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Blackwater was on 'crusade to eliminate Muslims'

published by You on 8 August, 2009 - 00:14

Well, what do we have here? a Private Military corporation who actually believed and acted on Bush's words?

Blackwater - the now infamous paramilitary corporation who has been involved in many incidents resulting in large numbers of civilians deaths in Iraq - has been accused of deliberately slaughtering civilians in Iraq, and having previous employees murdered if they co-operated with the federal authorities investigating their activities in the US.

A sworn affidavit from a couple of former employees who's identity is being kept secret includes nuggets such as describing the chief executive of Blackwater, Erik Prince as:

“views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe” and that his companies “encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life”

So, if they really were on a crusade, maybe the "loony nutjobs" saying so were actually correct?

Where is the international condemnation of these mercenaries? or are these the good kind of terrorists?

Read all about it @ TimesOnline

Chinese bride wears 2.2km dress

published by You on 7 August, 2009 - 23:15

A Chinese bride has attempted to break the world record for the longest wedding dress by walking down the aisle in a 2,162m-long (7,083ft) gown.

Lin Rong's dress was made for her by her husband-to-be, Zhao Peng, and his family in eastern Jilin province.

It took their 200 wedding guests three hours to unroll the fabric and decorate the train with 9,999 silk roses.

Mr Zhao's mother said she knew her son was trying to express his love, but she thought the dress was a waste of money.

"I do not want a cliche wedding parade or banquet," China's Xinhua news agency quoted Mr Zhao as saying.

Muslim women avoid reporting racism

published by You on 7 August, 2009 - 22:17

Shouts of 'Terrorist' and 'Osama Bin Laden' on the way into an Eid party. Being chased out of a park crying because a man thinks the way you dress is a danger to children. Both racism. Both to Muslim women. Neither reported to the police.

Catrin Nye of BBC Asian Network has been investigating after a charity set up to offer the women support claimed hundreds of racist crimes against Muslim women in Scotland are going unreported...

Read more @ BBC News

Taliban head Mehsud 'may be dead'

published by You on 7 August, 2009 - 03:23

US and Pakistani officials have said they are checking reports that the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, has been killed.

He is said to have died in a missile attack on the home of a relative.

A US official said there was "reason to believe reports of his death may be true, but it cannot be confirmed".

Family members have already confirmed that one of Mehsud's wives was killed when a US drone attacked her father's home in South Waziristan on Wednesday.

Previous reports of his death have proved to be unfounded.

South Waziristan is a stronghold of Mehsud, who has been blamed by Pakistan for a series of suicide bomb attacks in the country...

Full moon

published by You on 6 August, 2009 - 22:36

ok, here's the thing - even if you are not sure when the new month started - because the moon was too thin/narrow/hard to see/cloudy, when it comes to the middle of the month, it is easier to see (when the night is clear) when the moon is full.

So why is that not used as a "secondary measurement" to make sure you started the month at the right time?

Yes there is a hadith about when to start the month and if in doubt have 30 days, but that hadith does not account for when some people have 29, others 30. Would this not be a good time to calibrate any disagreements?

Only saying this because while many have 15 of Sha'ban tomorrow, the moon was full last night.

This Ramadan, make sure your dates are halaal

published by You on 6 August, 2009 - 18:20
Boycott Israeli Dates

The dates are juicy and succulent and full of energy. The perfect way to open the fast. Shop keepers love them - they can charge a premium and people will pay. Better still, the people want them "Last year I did not stock them and people complained. I lost business and this year I am going to stock them. They are our best seller" is the word from their mouths.

It all sounds good, but there is one problem - these dates are like "blood dates" - the equivalent of blood diamonds where we are gorging on the misery of others. They are grown on occupied territory, watered using resources stolen from others.

China 'trusts prostitutes more'

published by You on 4 August, 2009 - 21:57

China's prostitutes are better-trusted than its politicians and scientists, according to an online survey published by Insight China magazine.

The survey found that 7.9% of respondents considered sex workers to be trustworthy, placing them third behind farmers and religious workers.

"A list like this is at the same time surprising and embarrassing," said an editorial in the state-run China Daily.

Read more @ BBC News

Galloway TV shows 'broke rules'

published by You on 4 August, 2009 - 08:47

George Galloway's shows on an Iranian-funded TV channel broke broadcasting rules on impartiality, Ofcom has said.

Two shows hosted by the Respect MP during the Gaza conflict in January did not give enough weight to pro-Israeli views, the regulator ruled.

The "overwhelming majority" of content was pro-Palestinian and no phone calls reflected pro-Israeli opinion, it said.

Press TV argued it had met the broadcasting code by giving viewers of differing opinions a chance to respond.

Two editions of the shows - a weekly phone-in programme called Comment and a current affairs show The Real Deal - prompted some complaints to Ofcom...

Read more @ BBC News

Return to Pakistan's valley of death

published by You on 3 August, 2009 - 19:20

They left in fear, and many are going back the same way.

The Pakistan government says it is safe for families to return to the Swat valley, and it's paying them 25,000 rupees to do so (£180; $300).

But plenty of those making the journey to the picturesque and formerly peaceful region are not so sure.

...

When asked who was to blame for the chaos and carnage which engulfed Swat, his response was swift.

"We blame ourselves because the people of Swat gave the Taliban permission to come in," he said.

"After we welcomed them, and showed them love, they committed atrocities."

...

Trainee Taliban

We met five teenage boys who provided harrowing accounts of their time in Taliban training camps.

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