The New Middle East

I never stated that the Islamic Nation or any other did not have the right to defend itself, furthermore, I also never stated that the Arabs of Palestine, the Kurds, etc., or any other Muslim or non-Muslim peoples did not have the right to self-determination.

You're one of 1.4 billion. Does that give you the right to speak on their behalf?

And although I still respect Muslims to the fullest, and hold Islam dear, I am very content not being a member of that community.

PS: I'm not amused with your rhetoric.  

Have you ever been to Albania, Turkey, or Iran? Do you really believe the majority of those populations place Islam ahead of their national or ethnic identity?

Happy reading, muchacho:

http://www.iranian.com/Jan96/Opinion/SecularNationalism.html

http://www.iranian.ws/cgi-bin/iran_news/exec/view.cgi/2/1639

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=6690

http://www.country-studies.com/albania/the-rise-of-albanian-nationalism.html

Again, blaming others for your woes? Vay Khoda! :(

It doesn't mean that the current problems of the Middle East can be directly credited to them. The problems of the Middle East are caused by backwardness, radicalism, corruption, lack of education, and a refusal on the part of the Arab Nation to recognize the state of Israel.

If I get an arranged marriage and you play the middleman and introduce me to my bride and her family, and our marriage does not work out �who is to blame, my wife and I, or you?

I believe it was either the Cato Institute or the Center for American Progress. Both are center-left politically and advocate dialogue over conflict with Iran.

Yes, I will pretend that Muslim women in the West, in the Gulf States, and every other part of the Muslim world do not engage in such acts. I will also pretend that my Muslim girlfriend did engage in this sort of behavior with me while she was on her period during Ramadan, and then I will pretend that she did not tell me that it would be okay since she was bleeding. I will also pretend that I have never seen an Arab, Iranian, Afghan, Pakistani, or Turkish girl with a White American or Black American boyfriend. Yes, I will walk around with my head in the clouds and also pretend that the sun does not rise in the east and set in the west.

Whoaaaaa! Are you serious, dude?

After the irrational you've shown, you're asking me for proof? Have you any proof of your claims?? Or should I consider the I am one of those 1.4 billion BS, sufficient?

You and I both know what happens in the Islamic community.

Next time, conduct your own research, kid. Albanian nationalism and Albanian expressions for freedom were not the works of the Albanian Christians alone who comprise less than 17% of all Albanians (when the total Albanian populations of Albania, Kosovo, Western Macedonia, northern Greece, Italy, and others in the Diaspora are factored in), secular Albanian Muslims were also at the forefront in opposing Ottoman rule.

You failed to answer the question. I will assume that you had no counterargument and take it as an admission of defeat on your part.

I gave you examples. You refused to acknowledge them.

Whose arse did you manage to pull this BS from? Did that arse belong to one General Pervez Musharaff?

Food production is not a natural resource, and last I checked, Pakistan imported weaponry and artillery from friendly Western nations, i.e. the United States. Try again.

Turkmenistan? Yes.

Kazakhstan? Yes.

Uzbekistan? Maybe.

Tajikistan? Hell No.

Kyrgyzstan? Nope.

Only in the minds of the Islamists is this true.

Pretend that you have a commodity, say oil. In order for you to benefit from this resource, you need a buyer, correct? Because keeping it under lock and key and not selling it to anyone is not going to benefit you or feed your family. So what do you do? You will find a buyer, and you will sell him this commodity for as much as you can get. Who is the buyer that can offer you the most in return? It is the West.

Welcome to Economics 101, genius: simple DEMAND and SUPPLY structure.

Did I say that? Where did I say that?

I insinuated that the ISLAMIST viewpoints, written records were biased. I never said anything about Islamic textbooks, genius.

Maskhadov was in the Soviet military, but upon Chechnya declaring independence, he disavowed all allegiances to Moscow.

Is every head of Islamic state that you do not agree with, an agent of the West? You don't have to answer that I already know the answer.

The Baathists are Arab nationalists; Muammar al-Qadhafi is a self-proclaimed Arab nationalist. Do your own homework, genius:

http://people.africadatabase.org/en/profile/2064.html

http://www.workmall.com/wfb2001/syria/syria_history_world_war_i_and_arab_nationalism.html

As an Albanian I want to explain some things.

We cannot measure each and every person's degree of religious values or conservatism; however, we are able to draw certain conclusions by utilizing proven scientific methods for gathering data, i.e. taking sample populations, comparing systems of governance, and the influences of religion in politics and communities, etc.

For example, we can conclude from the rate of inter-religious marriages, regular attendance at prayers, secular forms of government, and the enforcement of atheist policies by past Communist regimes in the Balkans that the Bosnian and Albanian Muslims tend to abide by Islamic principles far less than their co-religionists in the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The latter countries have a strong and visible history of theocratic tradition, inter-religious marriages are the exception and not the norm, the state and daily life is directly influenced by Islam, an interpretation of Islamic principles, and other visible factors.

btw: I attended university with a Turkish fellow from Istanbul, his name was "Ismet" (correct spelling?), and I've heard nothing but good things about Turkey and the wonderful Turkish people. Insh'allah, I would love to visit your country -if you're offering me an invite, that is.

Qutuz TheGR is right about Afghanistan it was one of Nader shahs generals who after his assassination went and seperated Afghanistan from Iran.