Politics

Some political articles

Update on the Egyptian Revolution - 004

Submitted by Khalid on

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Called my mother. She is fine. Thanks God. Door of apartment building is bolted and neighborhood watch committee doing its job in the absence of the vanished police.

Cousin's apartment was about to get robbed. Her son and residents stopped them, and the criminals were handed over to the military. They came in a micro-bus.

Another case of a friend's mother where gangs tried to break the apartment building's gate, but the porter and his sons prevented them. The gangs then quipped: مش انتوا مش عاجبوكم الامن "Don't you dislike the police"? As if this is planned or something.

Update on the Egyptian Revolution - 002

Submitted by Khalid on

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Talked to my brother.

Unlike my mom, he went to his work, and went to pick up a car of a cousin that broke down yesterday. My cousin parked it at Carefour on the outskirts of Alexandria. The army is protecting Carefour, but the saboteurs managed to break its glass. The army conscript at Carefour verified the car license and personal ID before allowing them to tow the car. He said that he saw the people breaking the glass and stopped them making further damage. The car alarm sounded, and the army soldier disconnected the battery.

Drupal site used to mobilize G8/G20 protests in Toronto

Submitted by Khalid on

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As the G8 wraps up in Huntsville Ontario today, the G20 is starting tonight with a dinner by the Canadian Prime Minister.

Protest organizers have started a Get Off The Fence! protest by working people, with a heavy dose of far left terminology. The site runs Drupal, with a link "open source technology" in the footer linking to Drupal.org.

The protests are already turning violent, with at least two police cruisers being torched so far.

Tim Franks: "This is the Middle East, but it is not the Middle Ages ..."

Submitted by Khalid on

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The BBC Middle East correspondent Tim Franks, reflects on remaining impartial in the Middle East.

He notes the dissociation that most Israelis exhibit to the plight and conflict in the West Bank. Many more observations. A very good read.

The best quote? "This is the Middle East but, no, it is not the Middle Ages".

Military expenditure cuts can keep USA as a world power

Submitted by Khalid on

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This is sad ...

The USA military expenditure, according to 2005 figures is US$ 548,531,000,000 per year.

This is almost 6 times more than the second largest military spender (China).

A simple calculation shows that the US can cut their defense spending by half, and still be at 3 times more than China.

This could balance their budget over the years too, and perhaps cause economic growth as well, while keeping them as the best defended country in the world.

The arbitrary nature of the Gaza blockade by Israel

Submitted by Khalid on

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The Israeli human rights group, Gisha, has filed a court case against the state of Israel's blockade of Gaza.

Some startling findings include:

  • Cinnamon is permitted, but coriander is forbidden.
  • Tea and coffee are permitted, but chocolate is not.
  • Mineral water is permitted, but fruit juice is forbidden.
  • Canned meat and tuna are permitted, but canned fruit is forbidden.
  • Tahini (Sesame seed paste) is permitted, but jam is forbidden.

Other forbidden goods are childrens' plastic toys, and textiles, among other things ...

BBC on the African-Palestinian community in Jerusalem

Submitted by Khalid on

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The BBC has an interesting look at the African-Palestinians in Jerusalem.

Their ancestry comes from Chad, Nigeria, Sudan, and Senegal.

They settled and married from other Muslim Arabic speaking non-African Palestinians in Jerusalem, and face the same challenges that the broader Palestinian community faces.

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