https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/1-13-15-plato-and-church-history.zip
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/1-13-15-some-of-my-sons.zip
In the last post- I quoted from Hebrews ‘everything that can be shaken will- heaven- and earth’.
I talked about world systems being shaken- I had the post done about a week before I posted it-
The day I posted it we had more earthquakes- in Texas- than ever before- in a 24 hour period [the last I saw- 12] UPDATE- Just read about another mysterious earth ‘shake’- Today [1-10-15] the news reported some sort of sonic boom’s that have been rattling Norman Oklahoma- strange indeed- some said it ‘sounds like thunder’ Hmm?
‘And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps’: Rev
‘Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said an angel spake to him’. Gospel of John.
Some said it sounded like thunder- you could feel the ground shake- but it was not an earthquake- others said it was like dynamite going off.
The nation’s meteorologists DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER for the booms- normally they do.
There are multiple things it could have been- but they have been ruled out- National weather meteorologist Matt Day said ‘we don’t know what it was- we just know what it was not’.
He ended ‘it’s a mystery to us as well’. [Behold , I shew you a mystery;- 1st Corinthians 15]
Remember the verse I posted ‘Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.’- In scripture the voice of God is at times referred to as Thunder- In these mysterious ‘booms’ the meteorologists ruled out all the normal explanations for the shaking- but they said it was something from the sky- not anything to do with the earth itself [like fracking].
The same day we had the attack on the cartoonist magazine building in France- our world was shaken that day- in more ways than one.
I heard the normal pundits debate- once again- the issue of free speech-
They played some old clips from President Obama- when he said he defended the right of these publishers to do what they do- but questioned their wisdom [ he was right- by the way].
Of course now he simply said these attackers were barbaric- they killed for a wrong value- to defend the honor of their religious beliefs.
Now- do I agree with the killers?
Of course not- but- what values are worth dying- or killing for?
We [the U.S.] do indeed have ‘values’ that if it came down to it- we will indeed ‘kill’ you for- and have.
So- let’s take a look.
When North Korea ‘supposedly’ hacked Sony [many experts in cyber warfare believe the U.S. was set up- that North Korea did not do it- but- we already responded, by shutting down their internet- and it might be too late to admit we were duped. So- instead of backing off- we hit them with more sanctions. It looks somewhat likely that we were wrong- yet- for many reasons [or- values] we went ahead with the sanctions].
But- this was considered a Free Speech issue- for the movie ‘The Interview’ to be released.
It depicted the leader of North Korea in an orgy scene- and other stuff- that go against the ‘values’ of North Koreans.
So- the cartoonists also believed portraying the prophet Muhammad- in some pretty bad ways- was a value issue.
Now- would we [U.S.] ever kill someone- because of what they said- wrote- or simply posted on-line?
Yes-
Even if what they posted exposed actual crimes that the U.S. committed [Andrew Snowden] In the ‘old days’ if you released documents exposing crimes of our Govt.- you were praised as a Whistle Blower- not any more [The Pentagon Papers]
We will go after you- and if we think you violated our values [by exposing a crime- but if we think what you exposed hurt us- then we might charge you with a crime- that in the end would merit the death penalty- even if you did not kill anyone- Treason].
We will also kill you- if we feel your nation is developing in a way that would threaten our economic supremacy in the world.
Huh?
Yes- our country has various criteria- that we use as a base line- before we would go to war with you- this is indeed one of them [One of our stated objectives is to never lose the oil developing regions of the world [Persian Gulf] in such a way that it would threaten our supply of oil from this region].
Another one of our ‘values’ is if we ever felt like Russia was re-organizing back into a confederacy [like the U.S.] then we would not permit that [this is called the Wolfowitz doctrine- developed under Paul Wolfowitz].
So- if we think your country is getting too strong [even if there are no actual threats] then we can’t allow that- we will kill you [that’s what war is- by the way].
So- there are many ‘values’ that we will kill you for- and some are not righteous [like if a person exposed our govt. lying].
Last- but in my mind- not least.
We will ‘kill you’ if we feel you threaten our values- our way of life.
One of them being the killing of fully developed unborn babies.
Huh? - Now your nuts John.
Listen carefully- when I posted about some Supreme Court rulings a few months back- I said it was tragic that we legalized the aborting of babies into the 3rd trimester.
If you simply saw the pictures of these babies- dead- dismembered- it would affect you.
Now- when our country fights- wars- and kills- we do so to defend the Constitution of the U.S.
These are ‘our values’.
Any ruling by our Supreme Court- that is ruled as a RIGHT [Woman’s right to privacy is the official language] is considered now a value of the American people- which in essence- is a freedom- that if need be- we would die- or KILL for.
So- as the media debates the barbaric killing of the cartoonists- and says they had the right- their values- to print stuff-
Yes- I am a free speech person- but don’t ever underestimate the values that we- in the Western world- also hold dear- the ones we will kill you for.
Why say this?
In scripture- one of the criterion for ruling- for a nation- kingdom- to last- is they must BE JUST.
Now- in the whole debate over values [this is actually a very long- intellectual debate that fits in with some of the Philosophy teaching I have been doing].
It is vital to understand that any nation that embraces ‘bad’ values- no longer holds the moral authority to mete out justice in other nations.
Some might question my mentioning of abortion- the reason this is important to mention- is because one of the highest values in scripture [which in the end- is indeed where most nations values come from- whether they realize it or not] is to not kill.
One of the other high values- mentioned by Jesus himself- was the protection/care of children [But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven].
So- when any nation [Kingdom] engages with any other nation- and does so based on ‘values’- they cannot effectively ‘win’ in the end- if some of their values are the ‘worst’.
This past year- when our nation was ‘outraged’ over various things [one being Russia’s involvement in Ukraine] it was interesting to see John Kerry and a few others use the base line ‘they are violating the Norms of global values’ [in so many words].
Our govt. said that when Russia supported the Rebels in Ukraine- they were hiding the fact that they were sending in troops- under the guise of ‘aid workers’.
Yet- as I saw the frustration of our leaders- sort of like ‘can’t you see Putin is lying!!’
We- at the exact same time- are doing the exact same thing.
We claim that we pull out troops from Afghanistan- Iraq- etc.
Yet- we say ‘but we are leaving behind advisors only- armed- and if in ‘danger’ will shoot’ [and lead- and well- act just like troops].
Now- these are the same ‘aid workers’ of the Russians- no difference here.
But Kerry and others were truly indignant that Putin was doing- what we do.
NOTE- In scripture- is ‘freedom of speech’ in this context [Portraying the leaders of other countries- or our country for that matter- in a very negative way- or denigrating Mohamed- or Jesus- or anyone] - a right? Actually no ‘Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers’ . Ephesians.
Yet- we in the Western world view it as a right- one- that like I said above- we defend ‘to the death’ [when we engage in any actual military action- that in essence- is killing for the defense of our constitutional rights]
Then in this context- ‘our values’ are not necessarily in line with biblical ones.
These past 15 years- the U.S. has engaged in multiple wars/military actions- that have taken many lives.
Many of these who were killed were what we call civilian casualties [women and children were in this category].
Recently we released a congressional investigation [a synopsis] on our use of ‘torture’ on those we detained in our war against terror.
We- justly- said some of the tactics we used were wrong.
Yet- the new tactic- is one in which we kill multiple women and children when we carry it out.
It’s the use of drones- unmanned planes- that target terrorists- when we target these people- we do have a high rate of killing others in the process. [UPADTE- Right before I posted this- I saw a news story that we killed about 50 civilians in a drone attack- at one time. At first- our govt. did not report it- then when asked multiple times by the media- we said we were looking into it. Note- when we lie like this- on a national level- about killing innocent people- it brings judgment on us as a nation].
So ‘this value’ we hold [don’t detain- and torture- terrorists] has been exchanged for the acceptance of ‘collateral damage’ [killing civilians].
In this most recent debate- we usually don’t examine these things.
I talked about Socrates last week- hope to get to Plato in this post-
But one of the most famous quotes that comes from Socrates is ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’.
I think he spoke well.
What then is the Christian view on taking life- in military action?
In short- in the New Testament we read that God gives the ability of human govt. [if just] to mete out justice in civil society.
[1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Romans].
The Church early on developed what is referred to as a Just war theory- basic principles that we feel are acceptable to engage in war.
Principles
of Just-War Theory
|
1. Last Resort A just war can only be waged after all peaceful options are considered. The use of force can only be used as a last resort. 2. Legitimate Authority A just war is waged by a legitimate authority. A war cannot be waged by individuals or groups that do not constitute the legitimate government. 3. Just Cause A just war needs to be in response to a wrong suffered. Self-defense against an attack always constitutes a just war; however, the war needs to be fought with the objective to correct the inflicted wound. 4. Probability of Success In order for a war to be just, there must be a rational possibility of success. A nation cannot enter into a war with a hopeless cause 5. Right Intention The primary objective of a just war is to re-establish peace. In particular, the peace after the war should exceed the peace that would have succeeded without the use of force. The aim of the use of force must be justice. 6. Proportionality The violence in a just war must be proportional to the casualties suffered. The nations involved in the war must avoid disproportionate military action and only use the amount of force absolutely necessary. 7. Civilian Casualties The use of force must distinguish between the militia and civilians. Innocent citizens must never be the target of war; soldiers should always avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are only justified when they are unavoidable victims of a military attack on a strategic target. While my ‘plan’ for this post was not to overload it with political stuff- yet- recent events dictate. I could go on about how we destabilized Egypt- Libya- and other regions by our involvement- In brief- why did we back the ouster of Hosni Mubarak a few years back? The main reason was we backed the protestors- who did indeed have legitimate complaints- one of them being the security forces [the police] in Egypt were abusive [so we are in a position to judge this?] So- we backed his ouster [made it happen if you read all the behind the scenes stuff that went on]. And Egypt elected Morsi [long story- won’t do it all]. Morsi was overthrown by a military coup- [against the U.S. stated ‘wishes’] And now they have a new leader- but the courts and military run the show. We now engage with these new leaders- who did much worse than Mubarak. They slaughtered hundreds of protestors [see below] - and recently their courts let Mubarak go. Ever since our involvement- the economy of Egypt has been on a downfall- one of the biggest sources of income used to be tourism- no more. They are now holding a reporter- to face trial- for aiding ‘terrorists’- yet he was simply doing his job. So- after all is said and done- we harmed that nation- because of ‘our values’- Libya- Iraq- Afghanistan- the list goes on. Afghanistan is now a huge producer of Opium/Heroin- it has skyrocketed off the roof since our involvement in their country Libya is run by terrorist militias- Iraq is a disaster [notes at bottom]. All of these actions- the people we killed- were based on OUR VALUES- In one way or another- so- when we get outraged over the senseless killing of the French Journalists- Remember- we too kill for values- and if you read this post carefully- many of these values are just as bankrupt as the killers of the Cartoonists. Ok- this is another section from the Philosophy teaching I did a year or 2 back- hope to mention it on the video for the week.
PLATO
Plato was born in 427 BC- he was the most famous student of
Socrates.
He is best known for his theory of Ideas/Forms.
He believed that the material world was an imperfect copy of the
Idea world.
That is he believed that Ideas exist apart from the construct of
the human mind- that they were the perfect forms of the things we see in the
material realm.
He could also be referred to as a Realist- because he believed
these Ideas actually existed [for real].
Where did he get this from?
As we study Philosophy- each one that comes down the line has
been influenced in some way by those that preceded them.
There was a famous thinker- Pythagoras [his followers were the
Pythagoreans] who taught a concept called the Transmigration of the Soul [a
sort of Reincarnation].
They believed that the soul of man went thru various stages- and
existed independently of the body.
In Greek thought the soul is immortal- it exists before the
body.
In Christian teaching the Soul [mind- Spirit] comes into
existence when God creates man [the bible says ‘and man BECAME a living
soul’- referring to the creation of Adam].
The Greeks saw the soul as preexisting before the natural life.
In the mind of Plato- the body was a receptacle- in this life we
recollect the knowledge that comes from the Idea world.
He ascribed Ontological status to ideas themselves.
In Philosophy there are 2 basic ways knowledge comes [we study
this in Epistemology- an offshoot of Philosophy- which deals with how we know
things].
A Priori knowledge is knowledge obtained independent of
experience.
A Posteriori is knowledge obtained thru the senses- what we call
Empirical evidence.
In Plato’s schema he believed that the knowledge that comes to
us from the Formal world [ideas- forms] was A Priori knowledge- that the
human mind recalls- and in the present material world- knowledge comes to us
from the perfect idea world.
The Greeks believed that all matter was flawed- that the Body
was an imperfect vessel- and after death we are released into the perfect
world- and free from the material realm.
Christian Tradition does not hold to this view.
The Church teaches that the created world is good- not evil.
Among Christians there is some confusion about this- because the
older versions of the bible [King James] seem to teach that matter [world,
flesh] is evil.
Why?
Paul the apostle talks about no good thing being in The Flesh-
he talks about the Carnal mind- the apostle John says ‘all that is in the
World- the lust of the flesh- the pride of life- is not of the Father but is
of the world’.
There are many references like this in the bible- but they are
speaking about the sinful nature of man [the flesh] and not about the human
body itself [For instance Paul says in Romans ‘present your BODIES as living
sacrifices unto God- Holy and acceptable’ in Corinthians ‘your BODY is the
temple of the Holy Spirit’- there are many references in scripture that speak
of the Body as Holy.
When the bible says ‘satan is the god of this world’ it is not
speaking of the earth- which God created- and calls GOOD- but it is speaking
of the ‘world’ system- an age of wickedness.
So- at times Christians have confused this- and have held a sort
of Dualistic view of matter- that is not the biblical view- but a Gnostic
view- that all matter is evil.
Plato saw the unseen world of Ideas as the perfect- pure world.
He taught that in this life we obtain the knowledge of the pure-
by reason of recollection- that these pure ideas come to us ‘are recalled’ in
this life.
He is famous for founding the first Philosophical school- it was
called The Academy- named after a man by the name of Academus.
The land was donated for the school- it was previously used as
an Olive Grove- and in honor of the donation- Plato named the school after the
donor.
This is why we use the phrase ‘The Groves of Academia’ today.
Plato was actually a nick name- he wrestled in Athens- in a sort
of precursor to what would later become the Olympic games- and he was broad
shouldered- that’s where his name comes from- Plato means broad shouldered.
So- to sum up- Plato believed that Forms [ideas] were eternal,
the cause of all that is.
He believed we are born with innate ideas- these are not learned
thru sense experience- but exist independently of the mind- and in this
bodily life we retrieve [the body is a receptacle] these ideas.
Does the bible teach anything along these lines?
Not exactly.
Christians believe that God himself is infinite- without
beginning or end.
That wisdom- ideas- ‘forms’ of things do indeed exist- prior to
our own life.
But these ideas are not without a Mind- God is Spirit- and he is
everywhere [Omnipresent] he knows all things [Omniscient] - so- in a way-
there are indeed ideas- forms- but they come from the ultimate Mind of God.
A good example would be the building of the Tabernacle- and
later the Temple- under Moses and King David [his son Solomon actually built
it].
God told Moses ‘see that you build it after the Pattern shown to
thee in the mount’.
In the book of Hebrews we read that the earthly Tabernacle
[Temple] was simply an image- a symbol- of heavenly realities.
That God himself had the ‘form’ in his mind- indeed- like Plato
taught- the heavenly form is perfect- the earthly expression imperfect.
But these patterns- forms- ideas- are from the Mind of God- they
are not Innate in the soul of man- nor does the soul of man exist before his
birth.
In the past few months I have had several Christian friends tell
me that they feel like they existed before this life- a type of reincarnation.
I explained to them that in the Christian faith we do not hold
to this view.
But- the bible does tell us that God had a purpose for us-
Predetermined- before the ‘foundation of the world’.
Meaning that yes- in the Mind of God- in a way- we did exist-
but we did not have actual being [called Ontological status in the field of
Philosophy] until we were created by God.
God’s purpose for us was already in the Mind of God before our
birth.
The bible says that Christ is made unto us wisdom- we are not
Receptacles in the sense that Plato taught.
But yes- in time God reveals to us this Hidden Wisdom- about his
love and purpose for us.
And in this life we act out- we fulfil this eternal purpose.
Man [or woman] can never find true happiness- true meaning-
until they tap into this purpose.
We were created by the hand of God- to bring glory and honor to
him- and we in this life can never find true fulfilment- until we make it
back to God.
1Chronicles 28:10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee
to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
1Chronicles 28:11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern
of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and
of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the
place of the mercy seat,
1Chronicles 28:12 And the pattern of all that he had by the
spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round
about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the
dedicated things:
1Chronicles
28:19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his
hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
Exodus
25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle,
and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Exodus
25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee
in the mount.
Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly
things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the
tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the
pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Hebrews 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of
things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made
with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to
appear in the presence of God for us:
Ecclesiastes
7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of
knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Ecclesiastes
7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the
city.
Ecclesiastes 7:25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search,
and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness
of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
Ecclesiastes 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman,
whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God
shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Below are just a few articles on some of the things I mentioned
above-
Why even mention these things?
There was a whole debate that went on- for many years- whether
or not the Church should involve itself with ‘social justice’ issues.
Meaning- things that we see in society around us- that are
unjust.
Prophets in the bible had 2 primary callings- they spoke truth
to the people of God- to bring them to repentance-
And they spoke truth to those in power- they pointed out
injustice in society.
Now- preaching the gospel is indeed part of this- the gospel
means Good News.
I mentioned the Michael Morton case a few weeks ago- he was the
man convicted of killing his wife- wrongfully.
After 25 years in prison- justice was done- they found the real
killer and he was released.
The people that worked for his release- put in many man hours-
did hard work- and eventually he got out.
Should those men have spent their time just preaching- or
practicing their faith?
Actually- that is ‘practicing their faith’- the bible says Faith
without works is dead.
God was in the work that his lawyers did- it was part ‘of the
gospel’.
So- these few I mentioned in today’s post- are just some- but we are responsible
to work for justice in society- to see just outcomes.
In one of my videos I showed a picture of a little Black girl in
Africa- I send her 25 dollars a month.
No big thing- but there are Christians who see these types of
things as not part of their faith.
I would encourage all of you- get involved in some way- pray-
ask God what your specific calling might be in any one of these areas.
If you study the history of the freeing of the salves in our
country- you might be surprised to see how the first Abolitionists were White
men/women- who were dedicated to God. [Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Theodore Weld-
William Lloyd Garrison- Lewis Tappan- these men were revivalists- much like
the Revivals that spurred many in the Great Awakenings- but instead of seeing
their mission as preaching- they were on fire for the immediate emancipation
of the slaves- Almost like a Moses type calling to ‘let my people go’].
They were seeking God about their purpose in life- and when they
found it- they went nonstop- at the risk of their lives- to carry it out.
These men were indeed doing the will of God- they had a calling
from God- and they carried it out.
When Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath day- the religious
leaders accused him of violating the law- their understanding of what it
meant to live out their faith.
They were only concerned with religious practice- not the value
of the oppressed.
Jesus rebuked them- he said they would rescue their animals if
they had to- on the Sabbath.
And all he was doing was freeing a man who was in bondage too-
He said they were overlooking a major part of their ‘religion’
which was compassion- and working towards the benefit of humanity.
These traits were indeed taught in their religion [Judaism] but
they only saw ‘the faith’ as religious practice- and part of it was indeed ‘preaching’-
they were legalists when it came to that aspect of the faith.
But Jesus showed them a better way- he showed them how to live
the faith- not just preach it.
NOTES- I caught a clip from Fox News Sunday- they were interviewing the chairman
of the joint chiefs of staff- Martin Dempsey.He was asked about Russia- now- most of these guys do indeed speak the truth- they are not as ‘politically correct’ as your average politician. He spoke honestly- said he recently called his counterpart in Russia- And said something to the effect ‘we have been at this [job] for around 40 years- at a time when our countries were real adversaries- are we there again [point of war]’. They cut the clip of his full response- but Dempsey spoke openly. Russia presently believes that the U.S. is on a mission to overthrow their country [yes- I read some actual military strategists [I like to read] who are familiar with the Russian doctrine on war- and threats. He said they had around 7-10 criteria that they look at- in order to determine whether or not the U.S. is going to come against Russia. He said all of those criteria were met- and that the Russians are indeed preparing for a real war with the U.S.] I didn’t share that the other week- but just seeing Dempsey- on a Sunday morning news show- basically admitting it- showed me this is no small thing- Many truly believe that we are on the verge of a hot war with Russia. From about.com
Current Situation in Libya: Failing
Democratic Experiment
Libya’s failing transition to democracy began in 2011, when a
popular uprising aided byNATO’s intervention brought down four decades of Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi’s dictatorship. In a short
civil war that ended with Qaddafi’s killing in September 2011, local
residents and army deserters formed armed militias which – backed by NATO’s
air power – defeated the government forces. While initially hailed as
liberators, the militias refused to disarm after the war and began openly to
challenge the new transitional authorities.
State territory became
divided into semi-autonomous regions controlled by hundreds of militias which
now pose the biggest threat to the political process. Elections were held in
July 2012 but the central government remains weak, and the state security
apparatus is incapable of maintaining law and order. This has bolstered
regional identities, and some politicians in the oil-rich eastern Libya are
calling for self-rule that would keep oil profits from flowing to the capital
Tripoli.
The government tried to ease
tensions by recruiting former anti-Qaddafi rebels into the army and police.
But this in effect outsourced basic security services to powerful militia
commanders who remain largely unaccountable to any authority. Violence is
endemic, including turf wars between rival militias, shadowy Islamist
extremists trying to seize power on the local level, and various criminal
networks taking advantage of the state’s weakness.
1. Latest Developments: US Arrests an Al
Qaeda Suspect, Lawlessness Deteriorates
The chaotic situation in
Libya hit a new low in October 2013 when gunmen associated with one of the
state-sanctioned militias briefly detained Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, in a
brazen act of defiance which showed just how little regard the militias had
for the central government.
The incident came just
shortly after the US forces snatched Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, a Libyan
militant suspected of involvement in in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in
Tanzania and Kenya. It's not clear whether Zeidan was detained in reaction to
the US raid, but militias in Libya regularly harass government officials and
interfere in the work of the parliament.
Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan speaks at the 68th
United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2013 in New York City. Andrew Burton/Getty Images
2. Who is the Government in Libya?
·
General National Congress (GNC): Libya’s transitional parliament holds the
legislative power, but has so far failed to make any progress toward adopting
a new constitution for the post-Qaddafi Libya. The most powerful political
group is the liberal National Forces Alliance, followed by the Justice and
Construction Party, an Islamist party linked to Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood. However,
most seats in parliament are held by independent candidates. This makes it
difficult for any party to form a stable parliamentary majority.
·
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan: Head of Libya’s first government with a popular
mandate is a former diplomat who abandoned Qaddafi’s regime in the 1980s, and
played a prominent role in the 2011 uprising. Zeidan is a respected human
rights lawyer with liberal leanings, but he has proven largely powerless to
counter the militias, which remain the de-facto rulers in much of the
country.
Libyan rebel soldiers from Bengazi celebrate as they
arrive on an ex-Libyan Army frigate on August 30, 2011 in Tripoli, Libya. Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
3. Libya’s Militias
·
Regional Militias: Libya’s regular armed forces and police are
outnumbered and outgunned by the tens of thousands of former anti-Qaddafi
rebels. Most militias are organized on the regional basis, and they purport
to defend the interests of their hometowns against the capital Tripoli. But
they also have supporters inside the government, resulting in a very complex
political situation.
·
State-Sanctioned Militias: Large number of regional militias has been put on
the state payroll, after formal efforts at disarmament failed. The biggest
such structures include the Shield Forces, a coalition of militias integrated
into the Defense Ministry, and the Supreme Security Committee which is under
the Interior Ministry’s command. In practice, most of these armed groups
remain loyal to their own commanders, and the state’s control over gunmen is
tenuous at best.
·
Militant Islamists: Some Islamist militias do not recognize the
current political system, and are fighting to establish a fundamentalist
Islamist state. Among the most notorious is the Ansar al-Sharia militia in
Benghazi, believed to have played a role in September 2012 events that led to
the killing of US Ambassador Christopher
Stevens.
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Middle East Issues Essentials
·
From Wikipedia
Afghanistan has been the
greatest illicit opium producer
in the entire world, ahead of Burma (Myanmar),
the "Golden
Triangle", and Latin America since 1992,
excluding the year 2001.[1] Afghanistan
is the main producer of opium in the "Golden Crescent". Opium production in Afghanistan has been on the rise since U.S.
occupation started in 2001.[3] Based
on UNODC data,
there has been more opium poppy cultivation in each of the past four growing
seasons (2004–2007) than in any one year during Taliban rule. Also, more land
is now used for opium in Afghanistan than for coca cultivation in Latin
America. In 2007, 92% of the non-pharmaceutical-grade opiates on the world market
originated in Afghanistan.[2] This amounts
to an export value of about $4 billion, with a quarter being earned by opium
farmers and the rest going to district officials, insurgents, warlords, and
drug traffickers.[3] In the seven
years (1994–2000) prior to a Taliban opium ban, the Afghan farmers' share of
gross income from opium was divided among 200,000 families.[4] In addition
to opiates, Afghanistan is also
the largest producer of cannabis (mostly as hashish) in the world.[5][6] In 2004, a fatwa was
issued by Muslim clerics claiming that opium production is contrary to the sharia law and any
opium producers would face punishments in accordance with the sharia.[7]On 14 August 2013 Egyptian security forces raided two camps of protesters in Cairo: one at al-Nahda Square and a larger one atRabaa al-Adawiya Square. The two sites had been occupied by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, who was removed from office by the military after mass street protests against him. The camps were raided after initiatives to end the six week sit-insfailed and as a result of the raids the camps were cleared out within hours.[8] The raids were described by Human Rights Watch as the most serious incident of mass unlawful killings in modern Egyptian history.[9] According to Human Rights Watch, at least 817 and likely well over 1,000 people were killed in Rabaa Square on August 14.[10] According to the Egyptian Health Ministry, 638 people were killed on 14 August, of which 595 were civilians and 43 police officers, with at least 3,994 injured.[5][11][12] the Muslim Brotherhood and National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy (NCSL) claimed that number of deaths from the Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque sit-in alone at some 2,600.[6][7] Violent retaliation followed in several cities across the country. The interim government declared a month-long state of emergency in response and curfews were instituted in many areas. The total casualty count made 14 August the deadliest day since the 2011 Egyptian revolution which toppled Morsi's predecessor Hosni Mubarak.[13] The clashes were widely denounced by several world leaders.[14][15]
Living
Under Drones
Much of the public debate about drone strikes in Pakistan has
focused narrowly on whether strikes are ‘doing their job’—i.e., whether the
majority of those killed are “militants.”[1] That framing, however, fails to take
account of the people on the ground who live with the daily presence of
lethal drones in their skies and with the constant threat of drone strikes in
their communities. Numerous other reports have highlighted the disastrous
impacts of Taliban and other armed actor operations in Pakistan.[2] Those impacts must also factor into the
formulation of governance and military policy in Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA). This report, however, aims to draw attention to a
critical gap in understanding, specifically about life under drones and the
socio-economic impacts of drone strikes on civilians in North Waziristan.
Available evidence suggests that these impacts are significant, and
challenges the prevailing US government and media narrative that portrays
drones as pinpoint precision weapons with limited collateral impact. It is
crucial that broader civilian impacts and the voices of those affected be
given due weight in US debates about drones.
The most direct impacts of
strikes, in addition to injuries and killings, include property damage, and
often severe economic hardship and emotional trauma for injured victims and
surviving family members. Importantly, those interviewed for this report also
described how the presence of drones and capacity of the US to strike
anywhere at any time led to constant and severe fear, anxiety, and stress,
especially when taken together with the inability of those on the ground to
ensure their own safety. Further, those interviewed stated that the fear of
strikes undermines people’s sense of safety to such an extent that it has at
times affected their willingness to engage in a wide variety of activities,
including social gatherings, educational and economic opportunities,
funerals, and that fear has also undermined general
community
trust. In addition, the US practice of striking one area multiple times, and
its record of killing first responders, makes both community members and
humanitarian workers afraid to assist injured victims.
Voices from Below:
Accounts of Three Drone Strikes
The most immediate consequence of drone
strikes is, of course, death and injury to those targeted or near a strike.
The missiles fired from drones kill or injure in several ways, including
through incineration,[3] shrapnel,[4] and the release of powerful blast waves
capable of crushing internal organs.[5] Those who do survive drone strikes often
suffer disfiguring burns and shrapnel wounds, limb amputations, as well as
vision and hearing loss.[6]
This section sets out firsthand narrative
accounts of three specific drone strikes for which there is considerable
evidence of significant civilian casualties.[7] The narratives draw upon interviews, as
well as corroborating evidence from other independent investigations, media
accounts, and submissions to the United Nations, and courts in the UK and
Pakistan.
The
narratives provide detailed and stark accounts of the consequences such
strikes have on those hit, those near, and their families.
March 17, 2011
On the morning of March 17, 2011, the US
deployed a drone to fire at least two missiles into a large gathering near a
bus depot in the town of Datta Khel, North Waziristan. To this day, US
officials publicly insist that all those killed were insurgents.[8] That position, however, is contradicted by
a range of other sources, including the Pakistani military,[9] an
independent investigation by the Associated Press,[10] interviews with attorneys, and the
testimony of nine witnesses, survivors, and family members gathered for this
report. This evidence suggests that at least 42 were killed, mostly
civilians, [11] and another 14 injured.[12]
According to those we interviewed, on March
17, some 40 individuals gathered in Datta Khel town center. They included
important community figures and local elders, all of whom were there to
attend a jirga—the
principal social institution for decision-making and dispute resolution in
FATA. The jirga on March 17 was convened to settle a
dispute over a nearby chromite mine.[13] All of the relevant stakeholders and
local leaders were in attendance, including 35 government-appointed tribal
leaders known as maliks, as well
as government officials, and a number of khassadars (government employees administered
at the local level by maliks who
serve as a locally recruited auxiliary police force).[14] Four men from a local Taliban group were
also reportedly present, as their involvement was necessary to resolve the
dispute effectively.[15] Malik Daud Khan, a respected leader and
decorated public servant, chaired the meeting.[16]
The jirga had been convened in Datta Khel’s
Nomada bus depot,[17] an open space in the middle of town large
enough to accommodate over 40 people as they sat in two large circles about
12 feet apart.[18] Though drones were hovering daily over
North Waziristan, those at this meeting said they felt “secure and insulated”
from the threat of drones, because in their assessment at the time, “drones
target terrorists or those working against the government.”[19] This, in contrast, was a jirga,
a government-sanctioned meeting, held to ensure “no problems occurred in
[the] area and no-one would pose problems for the government.”[20] According to a Pakistani military
commander in North Waziristan, Brigadier Abdullah Dogar, the maliks had even taken care to alert the
local military post of the planned jirga ten days beforehand.[21]
At approximately 10:45 am, as the two
groups were engaged in discussion, a missile fired from a US drone hovering
above struck one of the circles of seated men.[22] Ahmed Jan, who was sitting in one of two
circles of roughly 20 men each, told our researchers that he remembered
hearing the hissing sound the missiles made just seconds before they slammed
into the center of his group.[23] The force of the impact threw Jan’s body
a significant distance, knocking him unconscious, and killing everyone else
sitting in his circle.[24] Several additional missiles were fired,
at least one of which hit the second circle.[25] In all, the missiles killed a total of at
least 42 people.[26] One of the survivors from the other
circle, Mohammad Nazir
The trauma of the strike was felt not only
by those who witnessed its immediate aftermath, but also by the families left
behind. Nearly all of those killed were the heads of large households, who
used the government allowances they received through their positions as maliks and khassadars
to support their households and fund small businesses. Malik Daud Khan, who
led the jirga, was a
government-appointed counselor for all of North Waziristan, serving as a
political liaison between the Pakistani government and military and the other
tribal leaders.[36] He oversaw jirgas throughout the region, and used his
allowance, “which was respectable for a decent family,” to support six sons
and the sons of his brothers.[37] Another malik, Ismail
Khan, left behind a family of eight, of whom only two are males old enough to
work.[38] The khassadar Hajji Babat also left behind another
household of eight; his son now struggles to support them.[39]Because
these men held government positions reserved for elders with “experience and
years of wisdom,” their sons cannot take over their offices.[40] The sons have little hope of finding
employment that would provide a standard of living afforded by the allowance
of a malik or a khassadar.[41] Babat’s son, Khalil Khan, who spent over
a decade working as a driver in the United Arab Emirates, told our research
team that he often thinks of trying to go abroad again so that he
can earn money to support himself.[42] “[But] if I go,” he worries, “what will
happen to my family?”[43] The Pakistani government offered to
compensate the families with three lakhs (300,000 rupees, or approximately US
$3,200) for each man killed, but most did not take the compensation.[44] “[O]ur elders were worth much more than
that. . . . [W]e had lost an entire community of elders.”[45]
Some men who survived are now unable to
work or earn the living they could before the strike. Ahmed Jan, a malik who used to supplement his allowance
by working as a driver, woke up in a hospital in Peshawar after the strike
and learned he needed five to six lakhs (approximately US $5,300 to US
$6,350) worth of surgery to implant a rod in his leg and to stop the bleeding
from his nose and face.[46] Since then, he has lost most of his
hearing and the use of one foot.[47]Unable
to operate a car, he now depends on his sons, who are also drivers, to
support his household.[48] Idris Farid, in addition to living with
rods implanted in his leg, told us that the trauma of the strike has caused
him to forget “the little bit of education that I [had] gotten when I was
little,” and has left him terrified of loud noises “because I think it might
be a drone.”[49]
The precise number of people who died in
the March 17, 2011 strike has never been determined, though nearly all
available sources—including the survivors with whom our researchers spoke—put
it at close to 40 or higher.[50] An independent investigation by the Associated
Press put the
number at 42.[51] Pakistani intelligence officials
initially reported that 12 or 13 of the dead were Taliban militants,[52] but the Associated Press investigation found that it was
likely only four.[53] Of those four, only one, Sherabat Khan,
has ever been identified by name.[54] TBIJ, in
separate investigations, has so far obtained the names of 24 civilians killed
who died in the strike.[55]
You can read the rest of this article at Livingunderdrones.org- there are
many studies online that go in depth- I just wanted to give you a taste.One last note- the world is outraged because of what the 2 Muslim brothers did- in their attack on the cartoonists- it is considered a barbaric act- by a barbaric people. The brothers ‘attacked’ in a sense- the true values of free speech that all peoples of the world value. Many Muslims in France live in areas of extreme squalor- much like the minority communities in our country. In France- if you- as a Muslim- SAY [no action- just speech] ‘I deny the Holocaust’- you go to prison- for one year. Huh- you didn’t know that- did you? So- the Cartoonists have the right to portray the Prophet Muhamad- in risqué scenes- kissing men- all sorts of things- because of Free Speech- but if you deny the holocaust [which I don’t- but in the U.S. - you have the right to say/believe- anything] - yet in France- you don’t have freedom of thought- or speech- if you’re a Muslim- see? |
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