Middle East Problems Caused by the West? British Journalist Niall Ferguson Mops the Floor with Historical Facts
Niall Ferguson, author of Civilization, will help us examine the role of the West in the revolution in the Arab world – and explain what history can tell us about why certain cultures appear to dominate the world at certain times.
Ferguson: “… [W]hen one’s trying to understand the problems of the region it’s far more illuminating to talk about the long-term legacy of Ottoman rule than to talk about the relatively short-term impact of British, French or Italian rule … You can’t say it’s the fault of Imperialism and leave out the longest living empire in the Middle East, which was the Ottoman Empire — the Muslim Empire — which went back much further than any of the European empires …
Let’s be absolutely clear here. The culture that exists in the greater Middle East and North Africa today bears very, very few resemblances to the culture that the Europeans tried to implant there beginning in the late 19th century and carrying on through to the mid 20th century. It owes far more to the long-lasting impacts of, say, Islam — let’s not forget that — which has had the biggest impact on the region of any empire. So it seems to me the problem with arguing that it’s all the fault of ‘British Imperialism’, that’s to misdiagnose the problems. And can I just pick up on one important point, which is slightly different, which is when you look at the problems that currently exist in a country like Egypt they have far more to do with the ways in which those countries have been governed in the last 30 years than with anything that happened under British law.”
Watch the video below for the full interview.
Thousands of Dead Fish in Michigan River
By ANDREA ISOM – “It is a stinky and scaly situation in River Rouge as thousands of dead fish were discovered floating along the shoreline. The smell has been described as almost unbearable.
Viewers were so concerned they called FOX 2.
‘I eat fish out of this river. I fish there. My nieces and nephews fish out of this river and ate out of this river,’ said Guy Cason. “I’m concerned. I’m concerned about their well-being.'” Read more.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=8705
16 Dolphins Washed Ashore Dead in India
“PUDUCHERRY: Sixteen long-nosed dolphins were washed ashore dead at three places along the Puducherry coast on Monday. It has raised concern among environmentalists as it is the 20th instance in 16 months of protected marine mammals being washed ashore dead or alive.
On an average, about 250 dolphins are washed shore dead or alive every year, said Dr R S Lal Mohan, retired principal scientist of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
A group of fishermen in Pudukuppam in the Union territory spotted five dead dolphins on the shore on Monday morning and alerted the forest and fisheries department officials. A few hours later, fishermen from neighbouring hamlets also informed them about 11 more dead dolphins found at two other places.” Read more.
Will Obama Push For Palestinian Statehood This Year?
By Arshad Mohammed – “… Clinton spoke against the backdrop of the popular revolts that have toppled long-time authoritarian leaders in Tunisia and Egypt this year and spurred public protests in much of the Arab world, including Libya, Bahrain, Syria and Yemen.
‘The status quo between Palestinians and Israelis is no more sustainable than the political systems that have crumbled in recent months,’ she said, saying the only way to meet both people’s aspirations was through a two-state solution.
‘And while it is a truism that only the parties themselves can make the hard choices for peace, there is no substitute for continued, active American leadership — and the president and I are committed to that,’ she added.” Read more.
Indonesia’s Merapi Volcano Sees New Lava Dome
“VIVAnews – Indonesia’s most active volcano Merapi has seen a new lava dome formation at a diameter of 400 meters recently.
‘The dome is resulted from the latest eruption which has expanded to 400 meters in diameter,’ said Subandriyo, Chief of Volcanology Technology Research and Development Agency (BPPTK) of Yogyakarta, on Tuesday.” Read more.
Giant Whirlpools in Atlantic Ocean Puzzle Scientists
BY ROB DAVEN – “US scientists discovered two giant whirlpools in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Guyana and Suriname. It became a sensational discovery because this part of the ocean has been studied thoroughly, and no one expected anything like that to appear in the area. More importantly, no one can understand where the whirlpools came from and what surprises they may bring to people.
According to Brazilian scientist Guilherme Castellane, the two funnels are approximately 400 kilometers in diameter. Until now, these were not known on Earth. The funnels reportedly exert a strong influence on climate changes that have been registered during the recent years.” Read more.
1,000 Militants Attack Non-Muslim Villages in Nigeria
“… Meanwhile in Bauchi, where serious electoral fraud was uncovered in run up to the vote, attacks by armed Fulani men on non-Muslim areas have continued. On Thursday 7 April at least ten people were killed in Bar Arewa village in Bogoro LGA when it was stormed at midnight by up to 1,000 men armed with guns and machetes. Almost every home in the village was destroyed and some elderly people were reported to have been burnt to death in their homes.
During the previous week around five people died in similar attacks on the villages of Yola and Goska Bong in Bogoro LGA. Attackers are thought to be part of a group of around 2,000 militants from Niger, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto and other northern states that have been attacking non-Muslim villages since 10 April. In a comment to a Nigerian newspaper a survivor of one of the attack said ‘They wanted to prevent us from voting in the elections, so they burnt houses so our voter cards would be burnt.'” Read more.
Palestine is Genocide
By Daniel Greenfield – “On the 11th of March, two Arab Muslim men climbed through the window of a home in the village of Ithamar, and massacred an entire family, killing both parents, stabbing a 4 year old boy twice in the chest, murdering an 11 year old while he sat up reading in bed and slitting the throat of a 3 month old baby girl.
A week later, Israeli and Arab pollsters conducted a survey in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. A third of the Arabs surveyed supported these atrocities.
All the justifications for a Palestinian state fall away in the face of this simple fact. That a third of the residents of any Palestinian state favor the murder of Jewish children. Not to achieve any larger goal, but just because they are Jewish children. To call for a Palestinian state in the face of that fact is to advocate genocide.” Read more.
Dozens of Sick Sea Lions, Dolphins, Pelicans Washing Up on California Beaches
“LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — Sick sea lions and other marine mammals are washing up on shore at Southland beaches.
Rescuers say the animals are suffering from domoic acid poisoning, a neurotoxin found in large algae blooms that naturally occur in the spring.
So far this year, Marine Animal Rescue has removed at least 34 sea lions from beaches in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, according to rescuer Peter Wallerstein.
The animals that are washing up are suffering from seizures, paralysis and foaming at the mouth.
Rescuers warn that if you see a sick animal, stay away because the disoriented animals could bite.
In addition to sea lions, rescuers say sick dolphins and pelicans have been found.” Read more.
Anti-Jewish Cartoons Emerge After Goldstone Retraction
By JORDANA HORN, JPOST – “NEW YORK – Judge Richard Goldstone’s now-notorious Washington Post mea culpa, retracting several findings of his United Nations-sponsored inquiry into Operation Cast Lead, has ignited new flames of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories in the Arab world, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
‘Just as the original report was celebrated by Arab cartoonists as ‘proof’ of the evil nature of Israel and Jews, so too has the decision by Judge Richard Goldstone to reconsider his findings inspired another round of hateful caricatures and stereotypes in the Arab Media,’ said ADL’s national director Abe Foxman. ‘Newspapers across the Arab world have responded to the Goldstone developments with a series of hideous caricatures, many of them viciously anti-Semitic.'” Read more.
Former Muslim Testifies ‘Muslims Are Taught to Hate America’, 9/11 Senate Hearing Descends Into Shouting Match
“A hearing on homeland security descended into a heated and angry dispute after an Arab-American activist testified that she was taught as a youngster to ‘hate Jews’ and ‘hate America’.
The debate over Islamic terror turned into a shouting match as Nonie Darwish, director of Former Muslims United, spoke at the State Senate committee meeting in New York.
One senator gripped a Koran in his and accused the human rights activist of spreading ‘hate and poison’ at the hearing held to study how vulnerable New York City is to another act of terror ten years after September 11.
‘Check what’s going on, it’s not a secret’ said Ms Darwish, who was educated in Egypt and came to the U.S. in 1978.
‘The education of Arab children is to make killing of certain groups of people not only good, it’s holy,’ she said.” Read more.
Two More 6.0+ Magnitude Earthquakes Shake East Coast of Japan This Morning
Richter magnitude 6.2, near the east coast of Honshu, Japan
35.406°N 140.542°E
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 08:08:16 AM at epicenter
Depth: 13.10 km (8.14 mi)
Richter magnitude 6.0, near eastern Honshu, Japan
37.000°N, 140.700°E
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 02:07:42 PM at epicenter
Depth: 5.1 km (3.2 miles)
Israel National News
- Caught on camera: Bottle thrown at Prime Minister's convoy at Mahane Yehuda Market
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American Thinker
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Gatestone Institute
- Europe's Settlement Boycotts Crush the Palestinians
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Middle East – The Jerusalem Post
- Huckabee questions Board of Peace’s ability to carry out Trump's Gaza peace plan - report
- Human rights group petitions Germany to investigate Iranian crimes against ethnic minorities
- Israeli intelligence helps Saudi Arabia target Houthis as IDF prepares for potential escalation
- Saudi Aramco tells staff to evacuate Dhahran as clashes with Yemen's Houthis continue
- Iran deploys heavy weaponry to Kurdish regions amid fears of renewed conflict with Israel, US
- What does the text of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkey defense pact say? - explainer
- Turkey waiting for sale contract from Qatar for Eurofighter Typhoon jets, defense ministry says
- Iran's floating oil reserves, used for China sales, completely depleted, analysts say - report
- Francesca Albanese calls for Indonesia to reconsider involvement with Board of Peace
- IDF probes alleged arson attack on Biblical High Priest Eleazar's tomb near Nablus in West Bank
Earthquakes & Volcanic Activity
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Islamic Terrorist Network In America
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