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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JD who wrote (49979)	10/11/2006 5:15:20 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Toby Huff examines the long-standing question of why modern science arose only in the West and not in the civilizations of Islam and China, despite the fact that medieval Islam and China were more scientifically advanced. Huff explores the cultural contexts within which science was practiced in Islam, China, and the West. He finds major clues in the history of law and the European cultural revolution of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, as to why the ethos of science arose in the West and permitted the breakthrough to modern science that did not occur elsewhere. The bedrock reason that explains the failure of Islam to usher modern science is articulated very well by Dr. Huff in his book, page 158, that reads as follows: "It was even essential to Islam, ..., because the 'method was part and parcel of the Islamic orthodox process for determining orthodoxy. Where it failed was in the creation of a set of objective standards of law, against which all other laws and principles could be judged. Since the legal principles of Islamic law had been given once and for all, in the Quran and the sunna, and in the principles of fiqh worked out by al-Shafi'i, the only task left was to use logic in the narrow sense, to uncover faulty reasoning and thus preserve the doctrinal status quo...." This explains clearly, as one finds that application "freethought" was arrested and persecuted by the dictates in the theological canons of Islam, why modern science did not take birth from the womb of Islam, but rather took firm foothold in the European rennaisance ushering the birth of quantum (wave) mechanics and modern science. cybermusings.blogspot.com

To: JD who wrote (49979)	10/11/2006 5:23:05 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Unseen to many, the undercurrents of a sea change of attitude and a theological confrontation within 'shiite' Islam is right now being played in Iraq-Iran religious 'Meccas' of Najaf and Qom, this comes to me as no surprise, the implosion in the sturcture of activist Shiite Islam is bound to happen.. It is some thing that I have highlighted several times.. ''The battle of wills so far in present altercation have undoubtedly been won by the elder grand Ayatollah Sistani and his favored doctrine of "quietism" won over calls of "activism." From designed chaos aimed at popular uprising of the South to peaceful withdrawal Sistani political maneuverings helped defuse the crisis, in the process he has emerged as a new force to reckon with. Sistani plan to have higher goals his ambitions of Shiite heart and soul stems from his desire to shift the thrust of Shiite theocracy from Qom to Najaf and Karbela. Whether clerics should confine their activities to religious affairs or also seek, a role in politics has been a matter of fierce debate among Shi'ites for well over a century. Sunnis, who in theory are expected to obey their rulers and even tolerate a tyrant in order to avoid civil strife and preserve the cohesion of the Muslim community, observant Shi'ites recognize no authority on earth except that of the imam. The twelfth imam is believed to be hidden from view and is expected to return one day as a messianic figure, the Mahdi. In his absence, there can be no human sovereign who is fully legitimate. This ambivalence toward worldly power has resulted in different interpretations within Shi'ite Islam regarding government accountability and the role of the clerics in state affairs. Imam Khomeini's concept of the rule of the jurist is only one among several competing views. Sistani although being an Iranian born is a puritan first; his puritan streak overtakes his nationalistic passion. His believes in Shiite quietism are far more firm than Khomeini‚s activism and control of state. The majority in the south will pass the constitution of Iraq after this call. Sadr just does not have the clout to carry the dissent on behalf of Iran. Definitely, a lot of blood shed and infighting shall ensue, he is perfectly capable of that and a spoiler with great support in Shiite community around Baghdad. Perhaps ultimately the showdown between Iranian backed Sadr and nationalist, ideologically puritan Sistani is a good step for stability of Iraq. The call of Sistani to support the constitution is pragmatic and inclusive. Removal of Saddam Hussein from Iraq had already weakened Syria's regional ambitions. Iran with all its ideological affinity with Iraq is poles apart from Iraq's Sistani. He holds papal authority over his fold. The Iranian-born ayatollah adheres to the Shi'ite ritual known as quietism, which holds that though clerics can articulate at moments of national crisis, they must not take part directly in politics. Sistani's quietism conflicts directly with the theocratic ideology of Shi'ite Iran. When Sistani speaks out on political matters, his words carry colossal weight among Iraqi Shi'ites, about 60 percent of the country's population. He rarely mentions religion in his political pronouncements. "Not a word he's written couldn't have been written by a member of the political theory faculty at Harvard," remarked Noah Feldman, professor of law at New York University and former senior constitutional adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority. Middle East is going through a huge realignment and transformation; like the fall out from Yugoslavia in the backyard of Europe which was bloody and painful in the early nineties, new realities are emerging fast and will settle in time. The wounds and centuries-old hatred is being covered live and broadcasted in our living areas; instant gratification demands that everything is settled in quick time, but slowly and surely things are falling in place, wars are futile and peaceful coexistence the only way. Sistani detachment in this 'Shiite war' in Lebanon was remarkable. It is he who reigns supreme in Iraq, and not Iran, and the Iranians know it well. Bashar feels strategically quite orphaned to handle Israel on his own; with the help of Iran and Hezbollah, he sees his role as a spoiler but in doing so has dropped the political support of Saudis and Sunni Arab hinterland and streets. The core of the Arab leadership, like Ghaddafi and Mubarak, seldom raised their voice in favour of Hezbollah or Iranian-Syrian axis. They practically deserted them. The recent war has re-established the principle of pre-emption. The reconciliatory statement of Ahmdeinejad has to be seen in this context. Middle East Transparent - Ahmadinejad climb-down, the tactical ... ''Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani meeting with aides Thursday in the holy city of Najaf, urged his followers to vote "yes" on the new basic law, according to two top officials in al-Sistani organization. The officials refused to be identified because they are not authorized to speak for the reclusive cleric. The lingering conflict in Iraq, demonstrates the subtle dynamics of Iraqi Shi'ism and the extent to which it affects power brokering in the Iraqi state. By handing over the keys to the Imam Ali mosque after last year stand off, Iraq's holiest Shi'ite shrine, Sadr transferred the ideological legitimacy to the authentic victor of the Najaf uprising, Grand Ayatollah Sistani. '' THE IRANIAN: Schism within contemporary Shi'ism, Iqbal Latif

To: JD who wrote (49979)	10/11/2006 5:30:00 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

One needs to have a long view where statecraft is concerned..In Afghanistan, the Bush Doctrine has been a monumental success. During presidential elections, 10.5 million Afghanis registered to vote, 40.3% percent of them women. Afghanis were given a diverse list of eighteen presidential candidates to choose from while being given access to 25,000 poll stations across the country. In December's parliamentary elections the country elected its first parliament since the late 60's. A variety of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds were represented by the three hundred fifty one elected. The spurring turnout surprised most pundits, the thought of one of the poorest nations in the world where there's more illiterates than literates embracing democracy was a mandate. ''In 2005, ABC conducted the first nation-wide poll inside of Afghanistan, showing the enthusiasm and confidence of the average Afghani. According to the poll ninety one percent said that they supported Karzai's government while only one percent said they supported Taliban. When asked their sentiments towards the United States overthrow of the Taliban, eighty seven percent said it was a good thing while only nine percent said it was a bad. When asked if women should be allowed to hold office, sixty four percent said yes. When asked if Afghanistan is going in right direction seventy seven percent said yes. When asked for approval of current living conditions, eighty five percent agreed. When asked what the greatest danger to Afghanistan is, forty one percent said the Taliban only four percent said the United States. In a 2005 report, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said "under the post-Taliban interim Government, Afghanistan's economy has recovered significantly. Non-drug gross domestic product (GDP) rose to about over $4 billion in 2002, and economic growth for 2003 was estimated at 16 per cent. Considerable progress has been made on the education front. By 2004, 54.4 percent of primary age children were in school. Since 2002, a record four million high school students have enrolled. But Afghanistan still has "the worst education system in the world," and one of the lowest adult literacy rates, at just 28.7 per cent of the population, according to the report." These results show the dynamics of the Afghani nation and their proud push towards a modern, progressive democracy. Many Americans have been false-heartedly led by the mainstream media to believe that the doctrine has become an unmitigated disaster. This form of distorting reality frames a deceptive image of the conditions in Afghanistan. Propaganda wars aside, the truth emanating from Afghanistan is that the Asian country is progressing in remarkable fashion and the tremendous majority of Afghanis are supportive of both the Karzai government and are grateful to The Bush Administration. The Afghanis understand that it takes time to progress toward an independent, proud modern democratic nation, but they also understand that Afghanistan will eventually emerge as one of the seats of progress in the Middle East because the spirit of the The Lion of Panjshir lives on. '' iranian.com

To: JD who wrote (49979)	10/11/2006 11:05:12 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

An apology due from Krugman (Deficits and Deceit-Published: March 4, 2005),tax cuts do work..<< Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. recorded a budget deficit of $248 billion in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, $48 billion less than the government predicted in August and the narrowest spending gap since 2002. Revenue increased 12 percent from the previous fiscal year, led by a 27 percent gain in corporate income taxes, the Treasury said today in Washington. Spending rose 7.4 percent to a record $2.65 trillion. ``The economy is improving, and that's happened in part because of the pro-growth tax cuts,'' Rob Portman, director of the Officer of Management and Budget, told CNBC in an interview today before the figures were announced. >> Deficits and Deceit By PAUL KRUGMAN nytimes.com Four years ago, Alan Greenspan urged Congress to cut taxes, asserting that the federal government was in imminent danger of paying off too much debt. On Wednesday the Fed chairman warned Congress of the opposite fiscal danger: he asserted that there would be large budget deficits for the foreseeable future, leading to an unsustainable rise in federal debt. But he counseled against reversing the tax cuts, calling instead for cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Does anyone still take Mr. Greenspan's pose as a nonpartisan font of wisdom seriously? When Mr. Greenspan made his contorted argument for tax cuts back in 2001, his reputation made it hard for many observers to admit the obvious: he was mainly looking for some way to do the Bush administration a political favor. But there's no reason to be taken in by his equally weak, contorted argument against reversing those cuts today. Rest is history....

To: JD who wrote (49979)	10/13/2006 5:26:22 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Australian PM addressing the parliament.. “The greatest antidotes against Islamic terrorism and those people of the Islamic faith who blasphemously distort the values of that great religion ... are moderate Islamic leaders like President Yudhoyono of Indonesia and President Musharraf of Pakistan,” Howard said. “We must hope in the name of fighting terrorism that their leadership triumphs over the more extreme elements in their society,” he added. Howard described Yudhoyono’s commitment to fighting terrorism as “undoubted and unconditional.” “As we reflect on those events (in Bali) and the possibility that terrorism will strike again in our region – and the possibility of it striking on our own homeland cannot be ruled out – we should hope that moderate Islamic leaders like President Yudhoyono are supported and are successful,” Howard said. AP