December 2006

I watched the scenes of him getting hanged in disbelief. I literally had my mouth open and I couldn’t close it for 5 minutes. A lorry would have been able to fit inside. Holy crap! He’s actually dead. Oh my God! It just can’t be true can it? Holy shyte, it really is true! Saddam Hussein has been executed! And then a thought crawled into my head, “hey I need to blog about this right NOW”. So here I am blogging.

Now first of all, I have no remorse whatsoever for that __________ (fill in the blank and call him whatever you like). I’m sorry if you’re anti-death penalty but that’s how I honestly feel. Yes, mercy and forgiveness is nice but when someone commits so many horrors like Saddam did, I doubt many will be able to forgive and hence unfortunately… capital punishment as a method of deterrence or revenge as others view it. Saddam Hussein got what he deserved and the fact the Iraqi government didn’t skin him alive, spill acid on his face, slap him a thousand times, chop off his genitals and then hang him, is actually a decent thing.

There has been a lot of interesting talk in news channels and in blogs about Saddam’s trial. “Saddam’s trial was a show, it wasn’t fair, it was politicized, his lawyers didn’t get a chance to defend him properly, the judge is from a town Saddam screwed, bla bla bla”. You know what, I’m not a lawyer, I know very little about law and I don’t deny the fact that the trial was heavily politicized but the trial not being fair?! Come on please. Who cares? Yes, I believe in “innocent until proven guilty” but it really doesn’t take a trial to prove how guilty the man is you know… sorry… was. It’s not like he allegedly sneaked into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, raped her and then killed her. Those are not the type of crimes he committed. What he did is all there and as obvious as the bright sun in the morning sky. Oh ya and what’s up with Libya declaring an official 3 days of mourning? Eh, never mind.

The execution of Saddam Hussein is a unique and historical moment in all the history of mankind. Yes, ALL the history of mankind. Correct me if I’m wrong but Saddam Hussein is the first political figure to have his execution so widely televised all over the world. Millions of people watched his last moments on TV and I’m sure for many it was very surreal.

The reactions of all the people around me are cheerful. “Good riddance” we all agree. You should especially see how happy my Iranian friend is. Oh he’s happy… like really really happy! I mean hey who can blame him right? His dad fought in the Iranian Iraqi war and I’m sure his experiences weren’t pleasant at all.

Today justice has been served. Oh yes it has baby but then that brings us to another question. What’s justice really? This has been asked in various blogs. Is Saddam getting hanged but Bush still walking around free in the White House justice? From what I know, a war criminal is someone who directs his troops and orders them to massacre innocent civilians on purpose (also know as a terrorist). Bush can surely be considered a war criminal if he gave orders to his troops to kill innocent civilians on purpose. Rumsfailed on the other hand is another story. I despise that man and regardless of whether he gave orders to his troops to kill innocents or not, he should still stand trial. He’s one truly horrible planner and should be held accountable to many of the screwed up things happening in Iraq. And ya whatever happened to those US troops who raped the Iraqi girl, killed her and then killer her family? Those pigs should get executed too. Period. OR they should at least get the harshest punishment available under US law. Crap, I’m ranting but there’s one more thing I’ve got on mind. Iraq has a democracy now even though the country is actually a bigger disaster than when Saddam was around (thanks to filthy Sadrists, Baathists, our beloved al-Qaeda and Rumsfailed’s great decisions). So ya, if it’s a democracy then why didn’t the US troops guilty of war crimes against innocent Iraqis stand their trial in Iraq itself rather than in US. I mean hey, Iraq is a democracy right now correct? Plus if this US soldier got tried in Philippines, shouldn’t other US soldiers guilty of ugly crimes committed against Iraqis stand trial in Iraq itself? Damn it I’m still ranting. I need to grab some food.

Well, anyways. Let me say it again one more time. Good riddance!

PS: I wonder what’s going on in the minds of Arab dictators across the region.

UPDATE: D.B. Shobrawy has a letter to Saddam.

Dear Saddam,

What can I say as you make your journey to your rightful place. No doubt you were judged before your body reached the end of the rope and pulled it tight. If the afterlife holds with it any justice (as I’m sure it does) your first of many punishments in hell will be to hear the tearful tales of your victims.

I must admit that when I watched your trial I saw a broken man with sorrowful eyes but as I unearth the file footage and watch you parading through the streets in your military drab clothing, your stupid beret and your chin held high filled with arrogance and consumed with a cold black heart for your millions of victims, I realize your sorrow filled eyes were filled with sorrow for yourself, a selfish sorrow.

You denied God throughout your life and out of desperation and fear you turned to Him when you sensed the angel of death upon you. You were never truly sorry and for that God has rejected your praises. I only wish you were kept alive long enough to face trial for all you’re transgressions, to have justice served in the names of all of those lives you destroyed.

I hate you for what you did to screaming men, women and children, begging for their lives, begging for mercy, begging for your henchmen to end their shame.

Good bye forever!

D.B. Shobrawy

Also here: SADDAM EXECUTED - How should we react?, a well written post. Regardless of whether Saddam’s trial was hurried, fair, politicized etc. I still think he got what he deserved.

(hat tip: Sudan Watch)

Watch it ALL. It’s 4 minutes long and it summarizes a lot of things I’ve ranted about before here on this blog. See, I told you we have a slowly growing China-town!

Watch it. It’s only 10 minutes long.

(hat tip: Shamarat)

Nooooooo!

I just found this lovely email in my inbox today:

FIRST OF ALL
ALSALAMOU ALEEKUMM

SECOND & THAT`S V. IMPORTANT , PLEASE DON`T SAY (EID ALADHA MUBARAK & HAPPY MARY CHRISTMAS) THAT`S WRONG COMPLETELY WRONG AGAINST ISLAMIC SHARI AA, PLEASE BE ADVISE THAT YOU NEED TO STUDY ISLAM FIRST & AFTER THAT HOW TO USE THE EXPRESSIONS

THANKS

YOURS

DEKAZZA

Hmmmm. Oh great holy Dekazza, could you please cite something to prove your point? I also noticed your email address ends with yahoo.ca, so I’m just curious and wondering if you’re living in the “infidel, gay, alcohol infested, no virgin women around, kaffir” nation of Canada? You know what… never mind. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas. Happy Eid al-Adha & Merry Christmas.

Posting is going to be light until the new year dawns upon us. Meanwhile I’d like to wish my Jewish readers a very happy Chanukah and a Merry Christmas to all my Christian readers. Merry Christmas to my many Christian friends too. Ya’ll know who you are. Last but not least happy Eid al-Adha or as they say in Malay, selamat Hari Raya Eidil Adha to all you Muslims out there. After that it’s going to be Cong Xi Fa Cai for Chinese new year but it’s still a little far off. Peace everyone, I’m going to bed!

I know… finally right? My first official podcast is finally up. Sorry it took so damn long. My computer is still messed up so I used my brother’s computer instead to make it. I didn’t get the podcast to sound like how I wanted it to but I think posting it now is better than me postponing it again just so I could make it better. Anyways here it is. I sampled the music from my most favourite Sudanese song of all time, Wardi’s Ya Baladi Ya 7abob. Here’s the first run of “The Drima Show”. It’s nothing serious, really. Just me talking crap and trying to get used to this podcasting thingy. But on the other hand, if people in power actually bothered implementing my plan, the world WILL become a much better place. Believe me it will. Enjoy!

Special thanks to Esra’a for the technical help.

PS: Andrew Brehm and Hipster are featured towards the end.

Ingrid Jones @ Sudan Watch, requested my opinion regarding the 2 following questions:

What are your thoughts on that and what do you hope 2007 will achieve for the people of Darfur?

What more can the Office of the Prosecutor do to bring expeditious justice for the people of Darfur?

I’ll tell you after a while. I’m a little busy now. Meanwhile I’ll appreciate YOUR thoughts. More later.

UPDATE: What do I hope will happen? I hope that all sides involved will return to the negotiating table and make compromises for the sake of innocents in Darfur. I hope that a period of truce comes about to give peace negotiations a chance. I hope that empty threats from leaders of Western countries stop. Either they do what they say or they zip their mouths. Such threats only encourage the rebels to continue their rebellion and violence. I also hope that more Chadian rebel groups sign the peace agreement with their government. I was watching al-Jazeera today and one rebel faction signed. Darfur isn’t a Sudanese problem that only involves Sudanese. The conflict in neighbouring Chad and that of Darfur are intertwined. I hope that al-Bashir will also approve the Hybrid UN-AU force. I hope that when the force arrives there will actually be a peace to maintain. I also hope that the force’s mission will be made clearer. Will the hybrid force fight anyone that tries to harm innocent civilians? Will it fight the rebels? Will it fight the Janjaweed? On which side will it fight? Moreover will the countries that send their soldiers to become part of the hybrid force have the balls to keep providing support when the fighting gets tough? Because if not, I would rather prefer they stay away. UN troops from Western countries will only attract loony “jihadis” and hence I hope the vast majority of soliders in the force will come from African countries. As for the Office of the Prosecutor, I hope it will continue to document all human rights abuses occuring in Darfur. I hope that they stop making threatening statements unless they actually intend to act on those threats. I hope, I hope and I hope some more but I doubt what I hope will actually happen. Moreover, I’m worried about the effects that the Somalia Ethiopia war could have on Sudan. I hope but I remain very cynical.

The title of this article doesn’t have a question mark but I added it since I’m not going to swallow this hopefull crap which I feel is being thrown at me. Excuse me for being so cynical.

Dec 22, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government has accepted the U.N. package for Darfur, including the deployment of what is called a “hybrid” peacekeeping operation of U.N. and African Union troops, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Spokesman Sadeq al-Magli said the number of troops in the hybrid force “would be decided by the commander and his committee, and we have to state clearly that the entire command would be from the African Union.”

…The world “should pressurize the other factions which are attacking the government, humanitarian and civilian communities, to come to cease-fire talks and to stop attacking. But for us in the government, yes, we have confirmed our commitment to the cease-fire,” al-Magli said.

Wow, there’s so much new stuff contained in this article. Bleh, don’t bother same crap being recycled and said all over again. Until al-Bashir himself says something positive and comments, I won’t care.

First my computer gets screwed up and then I fix it. Then it gets screwed up again and I still don’t have time to fix it. Finally I get a chance to use my brother’s computer and I finish my podcast. Then I try to upload it and now I keep getting an error message. Grrrrrr. I’m gonna try uploading it on Mideast Youth. I hope it works.

(hat tip: Precious)

Subzero Blue has it over at his blog.

Traditional designs are mostly of roses and flowers. They’re very popular and mostly done on the hands and feet. I find them boring but I’ve seen really cool new styles of Henna designs during my last holiday in Sudan. Some of them include fire dragons, lions and ancient Egyptian/Nubian designs. They’re not common yet though but I hope more and more girls start getting them. It’s a good thing Henna isn’t considered haram in Islam. I’d like to get some Henna designs done on the back of my neck and I think a Henna tattoo of a python with the head of a lion looking like it’s wrapped around a girl’s leg from her thigh all the way down to her foot will look DAMN HOT! The cool thing about Henna is that it’s not permenant. It fades away after about 2 to 3 weeks and hence you can get a new design in the place of the older one. Cool right?

I’ve heard my dad discussing this with his friends about a month ago. It’s actually true and the fact that the Sudanese MB is now holding meetings to discuss it, is something significant and also troubling. Iran is the one that taught the NCP how to manage all its security aspects. Apparently that’s how Shia practices slowly started coming into the country.
(Via Jihad Watch)