EU Official Says Turkish Prime Minister Should Not Threaten Media
HÜRRIYET: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan should not threaten the media who write negative stories about him, Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said Tuesday, assessing the statements of the prime minister who targeted the Dogan Media Group.

The style adopted by the leaders in such problems should not reach the level of threats, Lagendijk told Turkey's Milliyet on Tuesday.

Erdogan's fierce criticism of the Dogan Media organs that have been publishing reports about an ongoing government-linked fraud case has heightened tension in Turkey recently.

A prime minister should not opt for blackmail or suppression of the media, Lagendijk was quoted by Milliyet as saying.

"Media criticism over politicians is a part of political life. Especially if you are a prime minister, you must become accustomed to this," he said.

"If you think that media published false news about you, the way to solve this is clear. You go to the court," he added.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) and the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DISK), also backed the Dogan Media Group on Monday, saying Erdogan's remarks brought to the agenda the risks to democracy in the country. [Source: HÜRRIYET] | September 9, 2008

HÜRRIYET:
Turkey’s Largest Media Group Refuses to Bow to Government Pressure: The owner of Turkey's largest media group, Dogan Group, said the government is attempting to blackmail the company, adding if they want the group to submit, that is not going to happen. Erdogan's remarks brought the risks to freedom of expression to the agenda again, said the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC).

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan furiously slammed the Dogan Group for publishing news stories on an ongoing fraud case in Germany, with alleged links to the government and the premier, instead of opening investigation into the claims. >>> | September 9, 2008

HÜRRIYET:
Ertugrul Ozkok: I am offering a deal to the Turkish Prime Minister >>> | September 9, 2008

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG:
Betrugsprozess: Spendenskandal in Frankfurt strahlt auf Erdogan aus : Der türkische Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan gerät im Zusammenhang mit einem Frankfurter Prozess um einen Spendenskandal politisch unter Druck. Die oppositionelle Republikanische Volkspartei (CHP) fordere Aufklärung von Vorwürfen, in Deutschland veruntreute Gelder in Höhe von mehr als 18 Millionen Euro seien im Umfeld von Erdogans islamisch-konservativer Regierungspartei AKP gelandet, berichteten türkische Medien am Dienstag. Vor dem Frankfurter Landgericht läuft derzeit ein Prozess gegen drei ehemalige Funktionäre des islamischen Wohltätigkeitsvereins „Deniz Feneri“ (Leuchtturm). Sie haben die Veruntreuung von Geldern vor Gericht bereits zugegeben.

Erdogan hat unterdessen jede Verwicklung seiner Partei in den Fall bestritten. Er kritisierte die türkische Mediengruppe „Dogan“ für Berichte über den Spendenskandal und mögliche Verbindungen zur AKP. Die Berichte seien Reaktion auf Entscheidung der Regierung, die wirtschaftliche Interessen der „Dogan“-Gruppe störten. >>> FAZ.NET mit dpa | 09.September 2008

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Italian Politicians ‘Praise’ Fascist Era of Benito Mussolini
Photo of Benito Mussolinii courtesy of The Telegraph
THE TELEGRAPH: Two of Italy's most senior politicians have sparked a debate about the country's dark past and uncertain future after voicing sympathy for the fascist era of Benito Mussolini.

The combative right-wing mayor of Rome refused to condemn fascism as evil, while the country's defence minister paid homage to fascist troops who fought with the Nazis in resisting the Anglo-American landings of World War II.

The minister, Ignazio La Russa, was speaking at an event marking the 65th anniversary of Rome's resistance to Nazi occupation in 1943 and the role played by anti-fascist partisans.

But he also recalled the "Nembo" parachute division from Mussolini's fascist "Salo Republic" who fought alongside the Germans against the Allies.

"I would betray my conscience if I did not recall that other men in uniform, such as the Nembo from the Italian Social Republic army, also, from their point of view, fought in the belief they were defending their country," the minister said.

Hundreds of Italian soldiers and civilians died in September 1943, shortly after an armistice was signed between the Allies and Italy, attempting to stop the Germans from occupying Rome.

The inflammatory remarks, which were condemned by left-wing politicians, intensified a row over comments by Rome's mayor, Gianni Alemanno, who said that while racial laws passed by Mussolini in 1938 were wrong, it would be too simplistic to condemn fascism as a whole, as an "absolute evil".

"I don't think so and I never thought so: fascism was a more complex phenomenon," Mr Alemanno, 50, once the youth leader of a neo-fascist party, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper during a trip to Israel that included a stop at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

"Many people joined it in good faith, and I don't feel like labelling them with that definition."

Opposition MPs and Jewish community leaders accused the mayor of attempting to rewrite one of the darkest chapters of Italian history. Italian Politicians ‘Praise’ Fascist Era of Benito Mussolini >>> By Nick Squires in Rome | September 8, 2008

DIE PRESSE:
Italien: Bürgermeister Roms provoziert auf Israel-Reise: Gianni Alemanno empört mit Faschismus-Aussagen. Wie eng Antisemitismus und Italo-Faschismus tatsächlich verflochten waren, daran erinnerte erst vor wenigen Wochen eine andere Diskussion >>> | 8. September 2008

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Airliner Bomb Trial: Three Muslim extremists Face Lengthy Jail Terms over Plot
THE TELEGRAPH: Three Islamic extremists are facing lengthy prison sentences after being found guilty of conspiring to kill hundreds of people in a terrorist bombing campaign.


The trio were members of an east London al Qaida-inspired terror cell that planned to detonate home-made bombs in attacks on British targets including Heathrow Airport, a jury at Woolwich Crown Court found.

But following a five-month trial the jurors failed to reach verdicts on prosecution claims that they were plotting an unprecedented wave of suicide bombings on transatlantic airliners.

The three - Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 27, Assad Sarwar, 28, and Tanvir Hussain, 27 - had already admitted planning a series of small-scale headline-grabbing bomb attacks.

But, by a majority of 10 to two, the jurors rejected their claims that they did not plan to kill or hurt anyone in the blasts.

The eight men and four women on the jury deliberated for 56 hours and nine minutes.

But they could not agree verdicts on whether another four Muslim men - Ibrahim Savant, 27, Arafat Waheed Khan, 27, Waheed Zaman, 24, and Umar Islam, 30 - were also involved in the conspiracy to murder.

All seven defendants earlier admitted conspiring to cause a public nuisance by distributing al Qaida-style videos threatening suicide attacks in Britain.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has until the end of this month to decide whether the men should face retrials on the counts on which the jurors could not reach verdicts.

An eighth man, Mohammed Gulzar, 27, was cleared on all charges.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith, adjourned the case for sentencing at a later date. Airliner Bomb Trial: Three Muslim extremists Face Lengthy Jail Terms over Plot >>> | September 9, 2008

THE INEPENDENT:
'You Will Be Destroyed': Bombers Convicted of Heathrow Plot: The chilling threat from Abdulla Ali, a British graduate convicted yesterday of masterminding a plot to bomb Heathrow

Three young British Muslims who were turned into bombers while doing charity work in Pakistan are facing life behind bars after being convicted of plotting mass murder.

Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain were accused of conspiring to bring down at least seven transatlantic airliners in mid-air, using bombs hidden in soft drinks bottles. >>> By Cahal Milmo, Chief Reporter | September 9, 2008

BBC:
'Astonishment' at Terror Verdicts: Counter-terrorism officials are said to be "dismayed" by the outcome of a trial in which eight men were accused of a plot to blow up transatlantic planes.

Three men were convicted of conspiracy to murder but the jury did not convict any defendant of targeting aircraft. One man was cleared of all charges.

The BBC's Frank Gardner said there had been "astonishment" in Whitehall as the evidence was considered to be strong.
Prosecutors have until the end of the month to consider a retrial of the men. >>> | September 9, 2008

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Sarkozy droht Russland mit Konsequenzen
NZZ Online: Frankreichs Präsident Nicolas Sarkozy hat Russland mit Konsequenzen gedroht, sollte es sein jüngstes Versprechen zum Truppenabzug aus Georgien nicht einhalten. In der georgischen Hauptstadt Tbilissi versicherte Sarkozy Georgien die Solidarität der EU.

(sda) Am 15. Oktober dürfe sich «kein russischer Soldat» mehr in Stellungen im georgischen Kernland aufhalten, sagte der amtierende EU-Ratspräsident nach einem Treffen mit dem georgischen Staatschef Michail Saakaschwili am frühen Dienstagmorgen in Tiblissi. Andernfalls werde die Europäische Union «Konsequenzen ziehen». Sarkozy droht Russland mit Konsequenzen: Termin des Rückzugs aus Georgien ist verpflichtend >>> | 9. September 2008

REUTERS:
Russia Says Troops to Stay in Georgia for Long Time >>> By Conor Sweeney | September 9, 2008

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Gordon Brown to Invite Gaddafi to London
TIMESONLINE: Gordon Brown is expected to invite two controversial world leaders, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, to an international oil summit in London.

The invitation could bring the Libyan leader to Britain on his first official visit after years of isolation. An invitation could also bring Mr Chavez, the champion of socialist revolution in South America, to London and an unlikely photo-opportunity with Mr Brown.

Drawing up the guest list for the Prime Minister’s promised summit in December, a follow-up to the international meeting of oil producers and consumers in Saudi Arabia over the summer, was always likely to be an awkward business.

Mr Brown is keen to be seen to be addressing the issue of rising fuel prices, and to be acting to coordinate an international response to rising demand.

However, for all the possibilities that oil diplomacy might yield, it was likely that news of who was coming would overshadow the agenda.

The head of at least one key oil-producing nation, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, was unlikely to be considered a suitable guest, following anger over his perceived nuclear ambitions.

Meanwhile the arrival of Colonel Gadaffi in the capital would be certain to draw headlines. It is over two decades since British diplomatic relations with the country were severed, after shots fired from the Libyan embassy killed WPC Yvonne Fletcher, who was policing demonstrators outside.

Relations froze further after the bombing of an American airliner over Scotland in 1988. Since then the Libyan Government has accepted responsibility for the bombing, and ‘general responsibility’ for the killing of WPC Fletcher, and Tony Blair visited the country to meet the Libyan leader last year.

Colonel Gadaffi travels with female bodyguards and in recent trips to Europe, he has kept to his preference of staying in a black Bedouin tent, pitching it in government owned gardens in Paris and Brussels. Gordon Brown to Invite Gaddafi to London >>> By Will Pavia | September 9, 2008

THE INDEPENDENT:
The Big Question: Is the West Right to Resume Friendly Relations with Gaddafi's Libya? >>> By Anne Penketh, Diplomatic Editor | September 9, 2008

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Sarkozy wollte Treffen mit Moskau platzen lassen
WELT ONLINE: Zwischen dem russischen Präsidenten Dmitri Medwedjew und seinem französischen Kollegen Nicolas Sarkozy soll es heftig gekracht haben: Sarkozy wollte eigentlich in seiner Funktion als EU-Ratsvorsitzender in Moskau im Kaukasuskonflikt vermitteln. Doch plötzlich erklärte er: „Wir gehen."

Die Verhandlungen zwischen dem russischen Staatschef Dmitri Medwedjew und dem französischen Präsidenten Nicolas Sarkozy über eine Umsetzung des Friedensplans für Georgien sind nach übereinstimmenden Berichten „zeitweise äußerst spannungsgeladen“ verlaufen. An einem Punkt seien die Auseinandersetzungen zwischen der russischen Seite und der EU-Delegation um Sarkozy so heftig gewesen, dass der französische Präsident damit gedroht habe, die Gespräche sofort zu beenden, berichteten Vertreter der Europäischen Union und Frankreichs am Montag. Kaukasuskrise: Sarkozy wollte Treffen mit Moskau platzen lassen >>> | 9. September 2008

LE FIGARO:
Russie : Sarkozy a failli quitter la table des discussions : «On s'en va. Ce n'est pas négociable», aurait lancé le président français aux négociateurs russes, selon plusieurs sources, qui révèlent les dessous d'une discussion houleuse.

Voilà quatre heures que les délégations russes et européennes discutent à Moscou, lundi, de l'application de l'accord de paix en Géorgie signé en août, quand l'incident survient. Le président Medvedev s'est absenté, mais les négociateurs russes annoncent qu'ils souhaitent supprimer une partie de l'accord qui stipule que leurs forces doivent se retirer sur «leurs positions antérieures au début des hostilités». >>> 09.09.2008

ARAB NEWS:
Editorial: Sarkozy Mission over Georgia: THE visit to Moscow and the Georgian capital Tblisi by French President Nicolas Sarkozy accompanied by the EU’s Secretary-General Manuel Barroso and its “foreign minister” Javier Solana demonstrates how worried the Europeans are about Russia’s incursion in Georgia. This is the second time that Sarkozy, current president of the European Council, has been to Moscow and Tblisi in a month and comes just a week after the 27 members of the union, in an emergency summit, pulled off the rare feat of a united stand on the issue, condemning Russia’s recognition of South Ossetian and Abkhazian independence, suspending a planned EU-Russia partnership agreement and firmly supporting Georgia’s sovereignty. >>> | September 9, 2008

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Moska

Broschüre des Senats löst neuen Kopftuchstreit aus
WELT ONLINE: Eine Broschüre der Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Integration für mehr Toleranz gegenüber Musliminnen mit Kopftuch stößt auf Kritik. Die Anwältin Seyran Ates kritisiert, dass in der Senatspublikation ausschließlich Kopftuch tragende Frauen als Opfer dargestellt würden. In der Broschüre mit dem Titel "Mit Kopftuch außen vor?" werde nicht erwähnt, dass vor allem Frauen, die kein Kopftuch tragen und sich an westeuropäischen Maßstäben orientierten, oftmals von Musliminnen diskriminiert werden.

Das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen diesen beiden Gruppen werde in der Publikation nicht thematisiert. "Ich will nicht, dass Kinder Kopftücher tragen müssen", sagt Seyran Ates. Nicht einmal eine strenge Auslegung des Islam rechtfertige das Tragen eines Kopftuches bei Kindern. Die Broschüre sei ein "Pamphlet für das Kopftuch" und daher nicht akzeptabel. Broschüre des Senats löst neuen Kopftuchstreit aus >>> | 8. September 2008

WELT ONLINE:
In Berlin wird über das Kopftuch gestritten >>> | 8. September 2008

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Surprise! McCain dépasse Obama
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: ÉTATS-UNIS | Le candidat républicain fait une remontée spectaculaire dans un sondage publié hier. Le choix de sa remuante colistière Sarah Palin n’y est sans doute pas pour rien.

On croyait John McCain à la traîne, loin derrière son rival Barack Obama. Or, le candidat républicain à la Maison-Blanche vient de passer devant son adversaire démocrate dans un sondage Gallup publié hier dans USA Today. Le premier a obtenu 50% des intentions de vote contre 46% pour le second. Un résultat inattendu pour le camp républicain qui imaginait son héros en plus mauvaise position. Surprise! McCain dépasse Obama >>> AA avec afp | 09.09.2008

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Takaful, Shariaful: The UK Goes Further Down the Road of Economic Dhimmitude!
THE TELEGRAPH: More than 2m Muslims in Britain will now be able to arrange motor insurance without compromising their religious beliefs, according to Salaam Halal Insurance. Bradley Brandon-Cross, the chief executive of Salaam Insurance, says: "Conventional United Kingdom insurance options conflict with the core beliefs of the Muslim faith and, as a result, give Muslims living in the UK who wish to drive a car no choice but to go against their beliefs in order to follow the law, which requires motorists to have cover.

"The face of Britain is changing and it is the responsibility of British institutions to cater for such changes and welcome diversity."

In conventional insurance, the risk is entirely transferred from the policyholder to the insurance company upon payment of a premium, explained Brandon-Cross. He says: "In return for paying the premium, the policyholder gets peace of mind and in the event of a valid claim, the claim settled. This brings elements of uncertainty and, in the view of Muslims, gambling, into the contract as one of the two parties will make a loss, especially the policyholder if no claim occurs."

n Sudan in the 1970s, a concept called Takaful insurance was created to circumvent these problems. Takaful is an alternative form of cover which a Muslim can obtain against the risk of loss due to misfortunes and is a structure in which risk is shared between all policyholders.

Junaid Bhatti, director of independent Islamic finance consultancy Ballencrieff House, says: "So far, the only successful Takaful product in the UK has been Amanah’s home insurance offering, which is normally cross-promoted with the HSBC Islamic Mortgage product. It is great to see that the Government’s support for the industry has continued, and a fully sharia-compliant Takaful company has received authorisation."

Takaful provides its members with the same level of protection offered by conventional insurance, but it operates in a different way. This type of insurance allows participants to pay their contribution into a pool which is invested strictly in sharia-compliant investments and any investment profits are distributed back to the Takaful fund.

Takaful is an Arabic word meaning "guaranteeing each other" or joint guarantee. Theoretically, Takaful is perceived as co-operative insurance, where members contribute a certain sum of money to a common pool. The purpose of this system is not profits but to uphold the principle of "bear one another’s burden". The Car Insurance that Obeys Sharia Rules >>> By Kara Gammell | September 8, 2008

Cross-posted at: The Shrewd Economist >>>

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Terrorist Groups Are Developing a Dirty Bomb According to Security Chiefs
THE TELEGRAPH: Islamist terrorists have stepped up their efforts to develop a "dirty" bomb for use against Western targets, senior Western security sources have told The Daily Telegraph.

They are exploiting the political chaos in Pakistan in a bid to acquire nuclear material for a 'spectacular' attack.

At least one plot has been uncovered involving Pakistani-based terrorists planning to use nuclear material against a major European target.

Osama bin Laden's al-Qa'eda terror group, whose terrorist infrastructure is based in the province of Waziristan in northwest Pakistan, is known to be trying to acquire nuclear technology to use in terror attacks against the West.

Other militant Islamist groups in Pakistan, such as the newly formed Pakistani Taliban, have also shown an interest in developing weapons with a nuclear capability, according to Western security officials.

Security chiefs fear the mounting political instability in Pakistan will make it easier for militant Islamist groups to develop a primitive nuclear device.

Pakistan is the world's only Muslim country with a nuclear weapons arsenal, which was developed during the 1990s by the rogue Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadir (AQ) Khan.

Dr Khan was placed under house arrest after he was accused of selling the blueprint for Pakistan's atom bomb to rogue states such as Libya, North Korea and Iran. But the restrictions on Dr Khan's detention have been eased since President Pervez Musharraf was forced from power.

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is subject to stringent security safeguards put in place with the help of the American military when Mr Musharraf was in office. But there is mounting concern within Western security circles that Islamic terror groups will gain access to Pakistan's expertise in developing terrorist weapons containing nuclear material.

"Islamist militant groups want to carry out terror attacks on a massive scale, and there is no better way for them to achieve that objective than to develop some form of primitive nuclear device," said a senior U.S. security official.

The most likely terror device using nuclear material is a "dirty bomb", where conventional explosives are fitted with radioactive material. Terror Groups Developing 'Dirty Bomb', Say Security Chiefs >>> | September 9, 2008

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Muslims Piss on Torah Scrolls in Hebron
ISRAEL TODAY: Jewish worshippers returning to Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs after Muslims were given exclusive access to the holy site at the weekend reported that the cabinet containing their Torah scrolls had been urinated on.

One Jewish resident of Hebron told Israel National News that he and several other men had to move the cabinet to another part of the room because of the strong smell of urine in the area where it is usually positioned.

Additionally, green Hamas flags were found placed in the windows that mark the burial sites of Abraham, Isaac, Sara, Rebecca and Leah.

The Cave of the Patriarchs is split into Jewish and Muslim sections, as both groups revere Abraham.

Several times a year, the holy site is given over to one or the other group exclusively to mark special holy days. Muslims were given exclusive access to the Cave of the Patriarchs on Friday to mark their holy month of Ramadan.

Another Jewish resident of Hebron said that some damage to Jewish religious articles or the Jewish side of the site is found every time the Muslims take over. [Source: Israel Today] | September 7, 2008

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BIG Brother, Oops!, BIG Sister Comes to France! Her Name Is Edvige
Photo of Nicolas Sarkozy courtesy of TimesOnline
Would it, perhaps, be a good idea for Edvige to spy on the private life of Nicolas himself? Now wouldn’t that be interesting! - ©Mark

TIMESONLINE: President Nicolas Sarkozy faced an embarrassing split in his Cabinet today over a computer system that a new French internal intelligence service will use to spy on the private lives of millions of law-abiding citizens.

Hervé Morin, the Defence Minister, broke government ranks to side with a growing revolt against Edvige, an acronym for a police database that will store personal details including opinions, the social circle and even sexual preferences of more or less anyone who interests the State.

Edvige, which is also a woman's name, was created by decree in July to store data on anyone aged 13 or above who is "likely to breach public order".

"Sarkozy's Big Sister", as it has been dubbed, will also track anyone active in politics or trade unions and in a significant role in business, the media, entertainment or social or religious institutions. Listed people will have limited rights to consult their files. French Revolt over Edvige: Nicolas Sarkozy's Big Brother Spy Computer >>> By Charles Bremner in Paris | September 8, 2008

LE MONDE:
Edvige : le PS conteste avoir ouvert la boîte de Pandore >>> | 09.09.2008

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Russia - Dagestan: Radical Islam Sweeping into North Caucasus

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A Jihad for Love: Gay Muslims Fight for Rights

Part 2
A Jihad for Love Blogspot >>>

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Al Qaeda Video Slams Iran, “Crusader” War
REUTERS: DUBAI - Al Qaeda has issued a video marking the Sept. 11 attacks, in which deputy group leader Ayman al-Zawahri accuses Iran of taking part in a Western "Crusader" war against Islam, Al Jazeera television said on Monday.

The video also shows apparently recent footage of senior al Qaeda figure Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, casting doubt on a report that he was killed on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan last month.

In a segment on the video aired by al Jazeera, Zawahri attacked Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, questioning the Islamic Republic's anti-Western stand.

"The (leader of Iran) collaborates with the Americans in occupying Iraq and Afghanistan and recognises the puppet regimes in both countries, while he warns of death and destruction to anyone who touches an inch of Iranian soil," Zawahri said.

Al Qaeda, a militant Sunni Islamist group, often criticises predominantly Shi'ite Iran, which has good relations with Afghanistan's anti-Taliban leaders and Iraq's Shi'ite-led government.

"Not even one Shi'ite authority -- whether in Iraq or elsewhere -- has issued a fatwa (religious edict) obligating jihad and taking up of arms against the American Crusader invaders in Iraq and Afghanistan," Zawahri said. Al Qaeda Video Slams Iran, “Crusader” War >>> | September 8, 2008

AL JAZEERA:
Al-Qaeda Video Rounds on Iran >>> | September 8, 2008

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In Charlie Rose’s Green Room with Sarah Palin

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The Path to the Final Solution

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The War on Britain’s Jews: Anti-Semitism in Britain (2007): Part 1

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
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Anti-Semitism on the Rise in Europe

Watch YouTube video: Jacques Derrida's Early Experiences With Anti-Semitism >>>
Jacques Derrida >>>

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Sheikh Cheney!
Image courtesy of Google Images
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Sikhs and Hindus Accuse the BBC of Pro-Muslim Bias
THE INDEPENDENT: Hindu and Sikh leaders have accused the BBC of pandering to Britain's Muslim community by making a disproportionate number of programmes on Islam at the expense of covering other Asian religions.

A breakdown of programming from the BBC's Religion and Ethics department, seen by The Independent, reveals that since 2001, the BBC made 41 faith programmes on Islam, compared with just five on Hinduism and one on Sikhism.

Critics say the disproportionate amount of programming is part of an apparent bias within the BBC towards Islam since the attacks of 11 September 2001, which has placed an often uncomfortable media spotlight on Britain's Muslims.

Ashish Joshi, the chairman of the Network of Sikh Organisation's (NSO) media monitoring group, which obtained the numbers, said many Hindu and Sikh licence-fee payers felt cheated. "People in our communities are shocked," he said. "We are licence-fee payers and we want to know why this has happened. The bias towards Islam at the expense of Hindus and particularly Sikhs is overwhelming and appears to be a part of BBC policy." Sikhs and Hindus Accuse the BBC of Pro-Muslim Bias >>> By Jerome Taylor | September 8, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH:
BBC Favours Muslims, Complain Hindus and Sikhs: The BBC has been accused of pandering to Britain's Muslims in its religious programming and ignoring other faiths >>> By Ben Farmer | September 8, 2008

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Muslim Immigrants Attack Three Jewish Teens in Paris
HAARETZ: Three Jewish teens were attacked by a group of Muslim African immigrants in Paris on Saturday evening, a French police spokeswoman said Sunday.

The Jewish teens, ages 17 and 18, who have been identified as Dan Nebet, Kevin Bitan and David Boaziz, are leaders of the Bnei Akiva youth group in Paris' 19th District.

Thiery Nebet, Dan's father, told Haaretz over the phone that according to what his son had said, as they were walking down the street, "Four or five Arabs of African origin started to throw walnuts at Kevin. When he went up to them to ask them why they did it, they surrounded him and knocked him down. Kevin and David moved in and very quickly more Arabs joined in and started to beat the three with their fists and with chains."

The Jewish teens were hospitalized, one with a broken nose and jaw and all three with bruises, and filed a police report after their release. Police opened an investigation and are looking for the Muslim teenagers allegedly responsible for the attacks.

According to the chairman of the Jewish Students Union in France, Raphael Haddad, barrages of stones were thrown at the three teens during the attack. Haddad also said the incident occured on Petit Street in the 19th District, not far from where a 17-yea-ar-old Jewish youth was attacked and seriously injured by immigrants on June 21.

The attack is one of a long series of racial attacks in Europe in general and in France in particular. France has Western Europe's largest population of both Jews and Muslims. Muslim Immigrants Attack Three Jewish Teens in Paris >>> By Yair Ettinger, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and DPA | September 8, 2008

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Are These Just More Empty Words from the Politicians, Or Are They Really Going to Do Something at Long Last?
THE TELEGRAPH: Immigration to Britain would be dramatically scaled back under plans for a "one in, one out" policy published today.

A cross-party parliamentary group – the first to tackle such a politically divisive issue – says net immigration must be reduced to zero, with the numbers arriving balanced by those leaving.

The group hopes this will stabilise the swelling UK population and reduce pressure on public services at a time when immigrants are entering at the highest rate in recorded history.

"We strongly believe we must ease the pressures that immigration is placing on our public services, environment and, indeed, on the cohesion of our society," it says in a report, Balanced Migration.

The group is jointly chaired by former Labour and Tory Ministers Frank Field and Nicholas Soames, and includes business leaders, churchmen and a former union boss.

They hope that a clear call from key public figures will intensify pressure on the Government to set limits on immigration, or encourage the Conservatives – who are pledged to cap numbers – to adopt the policy.

A House of Lords committee has already called for a cap on numbers entering the country and said record levels of immigration are offering little or no economic benefit.

In April, the Lords' economic affairs committee labelled official statistics on migration "seriously inadequate" and concluded immigrants are not needed to fill labour shortages or help fund the state pension for retiring Britons.

Immigrants were found to have an "important economic impact'' on public services, with some schools struggling to cope with the number of children who do not speak English as a first language. Reduce Net Immigration to Zero, Say MPs >>> By Ben Farmer | September 8, 2008

DANIEL HANNAN’S BLOG:
Immigration Policy Is Beyond Our Politicians >>> By Daniel Hannan | Septermber 8, 2008

BBC:
Minister Rejects Migrant Cap Plan: The government has rejected demands for strict limits on the number of workers from outside the European Economic Area allowed to settle in Britain >>> | September 8, 2008

BBC:
New Migrant Worker Rules Outlined: A list of jobs for which there is deemed to be a shortage of skilled workers in the UK has been released.

If the government adopts the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendations firms will be able to seek workers from outside the EU in the jobs listed.

They include specialist nurses and consultants, some engineering jobs, maths and English teachers but not care home workers or nuclear energy workers.

The government claims it will cut the number of jobs open to non-EU workers. >>> | September 9, 2008

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Janet Daley: Look Across the Pond for a Lesson in Listening to the People
THE TELEGRAPH: Having spent the past two weeks immersed in American politics (spiritually, not physically), I must try to readjust my eyes for the British domestic scene.

It is not just the difference in scale that is disconcerting - this is a small island, after all, not a continental superpower. It is the sense of a wholly different conception of the relationship between government and people.

After more than 40 years as an American expatriate living in Britain, I have not got over the shock of being in a democratic country where the governing class holds the views of ordinary people in such contempt: the priorities of the public - whether they are uncontrolled immigration, lack of appropriate punishment for criminals, or the outrageous cost of the basic necessities of modern life - can be disregarded or dismissed if the governing elite decides that they are wrong-headed or benighted.

There is almost no sense at all of the principle that underpins the US Constitution: that in a democracy, the will of the majority of the people is sacred.

What prevails in Britain is the received wisdom of the professional political club. And that includes not just those elected to Parliament but their entourages, their party machines and their media hangers-on. Of course, Washington has its insider cabals and its incestuous "inside the Beltway" culture. But no member of Congress who wishes to survive can afford to become as detached and disdainful of popular opinion as members of the British political class openly (and shamelessly) declare themselves to be.

It is a positive point of pride among politicians here to say that they bravely hold out against "populist" demands - which is to say that they wilfully ignore and deride the concerns of ordinary people because they are not sufficiently enlightened to be worthy of consideration. Look across the Pond for a Lesson in Listening to the People >>> By Janet Daley September 8, 2008

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Kim Jong-Il 'Died in 2003', Says Japanese Professor
THE TEHEGRAPH: The health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is not worsening, according to South Korean official, but a Tokyo professor has meanwhile asserted that Kim died in any case in 2003.

Speculation has recently grown again that Kim, who is 66 and has not been seen in public for more than three weeks, is unwell. Some media have long thought that Kim, a former smoker and heavy drinker, was ill but Seoul intelligence officials say they believe he has diabetes and heart problems, but those are not serious enough to affect his job.

But a book by Japan's Professor Toshimitsu Shigemura at Japan's respected Waseda University says Kim died in the autumn of 2003 and a series of stand-ins have since taken his place at official state event.

Prof Shigemura says Kim was not seen in public for the 42 days after September 10, 2003, and in his book "The True Character of Kim Jong Il" claims the man that North Koreans refer to as the "Dear Leader" died of diabetes. Kim Jong-Il 'Died in 2003', Says Japanese Professor >>> By Julian Ryall in Tokyo | September 7, 2008

Watch BBC video: N Korea marks 60th anniversary >>>
BBC:
N Korea’s Kim Missing from Parade: There is growing speculation about the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, 66, after he failed to attend a huge martial parade in Pyongyang.

The military ranks marking the nation's 60th anniversary were instead overseen by North Korea's second most senior figure, Kim Yong-nam.

Rumours were already rife about the well being of the North Korean leader.

Reports quoting Western intelligence sources said on Tuesday it was possible Mr Kim had suffered a stroke. >>> | September 9, 2008

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE:
North Korea Leader Is Seriously Ill, U.S. Official Says >>>
By Mark Mazzetti and Choe Sang-Hun | September 9, 2008

LE FIGARO:
Kim Jong-Il aurait eu une attaque cérébrale >>> C.M. (lefigaro.fr) avec AFP | 09.09.2008

LE MONDE:
La Corée du Nord fête ses 60 ans sans son "cher leader" >>> LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | 09.09.08

BERLINER ZEITUNG:
Nordkorea wird 60 - Gerüchte über Kim Jong Il >>> | 09.09.2008

LE FIGARO:
Pyongyang dément 
la maladie de Kim Jong-Il >>> C.M. et C.J. (lefigaro.fr) avec AFP | 10.09.2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
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Melanie Phillips: Contempt, Apathy and Lies - Why Britain Is Crying Out for Our Own 'Pitbull with Lipstick'
MAIL Online: Despite obvious differences between the U.S. and the UK, her triumph carries important lessons for British politics, too.

Palin's storming of the political citadel is the victory of the outsider, the little person who takes on the establishment - and wins.

In Britain and America - as in other parts of the Western world, too - an enormous gulf now yawns between leaders and led.

People have concluded that politicians of all parties seem to inhabit a world apart, governed by self-interest, cynicism, corruption, incompetence, deep contempt for the electorate and an incorrigible instinct to deceive them.

Politicians know this. Which is why they all purport to stand on a platform of 'change'.

But change from what to what, precisely?

Unless there's a clear answer, 'change' becomes a pointless soundbite which risks creating an impression of yet more political sleight of hand.

This is the trap into which Barack Obama has fallen.

Yes, he has amazing gifts of charisma and oratory; along with his youth and black ancestry, this all helps create the impression that he is an outsider and embodies a fresh start.

But, on closer inspection, he looks suspiciously like yet more of the same old same old. The way he changes his political message to fit the audience he is addressing sits ill with his pitch to represent a new politics of integrity.

And his voting record and positions on social issues place him firmly among the Left-wing elite which has waged such devastating war upon the West's moral values.

By contrast, Palin has a very strong sense of right and wrong rooted in her evangelical Christian faith. Perversely, this damns her in the eyes of the Left as the 'hard Right'.

This is clearly absurd: she is a working mother of five who has shown herself as capable of felling Big Oil and other political cartels against the public interest as shooting moose.

Moreover, her real achievement is to do what the Left assumed was utterly impossible: she makes social conservatism seem attractive. Contempt, Apathy and Lies - Why Britain Is Crying Out for Our Own 'Pitbull with Lipstick' >>> By Melanie Phillips | September 8, 2008

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Tutu: ‘God Is Weeping’
Watch BBC video: Tutu: ‘God Is Weeping’ >>>
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At Last! Obama Admits He’s a Muslim!

Hat tip: Pastorius of iBloga

ISRAEL INSIDER:
In Stunning Slip on National TV, Obama Refers to "My Muslim Faith" >>> | September 7, 2008

“That’s not change. Come on! I mean, words mean something, you can’t just make stuff up.” - Barack Hussein Obama [Source: TimesOnline]

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Rachida Dati Keeps Mum on Father
Photo of Rachida Dati courtesy of Google Images
SUNDAY HERALD: EUROPE'S PRESS HAS LAUNCHED ITSELF into a coy game of hunt-the-father after the revelation that France's justice minister Rachida Dati, a single woman and a Muslim, is expecting a baby. Dati, a petite 42-year-old who is a devoted ally of President Nicolas Sarkozy, confirmed on Wednesday what her shape was making it impossible to hide, telling journalists that the pregnancy was a source of huge personal happiness. But she quickly scotched any attempt to discover the paternity, saying only that: "I have a complicated private life. I will not be communicating further on this matter."

French newspapers and broadcast media have tied themselves in contortions trying to reconcile their legal duty not to pry into a minister's private life with the enormous public interest in so fascinating a human tale. For the most part this has meant using their internet sites to report "factually" the gossip being purveyed by more salacious non-French media - thus simultaneously stoking the story and keeping a prudent distance.

The names of several candidates have been aired, including Dominique Desseigne, head of a casino and hotel empire; Henri Proglio, CEO of Veolia Environment; and a popular French television presenter known simply as Arthur. Bizarrely, one Moroccan internet site cited the former Spanish prime ministerJose-Maria Aznar as Dati's lover. Aznar promptly issued a denial, but not before his name had been circulated around the world.

Other sites even suggested artifical insemination. The truth is, though, that no-one outside of Dati's immediate circle knows who is the baby's father, and as she seems bent on remaining unattached, the secret appears secure.

The tittle-tattle over paternity has obscured the more important aspect of the affair, which is surely Dati's determination to push back the limits on what Muslim women may or may not publicly achieve in France. Born in 1965 to a Moroccan bricklayer father and an Algerian mother, Dati was brought up in a high-immigration banlieue in the Burgundy town of Chalons-sur-Saône.

She is the second in a family of 11 children, and two of her brothers have recently been in trouble with the law. Driven by an indomitable urge to prove herself above her unpromising origins, she became an accountant and then a magistrate before being talent-spotted by Sarkozy, who saw in her the embodiment of his ideal of the striving outsider.

According to a profile in Le Point magazine this week, "Sarkozy recognised himself in the courage, the nerve, the self-assurance of this child of immigrants. As she herself has said, There's something in me that creates an echo in him, a kind of mirror effect. Like me, he cannot stand humiliation'." Defiant Muslim Minister Keeping Mum on Father: Tough privacy laws make life difficult for media fascinated by Rachida Dati’s story. >>> From Hugh Schofield in Paris | September 7, 2008

THE AGE:
In Paris, Polly's Baby Is a Private Affair >>> By William Langley, Paris | September 8. 2008

THE OBSERVER:
The mother of all intrigues: With the announcement of her pregnancy by an unnamed man, France's sharp and ambitious justice minister has given the nation what it loves best: the chance to laugh at its prurient, prudish Anglo-Saxon neighbours >>> By Jason Burke | September 7. 2008

AFRICAN PATH:
France : Sarkozy’s Former Lover Rachida Dati, Is Pregnant >>> By Elie B Smith | September 5, 2008

GALA.fr:
Au jeu du Cluedo de la paternité, l'Europe s'en donne à coeur joie! : C'est le nouveau feuilleton Harlequin de la fin d'été: qui est donc le père de l'enfant que porte Rachida Dati? Depuis que José Maria Aznar a démenti cette paternité, les médias européens se perdent en conjectures...

Il s'agit là d'une nouvelle version du Cluedo. Le but n'est pas de trouver l'assassin mais le géniteur. Qui, où et avec quelles armes de séduction? Depuis que le ventre rond de Rachida Dati a émergé de ses pantalons en flanelle, une partie de l'Europe se réveille avec la même question lancinante et aujourd'hui encore sans réponse: qui donc a fait un enfant à notre ministre de la Justice? 


Un homme du monde de la politique, des affaires, du show-biz? Toutes les spéculations sont les bienvenues. Le premier suspect dans cette affaire était l'ancien chef du gouvernement espagnol, José Maria Aznar, mais ce dernier vient de démentir la rumeur lancée par un journal marocain (José Maria Aznar nie être le père de l'enfant de Rachida Dati). Non, il n'est pas le père de Rachida Junior. Il a tout de même fallu un démenti officiel tandis que le site du journal marocain L'Observateur maintient son information. Mauvais joueur! >>> | Jeudi 4 septembre 2008

Lire sa bio >>>

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European Dhimmi Watch! David Miliband’s Ramadan Message

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Adam Gadahn Is Thought to Have Been Killed
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Western intelligence sources in Pakistan believe that al-Qa'eda's prize American recruit and propaganda chief may have been killed in a CIA-directed airstrike.

Months of attacks by unmanned US predator aircraft have caused carnage among the middle ranks of terrorist leaders in the lawless lands along the border with Afghanistan, where al-Qa'eda remains dangerous despite suffering a serious defeat in Iraq.

Their victims have included experienced Arab leaders and, it is now thought, Adam Gadahn, a former heavy-metal fan and so-called "killer computer nerd" originally from California. Nothing has been heard from him for months, leading intelligence experts to conclude that he may be dead.

Mr Gadahn has been credited with helping transform al-Qa'eda's al-Sahab propaganda wing into a slick operation which communicates in fluent English and produces professional quality DVDs, including one for Osama bin Laden last year.

But he may have fallen victim to an expanded programme of predator assassinations which in the last year has targeted and killed many of al-Qa'eda's military commanders, terrorist trainers and facilitators.

Jihadists around the world will be watching as closely as intelligence officials this week to see whether Mr Gadahn - also known as Azzam al-Ameriki - produces a new video message to mark September 11, as he has done every year since 2003.

If there is no message it will be taken as near certain confirmation that he is dead – killed either in a strike by Hellfire missiles, or perhaps by jihadi colleagues who have grown jealous of his success.

Mr Gadahn is now thought to have been killed in an attack launched from a remotely piloted aircraft in January which killed al-Qaeda's then military commander, Abu Laith al-Libi, in Mir Ali, Waziristan. Al-Qa'eda's American-born Propaganda Chief May Have Died in Predator Attack >>> By Nick Meo | September 7, 2008

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The Muslim, French Minister Rachida Dati’s Pregnancy Scandal
Watch video: High profile justice minister Rachida Dati confirmed she is expecting but refused to reveal the name of the father >>>
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Bhutto’s Widower Wins Presidency
BBC: Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has won Pakistan's presidential election, election officials say.

The election was called after Pervez Musharraf resigned rather than risk being impeached.

Mr Zardari faces an Islamist insurgency and economic problems that are threatening Pakistan's stability.

Meanwhile a bomb has killed at least 12 people near the city of Peshawar and injured many more. Bhutto’s Widower Wins Presidency >>> September 6, 2008

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Ahmadinejad: Iran to Talk with US If It Stops Hostile Policies
IRNA: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Tehran will be ready for talks with Washington if the US abandons its hostile policies towards Iran.

"If the US stops its 30-year anti-Iran policies, Tehran will be ready for dialogue with the country on the basis of mutual respect," said Ahmadinejad in an interview with Japan's nationwide NHK TV.

Ahmadinejad said the US should stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs and deal with its own problems instead.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ahmadinejad said it makes no difference for Iran who -- Barack Obama or John McCain -- will be the next US president.

He then urged promotion of relations between Iran and Japan -- two countries with common culture and values.

He said if Japan wants expansion of ties with Iran, it should decide irrespective of others' views. [Source: IRNA] September 5, 2008

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A Ticking Arab Time Bomb
YNET NEWS: Tighten your seatbelts: Anger expected to explode in Arab world following Ramadan

Soon we will see Arab world rulers boarding private jets and traveling to their colleagues’ lavish palaces for the Iftar – the evening meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan. Mubarak will hop over to Saudi Arabia, Jordan’s King Abdullah will travel to the Emirates, Iraq’s president will also make his way to the Persian Gulf, and the Lebanese leadership will travel to Dubai. This is the source of the money; this is where high politics is being converted to dollars. Interests vis-à-vis charity.

Regular Joes in the Arab world will be able to see the hugs on the red carpet, but the lavish feasts are not to be photographed. This year, more than ever, the sight of tables packed with delicacies and servants wearing white gloves could start a fire among the hundreds of millions of hungry Arabs.

The number of hungry people in the Arab world has reached frightening proportions this year. The month of Ramadan, whose onset coincides with the opening of the school year in Israel and which will end precisely when the Hebrew New Year starts, is standing at the shadow of a deep and dangerous abyss that has emerged between the people on the street and their leaders.

The statistics warn about an overwhelming leap not only in the number of unemployed, but also in the price of food - Bread, rice, legumes, and the nuts and seeds that must be present at the fast-breaking meal. In Turkey, for example, one million “aid packages” will be handed out to struggling families. In Egypt, millionaires and public figures who grew rich via the corrupt ties between capital and government will quiet their conscience by feeding tens of thousands of deprived and unfortunate citizens. A Ticking Arab Time Bomb >>> By Smader Peri | September 4, 2008

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Can We Count on [the] US?
YNET NEWS: Yaniv Ronen says Georgia war shows that relying on America may lead to isolation, defeat

The recent war in Georgia should alarm officials in Jerusalem. Georgia, a small country entangled in an ongoing internal conflict, gambled on a military move while relying on American support. The gamble turned out to be a failure once the US support was proven to be unreliable, and the tiny Georgia found itself facing the Russian giant. The unavoidable outcome was a humiliating defeat that at this time raises doubts over the country’s sovereignty and independence.

Meanwhile, for four decades now, Israel has been exclusively relying on America’s friendship and support. The ties started with modest civilian assistance in the wake of the State’s establishment, continued in the form of arms supplies following the Six-Day War (to replace French arms,) grew stronger in the form of extensive civilian and military aid in the wake of the Yom Kippur War, and reached the point of virtually absolute coordination in the past decade and a half.

In the latter period, any Israeli policy, particularly in respect to the conflict with the Palestinians, was granted automatic support and acquiescence from the White House: Starting from the Rabin government’s Oslo process, through Netanyahu moves, Barak’s talks on a final-status agreement, Sharon’s path of siege and disengagement, and back to the current government’s attempts to secure a final-status agreement. This support and acquiescence came in addition to the international backing for Israel on the part of the American giant at global institutions. Can We Count on [the] US? >>> By Yaniv Ronen | September 5, 2008

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Why Do We Have to Put Up with This Vomit-Inducing Nonsense from Gordon Brown and David Miliband? Their Ramadan Message to Muslims: Lies, Lies, and More Damn Lies!

PAKISTAN TIMES: LONDON (UK): The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his Ramazan message has spoken of the huge contribution the Muslim community is making to Britain’s success in terms of its prosperity, society and culture. 



“Ramadan teaches patience and humility, and reminds us of our shared moral universe; our obligation to others,” he said. 


Emphasising the importance of the holy month, Brown said the message of empathy for the less fortunate is reflected in Ramazan by the daily fast. 



“Ramadan’s message of compassion and social justice spreads beyond Muslim communities; it speaks of shared values that unite us all,” he added. 



Recalling the hadith of the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), he said it emphasised the duty of care we owe one another and this special month is also the occasion to celebrate the diversity that contributes to Britain ‘s strength. 



The Prime Minister pointed out Ramazan is an opportune time to consider the contribution of Islam not just to Britain , but to the world as the Islamic art, science, and philosophy have enriched our lives over many centuries. 



He said Ramazan is also a time to recall the holy Prophet’s message that “the best richness is the richness of the soul,” while stressing to look forward to continuing positive engagement with British Muslim communities across the UK. Muslims Making a Huge Contribution to Britain’s Success: Brown >>> By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief | September 5, 2008

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Purported Bomber Warns Denmark of More Attacks
"Stern action must be taken against those who insult and belittle Islam to prevent others from doing the same[.]" - Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - Malaysia
ASSOCIATED PRESS: CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — A new al-Qaida video identifies the Saudi purportedly behind a suicide bombing at the Danish Embassy in Pakistan, and he is shown warning in a taped last testament that more attacks will punish Denmark over newspaper caricatures of Islam's founder.

In the 55-minute video posted on the Internet late Thursday, the alleged bomber is referred to both by a nom de guerre, Abu Ghareeb al-Makki, and by his real name, Kamal Saleem Atiyyah al-Fudli al-Hathli. He appears in an explosives vest as he recounts his plan for the attack.

"As for my final message to the worshippers of the cross in Denmark, I tell them, Allah permitting, this isn't the first nor the last retaliation," al-Makki says. "We will wipe you from the face of the Earth." Purported Bomber Warns Denmark of More Attacks >>> By Katarina Kratovac | September 5, 2008

THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Al Qaeda Repeats Threat to Danes: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Al Qaeda issued a new threat against Denmark in an Internet video released Friday, saying that an attack on the Danish Embassy in Pakistan in June was only the beginning of its retaliation for perceived insults to the Prophet Muhammad >>> By Reuters | September 5, 2008

TVNZ.CO.NZ:
Video vows more Denmark attacks: Al Qaeda has issued new threats against Denmark in an internet video released on Friday, saying an attack on the Danish embassy in Pakistan was the start of its retaliation for perceived insults to the Prophet Mohammad.
The internet video featured senior al Qaeda leader Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who was reported to have been killed last month. The compilation was dated August 2008, although it was made up of segments recorded at various dates >>> | September 6, 2008

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Philippines: Muslim Unrest May Spread to Neighbours
ABS-CBN News Online: With peace talks between the Philippine government and Muslim rebels in tatters, analysts are warning violence will escalate and could spill over into neighboring countries.

President Arroyo this week scrapped the government panel handling the negotiations, a move analysts say ended any hopes of settling the four-decades-old Muslim insurgency before she leaves office in 2010.

They fear the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which had been negotiating for a Muslim homeland on the revolt-hit southern Mindanao island, may now splinter into smaller and more radical groups.

The government has said any future peace talks will have to be more representative of the people of Mindanao rather than just the MILF, which will have to disarm if it is to enter any future negotiations.

"No respected revolutionary movement will even think of handing over their guns," said Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, a think tank.

He said the dissolution of the peace panel would lead the MILF rebel forces to resume their armed struggle on a larger scale, and warned the conflict could "spill over to neighboring countries like Indonesia, Malaysia or Brunei." Muslim Unrest in RP May Spread to Neighbors: Analysts >>> Agence France-Presse | September 5, 2008

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US Election Neck and Neck after the ‘Sarah Palin Bounce’
TIMESONLINE: John McCain headed into the last 60 days of the US presidential campaign neck and neck with Barack Obama after a “Sarah Palin bounce” appeared to have all but cancelled out the Democrat’s lead in the polls.

With the Republican Party finishing its convention in St Paul believing that victory on November 4 is truly within its grasp, the Rasmussen tracking poll yesterday had Mr Obama on 46 per cent and Mr McCain on 45 per cent.

Mr Obama headed to the battleground state of Pennsylvania last night knowing that he has a titanic fight on his hands to realise his dream of becoming America’s first black president. His aides have said for months that the race for the White House will be close, but Republicans left their Minnesota convention knowing that the contest is now really up for grabs. US Election Neck and Neck after the ‘Sarah Palin Bounce’ >>> By Tim Reid in St Paul | September 6, 2008

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Tensions High in Caucasus
TIMESONLINE: A US Navy flagship carrying humanitarian aid yesterday steamed into a Georgian port where Russian troops are still stationed, stoking tensions once again in the tinderbox Caucasus region.

A previous trip by US warships was cancelled at the last minute a week ago amid fears that an armed stand-off could intensify in the Black Sea port of Poti.

The arrival of the USS Mount Whitney, flagship of the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, came as Moscow accused Dick Cheney, the hawkish US Vice-President, of stoking tensions during a visit to Tbilisi this week. After meeting President Saakashvili, Mr Cheney vowed to bring Georgia into the Nato alliance. Russia sees such moves as Western encroachment on its traditional sphere of influence.

Russia’s leaders have accused previous US warships that docked at the port of Batumi, to the south, of delivering weapons to re-arm the smashed Georgian military — charges that Washington denied. US Warship Confronts Russian Military in ‘Tinderbox’ Port >>> By James Hider in Tbilisi and Tony Halpin in Moscow | September 6, 2008

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Iran Rejects French Warning of Israeli Strike Risk
REUTERS: TEHRAN - Iran dismissed on Saturday a warning by France's president that the Islamic Republic was taking a dangerous gamble over its nuclear program because one day its arch-foe Israel could strike.

Government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham accused Israel of threatening global peace but reiterated Tehran's publicly stated view that it was not in a position to attack Iran.

Western powers accuse Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, of seeking the atom bomb under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran denies the charge, saying it only wants to master atomic technology in order to generate electricity.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action if the dispute cannot be settled through diplomacy.

During a visit to Damascus on Thursday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iran was "taking a major risk in continuing the process to obtain a military nuclear capacity." He added: "One day ... we could find one morning that Israel has struck."

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB quoted Elham, the government spokesman, as saying in response to Sarkozy's statement:
"These threats are because of weakness ... and it reflects the reality and the war-seeking nature of the Zionist regime." Iran Rejects French Warning of Israeli Strike Risk >>> | September 6, 2008

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Rice Is Nice to Libya’s Gaddafi; But He Is Not Nice to Her! Gaddafi’s Manners Are in His Feet!
Watch BBC video: Condoleezza Rice Meets Colonel Gaddafi >>>
BBC: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has met Libya's Muammar Gaddafi on a visit to the north African country US officials are hailing as "historic".

She is the first US secretary of state to visit Libya since 1953.

The pair met at Mr Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli, which was hit in US bombing raids ordered by Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Libya was on the US state department list of sponsors of terrorism until 2003, when it abandoned weapons of mass destruction and renounced terrorism.

Before arriving, Ms Rice pointed out the "suffering" caused by Libya's long stand-off with the West.

"It demonstrates that when countries are prepared to make strategic changes in direction, the United States is prepared to respond," she told reporters on the way to Tripoli.

Ms Rice's meeting with the Libyan leader began when Mr Gaddafi, wearing a white robe decorated with a broach in the shape of Africa, welcomed her and her aides.

There was no handshake between the two. As Ms Rice entered the room, Mr Gaddafi raised a hand to his chest in a traditional gesture of welcome. Rice talks with Libya's Gaddafi >>> | Septemer 5, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>