Echo

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Hi,

Al Iraqia, the local T.V. network has been showing confessions of terrorists captured in Mosul. Truly horrible details are emerging. They are so horrible that I hesitate to recount to you some of what has been said. And Syria seems to have been behind this particular network of terrorists. Watching carefully these confessions, I was trying hard to figure out whether they were genuine or fabricated. After very attentive observation of every gesture and carefully weighing every word, I reached the conclusion that they are most likely genuine.

This particular gang was lead by a Syrian intelligence officer; they were engaged in all kinds of bombings and murders, including many of the beheadings in Mosul.

The National Guards and the Governor and Police chief of the region are doing a fine job, probably the best at the moment. I shall probably tell you more about these horrendous confessions.

Salaam

Monday, February 21, 2005

ONE+ ONE

Hi,

So, the “Arab and Moslem World” is furious with U.S. for the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, the peoples most directly concerned, i.e. the Afghans and the Iraqis are behaving in a very strange manner. The majorities in both these two victim countries of “American aggression” just do not seem to be sufficiently outraged. Of course, they said, what do you expect of “puppets” installed by the “occupiers”? But, Lo & behold, these very same puppets get elected by majorities in fair and honest elections, which probably, were the first of their kind in the history of the region. In Iraq, not even the bitterest enemies can deny the fact; and the worst accusation they can level against these elections is that of being of “incomplete legitimacy”, due to the non-participation of many of the Sunni minority. People brave death, bombs, suicide bombers and hardship to line up to vote despite the privations and sufferings of their daily life in one of the most impressive demonstrations of courage and defiance in history. Thousands of Iraqi security forces protect the voters and behind there are the American boys of the “occupation” forces sharply vigilant to protect the Iraqis. 60% of the eligible voters did vote, this figure would have risen at least to 80% had the conditions permitted. Thus, the majority of Iraqis chose to vote for these same “puppets” and “stooges” who “came with the American tanks”. This is peculiar behavior of a people who are supposed to be absolutely fed up and angry at the “occupation”, according to all the knowledgeable pundits and commentators all over the world. Wouldn’t this occasion have been very appropriate to demonstrate apathy and disapproval in a very easy, passive and quite risk-free manner simply by abstaining from the vote and staying home; especially when the opposite course was so full of danger? Indeed, as the rejectionists had demanded, it would have been appropriate to refuse to have anything to do with an event under the auspices of a hated "occupier".

We have an Iraqi saying: “When the Judge is satisfied, the Mufti has no business to object”. In other words, it is the positions of those directly concerned that matter, not that of others. But could the wise guys and passionate anti-this and anti-that people understand. It seems to me as simple and as evident as 1+1=2 ....

Salaam

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Hi,

Some time ago, one of the friends commented that the right spirit in blogging was just to write freely and put down whatever you have on your mind. We tend to forget this, and consequently, one begins to think like a professional writer, always worried about style, and writing something impressive. This is one of the reasons why our blogging has become so sparse. Therefore, I am thinking to change and get back to the advice above; in other words, just freely jotting down whatever one has on mind. In this way we can keep the lively discourse going more frequently.

My thought for the day comes from a famous Arabic verse:

ان انت اكرمت الكريم ملكته- وأن انت اكرمت اللئيم تمردا

Translating (the untranslatable):

If you honor the generous, (the honorable, the noble) you own him;
But if you honor the mean(the wretched, the nasty) he rebels against you.

This is certainly one of the most profound words of wisdom ever said.

Salaam

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Hi,

Here are some more details about the act of heroism by the young policeman.

Salaam