A tiger cannot change its stripes, nor a leopard its spots, so too have the US, UK, France and Italy appeared to have not learnt very much from previous disastrous interventions within Muslim societies and nations. The revolution in Libya is more complex than a majority of mass media reports, both in the US and... Continue Reading →
From anthropology to politics: the myth of the fundamentalist Arab Muslim mind
Many would have noticed that western leaders and countries seem to shift from one position to another about the wave of revolts in the Middle East and Arab world. One prime example: Tony Blair, who incidentally is the official envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East, shifted from praising Mubarak on Wednesday 2 February... Continue Reading →
Afghanistan and the war of pictures: the case of ‘ethical’ suffering?
When I checked the news today, the horrific picture-- selected by Time as a front-cover--of Aisha’s face, an 18-year-old Afghan woman whom was sentenced by the Taliban to have her nose and ears cut off for fleeing her abusive in-laws greeted me. International newspapers reported the news and the picture is now one of those... Continue Reading →
Generation without future, a future without generations: the endless suffering of Afghan children
Nine and a half have passed since the US and allies invaded Afghanistan. American and European soldiers (among whom the most affected are the British) sacrificed their lives for political games, international interests and local corruption, as well as strategic failure. While an unstoppable abacus precisely tracks each soldier’s death, little is really known about... Continue Reading →
Does Israel fear peace and normalization? The Gaza Flotilla case
Days have passed since the so-called ‘Gaza Flotilla’ was brutally raided by Israeli forces. As usual in these cases, I tend to take my time before writing my opinion. Let me start from some simple observations: The Gaza blockade is irrational. It breaches international law and affects the most vulnerable people within Gaza. By contrast,... Continue Reading →