From: deniz@mandolin.ctr.columbia.edu (Deniz Akkus)
Subject: Re: B-H is NO place for IWN
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 23:25:42 GMT
X-Posted-From: mandolin.ctr.columbia.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <1992Sep14.213252.12331@cbfsb.cb.att.com> mmokhtar@attmail.com (Mazen Mokhtar) writes:
>In article <1992Sep14.180231.9427@sol.ctr.columbia.edu> deniz@mandolin.ctr.columbia.edu (Deniz Akkus) writes:

>  First, the governments are corrupt. Only the Islamic movements such as the
>Muslim Brotherhood are genuinely interested in helping Bosnians.

It is easy to govern on paper.  I too can claim that all the governments
of the X group are corrupt and I can do a better job etc. etc.  The
Islamic brotherhood needs to have at least *one* single test case where
Islamic law has prevailed, people are happy and prospering and
everything is in order.  Without any such example, Islamic brotherhood
simply will not be believed everytime they claim 'but the government is
corrupt'. What is your alternative?  

A workable system, Islamic or not, needs to have checks and
counter-checks.  Even a lot of so-called absolute monarchies have had
this, in their best times.  It is when the system of check and
counter-check goes awry that usually you end up with a corrupt
government. 

>>I am Turkish, Sunni and Muslim .  In that order.
>
>  It is sad that obedience to the creator does not always come first. A Muslim
>ought to be Muslim first. I happen to be an Egyptian citizen, but I would love
>to see the day when you and I are citizens of the same state that obeys God,
>and establishes justice to all its citizens. When I support Bosnia, I support
>in effect what I consider to be part of my country that was detached by colonial
>powers. God ordered us to unite, He did not give us the option. We accepted
>artificial boundaries which He tells us to eliminate. Our ennemies will divide
>us and destroy the resulting crumbs one by one. As a Turk, you should
know.

A Turkish woman in an Islamic state?  Methinks not, thank you.  I am
happy as a Turkish citizen.  

As for my knowing how enemies will divide and conquer, indeed I do.  Why
does Syria support Kurdish separatism in Turkey?  Are you aware of the
recent news where members of the Syrian parliament resigned to protest
such support?  I, growing up, did not hear any words against Kurds.  Now
I do, as people begin to look at their neighbor and wonder about their
allegiance.  

Why did the Hidv of Egypt separate from the Ottoman Empire? Nationalism,
gift/curse of the west or not, is a reality and has been so in our part
of the world for the past few centuries.  

>  Then they will die well fed. What the Bosnians need is food, medicine and
>all necessary power of pursuasion against Serbians. This includes military
>support. Mediation must be backed by the ability to implement. Bosnians
>need to free their country after all.
>

I would support military intervention by *non-interested* parties, as I
believe the civil war might be beyond simple re-opening of communication
channels.  I would hope that this would happen *only* to stop the blood
shed so mediation can be accomplished. 

>  Self defense is not the same as aggression. When your country is being
>eliminated from the map of the world you need to take a stand. Muslims are
>defending their lives against imminent death and you find it in your heart
>to malign them? Muslims are defending their property against complete
>destruction and you find it in your heart to malign their effort? How can
>you equate aggression with self-defense? Is Justice dead from the
hearts?

Justice is not dead.  On the other hand, do you believe in 'eye for an
eye'?  I don't. I think our problem stems from there.  I don't think the
world should turn a blind eye to the problem.  On the other hand, a
shipment of arms is not going to bring back Bosnian children.  And what
if Serbian children then get killed in retribution?  Is that OK? How do
we keep that from happening?  How do you get a man who has lost loved
ones to stop from demanding revenge?  Justice is not something
that you should take into your hands.

regards,
Deniz Akkus 


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