I don't try to defend Iqbal but I have read his posts over three years from SI. It is my observation from his posts that he is a permanent bull with an unbroken hope for humandkind and tearing down the thoughts of doomday sayers.
3 years ago Bin Laden name came out as a mastermind of terrorist acts to America, he was the one to condemn him publicly. Also, he criticzed many faults of wrong thinking in the Muslim world for advocating terrorists' acts and other issues such as woman's right in the public forums including newspapers if my memory correct.
You have to know he came from Pakistan. Now more Islamic fundamentalists are overtaking power little by little in his home county. That means more fanatics overthere, just sitting there and not watching what he is saying. Do you know he needs bodyguard when he visits his home country due to his views.
When he criticized very badly about Muslim, I worried about his big mouth(gg).
Because I lived in South Korea when two dictators,President Park and Chun. My mother whispered us when she said bad things about them. My father was lynched by the local Korean CIA operators because he distributed oppoisition newspapers at that time. He was lucky to save his life. His other friends, local newsreporters were rounded up and taken away.
During my service to military (mandatory not voluntary, I had to go Kuangju City, as a liasion officer between the local martial headquarter and my army division after Kuangju riot (around 1980) under General Chun, I had to bear hearing screaming and mourning sounds of rioters being tortured. There were freedom fighters or some of them were just innocent bystanders. Still we never know thousands were masscred by military but officially hundreds still now.
I heard from other sources some poeple tortured to death and lynched to death in the labor camps scattered in South Korea. Many criminals were round up and sent to very remote islands. We never heard their fates later. At that time, Korean CIA even sent their agents overseas and took out big mouths, the ones spoke against them.
What I am saying is that Iqbal is a very brave soul. Do you think Islamic fanatics just sit there and bear what he is saying? Even in Paris.
Do you remember Rashidi(?) who wrote a funny novel about Mohammed(?) and hid for a long time due to death threat. There are always a threat to somebody who speaks up in the Muslim world.
I belive you are born here and grew up here. As you know now, I came from South Korea partly due to freedom. What I see Iqbal's view is that he wants everybody to look at it in a little different perpective. For example, what do think Korean people, who firmly believed American CIA knew the General Chun was going to do and the government-support for Chun, thought about American Government? What you see outside from inside and what I see inside from outside. Why they hate us so much?
You knew already CIA messed up so many countries such Iran-Shah, Iraq-Bush Sr was CIA chief who supported Hussein, Panama-Noriega, Chile-Pinochette, South Korea-two to three dictators, columbia-still going, Haiti, and other South American countries, and go on. Except for Pearl Harbor, this is the gravest terrorist act with highest casualties. The other must be domestic one, Oaklahoma bombing. I believe the short term solution is to take whoever out and neutrilize them. In the long run, we seriously think how to deal with the causes. It needs a diffrent approach with a different view. You knew how America got into Vietnam war. We took it over from French without thinking of which Vietnamise people thought and support. We do not need to make the same mistake. Also, we need all supports from other countries and shut down all seret bank accounts from Switzland to Bahamas. All terroists and drug lords' moneys and American tax evaders money are harboring there. All crooks' money too.
I totally agreed with your guessing that it is more than Bin Laden. I think he had a lot of help from old enemy, Iraq, maybe Syria, and Iran. And who knows,Mossad? If we crushed Arab world, who gains most. We lose our blood and money, they gain support from us. They are the only people not to cheer in the middle East. I hate all seret deals and terrorists.
I will go back to work. I will argue with my coworkers about how to deal with the terrorists. Many of my black co-workers still believe CIA and it's operatives introduced drugs to the black communities. We have all kinds of theory but we don't look over our shoulders to worry about who are listening to us.
Freedom is one of the most important thing. Whatever we do for revenge, it is not worth if we lose our freedom of speech, travel, and seeking for happiness to fight with terrorists. They want our government to restrict our freedom for sake of safety.
How much safer does Israel kill Palestain, demolish their houses, and bomb them after they take hardline approaches? I rather live in democratic society with freedom than live safe in the dictator or police state surrounded by the police or military. Eventually they will check your bags and purses and asked all kinds to stupid questions and insult you. I can't bear that. I had enough in my home country. It is easy to say it is safe. If you live there everyday, it is different story.
Iqbal is the first one to condemn all terrorist act if you read all old his posts in SI.Anybody who follows his post for a long time can help me about this. I cannot speak for himself but what he suggested is to look at the issue in a different angle not to defend the fanatics.
America is the most generous country who help any country who has natrual disasters and man-made tragedy. But why many of them do not like us? That is the price of a world police? We have to think over again.
Also, I feel very sorry to hear that some Arabs and/or the lookslike faces have been mobbed and lynched. Their stores have been stoned. What is difference if we act in the same way Palestain youth did on street?
I have my deepest condolence for the victims's family and the one around us who are sad and angry. I know me and my coworkers pay more attention to talking and watching news than working. I hope you will be in peace. I know it will take time.
Bye, Inho
p.s. I remeber Iqbal was right when he
recommended "buy" instead of selling when embassies bombed. I don't know recent his performance (gg).
p.s.s. My wife told her coworker's husband already airlifed to unknown place. His retirement from military has suspended due to this attack. I hope he will be OK. Sorry for all isspelling.
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