Hello everyone.
I am not currently blogging, but I have started up again on Twitter. So follow me there!
@the_ali_gator
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Monday, October 8, 2012
Update
I've been trying to come back and continue blogging about the Middle East, but honestly, my heart just isn't in it anymore. For the most part, I'm only listing the Top Stories every Monday. If that's all I'm going to do, then there's no reason to continue this blog. I sincerely hope that one day I'll be able to return and make a contribution to blogging about the Middle East. Until that time, thank you for reading my blog. One day I will return, insha'allah.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Top Stories October 1, 2012
ArabNews (Saudi Arabia): As race stands, Obama within reach of second term - Looks like everyone is watching the US elections.
Lebanon Daily Star: couldn't access this morning
Haaretz (Israel): Romney: Obama's lack of resolve on Middle East, Israel and Iran puts U.S. security at risk - Yep, more election coverage.
Turkish Daily News: PM Erdogan vows to be 'in nation's service' until 2023 - 2023 is the 100th anniversary of the Turkish republic. Erdogan wants to change how the presidency works too.
Lebanon Daily Star: couldn't access this morning
Haaretz (Israel): Romney: Obama's lack of resolve on Middle East, Israel and Iran puts U.S. security at risk - Yep, more election coverage.
Turkish Daily News: PM Erdogan vows to be 'in nation's service' until 2023 - 2023 is the 100th anniversary of the Turkish republic. Erdogan wants to change how the presidency works too.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Free Speech Means Free Speech, at least in America
Great article on Slate about Free speech vs. hate speech. I agree that it is hypocritical of many European countries to outlaw hate speech about the Holocaust or Jews or communist atrocities, but allow the denigration of Islam. Which is why I think America has the best model - Free Speech for all. You can make fun of anyone here. You can hate anyone here. Now, depending upon whom you are hating or making fun of, you may be ridiculed yourself. But at least you have that right.
Americans have fought long and hard for these freedoms. Because we realized that stopping these freedoms can start small. It may sound like a good idea to make it illegal to use hate speech about Islam. But if you include Islam, don't you have to include other religions? What about Baha'is? In many Islamic countries Baha'is are discriminated against. How many Muslims would support a law making hate speech against Baha'is illegal? And it we outlawed hate speech against religions, then what about hate speech against our leaders? Surely that would come next? One of my favorite rights of being an American, is that if you hate the president, you can come right out and say so. You just can't threaten his life. As soon as you start curtailing such a simple right as what someone is allowed to say or think, you start down the road of telling them what they are allowed to say or think. So think about that.
Americans have fought long and hard for these freedoms. Because we realized that stopping these freedoms can start small. It may sound like a good idea to make it illegal to use hate speech about Islam. But if you include Islam, don't you have to include other religions? What about Baha'is? In many Islamic countries Baha'is are discriminated against. How many Muslims would support a law making hate speech against Baha'is illegal? And it we outlawed hate speech against religions, then what about hate speech against our leaders? Surely that would come next? One of my favorite rights of being an American, is that if you hate the president, you can come right out and say so. You just can't threaten his life. As soon as you start curtailing such a simple right as what someone is allowed to say or think, you start down the road of telling them what they are allowed to say or think. So think about that.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Top Stories September 24, 2012
ArabNews (Saudi Arabia): Prince Miteb: National Day instills spirit of hard work - A celebration of Saudi Arabia and King Abdul Aziz.
Lebanon Daily Star: Internal opposition seeks Syria transition - The Free Syrian Army claims to control much of Syria, and wants to take Damascus. The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria met in Damascus to encourage a peaceful takeover, and are somewhat at odds with the rebels doing the actual fighting. They worry about the influence of Turkey and the Gulf states.
Haaretz (Israel): Israel working to avert collapse of ailing Palestinian economy - Israel is worried about the economy in the West Bank. Hmm, I wonder why the economy could be so bad? [This is another article that requires registration.]
Turkish Daily News: Deal for Cyprus not possible: Archbishop - The Greek Archbishop says that the Turks and Greeks on Cyprus want different things. He says the Greeks want a unitary state, but the Turks want more power. I don't see an end to this any time soon. I've met Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and both of them told me how horrible the other side was.
Lebanon Daily Star: Internal opposition seeks Syria transition - The Free Syrian Army claims to control much of Syria, and wants to take Damascus. The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria met in Damascus to encourage a peaceful takeover, and are somewhat at odds with the rebels doing the actual fighting. They worry about the influence of Turkey and the Gulf states.
Haaretz (Israel): Israel working to avert collapse of ailing Palestinian economy - Israel is worried about the economy in the West Bank. Hmm, I wonder why the economy could be so bad? [This is another article that requires registration.]
Turkish Daily News: Deal for Cyprus not possible: Archbishop - The Greek Archbishop says that the Turks and Greeks on Cyprus want different things. He says the Greeks want a unitary state, but the Turks want more power. I don't see an end to this any time soon. I've met Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and both of them told me how horrible the other side was.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
What the Hell is going on in Bahrain?
And why isn't the American media covering it?
Juan Cole has an article on his site called America's Hypocrisy in Bahrain, written for TomDispatch. It's very disturbing. I had no idea that the situation in Bahrain had deteriorated so much. That so many protests were still going on and people were being attacked and arrested and tortured for them.
Juan Cole has an article on his site called America's Hypocrisy in Bahrain, written for TomDispatch. It's very disturbing. I had no idea that the situation in Bahrain had deteriorated so much. That so many protests were still going on and people were being attacked and arrested and tortured for them.
Monday, September 17, 2012
A Safer America: An 18-year-old and a bomb
There have been a number of these cases over the last few years. Cases where the FBI foils a terror attack and saves America. But a lot of these cases also seem a bit odd. In this one, an 18-year-old kid tried to set off a car bomb in Chicago. But he got the fake bomb FROM the FBI. AFTER the FBI contacted him and helped stir him up. Which begs the question: Would this kid have ever actually done anything WITHOUT FBI help? Or would he be just another impotent wacko spouting off on the Internet? Is the FBI actually helping stop terror attacks, or is it creating stoppable terror attacks to prove its worth?
Top Stories September 17, 2012
ArabNews (Saudi Arabia): Turkish defense ties explored - There is not much in this article, except for a meeting between Prince Salman and the Turkish president's senior adviser.
Lebanon Daily Star: Pope sends farewell message of unity - The pope spent 3 days in Lebanon and held a mass for 350,000 people.
Haaretz (Israel): The intricate web of relationships that is Iran's leadership - This is another one that requires registration.
Turkish Daily News: Armenia hosts drill as tension continues - They are in the middle of 5 days of war games. Armenia and Azerbaijan are having problems because an Azerbaijani soldier who killed an Armenian was extradited then pardoned.
Lebanon Daily Star: Pope sends farewell message of unity - The pope spent 3 days in Lebanon and held a mass for 350,000 people.
Haaretz (Israel): The intricate web of relationships that is Iran's leadership - This is another one that requires registration.
Turkish Daily News: Armenia hosts drill as tension continues - They are in the middle of 5 days of war games. Armenia and Azerbaijan are having problems because an Azerbaijani soldier who killed an Armenian was extradited then pardoned.
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