altmuslim

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Friday, February 27, 2004

Libya: Nuclear-Free And Open For Business

Somewhere in a jail cell in Baghdad, Saddam must be thinking right now, "That could have been me!" The 80's Arab boogeyman poster child himself, Moammar Gadhafi, is reaping significant rewards for coming clean, both on its clandestine weapons programs and its involvement in the 1988 Lockerbie Pan Am... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Will Bush's Bin Laden "October Surprise" Come A Bit Early?

While waiting backstage in a Fox News studio a few months ago, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright jokingly said that she believed that it was "a possibility" that President Bush would capture and hold Osama bin Laden in secret until an " October surprise " in order to insure re-election.... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, February 23, 2004

Zheng He: A Medieval Chinese Muslim Columbus?

Very few in the West have heard of the ancient Chinese Muslim explorer Zheng He (sometimes known as Cheng Ho), but in Asia he commands quite a bit of fascination. That has changed with the publication of a book (2002's 1421: The Year China Discovered America by British writer Gavin Menzies) that... Sign in to see full entry.

US Army Searches For Terrorists At "Women In Islam" Conference

You might think that a conference on Islam and women, held at a prominent law school and organized by mainly non-Muslim groups, would be an unlikely target for a terrorism investigation, but apparently it's too hard to US Army intelligence to follow actual terror leads. In addition to casing the... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Shari'a Debate Casts Uncertainty Over Iraq's Political Future

The way the news talks about it, it seems so simple. Islamic shari'a law will be opposed by the US authorities in Iraq, presumably because its application will conflict with the broad political and human rights provisions proposed for the new Iraq. When the Iraqi Governing Council, which until... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, February 16, 2004

US Public Relations Machine Needs Some Good PR

In the face of rising resentment against America in the Muslim world, the US State Department came up with the idea of exporting American culture through the media, hoping that it would have the same pacifying effect on Muslims as corporate media has had here in America. But after only a few months,... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, February 13, 2004

Another Muslim Soldier Arrested: Will His Charges Be Dropped, Too?

Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, a 26-year old soldier who was preparing to depart with the National Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, is probably hoping right now that the case brought against him accusing him of spying for al-Qaida goes the way of Captain James Yee. That case, if you'll remember, started out with... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Deadly Shootout At The Baghdad Corral

"It is the only way to prolong the duration of the fight between the infidels and us," said the mysterious 17-page letter, purportedly from Iraqi insurgents and intercepted by US forces. "If we succeed in dragging them into a sectarian war, this will awaken the sleepy Sunnis who are fearful of... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, February 6, 2004

Nuclear Proliferation From Pakistan Grinds To A Halt

It all started with Iran's agreement to comply with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. The newly cooperative charter member of President Bush's "axis of evil" revealed that early centrifuge designs in their proto-nuclear program looked a lot like Pakistani technology. The picture became... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, February 3, 2004

Fear Of A Muslim Planet? Changing Demographics Grip Europe, Israel

When some pundits predicted in the 1990's that the 21st century would bring on a " Muslim Europe," their fears were dismissed as apocaplyptic. But recent statistics from both Europe and Israel - two places that are wary (to say the least) of a growing Muslim populace in their midst - reveal a... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, February 2, 2004

Eid al-Adha Marred By Violence & Tragedy

Even with all the technological advances in the past 50 years, the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca remains a difficult journey. The complexities of handling an ever-increasing number of pilgrims - growing each year due to both population growth and the rising accessibility of travel in the... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, January 26, 2004

Are American Muslims A Political Liability? It's Hard To Tell

Even before the 2000 presidential elections, when Muslims were actively courted by both the Bush and Gore campaigns as sources of votes and funds, there were obstacles beginning to emerge in the road to Muslim political empowerment. Embarassing antics by various Muslim leaders led to returns of... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

The US Plans Indirect Democracy In Iraq - Just Like At Home

Even as Bush extolled the virtues of installing a democracy in Iraq during his State of the Union address, US officials are scrambling to defend a complex "caucus" system of choosing a democratic successor to Coalition rule over Iraq in the face of growing protests. Tens of thousands of protestors... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, January 19, 2004

Gone Fishin': Senators Order Audit Of Muslim Orgs

There aren't that many Muslim organizations and charities in the United States, and you can be sure that each of them has been thoroughly investigated by the CIA and FBI for any ties to terrorism since the 9/11 attacks. But apparently some US senators don't think that enough has been done. In a... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Political Earthquake In Iran: 4000 Reformist Candidates Banned

Looks like the earthquake that shook southern Iran last month has triggered a political earthquake in Tehran. Criticism of the unelected "Guardian Council", who has ultimate authority over the elected legislature and executive branch, peaked after the earthquake, and perhaps after seeing the writing... Sign in to see full entry.

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