2008 Weblog Awards - Vote

Posted on January 6, 2009
Filed Under Blogging and New Media | 6 Comments

The 2008 Weblog AwardsOh my, I’m in it again and I just found out that voting has been open for a while now, not sure for how long. Well, it’s nice to know I got nominated, so thanks to whoever did nominate The Sudanese Thinker again into the 2008 list. Please go ahead and vote. The are some easily beatable “competitors” there so any boost would be greatly appreciated.

Vote, vote, vote!

Buffer Zone. Now.

Posted on January 5, 2009
Filed Under Jews, Israel, Palestine, Mideast | 34 Comments

My previous post, (which was meant to be taken with a grain of salt, if I may add) got some nice attention that gave me chuckles. So, here I am hammering out this one quickly as a serious humble alternative.

Instead of tearing it, I challenge you all either to build upon it or provide a workable alternative. Otherwise, the discussions won’t serve a “progressive” purpose that moves us forward.

And if you’re still not done venting, do so on the previous post, not this one.

Now, let me make this as straight forward as possible. I’m not interested in the “you started it, no you started it” conversations. Moreover, this shouldn’t be taken as a comprehensive solution. I can’t do that in a single short blog post.

What I would like to see is an end to the killing as soon as possible, and something constructive.

Israel can invade Gaza all it wants but it’s not going to destroy Hamas, not without incurring a significant death toll on its own army and on many innocent Palestinians. It’s going to fail just like it did in the recent war with Lebanon when it stated the destruction of Hezbollah as it’s goal.

Never happened then, and ain’t gonna happen now with Hamas. Another failure is inevitable. But I’ll tell you what succeeded in the last Israel-Lebanon war…

… the buffer zone. It worked rather nicely.

Old time readers of this blog know I don’t look up to the UN as the big benevolent daddy capable of solving all the world’s problems, the least of them being ones involving lots of bombs and blood. It’s broken, nearly outmoded and at times outright terrible.

For example, in Congo UN peacekeepers did nothing as the genocide unfolded. They did a pretty shitty job and had an even shittier mandate. Need I also mention Darfur?

Here’s the deal. Just because airplanes crash once in a while doesn’t mean we should stop using them for air travel. The buffer zone is so far working well in preventing another outbreak of violence between Israel and Lebanon.

Furthermore, you also have the DMZ in the Korean peninsula. It’s done miracles especially for South Korea and its economy.

What I’d like to see is those loud, bitchy, whinny nations complaining about the current violence, contributing their troops to an international peacekeeping force to be deployed to the Israel-Gaza border. Create a buffer zone there. Hamas will think twice about committing violence against international peacekeepers because it will risk invoking significant wrath if some peacekeepers die. It will face big difficulty firing its pathetic rockets into Israel too. On the other hand, Israel will stop raining big fat bombs and killing many innocent souls (aka “collateral damage”) in the process.

Next, once there is peace on the ground, formulate a plan involving certain countries with influence over Israel and Hamas (possibly oil-rich Arab countries and Western ones) to invest serious money into Gaza, while still making sure international peacekeepers are there to maintain stability for years to come.

The investors stand to reap a handsome ROI, while the Palestinians can begin to have more economic prosperity, hope and stability, three things which will make it hard for Hamas to flourish and recruit. Radical theology alone will become increasingly inadequate with more and more young Palestinians who’d rather live life, contribute to society and enjoy economic well-being.

As all the aforementioned happens, so can discussions between both sides over the big matters like Jerusalem. But at least with this kind of approach, the killing can be contained, and the perpetuation of violence can nosedive.

That’s pretty much the gist of my proposal in a nutshell.

  1. Buffer zone.
  2. Minimize violence.
  3. Economic prosperity.

Remember, if you’re going to tear it, I challenge you to provide your workable alternative. If you see holes, patch them. That way, we can have a progressive, constructive, solution-based conversation. And sorry there’s no “Michael Jackson, Heal the World” video this time.

Discuss. ;)

Gaza for Egypt. West Bank for Jordan. Problem Solved. No?

Posted on January 3, 2009
Filed Under Israel, Palestine, Intoxication, Mideast | 39 Comments

Okay, I don’t know about you, but first of all… happy new year and Sudanese independence day, regardless of the typical expected craziness raging in the Middle East.

I haven’t blogged anything about the unfortunate fighting, because well… many have already said what needs to be said. If anything, I’m simply going to recycle this old relevant post and link to Mona Eltahawy’s article.

Plus, quite frankly I’m getting tired of the same repetitive statements from both sides.

Here’s a radical idea that hasn’t been discussed on this blog before. Yeah, it’s the one in the title. Come on guys, if we’re going to talk, we might as well try a new proposition right?

Oslo? Two states solution? Let’s pretend it doesn’t exist for a while.

West Bank for Jordan doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Naseem, what do you think man? But, Gaza for Egypt? Now that would be, ehm, complicated. At the very least, it’s going to be a burden for Egypt. I’m also sure it’s going to make our Monkey friend very happy. But hey, maybe, just maybe, it could be manageable.

Those Palestinian figures who are neither members of Fatah nor Hamas tend to see the challenge most clearly. Qais Abdul Karim, a long-standing leftist MP, said he believed Israel’s bombing was intended to force on the Palestinians a provisional state, rather than true independence and sovereignty. “The idea is to isolate Gaza from the West Bank completely and to throw Gaza into the arms of Egypt and to subject the West Bank to perpetual domination by Israel,” he said. “Our priority must be to find a way to end our division.”

Yes Qais, believe me ya habibi, I’d love to see an end to those divisions too, but how? By blaming others?

His concerns are not without foundation. Israelis speak openly of alternatives to a viable, independent, contiguous Palestinian state. In recent weeks Giora Eiland, a former head of Israel’s national security council, proposed Jordanian control over the West Bank or a multilateral land swap between Israel, the Palestinians and Egypt which would let Israel keep a large slice of the West Bank for itself and see Gaza slide closer to the reluctant embrace of the Egyptians.

Hmmm…

Mustafa Barghouti, an independent MP who ran for the presidency at the last election, said Hamas and Fatah had been seduced into fighting over leadership of a largely powerless institution, the Palestinian National Authority - created under the Oslo accords a decade and a half ago and which gave the Palestinians the trappings of power without a state itself.

True Barghouti, but hey boys and girls, let’s get real. Forget Oslo, the two states solutions, and the quoted text. Let’s go into the heart of the inevitable issue nobody wants to discuss greatly when violence like this erupts and even if the proposition of Oslo more or less gets worked out - Jerusalem.

Which of course brings me, to the religious dogmatic dimension of this conflict.

For the secular types on both sides, it’s not a major issue. Jerusalem can just get split two ways. Simple. But the religious folks, especially our crazy Zionist settler friends and Hamas loonies will never accept that. Heck, even many religious moderates won’t accept that. Instead of becoming more humanist and compromising, separation theology reigns supreme. Faith is no longer personal and spiritual but instead thrusts itself mightily into the public sphere.

Sigh.

Apparently, God is a real-estate broker who does not compromise - ever. And it gets better when you throw in all the prophecies and beliefs about the Messiah sort of flying out of the sky in a super hero costume to bring an end to this bloody, never-ending conflict… and then of course, the world. Seriously, what’s going to convince people like this to change their minds?

WAIT, I know EXACTLY what will work. This:

Phew, okay, I feel better already. Come on guys, it’s the least I could do to try and spread some love. :)

Bleh. Thoughts?

Merry Christmukkah and Happy Holidays Everyone!

Posted on December 25, 2008
Filed Under Personal | 5 Comments

Have a great one, and happy new year in advance. The last months of 2008 have been slow around here, but it’s all for a good reason. I’ve been pretty busy with cool stuff behind the scenes at Drima HQ. 2009 is going to be exciting. Just wait for it.

Salam, Peace, and Shalom. May the force be with you! :)

Muslims Challenge UK Sharia Courts

Posted on December 20, 2008
Filed Under Female Species, Islam, UK | 11 Comments

Good. They have my support, and I hope they succeed in demolishing this travesty.

Excellent Reflexes President Bush!

Posted on December 15, 2008
Filed Under Iraq, Silly Me, America | 29 Comments

I’m guessing he was recently watching Madagascar 2 or something.

“I like to move it, move it!”

Fast move, alright. Phew! That was pretty close huh? Hehe, sorry, can’t help it. :)

Be a Voice for Darfur

Posted on December 13, 2008
Filed Under Darfur | 3 Comments

I’ve had my issues with the Save Darfur Coalition previously, but this looks like a good initiative. If you’re American, get on board and sign. It only takes less than a minute. And it’s the least we could do.

Happy Eid

Posted on December 8, 2008
Filed Under Islam, Personal | 2 Comments

Have a good one!

The AccoLade - Saudi GIRL Rock Band

Posted on December 3, 2008
Filed Under Female Species, Islam, Culture, Music | 3 Comments

Listen to them here. Not bad at all. For the full story, go here. Most amazing of all is that they’ve never lived outside of Saudi Arabia. I say rock on to them! :)

Thank You

Posted on November 27, 2008
Filed Under Personal | 8 Comments

 Thank you.

Thank you all for visiting, caring, and giving a few minutes of your time just to read my thoughts.It’s a humbling experience having you all here, regardless of the heated debates we may have with each other, and the disagreements we get into.

It’s a relevant occasion for these relevant thoughts, and hence I express them.

Meanwhile, let me leave you with this short quote from my upcoming book, which you’ll be hearing more about once 2009 dawns upon us.

“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be wrong.”

Have a great day everyone!

PS - here’s my latest round-up for the Harvard-based Global Voices Online, the truly awesome aggregator of the global conversation happening in the blogospere.

Mumbai Under Attack

Posted on November 27, 2008
Filed Under Evil Terrorists | 2 Comments

The city is getting terrorized with a well-coordinated sophisticated attack. A friend of mine was two blocks away from the blasts but luckily he’s okay. Unfortunately, not everyone is.

Amanpour sheds light.

May the victims rest in peace, and may we see an end to this ongoing madness as soon as possible.

Saudi Education Ministry Orders Extremist Books Removed From Schools

Posted on November 27, 2008
Filed Under Islam | 10 Comments

Via MEMRI:

Saudi Arabia’s education minister has ordered the removal of two extremist books from school libraries, in order to protect youth from extremist ideas.

One of the books is by Muslim Brotherhood thinker Sayyid Qutb, and the other is on jihad.

Source: Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, November 25, 2008

If it’s true, it’s certainly a commendable move. But hey, just because the minister ordered it, doesn’t mean his orders will be implemented.

Anyways, I’m guessing it has something to do with those books producing people who not only fly planes into buildings, but also want to blow up Saudi oil facilities and pipelines.

ICC Darfur Rebel Indictment

Posted on November 25, 2008
Filed Under CrUSAde, Darfur | Leave a Comment

It’s a conspiracy to try and seem fair, don’t be fooled.

This week the ICC prosecutor submitted a sealed application to the judges requesting an arrest warrant be issued against three Darfur rebel leaders whose names were not disclosed.

The counts against the rebel leaders included war crimes of violence to life, intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a peacekeeping mission and pillaging.

The U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Richard Williamson in an interview with Reuters welcomed the ICC move against rebel groups.

“I believe that for justice to be credible and for restorative justice to take place, all sides who commit crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide have to be held to account” the US official said.

Conspiracy, I tell you!

“Mon Bled” - Rai&B at its Best!

Posted on November 23, 2008
Filed Under Personal, Music | 2 Comments

Remember that Rai song I posted called Aicha by Cheb Khalid? Well this one is an R&B remix of another Rai song called Abdel Kader which featured Cheb Khalid too, hence the new genre Rai&B.

Me LOVES! :)

For more information on one of my favorite musical genres, read this:

Raï (Arabic: راي‎) is a form of folk music, originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Spanish, French, African and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s and has been primarily evolved by women in the culture. Raï literally means opinion but is colloquially used as an interjection along the lines of “oh, yeah!”

A gleam among the ruins

Posted on November 23, 2008
Filed Under Sudan, Darfur | 3 Comments

By far one of the best articles on Sudan I’ve come across in recent weeks. Great analysis.

… in the past few weeks three newish factors have coalesced to create a set of circumstances that could shake the country up: for better, if matters are handled carefully, or for much worse. The first is the prospect of national elections next year; the second is the beginning of proceedings against President Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of genocide over Darfur; and the third is the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Each of these factors, on its own, would not bother Mr Bashir much. But the three together are now putting considerable pressure on him to change course in Darfur and get serious about peace with the south.

Keep reading it here.

(hat-tip: Nobody)

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