From: imnet@u.washington.edu (Islamic Movement Network)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan
Subject: ISLAMIC WORLD NEWS (6th)
Date: 6 Nov 1992 21:40:15 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

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I     IN THIS ISSUE:                                                     I
I                   * NEWS UPDATE                                        I
I                   * ISLAM & SCHOOLS OF ECONOMY                         I
I                   * ANNOUNCEMENTS                                      I
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THE CAUCASUS
Russia seems to be heading for a showdown in the Caucasus.
On November 5, general Pavel Grachev, the Russian defence minister,
went to Vladikavkaz, capital of North Ossetia, to oversea security
arrangements.
At least 200 people have been killed in fighting between the Ingush
and Ossetians in North Ossetia. The Ingush demand the return of
the Prigorodny region that was handed over to the Ossetians
by Joseph Stalin in 1944.
During the second world war and indeed prior to that, the people
of the Caucasus region, called the Mountain People, rose
against Russian domination. In retaliation, Stalin exiled
hundreds of thousands of them to Siberia and parts of Central
Asia. Then he sliced off parts of Chechen-Ingushetia and handed
them over to the other republics.
This has been a source of conflict in the region ever since.
It has also been the cause of the Mountain People's struggle for
independence.
Most observers believe that Russian imperialism will be buried
in the frosty mountains of the Caucasus by the tenacious
Mountain People much like Afghanistan proved the undoing of
the Soviet Union.

THE US
Who won the US election? The obvious answer is, of course, Bill
Clinton. But this is only partly true.
The US election was, we are told, about character and the economy.
What we were not told was what the people of America thought was
their overriding concern.
The Lou Harris poll found recently that 83 percent of the Americans
believe the economic system to be "inherently unfair". They do
not believe that it is just out of whack; it is "unfair". And that
the people have little control over how it is managed.
The poll was, of course, not given much publicity. The media went
after such non-issues as whether Clinton had had an affair, or
even George Bush had had an affair.
To talk about having affairs in America is to quibble about
whether a prostitute is a virgin. There is hardly a person in
America, married or unmarried, who has not had an affair. That is
why in the US and indeed the western media, they get so scared
when there is talk of stoning people to death for committing
adultery.
If this punishment were instituted in America, the rocky mountains
would disappear before everyone had been given his/her due
share. But that is not to be; so all the talk about somebody's
infidelity is utter nonsense. Everyone in America, the non-Muslims
that is, is involved in some kind of hanky-panky. Indeed, some
Muslims too, like the Arab shaikhs, indulge in this vice.
But let us return to the question of who won the presidential
race.
The correct answer is: the American establishment.
After 12 years of raw capitalism by the Reagan-Bush combine,
the American people were getting restless. They read almost
daily about the ever-lengthening dole lines and more and more
people being laid off while the heads of corporations got fat
pay increases. Then there was the S & L scandal in which Bush's
son, Neil, was involved. The people also heard about the run on the
Congressional bank. Almost all the senators and congressmen
were found issuing bad cheques. Not one was punished for this.
Why?
If an ordinary citizen were to issue bad cheques, he would not get
very far. First, the bank would get him, if not the police would
surely nab him. But not the congressmen.
So why won't it make any difference who occupies the White House?
The day after his election victory, Clinton announced that America's
fundamental principles and interests remained unchanged. Why?
Because the people who have financed Clinton are the same ones
who financed Bush.
Let us look at some of the contributors to the two candidates'
campaigns.
The Tobacco giant, RJR Nabisco gave $422,500 to Bush and $254,000
to Clinton; Atlantic Richfield, the energy giant gave $371,000
to Bush and $224,590 to Clinton. Shell Oil, being more
even-handed, paid $66,000 to each of them.
Not to be left out, even the media giants chipped in. Time Warner,
in which CNN boss Ted Turner owns 18 percent, gave nearly $500,000
to Clinton, according to the Centre for Responsible Politics, a
watchdog group. The New York Times and Newsday als contributed
between $100,000 to $250,000 to the Clinton campaign, as did
American Express which gave nearly $400,000.
They all went democrat this year.
This is in addition to the Political Action Committees, the
overwhelming majority of which are a thinly-disguised cover
for peddling zionist interests. The PACs also contribute millions
of dollars in campaign contributions and then demand their
pound of flesh.
One of the oddities of this campaign was Ross Perot, the American
billionaire. He got rave reviews from the media except when he
denounced the influence-peddling of the PACs. The media
then branded him as a nut and a quack!
So, if you think you made any differnce to the American
political system, think again. 

IRAN
Iran's armed forces said that they were ready to help defend the
Muslims of Bosnia against Serbian attacks. In a statement issued
on November 4 and read over Tehran Radio, it said it would not
"deny Muslim sisters and brothers in Bosnia-Hercegovina any kind
of material or moral assistance."
Iran has been providing material support to the suffering Muslims
in Bosnia. A shipment of 100,000 tons of oil, heating as well
as fuel oil, is being shipped to Bosnia as part of Iran's
pledge to ensure its survival through the winter.
Serbian atrocities, however, know no limits. Slaughter of innocent
Muslim men, women and children is their favourite pasttime. At
least 200,000 Muslims may have been killed in Bosnia according to
some estimates.
Much of the world, including the Muslim world, has watched the
genocide of a whole people and done little or nothing to stop the
carnage.
The latest so-called UN/European community "peace plan" calls for
the partition of Bosnia-Hercegovina into cantons controlled
by the various ethnic groups.

Post-script:
The biggest victory celebration was held not in Little Rock, Arkansas,
but in downtown Baghdad where Saddam Husain, firing a pistol, declared:
"The Gulf War ends today". Eat your heart out Bush!
*******COURTESY OF CRESCENT INTERNATIONAL, The newsmagazine of the global  
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ADDRESS: 300 Steelcase Road West, Unit8, Markham, Ontario, L3R 2W2 Canada.
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EVENT SCAN ###############################################################

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              @ ISLAM & SCHOOLS OF ECONOMICS @
              @ By M. Baqir al-Sadr          @
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PART II

FORMS OF WESTERN ECONOMIC SYSTEM FOUND IN MUSLIM WORLD

     The Muslim world has mostly adopted the following two
forms of the modern economic system of the west:
 a. Free enterprise system based on Capitalism.
 b. Guided Economy based on Socialism.

     These are the two basic forms of the modern western
economic system.  The important question that has been under
discussion in the Muslim world is; which of these two forms
is more suitable and more helpful to Muslims at large in
overcoming their backwardness.
     In the beginning, for the Internal development of its
economy the Muslim world was more inclined towards the first
form, i.e., Free Enterprise system based on capitalism. The
reason was obvious. The Capitalist countries were the first
to penetrate in the Muslim world and to establish their
bases there.
     But in the course of its fight against colonialism and
its struggle for liberation, the Muslim world learned that
the only system opposed to the capitalist Economy was the
Socialist System. Thence a new tendency developed among the
Muslim peoples who for the purpose of their economic
development became more inclined to the other system, i.e.,
`Guided Economy' based on Socialism.
     The new tendency was the result of a desire to
reconcile their belief in the western leadership with their
political antagonism against the capitalist countries. On
the one hand they believed in the necessity of following a
progressive western system, and on the other hand,
sentimentally disliked Capitalism because it was associated
with the colonial exploitation against which they were
fighting. Therefore, they preferred to follow the Socialist
System which was just another form of the progressive
western economic system.
     
     Arguments have been advanced in favor of each of these
two systems.
     The supporters of Free Enterprise System cite the
immense progress and advancement made by the Capitalist
world which by following this policy has been able to
develop its industries and enhance production on a very
large scale. They argue that if the backward countries want
to make rapid progress and secure the desired results in a
short time, they should also follow the example of western
countries.
     The supporters of the Socialist or Guided Economy agree
that certain western countries following the policy of Free


     Enterprise System have made immense technical end
industrial progress, but they insist that the backward
countries of today cannot hope to achieve the same results
by following this system. They argue that under the Free
Enterprise System, the backward countries will have to
compete with  the much advanced western countries. Obviously
it is not Possible at all for the backward countries to
match with the vast and ever-growing economic potentialities
of the west.

     When the present advanced countries of Western Europe
started their economic progress, they had to face no
economic rivalry. At that time the
circumstances were certainly favorable to the adoption of
the Free Enterprise System.
     Hence in order to make rapid progress in an organized
manner, it was essential for the backward countries to
mobilize all their resources and follow the policy of Guided
Economy.
     The supporters of both the systems blame the
colonialists for their failure, but never think of any other
system to take the place of the two conventional systems of
modem Europe.
Anyhow, the fact is that there exists a third system also.
Though at present it is lying dormant, yet it has always
been uppermost in the minds of the Muslim Ummah. This system
Is the Economic System of Islam.


                     WESTERN ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND CHANCES
                       OF THEIR SUCCESS IN MUSLIM WORLD


     Now we propose to see how far these two western systems
to can be helpful in combating the backwardness in the
Muslim world. We leave aside their intellectual and
religious contents, but to assess their applicability for
the purpose of economic progress, it is necessary to take
into consideration the Psychological and historical
characteristics of the Muslim world.

   No economic  system whether it is Capitalistic or
Socialistic can be expected to succeed unless it is in
harmony with the historical background and aspirations of
the people to whom it is applied.

   While making a comparative study of various economic
systems and assessing the chances of their success in the
Muslim world the basic fact should always be kept in mind
that the setting up of government agencies is not enough to
ensure economic development. Struggle against backwardness
can be successful only with the active cooperation and
support of the entire nation.

   The awakening and the inner zeal of a society exhibit its
inner development and a will to make progress. Without such
development, there is no possibility of a successful
execution of economic plans, and hence the material and
spiritual development of the Muslims must go hand in hand.
Even the experience of modern Europe bears witness to this
historical truth. The two economic systems there led to
marvellous material development of the European people in
harmony with their aspirations and aptitudes.

   Therefore, when we want to choose a system for the
economic development of the Muslim world, we should take
into account the sentiments and the mental disposition of
the Muslims as well as their history and their special problems,
and in that light should choose a system which may infuse a
new life in them and impel them to harness all their
energies to combat backwardness.


   Many economists while dealing with the economy of the
backward countries have committed a big blunder by suggest-
ing a western system for their economic development with-
out considering whether the system in question suited to the
genius of the countries concerned or not.
     For example,  the Muslims have  developed special
sentiments vis-a-vis colonialism which took shape as a
result  of their painful history and their
struggle for independence   For this reason they
look with suspicion at every western  notion and
are apprehensive of every system that brought
about the degradation of social and economic conditions of
colonial countries.

     In short, the Muslims on the whole have become so
sensitive to every western system that even a sound western
system free from all colonial taints cannot rouse them to
adopt it to combat their backwardness.
     As the colonial rule has conditioned the mental
attitude of the Muslim people in such a way that they want
to keep aloof from any doctrine or system associated with
colonialism they intended to base their social revival on a
system not associated with the colonial powers.

     This is why certain Muslim countries in order to keep
their political doctrine distinct from the colonial way of
thinking, adopted Nationalism as their philosophy and made
it the basis of their cultural and social organizations.
They forget that Nationalism means nothing more than a
historical and cultural bond. It is neither a philosophy
having its principles and laws nor a doctrine having a
basis. By nature, Nationalism is neutral to all philosophies
and social and religious schools of thought. It needs exact
point of view to be interpreted in accordance with a
definite philosophy to form the basis of its cultural and
social organizations. It appears that many nationalist
movements realize that Nationalism is an alI-embracing and
formless way of thinking which requires a philosophy and a
social system to give it a definite shape. That is why to
give some form to their Nationalism and at the same time to
keep it distinct from the western system they gave a
nationalist color to one of the foreign social systems.


     The same is true of Arab socialism. The Arabs knew that
Nationalism alone was not enough. It was not by itself
complete and was in need of a system. Therefore, they
proclaimed Socialism as their system within the framework
of Arabism or Arab Nationalism. In this way they tried to
attract those who are sentimentally against every philosophy
or doctrine having a western label and at the same time by
combining Socialism with Arabism they attempted to camou-
flage the colonial reality which is conspicuous in the
intellectual and historical aspect of Socialism. But such
attempts constitute a thin camouflage through which the
Muslim Ummah can be hoodwinked. It is only an attempt of
disguising and venerating a western system. The thin coating
of Arabism does in no way change the position. It does not
alter the basic organization of Socialism. Arabism only
means sharing a common language, a common culture, the same
blood or the same race. It cannot reasonably be expected to
change the philosophy of the social organizations. The only
perceptible effect of the introduction of that part of
Socialism which is opposed to those traditional Sentiments
of the Arabs which are not supposed to be changed overnight
such as spiritual tendencies and faith in Allah.

   Thus the sacredness of Arab Nationalism does not infuse
a new spirit to Socialism and does not make it a doctrine
different from what it is in other countries. The label of
Arabism signifies only certain expectations which may be
temporary. Exceptions cannot change the nature and the
content of any doctrine. The exponents of Arab Socialism
cannot point out any material difference between Arab
Socialism and Iranian Socialism fitted within a certain
frame work becomes different to other Socialisms.

   The fact is that its nature does not change with the
change of its framework, which denotes only certain excel
-ation and does not constitute a difference of basic nature.
After all, every nation has some of its own traditions and
characteristics.
                                                            
     Though the exponents of Arab Socialism have been
unable to give a new meaning to Socialism by their action
they have highlighted the fact that because of its anti-
colonial sentiments, the revival of the Muslim Ummah is
Possible only on the basis of a system having no connection
with the colonialist countries.
     From the Muslim point of view all western economic
systems, whatever be their form, are closely related to the
colonialists of the west. Only the Islamic system which is
deep-rooted in the Islamic history and is a symbol of Muslim
dignity is free from colonial influence.

     The Muslims are conscious of the fact that it is Islam
alone which establishes their historical identity and which
is a key to their lost dignity and prestige. This
consciousness self can be a big factor in their success in
the fight against backwardness. If they adopt the Islamic
system and march forward along the lines prescribed by it,
they are sure to achieve a miraculous success.
############################ ANNOUNCMENTS ################################
*** This section is open for posting announcements for the
purpose of education and information only, no commercial or
solicitation ads please. ***********************************
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Medical Doctors Relief & Development(MDRD), a voluntary,  
non-profit organization is seeking the support of members and 
volunteers who are willing to provide medical relief and
set up development operations in the poor countries of the world.
For more information, please contact Dr. Mohammad Amjad Alvi,
   1530 Albion Rd. Rexdale, Ont. Canada, M9V 1B4.
    Tel. (416) 240-0570, Fax (416) 240-1728
________________
Bosnia Appeal Fund:
As Muslim suffering continues in Bosnia, another committee has 
setup a follow up league to coordinate the support. Donation could 
be mailed to:
Bosnian Appeal Fund,
4174 Dundas Street West,
Suit 209, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Phone (416) 236-9411
_________
Crescent International Has opened a Somali Relief Fund for onward 
transmission:
Somali Relief Fund c/o Crescent International,
300 steelcase Rd West,
Unit 8, Markham, Ont. L3R 2W2, Canada.   Phone (416) 474-9292
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