The Sheiks are a shaking.

Hallelujah, praise the Lord, the normally docile populations of the Gulf are finally waking up.
There is an old anecdote when they asked a American , a Frenchman and a Gulf Arab if sex was a pleasure or hard work?
"Ah " said the American  with a hesitation that is worthy of this administration, " as it entails both a financial  as well as a physical effort it is definitely hard work" .
" oh la la" continued the Frenchman with a grin that could be mistaken for an inappropriate holiday that is usually the demise of English princes and northern politicians " it iz a pleasure, there is the wining the dining and sixty ni....ing"
A silent pause then ensues before the Gulf Arab pontificates " Tara , it must be a bleasure or we would have got the foreigners to do it" .
Well that sums up their governance policy.
In Bahrain Kuwait and Oman it is long time residents as well as home bred citizens who are clamouring for their universally acclaimed and up to now denied human rights.
In the other supermarkets it is their steamrolling of natural laws of justice , labour equality and lack of common decency that finally begets their own downfall.
These rulers are no longer fit for purpose .
They are no longer fit to run a football club or a racehorse let alone the lives of real people with real needs and aspirations .
Arise young Arabia and play your part in a common humanity.
Sunshine guaranteed , you make us proud with your sacrifices.  It is time to shake rattle and tell the oppressors to roll.
Now maybe Andy Mandy and Blair may finally donate their ill gotten gains to charity. Surely they don't want more blood on their hands.

A New Dawn

At last if not decisive action at least words that have meaning .
Thank you David. After your arms circus at least you have done the right thing. Well done.
Gaddafi and Sons are now well and truly out, as it is a well documented fact that when the dancers and nurses leave you are a goner. Beware Silvio you could be next.
America remember the words of Martin Luther King Jr. " In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends".
On another note the promenade at the Dorchester was full of the usual suspects, mass murderers, playboys  courtesans and jesters at least that has not changed. Hmm Now if only there was somebody from the ICJ.
Maybe too much to ask for on a Sunday.
I wonder where all those Buggatis have gone?
The summer is over and a new dawn is about to begin. Wonderful :)   

Beware The Ides of March

In Libya without doubt Gaddafi has to go. This ruthless and blood thirsty homicidal maniac should be removed rapidly before more innocent lives are lost.
In Egypt the military should move faster to concede  power to a civilian authority as hard as it is for them to finally relinquish control after nearly sixty years of unchallenged leadership.
Their reliance on old tactics show how pressure should be continued to be put upon them if real change is going to occur. They cannot be trusted to do it voluntarily.
In Bahrain an up to now relatively benevolent despotic rule has to come to an end as any legitimacy the ruling family may have had has been lost once they turned their guns on their population.
In Jordan King Abdullah II has to accept the new dynamics in the region and work-towards a constitutional monarchy where the King would provide a counter balance to the parliament if ever the people were threatened.
But he has to choose , is it the Meds or the Beds?
In Israel there has to be a real effort to give a just peace to the Palestinians if they wish to ensure stability and prosperity for its people.
In Palestine we just need an honest leadership who will protect the rights of the population.
Syria, so far has been able to oppress any thoughts for freedom and is rapidly trying to take the steam out of any movements for change. But watch this space it could erupt at any time. God help the region then.
In Saudi the regime has been successful so far in purchasing the loyalty of protesters but I doubt that unless  real reform takes place it will be calm for much longer.
In Yemen regime change is underway , and it is unlikely that the present ruler will survive. Algeria will not be far behind.
Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE have managed like Saudi so far to buy time and if real unrest were to take place then they would most probably do a runner.
Their American cities without the Americans will not  last long .
No human rights,  rule of law or respect for human dignity will see these supermarkets in the sand disappear in the dunes of time as it seems the desire of a regime to stay in power is indirectly proportional to the real estate they hold overseas.
Another dancing girl or spin of a roulette wheel? When they buy football clubs and race horses they do not need with assets they purloined on the backs of honest hard working expatriates are we surprised that this  bodes badly for a generation of young Sheiks who rule with an arrogance that comes only with the knowledge that their money can buy lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic! No, as they protect the interests of American and European corporations and governments who are willing to support these tinpot states despite their appalling human rights records and lack of natural justice.
This is no longer acceptable. Silence is compliance.
Beware the Ides of March.They are their own Brutus but without the nobility of acting for the common good. Time for change.
Ditto for the remaining countries of the Arab league. It will not be long before they are all exposed for what they are.
Now whether this desire for change , political and economic participation,and for  more  say in how these brave young people want to shape their future will spread to the far east particularly China will be interesting to see .
The one thing for sure is Saddam  the original Butcher of Baghdad is smiling in his grave. America has been hoisted by its own petard.
Are we ready for a brave new frontier? I truly believe we are.
Viva la revolution , though the resolution is still opaque.  The outcome will be beautiful,
Happy new era :)       

Friend of Nat R has plan. Great !

 

Tripoli is once again in chaos as militias loyal to Muammar Gaddafi opened fire on protesters as they streamed out of mosques after Friday prayers. 
 Marchers left their mosques and converged on Tripoli's Green Square, where they were showered with bullets, killing many. The opposition movement now holds Benghazi, the country's second-largest city.
 In response, the Gaddafi regime is continuing to dig in: In an interview Gaddafi's son and budding psychopath Saif al-Islam, said, "Plan A is to live and die in Libya, Plan B is to live and die in Libya, Plan C is to live and die in Libya."
Nice friend you have there Nat!
No mention of Andy Mandy or Tony donating the cash they got to charity. Hmm 

God bless you all

To the Arab youth I see you strong and whole. I see you blessed and prospered. I see you courageous and confident. I see you capable and successful. I see you free from all limitations or bondage of any kind. I see you as the spiritually perfect being you truly are.
God bless you all.

Genocide and banking anyone?

If the events that are unfolding in Libya were not so horrific , Gaddafis  rants would be comical.
Blaming everyone from Al Qaida to drugs to the Arab media and comparing his tyrannical reign to that of H.M Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain . This dangerous psychopath has to be removed at once.
The International community has a collective responsibility to act and act fast. Delay and discussion will only allow the atrocities to continue and the destruction compound the misery already inflicted on an innocent population.
Andy , Mandy and Blair are remarkably quiet as their paymaster commits crimes against humanity.
The American neo cons are remarkably silent as well.
There is time to save  thousands of lives if there is a common determination. Those with financial interests in keeping this regime in place should hang their heads in shame.
You know who you are and you know that you should do the right thing.
David Cameron and William Hague should not be just apologizing about the evacuation fiasco but rather the lack of leadership and the irresponsible arms circus that traipses in Camerons wake .
Barak Obama get a moral backbone.
Enough is enough.

Time for outrage!

An open letter to those who know me.
Please don't confuse my kindness for weakness , nor my politeness as an acknowledgement of the the moral corruptness that is occurring in front of my eyes .
We as a people regardless of race colour or creed need to find the moral compass that we have lost. Though we value the economic implications I hope we have the moral courage to resist the apple dangled before us.
As a race we need to reassess our core values apart from our physical needs and economic considerations. Serpent slither to thy hell.  
No more cavorting with the Devil because we think we can gain an economic advantage. No more being bullied into a political correctness that is abhorrent to the principles and values we hold dear.
We need to be outraged in order to keep our political and financial masters on notice thus insuring history's direction towards more justice and a real ordered freedom.
It is time to say it like it is.
Indignez - Vous!  

Arms for the poor?

Good old Dave does not miss a tick as he is the fist western leader to visit a post Hosni Egypt.
Why you may well ask was he there. To help of course .
Who was with him just your common or garden arms sellers.
Yes David this is a moment of great opportunity if you are in the weapons business.
Extraordinary behavior.
Ah just as well your taking them on tour to the Gulf as well. You don't want to miss Idex after all.
How can they repress their people without good old British weapons, after all why should the Americans have all the fun?

Dine with the Devil

There is no point repenting Colonel Gaddafi it's too late to make new enemies. You are a desperate cruel and bloodthirsty man and you will be tried for your and your families crimes against humanity .
I spit on you and your pathetic regime.
I am angered that neither the Arab league the E.U, The African Union  or the United States have intervened to stop the massacres but just stood  watching.
The world is just watching Mr Hague not as you protest that there is a serious chance of him being tried you are as useless as a merkin.
Give Britain the moral leadership it deserves. And start by making Blair and Co. publicly account for their role in his rehabilitation.
The Shooting weekend with his son Saif with Nat Rothschild , Cherie and Peter Mandelson would be good place to start.
If you sup with the Devil choose a long spoon.     

Slap my ass and call me Sally.

Well slap my ass and call me Sally , the blood bath that is Libya has not even got a proper response from the West.
Saif or Safe ( were the money is) is as blood thirsty as his father and despite his shooting jaunts with the  Rothschilds or Blairs of the world and his known perversions which only spur my anger on there is no proper response from the International community.
 Have they bought our moral compass that there is no real reaction?
Time for them to go. The brutality the Libyan regime have shown are too horrific to mention.
Me thinks in in my own simple way that the perceived leader of the western world is a one time wonder as moral leadership is obviously lacking. In the words of George W " I  f##d you but thanks for blaming the black guy".
Brazil who heads the S.C now wants the issues to be discussed .With who? Rome is burning and we are all fiddling.
Now I know a Brazilian is a as useless as a merkin.
The Arab youth is finally not scared. I thank them for they have made us all proud.
 Jets and all forty two years of oppression have only reinforced the need for Gaddafi to be tried. The Hague should expect another load of psychopaths that need their crimes exposed. Revenge is sweet and not fattening. 

An open letter to King Abdullah II of Jordan .

A well thought out piece that I thought worthy of reposting
Open Letter to His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan
Your Majesty

We write this letter not as heads of tribes or declared notables of Jordan. We write this letter as a group representing the diversity of the people of this country. We have been fortunate because we are the result of institutions that were built by a special leader like your father, His Majesty the late King Hussein. We have been educated, have worked, and have gained experiences that have allowed us to expand our vision and see the different sides of life. We transcend race, religion, gender, culture, and all labels that have become controversial to others. We are taxpayers and we have loans. We are local and expatriates who long to return home. We are employees and employers. We are the People and we care about every aspect of our national life.

We also represent the people who are committed to this country and will not leave on their private planes in case of instability. We support wholeheartedly the institution of the monarchy, and we know that our one objective, as it should be for every citizen of this country, is the prosperity of Jordan. We do not ask for personal recognition but we do ask for representation.

Some people in Tunisia and Egypt paid the ultimate price for change. This took place because the people reached a breaking point and took matters into their own hands. While the normal progression of change indicates that things usually get worse before they get better, we know that education has served broadly as an equalizer in this regard. We have learned from history and we believe that there can be a positive roadmap for change. Change can take place in a positive way for all, and avoiding tragedies is only a matter of a making the right choices at the right time.

“Rome is burning!” Unemployment is high. Prices are on the rise. The country is in financial distress. The political system whereby governments change repeatedly has left a sense of inconsistency and a lack of continuity. Emotions are raw. The people distrust public institutions. There is an underlying feeling of discontent and confusion as to the direction in which the country is going. What’s more disturbing is that few solutions are being offered or adopted by the government to help mend the current state of affairs. Furthermore, citizens have been reduced to a finger-pointing fiasco, blaming one another for failures. The people are looking to hold someone accountable for these failures.

We believe the fundamental change we need to make is for each one of us to hold ourselves accountable for the current state of affairs. The unfortunate reality is this will not happen today. There is a sense of a lack of prosperity and the lack of a chance of future prosperity. This is compounded by the fear of instability and a growing social divide that is setting in. There is a lack of participation. There is a lack of structure that provides people with a platform to participate. Given these facts one must ask: what is my country doing for me? The basic needs of the people are not being met and therefore our problems are more serious than ever! Solving our problems requires so much more than just the new set of “harrateen” Ministers. Our problems need a national mobilization of individual responsibility and accountability. Our problems have become serious and the absence of a platform for citizens to engage in change or even a plan for a platform will only serve to make these problems more entrenched and harden the negative attitudes that people already have.

There’s an old African proverb that says “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The road ahead requires everyone’s effort. However, there are necessary ingredients that would make people go together and these ingredients are currently missing in Jordan. These ingredients are those that build the platform of social and national responsibility and they are represented in the pillars of the institution of democracy. What is democracy other than the implementation of a full circle of responsibility and accountability and a set of checks and balances? Elections alone do not bring with them democracy and will not build the foundations of such an institution; as a case in point, Egypt and Tunisia have been staging elections for the office of the president for quite some time, but that has not materialized into a democratic system for their citizens

In recent days there have been many calls for change: some have been positive and constructive ones for elections and political reforms, and others simply do not serve the nation. We certainly support all the calls for positive change and reject the ones that create divisions in our country. We are educated and pragmatic and we believe that certain criteria must be met in order to ensure that true democracy becomes rooted in our national fabric. We therefore propose a set of steps aimed at fundamental reform. We believe that those changes are best championed by your Majesty as the Reformer-in-Chief, as the Monarchy represents the core unifying factor in our nation. The proposed steps are:

·         A declared goal: An elected Prime Minister by the year 2015

·         A series of milestones that we must achieve to make us reach this goal, such as:

o   A constitution which, at its core and in practice, guarantees the rights and the freedoms of the people including the rights of free speech and assembly

o   A fundamental bill of rights that guarantees basic freedoms for all Jordanians, and from which no Government can derogate. This bill of rights will be protected and guaranteed by the Monarchy

o   A free standing judiciary that will ensure the rights of the people are always and consistently upheld and that no one, regardless of their background and status, is above the law

o   A security system that is loyal to the constitution

o   An independent press corps that is free to report on the current state of affairs as it sees it without fear of censorship or retribution

o   A political system that embraces a diverse set of platforms and parties who are free to organize and compete in the marketplace of ideas without unnecessary restrictions

o   A parliament that is based on the concept of representative democracy, with primary accountability to the people, where all representatives in both houses are elected and not appointed, with fixed terms, free from the threat of dissolution or suspension

o   An economic system based on openness and fair competition, and free from protected monopolies

o   An educational system that teaches and upholds the meaning of liberty, freedom, and the constitution.

·         The will and the leadership to take Jordan through these changes

The only constant is change. The world is changing. The demands of the world are changing and only increasing. We must be ready to meet those demands and we must be responsible in preparing our citizens for the challenges of this new era. We are confronted with a unique opportunity to craft a future worthy of our nation and its people. Success will require us to harness the power of each individual within a climate of empowerment and responsibility. We need a system that will unleash the power within all of us and hold us accountable for the choices we make. The challenge is too large for any individual or small group of elites to solve. Our solutions will come from the people of this country who represent our greatest national asset. Let us take this opportunity to turn a new page. Let us give people the tools and the system we need to prosper. Let us trust our people to shape our shared destiny.

More blood on Tonys hands.

Members of a Libyan army unit have told Benghazi residents they had defected and "liberated" the city from veteran dictator despot and sometime comedian self appointed Colonel , Muamar Gaddafi.
Members of the Thunderbolt squad had arrived at the hospital in Libya's second city with soldiers wounded in clashes with Gaddafi's personal guard.

"They are now saying that they have overpowered the Praetorian Guard and that they have joined the people's revolt"

The bodies of 50 people killed on Sunday had arrived at the hospital in the late afternoon. Most had died from bullet wounds. Bullets fired by guns supplied by the West no doubt.

Sunday's bloodshed follows the deaths of scores of protesters demanding freedom from oppression on Saturday in one of the most violent days since protests began sweeping through the Arab world two months ago.

Residents said tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of protesters had taken to the streets of the city to bury scores of dead killed in the last 24 hours. A witness said security forces opened fire on them.

The United States said it was "gravely concerned" by what it called credible reports hundreds of people had been injured or killed. Nice choice of words Ameerica......

The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, urged Libya to begin dialogue with anti-government protesters and implement reforms, in a phone call to a son of Gaddafi , Saif ,on Sunday. Who with Tony Blair? Or perhaps Nat Rothschild? Well he does like a good shoot.
Joking aside Saif who has been known to be entertained by Nat with Cherie Blair and Peter  Mandelson in tow has actively been shooting protesters saying the regime will fight to the last man standing. What planet is he on and why does the West continue to canoodle with dictators and their children.Tony you have enough blood on your hands give the money you have taken from Gaddafi and donate it to a charity that deals with victims of oppression .

In Brussels, the Hungarian EU presidency said Libya had told the European Union it would stop cooperation with the bloc in stemming illegal migration to Europe if the EU encourages pro-democracy protests in the country.
 Hello if there was democracy and opportunity why would anyone leave. Time for another dictator to pack his bags.

The Arabs are revolting. I know dear but they do own Harrods!

Well who would have thought !
At last pro democracy protesters in Bahrain have swarmed back into Pearl square after putting the expatriate mercenary riot police to flight.
The symbolic gesture must have despots and dictators frantically moving their assets around to whatever safe heaven they can find and it's only Sunday .
The erstwhile head of the arab awakening a.k.a Al jazz has been remarkably quiet.The Arabs are revolting. I know dear but they do own Harrods...

Two spare tickets to the Bahrani grand prix. anyone?

Starting lineup for the Bahrain Grand Prix

Events in Libya, Bahrain , Yemen and Algeria are disturbing to me on many levels.
I had with childlike naivety believed that a leader had a social contract with his people to protect them and if that contract was broken that leader and his entourage automatically lost their right to govern.
By turning their weapons which were supplied by the West on their populations for regime preservation they have voided their legitimacy and also raised disturbing questions about whether they can be trusted to be a responsible member of the international community.
The response so far from the International community has been weak at best and at times irresponsible when William Hague asks  for restraint on the use of "  excessive violence"what does he mean? So a little cruelty is O.K.
Thanks for telling us William.
With violence being the norm  The deposed late King Farouk was right in saying that only five Kings would remain. The King of England and the four Kings in a deck of cards.
If the West is unprepared to support the legitimate and universally recognized principles that The Arab street is demanding then they too have failed in providing not only security for their people but also should not be surprised if the rhetoric in the Arab Street becomes anti western which so far  to a large extent has been non existent. It's not about the great Satan but legitimate demands of freedom of choice and self determination.
But Americas use of their veto at the Security Council will not go down well. The issue in the overall scheme of things would have brought them The Arabs Streets goodwill whilst putting Israel on notice that the political dynamics in the region are rapidly changing.
 Hillary Clinton says it's not the right forum. Thanks for letting us know that the UN is not the right forum Hills baby!
Ah well nobody listens.  But on the lighter side I have two spare tickets in the Royal box for the Bahraini grand prix if any body wants them.       

Dictators are on the wrong side of history.

This year has started in both an exciting yet uncertain way for the world at large and the middl-east in particular.
We witnessed the ousting of two despots , arab youth taking to the streets no longer fearful of the often tyrannical regimes that ruled them.
Asking for dignity something we surrendered some time ago.
The US mistake was to continue to support these often helpful tyrants until it was no longer sustainable. They holding on to their crowns with whispers of radical Islam being there replacement .
The double standards that are being applied are heart wrenching to those that admire the freedoms the west afford its citizens and denies them by bolstering these regional vassals.
This in the short term will end in tears and not only from the American supplied tear gas used on protesters in Bahrain.
We can not continue to live in a morally contaminated environment , Dictators are on the wrong side of history. 

What does he mean avoid the use of excessive force? So a little cruelty is ok?

Foreign Secretary William Hague says Bahraini Government should move quickly to carry out commitments to transparent investigations into recent events and any alleged human rights abuses.

Commenting on events in Bahrain, the Foreign Secretary William Hague today said:

“I am alarmed by reports of soldiers firing on protestors in Bahrain. This is an extremely worrying development. The circumstances of what happened are not yet clear, but I call on the Bahrain authorities to avoid violence and the use of excessive force and to exercise restraint. The right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be respected. The Bahraini Government should move quickly to carry out its commitments to transparent investigations into recent events and any alleged human rights abuses.

I welcome the proposal of the King of Bahrain that the Crown Prince should initiate a dialogue between the different communities. Bahrain should take further steps on reforms that meet legitimate aspirations for greater social and political freedoms."

How tyrants are made.

This cartoon is the reason why revolutions start.

The land of milk and honey

I wrote this article about eight years ago but it came to my mind as I watch events unravelling in the Middle East.
Since then Arafat has died. A parliamentary system though adopted has been ignored as Hamas control Gaza and Fatah the West Bank. Abu Mazen has lacked leadership skills but if true change is achieved in the region as we struggle to break free from years of oppression then realities on the ground may finally get Israel to see that they can not continue to violate laws of decency by denying the Palestinian rights that they enjoy and take for granted.
The United States foreign policy in the past has been to support ruthless dictators and despots in order to secure their interests without shame or regard to the very principles that their great nation was built on.
The Americans have threatened to use their veto if we insist that the United Nations security Council votes on the establishment of a Palestinian state. 



Let not the land of milk and honey be the land of blood and tears
By Tawfiq Al-Ghussein

In February of this year in an article published in The New York Times Mr Arafat put forward the Palestinian vision of peace. That of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, living as an equal partner alongside Israel with peace and security for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The Palestinians recognized Israel's right to exist on 78 percent of historical Palestine with the understanding that we would be allowed to live in freedom on the remaining 22 percent, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Our commitment to that two-state solution remains unchanged, but unfortunately, also remains unanswered. By accepting a peace based on 1967, we are the ones who are essentially sacrificing 1948. Israel must acknowledge this sacrifice--it's not just loss during a war but a major concession as the UN partition of Palestine is the only recognized international framework where true justice would be served.

We seek true liberty and full sovereignty: the right to control our own airspace, water resources and borders; to build up our own economy, to have healthy commercial relations with our neighbors, and to travel freely. In short, we seek only what the free world now enjoys and only what Israel insists on for itself: the right to control our own destiny and to take our place among free nations. The case for a Palestinian state is simple and compelling and rests on two elementary principles. One we choose just like any other human beings and are entitled to the same equality of treatment as any free and independent people of the world. The second principle is that this has always been and will always remain our country. We are here of right and not on the strength of the Oslo Accords or any other favors granted.

In addition, we seek a fair and just solution to the plight of Palestinian refugees who for 54 years have not been permitted to return to their homes. We understand Israel's demographic concerns and understand that the right of return of Palestinian refugees, a right guaranteed under international law and United Nations Resolution 194, must be implemented in a way that takes into account such concerns. However, just as we Palestinians must be realistic with respect to Israel's demographic desires, Israelis too must be realistic in understanding that there can be no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict if the legitimate rights of these innocent civilians continue to be ignored. Left unresolved, the refugee issue has the potential to undermine any permanent peace agreement between Palestinians and Israelis. Israel must also be concerned with our demographic realities. How could we leave our brethren scattered in refugee camps? We are a united people, we must account for every soul. If Jews cannot be expected to forget about the holocaust how can we ignore the "nakba", the forced fight of Palestinians from their lands. We have sacrificed our vision of a return to the United Nations partition plan of 1948, a plan that certainly is more just than what was currently on offer for the sake of a solution. Our vision of peace is based on the complete end of the occupation and a return to Israel's 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as one city and as the capital of two states, Palestine and Israel.

We believe that dialogue is the means through which we achieve that peace, and we will negotiate without fear and fear not to negotiate. There can be no military solution; however, if confrontation is the only way to attain peace then we stand shoulder to shoulder with our brethren as one, united in cause and goal, prepared to defend what we hold precious.

If there is equity and justice in the peace accords, then any Palestinian can sign with the knowledge that every decent citizen would defend its implementation. If not, then no one can nor should they. We have suffered far too much to swap our shackles for a paper liberty. Israel must understand that peace is a process not an event.

Mr Arafat has tried and failed. It is as simple as that. That is why we need change. Failure should not be rewarded. Further more The Palestinian Authority's mandate expired in May 1999. Since then Mr Arafat has usurped the powers of his office illegally.

Mr Arafat now is simply interested in saving himself. He has had almost ten years of freedom to run his fiefdom and has succeeded essentially in bringing disdain and contempt on himself and most of his gang; the Authority became synonymous with brutality, autocracy lawlessness and unimaginable corruption. Mr Arafat has in effect created a "Rentier State." We aim to create a modern economy. With free markets, a high level of productivity, and we want to produce goods and services. We want to empower our citizens with the economic wherewithal to be truly independent.

We want to develop our education system so that they become centers of excellence in order that our children can compete in an ever globalized world economy. A new chapter is beginning in the history of the Middle East, which faces unprecedented economic, political and social challenges - not least in the wake of the events of 11 September. We need to be prepared to accept these challenges and a proper educational system would better prepare us for the turbulent times ahead.

Have you ever heard Mr. Arafat talk about what sort of education system or economy he would prefer, what sort of constitution he wants? No, because Mr. Arafat is not interested in the content of a Palestinian state, only the trappings of power, brass bands and red carpets; contours not substance.

As Mr Arafat hoards his bank accounts overseas Hamas have stepped into the social vacuum left by the Palestinian Authority. They're doing what the Palestinian Authority should have been doing: they've started to fund schools and clinics; they're giving out social security to the needy. Mr Arafat by his negligence has allowed the fundamentalists to hijack the political agenda.

The recent reshuffle by Mr. Arafat in the name of reform is no more than a cosmetic attempt to relieve himself of international and local pressure.

It defies logic to think that the Palestinian Authority has suddenly discovered the virtues of reform or democracy or that Mr.Arafat surrounding himself with the same old faces of failure and corruption to implement these changes will bring about any alleviation to the Palestinian peoples suffering.

A parliamentary system, with power vested in a Prime Minister, would be welcome and has many benefits. Foremost it would provide a civilized forum so that all points of view can be discussed in a peaceful manner and if term limits were imposed it would restrict the ability of any one person to dominate the political arena for any substantial length of time.

Power in the hands of a parliament should speed up the transformation of the independent militias into parties which would then demand from the government accountability and transparency two elements that are sorely missing in the current régime. The various different parties would need to form coalitions in order to vie for power and this theoretically would lead to moderation. It is time to give the Palestinian people a leadership that is worthy of them one that would serve the Palestinian people instead of themselves.

Let not the land of milk and honey be the land of blood and tears.

Mind as well as regime change is needed.

In January 2002  I wrote an article which was published in the Jerusalem Post, which lay out the reasons for Arafats failures and why it was time for him to go.
Those underlying reasons are now why there has to be not only regime change but also mind change throughout not only the Middle East but where ever there is oppression and tyranny.
The traits of genuine leadership currently are neither present or apparent.
If a ruling regime decides to turn its guns on its own children then they have lost all legitimacy to rule, and by then hiding behind outdated constitutional laws and subverting them as a tool of self preservation they have effectively removed themselves from the the right to govern.
Historically the Arabian world has been one of monumental achievement ,scholarly study scientific advancement and rigorous debate.
Unfortunately that is not the case today. Today we are viewed at best as reliable allies or a hot bed of Islamic unrest where our women are producing terrorist babies at alarming rates.
These perceptions are wrong.
The Arabs are by nature a noble brave inquisitive people who are tolerant of other religions. During the days of the Arabian Empire and subsequently its successors it's citizens regardless of their religious leanings were allowed to thrive and prosper.
Religious divisions in Arab society is a relative new phenomena . One that has been utilized by those that wish to create mischief for their own agendas.
As a people we want what are universally agreed principles that of choice and of self determination.
We have for too long shut our eyes and remained silent. If we continue to do so then we are robbing ourselves and cheating our children.
We need to build nations founded firmly in the principles of law and democracy with equality and opportunity for all regardless of race or creed and without fear or trepidation.

Enduring the unendurable.

Previous independence movements in the middle east were never given a platform to air their grievances . so many had to go underground. The west turned a blind eye as their vassals proved useful to protecting their interests as they wreaked havoc and torture with such brutality on their unsuspecting population.
Israel will have a dilemma on how to deal with a modern educated youth who have discovered and become empowered by peaceful protest. This powerful tool of civil disobedience coupled with good television coverage goes a long way to removing their shackles. Israel take note. If tens of thousands start peaceful not violent resistance  asking for their dignity and for self determination they will be hard pressed to deal with this in the same way as the past. Like the great Mohandas K Gandhi they have faith in the righteousness of their cause and the purity of their weapons.
Economic cronyism rampant in the gulf with an authoritarian policing , a sort of carrot and stick approach may buy some of the regional leaders time  but they are there for the protection their population . Once this social contract has been broken and violent confrontation becomes the norm then they have to go. A horror with end is better than an horror without end. So out of chaos a new invigorated Arab youth will awaken.

New blog from Toto

Shortly I will be starting a daily blog on a wide range os subjects that interest me.