Middle East Violence - part I

The question I was asked if Islam is a religion also peaceful, then why all the wars and terrorism to the Middle East. Although I am not a historian or a professional politician, I lived in the region long enough to understand the dynamics that can be linked to its problems. Nothing that I'd write here might be novel for this issue was covered, but I'll try to put in the perspective of an Egyptian American regular.

It is difficult to know where to start that all began long ago when the Egyptian empire that was the envy of the world at the time became quite low for all the neighbours greedy to pull with force of Egyptian Treasures. Victim of filling many invaders Egypt who ruled for thousands of years. The last of them were the British who remained in Egypt from 1882 until 1954. The same fate was that of most of the country in the Middle East, but I will keep the Egyptian as much as possible perspective. The Egypt during the period of the occupation is a highly secular society. There is always the religious class, but adhering to religious beliefs does not appear to be that widespread among the middle class. Although I am that old pas attended this time myself, books, stories and films reflect these previous observations.

The modern era of wars in the Middle East had already begun before the quittée British army the Egypt with the 1948 war. This was the first war with Israel. Israel is a newly established country sanctioned by the British on Palestinian lands, which was controlled by the British at the time. This cemented Israel war in the region. The second war in 1956 and it was a response to the nationalization of the Suez Canal by the young nationalist President Nasser. No there was no religious roots to the war in which Britain, the France and Israel attacked the Egypt to regain control of the canal. The war did not achieve its objectives and established Nasser as a nationalist hero Arab. Nasser with Israel war was the war of the six days in 1967. A war which was and still is a disaster for the Arab countries. Israel took control of the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai desert and some parts of the Syria in this war. Apart from the Sinai, Israel always control this land before until today. It was once more not a war of religion, but rather a war policy. This is when it starts to get more interesting that the religion is mixed with the policy.

Israel has now taken control of the Holy City of Jerusalem. A city which is claimed Sainte 3 religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. From the point of view of the Egypt, it was a big insult to lose this miserably and the desert of the Sinai under occupation. Was there is still no big religious movements in Egypt the period 1967-1973. Nasser dies and Sadat became President. He continued the efforts of the construction of the Egyptian army to avenge the disaster of 1967. In October 6, 1973 the fourth major war came into eruption in Egypt attempted to regain the lost ground and the Egyptians were put in motion. They were to win the war against Israel, but also with the assistance of the United States and errors of the Egyptians, turning the tide and the Egyptians had to agree to a call to put an end to the war. Sadat visiting that militarily there does not seem possible to reclaim the land, he began to negotiate with Israel. A step which ultimately returned to Sinai in Egypt, but is also a gesture which isolated from Egypt, the Arab world. Sadat was a hero in the Western world, but a figure very controversial in the Egypt. It cannot be known to many that Sadat may have been the main mentor for religious radicalism in Egypt which led to its eventual demise in 1981. This will be discussed in part II, but in short, this part, it can be seen that the major wars in the Middle East were driven out mainly by nationalist readers, self-defense and self-preservation than religious beliefs.

 

Middle East Violence - part II

It is part 2 of my answer to the question of the reason for which violence consistent with the Middle East if Islam is a religion of Pacific. In the first part, I simply gave an account of the 4 major wars in Middle East , the Egypt and Israel were gone, and how from the point of view of the Egypt they were for most of the nationalist wars. Religion was not completely absent from the photo, however, with the religious claim to the land of Palestine by Israel, but continue with discussing the recent rise of radicalism in Egypt.

Sadat, the Egyptian President who made peace with Israel was somehow responsible for the rise of religious activism in Egypt. It is said that he encouraged religious groups to emerge and thrive to control the tide of the movement of the Communists in Egypt. They were allowed to be active, recruiting at universities, trade unions, etc. These religious groups were mostly moderate, but the environment was ripe for radicalism to emerge. Economic policies of Sadat, long years of wars have made large segments of the society of poor, illiterate, desperate and hopeless; creating a fertile ground to create radical and incite hatred for society. These radical groups adopted obscure religious books, written by unknown, at least for moderates, in society. At the time that the realization of Sadat, the side effect of his plan to fight against communism, things themselves to at the outset. The radical groups who condemned the whole of society emerged. Those who were not with them were against them. They were ready to kidnap, kill, bomb innocent Muslims and Christians both in Egypt to try to create public anger to overthrow the Government. Sadat counter hard, thousands were jailed, tortured and probably more than that. His last days were dark for anyone who dared disagree with him.

Disappearance of Sadat came on the anniversary of what he saw as the day of his glorious victory on Israel. He was assassinated by one of the activists that his policies helped create in Egypt. His death has introduced laws of emergency Egypt in 1981. The Egypt is still under the control of these acts to this day. The huge repression on religious, moderate and radical groups, did not eliminate terrorism and its dangers in Egypt. The terrorist attacks in the Egypt occur few and hit targets tourists particularly to embarrass the Government. In recent years, I have observed that Egyptian society was slowly tend to become more conservative and more religious. Most of the women are now wearing Hijab; a scarf covering their hair. Many are trying to learn more about Islam and the Koran. This, however, more a tour is self-guided return to religious roots that can help in terms of fight against radicalism in society.

In summary this part up, political manipulation, economic conditions, despair, oppression and ignorance were and still are responsible for the creation of radicalism everywhere in the world and not an inherent message of violence in Islam.

Mohamed A, [http://www.homeforthoughts.com]

US condemns ' appalling ' violence in Libya (AP)

WASHINGTON — the Obama administration on Tuesday condemned the "appalling" violence in Libya, where security forces unleashed a bloody crackdown on protesters demanding was driven out of his leader Moammar Gadhafi.

"This violence is totally unacceptable," said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "We believe that the Government of Libya is responsible for what is occurring and to take measures to end the violence."

Video of Gaddafi about protesters

But as it sought to safely get out U.S. diplomats and other Americans from the spread chaos, Washington stopped criticise Gadhafi personally or demanding that he step. U.S. officials, who spoke for the matter to the public on Tuesday, including Clinton, will not mention Gadhafi by name.

Discomfort over U.S. citizens ' security intensified after getting some Monday and Tuesday kundescenario was tekstombrydningsfunktionen Gadhafis concern over unpredictable behavior, and late Tuesday, State Department announced that American citizens would be evacuated from Libya with ferry to the Mediterranean island of Malta.

In a message sent to U.S. citizens in Libya, said the Department of Americans want to leave the country should be As-shahab port of Tripoli with their passports starts at 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday for a departure not later than 3 p.m. local time.

This means Gadhafi — once called "the mad dog in the Middle East" by President Ronald Reagan — has long flummoxed U.S. officials. He is notoriously unpredictable and has been known to fly into rages on real or perceived slights.

Obama administration does not outline any specific steps to coerce or punish the Libyan regime, with which the United States have built a careful partnership after years branding Gadhafi a terrorist sponsor. After decades of hostility normalized United States and Libya tape under President George w. Bush's presidency after Gadhafi renounced terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, but the connections have been far from fully warm.

U.S. officials said Washington would join other Nations to resolve Libyan behavior of Security Council of the UNITED NATIONS. The renewed calls to Gadhafis Government to speak with opponents and threw the political unrest there as part of a regional uprising against political and economic stagnation, which addressed by Arab Governments of the Middle East and North Africa.

Gadhafi delivered a trodsig speech at national television where he promised he will not step away. He said he would die a martyr death fighting them rebel against his 42-year reign. The address was filled with references to his standing up to the United States and other world powers and threats, respect for the rights of the demonstrators.

In addition to the tone nervous speech U.S. officials, when it was delivered in front of the rubble from Tripoli compound feedingstuffs, United States bombed in 1986, kill Gadhafis young daughter. When he repeatedly spoke State-run television showed a courtyard statue of a clenched fist crushing a U.S. fighter jet.

With potential for Gadhafi to incite anti-American or anti-Western feelings and Libya danger on the brink of what some fear will explode in a comprehensive civil war, administration officials repeatedly invoked their primary concern to ensure U.S. citizens ' security.

"As always the safety and well-being of Americans must be our highest priority. We are in contact with many Libyan officials directly and indirectly and with other Governments in the region to try to affect what is going on inside the Libya, "Clinton told reporters at the State Department.

Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said U.S. officials had been insured by the Libyan authorities to Embassy workers and families will be able to leave safely. He said United States expected these promises to be honored.

"They have promised to support us in our evacuation, and we hope that the cooperation forthcoming," he said.

Crowley said the Department was to try to get 35 nonessential personnel and family members of staff at the u.s. Embassy in Libya out of the country. State Department ordered them to leave on Monday, but they have not yet been able to depart, he said without drawing on the site.

The Department also believe there are several thousand double U.S.-Libyan nationals and around 600 private U.S. citizens in Libya. Crowley said the United States worked with other countries and air carriers to increase capacity on commercial flights and was also prepared to Charter aircraft if necessary. But he noted it would require Libyan consent.

In January was u.s. Ambassador to Libya, Gene Cretz, revoked to Washington for consultations tekstombrydningsfunktionen concerns that his detailed accounting of Gadhafis in secret martial diplomatic cables published by the website WikiLeaks would weaken his ability to work with the Libyan Government. More than a month later, have Cretz not yet to return to Libya.

In 2010, Crowley was forced to apologize for a funny remark he on Gadhafis gårdhaverne speaking to the UN General Assembly a year earlier. Libya had threatened diplomatic retaliation, unless he apologised.

Asked Gadhafi's fiery speech Tuesday, demurred Crowley.

"We want to see an end to the bloodshed stopped," he said. "We want to see the Government engage citizens, rather than attacking its citizens."

"This is ultimately and fundamentally a matter between the Libyan Government, its Director and the Libyan people," Crowley said. "They, like other standing and demanding a greater say in the events in their country. We have serious reservations about the Libyan reaction to these protesters. "

In the past, called on the White House spokesman Jay Carney Gadhafi's regime to respect citizens ' universal rights and allow peaceful protest to take place. Echo previous White House statements about the Government protests in Egypt, he said about Libya future should be decided by the Libyan people.

In the meantime, said top legislators United States should consider introducing new sanctions on the regime and called for foreign energy companies to immediately close the operations in the oil-rich North African nation.

Sen. John Kerry, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, called the violent punishment "cowardly" and "without despicable." He encouraged us and international oil companies immediately suspend their Libyan operations until the attacks on civilians stops.

Massachusetts Democrat also called on the Obama administration to consider fishing technique sanctions against Libya, was abolished by President George w. Bush after Gadhafi renounced terrorism and brownfield development of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

SENS. John McCain, R-Ariz, and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., the call to the administration to support a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent air strikes.

Dominican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs House, also called for the imposition of new sanctions, including asset freeze and travel ban for senior Libyan officials.

"The Libyan regime widespread attacks on the Libyan population is deplorable, and all responsible for these attacks must be brought to justice," she said in a statement.

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