tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362794512024-03-13T10:18:21.347-07:00Iraqi American MojoAn Iraqi American who wants to see peace and justice in the world.Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.comBlogger2425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-12099549824983030812012-09-10T18:25:00.000-07:002012-09-10T18:25:41.259-07:00Democrats know how to create jobsPoverty, discrimination and ignorance restrict growth, Bill Clinton said in a great speech at the Democratic National Convention.
HP: 'It turns out that advancing equal opportunity and economic empowerment is both morally right and good economics," Clinton said. "Why? Because poverty, discrimination and ignorance restrict growth. When you <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/bill-clinton-job-creation_n_1861071.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&ir=Politics&src=sp&comm_ref=false">stifle human potential</a>, when you don’t invest in new ideas, it doesn't just cut off the people who are affected; it hurts us all.'Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-6675010154919424432012-08-19T11:42:00.000-07:002012-08-19T11:44:35.248-07:004 Sunnis in Pakistan died for Shia"They ordered the passengers to step down and started enquiring about their sect.<br />
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Those who belonged to Shia sect were taken aside and later shot dead in cold blood.<br />
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The total killed were 22, including <a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-127320-Babusar-killings-Sunnis-refused-to-identify-Shias-in-front-of-terrorists">four Sunni Muslims</a>, who protested and pressed the terrorists not to kill innocent Shia Muslims.<br />
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One Sajjad who luckily saved his life said that fellow Sunni passengers did a good job by saving many lives otherwise all Shias would have been brutally murdered.<br />
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The terrorists even beat Sunni passengers and forced them to help in identifying Shias so that they could kill them.<br />
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In spite of that, the Sunnis did not cooperate with them, he added."<br />
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Thanks Hayder for sharing. Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-36322722697180710662012-07-24T23:03:00.000-07:002012-07-24T23:03:13.710-07:00It's not too soon to talk about gunsJon Stewart makes fun of people who say that it's too soon (after the mass shooting in <a href="https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=xeA9a1Mg5VSxMuhoviooqA&ds=n&pq=aurora&cp=8&gs_id=8&xhr=t&q=aurora+colorado+shootings&pf=p&tbm=nws&sclient=psy-ab&oq=aurora+c&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e125078a01c39df3&biw=1366&bih=659" target="_blank">Aurora</a>, Colorado) to talk about guns in America. They don't want us to "politicize" this incident.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-july-23-2012/aurora---gun-control">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br />Get More: <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/">Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow">The Daily Show on Facebook</a></div>
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How long must we wait after a mass shooting to have a serious discussion about guns? The discussion will likely not result in stricter laws, based on how America reacted to other gun-related atrocities, but let us at least have a serious discussion about it. No it's not too soon.Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-56859151468576963832012-07-24T22:28:00.001-07:002012-07-24T22:29:07.889-07:00Syria now a magnet for Sunni extremistsNaturally, without an American invasion.<br />
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NYT via MSNBC: "The video, posted on YouTube, is one more bit of evidence that Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists are doing their best to hijack the Syrian revolution, with a growing although still limited success that has American intelligence officials publicly concerned, and Iraqi officials next door openly alarmed.<br />
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While leaders of the Syrian political and military opposition continue to deny any role for the extremists, Al Qaeda has helped to change the nature of the conflict, injecting the weapon they perfected in Iraq — suicide bombings — into the battle against President Bashar al-Assad with growing frequency.<br />
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The evidence is mounting that Syria has become a magnet for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48312149/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/?__utma=14933801.2087449229.1342757527.1342971723.1343193745.4&__utmb=14933801.1.10.1343193745&__utmc=14933801&__utmx=-&__utmz=14933801.1342757527.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=14933801.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=173136547#.UA-Cm7Se68A">Sunni extremists</a>, including those operating under the banner of Al Qaeda. An important border crossing with Turkey that fell into Syrian rebels’ hands last week, Bab al-Hawa, has quickly become a jihadist congregating point."Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-62654114997709213062012-07-24T22:21:00.002-07:002012-07-24T22:21:38.446-07:00Human trafficking is a world wide problemI received an email from a journalism student and fan of the blog asking me to write a post about his efforts to raise funds for his upcoming project to document human trafficking in <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/23735975/brukim-sindaun-human-trafficking-in-papua-new-guin">Papua New Guinea</a>. When I first read it I thought "human trafficking in Papua New Guinea? Really?" When I think of human trafficking, I think of places like Thailand and Vietnam. Dubai and India. Iraq. Even California. But tiny Papua New Guinea? Yes it is true. As <a href="https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2012/July/human-trafficking_-organized-crime-and-the-multibillion-dollar-sale-of-people.html?ref=fs2">this UN article</a> points out, "Cases are seen in all parts of the world and victims are targeted irrespective of gender, age or background."<br />
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Please help Corey's efforts in his project. Good luck Corey!Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-42856211364327752092012-07-22T01:24:00.001-07:002012-07-22T01:25:48.983-07:00Global warming is real and terrifying<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719?page=3" target="_blank">More evidence</a> that if humans continue to burn fossil fuels at the current rate, we are headed for global disaster. Germany is the only rich country that seems to be serious about minimizing its carbon output:<br />
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"Germany is one of the only big countries that has actually tried hard to change its energy mix; on one sunny Saturday in late May, that northern-latitude nation generated nearly half its power from solar panels within its borders. That's a small miracle – and it demonstrates that we have the technology to solve our problems. But we lack the will. So far, Germany's the exception; the rule is ever more carbon."Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-56413258455587824012012-07-19T22:17:00.001-07:002012-07-19T22:18:58.547-07:00I like Barack ObamaI haven't posted in a while, readers have reminded me. Thank you, faithful readers! I am flattered that you are interested in my writings and the articles that I link to, even though you may disagree with them. But I have lost the motivation to blog. I'm not sure why. I used to enjoy writing and expressing my thoughts about all kinds of things I thought were important. I still think about those things, politics especially. I watch at least one hour of MSNBC (usually Lawrence O'Donnel) almost every night. I love Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Real Time With Bill Maher is a must. It's why I got a DVR.<br />
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I like to watch shows about history and science. I'm reading "The House of Wisdom" for a second time. I have learned new things at work. Very interesting things that involve math and science.
But somehow I have lost the motivation to write about all the interesting things I have learned. My life is changing. I am shifting priorities. I am busy with my job and my social life. I am riding my bike everywhere.<br />
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I have often started writing posts without finishing them and never published them. The other night I wanted to write a post about John McCain and his defense of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/michele-bachmanns-baseless-attack-on-huma-abedin/2012/07/19/gJQAFhkiwW_story.html">Huma Abadin</a>, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I thought it was a noble thing that Senator McCain did, and it reminded me of the time he shook his head and grabbed the microphone from an old lady who had heard that Obama was an Arab. "No, no he's not, ma'am, He's a decent family man citizen whom I just happen to disagree with," Mr. McCain said respectfully yet assertively. I was going to call that post "I like John McCain.<br />
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On another night I started writing another post about Michael Moore's movie "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism:_A_Love_Story">Capitalism: A Love Story</a>". It was a great movie that featured part of Jimmy Carter's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ysc1P1sH4">1975 speech</a> about a crisis of confidence in America. I wrote the post, even embedded the YouTube video, and then I fell asleep in my bed before finishing it.
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Really the only thing I would like to say tonight before I fall asleep is that I like Barack Obama and I hope he will be reelected. Obama did not grow up rich like Mitt Romney did. Romney refuses to release his tax returns, even as a growing number of Republicans demand that he does. Mrs. Romney got on TV and said today "we've given <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/ann-romney_n_1685735.html">all you people</a> you need to know." I think that is one of the most condescending things I've heard a rich person say in a long time.
I would be very surprised if Mitt Romney is elected President, but it may happen, given the ignorance and prejudice of many American voters today. But I hope it doesn't happen and I hope Barack Obama is reelected President.Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-10266249963935240092012-06-13T08:24:00.000-07:002012-06-13T08:24:23.435-07:00Bombings across Iraq target Shia"In total, more than <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/13/us-iraq-violence-idUSBRE85C0P220120613">21 bombs</a> exploded on Wednesday in Baghdad and the southern Iraqi cities of Kerbala, Balad, Haswa, which are predominantly Shi'ite areas that have been targeted before by Sunni Islamist insurgents."Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-88843920472121527942012-06-12T22:21:00.000-07:002016-01-09T10:39:19.310-08:00Obama is pro businessRepublicans like to say that Obama is anti-business. The truth is that Barack Obama is very pro-business. He is so pro-business he bailed out GM, one of America's biggest companies. It turned out to be a smart move.
Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-84824119693304893312012-05-31T20:16:00.003-07:002012-05-31T20:18:09.138-07:00Teenage Sudanese woman sentenced to death by stoningHRW: "<a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/05/31/sudan-ban-death-stoning">Intisar Sharif Abdallah</a>, whose age has not been determined but is believed to be under the age of 18, was sentenced by a judge on April 22, 2012, in the city of Omdurman, near Khartoum. Since her sentencing, she been held in Omdurman prison with her 5-month-old baby, with her legs shackled."Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-36322713633573859922012-05-30T19:12:00.000-07:002012-05-31T20:20:51.033-07:00Abdul Karim Qasim was first to nationalize Iraqi oilIn the video bellow John Perkins talks about the US relationship with Saddam when Abdul Karim Qasim was President of Iraq. I want to post this to remind people and myself that Abdul Karim Qasim nationalized Iraqi oil. Some Arabs seem to believe that Saddam was the first Iraqi president to nationalize Iraqi oil. He was not.<br />
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Many Arabs praised Saddam as if he was the original populist who did good things for ordinary Iraqis. He was not. It reminds me of my post <a href="http://iraqimojo.blogspot.com/2008/02/iraqi-goodfellas.html">Iraqi Goodfellas</a> - I will always remember that dinner with the Iraqi woman who said that Saddam made education free!
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Thanks 3amu for the forward!Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-46162397866208484352012-05-16T22:06:00.000-07:002012-05-16T22:06:09.820-07:00Political satire is goodI love political satire, and there's plenty of it in America.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="373" id="nyt_video_player" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/bcvideo/1.0/iframe/embed.html?videoId=100000001537911&playerType=embed" title="New York Times Video - Embed Player" width="480"></iframe>Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-4628825039287344192012-05-13T14:01:00.001-07:002012-05-13T14:01:33.276-07:00Iraqi lawmakers fuel resentments"Iraq’s lawmakers have hightailed it out of town for a six-week vacation without following through on promises to cancel a pricey perk for free armored cars that they approved for themselves in the annual budget.<br />
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It is the sort of move that is fueling <a href="http://articles.boston.com/2012-05-12/news/31681437_1_iraqi-lawmakers-parliament-karbala">resentments among the struggling Iraqi public</a>, many of whom accuse the country’s leaders of being corrupt and only in politics for their own profit."Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-23916481436509673872012-05-12T13:21:00.002-07:002012-05-12T13:21:51.854-07:00Iran wants to replace Sistani with hardline clericThis cleric is also very wealthy: “Shahroudi is one of the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/12/world/middleeast/iran-promotes-its-candidate-for-next-shiite-leader.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=world">wealthiest men in Iran</a>,” said Mr. Khalaji, the analyst and former student in Qum. “He imports goods, has businesses and owns many factories. His personal life is luxurious.” By being a government insider, he said, the cleric made a fortune in past years by importing auto parts and equipment for oil exploration from Eastern Europe.Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-64339071732577256212012-05-07T22:00:00.000-07:002012-05-09T22:12:52.016-07:00Austerity sucksI've been reading about austerity imposed by the IMF and World Bank for many years. Lately it has been imposed upon European countries, and they don't like it! Just like Jamaica didn't like it.
In Feb 2010 I <a href="http://iraqimojo.blogspot.com/2010/02/effects-of-1973-oil-embargo.html">wrote</a>:<br />
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"The devastating economic effects of the 1973 oil embargo hurt even more in poor countries like Haiti and Jamaica, which had to import all their oil. Watch the excellent documentary <a href="http://www.lifeanddebt.org/">Life and Debt</a> to learn more about Jamaica's debt crisis that ensued after the embargo."<br />
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But I did not mention the austerity imposed upon Jamaica by the IMF and World Bank after the crisis. Watch the documentary to learn more.
Also in that <a href="http://iraqimojo.blogspot.com/2010/02/effects-of-1973-oil-embargo.html">post</a> I quoted a Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis">article</a> about the 1973 oil embargo without linking to it (I just updated it with the link).<br />
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Visit msnbc.com for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; color: #5799DB !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; color: #5799DB !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; color: #5799DB !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;">news about the economy</a></div>
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Europeans have decided that austerity is not working, while Republicans in America think the US govt should practice some austerity. Actually I think the US govt should practice some austerity, especially in the area of "defense" spending. But not right now, at a time when laying off soldiers would hurt the economy further. It's an election year!<br />
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I remember Iraq in the 70s, when the govt in Baghdad was benefiting from the spike in oil prices. The regime enriched themselves, of course, but they also spent money on infrastructure and education. My father benefited directly from that policy. I give credit to President Ahmed Hassan al <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Hassan_al-Bakr">Bakr</a>. But the Baath party was a socialist party, after all, and it wasn't the first socialist party to gain power. The Iraqi Communist Party, led by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd_al-Karim_Qasim">Abdul Karim Qasim</a>, gained power in the 50s. There was great progress in Iraq in those days. I wish Iraq could be like that again.<br />
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PS: The Wiki article to which I linked about Ahmed Hassan al Bakr says: "During his rule, Iraq was blossoming; high economic growth due to high oil international oil prices strengthened Iraq's role in the Arab world and increased the people's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living">Standard_of_living</a>"Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-65493269730386438162012-05-03T11:23:00.000-07:002012-05-03T20:12:00.156-07:00Some Tunisian Muslims want to kill for Allahbecause they believe that showing an image of Allah is blasphemous. I like to call these people "mujrimeen" (murderers) instead of muslimeen.<br />
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'A panel of five Tunisian judges on Thursday convicted TV magnate Nabil Karoui of “disturbing public order” and “threatening public morals” by broadcasting the French movie “Persepolis,” an animated film that contains a fleeting image of God.
Karoui was fined $1,600. Two of his staffers, including the woman whose job it was to check the movie for moral and legal problems, were fined $800 each. Prosecutors and lawyers representing Islamist groups argued that the owner of Nessma TV should be sentenced to prison for up to five years; at least two lawyers called for the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/tunisian-who-showed-persepolis-on-tv-fined-in-free-speech-case/2012/05/03/gIQA0GpzyT_story.html?td=sm_facebook&utm_campaign=wpapp">death penalty</a>.'Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-27714054257556649782012-04-26T20:43:00.001-07:002012-04-26T20:43:49.126-07:00Norwegians sing song that mass murderer hates"Some <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/04/26/151470779/norwegians-sing-to-heckle-mass-murderer">40,000</a> people gathered on the streets of Oslo on Thursday to sing a Norwegian nursery rhyme that mass murderer Anders Breivik says he hates."
<object width="420" height="245" id="msnbc21c5b4" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=47198829&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc21c5b4" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=47198829&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">news about the economy</a></p>Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-41022600801297355832012-04-26T20:36:00.000-07:002012-04-26T20:36:20.527-07:00Usama bin Ladin's widows & kids go back to KSA'The government spokesman confirmed to NBC News producer Fakhar Rehman that 14 members of the family had been deported on court orders "to the country of their choice, <a href="http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/26/11414182-osama-bin-ladens-widows-kids-headed-to-saudi-arabia?lite">Saudi Arabia</a>." 'Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-14332710175631301592012-04-19T07:35:00.002-07:002012-04-19T07:35:31.526-07:00Attacks against Pakistani minorities have spiked in recent years"Attacks against <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/13/pakistani-cleans-shoes-to_0_n_1423802.html?ref=interfaith">Sikhs</a>, Christians and Hindus have spiked in Pakistan in recent years as the Taliban and their allies gained strength. Atrocities by Muslim extremists against religious minorities now are so common that they rarely illicit more than routine condemnation by officials, much less collective contrition or shame."Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-65097842649497476772012-04-18T22:08:00.000-07:002012-04-18T22:08:14.008-07:00Nepali slaves in the Middle EastVery sad how some people (these are Muslims?) take advantage of the poor people of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2011/apr/12/nepali-slaves-united-arab-emirates-video?fb_action_ids=10150663807111097&fb_action_types=video.watches&fb_source=other_multiline">Nepal</a>. Thanks Ghassan for sharing.
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</object>Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-27346788070722113802012-04-14T18:59:00.001-07:002012-04-15T00:14:41.611-07:00Mecca has skyscrapersI did not realize that Mecca has skyscrapers until I read this post: "Looming large over the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba (the black cube-shaped building that is the holiest site in Islam) is the <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/willheaven/100150573/the-saudis-have-spoiled-mecca-but-the-british-museum-doesnt-want-you-to-know/" target="_blank">largest and second tallest building in the world</a>, called the Royal Mecca Clock Tower complex."<br />
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Now Mecca has the second tallest building in the world.<br />
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Thanks Haydar for sharing.<br />
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Remember when I posted <a href="http://iraqimojo.blogspot.com/2009/12/starbucks-in-arab-world.html" target="_blank">Starbucks in the Arab World</a>? That was Christmas 2009, and I reported there were 26 Starbucks in Mecca. I wanted to verify that number again and found that Starbucks has changed its website since then, and the pages that showed the number of Starbucks in each location no longer exist. I had to use Google to find the number is still <a href="http://www.mystore411.com/store/listing/15/Saudi%20Arabia/Starbucks-store-locations" target="_blank">26</a>, and I learned that these 26 Starbucks are in Mecca province, which includes Jeddah, and there are many more Starbucks in Jeddah than Mecca. In 2009 I thought all of them were in the city of Mecca. I should have realized how improbable that would be.<br />
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While searching for these facts I read an interesting post about Saudi's rejection of Starbucks' new <a href="http://www.good.is/post/new-starbucks-logo-too-racy-for-some-countries/" target="_blank">logo</a>, which has been deemed too sexy for Islam. But a giant hotel with shopping malls and with a giant clock on top of it is kosher!<br />
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PS: "The developer and contractor of the complex is the Saudi <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraj_Al_Bait_Towers">Binladin Group</a>, the Kingdom's largest construction company"Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-48296908984440869662012-04-11T18:11:00.002-07:002012-04-11T18:12:24.873-07:005,000 "honor" killings every year!"The UN estimates that around 5,000 women and girls are <a href="http://blog.amnestyusa.org/women/the-horror-of-honor-killings-even-in-us/">murdered</a> each year in so-called “honor killings” by members of their families"Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-62868218033810143762012-04-06T19:02:00.000-07:002012-04-06T21:48:44.854-07:00Corruption in America not as visible, but is disgusting"The U.S. was one of 29 countries out of a 31-nation sample to score below 60 on a 100-point scale on questions regarding the enforcement of political <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2012/03/30/us-joins-countries-not-enforcing-campaign-finance-regulations/">finance laws</a>, regardless of how strong or weak the country’s regulations were, according to the new report."<br />
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We're tied with Tajikistan!
And then there's this:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLHuJ0NN95hi_DSfRMV5r-YPNmyIzCyjR1wsXo_cZgz4T2EUM6wYt5o66BeAjmiJilp5g2_Ru7CN43cUF1pwZgaEvVhFpVMadhvDOUJglIqfZTHDXByaDsoXb4Xa3zLZ9FaYthg/s1600/Corruption+in+America.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLHuJ0NN95hi_DSfRMV5r-YPNmyIzCyjR1wsXo_cZgz4T2EUM6wYt5o66BeAjmiJilp5g2_Ru7CN43cUF1pwZgaEvVhFpVMadhvDOUJglIqfZTHDXByaDsoXb4Xa3zLZ9FaYthg/s400/Corruption+in+America.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Iraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-23285146379753010542012-04-05T21:32:00.001-07:002012-04-05T21:34:26.004-07:00Corruption in Iraq is visible and disgusting'The manager of one of the conference hotels said the summit reeked of corruption. The hotel he oversaw had cost more than $20 million to renovate, but there was no way all that money had gone into the project, he said, pointing out the many imperfections. He said his company could've built an 800-room deluxe hotel in Dubai for that price.<br />
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"So where did all the money go? In the bellies!" he said with a laugh, patting his midsection for emphasis.<br />
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On social media platforms, Iraqi leaders were <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/05/2733854_p2/iraq-unstable-sectarian-with-signs.html">ripped as tasteless</a> for serving VIP guests a dessert of dates dipped in 24-karat gold in a war-ravaged country where thousands of women were forced to sell off their gold to pay their husbands' and sons' kidnap ransoms.'<br />
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Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/05/2733854_p2/iraq-unstable-sectarian-with-signs.html#storylink=cpyIraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36279451.post-10848345989384382012012-04-05T18:58:00.002-07:002012-04-05T19:03:01.853-07:00Conservative Shia rulers taking Iraq backwards"The constantly expanding powers of conservative Shiite Islamists have inspired a <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/05/2733854_p3/iraq-unstable-sectarian-with-signs.html">backlash</a> among some concerned Iraqi communities; not just Sunnis, but also secular Shiites, liberals and artists, as well as the few remaining Christians.<br />
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They wonder what happened to all those promises from 2003 about Iraq becoming a pluralistic nation with Western-style guarantees of civil liberties. Instead, they say, Iraqis got a country where the once-treasured national orchestra can't even play for fans in the southern Shiite cities of Najaf and Karbala because religious authorities have deemed musical performances un-Islamic."<br />
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Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/05/2733854_p3/iraq-unstable-sectarian-with-signs.html#storylink=cpyIraqi Mojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com0