Muslim Ironies

Sheik Abdul Mohsen al-Obaikan was filmed performing the Bedouin sword dance at a wedding and is now being criticized by religious hardliners. The sheik is a prominent member of the Saudi Kingdom's Council of senior Islamic scholars; a legal consultant to the country's ministry of justice; expressed relatively moderate views in the past; and given limited support to the right of women to drive and criticized suicide attacks, saying they are not religiously sanctioned as acts of martyrdom.

In Saudi Arabia's strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, where the sexes are segregated and clerics determine social restrictions, Sheikh Al Obaikan is considered a voice of tolerance.

But his enemies attack him by describing him as the cleric to the United States marines and the Saudi establishment.

Now the Sheikh has had to defend his rather sedate Bedouin sword dance at his nephew's wedding - a video clip of which has been posted on the internet.

The Sheikh confirmed to an Arabic newspaper that he did take part in the dance but quoted many stories of the Prophet's life to argue that there was nothing wrong with entertainment like dancing and drum playing.

He complained some extremist groups just wanted to turn weddings into funerals and he urged society to rid itself of the shackles imposed by what he called ignorant people.

The Sheik will surely need to hire body guards. Any time a moderate or reasonable Muslim speaks up they are knocked back down by 'hardliners' in their country.

The Gulf emirate of Dubai has said it is to set up the world's first museum dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad. (BBC) I wonder if it will have images of Mohammad and I also wonder if there will be Muslim outrage.

IRAN NOT TO BE OUTDONE BY N.Y. GOV. SPITZER, from Anti-Mullah

Tehran's police chief, Reza Zarei, has been arrested after he was found nude in a local brothel with six naked prostitutes, according to report on the Iranian Farda News.

According to a popular Iranian website Gooya, the order to raid the brothel was given directly by Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, chief of the judicial authorities.

Before he was arrested, Zarei was in charge of the programme for the 'moralisation of the city'.

Alan Note: the Colonel who is Chief of Police Precinct 8 (Baharestan Square (?), names have changed) is a known rapist of any woman that ends up in his precinct. Even those who seek shelter and protection there. He invites them to spend the night under police protection then rapes them. With Impunity!

Other reading:
ACLU Supports Legalized Unregulated Prostitution, Stop the ACLU

Al-Qaeda criticizes the Taliban, bwhahahahah

Obama has promised voters a "different kind of politics," but the shine is coming off that promise quickly.

Obama and his staffers' latest alleged problem: appearing "effete and vaguely foreign -- the same unflattering light that doomed Michael Dukakis and John Kerry." via Political Animal on NYT article.

Some are asking Where is Moqtada al Sadr?

On sabbatical? In hiding? Imprisoned? In a coma? Richard Fernandez examines the bizarre disappearing act of the powerful Iraqi Shi’ite leader.

My contact says "He's home, minding his business. We have him in a sand box!" So much for dying from food poisoning.

Cyber Storm II is being conducted through Thursday

Officials from 18 federal agencies, nine states, four foreign governments and more than three dozen private companies will take part in a cyberwar exercise staged this week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“The goal of Cyber Storm II is to examine the processes, procedures, tools and organizational response to a multisector coordinated attack through, and on, the global cyber infrastructure…. (more)

Detroit, and Flint, Michigan is one of America's most miserable cities. I would have guessed Dearborn. Also New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Modesto, Charlotte N.C., Providence, R.I., Check out America's most miserable cities.

For the boys, go see Ukraninan military assets at BlackFive

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Comments

[MK]

"The Sheik will surely need to hire body guards."

Particularly because they're to tolerant and peaceful.

Iran's own spitzer. lol

[Rosemary]

I don't know whether to pray, cry or laugh! LOL. (I guess I decided to laugh.) How are you? I pray all is well with your family (and you). See ya later. ;)