Michael J. Totten: Foreman of Arabia

March 23, 2006

Foreman of Arabia

Jonathan Foreman (aka Foreman of Arabia) has a long post on National Review Online on Iraq three years after the liberation war began, which starts with the following excellent point:

Confounding the expectations of cynics and terrorists, the majority Shia community has, at least until the Samarra mosque desecration, shown astonishing restraint and faith in a democratic future, despite months of murderous attacks by Sunni klansmen, Baathist diehards, and their al Qaeda Sunni allies. Likewise, Iraq's Kurdish leaders have put the future of a free Iraq before their own sectional interests.

Foreman has recently published The Pocket Book of Patriotism.

Andrew Apostolou (pjs blogger).

Posted by Andrew Apostolou at March 23, 2006 09:17 PM

Comments

"klansmen" lol

Posted by: MikeK at March 23, 2006 09:44 PM

Women's rights in Iran
Interview with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Dateline: Monday, March 20, 2006

by Abdulfattoh Shafiev
[SG Editor's note: The picture that accompanies the SG front page blurb for this article is of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, and not of the author of this story, as is common SG front page practice.]
On March 8, RFE/RL Tajik Service youth correspondent Abdulfattoh Shafiev interviewed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi about the struggle for gender equality in her country and other patriarchic cultures around the world. In the interview, Ebadi calls for "an interpretation of Islam that recognizes women's rights."
RFE/RL: You have been very active in the struggle for women's rights in your country — could you tell us about the situation of women in Iran?
Ebadi: In Iran the number of educated women is higher than men. According to the latest figures that were released this year, more than 65 percent of Iran's university students are girls. But, unfortunately, women haven't had the opportunity really to demonstrate their capabilities, and more men have entered the labor market. The unemployment rate among women is three times higher than among men.

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature6.cfm?REF=180

The Media, Straight Goods, unlike me, is left leaning....However..
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Posted by: TonyGuitar at March 24, 2006 10:01 AM

"Confounding the expectations of cynics and terrorists, the majority Shia community has, at least until the Samarra mosque desecration, shown astonishing restraint and faith in a democratic future, despite months of murderous attacks by Sunni klansmen,"

Well sure, why not? Demography predicts they'll inherit the country.

What is it going to take for you fanatics to admit that Iraq is a disaster?

Posted by: cynicalgal at March 25, 2006 06:59 PM

Ever been on the receiving end of sectarian violence "cynical gal"? Got a name? Or another coward from Kos?

Posted by: Apostolou at March 25, 2006 07:25 PM

Heh, what a predictable person you are. My name is Shira Goldberg, I live in Boro Park, NY and you can look me up anytime.

I know a lot about sectarian violence, but what does that have to do with the issue at hand? Nothing.

I quoted you directly, and I'll quote you again.

The reason the Shi'a are so suddenly democratic is because they are the majority, and democracy suits their agenda.

Ever read Sistani's website, you schmuck? They are about as democratic as Saddam was, they just wear turbans.

Dope.

Posted by: Shira at March 26, 2006 07:16 AM

Hey Andrew, I asked you a question in a post, below, which you did not answer. Since you are reading this thread, I'll take the liberty of posing it here:

"Why is the rule of jilbab-wearin' Muslim fanatics a bad idea in England and a good thing in Iraq?"

Your friend, Shira

Posted by: shira at March 26, 2006 07:20 AM

Shira, I promise to reply. My apologies for not doing so yet but personal commitments, and now some work, are occupying me. I shall do so later. Many thanks to you and everybody else for visiting this website, Yours etc, Andrew Apostolou

Posted by: Apostolou at March 26, 2006 03:08 PM

Shira,
Thanks for posting with your name. I appreciate it.
I agree with Foreman of Arabia, whom you are quoting. His and your view are not inconsistent. The Shi’a are “suddenly democratic” both because they did not have the opportunity before, and because they believe in it as a way of avoiding another Sunni dictatorship, which is not inconsistent with democracy serving their interests. That does not make them undemocratic (some are, e.g. as-Sadr). Indeed, as a majority they could perfectly well decide that dictatorship serves their interests better, after all a majority-led dictatorship might have a better chance than a minority-led one of the kind that prevailed in the past. They have not done so because the Shi’a are themselves a diverse group (who would lead such a dictatorship?) and because they know that it would give the Kurds good cause to exercise their right of self-determination. It is remarkable that SCIRI, the group long considered the closest to Iran (Sadr is now closer) has switched from an anti- to a pro-federal position between March 2004 and August 2005. Federalism can be a means of promoting local fiefdoms, but it is also a vital mechanism for promoting democracy in Iraq and preventing a reversion to dictatorship.
As for Sistani, his views on many matters are despicable (e.g. homosexuality), but he has encouraged participation in the political process and restraint in the face of sectarian violence and he has advocated elections. Sistani does not encourage sectarian hatred and terrorism. Just contrast this with the way in which the Palestinians discourage restraint through their “days of rage” and Hizballah (who like Sistani are Shi’a) glorify terrorism. Also, I have read his website, by the way. Some of it is just plain weird, but such is religion.
As for the jilbab, you asked “Why is the rule of jilbab-wearin' Muslim fanatics a bad idea in England and a good thing in Iraq?” I did not express an opinion either way. If a woman wants to wear such a garment, that is her right (I know women who do and women who don’t). Women should not be compelled to wear this anywhere, including Iraq. The context matters. In a private school in Britain, she could do so. In this case, however, the young lady in question chose not to go to a school that would have allowed her to do so and instead took a school where equally religious dress was allowed to court in a case funded by the taxpayer (i.e. this mug). I do not believe that the state should favour any religion or other set of beliefs (religion is just another ideology, no more worth of protection than any political ideology). If you cannot wear a Labour Party or Conservative Party badge at a state school, why should you be allowed to wear a religious item, but if you can wear the latter, you should be allowed to wear the former. In this case, the jilbab was as much a political as a religious statement and Islamist groups in Britain are trying to use the state and the courts to advance their obnoxious agenda. As for Iraq, in some areas it is hard for women not to be veiled, but in other areas few are. Again this is often a political issue. For example, there are unveiled women in Beirut’s southern suburbs as it gives Hizballah a spurious appearance of tolerance.
Sorry if these replies are too long. Thank you for the questions,
Andrew Apostolou

Posted by: Apostolou at March 26, 2006 05:25 PM

"... at least until the Samarra mosque desecration ..."

That's like saying "Besides that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?"

Posted by: Joseph Angier at March 27, 2006 02:25 PM

Andrew,

The women of Iraq will all be in jilbabs by the time the Shi'a have finished destroying the place.

Shira
(see-thru jilbab from Aisha's Secret hanging on the clothesline)

Posted by: shira at March 27, 2006 07:36 PM

Shira,

Most Shi'a are not destroying Iraq. It's a section of the Sunni Arab community and their jihadist allies who are.

Andrew
(My jim jams are in the drier, its too cold here to put things on the line)

PS. There is a Shira who is a singer, you are not she are you?

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