Rewriting History!
Baghdad, Iraq
It is truly amazing!
If you didn’t know, you would be hard pressed to know that the Americans had actually been the ones to overthrow Saddam Hussein and liberate Iraq.
One could even call it a stroke of genius!
Nowhere is there a monument, sign or anything to say “thank you” to the brave American men and women who paid the ultimate price of over 4,000 lives and over 40,000 injured, to as the young soldiers you can encounter every day say in their own words “Give the Iraqis what we have – freedom!”
You can call it “rewriting history”, “erasing history” or just plain old lying, but the results are the same – a very clear effort to erase the Americans and their contribution from Iraq and create a new version of history that, while not saying it in so many words implies that the Iraqis themselves overthrow the Dictator with the support of their friends in the Middle East.
One sees it daily in small ways.
A soldier at a Checkpoint who has to get permission from a group of Iraqi Soldiers for everything he does.
“You would think the Iraqis overthrew Saddam Hussein by themselves and we are just a nuisance they are trying to get rid of as soon as they can” he says.
American soldiers forced to bow and “genuflex” and literally apologize for their very existence in the country every time they have a meeting with an Iraqi.
Constant pressure to turn over more and more areas, vitally needed to complete the ongoing process of reconstruction and to protect and enable the American effort.
Another is visa requirements.
After liberating the country, putting in billions of dollars to rebuild the country and paying such a huge price in our best and brightest one would think that Americans coming to Iraq would be treated with a little respect, honor and appreciation.
It is traditional in countries that the US has liberated going from Japan to Korea to Germany and more that Americans are welcomed to come and visa requirements reflect this.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Talk to George Stevens who recently came to Iraq. In spite of having an Iraqi Visa which he had waited for weeks to get, he was stopped at Baghdad International Airport for over three hours because the Embassy had not properly communicated his visa to the Interior Ministry and treated literally like a criminal.
For Bat Ye’or, though in her landmark book “The Decline of Christianity under Islam” it would be no surprise.
Her book analyzes the long relationship between political islam and what are called the “Dhimmi” or “peoples of the book”; literally the Christians and Jews living in the Middle East who until the rise of political islam were the vast majority in the area.
The major point of her thesis is that from its very beginning political islam was parasitic, essentially feeding off the “Dhimmi”.
Simply put, the beginning of political islam was tribes living in the desert conquering the stable Christian and Jewish areas, dominating them and feeding off them by charging them astronomical “protection” money, forcing them to wear distinctive clothing, bow and respect
their Islamic conquerors and more.
Due to this “parasitic” idealogy, essentially the Christian and Jewish communities were slowly driven out from the Middle East and as a result political islam killed the very source of their wealth.
Without oil to fill the gap, political islam would have died a very long time ago simply because of its inability to create wealth say experts.
The Christian and Jewish population which was essentially the Middle East was dramatically reduced to about 20% in the 1950s and following the rise of Khomeini in Iraq in particular, further reduced to the point that it is now under 2% and falling dramatically.
Many view the problems in the Middle East as more economic than anything else due to the dramatic departure of the Christians and Jews who ran the economies as the critical middle class of the region.
It is unemployed youth who are the main source of terrorism and the constant problems in the Middle East.
Many in fact go so far as to view the supposed great accomplishments of the supposed “golden age of political islam” as in fact not accomplishments of political islam itself, but rather much as in the Tang Dynasty in China, accomplishments of the oppressed Dhimmi in its midst instead.
“What is happening in Iraq today is not unique” says one expert who asks not to be identified.
“It fits into the classic pattern of using Christians, Jews and others to accomplish important tasks for political islam and then erasing what they have done.
In a few years, most people will probably think that the Liberation of Iraq was accomplished by the Iraqi people with support from the moslem world.” He continued
One would be hard pressed to disagree with him. The rewriting of history has already begun and at least on the surface the Americans seem to be enthusiastically supporting their own erasure from history.
One would think that if nothing else the unimaginable sacrifice of blood and treasure would be motivation enough to make sure that America’s great accomplishment in liberating 28 million people from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein and the subsequent rebuilding of the nation in the greatest such effort since World War II.
A good start would be an official “thank you” from even one Iraqi Government official and at least one monument in a prominent place in Baghdad memorializing the sacrifice of America.
Amir George
Monday, February 23, 2009
Transparency and Accountability!
Transparency and Accountability
Baghdad, Iraq
At a time of financial crisis and in a new day where "Transparency and Accountability" are the new buzz words, a good place to start is Iraq where the United States has expended nearly one trillion dollars since liberating 28 million from the Terror of Saddam Hussein.
Shortly after the Liberation of Iraq, a TV Station and network was begun. It is called "Al Hurrah" or "The Free One"
The only other TV Network broadcasting in Iraq and available without Satellite amazingly was a 24 hour Iranian Arabic Channel slandering the US nonstop.
Paid for by US Taxpayers to the tune of over $70 Million Dollars a year, one would think that it would be a beacon of hope and positive news in Iraq and the Middle East.
A recent check of an average Middle East Satellite selection shows 522 Channels with 56 or just over 10% broadcasting what the locals call "Islamic" programming.
A far cry from any kind of religious fare one similarly copied "commercial" is nonstop on most of them – the picture of US Troops kicking down doors, roughing up prisoners interspersed with bizarre footage of bleeding children, wailing parents and more.
The ones suffering the most as a result in addition to the average public are the Assyrian Christians, the indigenous people of Iraq from the time Iraq was the first Christian Nation in history – now down to about 10% of the population.
Speaking with the director for Iraq – we will all him Ali Mohammed – we asked a few questions about the Channel he has been in charge of in Iraq since 2003.
"How often do you have programs on all the good the Americans are doing in Iraq – rebuilding schools, getting the electricity going, helping train the police, army and more."
A fairly reasonable question, seeing that it is a 100% US Taxpayer financed network.
The reaction was stunning and I checked again to make sure I had the words correct.
"I hate to report on anything the Americans are doing" he said
"It is not my type. It is not my job to promote American propaganda." He continued.
His assistant chipped in "what have the Americans done for Iraq"
We pressed on "When was the last time you did a program on what the Americans are doing in Iraq?"
He paused and said "Oh, maybe once six months ago"
Previously having worked at networks in Dubai and Kuwait he was hired immediately following the Liberation of Iraq and has been on the US Payroll since.
Watching "Al Hurrah" with some Iraqi friends they became instantly upset as an "Inman" or moslem Priest was featured on the program.
"Why do the Americans do this" they replied! Why are they always promoting islam?
Another young man put it even more clearly. "The Americans are hated because of a very simple reason" he said. "For those of us who see what the Americans do every day with our own eyes, we love them for it and are so grateful.
For most of the Iraqis, and for most people in the Middle East all they see are the terrible reports on all the Arab channels that tell crazy stories of the Americans purposely stopping the electricity to hurt the Iraqis, hurting the women and children and all kinds of other lies."
"While there are dozens of Arab channels lying about the Americans every day, even on their own channel – Al Hurrah they don’t tell their own story.
This is the reason! The Iraqis have never seen or heard all the wonderful things the Americans have been and are doing."
"There are two wars" he continued. One was the military one and that the Americans won completely. The other is the war of communications and for this the Americans have failed completely.
For some very strange reason they do not tell their own story."
With the director of their operations in Iraq saying and repeating that he "hates" to do any stories on all the good that the Americans are doing and an Assistant who chips in "what have they done?" it is no wonder that in spite of massive assistance and help in all levels of Iraqi society, nobody knows about it.
What country in the world would pay 70 Million Dollars a year and hire people who say they "hate" to do what should be their primary mission – giving the American message to the Iraq and the Middle East – just one voice against 56 others broadcasting a 24 hours a day message of hate.
In a normal situation a "fair and balanced" view might be possible, but when you are countering dozens of the most bizarre and hateful media systems in the world, the "fair and balanced" view is not enough.
“Go back to the drawing board", would be the view of those Iraqis in the know.
"Tell your story" the young man continued "tell your story because it is a beautiful story of all the good you have done for Iraq and above don’t pay to slander yourself."
A big of common sense from one young man in Baghdad who loves America and the freedom it has brought to his country.
A big reality check?
Most Iraqis and in particular Government Officials act as if they had singlehandedly overthrown Saddam Hussein.
It is definitely time for a bit of Transparency and Accountability!
Amir George
Baghdad, Iraq
At a time of financial crisis and in a new day where "Transparency and Accountability" are the new buzz words, a good place to start is Iraq where the United States has expended nearly one trillion dollars since liberating 28 million from the Terror of Saddam Hussein.
Shortly after the Liberation of Iraq, a TV Station and network was begun. It is called "Al Hurrah" or "The Free One"
The only other TV Network broadcasting in Iraq and available without Satellite amazingly was a 24 hour Iranian Arabic Channel slandering the US nonstop.
Paid for by US Taxpayers to the tune of over $70 Million Dollars a year, one would think that it would be a beacon of hope and positive news in Iraq and the Middle East.
A recent check of an average Middle East Satellite selection shows 522 Channels with 56 or just over 10% broadcasting what the locals call "Islamic" programming.
A far cry from any kind of religious fare one similarly copied "commercial" is nonstop on most of them – the picture of US Troops kicking down doors, roughing up prisoners interspersed with bizarre footage of bleeding children, wailing parents and more.
The ones suffering the most as a result in addition to the average public are the Assyrian Christians, the indigenous people of Iraq from the time Iraq was the first Christian Nation in history – now down to about 10% of the population.
Speaking with the director for Iraq – we will all him Ali Mohammed – we asked a few questions about the Channel he has been in charge of in Iraq since 2003.
"How often do you have programs on all the good the Americans are doing in Iraq – rebuilding schools, getting the electricity going, helping train the police, army and more."
A fairly reasonable question, seeing that it is a 100% US Taxpayer financed network.
The reaction was stunning and I checked again to make sure I had the words correct.
"I hate to report on anything the Americans are doing" he said
"It is not my type. It is not my job to promote American propaganda." He continued.
His assistant chipped in "what have the Americans done for Iraq"
We pressed on "When was the last time you did a program on what the Americans are doing in Iraq?"
He paused and said "Oh, maybe once six months ago"
Previously having worked at networks in Dubai and Kuwait he was hired immediately following the Liberation of Iraq and has been on the US Payroll since.
Watching "Al Hurrah" with some Iraqi friends they became instantly upset as an "Inman" or moslem Priest was featured on the program.
"Why do the Americans do this" they replied! Why are they always promoting islam?
Another young man put it even more clearly. "The Americans are hated because of a very simple reason" he said. "For those of us who see what the Americans do every day with our own eyes, we love them for it and are so grateful.
For most of the Iraqis, and for most people in the Middle East all they see are the terrible reports on all the Arab channels that tell crazy stories of the Americans purposely stopping the electricity to hurt the Iraqis, hurting the women and children and all kinds of other lies."
"While there are dozens of Arab channels lying about the Americans every day, even on their own channel – Al Hurrah they don’t tell their own story.
This is the reason! The Iraqis have never seen or heard all the wonderful things the Americans have been and are doing."
"There are two wars" he continued. One was the military one and that the Americans won completely. The other is the war of communications and for this the Americans have failed completely.
For some very strange reason they do not tell their own story."
With the director of their operations in Iraq saying and repeating that he "hates" to do any stories on all the good that the Americans are doing and an Assistant who chips in "what have they done?" it is no wonder that in spite of massive assistance and help in all levels of Iraqi society, nobody knows about it.
What country in the world would pay 70 Million Dollars a year and hire people who say they "hate" to do what should be their primary mission – giving the American message to the Iraq and the Middle East – just one voice against 56 others broadcasting a 24 hours a day message of hate.
In a normal situation a "fair and balanced" view might be possible, but when you are countering dozens of the most bizarre and hateful media systems in the world, the "fair and balanced" view is not enough.
“Go back to the drawing board", would be the view of those Iraqis in the know.
"Tell your story" the young man continued "tell your story because it is a beautiful story of all the good you have done for Iraq and above don’t pay to slander yourself."
A big of common sense from one young man in Baghdad who loves America and the freedom it has brought to his country.
A big reality check?
Most Iraqis and in particular Government Officials act as if they had singlehandedly overthrown Saddam Hussein.
It is definitely time for a bit of Transparency and Accountability!
Amir George
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Iraq Is Back!
Iraq Is Back!
Baghdad, Iraq
The cavernous room adorned with the symbol of the past – the seal of Saddam Hussein on the ceiling, in the carpet, on the lights, in the walls, and it all seemed strangely appropriate as an amazing even took place.
Officially it was the "First NGO Cooperation Conference", put on by the Iraqi Government to encourage the non-profit sector.
Unofficially it was a modern day miracle!
The session began as most such conferences do with the various speeches beginning with the Minister of Displacement, the Honorable Abdul Samed R. Sultan who spoke about a new beginning and forgetting the past and moving forward.
In a sign that there is still some way to go, the Government Sponsored conference was opened by a 15 minute recitation of "verses of the holly Koran" and the Prime Minister was a "no show" in spite of being on the official program.
The main event ended with four non-profit organizations giving slide presentations of their work in various areas of the country.
A typical conference!
The real "show" was after that.
In a truly amazing series of events the Ministers and various dignitaries sat in a circle while the representatives of the fledging groups gathered around ostensibly for a "question and answer" time.
For all those who still doubt that albeit slowly, Iraq nearly six years later is going to make it, the dramatic events taking place in one of Saddam Hussein's special halls was answer enough.
Person after person stood up and chastised the various Ministries for incompetence, demanded help for their particular area and in some cases actually shouted at the Minister in charge.
In a dramatic departure of what would have happened a few short years ago the Minister sat quietly listening and occasionally replying.
Ali one of the participants put it well. "Most don’t realize this, but under Saddam Hussein this would have been completely impossible. To speak up about something you think in a public place itself was not allowed. To speak as we are doing to a government minister would be immediate prison or worse."
The secretary to the Minister of Migration herself was moved. Asked how she thought the event was going she said "We still have many problems but the way the people have all come, how they have freely shared their feelings and ideas. It is amazing!"
Another participant Amir said "we still need to work more on getting religion out of government. The long reading of the Koran at the beginning was not necessary, but we have come a long way!"
Is Iraq going to make it? Can Democracy ever take root in the troubled soil fertilized by 35 years of the hellish dictatorship of Saddam Hussein?
It sure looks like it!
For all we like to take pride in our accomplishments I don’t think we have yet arrived at the place where the director of the IRS is ready to sit and take the ire of taxpayers for three hours and meekly respond . . . which was exactly what was taking place as the Minister in charge of granting non-profit status did.
Does Iraq have a long way to go! You bet! Will she make it? Nobody knows.
At the same town, the cavernous hall of Saddam Hussein with his special crest as it always was above, below, on each side "watching" the proceedings seemed to provide the answer.
Iraq is back, stronger, more confident – not walking yet, but crawling very, very fast, just about ready to take its first steps, alone and free in over 35 years.
Was the sacrifice of over 4,000 brave young men and women who gave their lives and nearly 40,000 who were injured worth it? Did America do the right thing?
The answer is self evident.
Iraq is back, and she will never forget who stood up to the dictator when nobody else would.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Baghdad, Iraq
The cavernous room adorned with the symbol of the past – the seal of Saddam Hussein on the ceiling, in the carpet, on the lights, in the walls, and it all seemed strangely appropriate as an amazing even took place.
Officially it was the "First NGO Cooperation Conference", put on by the Iraqi Government to encourage the non-profit sector.
Unofficially it was a modern day miracle!
The session began as most such conferences do with the various speeches beginning with the Minister of Displacement, the Honorable Abdul Samed R. Sultan who spoke about a new beginning and forgetting the past and moving forward.
In a sign that there is still some way to go, the Government Sponsored conference was opened by a 15 minute recitation of "verses of the holly Koran" and the Prime Minister was a "no show" in spite of being on the official program.
The main event ended with four non-profit organizations giving slide presentations of their work in various areas of the country.
A typical conference!
The real "show" was after that.
In a truly amazing series of events the Ministers and various dignitaries sat in a circle while the representatives of the fledging groups gathered around ostensibly for a "question and answer" time.
For all those who still doubt that albeit slowly, Iraq nearly six years later is going to make it, the dramatic events taking place in one of Saddam Hussein's special halls was answer enough.
Person after person stood up and chastised the various Ministries for incompetence, demanded help for their particular area and in some cases actually shouted at the Minister in charge.
In a dramatic departure of what would have happened a few short years ago the Minister sat quietly listening and occasionally replying.
Ali one of the participants put it well. "Most don’t realize this, but under Saddam Hussein this would have been completely impossible. To speak up about something you think in a public place itself was not allowed. To speak as we are doing to a government minister would be immediate prison or worse."
The secretary to the Minister of Migration herself was moved. Asked how she thought the event was going she said "We still have many problems but the way the people have all come, how they have freely shared their feelings and ideas. It is amazing!"
Another participant Amir said "we still need to work more on getting religion out of government. The long reading of the Koran at the beginning was not necessary, but we have come a long way!"
Is Iraq going to make it? Can Democracy ever take root in the troubled soil fertilized by 35 years of the hellish dictatorship of Saddam Hussein?
It sure looks like it!
For all we like to take pride in our accomplishments I don’t think we have yet arrived at the place where the director of the IRS is ready to sit and take the ire of taxpayers for three hours and meekly respond . . . which was exactly what was taking place as the Minister in charge of granting non-profit status did.
Does Iraq have a long way to go! You bet! Will she make it? Nobody knows.
At the same town, the cavernous hall of Saddam Hussein with his special crest as it always was above, below, on each side "watching" the proceedings seemed to provide the answer.
Iraq is back, stronger, more confident – not walking yet, but crawling very, very fast, just about ready to take its first steps, alone and free in over 35 years.
Was the sacrifice of over 4,000 brave young men and women who gave their lives and nearly 40,000 who were injured worth it? Did America do the right thing?
The answer is self evident.
Iraq is back, and she will never forget who stood up to the dictator when nobody else would.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Iraqi Election Announcement From Baghdad
Iraqi Election Results Announced
Baghdad, Iraq
In a packed and chaotic press conference in a central Baghdad hotel the Iraqi Election Commission announced the results of recent local elections.
Initial results showed a strong showing for the party of Prime Minister Maliki who received approximately 38% of the vote in Baghdad followed by lesser showings by the Sadr party and an apparent tie between a Sunni Party and the party of the secular former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.
"They voted for security" said one independent womens activist, "those elected were those that instead of just talking have actually reduced the violence.
In addition, I feel that this election, at least from the initial results is much more pragmatic and much less idealogical than the previous one.
I think we have made some progress from the more radical islamist agenda". Former Minister of Migration, and Assyrian Christian, Pascale Warda herself in Nineveh Province, said "We have seen some major problems in our community.
We are being told by our people that in Nineveh and Baghdad only about 30% were allowed to vote.
We feel there has been a clear pattern of voter intimidation and interference in the voting itself, with people coming to the voting offices and being told their names are not on the lists.
We are currently investigating these reports, but we are not surprised as this is what happened at the last election as well."
While the election itself was well observed and appeared to go technically much better than before, observers have noted that the fundamental problem is that with one exception all members of the election commission are in fact Islamists and are feared to be operating the election with idealogical and religious biases.
"I ran to become a member of the election during the time of Paul Bremer under the CPA but remain puzzled to this day that it was only Islamists that were allowed on the commission". said the female activist.
In spite of passionate denials by those who worked on the elections, most Iraqis see things quite simply.
They look to see if the women have their heads covered by the Hijab islamic head covering. The Womens Activist continued
"When I left Iraq in the 1980s no women ever covered their head with the islamic head covering.
Now nearly 60% or more do so.
This is a very troubling development for those of us who look forward to a secular, open and freedom loving society."
The only two women on the panel had very tight and complete islamic head coverings sending the message to all Iraqis who watched the election results that the goverment for all the progress both technically and politically, is still firmly in the hands of islamists.
Ironically International support staff could be seen helping to put on the election announcement from running the projections to giving out information on the election itself.
"This has been the fundamental problem" said the activist.
"It has been this interference by the international community, not in support of a stable, secular, what we would consider a modern government, but their strong support as you could see today for this islamist agenda.
It is very curious and strange and has harmed the desire of iraqis for a secular, civil state" she continued.
In fact, many educated Iraqis in particular fault former CPA head Paul Bremer for not being able to understand the strong desire of Iraqis for a secular, civil state and instead pushing for a strong islamic government.
"The British have a Christian Constitution, the Iraqis are moslem they should have a moslem constitution" at his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a comment that angers many of the forward looking Iraqis.
"We are deeply concerned that it appears that the islamists with their enablers in the international community have influence the election idealogically to push their agenda and the reports we are currently investigating that only 30% of the Assyrian Christian community were able to vote, appears to confirm this.
" The mass pandemonium that broke out in the announcement hall even as the announcements were being made and the near brawl that erupted as the members of the Election Commision lead by tightly veiled and extremely grim faced islamist Hamdiya Aihasan tried to leave, were testimony that while some progress has been made, there is a long way to go.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Baghdad, Iraq
In a packed and chaotic press conference in a central Baghdad hotel the Iraqi Election Commission announced the results of recent local elections.
Initial results showed a strong showing for the party of Prime Minister Maliki who received approximately 38% of the vote in Baghdad followed by lesser showings by the Sadr party and an apparent tie between a Sunni Party and the party of the secular former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.
"They voted for security" said one independent womens activist, "those elected were those that instead of just talking have actually reduced the violence.
In addition, I feel that this election, at least from the initial results is much more pragmatic and much less idealogical than the previous one.
I think we have made some progress from the more radical islamist agenda". Former Minister of Migration, and Assyrian Christian, Pascale Warda herself in Nineveh Province, said "We have seen some major problems in our community.
We are being told by our people that in Nineveh and Baghdad only about 30% were allowed to vote.
We feel there has been a clear pattern of voter intimidation and interference in the voting itself, with people coming to the voting offices and being told their names are not on the lists.
We are currently investigating these reports, but we are not surprised as this is what happened at the last election as well."
While the election itself was well observed and appeared to go technically much better than before, observers have noted that the fundamental problem is that with one exception all members of the election commission are in fact Islamists and are feared to be operating the election with idealogical and religious biases.
"I ran to become a member of the election during the time of Paul Bremer under the CPA but remain puzzled to this day that it was only Islamists that were allowed on the commission". said the female activist.
In spite of passionate denials by those who worked on the elections, most Iraqis see things quite simply.
They look to see if the women have their heads covered by the Hijab islamic head covering. The Womens Activist continued
"When I left Iraq in the 1980s no women ever covered their head with the islamic head covering.
Now nearly 60% or more do so.
This is a very troubling development for those of us who look forward to a secular, open and freedom loving society."
The only two women on the panel had very tight and complete islamic head coverings sending the message to all Iraqis who watched the election results that the goverment for all the progress both technically and politically, is still firmly in the hands of islamists.
Ironically International support staff could be seen helping to put on the election announcement from running the projections to giving out information on the election itself.
"This has been the fundamental problem" said the activist.
"It has been this interference by the international community, not in support of a stable, secular, what we would consider a modern government, but their strong support as you could see today for this islamist agenda.
It is very curious and strange and has harmed the desire of iraqis for a secular, civil state" she continued.
In fact, many educated Iraqis in particular fault former CPA head Paul Bremer for not being able to understand the strong desire of Iraqis for a secular, civil state and instead pushing for a strong islamic government.
"The British have a Christian Constitution, the Iraqis are moslem they should have a moslem constitution" at his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a comment that angers many of the forward looking Iraqis.
"We are deeply concerned that it appears that the islamists with their enablers in the international community have influence the election idealogically to push their agenda and the reports we are currently investigating that only 30% of the Assyrian Christian community were able to vote, appears to confirm this.
" The mass pandemonium that broke out in the announcement hall even as the announcements were being made and the near brawl that erupted as the members of the Election Commision lead by tightly veiled and extremely grim faced islamist Hamdiya Aihasan tried to leave, were testimony that while some progress has been made, there is a long way to go.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Life Comes To Washington
Life Comes To Washington
Washington, DC
In the aftermath of the Inauguration, in fact the very next day a wonderful blessing took over the city of Washington and the National Mall.
Beginning with a massive rally at the Verizon Center, the March for Life made its presence known.
A local Police Officer attending the new crowd said `they couldn’t be more different. It is a joy to watch over this group.
With estimates up to 150,000 and a march that went over a half mile long the March For life took over downtown Washington with a cheerful, upbeat group.
They came in all sizes, shapes and groups. Priests and nuns, kids from just about everywhere, babies that had been saved from abortion, the March for Life memorialized the 36th anniversary of the passing of the life altering passage of Roe vs. Wade.
As if to personally insult the group within hours of the end of the march, one of the first executive orders of the new administration was to roll back the anti-abortion provisions that had been in place for the past eight years.
`We are very concerned that all the accomplishments of the past years will be overturned` said one participant `we face a new administration that is hostile to life`.
Within hours, she was proved right.
Nonetheless, with signs like `We Choose Life`, `I Love Babies` and `Stop Abortion Now` the joyful crowd assembled at noon on the National Mall on the same site that hours earlier proponents of limitless abortion had gathered for the inauguration.
The irony was not lost on the many that interacted with the group from hotel staff to police officers who all commented on the dramatic difference between the crowd that had assembled for the inauguration the day before and the March For Life Participants.
In a show of cross denominational cooperation Catholic, Protestant and just about every denomination in the middle gathered around the single theme of protecting life.
`In a sense it is good that for the first time in a long while we face a Washington that now wants to restore Abortion. It forces us to work harder to protect life` commented one participant.
Abortion Rights and Homosexual rights were two of the rallying cries of the election and one group – the pro-life organizations has a new battle ahead.
The swiftness with which – on the very second day of the new administration – restrictions on Abortion were removed surprised many, but the old-timers in the movement had seen it before.
The battle ahead may be hard with a new administration and Congress hostile to the pro-life movement, but for just one day, Life took over the National Mall and downtown Washington DC, culminating in a rally in front of the Supreme Court where so many years ago Life had been dealt a near fatal blow.
The concern on many faces as the rally wound down was how different the situation would be a year from now when they meet again.
Ken Joseph. Jr.
www.kenjoseph.com
Washington, DC
In the aftermath of the Inauguration, in fact the very next day a wonderful blessing took over the city of Washington and the National Mall.
Beginning with a massive rally at the Verizon Center, the March for Life made its presence known.
A local Police Officer attending the new crowd said `they couldn’t be more different. It is a joy to watch over this group.
With estimates up to 150,000 and a march that went over a half mile long the March For life took over downtown Washington with a cheerful, upbeat group.
They came in all sizes, shapes and groups. Priests and nuns, kids from just about everywhere, babies that had been saved from abortion, the March for Life memorialized the 36th anniversary of the passing of the life altering passage of Roe vs. Wade.
As if to personally insult the group within hours of the end of the march, one of the first executive orders of the new administration was to roll back the anti-abortion provisions that had been in place for the past eight years.
`We are very concerned that all the accomplishments of the past years will be overturned` said one participant `we face a new administration that is hostile to life`.
Within hours, she was proved right.
Nonetheless, with signs like `We Choose Life`, `I Love Babies` and `Stop Abortion Now` the joyful crowd assembled at noon on the National Mall on the same site that hours earlier proponents of limitless abortion had gathered for the inauguration.
The irony was not lost on the many that interacted with the group from hotel staff to police officers who all commented on the dramatic difference between the crowd that had assembled for the inauguration the day before and the March For Life Participants.
In a show of cross denominational cooperation Catholic, Protestant and just about every denomination in the middle gathered around the single theme of protecting life.
`In a sense it is good that for the first time in a long while we face a Washington that now wants to restore Abortion. It forces us to work harder to protect life` commented one participant.
Abortion Rights and Homosexual rights were two of the rallying cries of the election and one group – the pro-life organizations has a new battle ahead.
The swiftness with which – on the very second day of the new administration – restrictions on Abortion were removed surprised many, but the old-timers in the movement had seen it before.
The battle ahead may be hard with a new administration and Congress hostile to the pro-life movement, but for just one day, Life took over the National Mall and downtown Washington DC, culminating in a rally in front of the Supreme Court where so many years ago Life had been dealt a near fatal blow.
The concern on many faces as the rally wound down was how different the situation would be a year from now when they meet again.
Ken Joseph. Jr.
www.kenjoseph.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Other Inauguration
The Other Inauguration
Washington DC
The much vaunted, post-racial, `come together` campaign culmination was neither.
I for one waited and waited and then waited some more for someone to tell the truth.
After watching enough fawning to make me nauseous, I had to say something.
I was there from the very beginning in the middle of the National Mall, on the day before as well as the whole inauguration.
The crowd was overwhelmingly african american. That is a simple fact that anyone there knows and should be honest enough to say so.
It was a mess. There was no `coming together`. The atmosphere was extremely racist and if you didn’t look right, they let you know.
It took hours to get into the mall and in spite of being the `peoples inauguration` was far from it.
All the `big people` had special passes that got them into their special area while all of the `regular people` had to go under a nearly quarter mile tunnel under the mall, where it was difficult to breathe just to get into the National Mall.
The event itself though was far from what it was described.
I felt very, very uncomfortable. Regular glances and snide remarks sent the message very clearly `what are you doing here – this is our event`!
Further, the booing and dancing and hate filled comments when President Bush and Vice President Cheney came out were unacceptable.
The speech insulted President Bush over and over and honestly was neither profound nor well written.
The extremely racist `prayer` by an out of date Joseph Lowry would have caused a major scandal. Instead, it brought loud guffaws from the crowd who didn’t seem to know or really care what a `prayer` actually was. No heads were bowed during any of the prayers.
For whatever it means the much vaunted crowd that filled the mall was a mean, hateful, rough crowd.
Not only the mall but all of Washington was taken over by this whole group. From hawking everything from t-shirts to all kinds of buttons bordering on `buy something or you don’t pass`, the atmosphere was a far cry from the disgusting descriptions that I have had to watch nonstop on TV and read in the paper.
Frankly, I was completely sickened by it all and exhausted entered the lobby of a hotel in on Capitol Hill bracing myself for another flood of the angry, mean crowd.
I came upon the strangest of situations. There were two distinct groups of people who were mobbing the hotel lobby, the restaurants and up the escalators.
One group was clearly leaving. This was the same mean, nasty grown from the National Mall.
Another huge group was on their way in, lined up at the Check In counter and the two groups were mingling going in their different directions.
The two groups though were dramatically different.
In contrast to the first group, the new group was dramatically different. They were bright, cheerful, smiling and brightened the otherwise mean atmosphere.
I was curious. Who could they be?
A quick question to a small group waiting in the lobby..
`Oh, were here for The March of Life`.
Now it all made sense!
What a difference. One group with a leader promising one of his first acts would be to rescind the restrictions on abortion wholesale.
In contrast the leaders of the other group, dedicated to saving life..
`Look over there` the lady said `it is a baby that was saved from an abortion`.
There lay a little child in the arm of a nun.
Then I suddenly focused and there seemed to be Priests, Nuns and bright cheerful kids, seniors and just about everything in between.
What a contrast!
Somehow, I found the tears coming. It had been a tough and miserable two days with the `thugs` having taken over the city.
How refreshing to have some brightness, faith and above all, hope – the real kind!
Ken Joseph Jr.
Washington DC
The much vaunted, post-racial, `come together` campaign culmination was neither.
I for one waited and waited and then waited some more for someone to tell the truth.
After watching enough fawning to make me nauseous, I had to say something.
I was there from the very beginning in the middle of the National Mall, on the day before as well as the whole inauguration.
The crowd was overwhelmingly african american. That is a simple fact that anyone there knows and should be honest enough to say so.
It was a mess. There was no `coming together`. The atmosphere was extremely racist and if you didn’t look right, they let you know.
It took hours to get into the mall and in spite of being the `peoples inauguration` was far from it.
All the `big people` had special passes that got them into their special area while all of the `regular people` had to go under a nearly quarter mile tunnel under the mall, where it was difficult to breathe just to get into the National Mall.
The event itself though was far from what it was described.
I felt very, very uncomfortable. Regular glances and snide remarks sent the message very clearly `what are you doing here – this is our event`!
Further, the booing and dancing and hate filled comments when President Bush and Vice President Cheney came out were unacceptable.
The speech insulted President Bush over and over and honestly was neither profound nor well written.
The extremely racist `prayer` by an out of date Joseph Lowry would have caused a major scandal. Instead, it brought loud guffaws from the crowd who didn’t seem to know or really care what a `prayer` actually was. No heads were bowed during any of the prayers.
For whatever it means the much vaunted crowd that filled the mall was a mean, hateful, rough crowd.
Not only the mall but all of Washington was taken over by this whole group. From hawking everything from t-shirts to all kinds of buttons bordering on `buy something or you don’t pass`, the atmosphere was a far cry from the disgusting descriptions that I have had to watch nonstop on TV and read in the paper.
Frankly, I was completely sickened by it all and exhausted entered the lobby of a hotel in on Capitol Hill bracing myself for another flood of the angry, mean crowd.
I came upon the strangest of situations. There were two distinct groups of people who were mobbing the hotel lobby, the restaurants and up the escalators.
One group was clearly leaving. This was the same mean, nasty grown from the National Mall.
Another huge group was on their way in, lined up at the Check In counter and the two groups were mingling going in their different directions.
The two groups though were dramatically different.
In contrast to the first group, the new group was dramatically different. They were bright, cheerful, smiling and brightened the otherwise mean atmosphere.
I was curious. Who could they be?
A quick question to a small group waiting in the lobby..
`Oh, were here for The March of Life`.
Now it all made sense!
What a difference. One group with a leader promising one of his first acts would be to rescind the restrictions on abortion wholesale.
In contrast the leaders of the other group, dedicated to saving life..
`Look over there` the lady said `it is a baby that was saved from an abortion`.
There lay a little child in the arm of a nun.
Then I suddenly focused and there seemed to be Priests, Nuns and bright cheerful kids, seniors and just about everything in between.
What a contrast!
Somehow, I found the tears coming. It had been a tough and miserable two days with the `thugs` having taken over the city.
How refreshing to have some brightness, faith and above all, hope – the real kind!
Ken Joseph Jr.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
God Bless You, George Bush!
God Bless you, George Bush
Washington, DC
Marine one flew once over the National Mall and then circled around for one last view of the city that has been his home for the past eight years.
That was George and Laura Bush`s goodbye to Washington.
While the attention was elsewhere, 25 million people quietly in their hearts expressed gratitude for their freedom.
They were the people of Iraq who had given up hope in 2003. When nobody cared, nobody had the courage to stand up to Saddam Hussein, it was George W. Bush who did.
Another group of people, in particular the women and girls who had been banned from school and abused beyond measure under the terrible Taliban, cheered quietly in Afghanistan as well.
Another group of people should share that same gratitude. They are the 300 million people of the United States of America who owe their safety and freedom to the same George W. Bush.
Since September 11, 2001, America has been safe. No terrorist has succeeded in spite of many, many attempts to harm the homeland.
In maybe an even greater way, George W. Bush restored to America a love and respect for her birthright of faith.
It was George W. Bush, the recovered Alcoholic, the recovered `bad boy` who had experienced forgiveness and salvation.
For him, it meant something because he had come a long way.
If there is an even larger legacy to the eight years of President George Bush in addition to liberating Iraq and Afghanistan and keeping American safe, it is his taking American back to her spiritual roots.
For the first time in a long while, faith, prayer, God as the foundation of life and the rebirth of a new era of, based on the concept of Faith Based Initiative, God was back in the public square.
You can be proud of all you did, and in particular for your bringing the love that founded this great country – the love for Jesus Christ back.
God bless you, George W. Bush. He did and He will.
Ken Joseph Jr.
www.kenjoseph.com
Washington, DC
Marine one flew once over the National Mall and then circled around for one last view of the city that has been his home for the past eight years.
That was George and Laura Bush`s goodbye to Washington.
While the attention was elsewhere, 25 million people quietly in their hearts expressed gratitude for their freedom.
They were the people of Iraq who had given up hope in 2003. When nobody cared, nobody had the courage to stand up to Saddam Hussein, it was George W. Bush who did.
Another group of people, in particular the women and girls who had been banned from school and abused beyond measure under the terrible Taliban, cheered quietly in Afghanistan as well.
Another group of people should share that same gratitude. They are the 300 million people of the United States of America who owe their safety and freedom to the same George W. Bush.
Since September 11, 2001, America has been safe. No terrorist has succeeded in spite of many, many attempts to harm the homeland.
In maybe an even greater way, George W. Bush restored to America a love and respect for her birthright of faith.
It was George W. Bush, the recovered Alcoholic, the recovered `bad boy` who had experienced forgiveness and salvation.
For him, it meant something because he had come a long way.
If there is an even larger legacy to the eight years of President George Bush in addition to liberating Iraq and Afghanistan and keeping American safe, it is his taking American back to her spiritual roots.
For the first time in a long while, faith, prayer, God as the foundation of life and the rebirth of a new era of, based on the concept of Faith Based Initiative, God was back in the public square.
You can be proud of all you did, and in particular for your bringing the love that founded this great country – the love for Jesus Christ back.
God bless you, George W. Bush. He did and He will.
Ken Joseph Jr.
www.kenjoseph.com
Saturday, January 17, 2009
`But Everybodys Doing It`
`But Everybody’s Doing It`
Washington DC
When I was a kid and tried to persuade my dear, sweet Mother to give me permission to go somewhere or do something that I knew was wrong,, I would always find myself saying `But, Mom, everybody`s doing it`.
Her answer always came back immediately.
`They are all going to hell too; do you want to go with them? `
In Washington watching the crowds of strangely mesmerized people descend on the city I remember the words of my mother.
`Everybody` might be on the bandwagon, but what my Mother was trying to teach me so long ago was that there are principles, core beliefs and integrity that regardless of what `everybody` might do and saying, do not change.
`Everybody` might be dancing in the streets at the crowing of Barack Hussein Obama who has requested that he be sworn in with his middle name, , but for those, as few as they may be for whom integrity, honesty and character count facts and truth reign larger than rhetoric and promises.
The simple facts will go down in history.
I have met Barack Hussein Obama many, times and have sat through hours of his comments in Congress, but he remains to me as to all thinking people a total and complete enigma.
When have we ever put into such a powerful position, someone about whom we know nearly nothing.
First, unprecedented in American history, the near total collapse of a free and honest press.
When did Journalism and Journalists for whom truth, integrity and honesty are the basis of their craft, completely abandon them all for fawning and wide eyed emptiness.
No investigations, no background checks, no research and instead total and unequivocal and completely unprofessional support.
Second, how could a man be elected the highest office in the land and leader of the world without providing the most basic of requirements, particularly for an office that according to the constitution explicitly requires it – a birth certificate with date, hospital name, and name of the Doctor just like the rest of us?
To date, Barack Hussein Obama has not produced any information other than a `Certificate of Live Birth`, which according to Hawaii law 338 is provided to those born overseas as long as they are registered.
Nothing can change the simple fact all his family members know, that he was born on August 4, 1961 at 7:24PM at the Coast Provincial Government Hospital in Mombasa Kenya.
Further, at a cost of over $800,000 to date in legal fees, his records from Occidental College, Columbia University and Harvard University, all on foreign student scholarships has been sealed.
The only school records available, from the two elementary schools he attended in Indonesia, read quite simple, `citizenship – Indonesia, Religion – moslem. `
Third, and even more concerning, the fact that over half of the over 600 Million Dollars raised for his campaign coming in online with no security or checking whatsoever.
A quick check of the Federal Election Commission listing of campaign donations is nothing less than shocking with unreadable numbers, first names and of thousands of `donations` from the same credit cards, much of it from overseas should puts even the fiercest supporters in shock.
My heart sank when speaking with a high official in the Republican Party and hearing him say `we know it all, but the Press just won’t support us . . . `
`Everybody is doing it? `
What was my mother saying?
She was teaching me that the foundation of integrity is to, regardless of the press of `everybody` and the wave of fawning mindlessness, stands firm on principle.
Particularly as a Christian, to have a man who has promised his first act as President will be to restore Abortion on Demand and complete homosexual rights not to mention a long list of policies that as Christians we cannot even remotely support, the response is simple.
`Everybody is doing it`.
Does that make it right?
`Everybody is doing it`.
Does that mean that we mindlessly accept?
No it doesn’t.
Truth is truth.
Integrity is integrity.
Though by the sheer and overwhelming force of massive paid publicity `everybody` may be hypnotized into mindless subservience, God in His way and in His time in answer to the prayer of the few and those of integrity will bring truth out.
We are called to pray for him as a leader. That is clear.
Barack Hussein Obama may have `won`, but in abandoning integrity he has put himself in a place where only God, who knows all will in His time, and in His way cause truth to reign.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Washington DC
When I was a kid and tried to persuade my dear, sweet Mother to give me permission to go somewhere or do something that I knew was wrong,, I would always find myself saying `But, Mom, everybody`s doing it`.
Her answer always came back immediately.
`They are all going to hell too; do you want to go with them? `
In Washington watching the crowds of strangely mesmerized people descend on the city I remember the words of my mother.
`Everybody` might be on the bandwagon, but what my Mother was trying to teach me so long ago was that there are principles, core beliefs and integrity that regardless of what `everybody` might do and saying, do not change.
`Everybody` might be dancing in the streets at the crowing of Barack Hussein Obama who has requested that he be sworn in with his middle name, , but for those, as few as they may be for whom integrity, honesty and character count facts and truth reign larger than rhetoric and promises.
The simple facts will go down in history.
I have met Barack Hussein Obama many, times and have sat through hours of his comments in Congress, but he remains to me as to all thinking people a total and complete enigma.
When have we ever put into such a powerful position, someone about whom we know nearly nothing.
First, unprecedented in American history, the near total collapse of a free and honest press.
When did Journalism and Journalists for whom truth, integrity and honesty are the basis of their craft, completely abandon them all for fawning and wide eyed emptiness.
No investigations, no background checks, no research and instead total and unequivocal and completely unprofessional support.
Second, how could a man be elected the highest office in the land and leader of the world without providing the most basic of requirements, particularly for an office that according to the constitution explicitly requires it – a birth certificate with date, hospital name, and name of the Doctor just like the rest of us?
To date, Barack Hussein Obama has not produced any information other than a `Certificate of Live Birth`, which according to Hawaii law 338 is provided to those born overseas as long as they are registered.
Nothing can change the simple fact all his family members know, that he was born on August 4, 1961 at 7:24PM at the Coast Provincial Government Hospital in Mombasa Kenya.
Further, at a cost of over $800,000 to date in legal fees, his records from Occidental College, Columbia University and Harvard University, all on foreign student scholarships has been sealed.
The only school records available, from the two elementary schools he attended in Indonesia, read quite simple, `citizenship – Indonesia, Religion – moslem. `
Third, and even more concerning, the fact that over half of the over 600 Million Dollars raised for his campaign coming in online with no security or checking whatsoever.
A quick check of the Federal Election Commission listing of campaign donations is nothing less than shocking with unreadable numbers, first names and of thousands of `donations` from the same credit cards, much of it from overseas should puts even the fiercest supporters in shock.
My heart sank when speaking with a high official in the Republican Party and hearing him say `we know it all, but the Press just won’t support us . . . `
`Everybody is doing it? `
What was my mother saying?
She was teaching me that the foundation of integrity is to, regardless of the press of `everybody` and the wave of fawning mindlessness, stands firm on principle.
Particularly as a Christian, to have a man who has promised his first act as President will be to restore Abortion on Demand and complete homosexual rights not to mention a long list of policies that as Christians we cannot even remotely support, the response is simple.
`Everybody is doing it`.
Does that make it right?
`Everybody is doing it`.
Does that mean that we mindlessly accept?
No it doesn’t.
Truth is truth.
Integrity is integrity.
Though by the sheer and overwhelming force of massive paid publicity `everybody` may be hypnotized into mindless subservience, God in His way and in His time in answer to the prayer of the few and those of integrity will bring truth out.
We are called to pray for him as a leader. That is clear.
Barack Hussein Obama may have `won`, but in abandoning integrity he has put himself in a place where only God, who knows all will in His time, and in His way cause truth to reign.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Stand By Israel!
Stand By Israel!
I will never forget driving by "The wall" bordering Israel. Outside of Israel it is painted as a much hated and despised division of land that is unacceptable to the region.
As we passed the wall I asked the Palestinian taxi driver what he thought of it.
I of course expected a tirade of hate and venom directed at the hated symbol of Israeli occupation. I was shocked, when he said "My friend, we thank God for it every day! Before the wall we had trouble all the time!
They would come and steal, because trouble and we were always having problems. Now, since the wall there is peace!
I was stunned! Here was a Palestinian, driving by the wall and praising it! What was going on here?
Getting into Israel I was shocked to see an Arab language newspaper with a large picture of the Prime Minister.
What does it say?
I asked someone standing by.
"It says the Prime Minister is a fool."
As I looked at it, I realized the significance.
The only place in the Middle East where an Arab Language Newspaper can say the Prime minister of the country is a fool is . . . in Israel!
Amazing, when you think about it!
Then I remembered where I had just come from. Jordan. Walking into a Palestinian Refugee Camp I was shocked at the squalor and filth, but also the permanence of it.
"How long has this refugee camp been here?"
I asked. "Nearly 50 years" was the response.
One thinks of refugee camps as always temporary.
Having been to many, they are generally months or years - but not generally for decades. As I began to speak with the Palestinian in the refugee camp in Jordan I discovered something truly amazing.
Most of those living in the refugee camps did not have legal papers to enable them to travel, live and work.
They were in essence second-class citizens in a majority Palestinian country. In spite of having been born and raised in the country, the Palestinians amazingly did not have Passports and status.
I was shocked to hear what they said”We are treated like animals by the Arabs! They say they are defending our rights but with the exception of Iraq under Saddam Hussein all the Arab countries treat us as second class citizens." Now, I was really confused!
In Israel the Palestinians have Passport and live just like everybody else. The reality? For all its problems, Israel is the only "normal" country in the Middle East and ironically the only one that treats the Palestinians under their jurisdiction as citizens.
The reality on the ground is very easy to see.
For whatever its religions merits may be, islam is a total and complete failure as a political system.
Wherever it dominates under whatever name it may take it destroys the economy, abuses women, takes away hope and initiative and ethnically cleanses.
All you have to do is cross the border from any contiguous border into Israel. The same weather, the same sand, the same opportunity.
On the arab side it is dry, dusty, failed and hopeless. When you cross the border into Israel suddenly it becomes green, full of life, organized and "normal".
The battle that Israel is fighting for all its mistakes and failures is a battle that the whole civilized world must stand behind.
It is a battle for the rule of law, democracy, equal rights and all that freedom-loving peoples hold dear.
Political islam is frustrated because wherever it lays its hat it brings one consistent result - failure.
As Ronald Reagan said a generation ago at a time when the world community was saying that Communism needed to be "coexisted with", "contained", "respected" and the classic "the philosophy is right - it just that some places don’t practice it correctly", "No, Communism is evil and it must be destroyed."
Days after the fall of Baghdad I had a very enlightening conversation with an Iraqi woman. "Now that Saddam is gone I am not afraid!
They have beaten us and abused us, now we can finally speak." she said. "Nobody will tell the truth, but now we finally can" she continued.
"I am a direct descendent of the prophet. But I will tell you the truth. The real problem is political islam. It is evil and it must be destroyed."
She was a moslem, a direct descendent of the prophet.
Somehow on that hot, dusty afternoon in Baghdad she sounded like Ronald Reagan!
Ken Joseph Jr. is completing a book about his time in Iraq and directs Assyrianchristians.com
I will never forget driving by "The wall" bordering Israel. Outside of Israel it is painted as a much hated and despised division of land that is unacceptable to the region.
As we passed the wall I asked the Palestinian taxi driver what he thought of it.
I of course expected a tirade of hate and venom directed at the hated symbol of Israeli occupation. I was shocked, when he said "My friend, we thank God for it every day! Before the wall we had trouble all the time!
They would come and steal, because trouble and we were always having problems. Now, since the wall there is peace!
I was stunned! Here was a Palestinian, driving by the wall and praising it! What was going on here?
Getting into Israel I was shocked to see an Arab language newspaper with a large picture of the Prime Minister.
What does it say?
I asked someone standing by.
"It says the Prime Minister is a fool."
As I looked at it, I realized the significance.
The only place in the Middle East where an Arab Language Newspaper can say the Prime minister of the country is a fool is . . . in Israel!
Amazing, when you think about it!
Then I remembered where I had just come from. Jordan. Walking into a Palestinian Refugee Camp I was shocked at the squalor and filth, but also the permanence of it.
"How long has this refugee camp been here?"
I asked. "Nearly 50 years" was the response.
One thinks of refugee camps as always temporary.
Having been to many, they are generally months or years - but not generally for decades. As I began to speak with the Palestinian in the refugee camp in Jordan I discovered something truly amazing.
Most of those living in the refugee camps did not have legal papers to enable them to travel, live and work.
They were in essence second-class citizens in a majority Palestinian country. In spite of having been born and raised in the country, the Palestinians amazingly did not have Passports and status.
I was shocked to hear what they said”We are treated like animals by the Arabs! They say they are defending our rights but with the exception of Iraq under Saddam Hussein all the Arab countries treat us as second class citizens." Now, I was really confused!
In Israel the Palestinians have Passport and live just like everybody else. The reality? For all its problems, Israel is the only "normal" country in the Middle East and ironically the only one that treats the Palestinians under their jurisdiction as citizens.
The reality on the ground is very easy to see.
For whatever its religions merits may be, islam is a total and complete failure as a political system.
Wherever it dominates under whatever name it may take it destroys the economy, abuses women, takes away hope and initiative and ethnically cleanses.
All you have to do is cross the border from any contiguous border into Israel. The same weather, the same sand, the same opportunity.
On the arab side it is dry, dusty, failed and hopeless. When you cross the border into Israel suddenly it becomes green, full of life, organized and "normal".
The battle that Israel is fighting for all its mistakes and failures is a battle that the whole civilized world must stand behind.
It is a battle for the rule of law, democracy, equal rights and all that freedom-loving peoples hold dear.
Political islam is frustrated because wherever it lays its hat it brings one consistent result - failure.
As Ronald Reagan said a generation ago at a time when the world community was saying that Communism needed to be "coexisted with", "contained", "respected" and the classic "the philosophy is right - it just that some places don’t practice it correctly", "No, Communism is evil and it must be destroyed."
Days after the fall of Baghdad I had a very enlightening conversation with an Iraqi woman. "Now that Saddam is gone I am not afraid!
They have beaten us and abused us, now we can finally speak." she said. "Nobody will tell the truth, but now we finally can" she continued.
"I am a direct descendent of the prophet. But I will tell you the truth. The real problem is political islam. It is evil and it must be destroyed."
She was a moslem, a direct descendent of the prophet.
Somehow on that hot, dusty afternoon in Baghdad she sounded like Ronald Reagan!
Ken Joseph Jr. is completing a book about his time in Iraq and directs Assyrianchristians.com
Thursday, December 25, 2008
A Politically Incorrect Christmas in Baghdad!
A Politically Incorrect Christmas in Baghdad!
Walking the streets of Washington DC leading up to Christmas I have come across a most interesting phenomenon.
Nowhere, and I mean absolutely nowhere is Jesus to be found! It is truly amazing! Extensive Christmas Decorations everywhere, in the stores, on the streets, wherever you turn it is Christmas!
I started to talking to people and asking them the simple question `isn't Christmas the birthday of Jesus?`
The answers I got were quite amazing. Literally everybody I talked to, paused and said `you know, you`re right!
It is supposed to be His birthday. What happened to Jesus? It is the most amazing thing.
Imagine if you had a birthday.
Your friends all came over, they partied, they ate, they exchanged presents and everybody acted if you didn't even exist.
Well, after a few minutes of that you would stand up and say `Hey! It's my birthday!`
As I began to talk to people, dozens of people, I started to get angry.
No matter what faith, creed, color - and you can find just about anything in Washington - they agreed.
It just wasn't right! Christmas, celebrating the birthday of Jesus and amazingly there appears to be a very studied attempt to completely ignore Him.
Well, contrast that to Baghdad. I am an Assyrian Christian and my family is originally from the Iraqi village of Mahmoudia in Northern Iraq.
I was there during Saddams time and remember the sheer terror that reigned 24 hours a day.
The constant fear that you could be hauled off by one of his `goons` and never seen again.
Well in Iraq thanks to our failed policies the poor Iraqis have not learned yet that you are supposed to ignore Jesus on Christmas.
Sponsored by the Iraqi Government, I repeat `sponsored by the Iraqi Government ` - no separation of Church and State here - there was a special Christmas Celebration in downtown Baghdad.
Guess what was the main attraction?
A huge Christmas tree topped by a Star?
A massive Santa Claus?
Fake snow? Nope! They had a huge picture of . . . . you got it, Jesus! There it was!
A huge, beautifully painted color painting of Jesus, the center of the Christmas celebration!
Iraqi Government spokesman Abdul Karim Khalaf took it all one step further when he announced on behalf of the Iraqi Government, I repeat, `on behalf of the Iraqi Government` `All Iraqis are Christians today`.
Did I miss something?
No, I didn't. After meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki on behalf of the Assyrian Christians, I paused and said `Prime Minister, would you mind if I prayed for you.
` He beamed, ordered all his beefy, confused security guards surrounding us to bow their heads and we had a wonderful time of prayer.
Meeting later with Iraqi President Talabani on the same subject, I asked the question again. This time he pointed to his chest and said `I just had surgery on my heart - pray here!`
I thought to myself, `I wondered what kind of a reception I would get on on Capitol Hill, at the State Department or a dozen other Government Agencies after a meeting if I asked `would you mind if I prayed for you!`.
A cold silence, mass panic, a straight `no - with a couple exceptions, that would be the response!
Well, Washington and all of us this Christmas can learn something from the poor, politically incorrect Iraqis.
By the way Iraq is doing so bad I can`t seem to book my ticket to get back there - no open seats!
As every Iraqi Government says so proudly they have been `Liberated` and celebrate Christmas the way it should be celebrated with a huge picture of Jesus whose birthday Christmas is!
May God bless them all and may He call us back to our senses before it is too late.
Of all times in the middle of an Economic Crisis it is not the time to make the Birthday guest upset!
How stupid can you get! Christmas is the birthday of Jesus and the Iraqis got it right - put Him up front and center!
The Iraqis at least know that much!
They need Him and all the blessings they can get!
Ken Joseph Jr.
Walking the streets of Washington DC leading up to Christmas I have come across a most interesting phenomenon.
Nowhere, and I mean absolutely nowhere is Jesus to be found! It is truly amazing! Extensive Christmas Decorations everywhere, in the stores, on the streets, wherever you turn it is Christmas!
I started to talking to people and asking them the simple question `isn't Christmas the birthday of Jesus?`
The answers I got were quite amazing. Literally everybody I talked to, paused and said `you know, you`re right!
It is supposed to be His birthday. What happened to Jesus? It is the most amazing thing.
Imagine if you had a birthday.
Your friends all came over, they partied, they ate, they exchanged presents and everybody acted if you didn't even exist.
Well, after a few minutes of that you would stand up and say `Hey! It's my birthday!`
As I began to talk to people, dozens of people, I started to get angry.
No matter what faith, creed, color - and you can find just about anything in Washington - they agreed.
It just wasn't right! Christmas, celebrating the birthday of Jesus and amazingly there appears to be a very studied attempt to completely ignore Him.
Well, contrast that to Baghdad. I am an Assyrian Christian and my family is originally from the Iraqi village of Mahmoudia in Northern Iraq.
I was there during Saddams time and remember the sheer terror that reigned 24 hours a day.
The constant fear that you could be hauled off by one of his `goons` and never seen again.
Well in Iraq thanks to our failed policies the poor Iraqis have not learned yet that you are supposed to ignore Jesus on Christmas.
Sponsored by the Iraqi Government, I repeat `sponsored by the Iraqi Government ` - no separation of Church and State here - there was a special Christmas Celebration in downtown Baghdad.
Guess what was the main attraction?
A huge Christmas tree topped by a Star?
A massive Santa Claus?
Fake snow? Nope! They had a huge picture of . . . . you got it, Jesus! There it was!
A huge, beautifully painted color painting of Jesus, the center of the Christmas celebration!
Iraqi Government spokesman Abdul Karim Khalaf took it all one step further when he announced on behalf of the Iraqi Government, I repeat, `on behalf of the Iraqi Government` `All Iraqis are Christians today`.
Did I miss something?
No, I didn't. After meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki on behalf of the Assyrian Christians, I paused and said `Prime Minister, would you mind if I prayed for you.
` He beamed, ordered all his beefy, confused security guards surrounding us to bow their heads and we had a wonderful time of prayer.
Meeting later with Iraqi President Talabani on the same subject, I asked the question again. This time he pointed to his chest and said `I just had surgery on my heart - pray here!`
I thought to myself, `I wondered what kind of a reception I would get on on Capitol Hill, at the State Department or a dozen other Government Agencies after a meeting if I asked `would you mind if I prayed for you!`.
A cold silence, mass panic, a straight `no - with a couple exceptions, that would be the response!
Well, Washington and all of us this Christmas can learn something from the poor, politically incorrect Iraqis.
By the way Iraq is doing so bad I can`t seem to book my ticket to get back there - no open seats!
As every Iraqi Government says so proudly they have been `Liberated` and celebrate Christmas the way it should be celebrated with a huge picture of Jesus whose birthday Christmas is!
May God bless them all and may He call us back to our senses before it is too late.
Of all times in the middle of an Economic Crisis it is not the time to make the Birthday guest upset!
How stupid can you get! Christmas is the birthday of Jesus and the Iraqis got it right - put Him up front and center!
The Iraqis at least know that much!
They need Him and all the blessings they can get!
Ken Joseph Jr.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Panelist Insults Assyrian Christians
Washington DC
In the second of a two part series of important hearings on the refugee situation in Iraq by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, one panelist caused a major controversy.
Dr. Judith Yaphe a Fellow at the National Defense University characterized The Assyrian Genocide of 1913-1915 as `due to their support of the British – not as a result of their ethnic, religious identity.`
During that period of time it is estimated that nearly two thirds of the indigenous Assyrian Christian community in Iraq was killed in a bloodbath that has gone down in history. It is an area of extreme sensitivity along with the similar Genocide against Armenians which is denied by Turkey and other countries to this day.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the US Government in 1998 to monitor Religious Freedom throughout the world.
While the panel, the first of which in July had concentrated on Assyrian Christian, Yezidi, Manichean and other Minorities the two part set of hearings was divided into two parts.
The first part of the hearing was testimony on intra-muslim conflict. The second concentrated on the refugee situation in neighboring countries including representatives from the Assistant Secretary of State in charge of refugee issues, Ellen Saurerbrey and representatives from both the UN and the International Organization for Migration.
While it was not the main topic, as it had been covered in the previous hearing, various panelists brought out figures for the total number of registered refugees. Figures ranged from a low of 20% of all refugees being Assyrian Christians to a high of 62% by another panelist, illustrating the large percentage of the total refugee population which is Assyrian Christian, the indigenous people of Iraq.
Many experts have expressed alarm at the emphasis on refugees from Iraq as seriously undermining the future of the struggling country.
In particular the Assyrian Christians as one of the Middle East’s last major indigenous Christian Communities instead of begin encouraged to leave the country should be helped to stay.
One expert said `Overemphasizing the refugee issue is very dangerous. Instead of encouraging people to leave, plans and ideas so they can remain in the country is key. The temptation of a US, European or other country visa can be overwhelming and leads generally to exaggeration of ones circumstances to leave.`
Of particular interest was a suggestion put forth by Imam Talal Y.Eid of UCLA to set up an area for the minorities within Iraq so they would not be a problem for neighboring countries.
Eid, originally from Lebanon said `I do not understand why we are discussing refugees in neighboring countries. Iraq is a large country. The solution is for there to be an area in Iraq reserved for these minorities so they can stay within Iraq.`
Eid`s proposal made at the hearing reflects the view of the Assyrian Christian Community worldwide who have officially at the invitation of the Iraqi Government applied for one province in their homeland under the Iraqi Constitution.`
Experts, see this, echoing Eid`s proposal as the only long term solution to the refugee problem in Iraq.
Prime Minister Maliki, at an earlier meeting stated `The Assyrians are the original people of Iraq. Whatever they need to remain in Iraq we will do.`
The Prime Minister and his office have put on the table an offer to make payments to Assyrian Christians and other Iraqis living in Neighboring countries based on the monthly stipend, payment for resettlement of any Iraqi returning to Iraq and a Province under the Constitution for the Assyrian Christians, the first step being a Security Zone in their homeland in Assyria in Northern Iraq.
The hearing further delved into the history of the conflict and Senator Arlan Spector, who along with Representative Frank Wolf initiated the original legislation forming the USCIRF expressed his strong support for the ongoing efforts to assist those suffering in Iraq.
He was followed by Senator Gordon Smith initiator with Senator Ted Kennedy of further legislation to help Iraqi refugees, both extending credibility and support to the Commission.
For the Assyrian Christians, though calling the Assyrian Holocaust a political rather than a religious genocide is akin to trying to explain away the Jewish Holocaust and has caused outrage in the community of nearly six million worldwide.
The irony of the program which hardly mentioned the Assyrian Christians who by all measure form the majority of the refugee population was that no particular support was expressed for them by panelists or commission members, some who left even before questioning began.
The one person supporting their goal – a homeland – was the moslem Imam from Lebanon.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Washington DC
In the second of a two part series of important hearings on the refugee situation in Iraq by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, one panelist caused a major controversy.
Dr. Judith Yaphe a Fellow at the National Defense University characterized The Assyrian Genocide of 1913-1915 as `due to their support of the British – not as a result of their ethnic, religious identity.`
During that period of time it is estimated that nearly two thirds of the indigenous Assyrian Christian community in Iraq was killed in a bloodbath that has gone down in history. It is an area of extreme sensitivity along with the similar Genocide against Armenians which is denied by Turkey and other countries to this day.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the US Government in 1998 to monitor Religious Freedom throughout the world.
While the panel, the first of which in July had concentrated on Assyrian Christian, Yezidi, Manichean and other Minorities the two part set of hearings was divided into two parts.
The first part of the hearing was testimony on intra-muslim conflict. The second concentrated on the refugee situation in neighboring countries including representatives from the Assistant Secretary of State in charge of refugee issues, Ellen Saurerbrey and representatives from both the UN and the International Organization for Migration.
While it was not the main topic, as it had been covered in the previous hearing, various panelists brought out figures for the total number of registered refugees. Figures ranged from a low of 20% of all refugees being Assyrian Christians to a high of 62% by another panelist, illustrating the large percentage of the total refugee population which is Assyrian Christian, the indigenous people of Iraq.
Many experts have expressed alarm at the emphasis on refugees from Iraq as seriously undermining the future of the struggling country.
In particular the Assyrian Christians as one of the Middle East’s last major indigenous Christian Communities instead of begin encouraged to leave the country should be helped to stay.
One expert said `Overemphasizing the refugee issue is very dangerous. Instead of encouraging people to leave, plans and ideas so they can remain in the country is key. The temptation of a US, European or other country visa can be overwhelming and leads generally to exaggeration of ones circumstances to leave.`
Of particular interest was a suggestion put forth by Imam Talal Y.Eid of UCLA to set up an area for the minorities within Iraq so they would not be a problem for neighboring countries.
Eid, originally from Lebanon said `I do not understand why we are discussing refugees in neighboring countries. Iraq is a large country. The solution is for there to be an area in Iraq reserved for these minorities so they can stay within Iraq.`
Eid`s proposal made at the hearing reflects the view of the Assyrian Christian Community worldwide who have officially at the invitation of the Iraqi Government applied for one province in their homeland under the Iraqi Constitution.`
Experts, see this, echoing Eid`s proposal as the only long term solution to the refugee problem in Iraq.
Prime Minister Maliki, at an earlier meeting stated `The Assyrians are the original people of Iraq. Whatever they need to remain in Iraq we will do.`
The Prime Minister and his office have put on the table an offer to make payments to Assyrian Christians and other Iraqis living in Neighboring countries based on the monthly stipend, payment for resettlement of any Iraqi returning to Iraq and a Province under the Constitution for the Assyrian Christians, the first step being a Security Zone in their homeland in Assyria in Northern Iraq.
The hearing further delved into the history of the conflict and Senator Arlan Spector, who along with Representative Frank Wolf initiated the original legislation forming the USCIRF expressed his strong support for the ongoing efforts to assist those suffering in Iraq.
He was followed by Senator Gordon Smith initiator with Senator Ted Kennedy of further legislation to help Iraqi refugees, both extending credibility and support to the Commission.
For the Assyrian Christians, though calling the Assyrian Holocaust a political rather than a religious genocide is akin to trying to explain away the Jewish Holocaust and has caused outrage in the community of nearly six million worldwide.
The irony of the program which hardly mentioned the Assyrian Christians who by all measure form the majority of the refugee population was that no particular support was expressed for them by panelists or commission members, some who left even before questioning began.
The one person supporting their goal – a homeland – was the moslem Imam from Lebanon.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Friday, November 7, 2008
One Simple Question
One Simple Question
Washington DC
When I was a kid growing up in Japan, our parents told us `You can do anything, you can become anyone . . . . except President of the United States.`
We all knew that there was one thing we could never accomplish because we were born in Japan.
As we come down to the wire on the election with so many issues, positions and ideas to evaluate, there seems to be one that trumps them all.
The answer to the simple question that I along with many other `foreign born` Americans have lived with all our lives – where were you born?
Amazingly, one the most basic premise for the upcoming election - the simple question `where were you born` as relates to Barack Obama remains unproved.
Sitting in a coffee shop this morning in Washington DC, I spoke with 23 year old Obama supporter Patrick Boland.
When told of the unsubstantiated rumors regarding Barack Obama`s birth, Boland said
`I had not heard that. While I would still support Barack Obama, that is something that would concern me.`
The unsubstantiated rumors are quite simple and stark.
1. Barack Obama was born in the city of Mombasa, Kenya at the Coast Provincial Hospital and taken later via Seattle to Hawaii and his Grandmother was present at his birth.
2. Barack Obama was taken to Indonesia by his Indonesian Father where he could not have gone to unless he was an Indonesia Citizen and registered in school as Indonesia.
3. Barack Obama attended University on a Foreign Student Scholarship.
There is one hint on the Barack Obama Website, under the `Fight the Smears` link.`
It says, `Since Sen. Obama has neither renounced his U.S. Citizenship nor sworn an oath of allegiance to Kenya, his Kenyan Citizenship automatically expired on August 4, 1982.`
The Obama Campaign confirms on their own website that until 1982, Senator Barack Obama was in fact a Kenyan Citizen.
The Constitution is very clear that one of the three qualifications for becoming president is to be a `natural born` American citizen.
What is most amazing is that to date, Barack Obama has not produced an official copy of his Birth Certificate.
What is produced is a copy of a `Certification of Live Birth`, which is not a Birth Certificate, but simply an `after the fact` Certification that anyone can receive following a birth.
Even more shocking is a complete lockdown on any information ranging from his birth certificate from Hawaii to his school records at Occidental College, Harvard and Columbia to any records from Kenya or Indonesia.
This just does not stand well.
Put aside for a moment all the policy matters and positions ranging from taxes to abortion to Iraq.
The most important question facing us in this election is `where were you born`.
Why does it matter?
First, obviously because if you are not `natural born` you cannot become the President of the United States as all of us `foreign born` kids learned a long time ago.
Second, though, and more concerning is the simple fact that if you are not honest about the single most important fact in an election than all the rest comes into question.
There remains one, extremely simple question that deserves one simple proof.
Before you vote, ask yourself the stark question.
Why has not Barack Obama produced the single most important document of the election – his birth certificate.
The answer to all other questions should flow from that answer.
Ken Joseph Jr.
www.kenjoseph.com
Washington DC
When I was a kid growing up in Japan, our parents told us `You can do anything, you can become anyone . . . . except President of the United States.`
We all knew that there was one thing we could never accomplish because we were born in Japan.
As we come down to the wire on the election with so many issues, positions and ideas to evaluate, there seems to be one that trumps them all.
The answer to the simple question that I along with many other `foreign born` Americans have lived with all our lives – where were you born?
Amazingly, one the most basic premise for the upcoming election - the simple question `where were you born` as relates to Barack Obama remains unproved.
Sitting in a coffee shop this morning in Washington DC, I spoke with 23 year old Obama supporter Patrick Boland.
When told of the unsubstantiated rumors regarding Barack Obama`s birth, Boland said
`I had not heard that. While I would still support Barack Obama, that is something that would concern me.`
The unsubstantiated rumors are quite simple and stark.
1. Barack Obama was born in the city of Mombasa, Kenya at the Coast Provincial Hospital and taken later via Seattle to Hawaii and his Grandmother was present at his birth.
2. Barack Obama was taken to Indonesia by his Indonesian Father where he could not have gone to unless he was an Indonesia Citizen and registered in school as Indonesia.
3. Barack Obama attended University on a Foreign Student Scholarship.
There is one hint on the Barack Obama Website, under the `Fight the Smears` link.`
It says, `Since Sen. Obama has neither renounced his U.S. Citizenship nor sworn an oath of allegiance to Kenya, his Kenyan Citizenship automatically expired on August 4, 1982.`
The Obama Campaign confirms on their own website that until 1982, Senator Barack Obama was in fact a Kenyan Citizen.
The Constitution is very clear that one of the three qualifications for becoming president is to be a `natural born` American citizen.
What is most amazing is that to date, Barack Obama has not produced an official copy of his Birth Certificate.
What is produced is a copy of a `Certification of Live Birth`, which is not a Birth Certificate, but simply an `after the fact` Certification that anyone can receive following a birth.
Even more shocking is a complete lockdown on any information ranging from his birth certificate from Hawaii to his school records at Occidental College, Harvard and Columbia to any records from Kenya or Indonesia.
This just does not stand well.
Put aside for a moment all the policy matters and positions ranging from taxes to abortion to Iraq.
The most important question facing us in this election is `where were you born`.
Why does it matter?
First, obviously because if you are not `natural born` you cannot become the President of the United States as all of us `foreign born` kids learned a long time ago.
Second, though, and more concerning is the simple fact that if you are not honest about the single most important fact in an election than all the rest comes into question.
There remains one, extremely simple question that deserves one simple proof.
Before you vote, ask yourself the stark question.
Why has not Barack Obama produced the single most important document of the election – his birth certificate.
The answer to all other questions should flow from that answer.
Ken Joseph Jr.
www.kenjoseph.com
The Danger Of Goodness
The Danger of Goodness
Washington DC
For those of us who have grown up and lived in totalitarian states the signs are ominous.
The unquestioning adoration.
The threats to anyone who dare oppose.
The clampdown on any dissenting media.
Unclear public policy.
It was the `good people` who welcomed Fidel Castro when he stood up against corruption.
It was again the `good people` who welcomed Khomeini home to Iran to start a revolution for the poor.
I will never forget meeting one of the original students, one of the `good` people who supported and worked with Khomeini.
He had promised food for all, jobs for all, freedom and equality.
The promises never materialized.
Months after arriving in Iran to cheering crowds, the same students who had joyfully welcomed him experienced firsthand the near immediate setting up of the moslem police state.
Stunned at the dramatic change of events and a `revolution` so different from what they had been promised, my friend asked Khomeini directly. `What happened to all your promises`.
With steely eyes, he told me Khomeini looked at him and said simply `I lied`.
I cannot forget the sadness in the eyes of the now middle aged student follower of the Islamic revolution.
The pattern is always the same.
We all forget at our peril that Dictators usually come to power on a wave of adoration and calls for change.
Once in control of the levers of power they immediately dismantle the very freedoms that allowed them come to power.
Why does this happen?
There is one very simple answer.
It is the danger of goodness.
Good people are at their core exactly that – good.
They always look for the best in people, strive for progress and hope for a better day.
They cannot imagine how anyone given such power would every want to use it for anything but good.
It is their one massive and gaping blind spot – their own goodness.
I was in Baghdad with a senior American General.
He had just finished a meeting with the panicked Assyrian Christians of the city.
`The meeting went very well. There were no complaints` he said.
`Was there anyone else in the room besides you and them`, I asked.
`Just a couple of Officials` he replied.
Having spoken with the Christians, I knew he had neglected, in his `goodness` to understand the `look` given to the Christians by the `officials` in the room.
Having endured Saddam Hussein, they all knew that `look`.
It said `say a word and you are toast`!
Goodness, as De Tocqueville found is America`s greatest blessing.
It causes us to reach out to a world with open arms of giving and caring, always believing, always pushing for a better world.
At the same time, as Americans it is our Achilles heel.
Sadly, there is evil in this world and understanding it first is the only way to be truly `good`, because the real purpose of `good` is to stand against evil.
Hopefully I and so many others are wrong and all the telltale signs of classic dictatorship will not come to pass.
I for one, though do not want to look into the eyes of another `good` person and hear them say `but it all sounded so good`.
Vigilance, a clear minded understanding of evil and a sharp eye at history are the only human ways to stop a dictator.
There is one thing, though that every dictator forgets about at his peril.
That is that goodness is based on faith and faith is nourished by prayer and prayer still changes history.
Disappointed? Fearful? You should be!
The solution?
Get on your knees.
Prayer still works and it still stops the march of evil and ultimately all tyrants fall in its path.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Washington DC
For those of us who have grown up and lived in totalitarian states the signs are ominous.
The unquestioning adoration.
The threats to anyone who dare oppose.
The clampdown on any dissenting media.
Unclear public policy.
It was the `good people` who welcomed Fidel Castro when he stood up against corruption.
It was again the `good people` who welcomed Khomeini home to Iran to start a revolution for the poor.
I will never forget meeting one of the original students, one of the `good` people who supported and worked with Khomeini.
He had promised food for all, jobs for all, freedom and equality.
The promises never materialized.
Months after arriving in Iran to cheering crowds, the same students who had joyfully welcomed him experienced firsthand the near immediate setting up of the moslem police state.
Stunned at the dramatic change of events and a `revolution` so different from what they had been promised, my friend asked Khomeini directly. `What happened to all your promises`.
With steely eyes, he told me Khomeini looked at him and said simply `I lied`.
I cannot forget the sadness in the eyes of the now middle aged student follower of the Islamic revolution.
The pattern is always the same.
We all forget at our peril that Dictators usually come to power on a wave of adoration and calls for change.
Once in control of the levers of power they immediately dismantle the very freedoms that allowed them come to power.
Why does this happen?
There is one very simple answer.
It is the danger of goodness.
Good people are at their core exactly that – good.
They always look for the best in people, strive for progress and hope for a better day.
They cannot imagine how anyone given such power would every want to use it for anything but good.
It is their one massive and gaping blind spot – their own goodness.
I was in Baghdad with a senior American General.
He had just finished a meeting with the panicked Assyrian Christians of the city.
`The meeting went very well. There were no complaints` he said.
`Was there anyone else in the room besides you and them`, I asked.
`Just a couple of Officials` he replied.
Having spoken with the Christians, I knew he had neglected, in his `goodness` to understand the `look` given to the Christians by the `officials` in the room.
Having endured Saddam Hussein, they all knew that `look`.
It said `say a word and you are toast`!
Goodness, as De Tocqueville found is America`s greatest blessing.
It causes us to reach out to a world with open arms of giving and caring, always believing, always pushing for a better world.
At the same time, as Americans it is our Achilles heel.
Sadly, there is evil in this world and understanding it first is the only way to be truly `good`, because the real purpose of `good` is to stand against evil.
Hopefully I and so many others are wrong and all the telltale signs of classic dictatorship will not come to pass.
I for one, though do not want to look into the eyes of another `good` person and hear them say `but it all sounded so good`.
Vigilance, a clear minded understanding of evil and a sharp eye at history are the only human ways to stop a dictator.
There is one thing, though that every dictator forgets about at his peril.
That is that goodness is based on faith and faith is nourished by prayer and prayer still changes history.
Disappointed? Fearful? You should be!
The solution?
Get on your knees.
Prayer still works and it still stops the march of evil and ultimately all tyrants fall in its path.
Ken Joseph Jr.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
U.N.: More than half of Iraqi city's Christians have fled
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- More than half the Christian population has fled the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in reaction to a campaign of killings and intimidation, according to the United Nations.
An estimated 13,000 Christians have left because of oppression the U.S. government blames on al Qaeda in Iraq.
Mosul, in Nineveh province, is one of the last Iraqi cities where al Qaeda in Iraq has a significant presence and routinely carries out attacks.
An estimated 2,300 families have fled Mosul this month, but the exodus has started to ebb, Nineveh province's Deputy Gov. Khasro Goran said Tuesday. No Christian family has left the city over the past seven days, and at least 100 families returned to their homes in and around Mosul during that time, Goran said.
Authorities said they believe Christian demonstrations earlier this month may have prompted the attacks. Hundreds of Christians took to the streets in Mosul and surrounding villages and towns demanding adequate representation on provincial councils, whose members will be chosen in local elections in January.
The violence that followed those protests left at least 14 Iraqi Christians dead and prompted the Iraqi government to dispatch more security forces to patrol the city. Violence has declined as a result, Iraqi officials said.
Last week, U.S. Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell said the anti-Christian attacks and threats are partly "due to elements of al Qaeda that still enjoy some ability to operate up there."
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Congressional Panelist Equates Christian and Islamic Fundamentalism
Congressional Panelist Equates Christian and Islamic Fundamentalism
Washington DC,
In a series of hearings at the House Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight a surprising response came from one of the panelists.
The hearings covering the so called `Helsinki Agreement` an ad hoc attempt at unifying various forces in Iraq under the direction of Professor Padraig O`Malley, Professor at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
The `Helsinki Process` described as `a collaboration between Iraqi political leaders and representatives of two other societies that suffered` had four of its members testify before the House committee on their ongoing project to build dialogue between the various parties in Iraq.
Basically made up of former opposing sides of the South African and Northern Ireland Conflicts, they use their former experiences to encourage dialogue in Iraq centering on the `Helsinki Agreements` signed by various parties in Iraq.
Mac Maraj a former underground commander of The African National Congress, previously a terrorist organization and now one party ruling party of South Africa led with discussions concerning the failure of US efforts in Iraq.
Following him, Roelf Meyer who led the negotiating team for the former Government of South Africa commented South Africa as the model for negotiations on Iraq.
Jeffrey Donaldsen and John Alderice who led opposite sides in the discussions in Northern Ireland compared the various sides of the conflict and final accords.
Organizer, O`Malley attempted to tie together the testimony before Chairman of the Subcommittee Bil Delahunt who offered his regular comments on the reconciliation efforts.
The general anti-American tone of the testimony made an additional turn in comments made by Lord John Alderice, a member of the UL Parliament from Northern Ireland.
`The whole problem in Iraq was cooked up by the right wing Christian fundamentalists led by George Bush and our former Prime Minister Blair. ` he said.
When questioned on the previous regime of Saddam Hussein and Islamic radicals currently terrorizing Iraq he said `The Christian Fundamentalists are the same as the Islamic Fundamentalists. They act from the same motives have the same worldviews.`
When given a chance to clarify his comments, in a later forum, Alderice refused to take them back, simply adding `these are my personal opinions` before launching into a similar series of comments on the similarity of Christian and Islamic `fundamentalism`.
One wonders first at the strong, anti-American feeling of the whole series of panels.
The lone exception was Jeffrey Donaldson, the Unionist Member of Parliament.
Official Congressional testimony with an astounding anti-Christian rhetoric capped by equating Christian Fundamentalism with Islamic Fundamentalism was clearly out of place.
Whether the so called `Helsinki Process` will succeed or fail is an open question, but with its anti-American and anti-Christian bent, it is sure to succeed in giving comfort and encouragement to the wrong side of the current conflict.
Ken Joseph Jr.
www.Kenjoseph.com
Washington DC,
In a series of hearings at the House Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight a surprising response came from one of the panelists.
The hearings covering the so called `Helsinki Agreement` an ad hoc attempt at unifying various forces in Iraq under the direction of Professor Padraig O`Malley, Professor at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
The `Helsinki Process` described as `a collaboration between Iraqi political leaders and representatives of two other societies that suffered` had four of its members testify before the House committee on their ongoing project to build dialogue between the various parties in Iraq.
Basically made up of former opposing sides of the South African and Northern Ireland Conflicts, they use their former experiences to encourage dialogue in Iraq centering on the `Helsinki Agreements` signed by various parties in Iraq.
Mac Maraj a former underground commander of The African National Congress, previously a terrorist organization and now one party ruling party of South Africa led with discussions concerning the failure of US efforts in Iraq.
Following him, Roelf Meyer who led the negotiating team for the former Government of South Africa commented South Africa as the model for negotiations on Iraq.
Jeffrey Donaldsen and John Alderice who led opposite sides in the discussions in Northern Ireland compared the various sides of the conflict and final accords.
Organizer, O`Malley attempted to tie together the testimony before Chairman of the Subcommittee Bil Delahunt who offered his regular comments on the reconciliation efforts.
The general anti-American tone of the testimony made an additional turn in comments made by Lord John Alderice, a member of the UL Parliament from Northern Ireland.
`The whole problem in Iraq was cooked up by the right wing Christian fundamentalists led by George Bush and our former Prime Minister Blair. ` he said.
When questioned on the previous regime of Saddam Hussein and Islamic radicals currently terrorizing Iraq he said `The Christian Fundamentalists are the same as the Islamic Fundamentalists. They act from the same motives have the same worldviews.`
When given a chance to clarify his comments, in a later forum, Alderice refused to take them back, simply adding `these are my personal opinions` before launching into a similar series of comments on the similarity of Christian and Islamic `fundamentalism`.
One wonders first at the strong, anti-American feeling of the whole series of panels.
The lone exception was Jeffrey Donaldson, the Unionist Member of Parliament.
Official Congressional testimony with an astounding anti-Christian rhetoric capped by equating Christian Fundamentalism with Islamic Fundamentalism was clearly out of place.
Whether the so called `Helsinki Process` will succeed or fail is an open question, but with its anti-American and anti-Christian bent, it is sure to succeed in giving comfort and encouragement to the wrong side of the current conflict.
Ken Joseph Jr.
www.Kenjoseph.com
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Iraqi President Sends Message
In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iraqi President Jalal Talibani was upbeat on Iraq.
`Iraq is doing well. Violence is down dramatically and people are returning home.` he said.
Talibani is Kurdish, and Kurdistan, his area in Northern Iraq has autonomy. Kurdistan is in the middle of an economic book and is in fact doing quite well.
Separated from the rest of Iraq since the early 1990s, it has developed on its own and had a head start on the rest of Iraq which suffered under the stifling control of Saddam Hussein and his Baath party.
A source of controversy is a bill recently passed in the Iraqi Parliament to abolish Article 50 of the Iraqi Provincial Election Law that sets aside seats for Iraqi minorities.
There have been demonstrations throughout the world by various concerned groups including over 5,000 in demonstrations within Iraq.
In a nation where over 2 million people have left and are refugees both inside and outside the country, minorities including Yazidis, Shabak, as well as the indigenous people of Iraq, the Assyrian Christians and others are deeply concerned at what they see as an Islamic drift in the country with growing influence from Iran and other more conservative regimes.
They see Article 50 which sets aside seats for each minority to protect them as a check on that drift.
One Assyrian Christian representative asking for anonymity said `Article 50 which protects the minorities is critical for the future of Iraq. We feel in fact, that a similar provision should be in the Iraqi Parliament where for example we have only two seats out of 275.
If our numbers are properly considered ? 2.5 Million or approximately 10% of the country at the last count during the time of Saddam Hussein ? we should in fact have 10 seats.
`The law was just recently passed` Talibani said `it is not consistent with the Constitution nor with what we feel is needed for Iraq. We need to do all we can to help those who are currently displaced to return home. As President I have the right to amend what parliament passes and I can assure you that we will be amending the change in the law immediately.`
He continued `We need to protect our minorities and this change sends exactly the wrong message. We are doing all we can to help those displaced to return and recently have put together a plan to provide 10 million Dinars (Approximately 8,500) to all who return as well as help in building a home and starting business for all.`
In an earlier statements Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and Foreign Minister Zebari echoed Talibani`s words by promising monthly payments to all refugees from the ballooning Iraqi Oil Fund as well as recognition for an Assyrian Province in the homeland of the indigenous Assyrian Christians in Northern Iraq.
`We need to get a message to the Assyrians and others that now is the time to come home. Whatever they need we will do for them` Talibani concluded.
`Tell them all that I will personally make sure that Article be restored and to contact me directly if there are any problems. We will do all that is needed to get all of our people home, in particular our minorities and indigenous Assyrians.`
All politicians make promises. The `devil` is in the details. All who hope for progress in Iraq hope that Talibani, Maliki and Zebari`s promises come to be.
In response to skepticism that his words will end up just that, words, Talibani thundered with his deep voice `I am President! Don?t worry.`
Having recently had serious surgery, it was time to stop. A brief prayer and the `President` was off to return to Baghdad.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Iraqi Prime Minister Rejects Timetable!
In a wide ranging, interview, Iraqi President Nouri al Malaki appeared upbeat about the future of his country in contrast to the daily `bad news` coming from Iraq.
`I fully understand why bad news makes the news` Maliki said. `It is the nature of the world we live in. At the same time, I think it is important to let the world know that things in our country are improving dramatically.
Our unemployment rate has gone from nearly 70% to now under 30%. Our most recent growth rate was 3% and we have seen, in particular as a result of the recent Baghdad program a dramatic drop in so called sectarian violence.
Speaking through an interpreter, but often breaking in to confirm a comment, Maliki was in control.
`What is particular encouraging to me is the changes we have seen in our security forces and the trust from our people once again. We are finally seeing individual citizens provide information to our forces which has changed the situation dramatically in rooting out those who are determined to ruin our country.`
Maliki stressed three key goals. National Reconciliation, Economic Development and Expanded Security as the way forward.
`In spite of much information to the contrary, we are seeing a return to the Iraq we all once knew when we considered ourselves all Iraqis and not belonging to a particular sect or group.
Recently we have brought back large numbers of former members of the Baath Party who were not involved in any problems in the past and this has significantly helped to bring our people together` he said
`Economic development is taking place at a good rate. Part of the reason we are here is to encourage even more investment into our country. The monthly income of our people has gone from about $20 a month to now over $200. The dramatic rise in electrical use is one good sign that the economy is taking off. The stores are full.`
At the same time, Maliki saw security as the major concern going forward. `We need good and reliable security and we are doing all we can to expand the security forces so they can take charge. The key is the trust between the people and the security forces. This is where we have seen the most progress.`
Describing the current military situation as `moving from sectarian to outside interference` Maliki stressed that the so called `Baghdad Plan` was working. `We are seeing a dramatic drop in the sectarian conflicts and see our major challenge as that from the outside including Al Quaida and remainders of the Baathist groups.` he said.
`I think we are the only country in the region with a Human Rights Ministry - we have suffered much in the past, all of us and the Human Rights Ministry is dedicated to rooting out all forms of abuse. It is a positive sign`
Reacting to the question of a timetable, Maliki strongly objected saying `There is no timetable for the Multinational forces to leave. We are working together with our friends to bring security under control. The only `timetable` is that of our forces and our nation as a whole being able to assume responsibility for our situation.`
Reacting to large numbers of refugees in neighboring countries, Maliki said `We do not consider them refugees. they are displaced and we are doing all we can to create a sit uation where they can return. They are our responsibility and we do not need help from others to take them in - they will return home.`
Speaking to the minorities, many who in fact are in neighboring countries including an estimated nearly 500,000 Assyrian Christians Maliki said `I have a bias towards the Assyrian Christians. They are the indigenous people of our country and our our most nationalist and good people.`
`We want them to be inside the country and active and able to retake their rights. We will do all we can to help them. At the same time, if they feel they need an area, a province of their own as the Constitution provinces I support this fully`
The Assyrian Christians have made a formal request for a Province in their homeland which many see as the only way to persuade the many outside the country to return. The Assyr ian Province, under the same legal framework as neighboring Kurdistan is seen as a key to bring the Northern part of Iraq into stability.
Commenting on the death of Saddam Hussein Maliki said `In the end he was charged only for the deaths of a hundred people. He should have been charged for the deaths of the hundreds of thousands he really killed. We gave him a long and fair trial. It is unfortunate that pictures of his death were shown, but we are not used to doing this and we have learned a lot.`
With daily flights from many part of Europe and the Middle East, Iraq is slowly returning to a more normal state. At the same time, the Prime Minister was clear that any discussion of timetables for withdrawl of Multinational Forces would be disastrous.
`In the end we will be able to take care of ourselves. Meanwhile we need the help of our f riends to stand against those who want to harm us.
Friday, September 19, 2008
One Of Us!
St. Paul, Minnesota
I will never forget attending a meeting in Washington, where both President George Bush and his wife Laura, spoke.
Laura Bush opened the event she was beautiful, eloquent and brilliant.
She blew us all away!
And then there was President George Bush.
He wasn’t very brilliant. He was `ok`, but definitely not amazing.
But what brought us all over?
It was the simple fact that although George Bush didn’t bowl us over – to tell the truth he came across as being pretty nutty - Laura Bush sure did.
We just loved her! She was real and just like us.
I think we all concluded `He sure doesn’t have it, but if she was with him, he must be pretty good too!`
I have met John McCain many times in conjunction with working to try and get his support for the Assyrian Christians in Iraq.
He is always prickly, mean and short tempered.
A typical reaction to asking for his support for Christians in Iraq would be `we don’t support any particular group.`.
Not exactly a `one of us` comment!
In fact there might be a bit of history that makes him so `prickly`, particular to those of us of faith.
My father, Kennu Joseph Senior, knew John McCain Senior.
A second Generation Admiral, commander of the Pacific Fleet, he was a strident advocate for freedom.
Often when he would meet my father he would say `Pray for my son! He is away from God.`
John McCain Senior, was known as a godly man, rising up early in the morning to spend a hour or more in prayer, apparently much of it for his wayward son.
I think I share the same reaction of most conservatives of not being particulary excited about John McCain.
Why have we reluctantly supported him?
Because lined up with Barack Obama, he is clearly a choice of the lesser of two evils.
But, Sarah changed everything!
We may not be particularly exited about John, but like Laura Bush with George, if she is on his side, he must be ok!
Why? Because she is one of us!
Just listen to her words!
`They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America.`
`By the grace of God ... the special confidence of those who have seen evil, and seen how evil is overcome.`
`I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.`
`But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart. `
What was so difficult about listening to the Democratic Convention?
They didn’t use our language and the few times they `prayed`, you could run a knife through the thick, icy atmosphere.
For people of faith, real faith it is words like `the Grace of God`, `a Servants Heart` and `prayer`, said in passing that grips our hearts.
We know for all the human frailties and the brilliance of campaigns and political rhetoric, at the end of the day we are at best Servants of God.
For some reason we will only understand in Glory, God chooses each of us, in spite of ourselves.
What finally put just about everybody over? The simple fact that she is `normal`, too.
Married, five Children, struggling to balance everything and a daughter that got pregnant before she was married.
Thank goodness for that sweet daughter. That really convinced me she is truly `one of us`.
Being people of faith, doesn’t mean we are perfect. It simply means that we see the world through glasses of hope, belief, faith and a higher purpose.
It means that we struggle every day with the same problems, disappointments and human failings as does anybody except for two special words, quoted by John McCain when asked what was meaningful in his life.
He replied `I believe in forgiveness and redemption`.
People of faith are not better, but simply forgiven and redeemed.
Is John McCain one of us?
Not quite yet, but with Sarah and the prayers of a special father on his side he is on his way!
Ken Joseph Jr.
I will never forget attending a meeting in Washington, where both President George Bush and his wife Laura, spoke.
Laura Bush opened the event she was beautiful, eloquent and brilliant.
She blew us all away!
And then there was President George Bush.
He wasn’t very brilliant. He was `ok`, but definitely not amazing.
But what brought us all over?
It was the simple fact that although George Bush didn’t bowl us over – to tell the truth he came across as being pretty nutty - Laura Bush sure did.
We just loved her! She was real and just like us.
I think we all concluded `He sure doesn’t have it, but if she was with him, he must be pretty good too!`
I have met John McCain many times in conjunction with working to try and get his support for the Assyrian Christians in Iraq.
He is always prickly, mean and short tempered.
A typical reaction to asking for his support for Christians in Iraq would be `we don’t support any particular group.`.
Not exactly a `one of us` comment!
In fact there might be a bit of history that makes him so `prickly`, particular to those of us of faith.
My father, Kennu Joseph Senior, knew John McCain Senior.
A second Generation Admiral, commander of the Pacific Fleet, he was a strident advocate for freedom.
Often when he would meet my father he would say `Pray for my son! He is away from God.`
John McCain Senior, was known as a godly man, rising up early in the morning to spend a hour or more in prayer, apparently much of it for his wayward son.
I think I share the same reaction of most conservatives of not being particulary excited about John McCain.
Why have we reluctantly supported him?
Because lined up with Barack Obama, he is clearly a choice of the lesser of two evils.
But, Sarah changed everything!
We may not be particularly exited about John, but like Laura Bush with George, if she is on his side, he must be ok!
Why? Because she is one of us!
Just listen to her words!
`They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America.`
`By the grace of God ... the special confidence of those who have seen evil, and seen how evil is overcome.`
`I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.`
`But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart. `
What was so difficult about listening to the Democratic Convention?
They didn’t use our language and the few times they `prayed`, you could run a knife through the thick, icy atmosphere.
For people of faith, real faith it is words like `the Grace of God`, `a Servants Heart` and `prayer`, said in passing that grips our hearts.
We know for all the human frailties and the brilliance of campaigns and political rhetoric, at the end of the day we are at best Servants of God.
For some reason we will only understand in Glory, God chooses each of us, in spite of ourselves.
What finally put just about everybody over? The simple fact that she is `normal`, too.
Married, five Children, struggling to balance everything and a daughter that got pregnant before she was married.
Thank goodness for that sweet daughter. That really convinced me she is truly `one of us`.
Being people of faith, doesn’t mean we are perfect. It simply means that we see the world through glasses of hope, belief, faith and a higher purpose.
It means that we struggle every day with the same problems, disappointments and human failings as does anybody except for two special words, quoted by John McCain when asked what was meaningful in his life.
He replied `I believe in forgiveness and redemption`.
People of faith are not better, but simply forgiven and redeemed.
Is John McCain one of us?
Not quite yet, but with Sarah and the prayers of a special father on his side he is on his way!
Ken Joseph Jr.
Prime Minister Maliki Speaks!
In a wide ranging, interview, Iraqi President Nouri al Malaki appeared upbeat about the future of his country in contrast to the daily `bad news` coming from Iraq.
`I fully understand why bad news makes the news` Maliki said. `It is the nature of the world we live in.
At the same time, I think it is important to let the world know that things in our country are improving dramatically.
Our unemployment rate has gone from nearly 70% to now under 30%. Our most recent growth rate was 3% and we have seen, in particular as a result of the recent Baghdad program a dramatic drop in so called sectarian violence.
Speaking through an interpreter, but often breaking in to confirm a comment, Maliki was in control.
`What is particular encouraging to me is the changes we have seen in our security forces and the trust from our people once again.
We are finally seeing individual citizens provide information to our forces which has changed the situation dramatically in rooting out those who are determined to ruin our country.
` Maliki stressed three key goals. National Reconciliation, Economic Development and Expanded Security as the way forward.
In spite of much information to the contrary, we are seeing a return to the Iraq we all once knew when we considered ourselves all Iraqis and not belonging to a particular sect or group.
Recently we have brought back large numbers of former members of the Baath Party who were not involved in any problems in the past and this has significantly helped to bring our people together` he said.
`Economic development is taking place at a good rate. Part of the reason we are here is to encourage even more investment into our country.
The monthly income of our people has gone from about $20 a month to now over $200. The dramatic rise in electrical use is one good sign that the economy is taking off. The stores are full.`
At the same time, Maliki saw security as the major concern going forward.
`We need good and reliable security and we are doing all we can to expand the security forces so they can take charge. The key is the trust between the people and the security forces. This is where we have seen the most progress.`
Describing the current military situation as `moving from sectarian to outside interference` Maliki stressed that the so called `Baghdad Plan` was working.
`We are seeing a dramatic drop in the sectarian conflicts and see our major challenge as that from the outside including Al Quaida and remainders of the Baathist groups.` he said.
`I think we are the only country in the region with a Human Rights Ministry - we have suffered much in the past, all of us and the Human Rights Ministry is dedicated to rooting out all forms of abuse. It is a positive sign`
Reacting to the question of a timetable, Maliki strongly objected saying `There is no timetable for the Multinational forces to leave. We are working together with our friends to bring security under control. The only `timetable` is that of our forces and our nation as a whole being able to assume responsibility for our situation.`
Reacting to large numbers of refugees in neighboring countries, Maliki said `We do not consider them refugees. they are displaced and we are doing all we can to create a situation where they can return.
They are our responsibility and we do not need help from others to take them in - they will return home.` Speaking to the minorities, many who in fact are in neighboring countries including an estimated nearly 500,000 Assyrian Christians Maliki said `I have a bias towards the Assyrian Christians.
They are the indigenous people of our country and our our most nationalist and good people.`
`We want them to be inside the country and active and able to retake their rights. We will do all we can to help them. At the same time, if they feel they need an area, a province of their own as the Constitution provinces
I support this fully` The Assyrian Christians have made a formal request for a Province in their homeland which many see as the only way to persuade the many outside the country to return.
The Assyrian Province, under the same legal framework as neighboring Kurdistan is seen as a key to bring the Northern part of Iraq into stability.
Commenting on the death of Saddam Hussein Maliki said `In the end he was charged only for the deaths of a hundred people.
He should have been charged for the deaths of the hundreds of thousands he really killed. We gave him a long and fair trial. It is unfortunate that pictures of his death were shown, but we are not used to doing this and we have learned a lot.` With daily flights from many part of Europe and the Middle East, Iraq is slowly returning to a more normal state.
At the same time, the Prime Minister was clear that any discussion of timetables for withdrawl of Multinational Forces would be disastrous. `In the end we will be able to take care of ourselves. Meanwhile we need the help of our friends to stand against those who want to harm us.
Ken Joseph Jr.
`I fully understand why bad news makes the news` Maliki said. `It is the nature of the world we live in.
At the same time, I think it is important to let the world know that things in our country are improving dramatically.
Our unemployment rate has gone from nearly 70% to now under 30%. Our most recent growth rate was 3% and we have seen, in particular as a result of the recent Baghdad program a dramatic drop in so called sectarian violence.
Speaking through an interpreter, but often breaking in to confirm a comment, Maliki was in control.
`What is particular encouraging to me is the changes we have seen in our security forces and the trust from our people once again.
We are finally seeing individual citizens provide information to our forces which has changed the situation dramatically in rooting out those who are determined to ruin our country.
` Maliki stressed three key goals. National Reconciliation, Economic Development and Expanded Security as the way forward.
In spite of much information to the contrary, we are seeing a return to the Iraq we all once knew when we considered ourselves all Iraqis and not belonging to a particular sect or group.
Recently we have brought back large numbers of former members of the Baath Party who were not involved in any problems in the past and this has significantly helped to bring our people together` he said.
`Economic development is taking place at a good rate. Part of the reason we are here is to encourage even more investment into our country.
The monthly income of our people has gone from about $20 a month to now over $200. The dramatic rise in electrical use is one good sign that the economy is taking off. The stores are full.`
At the same time, Maliki saw security as the major concern going forward.
`We need good and reliable security and we are doing all we can to expand the security forces so they can take charge. The key is the trust between the people and the security forces. This is where we have seen the most progress.`
Describing the current military situation as `moving from sectarian to outside interference` Maliki stressed that the so called `Baghdad Plan` was working.
`We are seeing a dramatic drop in the sectarian conflicts and see our major challenge as that from the outside including Al Quaida and remainders of the Baathist groups.` he said.
`I think we are the only country in the region with a Human Rights Ministry - we have suffered much in the past, all of us and the Human Rights Ministry is dedicated to rooting out all forms of abuse. It is a positive sign`
Reacting to the question of a timetable, Maliki strongly objected saying `There is no timetable for the Multinational forces to leave. We are working together with our friends to bring security under control. The only `timetable` is that of our forces and our nation as a whole being able to assume responsibility for our situation.`
Reacting to large numbers of refugees in neighboring countries, Maliki said `We do not consider them refugees. they are displaced and we are doing all we can to create a situation where they can return.
They are our responsibility and we do not need help from others to take them in - they will return home.` Speaking to the minorities, many who in fact are in neighboring countries including an estimated nearly 500,000 Assyrian Christians Maliki said `I have a bias towards the Assyrian Christians.
They are the indigenous people of our country and our our most nationalist and good people.`
`We want them to be inside the country and active and able to retake their rights. We will do all we can to help them. At the same time, if they feel they need an area, a province of their own as the Constitution provinces
I support this fully` The Assyrian Christians have made a formal request for a Province in their homeland which many see as the only way to persuade the many outside the country to return.
The Assyrian Province, under the same legal framework as neighboring Kurdistan is seen as a key to bring the Northern part of Iraq into stability.
Commenting on the death of Saddam Hussein Maliki said `In the end he was charged only for the deaths of a hundred people.
He should have been charged for the deaths of the hundreds of thousands he really killed. We gave him a long and fair trial. It is unfortunate that pictures of his death were shown, but we are not used to doing this and we have learned a lot.` With daily flights from many part of Europe and the Middle East, Iraq is slowly returning to a more normal state.
At the same time, the Prime Minister was clear that any discussion of timetables for withdrawl of Multinational Forces would be disastrous. `In the end we will be able to take care of ourselves. Meanwhile we need the help of our friends to stand against those who want to harm us.
Ken Joseph Jr.
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