Should Iraq start to finance its own reconstruction?

What the US Senators are saying are irresponsible. The United States Invaded Iraq on false and fabricated reasons. The invasion made Iraq from being one of the most stable nations in the Arab World to a mess. It is the United States moral responsibility to pay for all the reconstruction and rebuilding cost of Iraq. Since the senators are responsible for authorizing this war, they have to bear the consequences of their actions. The American tax payers can get back at them through their ballot.

Added Al Jazeera Website: 26 April 2008 3:18 PM GMT

Should Israel accept a truce with Hamas?

Israel will never accept truce with Hamas. They only deal with the legitimate Palestinian Authority headed by Mahmoud Abbas. There will never be peace in the Holy Land unless the Palestinian people themselves decide that they want peace. They should first stand as united Palestine before they could broker a peace deal with Israel. Hamas must relinquish Gaza to the legitimate Palestinian Authority. It is the only way to lift the trade embargo in that strip of land.

Added Al Jazeera Website: 26 April 2008 9:17 GMT

Should the Pakistani government negotiate with the Pakistani Taliban?

It would be unwise for the newly installed Pakistani government to broker a truce with the Pakistani Taliban. The truce will only discard al the hard work and success that Musharaf gained against the terror group. It will also offend and anger the United States, the number one source of Pakistan’s military equipment / aid. The truce will also offer an opportunity for the terror organization to regroup and gain strength.

Added Al Jazeera Website: 26 April 2008 2:58PM GMT

Should Jimmy Carter meet Hamas Leader Khalid Meshaal?

Jimmy Carter met with the leader of the terror group Hamas Khalid Meshaal and its supporter Syrian President Bashar Assad to the disappointment of the US government. The US has a non negotiation policy to any terror organization around the world. Jimmy Carter is old and is not in power to broker a peace deal. It’s obvious that Jimmy Carter only wanted an attention. He’s also interested in one thing. That is to upstage the US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice.

Added Al Jazeera website: Saturday, 19 April 2008, 3:31GMT

Should the UN investigate claims Israel may be deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza?

I understand the pressures that the journalists have to bear from their TV networks just to get the scoop but I couldn’t understand why they have to be in the ‘war zone’. They could not blame the fighting Israeli soldiers and the Hamas if they’ll get hit by stray bullets. Having a TV sign on your vehicle does not protect you from bullets or grenade. The United Nations has more things to worry than investigate on a journalist killed at the war zone. It would only be a waste of time and money. The money that will be spent on the investigations should instead be allocated for food and health care of the Gaza residents.

Added Al Jazeera website: Saturday, 19 April 2008, 3:38GMT

Will Egypt’s elections ease the country’s woes?

Mubarak’s iron grip rule in Egypt may be a bitter pill to swallow to the opposition parties but it’s the only way to stop the radical and fundamental Islamic parties like the Muslim brotherhood from ruling Egypt. Mubarak’s regime brought stability in the Egyptian society that radical Islamic parties could not offer. Egypt is also credited for brokering and supporting peace deals with Israel and the Palestinians. The current election that promises a big margin victory to the ruling party is just part of the Egyptian political process. The international community should just accept the results.

Added: Al Jazeera English Website: Sunday, 13 April 2008, 12:55GMT

Will a new constitution bring peace to Nepal?

The participation of the Maoists in Nepal’s political process means that peace is at hand. It’s a welcome change for a country that has been devastated by the insurgency and poverty. The abolition of the monarchy that did not anymore served its purpose is long overdue. The Nepalese decided their fate in their own terms. The recent election result says it all.

Added: Al Jazeera English Website: Sunday, 13 April 2008, 12:53GMT

The ugly side of being Filipino

On 22 March 2008, a local Filipino columnist of Saudi Gazette wrote in his column ‘Ang Pinoy nga Naman’ about poverty and its link to prostitution activities of OFWs in the Kingdom. He named Jester Soldevilla as the flesh selling OFW in Ramaniyah mall. The article started a two week long debate, anonymous and libelous emails condemning the author. It was later found out that the author himself was guilty of fabricating a story about Jester just so he could write something in his column.

I’ve heard several reports about Filipino crab mentality outside the Philippines but I never believed it until it happened to Jester Soldevilla. The columnist thirst to make a small amount of money resulted to his writing a very irresponsible article against his compatriot. The sad thing is that he never offered a retraction and apology to his victim.

The columnist was successful in making all Filipinos in Al Khobar who innocently go to Ramaniyah mall vulnerable to the persecution of the people working for the ‘Commission for the Prevention of Vices’ or the mutawas. It was affirmed with the few raids last Friday in some Filipino establishments in Al Khobar.

The bitter exchanges of hate emails between the supporters of Jester and the writer were something that Filipinos should be ashamed of. I do not condone with those tasteless emails but I can never blame them. They were hurt by what the writer wrote in his article and their thirst for blood against the writer is justifiable.

Corrupt and destabilizer politicians like Cory Aquino has been very successful in inculcating the mob mentality amongst Filipino people. Their vindictiveness has reached overseas where there are Filipinos. We are hurting and fighting each other without admitting who’s at fault. We thought that we can get away with everything. This Filipino attitude will not bring us anywhere. Unless we unite and forgive each other, we will never achieve peace in our country and in the countries where there are large Filipino community.

The Jester Soldevilla and Saudi Gazette writer fiasco has died down but this will never be the last.

Janina San Miguel

Janina San Miguel became an overnight sensation in the Philippines, youtube and the whole world after her English blunder at the Interview Competition of the recently concluded 2008 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant. Ironically, Janina won the Bb. Pilipinas – World crown to the shock of many. Since last year, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), the organizer of the pageant that owns the franchises to Miss International, Miss Universe and Miss World pageants gives the title Bb. Pilipinas – World to the delegate with the highest scores during the pageant. This simply means that Janina was the grand winner of that night despite her setback in the Interview competition.

I had the chance to watch the whole show just today and I must admit that the production was one of the best that I’ve seen in the recent years. I was just dismayed that despite the quality of production, Janina’s booboos happened.

Filipinos from all over the world condemned Janina San Miguel for her English. They said that she is an embarrassment to Filipinos who clamed to be the third largest English speaker in the world. Many even called to give up her crown.

If there are people that are not happy with the winning of Janina, there are also those that support her. They said that it was traumatic for a 17 year old girl to be at the center stage of Araneta.

If Janina San Miguel is only joining a Mutya ng Barangay contest, I wouldn’t have minded her English blunder. However, she’s joining the Binibining Pilipinas Pageant that happens to be the most prestigious pageant in the land. As the winner of the Bb. Pilipinas – World title, she earned the right to represent the Philippines in the Miss World Pageant. Many fear that she’ll make a mess of herself at Miss World.

Janina’s English would surely kill Mrs. Sonia Galila, my high school English teacher at Sun Yat Sen High School of embarrassment. Part of Janina’s blunder can be blamed to the Philippines' educational system. There are lawyers that speak Janina San Miguel’s brand of English. The worst thing is, even our teachers could not even speak grammatically correct English.

Janina has at least 7 months to prepare for the Miss World Pageant. I just hope that she can polish her English with proper training. Who knows, she’ll bring home the first Miss World crown for the Philippines.