Youtube provides an oppurtunity for alternative viewpoints - Reporting the overlooked "Nakba"

The Jewish State at 60 - Palestinian Suffering at 60

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the usurping of the land of Palestine, and the New York Times op-ed columnist William Kristol has something to say about it. In his article you will conveniently find the following: A scathing attack at the Islamic Republics’ President, the implied well-known comparison between the Western “lenience” towards to Iran and Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler’s Nazi Reich, and a tribute to some of the most depraved and murderous terrorists in modern history.

To me, the only discordant voice is that which emanates from William Kristol and his likes. These producers of white noise are but ignominious individuals that disgrace the very tenants of humanity.

Lets begin by defining a well known term, terrorist. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a terrorist refers to an individual “who attempts to further his views by a system of coercive intimidation.” This description more often than not is attributed to people of dark complexion, stubby beards, loud voices, and hairy noses. Additionally, constant genuflectors, mosque visitors, scholars, students, parents, children, and people with the name “Akhmed” should be added to the mix. Sadly, that term is often used to unjustly deprecate innocent humans, when it should be used to label those who procure it!

Kristol, is an insurgent that has decided to rebel against the standards of morality by promoting the likes of Ze’ev Jabotinsky, a prominent Russian terrorist. Jabotinsky, a founder and leader of the militant Zionist group, Irgun, is responsible for a countless number of terrorist attacks against the indigenous Arab population of Palestine. Moreover, Irgun has not solely claimed the lives of Arabs, but also the lives of innocent British civilians. Ze’ev is quoted in Howard Sachar’s A History of the State of Israel as saying “every Jew had the right to enter Palestine; only active retaliation would deter the Arabs and the British; only Jewish armed force would ensure the Jewish state."

This policy of “active retaliation” is the legacy of brutality that is necessary for Israel’s existence and that which is executed by so-called men of peace like Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert. It is this inhumane and reckless policy that cost the lives of 1,191 Lebanese civilians in Lebanon’s 2006 war, and the injury of about 4,409 others, according to UN estimates. Let us not forget the death of about 44 Israeli’s and the wounding of 1,489 reported by Israeli sources, yet another consequence of the belligerent attitudes of Israeli warmongering leaders, and their ill planned, ill calculated and illicitly motivated wars on the neighboring populations.

It’s about time to discuss a pragmatic solution to the ailments of the region, and William Kristol’s caustic writing and immoral support for known terrorists, along with the United States lavish support of Israel are not satiating anyone’s desire for a lasting, durable peace. Kristol is clearly not intone with the wave of new Israeli historians; those who recognize the grim reality of the past, and that wish to remedy its faults.

The miraculous redemption of the Jewish people is a myth fabricated by a Zionist political movement that attained and sustains power at the expense of very valuable blood and the lives of innocence, both Arabic and Jewish. It is justified by Europe’s and the West’s apparent need to atone for its past sins, and indeed, it has been a heavy cost that humanity has to bear.

Demagoguery & Propaganda, prelude to future wars.

It is apparent to any observer with a keen eye for truth and meaning that the Israeli media, Pro-Israeli lobby in America, and the zealous Israel supporters, are churning the soil for a series of fresh new wars. Their focus is aimed at two main audiences, the minds of the Israelis themselves and those of the international community.

In Israel, the rhetoric is same, raising feelings of insecurity about mounting threats, and as a result, serving to justify further militarization of their population and increasing armament.

On the international level, Jews and gentiles are made to feel similarly insecure as they are told that they due to the decision of the terrorists, and not as a result of Israel's muddled plans and illicit crimes, are now potential prey for a ruthless beast infused with hatred and bloodlust. Consequently, they immediately garner sympathy and support worldwide.

Equally important, the sense of insecurity begets a sense of urgency, coupled with a sense of responsibility, a feeling that something has to be done to protect and save Israel. When the pretext is created, and it will be, as it always has been created in the past, the war will proceed, and Israel's actions will seem natural and licit in the minds of all blind observers.

U.S. Attack on Iran: Mission Impossible?

The latest news on an attack on Iran by the U.S. is that there is no attack, according to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who is currently in the midst of his 9-day Middle East cruise. Is this a surprise or is this not? Well, I think it is a little of both. The surprising part is that Mr. Cheney known as a warmonger, who thrives on war for his individual business purposes, denied an attack on Iran. At the same time, it should not be a surprise, since our U.S. economy has only deteriorated the past 5 to 7 years, and our army has been spread razor thin, which basically eliminates any effectiveness in any battle with Iran. Then the U.S. is faced with the sudden positions of major countries such as Russia who are suddenly confronting and criticizing U.S. foreign policy in the world, and could very possibly entail another cold war. Not to mention, Iran’s hard-hitting and vastly improving military capabilities where they supposedly introduced the fastest underwater missile in the world. Not to forget, that Iran also manufactures their own airplanes, long range missiles, etc. Plus, Iran has recently launched a satellite into space, which led to the U.S. shooting down one of their own satellites. Hmmm, I wonder why?

The U.S. proclaimed that the satellite was outdated and plain old “not working”. But, I personally doubt this is the case. There are two possible answers to why the U.S, would shoot down their own satellite in conjunction with Iran launching its own one. Either, the U.S. is trying to prove to Iran that they are capable of taking down any satellite they wish. Or, the fact that the Iranian military has reached new horizons, which evidently means that the U.S. now feels threatened from a highly capable Iranian satellite that the U.S. had to shoot down their own. Moreover that would be to prevent Iran’s highly capable satellite from drawing any transmitted data from the U.S. satellite.

Now at this instant, we are confronted with two answers which indicate two conflicting outcomes: Either, the U.S. is fully capable of launching a war and are trying to play the game of psychological warfare to begin with. Or, the second answer indicates that the U.S. is caught in a big pothole in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and are just worn-out in gauging another war. But my worry is that the U.S. launches a war even of they are incapable of launching one, stemming from the gaffes of some of our dim-witted government officials that is of course headed by Mr. Cheney himself…

"Experts" Still Beating Around the Bush

Last Friday, throngs of people gathered at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, some in solidarity with and others against, two political scientists, Professor John J. Mearsheimer and Professor Stephen Walt, who spoke on subject of the powerful American Pro-Israeli Lobby and its somewhat enchanting influence on both the public opinion and policy of the United States of America.

Honestly, I wasn't overly impressed with some of the opinions that the professors held at the close of the event; however, this does not make me neglectful and unappreciative of the admirable stance they took by speaking against the mighty Goliath that seems to have enslaved the will and minds of every influential mouthpiece in the public arena. In this meager contribution, I'll outline some of my opinions in regards to some of their thoughts.

First, let me begin with the 'infamous' question, that which concerns the existence of the state of Israel. The sacred unassailable paragon of democracy and justice that must never be questioned or subjected to anyones or any institutions analysis or oversight, because that is illicit, immoral and beyond the confines of decent and acceptable human behavior.

The professors affirmed their belief in the right of Israels existence, but also the existence of some form of Palestinian state, based on the UN partition plan, ignoring all the history and annexation that occurred before that ingenious plan was concocted. Hassan Nawash cleverly reminded the two professors that 35% of the Jews that lived at that time only owned 7% of the land before the partition, and that the problem lies in addressing why they deserve the lionshare of the land at the expense of the indigenous people, the Palestinians.

It seems that these professors, like many people who are somehow remotely detached from humanity and that are too engrossed with themselves, or a purely superficial reality, theoretical conjecture, or ink blotted papers, forget the nature of human beings, and the essence of the human spirit that simply doesn't submit its mind to simple promises or logical, flawed subjective plans, all that don't serve to remedy the ailments of peoples hearts, and serve to preserve their dignity, honor, and true justice, the true objective reality that exists on the scene of this conflict.

When will 'experts' learn that ideas such as 'land for peace', and other frail solutions will not and cannot ever solve the problem that exists. That a material promise cannot solve an immaterial problem, that gold cannot buy the collective consciousness of a people, or heal the countless wounds instilled through time.

Those few who spoke of challenging Israels right to exist, rightfully engaged in something that is permitted in any country or land in which a governing body governs the inhabitants of a land, and such an argument is not exclusive for Israel. If in America for instance, the government acts to oppress the people which it governs, then naturally, the people who gave the government its legitimacy, have a just right to demand that their rights be respected, and have the right to hold those that infringed on their rights accountable.

An apartheid state, must not exist in its apartheid nature - that doesn't entail the eradication of the Afrikaner population, and similarly, the dissolving of Israel in its current illegitimate form doesn't entail the eradication and destruction of the Jewish population. It does however include the elimination of a problem that has existed for six decades, the erasing of Palestine and the Palestinians off the map, minds, and hearts of humankind, a sentence, which the entire world doesn't feel or think is reprehensible.

I don't expect six hundred words to be sufficient enough to awaken the consciousness of the world, and that is why I implore every reader who takes a glance at my words, or anyones words, regardless of ones predisposition towards the issue being discussed, to investigate with an objective mind to seek the truth. It is not easy, it does appear to be gray, but believe me, even if you don't believe that causality is absolutely true, every effect has some reasonable cause, therefore, don't distract yourself with the effect, and shift your gaze and peer at the root cause, that which must be addressed.

The Language of War

An ongoing violence, and a relentless silence, the people of Gaza are crying, as we watch, our beloved people are dying.
The casualty ticker keeps clicking, and with it gravediggers keep digging,
The sound of bombs deafens the singing, and in children's ears is a ringing,
Not of school bells or pleasant humming, but of bomb shells and distant drumming,
Of war drums, and the whistling of mortar rounds and the clattering of bullets,
ripping through the clear sheet of the horizon, carrying a fateful message,
to the final abode, to the grieving chest, that bleak and inescapable prison.

Nasrallah: Israel is Readying for Another War

He did it again, the often referred to ‘Leader’, ‘head’, ‘chief’, Hezbollah secretary-general made the headlines in news sources worldwide.

What interested me the most was an article that was published in Haaretz, a newspaper that was once named “Israel’s liberal beacon” by The Nation. Shortly after yesterdays charged speech, Haaretz Arab affairs correspondent Yoav Stern wrote an erroneous article headlined “Nasrallah: We’re readying for war with Israel within months,” attributing a false allegation against Israel’s popular, ardent and much feared foe.

Readers of that headline are falsely led to believe that it is Nasrallah that is preparing and threatening to wage war against Israel, only the opposite is true. It is clearly evident to anyone who listens to Nasrallah’s speech, that he says, and I quote Yediot Ahranot, “The Hajj Imad Mugniyah was killed in the framework of an open war and in an unprecedented step through which Israel is preparing a new war. I don’t wish to scare anyone. They are the ones making decisions on war and peace.”

Further, in the Jerusalem post, one of Israels right-wing conservative newspapers, Nasrallah is quoted as stating that “After their war in Tamuz [Second Lebanon War], Israel is getting ready for a new war. I don’t mean to scare, but warn.” This further reinforces what was actually said, which clearly contradicts Stern's fallacious and illegitimate reference.

Perhaps Stern accidently mistranslated the speech; maybe, Haaretz should find a replacement to cover Arab affairs, one preferably skilled and fluent in the Arabic language, because, after all, the last time I checked, Arabs did speak Arabic.

Israel Declares "Open War" Against Hezbollah

AIPAC - America's pro-Israel lobby that has successfully managed to stifle real debate in the United States on all Middle Eastern issues announced in it's online briefing that "Hezbollah declares 'open war' against Israel," which I quite frankly find hard to believe, after considering what they quote Hezbollah's secretary general, who they prefer to call Hezbollah's "chief", as saying:

Zionists, if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open.

The declaration of open war was in fact not something Hezbollah initiated. Instead, the Israeli's declared it in a more disdainful and disrespectful manner! How?

It started with the bloody assassination of Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus, Syria. The nature of the assassination, in the heart of a country, foreign to the battleground that once confined the war between the Israeli's and Hezbollah is the blatant declaration of "open war" by the Israeli's on Hezbollah.

Consequently, Nasrallah's declaration is a response to Israel's escalation of violence, it's disrespect for international boundaries and the sovereignties of it's neighbors, which ultimately feeds into the further destabilization of an already volatile region.

AIPAC, notorious for imparting the false idea of Israel's victim hood in the minds of both American Jews and the American people goes on to further to state that,

as a result of Nasrallah’s threat, Israel ordered its military and embassies overseas on high alert and recommended that Jewish institutions worldwide do the same.

Instilling fear in the hearts of Jews worldwide and playing on the emotions of the American people, who definitely don't want to see any attacks in their dear country. AIPAC seeks sympathy and justification for Israel's actions, as she with her ill calculated actions continuously feeds the whirlwind of violence that is consuming the region.

Israel's own sons and daughters are speaking out against their government's policies; they are not genetically predisposed to hate or kill, yet they are forced, coerced, and pressured to do so, much like the minds of Americans are deceptively manipulated to support the committing of atrocious actions worldwide. Once a peep of resistance or nonconformity is heard, a hailstorm of condemnation and unjust accusations are fired at these voices, diminishing if not exterminating them. But Nay, the voices of what one man called "legitimate discontent" will be heard, and this silencing of truth will cease! America, the surrogate mother, must not distinguish between her sons, she must listen to and love them equally!

We're Live...from Dearborn

So I hear there has been a big Bridge Card heist in the Metro-Detroit area. What does this mean for Arab-Americans? Chances are the blogosphere will soon be on fire with a flaming repudiation of Arabs, their questionable allegiances, and what they have been doing with the money they make from these scams. Well, let me be the first to declare Arabs are some of the hardest working Americans. So what does it mean if some Arabs have their hands dirty in this scam? In my opinion, it simply indicates Arabs are like any other group in this country. They are neither monolithic in act or belief and should never be generalized when something silly like this takes place.

Law enforcement officials, as usual, are attempting to yet again pin terrorist charges to a run of the mill fraud scam.


Agents from the FBI, Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Treasury assisted state and local agencies with the raids, which occurred around 11 a.m. Federal investigators are looking into the possibility that the money defrauded from the state might be funneled through the store owners and assisting organizations in the Middle East with ties to terrorism.“We look at this as a first step to see where this money is going,” said Bugbee, who mentioned the terrorist organization Hezbollah as a possible recipient of the money.

Once again, the presumptuousness of attention-seeking law enforcement officials will draw negative attention to this case and Arab Americans. Yet again the terrorism charges will certainly be proven false. Shouldn't law enforcement be playing down such allegations though? Why do they always pin these stupid terrorist charges which always pan out to be false? Shouldn't law enforcement know by now that some people just scam the system to make money?

Really, it's pretty ridiculous and I'm calling their bluff. There is an entire community which gets heat when something like this takes place and their presumptuousness does NOT help. Let the judicial system work. A spade is a spade. A scam is a scam. But a crook is not necessarily a terrorist.