Separation of Church and State in Christianity & Rejection of Mass participation in Election (Democracy), Nationalism/Patriotism/Allegiance in Islam!

 

I would acknowledge, in defiance of the western thinking, that it is but natural for one to have an erumpent-attachment to one’s homeland; with a propensity to guarding and protecting it, while taking pride in sense of belonging to it and owning it!

In essence, it is one’s kinfolks, community and the nation one cares about and wanted to protect. It is not only the piece of real-estate; but all that, what is burgeoning from it, living on it and reaping benefits from it.

In Islam, although the concept of customary nationalism/patriotism is not enshrined as such, for there is no concept of a nation-state enshrined as well, yet nationalism/patriotism/allegiance is espoused and encouraged in a non-customary-sense, primarily to a universally-mosaicked, pluralistic nation (Ummah). {According to some, brazenly extrovert, Muslim scholars/thinkers this extends even to the Jews and the Christians}

“We have revealed it (Qura’an) in the Arabic language so that you (people) would understand it”. (Q, 12:2)

This laid the foundation of a NEW-pluralistic-nation comprising of people from all walks of life, lands, communities, ethnicities, skin color and texture. The first [Muslim country], comprising of two sacred cities of mecca and medina, was also made to be protected against all evils.

[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. (Q, 2:22)

And the earth We have spread out (like a carpet); set thereon mountains firm and immovable, and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance. (Q, 15:19)

“The (whole) earth has been made good for me, a means of purification and a mosque (place of prayer); so, wherever a man maybe, when the time for prayer comes, let him pray wherever he is.” (Hadith”: Sahih Muslim, 521)

As per the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 the sovereign power of God to make laws and ordain monarchs with the divine right to rule was absolute. The legal concepts of national sovereignty and the sovereignty of man in matters of governance were introduced by Hugo Grotius in the late 17th century and further developed by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson and Roger William; both are presumptively assertive of God and His religion, whereupon they have driven a wedge.

Their acknowledgment of Divine sovereignty in the face of inductive-reasoning-based premise becomes dubious, hence the conclusion is bound to be flawed.

Muslim Intellectuals/Scholars, therefore consciously refrained from treading this path. They rather used the deductive reasoning to the textual authority [Qura’anic–Nas] and adopted the religion (in its letter and spirit) as a way of life.

Muslims, nevertheless, faltered on account of the “right to rule” as per the divine will; by a Caliph chosen through mutual consultations and consensus of the pious elders, resulting in tyrannical dynasties, absolute-kingship and ruling elitism.  {Although, conceptually, the Absolute Sovereignty of Allah remained intact} 

So-called caliphates started bending the Sharaii rules; for following Qura’anic verdicts exactly would mean a caliph is relegated to a secondary position, a guardian (vice-regent), while the absolute-sovereignty and kingship rest with Allah (SWT)!

This dichotomy has become more pronounced now; due to adopting the western style election through mass participation, of a Muslim ruler of a Muslims dominated state, in contravention of the divine will. (Q, 6:116)

This is the main reason why there is not a single, 100 % Sharia’a compliant, state in the entire world?

Note: Sultanate of Brunei has recently announced Sharia’a to be the law of the land, which remains to be adjudged on the anvil of the time! 

Read more on a similar topic: https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/cherished-democracy/

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Philippines’ Contrived Conversion to Christianity.

In 1521, the Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan carrying the Spanish flag came across the Philippines while searching for the Spice Island. (most likely Indian sub-continent) Ferdinand Magellan and his men landed in Cebu Island in the central Philippines instead.

With his arrival in Cebu on March 17, 1521, his first attempt was to colonize and Christianize the islands and its inhabitants. The story goes that Magellan met with Rajah Humabon, the ruler of the Cebu island, who had an ill grandson. Magellan (or one of his men) was able to cure or help the young boy recover, and in gratitude, RajahHumabon allowed himself, his chief consort Humamay, and 800 of his subjects to be baptized en masse. (No Independent confirmation of this fabricated story, however, is available).

After Magellan died, the Spanish government replaced him by sending Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. He arrived in Cebu from New Spain (now Mexico). Spain introduced Christianity and colonized the Philippines. The first permanent Spanish settlement was established in Cebu in 1565, making it the new Spanish Colony Capital, with Legazpi as the first Governor.

After Magellan, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi conquered the Muslim Kingdom of Maynila in 1570. The Spanish missionaries were able to spread Christianity in Luzon and the Visayas by using all kinds of tricks and coercion, but the diverse array of ethnolinguistic groups in the highland areas of Luzon and Visayas avoided Spanish annexation owing to their remote and difficult mountainous region. Sultanates in Mindanao retained the Islamic faith as its official religion; which had been present in the southern Philippines since sometime between the 10th and 12th century, it slowly spread north throughout the archipelago, particularly in coastal areas.  

The resistance; to the western invasion, colonization and forced conversion to Christianity makes, an important part of the national history of the Philippines. Although many western historians have frivolously claimed that the Philippines peacefully accepted Spanish rule; the reality is that many insurgencies and rebellions continued on many scales and places throughout the Spanish Colonial period. 

The Spanish contrivances rendered unsuccessful in converting Muslim Sultanates to Christianity, and in fact warred with Muslim Filipinos throughout their 300-year colonial rule from 1521 – 1898. Nor did they successfully conquer certain highland areas, such the Luzon highlands, where a diverse array of ethnolinguistic groups used their remote, difficult mountainous terrain to successfully avoid colonization and conversion.

Spanish clergies were highly contemptuous and destructive towards local and Islamic religious practices. They systematically destroyed indigenous holy places and symbols. They also tried to stamp out all examples of native scripts and literature for fear that Filipinos were using exotic symbols to foment rebellion.

Islam had been present in the southern Philippines since sometime between the 10th and 12th century. It slowly spread north throughout the archipelago, particularly in coastal areas. Had it not been for Spanish intervention, the Philippines definitely would have been a Muslims dominated country like Malaysia, Indonesia and others in the area.

 

SAVE—-ROHINGYA, UGHER, PALESTINIAN AND KASHMIRI MUSLIM FROM STATE-SPONSORED GENOCIDE. RECLAIM—AFRICA— A MUSLIM CONTINENT.     

 

Shakir2.wordpress.com

 

The Population Control Holocaust.

“Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the Third World.”

A game turned against the perpetrators.

“And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners” (Q, 3:54)

 

We are all familiar with the slogan “Family Planning” hurled all over the world. Most of the western countries “unwittingly”, oblivious of its bitter outcome, embraced and practiced it religiously.

Thomas Robert Malthus, an English cleric and philosopher; abandoning his religiously structured thinking for secularism, penned his catastrophic theory in 1798.  He came up with the weird concepts of geometrical population growth in comparison to arithmetical food supply growth; concluding that resulting disparate population growth; in terms of diminishing return, would result in food shortage.

He further theorized that so created imbalance could be corrected through preventive and positive checks on population growth to a sustainable level. The result is Malthusian Catastrophe faced by most of the western countries in the form of negative or lowest level of population growth.

 Positive Checks or Natural Checks

He believed that natural forces will correct the imbalance between food supply and population growth in the form of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes and man-made actions such as wars and famines. (Man taking the matter in his own hands—depriving Africa and the developing Muslim dominated third world countries of the food and resources. Forced sterilization–part of his man-made actions).

Preventative Checks

To correct the imbalance, Malthus also suggested using preventative measures to control the growth of the population. These measures include family planning, late marriages, and celibacy.

The effect of these measures turned the western society upside down as it gave rise to the following abnormal, rather perverted, thinking such as: – 

Hell, with the children let’s have fun for the longest time.

Let’s have the children we can afford; as if there is no sustainer, which resulted in decelerated population growth/negative population growth.

No fear of pregnancy (due to contraception/abortion) gave rise to rampant promiscuity.

Abortion—became as easy as, throwing the baby out with the bathwater or like dispensing away the used condom.

As a consequence, countries were/are forced to offer an incentive such as paternity leave to encourage the population growth (France).

 “And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin” (Q, 17:31)

  Muslims on the other hand, by and large, did not pay heed to this nonsensical secular propaganda and continued as usual. Treading this path, however, has not been without criticism and sufferings but the result is that by 2030 Muslim would become the largest religious group of the World.

The neutralist view: rapid population growth neither promotes nor impedes economic growth, has held sway. The emergence of this view has coincided with a declining interest in family planning as an instrument of economic development.

 The Islamic perspective on population growth & prevention.

A vast majority of fuqahâ’ (Muslim-Jurists)—past and present—hold that temporarily putting off childbearing is permissible on an individual basis (In my view, it ought to be legitimized by some compulsion–Author), but not as a societal ideal which overrides the default encouragement to have children.

The philosophy of Sharia – the Clear Path

There is a comprehensive Islamic philosophy underpinning Sharia.

“For each, (of your group) We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So, vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah, ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ”.(Q, 5:48)

For Muslims, life did not begin at birth, but a long time before that. Before even the creation of the first man. It began when God created the souls of everyone who would ever exist and asked them, “Am I not your Lord?” They all replied, “Yea.”

God decreed for each soul a time on earth so that He might try them. Then, after the completion of their appointed terms, He would judge them and send them to their eternal destinations: either one of endless bliss or one of everlasting grief.

This life, then, is a journey that presents to its wayfarers many paths. Only one of these paths is clear and straight. This path is the Sharia.

Prophet (PBUH) said: “Marry those who are loving and fertile, for I will be proud of your great numbers before the other nations.” Abu Dawood (2050) narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yasaar said; Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1784. 

Imam Ghazali said: when a man gets married, intending thereby to have children, this is an act of worship for which he will be rewarded in multiple ways because of his good intentions.

1) The perpetuation of Human race, willed by Allah (SWT).

2) Fulfilling the wish/will of the Prophet—numerical superiority of Muslim Nation.

3) Forgiveness through the prayers of righteous off-springs.

Abraham—Q,37: 100, Zachariah–Q,19:3-7, prayed for righteous off-springs.

Most Muslim dominated countries are governed by Western (or western like) Laws, codes and institutions. This hybrid (mix of) “Anglo-Islamic” legal system has vitiated the governance by/role of Islamic laws; thereby making an analogical deduction (Qiyas–reasoning) easy, to legitimize the use of modern contraceptive techniques. Many Muslim dominated countries, therefore, promulgated laws to combat overpopulation despite ambiguity on the issue of fertility control. The Qura’an, (first source of Islamic law), forbids the killing of Children in categorical terms (Q,17:31), while being silent on the use of contraception. Allah also promised well-being of those who get married despite lacking means. (Q, 24:32) (Guaranteeing the sustenance, (Q,29:60).

[Remember] We do not ask thee to provide sustenance [for your family/people] it is We who provide sustenance for you and your family/people. And the future belongs to the God-conscious. (Q, 20:132)

Most sayings of the Prophet on the subject of coitus interruptus (Azal) are reticent. The position commonly and historically shared by Islamic jurists coincides with Al-Ghazali’s interpretation; according to which; coitus interruptus is barely tolerable (Makrooh). There have always been a minority of jurists, absolutely opposed to contraception. Most jurists tend to forbid permanent birth control except when necessitated by serious hazards/issues.

The abortion to prevent childbirth is clearly forbidden in Islam (Q, 17:31). 

Despite governments having passed family planning laws, much of the general public believes that Islamic laws prohibit contraception.

Note: Practicing “AZAL” (Coitus interruptus—pre-ejaculation withdrawal) was allowed, with reticence despite it being “makrooh” repugnant. (as the condom had not then been invented) Therefore, the use of condom instead may; on the basis of analogical deduction; vitiate the psychological and physical reasons attached to coitus interruptus, while used for gaping the pregnancies.

Gaping the pregnancies do not seem to be impermissible/reprehensible; for there is no textual or hadithic forbiddance available, as is in the case of permanent birth control.

The Islamic concept of breastfeeding a baby, for two [to two and a half-gestating/weaning period—Q, 46:15] years, rather supports the gaping in pregnancies. {Q, 2:233} [Breastfeeding is a natural means of contraception for the mother]

 Asia, Africa and the Middle East and the Muslim population in Europe; the main beneficiaries of the “Demographic Dividend”

Demographic dividend, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund, means; “the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population (14 and younger, and 65 and older)”. In other words, it is “a boost in economic productivity that occurs when there are growing numbers of people in the workforce relative to the number of dependents” The demographic dividend is delivered through a number of mechanisms. The most important are labor supply, savings, and human capital.

Remarkable’ decline in fertility rates

The study, published in the Lancet, followed trends in every country from 1950 to 2017. In 1950, women were having an average of 4.7 children in their lifetime. The fertility rate all but halved to 2.4 children per woman by last year. But that masks huge variation between nations. The fertility rate in Niger, West Africa, is 7.1, but in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, women are having one child, on average. In the UK, the rate is 1.7, similar to most Western European countries.

 Births per woman in year 2016

Afghanistan 4.64, Pakistan 3.48 (6.60 in 1960) Saudi Arabia 2.53, India 2.33, Bangladesh 2.10, Iran 1.66.

How high does the fertility rate have to be?

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime (It’s different to the birth rate which is the number of children born per thousand people each year). Whenever a country’s rate drops below approximately 2.1 then the population will eventually start to shrink (this “baby bust” figure is significantly higher in countries which have high rates of death in childhood). At the start of the study, in 1950, there were zero nations in this position.

Reasons for falling fertility rate

The fall in fertility rate is not down to sperm counts or any of the things that normally come to mind when thinking of fertility. Instead, it is being put down to three key factors:

1) Fewer deaths in childhood meaning women have fewer babies.

2) Greater access to contraception.

3) More women in schools/colleges and the workforce.

It may be termed as a success story.

Top 10 highest fertility rate countries in 2017

Niger 7.1, Chad 6.7, Somalia 6.1, Mali 6.0, Afghanistan 6.0, South Sudan 5.9, Burkina Faso 5.4, Burundi 5.3, Uganda 5.2, Angola 5.1.

Bottom 10 lowest fertility rate countries in 2017

Cyprus 1, Taiwan 1, South Korea 1.2, Andorra 1.2, Puerto Rico 1.2, Thailand 1.2, Bosnia 1.3, Poland 1.3, Moldova 1.3, Japan 1.3.

The Population Control Holocaust.

Accordingly, ideologues at some of the highest levels of power and influence formulated a party line that the population of the world’s poor nations needed to be drastically cut in order to reduce the potential recruitment pool available to the communist cause.{It may now be argued, by the same elements, that this pool will be available for terrorist recuitment}

President Lyndon Johnson was provided a fraudulent study by a RAND Corporation economist that used cooked calculations to “prove” that Third World children actually had negative economic value. Thus, by allowing excessive numbers of children to be born, Asian, African, and Latin American governments were deepening the poverty of their populations, while multiplying the masses of angry proletarians ready to be led against America by the organizers of the coming World Revolution.

An Office of Population was set up within USAID, and Dr. Reimert Thorolf Ravenholt was appointed its first director in 1966. He would hold the post until 1979, using it to create a global empire of interlocking population control organizations operating with billion-dollar budgets to suppress the existence of people considered undesirable by the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Ravenholt, an epidemiologist by training, he apparently looked on pregnancy as a disease, to be eradicated in the same way one eliminates smallpox or yellow fever. He was also, as it happened, a bellicose misanthrope. His business cards were printed on condoms, and he delighted in handing them out to all comers.

 Henry Kissinger, an evil mind!

We found a big hunk in NSSM 200, also known as “Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for U.S. Security and Overseas Interests (THE KISSINGER REPORT).” NSSM stands for “National Security Study Memorandum.” The government document was published in 1974 and made public in 1980. The Kissinger Report says that the U.S. economy will require large and increasing amounts of minerals from abroad, especially from less developed countries.  Whatever may be done to guard against interruptions of supply and to develop domestic alternatives, needs to be done. That fact gives the U.S. enhanced interest in the political, economic, and social stability of the supplying countries. Wherever a lessening of population pressures through reduced birth rates can increase the prospects for such stability, population policy becomes relevant to resource supplies and to the economic interests of the United States. 

In a national security memo dated April 24, 1974, titled, “Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for the United States Security and Overseas Interest,” Henry Kissinger, the Secretary of State under Richard Nixon, indicated: “Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the Third World.” Depopulation— depopulate something means: “To ravage, to ruin, to reduce the population, by violence, disease, etc.” Mr. Kissinger continued, this means they are going to destroy the population of mainly Third World countries.

 Those worried about overpopulation and the depletion of resources should read these two pieces and then rationally decide if the Supreme-Being who is so comprehensively perfect about the numbers and time wouldn’t know what is He doing? 

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2019/01/03/quraan-a-divine-manifestation-confirmed-by-19/

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2019/01/03/proof-of-the-originator-god/

Many Muslim often wonder why Saudi Arabia, with all the wealth in the world, has done almost nothing for the poverty alleviation or stopping the mass conversion of African Muslims to Christianity? (6 million every year) It obediently followed the dictates of its western Masters to stem the overpopulation of the world.  

Shakir2.wordpress.com

Behemoth Turkey!

Bounteous balkanization of “Turkey”, Lausanne 1923, Yet, it is coming back in a big way.

After the first world war, victorious European allies hatched a conspiracy: in 1918, known as “Treaty of Sevres”, against Turkey truncating Anatolia; colonizing the territory, what is now Turkey, and by giving independence to non-Turkish nationalities under its dominion. It was opposed by the brave Turks; who fought back and defeated the conspirators, especially Greece in 1923-23. Lausanne treaty was the consequence of their defeat at the hands of Turks under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.  

Lausanne II conference was held in 1923; which included Britain, France and Italy. Ismet Inonu represented Turkey. Turkey, as perpetrated by the western Imperial powers, was divided and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was made the first President of Secular-Turkey. {why Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, despite winning, accepted the short end of the stick is dubious}. 

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/break-up-of-ottoman-empire-through-british-conspiracy/ 

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938), as agreed under the first treaty of Lausanne 1923, founded Modern Secular Turkey making Ankara as the capital; abolishing the Caliphate and declaring it “Republic” instead. Conniving parties were; Ireland, France, Russia, Italy spearheaded by Britain. Under this treaty the Ottoman Empire (Caliphate) was abolished, the Caliph Osmanoğlu and his family exiled, their assets confiscated and Turkey was declared a secular state (expunging it of its Islamic Character), rights of oil exploration denied and the Strait of Bosporus declared international corridor (taking it out of Turkey’s dominion). Depriving Turkey of billions of dollars in revenue.   

Turkey after the expiration of the treaty, most likely, would start oil exploration, and joins the list of oil-producing countries. It would also start collecting the fees from ships passing through the Bosporus Strait while digging a new channel linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. 

Lingering grievances. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pro-Islam Justice and Development Party (AKP) claims that “opponents of Turkey” forced it to sign the “Treaty of Sevres” in 1920, and that of the “Treaty of Lausanne” in 1923, and also forced Turkey to abandon the islands in the Aegean Sea to Greece. Erdogan describes the Treaty of Sevres, as the first knife in the back of Ottoman Empire for it forced Turkey to concede vast tract of land under its domain. Turkey had to renounce sovereignty over Cyprus, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq and the Levant, except cities which were located in Syria, such as Urfa, Adana and Gaziantep and Kells and Marsh. Ottoman Empire also had to relinquish its political and financial rights, in November 1914, over Egypt and Sudan. 

Pro-Islam vs. Kemalist-Secularist  

Erdogan’s critics tend to be more focused on the risks Turkey faces when Lausanne expires. Conspiracy-minded secularists have always worried that Erdogan is working with the European Union to establish an independent Kurdistan or perhaps dig a new Bosporus to secure American ships’ access to the Black Sea, or really doing anything else possible to undermine the sovereignty Ataturk secured for Turkey. They are also worried that the “New Republic of Turkey” of Erdogan would be Islamic in character not “Secular” {some of the dynamics have since changed or simply do not exist} 

Erdogan’s supporters, by contrast, are more optimistic about Lausanne’s expiration, in part based on a strain of recent historical revisionism suggesting that Ataturk actually could have gotten a much better deal during the negotiations had he not been in league with the Europeans — not preserved the whole Ottoman Empire, necessarily, but at least held on to a bit more of Greek Thrace and maybe the oil fields of Mosul. Turkey, after 2023, will find justification for its intervention in Mosul, which had been part of Turkey (Ottoman Empire) over four centuries until the First World War. {As hinted earlier by this author, Mustafa Kemal would have not been made the first PM had he not been in league with the Europeans—the deal struck was simply a Quid pro quo} 

Note: Following five historical figures of the Muslim world need to be researched and their role redefined for immensely damaging Islam, Muslim and Islamic-polity–Mohammad Abdu, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Syed Qutub, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. 

The Treaty of Lausanne has no secret(explicit) expiration clause. 

Observers wonder: “Is there a provision or legal precedence in International law that provides for the validity of International treaties for 100 years only?”, while “Germany canceled the treaty in the thirties 20 years after signing it”. Is it possible for Turkey to do the same after or before 100 years (in 2023) completed? 

Here is, however, a parallel between the “Treaties of Lausanne II” and the “Treaty of Nanking,” whereby China ceded Hong Kong to Britain. End of Lausanne-treaty 2023 is linked with a coup attempt on Erdogan in mid-November – 2016, and with the battle of al-Raqqa and Mosul. The city of Mosul was ceded to the control of the Ottoman in 1534, during the reign of Suleiman al-Kuanoni, until the end of the First World War, 

Turkish Professor, Mustafa Sidiqi Bilgin, a specialist in international relations wrote: When Turkey ceded Mosul to Iraq, it was with the condition that its borders or its status, at the time, would not change; which has, nevertheless, changed over the past decades. 

Turkish Pro-Islam people, given Turkey’s legendary past and glory, have certainly inherited the nationalism; found among many secularists as well, are filled with the suspicion of Euro-American, Christian-Zionist invasion/plots to topple the Erdogan Government before 2023.  As witnessed on 15th July 2016; which was, reportedly, thwarted due to Russian information-leak, to the Turkish administration. (What a coincidence! Lausanne, Switzerland, is a center of world Zionism?). 

Many in the AKP’s camp now imagine that all Erdogan’s problems are caused by various international conspiracies seeking to block Turkey’s meteoric rise. 

Declaration. 

Turkey will shape the future of the entire region when it reaches its goals for 2023, the centennial anniversary of the Turkish Republic, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said this in August. 29 marking Turkey’s Victory Day, adding that Turkey is on the threshold of new victories and successes. 

“As has been in every period of our history, we are today as well, putting up a struggle for all the oppressed and wronged who have pinned their hopes on us as well as for ourselves”.  

Turkey will mark the 96th anniversary of the Victory Day when Turks claimed victory against occupying Greek forces during the country’s War of Independence. 

Turkey’s ambitious Vision 2023 aims to put the country in the world’s top ten economies within the next five years by making dramatic improvements to its trade, energy, health care and transport sectors. 

Inspired by its historical position on the Silk Road.  the trading route, Turkey is in the midst of a transportation revolution; building a 21st-century infrastructure network, to boost the nation’s economy and Turkey’s meteoric rise. 

One of the massive infrastructure projects worth $605b which is part of this vision is the Gebze-Orhangazi-Izmir Highway, which would reduce an eight-hour journey to that of three and a half hours. Such projects are being carried out all across the country, with the primary aim of shifting the congestion of trade and business from Istanbul and the narrow Marmara region further east towards Anatolia.  They also reflect the government’s ambition to consolidate the country’s position as a regional transportation hub that connects Europe with Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.  

Turkey is set to achieve a GDP of $2.6 trillion, an average of $25,000 per capita income, and reducing the unemployment rate to just five percent. Turkey intends to make Istanbul one of the top international financial hubs to match the likes of London and Singapore. 

In its bid to achieve these ambitions, large investments have been made in automotive, iron, steel and transportation industries. Foreign Direct Investment from Saudi Arabia has also been touted. 

The 2023 vision includes a number of other major transport and infrastructure projects, including:  

1. North Marmara Highway

This project is expected to serve the dual purpose of providing access to Istanbul New Airport, or Third Airport – currently under construction – and helping divert Europe-bound traffic past Istanbul and into southeastern Europe. A centerpiece of the project, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, opened on August 26, 2016. It’s total cost $10.2b. 

2. Euro–Asian Tunnel 

Also known as the Istanbul Strait Road Tube Crossing, this promises to cut road travel times between Kazlicesme neighborhood on Istanbul’s European side and Goztepe on its Asian side from 100 minutes to 15 via a 5.4km tunnel. With a projected capacity of 120,000 vehicles per day.  

3. Grand Istanbul Tunnel

A three-level megaproject. The 6.5km tunnel comprises two highway levels and one for commuter rail, connecting Istanbul’s Arnavutkoy district on the European side with Kucuksu on the Asian side. It is designed to accommodate up to 6.5 million passengers a day and reduce Istanbul’s greenhouse gas emissions by 110,000 tons a year. Its total projected costs $3.5b. 

4. CanakkaleSuspension Bridge (Gabze Orhangazi-Izmir Highway) 

With a center span exceeding 2,000m, this is the longest suspension bridge in the world. On the Sea of Marmara, some 200km west of Istanbul, it is the part of the 352km Canakkale-Tekirdag-Kinali-Balikesir Highway project, connecting the towns of Gelibolu and Lapseki. The project is to reduce Istanbul’s traffic congestion and improve road access to the Aegean Sea. It’s total cost $605b. 

More than five centuries after a network of ancient trade routes collectively known as the Silk Road lost its purpose, the idea of it continues to grip popular imagination both in and around Turkey. In fact, a modern rail link connecting the eastern Turkish city of Kars with Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is commonly known as the ‘Iron Silk Road’. The rail link is projected to annually carry one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo at the start of operations, and three million passengers and 17 million tons of cargo by 2034.  

However, the idea of rebuilding a land transportation route that would go all the way to China, particularly one centering on trucks, would be like “taking a taxi from Istanbul to Beijing”, said Timur Kaymaz of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV). 

Regional Dominance. 

Over the past century, particularly within the last decade, Turkey has risen to become a somewhat hegemonic power within the region, with Iran being its only rival in influence and Israel being its only rival in military might. Its proactive stance in the Syrian conflict – through its famed “Operation Euphrates Shield” and its current “Operation Olive Branch” – has enabled the country to again become a regional power to be reckoned with militarily, economically and diplomatically. 

Turkey appears to be the big winner in the Middle East, capitalizing on its realignment with Russia and its allies China and Iran to improve its image in the Muslim world as a leading nation willing to stand up to Saudi Arabia. Erdogan’s ambitions to increase Turkey’s influence in the region and to lead the Muslim world, also make Saudi Arabia “less of an ally and more of a competitor.” 

Turkey is exposing its fangs to the USA, Europe and Israel. Turkey is the first country to come to the help of Rohingya Muslims of Burma. (Iran also, joined the call).

Water-power. 

Turkey holds a staggering 90 percent share of the Euphrates River and 45 percent share of the Tigris River, which both originate in the Anatolian mountains of eastern Turkey. With the control of the majority of the water that flows downstream through Syria and Iraq to the Arabian Gulf, Turkey holds overwhelming influence over the supply of water in the region. After Syria and Iraq complained about Turkey’s manipulation of the flow of water during a dam project in the nineties, Ozal famously remarked: “we don’t tell Arabs what to do with their oil, so we don’t accept any suggestion from them about what to do with our water.” 

Turkey Pivoting towards Russia, China and Iran. 

Alignments in the Middle East have long been shifting for decades; regional powers; particularly Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have competed to maximize power against the backdrop of interventions by Russia, the United Kingdom, and, later, the United States. Until recently, the United States and its regional allies—Israel, the majority of the Arab Gulf states, and Turkey—were aligned against Iran. In the aftermath of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, it seemed certain that these regional powers, backed by Washington, would succeed in isolating Iran. But myriad domestic, regional, and international factors have combined to obviate this long-standing status quo. The most significant result of these developments has been Turkey’s drift away from the United States and NATO toward Russia and its allies China and Iran. 

There are hosts of reasons for this realignment. 

The ascension of Pro-Islam (not Islamist) Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Turkish presidency in 2014, signaled a shift in the country’s politics pursuing more anti-Western policies befitting Turkey’s realignment.  

Erdogan’s ambitions to increase Turkey’s influence in the region and to lead the Muslim world. 

Relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia soured after Egypt’s president, Mohamad Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood was ousted by a military coup in 2013, Turkey supported Morsi, while Saudi Arabia and America backed, Gen. Fattah Al Sisi of the Egyptian military. 

In 2017, when the Beduin-Pentagon (Qatar excluded at present) led by Saudi Arabia imposed a blockade on Qatar, Ankara backed Qatar, sending dairy and other food products to undermine the blockade.  

Turkey’s and Saudi Arabia’s perspectives and interests regarding Syrian Civil war diverged, and the complexities of the conflict drew Turkey closer to Russia and its allies China and Iran. The United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia, however, remained united on the opposite side. 

Russia, China, Iran nexus seems to be a better fit for Turkey than with NATO. Turkey is now busy stabilizing Syria, even if Bashar al-Assad remains the President of United-Syria.  

Turkey sees the advancement of Kurdish forces in Syria as a greater threat to its national security as compared to the one posed by Islamic State (ISIS). Although, the same Kurdish forces form the backbone of a US-backed campaign against the ISIS in northeast Syria. ISIS, elsewhere in Syria, is being backed by the US against Syrian troops.  https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2017/12/26/islamic-state-an-enemy/ 

Turkey and Iran both realize that the dismemberment of Syria; and Kurdish forces getting hold of an autonomous territory; would embolden their Kurdish populations (as evident in Iraq), thereby creating a threat to their territorial integrity and national unity. 

In the morass of Middle East geopolitics and receding west, although, Russia and Iran got some edge Turkey appears to be the biggest winner. Capitalizing on this realignment, Turkey is set to improve its image in the Muslim world as a leading nation willing to stand up to the west and Saudi Arabia—whose more-closer relationship with Israel, dubious role in the Israel/Palestine conflict and leading role in the disastrous war in Yemen, have tarnished their reputations. 

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2015/09/17/beduin-pentagon-saudi-terrorism/ 

Turkey’s ostensible realignment has affected the U.S. role in Syria and the viability of Washington’s Middle East policy as a whole.  

In response to this development, the United States has expressed its willingness to use its means and political capital to stabilize Syria rather than on Assad’s removal. Washington would be wise to rehash its overall Middle East policies; including the resolution of Palestine/Israel festering conflict based on the two-state premise, looking at the bigger picture to safeguard its interests in the region and the world at large. 

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2018/06/19/re-alignments-in-the-middle-east-in-the-wake-of-receding-west/ 

Caliph/Sultan, Erdogan! 

There have been some misgivings over the intentions of Erdogan and the nature of his government – are they Islamists, neo-Ottoman fantasists with a dangerous nostalgia for the past and with an aim to occupy its former territories? While that view is an exaggerated one that plays into the hands of his opponents both within and outside Turkey – especially the European Union which vehemently opposes Turkey’s bid for membership.  

One may consider Turkey and its President Erdogan in whatever way; the fact is that they are no-longer secular or Islamists, but pro-Islam. 

Ambitious Turkey. 

The national vision and goals that have been proclaimed in the wake of 2023 are those of 2053 and 2071, having particular significance. The former will mark 600 years since the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul and the latter, the thousandth anniversary of the decisive victory of the Seljuk Turks over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Abhorred by the staunchly Kemalist-Secularist. 

At a commemoration ceremony held in 2016, Erdogan stated that he rejects “an understanding of history that takes 1919 as the start of the 1,000-year history of our nation and civilization…Whoever leaves out our last 200 years, even 600 years together with its victories and defeats, and jumps directly from old Turkish history to the Republic, is an enemy of our nation and state.” 

New Turkey would be a behemoth to reckoned with. 

 

SAVE—-ROHINGYA, UGHER, PALESTINIAN AND KASHMIRI MUSLIM FROM STATE-SPONSORED GENOCIDE. RECLAIM—AFRICA— A MUSLIM CONTINENT.                https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/365464577544183/                                                       (Use and share this slogan as often as possible) 

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Re-alignments in the Middle East, In the wake of, Receding West.

 

 

The Arab–Israeli conflict was primarily seen, for many decades, as a conflict between Arab-states and Israel, rather than between Muslims and Israel. Periphery doctrine; an Israeli foreign-policy strategy; was used by P.M Ben Gurion to develop close alliances with Non-Arab Muslim states in the Middle East, to counter the united opposition of Arab states to the illegitimate existence of the state of Israel.

 Contemporary politicking is characterized by uncertainties, low probabilities for good and high consequences in terms of deceit, destruction, and miseries.

 Strategic-interests of the Israeli government converged with those of the Turkish and Iranian governments of the time. Turkey’s (Military lead government) sought integration with the free-market economies and democracies of Europe, a member of NATO and the EU. The Shah of Iran, being a major ally of the United States, facilitated the dialogue between Israel, Iran and Turkey.

In 1950, both Turkey and Iran became the first, and for a long time, the only Muslim states to have diplomatic relations with Israel. Both Turkey and Iran developed extensive military cooperation.  During the 1967 Six-Day War, Iran supplied Israel with essential oil and petroleum. Israel helped in the industrial and military development in Turkey and Iran.

With the rise of Arab nationalism under Nasser in the sixties the relationship between Iran and the Arab world started deteriorating (The Persian Gulf was dubbed as “Arabian” Gulf).  This further strengthened the relationship between Israel and Iran.

The overthrow of the Shah of Iran in 1979 was a major setback to Periphery Doctrine. The Islamic regime of Ruhollah Khomeini severed relations with Israel. Ironically, however, throughout the 1980s no one in Israel said anything about or considered Iran a threat—the word wasn’t even uttered.

During the peak of the Persian Empire, Jews are thought to have comprised as much as 20% of the population. Jews trace their heritage in Iran to the Babylonian Exile of the 6th century BC and have retained their ethnic, linguistic, and religious identity. Now their number, however, has dwindled to mere 9000.

Zionist Organization was first established in Persia by the Jewish elders and Rabbis. The Jews of Persia understood that “Zion” is the biblical name of Jerusalem and Zionism demonstrates the end of exile and the beginning of redemption.

Rumors, during the time of Hitler, cropped up in Iran that Hitler has secretly converted to Islam and has taken the name Heydar (the title of Imam Ali). What made, European and Jews, panic was that Hitler is planning to reveal his true religion after defeating the deceitful British, the godless Russians and the Jews.

Unfortunately, the Bible has a little good to say about Gentiles (and barely any about Jews) with the exception of Cyrus the Great; who was the first Zionist, yet exalted in the Bible. Persians and Medes, according to Old Testament, are the only people who hadn’t oppressed Jews or committed atrocities against them. There was Jewish royalty in Iran, including Queen Esther, buried there (as are Daniel and Mordecai). Iran, thus, logically, becomes the second holiest land in Judaism.  Israel, nevertheless, is Iran’s arch-enemy always conspiring to destroy or at least weaken it.

Is there any possibility of a raproshma between the two?

It seems too late. The chances, by far, are getting slimmer by every passing day; for the World’s naiveté, despite all the neo-conic, fascist and populist strategies employed by the retreating west, is eroding. Iran, despite being a pariah ( Shia’a state), is increasingly gaining acceptance in the comity of nations as a Muslim-dominated, relation-worthy sovereign state. Bedouin Pentagon, on the other hand, is losing its Shia’a-Sunni (sectarian) tug of war.

It would have been most probable if the Palestinian state was created and the West’s fosterage of Israel forsaken; to let it exist and grow on its own; cultivating relationships on mutuality, rather than arms twisting by its sugar daddy—the USA.

On the other hand, ironically, in the vein of strange realism, Western Intelligentsia and the Academia have already started contemplating and discussing the Post-Israel-Middle East.

After the Iranian revolution in 1979, the country set out to export its brand of revolutionary Islam. As Iran became an Islamic republic, Sunni Islamists were not only jealous of the triumph of the Shia’a Imamate (State) but became even more determined to establish their version of the Islamic state.

The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has oscillated between indifference, hostility, rapprochement and tension over the decades. Prince MBS appears determined to intensify the rivalry with Iran as he continues to raise Riyadh’s concerns over Iranian expansion in the Arab world and beyond.

Saudi Arabia exported Wahhabi Islam, to counter Iranian revolutionary Islam, across Africa, Asia and even Europe. Saudis are notorious for stoking sectarianism. The two countries entered a fierce battle over the souls of Muslims with Saudi clerics augmenting their anti-Shiite rhetoric and the Iranian counterparts playing down their Shiism to appeal to Pan-Islamic, anti-imperial and anti-Western sentiments among Muslims. Saudi Arabia, despite President Obama’s realistic understanding of the Middle Eastern issues, continued pressing the USA to bomb Iran.

The Saudis see the resurgence of the Iranian influence as a revival of the Old Persian nationalism. Blowing-up the Iranian threat magnifies MBS’s role as the savior of Bedouin-Pentagon from Persianization and Shiification.

Saudis see the brutal war in Yemen, where the Shia’a-Houthis are supported by Iran, as a battle for survival for the Saudi nation and the hegemony of Arabness over Persianization. Prince MBS’s Vision 2030 for the Kingdom excludes Iran from the greater regional integration with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt and Israel.

Muta’a Doctrine (marriage of convenience) in Politics

During the Cold War, Saudi Arabia and Iran worked together with the United States against the Soviet Union. They accepted a division of labor: Iran provided military capabilities; Saudi Arabia provided theological ammunition and funding against the Soviet Union. Now Iran is replaced as a new enemy for the Soviet Union and Israel as a friend for Iran. A toxic nexus has emerged between the US, Saudi Arabia and Zionist Israel in the rapidly changing situation in the Muslim East. Saudis maintained discreet relations with the Zionist-Israel, hiding this illicit relationship from the Muslim World. Now, however, they arrogantly flaunt it as a badge of honor due to the changed political compulsions.

As is already well-known; the Saudi and Israeli common cause against perceived Iranian influence and expansion; in places like Syria, Lebanon and Iraq of late has forced the historic bitter enemies down a path of cooperation as both seem to have placed the breakup of the so-called “Shia’a crescent” as their primary policy goal in the region at any cost. For Israel, Hezbollah, seen as an Iranian proxy contingent, has long been its greatest foe, present right up against the Jewish state’s northern border.

This new arrangement, on the one hand, mitigates the Kingdom’s fear of losing its role as the “loyal regional villain”, while, strengthening the “Triangle of Hate” on the other. Saudis have presented the Islamic awakening, sweeping the Muslim East, an Iranian inspired plot.

Saudi Arabia, despite the huge reduction in its oil revenues, is trying to maintain its role as a “cash cow” and the “lynchpin of America’s Muslim East policy”. Saudi Arabia’s worst nightmare is the fear of American abandonment for a new regional partner. This will bring Saudi Arabia’s relevance, regionally and globally, to naught.

 

The rise of the  Justice Development Party of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2000s led to a steady deterioration in Israel–Turkey relations. Unlike, previous Turkish governments, Erdogan’s government openly condemned Israel’s policies towards Palestine and blamed it for the conflict. Relations between Sunni-Turkey and Shia’a-Iran are on the rise.

shakir2.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

Pakistan’s Exceptionalism

(Published on FB on 04/20/2018 as Pakistani’s Specialty)

 Pakistanis are second only to Jews who are being pampered by God, despite their numerous lacking. What outweighs all of the lacking, I guess, is their unwavering devotion to Islam, recitation of Qura’an (mostly even without understanding its meanings) and unflinching love for the Prophet (PBUH).

Unlike Jews, however, they are safe from banishment as there is no new Prophet to come with his followers. For this huge favor, which extends to, all Muslim should bow down to Allah (SWT), say Druud for the Prophet (PBUH) and thank Pakistanis.

 

Pakistan is the only state, after “medina”, created in the name of Islam, with nuclear capability, well-tested, disciplined army, is poised to spearhead the Muslim Ummah.

 shakir2.wordpress.com

 

Sorry state of Bangladesh

The way Bangladesh was created, being run and its resources plundered may not survive long from imploding.

That is exactly what India has planned when it helped Bengali traitors secede from Pakistan. It was blasphemous for Bengalis; to break away from a country which Allah (SWT) gave them as a sanctuary, just because their brethren in the Western part were unjust to them? They played in the hands of the Mushrekeen (Indian Hindus).

Their worldly reward is that; a “Mushrik-Modi” boasts about breaking PAKISTAN standing amongst them, right there on their land. Don’t Bengalese feel “ashamed”?

Mujeeb should have been given the reign of the country for he won the popular vote.

Bhutto and his cohorts fiendishly conspired to break the country to satiate the lust for power. Breaking the country into two halves was the only logical way to let both win and enjoy the power without any political duel.

Ironically some diehard ignorant still revere and call him “a great leader” and a “Shaheed”!

Bengalis ought to see what is happening to Indian Muslims– who rejected the call of the Divine and refused to migrate– and be ready for the same. They would not be able to escape Allah’s wrath.

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/indian-muslims-and-conquest-of-mecca/

On the other hand, those who committed excesses, in any form or shape, from the Western part could not be absolved or pardoned for their crimes.

I have a strong conviction, nevertheless, that sooner or later there will be some sort of confederation between the two; which may flourish even(after the Balkanization of India) into a bigger one consisting of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey.

(it may sound wishful at the moment but the fast-paced changes on the political landscape of the world point to its real-time possibility).

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2017/09/25/balkanization-of-india/

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Islamic State, An Enemy!

 

National Interest, Domineering or Just Hypocrisy?

 Raqqa: Islamic State’s Capital falls to US-backed Syrian forces—BBC News. (20^th Sept 2017) Reuter reported it on 17^th of Oct, 2017

There was important but least reported news about letting the Syrian local insurgents out of RAQQA. Ex-President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai revealed that IS fighters are present in Afghanistan and being supplied ammunition by the Coalition’s unmarked Helicopters. It, however, fell on deaf ears of the people who were at a loss to connect the two stories.

The US army transfer ISIS terrorists to Nangarhar of Afghanistan

 

(Ahlul-Bayt News Agency) – A senior Afghan legislator revealed that the US helicopters have transferred a large number of ISIS terrorists to the province of Nangarhar in the Eastern parts of the country.

Last week, the US military helicopters transferred over 50 ISIS fighters to the Barabad region of the town of Behsoud in Nangarhar province, Zahir Qadir said. He also disclosed that a container full of military equipment was also delivered to the ISIS terrorists in the Nari Obeh region of Nangarhar province.

Syrian authorities have caught US military aircraft secretly transporting ISIS terrorists out of Syria to unknown destinations. 

According to senior Syrian legislator Ammar al-Assad, the United States is helping ISIS to escape Raqqa, where Russian and Syrian forces are successfully defeating the terrorist organization.

Farsnews.com reports: Assad said that the US is now transferring the ISIL terrorists from Syria, especially Raqqa province, to unknown places.

 Raqqa was turned into rubble due to constant bombing by the Syrian, Russian and coalition forces and almost all of the three hundred thousand residents were forced to move out. The only ones left were well dug in Islamic State fighters.

Although IS presence in Raqqa was beneficial to almost all the parties to the conflict, but their presence by the Coalition forces was needed elsewhere; where the leader of the Western Pack (USA) is facing an uphill task; even after a decade of fighting (using technologically most advanced war toys) and spending over a Trillion Dollars—Afghanistan (known bastion of a ragtag army—TALIBAN and a GRAVEYARD of EMPIRES). Here it shall serve many purposes. Fight Taliban, Destabilize Pakistan; Pose an imminent threat to Iran, a proxy militia to West’s new Darling India–to help prop up the Indian role of a policeman in the area. India has supplied IS with atomic waste to be used in the making of dirty bombs.  https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/ugly-face-of-western-darling-india/

Islamic State’s presence was beneficial to Basher Al Assad for decimating any of his opponents labeling them as IS fighters. It was pivotal for the Russian involvement in support of Syria. West’s involvement in the Middle East was also legitimized by the presence of IS. Moreover, it was fighting the Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters, the main targets of the Western forces.

IS fighters as per the agreement reached were transported out of their stronghold Raqqa for three days and nights; on private buses and trucks, for ultimate destination Afghanistan.

Basher Al Assad; an underdog, now the winner, holds 50 % or more of the Syrian land—12 out of 14 Governorates– as compared to 19 % before. He is acquiesced to continue as president of Syria and his removal has been shelved for good. Russia perpetuated her role in the Middle East in particular and the world in general.  President Donald Trump, during his recent trip, concurred with President Putin on a negotiated settlement of Syrian conflict, rather than the Military solution. What a capitulation to the Russian maneuvering!

Unfortunately, however, it is the Syrian civilians who got trampled in this fight of the elephants.

 End Result.

In 2016, from an estimated pre-war population of 22 million, the United Nations (UN) identified 13.5 million Syrians requiring humanitarian assistance, of which more than 6 million are internally displaced within Syria, and around 5 million are refugees outside of Syria. They were forced to abandon their homes and take refuge in neighboring countries, Europe and Turkey.

 More than five hundred thousand innocent civilians got killed.

(American Trade Tower attack (9/11), 3000-innocent killed, was avenged by destroying two un-related countries. 500k innocent killed then, by this very yardstick, would need 166.6 countries to avenge!).

Read: https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/why-are-people-flocking-to-is-islamic-state/

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Saudi Prince, MBS—the weakest link

 

According to latest reports, arrested princes are being savagely tortured and interrogated by American Contractor Blackwater. (By Ryan Parry, West Coast Correspondent For Dailymail.com and Josh Boswell For Dailymail.com 

PUBLISHED: 16:24 EST, 22 November 2017 | UPDATED: 03:37 EST, 23 November 2017).

As hinted by this author earlier (Saudi Turmoil)*1, MBS –Saudi Crown Prince has embarked on a perilous journey–borrowing a page from Putin’s book—consolidating power under the cover of corruption and money laundering. Although he took some condescending actions to entice the younger generation; easing few social restrictions; analogous to burying one’s head– in the face of an imminent danger– in the sand; he yet seems to be the weakest link, in the Gold Chain of China, Russia, and Israel.

*1  https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/saudi-turmoil/

Saudi Arabia’s move seems to be impulsive and reactionary on account of American rebuke in the case of Nuclear Deal with Iran and Change of “Removal Stance” in the case of Syrian President, Basher Al Assad. (Both Shia’a ruled Countries). Israel, also not being happy with this Nuclear deal, intends to teach America a lesson for countermanding her long-held stance.

 

Given the Chinese emergence as Geo-Strategic and Econo-Political power, two opposing camps have clustered on the international scene. One Headed by China, beefed up by Russia and Israel. (Subsequent participants seem to be India, Pakistan; for their populations are hoarding the most gold; and most likely; disgruntled with the West; Iran and Turkey, providing the impetuous vivaciousness to this group). A most interesting aspect of this cluster—China, Russian, and Muslims– is the nostalgic reminiscence and impulses of restoring their lost glories of the past. This camp; given its unique motivations; could be instrumental in eradicating the Dollar dominance as the world legal tender (currency), replacing it with the Gold standard of Bretons Wood Agreement/System, 1944.

The first step in this direction was taken by China by setting up AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment) Bank, in January 2016, with 100 billion $ Capitalization.

http://nation.com.pk/03-Aug-2015/is-china-finally-about-to-dethrone-america-as-the-world-s-economic-leader

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/asia-pacific-peeve/

“The Russian central bank opened its first overseas office in Beijing on March 14, 2017, marking a step forward in forging a Beijing-Moscow alliance to bypass the US dollar in the global monetary system, and to phase-in a gold-backed standard of trade. The new central bank office was opened at a time when Russia is preparing to issue its first federal loan bonds denominated in Chinese yuan.  Financial regulators from the two countries agreed on last May to issue home currency-denominated bonds in each other’s markets, a move that was widely viewed as intended to eventually test the global reserve status of the US dollar”

China, reportedly, has also asked Pakistan to use Yuan as a legal tender in Gwadar-Port C-PEC Project financial transactions. Pakistan at this point, however, has resisted it by arguing that it would tantamount to trampling on its sovereignty.

On the other hand, the USA and the West are hell-bent to continue with Dollar as the legal tender. It is a matter of its economic supremacy and survival. Libyan President Col. Gaddafi and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, two Arab leaders, who dared try to replace the Dollar with Euro, paid a heavy price. Saudi Arabia has joined the Gold club in sheer defiance of the “American Exceptionalism” with a drive to gain control of some of its assets with the help of Russia.

Recent Saudi King’s visit to Russia, Putin’s Phone to the Saudi Crown Prince-MBS and increasing warmth in the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia, portrays an embracing welcome to Saudi Arabia in the Gold Club.

Saudis, however, should not be oblivious of the lurking danger in this game of Political, Economic, Social and Dynastic re-alignment, as the weakest link in this game is and will remain MBS. The unprecedented humiliation of the rounded up princes coupled with the annoyance of the conservative Clerics would not augur well for the Crown Prince and Saudi Arabia. How far, if at all, he would be able to take it, is anyone’s guess?

U.A.E also seems to be in the throes of lurking danger; of likely redrawing of the map of the region; for it has thrown punches above its weight; in the Shia’a Sunni brawl spearheaded by Saudi Arabia. U.A.E would have been in a much better position, by keeping a low profile and remaining non-aligned like Oman. It should also be mindful of the fact that the world is turning against the safe-havens for stolen and laundered money; it has developed a reputation for.

shakir2.wordpress.com