Woodstock in Abu Dhabi: Kumbaya and a Love-Fest on the Gulf………

May 27, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
“Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s singing Lord, kumbaya….
Someone’s laughing Lord, kumbaya…….
Someone’s praying Lord, kumbaya…..
Someone’s sleeping Lord, kumbaya…
Oh Lord, kumbaya……..” Pete Seeger (and others)

“The Poetry Academy of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) published selected poems by the late Emirati poet Hamad Khalifa Bou Shihab which were dedicated to the founder of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God bless his soul. The new release comes as part of the Academy’s publication of Bou Shihab’s whole works in a number of poetry series. The poetry selection was first published in the late 1980s and its second edition was released in 1991. ……. All the poems in the selection expressed deep emotions of love and loyalty to the founder of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is credited with the development of the country and numerous achievements both at the local and Arab levels. At the introduction of the book, the poet wrote: “Sheikh Zayed of goodness has, by the will of God, united our nation, and brought about a brotherhood among our leaders. Sheikh Zayed of goodness is a perceptive man who transformed the barren desert into fertile gardens, whose fruits are easy to pick by everyone. To him I dedicate these sparking poems from one heart of many of the people of UAE who hold for him only the highest forms of love and respect.”……..”

Told ya, they’re all getting along, practically singing Kumbaya in the UAE. The place is a love-fest, except for anyone silly enough to dare and speak out for freedom of speech and democracy, etc. Like those academics and bloggers who are in prison on charges of trying to overthrow the regime by speaking out.

To put it succinctly (I have loved this term since my first day in graduate school): it is a fucking latter-day Woodstock in Abu Dhabi, just don’t breathe d too deep. As for the really nasty places like Manama or Riyadh or Tehran…….
(FYI: I suspect the nasty and unpopular sons of Zayed keep parading out their late father mainly because he was more popular than they are. Hell, anybody can probably be more popular, including a former executive of Blackwater).
Cheers
mhg

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Iran

Iran: the Saga of Ali and Mahmoud Continues………….

May 26, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
“However, the swiftness of Ahmadinejad’s fall and the degree of invective — charges against his entourage have ranged from sorcery to treason — are shocking even to those inured to Iran’s brutally personal politics. This may reflect in part the pressure the regime is facing in areas ranging from foreign policy — where ally Syria is struggling to contain mass protests — to the anemic, sanctions-plagued economy. Growth this year will be flat, according to Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, a specialist on the Iranian economy at Virginia Tech. Farideh Farhi, an Iran expert at the University of Hawaii, thinks that Ahmadinejad has basically been given a choice: submit or be removed. Given the president’s history, she said, “I can only assume that if he is to go down, he will make sure that it is as painful as possible for everyone concerned……..”

Ahmadinajd is the child of the Islamic Revolution and its regime: he is attached to it from his modest roots, from his military service in the Iran-Iraq war which aimed to abort the revolution, and from his association with the IRGC. What has occurred in recent weeks, indeed in recent months, is partly rivalry over power and partly divergent outlooks on how to perpetuate the regime.
Unlike his predecessors, Ahmadinejad has not been too shy to test the limits of his power, as allowed by the clergy who control the theocracy. Perhaps it is partly because he is the first non-clerical president since the very early years, and the only one to last a whole term (and beyond). There were two other civilian presidents: Bani-Sadr, the very first president, fled into exile after less than two years, the other one was quickly blown up to bits by a bomb. Ahmadinejad has been testing the limits through ministerial appointments and firings, with partial success.

There is also an “ideological” component to his dispute with the clergy. The Clergy tend to believe that they are the only true guardians of the system, of the theocracy. They are, of course, quite right. Lately Ahmadinejad apparently has had an epiphany on how to save the republic from itself. He knows what some of the clergy may not know: that many people in Iran are unhappy with the regime as it is (an understatement). He believes he knows how to fix that. It is the old story of balancing ideology with what people want, with a dose of non-Islamic nationalism added. The mullahs, being mullahs, believe otherwise. The president has allies, even among some silent clergy. It is very likely as the article up there hints that he will continue to test the limits; that is his personality.
The next two years, his last in office, should be very interesting in Iranian politics. They will probably be much more interesting than the elections of 2013, especially if the mullahs insist on limiting the field of candidates. The TV debates have apparently become part of Iranian politics now, and they should provide at least one interesting aspect of the 2013 elections.
Cheers
mhg

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Arab Counterrevoltion, Arab Revolutions, GCC, UAE

Peninsula Mercenaries, Peninsula Foreign Legion, UAE……..

May 26, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
I have been wondering, nay worrying, what is behind this large mercenary force being gathered in the UAE? The al-Nahayan autocrats surely don’t expect these Colombians, South Africans, Europeans, Americans, Israelis (possibly) and others to just sit in the desert. They must have a goal for them. Is it as reported to keep the peace by putting down popular uprisings in the UAE and possibly other Gulf areas? Then what is the Peninsula Shield doing in Bahrain (actually it is the Saudis doing it all in Bahrain)?

I suspect that the reason for gathering this mercenary force in the UAE has to do with Saudi Arabia. The al-Nahayan have at best cool relations with their fellow despots in Riyadh. There have been cases of friction in the past few years, and there are still pending border territorial issues that their media tries not to report. The UAE has sparse native population, and has to import foreign labor for almost everything that needs to be done. About 85% or so of the people are temporary imported foreigners (mostly housemaids and laborers, but professionals as well). They can’t form any substantial military force out of that. Even the natives eschew military service in the harsh climate in favor of government jobs. Hence the idea of forming a Foreign-Legion style mercenary force. That would save the al-Nahayan from having to depend on the al-Saud. Apparently (at least to me) they do not like what they have seen in Bahrain and have concluded that if anyone will have to commit atrocities in their country it better be a force under their own command. Hence this large mercenary force.
Cheers
mhg

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Apartheid, Arab Counterrevoltion, Arab Revolutions, GCC, Gulf states

Gulf: Shield from Revolution? Shield of Autocracy? STD Shield?………..

May 26, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
“The GCC said bolstering the ranks of this shared army would help the countries that belong to it — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar —defend themselves from “external” threats. Like what? Terrorists. Pirates, maybe? How about its own people? Will a larger shared military be used to more effectively douse popular uprisings like the one that took place in Bahrain in March? Just as a protest movement In Bahrain was gaining the kind of momentum that toppled Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak the month before, the Gulf Cooperation Council issued a mandate to send almost 2,000 troops into the tiny little country to protect institutions belonging to Bahrain’s government. It was a show of force that made its point clearly — The Bahraini people marching in the streets were up against something much larger than its own government……..”

The Bahraini, al-Khalifa-connected, secretary general of the GCC opined that “The GCC has also made much progress in giving better life to their nationals compared to other countries”. That “better life” does not cover a majority of Bahrainis, who had face a policy of Apartheid for decades, and now face ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the regime and its Saudi protectors.
I shouldn’t say it, but this ‘shield’ idea reminds me of certain brand names: Trojan, Durex, Naturalamb They are all ‘shields’. But perhaps this one is not as effective as its STD namesakes.
Cheers
mhg

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Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden

Vengeful Bin Laden Coming to an IMAX Near You……

May 26, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
“ATLANTIC OCEAN—Multiple sources have now confirmed that Osama bin Laden, thought to have been killed and buried at sea weeks ago, has emerged from the Atlantic Ocean, rising to the towering height of 500 feet. The al-Qaeda leader was spotted approximately 25 miles off the coast of the northeastern United States and appeared to be making his way toward land with alarming speed. Fighter jets and battleships are reportedly en route to the scene and are expected to engage bin Laden within the hour. Keep checking……..”

“BREAKING: Severe Seismic Activity Detected Near Location Where Bin Laden Buried At Sea….”

Initially I thought the reported seismic activity near his burial site was related to some latent frolicking under the sea. But, no, he is making his way toward the American coast. His goal? Most likely Robert Gates. Or maybe soon an IMAX theater at a shopping mall near you.
On a more serious mote: notice how the world has quickly forgotten about Bin Laden? He is hardly in the news anymore.
Cheers
mhg

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Arab Politics, Middle East

Middle East Peace Index, War Index……………

May 26, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
Peace indicators:
Level of organized conflict -Armed services personnel -Weapons imports -Military expenditure -Number of conflicts fought -Jailed population -Deaths from conflict (internal) -Potential for terriorist acts -Level of violent crime -Political instability -Military capability/sophistication -Disrespect for human rights -Number of homicides -UN Peacekeeping funding -Number of heavy weapons -Number of displaced people -Neighbouring country relations -Weapons exports -Deaths from conflict (external) -Violent demonstrations -Access to weapons -Perceived criminality in society -Security officers & police.

Middle East compared to others:

Iceland 1 –
Qatar 12 – Kuwait 29 –   UAE 33 –   Oman 41 –   Morocco 58 –   Jordan 64- Egypt 73 –   China 80 –    USA 82 –   Bangladesh 83 – Congo 98
Saudi Arabia 101-    Syria 116 –    Iran 119 –    Bahrain 123 –    Turkey 127 – Algeria 129- Mauritania 130 –
Myanmar 133 – India 135 –
Lebanon 137 –    Yemen 138 – Libya 143- Israel 145 –
Pakistan 146 – Afghanistan 150 –
Sudan 151 –    Iraq 152 – Somalia 153

Cheers
mhg

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Apartheid, Arab Revolutions, Bahrain, Economics, ethnic cleansing, GCC

The Power of Boycott: Business Facing a Dark Future in Bahrain ………

May 26, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

Economic boycotts are becoming part of the Bahrain revolutionary scene. This is how they started:

Some regime partisans in Bahrain pushed many Sunnis to start the boycott frenzy by advertizing a boycott of some prominent Shi’a businesses that supported the protests (e.g. Jawad Enterprises). Naturally Sunnis have much more buying power per person, but their numbers are small. They may get others to join, like Pakistanis, Saudis, Syrians, Jordanians (basically some of the imported mercenaries). Some of the targeted businesses were also trashed. Yet that was a big mistake as my next paragraph explains.

Shi’as, taking a page form their Sunni neighbors, started thinking of boycotts. They have suddenly realized the true power they have: just like American blacks in Alabama did in the 1950s, and others did in India so long ago. They are now advertizing to boycott businesses that support the repression (usually Sunni or some foreign businesses). Many of these businesses went along with the regime and fired many of their Shi’a employees (there are reports that they are hiring in the Indian Subcontinent to replace the fired natives). The firings have added the effect of reduced purchasing power to the anger the Shi’as already felt toward them. Shi’as are a big majority in Bahrain: al-Wefaq, the main Shi’a opposition group won about 64% of the popular vote in the last election. That is not counting other parties and those who boycotted (like al-Haq). They can really harm some major businesses if they boycott them. It looks like they will. Many businesses and shopping malls are owned by al-Khalifa clan members, partnerships, and their retainers and henchmen.

Bahrain businesses, through the chamber of commerce, have now frozen relations with businesses organizations in, and now talk of boycotting: Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon (all three states have a majority or plurality of Shi’as, like Bahrain). Typical of the al-Khalifa clan to try to extend their own domestic policy of sectarian Apartheid and ethnic cleansing to the region in order to get out of the mess they created. They want everyone to join in their sectarian game, but that will not solve the serious problem many Bahraini businesses will now face because most of the people will boycott them.

The business outlook in Bahrain looks bleak, much bleaker than the al-Khalifa clan had anticipated.
Cheers
mhg

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Sports

Seriously, no Phallic Pun: Iranian Zob Eliminates Saudi al-Nassr……

May 25, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
“Iran’s Zob Ahan eliminated Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and advanced to the Asian Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Isfahan based team beat Al-Nassr 4-1 at the Fooladshahr Stadium. Mohammed Ghazi put the lead Zob Ahan in the first minute of the match.
A brace from Brazilian Igor Castro in the 5th and 63rd minutes poured cold water on Al-Nassr’s hopes. Bader Al-Mutawa from Saudi Arabian team pulled a goal back in the 67th minute but Zob Ahan wrapped up the victory with Shahin Kheiri’s long-range shot in the 74th minute. Hussein Abdulghani from Al-Nassr was sent off in the 89th minute after receiving his second yellow card…………..” Mehr News

Noooo comment. Except to say that “Zob” means penis in Arabic. Now I know why Saudi media only said the al-Nassr lost but declined to mention the victor, Zob.
Okay I won’t resist this: apparently the Iranian Zob was a well-oiled sports machine and managed to penetrate the Saudi goal area deeply. The Saudi team was shafted, you might say, if you were crude.
Cheers
mhg

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Arab Counterrevoltion, Arab Revolutions, Culture, Human Right, UAE

United Arab Emirates, NYU , University of Sorbonne, Louvre, Guggenheim, Money, Lots of it…………

May 25, 2011 Mohammed Haider Ghuloum

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF
“Numerous death threats, his employer’s demand to transfer out of the country and a middle-of-the-night visit from state security forces were not enough to intimidate the prominent Emirati rights activist Ahmed Mansoor, who recently called for political reforms. Security forces managed to silence him only by whisking him away from his family during a raid on his house on April 8…… Six weeks later, leading international institutions with major stakes in the United Arab Emirates, like New York University, University of Paris-Sorbonne, and the Louvre and Guggenheim museums, remain silent over the detention of Mansoor, a member of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa advisory committee. They have looked the other way as the government widened its crackdown on civil society by arresting four other activists and purging the elected boards of two prominent civil society organizations. By refusing to condemn this repression despite their prominent presence in the UAE, these public institutions are complicit in the abuses of their partner — the UAE government — and do a disservice to their mission of serving the enlightenment of humanity. …………..” Also sprach a good young man.
Samer Muscati apparently doesn’t understand the different missions of these great institutions of learning and museums. NYU, Sorbonne, the Louvre, and the Guggenheim have dual missions. (1) Their mission at home in Europe and the USA is to educate, enlighten, and improve human conditions. But that is in places like Paris and New York. (2) In other places, in my Gulf region, especially in a place like Abu Dhabi, their role can be put succinctly in one five-letter word: M-O-N-E-Y. In French it is a six-letter word: A-R-G-E-N-T. As for those of us, like Mr. Muscati, myself and many others, who expect more and better from such lofty institutions, their leaders have one word for us: it is a FOUR-letter word. They are too genteel to say it, but we all know what it means.
(Remember, we should try to understand how they see things: what the hell do we, in our region, know about humanity and self determination and freedom? Not enough to offset the good money).
Cheers
mhg

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