Michael Steele may be right about the war in Afghanistan The Republican leader is under attack from his party for saying the US cannot win in Afghanistan, but he may have a point James Antle guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 7 July 2010 14.00 BST Article history Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele seen on a video screen during a news conference. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/GettyRepublican National Committee chairman Michael Steele‘s tenure has been marked by a series of gaffes, mishaps and bewildering public relations disasters. But to some Republicans, such bungling was forgivable – until Steele committed the one unpardonable sin: questioning the … Continue reading Truthful Black Guy gets Lynched by Republicans!

Sarkozy: is he worth it? Bettencourt: The scandal over the L’Oréal donation could bring about the French president’s downfall Agnès Poirier guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 7 July 2010 20.02 BST Article history In the three years Nicolas Sarkozy has been in power, his government could have been brought down many times. His iniquitous fiscal reforms, ill-advised and divisive debates such as the one on national identity, his direct meddling in media ownership and appointment of public television and radio networks, his foreign policy and decision to rejoin Nato’s high command, the dismantling of public services, the disastrous reform of public hospitals – not … Continue reading Sarkozy: is the drawf worth it?

Labour must stay committed to civil liberties The party will live to regret adopting Michael Howard’s approach to crime and punishment David Edgar guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 7 July 2010 21.59 BST Article history Just before the election, I suggested on these pages that the outcome might lead to a Ukrainification of British politics – the drawing of a new fault line across the map, with economic and social liberals on one side, and social-authoritarians and economic egalitarians on the other. The concern was that, however good it might be for civil liberties, a pact between Labour and the Orange Book free-marketeers … Continue reading New Labour – an Enemy of British Muslims and Civil Liberties?

Some thoughts on “patriotism” written on July 4. Most important thought: I’m sick and tired of this thing called “patriotism”. The Japanese pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor were being patriotic. The German people who supported Hitler and his conquests were being patriotic, fighting for the Fatherland. All the Latin American military dictators who overthrew democratically-elected governments and routinely tortured people were being patriotic — saving their beloved country from “communism”. General Augusto Pinochet of Chile, mass murderer and torturer: “I would like to be remembered as a man who served his country.”1 P.W. Botha, former president of apartheid South Africa: … Continue reading Patriotic – Are You?

Obama and Netanyahu all smiles By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON – Insisting that the bond between their two nations was “unbreakable”, United States President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged all smiles from their long-awaited White House meeting here on Tuesday. Speaking before reporters, the two men, whose last encounter here in March appeared to confirm a crisis in bilateral ties, lavished compliments on each other. “[T]he fact of the matter is, is that I’ve trusted Prime Minister Netanyahu since I met him before I was elected president,” declared Obama before the two leaders were joined by their … Continue reading Obama and Netanyahu in Love?

Afghan probe excluded key witnesses By Gareth Porter and Ahmad Walid Fazly WASHINGTON – A follow-up investigation ordered by General Stanley McChrystal in early April of a botched Special Operations Forces (SOF) raid in Gardez, in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province, on February 12 was ostensibly aimed at reconciling divergent Afghan and United States accounts of what happened during and after the raid, in which two government officials and three women were killed. That implied that the US investigators would finally do what they had failed to do in an earlier investigation – interview the eyewitnesses. But three eyewitnesses who had … Continue reading Afghan probe sham?

Al-Qaeda’s new man eyes Pakistan By Syed Saleem Shahzad ISLAMABAD – One chapter in the Afghan war came to an end with the killing in May of al-Qaeda’s number three and Afghan operations chief Mustafa Abu al-Yazid in a drone attack in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal area. The appointment of a new commander, Egyptian Sheikh Fateh al-Misri, previously not an al-Qaeda member and in Afghanistan only as a battle-hardened Arab fighter, marks the beginning of a shift in al-Qaeda’s strategy that aims for a more focused guerrilla war in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda’s Pakistan operations will be used to complement the battle … Continue reading Al-Qaeda strategy against Pakistan

THE LIFE OF SALADIN AD 1138-1193 AND THE FALL OF THE KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM By Stanley Lane-Poole CHAPTER I. SALADIN’S WORLD. IN the year 1132 a broken army, flying before its pursuers, reached the left bank of the Tigris. On the other side, upon a steep cliff, stood the impregnable Fortress of Tekrit, defended landwards by a deep moat and accessible only by secret steps cut in the rock and leading from the heart of the citadel to the water’s edge. The one hope of the fugitives was to attain the refuge of the castle, and their fate turned upon … Continue reading THE LIFE OF SALADIN

John’s Childhood John was born a stranger to the world of children who used to amuse themselves, as he was serious all the time. Most children took delight in torturing animals whereas, he was merciful to them. He fed the animals from his food until there was nothing left for him, and he just ate fruit or leaves of trees. John loved reading since childhood. When he grew up, Allah the Exalted called upon him: “0 John! Hold fast to the Scripture (The Torah).” And We gave him wisdom while yet a child. Surah 19: 12 John’s Qualities Allah guided … Continue reading John The Baptist/Prophet Yahya [PBUH]

A gentleman’s dialogue with Hamas By Sami Moubayed DAMASCUS – Israel remains puzzled on how to handle the Palestinian military group Hamas. Former chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization Yasser Arafat could not eliminate its leadership, nor could his successor, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas. A war in December 2008 failed at bombing the military group out of existence. Boycotting Hamas and turning the international community against it also did not work. Launching a media smear campaign to make it look like a chain in the global network of terrorism, something similar to al-Qaeda, has also failed to … Continue reading Israel is talking with Hamas?