Who are the ISIS or داعش?

Isis [Daish – in Arabic]

Isis is a Sunni Muslim group splintered from the Taliban, a group far more radical than the its parent Taliban. Its objectives include establishing a strict, militant Islamic State parsed from territories in Syria, Iraq and the Levant including a chunk of southern Turkey [if they can get it]. Isis militants are televised threatening attacks against the USA and any other Western country they wish to target. In addition they have been aiding rebels in Syria’s nearly 4 year war against the Assad regime. Not necessarily because they wish to assist the rebels in the deadly struggle against the Assad regime, but because the wish to undermine the secular rebels in their fight against the dictatorial Assad. In so doing, they push their radical views, terrorize those who oppose them, and threaten the world with their fanaticism. There can be no justification for the terrorist activities of this or any other group, only death and destruction follow in the wake of such malevolence.

In the West, we receive news from Baghdad – with special emphasis on the movements eastward toward the city by Isis. The group bombs, kills, rapes, and takes over cities in its encroachment eastward. News correspondents are now interviewing Shi’a Muslims, reporting their horrors at the actions of Isis. Misunderstandings develop from the ambiguity of the broadcasts.

Are all Sunni Muslims members or supporters of Isis? This is not the case, in spite of the fact that newscasters address only Shi’a Muslims. Their stories of terror and suffering at the hands of Isis are told loud and clear. But the news has an obligation to present both sides of the picture. Yes, Isis claims its allegiance to Sunni Islam, but in the same way that members of the Ku Klux Klan claim their Protestant Christian roots, not all Protestant Christians are members of the Klan. In fact most are not, most abhor the Klan’s message. Likewise, most Sunni Muslims despise the actions of Isis and their terrorist actions.

This militantly aggressive group takes its name from the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis who represented the ideal mother and wife, plus being the patroness of nature and magic. Its mission brings anything other than ideal motherhood or natural beauty to civilization; its aim is destruction, retribution, and death to any who oppose their fundamental ideologies. Fortunately, it appears the international community is coming down hard on Isis and everything it represents; perhaps its reign of terror and its stated goal of establishing an extremist Islamic state will come to nothing.

Another Week that Was

One hundred years ago, nearly to the day, the world collapsed into a chaos that changed everything. With the tragic events of this past week, hopefully we are not on the brink of most disastrous global consequences.

Malaysia flight 17 – shot down in what appears to be cold-blooded violence compounded the already escalating violence between Israel and Palestine does not augur well for a peaceful summer of 2014. Just as the alliances and ententes of 1914 clashed under the gathering storm of World War I, the Middle East from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the still horrific Syrian situation, and now Russia and Ukrainian separatists unleash terror upon innocent civilians escalate towards global terror.

I would like to write about the wonderful places to visit, the earth flows with beauty spots, historical monuments worthy of visits, not excluding the wonderful diversity of people throughout the globe. We are shrinking, communication makes us a smaller world, there is much to see and appreciate. The soul yearns to visit Mount Nimrut in Turkey, Petra in Jordan, the pyramids in Egypt, the wonderful Greek and Roman ruins throughout the Mediterranean countries just to name a few memorable places. Terrorists and terror have no place in a world meant for beauty, for people of every country and civilization to share themselves and their diverse cultures.

Let’s remember the beauty available to all, and cooperate with global efforts, governments, and others to help bring about a world where we can enjoy the wonders of history, glories of magnificent geographical wonders, and luxuriate in cultural diversity. We don’t want to lose any more valuable artifacts from the past, or be afraid to travel to these spots because some refuse to abandon radical views. World War III is NOT an option!

What is it now like for women living amidst Middle Eastern chaos?

What is it now like for women living amidst Middle Eastern chaos?

A recent Reuter’s poll stated that Egypt is the worst out of 22 Middle Eastern countries for women. But if you read this poll, be sure to read the responses which point the abundance of problems in the conclusions reached.

First, it’s uncertain who these ‘experts’ on women in the Middle East: Reuter’s does not specify who, how they were selected, and other criteria necessary to complete a truly scientific data. Second, interpretation of words and phrases is questionable as each country in the Middle East will have its own take on words used to describe a set of situations. There is a further problem with setting hierarchical order with a very small set of respondents. Next, the framework for comparing the multi-faceted countries in the Middle East is virtually non-existent.

Further problems deal with the fragility of the states restructuring themselves after the step-down of dictatorial rulers, the economic pressures and instability attached to these fragile countries. The example of Egypt, in a very frail state of reconstruction after the two revolutions destabilizing the country cannot withstand the scrutiny of a poll which suggests that women have no rights. At the present time, the interim government is in the process of re-forming its old constitution under which women certainly had rights to vote, partake in government, be appointed as ministers, work and travel without male consent, as well as initiate divorce proceedings. Time will tell as to the restoration of these rights for women on a permanent basis after the new constitution reaches the public in a referendum.

Other countries such as Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, and Libya are undergoing similar delicate restructuring of their governments including the rights given to women. These are a minimum of questions to be asked while examining the Reuter’s poll. In the end, to establish the very tiny island of Comoros as the best place for women in the Arab world is terribly misleading and requires an in-depth study of all the parameters employed by the Reuter’s Foundation poll.

Personal accounts from various friends and acquaintances in Egypt have assured me that most areas of Cairo are safer now than they were under the Morsi government; they hope this indicates a true step toward restoring Egypt to its former position as a highlight for tourists. A very fine article in response to the Reuter’s poll can be read at the following site: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Dec-04/239806-is-the-reuters-ranking-of-arab-women-valid.ashx#axzz2n5KjcZjB.

Gwenn Meredith

News for Egypt:

So much information seeps into our news regarding various places in the Middle East, and for the past few weeks, Egypt again fronts the headlines. Mohammed Morsi is facing trial in Egypt's high court amid fears this will create further outbreaks of violence in Cairo and other parts of the country.

Fear this might happen led to the closing of the American University in Cairo closed last Monday. Then with Tuesday the Islamic New Year, students, faculty, and staff enjoyed a short two-day holiday. As it happens, Cairo was not the scene of violence during the opening days of Mr Morsi's trial, contrary to some of the news coverage we receive here in the USA.

Our news media tells us that it's the military in control in Egypt, but is this actually the way it is? According to friends and colleagues living in Egypt, the military is the tool used by the interim government to uphold the peace. There is a curfew in Cairo, Sunday - Thursday from 11 PM to 5 AM. On Friday, the day typically used for demonstrations, the government feels it necessary to enforce a curfew from 7 PM to 5 AM. If you've ever lived in or visited Cairo, this might not be such a bad thing...it's a city that virtually never shuts down. Traffic is always impossible, crowds gather everywhere, the city never sleeps. Friends tell me they feel safer now than they did under the regime headed by Morsi.

While Mr Morsi is on trial, the interim government is working to rewrite the Constitution, an instrument which Morsi arbitrarily changed, in particular regarding the rights of women. Last November he deemed it his right to re-legalize FGM, he also made it illegal for women to initiate divorce, and the last insult to women was to take away their freedom to travel without the permission of their male guardian, husband, father, brother, or whoever had say over a woman's rights. There was no democratic referendum on these constitutional changes, why does our news media refrain from bringing these facts to light. The interim government immediately cancelled these restrictions on women, even as they work to create a new constitution leading to new elections. 

We look to the future as Egypt's new government works to create an environment of safety for its citizens and for all who would love to visit one of the world's guardians of beautiful monuments, temples, and tombs from this ancient civilization.

Announcement: Il Binait Dol: Egypt's Hidden Shame was down for a few days for corrections to the cover spine. It is now, thankfully, available on Amazon and Create Space Store.

Thanks for your patience!

Mulala's Message - Can It Bring Hope for Egypt's Unwanted Street Girls?

Mulala Youssefsai’s one-girl crusade to ensure the education of girl’s garners worldwide enthusiasm and support. Her brave stance against the Taliban before, during, and after their near-fatal attack enhances her message. Girls no longer need subject themselves to narrow-minded traditionalists. Girls must take advantage of every opportunity for education. By doing so enhances them to become productive members of society on their own merit.

Yet in the midst of Mulala’s valiant efforts there are girls who will never receive the benefit of her crusade against ignorance. They remain prisoners of ignorance, prejudice, and inescapable humiliation. These are the girls wandering the streets of Egypt’s major cities, Cairo and Alexandria. They number anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000. Abandoned, violated, raped, imprisoned, uneducated, at the mercy of a disinterested government, these girls, when taken by the police, spend their days and nights locked in ‘fix-it’ places. In these places, the world can forget them; the government can ignore them, as they grow up in ignorance virtually buried alive.

While Mulala must be applauded and appreciated as a fearless advocate for girls’ rights everywhere, she can be forgiven for not realizing the depth of depravity to which the Egyptian government goes to silence the voices of those they consider less than human. The girls they suppress have no rights, no voice, no freedom, no identity. In contrast to Mulala who has a loving and supportive family and compassionate global public, these Egyptian street girls have no one to support or care for their welfare.

Il Binait Dol: Egypt’s Hidden Shame is a new book which for the first time gives these girls a voice. You can read their personal stories, discover their troubled existence, and read about possible solutions to bringing about real change for this army of street girls that deserves the same opportunities in life that Mulala claims are the right and privilege for each and every girl in the world. 

[The book is available on Kindle ebooks and will soon be available in paperback on Amazon books].

Special Envoy to Afghanistan & Pakistan Marc Grossman in Conversation

Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman was in conversation with Ken Furst at the World Affairs Council 87^th Annual dinner meeting, in Springfield, Massachusetts, 7 October 2013. Mr Furst, a former president of the World Affairs Council engaged the former Special Envoy in an important exchange of questions and answers regarding Afghanistan and Pakistan. They enlightened the audience on a bevy of topics concerning the past and current situation in both regions. During Mr Grossman’s thirty-years of experience in the US Diplomatic Corps, much of his time was spent in these countries.

This particular session was held at the annual business meeting for the World Affairs Council’s local chapter. The house was full, interest piqued, questions pertinent and answers always to the point. Curiosity about the Middle East is on the forefront. America’s involvement in this area heightened through involvement in the wars and conflicts raging over the decades including the recent events in Arab countries. I hesitate to call these recent events an Arab Spring; the situations have passed through the Spring and Summer, in many areas reaching Tsunami proportions. However, Mr Grossman kept to the topic at hand and ably commented about education for girls, the economy in these two particular countries, the elections in Afghanistan including Hamid Karsi’s negative remarks toward the US, in addition to being quite frank about the difficulty in dealing with cultures so entrenched in tribalism, while at the same time being conflicted about national identities. He pointed out the variety of problems arising in attempting to bring about the stability in which we in the West are fortunate to live.

He appeared hopeful that these countries would establish their own stability without the aid of American troops. While not speaking for the President’s plans for final troop withdrawal he personally prefers to see a small contingent remaining to give the Afghanis a last boost of assistance in their quest toward stability.

Mr Grossman entertained many questions from the audience all of which he answered with sincerity based on his personal knowledge. The evening proved to be informative and interesting. Since returning to the States from the Middle East, I am thankful that such an organization exists and that so many Americans exhibit enough concern to join in conversation on international affairs. The organizers of the event and the Council deserve thanks for their tremendous efforts in bringing it about as do those who gave their time and curiosity to attend. Finally it was a coup to garner Marc Grossman as speaker for this event. The World Affairs Council, a national organization, deserves praise for its endeavours in pursuit of bringing the globe home.