Islamic Revival

Increases in the price of rice, wheat, corn, cooking oil, milk and other foodstuff have sparked violent protests in many countries including Egypt, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Madagascar, the Philippines and Indonesia. In Pakistan and Thailand, army troops have been deployed to avoid food being seized from fields and warehouses. On 14/4/2008 World Bank has reported that global wheat prices jumped 181 per cent over the 36 months to February 2008, with overall food prices up 83 per cent. Robert Zoellick, the World Bank president, said, Based on a very rough analysis, we estimate that doubling of food prices over the last three years could potentially push 100 million people in low-income countries deeper into poverty. There are two primary factors that have prompted higher prices. First, the increase in the price of oil has caused the price of agriculture inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, machinery etc to go up. Higher transportation costs have also added to the overal

On 14/4/2008 a poll found McCain to be the best commander in chief amongst the three US candidates vying for presidency. So if McCain were to become the next US President what views would shape his attitudes to the Islamic world. Perhaps the answer lies with Reverend Rod Parsley who was conferred the title of "spiritual guide" by none other than McCain himself at a campaign rally in Cincinnati. Reverend Parsley regularly spews venom against Islam and in one of his books, in a chapter titled Islam: The Deception of Allah, he writes: "I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore." Bush’s spiritual guide Pat Robertson espoused similar views. Then again! After seven years of fighting Islam, do Mu

After having recently described the Federal Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Pakistan the most dangerous region in the world, the US is now seeking direct access to Pakistan's nuclear assets. On 14/4/2008 a Pakistani newspaper reported that the US State Department wanted to permanently assign an official at the US embassy in Islamabad to monitor Pakistan 's nuclear issues. Furthermore, the US wants the official to have direct access to Pakistan's National Command Authority (NCA) Secretariat. The latest demand comes hot on the heels of the 11 humiliating conditions, stipulated by the US a few weeks ago. President Musharraf's unstinting support to America , has now paved the way for the US to have direct control over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. The present government of Gilani and the opposition show no signs of anxiety or opposition to the US proposal. In comparison, Indian politicians adopted a bolder stance than their spineless Pakistani counterparts. They vehem