From the monthly archives:

August 2006

Cyber Space Break Up & Mutation

by Drima on August 22, 2006

A close friend of mine called me today. She’s seriously depressed and probably a little traumatised. Why? She broke up with her boy friend online, ONLINE!! Now she feels bad about it. You women are weird sometimes!

Another random story I want to share with you is about a close Russian friend of mine. He’s pissed at me because I gave him a nickname after our whole gang went for a swim. His now notorious nickname is Triple Nipple. Why? He was born 3 months after the Chernobyl disaster in a nearby town. Go figure!

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Great Sudanese Plan For Darfur

by Drima on August 22, 2006

The Sudanese government is just hilarious. First… they unleash the crazy Janjaweed and “bam” Darfur turns into a big mess. Then… the Darfur mess just gets messier. After that… the international community turns the heat on them. What do they do? They start a propaganda campaign telling the “easy to manipulate” Sudanese people that the UN’s intention is evil. Bwahaha funny! Al-Qaeda then jumps in with their nutty call for Jihad in Darfur… International pressure continues and wala… the Sudanese government comes up with an ingenious plan to stop the violence in Darfur… The plan? Send 10,000 troops from the Sudanese army to protect the miserable civilians !!! Brilliant butchers aren’t they?!

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Sudan, Iran & The Arab League

by Drima on August 20, 2006

The Arab League on Sunday backed Sudan’s rejection of UN troops in Darfur. They’ll “try” to fulfill their “commitments” to provide six months’ worth of financing for the African Union mission. My fingers are crossed.
(Hat tip - Sudan Watch)

In other news, Sudan’s alliance with Iran is apparently strengthening. Great developments huh?

Iranian visiting envoy said Iran is resolute to implement cooperation agreements reached with Sudan, said Iranian Minister of Agriculture who is currently visiting the country.
He said that the strong ties between Iran and Sudan necessitate more consultation between them toward confronting the colonialism conspiracies, and holding discussion on a number of international issues.
If these develpments keep the UN troops out and help reinforce the AU troops instead, I don’t mind them at all. However when it comes to democracy, screw both the Iranian and Sudanese regimes. I’m with the West. Why? It’s simple really, democracy there is alive and kicking. Dear Muslims, can you deny that? Can you deny that your fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in the West have more rights and freedoms than the ones in Muslim countries of the Middle East? Can you? Hell, even Arabs in Israel have more rights than those living in Arab countries.
Continue supporting the likes of Bin Laden and Ahmadinejad until you find yourselves living under their harsh and extremist Talibani style Sharia infested rule. I’m sure you’ll be smiling then.

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Pussy Cat Dolls in Malaysia

by Drima on August 19, 2006

About a month ago The Pussy Cat Dolls performed here in Malaysia. I was supposed to go for the concert but due to my stinking luck, their timing wasn’t convenient. I had just arrived from US and I was still jet lagged and tired. Something interesting happened after their show though.
The Pussycat Dolls played to a sold-out arena in Malaysia, considered a moderate Muslim nation, in late July.
A local city council fined organizers for allowing the chart-topping singers to wear skimpy costumes and perform “sexually suggestive” routines at a recent concert.
Absolute Entertainment, the local organizer of the Pussycat Dolls concert, was fined $2,714 for flouting decency regulations.
The Malaysian government plays the game in a smart way. The fines are symbolic in my opinion. The concert gets to happen and whoever wants to go can go while at the same time conservative Muslims can chill out after knowing a punishment has been rightly enforced. Everyone is happy this way.
Concerts and rave parties happen here all the time. When conservative Muslims complain, the government calms down their worries by enforcing “strict” restrictions on events. For example when Linkin Park came here about 3 years ago, they were told not to you obscene language during the concert. They didn’t and the concert turned out great. I went and it was good! Mariah Carey was told to wear a decent outfit when she came. In other words, she was supposed to cover up her bazooka-sized watermelons. She did. Rave parties here are cool though and they don’t usually have much restrictions on them but most of the time security is very tight. They’re as wild as they can get.
A few months ago, I went for DJ Tiesto’s rave party. How was it? Too good… Just way too good. Absofreakinglutely. Oh ya! Imagine 6pm all the way until 3.30am. Too good! Unfortunately a friend of a friend of another friend overdosed while tripping on E and died. Sigh! Don’t get the wrong idea though, me good boy and I don’t get high. I just like the loud bass and the crowd.
The Malaysian government does quite a good job in trying to make everyone happy. It’s a delicate balancing act and it’s hilarious. Read what my friend Aimster has to say though. Babe, I hear you!

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Campus Activism

by Drima on August 19, 2006

Last week here on campus there was a “Support Lebanon” campaign. The campaign was successful and a lot of money was raised for the victims. The money was given to the Lebanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Moreover a petition requesting a stop to Israel’s bombing was signed by all those who donated including me. It got sent to the US Embassy here.
One of the guys organizing the campaign was a Sudanese. I gave him an idea about making a similar campaign for the sake of the miserable ones in Darfur. He didn’t like it and said it could raise sensitive issues. According to him the publicity will make us seem “pitiful” in the eys of others and it could create tension amongst the diverse Sudanese community on the university campus. For example he said that if we were going to raise donations for Darfur, we should also do the same for those in south Sudan. He had a point and so I agreed. However he said there will be others who still won’t be happy with the whole idea of “begging for money”. I just didn’t understand that. When the Pakistani earthquake occured, the Pakistani community on our campus set up their own successful campaign. I’m sure to them it wasn’t “begging for money”. They were simply helping their country mates and I think it’s a very honorable thing.
My friend also wondered to whom we were going to give the money after we collected it. “What about the Sudanese Embassy?” he asked. Ya, sure thing and last night my grandmother planted a tree on the moon too. The Sudanese dictatorship would probably swallow the donations as they do most of the time. “Why don’t we give the money to aid agencies working in Sudan then?” I asked. “They’ll probably steal it too” replied my friend. Each one of us wanted to go with a different strategy and each one of us had his own doubts and worries.
We continued arguing. I had enough and so did he. “I don’t want to get involved in this. It’s just too complicated” he finally said before getting up to leave. I didn’t know what to think at that moment. A slight feeling of despair crept into my mind and soul. I decided to ask the other Sudanese what they thought. They all raised the same concerns and said it would create problems. They told me to “just let it be”. By now the despair was too overwhelming.
It’s not an easy task organizing such a campaign all alone while also keeping up with classes. Maybe I give up too easily or maybe I just try too hard. I don’t know which one it is. I guess it’s too difficult for me to accept reality sometimes and in the process all I do is just drain out myself. My problem is that I’m either very passionate and caring or dead and cold like a stone. Ask the girls who know me well and they’ll tell you. Those who aren’t close to me will profess my very cheerful and goofy nature. It’s true but that’s only scratching the thick surface.
Before hitting “Publish”, I think it would do you good to know that when Katrina hit, a campaign here on campus was launched for the sake of victims too. The majority contributed generously but unsurprisingly there was a minority that didn’t want to donate to “nasty evil America”. “Those f*ckers can take care of themselves” shouted a guy I know at the booth girl. Sigh!
It’s time for my “six-stringed” best friend to come out of his case. An E major blues solo drowned and compressed in a little reverb and delay ought to do it. That’s a little sound engineering talk for you right there. If you know what a Shure SM57 is, you’re my new buddy. Peace!

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Those Filthy Criminals

by Drima on August 18, 2006

As if Darfur isn’t enough. I’m furious. I swear, I really am and I’m doing my best not to start cursing on this post.
Sudanese authorities bulldozed houses and removed by force Darfuris living in an area south of Khartoum, the United Nations said on Thursday, adding there had been reports of people killed and injured.
“Residents said bulldozers had begun demolishing hundreds of houses at around 8am that [Wednesday] morning, with hardly any notice [given] to families,” UNMIS said in a statement.
More than 12,000 Darfuris live in the Dar es-Salaam area, around 45 km (28 miles) south of Khartoum, having fled famine in the arid west in the 1980s.
The Interior Ministry did not comment, despite repeated calls.

Forced relocations have become increasingly common in and around Khartoum as land values have skyrocketed, forcing millions of primarily southern Sudanese to move from their small plots of land…
Land prices have soared and the government wants the land to build houses or sell to investors.

Welcome to the life of the 80% poor and broke Sudanese in Sudan. May those filthy criminals responsible correct their mistakes or burn in hell for all eternity. Amen!

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U.S. Dismisses Sudan President’s Threat

by Drima on August 18, 2006

The Bush administration responded to Omar Al-Bashir’s “threats“.
The debate on UN troops hasn’t ended yet and it doesn’t seem like it will end any time soon. I’m tired. They’re wasting precious time arguing. As I’ve stated previously, AU being in command is the best option we have. Bashir’s regime doesn’t trust the UN troops coming into Darfur under chapter 7. The UN should just accept it. They should also take Al-Qaeda’s threats seriously. Darfur will turn into a war zone if the UN troops come into it without the Sudanese dictatorship’s consent. That ought to make things real “humanitarian” for the people there.

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Presenting You with a Lesson on Jihad in Islam

by Drima on August 17, 2006

Hi, I’m Drima, I’m Muslim and I practice jihad everyday of my life. Jihad in Arabic literally means struggle. There are three types of it in Islam.

The first and most admired jihad in the eyes of Allah is the jihad of fighting evil temptations within one’s self. It’s a noble and spiritual jihad. Believe it or not, it also includes jihad against the other type of so called “jihad” (which we will get to in a minute) that extremist Islamic scholars preach.

The second most significant type of jihad is that which benefits society. A father who struggles and toils daily to feed and support his family is practicing jihad. A teacher sitting with a little girl and trying to explain to her a difficult chapter in her science textbook is practicing jihad. A medical scientist who sits in a lab for hours trying to discover a cure for a dangerous disease is practicing jihad. A policeman and a detective working hard to catch criminals are also practicing jihad. Hell, this blog itself is a form of jihad. On it I practice ijtihad (creative and critical thinking) which also falls under this category of jihad.

The third, least significant and by now notorious type of jihad is that of waging war in self defense. Islam and the Quran lay out clear rules concerning this type of jihad. Innocent people especially women, children and the elderly are not to be harmed. Even a tree is not to be uprooted. It’s clear that based on this; Al-Qaeda’s acts on the dark day of September 11th do not qualify as jihad. Add to that, the Bali, Madrid and London bombings. They’re all a clear violation of Islamic law regarding jihad. They’re all nothing but disgusting acts of terror.

Iraqi insurgents blowing up other innocent Iraqis are practicing terrorism. The targeting of innocent Israeli civilians is also an act of terror and I don’t care what people like Sheikh Qaradawi say. He’s stated that suicide bombings against Israeli civilians are justified. To him an Israeli civilian is an aggressor because he is essentially an occupier. Oh really? Well what if amongst those civilians is a child that was born in Israel. It’s not like it was that child’s decision to be born there. Is it okay to blow up children too because they’re evil infidel occupiers? I don’t think so. Occupier or not, innocents should never be targeted on purpose because that in my opinion is plain terrorism. (Hiroshima & Nagasaki?)

The only thing that qualifies as jihad from an Islamic perspective is when military targets are harmed. If they’re targeted using the method of suicide bombing, then the only thing that’s sinful in this case is the act of suicide itself.

After having read all of the above, which jihad do you think is more necessary for us as Muslims to engage in? Which one do you think we are in dire need of? I’ll give you a clue: the first type is the most significant and most pleasing to Allah and the third type (which majority of so called Muslims don’t even follow according to the proper rules) is the least significant. So which one(s) do you choose and why??

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It’s Slowly Happening

by Drima on August 16, 2006

A Sudanese blogosphere is slowly taking shape. I’m so happy. My vision is coming true. Here’s a small round up of some entries.

Bashir got it wrong, again! - Juba Blog

Why Science Fails to Explain God - Hipster (Long post)

Amanda In South Sudan (Recommended)
Lost Identity - Fluent Sudani (Must read)
This is so cool. I’m getting excited here. Interaction will certainly produce more fruitfull discussions. Oh ya by the way, I’ve got a surprise coming up for you all quite soon and in case you’re wondering, I spent 8 hours yesterday in the library and finished off most of my assignments. I deserve a little blogging break don’t I? Anyways, enjoy all the posts for today. I have to go and hit the books again. Peace!

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Dr. Phil For President!

by Drima on August 15, 2006

Yaaay Dr. Phil for President people! Wooohoo! I’m telling you, if there’s anyone who can bring peace to the Middle East, then it’s probably him. The guy can fix the most screwed up relationships and glue everything back better than it even was before.

Dr. Phil: Nasrallah, why do feel strong resentment towards Olmert?
Nasrallah: He kicked me out of my home.
Olmert: Ya well too bad. It’s my home now.
Nasrallah: Bastard!
Dr. Phil: Now calm down, people. Do you both still love each other?
Nasrallah: *Silent
Olmert: Hmmm… I hate to admit it but yes I do.
Nasrallah: You still do? *tearing
Crowd: Owwwwh!
Dr. Phil: I want you to hold each other’s hands and look into each other’s eyes. Let it out.
Bzzzz (Commercial break) Subway Eat Fresh

Dr. Phil: We’re back now ladies and gentleman. So do you have anything to say?

Nasrallah: I love you man!
Olmert: *bursting out in tears… I love you tooooooo!
*Nasrallah & Olmert hugging and crying!
Crowd: Owwwwh!

Dr. Phil: Owwh, now isn’t that wonderfull? I guess, you can move back in and live together again right? I’m sure holy Abraham will be proud of you both. Afterall, we’re all his children aren’t we? Love is the only answer.
That was such a wonderfull episode, wasn’t it? I mean damn, I’m actually wiping my tears here. Dr. Phil for president! *sob *sob… So touching!

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Darfur Rebels: Who’s Who?

by Drima on August 15, 2006

You’ll have heard of the G8 (Group of Eight industrialised countries) and perhaps G22 (group of 22 developing countries that have lined up against the United States and European Union in world trade talks). But do you know who G19 are?
No, it’s not another club of nations nor the latest “boy band” to hit the charts. It’s actually one of two recently formed rebel groups in Darfur, so called because it was formed by 19 members of and advisors to the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) at peace talks in Abuja who then broke away from the SLA leadership.
In May, a peace accord was signed between the Sudanese government and an SLA faction led by Minni Arcua Minnawi (now a special assistant to the president), but it was rejected by the leader of a rival SLA faction, Abdel Wahed Mohammed al-Nur, and another rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
Not surprisingly, perhaps, that deal has had an unsettling impact on the rebel landscape, as well as causing resentment among many Darfuris, leading to increased violence and a more difficult operating environment for aid agencies.
This week, a group of relief agencies pointed out that July was the worst month of the three-and-a-half year conflict in terms of attacks on aid workers, with eight being killed. “Since the signing of the agreement, Darfur has become increasingly tense and violent, which has led to the tragic deaths of far too many civilians and aid workers,” Paul Smith-Lomas, regional director of Oxfam, said in a statement. “A full and comprehensive ceasefire must be implemented immediately.”
Oxfam, which has had to close some of its offices in north Darfur, has pointed to growing fighting between rebel factions as one of the reasons for the deterioration in security - and there are fears this could get worse.
So who are the main rebel groups, and what do they want? Here’s a quick overview:

SLA (Minnawi’s faction): This is the only rebel group that has signed the peace accord, with Minnawi since being appointed as special assistant to the president. This makes him number four in the Khartoum hierarchy, and number one in Darfur - meaning he would head a provisional government planned for Darfur. His group has been accused by rights organisation Amnesty International of killing and raping civilians to try to force them to support the unpopular accord.

SLA (al-Nur’s faction): This group rejected the deal, and there are reports that al-Nur may have been toppled by commanders in the field. This faction is popular in camps for the displaced as al-Nur is a Fur and thus belongs to Darfur’s largest ethnic group.
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM): This group also rejected the deal. JEM is not particularly strong on the ground, and according to the head of the U.N.’s Sudan mission, Jan Pronk, during the talks it seemed to have had its eye more on gaining power in Khartoum than peace in Darfur.
National Redemption Front (NRF): The recently formed NRF is a coalition of rebels opposed to the peace deal, including JEM, former commanders from both SLA factions (al-Nur has disassociated himself from the group) and the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance.
The Sudan Tribune’s website has a copy of NRF’s founding declaration, including its objectives. It calls for “a just system of sharing wealth and power between the various regions of Sudan”, “regional self rule” and “fair participation” in national politics.
The NRF now holds sway in much of north Darfur. It has reportedly been involved in offensive actions, such as an attack on a town in North Kordofan and a military base belonging to Minnawi’s faction in Sayah. This week it said it had shot down a Sudanese government bomber, but the government denied the report.
G19: Originally formed by 19 SLA members and advisors present at the Abuja peace talks who split with the leadership. They have gained support among those who oppose the deal, and are based in the northwest of north Darfur. They have reportedly been attacked by Minnawi, and are said to be closing ranks with the National Redemption Front.
Hat tip - Sudan Watch

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Bashir: UN Force Would Risk Hezbollah-like Resistance

by Drima on August 15, 2006

Hat tip: Sudan Watch.
People, I’m getting real tired of the retarded UN.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said Sudan has taken inspiration from Hezbollah and would battle a proposed international peacekeeping force in Darfur, the state news agency reported today. - AP report (via Easy bourse/Dowjones) Aug 15, 2006 - excerpt:

“We are determined to defeat any forces entering the country just as Hezbollah has defeated the Israeli forces,” the official Sudanese News Agency quoted al-Bashir as telling an armed forces gathering Monday.
Last week, the US repeated its demand for deployment of a strong and mobile UN peacekeeping force in Darfur by Oct 1. The top UN humanitarian official, Jan Egelund, said the situation is “going from real bad to catastrophic” after attempts to enforce a peace deal unleashed more fighting.
“We are opposed to the deployment (in Darfur) of American, British or other forces imposed by the Security Council,” al-Bashir said.
[When is Jan Egeland going to get the message and back the AU?]

Yes, Ingrid I’m wondering the same thing too.
To the UN: For the Kazillionth time, REINFORCE THE AU TROOPS! That’s all you need to do!
Darfur previously = Disaster
Darfur now = Worsening disaster?
Darfur + UN troops = Bigger disaster
Darfur + UN troops + Al Qaeda = One big ass GIGANTIC Disaster !!!
Darfur + AU troops reinforced by UN & NATO = HUGE improvements.

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Madonna = Cartoons?

by Drima on August 15, 2006

Man this whole Madonna performing on a cross thingy is getting a little out of hand. Her stunt pissed off a lot of people. She’s becoming the “cartoon” of the Christian West. Soon we’ll start seeing Christians going out in violent riots and burning down buildings. Death to Madonna that stupid whore I tell ya!
Raaaight! You see that’s the difference between them and us (drunk English hooligans are an exception). Dear Muslims, we can protest and we should protest against what we don’t like BUT we should keep it civil. No to violent riots! Cartoons were NOT nice BUT the riots…? They went way out of hand okay!
On another note, I’ve always wondered why Muslims don’t get offended by things mocking Jesus or even Moses. I sure do feel offended sometimes you know.

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See, You Did Lose

by Drima on August 15, 2006

Yup Israel you did lose the battle. Hezbollah won’t disarm simply because the Lebanese government won’t disarm them. Moreover the UN resolution contains nothing about forcing Hezbollah to disarm. The 2 soldiers haven’t been given back yet but there are reports of an exchange being discussed. The IDF is withdrawing its troops. A million civilians had to live in uncomfortable underground bomb shelters for a whole month. Oh ya and let me again say Hezbollah won’t disarm.
Olmert didn’t do what he said he was set out to do, so based on that I consider this as a loss. Round one is over. Round two should be just around the corner. A lot depends on the international peace keeping force and what it does. Oh ya and depends on one more thing too, Iran!

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Israel You Lost

by Drima on August 13, 2006

Yes you did, thanks to Olmert’s “bully mentality” and senseless muscle flexing in the wrong place. You lost. Hezbollah lives on and your 2 soldiers have not been given back. Hell, they’re probably dead already. Congratulations, missioned failed! The Arab and Muslim world hates you more now. Oh ya and I forgot to mention America too. On the other hand good on you for accepting the UN resolution. Ops wait one more thing, Nasrallah is the hero of the day and if there was an Arab TIME Magazine, he’d be named person of the year. Wake up Israelis! You’re generally good people paying the price for the stupid actions of your leaders. Bye bye Olmert, hello Livni? We could certainly use more diplomacy instead of violence you know. Don’t you think so?

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