Seven Conditions For Women's Dress in Islam

Introduction
This article was sent to me and felt it should be shared in it’s more original form.
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Syed MA Rahman discusses how a Muslimah meets the requirements of Islamic modesty in dress and sets out their Quranic background.

Hijab is a word that indicates not just the headscarf but clothing in its entirety which meets the following conditions:

1. Clothing must cover the entire body, only the hands and face may remain visible (According to some Fiqh Schools).

2. The material must not be so thin that one can see through it.

3. The clothing must hang loose so that the shape / form of the body is not apparent.

4. The female clothing must not resemble the man's clothing.

5. The design of the clothing must not resemble the clothing of the non believing women.

6. The design must not consist of bold designs which attract attention.

7. Clothing should not be worn for the sole purpose of gaining reputation or increasing one's status in society.

The reason for this strictness is so that the woman is protected from the lustful gaze of men. She should not attract attention to herself in any way. It is permissible for a man to catch the eye of a woman, however it is haram (unlawful) for a man to look twice as this encourages lustful thoughts.

Islam protects the woman. It is for this reason that Allah gave these laws. In today's society womankind is being exploited, female sexuality is being openly used in advertising, mainly to attract the desires of men and therefore sell the product. Is the woman really free in today's society? The answer is obviously no, the constant bombardment by the media as to how the ideal woman should look and dress testifies to this.

Islam liberated woman over 1400 years ago. Is it better to dress according to man or God?

Allah has stated in the Quran that women must guard their modesty.

" Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof." [Quran : 24.31]

" Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them, and God is well acquainted with all they do." [Quran : 24.30]

" And O ye believers turn ye all together toward God, so that ye may attain bliss." [Quran : 24.31]

With this I should conclude that Allah has given us guidance through the Quran and Sunnah, He also given us the logic and commonsense to apply these in our everyday life. However, Allah is not unreasonable and understands the mankind’s weakness and to this I will refer you to the hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari.

Narrated (Abu Hurayra):

The Prophet said, "Religion (Islam) is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by offering the prayers in the mornings, afternoons and during the last hour of the night." [1:38-O.B.]

18 injured in 23-car pileup in Harvey Tunnel

Firefigthters and rescue workers go through the wreckage at the scene of a multi-car accident in the Harvey Tunnel on Friday.

30 May 2008

by Chris Kirkham

New Orleans, LA-An unsecured dump truck spilled a thick clay mud in the westbound lanes of the Harvey Tunnel this afternoon, causing a chain-reaction 23-car pileup that sent 18 people to area hospitals and shut down the tunnel for hours.

Harvey Tunnel Pileup


No serious injuries were reported in the accident that happened around 1 p.m. Witnesses said they saw the back gate of the dump truck swing open while inside the tunnel. The slippery mud quickly coated the roadway, causing cars to lose control and careen into the tunnel's walls and other vehicles.

Eighteen people, including a pregnant woman, were taken to area hospitals, said State Police spokesman Joseph Piglia. It was the largest such pileup in the Harvey Tunnel in decades.

The eastbound lanes of the tunnel have re-opened and authorities expect the westbound lanes to open by 7 p.m.

State Police were still trying to locate the driver of the dump truck late Friday afternoon. Piglia said police had some leads from witnesses. The driver could face charges for driving an unsecured dump truck, and could be held liable for any tunnel damage caused by the wreck.

A visibly shaken August Bertrand of Harvey stood against a tree 30 minutes after the accident, waiting for tow trucks to pull his car from the depths of the 1,100-foot-long tunnel.

"I literally puckered up and kissed my ass goodbye in there," said Bertrand, who said his legs were numb and felt stiff back pains, but didn't want to be put on a stretcher. "It was like a slush down there. There wasn't any stopping."

He had a minor head-on collision with a minivan that spun around in front of him. Parts of several cars were pinned underneath others, and witnesses said they helped several young children out of the pile. Bertrand and others limped out of the tunnel as fast as they could, smelling the pungent odors of battery acid and gasoline from the wreckage, and the putrid smell of the mud.

"I was getting out, because I thought it was going to explode," said Joyce Roussell of Marrero. Her car was the first to hit the muddy mess, but she was able to navigate around it with only a minor nick from the car in the adjoining lane.

"Nobody couldn't stop. No way. They were going too fast," she said. "Behind me I just heard them banging, banging, you know?"

For nearly three hours after the wreck, an assembly line of tow trucks backed in and out of the tunnel to ferry off the next batch of wrecked cars. Damage ranged from nicks and fender-benders to major rear-end damage.

All were caked with streaks of thick black mud.

At the time of the accident, the gnarled pile of vehicles stretched nearly halfway across the tunnel.

Workers from the state Department of Transportation and Development were sweeping up the mud, almost a foot thick in some places, once the cars were removed, using sweepers and sand to break up the chunks. Buzzy Wegener, DOTD's assistant district administrator of operations for New Orleans, said the accident caused no major damage to the tunnel walls.

A Wave in the Road

A Palestinian drives his donkey cart past Jewish soldiers during an army operation in the West Bank town of Qalqilya on 27 May 2008.

What is also interesting in this picture is one of the Jewish soldiers, looks as though as a courtesy to the man in the cart, to be waving him pass on the road.

The soldiers these days have been working tirelessly against the problem of terrorism in Palestine, for the benefit of all the citizens in the country.

The only terrorist in Palestine are those loyal to Mahmoud Abbas’s organization. All the demonstrations, terrorist attacks and so forth, are by this terrorist organization.

Fishing at Sunrise

Palestinian fishermen putting out there nets at sunrise in Gaza City on 26 May 2008.

A smart fisherman always starts their day at sunrise, because many the world over knows that fish tend to bite more at this time of day and the end of the day for a fisherman, is usually at sunset, when the nets come in, so the fisherman can go to prayers or home to their families.

Bush on Congress Catch Up

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 31, 2008

Audio
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Next week Congress will return to Washington after its Memorial Day recess. I hope Members of Congress return rested, because they have a lot of work left on important issues and limited time to get it done.

Congress needs to pass a responsible war funding bill that puts the needs of our troops first, without loading it up with unrelated domestic spending. Our troops in Afghanistan are performing with courage and honor, delivering blows to the Taliban and al Qaida. Our troops in Iraq have driven al Qaida and other extremists from sanctuaries they once held across the country and are chasing them from their last remaining strongholds. Our men and women in uniform are risking their lives every day, and they deserve the resources and flexibility they need to complete their mission.

Congress needs to support our military families by passing an expansion of the GI Bill that makes it easier for our troops to transfer unused education benefits to their spouses and children. It is critical for this legislation to support the all-volunteer force and help us recruit and retain the best military in the world.

Congress needs to ensure that our intelligence professionals have the tools to monitor terrorist communications quickly and effectively. Last year, Congress passed temporary legislation that provided these tools. Unfortunately, the law expired more than three months ago. Congress needs to pass long-term legislation that will help our intelligence professionals learn our enemies' plans before they can attack and put an end to abusive lawsuits filed against companies believed to have assisted the government after the attacks of September the 11th. And Congress needs to act soon so we can maintain a vital flow of intelligence.

Congress needs to approve the Colombia free trade agreement so we can open a growing market for American goods, services, and crops. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives is blocking a vote on this vital agreement. Unless this agreement is brought up for a vote, it will die. This will hurt American workers, farmers, and business owners. And it will hurt our Nation's strategic interests in a vital region of the world.

Congress needs to confirm the good men and women who have been nominated to important government positions. There are now more than 350 nominations pending before the Senate. These include highly qualified people I have nominated to fill vacancies on the Federal bench. And they include talented nominees who are needed to help guide our economy during a time of uncertainty. For example, three nominees to the Federal Reserve have been waiting for confirmation for more than a year. And because of Senate inaction, the Council of Economic Advisers is now down to a single member. This confirmation backlog makes it harder for government to meet its responsibilities - and the United States Senate needs to give every nominee an up-or-down vote as soon as possible.

One nominee who needs to be confirmed right away is Steve Preston. A month has passed since I nominated Steve to be the next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Unfortunately, Senators have stalled this nomination over an issue that has nothing to do with Steve or his qualifications for the job. With all the turbulence in the housing market, this is no time to play politics with such a critical appointment. So I call on the Senate to give Steve Preston a prompt vote and confirm this good man without further delay.

At a time when many Americans are concerned about keeping their homes, Congress needs to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure they focus on their housing mission, and allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance subprime loans. And at a time when Americans are concerned about rising gas prices, Congress needs to pass legislation to expand domestic energy production.

In all these areas, Congress has failed to act. The American people deserve better from their elected leaders. Congress needs to show the American people that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time. You sent your representatives to Washington to do the people's business, and you have a right to expect them to do it - even in an election year.

Thank you for listening.

END

Animals Love Quran

Animals love to hear Qur'an, try it out some day
They'll stop to listen carefully to every word you say.
Allah created animals, Allah is Ar-Rahman
and sent a book to guide us all
Even animals love Qur`an.

Something, I have noticed about animals, birds especially, they not only love just the Quran, but also, about any word spoken in Arabic. It is often a wonder, if it is partly because Arabic is one of the oldest spoken languages among humanity or the fact that Allah choose this language to teach some of the most beautiful things to humankind.

The two words that they seem to like most is, Allah and Muhammad (PBUH), birds will tend to start singing when they hear these words.

There favorite singing is usually from Nasheeds, I play these often for my birds, because it makes them very happy.

Actually, what is said in this video, I have actually seen.

This Nasheed is by Dawud Wharnsby.

'He is an amazing man'

30 May 2008

By Michelle Esteban

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- It will take thousands of dollars and several surgeries to reconstruct a local man's face.

James O'Neal compares himself to the Elephant Man. A genetic disease left his face horribly disfigured, but that could soon change.

O'Neal knows his deformity shocks people. He knows others with the same genetic disorder would rather hide than work, but for 7 years James has proudly worked the registers at the Kingsgate Safeway on 124th Avenue NE in Kirkland.

"I just tell people this is who I am, it's the way I am. If you don't like me, you don't like me," he said.

His customers don't like him -- they love him.

"He is an amazing man and we love him. He's the kind of person that makes your day," said customer Aubrey Richins.

"I really love James," said shopper Katie Knopf.

All of them say they were stunned at first when they saw his disfigured face.

"I have to admit I was a little taken back, but when I walked through his line I felt this spirit come over me, this man is out here, not hiding," said long-time customer Cindy Peay.

Every shopper said the same thing: O'Neal is an inspiration. If that wasn't enough, he's lightning-fast on the register.

Knopf has put her money where her mouth is.

"We want to change his life," she said.

She knows O'Neal's insurance likely won't cover all of the costs of difficult and extensive surgeries. So she's launched a Web site asking for donations for reconstructive surgery.

Knopf also got Kinkos to donate a thousand fliers and plans to distribute them to local schools and the registers at the Kingsgate Safeway.

Her generous heart tugged on Safeway's heartstrings. The grocer decided to kick in the first $10,000.

"James is our employee, he is one of us and we absolutely think the world of him," said Cherie Myers, Safeway's director of public and government affairs. "This is just a bonus, this our bonus to him. He never asked for it, he's never said 'woe is me.' He's proud to be who he is."

That's why customers flock to him. Knopf says she'll stand in line just to have him ring her up.

"James will always be the person he is inside. I'm hoping with this he'll have a new lease on life," said Knopf. She hopes to raise $50,000, but guesses the costs could add up to be much more.

"It makes me feel honored and proud," said O'Neal, who was stunned to learn his employer is not only kicking in $10,000, but is committed to helping him navigate through all the insurance paperwork.

O'Neal has lived with his disability since birth. Like the Elephant Man he has neurofibromatosis, not elephantiasis. The tumors stopped growing when he stopped growing. Surgery would rid him of the deformity for good.

"I think it's amazing what they want to do for me," he said. And it's clear they're doing it because of what O'Neal has done for them.

In July, Safeway stores in four states will kick off a three-week Canister Campaign, collecting donations to help O'Neal. Those who want to contribute can also donate online through KOMO News.

For More Information about neurofibromatosis

www.ctf.org

www.nfinc.org

Fly amongst the Valley of the Kings

Hot air balloon overlooking a mountain in Luxor, Egypt.

Fly as the distant balloon journeys,

Silhouetted by crimson mountains

hewn as shades of pomegranate.

Prosperity as savored with lips

moistened of dew.

For a thousands years is just one day,

As a thought is a lifetime.

-Deborah

Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, (aerial view ) Luxor, Egypt.

Fulbright scholarships on Schedule

The U.S. State Department has withdrawn all Fulbright grants to Palestinian students in Gaza hoping to pursue advanced degrees at American institutions this autumn because Israel has not granted permission for the students to leave Gaza.

The above introduction to an article, that found its way into the Global Edition of the New York Times by Ethan Bronner, is incorrect. As well as being splashed as real journalism, among several other news agencies.

The chosen Palestinians, will receive the Fulbright scholarships as scheduled, with the thoughtfulness it is sure from the precipitants, towards the U.S. State Department, was actually reported.

Nevertheless, there are no travel problems for the students that are to receive the scholarships. The necessary travel documents, has been reported, to already been received by the students.

Furthermore, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters traveling with her Friday that she was unaware of the decision.

It is reprehensible that articles would appear to slander the U.S. State Department and the Jewish people for these types of falsehoods, whomever the intention was to harm.

Majority of Russians consider United States a force for evil: US election 2008

29 May 2008

By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow

Given that Vladimir Putin, their revered prime minister, once likened the United States to the Third Reich, it should come as little surprise that Russians were more suspicious of their Cold War adversary’s motives than any other nationality surveyed.

Just 16 per cent of those surveyed thought the United States a force for good in the world, compared with 56 percent who considered it a force for evil.

You don’t have to look far to see why.

Many Russians reckon that the United States played a crucial role in the financial collapse of the 1990s by pushing Boris Yeltsin’s government into making precipitous economic reforms.

The Iraq war and a relentless stream of anti-US rhetoric from Mr Putin, who regularly portrayed Washington as an imperialist aggressor, have only heightened that antagonism.

America’s plans to build a missile defence shield in central Europe and a Washington-led campaign to bring the ex-Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine have also played on Russia’s traditional paranoia.

State television frequently points to both issues as evidence that the United States is conspiring to encircle and enfeeble Russia as part of a plot to steal its vast energy resources.

Arguably more surprisingly, the survey shows that John McCain enjoys more support in Russia than most of the G8. While he still trailed Barack Obama by seven per cent, 24 per cent of Russians said they could vote for him if they could — compared to just eight per cent of French respondents.

In Soviet times it was generally agreed that the Kremlin preferred to see a Republican in the White House. Conservatives were more straightforward to deal with because they acted from self-interest and were less concerned with human rights than their Democratic rivals, it was reckoned.

Mr McCain, however, has been roundly criticised in the Russian media for his antagonistic opinions towards Moscow. He has long called for Russia’s expulsion from the G8, has been scathing about Mr Putin and dismissed the country’s presidential elections in March as “rigged”.

While Mr Obama has hardly been fulsome about Russia, his criticism has been far more muted.

That his lead over his Republican rival is so slim probably has much to do with prejudice in a country where old-fashioned racism is still largely acceptable.

Many respondents, however, were equally dubious about both candidates with some 45 per cent saying they did not know who they would vote for or admitting they would vote for neither — a much higher proportion than the samples taken in other G8 countries.

That could have something to do with the aides the two candidates have chosen to advise them on foreign policy. Mr Obama’s team includes Michael McFaul, an academic who has been critical of Mr Putin and Zbigniew Brzezinski, a well known hawk on Russia.

Mr McCain, however, is advised on foreign policy by former secretaries of state James Baker and Henry Kissinger, both seen as more pragmatic on Russia.

The hands of both men were seen in a foreign policy speech by Mr McCain this week that took a softer line on Russia.

Whatever Mr McCain may have said about Russia in the past, he could well take a different tack were he to become president. Both George W Bush and Jacques Chirac, the former French president, were vocal in their criticism on Russia’s war in Chechnya while on the campaign trail — only to soften their positions when they took office.

“Most realise that every position outlined on the campaign trail is not necessarily fulfilled when the candidate becomes president,” said Lyudmilla Lebedeva, a director at the Institute for USA studies in Moscow.

Jewish Demonstrators for Syria Peace

Jewish demonstrators holds up a placard calling for peace with Damascus during a rally in favor of a peace agreement with Syria in front the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv on 29 May 2008.

Syria and Israel announced last week that they have launched indirect peace talks, through Turkey's mediation, after an eight-year freeze.

Qatari Diar to build $350m West Bank township

29 May 2008

Doha - Qatari Diar, Qatar Investment Authority's real estate arm, is all set to build Palestine's first planned community between Ramallah and Nablus on the West Bank for $350m.

Called Rawabi, or hills in Arabic, the upcoming town will consist of 5,000 affordable houses and will ultimately be home to over 40,000 people.

The site for the new community is situated nine kilometres north of Ramallah, an area currently under the control of the Palestinian Authority (Mahmoud Abbas Terrorists Organization).

The project will be developed and managed by Bayti, which is owned by Qatari Diar and Massar International, a holding company headquartered in Ramallah with real-estate development as its core business activity.

Qatari Diar has provided additional capital and, together with Massar International, will develop and construct the town.

Qatari Diar CEO Ghanim bin Saad Al Saad told a news conference yesterday the firms were committed to the advancement of the Palestinian economy and the welfare of the Palestinian people.

"Building Rawabi will create thousands of job opportunities as well as the chance for ordinary Palestinians to own their own home," he said.

Al Saad said the project had evoked a good response from both Qatari and Palestinian business communities and he was confident of its success.

He said it was encouraging that some 2,200 ownership applications have already been registered for the housing units, which underscores the great interest attached to the project.

Qatari Diar is also keen to carry out other projects in Palestine, in the industrial, health and education fields.

Qatari Diar’s Palestinian project: An artist’s impression of Palestine's first planned community between Ramallah and Nablus on the West Bank.

The construction phase of the Rawabi project will span five years and is expected to create some 10,000 jobs, according to Massar International Chairman Bashar Masri.

"Our primary goal in this project is to create job opportunities and develop the Palestinian economy," he said Masri.

He said the Rawabi project has moved from the drawing board to the implementation phase and the organizational structure will start to take shape by June.

The $350m project cost will cover the core of the town, but a master plan for a much larger area is being worked out which will ultimately bring the total investment in Rawabi within four to five years to over $1bn.

He said the financing would be sourced from average entrepreneurs. "We will open the doors for others to get involved, including small entrepreneurs, medium sized companies. Most Palestinian companies are relatively small and medium size. We will give them an opportunity through our master plan to get in and open up their businesses."

The current estimated housing shortfall in the West bank is greater than 200,000 units, a figure which increases roughly 10 percent every year. Masri said the absence of large-scale housing projects in the West Bank together with high prices for housing and limited land available for housing have created an acute housing shortage.

Within Ramallah, the demand for new homes is skyrocketing and along with it, rental rates and land prices.

The town of Rawabi is designed to attract Palestinians seeking affordable housing in a well-zoned, accessible environment.

When the town is fully built, it will feature more than 5,000 apartment and town home units housing up to 25,000 residents.

Additional residential and commercial units slated for subsequent construction phases will ultimately serve a town with a population of 40,000.

Moth Mimics Thorn in the Side

Pyralid moth caterpillar forms a pillar that mimics the thorn of the Acacia tree, Hazeva.

Marines are pushing Coin Christianity in Fallujah

U.S. Marines are handing out this coin, imprinted with a Gospel verse, to Fallujah residents.

29 May 2008

FALLUJAH, Iraq — At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure that he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.

Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. "Where will you spend eternity?" it asked.

He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16."

"They are trying to convert us to Christianity," said Anad, a Sunni Muslim like most residents of this city in Anbar province. At home, he told his story, and his relatives echoed their disapproval: They'd been given the coins, too, he said.

Now residents of the city are abuzz that some Americans whom they consider occupiers are also acting as Christian missionaries. Residents said some Marines at the western entrance to their city have been passing out the coins for two days in what they call a "humiliating" attempt to convert them to Christianity.

In the markets, people crowded around men with the coins, passing them to each other and asking in surprise, "Have you seen this?"

The head of the Sunni endowment in Fallujah, the organization that oversees Sunni places of worship and other religious establishments, demanded that the Marines stop.

"We say to the occupiers to stop this," said Sheikh Mohammed Amin Abdel Hadi. "This can cause strife between the Iraqis and especially between Muslim and Christians . ... Please stop these things and leave our homes because we are Muslims and we live in our homes in peace with other religions."

A spokesman said the U.S. military is investigating. It has been further reported today, that the Marines are using coins in an attempt to force Muslims to convert to Christianity.

"Multi-National Force-Iraq is investigating a report that U.S. military personnel in Fallujah handed-out material that is religious and evangelical in nature," the spokesman, Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, said in a statement.

In interviews, residents of Fallujah repeated two words — "humiliation" and "weakness".

"Because we are weak this is happening," said a shop owner who gave his name as Abu Abdullah. "Passing Christianity this way is disrespectful."

"The occupier is repeatedly trespassing on God and his religion," said Omar Delli, 23. "Now the occupier is planting seeds of strife between the Muslims and Christians. We demand the government in Fallujah have a new demonstration to let the occupier know that these things are humiliating Islam and the Quran."

The controversy over the coins that Iraqis said some Marines are passing out comes on the heels of a tempest triggered by a U.S. sniper who used the Quran, Islam's holy book, for target practice. The sniper was pulled out of Iraq after Iraqi police on May 11 found a Quran with 14 bullet holes and graffiti on the pages.

In Islam, the holy book is never to touch the floor, let alone be defaced. Iraqi leaders condemned the actions, U.S. generals apologized and President Bush offered a personal apology to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.

In Fallujah, Mohammed Jaber saw one of the coins and said he thought of the bullets lodged in the Quran, the torture of Iraqi men at the Abu Ghraib prison in 2004 and the rape of a 14-year-old girl and her murder and that of her family in Mahmoudiya.

"Now we have this missionary way by these coins," he said. "We feel the Muslims are weak and we hope that we will reach a point when we are strong to let them know what is wrong and what is right. "

Gitmo Lawyers Say U.S. is Rushing Cases

Broken

Defense For Alleged 9/11 Mastermind Object To Trial Starting So Close To U.S. Elections

29 May 2008

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico-Defense lawyers say the government is rushing 9/11 defendants to trial at Guantanamo to influence the U.S. presidential elections, and are asking the military judge to dismiss the case.

Military lawyers for alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other defendants say the prosecution is politically motivated. A copy of their filing with the war-crimes tribunal was said, to have been obtained by AP news agency on Thursday.

The defense notes that the prosecution proposes the trial begin on Sept. 15, less than two months before the presidential elections. The lawyers have said the military is pressuring prosecutors to try the Sept. 11 defendants soon to capture the attention of the American public.

Russian Alien Fish

7 February 2007

Village residents from the Rostov region of Russia caught a weird creature two weeks ago after a strong storm in the Sea of Azov. The shark-looking creature was producing strange squeaky sounds. The fishermen originally believed that they had caught an alien and decided to film the monster with the help of a cell phone camera. The footage clearly shows the creatures’ head, body and long tail. The bizarre catch was weighing almost 100 kilograms, was reported.

However, ufologists and scientists were greatly disappointed when they found out that the fishermen had eaten the monster. They said that they were not scared of the creature so they decided to use it as food. One of the men said that it was the most delicious dish he had ever eaten.

A spokesman for the Rostov-based zoo, Alexander Lipkovich, contacted local ichthyologists and asked their opinion about the Azov alien. “They said that the fish bears resemblance to a sturgeon. It was an extremely interesting individual. I have never seen anything like this before in my whole life,” the specialist said.

Another unidentified creature recently showed up in Russian ponds and ditches, while the creature has not so far been clearly identified, some people have questioned if the creature is a hoax, apparently from its unusual appearance.

Terrorism by Stone

Youth’s from Mahmoud Abbas’s terrorist organization throw stones at Jewish soldiers during clashes near an old construction site of Israel's controversial separation barrier in the West Bank village of Nilin, west of Ramallah, on 29 May 2008.

Israel said the barrier, which would have eventually reached 650 kilometers (400 mile), originally aimed to stop 'terror' attacks, while Abbas’s terrorist organization calls it 'the apartheid wall.'

No further building on the wall has occurred for some time and that the wall is still in position to detour Abbas’s terrorist attacks, to help maintain security for all citizens.

Flames rose from olive trees when terrorist loyal to Abbas’s terrorist organization ignited the groves while they were being subdued by the Jewish military, which were under attack by the terrorist. The fire was extinguished with the grove being saved, was reported, after the original inclination of just stone throwing.

Wounded terrorist carried my medics.

Furthermore, there was the inclination of the possibility of some wounded in trying to contain the terrorism outbreak, but appeared to be only minor.

What could have been a very explosive situation was handled in the best possible manner, from my understanding.

New West Bank Policemen Ceremony held

European Commision policemen gather prior to a medal ceremony held for newly trained Palestinian policemen working with the EU mission, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on 29 May 2008.

Palestinian policemen salute during their national anthem at a medal ceremony held by European Commission policemen for newly trained Palestinian policemen in the West Bank city of Ramallah on 29 May 2008.

A Palestinian orchestra plays their national anthem during a medal ceremony.

The mission, which started in January 2006, has trained and equipped Palestinian police to help turn it into an effective force towards fighting crime and terrorism, for a safer Palestine.

Prejudice of Difference

“Humanity Bleeds” by Andy Kehoe

29 May 2008

by HRM Deborah

In the twenty-first century, prejudice against Muslims or any one from the Middle East knows, has a name for there mistreatment and it is called, Islamophobia or Anti-Semitism .”

I can remember a time, before there was such words, that this problem was already within the fabric of the American society and had been for several generations.

I have spoken to Palestinian children and some adults who have been subject to the mainstream of the same rhetoric, that myself had been through, from the time I could first remember.

Usually this had to do because someone does not fit in the stereotypical idea of Americanism, from what I have observed, by ones look, personality, religion and thinking or in some cases the differences of dress.

It is found that people from numerous foreign countries, have a set culture and the idea of changing is not in their mental framework.

Personally, I have always believed a person should be true to themselves and in numerous cases may even alleviate certain social problems within a society.

Other people I have found, that are subject to similar treatments, are the Spanish and Black people in the American society and the four groups mentioned for example, will find usually isolationism more acceptable to maltreatment.

Prejudice of difference, should never be in any fabric of a society, for in doing so, it eventually not only erodes the nature of the said society, but also creates and intolerable situation not just to the abused, but the abuser.

For the betterment and appreciation of humanity, is the key stone for a brighter future for everyone.

Pressure Mounting for Olmert to Resign Unfounded

Jewish Prime Minister Ehud Olmert listens to his visiting Danish counterpart Anders Fogh Rasmussen during a welcoming ceremony at the Jewish prime ministry 29 May 2008 in Jerusalem.

Pressure is mounting on Olmert to resign as a corruption scandal allegedly involving some USD 150,000 in cash payments to Olmert by a New York businessman unfolds, which the allegations are in question as being unfounded, corrupted and illegal on the part of the parties making the allegations towards Olmert.

While their may be pressure by some among the Jewish populace for Olmert to resign, there is numerous other parties that find it appalling and cannot see Olmert even considering resigning under the mist of these questionable allegations.

While it is not so much a question of the businessman who is in the forefront of this situation, but the actual parties behind the corruption case, against Olmert that is in question for illegal activities.

Furthermore, Olmert is actually felt to be under attack, not because of the corruption case, but the fact he has done more for Jewish/Palestinian relations and security, then what has been seen in about one hundred years.

While some of his methods because of the Bush storm that blew in earlier part of the month that raised eyebrows, Olmert seems to have certain qualities, that was thought were lost years ago.

One thing, Olmert needs to remember, is to get a good umbrella when the storms come or extract the discomfort finally, with a strong dose of medicine that makes ones hair stand up and is better then Jewish Warsaw Ghetto strength caster oil in retrospect.

Fayyad Attended Terrorist Ceremony

Salam Fayyad attended a ceremony to inspect new recruits for the terrorist security forces, loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, in city of Jericho, yesterday, 28 May 2008.

A battalion of terrorist security forces came into Palestine after three-months of training in Jordan funded by the United States, to undermine Palestinian security, attack the Jewish populace and create a further upheaval of terrorism in the West Bank.

IAEA report confirms peaceful nature of Iran nuclear activities

29 May 2008

United Nations-The latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities in the past and at the present, Iran's mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement added that the recent report presented by the IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei to the 35-member Board of Governors on May 26, admitted that Iran, as a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, remained committed to regulations of the NPT and other international treaties and had full cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Tehran has cooperated with the IAEA far beyond its commitments, said the statement referring to Iran's sincere efforts to resolve the issue.

It stressed, "The full implementation of the Work Plan and thus resolution and closure of all the six outstanding issues have undoubtedly eliminated the most basic pretexts and allegations on the basis of which Iran's peaceful nuclear program was conveyed to the Security Council."

"Despite the fact that this has not been an outstanding issue between Iran and the IAEA and is a baseless allegation made by certain circles to undermine the positive momentum created in Iran's cooperation with the IAEA, Iran ... has cooperated seriously with the (UN nuclear) Agency."

It was also confirmed in ElBaradei's report that the IAEA was given the permission to inspect Iran's all nuclear facilities and sites and that Tehran had no diversion in its nuclear activities (to non-peaceful aims).

Reiterating that Iran has removed ambiguities over the six topics mentioned in the Work Plan and continued its nuclear activities "under Agency containment and surveillance," the statement said, Tehran put an end to the so-called concern or lack of confidence in its nuclear program.

It stated that settlement of the outstanding ambiguities proved that allegations made by certain countries against Iran's nuclear activities were unfounded.

The statement added that the complete implementation of agreements between Iran and the IAEA indicated that measures adopted by the UN Security Council against the Islamic Republic of Iran were "illegal and unfair".

The statement added that Tehran has not been allowed to receive copies of the documents claiming that Iran had been researching nuclear warheads.

It stressed that the IAEA is the only responsible body to investigate Iran's nuclear case.

Homosexual Marriage Acceptable in California?

LGBT supporters take to the streets with bubbly to celebrate California's Supreme Court ruling that overturned the ban on homosexual marriages.

28 May 2008

California counties can issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples beginning 17 June, the state said in a directive issued Wednesday.

The state Office of Vital Records said, it chose June 17 because the state Supreme Court has until the close of business on June 16 to decide whether to grant a stay of its 15 May ruling legalizing Homosexual marriage.

A group opposed to homosexual marriage has asked the court to stay its decision until after the November election, when voters are likely to face a ballot initiative that would once again define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Passage of the initiative would overrule the Supreme Court.

It is a historical fact, that any time a society promotes or has this type of situation occurring in said society, the society is destroyed in some manner, less we forget the cities buried under the Dead Sea.

While everyone perished in these cities but one family, at least thousands of years later, people are enjoying the mineral bathes created over the destruction, which some people have recorded that Allah created something similar to an atomic blast that destroyed all four cities.

Further Terrorism Hits’ the West Bank

Members of the terrorist security forces, loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, stand to attention during a parade as they return to the West Bank city of Jericho on 28 May 2008, fresh from training in neighboring Jordan.

A battalion of these terrorist security forces returned today from three-months of training in Jordan funded by the United States, to create security havoc for all Palestinian citizens in the West Bank.

What is interesting, is how the United States can afford to fund Abbas’s terrorist organization, while there country is getting to look as poverty stricken as the reputation that Mexico has had for many years; with what I have also seen lately, as rampant alcoholism, promiscuity and among other distresses. What makes matters worse, this was seen being in a passing car on an ordinary street.

Members of the terrorist security forces, loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, on the march in the West Bank city of Jericho.

Jerusalem camera catches brutal attack by Jewish teens on Arab youths

Jews stood in silence as sirens mark the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day, 1 May 2008 in Tel Aviv.

28 May 2008
By Uri Blau

Dozens of Jewish teens were caught on camera outside a Jerusalem mall carrying out a brutal attack on two Arab youths on Holocaust Remembrance Day earlier this month.

Some two weeks ago, indictments were filed against 11 youths, eight of them minors, suspected of having perpetrated the attack in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood. According to the indictment, the boys responded to a message on the ICQ instant messaging internet program calling for "Jewish blood" to "put an end to Arabs running around the Pisga." According to the indictment, the Jewish teens gathered outside the local shopping center armed with knives, sticks and bats and attacked two Arab teens, aged 16 and 18, from the nearby Shuafat refugee camp.

One of the Arab youths, Ahmed Abu Camal, was stabbed in the back, but managed to escape. His friend was described by one of the suspects during questioning as a "trampoline and a punching bag." The suspect recounted how "everyone jumped, kicked and stepped on him."

In the video footage, a group of teens can be seen waiting outside the shopping mall. At around 11 P.M. the two victims can be seen walking past the group. After a short dialogue, the video shows one of the victims being hurled into the street, pushed toward the railing and then viciously attacked.

In his testimony, the victim told police officers that "a group of children, numbering more than 80, pounced on us and they had bats and knives in their hands and they attacked us. All I remember now is that I passed out and woke up in the hospital."

The video shows Abu Camal fleeing the scene chased by a number of Jewish teens. In a recent conversation, he said "when I passed by the entrance there was a large crowd of young men who just stood there while I walked between them on the shoulder of the street. I heard them talking among themselves and they said something like 'are those them? Are they them?' and then someone stuck a knife in my back and knocked me down and continued to beat me. One guy bit my ear. I don't know how I managed to get up, but I got up and ran away."

The video footage shows the Jewish teens fleeing the area after a car passes by. The unconscious Arab teen can be seen left on the side of the road until he is taken away by what appears to be shopping mall security staff.

On Sunday, the Supreme Court decided to release all the suspects that remained in custody to house arrest. Attorney Yehuda Shushan, who represented three of the suspects, said "there is no doubt that this incident must be dealt with from an educational point of view, but at the same time each suspect should be judged according to his individual level of involvement. It is doubtful that those who were present but did nothing should be charged, otherwise.

Ali's Dead

Iraqi father seeks Blackwater apology

28 May 2008

By Mike Lanchin and Mona Mahmoud

Eight months after his nine-year-old son died in a shooting incident involving private security guards from the US firm Blackwater, the boy's father has called for an official apology and admission of guilt from the company, rather than compensation.

"I am ready to sign a deal [with Blackwater] in exchange for an admission of the crime and an apology," Mohammed Hafidh Abdul-Razzaq, a car spare-parts dealer from Baghdad, told the BBC.

"This is important for me, morally, for my family and my tribe."

He said he had conveyed the message to one of the company's officials when they met in the Iraqi capital; but, he said, he was told that an admission would not be possible "for legal reasons".

On Tuesday, Mr Abdul-Razzaq was one of three Iraqis to give evidence to a closed-door session of a federal grand jury in Washington investigating the shooting on 16 September, 2007, in which 17 Iraqi civilians died, including Mr Abdul-Razzaq's son Ali.

It was one of the most serious incidents involving private security firms in Iraq.

According to Blackwater Worldwide, its guards were responding to an attack on the convoy they were assigned to protect.

The company's owner, Eric Prince, told a congressional hearing last year into the shooting that Nisoor Square was a "terrorist crime scene".

A spokesperson for Blackwater declined a BBC invitation for an interview, citing the ongoing investigations.

'Ali's dead'

Speaking to the BBC before he travelled, Mr Abdul-Razzaq said that he was not aware of any threat to the Blackwater convoy in Nisoor Square.

Mr Abdul-Razzaq had been driving home with his sister, her three children and Ali. He said that "everything was quiet, nothing was happening" when the security guards began to open fire on civilian vehicles, including his own.

"They just kept shooting, although no-one was moving, they were just combing the whole road, tat tat tat, like that, there was nothing in the road."

He said that he and his sister huddled together, each trying to protect the other, while the four children tried to find protection under cushions in the back of the car.

He said the shooting lasted "10, perhaps 15 minutes" and that when he climbed out of the bullet-ridden car, shaken but unharmed, one of his nephews called out to him from the back seat: "Uncle, Ali's dead."

Sobbing, he described opening the car door to a scene of horror. His son had been shot in the head. "I pushed him back inside and I began to shout down the road, 'They've killed my son, they've killed my son'."

'New procedures'

Following the shooting, Mr Abdul-Razzaq said that on at least two occasions he had been offered compensation by Blackwater and US government officials in Baghdad.

On each occasion, he said he had turned down the offers - one of which was for US$12,500. "Other people who have relatives who were victims took the money, but I refused," he said.

Patrick Kennedy, under secretary of state for management, confirmed that it was US policy to offer compensation to Iraqi civilians "in circumstances where it was evident that [they] were not engaged in an attack on the United States".

Mr Kennedy said that the US government had established new procedures for its security contractors - including Blackwater - following the shooting last year.

Each convoy was now required to be accompanied by a US state department official, and to install cameras and recording equipment on their vehicles.

"I know of no other country in Iraq that employs these measures," Mr Kennedy said.

John Holmes, a retired major general and director of the British security firm Erinys International, which has been offering protection services in Iraq since August 2003, said there was now a "closer relationship" between the American military and all the private security convoys.

Companies were now required to give at least 72 hours notice to the military of all movements - something lacking in the past, he said.

But, he added: "There will always be some difference between companies, depending on their previous military experience and nationality, the same as the difference between units in a multi-national force, which have a different interpretation of the rules and regulations."

Jibes highlight Bush-Mubarak rift

20 May 2008

UK-It has emerged that US President George Bush and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt were studiously absent from each other's speeches at the World Economic Forum in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, as the BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi reports from Cairo.

The pre-conference photo session was cordial enough - but that is where the niceties ended.

Both leaders' speeches contained strong criticism of the other. And it appears neither wanted to be present as the other spoke.

Mr Bush's sarcastic remarks about Arab politics were clearly offensive to the Egyptians, as well as to other Arab officials.

He said that "too often in the Middle East, politics has consisted of one leader in power and the opposition in jail".

Mr Mubarak has been in power for nearly three decades and many of his political opponents are in prison.

Reference to Iraq

In his speech, Mr Mubarak said the imposition of democracy from abroad could only bring chaos and instability.

That was obviously a reference to Mr Bush's troubles in Iraq, used frequently by Arab rulers to rebuff Washington's pressure to allow for greater political participation.

Mr Mubarak also sought to dispel the right-wing neo-con American doctrine that lack of democracy breeds terrorism.

He said the main cause of instability in the region was the unresolved conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

While these disagreements are not in themselves new, the insistence of both men to highlight them in an international venue, in front of world cameras, shows the extent of the rift between them.

President 'on way out'

Officials from both sides often acknowledge that there are disagreements, but that the two countries share common strategic interests.

However, the bulk of Mr Bush's speech was about the lack of political reform in Arab societies.

It reflected the president's frustration with Arab rulers who not only resist his freedom agenda, but are also reluctant to endorse his tough stance against Iran.

It is now obvious that Arab autocrats have weathered the storms of the Bush era and that they can afford to ignore him, knowing that he has only a few months left in office.

Bush was not "forthright" on Iraq: ex-press secretary

28 May 2008

WASHINGTON-Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says in a new book that President George W. Bush "veered terribly off course" and was not "open and forthright on Iraq," Politico.com reported on Tuesday.

In the memoir due out next week, McClellan also says Bush relied on "propaganda" to sell the war and says the Washington press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to it, according to the Web site.

McClellan also takes the administration to task for its performance after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, saying the White House "spent most of the first week in a state of denial," Politico reported.

According to the Web site, McClellan blames former Bush senior adviser Karl Rove for the photo of the president seen observing the disaster during an Air Force One flyover.

"One of the worst disasters in our nation's history became one of the biggest disasters in Bush's presidency. Katrina and the botched federal response to it would largely come to define Bush's second term," Politico quoted the book as saying.

McClellan's 341-page book, titled "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," takes a much harsher tone than White House officials had expected from the president's former aide, Politico reported.

The White House declined comment.

In the memoir, McClellan is said to claim that Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, misled him about their role in the CIA leak case. Libby was convicted last year on charges related to the investigation into who blew the cover of former CIA analyst Valerie Plame, whose husband was an outspoken Iraq war critic.

McClellan served as White House press secretary from July 2003 to April 2006. A long-time Bush loyalist and fellow Texan, he said that he still likes and admires the president and that Bush was ill-served by top advisors.

Note:
What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception, is scheduled to be released on 2 June 2008.

Counterterrorism On the Move

Palestinian man and a child sit next to the illegal terrorist welcome sign of the northern West Bank village of Al-Aqaba on 27 May 2008.

Israeli demolition orders are currently targeting more than 70 per cent of Aqaba's structures, involving 28 Palestinian family houses and several public buildings such as the kindergarten, the school and the local clinic. If the demolition orders go ahead as many as 200 people could be forced to leave their home village, which lies entirely in Area C on the edge of the Jordan Valley, about 7 kms east of Tubas city.

The actual situation of the dwellings being targeted are those associated with Mahmoud Abbas’s terrorist organization and the Jewish military apparently, has considered these demolitions a counterterrorism initiative.

It is understood, that many counterterrorism initiatives have been put in place recently with the constant bombardment of attacks against Jewish and Palestinian citizens by Abbas’s terrorist organization.
A Palestinian worker fixes a wooden frame at a construction site in the northern West Bank village of Al-Aqaba.

As for the majority of Palestinians, their homes and property is perfectly safe, from such measure’s. New homes, as well as many other types of structures, it has been reported, to be showing ever where in Palestine.

In the Playground

Palestinian children play in the playgound of their kindergarden in the northern West Bank village of Al-Aqaba on 27 May 2008.
Palestinian children wait for the bus before leaving their kindergarten the end of the school day in the northern West Bank village of Al-Aqaba.

Palestinian children look out of their school bus as they leave their kindergarden in the northern West Bank village of Al-Aqaba.

Larijani critical of US meddling with Iran-IAEA cooperation

28 May 2008

Tehran-Majlis Speaker, Ali Larijani, on Wednesday expressed concern about mysterious US meddling with Iranian interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"A mysterious diplomatic give-and-take is underway between US and the UN nuclear agency to bring baseless allegations against Iran," he said in his first reaction to a report IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei released on May 27.

Addressing the Majlis formal session, he said, "The Majlis will not allow such a deception to be made."
"If such a trend continues, the 8th Majlis will intervene in the case and set a new line for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," he said.

He regretted that several articles of ElBaradei's latest report have been written in an ambiguous way.

He also criticized media disinformation about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities in the past few days.

The IAEA has admitted that all nuclear substances of the enrichment fuel factory and the heavy water plant are under the agency's supervision, Larijani stressed.

The report has also stressed that no sign of enrichment-related reprocessing activities have been witnessed in Iran's installations and that the agency is monitoring the country's heavy water-related activities by satellite pictures, Larijani noted.

He urged the IAEA to issue law-based reports and not to be trapped by disinformation.

Several articles of the report prove that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not deviated from its peaceful nuclear program and that all the Iranian nuclear activities are under direct supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog, Larijani noted.
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Commentary

One thing that is greatly noticed about the Bush Administration, is there apparent tricks, games or jokes which are not actually funny, for it causes undue leg work for certain organizations, as well as an overflow of unneeded paperwork, to perpetrate a cloud of either mistrust towards a country or person’s, in my opinion, just a case of meanest.

Usually, these are attacks, that are caused towards countries or persons that due not jump through the Bush hoop and other means of attacks or threats have not worked in the past.

It could be a situation, like is seen above, different forms of legal action, among other types of activities, that is usually considered illegal in the laws of International law.