Category Archives: comment & opinion

Practical Aid for Syrian Refugees Was Made Possible by August Commons Vote

This an editorial I did for the Norwegian magazine Perspective last month. not sure if it is available in UK, but here is the editorial now the magazine is out  

The House of Commons vote on Syria, 29 August, triggered a chain of events not only thwarting a war that seemed inevitable that day but also set higher ethical and democratic standards beyond Britain’s shores. Instead of focusing on getting public to back attack on Syria’s despotic regime, western leaders began working with the Russia and United Nations ( which finally got Security Council to agree on the strongest resolution  available)  to end a bloody civil war by a political settlement  and to get an ambitious humanitarian aid programme into action.

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William Hague Mustn’t put EU Before UK national Interests

If we follow foolish European Union Foreign Policy (God knows why they should have a foreign policy department, commissioner and team financed by our taxes) over Egypt, we risk a great deal of our interests being badly damaged, not just in Egypt but among Egypt powerful, rich influential allies like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman as well as Jordan ( they are also essentially part of wider historic British interest in Middle East and the Gulf region).

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Buying into Media-set Egypt Narrative, Willam Hague Risks British Interests

By constructing false and untrue narrative of the Egyptian Crisis the BBC, followed by other liberal left media, then copied by nearly all, is harming long-term British interests in Egypt and the Middle East region, especially with our Foreign Secretary William Hague unwisely following a foolish European course threatening Egypt while Cairo  influential and rich  Gulf allies led by Saudi Arabia have already warned the  European Union against such folly. It seems that BBC  led other left-wing/liberal media in setting the agenda to convince the British chattering classes and the larger political establishment of a false narrative of the crisis in Egypt. A false narrative and analysis which is not only misleading and doesn’t reflect reality on the ground, but also causing anger and resentment among the vast majority of Egyptians and their interim government, which, alongside the military, enjoys huge public support. Even the perception of policy that Egyptians might interpret as racist, demeaning or hurts their pride, poses a  danger to  our long term  interests in Egypt and in the Arab world, especially UK Britain economic interests in the important markets of the Gulf and security interest in the Middle East region that could  be damaged beyond repair.

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After Meeting Morsi, Ashton : Up to Egyptians, we carry no ideas

EU envoy Ashton meets Morsi, but didn’t refer to him by any titles like president, while emphasizing that Europeans have no plans or ideas to impose and it was up to the Egyptians to sort out their differences, while sources close to meeting said she advised Morsi to “accept new reality on the ground,” after the young people she met demanded that EU must recognise June 30 Revolution . Cairo politicians call British government ” Obama messenger boys,” as they give high profile to  EU in defiance of America.

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Today Daily Telegraph Leader Contains Factual Errors & its Message is Meaningless

The Daily Telegraph is normally better informed about the Middle East and Africa than other Fleet street papers, especially the leftwing ones like the Independent or Guardian who’s ideology blind them to basic facts on the ground. What is shocking about today ( Monday 29 July) Telegraph leader on Egypt  it  got it wrong, misleading, message is meaningless and worst of all contains factual errors and inaccurate facts.

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Media Morsi Case Reporting: Through Western Supremacist Lenses ?

The news of Egyptian Public Prosecutor office issuing warrant ( through judicial court order to make it 15 days since PPO can only legally detain suspects for 4 days then release if not charged )  for arresting the deposed president Mohammed Morsi is confusing and complicated to explain since most of evidence remain incomplete.  It is rather unfortunate that non of the media reports, here in UK reports is complete, makes sense – from a legal view point- or details fro ordinary readers, viewers or listeners to understand what appeared or reported as politically motivated move.

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Egyptian Playwright Ali Salem to British & Western Commentators: Gentlemen .. Rejoice with us

Celebrated Egyptian Playwright and commentator, peace activists and democrat  Ali Salem calls upon western commentators arguing whether what happened in Egypt was coup to understand realities on the ground. Here is a translation of his column. 

Gentlemen, thinkers and politicians of Western civilization, we have learned the thought of how to be practical from you, and it seems, the time has come to re-remind you . The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Rationally speaking, to  prove how sound an idea is, or how correct is a theory, isn’t  the components or philosophical structure of the wording of the theory, but the practical results, or the practical outcome of the theory/the idea. In theory, the questions raised and the argument about the rational of the idea. might be necessary or even logical in the forums of academe, but it seems, that such questions and arguments are designed to escape from reality due to an intellectual deficit in facing the facts and dealing with them as  presented by real situation ion the ground.

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30 June Revolution: Ripples in the Region and battle Royal in Egypt

Egypt 30 June revolution – despite the helping hand from the military ( some calling it a  coup) is by all measure a people’s revolution, causing some ripples in the region and beyond, and certainly earthquakes in many places sending the gurus and prophets of political Islam into a panic sprint trying to save what they see as their survival in places where they are in power by fluke after the 2011 uprisings have  upset the applecart mainly in North Africa, by means  election, manipulation. or by army intervention, or a mixture of all, like Tunisia,  or where they made remarkable advance towards power due to anarchy and arms like in Libya and Syria, or they were already in powers directly or indirectly like Sudan and  Gaza.

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Why Egyptian Seculars Reject Obama & British Advice To Reach a Deal With Morsi?

Speaking to Egyptian secular and liberal activists and political leaders, there is a consensus that nobody should get into a deal ( as advised by the Americans and our British government)  with President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brothers party and/or other Islamists like Salafis.  Egyptian secular and nationalists politicians and activists are wary of Morsi’s ability to double-cross them and using the deal or “dialogue to accommodate people’s’ demands ” ( as advised bt President Barak Obama)  just to buy time then welsh back on his agreement as he did last year once the momentum of people in the streets wears-off.

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Confrontation Looms in Egypt as Army Makes Morsi’s Position Untenable

Egyptian military leaders Monday afternoon clearly siding with majority of ( non Islamists) trends when giving “Egyptian political forces”  48 hours to “fulfil the people’s will and demands,” otherwise the armed forces would present a political “roadmap” for the country that would include all political currents. Since the people’s demands, as expressed by unprecedented numbers of demonstrators ( Egyptian Ministry of interiors figures were 18 Millions) were for President Mohamed Morsi to step down and held fresh election, the army leaders in essence made his position as a president untenable. At the same time Muslim Brothers called for marches from all mosques in support of Mr Morsi after the evening prayers.

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