Hezbollah and the future of Middle East

Since July 12, 2006 the day when Hezbollah captured 2 Israeli soldiers from southern Lebanon’s border post and the subsequent 34 days long Israeli attack on Lebanon has is a very significant incident to understand present Middle Eastern politics and its social undercurrents. UN passed a resolution 1701 to stop this hostility and authorized its 15000 troops to go Lebanon to maintain peace and reconstruction. Within 4 days of cessation of war, UK s sold its little known fighter plane to Saudi worth $11 billion. France was engaged in fierce negotiation about the issue, who will be the commander of the forces in Lebanon. One should know that Lebanon owns a loan of Paris Club worth $4 billions and western media continued to tell us about the value of the destruction in Lebanon, estimate says its between $3 to 4 Billion. Who will reconstruct Lebanon now? Who will fund it and who will kill the buck out of this war game is a different story. First we should have a look on Muslim-Jew’s historical relationship thru the ages and possibility of their co-existence. Hezbollah is holding mass rallies as gesture of victorious in this war and Israel has its own claims about the destruction of Hezbollah. It’s important to evaluate Muslim-Jews relations in their historical terms and future of Hezbollah and its followings.

The hatred against Israel is actually age old and it is natural. Jews lost their authority and possession to the Islam so looser are not supposed to accept the ideology of Winner, they will always nurture a grudge against it and the winner knows this fact that the hatred which they spreader against the looser should continue intact to vindicate their ideological superiority. What I understand about the causes of this hatred is very deep rooted and it starts from Prophet's Hijra to Madina period. Medina was a host of three powerful clans of Jews i.e. Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayza. It’s obvious for the Jews to react to the new movement and their plan to sabotage it. In course of time, many events happened and first two clans were expelled from Medina after being robbed of everything. Still, the last clan remained defiant and continued to wage their struggle against new religion propagated by Muhammad. Ultimately, Muhammad and ally grabbed an opportunity to punish this tribe after the battle of trenches when forces of Abu Sufian were defeated. Actually Banu Qurayza played a treacherous role in this battle and Muslim forces wanted Medina to be cleared from every threat. Muhammad played a shrewd role by deputing Saad Ibn Maadh a judge to settle this dispute between Jews and Muslim whose credentials were already known as anti-Jew, Saad pronounced the decision to kill every male adult of the tribe, and its said, trenches were dig at Medina's bazar by Muhammad himself and the leader of Jew Kab ibn Asad was beheaded by Muhammad himself, more than 600-700 men were butchered in Medina which was the oldest example of summery execution.
I believe that one bloodshed invites other bloodshed and it’s a continuous chain from right our past to this Lebanon attack. Both have their reason to defend their so-called causes; both have their religion and injunctions from their appropriate Gods. We will discuss this issue some other time and space, I told you a small piece of history and incidents which could give a hint of this historical enmity between Jew and Muslims.

Let us come to Iran first. To me, Iran has a rich culture and civilization than these Arabs historically. They have great sense of identity, culture, music and studies. We will discuss its history some other time; let us come to present time development. Iran got a tremendous boost and rise in the recent past by the help of US knowingly or unknowingly. Since 1979, Iran is known for its radical Islamic revolution more in the non-Islamic world, however in the Islamic world, it remained a point of contention on various ideological issues. Iran was curbed by the Taliban in Afghanistan in east (Taliban, Pakistan and Saudi Sunni alliance with US) and by Saddam's Bathist Party on the western border, both were hostile to Shiite Iran and unfriendly. Sunni world kept Iran busy during 1980s with the war with Iraq which was supported by mainly Kuwait and Saudi and actually this money which was spent on WAR became a focal point between Iraq and its ally Kuwait which led Iraq to Invade Kuwait. You know the later part of the story, ultimately, US has to come inside Iraq and removed Saddam from Iraq in the west and Taliban in the East. This is the result of US war on terror for Iran that its gifted with compete independence and to assert itself, apart from it new Iraqi Govt is headed by Shiites. So-called Iranian Islamic revolution was on its death road just before these developments and it would have been crumbled soon but it survived due to unforeseen outcome of US+Ally action in the Persian gulf. We saw a sharp division in Iran during its last presidential election when Pro-Reform Forces were quite close to their victory. Iran also gained economically during this time; the rise in the Oil prices gifted Iran more than $40 billion reserve. The Present President of Iran is quite lucky candidate to witness all these development and he is sharp enough to make a killing out of it so his first attack came on Israel (the weakest chord of Muslim world) as he told this world about the TURTH of holocaust. He raised this issue tactically and this argument culminates in denying the existence of Israel itself. The second issue of contradiction was nuclear enrichment and its right for the bomb. Both issues are not directly related to Iranian population and were a dose for them to divert their attention from the local real domestic issues like unemployment, lack of industrialization, meeting the demand of economic liberalization, rate of inflation, poverty elevation, education, research and the list goes on. But Ahmedenejad’s Islam do not stand for the solution of the common masses rather the ruling clergy is more interested to prolonged this tussle with the west on these issues and continue to stress their right to retain Nuclear Bomb/Energy. One must keep some fact in the mind that Shiite Muslims are 10-15% of the total Muslim population world wide and Iran 89%,Iraq40%,Bahrain20+% & Afghanistan 20+% and Saudi 15+% are Shiite.
We can see a sharp rise in Shiite revival since the fall of Saddam in Iraq and continued infighting between these two main factions in Iraq which brought this country on the brink of collapse or civil war or dismemberment. Iran encouraged Shiite dissent in Iraq and used it political influence to form a new govt. in Iraq by election. One Vote, One Man was the most popular slogan on Pro Hezbollah TV Channel Al Manar which reaped a fantastic crop right from Lebanon to Iraq to local municipal election in KSA. Shiite population took an active part in election and its said that they are on their best position in KSA where they can take part in decision making. Do I need to remind Husne Mubarak's Statement in April this year which is self explanatory how this Sunni world is reacting to its undercurrent of their society. Mubarak said on April10 in an interview to AP"Arab Shiites in Iraq and elsewhere are more loyal to Iran than to their home countries." and this created a huge uproar in the entire Middle East.
In this back ground, Hezbollah captured 2 Israeli soldiers in south Lebanon territory and gave an opportunity to Israel to unleash bloody wrath against Lebanon for which its known for last 5 decades. US War on terror has already underlined it that Iran and Syria are the nexus of evil and this campaign was already on since the fall of Saddam. Let us examine the status of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Lebanon’s population is 3.7 million and 60% are Muslim (2.2 million) others are Christian etc. Out of this Muslim population about 25% is Shiite (880000) it has 24 members in assembly and 2 cabinet ministers. Should we believe that this small group will represent the a nation of 3.7millions?or the 3 millions of Lebanese’s population will ask for an explanation from a immature political leadership of Hezbollah for their action which ruined the country's 4 billion infrastructure and lost hundreds of lives? I am sure, war jingoism will soon settle and wisdom will prevail to ask appropriate explanation from war mongers. Israelis society has already started this process without wasting a single minute and asking question from their leaders. I would ask this question to those who considers Nasrullah a leader of Ummah so on so forth, please tell us the cost of a single rocket fired on Israel? Please also tell us their CALCULATION how long they will take to ELIMINATE ISREAL from this planet and establish NIZAME KHALIFA on what cost?? How many Muslims and their houses will remain intact on this planet to see that PLEASANT DAY??
Let us examine the strength of Hezbollah by analyzing present character of Lebanese parliament. This country faced a worst civil war from 1975-1990 until they (Muslim and Christians) reached a pact called Taif Agreement in 1989.In Taif Agreement, members of parliament were increased to 128 from 99 and both warring faction were agreed to have similar numbers in parliament i.e. 64 members each. Muslims divided 27 seats each among themselves (Shiite and Sunni) and 8 seats were given to Druze and 2 to Alwites. South Lebanon consist 23 parliamentary seats and all 14 members of Hezbollah represents from the same area but one should not forget that other 9 seats are being represented by non-Shiites i.e. 3 Sunnis,1 Druze,Maronites Christians 2,Greek Orthodox 1 and Greek Catholic Christians 2 seats its shows that this area has a sizable amount of non-Shiites population. One should remember that the presents Lebanese Parliament are run by a coalition of two major political groups. One is headed by the son of former slained prime minister Rafik Hariri’s son (Current for Future Party) is having 72 members in parliament out of it, 36 members are from Current for Future Party, this group has more than 10 political parties. The Second group is the alliance of main Shiites parties (total members 35) where Hezbollah rank second; the first party is Amal Party which has 15 members, Hezbollah 14, Syrian Nationalist 2 and others). This group is also supporting government and Hezbollah got 2 berths in the cabinet. Do we know under what condition these elections were fought? This was the first historic election which eliminated Syrian influence in Lebanon which was compelled to withdraw its 14000 troops from Lebanon on April 27, 2005 after the brutal car bomb which killed then Lebanese Prime Minister Mr. Rafik Hariri. It’s a general view in Lebanon that Syrian President was the man behind this killing as Hariri was more close to Saudi King.
Let us have a quick view about Syria and its tactical support to Iran and Hezbollah. Syria is known as a birth place of Bath Movement and President Assad was the founding figure of this movement. Iraq and Syria were the only country where Bathist could take the control of political powers. Bathist movement was an antidote to the Communist movement in this region and Michel Aflaq was the main ideologue of this party who was a teacher. In 1971 Assad captured political power thru army coup in Syria, same was done by Saddam in Iraq in the later part of 1970s (1979)Bathist were quite influential in Syria since 1950s and was a main current side by side communist movement in this whole region. Syria under Assad received hefty helps from then U.S.S.R and socialist block but after the fall of U.S.S.R in 1991, Syria faced a political dilemma in international politics, more over it remained entangled in Lebonan-Isreal-Egypt issues. President Assad died in 2002 and Bashar Al Assad assumed political power and since than he is trying to establish his power within Syria, first challenge he faced from his vice president who accused him as a conspirator of Lebanese Prime Minister Mr. Hariri’s killing.
Historically, Syria never supported Iran and its relation remained cold with it since 1979’s Khomeini’s revolution. Syria also played an important role as an ally to Iraq during Iraq-Iran War. Syrian President played a very calculated move by supporting Hezbollah during Israel-Hezbollah war as Syria need not to be afraid of Shiite politics since Shiites are insignificant in Syria and whatever threat they posed to Bashar, he has insured their place in Jails. It’s a height of hypocrisy on the face of Syrian President and Nasrullah that they don’t ask each other about the incarcerated activist of Hezbollah in Syrian Jails. Anti-Israel and Anti-US political stance is their meeting point so we don’t see any ideological similarities between these two entirely opposite political forces therefore it cant produce a reliable platform for the masses of this region who are facing the worst threat of US-UK-Israel alliance.
Now, I would like to conclude this issue however various issues could not be addressed. I am sure you will accuse me for that as I am writing this mail since last 2 weeks in the office and I have been deviated by my job as well while trying to write this mail.
What I feel about the Muslims, they lack vision and a scientific approach and its their fate. No one can emancipate them you know why..?? because they are so-called believer, believer of a book which is said to be a final truth of the man kind. The biggest farce of the believer is that they have stopped questioning. They aren’t questioning since last 1350 years and still believe that they will be given best here and above. We can see the state of their fate on this planet how influential they are in world poetics despite of this fact they have more than four dozen nations and still can’t get a resolution passed in UN where 192 courtiers sits together. Muslim nations are known for west as their markets only. The first world produces their product and sells it to them, right from tooth paste to their coffin. Why cant we ask this question to ourselves, to our leaders, statesman, businessmen that why we are not been able to produce even a single product for the west or ourselves? What is our contribution to this world in last 50 years (not to add 1400 years)? How many research papers were been published in international forum from this part of world? Please see yourself right from your head to the toes and give me a single name of the thing which you are using is created by Muslims? Now we hear that some lunatic politicians are telling us that they could make a Bomb to bring peace on this world. We know that what is the condition of the common life in Iran and Pakistan, we also know that even the drinking water is not available for the population and what is the general status their education system, judiciary, public life, infrastructure etc. Western world made this bomb after achieving a certain social task of their nation but we tend to do a copy without taking care of the interest of our peoples. Only a blind community like ours can sit in silence when Iran spent $150 millions on Lebanese Hezbollah for their political benefits only. I appreciate Israeli people that they haven’t wasted even a single day after that war and started questioning Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about the wrong handling of the war. We are the only stupid community on this planet which is governed by there bearded people who knows the art to feed our senses which he created long ago.
The community is known by its leaders only and who are our leaders?? We have produced enough quantity of Doctors, Engineers, Social Scientists, Businessmen, Traders etc but who are our Leaders? Ahmednejad, Nasrulla, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Bin Laden, Zawahiri, Brotherhood or Hamas?? Just see their acts and the results which they brought in return.
We need to liberate ourselves from our clergy which is 100% political rather than religious, they have interpreted religion as well out of their evil designs. Let us raise a revolt against them at soonest and study everything independently. Creation must be applied and appreciated for the progress of whole society. The one who couldn’t create anything here in last hundreds of years are dreaming to have fun in heaven. Let us make this world beautiful with all positive energies and start it right from your doorstep and the see the result. I am sure, heaven belongs to them who has done anything positive right here and made this earth beautiful a bit. I believe, religion was needed to guide and save humanity thus it came later but how pathetic is to see that, Man is now saving so-called religion. I follow a religion to the extent when it calls for a unity amongst mankind. I leave it the moment when it starts to embark upon superiority to others.
I feel, that world will be so much understanding some other day that we would ask our children which religion you want instead of piercing thru her/his ears the day he/she is born(I am surprised why someone hasn’t yet sue his parents for this un-ethical, un- democratic practice so far). Our practice has stolen the fragrance and beauty of religion and what we are facing now is the result of our practice.
(To be continued)

MUSLIMS - PAINFUL PAST,HOPELESS FUTURE

(Article was written in response to eminent scholar of Islam and sociologist Dr. Asgher Ali Engineer)
It was a pleasant reading your article on this current issue which is being debated through out the world. I would like to come to the core issue where I am feeling some restless. Division between Political and Spiritual Islam. It would be a Herculean task to take this message to grass root level where Mulla element rule the roots and effectively able to present Islam as a so-called complete science of living which include state affairs (very important component) as well. Let us reach to this point sooner or later that there is nothing complete in this world and more over there is no any scope of Islamic theocracy. We can not define age-old theories with all new instrument developed by modern age, psyche and wisdom. The modern interpretation of all religions is a very serious issue where we try to justify our past and try to implement past onto our future. A lot of work is being done all over the world where people are trying to re-define centuries old religion and traditions as a viable alternative in this modern world using (immorally shamelessly) the latest technologies of the modern world which is simply unscientific, impractical and un-natural.
Let me come to the point about bifurcating political and spiritual Islam. Is it possible for the Muslim to accept it? Indian Muslim or where ever they are not in the position to take control of political power may accept it but can you expect same in the entire Middle East and North African nations? Ideologically, a Muslim thinks that Quran, the holy book is a ultimate truth and which is above from all, thus creates a very thin but powerful dividing line between Muslims and non-Muslims which sometime results in hatred. An Arab Muslim will emphasize more on the political history of Islam rather than defining its spiritual aspect but a Kashmiri Muslim would interpret Islam in opposite way. The most difficult task with the Muslims is that they do not live in the present. Their outlook is designed in such a way the either he will think about the past and tell history with pride and then all of a sudden jump into extreme future (After Death). They don’t have any vision for present. The myth of their belief that everything was set in order during Caliphate is nothing but a farce. They could not develop anything in the past 1400 hundred years just leaving apart some scanty developments during Abbasids. The problem lies with their theory of Ultimate-ism. Hegel and Huntington were born quite early when made the world believe that there is a man who is last and there is a theory which is FINAL.
We are the product of this imperfect, un -scientific theory and causing painful delay in progress and development of Muslims, be it economic, political, social and even spiritual. The discovery of oil resources brought another historical delay and slowed down the natural process of development. This was the first phenomenon in entire modern era that industrial development came without any change in production relations. Thanks to the expatriate worker and enormous wealth which kept Arabian society away from any sociological change and oil money was used to keep intact their so called heritage alive. New jargon came into force ‘From camel to Cadillac’ in this part of the world. The entire gulf region which has potential per capita income is nothing but a market for those who want to sell their product and labor as well. It has been over 42 years after exploring oil there and there is at least one or two generations which are totally far from their toiling ancestors. The new generation has everything best available from the world. Their living standard is quite extravagant and at par with some of the first world nations. They have best home, gadget, computer, all scientific technological advances and universities still we do not hear any news from their academic world. No any scientific or academic breakthrough has taken place on their soil. WHY? Why they are still considered only a market rather than creators or inventors? I am sure that their belief, teaching and tradition are responsible for this sorrow state of affairs. This is the only community on this planet which does not ask any question to it nor put its past for any scrutiny. We need to do a ruthless thorough introspection for our past without any fear from any qualm, sect or state. Let us make our house in order first and decorate it with all the modern facilities of living which are essential and then only we would be able to compete with the world. But the problem is, Muslim has evolved such a system in last 1400 years that who so ever will try to do it, will have to face Rushdie like treatment because no one oppose at the right time and right place thus giving way to sectarian forces which are ruling the roots now. For example, in last 1400 years, we could not be so mature that we could imbibe that much of strength to accept a Quran which is in chronological order. The great scholar of India Abdul Fazal did it for the first time in 1940s and tried to put Quran in chronological order, but was rejected out rightly by Muslim clerics of the time. Let us examine all the historical facts like, why Islamic state has to wait for about 400 years to make its first University in Egypt? We should ask ourselves honestly why there is no any Muslim behind any great scientific invention or discoveries of the present era? Why there is a deep vacuum of Muslims in any branch of academics? How many authors are awarded Noble Prize to Muslims? List will continue to grow…!!
Its true that religion is a very important force to motivate a community or state. It’s a driving force for the millions on this planet and vehicle of spiritual salvation for many amongst us. If it’s (Religion) a driving force to the mankind, why its (Islam) is not delivering positive, creative and productive energies to its followers? Muslims are definitely missing a link and they will have to find it out where and what is that?
Intellectual, scholar and activist bears historical responsibilities to save Islam form the dark trenches of Osama/Omar brand interpretation of Islam. Many great thinkers had to pay great price in the medieval period during Umayyad or Abbasids to Imam Khomeini. There is ongoing struggle between new and old within Islam, unfortunately OLD has proved to be more powerful and detrimental. Let us see how long this era of ignorance will prevail and continue to eclipse the sun of wisdom, liberty, knowledge and creativity?