Author: Alejandro

King Abdullah presides over international gathering of Muslim scholars in Mecca who are urged to strengthen interfaith and intrafaith relations: Saudi King Opens Conference On Interfaith Dialogue (Associated Press/Washington Post) Ronni Abergel’s Living Library uses an innovative way of debunking social stereotypes by allowing one to “loan” someone, including a Muslim: Borrow A Muslim? A…

A federal judge completely overturns the conviction of one Muslim charity leader and partially acquits two others: Judge Cancels Convictions of 3 Islamic Leaders (Associated Press/San Francisco Chronicle) Experts say the trial of alleged 9/11 Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will focus as much on the legitimacy of the military commissions as on the evidence: Five Detainees…

Two major presidential candidates hype claims about Iranian nuclear intentions, but former CIA-operative Phil Giraldi says the facts don’t support the saber-rattling: Both Mccain, Obama Exaggerating Iran’s Nuclear Program (McClatchy) Iran Accusations Merit Skepticism (Antiwar.com) False intelligence, worsened global security and changing regional balance of power top Aussie PM Rudd’s list of reasons for exiting…

Sait Sanli stress the Qur’an’s emphasis on forgiveness to end many of Turkey’s cultural blood feuds: In Turkey, a Lone Peacemaker Ends Many Blood Feuds (Christian Science Monitor) Cries of “collective punishment” force Fulbright to reinstate their scholarships to Gazan students… Gaza Fulbright Grants Reinstated (BBC News) …but not Israel’s occupation and further expropriation of…

Algerian youth riot over state mismanagement of the economy: Algeria Riots Pose Risk of Wider Unrest (Reuters/Washington Post) Basrans get a temporary reprieve from Shi’a extremists’ Taliban-like rule: Basra’s Wary Rebirth (Washington Post) US list of state sponsor terror list “has become a diplomatic tool to win concessions from U.S. adversaries eager to end the…

Content to keeping his opposition to the occupation private in the past, Ayatollah Sistani, is increasingly voicing his opinion publicly… Powerful Iraqi Cleric Flirting With Shiite Militant Message (Associated Press/Wiredispatch) … while a recent Pentagon financial audit shows the lack of accountability in contractor spending adds more costs to the occupation: Iraq Spending Ignored Rules,…

A NY Times editorial demands a full congressional inquiry over why the concerns from FBI agents and career DoJ officials about torture did not register with the White House… What the F.B.I. Agents Saw (New York Times) Interrogation Tactics Were Challenged at White House (Washington Post) …just as former detainee Mura Kurnaz tells of his…

Violence and tensions in the Levant ebbing? Lebanon appears to be getting its house back in order, ending eighteen months of political deadlock… Lebanese Political Factions Reach Agreement (Washington Post) …meanwhile Hamas and Israel look to be nearing a ceasefire agreement… Hamas, Israel Appear on Brink of Cease-Fire (Christian Science Monitor) …and Syria and Israel…

Drawdown of troops in Iraq reverts back to pre-“surge” number at which it is expected to remain until at least the end of Bush’s term… New Troops in Iraq Will Keep Number at 140,000 (Washington Post) …meanwhile US support for Sunni militias temporarily reduces overall violence, but also opens the door for armed criminal extortion…

In statements pregnant with hypocrisy, both Bush and Bin Laden slam Arab governments for their authoritarian policies and Israel’s violent repression Muslim Palestinians repectively … Bush’s Speech Prods Middle East Leaders (New York Times) …meanwhile Americans of various political orientations continue to fight Bush’s erosion of domestic civil liberties… NBC’s Lauer Falsely Suggested Only “The…