal Nassar had been using his “fedayeen” to launch terrorist incursions into Israel. Then Nassar seized the Suez Canal which was under British and French control. Britain, France, and Israel formed a secret alliance and decided to attack Egypt. The invasion was a military success, but a political disaster as the US forced an early ceasefire. Israel had captured Sinai and Gaza, but US pressure forced them to quickly return these captured gains. Following the Suez war, Nassar aligned himself completely with the Soviet Union. Before and during Suez, the US was not an ally of Israel. Only following the increased Soviet intervention in Egypt did US align itself with Israel.
In 1967, Nassar marched troops passed UN peacekeepers in Sinai and amassed an army on the border of Israel. Syria and a reluctant Jordan followed suit. Due to imposing threats, Israel launched a pre-emptive attack, winning the 6 Day War. Israel had captured the West Bank, Gaza, and Sinai. In the wake of a humilitating defeat, Nassar began the War of Attrition with Israel from 1968-1970. The limited war was designed to harass Israel’s occupation of Sinai in light of limited supply of manpower. It ended with no change to the border. After Nassar died in 1970, Anwar Sadat assumed power and was determined to regain the Sinai Peninsula.
In 1973, Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel. This was the Yom Kippur War. After initial heavy loses, Israel was able to counter attack and defeat Egypt and Syria. They regained all territory lost in the beginning of the war and the borders remained the same. Anger over the aid in equipment supplied by America started the OPEC oil embargo. Beginning in late 1977, relations between Sadat and Begin warmed and in 1979 on a conference at Camp David, they signed a peace agreement. Israel returned Sinai to Egypt. In 1982, PLO’s terrorist raids from Lebanon led to its invasion. By 1985, most of the troops had been removed except for a security zone which was vacated in 2000. The first Palestinian infitada began in 1987. By 1993, Israel and the PLO were signed the Oslo Accords which gave some provisional authority to Palestinian self government. In 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a peace agreement. Jordan has not been interested in taking back the West Bank because the Palestinians had been a threat to the reign Jordan’s king. In 1995, another interim treaty was signed by Yitzak Rabin and Arafat. After Rabin’s assassination by a Jewish radical, negotiations labored on but were soured by terrorism when Netanyahu was Prime Minsiter. In 2000, Labor Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered Arafat a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital. Arafat rejected Barak's offer, because Arafat demanded a “right to return.” Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Al-Aqsa compound sparked the second infitada. Israeli citizens who legitimately tried to make concessions for peace, were dismayed by the violence and elected Ariel Sharon in order to combat the terrorism.
Opinions:
This is a basic history of conflict. Historical context is important to understand what is happening today. However, Israel has not been the evil aggressor it is made out to be. Media terms like “cycle of violence” equate suicide bombers to Israeli responses. Peace will not be had when factions like Hamas and Fatah are bent on Israel’s destruction. Arafat is not interested in peace. The longer the “struggle” continues, the more world attention he gets and more money he gets.
In 1956, Arab nationalist and Egyptian dictator, Gamal Nassar had been using his “fedayeen” to launch terrorist incursions into Israel. Then Nassar seized the Suez Canal which was under British and French control. Britain, France, and Israel formed a secret alliance and decided to attack Egypt. The invasion was a military success, but a political disaster as the US forced an early ceasefire. Israel had captured Sinai and Gaza, but US pressure forced them to quickly return these captured gains. Following the Suez war, Nassar aligned himself completely with the Soviet Union. Before and during Suez, the US was not an ally of Israel. Only following the increased Soviet intervention in Egypt did US align itself with Israel.
In 1967, Nassar marched troops passed UN peacekeepers in Sinai and amassed an army on the border of Israel. Syria and a reluctant Jordan followed suit. Due to imposing threats, Israel launched a pre-emptive attack, winning the 6 Day War. Israel had captured the West Bank, Gaza, and Sinai. In the wake of a humilitating defeat, Nassar began the War of Attrition with Israel from 1968-1970. The limited war was designed to harass Israel’s occupation of Sinai in light of limited supply of manpower. It ended with no change to the border. After Nassar died in 1970, Anwar Sadat assumed power and was determined to regain the Sinai Peninsula.
In 1973, Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel. This was the Yom Kippur War. After initial heavy loses, Israel was able to counter attack and defeat Egypt and Syria. They regained all territory lost in the beginning of the war and the borders remained the same. Anger over the aid in equipment supplied by America started the OPEC oil embargo. Beginning in late 1977, relations between Sadat and Begin warmed and in 1979 on a conference at Camp David, they signed a peace agreement. Israel returned Sinai to Egypt. In 1982, PLO’s terrorist raids from Lebanon led to its invasion. By 1985, most of the troops had been removed except for a security zone which was vacated in 2000. The first Palestinian infitada began in 1987. By 1993, Israel and the PLO were signed the Oslo Accords which gave some provisional authority to Palestinian self government. In 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a peace agreement. Jordan has not been interested in taking back the West Bank because the Palestinians had been a threat to the reign Jordan’s king. In 1995, another interim treaty was signed by Yitzak Rabin and Arafat. After Rabin’s assassination by a Jewish radical, negotiations labored on but were soured by terrorism when Netanyahu was Prime Minsiter. In 2000, Labor Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered Arafat a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital. Arafat rejected Barak's offer, because Arafat demanded a “right to return.” Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Al-Aqsa compound sparked the second infitada. Israeli citizens who legitimately tried to make concessions for peace, were dismayed by the violence and elected Ariel Sharon in order to combat the terrorism.
Opinions:
This is a basic history of conflict. Historical context is important to understand what is happening today. However, Israel has not been the evil aggressor it is made out to be. Media terms like “cycle of violence” equate suicide bombers to Israeli responses. Peace will not be had when factions like Hamas and Fatah are bent on Israel’s destruction. Arafat is not interested in peace. The longer the “struggle” continues, the more world attention he gets and more money he gets.
Friday, June 11, 2004
Brief History of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict Part 1. 1919-1950
The Facts:
The area known as Palestine had been under control of the Ottoman Empire since the 16th century. The Sykes-Picot Treaty broke up the Ottoman Empire following its defeat in World War I. The area of Palestine was placed under control of the British and was known as the British mandate. During the time between the world wars, Jewish immigration to Palestine increased following persecution and anti-Semitism in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The British made several attempts to divide Palestine into two separate Jewish and Palestinian countries due to ongoing violence between the two peoples. None of these succeeded. Following WWII, the frustrated British handed control of Palestinian to the newly created United Nations.
The United Nations devised a plan to create two countries. Israel agreed and declared independence, but the Palestinians did not, Instead they decided to attack the fledgling Israeli state with the help of its Arab neighbours, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Although losing at first, Israel won the war and armistice agreements were sign in 1949. Israel gained some of the land that had been designated as Palestinian by the UN. What is now known as the West Bank became part of Jordan, Gaza became part of Egypt, and the Golan Heights were part of Syria. A country called “Palestine” has never existed in the past 500+ years. As a result of the 1948 war, there about 750,000 Palestinian refugees and 600,000 Jewish refugees, whom were kicked out of Arab countries. The Jewish refugees were absorbed into Israel, but the Palestinian refugees were not permitted to settle in neighbouring Arab countries, instead being held in refugee camps, where many remain today.
My Opinion:
The question of a “Palestinian right of return” is the demand for these Palestinian refugees to return and reclaim their old pre-1948 land and houses, which is now firmly part of Israel and lived on and owned by hundred of thousands of Israelis for several generations. This would lead to essentially the destruction of Israel and will never be accepted by any Israeli government. It would be like Native American Indians demanding Manhattan Island being returned to them. In the 2000 Camp David Accords, this was the only demand not willing to be accepted by Ehud Barak out of all of Yassar Arafat’s demands.
Palestine gambled on defeating Israel in 1948 and lost. They gave up their best chance for statehood, when they attacked Israel. This is a similar situation with the West Bank and Gaza today where lost wars by Egypt, Jordan, and Syria against Israel caused them to lose territory. If you go to a casino, gamble and loose, you cannot whine until you get your money back. There are parts of Germany or Russia, which are now part of another country, because of lost wars. The resulting Palestinian situation has never gotten better because they are used as pawns again Israel. They are not permitted to resettle in other Arab countries, still living in poverty and temporary camps.
The area known as Palestine had been under control of the Ottoman Empire since the 16th century. The Sykes-Picot Treaty broke up the Ottoman Empire following its defeat in World War I. The area of Palestine was placed under control of the British and was known as the British mandate. During the time between the world wars, Jewish immigration to Palestine increased following persecution and anti-Semitism in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The British made several attempts to divide Palestine into two separate Jewish and Palestinian countries due to ongoing violence between the two peoples. None of these succeeded. Following WWII, the frustrated British handed control of Palestinian to the newly created United Nations.
The United Nations devised a plan to create two countries. Israel agreed and declared independence, but the Palestinians did not, Instead they decided to attack the fledgling Israeli state with the help of its Arab neighbours, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Although losing at first, Israel won the war and armistice agreements were sign in 1949. Israel gained some of the land that had been designated as Palestinian by the UN. What is now known as the West Bank became part of Jordan, Gaza became part of Egypt, and the Golan Heights were part of Syria. A country called “Palestine” has never existed in the past 500+ years. As a result of the 1948 war, there about 750,000 Palestinian refugees and 600,000 Jewish refugees, whom were kicked out of Arab countries. The Jewish refugees were absorbed into Israel, but the Palestinian refugees were not permitted to settle in neighbouring Arab countries, instead being held in refugee camps, where many remain today.
My Opinion:
The question of a “Palestinian right of return” is the demand for these Palestinian refugees to return and reclaim their old pre-1948 land and houses, which is now firmly part of Israel and lived on and owned by hundred of thousands of Israelis for several generations. This would lead to essentially the destruction of Israel and will never be accepted by any Israeli government. It would be like Native American Indians demanding Manhattan Island being returned to them. In the 2000 Camp David Accords, this was the only demand not willing to be accepted by Ehud Barak out of all of Yassar Arafat’s demands.
Palestine gambled on defeating Israel in 1948 and lost. They gave up their best chance for statehood, when they attacked Israel. This is a similar situation with the West Bank and Gaza today where lost wars by Egypt, Jordan, and Syria against Israel caused them to lose territory. If you go to a casino, gamble and loose, you cannot whine until you get your money back. There are parts of Germany or Russia, which are now part of another country, because of lost wars. The resulting Palestinian situation has never gotten better because they are used as pawns again Israel. They are not permitted to resettle in other Arab countries, still living in poverty and temporary camps.
Monday, June 07, 2004
A President to Remember
Coincidentally the day was also marked with the death of former President Ronald Reagan at 93. Even if I live to be 100 years old, it is probable that the greatest president of my lifetime will have been elected when I was two. He reminded the world what it meant to be a leader. He lead the country with conviction and through his beliefs, not by the opinions of focus groups. He couldn’t care about what his detractors had to say about him. He did what he thought was right and had people thanking him for it afterwards. He never tried to be popular leader, just a good one.
It was sad that the press couldn’t refrain from speaking ill of him, slighting him with a dose of class warfare for once last time. His legacy will be fondly remembered my millions of Americans despite what they may say.
It was sad that the press couldn’t refrain from speaking ill of him, slighting him with a dose of class warfare for once last time. His legacy will be fondly remembered my millions of Americans despite what they may say.
A Day for Honor
Yesterday marked two great events. The first was the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. You learned in school about how brave men fought for America in World War II. However, it is necessary to revisit their bravery and sacrifice. Their average age was 20 and they were given the task of saving humanity. They left their farms to go to a foreign land to fight for freedom. Their sacrifice is enjoyed by millions today. Many were killed so we could be here today. It’s easy to forget, but there are thousands of men who didn’t live to be even 26. In the words of one of the veterans who was speaking at the ceremonies:
A funny antidote I remember was the fact that when I was in grade school: My brother had told me I was born the day before D-Day, so I repeated that one day in class for some reason. I didn’t really know what it was, of course, the kids didn’t know what “D-day” was, but the teacher had no idea either! A middle aged woman, in the 1980s had no idea what D-Day was.
The struggle continues today. The men who fight in Iraq need to be appreciated more. It is high time that Americans be united on the fight of terror. The veterans of Iraq are just as brave. They fight terrorists in Iraq so they don’t fight in America. When we go to work without fear, we have to thank our military.
Here in Aberdeen when they had the commemorations for the 60th anniversary of D-day, they hung some Union Jack flags, but they also hung rainbow flags. Why, you ask?..."to commemorate gay people were persecuted by the Nazis." Well, so were Jews and Catholics. The point is that it was D-day commemoration and putting up rainbow flags took something away from the brave men that fought. Gays could commemorate on another day.
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. “
A funny antidote I remember was the fact that when I was in grade school: My brother had told me I was born the day before D-Day, so I repeated that one day in class for some reason. I didn’t really know what it was, of course, the kids didn’t know what “D-day” was, but the teacher had no idea either! A middle aged woman, in the 1980s had no idea what D-Day was.
The struggle continues today. The men who fight in Iraq need to be appreciated more. It is high time that Americans be united on the fight of terror. The veterans of Iraq are just as brave. They fight terrorists in Iraq so they don’t fight in America. When we go to work without fear, we have to thank our military.
Here in Aberdeen when they had the commemorations for the 60th anniversary of D-day, they hung some Union Jack flags, but they also hung rainbow flags. Why, you ask?..."to commemorate gay people were persecuted by the Nazis." Well, so were Jews and Catholics. The point is that it was D-day commemoration and putting up rainbow flags took something away from the brave men that fought. Gays could commemorate on another day.
Friday, June 04, 2004
The Religion of Peace
Is Islam a religion of peace? The PC world says “yes”, but many say “no” as Muslim-begat violence persists. I think with all the horrible things you hear in the news, it is easy to start believing that all Muslims are vile. Terrorism is not even limited to the US or Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Muslim extremists have been taking the fight to Nigeria and have attacked in Thailand. The US policy on Israel has nothing to do with that. The Koran is littered with dodgy verses about killing infidels.
Nonetheless, I can't say I agree that Islam is a religion of violence. If it was, we would have a lot worse problems than we do today. Although Islam is mired in problems, I don't think all or even many Muslims are evil. There are a lot of problems with Islam, such as apathetic "moderate" clerics. There are evil men in the world trying to gain power. They can either use nationalism or religion to bind people together.
Even if the Koran had a more peaceful message, people could still infer any rationalization in order to justify their opinion. People do it everywhere, and it isn’t limited to holy books. Somehow our own Supreme Court deemed that sodomy was a constitutionally protect right, yet even more unbelievable, is that affirmative action and racial quotas are also somehow constitutionally acceptable. Perhaps the Koran is a “living, breathing” document.
Equate Muslims to the Germans during WWII. Not all Germans were Nazis. Many Germans were good people. Some got suckered in by propaganda, but many had nothing to do with WWII. There were many that were similarly apathetic to the persecution of the Jews. Some dissenters were summarily executed and the rest remained silent. Today, Germany is quite different. It took a massive war and many sacrifices to sort them out and welcome them back to civilization. Although another undertaking is necessary to defeat the Islamofacists, that doesn't mean every Muslim is evil. Hopefully, we don’t wait until it is too late.
I came upon this quotation from famed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill which is worth reading as some of the problems we face with Islam are similar to those over 100 years ago. His comments on Islam from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248 50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899):
Nonetheless, I can't say I agree that Islam is a religion of violence. If it was, we would have a lot worse problems than we do today. Although Islam is mired in problems, I don't think all or even many Muslims are evil. There are a lot of problems with Islam, such as apathetic "moderate" clerics. There are evil men in the world trying to gain power. They can either use nationalism or religion to bind people together.
Even if the Koran had a more peaceful message, people could still infer any rationalization in order to justify their opinion. People do it everywhere, and it isn’t limited to holy books. Somehow our own Supreme Court deemed that sodomy was a constitutionally protect right, yet even more unbelievable, is that affirmative action and racial quotas are also somehow constitutionally acceptable. Perhaps the Koran is a “living, breathing” document.
Equate Muslims to the Germans during WWII. Not all Germans were Nazis. Many Germans were good people. Some got suckered in by propaganda, but many had nothing to do with WWII. There were many that were similarly apathetic to the persecution of the Jews. Some dissenters were summarily executed and the rest remained silent. Today, Germany is quite different. It took a massive war and many sacrifices to sort them out and welcome them back to civilization. Although another undertaking is necessary to defeat the Islamofacists, that doesn't mean every Muslim is evil. Hopefully, we don’t wait until it is too late.
I came upon this quotation from famed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill which is worth reading as some of the problems we face with Islam are similar to those over 100 years ago. His comments on Islam from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248 50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899):
"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property‹either as a child, a wife, or a concubine‹must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science‹the science against which it had vainly struggled‹the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."
Thursday, June 03, 2004
The U.S. is underappreciated
“If the US acted more like Norway (or Sweden, etc) we wouldn’t have all of these problems with Islam. It’s the fact that Americans are so insensitive to other cultures…” I heard and read stuff like that recently. The US has taken a public relations bashing over the past two years. “Bush is a thicked head cowboy.” Many Europeans wonder if the Americans could be more like them, the problem with Islam wouldn’t exist. I say “bull.” The "Norways" of the world are covered in an umbrella protect by the United States. The U.S. is the big man on the block and obviously the target. If America’s resolve fell to militant Islam, these small Western European countries would be under attack.
If the US didn’t stand up to militant Islam, who would? I’m tired of the US taking a beating, while they are the only ones willing to stand up to these thugs. The US is underappreciated.
If the US didn’t stand up to militant Islam, who would? I’m tired of the US taking a beating, while they are the only ones willing to stand up to these thugs. The US is underappreciated.
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