Australia has offered 25 million dollars to a Taliban peace fund – the fund is part of a global initiative set up by 70 countries and plans to raise $US500 million for Taliban fighters to be reintegrated into society and encourage them to lay down their arms. So are we simply buying them off with...
Since when did critising Israel become and act of “anti-Semitism,” or a hate crime? Apparantly since “500 lawmakers, diplomats and academics from over 50 nations met in Jerusalem to consider the threat of “mushrooming” criticism of Israel.” Freedom of speech is quickly...
My latest piece is a light tongue in cheek look at my time spent in Dubai. “Dreamland Hotel” was published on December 24, 2009 at the Window Dresser’s Arms, a wonderful online forum, full of robust discussion. By Reuben Brand Walking out of the airport in Dubai was like walking into a hot...
The “complete guide to killing non Jews” – a handbook published by the fundamentalist Od Yosef Hai yeshiva in the West Bank gives detailed “religious guidance” on how it is permissable to kill all non Jews who may pose a threat. “When is it permissible to kill non-Jews?...
IDF soldiers who took part in the devastating attack “Operation Cast Lead,” on Gaza have been awarded medals of honour for heroism and bravery. On the 27 of December 2008, Israeli forces brutally attacked Gaza without warning. For 22 days the IDF bombarded Gaza, raising parts of it to the...
My latest article “The American wars” was published on December 3, 2009 at Online Opinion. It was also re-published on December 12, 2009 at the Window Dresser’s Arms. As the year comes to an end I thought it would be a good time to have a long hard look at what we have achieved over the...
A Nobel Peace Prize winner escallating a war in an already war ravaged country and sending an additional 30,000 troops to the region – Oh the sad, sad irony Obama’s rhetoric, although far more eloquent, is much the same as his predecessor:...
Just imagine what the world would say if these were Muslim children. Just imagine what the media would say if these were Palestinian children. We would be bombarded with the same old rhetoric: “Suicide bomber this, terrorist that, fanatical Muslim this, terror training camp that… etc etc.”...
Hussein’s Story is a brief re-telling of the time I spent in Aleppo, Syria in 2009 with a young homeless boy I was fortunate enough to meet and spend some time with. Issues of youth homelessness, abuse and military conscription arose during our conversations. The piece was published on November 7,...
In an interview last week with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, CBS journalist Katie Couric got more than she bargained for. Whilst pressing Ahmadinejad about Neda Soltan, an Iranian woman who was shot and killed by Iranian forces during a protest in June this year, Couric showed a photo of the...
