In the light of the daily death tolls of American soldiers in Iraq, do you think the Bush Administration stands on solid ground towards the American society especially in the upcoming elections? What does Bush have to offer to America?
Answer
The American occupation of Iraq is going to be a crucial issue in the forthcoming election. Mr. Bush will have to answer three specific questions before American voters. Did he lie to the nation? Does he have an exit policy? Who pushed him into this war?
His response will be emotional. He will use 9/11 to justify the war saying that America should not take any chances with its security. He would argue that the intelligence presented to him was accurate. But he would not be able to present weapons of mass destruction. However, if the powers that want to be re-elected are determined to see him a victor, they might produce evidences leading the finding of weapons of mass destruction.
On the second issue related with the exit from Iraq, his administration is silent. They don't know to handle the situation. Regular killing of American soldiers will create a big backlash and American people will demand that troops be brought back. Mr. Bush would argue that the war in Iraq is a war against terrorism and American security is at risk. His argument will be accepted only by those who are part of his agenda.
Mr. Bush will try to convince that the war was in the best interest of the nation's economy and it was a war served America well. But he might find it hard to convince the voters.
Name
Rageh
-
Profession
Question
Do u think that the American resistance from Afghanistan will affect the next elections negatively?
Answer
Most certainly. Every American casualty in Iraq or Afghanistan is a setback for us. Mr. Bush will be questioned for the logic of keeping American troops in either of the two countries.
Name
Norman...
-
Profession
Question
How can we vote rationally without having information about the real number of the American victims in Iraq? U know that they lie..
Answer
Mr. Bush lied to the nation. He is considered a liar. His credibility is under question. He will not give right information. People will collect right information. People whose sons and daughters are dying every day. People who are looking for alternative sources of information. They will find out about it. They found out about Vietam and they would do it again.
Name
Mohammed Khodr
- Australia
Profession
IT Professional
Question
Do you think the US will come out a winner out of this war, considering it costs them 4 billion a week to occupy the land.
Answer
There is no victor in war. Everyone is a loser. People die, Human resources are destroyed. Natural resources are at risk. Animosities spread. Enmity increases. A war leaves scars for generations. No one is a winner in wars. Our president sent us in the last war because we thought we would be able to use the resources of Iraq for Iraq as well as for us. Now we have begun to realize that it is not possible. We will have to spend nearly 600 billion dollars to set things right. Our own budget is under severe deficit. We will not be able to raise that much of money on our own. We will have to involve the world in the reconstruction of Iraq. But that is a difficult task now for Mr. Bush. He has no credibility among the nations of the world.
Name
zaman
- Guyana
Profession
Question
Do you think the American society has become aware enough of the failure of Bush's administration? Or the media is still directing the American citizen?
Answer
Elections are not won only on the basis of a candidate's ideas. They are won by hard core voters who motivate people to go to the pooling booth to support their candidates. Mr. Bush has the support of Christian evangelicals, Zionist extremists as well as Hindu fundamentalists. Besides he is the darling of corporate America and White Anglo Saxon Protestants. They are his supporters and no matter what the world say, they will stick with him unless they find a suitable candidate in the Democratic Party. They realize that Bush has failed the nation on economy and other matters. Yet they support him because he is willing to serve their political agenda.
Name
Abu Rumaysa
- United States
Profession
Question
The situation in Iraq is escalating everyday. It is really hard to foresee what is gonna happen. The Americans are killing and at the same time they are losing everyday. I think they don't have the ability to live longer there especially the Iraqi resistance is getting better and stronger. Do you think the coming days, especially Bush wants to save his face, will determine the situation in Iraq? Or there will be something new.
Answer
What is happening is clear and what may happen is also clear. The Bush will have to ultimately pull out his troops. How soon, that would depend on the pressure that has started building up in the country.
What is clear is the following: Our casualties will increase. Our retaliation against Iraqis will also increase, and create more violence against us. We will have to put more troops on ground to take control of the situation. This will complicate the situation. With more body bags returning to the US, our people will demand a return of US troops. Mrs. Bush will resist but economy and death toll will ultimately force him to listen to people. But by then it might be too late. Iraq will become anarchic Tribal, sectarian and class conflict will become common. The situation will be out of control. Our troops will probably remain confined to oil fields while the whole country will be in chaos. But this will not last long. Ultimately we will pull out. But the cost will be huge. American people will pay with jobs and resources and Iraqis will be in total disarray.
Name
Hj Mahathir Mohammad
- Malaysia
Profession
Manager
Question
As-Salamu `Alaykum, why is that the Muslim world is disunited? Is it because of personal and political concern of individual and leaders? Scared to lose power, influence and wealth? Why can't the rulers rule the country based on the Qur'an & Hadith? Who is the best person to advise the Islamic Rulers? There will be an OIC conference in Malaysia in the month of August can the matter on using the Qur'an & Hadiths as a fundamental to govern an Islamic nation be discussed seriously?
Answer
The OIC conference will be in October this year. Unity is desirable and wanted. But the Muslim world in general is under the control of former colonialists or present imperialists. In the absence of democracy in many Muslim countries, these rulers are puppets in the hands of outsiders. They are governed by London, Washington and Paris.
Disunity among Muslims exists at all levels. If the political rulers are not willing to unite, people can take an initiative to organize things themselves. They can begin creating models of unity in business, education, culture etc. For instance, rather than traveling to Europe and America for tourism purposes, citizens of Muslim counties, may visit Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan or any other Muslim country to show solidarity with Muslim people. Similarly, people can develop these relations in business too.
Name
mohamud
- Denmark
Profession
student
Question
Is that all their best iraqi people to usa.stop from
Answer
I did not understand the question. What probably you mean to ask is the following: Should Iraqis stop USA from occupying their country?
It is the prerogative of the Iraqi people to choose whatever they want to choose. If they want USA to occupy them, they are free to do so; if otherwise, they are free do that. What is important is the following. No one should be allowed to violate international law as agreed upon by the United Nations. A great majority of Iraqis believe in resisting the occupation. It is their prerogative to do so.
Name
Dennis
-
Profession
Question
You are saying Mr. Bush has no credibility among Americans. I totally disagree. If the only benefit from the war is to kick Saddam Hussein out, that would not be a loss. Look at the people now demonstrating in Iraq….having freedom under Americans, they never had such freedom in Saddam's time.
Answer
Freedom of the Iraqi people was not the reason to go to war. Weapons of mass destruction and the imminent threat to US security from Iraq were the reasons used by the Bush administration to justify the war. Both were false. This American does not believe in Bush any more. I consider him a liar and the one who misled the nation. He does not deserve to lead me and many like you. He deserves to be recalled.
If freedom is the issue, then let us ask congress to start with North Korea, move to China, move to Russia and then go to the remaining 123 countries that do not have democracy.
It was oil that probably motivated the oil zars to force Mr. Bush to go to war hoping that it would boost our economy. They failed in their analysis. Sooner or later more Americans will find out about it.
Name
Mustafa
-
Profession
Question
Muslims, who were reticent in the beginning, are now actively participating in the political process in America. Do you think fatwas encouraging this participation are the main reason for this new awareness?
Answer
I do not think that religious decrees are the reasons for their participation or non participation. I think that harsh realities have forced Muslims to join in the political process. But when you are talking about these fatawas, you are generally referring to immigrant Muslims. African American Muslims were long part of the political process of this country. Realities at ground have forced Muslims to become part of the political process.
Name
Sheirf
- Australia
Profession
Question
You said Bush will use 9/11 to justify the war saying that America should not take any chances with its security. Do you think that will continue to affect the Muslims in the United States should Bush succeeds.
Answer
Well, Muslims are divided in their electoral strategy. African American Muslims are mostly democratic and immigrant Muslims are beginning to learn the art of politics. They in their naive way supported Mr. Bush in the last election. They still lack political maturity to develop a better understanding of the politics of the country.
In the forthcoming election, if African American Muslims take the lead and mobilize Muslims to vote, Muslims may play a crucial role. Otherwise their politics in general will be determined by opportunism and not by principles.
Name
AbdulRehman
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
PRO
Question
What is the word HOORLIN meant in quran? Please explain (aayaths)40:8, 41:32-32 and 43:71 .
Answer
This has nothing to do with the topic of the day, even though it is important. Please refer this question in the session that is apprpriate for this discussion.
Name
Mahbubur
- Canada
Profession
Rahman
Question
Almost 90% world population against Iraq war and Bush & Blair two of the most hated person in history. But in U.S.A more than 75% approved Bush's war against Iraq.
My understanding is: Main reason behind it, American Media always manipulate American public opinion for its own interest. American media always in favor of any war. Do you think there is true democracy in U.S.A, when Mass media controlled by business interest, not by ethics? I wanted to know, what will be Mass Medias stand in 2004 election?
Answer
American democracy is strong. Mr. Bush will not be there to rule America for ever. He will go as others before him went. He would probably be known as the weakest American president who did not understand politics and who found it hard to speak two correct coherent sentences. American democracy that put him to power is capable of stripping him off that. Mr. Bush represents the interest of big businesses who also own newspapers and televisions. Obviously, they will sing their master's tune. But there are alternative American media and they are gaining momentum.
Name
daoud
- Italy
Profession
busincessman
Question
I'm Christian Arab and I feel deeply hurt by Palestinians Iraqis, Chechens, Afghanis, US occupation. I want my brothers Arab to know that all Arab Christians are aside with their struggle against us/Zionists oppression even though I'm not entitled to say so I greatly want to shout Allahu Akbar.
Answer
The Palestinian struggle is for human dignity and human rights against a foreign occupation. No matter how strong Israel may be, the fact that it is an occupier, will not change. Israel is an apartheid state. The occupation of Iraq is wrong and it must be said regardless of what one's religion and ethnicity may be.
Name
Mustafa
-
Profession
Question
Can you tell us more about your magazine, Minaret. Does it have a website?
Answer
The website is called www.Minaretonline.com It is a monthly publication dedicated to Muslim North American issues.
Name
Hanan Meki
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Do you think the latest "concern" from Mr. Bush regarding the Palestinian issue is to gain sympathy before elections and turn the people's eyes from Iraq, which he failed to prove his case about it?
Answer
Mr. Bush will not do anything that will hurt his relations with the state of Israel or with Jews. He is a Zionist and he believes that Israel has a claim over the land from a divine perspective. He will not do anything that in his way will make Israel look bad. Moreover, Mr. Bush or no American President is in command of foreign polity issues pertaining to Israel. It is Israel that dictates the policy and not the other way.
Name
Maria
- United States
Profession
Question
I would like to know why people keep track of American soldiers' death counts and none of the citizens of Iraq. I think the people are just as important. Also, why is it that Bush says that so many more barrels of oil have been pumped and Iraqi's are still living with a gas shortage?
Answer
Your questions are very good. I said and I repeat war is horrible and everyone is a loser. People die and families suffer. The loss of an American is no different than the loss of an Iraqi. We must mourn the killing of everyone regardless of his or her origin. Mr. Bush is jingoistic and national extremists. He lies and he does not comprehend politics or the dynamics of our society. He does not know how to manage the country. He turned a surplus intoi a deficit.
Name
Abu Khadijah
- United States
Profession
Journalist
Question
2000 Presidential elections, the Muslim political pundits led us to believe that Bush is the right guy. They were beating their chests that Muslim Florida vote helped him gain the office. Bush "appropriately" paid off the Muslims! What's next?
Answer
The African American Muslims were opposed to the Bush endorsement. Many immigrant Muslims also opposed Bush for Dick Cheney's role in the previous Gulf War.
Muslim immigrant leaders or the so called leaders are naive in politics. They do not read and they do not lead. They want to handshake with officials and they want to be invited in state parties. A few of them have the capability to lead Muslims. They are not leaders. They are mostly dealers who try to make deal on behalf of their community and whosoever is the candidate. Even now the same old leadership is trying to play the dealership role. But this time it is not going to succeed as Muslim people proved to be more mature and wise than most of these so called dealers.
Name
aminu
- Nigeria
Profession
accountant
Question
Have Americans started lifting the oil in Iraq?
Answer
Yes.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
-
Answer
Finally, we would like to thank our guest for speaking to Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all viewers who participated with us in this dialogue. We apolgize for not being able to accomodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. We request our viewers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
