Excerpts: Hurricane Katrina -- God's soldiers for Islam against America.
Jordanian unemployment increases.Arab countries versus Iraq.Israeli Arabic
politics.Arab commentators: Katrina punishes US evil. 7 September 2005

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 5 Sept.'05:"Islamist bloggers hail Katrina as
'Allah's soldier'"

By Agence France Presse (AFP)
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Katrina ... has incited a storm of enthusiasm among Islamist bloggers
who claim the destruction was sent by God to torment the American empire"
"A Kuwaiti ... newspaper published similar comments by the director of
the Kuwaiti ministry of of endowment's research center"
" ' Have the storms joined the Al Qaedaterrorist organization?' "
"listing two dozen curses --habitually used by Islamist radicals at the
end of prayers - against the U.S."
"one... spoke out ... saying he was 'exasperated at the rejoicing over
the misfortunes of Americans' "
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FULL TEXT:
DUBAI: Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the U.S. Gulf coast this week, has
incited a storm of enthusiasm among Islamist bloggers who claim the
destruction was sent by God to torment the American empire. "Katrina, a
soldier sent by God to fight on our side ... the soldier Katrina joins us to
fight against America," said one Islamist Web site.
Another said: "Allahu akbar [God is greatest]. Soldiers of God, Hurricane
Katrina demolishes America. Don't think that God doesn't care about the
injustices of tyrants."
Web sites published dozens of photos showing crumbled buildings, overturned
cars, flooded streets, devastated oil refineries, residents wading through
muck and water and U.S. flags ripped to shreds by the hurricane that wreaked
havoc in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
The pictures should "serve as a lesson," one blogger said.
"In spite of being a superpower and of its technological development,
America was unable to cope with the power of the Almighty," the writer said.
Another blogger, who decorated his site with photos of Al-Qaeda leaders
Osama bin Laden and Iraq's most-wanted man Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said:
"America observes silence over its human losses."
The Islamist perspectives were not limited to the Internet.
A Kuwaiti Arabic-language newspaper published similar comments by the
director of the Kuwaiti ministry of endowment's research center, Mohammad
Yussef al-Mlaifi.
"When the satellite channels reported on the scope of the terrifying
destruction in America [caused by] this wind, I was reminded of the words of
[Prophet Mohammad]: 'The wind sends torment to one group of people, and
sends mercy to others.'
"I do not think - and only Allah knows - that this wind, which completely
wiped out American cities in these days, is a wind of mercy and blessing. It
is almost certain that this is a wind of torment and evil that Allah has
sent to this American empire," he said in the daily Al-Siyassa.
"But how strange it is that after all the tremendous American achievements
for the sake of humanity, these mighty winds come and evilly rip [America's]
cities to shreds? Have the storms joined the Al-Qaeda terrorist
organization?"
He also cited a passage from the Koran: "The disaster will keep striking the
unbelievers for what they have done, or it will strike areas close to their
territory, until the promise of Allah comes to pass, for, verily, Allah will
not fail in His promise."
Many bloggers drew parallels between the destruction caused by the storm and
that brought by U.S. military action in Afghanistan and Iraq, and blasted
U.S. President George W. Bush's so-called "war on terror."
"America fights Islam in the name of the war against terrorism, kills
innocents in Afghanistan and Iraq and supports the Zionist entity [Israel],"
said one site, then listing two dozen curses - habitually used by Islamist
radicals at the end of prayers - against the U.S.
Amid all the criticism, at least one blogger spoke out in defense of the
victims, saying he was "exasperated at the rejoicing over the misfortunes of
Americans."
"Certainly, the leaders of the United States have oppressed many peoples,
but the citizen ... is in no way guilty."
Islamist Web sites had also cast blame on South Asian countries hit by last
year's tsunami that killed more than 125,000 people, saying "the hand of
God" was involved.
Back then, one scribe described the tsunami as "divine vengeance against
Thailand, a country of debauchery." - AFP

+++JORDAN TIMES 6 Sept.'05:
"Editorial:Behind the jobless rate"
QUOTES FROM TEXT
"With some 320,000 legal guest workers employed in the
country, it is little wonder that there is a rise in
unemployment in the country"

[IMRA: In a recent strong speech King Abdullah complained that
Jordanians are unwilling to take
'manual' jobs as beneath them These jobs are welcomed by 'guest' workers.]

"what we are experiencing ... may very well be associated
with newly introduced privatisation and market economy
conditions"
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FULL TEXT:
While the Department of Statistics (DoS) may have had the mettle to release
its latest unemployment figures, showing a rise from 13.4 per cent in the
first quarter of the year to 15.7 per cent in the second, the reasons it
attributes to this increase may not be tenable.

[IMRA: Why "the mettle" to release a routine quarterly report?]
True, the rise of unemployment during the summer is a "familiar phenomenon,"
but there were disturbing statistics on the jobless rate even before the
holiday season started.
The best evidence of this are the DoS statistics released for May, compared
to the same period last year, which show yet again a discernible hike in
unemployment.
It is likely valid that the rise in the number of foreign workers has much
to do with the rise in unemployment. With some 320,000 so-called legal guest
workers employed in the country,
[IMRA: With no indication this number has increased.]
it is little wonder that there is a rise in unemployment. Iraqi citizens
who have flocked to Jordan since the start of the war in their country, in
March 2003, have had an impact on the national economy in many sectors. But
without even approximate figures showing the rate of their employment in the
Kingdom, attributing the 3.3 per cent jump in the jobless rate from one
quarter to the next is insufficient.
Thus, one questions whether these factors explain fully the unemployment
problem in our country. What is of primary concern is whether the structural
changes introduced to our national economy have something to do with the
problem.
Market economies do contribute to unemployment, in the short-run at least,
and what we are experiencing in this area may very well be associated with
newly introduced privatisation and market economy conditions.
[IMRA: No data! Specific industries not identified.]
Neither privatisation nor market economies consider unemployment or
encourage or promote labour-intensive industries, for obvious reasons.
Global economy has no place for noncompetitive products that are often
associated with labour-intensive production lines.
How to draw the balance must be uppermost in the minds of our economic and
fiscal planners. There may come a time when we will have to introduce
unemployment benefits. Other safety nets for the unemployed may also have to
be adopted.
Meanwhile, we have to find more effective yet economically sound measures to
combat joblessness because it means poverty and poverty spells threats to
our security and stability.

+++NEW YORK TIMES 6 Sept.'05:"Leader Says Other Arabs Insensitive to Iraq's
Plight" by Robert F. Worth
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"In an unusual public rebuke, President Jalal Talabani angrily criticized
other Arab states on Monday, saying they had insulted Iraq by not sending
diplomats to Baghdad amd had not sent condolence letters about the stampede
last week in which almost 1,000 Shiite pilgrims were killed."
"also complained about the lack of Arab diplomatic representation in
Baghdad, calling it an 'insulting issue for the country'. Iraq and the
United States have urged other Arab countries to send diplomats here, in
hopes that the gesture wold bolster the Iraqi government's legitimacy and
undermine support for the insurgency."
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EXCERPTS:
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 5 - In an unusual public rebuke, President Jalal
Talabani angrily criticized other Arab states on Monday, saying they had
insulted Iraq by not sending diplomats to Baghdad and had not sent
condolence letters about the stampede last week in which almost 1,000 Shiite
pilgrims were killed.
. . .
Speaking at a news conference, Mr. Talabani, a Kurd, amplified complaints by
other Iraqi leaders about the Arab states' failure to recognize the stampede
... . The complaints, aimed at mostly Sunni leaders, hinted at a sectarian
bias against Iraq, where Shiites are about 60 percent of the population.
"We stood with our Arab brothers in their hard times," Mr. Talabani said.
"For instance, we sent a letter expressing our condolences on the terrorist
attack which claimed a lot of innocent lives in Sharm el Sheik," an Egyptian
resort.
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite, hinted at similar criticism on
Monday when asked about the emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani,
who donated $100 million to the American victims of Hurricane Katrina but
nothing to the victims of the stampede. "I'm not condemning what he did, but
he should think of Iraq," Mr. Jaafari said.
The comments ... came at a time of heightened tension with other Arab
nations. Last week Amr Moussa, the secretary general of the Arab League,
issued a public criticism of Iraq's new constitution ... in which he echoed
the criticisms by some Sunni Arabs in Iraq. ... .Some Iraqi leaders asked
why Mr. Moussa was willing to denounce the new draft constitution now, after
the Arab League had been notably silent about Iraq's lack of a constitution
under Saddam Hussein.
Mr. Talabani also said the two major Kurdish political parties had agreed to
support Sunni demands for language in the constitution declaring Iraq an
Arab nation. ... ..
. . .
Mr. Talabani also complained about the lack of Arabic diplomatic
representation in Baghdad, calling it "an insulting issue for the country."
Iraq and the United States have urged other Arab countries to send diplomats
here, in hopes that the gesture would bolster the Iraqi government's
legitimacy and undermine support for the insurgency.
But risk is also clearly an issue. In July, two Algerian diplomats and an
Egyptian diplomat were abducted and killed by insurgents. Al Qaeda in
Mesopotamia, the terrorist group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, claimed
responsibility , and has threatened to kill any Arab diplomat in Baghdad.
. . .
Reporting for this article was contributed by Omar al-Neami and Qais Mizher
in Baghdad, and by Iraqi employees of The New York Times in Mosul and
Falluja, whose names are being withheld for security reasons.

+++HAARETZ 7 Sept.'05:"Arab parties discuss joint list"by Yoav Stern
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Arab political parties could disappear from the Knesset after the 2006
elections"

"many voters are likely to follow the call made by Sheikh Raed Salah,
head of the
Islamic Movement to boycott the elections"

"their pressence in the Knesset only serves Israeli interests, enabling
the state to
present itself as democratic"

" 'Arabs have something to lose and must ... vote against the right-wing
parties' "

" 'if they unite, the number of voters will drop and the public will
become
apathetic' "
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EXCERPTS:

The Arab political parties could disappear from the Knesset after the 2006
elections, unless they unite. There are various reasons for this, the most
important being the decision to raise the threshold for entering the Knesset
to two percent.

According to a survey carried out by Wajia Kiyuf of the Israel Democracy
Institute, the two large parties, Hadash-Ta'al and Balad, would get around
two percent while the Joint Arab List would get fewer votes and probably
fail to cross the threshold.

The Israeli-Arab political arena has shifted into high gear following
Israel's ... Gaza pullout. The major issue ...is the possibility of a
joint Hadash-Balad list. Representatives of the two parties met yesterday to
discuss the proposal.

... Kiyuf says that many voters are likely to follow the call made by Sheikh
Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement, to boycott the elections
completely.

[IMRA: Important anti-democratic tactic.]

When he was released from an Israeli prison two months ago, Salah said once
again that Arab MKs are unable to achieve anything on behalf of their public
and that their presence in the Knesset only serves Israeli interests,
enabling the state to present itself as democratic.

The Islamic Movement is trying to set up a political bureau that would serve
as a quasi-parliament ... . "The Islamic Movement is of the opinion that
this would be an authentic representation of the Arabs in Israel and that it
is preferable to leave the Knesset without Arab MKs," Kiyuf says. "This
would be a tremendous loss for the Arab sector and a victory for the right
wing," Kiyuf says.

Kiyuf also believes that the turnout of Jewish voters in the next election
will ... return to around 80 percent, after dropping to 68 percent in 2003.
"In 2003, the percentage of voters was low because everyone knew Ariel
Sharon would be elected ... . Now there are once more conflicts between Left
and Right, religious and secular, ... .

Among Arab voters, on the other hand, voter turnout has been declining
steadily since 1949. Kiyuf says he thinks that ... it will drop
dramatically, to about 50 percent.

Kiyuf's data were collected at the beginning of this year, but he is
updating them now and will present them ...next month.

Thabet Abu Ras of Hadash says that many ...Hadash and Balad supporters will
vote for Labor ... .

"We need a campaign to get the Arab population to vote. Israel is at a
turning point after the pullout from Gaza. There is talk of transferring Umm
el-Fahm to the Palestinian Authority, making the state more Jewish and
interfering with human rights. The Arabs have something to lose and
must...vote against the right-wing parties," ....

Abu Ras says that the Arab parties should not try to merge but rather,
"cooperate against the infiltration of Zionist parties into the Arab
sector." He say, "There are differences between the [Arab] parties, and if
they unite, the number of voters will drop and the public will become
apathetic. A variety of lists would make things more interesting."

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 7 Sept.'05:"Arab commentators highlight U.S.
impotence in face of Katrina"By Agence France Presse (AFP)

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"more vitriolic commentators in the Arab world even suggested the
hurricane was a just revenge for American 'killing and plundering' across
the globe"

" 'The failure of the Unitd States to deal with the consequences of
hurricane Katrina has highlighted the weakness of the American superpower' "
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EXCERPTS:
CAIRO: The death and devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the slow
response ...by the Bush administration has shown up the "impotence" of the
world's only superpower in the eyes of many in the Middle East. Some of the
more vitriolic commentators in the Arab world even suggested the hurricane
was a just revenge for American "killing and plundering" across the globe,
including its war on Iraq.
"The Bush administration itself through its hegemony and enmity has targeted
nations and people with all sorts of human Katrinas, shellings, killings and
occupation," said Jordanian independent Arabic-language newspaper Al-Ghad.
. . .
"The failure of the United States to deal with the consequences of Hurricane
Katrina has highlighted the weakness of the American superpower," wrote
Egypt's government newspaper Al-Akhbar.
"... Bush is seen as a bad omen by the people of the United States," added
editorial writer Galal Doweidar.
"The anger and revulsion of the American people over the impotence in
handling the catastrophe also reflects disappointment with Bush, whose years
in power are now linked with multiple crises, even natural disasters," he
said.
"Bush ...is as incapable of handling the crisis in New Orleans as the
crisis in Iraq," said another editorial writer in Al-Akhbar.
A commentator on state television in ... Iran said the response to Katrina
showed the United States was a superpower "only on paper" and was "blind to
the widening gulf" affecting the black population and the poor.
"Just as Chernobyl marked the end of the Soviet Union, which did not know
how to help the victims, Katrina could have the same consequences for the
United States," he said.
The Al-Qaeda linked group headed by Iraq's most wanted man Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi similarly suggested the devastation wrought by Katrina was the
beginning of the end for the U.S.
. . .
... Jordan Times said the catastrophe could have implications for U.S.
foreign policy.
"This can only mean that Washington will have less money and fewer
resources, including human capital, to invest in foreign policy pursuits,"
it said.
"It may not be far-fetched even to conclude that the U.S. military
involvement in Iraq could be affected by the costly job of helping two
important U.S. states where much of the energy is being produced," it added.
. . .
But Qatar's Al-Sharq said it hoped "the global humanitarian reaction to the
victims of Katrina will pave the way for a new dialogue between the world's
civilizations and religions in the interest of international security and
peace." - AFP

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA