Muzzling Jordan Blogs Committee

Why did Jordan Blogs committee vanish while the blog is still up and running!? I don't get it. I don't know if you guys volunteered to serve on your own or you were hand picked but all of you were able bodies and would have made a great deal of difference had this thing been given a chance to grow. You guys are professionals and intellectuals, a rare commodity these days especially in an arena where no one earns a penny for their work. I can't say enough about you guys even if I try : You Khalidah,Hala,Oula,Shaden,Mohammad,Wedad, all of you are the best of the best. Each in his own way contributes a unique feature unparalleled any where on any other Jordanian discussion list. I think that you were born to be a leader, I like how in one of those Jordanian bloggers meetings a while back you ordered everybody to shut up and then you took charge of the situation and straightened everything out. Then there is 7ala, she is a socializing machine just look at the number of replies that she gets for every entry she places on her blog. People from all over the Arab world, Europe, and the USA react to everything she writes about. Shaden too has an experience from Mahjoob, she was very active over there, I have been tracing her over the last 3 years or so, she had matured to a very sophisticated level. Oula works in Journalism any way in addition to having a degree in English.Wedad is well versed in theological matters and she adds a special aura to the discussion that is not solely mainstream but can easily be streamlined to suit the majority. Mohammad is technologically inclined; he too would have been a great asset to the bunch. Why did you guys dissolve we barely started knowing you and interacting with you. I hope that you re consider every start has its own bumpy road I hope that you guys didn't expect that everything is going to run smooth. Like they say: The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I usually don't write too many posts but I'm a good critic and good commentator, and I enjoy reading a lot. So please don't deprive me of all of these privileges. Thank you.

Sami Al-Arian

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/16/State/Al_Arian_collapses_at.shtml



The justice department is unwittingly aiding Dr. Al-Arian to elevate his status to "Martyr". He is being harassed for refusing to testify to something that he already was absolved of testifying about in a previous plea bargaining agreement. You can beat a dead horse all year long; the dead horse isn't going to utter any audible sound. Intimidations, vilifications, demonizations, and demoralizations, aren't likely going to make him change his mind. If anything it will embolden him and ratchet the level of his resolve. Double jeopardy isn't an acceptable judicial practice, so why the justices are attempting to do something futile by shenanigan and chicanery. Dr. Alarian should be freed to pursue his and his family life or whatever left of it.

Assad's Guile

In his usual mild mannered discourse President Assad of Syria presents himself as an open minded moderate leader that fully understands the complexities in his own country as well as the region as a whole, contrast that with the actual common living standards in Syria and the way the regime treats its opposition, you will get a completely different picture. President Assad has no interest in advancing the peace in Iraq, Lebanon, or Palestine. Syria thrives on the chaos in the countries surrounding its borders provided that the trouble doesn’t come roosting at home. In the summer of 2006 when Lebanon was getting obliterated by the Israeli air force, Syria didn’t raise even a whisper of opposition toward the aggression, and this year when Syria noticed the Palestinians and the Iraqis are killing themselves most ferociously, Syria remained silent. Mr. Assad is another ruthless Arab leader that wouldn’t hesitate to crush his opposition with an iron fist. He talks about the American using militarism to solve their problems in Iraq and most likely he too would be using ruthless militarism should any body tries to show any hint of dissention in Syria. It is amazing how one sees only what the other is doing at a time when one he is doing the same thing. Syria believes in military solutions as much as the American do, it already proved in its occupation of the Lebanese territories from the mid seventies until recently when they had to get out after the Hariri’s assassination. Syria doesn’t mind meddling in its neighbors affairs politically or militarily yet; it doesn’t sanction a similar action for any other Arab or non Arab country. Mr. Assad isn’t fooling anyone by portraying himself as a gentle, moderate, family man. He needs to start proving his words with his deeds.