Notions

The Jordanian pilot, ISIS, vengeance, conspiracy theories and the western blue print of all of it have been on the news and social media networks in the past month or so. Regardless of the in-depth analysis, a Jordanian soldier died and the news spread. Every Jordanian was appalled to see Muaz Al Kasabe, a fighter jet pilot, burnt to death by the Islamic State’s militants. When the political leadership decided to retaliate, people expressed boisterous support to the retrieval of social dignity. The Jordanian flag hanging on the picture of the deceased pilot became the profile picture of many...the calls for vengeance for the crime committed against beloved Jordan escalated and national pride only was bolstered. The idea of a welfare state is that which protects its citizens and provides them with all necessary services and goods to guarantee a dignified life. This promise must be met in the good and bad times. Just as the water authority is committed to supplying non-interrupted...

A Jordanian pilot fighting the ISIS was captured in December 2014 by the Islamic State’s militants. The Jordanian government was on alert ever since, trying to develop a strategy to rescue the pilot whose life is in great peril. The IS threatened to slaughter the pilots well as the Japanese hostage if the notorious Al Qaeda terrorist detained in Jordan is not released. So what can the Jordanian government do? Re-open a channel of diplomatic communication with the terrorist state to negotiate a deal? Agree on a prisoner-swap based on “good faith”? Forget about the pilot and consider him a martyr on the job? Perhaps plan a covert attack and rescue Mr. Moaz Al Kassasbe? A report recently being circulated in the media claims that Amman is indeed considering a deal to swap prisoners. However, should the IS decide to kill the pilot, the Jordanian government will sentence all prisoners accused of plotting terrorist attacks, having links to terrorist groups and related in any shape or...

* There comes a time in history when people must forget, forgive, and move on. Everyone suffered. Rights were returned. The page must be turned. *Image provided by http://www.myriamabdelaziz.com/#!portraitofagenocide/c24vr 

     The visit of Michelle Obama to Saudi Arabia to condole Al Saud for their loss caused vehemence on social networking sites. The first lady was portrayed as an arrogant, defiant, disgruntled and critical little princess who laughed at Saudi culture in the face of the royal family. The virgin eyes of many Saudis could not stand the image of an unveiled lady standing between men in a funeral (the horror). How dare she? How dare she use her position as the president’s wife to defy the essence of Saudi social conduct? Slamming the Saudi attire as inappropriate and feeling relaxed in her wardrobe...the shame. It baffles me to see how double standards are so easily accepted in many Arab states, Saudi Arabia being crowned at the top of the list. The argument used by some Saudis (not all are closed minded of course – many are enlightened, educated and civilized) is that when in Rome do what the Romans do. Respecting the Saudi culture, good or bad, is only polite. Jus...

Paris. The world had it with Islamic militarism… the Charlie Hebdo incident and the shootings at the Jewish store east Paris were the last straw. World leaders joined hands in the anti-terror rally in Paris to express solidarity with victims’ families, renounce violence and reject any form of suppression to the freedom of expression. EU leaders are also holding meetings to study mechanisms to curb violent Islamic radicalism. Jewish communities in France and elsewhere in Europe are being provided extra-protection against possible acts of vengeance and retaliation. The Israeli government, mourning events, took full advantage of the situation and ran to the podium to draw parallels between jihadism and terrorism, ISIS and Hamas and Islamic extremism and the holocaust. From the many articles and analysis I read on the matter, one particular op-ed stood out. The author, the respectable journalist and expert, Dr. AbdelBari Atwan, sympathized with the victims and renounced all act...

I was in a philosophy class back in 2003 when my professor warned me/gave me a public advice: “you better stop right now as you already got yourself into too much trouble”. He was referring to some comments I made – undiplomatic and not-so-eloquently-phrased – about the Great Arab Revolt in 1916. Probably influenced by a book I read about the Revolt and how some Arab forces joined hands with the British Empire to topple the Ottoman rule, I criticised the revolutionary forces, the Hijaz leadership and their putsch . Back in my idealistic days, I believed that loyalty must trump interest and that problems should be solved from within, not without. Now the professor feared for himself perhaps and decided to cut my ramblings short, considering that those leaderships I was criticizing (strictly in the 1916 context) were the same leadership ruling the country today (noting that later on I worked in fact in public institutions loyal to this leadership). In any case, I am sure my profess...

Marine Le pen’s interview with Euronews on December 1 st was – unfortunately – impressive. The notorious leader of the anti-EU Front Nationale, who never shies away from protecting the French identity and interests at any cost – is an important contender for the presidential elections set for 2014. Her stances on the international and regional spheres were clear, direct and confidant. Her over-confidence and conviction in what she stands for and how she will translate these convictions into policies pose a challenge to the consistence of France’s foreign policy. Incremental politics? No cheri. Le Pen said in her interview that she admires Putin’s “cool head”. She acknowledged that there is a cold war being waged against him by the EU at the behest of United States, defending the rights of Crimean citizens to take back the 1954 gift and return it to its natural owners and condemning the ousting of Viktor Yanukovich and the illegitimate government that came after the putsch . In...