Tag: baptist

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The many shades of McWorld

Mohammed Abbasi

Some years ago, in response to a rather strong piece on US shenanigans in the Middle East, an American reader wrote back: “Why do you hate America?” As some of my perceptive readers might have already deduced, I get loads of fanmail in response to my weekly rants, especially from my own kind and most of it not most flattering. Yet the accusation ‘why do you hate America’ from an all-American white reader was a little disconcerting. For I do not see myself as an America phobe. The influence of American literature, Hollywood, culture and their collective glorification of ambition, excellence, grit and … Continue reading The many shades of McWorld

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Israel is facing a backlash in America

Mohammed Abbasi

By Rami G. Khouri April 02, 2014 “Information Clearing House – “DS” – Consider two incidents that occurred in the past few days in the United States and you should start to grasp the elements of a slow, subtle but steady and important shift that is taking place in the country. It is happening in that arena where pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian sentiments are being expressed in public and seek to influence American government policy, media and even the decisions of churches and non-government organizations such as student and professional groups. In Las Vegas, three likely Republican presidential candidates addressed the Republican Jewish … Continue reading Israel is facing a backlash in America

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US ‘peace process’ charade plays on

Mohammed Abbasi

As the US-imposed April 29 deadline for a “framework” agreement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority looms, time is also running out for the American administration on the issue. The Barack Obama administration needs to conjure up an escape route to avoid embarrassment if the talks are to fail.  The Americans were likely aware when this latest process launched that peace under the current circumstances is unattainable. Israel’s ruling coalition is adamantly anti-Arab, anti-peace and against any kind of agreement that falls short of endorsing the Israel’s apartheid-like occupation of Palestine.  Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies on … Continue reading US ‘peace process’ charade plays on

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The return of Al-Qaeda

Mohammed Abbasi

Back in 2011 many thought Al-Qaeda was finished. Battered by America’s ferocious response to 9/11 and relentlessly targeted by drones, the organisation was gasping for breath. The death of Bin Laden, it seemed, delivered the final blow.And yet today Al-Qaeda is resurgent.The relative weakness of the Al-Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan is deceptive. The organisation’s strength now lies at the periphery. Today the Al-Nusra front controls huge tracts of Syrian territory. And there are signs that the jihadis there have learnt an important lesson: if they want the consent of the people, it’s best not to murder too many … Continue reading The return of Al-Qaeda

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A Christian Bin Laden in Texas?

Mohammed Abbasi

Robert James Talbot: Texas Patriot Terrorist Said it Was the Will of God to Bomb Federal Buildings I wonder why we haven’t heard more about this guy and isn’t it curious that he isn’t described as a terrorist? He believed that “stopping the regime with action by bloodshed,” was the “will of God.” HOUSTON – A Katy man is expected to appeared in federal court Friday to face several charges, including possession of explosive materials. Robert James Talbot Jr., 38, was arrested Thursday following an eight-month undercover investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to the United States … Continue reading A Christian Bin Laden in Texas?

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Christian Right Has Major Role in Hastening Decline of Religion in America

Mohammed Abbasi

Soon, there will be more atheists and agnostics than Christians.   Of those aged 18 to 35, three in 10 say they are not affiliated with any religion, while only half are “absolutely certain” a god exists. These are at or near the highest levels of religious disaffiliation recorded for any generation in the 25 years thePew Research Center has been polling on these topics. As encouraging as this data is for secular humanists, the actual numbers may be significantly higher, as columnist Tina Dupuy observes. “When it comes to self-reporting religious devotion Americans cannot be trusted. We under-estimate our calories, over-state our … Continue reading Christian Right Has Major Role in Hastening Decline of Religion in America

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Goldman Sachs’ Outrageous Scheme to Profit Off Jailed Young Offenders

Mohammed Abbasi

  Too-big-to-jail Wall Street is ripping off taxpayers with a “social impact bond.”       Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com In 2012, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that New York City would be the site of a new experiment very dear to his billionaire’s heart. He declared that Wall Street megabank Goldman Sachs would provide a loan of nearly $10 million to pay for a program intended to reduce the rate at which adolescent men incarcerated at Rikers Island reoffend after their release (currently almost half reoffended within a year). The city government was short of money, so Goldman Sachs would step in to do what … Continue reading Goldman Sachs’ Outrageous Scheme to Profit Off Jailed Young Offenders

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American Christian Mother Kills Her 4 Yearold Child For Being Gay!

Mohammed Abbasi

A mother allegedly subjected her four-year-old child to regular beatings because she believed he was gay, a court has heard. Jessica Dutro’s son Zachary collapsed at a homeless shelter where he, his mother and his mother’s partner were staying in Portland and died in August 2012. Doctors found the boy was suffering from trauma to his abdomen which had torn his bowel. He was taken off life support two days later, The Oregonian reported. Dutro, 25, has been charged with murder, murder by abuse and second degree assault. Prosecutors say her son died as the result of a blunt force trauma and … Continue reading American Christian Mother Kills Her 4 Yearold Child For Being Gay!

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Palestinian leaders’ showdown turns ugly

Mohammed Abbasi

When late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was confined by Israeli soldiers to his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Mohammed Dahlan reigned supreme. As perhaps the most powerful and effective member of the “Gang of Five”, he managed the affairs of the ruling Fatah movement, coordinated with Israel regarding matters of security, and even wheeled and dealed in regional and international affairs.  That was the period between March and April 2002, and it was a different time. Back then, Dahlan – a former Palestinian Authority (PA) minister, National Security advisor and head of Gaza’s Preventative Security Service (PSS)- was … Continue reading Palestinian leaders’ showdown turns ugly

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It’s fun to shoot some people

Mohammed Abbasi

  On March 6 the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation HQ in Afghanistan announced that “at least five Afghan National Army personnel were accidentally killed this morning during an operation in eastern Afghanistan…An investigation is being conducted at this time to determine the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident. Our condolences go out to the families of the ANA soldiers who lost their lives and were wounded.” There might be an investigation carried out, but its findings will never be published. There will be no evidence taken from Afghan soldiers. There will be no Afghan representation on the board of … Continue reading It’s fun to shoot some people