eatbees blog

“It’s clear: terrorism nourishes itself on the powder keg of inequality in the Middle East that we have contributed a lot to create. … It is through equitable social development that hate will be defeated.”

The UN needs to intervene to fix the crisis in Syria. Assad needs to go, and all Syria’s neighbors must unite to destroy ISIS. For this to succeed, the US must work with all interested parties through the UN.

This article calls into question the “liberal consensus” that we are moving, slowly but surely, toward a future of greater democracy, prosperity, and freedom around the world. The consequence, the author says, is a return to tribalization (extreme nationalism) whether in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East.

Links and excerpts from my internet reading of 15 July 2013.

In defending the right to make a film insulting Mohammed, are Americans merely sticking up for our principles? Or are we picking and choosing?

“This is a different season—this is the season of the Green Movement and the Arab Spring—do not be fooled by these zealotries of the fanatics who are trying to steal the revolution.”

Obama now faces a battle on two fronts: first, to calm things down in the Arab world before the protests spiral out of control; and second, to figure out how to deal with a virulent Islamophobic network at home that is doing all it can to stir up trouble.

The U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, is dead today. Photos taken by the attackers themselves show not an image of hardened fighters but a group of youths, exulting at what they had done. This only adds to the tragedy in my mind. Did they know they were responsible for the death of a man who had been working for their own freedom just a year before?

If right-wingers ever connect the idea that Muslims are jihadis bent on destroying America with the idea that Obama is himself a secret Muslim occupying the White House, it would be a Christian patriot’s duty to remove Obama from power by any means necessary.

“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. The republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”