From: mmokhtar@attmail.com (Mazen Mokhtar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna
Subject: Re: B-H is NO place for IWN
Date: 14 Sep 92 21:32:52 GMT
Organization: AT&T
Originator: mmdh@cbnewsf.cb.att.com

In article <1992Sep14.180231.9427@sol.ctr.columbia.edu> deniz@mandolin.ctr.columbia.edu (Deniz Akkus) writes:
>In article <192f1pINNk30@pollux.usc.edu> aabdalla@pollux.usc.edu (Ahmed Abd-Allah) writes:

>  Even in the absence of civil war, I don't believe that they are going to
>have it as easy as say Iran (the only country in the list you have with a
>predominantly Islamic population)

  Each of Albania, Lebanon, Iran and Bosnia has a majority Muslim population.


>  Also, if the Muslims are that adamant, why don't
>they (the governments) try to go about legal ways and try to pass
>military intervention through the UN?

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

  Second, since when is the UN the gate through which the foreign policies
of sovereign states must pass? The UN is an organization that represents its
members, not an organization that regulates them. States do not give up their
sovereignty by joining the UN.

>I know that Turkey is trying to do that and I haven't seen a big 'yeah' from
>anybody else.  But Iran will ship arms to Bosnia.  Explain the logic. 

  I am not a supporter of Iran, but Iran's method is likely to help B-H
immensely, Turkey's method is commendable, but we all know how little it
can achieve. The UN is a tool in the hand to the powerful. It should be
officially named the UN of A.

>Also, please tell me the reason why a Shiite government would love to
>ship arms to their Sunni 'brothers'.

  Because all Muslims are brothers. We may differ in oppinion with the
Shia, but that does not mean that we no longer care about each other's lives.
In the end, we are one.

>I again see nothing in history to
>believe that Shiites and Sunnis would unite against Christians.  

  Look again. This is not a Shia vs Sunni issue. The issue is innocent
Bosnians being killed and displaced because they are Muslim.

>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.

>No it is not.  I also care about Bosnian Muslims.  However, I care about
>all the civilians whose lives are disrupted by needless and pointless
>civil war, be they Muslim, Croat, or Serbian.  For it takes only a few
>callous people to start and foment a war.

  In this conflict, there is a clear aggressor and a clear victim. Support
the victim. If you won't, then at least let the victim defend himself, don't
join the aggressor by condemning self-defense.

> What the Bosnians need is food, medicine and some mediation between two sides.

  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.

>What they don't need is weapons so they can *also* kill their neighbors.

  The Bosnians stole no land, they killed no neighbors. They are being
killed and they need to defend themselves.

>In what way are you different from the ones you claim are killers, if
>you too, will do exactly the same thing?

  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?

  Support your brothers and mine in their just cause. We have the opportunity
to help save a dying nation. One day, our homeland may be in a similar
situation, let us help our brothers before we are desperately begging for
help ourselves.


Regards,

Mazen Mokhtar
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna