Middle East
Salah al-Din: Characteristics of Conquest – Part III
Section III: Four Key Aspects of Salah al-Din’s Character In the final analysis, Salah al-Din was a multi-layered character who, it seems, gave careful thought to how best to achieve his goals. Though contemporary chroniclers and modern historians differ in opinions as to Salah al-Din’s abilities and motivations thereby coloring the lens through which we…
Salah al-Din: Characteristics of Conquest – Part II
Section II: Salah al-Din’s Victories at Hattin and Jerusalem While there is debate as to Salah al-Din’s abilities in the realm of military tactics and strategy , his victories at the Horns of Hattin and Jerusalem were both decisive. In the case of Jerusalem, it was the accomplishment of a long-stated goal – the liberation…
Mamluk Heraldic Devices in Jerusalem – Part III
Section III: Four Key Aspects of Salah al-Din’s Character In the final analysis, Salah al-Din was a multi-layered character who, it seems, gave careful thought to how best to achieve his goals. Though contemporary chroniclers and modern historians differ in opinions as to Salah al-Din’s abilities and motivations thereby coloring the lens through which we…
Hamas and the Indoctrination of Palestinian Children-Part III
Note: this section contains the list of works cited at the end Section III: Unconventional Education and its Impact Hamas’ Extra-Curricular Methodology Hamas, not content to rely exclusively on school textbooks to accomplish their goal of radical Islamic indoctrination, masterfully employs a number of media to promote their focused message to children. These media all…
Hamas and the Indoctrination of Palestinian Children-Part II
II: Educational Philosophy of Hamas Fateh and Hamas: Educational similarities “Palestinian education and propaganda are more dangerous to Israel than Palestinian weapons.” – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Any discussion of the education of Palestinian children has to take into consideration the influence of the Fateh-led Palestinian Authority , for this was the organization…
Hamas and the Indoctrination of Palestinian Children-Part I
“For Palestine is a sacred Islamic land that has been forcibly seized by the Zionists, and it is the duty of Muslims to conduct a holy struggle to regain it and to expel the invader from it.” –Hamas Introductory Memorandum, Article 7 . “…exterminate the Zionist germ…” [an 8th grade Palestinian textbook, page 117.] “We…
Salah al-Din: Characteristics of Conquest – Part I
Had there been no slaughter of the Muslims of Jerusalem in 1099, the name “Salah al-Din” might never have risen from obscurity to become one of the greatest names in the history of “Holy War”. Yet the slaughter did take place and as a result, locked the Franks and Muslims in a bloody battle of…
Iraqi Reconciliation-Economic Proposal: Hydrocarbon Revenue Sharing
This was a proposal I crafted in 2008 to address the dispute over equitable distribution of Iraqi hydrocarbon revenues. Goal of Proposal: This proposal seeks to address the issue of the equitable management of the Iraqi hydrocarbon sector, and the equitable distribution of the revenues generated therein. Overview: The government of Iraq will form a…