Politics & Government - 18 September 2006

As you heard, Bush and Austrailia and Japan is pressing sactions on North Korea. Bush said the talk is failed.

Can you predict the outcomes of the sanctions?

Do you believe N. Korea will abanden its program, or will they be more aggressive? Or will they not take any action to buy some time?

If none of the above, what else can you think of?

2006-09-18 21:25:11 · 3 answers · asked by davegesprek 1 in Politics

As you heard, Bush and Austrailia and Japan is pressing sactions on North Korea. Bush said the talk is failed.

Can you predict the outcomes of the sanctions?

Do you believe N. Korea will abanden its program, or will they be more aggressive? Or will they not take any action to buy some time?

If none of the above, what else can you think of?

2006-09-18 21:24:37 · 5 answers · asked by davegesprek 1 in Politics

....I can say that I'm a liberal on this site, and a thousand people will blast me every which way but loose, thinking that they have even the tiniest idea of what I am like or what I am about....But people in other countries can say they are socialists, and no one even bats an eye....Why are we so touchy? So paranoid? So evil? So hateful?.......

2006-09-18 21:12:53 · 10 answers · asked by Joey's Back 6 in Politics

2006-09-18 21:09:10 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

My Islam

By Mona Eltahawy
Thursday, January 3, 2002; Page A17

I am a Muslim. The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 shook my faith to its foundation. I am angry and ashamed that Muslims will forever be remembered for such horror.

But being angry and ashamed is not enough. Muslims must ask ourselves, how did we get here? We are long overdue for a healthy dose of introspection. We've heard many times how the U.S. government must reexamine its foreign policy and about the list of corrupt dictators it calls friends. It is just as important for Muslims to do our own soul-searching.

For starters, liberal, moderate and progressive Muslims must speak out. We've been quiet too long, and I blame us for the sad state of affairs of the Muslim Umma (community) as much as I blame the clerics, whom, I must admit, I gave up on long ago.

It is no longer enough for the clerics to issue tired platitudes on how Islam means peace and surrender. Where were they when Osama bin Laden and his coalition of terrorists vowed to target every American man, woman and child?

We have to look inward and ask ourselves what in Islam, what in the way it is practiced today, allowed bin Laden to promote his murderous message? And, please, those of you out there penning letters to tell me Islam is nothing but a bloodthirsty religion of the sword or that the Sept. 11 attacks were a Zionist conspiracy that had nothing to do with Islam -- save your ink and close those e-mail messages. I have no time for either camp.

I belong to a third camp that refuses bin Laden's options of being on his side or with the "infidels." I am fed up with the self-pity and self-denial that for too long have paralyzed Muslim thinking. By constantly blaming Western conspiracies for our ills we fuel our own helplessness. Strength is the essence of introspection.

We must make that introspection public. We should not be ashamed to question out loud. Muslims love to remind the world that the Islamic empire at its height stretched from Morocco to China. That we gave the world Avicenna, Averroes and the concept of zero. That at its founding, Islam gave women more rights than any other religion or social system.

All that is true, and I have shared in that pride. But by pointing to our achievement and not to our shortcomings we give in to what I call the Pyramid curse. I am from Egypt, home to the Great Pyramids of Giza. When I lived in Cairo I would swell with pride whenever I saw those magnificent structures. But that pride was often tempered with sadness that their magnificence was a reminder of what Egypt used to be. They are three gauntlets thrown down nearly 5,000 years ago by a golden dynasty whose splendor we strain to understand, let alone better.

Some may question who I am to speak for Muslims. My answer is who is bin Laden? He received no formal religious education but took it upon himself to represent us. He does not represent me. I am a Muslim woman who is wrestling with her faith and questioning its meaning for me today. It is equally my right to speak out.

About 10 years ago, I went through a crisis of faith that swept away lazy answers and made me realize how much work it takes to keep my faith viable. For inspiration I turned to Muslim scholars whom I considered revolutionaries. They were reinterpreting Islam by looking at it squarely with modern eyes. They dared to utter the R-word -- reformation.

One of these books was "Toward an Islamic Reformation: Civil Liberties, Human Rights, and International Law," by Abdullahi An-Na'im, an Emory University law professor. I recently turned once more to his book and wrote to Prof. An-Na'im to seek his advice.

He wrote back to tell me that he was about to oversee a new program that includes supporting nine fellows over the next three years to promote human rights in their own communities from an Islamic perspective.

Muslims in America are fortunate because we are free to debate without risking our lives. Prof. An-Na'im's book presents and builds upon ideas of Sudanese Muslim jurist Mahmoud Mohamed Taha. The Sudanese government publicly executed Taha in January 1985. Many Muslims consider Taha's ideas controversial because of their espousal of reform, but they offer a welcome alternative to the fundamentalists, whose ideas too often go unchallenged.

Kevin Hasson pointed out in his Dec. 27 op-ed article how religious freedom in America had influenced the Catholic Church. American Jewish friends have told me how their faith has evolved in America and given birth to the Reconstructionist movement. Muslims in America have the chance to lead the way for the Umma.

Washington Post

Mona Eltahawy Website

2006-09-18 21:08:42 · 19 answers · asked by dflp 1 in Other - Politics & Government

revelry, revalry, revelrie????????
i would like to know the correct spelling and where i can download it.

2006-09-18 21:07:48 · 5 answers · asked by N W 2 in Military

goochiez shed survey wants to nose your opionions & if youz are not from z U.S.A tell us if your local polly suks to.

2006-09-18 20:54:19 · 2 answers · asked by GOOCH 4 in Elections

2006-09-18 20:53:23 · 8 answers · asked by ivoksky 2 in Elections

As we went to Iraq along side USA without any evidence for the reasons given, along side the movement into Afganistan and the USA interagation camps and distruction of villagge with woman and children(un-armed may i add) Are we in fact terrorist with more power??

2006-09-18 20:43:59 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Politics & Government

2006-09-18 20:43:39 · 16 answers · asked by raj 1 in Government

My wife sometime asks me what was it like to do some of what i did and i just tell her some light harded stuff but nothing that was hard core. I really dont want to talk to much about it but maybe she has a right to know what do you think

2006-09-18 20:41:27 · 17 answers · asked by soldierof the 82ndAirborne 3 in Military

You have to make over 750k to benefit from the tax cuts that Bush has implemented during his presidency. The avg american doesn't make that much money and yet we get morons voting for him. LOL What is wrong with america?? Do they enjoy paying more for gas? Do they enjoy being seen as an evil country all around the world? Other countries can see it? In England EVERYONE hates Bush. At least that what my Republican friend told me. Who btw, is now a Democrat after living in England for one year. Bush has trashed the environment, tapped our phones, helped to push the Patriot Act through when no one was looking, Katrina mess etc., etc. Yet, he STILL has supporters who make under 750K?

2006-09-18 20:40:33 · 11 answers · asked by Marissa M 2 in Politics

Our popularity rapidly depleting, our academic standards sliding, American factories shutting down...

2006-09-18 20:32:57 · 17 answers · asked by Picard Facepalm 5 in Other - Politics & Government

The insurgents are just a rag tag group of men with no advanced weapons. So why do the USA Marines run from the Insurgents? ( Note: Saw it on CNN news )

2006-09-18 20:31:53 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

Former Yukos banker Igor Babenko (related with Khodorkovsky case) seeks political asylum in Lithuania, while Russia seeks his extradition to Russia. Media reported that Viktor Uspaskich, former leader of Lithuanian Labour Party, may seek political asylum in Russia, where he is lately. Mr. Sadeckas, Chairman of National Security and Defence Committe of Lithuania speculated during evening TV news on Sunday (Lithuanian TV3) that the issue of Uspaskih extradition to Lithuania may be solved making exchange Uspaskich/Babenko.

I am not expert in such issues, but I got a strange feeling that such things are not normal. I heard that exchange of spys happens, but these above mentioned persons are not accused in spying ... Is it common practice in the world to solve refugee status and extradition in this way?

2006-09-18 20:29:13 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Law & Ethics

We have had a reputation of fighting for "human rights" around the world, and denying countries status w/ US because of human rights violations. But now it is OK to torture people?? And I have heard the argument that we have to have some democracies/friends in the Middle East because the lack of them could lead to boycotts of oil to the US. (Oh! And we couldn't have that now, could we?) What have we been doing to Cuba for decades??
We have "pigged up" the resources of this country, kept half of the world in hunger that our wheat could have fed, and now demand (with the "punishment" being a war on your soil) that other countries make their (Yes, their) oil available to us!!!! If a child acted like this on the playground, we would discipline him. When the US acts like this we expect adoration????

2006-09-18 20:26:29 · 13 answers · asked by Joey's Back 6 in Politics

that maybe we can stop calling racial remark's to each other. and act like civilized people. we are not here to judge how one country live's there live's. this is an immagration forum. not a race forum. good night good people.

2006-09-18 20:26:22 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Immigration

2006-09-18 20:21:58 · 15 answers · asked by David B 2 in Government

I don't remember Iraq ever threatening the "freedom" of US citizens. Of course, NOW our freedoms are threatened by the heavy handed, illegal actions of the Homeland Security police...but that's a horse of an even brighter color, isn't it?
And, please, dear lord, answer this: How can we fight terror? Terror is an emotion, a feeling!!! If one means "fight against terrorism", then one should say so!!

2006-09-18 20:17:24 · 12 answers · asked by Joey's Back 6 in Politics

Some months like July 2006 have 5 weekends, and some like August have 4 weekends, September has 4 weekends and a spare Saturday, October has a spare Sunday, counting September and October together, there are 9 weekends. Is it defined anywhere which month has 4 weekends and which has five? My question stems from a court ruling which states that my children are with me for the 1st and 3rd weekend of the month and if there is one, they are with me on the 5th weekend.

2006-09-18 20:09:18 · 6 answers · asked by Stephen W 1 in Law & Ethics

why waste a lot of troops lives and time and money instead of bombing them like the way the us showed japan who the boss is? they sure did worst than japan when they messed up pearl harbor.
am i the only one with this question???

2006-09-18 20:08:28 · 16 answers · asked by Mrs. JSV 2 in Military

Everyone knows that police don't obey the law that they are sworn to uphold and protect.

Police speed and violate traffic laws. Police drink and drive, kill, rape, steal, rob, sell dope and every crime imaginable.

Yet they are protected by the ultimate Blue Shield. Not even the mafia has the impenetrable code of silence that modern day law enforcement have developed.

I would strongly recommend all future aspiring criminals to become a police officer. That way they will join the ultimate brotherhood of criminals.

You're either with the police or against the police. So you better get with this sophisticated ultimate criminal organization before you're on the otherside.

If you're not with their criminal syndicate you're on the other team and you're dead meat.

Join the ultimate criminal organization. The police.

2006-09-18 20:06:51 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Law Enforcement & Police

2006-09-18 20:03:00 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

Every day I see more writing on the wall that could well lead to a WWIII eventually. "The West" vs. Islam. This has gone beyond the United States vs Terrorism. Today Islamic fundamentalism leaders are lashing out against the Pope and Christianity, saying that they will not give up until Islam rules the world. Pathetic. It seems to be consistently escalating. Does anyone see the *possible* beginning of another World War here, and what in the world can be done to stop this madness.

2006-09-18 20:01:55 · 17 answers · asked by duffman071 4 in Government

If you are a Liberal, do you listen to Sean Hannity and think "Wow, this guy is straight forward and his opinions make sense." When you hear him mention a FACT do you set your "Liberal Standards" aside and hear him out and ponder it, or do you blow it off and hope that he is incorrect.

Serious question, not looking for Liberal/Conservative debate or slamming, just a fulfilling a curiosity of mine.

2006-09-18 19:56:34 · 11 answers · asked by no-sense 1 in Politics

Are they proud of:
- 50% illiteracy?
- Massive corruption?
- Poverty that is 20x the amount in the U.S.
- Open racism of Mexicans against native Mexican Indians?
- Millions of Mexicans running North for jobs because they can't find any in Mexico?
- Male oppressive society over women?

Is this what you are all so proud of? Is this why you march and drive around with Mexican flags while in America or scream "hecho en Mexico" while you live and work outside your own country illegally?

If you were really proud of Mexico, wouldn't you instead be going back there to work hard to make Mexico a better place - a place to truly be proud of?

2006-09-18 19:56:03 · 7 answers · asked by jasonjas808ja 1 in Embassies & Consulates

Are they proud of:
- 50% illiteracy?
- Massive corruption?
- Poverty that is 20x the amount in the U.S.
- Open racism of Mexicans against native Mexican Indians?
- Millions of Mexicans running North for jobs because they can't find any in Mexico?
- Male oppressive society over women?

Is this what you are all so proud of? Is this why you march and drive around with Mexican flags while in America or scream "hecho en Mexico" while you live and work outside your own country illegally?

If you were really proud of Mexico, wouldn't you instead be going back there to work hard to make Mexico a better place - a place to truly be proud of?

2006-09-18 19:55:27 · 20 answers · asked by jasonjas808ja 1 in Law Enforcement & Police

Why do people regugitate such idotic trash about liberals such as "liberals hate god" or "liberals want the terrorists to win" or whatnot. NOBODY WANTS TERRORISTS TO WIN YOU IDIOTS. That stuff is so ridiculous and it comes from people who only want to make money, yet the great idiotic masses in the US hear it and venerate it like it's straight form the mouth of Jesus (who they only give lip-service to anyway). Why can't people think for themselves in America? Why does this pass for political debate in America? Why are my countrymen sometimes SO DUMB?

2006-09-18 19:53:17 · 7 answers · asked by bakum 2 in Other - Politics & Government

2006-09-18 19:45:46 · 9 answers · asked by notme 5 in Politics

Just yesterday i read excerpts of a book written by a person who was a prisoner there for 3 years and 10 months. It was horrible to read that how violent can one become. I must say that international community should act upon this unlawful vicinity as soon as possible

Excerpt of the books are found on the following URL. (In URDU)
http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/index.aspx?Issue=NP_LHE&Page=Magazine_Page13&Date=20060918&Pageno=13&View=1%20id=

2006-09-18 19:43:31 · 11 answers · asked by Researcher 1 in Politics