September 2006

Yup, apparently it’s true. Let’s hope it’s final and that they don’t change their mind this time. I don’t have to be on the edge of my seat anymore (until the end of the year that is).

Sudan Watch has more. (God bless you for your blog, Ingrid)

The African Union said Wednesday it will extend the mandate of peacekeeping forces in Darfur through the end of the year. - AP 20 Sep 2006.

The AU is extending AMIS after receiving promises of financial support from the United Nations and Arab states. - SBS 21 Sep 2006.

Extra troops are expected to come from African countries, with further logistical support from the UN and financial help from the Arab League. - Aljazeera 20 Sep 2006:

Yes, at least what I’ve been wishing for is finally happening even if it’s temporary. Also Qatar has made a contribution of 2.3 million dollars.

Photo: In a speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, George Bush, the US president, called the Darfur killings a genocide and said the AU force is “not strong enough” to protect the victims. He called for the force to be strengthened and demanded the UN take control.

Photo: The Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir at the UN General Assembly in New York. He walked out halfway through a meeting of the African Union Wednesday and when a reporter asked if the UN could send troops to Darfur, he shouted “No!” - AP 20 Sep 2006.

He shouted “No!” ey? Clearly he’s pretty stressed out I say keep pressuring him just for the fun of it.

British UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, who spoke to participants in the ongoing meeting, told reporters that Bashir was strongly criticized by other African leaders. “Apparently they gave him quite a pasting,” he said.

Andrew Natsios, the new US special envoy for Sudan, said Wednesday the administration has begun a quiet effort to enlist Arab countries in its campaign to overcome Sudanese resistance to the deployment of 20,000 UN peacekeepers and police to Darfur. - AP 20 Sep 2006.

It looks like that effort is already paying off. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday discussed with Bush the need to deploy a UN force in Darfur. On the way back, Bashir stopped in Cairo to check what the hell was going on.

The BBC’s world affairs correspondent Mark Doyle says that the key issue is not so much whether the force is a UN one or an AU one, but whether the AU can operate with a tougher mandate allowing them to shoot if things get tough - which is how UN peacekeepers operate. He says if that happened, then the money and management support needed to run a successful operation could be forthcoming and the diplomatic impasse could be resolved. - BBC 20 Sep 2006.

UN SRSG Jan Pronk says Darfur peace deal needs fresh discussions to be effective. Mr Pronk called for new consultations on the DPA to include those groups that did not sign the deal, although he warned against this being labelled as the “reopening of the peace negotiations.” “The UN does not deserve the insinuations from Sudanese political leadership in power. We do not intend to recolonize, nor are we laying a carpet for others to do so,” Mr Pronk said. - UN.org/noticias.info 19 Sep 2006.

I say that the DPA is dead. We need a new one. The current one is becoming useless. All relevant parties and tribes must come to an agreement or else long term peace will not be possible in Darfur.

Sometimes, I just get so tired of waiting to see major positive steps being taken. Maybe next time I should stand here instead of Omar al-Bashir.

Or sit here instead of Kofi Anan.

I truly believe in what many refer to as the 6th sense. I’ve witnessed it many times first hand and it’s absolutely amazing. Take this story for example.

One morning I came downstairs only to see my dad grumpy and tired.

Dad: Son, you’re mom gave me a headache last night. She thinks something bad happened to your brother in Chicago. She woke up around 3am and she was just simply terrified.

Me: Why didn’t she call him so she can just rest her worries?

Dad: Well, she tried to call except that nobody picked up. Not even his housemates.

I went into the kitchen to greet my mom good morning.

Me: Mom, why do you like to worry so much?

Mom: Son, get out of my way and don’t bug me. I’m serious, don’t. There’s something wrong with your brother. Something bad happened to him. I can feel it.

Me: *laughing. Geee chill mom. Don’t worry. Why don’t you just call him?

Mom: *almost crying. Well I tried and NOBODY IS PICKING UP!!

Me: Okay, okay sheesh, I’m sorry.

So my mom went up stairs to try and call again. Success!

Mom: WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?? I’ve been worried sick about you.

She talked to my brother for about 15 minutes until she was finally satisfied and relaxed. After that I went upstairs and grabbed the phone to continue talking to him.

Brother: How’s mom?

Me: She’s fine. I don’t understand why the hell she was so worried. My dad told me she wouldn’t stop worrying and she kept saying that something bad happened to you.

Brother: *Silent

Me: Yo, are you still there?

Brother: Yes yes. What time did she suddenly wake up?

Me: Around 3am why?

Brother: Amazing. Sub7anallah. Listen I’m going to tell you something way different from what I told her but don’t you dare tell her this alright. Don’t you dare mention a single word of it. Just around the time mom woke up there, something bad happened to me here at about the same time, if you take the time zone difference into consideration. I got stuck up in broad day light around my neighborhood. Just as I got into my car, some crack head opened the other door and stuck a gun to my head. He said 4 words. “Your money mother f*cker”. The bastard took my wallet with 700 dollars in it. I was lucky he didn’t shoot me.

Me: *Silent and amazed.

Brother: Man, that’s what you call motherly instincts and 6th sense. Praise be to Allah.

I have a question. Can science explain things like this?

My friend recently told me about 2 conspiracies he thinks are true.
The first one which I find quite interesting and amusing says this:

The CIA’s “Worldwide Attack Matrix” continues to target political leaders who stymie U.S. oil and natural gas company and other Bush-Cheney global plans. Created by then-CIA Director George Tenet in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks, the CIA’s “Worldwide Attack Matrix,” a James Bond 007-style “License to Kill” designed to assassinate foreign “terrorists” regardless of where they live, has been used to eliminate troublesome rebel, progressive, and secessionist leaders who bear no threat against the United States but who threaten a number of U.S. energy company interests and other economic and political interests.

Sudan Vice President and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement leader Dr. John Garang, an ally of the United States, killed in a helicopter crash in July 2005 after he expressed opposition to U.S. oil company plans for southern Sudan. Assassination carried out with the support of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, one of the Bush administration’s chief clients in the region.

The second, down right stupid and by far loonier one says this:

Saddam Hussein is dead. He was killed by a bunker buster in March, 2003. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

The man they have “on trial” is a willing imposter. The media is playing the American public for fools.

Regard every media source that discusses the fake Saddam Hussein trial with suspicion. Chances are that one of your most trusted news sources is really a psychological operation sponsored by an intelligence agency like the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, etc.

Cool ey? Maybe next time before you start thinking about criticizing the Muslim world for its love of conspiracy theories, you should look to your “far left” because it’s seriously loooooooooooony!

A close friend of mine recently got back from Sudan. He brought back some interesting information from his uncle whom we shall call uncle K. Uncle K used to be a member in the ruling NCP and he’s a highly educated man. He quit the NCP (formerly known as National Islamic Front or NIF) after getting too disgusted by it but he’s still in contact with some members in it. I greatly value uncle K’s opinions and thoughts. The man’s information is valuable and not easily obtainable elsewhere. Most Sudanese people are busy “writing scripts for the latest conspiracy theory” but few actually know what the hell is going on and I happen to personally know some of those few. The information in this post isn’t officially available in Sudanese newspapers although some like Al-Rayyam have made vague speculations hinting the same thing. I can’t say it’s 100% absolutely true but I personally strongly believe it.

As you already know, Khartoum recently witnessed peaceful protests against price increases in which the protestors were brutally beaten up. The NCP raised the prices of fuel and basic commodities to cover their increasing expenses. Apparently they miscalculated their annual budget. One of the major oil wells was supposed to start production soon but some mistake occurred and caused serious delays. Hence, the annual budget estimations got screwed. The increasing expenses are mainly due to security being on stand by 24/7 and also due to the latest military operations in Darfur.

It also turns out that the beheading of Mohamed Taha was carried out by the ruling NCP. Well, okay it wasn’t literally carried out by the NCP. The NCP set the stage and the factors for it to happen. They prepared the environment for the Sudanese Islamists so that there could only be one outcome at the end. Frankly I’m not surprised and neither is uncle K by the way. I just discovered he actually knew Mohamed Taha personally. He’s rather affected by his gruesome murder.

The ruling NCP was and still is facing great pressure both internally and externally. Mohamed Taha was constantly banging the ruling NCP in his newspaper. Moreover he encouraged other journalists to exercise their freedom of speech. The NCP wasn’t happy and they were getting increasingly desperate to control the riots. Striking fear into the hearts of the public was the key to controlling them. What better way to do it than to behead someone in the opposition and create an environment of fear. The beheading of Mohamed Taha had a big impact on the Sudanese people especially ones living in Khartoum. It shook them greatly and struck fear into their hearts. At the same time the issue of UN troops is causing serious “cracks”.

Meanwhile the NCP says it is continuing its “great” investigation into Mohamed Taha’s murder. Do you know why I say “great” investigation? Well, the NCP said it’s not ruling out the possibility that the murder was orchestrated by Western intelligence. LOL.

SLM leader Minnawi doesn’t really give a damn about peace in Darfur. He mainly cares about himself and the well being of his own tribe, the Zhagawa. Minnawi is now number 4 in the Sudanese unity government and the number 1 person directly overseeing Darfur.

There are 2 reasons I dislike Minnawi. The first is because he gave most if not all the government slots under him to the Zaghawa members of his own SLM branch. That isn’t sitting well with Darfur’s majority Fur tribe and if he really wanted peace, he would actually involve all relevant parties and tribes in the political process. The second reason I dislike him is because his rebel group has been involved in disgusting atrocities against innocent people in Darfur. Most of his innocent victims are non-Zaghawa. Moreover, Minnawi has been assisting the ruling NCP in their current ruthless bombing campaign on villages in Darfur.

Next time, you decide to call him an honorable rebel fighting for the people of Darfur, think again.

Thank you Vit Hassan

Yours truly,

“Dreamy” Drima @ The Sudanese Thinker

Omar al-Bashir agreed to attend the UN’s coming Darfur meeting in New York. The fact that he changed his mind says a lot. This is actually a very big deal. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I hope some serious “carrots” get offered to improve the tense situation. I doubt he will agree to a UN force but who knows I might be wrong. Let’s see the situation again:

Darfur previously = Disaster

Darfur now = Worsening disaster

Darfur - AU troops = Big fat disaster

Darfur - AU troops + Sudanese troops = I have no freaking clue

Darfur + UN troops + Al Qaeda = HUGE disaster

Darfur + UN troops - Sudan’s consent + Al Qaeda + Sudanese Islamists + Sudanese military = One big ass GIGANTIC Disaster

Darfur + AU troops reinforced by UN & NATO = HUGE improvements.

Darfur + UN troops + Sudan’s consent = HUGE improvements.

I think it is. I guess the AU is right. Read about it ALL here.

I swear to God I’m sick of all this. I really am.

This isn’t going to stop anytime soon. In fact this is just the start. An Iranian leader is urging more protests against the Pope. Meanwhile, Big Pharaoh shares his very valid views regarding this. He’s right in what he says. On the other hand Michelle Malkin is right too.

Mullahs and Islamist political leaders are going to leverage this latest crisis to the max.

The Global Day for Darfur has been quite a success.

Peace activists around the world staged a day of action on Sunday to highlight the “forgotten war” in Darfur where tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2 million left homeless

In London, Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders delivered a plea and said prayers outside the Downing Street residence of Prime Minister Tony Blair, and demonstrators rallied outside Sudan’s embassy.

Members of the association ’Urgence Darfour’ (Darfur Urgency), wearing symbolic blue berets, oversee the signing of postcards by members of the public in Paris September 16, 2006. (Reuters)

And in Khartoum this is what happened.

Photo: Sudanese women joined a counter-protest in Khartoum. In Khartoum, a small group of people staged a counter-demonstration branding the Darfur Day events a Jewish conspiracy. The demonstrators also opposed the deployment of a proposed UN peacekeeping force in Darfur. (Aljazeera 17 Sep 2006)

(hat tip: Sudan Watch)

Dear Jews, thank you for your efforts I really appreciate them. No, seriously I really do but it seems that to some people your efforts are always equivelant to “evil intentions”. Hence they always end up bringing the opposite of the intended outcome. Stay away next time

By the way were there any rallies in the Muslim world to protest the ruthless killing and suffering of “blackies” in Darfur? Okay fine, fine. I’ll stop being the cynical person I am. There were small tiny efforts in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Cairo. I’m starting to see the “light”. In 5 years time we’ll protest things like Darfur besides continuing our violent protests against the Pope. Great improvement huh?!

UPDATE: Sudan blames Israel for its problems. Lovely!

Gonna be busy for a while. Posting will resume after 2 or 3 days. Cya…

I’m no legal expert, but according to this, the UN resolution 1706 is flawed.

4. Resolution 1706 pays more attention to the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, and it ignores the political roots and finding ways to establish a roadmap to resolving the Sudanese conflict in Darfur. All this will lead to re-producing the very same crises in the region in even a greater scale

So true because of this.

The more violence we see being done by Muslims, the more non-Muslims believe that Islam is not a religion of peace. The truth is that I don’t really blame the non-Muslims for believing this. I mean how on earth are they supposed to know the difference between extremist interpretations and true Islam? Does what I say really matter? I don’t know but at the end of the day, actions are louder than words and our actions/reactions sure are violent.

Raccoon commented on my previous post by saying.

I can see how a view of Islam as peaceful, progressive and loving can exist - but I am afraid it takes some theological gymnastics and a lot of creative interpretation.

Well dude, that thing you call “gymnastics” is how it’s supposed to be interpreted. Many verses in the Quran simply can’t be interpreted literally.

Al Jazeera contains some interesting comments about this new crisis. (hat tip: E E)

“Could you all maybe do a story covering the irony that due to the Pope’s “regrettable” misunderstanding of Islam, churches in Palestine are fire bombed by Muslims? Isn’t it a little ironic that Muslims are in an uproar about people thinking they are violent and to answer that they cause violence? Where does it end?”

“How many Muslims have reacted to the sectarian violence in Iraq, where Shia and Sunnis kill each other? Why the silence and when someone issues a statement they find displeasing, they get angry?”

“How come when a cartoon is drawn or someone makes insulting comments the Ummah rallies and condemns these things; but daily slaughters of Muslims in Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Iraq etc go unanswered?

A dead child is more insulting to me than ignorant words. Who cares what the pope says?”

So true

I read the Pope’s speech and frankly I think the quote he brought up was very inappropriate. Islam and Muslims aren’t one. That’s how it is in our Muslims eyes. People should distinguish between Muslims and Islam.

Anyways back to my point, the response unsurprisingly is the ironic part. I mean now we have some angry loony ones doing this and others calling for the Pope’s execution. Great!

I’m going to repeat what I said to the Vatican again. Get the Pope better and bigger bodyguards. These are a joke!

As I said, the Pope’s quote was inappropriate but the response is just outrageous. Have we forgotten all the hate-filled sermons we hear many times during Friday prayers about Jews and Chrisitians? Have we? I mean it’s as if we want to say all the crap we want but when others just make a negative whisper about us we simply blow upand go out to perform the usual rituals i.e. burning stuff.
By the way, the Pope apparently apologized but it seems it isn’t enough for some.

“The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have sounded offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers,” the statement said.

Turkey said:

Our correspondent says the statement goes as far as it can towards an apology.

BUT:

But Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood said the statement did not go far enough and called on the pontiff to apologise in person.

I’m guessing this means al-Qaeda will accept it as an apology, only if the Pope kneels before Bin Laden.
I have a question. What will happen if we see Westerners burning the Saudi Arabian flag and stepping on it??

September 14, 2006 — The government of President Bashir claims that there is a world-wide conspiracy against Sudan. But it becomes more and more clear that he and the powerful people supporting him are the ones conspiring against Sudan, while the world wants to help.

The African countries came to assist, but in their weakness they are not able to protect the innocent civilians of Darfur against [the policy of divide and rule] of the National Congress Party (NCP). The bombings have started again. Atrocities have continued against people who just asked for their portion of wealth while the ruling party continues to fill their own pockets.

Girls fetching water are raped because their fathers ask for health facilities for them. Mothers are abducted because their husbands like to be able to trade their goods without being disturbed by government supported insurgents.

In Khartoum people are wondering if the peace has any benefits. Displaced areas continue to be bulldozed, power cuts are increasing while the cost of fuel is outrageous for an oil-producing country. And in order to cover the expenses of the government for the benefit of a few, they raise the prices of food items affecting all and mostly the poorest and weakest.

Khartoum is the capital for northerners and southerners. The SPLM has to join the opposition against its own unity government. If it is not possible to achieve peace with the NCP, try at least to gain popular support outside the malfunctioning coalition. The first responsible ministers, governors and generals have to be replaced by people caring for all Sudanese and fulfilling the CPA. This should be done by persistent and non-violent action. Since all people have the right to protest and demonstrate, this should be the first feasible action.

Religious leaders need to speak up. Why leave the injustice to be combated by the Ummah party that ruined Sudan in the 80’s? Where are the cardinals, archbishops, and shaykhs to call for a halt on the human atrocities in Darfur? The church has the duty to demonstrate in a non-violent but brave and explicit way, let it organize the masses against the warring rulers.

Of course, people are reluctant to protest against the government, because they fear the tear gas and probably even bullets and torture by security people under the leadership of Nafi Ali Nafi. But what about bombs, bullets and torture in Darfur, killing thousands of innocent civilians? That is worth taking a risk. The propaganda machine accusing foreign powers has turned its bullets towards its own citizens. There is no excuse to stay idle. This is the time for protest: non-violent, persistent and brave.

(source)

So true