I have come across this video (copy link below into your address bar). I certainly have read a lot of stuff that agrees and confirm the contents of this video so I strongly recommend it to anybody whom is interested in the reasons behind the global financial crisis and the reasons behind it. Having said that, I am not saying that everything in the video is absolutely true but it certainly makes a lot of sense. One last advice, this is kinda heavy material so make sure that you have two hours of free time to watch and also try to keep an open mind as some of the concepts and issues presented are certainly challenging, Enjoy!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912&ei=JN0gSceQPKeKqQPS6r2xBw&q=zeitgeist+addendum&hl=en
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Obama
So, as I was hoping, Obama is now the president elect! I tried to get excited but couldn't! why? you'll need to read my previous blog. I got excited for a little while watching people, ordinary Americans, crying of joy when they heard the news of Obama's win. I also felt sorry for Obama because at this time of economical uncertainty all over the world and especially in the US, Obama, I believe, is being looked at as the savior, the hero who will save the day and save all the ordinary and poor Americans. They are doing so cause they want to hold on to something, anything, anybody and a man as charismatic and intelligent as Obama is certainly a great choice if not the only choice.
I hope the American people wise up a bit and be more realistic of what Obama can achieve. Yes, he seems to be a decent man, certainly smart and charismatic and, in hindsight, examining the way he ran his presidential campaign makes me confident that he knows what he is doing.
So let me do some forecasting here, Obama, pumped up with patriotism as all good old Americans usually do, will be looking at one thing and one thing only, SERVING AMERICAN INTERESTS ALL OVER THE WORLD! and what does that mean, the world will have to pay for that! and believe me, there are many ways in which the world will pay to bail the US out of the hole that the good old boys in the US government and corporate America have dug for themselves and for the rest of the world first!
I don't want to sound negative about the "voice for change" that everybody is hearing these days but let's not forget that most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years! don't you think so?
I hope the American people wise up a bit and be more realistic of what Obama can achieve. Yes, he seems to be a decent man, certainly smart and charismatic and, in hindsight, examining the way he ran his presidential campaign makes me confident that he knows what he is doing.
So let me do some forecasting here, Obama, pumped up with patriotism as all good old Americans usually do, will be looking at one thing and one thing only, SERVING AMERICAN INTERESTS ALL OVER THE WORLD! and what does that mean, the world will have to pay for that! and believe me, there are many ways in which the world will pay to bail the US out of the hole that the good old boys in the US government and corporate America have dug for themselves and for the rest of the world first!
I don't want to sound negative about the "voice for change" that everybody is hearing these days but let's not forget that most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years! don't you think so?
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Obama or McCain?
From an Iraqi point of view, I really don't think it would make a lot of difference if Obama or McCain became the new president. One thing I learned from my observation, reading and living at close proximity to the US is that foreign policy is something that does not change with the change of a president. No matter what you've been told, IT DOES NOT MATTER! Obama may be more cautious in the way he speaks but the American policies in Iraq and the Middle East won't change because it goes beyond whom is the president. It's corporate America! these guys are the ones who run America! may be you have not noticed, but it is not a US government, it is the US "administration" like the Bush "Administration", right! does that tells you something? may be we should do some more homework here!
So Obama or McCain, it does not really matter folks. Take it from me, any potential changes that we may see in the near future in Iraq are already underway. The only difference is that they will be made public after the elections so whoever is going to be the president can claim it is "change" that both nominees claim so don't get excited cause it is all a game. I will talk about why it is a game in my next blog.
So Obama or McCain, it does not really matter folks. Take it from me, any potential changes that we may see in the near future in Iraq are already underway. The only difference is that they will be made public after the elections so whoever is going to be the president can claim it is "change" that both nominees claim so don't get excited cause it is all a game. I will talk about why it is a game in my next blog.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Kirkuk Again
I just felt that I should write again about the Kirkuk issue. The July 22 vote by the Parliament and the consequent Veto of the presidential council or whatever they call it was point that is worth stopping at. This is another reminder of how the political parties currently in "real" power in Iraq have sold Iraq and are now literally splitting the winnings. Iraq is a source of renewable power and income and they are not going to give it away full stop.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, back in 2005, the Shi'a and Kurds (and I'm talking about the political parties not the ordinary Iraqis forming the segments of the Iraqi society and there is a big difference) as major political forces in post-Saddam Iraq got into a strategic alliance against the Sunnis. The Shi'a (strongly backed by Iran) wanted to make sure that the Sunnis stay as weak as can be for good and the Kurds (who really don't give a rats a$$ about Iraq and are systematically working towards and independent Kurdistan) cleverly understood that and got into this alliance with the Shi'a for a price (as always) and this time it's Kirkuk, the oil capital of the North. That's why we saw the persistent efforts by the Shi'a led by the Islamic Supreme Council (Al Hakim gang) to make sure that Lirkuk goes to the Kurds as per their old arrangement.
On the other hand, the Sunnis (particularly the Islamic Party) are literally lost! they are not respected and are not treated as partners in the political process as they would like to show themselves. They just want to be part of the show but the Shi'a and Kurds keep reminding them that they are not part of the show/game. They don't know what to do! They participated in the political process under few conditions that were never met by the Shi'a-Kurdish alliance and will never be (remember the constitutional changes!). Al Hashimi and his comrades have lost their base amongst the Arab Sunnis and they know that. His absence during the debates of local elections law was not a coincidence. It was planned and I don't buy the surgery claims cause a sinus surgery is not something that you can't postpone when your country is about to be split apart. Al Hashimi just wanted to keep his relationship with his "partners" in the political process safe and the hell with Iraq. On another note, the Awakening councils are getting their ducks in a row and I expect that they will cause a lot of damage to the Islamic Party's chances in the next elections. Not that they are definitely gonna be better than the Islamic party but at least we can give them the benefit of the doubt for the time being! So Mr Al Hashimi, enjoy while it last, I don't think you'll be there after the next elections. I know I won't vote for you.
As for the recent "relative" peace and calmness that Iraq has enjoyed, I expect it will end soon. The reason is that the political parties in power now need to remind the ordinary Iraqis that they are not safe and will do anything to ensure that and that the fight has to go on to protect them from the terrorist and along the way, they will make sure that people's fear will make them vote for them again, like last time.
As for the minorities and all ordinary Iraqis from all religions and sects, God be with you. In fact, You are on your own. Just make sure you remember that upon the next elections.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, back in 2005, the Shi'a and Kurds (and I'm talking about the political parties not the ordinary Iraqis forming the segments of the Iraqi society and there is a big difference) as major political forces in post-Saddam Iraq got into a strategic alliance against the Sunnis. The Shi'a (strongly backed by Iran) wanted to make sure that the Sunnis stay as weak as can be for good and the Kurds (who really don't give a rats a$$ about Iraq and are systematically working towards and independent Kurdistan) cleverly understood that and got into this alliance with the Shi'a for a price (as always) and this time it's Kirkuk, the oil capital of the North. That's why we saw the persistent efforts by the Shi'a led by the Islamic Supreme Council (Al Hakim gang) to make sure that Lirkuk goes to the Kurds as per their old arrangement.
On the other hand, the Sunnis (particularly the Islamic Party) are literally lost! they are not respected and are not treated as partners in the political process as they would like to show themselves. They just want to be part of the show but the Shi'a and Kurds keep reminding them that they are not part of the show/game. They don't know what to do! They participated in the political process under few conditions that were never met by the Shi'a-Kurdish alliance and will never be (remember the constitutional changes!). Al Hashimi and his comrades have lost their base amongst the Arab Sunnis and they know that. His absence during the debates of local elections law was not a coincidence. It was planned and I don't buy the surgery claims cause a sinus surgery is not something that you can't postpone when your country is about to be split apart. Al Hashimi just wanted to keep his relationship with his "partners" in the political process safe and the hell with Iraq. On another note, the Awakening councils are getting their ducks in a row and I expect that they will cause a lot of damage to the Islamic Party's chances in the next elections. Not that they are definitely gonna be better than the Islamic party but at least we can give them the benefit of the doubt for the time being! So Mr Al Hashimi, enjoy while it last, I don't think you'll be there after the next elections. I know I won't vote for you.
As for the recent "relative" peace and calmness that Iraq has enjoyed, I expect it will end soon. The reason is that the political parties in power now need to remind the ordinary Iraqis that they are not safe and will do anything to ensure that and that the fight has to go on to protect them from the terrorist and along the way, they will make sure that people's fear will make them vote for them again, like last time.
As for the minorities and all ordinary Iraqis from all religions and sects, God be with you. In fact, You are on your own. Just make sure you remember that upon the next elections.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The Lives of Others
I just finished watching the movie " the Lives of Others". This was the third time I watch this German movie and every time I do, I enjoy it even more. The Lives of Others won the Oscars for the Best Foreign Movie in the year 2007 and certainly deserved the win, hands down.
The reason why I felt I would share my admiration of this particular movie with you is what happens at the end of the movie where it shows Georg Dreyman just realizing that he was actually under surveillance for years while he thought he wasn't cause he knew that had he been under domestic surveillance, he would have been put in jail years earlier. It goes on to show how the East Germans dealt with crossing from the pre- to the post-soviet era, the transition from absolute fear to absolute freedom which in many was similar to what happened in Iraq since 2003. You can't help but wonder how Iraq would look like now had we been a bit civilized and humane in the way we treated each other during the transition? and I call transition but it was not really a transition. We just replaced one tyrant with gang of tyrants and one thief with a gang of thieves. The problem is most Iraqis are still being driven by fear from each other that is implanted and nurtured by the religious/political figures currently in power. Those could not care less about Iraq and the Iraqis. They only thing that these political and religious leaders (Sunnis and Shi'a) have or will care about is power and money, no more, no less and the hell with the Iraqis. Unfortunately, Iraqis are still buying that and I'm almost sure that comes the next elections, Iraqis will vote in the same sectarian way they did last time and that is mainly owed to the ignorance and consistent brain washing that ordinary Iraqis have been exposed to. It will take generations to get rid of the sectarian divide cause there is just too many beneficiaries from this divide to go away now and these are the people in power plus the neighboring countries.
Back to the movie, one other thing that struck me is that Georg Dreyman was able to retrieve the surveillance reports and know exactly who was the individual spying on him and then track down where the spy was. The fact that the spy, Wiesler, was still alive, working as a postman and traceable surprised me cause I remembered how ALL the records of the Iraqi state were destroyed and burnt and how the "de- baathification" was quickly set up and how the army was dismantled in a haste and that all led to the mess that we have seen over the past five years. History, which is something that we Arabs and Iraqis always try to remind ourselves of, always tells us that to move forward, you have to forgive. The Germans did just that. They just turned the page and worked together for a better Germnany. They did not listen to imported religious agendas that is clearly working against the interest of their country. I think I have said enough but I couldn't help think what a great nation mean! just a food for thought.
The reason why I felt I would share my admiration of this particular movie with you is what happens at the end of the movie where it shows Georg Dreyman just realizing that he was actually under surveillance for years while he thought he wasn't cause he knew that had he been under domestic surveillance, he would have been put in jail years earlier. It goes on to show how the East Germans dealt with crossing from the pre- to the post-soviet era, the transition from absolute fear to absolute freedom which in many was similar to what happened in Iraq since 2003. You can't help but wonder how Iraq would look like now had we been a bit civilized and humane in the way we treated each other during the transition? and I call transition but it was not really a transition. We just replaced one tyrant with gang of tyrants and one thief with a gang of thieves. The problem is most Iraqis are still being driven by fear from each other that is implanted and nurtured by the religious/political figures currently in power. Those could not care less about Iraq and the Iraqis. They only thing that these political and religious leaders (Sunnis and Shi'a) have or will care about is power and money, no more, no less and the hell with the Iraqis. Unfortunately, Iraqis are still buying that and I'm almost sure that comes the next elections, Iraqis will vote in the same sectarian way they did last time and that is mainly owed to the ignorance and consistent brain washing that ordinary Iraqis have been exposed to. It will take generations to get rid of the sectarian divide cause there is just too many beneficiaries from this divide to go away now and these are the people in power plus the neighboring countries.
Back to the movie, one other thing that struck me is that Georg Dreyman was able to retrieve the surveillance reports and know exactly who was the individual spying on him and then track down where the spy was. The fact that the spy, Wiesler, was still alive, working as a postman and traceable surprised me cause I remembered how ALL the records of the Iraqi state were destroyed and burnt and how the "de- baathification" was quickly set up and how the army was dismantled in a haste and that all led to the mess that we have seen over the past five years. History, which is something that we Arabs and Iraqis always try to remind ourselves of, always tells us that to move forward, you have to forgive. The Germans did just that. They just turned the page and worked together for a better Germnany. They did not listen to imported religious agendas that is clearly working against the interest of their country. I think I have said enough but I couldn't help think what a great nation mean! just a food for thought.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Updates
To give you an update on what has been going on in my life, I have moved to the new place last week. The place is still a mess as I am going rather slowly through my boxes and trying to put everything in place. I think everyone of us has gone through this at one point in time!
On another note, I am really sad to see how the so called democracy in is Iraq showing the real face! Because the Iraqi Parliament passed a new provincial elections law that was not in the interest of the Kurds, the presidency council just vetoed that law sending it back to the parliament so they can pass the "right" law this time. What a joke!
Kirkuk is the price that the Kurds demanded to support the Arab Shi'a in gaining control over the parliament which paved the way to taking over the whole country stiffing up the Arab Sunnis and now it's pay time!
One thing that I would like to VERY CLEARLY say is that I have nothing against Iraqis, the ordinary Iraqis whether they were Arab or Kurds whether they were Sunnis or Shi'a. I really don't. It's just that I'm sick and tired of the politicians, all of them. They are buying and selling Iraq like Iraq is a private property with their names on it! We thought we had a tyrant and we were praying to get rid of him. Now, we have so many of them, I don't know where to begin.
I really am running out of words and will cut it short now! what happened since 2003 has been a series of disappointments that increases in size as time goes by. I really feel sorry for ordinary Iraqis, nobody is looking after them not before, not at present and not in the future.
On another note, I am really sad to see how the so called democracy in is Iraq showing the real face! Because the Iraqi Parliament passed a new provincial elections law that was not in the interest of the Kurds, the presidency council just vetoed that law sending it back to the parliament so they can pass the "right" law this time. What a joke!
Kirkuk is the price that the Kurds demanded to support the Arab Shi'a in gaining control over the parliament which paved the way to taking over the whole country stiffing up the Arab Sunnis and now it's pay time!
One thing that I would like to VERY CLEARLY say is that I have nothing against Iraqis, the ordinary Iraqis whether they were Arab or Kurds whether they were Sunnis or Shi'a. I really don't. It's just that I'm sick and tired of the politicians, all of them. They are buying and selling Iraq like Iraq is a private property with their names on it! We thought we had a tyrant and we were praying to get rid of him. Now, we have so many of them, I don't know where to begin.
I really am running out of words and will cut it short now! what happened since 2003 has been a series of disappointments that increases in size as time goes by. I really feel sorry for ordinary Iraqis, nobody is looking after them not before, not at present and not in the future.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Iraqi Oil-The Greatest Robbery in the History of Mankind
As a follow up to my previous post about the oil and the "No Bid" contracts that are about to be given to the big US and British oil companies. I happened to know a bit more about the details of the new contracts that will be signed very soon and some major changes in the policies previously announced by the Iraqi government. I won't comment (I'm sick of the whole thing) but I want to draw the attention to the organized theft led by the US and the UK in collaboration with Al Maliki government:
The following are new notes and observations;
1-Iraq is officially flinging open six of its major oilfields, accounting for half of its known reserves, to foreign investors. According to Iraq's oil minister, the long-term contracts will be signed within a year. While ostensibly under the control of the Iraq National Oil Company, foreign corporations will keep 75% of the value of the contracts, leaving just 25% for their Iraqi partners. That kind of ratio is unheard of in oil-rich Arab Gulf states.
2-According to Greg Muttitt, a London-based oil expert, the assumption up until now was that foreign multinationals would be brought in to develop new fields in Iraq - not to take over those which are already in production and therefore require minimal technical support. "The policy was always to allocate these fields to the Iraq National Oil Company," he said. "This is a total reversal of that policy, giving the Iraq National Oil Company a mere 25% instead of the planned 100%."
I won't comment as I said but will keep you posted on any new updates!
The following are new notes and observations;
1-Iraq is officially flinging open six of its major oilfields, accounting for half of its known reserves, to foreign investors. According to Iraq's oil minister, the long-term contracts will be signed within a year. While ostensibly under the control of the Iraq National Oil Company, foreign corporations will keep 75% of the value of the contracts, leaving just 25% for their Iraqi partners. That kind of ratio is unheard of in oil-rich Arab Gulf states.
2-According to Greg Muttitt, a London-based oil expert, the assumption up until now was that foreign multinationals would be brought in to develop new fields in Iraq - not to take over those which are already in production and therefore require minimal technical support. "The policy was always to allocate these fields to the Iraq National Oil Company," he said. "This is a total reversal of that policy, giving the Iraq National Oil Company a mere 25% instead of the planned 100%."
I won't comment as I said but will keep you posted on any new updates!
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