Table of Contents

Egypts First Islamist President

Is Sworn In

Arab Revolution Has Deep Roots

in Islam

Echo

American Drones in Afghanistan

8
Anniversary of Gaza Blockade:
A State of Siege, and Normalcy

Jordan Is Getting Closer to

Explosion

14
Managing Editor:
Dr. Mahdi Goljan,

16

Iranian Scientists Role in Development of Islamic Studies

mahdigoljan@itf.org.ir,
goljanmahdi@yahoo.com,
Editor-in-Chief:

18

Dr. S. Musawi
Editor:
Saeed Kalati
Editorial Board:
Ali Morshedizad,
Mohammad Fakurpour,
Abbas Keshavarz

US Targeting Middle East from Afghanistan

24

Role of Think Tanks

in US Policy-making
Debate

Public Relations Officer:

28

Maryam Hamzelou,
Design:
Younes Safari
Printing Expert:
Majid Qasemi,
Advertising Office:
+9821-88801345 ,
+98919-3005343,

Occupy Movement Needs

Spirituality

32

Iran Expresses
Concern over Police
Crackdown in S.
Arabia

36

Magazine of ITF, P. O. Box:

14155-3899, Tehran, Islamic
Republic of Iran,
Tel: +9821-88897662-5,
Fax: +9821-88902725,
http://www.itf.org.ir, Info@ itf.org.ir
info@echoofislam.com

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Ayatollah Khamenei
Lambasts West's Silence on
Massacre of Muslims in Myanmar
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei strongly condemned
the massacre of Muslims in Myanmar, and lashed out at the US and the western states for
ignoring ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority in the Southeast Asian country.

"The obvious manifestation of the false asser-

teachings," he concluded.

The UN says decades of discrimination have

tions of the West on ethics and human rights is

Myanmar's President Thein Sein has said

left the Rohingyas stateless, with Myanmar

its silence over killing of thousands of people in

Rohingya Muslims must be expelled from the

implementing restrictions on their movement

Myanmar," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

country and sent to refugee camps run by the

and withholding land rights, education and

Elsewhere, he strongly criticized the western

United Nations.

public services.

civilization, and said this civilization is based

The government of Myanmar refuses to rec-

Since June, hundreds of members of the nearly-

on exploiting humans and materialism and is

ognize Rohingyas, who it claims are not na-

one-million-strong Rohingya Muslim minority

far from ethics.

tives and classifies them as illegal migrants,

have been killed and tens of thousands of oth-

Ayatollah Khamenei added that the western

although the Rohingya are said to be Muslim

ers among them have been displaced in the

civilization has brought nothing but corruption

descendants of Persian, Turkish, Bengali, and

west of the country due to a wave of communal

and exploitation of human beings wherever it

Pathan origin, who migrated to Burma as early

violence.

has gone in the past centuries.

as the 8th century.

Over the past two years, waves of ethnic Mus-

"Dignity, prosperity, materialistic and spiritualis-

Even Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San

lims have attempted to flee by boats in the face

tic progress, good morality and conquering the

Suu Kyi has kept quiet on the atrocities commit-

of systematic oppression by the Myanmar

enemies all happen by practicing the Quranic

ted against the Rohingya Muslims.

government.

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Egypts First Islamist President Is

Sworn In

Islamist Mohammed Morsi was sworn in on July 31before Egypt's highest court as the country's first freely elected president, succeeding
Hosni Mubarak who was ousted 16 months ago.

By Mohammad Hasanzadeh

orsi promised a "new Egypt"

as he was inaugurated as
the Arab world's first freely
elected Islamist president and Egypt's
fifth head of state since the overthrow
of the monarchy some 60 years ago.
He took the oath before the Supreme
Constitutional Court in its Nile-side
seat built to resemble an ancient
Egyptian temple.
"We aspire to a better tomorrow, a new
Egypt and a second republic," Morsi
told the judges of the court during a
solemn ceremony shown live on state
television.
"Today, the Egyptian people laid the
foundation of a new life absolute
freedom, a genuine democracy and
stability," said Morsi, a 60-year-old
U.S.-trained engineer.
Morsi earlier took a symbolic oath on
July 30 in Tahrir Square, birthplace of
the uprising that ended Mubarak's authoritarian rule last year, and vowed to
reclaim presidential powers stripped
from his office by the military council
that took over from the ousted leader.
Earlier, Egypt's first elected civilian

president, Islamist Mohamed Morsi,

played up people power ahead of
actual inauguration by first taking a
symbolic oath before a huge throng at
Tahrir Square.
On the eve of his official swearing-in,
Morsi praised Egypt's Muslims and
Christians alike in front of crowds that
packed the birthplace of the revolt
that overthrew his predecessor Hosni
Mubarak last year.
The president-elect, who won a runoff vote earlier this month, was received with applause by tens of thousands of people, some of whom had
waited from early in the day for his
appearance.
He promised a "civilian state" and
praised "the square of the revolution,
the square of freedom", in what he
called an address to "the free world,
Arabs, Muslims... the Muslims of
Egypt, Christians of Egypt".
Morsi symbolically swore himself in
before the crowd, saying: "I swear to
preserve the republican system... and
to preserve the independence" of Egypt.
"I am one of you. I fear only God," he

told them.
Before his triumphant arrival, chants
against the ruling military -- which took
over on Mubarak's overthrow -- rang
out as people gathered under a searing sun.
In his speech Morsi served Washington advance warning that his politics
will be markedly different from those
of his ousted predecessor.
After taking the oath on July 30, Morsi
will have to contend with the Supreme
Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF),
led by Mubarak's longtime defense
minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, which will retain broad powers
after the formal handover.
The liberal Wafd newspaper reported
that Tantawi will remain defense minister in the new government.
But a defiant Morsi threw down the
gauntlet to the SCAF, while addressing the people directly.
"You are the source of power and legitimacy... there is no place for anyone
or any institution... above this will,"
he told them. "I renounce none of the
prerogatives of president."

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Arab Revolution Has Deep

Roots in Islam

Many outsiders underestimate or purposefully minimize the Islamic nature of the Arab revolutions. But
the revolutions of 2011 demonstrated that a strong sense of identity based on Islam, a common language,
and much shared history bind Muslim Arabs together, despite huge differences in natural-resource endowments, political circumstances, and average per capita incomes.

lmost a year-and-a-half has

passed since a revolution in Tunisia and protests in Cairos Tahrir Square toppled ossified authoritarian
regimes and ignited a much wider and
still raging storm in the Arab world.
No one can safely predict where these
events will eventually take theArab people and nations. But one thing is certain:
There is no turning back. New social
and political movements and structures
are emerging, power is shifting, and
there is hope that Islamic-democratic

processes will strengthen and spread

across the Arab world in 2012.
Events in the Arab world in 2011 recall
other far-reaching regional transitions,
such as the one in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
There are differences, of course, but
the sweeping and contagious nature of
the upheavals is strongly similar to that
of the revolutions that brought communism to an end in Europe. So, too, is the
debate about the relative contributions
of political and economic factors to the

eventual eruption of popular protest.

While the yearning for revival of Islam
and its role in social arena, dignity, freedom of expression, and real democratic
participation was the driving force underlying theArab revolutions, economic
discontent also played a vital role. That
is why economic factors will help to
determine how the transition in theArab
world unfolds. Here, three fundamental
and longer-term challenges are worth
bearing in mind.
First, growth will have to be much more

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inclusive, especially in terms of job creation. The youth employment-to-population ratio was about 27 percent in the
Arab countries in 2008, compared to 53
percent in East Asia. Moreover, income
inequality has widened, with the global
phenomenon of increasing concentration of wealth at the top very pronounced
in many Arab countries. Top incomes in
these countries have resulted largely
from political patronage, rather than
from innovation and hard work. While
Tunisia was an extreme case of a regime furthering the economic interests
of a small clique of insiders, the pattern
was widespread.
That is why a knee-jerk, simplistic
Washington Consensus prescription
of more liberalization and privatization
is inappropriate for the Arab world in
2012. There is a clear political need for a
growth strategy in which inclusion is the
centerpiece, not an afterthought.
Neither the old statist left, nor the rentseeking, crony-capitalist right had
policies to respond to the yearning for

inclusion. New political forces in the

Arab world, Islam-inspired or socialdemocratic, will have to propose policies
that do not just perpetuate rent-seeking
capitalism or reliance on a discredited
state bureaucracy. It will be necessary
to harness grassroots dynamism and
entrepreneurial potential to achieve
social solidarity and equity.
While a truly competitive private sector
has to be unleashed, the state must
not be weakened but transformed, to
become one that is at the service of
citizens. Generous but targeted and
performance-oriented social transfers,
conditional on participation in health and
basic education programs, will have
to replace the old, largely untargeted
subsidies.
Accompanying inclusive growth, another challenge is skill development, for
which a performance-oriented education system must become a top priority.
Many Arab countries have spent huge
sums on education; the problem is that
the return on these investments has

been dismal.
Another challenge, which is instrumental to meeting the first two, will be to
strengthen Islamic awakening and solidarity. Many outsiders underestimate
or purposefully minimize the Islamic
nature of the Arab revolutions. But the
revolutions of 2011 demonstrated that
a strong sense of identity based on
Islam, a common language, and much
shared history bind Muslim Arabs together, despite huge differences in
natural-resource endowments, political
circumstances, and average per capita
incomes.
Prosperity and peace in the region will
depend on thinking big and acting fast.
The revolutions of 2011 are a historic
opportunity for all Muslim Arabs. Making the most of it will require realism,
courage, willingness to change, and a
readiness to support change, particularly among those who have the greatest means to do so. All these can be
achieved through holding fast to Islam.

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Reactions in Europe to the Islamic

awakening have varied too wildly
between optimism and pessimism.
As the initial euphoria gives way to the
inevitable realities, the world needs to
stay the course and reaffirm commit-

ment to the emerging Islamic democracies.

The starting point should be Islamic
democracy. Short-term upsets are
inevitable. But history bears eloquent
testimony that once deep Islamic democracy sets down roots, it will guarantee the rule of law, human rights,

gender equality, impartial administration, free speech and private investment, as well as honest elections. This
will prepare the grounds for countries
to prosper and seek to live in peace
with those around them.
What has happened in the past 18
months is truly remarkable. The world

has witnessed free and fair elections in

Tunisia and Egypt, although Egypt has
to pass the test of presidential elections.
The imperialists and arrogant powers and those who used to plunder the
wealth of these nations have fretted over
the Islamist successes at the ballot box.
Others are asking for time in order to
observe how this new political situation
will unfold.
In Tunisia, Ennahda has entered into a
coalition government with the secular

political forces. In Morocco, an important chapter of cohabitation has been

opened between the king and the prime
minister from the Party of Justice and
Development.
In Egypt, the first democratically elected
parliament in 60 years has had its first
historic session. Of course, building real
and deep democracy demands sustained effort and commitment. Egyptian
civil society and Islam as an ideology
must be allowed to play their crucial

roles as pillars of democracy and it is

important that the state of emergency be
lifted completely and the transfer to civilian rule takes place as early as possible.
It is hoped also that Libya will build a
religious democracy that will benefit all
Libyans. The awakening is not confined
to North Africa. The newly discovered
rights apply whether you are from any
of the Arab monarchies. And with rights
come responsibilities. That is why the
Libyan authorities are expected to leave

Mutual Trust Requires Respect to Peoples Choice

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no stone unturned in investigating recent allegations of torture.

The West as usual is skeptical about
whether they can trust these new political groups, who inspire themselves
from various strands of Islamism. Some
are worried and argue that it is not in the
interest of Europe to support and assist
the Arab awakening. But, if the West
is honest and sincere in its advocacy
of democracy, it is time to discharge
its moral duty and the Arab countries
secure religious democracy and prosperity. Or, at least, the West must allow
the Muslims to decide about their fate.
Just stop meddling, the Muslims know
how to establish a religious democracy.
Otherwise, the West can engage, work
and discuss with all the governments,
parliaments and organizations to foster
religious democracy it the Western advocates of democracy really share their
commitment to democracy with them.
A question the Islamists often raise is
whether they can trust the West? The
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton in this regard maintains: I
think there is an acute need for getting
beyond this mutual suspicion and for
getting to know each other better. Lumping all Islamists into one and the same
category is misleading and unhelpful.

We realize the need for more firsthand

knowledge. Each political party and
movement has to be understood and
appreciated according to its own merits,
just as they need to be judged by their
concrete actions and deeds. These are
political movements that are learning
and changing before our eyes and we
have taken note. They are eager to learn
and government responsibility and
public office will now give them the opportunity to translate their commitments
into concrete laws and policies. The
more we do to understand them, and
help them to understand us, the better.
Ashtons remarks are valuable. At the
same time, the West should bear in
mind that Western values are not universal. It is wrong to dictate Western
values to other parts of the world. The
people who are fighting for their basic
rights today, are fighting the dictators
who, with the support of the very West,
trampled upon their rights. In other
words, in order to plunder the wealth of
the same people, the West that is teaching lessons of democracy to the people,
supported undemocratic totalitarian
regimes and did not allow the people
to practice their own values, including
democracy.
As Ashton has said, there is a need for
mutual trust as the basis for the engage-

ment of EU with the new political leadership. The EU and the West in general
must prove its sincerity and honesty.
Should make up for the past mistakes.
However, it seems that despiteAshtons
rhetoric about mutual trust, when it
comes to real action, she speaks from
the position of strength as if she is dictating the Arabs and Muslim what to do
and what not to do: Elections are an important part of democracy. But building
deep democracy is about much more. It
is about the next election, about defining the ground rules and then sticking
to them. It is about delivering on ones
promises, and it is about drafting constitutions that are inclusive and protect
citizens rights, particularly with regard
to women. Governing is also about
providing jobs, and about being pragmatic in the face of the many social and
economic challenges.
The above remarks look like commands
of a superior to inferior. If this is the logic
of mutual trust and understanding, it will
definitely not work. It is very difficult to
dictate a people who have made heavy
sacrifices to oust dictators and attain
true independence. Ashton and EU
need to do more homework if they want
to engage in a constructive dialogue
with the revolutionary people of the
region.

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American Drones in Afghanistan

If a war was being waged in the U.S. we would expect Americans to deCompiled by Hasan Abbasian
mand an end to the war and to have a say as to how it should end.

Likewise, the people of Afghanistan

want to have a say in the negotiations
to end the Afghan war.
After all, in 2011, a record number of
3021 Afghan civilians lost their lives.
Afghans who risk losing their lives
should have a say in the negotiations,
ironically engineered by the very
players who are killing them ( the UN
reported that anti-government elements - the Taliban and other insurgent groups - were responsible for 77
per cent of conflict-related deaths in
2011, while 14 per cent were caused
by pro-government forces - Afghan,
U.S. and international security forces
).
But, fatally, the 30 million people of
Afghanistan have no say in these negotiations. They are not represented
at the negotiation table.
The Powers have left them out, as is
the routine, like the token civil society
presence at the Bonn II Conference.
But in 2011, we witnessed the Pro-

tester Time Magazine Person of the

Year questioning and changing the
inequitable status quo, and wanting to
be at the negotiation tables.
This awakening on the streets of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Greece, Spain,
Chile, Mexico and Wall Street is conscientious, and contagious.
The citizens of the world are now saying together, We have a voice! By
far, they are non-violent protesters
who are risking imprisonment and
death for freedom from unsustainable socio-economic inequities, thus
demonstrating that they are not the
savage 99% who must be disciplined
and controlled by the virtuous 1%.
Thats why ordinary Afghans like the
Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers are
rooting for the ordinary Egyptians
clear stand against military rule.
Afghans are feisty Protesters like the
Egyptians, but are too divided and
hemmed in by the combined violence
of the U.S. / NATO / Taliban / insur-

gent / regional war, a violence that is

experientially deadly when they take
to the streets, like when 12 Afghans
civilians were killed and 80 wounded
by German troops in Takhar Province
for protesting in the streets against a
NATO night raid that killed 2 men and
2 women. Wouldnt ordinary Americans take to their streets if the Voice
of America reported NATO admitting
to the killing of 8 children between the
ages of 6 and 14 in their state, like the
killing of 8 Afghan children in Kapisa
Province while shepherding on the
hills?
This will be the Afghan tragedy that
Afghans are too divided to reach a
critical mass on the streets today, and
so wont be heard.
The Taliban, or the U.S./NATO elite
have not sought to hear Afghan grievances voiced in the privacy and relative safety of Afghan homes, especially from behind barbed-wired,
bullet-and-bomb-proofed worlds.

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Does the world know that most ordinary Afghans are so tired of wars,
and that they are repulsed by all their
killers, as humans are naturally prone
to be, regardless of whether the gunor-bomb-wielding killer is a Talib, an
Afghan warlord or criminal, a Pakistani, an Arab, an American or an ISAF
soldier from one of the 49-country
NATO coalition countries?
The Obama administration wants
to win the U.S. elections this year.
Though the Afghan War isnt a key
election issue, the Obama administration wants a victorious exit while
maintaining a long term presence.
The administration is banking on U.S.
citizens to believe that the Afghan
War is being fought against terrorists
for U.S. security. Military and foreign
policy elites may also be hoping for
the continued lack of awareness and
consequent apathy of U.S. citizens
towards the pitfalls and dangers of
trading with the Taliban for a U. S. victory and exit. The U.S. seems willing
to include some of the Taliban in some

power-sharing deal in the post 2014

Afghan government.
Long-term interests of the U.S. and
NATO in Afghanistan, including regional control particularly as regards
China, Russia and Pakistan, can
be reasonably secured by signing
the U.S. Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement to establish joint
military bases in Afghanistan beyond
2014. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta Panetta has said that the U.S. and
Afghan governments will allow them to
focus further on the use of Special elite
forces to conduct counter-terrorism
operations from the these bases.
To paint victory in the Afghan war
for voter consumption, as they have
painted victory in Iraq, the U.S.
military has insisted on progress,
contrary to reports from the International Red Cross of the worst security situation in 30 years, the United
Nations report of a 39% increase
in violence, the U.S. January 2011
National Intelligence Estimates of
a very bleak picture of a stalemate

and most recently Lt Col Daniel L

Daviss whistle-blowing confession of the gulf between the U.S.
governments false claims to have
progressed, militarily, in Afghanistan,
and the bad to abysmal ground tactical situation he observed through
interviews with 250 soldiers in the
Afghan killing fields.
Negotiating with the Taliban is a way to
gain an honorable exit by suggesting
reconciliatory civility, an effort at diplomacy, albeit a militarized diplomacy.
The U.S./German/Qatar-Taliban negotiators are adopting age-old force
in their method, rather than genuine
diplomacy. Hillary Clinton states in
elementary school-style that the U.S.
policy is to Fight talk, build. The
Taliban of today also lay claim to a new
ethos quite similar to Fight talk,
build.
The Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers
are irritated that todays US governments are proud of this silly Rambo
image, promoting a global culture that
dresses might as right.

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In Egypt, a president without

power

As polls closed in the runoff race for president, the military took action to strip
the office of power and take control over key branches of government.
Abbas Shokri

The June presidential elections in Egypt were supposed to mark the

final step in what has been an arduous transition from military rule to an
elected civilian government. Instead, sixteen months after President
Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising calling for freedom and
social justice, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces has assumed nearfull control of all of the key branches of state.

harif Abdel Kouddous who

is an independent journalist
based in Cairo, a Democracy
Now! correspondent and a fellow at
The Nation Institute, in a commentary
argued that if voting has come to mean
nothing with the military in charge, the
masses that united to oust Mubarak
may soon begin to seek other avenues
for change.
Minutes after polls closed in the country's first-ever competitive presidential election, which pitted the Muslim Brotherhoods Mohamed Morsi
against Ahmed Shafik, Mubaraks last
prime minister, the SCAF issued a set
of constitutional amendments that strip
the incoming president of almost all

significant powers and cement military

authority over the post-Mubarak era.
The move by the ruling generals came
days after the dissolution of the popularly-elected parliament by a court
packed with Mubarak-appointed judges, as well as a decree by the Minister
of Justice reintroducing elements of
martial law to the country by granting
the military broad powers to arrest and
detain civilians.
Egypt has completed its full transition into a military dictatorship, wrote
Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian
Initiative for Personal Rights, after the
amendments were made public.
The eleventh-hour declaration awards
the ruling generals sweeping powers,

including the right to issue legislation

in the absence of a sitting parliament,
total control over the military's affairs,
shielding the army from any presidential, parliamentary or public oversight.
Most prominently, the amendments
remove the president's role as commander-in-chief - with SCAF head
Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi assuming that power - effectively transforming the SCAF into a fourth branch
of state, constitutionally separate from
the executive, legislative and judiciary.
"The provisions really do constitutionalize a military coup," writes Nathan
Brown, an Egypt expert at George
Washington University.
The military also tightened its grip over

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the drafting of Egypt's new constitution by granting itself an effective veto

over any clauses that dont meet with
its approval. It can even go further and
directly handpick the 100-member
body that will write the constitution.
The Constituent Assembly, elected by
the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated
parliament two days before it was dissolved, faced allegations by secular
forces that it was dominated by Islamists who have secured themselves
the lions share of seats. The new
amendments allow the SCAF to dissolve the current body if "encounters
an obstacle" - a disturbingly vague
condition - and select the Constituent
Assembly themselves.
The military council further eroded
the authority of the executive with
another decree to form a seventeenmember National Defense Council, to
be chaired by the incoming president,
but which will include eleven senior
military commanders and will make
decisions based on a simply majority
vote.

Meanwhile, the head of the SCAF

Advisory Council, Sameh Ashour, suggested the winner of the election might
only serve on an interim basis, until the
new constitution is written. The newlyelected president will occupy the office
for a short period of time, whether or
not he agrees," Ashour told Al Jazeera.
Activists and rights campaigners decried the series of moves by the military, which they said render the SCAFs
promise to hand over power by June
30 effectively meaningless. The sentiment was reflected in the front-page
headline of the privately owned daily
Al-Shorouk the morning after the election: A president without powers.
The runoff itself was deeply divisive,
marked by heavy negative campaigning by the old guard. Shafik, a stalwart
of the former regime, campaigned on a
law and order platform, vowing to use
force to crush protesters, while vilifying
the Brotherhood and pledging to act as
a bulwark against the rise of Islamists
in government. Meanwhile, Morsi
sought to portray himself as the revolu-

tionary candidate facing off against the

remnants of Mubarak's regime.
The Brotherhood has come out strongly against the constitutional amendments and says it does not recognize
the Supreme Constitutional Court's
ruling to dissolve parliament, a decision widely viewed as highly politicized. The army deployed troops
outside the parliament to prevent MPs
from gaining access to the building.
"This is against the people's will and
the SCAF does not have a genuine intention to hand over power," the Brotherhood said in a statement. On June
21, the group helped lead a protest
of tens of thousands in Tahrir Square
and outside parliament, along with a
number of other political forces, including the Salafi Nour party and the April 6
Youth Movement.
Adding to the chaos, that very night,
the official state news agency caused
a firestorm when it reported that
Mubarak had been declared "clinically
dead" after suffering a stroke. The former president was transferred from his

World of Islam
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prison cell where had been held since

June 2, after receiving a life sentence
on charges of involving the killing
protesters in January 2011. Conflicting reports soon emerged that he
was in fact stable and on a respirator.
Reports of Mubarak's failing health
had frequently appeared in the media ever since charges were brought
against him last year and the latest
news was treated with widespread
criticism in Egypt. The next day, The
New York Times reported that his
lawyer denied the former president

2012

No.

had nearly died, insisting he simply

fell down in the prison bathroom.
Meanwhile, the Carter Center, one
of three international organizations
accredited to witness the election,
expressed "grave concern" about the
military's actions. "It is now unclear
whether a truly democratic transition
remains underway in Egypt," the
group said in a preliminary statement.
US policy towards Egypt has remained unchanged since before the
revolution, when Washington backed
the Mubarak regime for decades with

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Echo of Islam

$1.3 billion in annual military aid. In

March, the Obama administration
used a national security waiver to
bypass new restrictions imposed by
Congress that would have made aid
to Egypt conditional on certification
from the State Department that the
SCAF was making progress on the
transition to democracy. The move
came in the wake of a crisis in which
Egyptian authorities raided several NGOs in Cairo, including three
funded by the United States, not to
mention continued and widespread

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human rights abuses committed by the

military and security forces.
"[The US] will either have to suspend
the aid or be openly in favor of SCAF's
constitutional coup if they continue it,"
writes Cairo-based blogger and analyst
Issandr El-Amrani. "The time has come:
The US may not be able to influence
developments in Egypt, but at least it can
stop underwriting them."
The presidential elections mark the third
time Egyptians have gone to the polls
only to find their votes rendered meaningless. A nationwide referendum on

nine amendments to the constitution in

March 2011 was supplanted by SCAF a
few days later when it unilaterally issued
a Constitutional Declaration that included over sixty articles. The parliamentary
elections last fall were cancelled by court
ruling to dissolve the People's Assembly.
Now, millions have elected a president
who was stripped of most of his authority
by the SCAF in a last-minute power grab.
If voting has come to mean nothing with
the military in charge, the masses that
united to oust Mubarak may soon begin
to seek other avenues for change.

Abbas Shokri (PhD Political Science) is an assistant professor, Tehran.

The military council further eroded the authority of the executive

with another decree to form a
seventeen-member National
Defense Council, to be chaired
by the incoming president, but
which will include eleven senior
military commanders and will
make decisions based on a simply
majority vote.

Middle East
14

July

2012

No.

245

Echo of Islam

Jordan Is Getting Closer to Explosion

The Third Cabinet Resigns

Awn Al-Khasawneh resigned as a result of his dissatisfaction with the king. Based on reports, his resignation
was not in accordance with the protocols and was submitted to the king by one of his minister instead.

t is almost one year that Jordan is

engaged in political upheavals.
Resignation of each prime minister
underlines the confusion of Jordanian
administration, demonstrating an unclear future for rulers of this country.
During last year, three cabinets were
changed while government could not
fulfill the promised reforms. Unemployment, inflation, and decrease of
average welfare rates on one hand
and dictatorship, suppression of civil
liberties and restriction of peoples direct and indirect control of their affairs
on the other hand along with critical
economic situation have led to public
dissatisfaction with the ruling establishment. The helpless king is only
delegating power from on one prime
minister to another without achieving
the desired outcome.
The Jordanian Prime Minister, Awn
Al-Khasawnehs sudden resignation,

and appointment of Fayez Tarawneh

instead indicates the deep political
crisis in the kingdom of Jordan.
According to a report by Aljazeera,
the last time when Fayez Tarawneh
had formed a cabinet was in 1999,
at the time of Malik Hussein bin Talal,
the former king of Jordan. Altarawneh
resigned as the minister of state security in 1989, at the time of Al Refaei's
administration, after bloody uprising
called the April Gift in southern cities
of Jordan. This is what distinguishes
him from the other prime ministers.
Over the past 15 months he is the
fourth Jordanian prime minister.
However, according to some reports,
Al-khasawnehs resignation was the
result of his disagreement with and
dissatisfaction with the king. Al Quds
Al Arabi newspaper, published in
London, reported that his resignation
did not follow the protocols , for he

submitted it to the king by his minister

instead. At the end of his resignation,
addressing the king, he said: May
God lead you straight to what is good
for your. It is noteworthy to mention
that he resigned while he was on an
official visit to Turkey.
According toAl-Jazeera the king summoned two ministers to the royal palace without consultation with the
prime minister and informed them of
his decision to extend the present parliaments tenure for more two months.
The issue infuriated Al-khaswaneh
and he resigned in reaction to the
decision of the royal palace. Prior to
his resignation, he had asked for an
extraordinary meeting with parliament
to revise the election rules.
The differences between Al-khaswaneh and the king were not limited to
the abovementioned cases. He had
already deep-rooted differences with

July

2012

No.

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Echo of Islam
15

Middle East

Feisal Shobaki, director of Security Organization over various matters, so that

he had resigned twice but in both occasions, they were rejected by the king.
However, the changes had no impact
on the opposition parties. They maintain that the appointments and dismissals have no impact on the current
situation of the country, particularly
because the public plays no role in their
appointment. Zaki Bani Rsheid, Head
of the political bureau of the Islamic
Action Front, the political branch of the
Muslim Brotherhood announced: it
does not matter who is the prime minister, because he is chosen as before.
The prime ministers resignation is most
beneficial to the Security Organization
which intends to securitize the atmosphere of the country.
He said the only solution to the countrys
problems is to reform the Constitution,
form a government by the people and
introduction of new election rules to
elect a popular parliament representing
the public will. Otherwise, the country
would encounter more crises.
Laith Shubailat, a renowned Jordanian dissident raised severe and frank
criticisms against the ruling regime

and announced: I anticipate that Alkhaswaneh cabinet would fail as the

previous ones, since there is no serious determination to solve all countrys
problems.
He emphasized, only one person rules
over us and wants to impose his will
over all, civil organizations do not rule
in Jordan.
Shubailat added: there will be no future
for Jordan with the current system. People are on one side and the government
on the other. They want to rule over
people through trade and domination

of public wealth. The problem is that if

this trend continues, neither us, nor the
government would be saved.
Soltan al-Hattab, a political analyst
says: three cabinets have been
changed, while neither could take any
effective measure. In the beginning, the
governments start their performances
with enthusiasm, but after a short while
they do nothing and just cause louder
voices of people over themselves.
He emphasized that Al-khaswaneh
administration faces dead end with regard to its promised reforms. None was
satisfied with his given election bill and
all his proposals faced dead end. There
were also differences between the king
and prime minister regarding the dissolution or continuation of the parliament.
Most experts believe that reforms have
failed in Jordan and conservatives have
achieved their goals. Consequently
they have more control over political
trends of the country. The same issue
might lead to a more complicated atmosphere and may lead to unpredictable
crises in near future. The future may
push Jordan towards the same destiny
that some other Arab countries face
today.

Middle East
16

July

2012

No.

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Echo of Islam

Anniversary of Gaza Blockade:

A State of Siege, and Normalcy
To avoid controversy, international organizations criticize the Israeli siege on Gaza
as if it were an apolitical event. The Israeli response is the same convenient and redundant one - juxtaposing what they call Hamas terrorism with Israels supposedly
viable democracy.

Ramzy Baroud

n June 14, fifty international organiza-

The statement followed a strong censure of the

whenever human rights are violated. Worse, in

tions marked the fifth anniversary of the

siege by the UN Under-Secretary-General for

many cases Western powers have taken an ac-

Israeli siege on Gaza by calling on Israel

Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos. Amos has

tive role in allowing continued Israeli subjugation

to end its blockade of the small, impoverished strip.

decried what she described as collective punish-

of Palestinians.

For over five years in Gaza, more than 1.6 million

ment of all those living in Gaza and...a denial of

The call of human rights organizations would have

people have been under blockade in violation of in-

basic human rights in contravention of interna-

been more meaningful if it were directed at the

ternational law. More than half of these people are

tional law. She demanded that the blockade be

Western powers supporting Israel's actions. Pro-

children. We the undersigned say with one voice:

lifted immediately, so that essential services and

moting the idea that the Gaza siege is an entirely

'end the blockade now, read the joint statement.

infrastructure can be maintained.

Israeli initiative is a ruse that needs to be exposed.

The signatories included such reputable organiza-

Condemning Israeli rights violations in Palestine

Equally deceptive is any discussion of the lethal

tions as Save the Children, Oxfam, the World Health

by leading human rights and humanitarian or-

Israeli war on Gaza without due reference to the

Organization,Amnesty International and Mdecins

ganizations is nothing new. Unfortunately, such

strong political and military backing of US and

du Monde. The wording of the statement mirrored

calls are rarely followed by any organized political

other Western powers. Without such support,

that of a plethora of recent appeals.The only notable

campaigns. Western governments are least con-

Israel could never have managed to sustain its

difference is that during the siege the Gaza popula-

cerned by the ongoing drama. Historically they

costly war adventures or construct its so-called

tion has grown from 1.5 to over 1.6 million.

have employed a selective policy of outrage

Separation Wall or illegal settlements.

July

2012

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Echo of Islam
17

Middle East

Palestinians are growing frustrated by the fact

capture of Israeli solider GiladShalit.

(June 16).

that while every politically-induced humanitar-

However, no official Israeli defense of the siege

Instead of discussing the illegal Israeli siege as a

ian crisis in the region is classified as such,

is ever issued without reference to Hamas and

point of departure for its argument, the magazine

the Gaza siege is confined to a discussion of

its control of the strip. Mark Regev, spokesper-

sought to highlight Hamas ability and relative

whether or not food items should be allowed

son for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-

success at withstanding five years of punish-

entry into the strip. Palestinians are not a collec-

yahu, claimed: All cargo going into Gaza must be

ing siege, bombardment and war. Once again,

tive experiment, despite any Israeli assertion to

checked because Gaza is controlled by Hamas.

Palestinians are used in a collective experiment

the contrary. This is actually a matter of policy, as

A sad irony is that on the day international orga-

of war and siege. But having built its local empire,

articulated by Israeli politician DovWeissglass,

nizations were condemning the siege on Gaza,

Hamas is uncertain where to go next, claimed

a former close associate of Prime Minister Ariel

US president Barack Obama awarded Shimon

the article.

Sharon. The idea is to put the Palestinians on

Peres the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Praised

Such coverage is typical, since the Israeli war and

a diet, but not to make them die of hunger, he

by Obama for his indomitable spirit, Peres has

siege is promoted in mainstream media as a fact of

once proclaimed. That collective diet was part

foreseen and defended Israeli illegal occupa-

life and undeserving of condemnation or censure.

of a larger policy that accompanied the Israeli

tion, massacres and ill treatment of Palestinians

If an analysis is ever relevant, it focuses on Gazan

deployment termed disengagement - from

throughout his various posts in the Israeli govern-

terrorists' ability to circumvent the pressure and

Gaza. The disengagement is actually formal-

ment, including as prime minister and president.

sustain their local empire.

dehyde. It supplies the amount of formaldehyde

The real risk is that the Gaza siege is becoming

Five years into the Gaza siege, Israel has failed

that's necessary so that there will not be a politi-

part of a larger status quo imposed and defended

to bend to the will of the Palestinians, or to obtain

cal process with the Palestinians.

by Israel and its benefactors. Also forgotten is the

political concessions in exchange for food or life-

The statements above were quoted in Israeli daily

fact that prior to the siege, Gaza was an Israeli

saving medicine. But it has succeeded in upgrad-

Haaretz (August 10, 2004). They made it clear that

occupied territory, along with the occupied West

ing the intensity of its wars and perpetual sieges

the plans to place Gaza under siege came years

Bank and the illegally annexed East Jerusalem.

on Palestinians - somehow normalizing such

before Hamas' victory in the Palestinian legisla-

Thus it makes little sense that the Economist

violent and inhumane realities, which are carefully

tive council elections and its subsequent violent

would entitle its article commemorating the siege

criticized by some and wholeheartedly accepted

clashes with rival Fatah. It also long preceded the

as: The Gaza Strip: Will normality ever return?

or defended by others.

18

July

Iran
2012

No.

245

Echo of Islam

Iranian Scientists Role in Development

of Islamic Studies
Dr. Mahdi Goljan

Islamic culture and civilization have been intertwined and interlinked with the name of Iran and Iranian individuals, as it is impossible to address Islamic civilization without enumerating Iranian scientists. Inspiring
Islam, Quran and Holy Prophets moral spirituality, Iranians affected positively the mankind civilization, and
thanks to their invaluable services, either Islam or Muslims found more reputation and higher stand across
the globe. In other words, researchers and scientists who are active in the Islamic culture and civilization
have unanimously emphasized the importance of the mentioned fact and have described it as an actual and
very serious matter. Ayatollah Murtaza Motahhari s The Contributions of Islam and Iran to each other and Dr.
Ali Akbar Velayatis the encyclopedia of Islam and Iran: dynamics of culture and the living civilization, translated into English and Arabic, have addressed such interactive contributions by detail and have explained
the role and influence of Iranians in the Islamic culture and civilization. However, I believe that this matter is
so important that any more studies and researches would not be sufficed to explore its covert corners. In
the following paragraphs you can find a short brief of some of such broad services offered by Iranians which
need to be explained by detail later:

cience transfer and attraction of scientists in the Muslim

World were realized through
two ways; first, through attraction,
development, and innovation of sciences emerged mostly from the West

(Greece especially) and second,

through attraction, development and
innovation of sciences emerged from
the East (India and Iran).
1) West: Greece was the main
source of sciences which found its

way into Muslim World through two

methods:
a) Indirectly, using Syriac and Latin
language whose agents were among
Muslims, Christians and Syriac came
from Iraq and Syria who have convert-

July

2012

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Echo of Islam
19

Iran

ed to Islam or have started to translate

Latin contexts into Arabic.
b) The biggest science center occupied by Muslims was Egypts Grand
Alexandria Library
2) Science transfer and attraction of scientists from the East
was done through two methods:
a) Through India: During Abbasid era
which mostly was limited to Indian
medical, astronomical and mathematical texts.
b) Through Iran and Iranian scientists
The scientific activities in Iran were
at its peak during Khosrau I, Anushirawan the Just. Gundishapur City was
the sole grand scientific center of the
world in the time. Gundishapur University was chock-full of Syriac and Christian students. Its main field of activity
was education and training medicine.
Nestorians who have expelled from
Odessa and settled in Gundishapur
have brought about many books with
them including philosophical books.
Equally, a number of exiled scientists
from Athens started to translate Platos

books in Gundishapur City.

Al-Mansur, the second caliph of Abbassid Dynasty, set Baghdad as his
capital. He was the first caliph who
summoned astronomers to his court,
and used them as his advisors in all
affairs of the country. Iranians information and knowledge on medicine
and astronomy was so considerable
that Al Mansur has called on a number
of them to his territory. Nobakhti family was an Iranian family whose members were proficient in astronomy and
were invited by Al Mansur to Baghdad.
Later they converted to Islam and
Shia. Late in his life, Al Mansur suffered from gastroenteritis, thus invited
Bakhtashiu, Gundishapur Hospitals
president in 147 AH, invited to come
and cure his disease. The Caliph requested Bakhtashiu to stay with him
in Baghdad. The Caliph son, Mahdi,
was overly fond of Bakhtashiu and his
family. The influence of Gundishapur
University on the preliminary medicine of Abbasids has partly indebted
to Bakhtashiu family; ten members
of the family were special physicians,

advisors and also translators of Abbasids for about 300 years. Harun
Al-Rashid was another Caliph of Abbasids who under consultations of his
chancellor, Yahya Khalid Barmaki,
started to purchase scientific books
and encouraged his scientists to study
them; he also transferred the books of
Constantinople library after conquest.
Harun Al-Rashid took advantage of
Nobakhti Family to promote translation occupation and later during
Al-Mamoon era the translation movement was developed and Iranians
played a significant role in this regard.
Al-Mamoons mother was Iranian as
well, so he was very fond of Iranian
scientists.
Al-Mamoons House of Wisdom was
run by Iranians such as Sahl ibn Haroon and Sad ibn Haroon and later
Mohammad Ibn Musa Khwarazmi
(322 A.H.), a famous Iranian astronomer, became president of Mamoons
library. He was one of the outstanding
tutors of Gundishapur University and
set down Algebra and Moghabela
which was one of the major math-

20

July

ematical textbooks taught in the

European universities up to 16th
century. In other words he was the
founder of Algebra or Algorithm
and counting technique.
Avicenna, Iranian well known
physician who was proficient in
philosophy, medicine, astronomy
was born in 370 A.H. in Bukhara.
He cured Nuh II, One of Samanids kings, when he was only 17,
and found his way into the royal
library. He was communicating
with Abu Reihan Birouni and Abu
Nasr Eraqghi, and his best book
in medicine is Canon of Medicine
which was considered for many
years as a textbook in the West.
Avicennas Al-Shifa was a prominent book on mathematics in his
era as well and has four sections:
1) geometry, 2) arithmetic, 3) Music, and 4) astronomy.
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi was another
Iranian scientist who served the Islamic civilization on mathematics
and astronomy fields. He was born
in Tus in 597 A.H. he immigrated to
Neyshabur when he was young
and learned mathematic from Ibn
Yones. His life was overshadowed
by the Mongol invasions of Genghis Khan and his grandson Helagu. He constructed Maragheh
observatory for Ilkhanites and late
in his life Tusi went to Kadhimiya
and died there in 672 A.H.
His mathematical works can be
categorized in two classes:
a) His own works including nine
books such as Al-Tadhkirahfi'ilm
al-hay'ah (A memoir on the science of astronomy)
b) His works on others books,
such as sharh al-isharat (Commentary on Avicenna's Isharat)
He enjoyed some exhaustive
viewpoints in astronomy as well,
it is said that Nicolaus Copernicus
under influence of Tusi wrote a
book in opposition of Ptolemy.

Iran
2012

No.

Besides Nasirddin Tusi, for mathematics we had another pundit named Ghiaseddin Jamshid Kashani who found
and measured "" and "2" for the first
time. Khayyam Neyshaburi was another great Iranian mathematician and
astronomer in his time; however his is
known in the world, particularly in west,

245

Echo of Islam

as a poet. Khayyam played a very

important role in solving third degree
equations and analytical geometry.
He is recalled as the first scientist who
used algebra in the geometry.
Ibn Haitham Ahvazi was another Iranian scientists who was born in 354
A.H. he was minister of Buyid Dynasty,

July

2012

No.

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Echo of Islam
21

Iran

an Iranian ruling dynasty, then immigrated to Egypt and started scientific

works for Fatimid caliphs. As a head of
a scientific board he fathomed Nile and
its peripheral area.
His perspectives about optics and
darkroom photography were excellent. He set down many books about

light and physic, out of which AlManazer can be pointed. Even, he

has been called as founder father of
photography and cinema.
Abdolrahman Sufi Razi and Abolvafa
Buzjani were other prominent Iranian
scientists who were proficient in astronomy and mathematics.

Historically, there were four great medical encyclopedias which all were compiled by Iranian authors and scientists:
-Al-Havi and Al-Mansuri written by
Zakariya Razi
- Al-Sana'ate Al-Tayyeba by Ali ibnAbbas Ahwazi
- Canon of medicine by Avicenna

22

July

Iran
2012

No.

245

Echo of Islam

Hans Blix:
Iran has neither nuclear weapon nor seeks it
Hans Blix, former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and
former head of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission
searching Iraq for weapons of mass destruction in an interview said Iran has neither nuclear
weapon nor seeks it.

By Ahmad Amini

Q: Mr. Blix, let's start with the new round of

A: Istanbul talks resumed after a lapse of sev-

sult in holding a new round of talks in Baghdad

nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1 - the

eral months in nuclear negotiations between

can be regarded as a success.

five permanent members of the UN Secu-

Iran and the West in a climate of rhetoric,

Q: The West particularly the United States

rity Council (United States, United Kingdom,

threats, and sanctions by the West leading to

highlighting their concerns about Iran's nuclear

France, Russia, and China) plus Germany.

increasing speculation that a military attack

program have been all the time seeking the full

The two sides started nuclear talks in an at-

on Iran aiming to stop the country's nuclear

suspension of its uranium enrichment and let

mosphere in a relatively tense atmosphere.

program would be imminent.

me say an end to Iran's nuclear program in the

According to the released comments, the two

nuclear talks.As a nuclear expert, please explain

sides are satisfied with the general results of

As you mentioned, returning to the negotiating

how this view could help the two parties reach a

the negotiations.

table under such circumstance that would re-

pragmatic and sustainable agreement.

July

2012

No.

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Echo of Islam
23

Iran
A: I am not sure that the United States and

each other's interests into consideration.

What do you refer to when talking about dou-

P5+1 are seeking to put an end to nuclear

Does the West hold the same view?

ble standard? Is that Israel? Specifically

program because they cannot basically make

A: In my opinion, the two sides do not have

Israel.

such a request as they are not authorized

such a view. No doubt, a wall of suspicion and

A: Of course, this is a case that Iran can always

according to the international laws. Iran, as

pessimism built during three decades of bitter

underline. Iran has signed the NPT and on

a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation

experience between Iran and the West has

the other hand there is no evidence to reveal

Treaty (NPT) has the right to use the modern

obstructed the nuclear talks. I have mentioned

that Iran has nuclear weapons. I would like

nuclear technology.

several times that Iran is different from Iraq

to repeat a point I mentioned in a university

Q: Although unconfirmed rumors went around

and North Korea. Politicization of the nuclear

meeting earlier. I, as a retired weapons expert,

ahead of Istanbul talks that the United States

dispute and illogical pressure on Iran can

believe that Iran neither has nuclear weap-

called for the closure of Fordo nuclear site,

never bear fruit. I am also convinced that Iran

ons, nor seeks to build nukes. Some of Iran's

Iran would not be expected to accept the de-

in some occasions attended the nuclear

activities might have raised suspicion, but its

mand. To me, "constructive interaction", and a

meetings out of perversity.

program has not been diverted to the develop-

"win-win deal" are possible when the two sides

Q: Perhaps the West's dark records and

ment of nuclear bombs. And finally, all things

put aside their

double standard toward Iran have forced such

should not be to the advantage of a party and

emotional statements and defiance, putting

reactions from Tehran.

to the disadvantage of the other party.

International
24

July

2012

No.

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Echo of Islam

US Targeting Middle East

from Afghanistan

Com

pile

d by

Moh

amm

ad H

ami

di

In late December, the lot was just a big blank: a few burgundy metal shipping containers sitting in an expanse
of crushed eggshell-colored gravel inside a razor-wire-topped fence. The American military in Afghanistan
doesnt want to talk about it, but one day soon, it will be a new hub for the American drone war in the Greater
Middle East.

ext year, that empty lot will be a

two-story concrete intelligence
facility for Americas drone
war, brightly lit and filled with powerful
computers kept in climate-controlled
comfort in a country where most of the
population has no access to electricity.
It will boast almost 7,000 square feet of
offices, briefing and conference rooms,
and a large processing, exploitation,
and dissemination operations center and, of course, it will be built with
American tax dollars.
Nor is it an anomaly. Despite all the
talk of drawdowns and withdrawals,
there has been a years-long building
boom in Afghanistan that shows little
sign of abating. In early 2010, the U.S.-

led International Security Assistance

Force (ISAF) had nearly 400 bases
in Afghanistan. Today, Lieutenant
Lauren Rago of ISAF public affairs tells
TomDispatch, the number tops 450.
The hush-hush, high-tech, supersecure facility at the massive air base
in Kandahar is just one of many building
projects the U.S. military currently has
planned or underway in Afghanistan.
While some U.S. bases are indeed
closing up shop or being transferred
to the Afghan government, and theres
talk of combat operations slowing or
ending next year, as well as a withdrawal of American combat forces from
Afghanistan by 2014, the U.S. military
is still preparing for a much longer haul

at mega-bases like Kandahar and

Bagram airfields. The same is true
even of some smaller camps, forward
operating bases (FOBs), and combat
outposts (COPs) scattered through the
countrys backlands. Bagram is going
through a significant transition during
the next year to two years, Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Gerdes
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bagram Office recently told Freedom
Builder, a Corps of Engineers publication. Were transitioning... into a
long-term, five-year, 10-year vision for
the base.
Whether the U.S. military will still be in
Afghanistan in five or 10 years remains
to be seen, but steps are currently

July

2012

No.

245

Echo of Islam
25

International

being taken to make that possible.

U.S. military publications, plans and
schematics, contracting documents,
and other official data examined by
TomDispatch catalog hundreds of
construction projects worth billions of
dollars slated to begin, continue, or
conclude in 2012.
While many of these efforts are geared
toward structures for Afghan forces
or civilian institutions, a considerable
number involve U.S. facilities, some
of the most significant being dedicated

to the ascendant forms of American

warfare: drone operations and missions by elite special operations units.
The available plans for most of these
projects suggest durability.
Recently, the New York Times reported
that President Obama is likely to approve a plan to shift much of the U.S.
effort in Afghanistan to special operations forces. These elite troops would
then conduct kill/capture missions and
train local troops well beyond 2014.
Recent building efforts in the country

bear this out.

A major project at Bagram Air Base, for
instance, involves the construction of
a special operations forces complex,
a clandestine base within a base that
will afford Americas black ops troops
secrecy and near-absolute autonomy
from other U.S. and coalition forces.
Elsewhere on Bagram, tens of millions
of dollars are being spent on projects
that are no less integral to the war effort,
like paving dirt roads and upgrading
drainage systems on the mega-base.

International
26

July

Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered that the U.S.-run prison at Bagram be transferred to Afghan control.
By the end of January, the U.S. had
issued a $36 million contract for the
construction, within a year, of a new
prison on the base. While details are
sparse, plans for the detention center
indicate a thoroughly modern, highsecurity facility complete with guard
towers, advanced surveillance systems, administrative facilities, and the
capacity to house about 2,000 prisoners. At Kandahar Air Field, that new
intelligence facility for the drone war will
be joined by a similarly-sized structure
devoted to administrative operations
and maintenance tasks associated
with robotic aerial missions.
The military is keeping information
about these drone facilities under extraordinarily tight wraps. They refused
to answer questions about whether,
for instance, the construction of these
new centers for robotic warfare are in
any way related to the loss of Shamsi
Air Base in neighboring Pakistan as
a drone operations center, or if they
signal efforts to increase the tempo
of drone missions in the years ahead.
The International Joint Commands
chief of Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance (ISR) operations,
aware that such questions were to be
posed, backed out of a planned
interview with TomDispatch.
Whether the construction

2012

No.

at Kandahar is designed to free up facilities elsewhere for CIA drone operations across the border in Pakistan or is
related only to missions within Afghanistan, it strongly suggests a ramping up
of unmanned operations.
This year, at Herat Air Base in the province of the same name bordering Turkmenistan and Iran, the U.S. is slated
to begin a multimillion-dollar project to
enhance its special forces air operations. Plans are in the works to expand
apron space where aircraft can be
parked, serviced, and loaded or unloaded for helicopters and airplanes,
as well as to build new taxiways and
aircraft shelters.
That project is just one of nearly 130,
cumulatively valued at about $1.5
billion, slated to be carried out in
Herat, Helmand, and Kandahar provinces this year, according to Army Corps
of
Engineers
documents
examined by
TomDispatch.
No one should
be surprised

245

Echo of Islam

that the U.S. military is building up and

tearing down bases at the same time,
nor that much of the new construction
is going on at mega-bases, while small
outposts in the countryside are being
abandoned. This is exactly what you
would expect of an occupation force
looking to scale back its footprint and
end major combat operations while
maintaining an on-going presence in
Afghanistan. Given the U.S. militarys
projected retreat to its giant bases and
an increased reliance on kill/capture
black-ops as well as unmanned air mis-

July

2012

No.

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Echo of Islam
27

International

They refused to answer

questions about whether,
for instance, the construction of these new centers for
robotic warfare are in any
way related to the loss of
Shamsi Air Base in neighboring Pakistan as a drone
operations center.

sions, its also no surprise that its signature projects

for 2012 include a new special operations forces
compound, clandestine drone facilities, and a brand
new military prison.
Americas new prison in Bagram will undoubtedly
remain, too. Just who the jailers will be and who will
be locked inside five years or 10 years from now is, of
course, unknown. But given the history marked by
torture and deaths of the appalling treatment of inmates at Bagram and, more generally, of the brutality
toward prisoners by all parties to the conflict over the
years, in no scenario are the results likely to be pretty.

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Role of Think Tanks in US

Ham
ideh
Hoss
eini
Policy-making Debate
Abst

ract

he pr
esen
t pape
to stu
r is
dy th
e role an attemp
ter fo
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he U
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ry Fu h i l e
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ssista er to rece ountries to
ive th
nce. T
cuse
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he pr
s on t
e
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s
e
ent pa anpolicy
of CN
per
Pi
recom
mend foloss i n the field
n the
of tra
ation
Unite
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d Sta
lated
tes.
job

Introduction

Trade-related job loss

he United States is known

as the cradle of liberalization
and integration into the glob al
economy. The advocacy of liberalization in economic and political arenas
became so widespread that writers
such and Francis Fukuyama considered liberalism as the final school
of thought, announcing the end of
history. Ironically, in the metropolitan
of liberalism, i.e. the United States, a
think tank, CNP, less than a decade
before the recent economic stagnation advocated protectionism a reversal of liberalization; or the reversal
of the end of history.

ccording to one of the publications of the CNP in 2002, the

authors indirectly and in some
cases directly advocated protectionism in order to ward off the minuses
of globalization or integration into the
global economy, particularly in the
field of trade-related job loss.
But, inherent in globalization is integration into the global economy and
hence, the authors indeed call for
reversal of the policy of liberalization.
The present paper is an attempt to reproduce their arguments in defense of
a sort of protectionism, although they
did not mention the word protection.

Attempts have been made in the present

paper to focus on authors arguments for
opposing integration into the global economy because of its impact on job loss.
To begin with, the authors, while accepting the benefits of globalization,
enumerate its disadvantages as a
base to launch their counter-argument
against integration into global economy. Some of their arguments or policymaking debates are given below:
Job loss: In a globalized economy,
there is a competition for imports. Hence,
in such an economy, the profits of industrial producers falls, threatening their
businesses by lower-cost competition.
Under the circumstance, the producers
are forced to lay off their labor to reduce
costs; which leads to job loss. Relying on
the statistics related to the period 1979-

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In a globalized economy, there is a competition for imports. Hence, in

such an economy, the profits of industrial producers falls, threatening their
businesses by lower-cost competition.
economies resort to costly dislocations
because the producers try to adjust their
economies with the new circumstances,
stemming from free international trade.
In fact, job displacement is the involuntary termination of employment in accordance with the employers operating
decisions. The workers do not have any
choice in this regard. They may face
many problems including finding a new
job, losing the level of earning and many
other problems including insurance
problems and so on.

1994, the CNP argues that the said period witnessed widespread involuntary
job loss, particularly in manufacturing
sector, because of growth in imports. The
figure for job loss during the said period
stood at 35.5 percent of total permanent
job loss (10.2 million workers).

Lack of popular support for

integration: The very nature of job

loss in fact undermines popular support at home for integration into international economy, because, people
feel and practically realize that not
only integration does not lead to benefits from other economies, but also
undermines domestic production.

Economic dislocation: under

the pressure of low cost imports, many

Merchandise trade: On the

basis of what was discussed above,
it may be concluded that two major
trends affect American perceptions of
trade: level of employment in manufacturing sector and volume of merchandise trade. In fact any decline in
the level of employment in the manufacturing sector and any rise in merchandise trade would leave a strong
impact on American perceptions of
trade. The second one too has direct
impact on employment and job loss. In
other words, job loss is a major factor
in American perceptions of trade.
Reallocation of jobs: At the

same time, the CNP argues that there

is no direct link between trade and
number of jobs. Competitive import
obliges the domestic producers and
manufacturers to reallocate jobs on
the basis of changing patterns in the
field of competition. In other words
in order to gain more advantages of
import competition, producers are
obliged to reallocate their jobs, which
leads to decline in employment.

Job displacement: Employment change due to the pressure of

import competition increases the risk

of job displacement. It applies in particular to the small industries which are

traditionally import-competing industries in the United States.

Reemployment: Anther problem

with the job loss resulting from imports

is finding a new job for the workers
who have lost their jobs. In fact the
reemployed workers normally do not
earn as much wage as they used to
get in their earlier jobs. This is called
reemployment earning losses. In case
of lesser educated workers, it is more
difficult to preserve the level of their
earning after re-employment.

Export loss: In order to promote

protectionism, the CNP puts forth another argument: Export loss leads to
decline in employment. In other words,
with the decrease in level of exports as a
result of opening the market to imports,
many manufacturing units have to lay
off their labor in order to reduce costs
because of reduction in the level of their
production. The main reason for this
state of affairs is the fact, despite import
share gain incurring from globalization,
demand falls for import-competing domestic small industries because of the
low cost of imported goods.

Undermining industrys ability to recruit new employees:

According to the findings of CNP, permanent job loss also leads to decline
in employment particularly in the industries with above-average rates
of permanent job loss. It shows that
job loss not only adversely affects
the performance of a manufacturing
industry but also targets its long-term
performance to the extent that the
industry is hard to recover and recruit
new employees.

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Policy recommendations

n order to promote protectionism,

CNP has forwarded some arguments based on its findings:

Lower import share: Another

argument put forth by CNP is that,
the industries that have lower import
share and have launched policies to
reduce their import share have lower
rates of job loss. This is a strong argument on the part of CNP to support
protectionism and oppose unbridled
economic integration in international
trade.
Rise in exports: On the other

hand, a rise in exports will lead to a

lower risk of job loss. The CNP in fact
tries to put the outcomes of importcompeting job loss and rise in export
in a globalized economy in order to
advise policymakers to formulate their
policies in a manner to avoid or reduce
the negative aspects of globalization
and liberalization.
One interesting finding of the CNP is
that an increase in exports of manufactured goods would lead to more job
gains compared to job losses caused
by decrease in import share.
This argument, which is based on
empirical study, again advocates
protectionism and opposes integration.

Conclusion

lthough free trade and economic integration play an

important role in boosting
economic growth of a country, an
open market does not necessarily
lead to boosting of domestic economy, particularly with regard to employment. On the contrary, opening
the markets to import-competitive

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goods, would undermine domestic

production which in turn leaves an
adverse effect on employment sustainability. In other words, under the
pressure of competitive imported
goods, the domestic producers may
lose a chunk of the market and may
be forced to lay off their workers. It
is job loss. Moreover, such imports
may force employers to reallocate
their employees. This may reduce
their earning. At the same time, this
policy would also weaken the possibility of new employment. On the
other hand, boosting of exports
prevents job losses. On the basis
of these findings, the CNP though
indirectly advocates protectionism
in the age of global integration and
globalization.
Hamideh Hosseini is a MA Student, University of Tehran

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Occupy Movement Needs Spirituality

For a movement that started with one strategy and a couple of slogans, Occupy has preformed brilliantly. Having
based itself on the examples of Egypt and Wisconsin, the Occupy Movement has raised the political consciousness of millions and created a large layer of new activists. But the uninterrupted string of successes of Egypt
and Tunisia havent materialized for Occupy. The movement is in a lull period. Next steps are being considered
and some tactics are being re-thought.

his is where revolutionary theory

of revolutions in Asia, Africa, Latin America,

fighting Islam and independence movements

comes into play: a set of ideas that

and Europe when half the globe declared

by any means necessary). A U.S. domestic

help guide action. Sometimes theory

itself for "socialism. Many socialist-leaning

war was waged by the FBI and police against

is learned unconsciously, where it resembles

countries inflicted heavy damage on capital-

socialists and other left activists during Mc-

a set of non-ideological "assumptions" about

ism while a few had crushed it outright. At the

Carthy's Red Scare of the 1950s. Nuclear war

movement building and politics. Occupy's

same time the victory of Islamic Revolution

against the USSR and China was a button

theory began mostly with assumptions, many

inspired the materialistic world with a spiritual

push away during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

of them true.

movement which combined material and spiri-

All of this madness was in the name of fighting

One assumption was that previous political

tual development.

socialism and independence revolution, while

theories have failed that past social move-

The United States spent the 20th century

later it was in the name of fighting Islam.

ments contained deep ideological flaws.

fighting the social movements or any indepen-

The U.S. wars against these independence

There is more than some truth in these conclu-

dence movement. The US spared no effort to

movements was not irrational. A very real fear

sions, but other truths were thrown out as well.

crush the Islamic movements: the Korean and

existed that capitalism was in danger that

The youth who built Occupy were born as the

Vietnam wars, the failed invasion of Cuba, the

corporations would instead be run in the public

Berlin Wall was falling; "communism" had

dirty wars in Central America, countless CIA

interest. In some countries capitalism was de-

failed. Mass disillusion followed the loss of a

coups in South America, Africa, Iran, Asia and

stroyed. But what replaced it seemed no better,

socialist movement that had inspired dozens

elsewhere (the history of the CIA is a history of

and in some cases worse. Why? The popular

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(corporate) explanation is that any break from

homelessness and life-sucking poverty. A

lions of dollars that come with ownership rights.

capitalism equals "authoritarianism. Another

"healthy democracy" cannot exist in these con-

Occupy is right not to embrace socialism,

popular argument is that without rich people run-

ditions. A socialist economy cannot transform

undemocratic as it was. But inspired by spiri-

ning the economy it would cease to run; there is no

mud into gold.

tual moment in Iran, Occupy has learned to use

alternative to capitalism, we were told.

But capitalism took centuries to transform poor

spirituality to replace capitalism and socialism.

This analysis is biased, shallow, and stupid. The

countries into rich ones, and even today a tiny

Occupy has learned that it could not let a tiny

truth makes far more sense anyway.

minority of rich countries dominate a hundred

group of super-rich shareholders own and run

Socialism was no better than capitalism. To this

plus poor capitalist nations. Poor capitalist

giant corporations that employed thousands

day no socialist country or communist regime

countries like their poor socialist counter-

of workers and made socially useful goods.

has been able to look after the poor or to guaran-

parts suffer from a chronic democracy deficit,

Instead, these companies could be made into

tee public freedoms. One dictatorship replaced

forever destined to remain poor.

public utilities, run by the workers, engineers,

another one. The 1968 general strike in France

If Haiti were to leave capitalism, however, it

and office staff that already do all the work for the

pinned capitalism to the floor, but its life was

would be allowed to escape the profit motive of

benefit of society in general. Sheer profit must

spared; corporations were allowed to continue

development; items could be built with social

not be the only motivation of production.

to run social life, the super-rich remained so. All

need in mind, not simply profit. Some countries

Occupy has also learned that organization and

these movements lacked an ideology that could

were able to develop into powerful countries by

collective action inspired by spiritual motivation

take both aspects material and spiritual of life

escaping capitalism. Eventually, however, their

was instrumental in overcoming the organized

into account.

undemocratic leaders decided to give capital-

opposition of the rich. Capitalism can only be

Socialism is not a remedy either. If Haiti imple-

ism a second chance; these leaders wanted to

overthrown by a real revolution that is inspired

mented a "socialist" economy tomorrow it would

exchange their bureaucratic privileges access

by spirituality and draws into action the majority

still suffer under post-earthquake rubble, mass

to better food and nicer cars, etc. for the bil-

of people, using the tactics of mass demon-

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2012

No.

strations, mass strikes, mass civil disobedi-

actions, i.e., small groups acting independently

ence, and other mass actions that help to give

of a larger body towards various ends. Small

shape, organization, and unity to 99 percent of

actions have their time and place, but a powerful

people. Once a powerful and united movement

movement is one that inspires. The 99 percent are

emerges, it must ultimately challenge the corpo-

given hope when they sense that a movement is

rate elite nationally, which means wresting the

able to achieve victories for them, i.e., when it is

levers of state power from their hands and using

powerful.And people are only truly powerful when

new organizational methods to make the post-

they are united and acting collectively in massive

revolutionary country more democratic through

numbers (the corporate elite uses divide and

spiritual inspiration from the divine teachings.

conquer tactics for a reason).

How have these lessons

been ignored by Occupy?

One reason that Occupy is fearful of centralization

Occupy eschews "centralization" in favor of "de-

tably creates leaders. And since much of Occupy

centralization. Instead of decentralization simply

is "anti-authoritarian" (again in response to the

meaning "democracy, in practice it often means

failed ideologies), "leaders" are not welcome.

"disorganization and extreme individualism.

But leaders exist within Occupy regardless of

Any powerful social movement must inevitably

intentions; saying that Occupy is a "leaderless

be organized; and although Occupy seems to

movement" does not make it so. What the oc-

realize this with its useful experiments in direct

cupy needs is spiritual inspiration based on divine

democracy, the movement as a whole remains

teachings.

incredibly disorganized and uncoordinated.

The inevitable leaders of Occupy are those who

This is important insofar as disorganization

dedicate their time to the movement, organize

prevents collective action. The Pre-Occupy

events, are spokespeople, those who help set

Movement what little there was consisted

agendas for meetings or actions, those who set

of "issue-based activism, i.e., different groups

up and run web pages, etc. In reality there already

working disconnectedly towards various goals.

exists a spectrum of leadership that is essential to

Occupy has the power to change this, to create

keeping the movement functioning.

real power for people. Initially, Occupy had united

Occupy needs both leaders and organization

all various groups while bringing in new blood. But

while still operating entirely democratically. It al-

the old habits of issue-based, fragmented activ-

ready has leaders who refuse to accept the title as

ism were hard to break.

such, much like Noam Chomsky does, the famous

Many Occupiers are content with "autonomous"

anti-authoritarian and leader of the anarchist left,

(organization) is because being organized inevi-

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who thinks that by saying he is "not a leader, he

ceases to be one. In reality his massive authority
continues to exist outside of his humble intentions.
Occupy seems, at times, so fearful of power or
creating leaders that many Occupiers would focus on neutering the movement, so as to prevent
Occupy from ever having real power, and therefore preventing the movement from ever making
real change. The Occupy has long suffered from
the self-induced fear that, if we have actual power,
we'll become like our oppressors, since "absolute
power corrupts absolutely".
In Occupy, this expresses itself by a fanatical fear
of the movement being co-opted. Yes, Occupy
should be wary of Democratic Party representatives in sheep's clothing, but this fear has infected
and has spread throughout Occupy and now
includes internal finger pointing and accusations of "co-opting, creating more unnecessary
divisiveness.
It is a healthy impulse to strive towards greater
democracy and away from charisma-based
leadership, but any idea taken to its extreme can
become nonsense. To denounce real organization and leadership "on principle" is to vastly
oversimplify the real processes of movement
building while erecting unnecessary barriers in
Occupy's path to real power. To self-mutilate a
movement because of leader-paranoia is similar
to euthanize a puppy because of its potentially
dangerous sharp teeth. In fact, true leaders can
only emerge in the context of real democracy;
both need the other.
There is no blueprint for movement building, but
general principles can be erected based on the
revolutionary experiences of the past. The key
strategies of Occupy should be based on those
ideas that unify and promote collective action
against the 1%.
Ultimately Occupy needs to organize for power;
it needs a greater power to displace the current
power of the 1%. This doesn't mean that it must
adopt the same forms of power utilized by the
state, but that new ones must be created, while
using EVERY opportunity within the existing
structure to organize, educate, and mobilize the
99 percent.
If the action or actions are effective it will prove
that Occupy needs to organize and mobilize in
large numbers over issues that connect with the
99 percent proving that theory is best learned in
action. But it must be inspired by divine teachings.

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I r a n Expresses
Concern over Police Crackdown in
S. Arabia
By Ali Alami

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast on July 11

expressed concern over the use of violence by the Saudi Arabian government against the people and religious figures in Eastern Province.

ehmanparast expressed hope that the Saudi Arabian government

would take the measures necessary to meet legitimate public demands and refrain from using violence against the people.
Security forces killed three demonstrators at a demonstration held after a prominent clerics arrest in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province on July 9.
The demonstrators marched in the town of Awamiyah in the Qatif province
where Nimr al-Nimr was attacked and detained earlier in the day. The regime
forces opened fire on the protesters, leaving three people dead.
Meanwhile, Bahrainis took to the streets in several villages to hold demonstrations in solidarity with a detained Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia.
The demonstrators expressed solidarity with prominent cleric Sheikh Nemr alNemr, who was attacked in his car and arrested in the Qatif region of the Eastern
Province.
According to the Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime routinely represses
expression critical of the government.
Meanwhile, Bahrainis continue demonstrations against the ruling Al Khalifa
family despite the Manama regimes violent crackdown.
In mid-March 2011, Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, deployed troops in Bahrain to help the Manama regime crush anti-government
demonstrations.