by Sunny on 12th February, 2010 at 9:21 AM People reading political blogs generally seem to hate nuanced positions, but I’m going to try anyway. For that it’s likely I’ll get slammed by both sides but that’s fine. I need to get this out of my system. Many of you will know the background to the Amnesty/Gita Sahgal/Moazzam Begg/Cage Prisoners saga. Well, even if you don’t, you can read on. I’ll focus on each of the main actors – none of who come out smelling of roses I think. Gita Sahgal I’ll start by saying I have had great respect … Continue reading Amnesty, Gita Sahgal, Moazzam Begg and why they’re all wrong

The Rajinder Singh interview by Rumbold on 13th February, 2010 at 10:09 AM Recently the Guardian interviewed the BNP’s Sikh, Rajinder Singh. Reading through the interview is both depressing and hilarious (at times). Mr. Singh confesses to only put the turban on for the media, not because he feels it has any importance: It feels strange to hear these words from a man in a turban, but Singh ­admits he’s only wearing it for my ­benefit. He’s not a religious man and is clean shaven, but he wore a turban the first time he ever had “media exposure” – on … Continue reading Rajinder Singh – BNPwala!

27 Safar  1431 / 12th February 2010 Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, Please find a list of Islamic Events and Notices in London. CONTENTS – Islamic Circles Events and Courses in Brief – Events in Londonistan in Brief – Supported Notices, Jobs, Sports, Structure courses and so on – Events in Londonistan in Detail *******ISLAMIC CIRCLES MARRIAGE EVENTS************************ 1)   THE PRACTICING MUSLIM MARRIAGE EVENT: London, 15 February 2)   INDIAN MUSLIM MARRIAGE EVENT: Birmingham, 27 February 3)   PAKISTANI MUSLIM MARRIAGE EVENT: Birmingham, 27 February 4)   SPECIAL NEEDS MUSLIM MARRIAGE EVENT: London, 13 March 5)   OVER 40S MUSLIM MARRIAGE EVENT: London, … Continue reading Londonistan Islamic Events and Notices: Week Beginning Friday 12th February 2010

Just because Albert Einstein said that the faster-than-light travel is impossible isn’t any reason to stop trying for it, a number of Star Trek-loving theoretical physicists have declared. To achieve the starship Enterprise’s fabled warp speed, they propose simply bending the rules of physics a bit. The speed-of-light speed limit, they argue, only applies within space-time (the continuum of three dimensions of space plus one of time that we live in). While any given object can’t travel faster than light speed within space-time, theory holds, perhaps space-time itself could travel. “The idea is that you take a chunk of space-time … Continue reading How will we Travel Faster Than Light, a la Star Trek?

by: Dr. Sakena Yacoobi  |  On The Issues When I saw the Afghans in refugee camps in Pakistan in 1992, I couldn’t believe what was happening. I left Afghanistan in 1970 to pursue my education in the United States, but I was amazed by what I saw in the camps upon return. These were not the Afghans that I had known growing up in Afghanistan. People in the camps were traumatized; people were trying to figure out what was happening; people did not trust each other. Finally, I understood their issues. These people were changed and they were protecting themselves. It was … Continue reading Unlocking the Quiet Courage of Afghans

By M K Bhadrakumar The Nobel Peace Prize has a tradition. In the entire period from 1901 to 2009, it has never been awarded twice to any of its 97 individual recipients. United States President Barack Obama is thus unlikely to win a second Nobel. Yet, in an historical perspective, Afghanistan promises to become the first country in which Islamists will have been ushered into power on the wave of America’s newfound smart power. That too may only be the beginning. “Of course Afghanistan is not an island. There is no solution just within its borders,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization … Continue reading The winner takes all in Afghanistan

By Gareth Porter WASHINGTON – Evidence now available from various sources, including recently declassified United States State Department documents, shows that the Taliban regime led by Mullah Mohammad Omar imposed strict isolation on Osama bin Laden after 1998 to prevent him from carrying out any plots against the United States. The evidence contradicts claims by top officials of the Barack Obama administration that Mullah Omar was complicit in bin Laden’s involvement in the al-Qaeda plot to carry out the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. It also bolsters the credibility of Taliban statements in recent months … Continue reading How the Taliban pressed bin Laden

By Peter Lee The question of the day in Washington is will the People’s Republic of China veto further United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program? Informed opinion says “no”. China has exercised its veto only six times in 30 years on the council. In matters core to national priorities, like punishing countries such as Guatemala and Macedonia for their ties to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and protecting the interests of Pakistan, it has acted alone. However, on broader geopolitical issues, in recent years it has vetoed resolutions only when joined by at least one … Continue reading China feels US-Iran fallout