By Omar al-Ibadi and Ahmed Rasheed (Reuters)

BAGHDAD—Clashes broke out between insurgents and Iraqi security forces and a car bomb killed at least two people in Baghdad on Wednesday as the government launched a security clampdown to root out al Qaeda militants.

Gunmen carrying automatic rifles blocked roads with stones and tree trunks and exchanged fire with Iraqi troops in Adhamiya, a Sunni insurgent stronghold that is one of Baghdad’s most dangerous areas, a Reuters reporter at the scene said.

Civilians fled the area but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Three Iraqi army tanks were dispatched to Adhamiya. The clashes subsided later on Wednesday.

In northern Baghdad, a car bomb targeting a police patrol killed two people and wounded seven. A Reuters photographer who was 10 meters (yards) from the blast saw a man and a teenager burning amid wreckage after the bomb caused a big fireball.

The clampdown, which included extra checkpoints and Iraqi security patrols backed by tanks and armored vehicles, came a day after President Bush met new Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is under pressure to rein in violence.

U.S. and Iraqi forces have carried out several such operations in the past but have failed to stem the bloodshed that has killed tens of thousands since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and pushed Iraq toward civil war.

Iraqi officials said the operation would involve more than 40,000 Iraqi and U.S.-led forces as part of a sweep to put further pressure on al Qaeda in Iraq following the killing of its leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi last week in a U.S. air strike.

In a surprise visit to Iraq, Bush, who faces low popularity ratings over a war that has killed nearly 2,500 U.S. troops, told Maliki the fate and future of Iraq was “in your hands.”

“The decisions you and your cabinet make will determine as to whether or not your country succeeds, can govern itself, can defend itself, can sustain itself,” Bush told Maliki, whose self-styled government of national unity took office last month.

With a population of seven million, Baghdad has been the scene of daily carnage and kidnappings.

Restoring some security in Baghdad would be a symbolic victory for Maliki, a tough-talking Shi’ite who last week overcame fierce wrangling among his Shi’ite and Sunni coalition partners to fill the key Interior and Defense ministries.

Despite growing domestic unease, Bush has resisted setting a public timetable for the withdrawal of 130,000 American troops, making clear this will depend on the capability of U.S.-trained Iraqi forces to take over security.

Maliki told Bush during his second visit to Iraq since the 2003 war that the Iraqi government was determined to defeat the insurgents so U.S. and other forces could withdraw.

Reuters reporters saw additional army checkpoints backed by armored vehicles in Baghdad’s western Mansour district and an Iraqi tank in religiously mixed Amiriya, which has seen frequent clashes between Sunni Arab insurgents and U.S. and Iraqi forces.

American forces were not in sight.

There was little evidence of additional troops in the dangerous, mostly Sunni area of Dora, where the government said it would also focus its security efforts.

As Bush talked to Iraqi leaders in the heavily fortified Green Zone on Tuesday, a Web statement said al Qaeda’s new leader in Iraq had vowed to avenge the killing of Zarqawi.

“The day of vengeance is near and your strong towers in the Green Zone will not protect you,” said the statement, posted on an Internet site often used by Islamist militants and signed by the new leader Abu Hamza al-Muhajir.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have hailed the killing of Zarqawi, a Sunni Arab like most guerrillas in Iraq, as a major blow to al Qaeda militants while cautioning it will not end bloodshed.

“There are going to be tough days ahead, and more sacrifice for Americans, as well as Iraqis,” Bush told U.S. troops.

“Our military will stay on the offensive. We will continue to hunt down people like Mr. Zarqawi, and bring them to justice,” he said.

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Terror Money Should Be Spent on Afghanistan-Pakistan Border: Says Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Talking to a hurriedly called press conference at her office after returning from a visit to South Asia, South-East Asia and the Middle East, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) said that rather than Iraq, Afghanistan is most likely the shining example of America’s good work.

She commended Pakistan, which recently paid a price of more than 400 lives of her soldiers in the war of terror, and said that the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is where the majority of the resources on this war on terror are needed, rather than in Iraq.

She said America needs to find strategies to slowly bring soldiers out of Iraq, by working towards peace in Iraq rather than just fighting insurgency, which according to her has gone considerably down in Iraq.

She exclaimed that all the latest hostilities and fighting in Iraq is the internecine war between the Shi’a and Sunnis. She said the situation is complex and that she was against the war, but emphasized that Americans should take pride in their soldiers, who are getting drained and are staying out in the danger for a much longer period of time than they had anticipated.

She said that the Sunnis and Shi’a of Iraq were against each other during Saddam’s time, but that dispute was clamped with the iron fist policy of dictator Saddam. Sunnis need to be assured that their rights and aspirations for a peaceful and progressive Iraq will be well taken care of rather than feeling that people of opposing views are going to take up everything. It is not the time not to debate what was right or wrong about starting the war, it is time to look for solutions to bring peace in the region and transition to bring back America’s brave soldiers as soon as possible. She showed her audience the stripes of an American soldier who had given them to her as a gift, saying he would stay in harm’s way as long as needed for the safety and security of America.

She was asked why she had called Pakistan’s government cooperative, when in fact reports are now surfacing that some American diplomats are presently meeting with the Pakistani political opposition in preparation for the 2007 elections. This is seen, of course, by the people of Pakistan as a direct intervention into the Pakistani political process. She refused to comment on this, saying she was not aware of such reports.

What she knows, she said, is that President Musharraf has worked diligently in the war on terror and that he should get elected as President for another term according to the rules and regulations in Pakistan, and that she would love an independent democratic system to run in Pakistan without any outside influence.

Jackson Lee, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, had just returned from an 8 day bi-partisan congressional delegation trip that took her to places such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq to visit our U.S. troops, as well as Jordon and Bahrain. “The goal of this trip is to ensure a strong, independent and sovereign Iraq that can stand on its own two feet and protect its people,” she said.

The delegation traveled to Iraq after visiting a training center for Iraqi forces in Amman, Jordan. They also met with Gen. George Casey, the head of U.S. forces in Iraq, and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad.

“Nobody admires our armed forces more than I do, and I’m so proud of the service of our military men and women. I’ve worked hard during my time in Congress to make sure that our military has the equipment, training, medical care and other support it needs to accomplish its mission, and to save and protect the lives of service members, and provide for their families,” said congresswoman Jackson-Lee.

Jackson Lee, Co-Chair of the Pakistani Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, also visited the countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Pakistani Caucus was formed to strengthen the partnership between the US and Pakistan, to promote trade and investment, improve health care, and foster democracy and human rights, education and science and technology.

“There are growing signs of mutual trust, admiration and respect between the governments of the United States and Pakistan as well as the people of the two countries. I firmly believe Pakistan is a strong partner in the fight against terrorism and is committed to peace,” she said.

She also met with President Musharraf on Tuesday and he underlined the importance of expanding bilateral trade and economic ties, saying he was satisfied with the growing cooperation between Pakistan and the US in various fields. President Musharraf also emphasized the Pakistani government’s resolve to fight extremism and terrorism to build a moderate, economically strong and progressive Islamic state.

Today, Afghanistan is on a road to recovery; however, after decades of war, the economy is still in disrepair, and its environment is in a state of crisis. “Afghanistan is a strategic place in the struggle for peace. It is going through turbulent times but is one of the battlegrounds in the war on terror,” said the congresswoman.

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SEMAH workshop aims to stop domestic violence

FREMONT, CA—Domestic abuse is a continuing problem among all communities which tears apart families. According to studies, 95 percent of domestic violence victims are women and one in four women will experience some form of domestic abuse. The Newark-based SEMAH organization and Marine Abused Women’s Services organized a two day workshop with Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and other faith leaders and social workers to combat this menacing problem of society at the Fremint Family Resource Center.

The workshop aimed to encourage religious leaders to speak out against domestic violence, work with social workers, and offer premarriage counselling to deal with issues of equality, conflict, violence and control.

“This was—by far—the most diverse group that I’ve ever seen . We have Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and an assortment of denominations within some of those religions represented. The religions have a lot of issues in common with each other (when it comes to dealing with domestic violence),” said Lisa Hoffman, a senior trainer with Transforming Communities: Technical Assistance, Training and Resource Center, which helped lead the workshop.

Syeda Reshma Yunus, founder of SEMAH, said she first conceived the idea in 2002 after setting up a hot line for women seeking to escape abusive relationships.

“I realized that faith-based organizations are important places to keep people informed,” Yunus said. “The interfaith community is a place where people are already open-minded about our shared values; we all value the family, as long as there are not safety issues.”

Peace and unity march in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA—More than 300 people of all faiths participated in the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Interfaith Walk for Peace and Reconciliation on June 4th. The march began at Al Aqsa Mosque and then proceeded towards Society Hill Synagogue with stops at St. Peter’s Church and Christ Church.

The Philadelphia Interfaith Walk for Peace and Reconciliation began when a group of Jews, Muslims and Christians came together in November 2003 to plan the first Philadelphia Interfaith Peace Walk for Jewish-Muslim Reconciliation that took place in May 2004 through the streets of Philadelphia. The Walk included stops for prayers, singing and fellowship at a mosque, synagogue, church and Independence Mall.

The organizers of the march hoped that their endeavour would help “people provide witness to reaffirming the common roots of our different religious traditions (as we are all children of Abraham); to achieve peace with justice; to use the positive energy in this country among religious groups to transform our communities, based on the covenants we have with our Creator; to discuss our preconceptions and misconceptions and truths; and to be part of the solution, not the problem.”

“I truly believe you can concentrate certain kinds of energy in the world,” said Michael Meketon, president of the Leyv Ha-Ir synagogue, which meets near Rittenhouse Square. “By meeting together, seeing each other, and walking together, we are pulling together a positive force to bring about peace.”

“It creates interaction and understanding between the different faiths,” said Shakri Byah, 69, a Muslim from West Oak Lane. “It purifies the atmosphere.”

Muslim mothers call for tolerance

MASON, OH—Saba Chughtai and Shakila Ahmad of Muslim Mothers Against Violence urged fellow Americans to see Muslims as people who have more in common with them than differences, reported the Enquirer. They were speaking to a 200 plus crowd of mostly women gathered at the New Thought Unity Center. The talk was part of a two day “Great Peace March” program by Muse, the Cincinnati’s women’s Choir.

Shakila Ahmad said that extremist clerics and “AM hate radio” are given Americans a distorted impression of Muslims.

“We abhor violence associated with Islam. Islam stands for peace,” she said. “There is no way God wants us to kill innocent people … That is not what achieving peace as a result of submission to God is.”

She asked the crowd if they thought she appeared less educated or less of an American because she wore the veil—a Muslim women’s way of covering herself to show her commitment to God.

No one answered. But it was Ahmad’s segue into her only political statement of the night. She pointed out that several Muslim nations have female prime ministers. “I’d say we need to start here on at least a vice president.”

Muslim student named to University of Utah’s board

SALT LAKE CITY, UT—Ali Hasnain, the first Muslim student body president at the University of Utah, has been selected to represent public college students on the state Board of Regents, reported the Salt Lake Tribune. As a student regent, Hasnain, 23, will serve a one-year term. He is one of 16 voting members on the 18-member board, appointed by the governor to set policy for the state’s 10 public colleges and universities.

“Ali will be very effective in combining his insight as a student and his experience in government to voice the opinions and concerns of his peers in our higher education system,” Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. said in statement. “We appreciate his willingness to serve.”

Hasnain, whose ancestors hail from India, was president of the university student association during the 2005-2006 school year. He is studying political science and economics and expects to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in 2007.

Interfaith group calls for end to torture

Washington D.C.—American evangelical, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders are calling for an end to U.S. policies that allow torture of prisoners.

Clergy signing the statement of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture include the Rev. Rick Warren, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the Rev. Ted Haggard and Rabbi David Saperstein.

Other signers include former President Jimmy Carter, Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel and the head of the Islamic Society of North America.

McCarrick told reporters that torture violates the dignity of people created in God’s image.

Professor Glen Stassen of Fuller Theological Seminary, an institution which prepares missionaries, said that when torture is permitted by a country whose leader claims to be Christian, it undermines missionary work and evangelism.

Somalis ease labor shortage in Maine

LEWISTON, ME—When Somali refugees began moving in to Maine a few years there were fears about them. But things have changed and now they are viewed as a boon for the state. Hardworking Somalis are being appreciated for their diligence and their willingness to take jobs that no one else is willing to take.

Victoria Kurtz of Hampton Inn told the Press Herald that she was having trouble filling in housekeepers even after posting notices in newspapers, websites and area high schools.

“I didn’t have a bite,” said Kurtz, the hotel’s general manager. “The kind of jobs I’m posting aren’t the jobs Americans want to do.”

Then Kurtz made a well-placed phone call. Almost overnight, the Hampton Inn’s housekeeping department was fully staffed.

The Hampton Inn now has 11 African refugees on the payroll, predominantly from Somalia. The workers live in Lewiston and were directed to the hotel by the refugee resettlement program at Catholic Charities Maine.

Bill introduced to prohibit test on Muslim holy days

NEW YORK, NY—Sen. John Sabini has introduced a bill in the state senate that will prohibit scheduling of tests on religious holidays. He announced the bill outside the Razi School in Woodside standing with parents and students.

Third-graders at the school were disrupted in January when a state-mandated test was given during Eid-al-Adha, a time when observant Muslims do not attend class and when Muslim schools are closed, school officials said.

“The students should not be forced to chose to test or celebrate their holiday,” said Sabini, a member of the state Senate’s education committee. “It is an extraordinarily bad public policy that we intend to change.”

The results of these tests will follow these children through college,” he said. “No New York City child should have their educational future put at risk because of some bureaucrats in Albany.”

Sabini said that more observant Muslims are being educated in the New York City public school system than ever before. Because of that fact, he said it was high time that Regent schedulers acknowledge them the same way they do other groups. “We have to recognize their presence and not allow bureaucrats to dictate the dates of high-stakes tests to our children,” the Senator said.

8-25

By Bob Wood

Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan might be a role model of sorts for modern investors; he’s remembered for going in the wrong direction, flying from New York to Ireland instead of Long Beach, California, as planned. Another might be Roy Riegels, the University of California football player, who, during the 1929 Rose Bowl, recovered a fumble but ran to the wrong end zone. He pushed away teammates trying to correct his course. Investors, too, may spend considerable time running towards failure and away from the goals that really work over time.

Of course, I’m not referring to any of you. I know that we’re all above-average investors who beat the market, year after year, right? At least that’s how the stories go. But someone actually had the nerve to look at investors’ long-term performance and found that winning the loser’s game of investing is truly a rare feat.

Mutual fund consultant Dalbar has again updated its research to show actual returns achieved by individual investors. We already know that most professionals, mutual fund managers in particular, do not beat their proper benchmarks over extended time. Now we also know that individuals rarely do either and, for the most part, would be far richer had they avoided the stock markets altogether. And to be fair, I don’t know enough about the study to know how often a broker or other advisor was involved here, so maybe the individual investor get some benefit of the doubt.

I first learned about Dalbar studies while reading the investing classic, Winning the Loser’s Game, by Charles Ellis. In the book, Ellis points out how, during most of the long-running bull market of the 1980s and 1990s, the average stock market investor earned about half the annual returns posted by the stock market, as represented by the S&P 500, and about half the earnings of the average mutual fund, as well.

The Dalbar work, involving the period ending in 1995, shows clearly that, on a risk-adjusted basis, individuals would have done better invested in bonds or real estate and completely avoiding one of the great bull markets of their time. So do you think investors have learned the lessons of how and why they repeatedly failed to achieve a fair return for the risks taken in stocks?

On the other hand, have you ever heard of Dalbar or read Ellis’ book on investing?

Apparently not many have, considering what Dalbar people found in their most recent work. A short article in a recent issue of Financial Times says, “An average investor in equity mutual funds received an annualized return of only 3.9% over the 20 years to the end of 2005—compared with an annual return of 11.9% for the Standard and Poor’s 500 index…’’

Wow, really?! Investor performance actually worsened when compared to an earlier time period covered by Ellis and Dalbar. An annual return averaging less than 4% must be a shock to any investor. That 4% comes during an inflationary environment when the dollar has lost about half its purchasing power. Where are the risk premiums? And how is it, with the advent of CNBC, Money Magazine and more brokers than anyone really needs, that so many investors would have fared better financially if they had never bought their first share of stock or a mutual fund?

Are Jeremy Siegel’s “stocks for the long run” clearly meaningless in the real world? So what happened? How many “wrong way investors” fared so poorly during times with such strong returns?

According to Dalbar, “the difference was due almost entirely to investors moving their money into and out of funds at precisely the wrong moment. The study contends that investor behavior is just as important as market performance in determining the returns actually received.”

So just as “Wrong Way Corrigan” and “Wrong Way Riegels,” investors have made the directional mistakes themselves! No one made them go the way opposite to the one that would have brought success. No one makes investors plow into tech stocks like JDS Uniphase at $150/share and hold it all the way down to $3, thinking the whole time that the stock was just too cheap to give up on.

More recently, investors have sent record amounts of money into emerging markets, gold and commodity funds. And, yes, I have been happily involved in those areas for the past three to five years myself. But as with most winners in the investing game, when the crowd piles in, the end is usually near. So during late May and early June, those asset classes have seen some nasty selling. How many investors who got into them late have been spooked by rapid declines in those markets or commodities like gold?

Yet some good news the Dalbar people found shows that, in the past three years, investor performance has risen to something akin to respectability. And what was the main factor in this improvement? The Dalbar folks think it involves investor patience, a rare and welcome trait! Investors have been holding on to their mutual fund shares for an average of 4.3 years, the longest holding term of the past 20 years. Of course, this could relate to the three-year bull market cycle not yet ending, to most.

But what now? Given the increased volatility and sometimes scary drops in the more popular international indices, will investors remain patient? That’s hard to determine now, of course, but that’s a concern. What about you? What will you do in the face of rising uncertainty? Or for that matter, what will I be doing?

For me, it’s an easy call. During the past few months, I have reduced allocations on the long side of my managed accounts and used the cash raised to grow my hedges in the form of bear market mutual funds or short sales of individual stocks. Yet I remain invested in what I think are the best values to be found. And since long-term, secular bull markets are what I look for—and stay with when I find them, I see little reason to sell what I think will be the best performers, regardless of short-term and admittedly disconcerting down drafts.

I’m much more concerned about the future prices of my long-side holdings in another five, 10 or 20 years from now, as opposed to so many hedge fund and mutual fund managers trying so hard to protect this quarter’s performance numbers.

While prices of some of my favorite stocks and funds have dropped in recent weeks, I think the value of these holdings has remained the same or, in some cases, has risen—while the share price has fallen. Yes, prices have fallen, but values have not. How concerned should I be that Conoco Philips stock prices have fallen from $72 to $60 in less than two months or shares in Petrobras have dropped from over $100 down to $79?

Both companies sport single-digit price to earnings multiples, and business is booming, fed by demand the world has never seen with the emergence of almost half the world’s population into the capitalist mainstream. Or how about another favorite, CVRD, which just announced another price hike of 19% atop the 71% increase in iron ore prices gained last year—all fueled by demand for its exports that surprised even the company? And these shares are valued at less than 10 times 2006 earnings. Why should I sell it? Yet others certainly are selling.

While the price of gold has fallen dramatically, from about $740 an ounce down to just over $600, the fundamentals for gold have never been so good. In fact, I think that just five or 10 years ago, no one, not even the most dedicated gold bug, would have been daring enough to state publicly that gold’s fundamentals would become so good—with money printing and inflation figures soaring into the ether. But recently, gold, both the metal and shares of funds and stocks in the sector, have been pounded into the dirt.

I haven’t sold and won’t sell any of these for a very long time. But that’s just my thinking! When I finally find one of those stellar, secular, long-term bull markets somewhere, I hang in there for dear life. It only takes one or two of these wonderful trends to make investors laugh at the seemingly pedestrian returns to be earned going forward by most, using the S&P 500 or any other proxy like the Dow.

Patience is the key, after, of course, identifying the right trends to follow. But changing your mind about which fund to buy every few months is a recipe for financial disappointment—to the tune of 3.9% annually and well under the current rate of inflation. Find the trends that you can ride comfortably, through the inevitable ups and downs. Success in investing is a matter of time, not timing. And never has there been a wonderful, secular bull market—in anything—that went straight up.

And turn off that useless noise on CNBC! The promoters with all those wonderful titles and associations with big brokers offer advice that more often than not has done nothing at all for investors. “Buy this, sell that, trade this, use this chart…whatever.” These Perma-Bulls offer hope, and, like Jeremy Siegel, assure you that they share the secrets of generating wealth in stocks. I wonder what excuse they have for the Dalbar findings?

But do not, of course, listen to those worrisome Bears! What do those fools know, anyway?

“What all the wise men promised has not happened, and what all the damned fools said would happen has come to pass.”

—Lord Melbourne, former British Prime Minister

Have a great week,

Bob

8-25

By Dr. A. S. Nakadar

The celebrations for new graduates are in full swing. And why not, it is a proud moment for the family and the community. They deserve our heartiest congratulations.

Parents will remember the days when they were so keen to get them to learn to talk, and now they can’t stop them from talking—especially on their demands.

Well, you have come a long way—we applaud your accomplishments. We salute you today for reaching this point. You are our hope and our future.

Your commencement defines your passage to the next phase in your life. Your start to life’s mysterious journey. The task has just begun and you have long way to go.

The next defining moment will be your four years of college that will lay the foundation for your career. It will remain with you for the rest of your life.

During this college defining period you will face two choices. One choice will be to do whatever you want to under the guise of enjoyment, and squander four yours. The second choice will be to work hard, study hard and make the best use of these college years to acquire knowledge—enjoyment will be a part of your relaxation only.  

In both instances you will receive your bachelor’s degree, but there will be a stark difference between the two.

In the first instance you will enjoy now but pay for it later. In the second instance you will pay now but enjoy later. The choice is yours.

This is especially true in this competitive world where there are now new sets of standards. One is that you have to perform better if not best in whatever you do. Just being good is not good enough. Try to be best, but no less than better.

Develop a positive attitude and be self-confident. No matter what you do, have a positive attitude, even in adverse situations, and remember; no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

When you decide to do something in your life, you must persevere, no matter how hopeless it seems at times. Believe in what you do, remain true to it; you will surmount every difficulty that comes in the way.

Set high goals for yourself and pursue them with cheer and vigor. While pursuing your goals don’t be afraid of making mistakes. If you fall remember what made you fall, pick up yourself and start. Remind your self of these mistakes as a learning experience. The only mistakes that are unforgivable are those we repeat.

While pursuing your objectives you will face many challenges: Challenges are opportunities in disguise. Unknown challenges are frightening, but the one you meet and conquer provides you an opportunity to rise higher and higher with self confidence.

And when success touches your feet, be sure to remember those who are behind. Extend your helping hand to the less fortunate.

Base your success and actions on your spiritual morality, without which no matter what you achieve or how high you climb the ladders, one day it will crumble.

Nurture this moral compass, keep it polished and shinning, so that it continues to shine through you.

You all are unique in your own way. Don’t compare yourself to others and shrink at the reflection. And what you do with your uniqueness will determine how and where you will carry yourself in the days ahead. So stand with confidence and humility of spirit.

Keep moving forward, taking each step with all the energy you can muster. Always keep in mind that you are what you are, nothing more nothing less, but you are different.

Aim high, have lofty goals and soar like eagles. Nurture such spirits. As you move forward continue to reflect on your aspirations, ambitions and your vision.

We have full confidence in you. One day you will rise to such heights that your family, your community and your country will be proud of you.

8-25

By Farish A. Noor, Muslim Media News Service (MMNS)

Seven years ago the nation-state of East Timor came into being. It was then the youngest country in the world, one of the poorest nations in Asia, and its history was written with the blood of its people who had been the victims of the forceful annexation, conquest and colonization of its greater neighbor Indonesia.

East Timor had never experienced a single day of democracy till then. Up to 1974 it was a colony of Portugal, an outcast colonial settlement at the edge of the world that was forgotten by its colonial mother-country and remembered even less by the rest of the international community. During the years of Portuguese rule the treatment of the East Timorese was so bad that local natives were not even allowed to walk on the pavements as long as there were white colonial settlers there. The Portuguese paid lip service to lofty notions of colonial governance but for all intents and purposes East Timor was a hole in the ground: Education was almost non-existent and basic social infrastructure like hospitals, universities and a local economy were not there either.

In 1974 with the political crisis in Portugal the end of the empire was near: Portugal relinquished control of East Timor that was then under the influence of leftist anti-colonialists who were thought to be proxy agents for Moscow or Peking. Suddenly East Timor was on the maps of strategists and securocrats the world over, for fear that it would fall into the hands of the Communists and become the next ‘Cuba of Asia’. With the consent and knowledge of the major Western powers including the United States of America, Britain and Australia, Indonesia’s army moved in and forcibly annexed the country at gunpoint.

For two and a half decades East Timor was ruled as a colony of Indonesia. At no point was democracy part of the agenda as Indonesia itself was hardly a democracy then. President Soeharto used his army and security services to clamp down on legitimate opposition movements in his own country and the same iron law applied to East Timor that became a dumping ground for a re-settlement campaign to re-populate the region. In time the ‘Indonesianisation’ of East Timor came about, with thousands of Javanese being moved there in order to solve the problem of over-population in Java.

At the same time the East Timorese were routinely co-opted and persecuted by the Indonesian elite who saw them as ‘ungreatful’ recipients of Indonesian governmental control.

In all this time, what has East Timor gained? Indonesia’s meddling into its affairs has left the country leaderless, with many of its prominent leaders like Xanana Gusmao forced to live abroad in exile.

East Timor’s population were inflicted with countless modes of social engineering including sterilization campaigns for its women and the routine rape, abuse, torture and murder of its prominent intellectuals, students, activists and union leaders. It was only the collapse of Soeharto’s regime in 1998 that brought an end to Indonesian rule there—and even so the Indonesian army commanders who were responsible for many of the actrocities like Generals Benny Moerdani and Wiranto have yet to face trial.

Yet despite its horrific past and the traumas inflicted upon its people, East Timor gained its independence with a ray of hope. Being a nation that had suffered the pains of exile and persecution for so long, its constitution guaranteed the right of asylum to anyone from abroad, in recognition of the asylum granted to so many Timorese over the years.

East Timor was chronically poor, under-developed and in need of manpower and skills, and it opened its doors to anyone who wanted to come and live there to help feed, clothe and educate its young population.

The crisis in East Timor today should be read in this context, as the birthing pains of a nation still coming into being. The riots in Dili and other cities of East Timor were sparked by the sacking of 600 army troops who were said to be of dubious loyalty, coming as they did from the Western part of the country. East Timor’s economy is totally un-developed and efforts to turn it into a tourist attraction have floundered thanks to the precarious security situation.

The world community does not know how to help the Timorese now, and all that we have seen so far is the dispatch of troops from Australia and Malaysia to its shores. Yet this is not what East Timor needs in the long run.

Nation-states are complex entities that are held together not only by the narrative of nationhood but also concrete institutions of state that keep the government and economy going.

Setting up East Timor as a viable country was bound to be a challenge for any technocrat, but one should have thought of Timor as a country that has had an earthquake for more than a hundred years, and where everything had to be constructed from the bottom, back to the beginning.

Instead the international community was prepared to launch the East Timorese ship of state without any of the institutional, economic and structural support it needed. This was like launching a ship without a crew and leaving it to flounder on the waves of the sea.

The governments of ASEAN should have cleared a space for East Timor in its network of trade links and inter-state co-operative ventures, experimenting with things like the ASEAN free trade triangles and other imaginative ventures that would have allowed it to quickly gain a sense of place and belonging in ASEAN and the world.

That chance has not been lost and can still be remedied. For a nation that has suffered so much for so long, East Timor should be given a chance to learn the ropes on the march.
We should not give up with the country just yet, and if there is one thing that the East Timorese can teach us it is that despite the obstacles to independence they have proven more resolute and determined than many other peoples.

Dr. Farish A. Noor is a political scientist based at the Zentrum Moderner Orient in Berlin.

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Delegates, meeting on June 4th, elected Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari as the Secretary General, succeeding Sir Iqbal Sacranie. The Ninth Annual General Meeting of the Muslim Councl of Britain was held at the London Muslim Centre, Whitechapel.

The assembled delegates elected a central working committee (CWC) of 37. In a second round of elections, the CWC elected three office bearers for the 2006-2008 term: Dr Bari as Secretary General, Dr Daud Abdullah as Deputy Secretary General, and Mrs Uniaiza Malik as Treasurer.

Four further office bearers—three assistant secretaries general and a deputy treasurer will be appointed at the next meeting of the central working committtee.

The CWC comprises the 37 elected members, direct nominees for the MCB’s national and regional affiliates and a number of co-optees. Only elected members are eligible to stand for election for the posts of secretary general, deputy secretary general and treasurer.
Dr. Abdul Bari is a former assistant secretary general and deputy secretary general of the MCB; Dr. Daud Abdullah & Mrs. Unaiza Malki previously served as assistant secretaries general.

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari is an educationalist with a PhD and PGCE from King’s College London and a Management degree from the Open University. He has worked as an Air Force Officer, as a researcher in physics, a science teacher and SEN specialist in London. He is former president of Islamic Forum Europe and is chair of the East London Mosque Trust. He is a member of the Inner Cities Religious Council and Pan-London Advisory Group on Faith. He is a board member of The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games.

Dr Daud Abdullah Daud Abdullah was born in Grenada where he received his early education. He obtained his first degree from the University of Guyana in 1981 and was awarded a scholarship to study Arabic language at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. In 1984 he joined the University of Khartoum to pursue postgraduate studies and was awarded his doctorate in 1989. He then lectured in history at the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria. Since moving to the United Kingdom with his family in the mid 1990s. He lectures in Islamic Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London.

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A meeting was held at the Islamic Institute of Knowledge (IIK) in Dearborn, MI this past April on the subject of defending Prophet (s) from spurious allegations by liars who hate Islam.

Many prominent local imams were present, including the gathering’s host—IIK Imam Abdul Latif Berry, Shaykh Baqir Berry (also of the IIK), Imam Mamadou Ceesay (the amir of the Gambian Community of the Muslim Center, Detroit), Shaykh Ali Suleiman Ali (imam of the Mosque of the Community of the Western Suburbs (MCWS/Canton)), Shaykh Mohamed Moosa (imam of the Bloomfield Muslim Unity Center), Imam Alsseiny Gueye Abdali (of Masjid As-Salaam in Detroit), Hamid Dana (imam of the Albanian Islamic Center of Harper Woods), and Dr. Sharif Gindy of IAGD, in Troy, and CAIR/MI’s Executive Director Dawud Walid (also of Masjid Wali Muhammad, Detroit)

A guest from out of town was present, Shaykh Hussein Amadu Ibrahim from Masjid Nasr, New York.

The imams agreed on several answers to recent slanderous questions regarding Prophet (s). Keep in mind, they said, that answers to the media must be concise and straight forward.

1) They say that Prophet (s) ordered the slaughter of 800 Jews.

The Jews who were executed committed treason by breaking their covenant with the nation-state of Medina, siding during hostilities with Medina’s enemies. Sa`d bin Mu`aadh (RA), who was raised as a Jew, was chosen by the Jews to judge in their matter with the Muslims, and Sa’d (RA) sentenced them according to rules from the Torah. Only the men of treason were punished, not women and children.

2) They say Prophet (s) married Sayyida A’isha when she was very young.

A’isha, the daughter of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra), became a Muslim when her father accepted Islam in its early days. Also, it is reported that she died around the approximate age of 80, which means that she was between the ages of 16 to 19 at the time of moving in with the Prophet (s) during their marriage. This is the age of consent with parental permission currently in America.

3) They say Prophet (s) did not abolish slavery and allowed Muslims to have slaves.

Although slavery was a universal system at this time, the Qur`an and the Prophet (s) urged freeing slaves and placed barriers to block slave trading. The Prophet (s) freed slaves and encouraged marriage between ex-slaves and Arabs from notable tribes including his own family members. The Prophet (s) went as far as to say, “None of you should call someone my slave—all of you are servants of God.”

4) They say Prophet (s) was a man of carnal desires because of his many wives.

The Prophet (s) was monogamous while married from the age of 25 to 50, during the ages, which men have the strongest sexual desires. Polygamy was a universal practice at this time, which his latter wives fully consented to. His marriages protected the community from tribal warfare due to the new ties that were fostered due to his wives, which were of various tribes.

5) They say Prophet (s) ordered the assassination of Ka`b bin Al-Ashraf for his slanderous poetry.

Ka`b’s poetry called for the murder of the Prophet (s), who was the leader of nation, as well as other Muslims, which would be the similar today of a citizen of America calling for the assassination of the President or the commission of a terrorist action. The caller or encourager of such actions is equally guilty as the perpetrator. Muhammad bin Muslimah asked for permission to stifle Ka`b; Prophet Muhammad (s) did not order his execution.

6) They say Prophet (s) ordered death for any Muslim that decided to change their religion.

The Qur`an says nothing about killing someone for changing their religion, nor did the Prophet (s) order the execution of anyone based only on their changing of religion. Changing of religion will be judged by God; however, those who change their religion during a time of war and aid the enemy commit an act of treason. All civilized nations recognize that an act of treason that puts national security at risk can bring the possible punishment of execution.

7) They compare Prophet Muhammad (s) with the Messiah `Isa (as), stating that `Isa (as) was of a higher spiritual level and more representative of a true prophet because he did none of the above.

Jesus is known among Muslims to be one of the five major prophets of God. All prophets of God came with a particular mission in regards to their environment and time period. Jesus did not come with the law, nor did he govern a society like Prophet Muhammad (s).

Prophet Muhammad (s) epitomized high spirituality, for instance, when he returned to Makkah and granted amnesty to those who killed Muslims and robbed them of their property because his ultimate goal was to cultivate forgiveness and peace in the society.

These answers are simplified, of course, not citing specific ayats and ahadeeth. To educate our community relating to these issues, we plan on conducting 2 or possibly 3 events with our imams and scholars giving specific, in depth explanations of these topics.

Also keep in mind the concern that some media members have attacked Islam on the basis of the dhimmi system, which concerns are not responded to here. Some media representatives claimed this was designed to maintain all non-Muslims in an inferior status within Muslim society.

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click here to view the video

Click here to view first half of video by Michael Manning about the November assault on Fallujah.