Posted on 28 August 2010 by Inconnu Make sure to read my article on Spencerwatch showing more of Robert Spencer’s “scholarly techniques.” “Scholar” Robert Spencer seemed to be shocked that any sort of violence would be the end result of his constant barrage that Islam is associated with violence and terror. In a recent post, Spencer claims: There was just one problem with all this: the attacker was a Leftist employee of an organization that has gone on record as favoring the mosque. So whatever may have been his motivation in attacking this cab driver, one thing that almost certainly … Continue reading Robert Spencer: Was the Cabbie Attack Faked?

Iran issues fatwa against pets Iranian authorities have banned all advertisements for pets, pet food and other pet products. telegraph.co.uk An Iranian woman holding her dog in Tehran Photo: REUTERS The decision by Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance comes after the fatwa was issued by powerful cleric Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi. While keeping dogs as pets has become increasingly fashionable in Iran in recent years, the fatwa cited Islamic tradition, which dictates that dogs are unclean. In June, Ayatollah Shirazi declared dogs unclean, saying that dog owners were “blindly imitating the West” and that their devotion to … Continue reading Mullahs against pets – Iran!

John le Carré: ‘We carried out assassinations during the Cold War’ British intelligence services carried out assassinations during the Cold War, John le Carré, the novelist and former secret agent, has said. By Olga Craig telegraph.co.uk Mr le Carré, whose real name is David Cornwell, insisted, however, that there was a huge difference between the ways that Western intelligence agencies and their Soviet bloc counterparts operated during the Cold War Photo: REX FEATURES The writer, who worked for both MI5 and MI6 during the 1950s and 1960s, said: ”Certainly we did some very bad things. We did a lot of … Continue reading John le Carré – assassinations

Gay, straight, or just Lebanese? Contrary to what Boy George may think, homosexuality is deep-seated in Lebanese culture – but it’s not like it is in the west Diamond Walid guardian.co.uk, Saturday 28 August 2010 11.00 BST Article history Boy George, seen here at Glastonbury this year, called for camp in Lebanon – but there is plenty of it already. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PAIn 1997, when Boy George shouted at his concert in Beirut: “Lebanon needs a dose of camp!” did he know what he’d bargained for? The gay scene in Lebanon has certainly changed during the last 13 years, but … Continue reading Homosexuality is deep-seated in Lebanon

Saudi ban on Moroccan women is a stereotype too far In banning Moroccan women from a pilgrimage in case they are prostitutes, Saudi Arabia is failing in its Islamic duties Nesrine Malik guardian.co.uk, Sunday 29 August 2010 13.00 BST Article history We all like to stereotype. Whether it’s about different regions in a country or other countries, we all indulge in a bit of reductionism and comic typecasting. The British laugh at the French, Europeans poke fun at Americans and it is all reciprocated in (mostly) harmless badinage. In the Arab world, we have our memes too: the Sudanese are … Continue reading Moroccan women banned in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan is not the target; deal fixers are Cricket needs to use its TV-generated fortune to strike at the root of the match-fixing problem Peter Preston guardian.co.uk, Sunday 29 August 2010 17.30 BST Article history There’s one heart-warming sight you can see any normal day in the villages of Pakistan: a rutted strip of earth, a few sticks driven into it, a bat, a ball, and young boys playing cricket. This isn’t just any game: this is the game. It is also a field of dreams. If you want to grow up to join Europe or Latin America’s rich and … Continue reading News Of The Worlds Mazhar Mahmood Entraps Cricket

Many think Iran was the biggest beneficiary of the 2003 Iraq war – but they forget it is Iraq that has democracy Hayder al-Khoei guardian.co.uk, Sunday 29 August 2010 17.00 BST Article history The Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, casts his ballot in March’s parliamentary election. Photograph: KPA/Zuma/Rex FeaturesMany people argue the biggest winner of the 2003 Iraq war is neighbouring Iran. The American-led forces removed one of Iran’s bitterest enemies, Saddam Hussein, and paved the way for successive Shia-dominated governments in Baghdad. The Iranians have not shied away from interfering in domestic Iraqi affairs and the power vacuum created … Continue reading Did Iran really do so well out of the Iraq war?

By Ardeshir Cowasjee dawn.com Health issues have the potential of developing into major hazards: mosquitoes, lack of bed-nets and thus malaria; exacerbation of previous malnutrition in young children; prolific diarrhoea/dysentery deteriorating into a cholera epidemic; skin infections mushrooming through contact. —Reuters Photo THE National Disaster Management Authority and its provincial/local subsidiaries have justifiably come under fire for the woefully inadequate responses to the floods and the ensuing tragedy. Formed by an ordinance in the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, no serious input and resources were made available to the Authority — it was and is a toothless tiger. As … Continue reading How can one help?

Dawn Editorial Political parties of every hue apparently want direct access to flood relief funds so that they can build up their political capital. They want to be seen as the people personally handing over money because that could win votes at the next election. —Reuters Photo IT seems that Pakistan will remain hostage to petty politics, even at a time of grave national crisis. Initially it was said that a ‘trust deficit’ was the root cause behind the international community’s slow response to the ongoing flood relief operations in this country. That was possibly a fair assessment given the … Continue reading Cashing in on floods?

By Huma Yusuf dawn.com Karzai appeared in Islamabad in March to announce that Pakistan would handle future negotiations with the Taliban. He added, “Pakistan is a twin brother of Afghanistan. We are more than twins — we are conjoined twins.” —AFP/File Photo PAKISTAN ‘irritates’ Afghan President Hamid Karzai, says an official of his government quoted in The Washington Post. Fair enough. In the midst of a decade-old war with no favourable outcome and mounting civilian casualties, an incorrigible neighbour with ‘safe havens’ for militants is bound to feel like a major irritant. But that does not justify Kabul’s call for … Continue reading Afghanistan’s ire