The Saudi concern —Gulmina Bilal Ahmad The Saudis must take responsibility for their role in fuelling this extremism. At one level it is the success of Saudi diplomacy that while the “infidels” are blamed for all and sundry that goes wrong in Pakistan, the Saudis get off scot-free We live in a wired world. Not just electronically. As individuals with our fancy communication toys we are connected to the internet and through it to other people almost all the time. However, we are connected as nations too and that is what the premise of all diplomatic activities and service is. … Continue reading The Saudis must take responsibility for their role in fuelling extremism in Pakistan

A journey of a thousand miles —Zeeshan Suhail When we set out on journeys, we do not need camel loads of supplies, nor elaborate farewell parties, never knowing when we may return to our loving families. Ibn Batuta did not return to his home for 30 years Many of us have heard this maxim before: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, may not have known how powerful an impact his words would have on modern man, or even those men who set foot on this earth hundreds of years … Continue reading A journey of a thousand miles

Style, not sincerity, is vital —Zafar Hilaly Much depends on not only who gets to formulate policy or implement it but also, crucially, who gets to present it. The case or cause often needs no fixing, although the presentation does It is a common myth that the endemic hostility between Pakistan and India, and indeed partition itself, can be ascribed to the mutual hatred of the Muslim for the Hindu. And that India and Pakistan can only continue to exist as long as their people are nourished on this mutual hatred. For a while, the Indian leadership subscribed to this … Continue reading Style, not sincerity, is vital

By Jawed Naqvi Some of the provisions of the US bill that purports to curb “anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East” have set off alarm bells in the Arab world. –Photo by AFP It is a fallacy that dictatorships control our thoughts and democracies free them. The fact is that the two work in tandem, often as pacesetters to spur each other. Joseph Goebbels stands accused as the forefather of thought-control and mass hysteria the Nazis whipped up against anyone who came in their way. Goebbels, however, had a role model in George Creel, a veteran journalist of … Continue reading Creel, Goebbels and us

How a smearing of Justice Department lawyers as “terrorist sympathizers” traveled from the conservative media to the United States Senate. The “Gitmo Nine” aren’t terrorists. They weren’t captured fighting for the Taliban. They’ve made no attempts to kill Americans. They haven’t declared war on the United States, nor have they joined any group that has. The Gitmo Nine are lawyers working in the Department of Justice who fought the Bush administration’s treatment of suspected terrorists as unconstitutional. Now, conservatives are portraying them as agents of the enemy. In the aftermath of September 11, the Bush administration tried to set up … Continue reading ENEMY MUSLIMS – The New McCarthyism!

A mysterious image of a coiled snake has appeared in a 16th century painting of Queen Elizabeth I, according to the National Portrait Gallery. The serpent was depicted being clasped in the Tudor monarch’s fingers in the original version of the work – but it was painted over at the last minute and replaced with a more decorative bunch of roses. Deterioration over time has meant the snake has revealed itself once more, with its outline now visible on the surface. The portrait was created by an unknown artist in the 1580s or early 1590s. The image has not been … Continue reading Mysterious snake appears in painting of Queen Elizabeth I

The mother of a five-year-old British boy kidnapped by gun-wielding robbers in Pakistan broke down in tears today as she said her family had “no chance” of meeting a £100,000 ransom. Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was snatched this morning in the Punjab region after his grandmother’s house was raided by robbers. His father, Raja Naqqash Saeed, said the kidnappers had put a noon deadline (9am GMT) on the ransom for his safe return. Speaking at the family’s home, his mother Akila said there is “no chance” her family would be able to pay. She wept as she told … Continue reading It would be wise to release this child unharmed within next 24hrs…!

A PAIR of rabid rabbits has been caught killing a series of snakes near Cairns. For three weeks Armando Del Manso believed his dog was responsible for the dead snakes showing up with teeth marks all over them on his East Barron property’s lawn each morning. But it turns out it was a pair of rampaging rabbits killing the snakes. Pictures: Cairns snakes The 42-year-old boilermaker first made the discovery Tuesday night when he spotted the two wild rabbits attacking a king brown snake. “The snake was raised up in the air in the striking position and the two rabbits worked … Continue reading Rabbit fights and kills snake!

Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal al-Jamaikee (The Jamaican), the radical Jamaican-born cleric, made international headlines when he was arrested in Mombassa, Kenya on New Year’s Eve 2009.  Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unity (ATPU) arrested al-Faisal in the suburbs of Nyali after he was leaving a local mosque with fellow worshippers following the conclusion of evening prayers.  According to initial reports by Kenyan authorities, al-Faisal was detained because he violated the terms of his tourist visa; he was apparently granted entry into Kenya on a tourist visa which precludes him from preaching in local mosques (Daily Nation [Nairobi], January 1).  Kenyan authorities later admitted … Continue reading A Profile of Radical Jamaican-born Cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal al-Jamaikee

Sahil Saeed, 5, taken by robbers demanding £100,000 ransom from family Sahil Saeed was kidnapped while on holiday in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Photograph: Manchester Evening News Pakistani police have arrested a man described as a “prime suspect” in the kidnapping of a five-year-old British boy being held to ransom for £100,000. Sahil Saeed from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was taken from the Punjab region this morning after the family was held captive and robbed by five men armed with guns and hand grenades. Sahil had been staying with his grandmother in the city of Jhelum and was due to … Continue reading Pakistan police arrest suspect in kidnap of British boy