As the game progressed the Egyptians looked more sullen and spoke even less.

I poked my Canadian coworker.

This is strange. It’s like the Egyptians are bottling their anger and disappointment.

Though no sports fan, I enjoy sitting back and socializing over games with enthusiastic friends, sharing their excitement and learning a thing or two about the complicated world of sports so many swear by. (It’s similar to my fascination with religion…)

Yet, this game,the outcome of which would determine whether Egypt or Algeria would compete in the World Cup in South Africa, was different. No one talked, snacked or drank and tension filled the air. Though all day Egyptians had laughed, dawned flags and face-paint, now few looked like they were actually enjoying the action.

When Algeria scored the single goal toward the beginning of the match, there was complete silence. Did that really, happen? I squinted at the new “1” marking Algeria’s score, the replays and those around me. Though I was at an extremely crowded outdoor cafe, with tons more surrounding, there were no boos, or any other insults yelled at the offending goal.

Maybe they’re collectively not optimists? I wondered. During the previous game, which led them to this tie breaker, they scored in the first moment and last. They had needed to win by at least two points to advance and they had done it. After such a victory, the lack of optimism throughout the entire game surprised me. Rather than being a fun, social experience, the game seemed intensely personal to the Egyptian viewers.

The game ended and spectators rose and dispersed. The loudest noise was employers at the cafe forcefully stacking the cheap plastic chairs. We hurried out of their way.

Leaving the game my Egyptian friend confided he was relieved Egypt had lost.

The people can’t handle it, he explained. They’d go crazy. There’d be riots.

He also thought it would lead to less opposition toward Mubarak because as the primary supporters of the football team, Egyptians would environ the regime with their nationalistic aspirations for the team. Driving away from the cafe, our cab driver shared his views.

The next evening, another Egyptian friend and I sat in traffic in Zamalek. A natural occurrence in Cairo, we didn’t think much of it until we encountered riot police blocking entire streets and gangs of screaming boys dawning Egypt flags and loud words.

In the past days, what seemed like it was going to be a losing M3lesh (whoops) for Egypt, quickly blocked from memory, has turned into a national and international attention steeling  debacle. Though security concerns were present from the beginning, (BBC reported 15,000 security forces were at attention at the game in Sudan) because of pre-game violence, including Egypt attacking and injuring Algerian players in their bus and Algerians ransacking Egyptian businesses in Algeria, the level has quickly escalated and gained international attention.

Last week both nations recalled their ambassadors, leading the debate to switch from football to Arab unity and the secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, used the opening of the World Economic Forum to call for peace between the two Arab nations. BBC has also reported that Amr Moussa asked Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi to mediate. So practical…

Verdict of the moment? Seems like Egypt might as have well won the match for all the trouble and politics being squeezed out of the plays.

Some links I referred to–though I’m in no way saying they’re all reliable news sources–part of the fun is the rumors. Part of the interest is the unverified facts and motives of the reports.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSGEE5AL0EV

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8366739.stm

http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/11/24/feature-02

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8377211.stm

http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/index.php?news=8489

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091120/wl_africa_afp/egyptalgeriaunrest

Le divergenze fra israeliani e palestinesi possono essere superate ed in ogni caso occorre favorire la rapida ripresa di negoziati diretti e mettere da parte soluzioni di carattere unilaterale (prefigurate di recente dai dirigenti dell’Autorità nazionale palestinese): queste alcune delle tesi esposte al presidente egiziano Hosni Mubarak dal suo omologo israeliano Shimon Peres, giunto oggi al Cairo per una visita annunciata con un breve preavviso.

Secondo fonti israeliane, Peres ha esaminato con loro – oltre alla necessità di riprendere i negoziati israelo-palestinesi dopo uno stallo di oltre un anno – la lotta regionale alla consegna di armi agli integralisti islamici e un freno alle attività dell’Iran nella Regione.

Di fronte ai giornalisti, Mubarak ha mostrato un atteggiamento molto cordiale nei confronti di Peres riconoscendogli fra l’altro il merito di essersi adoperato per la restituzione all’Egitto – nel lontano 1988 – della piccola oasi turistica di Taba, affacciata sul Mar Rosso.

Peres ha cercato di placare i timori assicurando che il governo israeliano resta impegnato alla formula dei ‘Due Stati per due popoli’ e che, con la ripresa di negoziati seri, tutte le questioni – inclusa quella delle colonie – sarebbero risolte.

Fonte:
http://ticinonews.ch/articolo.aspx?id=176414&rubrica=15

At the newsroom

In the aftermath of the Egypt-Algeria game in Sudan, and as we frantically were gathering information and contacts for our coverage, we also had to sit down and discuss the flood of information – or the lack of it at times.

Every TV show on Wednesday night had covered the ordeal of those who traveled to Sudan. Phone calls were pouring in from those frightened by attacks by Algerian fans and those who can’t get to or inside the airport. People we spoke to for our stories weren’t short of their own horror stories.

But it seemed to be only in Egypt’s mind, because on the other hand, the news agencies either ignored it or referred to it as minor incidents. By Friday morning I started doubting myself. There were two parallel worlds, one where people were traumatized and another where nothing of significance happened.

Pictures were only available of the game, but no photos on the wires of what happened afterwards. But as my friend — a person I trust who gave me a first hand account of his experience there — told me, “Our first reaction when attacked was not to take pictures, but to protect ourselves.”

He did send me photos of the shattered windows of their bus, which we ran in the paper.

But this led to some important questions: How accurate are the reports we are getting? How can we validate them? It’s not possible that thousands have agreed on one story, but are they exaggerating? Are we falling in the trap of sensationalization? Are we getting too caught up in the details that we are failing to see the bigger picture?

Seeing the media frenzy that followed was also worrying. The state-run official satellite station, El-Masreya, ran footage of the Thursday night demonstration. (For those of you who don’t know, for state TV and media, demos don’t happen). Many TV shows crossed the line (not a fine line) that separates coverage to outward agitation of the masses, some even calling for targeting Algerians in Egypt. It’s the same type of irresponsible media that fueled the masses in Algeria with false reports. (Mainly the death of Algerians during the game in Egypt, which the Algerian government denied. The denial didn’t find a place in some newspapers that had confirmed these alleged deaths.)

Alaa Mubarak speaking on TV (a rare occurrence for the media shy son), the initial tolerance for the protests near the Algerian embassy, and the liberty in which media was allowed to report on and fuel the anger were factors to consider.

After the initial story that ran in the Friday edition, we ran more stories the following day: more eyewitnesses’ accounts, the diplomatic relations between Egypt and Algeria, a story about Alaa Mubarak speaking on TV, and of course a story about the demonstrations that took place on Thursday and Friday.

But in doing so, we tried to be careful with the wording. Not sensational but not subdued either. Report it as is. Focus on the facts. I hope we didn’t mess up or miss a word here or there.

Objectivity, the first lesson any journalist learns, can sometimes seem like an elusive goal.

My take on the frenzy: When did Alaa become the hero?

After sending the paper to print and during the two days I took off, I had the chance to talk to more people, not about their experience in Sudan but about their reactions here in Cairo to the whole thing.

The most worrying realization was that many felt more humiliated by this incident than the numerous tragedies that have marred our recent history: from train accidents to the death of over 1,000 people over the course of few hours when their ferry sank in the Red Sea (and the subsequent escape of its owner).

I’m not trying to belittle the incident or what people have went through last week in Sudan. I don’t have the slightest doubt that this happened. Although it’s difficult to prove with material evidence, since people were running away from the attacks rather than clashing with the attackers, it’s still traumatizing for any person to be chased down the streets of a foreign city (or their hometown for that matter). Whether the Algerian government is complicit in this by intentionally allowing more violent fans to travel needs to be probed. Justice needs to be served. The failure of the Sudanese security to enforce order and protect its Egyptian visitors needs to addressed as well. We also need to revise the official response after the bus carrying the Algerian players was pelted by stones on their way from the airport.

But let’s put it all in perspective.

This incident is given more space, in state and private media, than other more tragic ones. Without scientific research, it’s easy to notice the difference between portraying the ordeal of the fans who returned and the ordeal of the families that spent nights (stress the ‘s’ here) in Red Sea towns waiting for news on the fate of their loved ones after the ferry sank in 2006. No masses were agitated on the scale we saw over the weekend. No actors or singers cried on live TV from the shock of it. No one felt humiliated when the case was referred to misdemeanor court or that the owner of the ferry was tried in absentia, because he left the country. Not in disguise but like any respectable citizen traveling abroad with the seal of government consent on his forehead.

Remember no people were chased down streets or had their buses pelted with stones then; they were merely left to die in freezing water and their corpses were left floating in open water, all 1,035 of them.

It’s only when the anger would be directed to an outside enemy is it allowed to be fueled and to mushroom. And not any enemy. People were beaten in Tahrir in March 2003 when they tried to march to the US embassy to protest the Iraq War. They were described as barbaric and accused of vandalism. Last week, the media and the ministry of interior (which usually takes days to issue a statement, that if they decided to acknowledge the existence of an incident) hailed the protest at the Algerian embassy that left a lot of shattered glass in Zamalek as “civilized.”

This has led many to the verge of hysteria and some willingly fell off that cliff. The hysteria I’m talking about here can be summarized in the willingness of many to attack any person just because he or she is Algerian. Someone, usually sane, told me over the weekend he would randomly attack any Algerian he sees in Cairo. What about XX, an Algerian friend? What if the man you are attacking has just spoken in your favor? What if it’s a woman? An old woman?

This hysteria won’t only have violent irreversible repercussions but has the ability of distracting people from the right ways to seek justice and also other important issues on the local front.

The idea that Egyptians are allowing many to cash in on their ordeal is equally worrying. Aside from celebrities, Alaa Mubarak’s phone interjection on TV has left me speechless.

Suddenly, the business-savvy son of the president who’s been in power for 28 years has become the hero. He’s angry, he wants to avenge the masses and like the rest of the Egyptians he feels humiliated. Suddenly, he is speaking against Egypt’s policy of political posturing, a policy that thrived during his father’s reign (except for selected enemies).

Alaa’s popularity is off the chart. The past 28 years and his other ‘business interjections’ were instantly forgiven and forever forgotten.

Sorry, but I draw the line here: When Alaa rises in popularity as hysteria reigns.

La Alianza del Atlántico Norte, que incluye a los países más ricos y mejor armados del mundo, ha decidido invitar a la marina israelí  a participar en unas maniobras conjuntas, es decir, al igual que Ucrania o Rusia, pasar al estatuto semi-oficial de potencia aliada que aun no es miembro de pleno derecho de la Alianza. Sólo Turquía ha puesto pegas a esta invitación, lo cual puede a la larga acarrear no solamente que se retrase para siempre su entrada en la Unión Europea, sino que en un momento dado también su expulsión de la OTAN. Esta invitación es una declaración no-oficial de guerra a Palestina, al no-Estado de Palestina en el territorio ocupado donde colonizan, explotan y asesinan a la población palestina no reconocida y desprotegida legalmente ante los ataques cotidianos de soldados y colonos israelíes.

La OTAN está por lo tanto en guerra simultáneamente contra Afganistán y Palestina, mientras mantiene contingentes de ocupación en numerosos países africanos y en Irak. Desde este punto de vista, es decir, desde el punto de vista de los agredidos por la OTAN, parece evidente que la OTAN ataca a los países más débiles de manera sistemática. Ahora bien, como la explicación oficial de las maniobras conjuntas con Israel es que forman parte de una estrategia global contra el terror, cabe hacer una síntesis y deducir de ambas perspectivas que la OTAN es una organización terrorista de una enorme magnitud que condena a los pobres a la miseria y a la violencia sin límite que merecen los terroristas. Es evidentemente una antisituación sádica en la que los ricos machacan a los pobres y los llaman, entre otras cosas, terroristas. El sadismo del capitalismo se encauza por lo tanto en la OTAN a la que pertenecemos. Nuestro Estado es por lo tanto cómplice de una agresión sádica y colectiva cuya ideología no asume en absoluto su sadismo. Si no lo asume es porque no puede hacerlo, por lo tanto hay una mala conciencia. Es la razón por la cual debemos seguir aireándola, porque así el Estado llegará a un punto crítico: cambiar o aplastar la libertad de expresión.

The stupidity and ignorance of these Egyptians specifically and Arabs in general is just overwhelmingly embarrassing. While the filth of Judaism and Zionism continue to steal, massacre and humiliate Arab Palestinians, Arabs are more concerned with a soccer-match results!

Your Sacred sites are under attack! The NaZionists are about to destroy Al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock while you are busy with %$#@ soccer results! Direct your protests to your Palestinian brothers and sisters! Demand your Pharaoh to step down.. his Botox-infested face belongs in a Museum.. next to Hitler!

It’s time for Arabs to annihilate NaZionism and return the land to its rightful owners!

Football protests continue in Egypt

Algeria’s 1-0 victory over Egypt means the largest Arab nation has failed to qualify again [AFP] Demonstrators have gathered for a second day near the Algerian embassy in Cairo, protesting against attacks on Egyptians during an Algeria-Egypt qualifying match for football’s World Cup finals. The protest on Friday follows Cairo’s decision to recall its ambassador to Algeria, accusing Algerian fans of thuggery during the match in Sudan on Wednesday – which Algeria won 1-0 to qualify for next year’s World Cup. The interior ministry warned Egyptians against further protests after 11 police officers and 24 demonstrators were injured in riots near the embassy at dawn on Friday. Such demonstrations are almost rare in Cairo. “The police will be forced to take steps it sees necessary in the case of any other contraventions of the law,” the ministry said in a statement. Violent protest About 150 demonstrators gathered on Friday in the Zamalek neighbourhood, where many embassies are located. Police trucks and hundreds of officers in riot gear formed a cordon along the streets to block their way to the Algerian embassy, a witness told Reuters news agency. Passing cars hooted and some waved Egyptian flags in support of the demonstrators. Stones and broken glass from the previous night’s violence littered the street. About 2,000 demonstrators gathered during the night and many began throwing bottles and stones after a police charge to break up the crowd. Two police vehicles were overturned. Sudan hosted the Egypt-Algeria tie amid unprecedented security, deploying thousands of police to prevent trouble. An earlier match played in Egypt last Saturday also triggered violence, with the Algerian players complaining that their team bus was attacked by Egyptian supporters. Reprisal attacks reportedly followed in Algeria, with Cairo alleging that Egyptian firms and businesses were targeted in Algiers, the Algerian capital.

Bismilah al rahmán y rahim

Ya había escrito aquí que el discurso homófobo, la ofensiva homófoba de Tariq Ramadan, lo incapacitaba definitivamente como intelectual de referencia para pensar la articulación del islam en Europa. Sigo pensando que no todo lo que dice y expone en sus libros es digno de ser tirado a la basura, pero su nerviosismo, su falta de educación, sus insultos y sus contradicciones durante el debate de una hora con Caroline Fourest en el programa de la televisión francesa Ce soir ou jamais, del lunes 16 de Noviembre, son un espectáculo tristísimo que pone a Tariq Ramadan en la posición nada envidiable de ser efectivamente el ser caricaturesco que define con acierto Caroline Fourest.

En los diferentes temas tratados, Caroline Fourest sí supo presentar con pruebas innegables cómo Tariq Ramadan fomenta los ataques a los espacios mixtos, recupera las homofobias clásicas de los fundamentalismos religiosos, apenas escondidas con la fórmula del “respeto a las personas”, cómo Tariq Ramadan instrumentaliza las acusaciones probadas en sus discursos y declaraciones con acusaciones indesmostrables de ser amigos de los neoconservadores, de los islamófobos, de todos los grupos de derecha y extrema derecha que pululan en el panorama político europeo y americano. Como llevo mucho tiempo escondiéndolo, aprovecho este escrito para sacar a relucir una bomba mediática que no tengo por qué seguir camuflando: mientras en público Tariq Ramadan apela a la legitimidad de una moral sexual islámica que condena el adulterio, su vida privada no ha sido siempre coherente con esa postura. Y no daré más detalles por respeto a terceras personas. No me parece mal la vivencia en sí, pero sí condeno que exija a los demás musulmanes, hombres y mujeres, la aceptación de unos valores que convendría revisar y que él mismo no pudo o no quiso asumir.

Por último, el ataque de Tariq Ramadan a Charles Genequand, como un profesor incapaz de entender el islam moderno al ser un especialista del islam medieval y de una supuesta desautorización de la Universidad de Ginebra me afecta personalmente, puesto que yo mismo he tenido una relación difícil con este profesor, pero no comparto la forma de descalificarlo sin más motivo que el resentimiento y mediante la calumnia,  porque tuvo la autoridad de no dar su visto bueno a la tesis que intentó presentar Tariq Ramadan en la Universidad sobre su abuelo Hasan al-Banna, fundador de los Hermanos Musulmanes.

Es erinnern sich sicherlich alle an den Skandal im Juli dieses Jahres 2009, der dadurch ausgelöst wurde, dass eine ägyptischstämmige, islamischgläubige Frau vor Gericht ermordet wurde. Dieser Artikel der Welt dürfte das Gedächtnis auffrischen, vor allem weil die Informationen relativ umfangreich ausfallen, sodass ein Überblick schnell geschaffen ist.

Zu diesem Zeitpunkt befand sich Frau Merkel in Ägypten und drückte den Ägyptern und der islamischen Welt ihr Beileid für dieses, wie sie sagt, abscheuliche Verbrechen aus und betonte, man wolle nicht, dass Deutschland ein Land wird, in dem Menschen sich wegen ihrer Zugehörigkeit zu bestimmten Kulturen oder Religionsgemeinschaften vor Gewalt gegen sie zu fürchten haben.
Die “Sympathisanten”, die sich mit der Ägypterin solidarisierten, schrien Parolen wie “Nieder mit Deutschland!” während eines Protestes in Teheran. Doch es waren nicht nur etwa einige “kleine Männer”, die Deutschland wegen dieses Vorfalls massiv angriffen, sondern auch hohe Männer der islamischen staatlichen Teilorganisationen.
Mubarak, der ägyptische Präsident selbst etwa, stieß das geradezu idiotische Kommentar aus, “die Deutschen seien die Feinde Allahs”.
Es hatte dabei allerdings offenbar niemals jemanden berührt, zu berichten, dass es sich bei dem Mörder nicht um einen Deutschen handelt, sondern um einen sogenannten “Russlanddeutschen”, wie man es heute politically correct auszudrücken pflegt. Die stetigen und unbarmherzigen Angriffe gegen das deutsche Volk waren demzufolge also völlig berechtigungslos.
In arabischen Ländern hieß es ”radikaler junger Deutscher, der gebildete Muslima umbringt …” – die gezielte Hetze gegen das Kollektiv “Deutschland” ist unverkennbar und die zahlreichen Demonstrationen, die in Deutschland gegen Deutschland stattfanden, zeigen klar und deutlich, wie sehr ein einzelner Vorfall dazu missbraucht und vergewaltigt wird, den Deutschen zu verallgemeinern und als “rassistisch und intolerant” darzustellen.

Freilich: Durch eine solche Strategie wird effektiv das Ziel verfolgt, das Integrationsproblem in Deutschland so darzustellen, als ob es die Deutschen wären, bei denen “der Ball liegt”, bei denen Handlungsbedarf besteht. Aber diesen einzigen Zwischenfall – er ist tragisch; besonders weil es ein gutes Vorbild als Opfer traf und die Frau schwanger war - zu einer solchen segregationistischen Hetzpropaganda zu missbrauchen, ist verabscheuenswert.

Zum Urteil: Dem Verbrechen entsprechend, war die Strafe, das “Höchsturteil”, wohl gerecht, wobei diese 15 Jahre, die er mindestens sitzen soll, wohl noch einige dazugezählt werden müssten – der Mann hat zwei Menschen, davon einem unschuldigen Kind, das Leben genommen.

Gamal Mubarak, or Jimmy, and his posse have exhibited a change in tone throughout the speeches they made during the NDP conference. Their criticism of opposition is not new. But the aggressiveness and bluntness of the criticism is. The anger and the not-so-subtle threats are new to such public speeches.

It’s early, however, to determine whether this change is worrying or healthy. Does it mean they are seriously acknowledging the opposition? Would this signal a crackdown? Or is it all a stunt so people like me would get too occupied with analyzing the change of tone rather than taking the NDP to task for its failures over the past 28 years?

But definitely it isn’t early to start considering the options. The Jimmy Option (JO) and the Unknown Opposition Option (UOO).

Before starting, let’s eliminate one of the annoying questions that has become a staple of such discussions.

The most annoying question/hypothesis is: ‘If it’s not Gamal, then who? There is no one, no other option.’

Aside from the fact that there are a lot of options, a lot of capable people who can lead this country, who ever said Gamal was qualified? Not because he can afford the luxury of exposure or the buzz surrounding his imminent rise to power, would this mean he can lead a country. He’s certainly not more qualified than others who can’t afford to get a camera to follow them around. Those ‘others’ would definitely shine and rise in a more welcoming system. But that’s another story.

So, if you rid yourself from the de facto proposition that it’s only the NDP that can rule — relying of course on the experience of the past 28 years where no other regime came close to power — then you can eliminate the one-and-only-Jimmy hypothesis from the argument. At least until the end of this article.

Plus, Jimmy won’t bring about any change. His existence in, like his rise to, power needs to be protected by a police state. Such a police state feeds on the current corruption, the venomous social structure, the ailing education and whatever else that plague this country. Thus for the younger (seemingly more progressive) Mubarak to remain in power, he has to keep many of the ills of this country intact.

But what can we do? Or to be more accurate, what can the politicians who publicly oppose Jimmy’s rise to power do?

To be realistic — because before answering such utopian question a dose of reality is needed — the NDP does control everything. Even though I would like to think that the presidential elections in 2011 would be a do-or-die battle for opposition and for many of us who hope for change, the fact is there isn’t much hope. At least not for 2011.

This doesn’t mean, however, that there isn’t anything to do. There is. A lot.

It’s never too late.

This will unfortunately bring me back to the annoying question, specifically the part about being no other option.

Opposition has been relatively successful — so far — in meeting in the same room. Politicians representing different ideologies have temporarily let go of these differences to agree on certain principles: The need for change and the rejection of the inheritance of power, i.e. JO.

That’s commendable for sure. But a change in course, in strategy, is indispensible.

The discourse of merely calling for change that worked with the Kefaya Movement years ago has to mature now. The opposition forces that are merely campaigning against the JO are slowly and unknowingly shooting themselves in the foot. It’s because they are united against one thing without providing an alternative, their own option, i.e. UOO.

With two years to go before the elections, the UOO needs to be groomed for power — starting today, if not yesterday. For the public to take the united opposition forces seriously (that if they stay united), they have to be presented with a UOO that would stand in strong comparison with JO. A UOO that the public and the opposition can rally behind.

Even if the UOO doesn’t win (which right now sounds like the plausible scenario), the opposition would have put the wheel of change into motion.

Well there were plenty of pictures taken at this event today where Secretary Clinton spoke and conferred with Foreign Ministers of many Arab states as well as some European representatives. We see her here with dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, among a few, and the gentleman joking with her and making her laugh is the King of Morocco.

According to this press release from the State Department, she will deliver a speech at the forum tomorrow.

Secretary Clinton To Deliver Speech at the Forum for the Future on Tuesday November 3, 2009

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 2, 2009

Secretary Clinton will deliver remarks at the opening session of the Forum for the Future in Marrakech, Morocco at 4:00 am ET / 9:00 am LOCAL tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Video of the Secretary’s remarks will be available shortly after the speech concludes.

The Forum for the Future is a joint civil society initiative of the countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa region (BMENA) and the Group of Eight (G8). It brings together leaders from government, civil society and the private sector to exchange ideas and form partnerships to support progress, reform, and expanded opportunities for the people of the region.

The Secretary’s speech will reaffirm the commitment of the United States to broad engagement with Muslim communities around the world and outline concrete steps the United States is taking to follow up on the “New Beginning” that President Obama launched in Cairo.

Despite the fact that all looks rosy in these photos, the Secretary has drawn some serious fire from Arab leaders due to statements she made in Jerusalem over the weekend. Many negative reviews poured forth yesterday, and I will not link the many I saw, but here are a few examples:

From the Jerusalem Post: PA to US: Coerce settlement freeze
From Firedoglake: Somewhere, Khaled Meshal Is Laughing
From the BBC: Obama yet to deliver on Middle East

Finally, today there were these.
From Foreign Policy Magazine: From Washington and Jerusalem: more bad news
From People’s Daily Online: Egypt supports Palestinian demand for settlement freeze

The Secretary released the following clarifications today which, I believe were stated at the Forum since I just saw her on PBS saying some of what is in the text:

Secretary Clinton on the Middle East

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Marrakech, Morocco
November 2, 2009

Secretary Clinton delivered the following remarks Monday morning at a camera spray upon meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Fassi-Fihri in Marrakech, Morocco:

For 40 years, successive American administrations of both parties have opposed Israel’s settlement policy. That is absolutely a fact.

And the Obama Administration’s position on settlements is clear, unequivocal. It has not changed. And as the President has said on many occasions, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. Now, the Israelis have responded to the call from the United States, the Palestinians and the Arab world to stop settlement activity by expressing a willingness to restrain settlement activity. They will build no new settlements, expropriate no land, allow no new construction or approvals.

And let me just say this offer falls far short of what we would characterize as our position, or what our preference would be. But if it is acted upon, it will be an unprecedented restriction on settlements and would have a significant and meaningful effect on restraining their growth.

Let me take a step back because I want to put this into the broader context. I will offer positive reinforcement to the parties when I believe they are taking steps that support the objective of reaching a two-state solution.

I will also push them as I have in public and in private to do even more. And in my report to the President last month, I talked about Israeli willingness to restrain settlement activity as a positive step.

In the same report, I praised President Abbas’ leadership of the Palestinian Authority for their courage and the security measures on the West Bank. The steps being taken under President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayed are also unprecedented and we have never seen such effective security. I have on many occasions going back – as you know in Sharm El Sheikh – praised the accomplishments that the Palestinian Authority has demonstrated in building, training, and reforming their security forces.

I told Prime Minister Netanyahu that these positive steps on the part of the Palestinians should be met by positive steps from Israel – movement and access, operations by the IDF and on Israeli security arrangements on the West Bank. Israel has done a few things in that regard but they need to do much more. And President Abbas has shown leadership and determination on this issue and Israel should reciprocate.

I just want to clarify that what we are trying to achieve is a two-state solution with a state that represents the aspirations of the Palestinian people – the sovereignty and to have control over their own future, and provide the security guarantees to Israel for their own future. That is my goal. And when either party takes any steps that looks like it moves us in the right direction – even if it is not what I would like or what I would prefer – I’m going to positively reinforce that.

This is an opportunity for both sides to try to move forward together, to get into negotiations, and to realize the goal that many of us around this table have supported and worked for for many years.

She was scheduled to return to D.C. on Wednesday, but Gwen Ifill just announced on the PBS Newshour with Jim Lehrer that her trip has been extended one day in order for her to go to Egypt and meet with President Mubarak. This Reuters story, Clinton to fly to Egypt for Mubarak meeting appears to corroborate that report.

Aguirre, que también sostuvo que Zapatero se presenta como “el adalid de la modernidad”, dijo que el Ejecutivo central sólo tiene la intención de “meter el dedo en el ojo y dividir a la mitad de la sociedad española” con leyes como la de la Memoria Histórica, la denominación de matrimonio a la unión entre homosexuales, la de Igualdad o la del aborto. Además, recalcó que el presidente ha avanzado “hacia un país basado en unos principios que son la herencia del socialismo más antiguo mezclados con algunas recetas de los movimientos anticapitalistas, antiglobalización, antiamericanos, antisemitas…”.

Primer mandamiento para cualquier político con una mínima dignidad: no usarás el antisemitismo en vano como calumnia para obtener réditos políticos. Puestos a decir la verdad, la única verdad, a Zapatero y a su ministro Moratinos habría que denunciarlos más bien por su seguidismo de EEUU con respecto a la ocupación y colonización israelí de Palestina, que intentan minimizar mientras que premian al ex-presidente y usurpador de la presidencia de la AP Mahmud Abbas, y a Israel con nuevos acuerdos comerciales en el ámbito de la investigación y la seguridad, y por haber cambiado la ley sobre Jurisdicción Universal para beneficio de dictadores y criminales de guerra, por exigencia de los gobiernos israelíes de Olmert y Netanhyahu. Pero Esperanza Aguirre ha optado por el “todo vale”, como Netanyahu. En efecto, los primeros ministros y demás ministros israelíes varios, así como los neocons republicanos y europeos, nos tienen más que acostumbrados a este mecanismo infame de ocultación de la realidad.

“In Gaza, I was surprised and shocked by the destruction and misery there. I had not expected it. I did not anticipate that the IDF would have targeted civilians and civilian objects. I did not anticipate seeing the vast destruction of the economic infrastructure of Gaza including its agricultural lands, industrial factories, water supply and sanitation works. These are not military targets. I have not heard or read any government justification for this destruction.” (Richard Goldstone, JP, 20-10-2009)

The sanctity of the tomb is emphasized by the masses coming and going.

Today is 6 October: the armed forces holiday that commemorates the October War of 1973 — also known as the Yom Kippur War, when the Egyptian Army and its allies invaded Israeli-controlled Sinai territory and the Golan Heights on that high holy day of Judaism, only to be pushed back to within a 101 km of Cairo by the Israeli army. Glorious victory for the Egyptians.

Victory?

That’s what the Egyptians will say. One of the first sights I saw in Alexandria was the gundi al-maghul, the rather exhibitionist Tomb of the Unknown Soldier placed at the head of Manshaya Square — Markous managed to explain that he was a “fallen soldier in the victorious war against Israeli in 1973.” The tomb is a converted fountain that stands next to the courthouse, and shabaab loiter, while minibuses come and go.

Look! Untruth!

Aside from today’s official holiday, one of my favorite propaganda pieces is in Medinat Nasr, The October War Panorama. A full-fledged (enormous) ride, complete with a 10 LE entrance fee. Enormous, really; you get on an EPCOT style ride that takes you through scene after scene of Egyptian soldiers bravely advancing on the hideous Israelis, Pyramids in the background. Apparently (according to Rough Guides), the complex was suggested by none other than North Korean role model Kim Il Sung in 1983 to Hosni Mubarak, bless his dictatorial soul.

Memorials of the October War abound, and I point them out as a bit of a curiosity; I’ve tried talking to people about the war and they insist (insist!) that I’m wrong. One person said I had been misled by the Jewish conspiracy in America. Another said I was a Jew (insult?). Most have just shaken their heads, as if I were really just an ignorant person unaware of the real truth behind what I had learned in my American school.

This should remind us: history books are not just written by the victors; they are written by both sides. And I wonder: what have we written in to ours?

I am sorry I did not upload this wallpaper earlier, but maybe you can use it in future InshAllah…

Click on the image for full size

Click on the image for full size

WORK TIME:Approx. 1.5 hrs

FINAL PROJECT TIME: 6min. 38sec.

CAMERA: Sony HDR-UX10

EDITED WITH: Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9 (on Dell XPS420 with 4GB RAM)

A small speech given by Naeem Umarally (my brother-in-law who happens to own the camera I keep borrowing ) about the importance of getting our Muslim youth involved in doing Islamic work as well as the importance of making them want to get involved. Given on September 18, 2009 at Jamaat ul Muttaqeen (JUM) on behalf of FAYM (Florida Association of Young Muslims).

SET-UP:

This masjid in Pembroke Pines is usual place that I tape. I’ve taped more than a few of my father’s khutbah’s there and even a few skits (from my weekly class that I’ve attended there). So, I was able to set up quickly as I ran in late, and popped out my tripod and the camera and pushed the record button.

Just so you know, I only put the “set-up” part for now, even though I don’t really have too much of a set-up. Down the line, when I get some equipment inshaAllah, this part will be more elaborate. Right now, it’s just a camera and a tripod.

EDITING:

I’ll be honest, I’ve been doing some very easy editing, and I got stuck in this format. I actually took a project from the past speeches, and just took out the video portion, changed the name, and put in the new video (“Save As…” was helpful in this part). Then I copied the video onto a different track (or layer), zoomed that copy in a little, and began to switch between the “two angles” that I saw fit. I also used GoldWave, a really old audio editor I used years ago, to try to remove some noise from the background audio. Along with the simple editing, I used the Brightness/Contrast feature to make it a bit brighter. I feel like I’ve been lazy in past posts so here’s some before & after:

Before

After

Settings were as follows, Brightness: 0.11, Contrast: 0.15

FINAL THOUGHTS:

(Belated) Eid Mubarak to you! Alhamdulillah I’ve been blessed to work on this project and I hope Allah will bless me with more opportunities to do this type of thing in the future. InshaAllah this may be turned into a DVD (with all of the FAYM Ramadan Speeches).

YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS:

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Photographed by 3belas

Selamat Hari Raya buat geng-geng Flickr dan semua yang mengenali diri ini. Tangan dihulur maaf dipinta.

– License

WORK TIME: Approx. 2.5 hrs

FINAL PROJECT TIME: 9min. 58sec.

CAMERA: Sony HDR-UX10

EDITED WITH: Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0 (on Dell XPS420 with 4GB RAM)

A short talk (part of a series of short talks) by Taarik Rahman on strengthening our ties to the community. He gives small advices about how we connect to our communities and our youth. This talk was given on September 13, 2009 at Masjid Jama’at Al Mu’mineen (MJAM) on behalf of FAYM (Florida Association of Young Muslims).

SET-UP:

Just little old me at the back of the masjid with my brother-in-law’s camera and my tripod. MashaAllah the place he was talking from had good lighting.

EDITING:

Alhamdulillah I own the program now (Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9). Jazakallahu khair to my brother, Raa’id for the Eid gift. I used the same format for these lectures as I think they might be put into a DVD for Ramadan 09 with FAYM. Look out for that because I also have a khutbah of my father, Naseeb Khan (the last Khutbah of Ramadan), so that may just be a bonus of the dvd.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

As the project is coming to a close (Eid already passed and there’s only one more short talk to release), I must say that I had a lot of fun doing this. It revived the spirit of video production in me. It made me realize again what I love. Next time, it’ll be better with lighting and gadgets, but the same great content and Islamic da’wah. Ameen.

YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS:

Leave a comment, help me out, I have no idea what you’re thinking.

The kindergarten maxim: share, please. Thank you!:

“islamgreatreligion”

wishes all its readers

and visitors

Eid Mubarak!

May Allah Accept Our prayers and fasting,

May Allah Forgive Our Sins,and guide us on right path!

May Allah shower his finest blessing on ALL MUSLIMS around world.

Ameen

KING

slave of ALLAH!

]]> http://eraks.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/radio-slbc-ceylon-september-19-2009/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:10:47 +0000 eraks http://eraks.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/radio-slbc-ceylon-september-19-2009/ http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/eid-mubarak-2/ Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:43:16 +0000 Raza Rumi http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/eid-mubarak-2/