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Islamonline Editing Desk
Name
AbdulHaqq
- Singapore
Profession
Question
Do you agree that the American war on the Middle East is a new crusade? Why and why not?
Answer
Although I think the Crusades and the agenda of Bush-Blair administration are essentially the same, I think that these stains on our collective history have been largely generated by different motivations. In particular, in the wars on the way today was absent during the crusades, so too there are certain economic considerations thriving today's war that were non-existent during the crusades. Nevertheless, both periods have been driven by Western arrogance, ignorance and greed.
Name
Khaleel
-
Profession
Question
The United States is a 50 countries united. The European Union is heading for a united state. Do you think that Iraq's future should lie in some sort of Arab/Islamic union, with an internal free market, or is Iraq's future going to be on its own with American assistance?
Answer
If Iraq's future is dictated or even directed by American interference, we will see a repeat of the disaster that the Iraqi people have been forced to live under US interventionism that occurred through its involvement with Saddam Hussein over the last 30 years. I fear that given the events of the last 3 or 4 weeks, the US is essentially committed to expanding its influence on internal politics of Iraq for years to come.
Name
Abdelmajid
- Somalia
Profession
Question
Everyone now came to understand the hidden agenda of the Anglo-America coalition to loot the wealth of Iraq? But the question is: why did some countries, like France and German, did not join the coalition so they can have a share in the booty?
Answer
I think the Anglo-American coalition primary goal was not to loot the wealth of Iraq directly, but to expand its overall influence, if not control over large section of the Middle East. Looting Iraqi wealth is an incidental benefit but not the primary aim.
With regard to the aim of France and Germany, while I applaud their unwillingness to resist the invasion, I fear that their role in post-Hussein Iraq will become just as opportunist. Indeed, one only need look at the relationship between the various countries of the West and the contracts being sold to various corporations concerning the re-development of Iraq to understand that no one's hands is clean regarding this war crime.
Name
Ashraf
- Sweden
Profession
Question
Are the American people happy with the Jews controlling the media and selling them half truths and falsehood?
Answer
I disagree with you that the Jews control the media in the United States, although it is fair to say that some of the larger or more powerful media outlets of the US are owned or influenced by a Jewish agenda. Overall most of the most powerful media outlets are owned by Christians, i.e. CNN, Washington Post, Fox News, etc. These interests are much more focused on a broader geopolitical agenda such as expanding American militarism at home and abroad.
Name
Majed
-
Profession
Question
Do you think the capture of Baghdad occurred after signing some sort of deal with the Iraqi regime, whether Saddam himself and his family, or any of the leaders in the army? And if the answer is positive, who do you think was involved in that deal: Russia, Syria, or America alone?
Answer
I feel very strongly that the dramatic and unexpected collapse of Baghdad could not have occurred without a deal between US, Saddam Hussein, and some other third or fourth party, no matter who that may be. Unfortunately, I doubt the truth regarding this deal will become known during our lifetime. I would only hope that Saddam, wherever he may be right now, lives a life as miserable as so many others that he has caused so much pain for so long.
Name
Qayyoom
- Indonesia
Profession
Question
In what shape the US wants the post-war Iraq should be? There seems to be some suggestions now for the way US will run Iraq, especially after talking about Jay Garner or Chelebi as people suggested to run the affairs in Iraq? What kind of policy the US wants in Iraq?
Answer
Because George Bush is so shallow and has such a limited attention span, it is difficult to predict in which way the US will run post-war Iraq. However, whether post-war Iraq is ruled by American generals or American puppets, one thing remains an absolute truth under this administration the domestic and foreign policy of Iraq will be dictated for years to come by the United States with the primary American concern being the best interest of the United States.
Of course, a new administration or events on the ground may very well change this reality.
Name
Muslimah
-
Profession
Question
You won't deny the fact that even if major part of media is owned by christians it has a jewish influence. we never see any anti jew or anit israeli comments in the media.israel is never presented as a terrorist nation. daily bulldozing of palestinian homes,their mass killing is never used against israel. if a single western dies in a muslim country it is a big news while the daily killings of inocnet palestinians or even the recent killing of 22 years old rachel cori by israeli bulldozer was not given much attention as ought to be given. michael jackson had to change the lyrics of his song when the jews found it objectionable. what do you have to say?
Answer
I agree. There is no doubt in my mind that the Zionist/Christian right lobby dictates the perception to millions of Americans about the genocide committed by Israel everyday against Palestinians and for year Lebanese. There is an absolute double standard at work here whereby the lived of Palestinians are diminished, and at the same time, the lives of Israelis are exalted. The arrogance and ignorance of the West projects itself in a way which makes the loss of a Muslim life or liberty far less significant than that of the Jew of Christian.
Name
Hossam
- Palestine
Profession
Question
Did the Zionist Lobby have a hand in the war on Iraq? If so, can you explain how this happened?
Answer
There is no doubt in my mind that the Zionist lobby with its friends from the Christian right played the leading role in this war in Iraq. The architects of this war were planning this invasion while George Bush was still riding his horse in Texas long before his presidency. The architects of this war very clearly see the attack on Iraq and perhaps unfriendly regimes as in the best interest of Zionist foreign policy.
Because President Bush is neither sophisticated in his thinking nor mature in foreign affairs predictably he fell sway to the motives of Sharon and the Zionist lobby and the Christian right from the first day of his administration.
Without, however, the events of 9/11, it is doubtful that this lobby would have succeeded. It was only because of the demand of the American body politic for revenge that these events in Iraq play out.
Name
Arlan
-
Profession
Question
"Irak has WMD" was the reason used by the US to invade the country and now that they invaded it and found no WMD, don't people realize that it was all faulse and the truth stands and now that they threaten Syria, will people in the US still support other wars in the middle east or will americans wake up and confront their goverment for wrongly spending their tax money? thank you.
Answer
I am not quite sure if the lie about WMD was ever accepted by most Americans. I believe that most Americans were smart enough to realize that the claim of WMD was a convenient excuse concocted by Bush as a means of toppling Saddam. At the end of the day, the war on Iraq never found majority acceptance in the United States although many Americans still live in fear and seek retribution for 9/11. Tragically, for the Iraqi people they paid the price for a terrible backlash still on the way in the United States. It remains to be seen whether the combination of a terrible economy along with the destabilization which will ensue in the ME as a result in Iraq will either slow Bush or cause Americans to wake up.
Name
aliweli
- Somalia
Profession
Question
I would to ask why us govertment rushing to disarm iraq, while isreal
govertment has and still devoloping mass destruction weapon with the support of us govertment?
Answer
The policy of disarmament has nothing to do with disarmament. As long as WMD remain with those countries and those leaders which the United States trust or controls, these weapons are good weapons, and those WMD in the arms of countries or leaders we do not trust or control are bad weapons. It is no different than George Bush's view of the world of Islam. If you are with us, you a good Muslims, and if you are against us, you are a bad Muslim, and if you are a general Musharaf, sometimes you are both.
Name
kathy
- United States
Profession
Question
On Saturday, April 19, 2003, the Haartez reported, "For the past two weeks, a letter initiated by supporters of Israel and explicitly calling on the administration not to make demands of Israel in the framework of the road map has been doing the rounds among members of both houses of Congress.
The letter, already bearing the signatures of 75 senators and 250 members of the House of Representatives, will be sent to President George W. Bush in the coming weeks, as soon as the administration's intentions vis-a-vis the peace plan are made clear." (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/285351.html)
In light of such stance on Israel within the Congress and Administration, which partially was responsible for both parties supporting the war on Iraq, do you believe the "road map" will actually turn out to be anything other than an attempt to legalize the Israeli occupation?
Answer
The road map is nonsense just as the two state solutions as a final result is nonsense. The issue is very clear. It has nothing to do with Muslims or Jews, and everything to do about occupation and settlement. End the occupation and dismantle the settlement and a new peace will evolve.
I have always been amazed at how the Bantu system in South Africa could not work where there was a slave master and slave. And yet apologetic for the road map or two state solutions as currently viewed can succeed. As long as the Israelis are permitted to control the economic, political, religious, and social concerns of Palestinians, there will no be peace.
Name
Jackson
- United States
Profession
Question
Now, after the war is over there are lots of things that are still hidden. How do the US and its allies are trying to do, what exactly they are preparing for now, and how long it would take. Can you explain this please?
Answer
I think that the US and its few allies were truly shocked over the relative ease by which the regime collapsed and the lack of any real resistance in Iraq or elsewhere. I think the post-war agenda is being written as we speak. Moreover, I fear that the expansionist policies or this administration and its thirst for re-making the ME and Gulf and its image is paramount to George Bush. It remains to be seen what will happen and how.
On the other hand, because of the experience of President Bush's father, he may very well turn what little focus he has on domestic policies in an effort to secure his re-election.
Should he succeed, there is no telling how far the Bush agenda may proceed in his next term.
Name
Shelh
-
Profession
Question
You say that without the 911 event the support for the war on Irak would not have taken place. Don't we understand then that the 911 was all planed by the zionists to use it as best reason to attack such countries and have the support of the public?
Answer
I do not know who planned or carried out 9/11. There is no doubt in my mind that opportunists in the United States and abroad exploited the tragedy of 9/11 to further their own agendas be it Israel, US, Russia, or Britain.
Name
Azzam
- United States
Profession
Question
As lawyer can you tell us some of the legal aspects of war? What is the legal status of killing reporters and journalists in Iraq? Who can get the right back to those people who have gone in the cause of reporting the truth for the world?
Answer
As a lawyer, it is easy, although unfortunate, to tell you the reality of legal aspects of war. Those with the biggest guns in the largest armies generally do what they want and get away with it. It is cold war. It is ugly, and it is deadly. The reporters and journalists who were killed in Iraq were victims of war crimes just as journalists killed in Palestine are victims of war crimes, just as journalists who are jailed and tortured in Egypt, in Jordan are victims of war crimes of a different sort. It is essential that those of us in the world who wish to know the truth about events in the world must organize and resist all attempts to punish or silence journalists everywhere in the world today.
On the other hand, journalists must stop becoming mouth pieces and apologists to governments. In the US most journalists have become tools for US policy, they have surrendered their independence and become extension or George Bush. Shame on them!
Name
Soussi
-
Profession
Question
Why aren't non pro Israel jews in the US do much to fight US support to Israel. I believe there are lots of jews in the US who are not for Israel, but do nothing to fight it...jews worldwide are given bad reputation by Israel, but jews don't do much to fight Israel. Can you comment? thanks.
Answer
I believe that there are growing number of Jews in the US and elsewhere that are beginning to stand up to Ariel Sharon and the Zionist agenda. Nevertheless, we are still too few. I think you are absolutely right, millions of Jews around the world are receiving a bad name for the policies of other Jews which they do not support. Insha'Allah, with the passage of time, there will be more of us than them.
Name
Asif
- United States
Profession
Question
Do you believe there would be a different situation what we are in today if we had a Democrat in Whit House? Because I believe no matter what Republican or Democrat the out come would have been same…
Answer
I have never believed that the party of the person who occupies the White House has that much influence over the day-to-day operation of our country with regard to either domestic of foreign affairs. I am neither a democrat or certainly a republican. Nevertheless, over the course of the last 50 years or so the republican party with its policy makers think tanks and bureaucrats have proven themselves ruthless in the extreme. To them, the world is very simple: if you are with us, you are good, and if not, you are bad. This party generally sees itself to a very narrow view and seeks to control how many diverse persons thinks, act, and live. On the other hand, Vietnam was a democratic creation.
Name
AbouBakr
- United States
Profession
Question
Why is that US is against an Islamic State in Iraq, noting that Islam is best democracy on earth?
Answer
I find it interesting that in the US we are committed to essentially a religious society dictated largely by Judeo-Christian tradition, and yet we are opposed to an Islamic state in Iraq or elsewhere. At the end of the day, I don’t believe it is about a debate in the eyes of the United States about whether a country should be religious or secular. At the end of the day, the West fears Islam out of ignorance and arrogance, and from that position is not comfortable with any Islamic state that operates out of Islamic traditions as opposed to American interests.
Name
Mahmoud
- United States
Profession
Question
As you can see there is no sign that the Israeli government would agree on any kind of solution! What do you think they are looking for these days with the fall of Iraq?
Answer
If the fall of Iraq produces another Middle Eastern state such as Jordan or Egypt, which blindly follows Israeli/US policy, Sharon and friends will look forward to a very good relationship with the "new" Iraq. On the other hand, should, as I expect, Iraq devolves into a country torn by uncertainty and internal dispute, Sharon may not sleep so well at night. This question cannot be answered for some time to come.
Name
Ekram
-
Profession
Question
Now after the fall of the Iraqi regime and the way America is behaving, I re-call the situation in Afghanistan when America tried to convince the whole world that they were going to get Bin Laden, and after the fall of the regime, they moved to another country not caring about the destiny of Bin Laden. The same story is repeating itself in Iraq, where the world was fooled with the story of toppling the Iraqi regime and restoring dignity and freedom to the Iraqi people after years of living under dictatorship and oppressive government. Now, the regime is gone, and the Iraqi people became the victim. Does America now care about the destiny of Saddam Hussein?
Answer
I don't think that America ever really cared about the destiny of Saddam Hussein. If Saddam had continued to march to the deal of the US as he did for many years, he would still be sitting in his palace. He became expendable when two factors converged: 9/11 and the need for the United States, more particularly, George Bush to find another enemy after Osama Bin Laden. I suspect that as long as Bush remains president, we will always see an administration finding bad people where non-exist. In addition, the geo political landscape in the ME continues to be shaped first and foremost by the needs and the aspirations or the Israeli government, more particularly Ariel Sharon.
Name
manzoor
- Saudi Arabia
Profession
Question
Will the countries of the world unite against the U.S in future?
Answer
I think that the United States has tens of millions, many many millions of good people. People who do not wish to export or to impose their beliefs on anyone else. People who view themselves as part of a broader world community. In that light I think it is less of an issue of the rest of the world uniting against the United States than it is the world organizing in the courts, in the United Nations, in the streets and against their own governments in resisting the policies of George Bush and small groups of his friends and advisors.
I do not believe it comes down to the rest of the world versus the United States, or the United States against anyone else. As people, we must get beyond the narrow confines of our own selfish interests. We must resist evil carried out against us wherever we find it, whether in Palestine, Egypt, Chechnya, or Mississippi. The policies of these demonstrations do not represent the attitude of all Americans, and the arrogance of the West does not speak for all of us who call it home. This will pass and better times will come. In the meanwhile, all people everywhere must find strength from the things that unite us and not weakness from the things which make us different.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
Editor:
We would like to apologize for our viewers for not being able to answer all the questions within the time allotted to this session. We request our viewers to join us in the upcoming sessions on Iraq.
