Of corruption and bribery

Category:

General Contents

In Italy, especially in the south part of it, it is more of a customary tradition to oil some wheels to make sure the system will work in their favor, and this will usually translate in bribing someone.





There are commonalities among some Italian politicians, like it is a national pastime. I'm talking about the collecting of bustarelle (small envelops containing bribe money).

I can still recall (after all this years), of some Sicilian politicians who were masters and completely dedicated to this national pastime.

Not just politician, even Italian businessmen are tempted to illegally jump any red tapes that could otherwise block their roads to success, by just playing a game. The game (as I like to call it) of corruption and bribery.

Nowadays, by just looking at the Italian news I can see the landscape hasn't changed that much! The Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, started his career as a businessman and rapidly reached the top level of the Italian politics not without an extensive record of controversies (including mafia collusion, false accounting, tax fraud) on alleged corruption and bribery's charges which paved his road to success.

Silvio Berlusconi - Prime Minister of Italy

Now you can say that he really is, "the Master of this Italian national game"!

As you can see, such practices are commonplaces in Italy. Not doubts, even common citizens can play this national pastime. Anyone could easily bribe a corruptible city official for a reasonable prize of a tot lire (lira - old Italian currency, today Euro currency) for an own interest.

The forms that bribery can take in Italy are numerous. For example, anyone can easily bribe his way out from paying a traffic ticket, or a father could easily get for his own son, a secure governmental job by just paying some people placed high enough in the Italian governmental sphere of influence.

Now here is a 2009 list of Countries in which the corruptions are less diffuse, Italy is placed in the 63rd in it. This survey from Transparency International has examined 180 States based on perceived levels of corruption in the public sector and it has assigned votes from 0 to 10, where 0 means nation at the mercy of corruption and a 10 means a virtuous nation.

Click map above to launch an interactive version with individual country scores.The darker the blue, the higher the perceived level of public sector corruption.

(P.S. You need Flash Player and JavaScript enabled to make this work)

New Zealand is the least corrupted country with a score of a 9.4, in second place Denmark with a 9.3, and in the third position Singapore with Sweden sharing it with a score of 9.2.

Italy has scored in it with a 4.3 and it is far behind the United Kingdom (in the 17th position with of a 7.7 score), Germany (in the 14th position with a score of 8.0), France ( 24th with a 6.9 score) and finally the United States (in the 19th position with a 7.5 score).

And at the bottom of this list, countries like Myanmar (placed in the 178 with a 1.4), Afghanistan (in the 179 with a 1.3) and last Somalia (in the 180th with a mere 1.1) are the lowest-ranked countries in this Transparency International's annual global survey.

As you can see by reading from this list, war-torn and poorer nations are the most corrupt.


All the above doesn't mean that here in the U.S. politicians, businessmen and common people as well, do not have the same tendency to moral looseness ! When comes down to individual corruptibilities the people from here aren't refractory, or immune to the monetary allurements.

You can well say that the system of punitive laws and investigative works put in place in the U.S. are more effective than in Italy. And because of this more complex system of checks and balances here in the United States, these endless games of corruptions and briberies can't be played as often as happens in Italy or in any other nation.

Is the American capitalism a model for bankruptcy?

Category:

General Contents

This last American financial crisis has shown the real weaknesses of this nation's economic strength. The United States are or were, one of the wealthiest and strongest economic nation in the world. But how much of all that, is still holding true nowadays?

Is the American capitalistic model, a model of bankruptcy especially for the common U.S. citizens?

The rich of the U.S. will sail this current economic crisis with more or less worries for their own pockets. In the other end, while this economic storm is still going on, who is really bearing (as always happens in these kinds of situations) the full brunt of this economic turmoil are the common citizens with less cash availability in the hands, and even less confidence to overcome it.

This U.S. financial crisis has also spurred a global economic recess, and while the United States has to deal with it in various ways to solve this economic crisis, I find out that in the world there are some exceptions of nations been more capable to deal with it.

Some of these exceptions are in the old continent. In particular one of the European's nations, which is it Italy. What I have learned, was indeed that Italy is coping with this economic crisis much better than the United States of America.

Afterwards to it, my personal question was: the why of that?

In Italy the private debts are much lower than the U.S. debts, and for the mere facts even lower than the English debts, or the Irish's debts (these nations share most of the same financial and economical models).

In fact, while Italy doesn't have to create more public debts to cure its own financial woes, the United States has to invest a lot of money in the hope to avert an immediate financial meltdown. And of course to get fresh cash to pay for avoiding a financial meltdown, the United States has to squeeze more juice from the wallets of the American people.

Now my thinking on this financial situation is this: perhaps inside the American's economical models lies the truth about their own economy's weakness on the global markets...

Using different approaches by national governments for the social benefits.

Now, what are the differences between these two economic systems which are allowing them to deal with this global economic crisis.

While in Italy the social economic market is that of a state which is closer to the needs of the majority of its own people, rather than, closer to the needs of the few Italian's industrial tycoons.

On the contrary in the United States, the social economic market seems to be all bent to protect the welfares of the industrial tycoons, in spite of all the needs of the majority of the American people.

In what ways, the Italian people are benefiting more from an Italian economic system than the U.S. people with their own economic system?

First and foremost, the Italian people are getting some more benefits from their own social economic system by allowing them to not be worried to the extremes in the case of they losing their jobs. Because in the event that it happens, they, the Italians will get some more social protections than their U.S. counterparts.

Second, the Italian are more inclined to save than more on spending their hard earned money. Instead most of the U.S. citizens, because of their attitude to frenziedly spend all of their money like there's no tomorrow, most of these people when they've lost their jobs are left in deep desperation and with almost none of the same social protective net of the Italians.

You see: most Italians have saving in the Italian banks, but most U.S. citizens have only debts with the American banks. This American spending attitude is due to the American life style's pressures on its own people.

Third, most of the Italians own their houses...in the other hand, how many U.S. citizens own a house?

and lastly...

Fourth, Italians are getting better (unfortunately this is not always true, especially in the south of Italy... but this is an other story) and mostly free health cares than the U.S. citizens.

Continue...

Next: A new economic rating for nations is needed.

A new era? Obama's era.

Category:

General Contents

For the first time in the history of the United States, a black President was elected. Barack Hussein Obama will be indeed, the next tenant of the White House.

I was really amazed, in how much America has changed. A couple years ago was inconceivable that a black American could ever be elected at this high national levels. And now, everything seems possible. A brave new world, that's what it is!

During this election, I got the impression that to the world rather than an American president a global leader was elected. It was more or less, like if the entire world was waiting for an announced Messiah, which would have led the entire planet to an improbable new era.

Not to be cynical, but now what with this newly elected President? All the tribulations of the American people will be ending soon?

The euphoria sparked by this new President, has somehow, given to many American citizens renewed hopes which were been broken by promises not kept. And now, perhaps the people of the United States are expecting a little too much from him...

Honestly, I do believe that the honeymoon with Obama and the people that voted him with such profound convictions will soon be over, once he will have to make some really tough decisions on some very important national matters. My isn't just a skeptical attitude, but a constatation based on the history of humanity and some personal experiences.

Right now the United States are in a recession, but how deep this recession is? Only in the next months we will found out how much, the American economy has really receded from its actual general state.

Yes we can.

Those exciting words are still echoing in my ears. In truth, this is the worst time for a new President to be elected. Barack Obama will have a very hard time to lead the American nation out the winds of recession. A recession second only to the 1929, Great Depression (also known as the, "Black Tuesday").

What it takes, to put on track a nation rattled with a skyrocketing unemployment rates?

Not party ideologies, but pragmatic politics with alongside a new philosophy. A bipartisan attitude by both democratic and republican parties to overcome difficult times laid ahead.

That's what will put the economy of the United States on track once again. And that is why, that Obama as the United States President seems to be, the most likely to drive a new American political system out of its own malaise.

In Obama is now reincarnated the idea of a new America?



Obama during his acceptance speech, has promised that the next four years of his Presidency won't be nothing like the last eight years, and he believes through his leadership, that the American nation would benefit from it.


Will he become a great leader, or will he fail? It's hard to tell now. He will have to manage many challenges, and none of them have easy solutions.

First in Obama's political agenda is, to stabilize a faltering economy. And later, to move forward to a new more prosperous era. Besides the urgency of a severe crisis, I don't forget that there is more on Obama's worries list: two wars fought in Afghanistan, and Iraq. And that's not all!

Not being anymore dependent on foreign oil, but to find new ways for renewable resources is one more worry. Another not less worrisome priority for Obama is, the global warming trend in our planet.

Of course, there are many other issues of great importance in which he will have to deal with. One of these is the Healthcare. He will have to sort out a better health system, for the American citizens.

Not doubt about it, Obama's charisma as leader will be severely tested during his Presidency. For the good of the people of the United States, I personally wish him all the luck he may need to run a country in such difficult moments.

God bless America.

In response to: Why do Muslims hate the United States. (part III)

Category:

Islam

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: The attacks of September 11 were universally condemned throughout the Muslim world, but America’s reprisals against Afghanistan have changed everything. The fundamentalists now occupy the center-stage. How did Islam get hijacked in this way? Is it only America to blame, or have the values of Pakistan’s ruling class also played a part in fomenting resentment against the West?


A.
Red: And I agree with you on the condemnations and supports showed after 9/11, by Muslims throughout the Muslim world. However, there were reports of some celebrations for what those Muslim martyrs had done in the attacks. And also, there were some groups and individuals which had accused the United States of bringing the attacks on itself, because of its international policy. America’s reprisals? What should have done America in your view Mr.Khan! Maybe in your mind, Americans should had forgot the well over 3.000 thousands dead and try to dialog with the terrorists in the hope that Americans wouldn't had screwed with the Muslims' feelings.

And in response to the, "America’s reprisals against Afghanistan have changed everything": before September 11, terrorists radical Islamists were already committing terrorist attacks on inert targets all over the world for the past twenty years. How America’s reprisals has changed everything?



Please, not find excuses for the acts of their cowardice. September 11, wasn't the beginning but it was the highest point of the Islamic fascists' fight against anything that differs, or crashes with their beliefs.

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: This fascinating and highly resonant report goes a long way towards explaining the problematic nature of the relationship between Islam and the West. It is a schism that developed long before the bombing of Afghanistan, and is likely to take even longer to heal.

A.
Red: No at all. "This fascinating and highly resonant report" doesn't explains the fears of the innocents been blow up one day while they are going to work with a commute train.



"The problematic nature of the relationship between Islam and the West", isn't that problematic at all. What Islam wants is problematic, but for the civilized nations . Islam is a culture of death which wants any human being that breath in this planet to be submitted under its malefic influence.

And this schism as you call it, wasn't created by the Westerners willingness. And it to be healed isn't up to the West world but it's up to the Middle Est world by eliminating all the fallacies of a not so benevolent, and tolerant religion such as Islam.

Peace be with you Mr. Imran Khan.

*****

I will conclude here by saying this: It's like that all the misfortunes of Muslims is to be squarely blamed on American/Western nations. Instead of putting the blames on their own political elites in power and on their religion of peace for all the miserablenesses they are suffering from, many Muslims like to keep blaming others.

In fact, the populations of many Muslim nations rather then pick up the pieces (after their dictatorial constrictive systems had failed them) by making a fresh start in working harder to achieve what they have missed because of a broken social system. And maybe then, Muslims will get some possible alternatives for a theirs brighter future.

Instead, these Muslim populations prefer to keep themselves as being seen the possible victims of a hypothetical American/Westerner's malefic conspiracy, only to keep the poor Muslims, "miserably underachieved".

And yes, Islam is the main reason for a majority of Muslims living under the poverty line, because of the Islam's regressive force.

If only Muslims could stop their blaming game on others, and would not pay attention to a non-existent behind the scene conspiracies against them, then in all probability they will be able to find the real culprits of their miseries, and perhaps once they will do that, even find some real possibilities to improve their meager existences. And if they don't, then they will get stuck with their miseries forever while the rest of the world will elevate itself towards the stars.

I know this my post is getting way too long, but I wanted to add one last thing, a personal reflexion on the United States policing the world.

I don't like the idea of any nation that raises itself as the guardian of the world's peace. But, if wasn't for this superpower (the United States of America) to keep an eye on arising problems in the troubled areas of the world, we would have had more devastating wars by now.

I know that this my next concept could seems a weird one, but I'm going to write it anyway. Even though, for many people the US are an imperialistic nation that are colonizing the world not through the means of its military mighty, but through the means of its economic power, and yet, I still prefer a nation like the US to be the prominent force of the world.



Why? Because if it wasn't the US, then who else had by now filled the role of superpower! The Soviet Union, or perhaps Nazi Germany, or worst the communist China. I bet radical Muslims would had preferred a Muslim/Arab nation, like the Iraq of Saddam Hussein, Iran, or even better the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.



For sure, we wouldn't have had now an imperialistic nation which hegemony is based on a purely economic power such as the US, but instead our lives will be driven by a tyrannical regime which strength will be based on military power.



I know that none is better than any, but never been in the human history a time without a prominent force that was driven the world's fate.



So which one you prefer? An imperialistic one like the US that through its economic power influences events throughout the world, or one based on the military force like the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, communist China, the Iraq of Saddam Hussein, Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or any other tyrannical one which will dramatically effect lives on a vast scale!

May peace be with you all.

In response to: Why do Muslims hate the United States. (part II)

Category:

Islam

Imran Khan
a Pakistani cricketer turned politician

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: The underlying feeling here is clearly that the US only cares or acts when its own people are at risk. If these liberal, cosmopolitan women feel this way about America, how must those who do not benefit from the Western way of life feel?

A.
Red: Mr. Imran Khan are you accusing the US of taking care about its own people? And so what! What's wrong with that? The same goes for Pakistan! It should care for its own people the same way the US does. And if it doesn't, isn't the US fault!

Regarding how are feeling the liberal, cosmopolitan women: from my point of view they are too young to be so cosmopolitan. I do believe their perspective of the world it's too narrowed, due to their young age. And that's because that in all probability their opinions have been tainted by others.

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: In Peshawar, close to the border with Afghanistan, anti-war demonstrators fill the streets. They are driven by a sense of justice that is a fundamental aspect of the Koran. America may be the most powerful country in the world, but the feeling here is that this does not give them the right to act as judge, jury and executioner.


A.
Red: Justice is intrinsic to the Koran! Yes, you are right on this one Mr.Khan. Tell this unrealistic concept to those women from that video, tightly dressed in Islamic fashion. There is a justice for them too, or they are too low on the Muslim social status's world? I don't see any real justice especially for those women dressed in burkas! Or maybe I'm wrong? Maybe they enjoy walking around dressed like ghosts while some bearded Muslim cleric (in white pajamas) is maneuvering them, under the spectacle of the television cameras.

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: As far as the international press is concerned, there is a lot more mileage in stories emphasizing the extremes and differences between cultures, instead of what they have in common. The result is often a misunderstanding about the true nature of Islam. People in the United States tend to equate Islam with Fundamentalism, but, for many Pakistanis, Islam gives them a direction in life, helping them to come to terms with their harsh, often poverty-stricken reality.

A.
Red: Yeah, one more time you are on the spot Mr.Khan! This is a gift for the international press, these images are emphasizing the extremes and differences between cultures. I hope will never be a kind of society in the Western hemisphere, where the diverse of society and the women will be treated like second class citizens. Islam help Muslims with their harsh, poverty-stricken reality? Maybe if Islam wasn't in their reality, maybe these poor Muslims will have better chances in their lifetimes.

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: In this part of the world, the spectre of the IMF looms large. Even the poorest street traders in the country’s capital, Lahore, know what the IMF is, and who is at the helm. “The IMF is America. America tries to control our economy through the IMF,” comments one shopkeeper. Pressure from the IMF has forced the government to raise utility rates frequently, with devastating results. It is in the impoverished rural communities that the effects are most clearly perceived, with many unable to afford food and basic health care.


Extracted from wikipedia:

The number of IMF member countries has more than quadrupled from the 44 states involved in its establishment.

A.
Red: I don't get it! If the IMF (International Monetary Fund) is so bad for the people, why then more and more nations are joining it today? It's more like that nowadays every single nation is benefiting from this organization, except Pakistan!

“The IMF is America. America tries to control our economy through the IMF,” Wait a minute something is really wrong here, if the IMF is really America what the hell are doing all those 185 country in it?

Extracted from wikipedia:

The IMF describes itself as an organization of 185 countries (Montenegro being the 185th, as of January 18, 2007), working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty.

Maybe, those 185 nations enjoy been mastered by a single nation such as the United States. C'mon, be serious! How can one single nation even if it is so powerful like the United States, be the IMF all by itself.

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: As the state system crumbles under the pressure of its debts, the vacuum created has been filled by others. The poor are turning to the religious schools, or madrassas, which are often breeding grounds for a more intolerant version of Islam. Unsurprisingly, their influence is strongest where neglect and poverty are most pronounced.

A.
Red: How many version of Islam do exist in the world? Sometimes I got the impression that there is one of it, for every single season.


Anyway, I don't blame the poor for turning to the religious schools, or madrassas. But the point is, why then they turn their violence against the US, or any other Western nation? They should revolt against their own corrupt leaders. As a matter of fact, I know that a lots of money have been channeled into Pakistan by International Aid agencies, to help jump start the Pakistan's rural economy towards a more vibrant and modern economy.

If those in charge of Pakistan's destiny are corrupted, or incapable to manage the economy of their country it's their leaders fault, not the US, or the rest of the world's fault!

continue...

Next last part of: In response to: Why do Muslims hate the United States. (chapter III)

In response to: Why do Muslims hate the United States. (part I)

Category:

Islam

Imran Khan Niazi
(born in Pakistani on November 25, 1952)

This post is in response to: Islam & America: Through the Eyes of Imran Khan.

Why do so many Muslims hate the United States? What has America done to alienate so many people in the Muslim world? These are the questions that former Pakistani cricketer turned politician, Imran Khan, tries to answer in this latest offering of the Unreported World series.


Accidentally I found this blog "Rise of Pakistan" while I was looking for something else, and as stated in the blog's header it is:

An independent, alternative news and information channel: A humble effort to wake up Pakistan through personal and borrowed thoughts. (This blog is maintained by the students and alumni of LUMS)

The following video I got it from Rise of Pakistan's blog. It starts with a dramatic musical introduction while the first images are shown with a group of what appear to be Muslim Pakistanis torching a puppet, and right after Imran Khan starts talking in English with a Pakistan's accent.

Why do so many Muslims hate the United States? What has America done to alienate so many people in the Muslim world? These are the questions that former Pakistani cricketer turned politician, Imran Khan, tries to answer in this latest offering of the Unreported World series.

After I have read the post and watched the video reportage , I wanted to answer personally to Mr.Imran Khan's questions, but I couldn't really do that for obvious reasons, which were: I didn't know how and where I could have contacted him. So that the only possible alternative I had left was, to write this post with the hope that he could one day read it.

I start it with saying this to Mr. Imran Khan: Do you really believe in everything that you are telling in this video reportage of yours?

Mr. Imran Khan, what about this other questions: why so many peace loving people all over the world are hating Islam, and what Islam has done to alienate so many free minded people? Can you answers them?

Honestly Mr.Khan, I do believe your reportage is biased to disgrace America and its own people.

Mr. Imran Khan, you seem to me a nice and intelligent person, and because of politics I do believe you had to play a role in this reportage. Now I wanted to ask you if deep down in some corners of your subconsciousness, you had ever wondered if Islam is really that good towards all the world-wide faithful Muslims, and if you believe that Islam really is, a religion of peace and tolerance. And finally that there aren't second class citizens such as the diverse, or the women in the Muslim societies because of Islam?

Now I will continue with this post like I've had an imaginary conversation with Mr.Imran Khan's, while using his video transcript from the blog, "Rise of Pakistan".

*****

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: At Islamabad’s Women’s College, a concert for peace is taking Place. The students are mainly from privileged, middle-class backgrounds. If you were looking for Muslims that sympathised with the West, this would be the first Place you would go. But even here, amongst the more liberal, “Westernised” Pakistanis, anti-American feeling is riding high.

A.
Red: Except this video where a few young people are having some fun with music at Islamabad’s Women’s College, I haven't seen any single real Muslim's manifestation against the many terrorist attacks, or any Muslim in a march for peace and understanding between the cultures of the West and the Middle East.

In the other hand, what I have witnessed in the past years are the many violent protests against Western nations by Muslim radicals. And by the way, if that young lady from the video which is saying that she hasn't seen in practical life any Christian, or Jew manifest for peace and tolerance, then, she hasn't see the world at all.

My dear young lady you better wake up, you probably don't see it but you live in a constrained and obscured world. You probably are living in a very tight perimeter, and I bet you wont go outside the world you well know, or even outside Islamabad where are living Muslim men with long beards and ideas in how a woman should do behave and dress.

Q.
Mr. Imran Khan: “It’s as if one white life was far more important than thousands of black or brown lives,” comments one young, educated, middle-class woman. “They feel they can basically come in, use as they please, and then, when they want, they can just walk across the border, go somewhere else, and do exactly as they please there,” complains another.

A.
Red: This is a nice way to incite hatred between white and any other human race. For sure, this young lady has never been in the United States. The United States has the most heterogeneous groups of peoples living on its soil, than any other Wester nation. And besides that, there is racism in any form and shape in any part of the world, even among whites. So that isn't a valid excuse for her reasoning.

I don't know if this young lady when she was saying “They feel they can basically come in, use as they please, and then..." she was referring to the Americans of when they had invaded Iraq, and some Iraqis had suffered brutal acts by the hands of some sick minded American soldier. If this is the case, then I'm condemning those atrocious acts, as well any other criminal acts committed on civilians by any other army during a wartime.

But in any case, if we compare the American invasion in Iraq with any other invading forces taken from the past history of all humanity, then we will realize that it's almost a standard during a wartime to commit indecent acts against defenseless populations, and because of the quantity and the ferocity perpetrated by these invaders from the past against civilians, you will see that the Americans have had very few incidents of this nature during a war.

continue...

Next: In response to: Why do Muslims hate the United States. (chapter II)

Europe will be conquered not by the sword, but by the numbers.

Category:

General Contents/Islam

During the Kosovo war, the Serbians had accused the Kosovaro's Albanians that they were not the original inhabitants of the Kosovo region. The Kosovar's Albanians had moved into the Kosovo's region during many years, and because of the proficiency of their birth rate, from the minority ethnic group they were from the beginning, soon they had become (with about a 92% of the entire Kosovar's population) the major ethnic group of that region.



Now, as I recall during the Kosovo war I was puzzled by a TV program interview, to an Albanian civilian which answered to the interviewer's question that Serbia had the weaponry to fight a war, by saying that the Albanians had the numbers to win it. To win it not by a war but by the numbers.

To be more specific in that interview the Albanian said: if the Serbians will fight a war with their guns, the Albanians will fight their war with their ....(I let you figure what he meant).

There are other instances of this kind which had already occurred, or occurring in the present days, and which I'm going to emphasize in this my new post, starting from a well known context here in the States.

In the United States, have been some concerns with the strong influx of Mexican immigrants coming in, with the hopes of a better future. Now, the Mexicans' problem that I want to underline here is, their numbers.

In fact, the Mexicans that already are here and those who wish to be here, will exceed by far the United States capacity. I foresee that this big mass of immigrants coming from Mexico, will in the end alters the original make up and consistency of this great nation.

Many immigrants coming from Latin American countries, are not even trying to learn the native language because of the big speaking Spanish communities already here. They are not trying to amalgamate with the already existing English speaking communities, but they rather tend to create a version of their own communities with their language and cultures.

Already in the States, there is a second speaking language which is, the Spanish language.

This new status quo, created by the Spanish communities are enforcing many native English speaking to learn their language and culture, and because of their increasing numbers soon the Spanish language will be the primary speaking idiom in the United States. The United States will become very soon, a full-fledged Latin American nation.

At last, the Mexicans didn't win the war with guns, but they will win it with the numbers.

Red

The world conquered not by the sword, but by the numbers.

Another modern context which I would like to present here is, "the Chinese ever growing population".

A couple of months ago, I read about the Chinese presence in the African's regions. In an attempt to mitigate their perennial population problem, the Chinese' authority are trying to export their ever growing population in that part of the world.

I was really astonished when in a different report I had read about the Chinese residing in Italy, that they had already created many "little Chinatowns" communities all over Italy. And, I falsely believed that exclusively in the United States I could find, "little Chinatowns" kind of communities. In fact, Italy is getting a fast growing Chinese population of its own. Twenty-five years ago, I didn't know any Chinese living in Italy. And now if you go there, you will see a lots of them walking around.

All over Europe, Chinese communities are being created in a very fast pace, for the mere fact all over the world Chinese population are creating Chinese communities. At this pace, I believe the world will be soon owned by Chineses.

Europe will be conquered not by the sword, but by the numbers.

And finally, the last circumstance I would like to talk about here is, the Muslims presence in the Western hemisphere and as well, in other parts of the world.



I wasn't surprised at all, when the Libyan Leader Muammar al-Gaddafi spoke these words:

"We have four million Muslims in Albania. There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe – without swords, without guns, without conquests. The fifty million Muslims of Europe will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades. Europe is in a predicament, and so is America. They should agree to become Islamic in the course of time, or else declare war on the Muslims."

Indeed, many Muslim radicals today believe that the expanding numbers of Muslims in Europe, will finally be able to achieve what weapons could not do for a millennium, "the conquest of Europe without a real war".

The Muammar al-Gaddafi's words are not that far fetched. With an increasing number of Muslims in Europe, many democracies in the old continent are putting themselves in a danger zone.

Soon, a de facto situation will be in place. Islam will be the first religion and the leading force in Europe.

As the birthrates in those European countries are decreasing and the population are becoming older, the societies in the European nations will be in need of new workforces even more, to help run their industrial economies. These new workforces are coming from immigrants from all over the world, but a vast majority of them are coming from Muslims nations.

Europe is putting itself in a predicament in which will be harder to extricate later from it. A showdown with Islam is getting closer, and the outcome could be an unwelcome dawn for Europe and its original inhabitants.

Islam is to a great degree considered Europe's fastest arising religion, with immigration and above average birth rates leading to a rapid increase in the Muslim population.

Soon to come, Europe's demographics destiny.

The Western nations, with their dwindling population are on the verge of disappearing from earth's face, defeated not by wars but by the lack of their reproductive, and been replaced later on by populations not too fond for human rights.

The whites populations will soon be enlisted as an endangered species. Their own extinction isn't a joke anymore, or is it (cryptic smile).....

Highlights on this week news from the world.

Category:

General Contents

A short introductory on this article:

This article is a summarize of the most important news' that have happened during this week in the world.

• Serbs anger over Kosovo independence.

• After 49 years, the "Lider Maximo" steps down from power.

• Pervez Musharraf defeated by the opposition parties.

Serbs anger over Kosovo independence.

The 17th February 2008, will be an historical day for the newly proclaimed state. After 20 years the process of succession from Serbia has come to a conclusion. Condolisa Rice ( in an informal conversation by phone with the minister of the foreign countries Sergej Lavrov) said, that the United States are in the firm conviction that this proclaimed independence will bring peace for the Balkans. Meanwhile what is bringing right now, are worries from what the future will bring to Europe and the Balkans following the newly declared State. Kosovo, a State without economy and functional Institutions and with a population of just over two million people. While, many Nations have already recognized the Kosovo declaration, in the same time has been rejected by Serbia's government and other Nations like Russia and People's Republic of China.

Following the Kosovo unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia, the Serbs' anger upon the neo-State has irrupted into violence in the north of Kosovska Mitrovica enclave, 2000 Serbs attacked and set on fire a place of police in Jarinje (said gate1) and the check-point in Brnjak border (said gate2).

Could all these, destabilize already a volatile region such as the Balkans? The consequences of such move could lead to more dramatic events or, worst to new wars? Who knows, what the future await us around the corner in that part of the world. Maybe, the Us and Eu should had thought harder before supporting a such decision. As usual, only time will tell.

Last minute update from Belgrade:

In Belgrade after a peaceful manifestation against the Kosovo independence of hundred thousands demonstrators, was transformed in a raid against the United States and the Croat Embassies which were set on fire by anger rioters. The situation right now is volatile and unpredictable.

After 49 years, the "Lider Maximo" steps down from power.

Fidel Ruiz Castro is been in power since 1959 and he have left the power (following a message to the Cubans people) from Prime Minister of State and Commander in Chief, after a dictatorship lasted almost 49 years. In truth I believe that, the renounce has generated very little expectations in the Cuban communities around the world. He's dismissal from power wasn't dictated by his free will but, as many of us can figure out, rather than his poor health conditions.

In the message published by many medias around the globe, he says:

"I communicate to the compatriots, that they gave me a great honor by electing me as member of the Parliament, that I won't aspire or accept - I repeat- I won't aspire or accept, the office for Prime Minister of State and Commander in Chief."

Fidel Alejandro Castro Rus (born Agust 13, 1926) is 89 years old.

Sure thing, like the great majority of Cubans will miss him! But, when I'm reading those words, in the same time I recognize something remarkable in them. There is something more if, you pay close attention to those words. Fidel Castro in that message appears like an old David, that never gave up power to the Golia USA but, except by his free will or, if you read those same words in another way, like "I will go away when, I will decide to do so". In a way, he has already won an old battle with an old enemy (which of course are the USA). Indeed, in the end he never gave up power by force.

Goodbye Fidel, you won't be missed by many.

Pervez Musharraf defeated by the opposition parties.

The opposition in Pakistan wins, Musharraf now risks a lot after this lost election. He risks an impeachment which could result in a destabilization of the country. The two main Pakistan parties, that won the election and in which neither of them have found a majority for being able to govern the nation. They are willing through their leaders (Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif), to find an accord for a coalition to guide their nation. After reading from the election response that:

• Musharraf and his party gets a total of 38 seats in the parliament.
• Zardari with his party the Ppp of the murdered leader Benazir Bhutto gets a total of 87 seats in the Parliament.
• Sharif (the other leader which together with Zardari won the election), with his party gets a 66 seats in the Pakistan parliament.

The amazing thing I haven't mentioned yet is that, there is another party which leader is Rehman.

• Rehman with his party the Mma which gets an amazing 3 seats from the previous 50 they had.

To be correct I must specified that, the "Mma" party is an alliance of the Islamic radicals. As you can see, the consensus in which Bin Laden and the Talibans enjoyed in Pakistan till these days has after this election halved. After all, the Bhutto assassination wasn't in vain and maybe, there is a better future for the Pakistan's people in the horizon.

Benazir Bhutto

Bhutto's party:

"now we will stop the terrorism".

Zardari promises of doing what Musharraf wasn't capable or willing to do, to fight the Talibans.


Asif Ali Zadari

Clash of civilizations- Muslim and Western societies.

Category:

Islam

A new world order in the becoming.

After the fall of the Berlin wall, the cold war era was practically over. Until that point in history, the world was divided in three major blocks: the Western block as the NATO alliance, with the United States as the superpower leading it, the second block with Est Europe block as the Warsaw Pact, and the Soviet Union as the superpower leading it, and the last block which was composed by the so called "Non-Aligned Movement of Nations". The purpose of this organization was not to consider themselves aligned with or against any of the above superpowers.

Once the cold war was really over, a new world order would have established after it and consequently we all thought, a period of peace would have followed with not major conflicts around the corner.


But, the world without wars or enemies seemed that couldn't be maintained for very long periods of peace and tranquility. Even when, there are not apparent wars looming on top of our lives, it's like humanity can't live without them, we have to look for one even when there are none around. Apparently, Nations need to look for new enemies to maintain a precarious world balance, and some time by even inventing one. After 9/11, looked like some Nations had found their new enemies. At least that's the impression I got after reading some newspaper, or commentaries in some web pages or worst, from some politicians from Europe as well here in the States. Now some of them, are depicting a worrisome world which I didn't like at all. A possible future, where the Western Civilizations are in an hypothetical war against Arab/Muslim civilizations.

Clash of civilizations.

For example, I watched recently in the web videos, where reporters were talking about Arab fighting forces "jihadists" which were preparing themselves for a global Jihad against the Western civilization, and in the same time they were showing up pictures, where some Arabs fighters were training and preparing in hiding camps for a war of annihilation of the West civilizations or, ideologies and the West had no choices but, to fight them aggressively. They were not talking just about terrorists but, they were pointing out the menace was coming from the Arab world as an all.

I didn't agree with those provocative views of the Arab/Muslim world coming out from those videos. The thing that mostly alarmed me from all the rantings coming out from the above commentaries and videos was, the all Arab/Muslim world are hating us for what we are or, what we represent to them, a threat to their own culture and therefore, we needed to fight them back as a preventive measure.


Terrorists should be fought and defeated as well, the radical and violent faction of Islam but, terrorists or, radical Muslims are a small minority in the Arab world, not the entire Arab societies. Even though, these minorities are trying to push the Arab world in a holy war versus the West, doesn't mean we have to hate and prepare ourselves for a holy war against the entire Arab world. There is a need to eliminate the overlap between terrorism and Islam, this need is essential to start winning the real war against terrorism. Islam has been high jacked by the terrorists (as many Muslims keep telling us), making of it an excuse to fight for an holy war against West civilizations.

Some young Muslim men, which are joining terrorist forces to fight the infidels and a supposed Western hegemony in the world, those same young muslims alone don't represent the all Arab/Muslim world. The all Arab world doesn't hate us, there isn't any cultural clash between us and them but it will be if, we create the ground for it to flourish on.

The time of Crusades is gone, we don't need new ones.

Hysteria which has erupted after 9/11, it's leading us nowhere. We need to look closer for the real reasons of why and when, this crisis of cultures has come to be today. We don't need some scare-monkey tactics from some medias or politicians, about the danger of a raising fundamentalistic Islam. We need to understand the causes of it, and consequently find remedies to stop further unwanted consequences.

Muslim and Western societies.

I have so many Arabs friends and, none of them is preparing to fight us in a war of ideology and religion. They are good working people like us and like us, the peaceful Muslim communities are worried of all these dark forces pushing us and them, toward a point of no return. To be more clear, I will repeater what I'm trying to tell in a different way: "We all, should be concerned about all these nonsenses, stop them right now that we are in time, and not keep proceeding toward uncertain futures of fatal consequences for all of us."

There are, many Arabs of different nationality working and worrying every day in the United States, and most of them are not preparing to wage a war here or, in Europe as well.

Arabs are not all terrorists, they have their own culture and religion, we should respect them as they should respect us. To avoid further misconceptions, we should all meet in the middle to find ways of not killing each other for some ideologies but, to mitigate all the problems arising from this new world we need to dialogue now, if we want to live, work and get along together in peace.


If we look back in time, we will see that diversity of ideologies and multiculturalism can work together if, we really want too. By just checking the past history as I said, we will see indeed, there was a time when the Arabs were in Spain and in part of south Italy. In those ancient times, we could find different communities and religions in those parts of Europe, where people were living and working together harmoniously. So why shouldn't it happen again today?

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Muslim Spain and European Culture.

By the beginning of the ninth century, Moorish Spain was the gem of Europe with its capital city, Cordova.

When you think of European culture, one of the first things that may come to your mind is the renaissance. Many of the roots of European culture can be traced back to that glorious time of art, science, commerce and architecture. But did you know that long before the renaissance there was a place of humanistic beauty in Muslim Spain? Not only was it artistic, scientific and commercial, but it also exhibited incredible tolerance, imagination and poetry. Moors, as the Spaniards call the Muslims, populated Spain for nearly 700 years. As you'll see, it was their civilization that enlightened Europe and brought it out of the dark ages to usher in the renaissance. Many of their cultural and intellectual influences still live with us today.

For more: http://www.xmission.com/

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Are the Jihadists Losing the War? Gilles Kepel Thinks So

Despite car bombings, beheadings, and kidnappings, French scholar Gilles Kepel says the jihadists are losing their hold on the Muslim masses.

for more: http://www.international.ucla.edu/