Tuesday 12 February 2013

Is Free Speech a Licence to Promote Islamophobia and Protect the Zionist Narrative?





If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all. (Noam Chomsky)


In defence of Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses, the Danish Cartoons and the recent YouTube movie, the liberals argued that Muslims should not get too upset over the offensive contents, because this was about the ‘sacred’ free speech or freedom of expression; the right to express a certain viewpoint, no matter how offensive or accurate. The problem is this is not applied consistently across the board. Why it is free speech to mock religious values, and yet a similar tone of language is not tolerated against a particular racial group or a group with a certain sexual orientation?

The usual suspects lecturing about free speech are not the ones on the receiving end, and when the tables are turned, free speech conveniently transforms into incitement to violence or threats to national security. The persecution of Julian Assange is a classic example of America behaving with such duplicity.

Friday 8 February 2013

Is it time to sacrifice Hamid Karzai?

As 2014 approaches for the full withdrawal of the US-led forces, the question of the Taliban issue remains unresolved; they are essential for a political settlement that is likely to result in long term stability. Otherwise, there is a real risk of a civil war breaking out after the US departure, as occurred after the Soviet withdrawal, when the country was left to the mercy of various tribes and warlords. In addition, the US plans to leave a counterterrorism force in Afghanistan to continue the fight against remnants of al-Qaeda, which would find difficulty to operate in a volatile environment. The negotiations are critical to get a prisoner exchange with the Taliban, who are holding the only US service member, Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl.

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