Tag: Religious Extremism

Vast majority of Arab youth ‘reject IS’

This post is in conjunction with the previous one……..and news that will seldom be seen by the public here in the good old U S of A….for it does not fit the propaganda that is fed to us peasants daily.

I am sure that this post will not win me many new friends on the Right…..but what the Hell….I will get over it.

There is lots of lip flapping about the those darn Muslims and what they believe…..too many equate ISIS and AQ with the standard Muslim belief….that is only if you are an uneducated moron.

In a survey, the youth are cynical about ISIS. The leading explanation they gave for its rise is unemployment.  (regardless of the slogans and applause lines….unemployment does foment dissension)

They are worried about rising sectarianism. And, they are more concerned with stability than regular elections.  Except in Egypt, they have a certain amount of buyers’ remorse for how their revolutions have turned out.

And they’re worried about youth unemployment. Less than half think good jobs are available to them in their area.

But they also think ISIS is a reaction against Western military dominance in the region (i.e. a reaction against humiliation)……. if you put together US troop presence in the region, the US invasion of Iraq, and the Israeli troop presence in the region, about a third of respondents felt foreign military occupation provoked the advent of ISIS.

The sad thing about this survey was…….The general sentiment that the US is an ally is not found in Iraq. Nine in ten Iraqi youth see the United States as an enemy.  (Job well done for a “Mission Accomplished”)……..

The majority of young people believe stability should be prioritised over democracy but vast majority reject Islamic State group

Source: Vast majority of Arab youth ‘reject IS’

These are stories that the media and especially the hate blogs will never let see the light of day…..what amazes me is that they all seem to be experts in the Quran….I did not realize there were that many western experts in the Quran and its meaning…..

I do not expect much support for this news…..too many Americans do NOT want to know the truth or the reality that is the Middle East…….they would prefer to bad mouth everything they cannot understand….after all….it is the American Way.

The Saudis Go Full ISIS

I have pointed out many times here on IST that the actions of the hated ISIS is no different than the actions from an American “friend and ally”….Saudi Arabia……I am not sure if anyone is listening or understanding…..so I keep trying to shed more light on the situation.

Recent events in Saudi Arabia has lead me to try once again to explain why I say that there is little difference between ISIS and Saudi Arabia…..

Source: The Saudis Go Full ISIS – Antiwar.com Original by — Antiwar.com

No matter how one tries to cut it….the Saudis are not acting like a good example for anyone to follow…..their religious fundamentalism is nothing but an example for other fanatics using religion as a cover for their atrocities.

Then there are those that question their so-called war on terrorism……

Containing the scourge of Islamist terror will be impossible without containing the ideology that drives it: Wahhabism, a messianic, jihad-extolling form of Sunni fundamentalism whose international expansion has been bankrolled by oil-rich sheikhdoms, especially Saudi Arabia.

Source: Saudi Arabia’s Phony War on Terror – BSNEWS

The question could be asked….just how serious are the Saudis on fighting terrorism?

Then there is another question that could be asked……Is the US to blame for the newest dust up between Iran and Saudi Arabia?

Source: Saudi Arabia and Iran and how we got here – Al Jazeera English

I say yes…..why?  The US turns a blind eye to the human rights violations by the Saudis and by doing so they give a rubber stamp to all their violations…….

I know that is a lot to process……but better now than later……

There is so much more to the Middle East than you will ever get from your nearest TV……it will be too late to try and understand when your child is serving in the next “Gulf” war……if so then does this mash up threaten the Middle East even more?

Source: Saudi-Iranian Rivalry Threatens Entire Middle East | Al Jazeera America

War is coming…..Will Johnny go to war?  (a future post in the making)

New Middle East Time Bomb

Well that is almost an oxymoron but in this case it is accurate…..in case you are confused at what I am referring to…..the Saudis beheaded a Shia cleric for criticizing the royal family……(a quick synopsis)……

The fallout in the Muslim world over Saudi Arabia’s execution of a Shiite cleric is only getting worse. After Iranian protesters broke into the Saudi embassy in Tehran to protest, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran, and now Bahrain has done the same, reports the BBC. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, is at least downgrading ties with Tehran, reports the AP. Some coverage:

At the core of the matter is the split between Sunni and Shia Islam, and the New York Timeshas a primer.

Why was this executed cleric so important? The Guardian has a profile of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and his long role as a “thorn” in the side of the Saudi regime.

One word for the effect on already jittery oil prices Monday? “Volatile,” reports CNNMoney.The US is worried the rising tensions will hurt the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, reports the Washington Post.

Can the White House use its influence to head off the conflict? Given the matter’s deep roots, don’t count on it, officials tell the Wall Street Journal.

Russia, of all nations, has offered to play mediator, reports the International Business Times.

So countries around Saudi Arabia have given them some support in the world…..since Saudi and Bahrain and UAE have issued support…….. one other Middle East country has joined the growing list….Kuwait…….

Kuwait announced on Tuesday it has recalled its ambassador to Iran over attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions, making it the latest Arab ally of Saudi Arabia to line up behind the kingdom amid rising regional tensions following its execution of a leading Shiite cleric and opposition figure. Sudan and the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain said Monday they would sever ties with Iran, as Saudi Arabia did late Sunday. The United Arab Emirates announced it would downgrade ties to Tehran to the level of the charge d’affaires, while other nations issued statements criticizing Iran.

Iran’s president, meanwhile, says Saudi Arabia “cannot cover its crime” in executing a the cleric by severing ties with Tehran. President Hassan Rouhani made the comments in a statement posted to his website Tuesday, referring to the kingdom’s execution of leading opposition figure Sheikh Nimr-al Nimr. Rouhani says that the “Saudi government has taken a strange action and cut off its diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran to cover its crimes.” He adds that, “undoubtedly, such actions can’t cover up that big crime.” World powers have sought to calm the tensions, with the White House urging Saudi Arabia and Iran to not let their dispute derail efforts to end the Syrian civil war.

But why would I foresee a problem with these actions?

Bahrain and Kuwait are a majority Shia with Sunni rulers…..especially Bahrain who has already had problems in and around the Arab Spring….this could lead to further protests and possible violence along sectarian lines…..the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been on a see-saw for the last 20 years…..

Source: Factbox – Troubled history of Iran-Saudi relations | Reuters

Keep in mind that NOT all Muslims follow the Islam of the Saudis…..the Saudis are the protectors of Holy Shrines….not the leader of the religion….

The pot is simmering and will only take a quick match to bring it to a boil…..and then the US is up to its ass in more trouble on the geopolitical stage.

 

Arab intellectuals must act now!

I have written many posts on the Palestinian cause and the conflict that is ensuing between them and the Israelis….I have given an alternative to the “wall of separation” that Israel has constructed…..I have written about the institutionalization of conflict and how destructive it can be….

My concern for this situation stems from my friend Rafiq who worked with me as an interpreter when I was working in the Middle East….he was Palestinian and I got to see the situation in his homeland first hand….it is nothing like the western media would have us believe….it is far worse especially if you are Palestinian…..

I read this op-ed by a Palestinian analyst and thought that it was a good write and made a lot of sense……I offer it here for others to read his thoughts……

Regrettably too many Americans cannot believe that there are actual Arab intellectuals….most want to believe that Arabs are backwards and prone to violence…..we can thank the media for giving us that limited vision……but there are many intellectuals in the Arab world and they have some great insights…..like Palestinian author and political analyst Nassar Ibrahim appeals to Arab intellectuals: act now to protect our heritage!

Source: Arab intellectuals must act now!

I spend a lot of time reading news about the Middle East as well as on-line with friends in the region so I get news that most Americans do not get…..that is a good thing for I can report stuff that is not readily available to most Americans…..but it has a down side…..some refuse to read about what is being said in the Middle east for they know best because they listen to FOX News or read InfoWars which is so skewed that it is all so laughable…..there are some good opinions by people of the region and their thoughts should be taken into consideration……that is if they want to know or not…..

This op-ed was from a friend in Iraq….he sent it to me with the hope that it would help Americans to understand what is being said…..

Source: Mullahs And Media Must Do More To Combat Extremism | Niqash

There are people in the region that are concerned about the rise in extremism…..and many want change….

Sharia Law!

For Christ sake…..the overpaid jock has had his day in court and he has a big grin….please move the f*ck on!

Since day one of the Obama presidency…there has been this batcrap crazy bunch that keep go on and on about Sharia Law in the US…..for you see Obama is a secret Muslim and you know what that means…..they have even taken it to the legislative branches of states and the federal government…….so re truly concerned about the possibility that Sharia Law could gain foothold in the US…..and these people are damn sure NOT going to let that happen!

First, these people are morons!

Second they have nothing to worry about…it is already here and in place and championed by many!

Say what?  Let’s look at Sharia Law shall we?

 

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The only difference is one hugs the Qu’ran the other the Bible……..

It would be lovely if once these people knew what the Hell they were bitching about……it would save so many embarrassing moments.

The Governance of ISIS and of Much of the Muslim World Are Uncomfortably Similar | Ani Zonneveld

We Americans spend a lot of time trashing the actions of ISIS as being savage, barbaric and just plain wrong……we want them to be defeated and humiliated on the world stage for their actions…….

But most Americans do NOT realize that many of the Middle East countries that we count as friends are NO better in their governance style…….in some cases just as barbaric as ISIS…….and yet they get a free ride in the media and from the people of this country…..

That is the headline here…….ISIS is NO different in their governance style than many of our allies…….should we be siding with anyone that has a savage streak toward people under their control?

 

The Governance of ISIS and of Much of the Muslim World Are Uncomfortably Similar | Ani Zonneveld.

Sonali Kolhatkar: Why Are We Ignoring the War on Yemen? – Sonali Kolhatkar – Truthdig

I am a watcher of international events…..so should all Americans if they care about the future….the problem is those in power do not want us to be aware of the ‘friends’ and their violent nature…..

There is a world of death, destruction and violence all in the name of national security that most Americans choose to ignore….I try to change that…..

It seems that Saudi Arabia has decided that it is time to use some of the weapons they get from the US and attack their neighbor to the South Yemen……a country with NO air force an army that is ineffective and a country that has lacked stability for decades……in other words it is a turkey shoot for the Saudis against a small group of resisters…..kinda reminds me of the devastation that Israel inflicted on Gaza…..basically a helpless neighbor……which by the way is also carried out with weapons supplied by the US……..

 

Sonali Kolhatkar: Why Are We Ignoring the War on Yemen? – Sonali Kolhatkar – Truthdig.

Jewish Terrorists by Uri Avnery — Antiwar.com

We hear daily about those damn terrorists in the Holy Land that are targeting Israelis, right?  But what about those terrorists that are targeting the Palestinians…..and I am not necessarily talking about the IDF.

In the past year there has been a rise in the acts of terrorism committed by Jewish “extremists” against Palestinian civilians….most have been by the settlers that are invading into Palestinian land…..

Why is the media ignoring the 400 lb elephant in the room?  Israel and Israelis seem to get a free ride from a press that is doing all it can to keep ALL reports coming out of Israel on the positive side.

 

Jewish Terrorists by Uri Avnery — Antiwar.com.

I was betrayed by Republican religion: What my years as a Christian fundamentalist taught be about right-wing faith – Salon.com

I am not a particularly religious person….although I consider myself spiritual…..so I do not write much on religion….basically, religion is a private thing between you and your deity……I have tried to understand where the Christian fundamentalists are coming from…..cannot for the life of me get a grip on it…….to me they flying into the face of everything called Christian…..

I still cannot find where their involvement in politics has done anything good for the country or to help others see the light when it comes to Christianity……most are hypocrites in the highest order.

I read this piece by a fundamentalist and sort of understand the situation a little better…..if you have  problem with these religious types maybe this article will assist in your knowledge…..it is a GREAT piece!

 

I was betrayed by Republican religion: What my years as a Christian fundamentalist taught be about right-wing faith – Salon.com.

How Safe Are The Christians?

The Holy Land is pretty sacred to the 3 major religions of the world…..Muslim, Christian and Jewish……..recent there has been a wealth of Jewish extremists attacks on Palestinians as well as Christians…….to the point that a Christian church was torched….and yet US Christians will defend Israel with every ounce of the their energy.  Why?  (reason will become clear as you read).

The holiest shrine in Christianity: The Church of Holy Sepulchre -- Caliph Umar preserved it in the seventh century!

The Book?  If so then that is about as stupid a reason as I can imagine.

It is getting so bad that the Vatican has issued a warning……..

JERUSALEM (RNS) The church body authorized by the Vatican to oversee the Catholic Church’s property in Israel has asked Israel’s attorney general to indict a Jewish extremist who, it says, recently incited violence against Israel’s Christian churches.

In a letter sent to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein on Sunday (Aug. 9), the Custody of the Holy Land said Benzi Gopstein, sometimes spelled “Gopshtein,” head of the Jewish extremist group Lehava, poses a threat to Holy Land Christians.

The letter cited comments by Gopstein, who, during an Aug. 4 panel discussion for yeshiva students, quoted the 12th-century Jewish philosopher Maimonides’ ruling that Christianity constitutes idolatry. Gopstein said that the biblical Book of Deuteronomy calls for the destruction of idol worship.

Sunday’s letter was the Christian world’s latest plea to Israeli authorities to find and prosecute the people responsible for more than 50 attacks against Christian and Muslim holy sites during the past few years. Israeli police are investigating the crimes, presumably carried out by far-right-wing Jewish extremists, according to a police spokesman.
Does anyone really believe that this protest will be taken seriously?  Before you answer keep in mind that BiBi has had to make deals with extremist political entities to remain as prime minister….the Likud is an extremist group and it is in POWER.  The Israeli government does very little to curb violence committed on Muslims……why would they care so much about Christians?
These are the people that YOU defend…….sad!
But why the fascination with Israel?  For years I could not understand the fascination Christians had for Israel……..after all it was the Jews that killed the guy in the myth.  Then I sat down and actually thought about the situation and……………Could it be that the legend says before the savior can return the destruction of Israel must begin?  So Israel must survive because without it to be destroyed the guy cannot return……now it is making sense…….they could care less about the Jews just as long as there is a place called Israel to be destroyed…….