tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post5900888276169422136..comments2023-10-03T07:01:41.144-05:00Comments on Always On Watch: Semper Vigilans: Romney in JerusalemAlways On Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-88762257602636603912012-08-18T13:05:27.159-05:002012-08-18T13:05:27.159-05:00I see no point in persisting with an unbearable, u...I see no point in persisting with an unbearable, un-treatable and terminal condition. Often the [suffering] is not limited to the afflicted individual but to all who care. I could elaborate about personal experience with family and friends but I think that we've all been there.JonBerghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01718776762194333398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-26202713957165095862012-08-18T12:30:41.554-05:002012-08-18T12:30:41.554-05:00AOW/Sam,
a bit off topic but I just came back fro...AOW/Sam,<br /><br />a bit off topic but I just came back from London for both a conference and to be present at the court decision about the right to die that was recently announced. I do not know if it became news over your side? http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/16/locked-in-syndrome-right-die<br /><br />That is something I would be interested in getting views from others on. The entire subject for me was very emotive and personally a clash with my morals even though it was members of my own firm that represented one of the two applicants.<br /><br />Just in case your not aware, two persons with "locked-in syndrome", an extensive neurological and physiological disorder wished to be able to have an assisted death (euthanasia/assisted suicide take your pick) and appealed to have it legal, or at least have the blame put on them and not on any doctor or nurse present. In our client's case, or the right to travel to Switzerland and have it done there. The court basically said that they could not excempt any medical professional from being present or even providing advice to such an event or to allow medically assisted travel to another country for that purpose.<br /><br />As a Catholic the issue and value of life is critical and thus I ulitmately did not support the case (and thus was not involved even though there are two cases waiting here in Gibraltar, as there are many in globally) but I also lived through my own mother's miserable and painfully lingering death. She died from a brain cancer and it took two and a half years and we consider that her actual death took that long. A Dutch friend's brother had something similar and after a tribunal of two doctors and a medical lawyer agreed, a surgeon simply visited his house and gave him a needle after his family said goodbye. I think deep down that I felt jealous.<br /><br />Anyone wish to raise the topic as a thread?<br /><br />Damien CharlesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-55110633213147387772012-08-18T12:14:10.478-05:002012-08-18T12:14:10.478-05:00AOW,
sorry, I was over in London for a few days f...AOW,<br /><br />sorry, I was over in London for a few days for a seminar and only got back today. I think the info on the Spanish plot is probably fully out and equally available to you than here. I gather that the authorities in a few countries combined and have been watching this group for some time, which is a good sign that they are on top of things.<br /><br />Your quote about this union rep supporting the Taliban shows the influences that people have and how each person claims that they represent the truth.<br /><br />One thing that you mentioned is very true within the Muslim world. That is this the simple fact that the level of discussing Islamic interpretation is a no-go area and it has been like that for exactly one century now.<br /><br />The last real discussion on interpreting their Koran and haddiths was in 1912 and before that it was in 1875 and roughtly every 25 to 39 years before that. The 1912 Conference of Scholars, Mufties and "intellectuals" was in Cairo at Al Azhar, the one before that in Istanbul. Some historians say it was colonialism breaking up and the first world war that stopped it, others say that before it was the management by the Ottomans that allowed it and once they finished, the fear that discussion would take away power from the clergy was the reason. The latter sounds logical.<br /><br />The current Mufti in Istanbul said on a program by Germany's AD Channel (I think) that the two biggest issues facing Islam is that there is no debate and there is no internal criticism, full stop. Even he, ironically, pointed out that the only critics within Islam are the radicals criticising every other Muslim.<br /><br />He's got it right when you think long and hard about it, if there was internal debate and wide-spread self-critcism, the clergy would have no political influence and the use of faith as a motivator would be gone. Terrorist groups would be political and nationalist only and we would be discussing that right now.<br /><br />Damien CharlesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-54195899537841353022012-08-14T03:58:46.083-05:002012-08-14T03:58:46.083-05:00Damien Charles,
Have you heard about THIS?
Do you...Damien Charles,<br />Have you heard about <a href="http://www.mrctv.org/videos/al-qaeda-planned-attack-spanish-mall-model-airplanes-and-explosives-speigel-aug-11-2012" rel="nofollow">THIS</a>?<br /><br />Do you have additional information? In English or in Spanish -- if you can find the online links.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-53201665091218037012012-08-14T03:45:48.621-05:002012-08-14T03:45:48.621-05:00Damien Charles,
Along the lines of some of what we...Damien Charles,<br /><a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/421356/taliban-jihad-literature-whats-read-in-afghanistan-is-printed-in-pakistan/" rel="nofollow">Along the lines</a> of some of what we have been discussing in this thread and dated August 13:<br /><br /><i>...Meanwhile, the union representative of the area, Niaz Ahmad, justifies the printing of such material. “Who are the Taliban? They are the defenders of Islam and they follow the true Islamic Shariah. What’s wrong with what they do?” Ahmad asks.<br /><br />According to Muhammad Shafiq, a media consultant based in Peshawar who frequently visits Afghanistan, “People here in Pakistan and in Afghanistan already have a lot of anti-American sentiment. Such literature reinforces those beliefs and helps Taliban get recruits and funding.”</i><br /><br />Go to the link for more information.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-85005172601953705002012-08-14T03:25:32.761-05:002012-08-14T03:25:32.761-05:00Robert,
The going along and the illiteracy that yo...Robert,<br />The going along and the illiteracy that you mentioned are certainly contributory factors.<br /><br />However, some of the most radical Muslims are also among the most literate.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-54385245350148038392012-08-14T03:23:41.961-05:002012-08-14T03:23:41.961-05:00Damien Charles,
I knew that you'd disagree wit...Damien Charles,<br />I knew that you'd disagree with Point B. However, I did say "something." <br /><br />Is there something similar in Christianity too? Yes. However, there is no longer the uniting of church and government in the same way as days of old, <b>AND</b> there is the New Testament. Overall, if I go with your view that there isn't something inherently "wrong with" Islam, the Bible is easier to understand than the Koran is. In my view, it is much harder to quote the Koran out of context than it is the Bible, plus Christians read and scrutinize and discuss the Bible instead of memorizing reams of verses without delving into different interpretations thereof. I've never participated in a Koran study at a mosque, but I know for a fact that Bible studies in churches are, well, quite analytical.<br /><br />I mentioned Point F because of some personal observations of well-integrated Muslims who changed -- and I'm speaking of a change that happened before 9/11 and coincided with their involvement with a particular mosque here in the D.C. area.<br /><br />In my experience, some older people become more entrenched in their atheism instead of the other way around.<br /><br />The will of Allah concept is very powerful, I think -- something along the lines of Calvinism back in the old days. I rarely hear any Christians say "God willing," but Muslims say "Allah willing" so much of the time. Just ritual on the part of Muslims? Part of the time, I think, but not all of the time.<br /><br />Once, following a stamped at the Hajj, the Grand Imam said, "There was nothing that we could do. It was the will of Allah." Wow. Talk about throwing up one's hands and avoiding responsibility and accountability.<br /><br />Radicalism and Dominionism have ebbed to the point of being negligible for quite a long time now. I can't say that radicalism and Islamic supremacism is as much on the wane. In fact, since the Iranian Revolution and the Arab Spring, those ideas have ramped up.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-76144647099669996992012-08-13T21:52:03.839-05:002012-08-13T21:52:03.839-05:00Robert Sinclair,
I think much of what you say is ...Robert Sinclair,<br /><br />I think much of what you say is true. However there are some other factors involved as well.<br /><br />Not all are poor but are under various pressures that make them either respondant to or do not speak up against radicals. Such pressures are tribal loyalties, peer presure, fear of being branded one of the enemy and similar.<br /><br />Also there are factors such as cultural, political and recent historical that has a great deal to do with the support for radicals. For example many Arab and Asian Muslim countries have had the worst taste of colonialism and though they must take their own responsibility for their nations, their economies, demographics and even the leadership has been to a degree hang-overs from their colonial pasts. "The current generation remembers what their parents say" is an expression in Arabic is often said on Al Jazeera. <br /><br />Recent history and politics has, for example has everything to do with Israel and nothing to do with Islam. Anti-semitism was on an equal footing with the West (and less during the 30's and 40s as well know) but on the creation of Israel jumped to unheard of levels. The references to destorying and the radical clerics talking about Jews out of context has everything to do with Pan-Arab nationalism and if by some miracle a Palestinian nation is created, within 10 years it will all return to normal.<br /><br />Muslim communities are also very good in confusing thier own cultures with being actually "Islamic", such as the wearing of the "niqab" (face covering) and the full burqa. Also using Islam as the excuse for honour killings, spousal abuse, child marriages and so on.<br /><br />In the end you are right and with a bit on knowledge and logic the hard time given to Muslims is unjustified except in one singular case. That is the question, why do Musims themselves not raise up and speak against radicals? The above reasons are valid to a degree but it is also to do with one Islamic principle called Taqfir. Taqfir is calling another Muslim an apostate or a bad Muslim. Most groups in Islam consider that to be haram or a sin, but certain groups such as Salafis and Wahhabis (most radicals and militants are from these two groups) have somehow chosen or made it appear that they can. The problem is they believe that if they denounce these radicals that they are committing Taqfir and so they do not.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Damien CharlesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-62352500325489685982012-08-13T21:28:08.917-05:002012-08-13T21:28:08.917-05:00AOW,
interesting comments and points, some are ob...AOW,<br /><br />interesting comments and points, some are obvious and some are worth debating. Before I respond to some of your points, the influence of Wahhabist groups around the world is well known and their funding is large enough to put themselves in all places, suc has with Albanians.<br /><br />Now your points,<br /><br />(a) Those recruits could be molls but they could also be blackmailed or simply responding to the obviously strong tribal loyalities. Either way, the issue is improving the vetting process.<br /><br />(b) You say that "There is something in Islam itself that is very persuasive toward Wahhabism and Salafism." I disagree totally, Salafism and Wahhabism is puritanical, thus it is taking references and events in totally puritanical way, in fact al Salaf means "pure". By saying that it is somehow an element in Islam that appeals to them is like saying that it is an element of Christianity that creates puritanical Christian groups.<br /><br />(c) Your comment about people getting older and relating to the teachings of the Koran is about as much as it would be to any Christian or Jew getting older and a bit more spiritual. I think though that it is not more so for Islam than any other faith and there is enough cases of overt displays of faith by youths, including suicide bombers.<br /><br />(d) "The recruits are sociopaths". I would think that anyone who is willng to preform such acts are such or are pressured in some other form. I would say it is thier leaders that have the sociopathic tendancies.<br /><br />(e)" These recruits perceive Islam as under attack by the West. Frankly -- and this is my opinion -- we should be long gone from Afghanistan now. Immediate pullout! OBL is dead and gone."<br /><br />Agreed.<br /><br />(f) "The call of Islam is much stronger than personal relationships -- particularly relationships with non-Muslims."<br /><br />No, that is not the case at all, only the ultra-conservatives such as Salafi and Wahhabi demand a break with non-Muslims. The reality on the ground in most 56 Muslim nations and amongs Muslims in the West is quite the opposite. As an example, and a simple one, how many of the 56 Muslim nations do not want to deal with, trade, sign agreements with and associate with non-Muslims? None.<br /><br />(g) "These recruits see radical Islam's rise as proof of the will of Allah." That is why they are also radical. In the same fashion, most Muslims consider such a view as abhorant.<br /><br />(h) "These recruits are jumping aboard a band wagon that appears to be winning."<br /><br />I am sure that is what they are told.<br /><br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Damien Charles<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-9870735396840466642012-08-13T14:58:11.298-05:002012-08-13T14:58:11.298-05:00I have to say I don’t know very much about Islam. ...I have to say I don’t know very much about Islam. I have my own religious beliefs; I’m not interested in knowing the particulars of other belief systems. It just doesn’t interest me. Nevertheless, I believe western societies judge Islamic nations too harshly. Here’s how I see it: Muslim extremists are like the schoolyard bully, who goes out of his way to intimidate others and “be the boss.” Most people in these backward countries are illiterate, and I think they regard themselves as powerless to prevent the bully from always getting his way. I think Islam bullies cow most of these people; they are poor, they are sick, and they don’t live very long. Rather than wondering how to rid themselves of the bullies, I think they focus more on feeding their family one meal a day. They just go along with whatever the bully tells them. It must be a depressing life.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01230399044647334018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-69158329305473821962012-08-13T05:00:58.962-05:002012-08-13T05:00:58.962-05:00Damien Charles,
To Jack Whyte, you mentioned in th...Damien Charles,<br />To Jack Whyte, you mentioned <i>in this day and age</i>. That phrase should apply to the doings within Islam too -- no matter what sect of Islam. The world just isn't as small as it used to be! Things done in far off places resonate elsewhere.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-14696150793338325012012-08-13T04:58:29.439-05:002012-08-13T04:58:29.439-05:00BTW, it's not just Northern Africa seeing the ...BTW, it's not just Northern Africa seeing the rise in Islamism. See <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/9584262/article-Radical-Islam-on-rise-in-Balkans--worrying-Western-Europe" rel="nofollow">THIS</a>, albeit dated about two years ago. Brief excerpt:<br /><br /><i>SKOPJE, Macedonia -- An online music video praising Osama bin Laden has driven home a troubling new reality: A radical brand of Islam embraced by al-Qaida and the Taliban is gaining a foothold in the Balkans.<br /><br />"Oh Osama, annihilate the American army. Oh Osama, raise the Muslims' honor," a group of Macedonian men sing in Albanian, in video posted on YouTube last year and picked up by Macedonian media this August. "In September 2001 you conquered a power. We all pray for you."<br /><br />Although most of Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority are Muslims, they have generally been secular. But experts are now seeing an increasing radicalization in pockets of the country's Islamic community, particularly after armed groups from the ethnic Albanian minority, which forms a quarter of the population of 2.1 million, fought a brief war against Macedonian government forces in 2001.<br /><br />It's a trend seen across the Balkans and has raised concerns that the region, which includes new European Union member Bulgaria, could become a breeding ground for terrorists with easy access to Western Europe. Many fear that radicalized European Muslims with EU passports could slip across borders and blend into society.<br /><br />At the center of the issue is the Wahhabi sect, an austere brand of Islam most prevalent in Saudi Arabia and practiced by bin Laden and the Taliban.<br /><br />"Wahhabism in Macedonia, the Balkans and in Europe has become more aggressive in the last 10 years," said Jakub Selimovski, head of religious education in Macedonia's Islamic community. He said Wahhabis were establishing a permanent presence in Macedonia where none existed before, and that "they are in Bosnia, here, Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia and lately they have appeared in Bulgaria."...</i>Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-79488732063110474842012-08-13T04:58:22.487-05:002012-08-13T04:58:22.487-05:00Damien Charles,
I am aware of the history of Mali....Damien Charles,<br />I am aware of the history of Mali.<br /><br />This statement from you is an example of how the most fundamentalist form of Islam is on the rise:<br /><br /><i>Well what has changed is that radical militant Islamists arrived.</i><br /><br />I googled Mali rise of wahhabism and got <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312277/rising-islamism-africa-clifford-d-may" rel="nofollow">THIS</a>, one of many hits.<br /><br />If -- and I'm saying <b>IF</b> and will use some of your terminology in the rest of this comment -- Islam is not to be hijacked by extremists, Muslims themselves need to take care of the matter. However, the problem is that extremists use methods that (a) are insidious and (b) recruits to extremism seem to be quite available. <br /><br />For example, I'm sure that you have noticed the recent slayings of Marines and other coalition forces this past weekend in Afghanistan. Reports thus far indicate that the perpetrators had been inside the coalition camps for some time -- to the point that the coalition troops trusts these particular Afghans. In at least one case of the weekend, the "revived" Afghan murdered three Marines while they were exercising in the gym without their weapons.<br /><br />Why is it that recruits to extremism can be persuaded to attack people that the recruits have worked with for some time? Possible answers, and I'm listing as many as I can think of with only one cup of coffee in my system, in no particular order:<br /><br />(a) These recruits were moles all along.<br /><br />(b) There is something in Islam itself that is very persuasive toward Wahhabism and Salafism.<br /><br />(c) As these recruits grow older, they are more concerned about their eternal life and latch onto certain verses in the Koran.<br /><br />(d) The recruits are sociopaths.<br /><br />(e) These recruits perceive Islam as under attack by the West. Frankly -- and this is my opinion -- we should be long gone from Afghanistan now. Immediate pullout! OBL is dead and gone.<br /><br />(f) The call of Islam is much stronger than personal relationships -- particularly relationships with non-Muslims.<br /><br />(g) These recruits see radical Islam's rise as proof of the will of Allah.<br /><br />(h) These recruits are jumping aboard a band wagon that appears to be winning.<br /><br />Anyway, those are my thoughts off the top of my head.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-37763457120588123972012-08-12T22:04:52.261-05:002012-08-12T22:04:52.261-05:00Jack Whyte, nice to see a comment without verbal a...Jack Whyte, nice to see a comment without verbal abuse.<br /><br />I agree with most of your comments there. Though I think it is pointless mentioning that Israelis do not blow up children in buses on the way to school (as we know who did/does and who does not), I did not mention it as it suggests that lesser evils are excusable.<br /><br />My point frome the beginning is that in this day and age we should all not be hypocrits and judge actions for what they are and not put politics, sympathies and cultural or religious bais in the way of simple justice. My view is that Israel as a nation requires to go through a self-examination and its own cleaning of what skeletons are in its closet.<br /><br />By no way does that mean not to point out, target and condemn actions against those that attack or wish to destroy that country. The Palestinian community in general needs to do even more, purge itself of those involved in such actions and hate and unify itself in the direction of peace. Until it does that it certainly is unable to create a thriving nation and the worst case for them is that if the international community gives them a solid opportunity, they will miss the boat. They have shot themselves in the foot many, many times and can easily do it again.<br /><br />Damien CharlesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-34751935332263077822012-08-12T21:58:39.018-05:002012-08-12T21:58:39.018-05:00AOW,
interesting how you mention Mali, have you u...AOW,<br /><br />interesting how you mention Mali, have you understood what has happened?<br /><br />A country with a strong Islamic history and arguably very faithful people. They have (or we can almost say now had) the oldest Mosque in Black Africa. They are Sunni with strong Sufi connections. What has changed?<br /><br />Well what has changed is that radical militant Islamists arrived. They have the guns and the money and they are telling other Muslims that they must be like them. They are mostly Salafist and Wahhabists. <br /><br />So when you use Mali as an example, it only tells you that it is radicals of a certain sect of Islam that is the problem and not Islam itself or even Sharia as it is their version of Sharia.<br /><br />For those who do not know, which I am pretty sure is almost everyone on this blog, there is also a different version of Sharia to each group that claims to follow it. Sharia law and sharia principles in Saudi Arabia is nothing like what is currently forced down the throat of the people of northern Mali by this group. Sharia in say Iran is not at all like Sharia in other countries and what the Taliban consider Sharia is totally different again. Malaysia that has a dual Sharia-Secular legal system - Sharia for Family Law and only applicable to Muslims, is again nothing like Sharia Family Law in other countries that have it.<br /><br />The point being that you all need to understand the system, its varients and what is happening on the ground (and that they are not all the same or merit a blanket generalisation) before you can make a judgement or condemnation.<br /><br />That is why I laugh myself silly when I see people throwing the word Sharia around and it is obviously incorrect.<br /><br />Another point, it is incorrect to say "levels of Sharia" implemented in governments. That does not work because that simply cannot work. Yes less than half the countries have Sharia law but that does not mean that Sharia creeps into those who do not have it. The best example is say Algeria and Morocco, both having similar legal systems (I have studied and worked in both to a degree).<br /><br />Both countries have carbon copies of French Law based on the 1952 French legal code. From that point on, they have via their parliaments altered according to what suited their countries, however, as French criminal laws changed, both countries quickly adopted similar.<br /><br />As both countries are run by a Muslim majority their social, family and morality laws were modified to represent the basic tennants of their Islamic faith. Now does that mean it is Sharia or a from Sharia? The answer, and believe me that question has come up even within their own countries, is a resounding no! What has happened is that the Secular Governments and Parliaments have debated, redebated, argued, bickered, negotiated and modified what suits them and that in itself is contrary to what is Sharia. Again, the version of what is considered Sharia in their countries (they are neighbours and share cultural and historical ties) would be different to say what a Wahhabist stubbornly claims to be the only version, which is what he believes....<br /><br />As for Democracy and Sharia - actually no, though it has democratic tennancies, the basic concept of most Sharia systems includes a Shura Council - that may have elected (chosen by the ummah) people but lead by a theologian (not elected) and a court system to oversee that is entirely run by clerics. The best example of that is Iran with the Supreme Council being all clerics and the Sharia Court being superior to the Secular Court. Saudi Arabia itself sidesteps the entire issue by having a King with limitless control but he has to argue and sometimes prove himself to an unelected council of clerics.<br /><br />Hope that clears up some details for you.<br /><br />Damien CharlesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-63832534311163170972012-08-12T14:04:31.558-05:002012-08-12T14:04:31.558-05:00Damien wrote, “What I absolutely reject is agenda-...Damien wrote, “What I absolutely reject is agenda-based blindness to events for political purposes no matter what cause. Abuses by the Palestnian political and militant organisations in recent history is well documented and we can all condemn them as much as we must, but there is a global political hypocrisy when it comes to the past and some present deeds in modern Israel.” <br /><br />Who could not agree with this? We must endeavor to condemn equally all the times the Israelis blew up school buses filled with innocent Palestinian children on the way to school. <br /><br />But seriously, this really is at the crux of our problem. We cannot sit down with one another and discuss workable solutions when we are filled with the emotions caused by such heinous acts described above. But here’s the problem: terrorists know this. It is why they do terrorist acts. It would seem they have us right where they want us. If we are able to resist a human response to such acts, we cannot claim to be human.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03945887384596946397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-66271150174734825572012-08-12T04:07:36.633-05:002012-08-12T04:07:36.633-05:00Damien Charles,
Some time back, I had a discussion...Damien Charles,<br />Some time back, I had a discussion with an Afghan about shari'a and democracy. He said that there was no contradiction between the two. Hmmmm....<br /><br />This fellow had assisted coalition troops and was credited with saving the lives of several whose helicopter had crashed. I am unsure as to how much education the man had, but he seemed to be literature, at least.<br /><br />There are degrees of shari'a application in Islamic countries.<br /><br />Did you see what recently happened in Mali? Shari'a?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-79352059475110061502012-08-11T23:04:15.219-05:002012-08-11T23:04:15.219-05:00AOW,
just as a clarification, Sharia is not a par...AOW,<br /><br />just as a clarification, Sharia is not a part of the new Iraqi Constitution.<br /><br />References to "Islam being the foundation of the country's laws and no law may contradict established provisions of Islam" does not mean that it is a Sharia legal system or that Sharia principles are the law.<br /><br />For example, when a country declares that Sharia is the basis for the law then they cannot use the word democracy in the same Constitution nor can it state that religious freedoms are to be respected. The Iraqi Constitution states also that:<br /><br />"No law that contradicts the principles of democracy may be established.[5]<br /> No law that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms may be established.[6]<br /> The Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people and the full religious rights for all individuals and the freedom of creed and religious practices is guaranteed.[7]"<br /><br />Now what is practices by various leaders and officials is another matter, however, your reference is incorrect.<br /><br />I should remind people in general that Sharia is in fact a minority in the 56 Muslim Countries regardless of how much radicals and those that have it push and claim otherwise. Less than half do and of those that do AGAIN less than half actually have a fully blown theocratically run system, the majority have it only as part of their family law structure and are subject to appeal to a SECULAR high court.<br /><br />Go to Wiki and look up Constitution of Iraq for the full break up, I cut and pasted the above from it out of ease. Part of my past work was an EU/Asean committe looking into how varous laws in those two regions can be modified to allow for common practices and I took an interest in particular with laws in Muslim countries.<br /><br />Damien CharlesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-62256185062179499772012-08-11T17:39:17.080-05:002012-08-11T17:39:17.080-05:00Zzzzzz...to you both, lol.Zzzzzz...to you both, lol.Liberalmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04612454539046863752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-90158492704763315902012-08-11T09:10:14.559-05:002012-08-11T09:10:14.559-05:00I'll say this for whatever it may be worth:
V...I'll say this for whatever it may be worth:<br /><br /><b>Victimhood -- past or present -- does not automatically confer <i>sainthood</i> on anyone -- and certainly not on any particular Group Identity.</b><br /><br />The other day in another discussion on the topic of the Olympic Sports Competition, I expressed irritation that anyone would dare be so churlish and inhumane as to question the integrity of Lance Armstrong, whom I regard as an American Hero -- one of the greatest examples of courage, endurance and perseverance in this or any other time in history. <br /><br />KP, a most sober, decent, kind-hearted, strong-minded individual, rightly pointed out to me that, while he too held Lance Armstrong in high esteem, Lance's brave and triumphant fight against cancer was not enough to make him IMMUNE from SCRUTINY regarding the rules and regulations the other Olympic competitors must subject themselves to, and that if it can ever be proven conclusively that Lance Armstrong DID in fact give himself an unfair advantage by taking drugs that were not medically necessary at the time, his gold medal could -- and <i>should</i> be taken away from him.<br /><br />Regretfully, I admit, I had no choice but to agree.<br /><br />And so must it be with the Jews, who despite their perennial victimhood and the many remarkable qualities well described by Black Sheep, <i>still</i> must be held accountable for their own misdeeds just like everyone else.<br /><br />To claim that Jews have never been guilty of any misdeeds, and deserve <i>no</i> critical analysis, questioning of motives, or correction -- <i>ever</i> -- is incredibly naive, and frankly stupid.<br /><br />It is as idiotic -- and every bit as disingenuous -- as the claim that any and all objections to the policies endorsed by Barack Obama are "racist."<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeFreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-42632924010072149102012-08-11T08:47:11.854-05:002012-08-11T08:47:11.854-05:00He has announced a withdrawal date, right? C'm...He has announced a withdrawal date, right? C'mon, dude. Keep up with the news.Liberalmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04612454539046863752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-56554543269031418922012-08-11T04:19:50.911-05:002012-08-11T04:19:50.911-05:00Liberalmann,
Obama hasn't ended the war in Afg...Liberalmann,<br />Obama hasn't ended the war in Afghanistan. Our military are still serving and dying there.<br /><br />The war in Iraq began in 2003, six years before Obama took office. I'm not sure that we actually won anything at all. Shari'a is ensconced in the new Constitution of Iraq.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-33123378654588019232012-08-10T21:40:51.962-05:002012-08-10T21:40:51.962-05:00"Romney's crowning absurdity — in Israel ..."Romney's crowning absurdity — in Israel last week, Romney praised the Israeli healthcare system, noting that it costs just 8% of Israel's GDP while ours costs 18% of a much larger GDP. He said we should try to learn from it. Excellent point.<br /><br />How does Israel do it? Single-payer — essentially a government-run program."<br /><br />Romney appears to be very, very confused."Liberalmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04612454539046863752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-43848614466712411092012-08-10T21:20:59.775-05:002012-08-10T21:20:59.775-05:00"...Rather than pursuing Mr. Obama’s failed M..."...Rather than pursuing Mr. Obama’s failed Middle East policy..."<br /><br />Yeah, damn him for ending the wars and killing Osama, khadaffi and descimating Al Queda.<br /><br />Romney would have us in Iran for oil in a heartbeat.Liberalmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04612454539046863752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-85741171501447633852012-08-09T22:13:49.932-05:002012-08-09T22:13:49.932-05:00I liked what Romney said about the cultural differ...I liked what Romney said about the cultural differences between Jews and Arabs and how that explains their economic performance. If he understands that he will understand why the Arabs make such poor partners for peace.Mike's Americahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01262938295909490454noreply@blogger.com