What a decade! The past ten years of battle: starting with the horror by Arabs and Muslims, which actually it has been going on for centuries and will continue. Then in 2011 the pestilence named Osama bin Laden was finally assassinated by the American Military Special Forces ordered by Barack Hussein Obama. Some have called Obama an “Assassin”. An interesting word. The assassins were a radical sect of Islam, mostly Shi’ite, who followed the “Old Man in the Mountain”. That’s what they called the Master of Assassins. In 1175 CE a race of Saracens, called the Heyssessini lived in the mountains in an impregnable Castle, well-fortified. They could spot a fly from strategic points. Some scholars think the word assassin derived from the use of hashish; hence hashshāsh, hashīniī, hashishan – asshisan – translated to Assassin. The Old man evidently used a potion in a drink for the youth to fall asleep. Then they were carried to his private gardens. So when they awoke they thought they were in paradise. Subsequently they followed the Old Man. Powerful Mongols virtually removed the organized assassins, who dissipated back to reality. Now, in order to end up in paradise, the Muslim fanatics entice suicide bombers, even women and young children. The threats remain because of the medieval ideology of Islam and the interpretations of the Qur’an. Of course by radicals. In addition the sects and warlords desire to bring back the Golden years when a Caliph ruled. Who will reign the Caliphate? Muslim Brotherhood, perhaps, or other zealous Islamists. Nonetheless, the American Military Special Forces and those who assisted deserve to be honoured and thanked by everybody, including peaceful Muslims. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Assassins/Bernard-Lewis/e/9780465004980 Passports to paradise http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/sep/22/historybooks.highereducation Kevin Rushby finds that The Assassins, Bernard Lewis' reissued history of the first cult of killers, though essential reading for us, is no comfort to anyone.
Suicide is a crime and a sin in Islam. Suicide bombings have been studied at length.. they are not religious at all. They are caused by occupation and despair.
There are all kinds of Muslim martyrs. Some are promised a better life for their families, some believe in the doctrine of the sword, the Koran. The bombings in Iraq are by whom?
Don't know.. they may be Sunni Kurds for all I know. The word assassin was NOT in any way related to Hashish. The word was Asasiyun.. meaning defender of the faith. http://dkarndezolus.deviantart.com/art/The-Asasiyun-213310910
Since you are a businesswoman, and have travelled to the Middle East, are you doing buisness with certain Muslim nations and/or businesses? The definition might very well be after the fact. From what was "assassin" derived from, originally? Nonetheless, I shall add your comment and link the defender of the faith to my weblog piece. Thank you.
Nope.. I am retired. Western talking heads love their TV face time, but if you check their claims, you'll most of what they say is hogwash. If you want to actually learn something go to Aramco Ammuitants.. There are Hundreds of people who have lived in Arabia for decades. They laugh at morons like Gabriel and Spencer and Bauer and Emerson.
Interesting but convoluted post. Would you have posted in 1951 "What a decade!....starting with the horror by Caucasians and Asians and Christians and Shinto believers..."? First of all you mix Arab and Muslim- and sure enough the attackers on 9/11 were Arab and Muslim. And the attackers at Pearl Harbor were Asian and Shintoists. Not all Arab's are Muslim. Not all Muslims are Arab. And the attackers on 9/11 don't represent all Arabs or all Muslims. The past 10 years of battle in Iraq were entirely of our choosing. Iraq never attacked the U.S. or threatened in any credible way the U.S.. We invaded an Arab country, which both ended certain horrors for the Iraqi people, and caused other horrors for them. The battle in Afghanistan I think was warrented, considering the Afghani's protection of Al Qaeda, but of course....this was against Afghani's, not Arabs. And as for the whether it will continue on for 'centuries and centuries', I think until a real peace is reached regarding Israel, that indeed there will be continued conflicts. But I am not sure that there is the political will power to find a real solution there. There too many politicians that benefit from the conflict swirling around Israel- Western and Middle Eastern.
Well, we certainly have a problem with old men who couldn't find the ME on a map ten years ago... and now.. after zinging around the internet hate sites for a decade... suddenly they are experts.
You seem to partake in most threads about the Middle East and make your limited comments and suggest such an amateur link. Since you are retired, perhaps you might read some of the experts books who not only have been there, more than you for sure, and have studied the problems. Start with Fouad Ajami. Then maybe you might read Tarek Fatah or Salim Mansur. Oh, but you have been to all the nations and seem to know... so why bother since you are knowledgeable. Also, I strongly suggest The Middle East by Bernard Lewis. I have been to several countries and have met people, but a scholarly book is still a good choice, since it is more honest than most think in today's times with all the critics.
I find that Margot's information is quite often highly accurate. And her experiences in the Middle East are in many ways very similar to my own. Personally, I do not care much for the idea of saying "Hey, if you want to know the truth, read this by XXXX", or "Watch this YouTube clip by YYYY". To me, 99% of the time it is just pure coprolite. I mean, I can point you to books that say that President Kenny was killed by a single crazy man, the CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, the limo driver, a group of people on a hill, his wife, and just about anything else. Just because somebody makes a video or writes a book, that does not make it the truth. Now excuse me, I now need to start reading my book on home circumscision, so I can join the large International Jewish Conspiracy, because I wanna run part of the world too.
Hahaha.. well thank you.. Onward James thinks he can research his novel by sitting on his butt and careening around the internet.
At least I think, and study, whereas... well... anyone who hides behind a pseudonym, an avatar, a moniker, a fantasy cannot be taken too seriously — Margot and Mushroom. Hence, limited. I have travelled to many places. And probably I have done things that surpass anything either of you have done that matters in the scheme of things. Unless Mushroom was a warrior rather than a fantasy player in sports and military. Written words are often truthful if one is able to know the difference from magazines, comic books, historical books etc.... they might not be entirely correct because it all depends.
How about 10 years, US Marine Corps, 0311 Infantry Rifleman? 1983-1993, with training and deployments to Korea, Okinawa, and Panama. Currently US Army, PATRIOT Missile, 4 years, one combat tour in SW Asia. My name, I may give, but not in an open forum for obvious reasons. So yea, I was and still am a Warrior. And with boots on the ground in the general region we are talking about. Now what is your experience that makes you such an expert? Or do you just sit back, troll and attack others without knowing anything about them? Oh, and Margot? She has a lot more time on the ground in that area then I do. As far as sports, unless it is Boise State or my California Angels, I really have very little interest in it.
I take my hat to you. Bravo! Never been in the military, perhaps too outspoken. However, my life has been eclectic. My connections are people from headhunting, venture capital to acting and writing. For my novel I have met a few people who are notable authorities of the Middle East and have read their books along with much more. I am not a supporter of Islam until there's modernity and reform. We must all be cautious of the spread. Most forum commentators with monikers are hotair or phonies, it seems you are legit. Hence, I apologize if In have offended you. As far as Margot, please, she is an apologist and appeaser and prohbably wants to vote for Ron Paul. http://onwardjames.blogspot.com/search?q=resume Some interesting warrior pictures on the webpage, just scroll down. https://sites.google.com/a/onwardjames.com/www/ HAPPY NEW YEAR... and best wishes... sincerely, Edmund Onward James
Thanks for your comments. As far as Margot, her and I often disagree on the meanings of things, and exact causes and effects and what they may mean. But just because her and I disagree, that does not mean I do not respect her, and consider her opinions and beliefs. And who she may or may not want to vote for does not make her information any less factual. Myself, I look at the information presented, and how accurate or inaccurate it may be. Not nessicarily the person presenting it.
