For my last post, or at least my last REQUIRED post, I wanted to end on what could be some sign of hope for the belief in the good of our fellow man.  In the Deseret News on September 18, 2012 there was an article published called, "Libyans tried to rescue ambassador".  The article was written by Maggie Michael.   It gives an account of Libyans who attempted to save Chris Stevens who was the Ambassador of Libya.  They found him alone in a room and close to death.  They attempted to get him medical care and were reportedly very frustrated that no medical personal was available on scene to help him.  They put him over one man's shoulder and carried him to a car but he died not long after he was found from smoke inhalation.  You can never fully be sure that what you read is what really happened but since I've taken the position that the articles I've read are based on facts I am going to give credit to this article as well.  A big "Thank You" would appropriate in this situation.  Life is not fair but when bad things happen to good people I would like to think that we would all do the right thing regardless of who it is that needs help!  So, Thanks!

In USA TODAY there was an article by Jim Michaels, "Pentagon:  Joint Afghan ops paused for now".  It was published on September 19, 2012.  There's been a suspension in the joint operation between the U.S. and Afghan forces.  Army Col. Tom Collins says there will be no backing off and it's temporary!  Fifty-one coalition troops have been killed by Afghan security forces or people posing as Afghan troops.  The suspension is part of the effort to secure the safety of the troops.    The article said that about 25% of the insider attacks are linked to the Taliban which I am sure comes as no surprise to anyone.  At this point I think pulling the troops out of there is the only way to secure their safety!

"Militants claim Afghan attack is revenge" published in the Daily Herald on September 19, 2012.  A suicide bomber killed 12 people in Afghanistan and Islamic militants are claiming that this was revenge for the film that has been circulated through the world in which the Prophet Mohammad was mocked.  They are also calling for attacks on additional U.S. diplomats.  It would seem that murder is the least of the sins when it comes to the subject of this film.  How is it that mocking someone is a  far greater sin than murdering innocent people?  Is this really about the movie or just about taking advantage of a situation so they can do what they have always wanted to do?  It makes no sense to me!

"Iran nuke chief harshly criticizes atomic agency" (no author listed) was published in the Daily Herald on September 18, 2012.  Fereydoun Abbasi, Iran's nuclear chief insists that "terrorists and saboteurs" have infiltrated the International Atomic Energy Agency!  They have been investigating allegations that Iran is making nuclear arms. He revealed that 2 sabotage attempts have been against his country's nuclear program and they welcome new attacks!  Apparently they learn how to better protect their countries endeavors through such attempts.  It would be interesting to know which statement is the bigger fib.....that the IAEA is filled with terrorists or that his country has had 2 sabotage attempts against it's nuclear program.  Who can tell where the truth is when dealing with Iran on this issue!

In the Salt Lake Tribune on September 17, 2012 there was an article written by Heidi Vogt and Mirwais Khan with the title, "Afghan insider attack kills four U.S. troops".  Four U.S. soldiers were murdered, yes I said murdered, when they came to the aid of the Afghan soldiers.  This is not the first time that our military has been attacked by those they were trying to protect.  The security has taken a nose dive as NATO prepares to remove military from Afghanistan and while everyone is working together to try to tighten the security it leaves our soldiers vulnerable to attacks like this one!  Something tells me things are going to get worse before they get better, if better ever happens at all!

"Pakistan disowns bounty on filmaker"  written by Rebecca Santana and  published on September 25, 2012 in the Deseret News.  Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour offered a $100,000 bounty for anyone who killed the man behind the film that mocked the Prophet Mohammad.  The government issued a statement that  the statement was Bilour's personal view and not the country's.  I'm not sure I believe that but I suppose that would be the politically correct thing to do, but given how they feel about the whole "free speech" thing I'm surprised that only a statement was issued and not an arrest warrant.  I mean if a person made a public statement against the wishes of the Pakistan government I thought there would be some sort of penalty.  I guess we are not the only country whose citizens speak their minds...although I believe we have laws against inciting people to commit violent crimes.  Hmmmm!

On September 25, 2012 the Deseret News published a story by David Stringer and Ron Depasquale called, "U.N.:  Syria war is threatening region".  International  envoy Lakhdar Brahimi  addressed the United Nations about the bleak situation in Syria but also announced he was formulating a plan that could help end the troubled country's war, BUT would not give any information as to what that might be or when it would happen.  The fact that he might have a plan is not necessarily the real news in this article but the fact that he refuses to believe that "reasonable" people do not see you cannot go back in time to a Syria of the past.  What is reasonable about any of the people who are waging war in Syria?  Seriously, there are people dying and he's worried about people being reasonable.....not a good sign by my mark!

In The Salt Lake Tribune on September 17, 2012 an article titled, "Pakistanis storm U.S. Consulate".  It was written by Adil Jawad and Bassem Mroue.  The Hezbollah militant leade, Sheik HassanNasrallah, is not only encouraging followers to "express our anger" but wants leaders to act on the issue surrounding the film that has sparked world wide conversations...the mocking of their Prophet Mohammad!  In a televised speech the Sheik says that the United States must be held accountable for the film mocking their Prophet.  Okay, I get that it's insulting to have your religious leader mocked but seriously are you going to ask that an entire nation suffer because of the acts of a few?  Especially since they know that in America Free Speech is the standard and no action can be taken against any of those individuals living here for exercising that right?  In Pakistan protesters broke through the barricade near the American Embassy where one of the protesters was killed.  Are we to be held responsible for that death or the dozens injured during that protest?  We cannot be held responsible for every act that happens in the world just because an American was involved any more than we can be responsible for the death of someone protesting at or near our embassy!

In The Salt Lake Tribune on September 19, 2012 there was an article titled, "Egypt wants 7 Copts, U.S. pastor on trial".  It was written by Sarah El Deeb.
What's better than doing nothing at all?  How about sending out warrants for the arrest of individuals NOT in your country and whose custody you cannot obtain.  The general prosecutor of Egypt issued warrants for seven Egyptian Coptic Christians and an American pastor from Florida.  Why?  The charges are linked to the anti-Islamic film that sparked the murder of an American Ambassador in Lybia and riots all over the Arab world. Non of the individuals are believed to live in Egypt and not likely to appear in court BUT that does not stop the prosecutor from trying....which is really all he can do.  With a country, or two, demanding justice over the  mocking of their Prophet Mohammad, this is just a small way to say that the government is working on some sort of justice!  Good luck....especially since the penalty could be the death penalty.  I don't see any of those individuals take a plane ride to Egypt anytime soon!

ISLAMISTS VYING FOR POWER THROUGH EMBASSY PROTESTS

On September 17, 2012 an article was published in USA TODAY with the above title.  It was written by Oren Dorell.  Fourteen minutes!  Fourteen minutes is all it took to upset the apple cart.  The Yube Tube video mocking the Prophet Mohammed is only 14 minutes long but has had an extremely far reaching effect all the world!  More than a dozen countries across the Middle East have experienced riots that are linked back to this video.  Well, that's what is being said officially.  The article talks about the struggle for control in the Middle East and that with the U.S. pulling their forces out of Iraq a "massive source" of "grievances for ultra-conservative Muslims called Salafis, who have been leading the charge in the recent protests" must essentially find something else to fight about!  Tamara Wittes, who served as deputy assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs until just recently was quoted as saying, "Now they're left trying to gin up anti-American feelings over this campy movie.  If Salafis groups are left having to troll the Internet for a pretext, I think we're in pretty good shape."  It's an interesting article that gives additional facts about the Salafis'.  I'm struggling to understand why anyone needs a reason to continue the fighting!  In today's world I guess it's better to bitch about something than to focus on solving the real problems around you!  Good luck to the Salafis and the others who would wage war rather than focus on solving their own problems at home!

On September 13, 2012 I read an article on the Financial Times online news feed titled, "Unease as Libyan Islamic militancy grows".  What I specifically pulled from this article was the believed connection between the timing of the Embassy attacks with both the anniversary of the September 11th attack, the release of the You    Tube film and the death of Al-Qaeda top leader, Abu Yahya al-Libi.  Other articles have focused on the anger over the ridiculing of the Prophet Mohammed, and this article brings other factors into the equation.  It seems to me that it was a well planned attack in Libya.  I cannot see, from what I read, that the film alone was responsible for the anger that lead to the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others.  Al-Qaeda doesn't need a reason to attack the U.S. as they seem to find plenty of them without any of the recent issues being factored in.  What might be a coincidence, or a well planned attacked, or just the anger of a beloved religious leader being mocked.....it adds up to disaster and just another reason to justify their actions.  This is an issue that will burning for a long time to come!

I found an article on the online "Financial Times" news feed.  On September 13, 2012 the Financial Times "Reporters" wrote and published an article titled, "Protests spread across the Muslim world".   The article revolved around the recent attacks on U.S. embassy's that were provoked, more the Muslim's view point than mine, by a recent amateur film that was seen all over the world.  Muslims were offended, as are many of us when someone trash talks the spiritual leader we love, that such a film had been made much less aired on You Tube.  Okay, I do understand that they would be offended.  In my own religion I have heard, read and seen many offense stories and speeches made about the LDS Church leaders.  However, I cannot see how KILLING anyone, especially those who have no connection to the film, could be called following a righteous cause.  Embassies in Libya, Yemen, and Cairo were attacked because they were American.  Other countries had rallies against the film.  Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, and Tunisia are predominantly Muslim.  In Afghanistan they shut down the You Tube site.  Protests in Cairo have hurt the building up of a relationship between the U.S. and Egypt.  Giving a voice to your frustration, anger and hurt is one thing, but attacking and murdering innocent people is never okay.  It's time for those countries to put on their big boy underwear and put a stop to this dangerous temper tantrum!

On September 4, 2012 in The New York Times an article was published titled, "Syrian Children Offer Glimpse Of a Future Of Reprisals".  As though the slaughtering of civilians is not enough the children caught up in the middle of their country's war have learned, apparently, more about how to hate than to survive.  One child was quoted as saying, "We are going to kill them with our knives, just like they kill us."  This is said while children and adults stand by nodding their heads in agreement.  This child is 11 years old and has learned to hate ALL Alawites and Shiites because they are of the same minority offshoot of Shiite Islam as President Assad.  It's not surprising that they would be angry, afraid, traumatized or even distrustful but these children are being encouraged to hate others in a way that makes you wonder if NO ONE in that country gets that there will never be an end to the senseless murdering as long as that mentality exists!  I know it's not that simple nor have I any idea of what it is like to live that way.....however, hate breeds hate.....how is that mentality any better than the ones of those who would seek them out and murder them.  Does it end, ever?

In the Salt Lake Tribune on September 4, 2012 an article titled, "ASSAD: No dialogue before rebels crushed" was published.  It reported that the Syrian regime has no intention of trying to open up the lines of communication but will instead continue it's assault on it's own country.  In fact according to Muhieddine Lathkani, an opposition figure, the only chance that talks could take place would be if President Assad were to leave and his security agency taken with him.  Information Minister al-Aoebi warned that any intervention by foreign powers would be met with "no red lights to our retaliation.....We will cut the such a hand and make them pay a high price."  But don't worry the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that if President Assad resorts to the use of chemical weapons that their response would be, "massive and blistering".  If you have the French on your side what more do you need right?  Sorry, sarcasm isn't going to solve the Syrian civilians problems but certainly we need to look at the situation and decide at what point do we opt to help them out.  We cannot fight everyone's war but it is hard to watch as people are slaughtered and not want to help.  What's a world to do??