The happenings in Lebanon during the last three weeks have convinced the world about certain realities: First, the US and Israel are names of the same ruthless hegemony which has been wreaking havoc around the world for the last sixty years. Second: There do not exist any laws or principles except those which suit despots and the avaricious of this world. Third: OIC is a dead horse -- otherwise it would have held an emergency meeting the next day after the assault on Lebanon. Fourth: There is a huge gulf between rulers and the common person in Muslim countries. Fifth: A determined group of courageous persons with a cause can face the most savage and unprincipled force. The people of every Muslim nation recognise the US, Israel and their cronies as enemies of Muslims and Islam, though their rulers tow the line of the West even if it were against the interests of the ummah.

Whatever the intensity of feelings about these factors, they definitely have given a sudden boost to the sentiments of brotherhood among Muslims of the world irrespective of national boundaries and ethnic divisions and the stand taken by their governments. This must have been a surprise to the US' power elite and their Zionist manipulators. A noteworthy aspect of the prevailing situation is that despite almost a universal feeling against Israel and the overwhelming support for the Hezbollah, very few Muslim governments have condemned the invasion of Lebanon and the massive destruction of civilian residential areas in the real sense. What has been said is the standard message of sympathy sent after a large mishap anywhere.

To the shame of Muslims of the world the strongest messages came from France and India. The most publicised sentiments from the Muslim world were expressed by Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt -- condemning Hezbollah. These messages contain a lesson for the Ummah: the Muslim rulers are not free to take the side of the Ummah as it could displease their protectors. Second, their individual views about Hezbollah and its allegiance with a certain ideology of Islam are more important than the cause behind the present bloodshed. It means that rulers of these states are dishonest since they have taken a stand against the wishes of their people. What can one expect with such rulers around?

The conflict between Israel and the people of Palestine and Arabs in general is related to four basic issues. First: what right did the Jews have to descend on Palestine to establish a government in the heart of a country professing another faith? Second: what right did the usurpers have to displace the local population by force creating some of the most shameful instances of human degradation and misery in the history of mankind? Third: why did the Israelis indulge in expanding the area of their illegally begotten territory and usurp parts of neighbouring countries -- with no intention of returning these territories -- and with every intention to extend their boundaries in future? Fourth: what right did the Israelis have to start the sinister business of indulging in hooliganism on behalf of a confirmed expansionary power located in another part of the world, and transform themselves into a continuous threat for the entire Middle East region?

Nobody needs to answer these questions, as the answers are known -- rather experienced. Israel was created to subjugate the regimes of the Middle East where exist the largest reserves of fossil oil. And it has been fulfilling this function to the entire satisfaction of its sponsor. What is astonishing is the role of the Muslim nations in the region and around the world. One is not an extremist in matter of faith: it is as a human being that one is saddened by the injustice and tyranny inflicted upon adherents of another belief or ideology of any colour, ethnicity and creed.

What is most revolting about the Middle East situation, however, is the forced entrenchment of an alien people gathered from around the world, who have been empowered to become the most dominant power in the region, with an agenda dictated from abroad. One's problem as such is not the Jews but the elements set to degrade and annihilate the Palestinians who are the real masters of the land and treat them as enemies in their own homeland -- with their hope of Muslim help having faded long ago. Their plight is worse than that of the people of East Timor and Darfur whose case is pleaded incessantly -- I suspect -- because they happen to be Christians.

One pleads strong and prompt action to restore to the Palestinians their freedom, dignity and their lands -- at the same time reigning in Israel and stopping its aggression and adventurism in the area. There is no doubt that this will have to be done by Muslims themselves. They should learn by now, that extreme polarisation in the world will not permit any country to come to help in an armed conflict. International assistance in mitigating the effects of natural disasters is entirely a different situation as it can happen to anybody. But who came to help Afghanistan, Iraq and now Lebanon? People of these lands could have looked to their political allies or the Muslim countries, but experience must have taught them that nobody in the world -- including International organisations -- would move even their little finger to save the people of a country invaded by a powerful nation or its side-kick. As such there is no hope of any justice from any world body even in the present case.

With the breakdown of traditional friendships and religious considerations, the weaker nations and their people are left with only two courses. One of them is the formation of new political, social, economic and strategic international organisations based on religious affiliations. Let us be honest: when it comes to matters of religion, which country of the world is really secular and objective? Each one of them surrenders to the religious demands of the majority. To expect otherwise would be unnatural. So Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Buddhist nations all have their organisations with religious affiliations. The Jews, like all minorities, have organisations based on their faith.

But Muslims must have learnt a lesson from the state of the existing apex Muslim organisation -- the OIC which does not deserve even a mention as it has failed Muslims again and again. This time, Israel attacked Lebanon on July 13, and the OIC has not been able to even convene a meeting at a junior level. What use is a meeting now when Lebanon has already been battered so badly? 57 members representing 1.4 billion Muslims, through their resolve, could have made Israel think twice before bombing civilians and perhaps the Qana tragedy could have been averted.

As a last word, the world should note that in if the war in Lebanon is intensified and an offensive is initiated against new Muslim targets, the world should be ready for new 'terrorist organisations' and new extremist strategies to destroy; as these are bred by the type of injustice, oppression and desperation that is being faced in Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East. And they could be far more deadly and crippling than what the world has seen so far![/I]

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This is the sign of 1 who loves GOD that his chief care z goodness n devotion n his words r mostly in praise n glorification of GOD.