Making excuses for Terrorism Efforts to link the bombs in London to Britain ’s involvement in Iraq are worthless and a badly timed justification. Egypt , a country which did not send any soldiers to fight in Iraq and has always opposed the war, has also been the victim of terrorism in Sharm al Sheikh. Claiming the London explosions are a consequence of the British government’s participation in the war in Iraq lacks is devoid of any historical knowledge. After all, the ideology of al Qaeda and its affiliates is denouncing people as infidels and killing innocent civilians. Whether Britain had taken part in the war in Iraq or not, the country would still be a target for al Qaeda. The British Isles have been chosen by the extremists as a safe house where they can expand, raise their children and recruit more followers to spread their ideology. If this prove anything, it is that Britain is one of the most generous host countries in Europe, to the extent that is has allowed its territories to be filled with deadly scorpions who are waiting for the appropriate time to leave their nests and sting their hosts. The latest attacks in London are a direct result of the government’s recklessness and its lenient attitude toward extremists it has refrained from deporting in the last fifty years. Let me remind the reader of the reactions in some sections of the media to terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia . Many alleged the bombings were a reaction to the presence of US military forces in the region, after the first Gulf War. Yet, an analysis of events in the last few years clearly demonstrates that the number of attacks rose after US forces withdrew from the Kingdom, thereby contradicting these claims. Terrorists never attacks US forces stationed in nearby Qatar , who sent its soldiers to fight in Iraq . It was inevitable that Britain will get attacked. The question was not if, but when. Terrorists and their sympathizers decided to abuse the government’s lax attitude and its open door policy for extremists. Certainly, the Iraq war provided the impetus and helped with funding and propaganda. It also meant different groups joined forces and more individuals fell pray to extremism. However, the truth of the matter is, terrorism began in Afghanistan and was exported to Iraq, the Persian Gulf region, and Egypt, even affecting countries that have not taken part in the war, such as Yemen, Indonesia, and the Netherlands. Justifying the London attacks and arguing events in Iraq are to blame only serves to perpetuate lies. In reality, terrorism is an ideological disease we need to get rid of. The most recent bombings in the resort town herald a new round in the war on terror that require a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the attack. London and Sharm al Sheikh are the latest pieces in the big puzzle that is terrorism, currently spreading its wings around the world. They are not internal problems but part of a wider global conflict that must be confronted socially and collectively Making excuses for Terrorism This article sums it up great.

Muslim Women on Everest Last Monday, two Iranian women made history – they became the first Muslim women to climb Mount Everest. Farkhondeh Sadegh, a 36-year-old graphic designer from Tehran , and Laleh Keshavarz, 25, a dentist from Zabedan, bring the total number of women who have reached the top of Everest to 102. Six Iranian men scaled the 8,850-metre mountain along with the women. But it is Farkhondeh and Laleh that have captured the most attention because their accomplishment is both a chance to celebrate and a sad reminder of the many mountains left for Muslim women to climb. The first and most obvious mountain of course is that of sports for women in the Muslim world. Leila Bahrami, one of seven women who were part of the 21-member Iranian team that arrived in Nepal for the Everest expedition in March, told an American newspaper earlier this year that climbing the mountain would show the world the potential of Muslim sportswomen. I have no doubt that Muslim women can excel at any sport. It has never been a question of talent but rather opportunity that holds Muslim women back. To their credit, some Muslim countries encourage sports for girls and women and have sent women to represent them at the Olympics. Morocco is just one example. Its most famous sporting daughter is Nawal El Moutawakel, who was the first woman from a Muslim country to win an Olympic medal and the first Moroccan athlete to win gold when she became the 400-meter hurdles champion at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Nawal continues to make her country proud - the International Olympics Committee announced last year that she would head the panel evaluating the five cities bidding for the 2012 Summer Games. But women in many other Muslim countries can only dream of Nawal’s success. Iranian women are undoubtedly celebrating their mountain climber’s historic achievements, but their country its first women to the Olympic just last year. Over the past few weeks in Pakistan , women’s running has become more about politics than sports. On May 21, 300 men and women took part in a road race in Lahore , defying a ban on men and women running together. Just a week earlier, police had beaten the runners and arrested dozens as soon as they crossed the start line. The ban on mixed running in Lahore was a result of pressure from an alliance of conservative religious parties. But President Pervez Musharraf has publicly backed women's right to participate in sports activities alongside men in Pakistan and so on May 21, riot police were deployed to protect the race against Islamist hardliners who condemned the race. Sports are not the only mountains that Muslim women must climb. Again let’s turn to Iran . Farkhondeh and Laleh’s record-breaking feat was welcome good news to Iranian women angered by the prohibition once again on women from running for the country’s presidency in forthcoming elections. This is but one in a list of Iranian women’s complaints today. Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, highlighted many of them during a speaking tour in California in May. She could have been speaking about the plight of women in most Muslim countries, not just Iran , when she said that although 63 percent of university students in her country are women, they are denied social and political positions. Muslim women today are the most educated they have ever been. Despite literacy rates that remain depressingly low in many Muslim countries, Muslim women are more educated than they were three or four generations ago. But how long will their countries continue to deny them the opportunities that their education has earned them? I have devoted several columns chastising Muslim and Arab men for misogyny. Governments, husbands, fathers, brothers and sons cannot allow their conscience to rest easy until they challenge and change the often blatantly anti-women laws and traditions that continue to make the lives of too many Muslim women miserable. But I must also agree with Ebadi when she highlights the role of women in fighting sexism. “Let us not forget that although women suffered from the culture, they helped nurture the culture. Let us not forget that any man who imposes discriminatory rule on women was raised by his mother.†Ebadi also highlighted the direct relation between the status of women and democracy. "Women are the last group able to reap the benefits of democracy, as though such concepts ... were created for men and if there's any left-overs, women can pick them up," she said. Rights are rarely given – they are fought for and demanded. Iranian feminist groups have put up a good fight for a long time. “Democracy is a historical process that must mature. The victory of feminist groups will pave the way for genuine democracy,†Ebadi said. The essence of her message is that a country cannot develop its men and ignore its women. Such lopsided development is bound to fail – imagine trying to ride a bicycle with one wheel full of air while the other is flat. You will not get very far. And so as we celebrate the arrival of the first two Muslim women at the peak of Everest , let us hope their achievement will help more women climb their own mountains. Muslim Women on Everest

Originally posted by Fidel: Thanks 7. Did they mention on that channel whether these guys were "persons of interest" or suspects? Persons of interest? They were to-be-bombers!

One is Eritrean, the other Somali - It was in the channel4 7 o'clock news.

I'm sorry ladies. I still fail to see anything remotely offensive about the story. Stoic, if changing the title eases the pain Femme n Puke feel...why not?

Arent you two over-reacting? Stoic, miskiinimo ayaa lagugu bartey Stoic's news has ceased to be funny after the 2nd page. Its now just a selection of his choice articles for that day...innit mate? Nonetheless, that was an uncomfortable read but a reality.

Originally posted by Salaxuddiin: as for waking up; well i recall a famous quote, the docter once said to 7of9; Between impulse and action there is a realm of good taste begging for your acquaintance. I find your self-expression ponderous - Seven in reply to the dr.

Originally posted by nafta: A Chloe Silverado Bag Doesn't that look gorgeous. Do they have to be so ridiculously expensive? Funnily enough, I bought this bag yesterday. And I'm not even into trends and mainstream fashion.

He was rude, obnoxious, offensive and I couldnt stand the kid. Muran uun buu meesha la soo taagnaa. Annoying! Haddad, I'm an ex-borg.

^ Good riddance! I have never cursed so much at the TV. Science was an annoying little prick. As for London, I have become too uninspired by the subject. I dont want to hear it. I cant handle another bout of paranoia.

The 1st post I read this morning. Salaxuddiin, you’re very inspirational and you always speak from an introspective perspective. MashaAllah. Keep it up. Perhaps one of these days I’ll snap from this deep coma of worldly gains and entertaining myself.

Fidel..there is something about you thats just...erm......likable. heh. Kashafa..ur so clever! LOL.

^^ Haa dee... waa anigii . As for lynching Kheyr, I cant say I havent entertained the thought.

The Northern Line, Hammersmith and City, Bakerloo, Piccadilly and the Waterloo and City Line have all been suspended. LATEST 1620: Two people are detained, police say. A police source says officers are looking for an unknown number of fugitives. 1610: No traces of chemical agents found at any of the incident sites, police say. 1559: Incident at University College Hospital is "stood down", Scotland Yard announces. 1547: Prime Minister Tony Blair says incidents such as Thursday's are designed to frighten people, adding: "We've just got to react calmly and continue with our business - as much as possible - as normal." 1545: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair says the situation is "fully under control". He says there is no indication of chemical or other attack, and that there has been only one casualty - not a fatality. 1525: Armed police arrest a man outside the gates of Prime Minister Tony Blair's 10 Downing Street offices. 1522: Police say no trace of chemical agents is found at Warren Street station following tests. 1503: Police appeal for anyone with photos or mobile phone images from the incident scenes to send them to www.police.uk. 1443: Police ask people to remain at work or at home. 1430: UK Government's emergency-response team Cobra meets at Downing Street, with Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair attending. 1428: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair says Thursday's incidents are "clearly very serious" but that the explosions were smaller than those which killed at least 56 people two weeks ago. He says the transport system will close down "for a short while". 1426: Police in protective gear deployed to Warren Street station. 1413: Prime Minister Tony Blair postpones a visit to a school in east London and a photocall with visiting Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, a spokesman says. 1411: Police cordon off a large area around University College Hospital, which is near Warren Street station. 1401: A White House spokesman says the US is "monitoring the situation closely". 1354: Police say they are not treating the evacuations as a "major incident yet". 1348: Westminster Underground station is evacuated. 1342: Police respond to reports of an explosion on a Number 26 bus in Hackney Road in east London. There are no reports of injuries. 1340: Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, cancels an engagement because of the incident on the Underground, a spokeswoman says. 1325: London Underground announces services suspended on three lines, Hammersmith & City, Victoria and Northern. 1321: Fire service says smoke seen coming from Warren Street Tube station. 1320: The pound sterling falls against other currencies as word of the incidents hits the markets. The index of leading shares on London's stock exchange also falls. 1311: Shepherd's Bush station on the Hammersmith and City line is evacuated. 1245: Ambulance services are called to the Warren Street station on the Northern and Victoria lines. The station is evacuated. 1238: Ambulance services are called to the Oval Underground station on the Northern Line. The station is evacuated. BBC ... Stay safe Londoners.

North, exactly how do fit masjid visits, city tours and cricket into your work schedule (and SOL!)? :confused:

And other worrying news - Scotty's demise A member of the original cast is gone. The living legacy is chipping bit by bit.. . No more will we see them all together in 'Trek Conventions' or those rare get 2gethers.... ohh I dont know how I'm expected to work with so much tragedy and chaos around me. :mad:

Rahima and Viking beat it to me. Totally agree with them. Some people seem to be debating about the brother’s intent and not about the content of his post. It sounds (to me) like they decided to reside in the lower levels of this discussion. The content you say? Which might be what Xaaji-duul-duul? As some of the others, it went right over my head. Lets call a spade a spade… the intent and the content are intertwined. The intent is as baleful as the content. Like I’ve said, one’s diin is not negated by their bad habits. So why is it a shock? There are millions of visibly Muslim men who smoke. Infact, the Arab world is so backward; they still advertise cigarettes in their newspapers! And as normal, a woman smoking in public is as rare as the unicorn. Perfect! Just how we like it. I’m not too fond of posts incriminating the Muslim woman. Sorry.

What a bunch of dad-cun you lot are. Kheyr, ones bad habits do not negate their diin. So they dont have to don on another look (heh..how funny..takin off your clothes for a fag) .

Kheyr, why are you flaunting hadeeth when … A lot of Somali men smoke… A lot of Muslim men smoke… A lot of people smoke… Why are you singling a Muslimah out? And from the way you express yourself, you seem to think of her even less of a human being…. :rolleyes:

^ Sure, I'll let you know when I finish reading it. We can have our own private... exchange of ideas.

^ Not yet. I sent for it today through amazon. Hopefeully in a few days. Perhaps we can compare notes then?... if it isnt too much to stomach for the readers of the site.

The Almond: the sexual awakening of a Muslim woman....by Nedjma OLOL, What do you make of it so far?

^ If you want a piece of the action..iska sheego

Recently? Bah! I was born with the mind of a goldfish. I’ve always been forgetful. So does this mean you don’t have a phone anymore? Is it the Sony Ericson T610? Or the cheap nokia?

Nur, that was an attempt on my part at sarcasm. Sort of hinting how far the gentlemen have deviated from the topic. Thanks.