Lost???

I will pray for world peace and the Muslim being aggress by the Western power, no more. Enough is enough and the Muslims had been the punching bags of the Bullies.

I came across the following article before I step out to the Middle East. Not for war with anybody but to seek Allah blessings that the War must come to an end either somebody come to their senses or someone decides and agree to table talk. too much innocent lives perished for nothing. They have the rights to live just as you and me.

Quote:

Dismembering Afghanistan
by Conn Hallinan, August 07, 2010

Wars are rarely lost in a single encounter; Defeat is almost always more complex than that. The United States and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies have lost the war in Afghanistan, but not just because they failed in the battle for Marjah or decided that discretion was the better part of valor in Kandahar. They lost the war because they should never have invaded in the first place; because they never had a goal that was achievable; because their blood and capital are finite.

The face of that defeat was everywhere this past month.

According to the Afghanistan Rights Monitor, "In terms of insecurity, 2010 has been the worst year since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001."

A recent U.S. government audit found that despite $27 billion spent on training, fewer than 12 percent of Afghan security forces were capable of operating on their own.

Some 58 percent of the American public think the war is "a lost cause," and 60 percent think the United States should begin to withdraw in July 2011. Only Republican votes in Congress saved the Obama administration’s request for $33 billion to fuel the war in the coming fiscal year. The war is currently hemorrhaging money at a rate of $7 billion a month.

The British public — the United Kingdom is the second largest armed contingent in Afghanistan — opposes the war by 72 percent, and other coalition forces are quickly abandoning the effort in the war-torn Central Asian nation. Poland announced it would withdraw its 2,600 troops in 2012. The Dutch will be out this August. The Canadians in 2011. The Australians, along with the rest of the NATO allies, declined a plea in July to send more combat troops.

In a sign of the dire circumstances of the war effort, twice in this past month,Afghan soldiers turned their guns on NATO soldiers.

A poll by the International Council on Security and Development reaffirms that the NATO alliance is failing to win over Afghan civilians, a cornerstone of success in the current strategy employed in Afghanistan. The poll found that in the two provinces currently at the center of the war — Helmand and Kandahar — 75 percent of Afghans believe foreigners disrespect their religion and traditions; 74 percent think working for foreign forces is wrong; 68 percent believe NATO will not protect them; and 65 percent think Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar should be part of the government.

The Arithmetic of Defeat.

So does one calculate the arithmetic of defeat. But "defeat" does not mean the war is over. Indeed, the moment when it becomes obvious that victory is no longer an option can be the most dangerous time in a conflict’s history. The losers may double down, as the French and the United States did in Vietnam. They may lash out in a frenzy of destruction, as the United States did in Laos and Cambodia. Or they may poison the well for generations to come by dividing people on the basis of ethnicity, religion and tribe, as the British did when their empire began to disintegrate.

Faced with rising opposition at home, increased casualties on the battlefield, and growing isolation from its allies, the United States is casting about for a way to salvage the Afghan disaster, and coming up with schemes that may end up destabilizing not only Afghanistan, but much of Central and South Asia.

The most radical of these schemes is being floated by the former U.S. ambassador to India, Robert Blackwell, a neoconservative mainstay and currently a lobbyist for India. Blackwell proposes partitioning Afghanistan into two countries: an independent, Pashtun-dominated south, and a northern and western section where Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazaras make up the majority. According to the scheme, "Pashtunistan" would be kept in line by armed drones and 30,000 to 40,000 U.S. Special Forces.

Such an independent country would almost certainly destabilize Pakistan’s Northern Frontier and Tribal areas , where 40 million Pashtuns currently reside. Many of those Pashtuns have never accepted the 1893 Durand Line that the British used to divide Afghanistan from what was then India.

Pashtunistan would also be a template for an independent Baluchistan, further dismembering Afghanistan — certainly something the Indian Army would be delighted with — and serve as a rallying cry for marginalized ethnic groups all over the region, including those in Kashmir, China, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Russia, and areas in northern India.

It is not clear how much support the partition plan has, given the deep opposition of countries like Pakistan and China, but Blackwell has sprung the genie, and getting it back into the lamp will not be easy.

A second proposal — to create an army of local militias to fight the Taliban — is already underway, in spite of the disastrous experience with similar armed groups during the Soviet occupation. Those militias turned into warlord armies, which shook down local residents, protected the growing drug trade, and fought over tribal turf.

U.S. commander, Gen. David Petraeus insists that the armed groups will not be "militia," but more like police — uniformed, armed, and paid by the government of President Hamid Karzai. But given that the Kabul government has virtually no presence outside the capital, how these groups will be controlled is not obvious. Furthermore, if for some reason these militias do confront the Taliban, they will be outgunned by more experienced guerilla fighters.

A June 9 incident in Kandahar is a case in point. The Taliban attacked a local militia that had gathered to celebrate a wedding, killing 40 and wounding 87. The unit had been recruited by U.S. Special Forces, which promised weapons and ammunition. But according to the New York Times, when militia commander, Mohammed Nabi Kako went to the Special Forces, the commander fobbed him off to the Karzai regime, which turned down his request — whether from fear of forming independent militias, or plain old corruption is not clear. When the Taliban attacked, the militia couldn’t defend itself.

The United States has a long track record of recruiting local people to fight and then abandoning them. The Montagnards in Vietnam’s highlands and the Hmong in Laos come to mind.

The model that has the most parallels with the situation in Afghanistan, however, is Guatemala, where the United States helped the military dictatorship create village militias to fight insurgents. If the militias did not fight the guerillas, the Guatemalan Army slaughtered the villagers. If the militias did fight, the villagers became targets in the long-running civil war.

Indeed, an argument can be made that the very idea of militias violates the Geneva Conventions against using civilians to fight in a war, although the United States could finesse that argument by claiming the militia members are "uniformed." What is certain is that entire villages will be pulled into the war by making them targets for retaliation by a more experienced and better-armed Taliban.

However, the most obvious use for the militias will be to protect the vast drug trade that has made Afghanistan the source of 90 percent of the world’s opium. It is a trade that corrupts not only Afghans, but the police and military of surrounding countries. Indeed, it is a poisonous chain that leads into the heart of Europe, leaving dead and maimed in its path. More than 30,000 addicts die of heroin overdoses each year in Russia alone.

Arbitrary partitions and local militias will not salvage the war for the United States and NATO. The only way out is to cut a deal with the people we are fighting. That will not be easy. The Taliban offered a reasonable peace plan in 2007, and it was turned down. Given the obvious collapse of the allied effort, why should the Taliban want to negotiate? But the Pakistanis say the deal is doable, and of all the counties in the region, Islamabad has the closest ties to the mélange of groups waging war in Afghanistan.

We have lost the war. It is time to recognize reality and start talking.

Unquote:

Set to go.

In a couple of hours after Maghreb, I would set for KLIA and a ten hour flight to Cairo Egypt. On the first day of Ramadan I will hop into Saudi Arabia to begin the one month Ramadan umrah. It would be historic that my first “terawih” and “sahor” would be in Cairo.

All preparations were complied re posting of 31 July 2010.

In Egypt, am looking forward to visit among others, Masjid Amru al-As – the first Mosque in the African Continent, Makam Imam Shafie, Masjid Sultan – the four Mazhab Mosque, Makam Nabi Daniel and Masjid & Makam Luqman Hakim.

For the rest of the journey in Saudia Arabia it would solely for Ramadan ibadah. I am getting acquainted with new sets of travelling mate. There would be thirty (30) of us.

The story of my journey would be posted insyaalah, when I return to Malaysia.

2nd. Anniversary.

Today is the 2nd Anniversary of Blogging.

For the past two (2) years, I had posted 346. Subject matter was of various topics from my memories, my opinion and the current scenarios. The motto is Justice, Freedom and the world free of Nuclear Weapons. In simple term I hate War and I wish all mankind on mother earth to live freely without any aggression from any party.

All postings were of personal opinion and not necessary agreed. However I use my freedom to express and it would be achieved for reference of my generations to come.

I pray to tip the third Anniversary, if so with all Almighty Allah blessings.

It was a joke.

When the Mosque Committee organized the “gotong royong” to clean the kampong Graveyard on 31 July 2010 (Saturday) only seven (7) turned up, they themselves. What happened to the rest of the followers? They held it on Saturday because on Sunday they have the “kuliah duha” at the Pasar Tani ground. Kuliah duha cannot simply be cancel as it is religious cum political every Sunday morning affair. It is an open platform free for all and not necessary to have credentials as decreed by the Royal Highness the Sultan. Perhaps only a Police permit would do.

The Kampong Graveyard Bureau had organized the kampong Graveyard housekeeping gotong royong last week on 25 July 2010 (Sunday) where the Mosque Committee did not participated (refer to posting on 25 July 2010). The response was overwhelming. They have their own reasons for not participating and the normal kampong residents were neither interested. The Graveyard compound was house kept and the concrete fencing painted by those who turned up on 25 July 2010. All costs were sponsored by an unknown “Hamba Allah” (Mr. X).

I have no one with permanent resident status at this Graveyard but as a kampong resident I had to play a part and make myself available. It was worth attending the gotong royong project of housekeeping the Graveyard on a beautiful Sunday where everybody was in communal spirit, fostering comradeship and comingling with fellow kampong mate.

Late in the evening someone sponsored a basketful of durians, rambutan and other local fruits to show gratitude to the youths who stayed back late spared their Sunday to finish the job.

So……… when the Mosque Committee came to the Graveyard one week later on 31 July 2010 (Saturday), there was practically nothing that they could do anymore, all done on 25 July 2010 (Sunday) by the kampong residents. With only seven (7) able bodied presence what do you expect they could do? It was a tremendous blow to their pride. What pride do they have anymore?

The talk of the kampong – why want to do two sessions of “gotong royong” to clean the Graveyard? Why not one for and all for one? That would make some sense.

The morale of the story – the kampong residents just fed up. The kampong residents do not necessary listen and abide to those currently in power or the kampong residents just hate the gut out of those currently in power. Somebody got to do a lot of soul searching. Kampong residents are no more kampong mentality. They are educated and smart enough to be analytical, to differentiate between sensible and nonsense. Quietly and unconcerned they grouped to the sensible party and carry on with their tasks for the sake of Allah and the community.

Mosque and a Graveyard is very close to all Muslims hearts and it must not be politically monopolized. This is exactly what happened. How long it would last? Only time will tell. It is not easy to win back the kampong hearts.

Is it a joke or are we heading for a disaster??

KRU New Mosque as at 03 August 2010.

Rear overall view of the Mosque.

One of the Anjung Besar.

The Dome skeleton frame.

Jemaah view of the Mimbar and the pulpit.

Someone posing as Imam on the incomplete mimbar.

Side view of the suspended Mimbar.

Imam view of the Jemaah.

Inside frontage and top of the Mosque.

Plastering work.

The Muslimah wuduk area & washroom.

Plastering of the arches.

Multi purpose Hall corridor and Anjung Besar.

Finishing of the Anjung Besar.

Took the above photographs of the New Mosque development before the month of Ramadan and before I would be away for about a month at the Holy Land.

The Mosque is expected to complete sometimes January or February 2011.

As of today 03 August 2010, one day short of two months after few personnel from JAIS rested (terminated) the former New Mosque Protem Development Committee. Of reasons beyond comprehension so far there is nothing black in white or the Minute of the meeting of 04 June 2010. JAIS Director have also not confirmed that his Letter of 04 February 2010 had been superseded by the decision made on 04 June Meeting. What is actually going on?

The pigeon-hole suspended Mimbar had been constructed and the Imam access to the Mimbar is very well hidden. The Imam would have a good eye view of the Jemaah while he delivers the khutbah and can easily identify those who doze away.

The Dome skeleton frame is under fabrication at the Mosque courtyard and they are also finalizing the two Anjung Besar and the two Anjung Kecil. Anjung – Entrance Arch.

It is interesting to note that the New Mosque Notice Board at the existing Mosque which was removed under the instruction of the Nazir and Secretary on 07 July 2009 was reinstalled perhaps by the instruction of the same persons on 26 July 2010. The Notice Board was made to rest in the Meeting Room for over a year. However the reinstalled Notice Board is for general purpose and ordinary Jemaah still in the dark about the development of the New Mosque. Was the removal and reinstalling justified it means? I leave to your own judgment of the unreasonable action. If it is for the benefit of all and one play a part of hindrance, Allah would surely despise (murka).

Insyaalah, I would seek Allah blessing of the New Mosque in front of the Kaabah and let all those involve with the New Mosque direct or indirectly getting Allah “hidayah” and direction (petunjuk) to siratulmustakim (the right & truthful path).

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I was shocked & embarassed.

After the Maghreb prayer on 2 August 2010, the Imam announced that there will be a “solat hajat” after the Isyakh prayer. Suddenly I heard my name was mentioned. Haji Nordin who is leaving for the Holy Land on 6 August 2010 requested the solat hajat for all those who would be performing the Ramadan umrah. I don’t mind the solat hajat but I don’t quite agree about the announcement of names. It should be collective, directed to all those concern that would be performing the Ramadan umrah. No mentioned of names. Some Jemaah may have misconception that I was trying to show off. I heard about the solat hajat a few days before from Haji Nordin but I was ignorant of the sole purpose.

The solat hajat was performed by the Mosque Jemaah after Isyakh with Ustaz Kamal Mahadi as Imam. I had no choice but to participate as part of the doa was to pray for my safe journey and my umrah ibadah well accepted by Allah. I thank those who participated whether sincere or otherwise and I just left the Mosque immediately as the function was solely sponsored by Haji Nordin and I was a little embarrassed. It would be more embarrassing if I was absent at the Mosque during that particular time. Anyway I thanked Haji Nordin for the initiative and sincere intention. He sponsored “nasi lemak” for the Jemaah after that. If I was informed of the subject matter, I don’t mind chipping in as co sponsor.

I had a close private function of my own on 18 July 2010 and the invitee was the Marhaban members, those who would be performing the umrah and very close friends to congregate reciting tahlil arwah and doa selamat. I have space constraint at my residence and I could not afford to invite all the Mosque jemaah. With the solat hajat at the Mosque, I was rather embarrassed with the not invited Jemaah. I have to hibernate until my departure as many questions would be asked when I would be leaving and when I would be back and so on. It was only made known among few people only.

To the Jemaah who follow this Blog, thank you, Selamat Berpuasa and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. See you after Hari Raya.