Islam: maybe you don´t have a right to live

Islamic law, depending on how strictly it's interpreted, distinguishes among three types of non-Muslims: Dhimmis, people who are permitted to live in an Islamic territory, but with limited rights; Mustamins, people who are granted similar rights as the Dhimmis, through a temporary protection agreement; and Harbis, people who live outside an Islamic territory, without rights, including the right to life.

Der Spiegel, March 15, 2013

Democracy and Economic Growth

"What is clear is that democracy is not the prerequisite for economic growth that aid proponents maintain. On the contrary, it is economic growth that is a prerequisite for democracy; and the one thing economic growth does not need is aid. "

- Dambisa Moyo in "Dead Aid: Why aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa"

Economist Dambisa Moyo

Shale Gas revolution for Europe?

Map of shale gas basins in Europe - The Economist

A deep change in the Economics of energy in Europe may be around the corner. Even if shale gas does  not become as important as in North America, we expect it will at lease have one good effect in the medium term: force Russia to lower prices.


Natural gas costs now in the US 25% of its price 5 years ago. Europe has a lot of work to do, outside the United States, shale extraction is still in its infancy.

Nevertheless it is enough for LNG (liquefied natural gas) from the North America to start arriving in European ports in reasonable quantities to create a price revolution.

Map of shale gas basins in the US - Der Spiegel

Shale gas is placing the US on the road to energy independence - Der Spiegel / EIA

Chuck Hagel - another of Obama's gifts to the world...

After a US president that has been promoting the Islamist agenda of the so called "Arab Spring" we now have an anti-Semitic Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel!

What other great things will Barak Hussein Obama give to the world?

Second Amendment - Quranic verses?

The debate on gun control (or gun rights for many) highlights the strange, para-religious way in which many in America view their constitution.

In most countries the constitution is seen as a mere piece of legislation, subject to constant evolution and adapting to the needs, morals and values of the present.

Many Americans seem to look at this 18th century document like orthodox Muslims look at the Quran: the direct word of God, authoritative, frozen in time and untouched by modernity.

Laws evolve! Often people talking about the holy 2nd Amendment fail to notice what their are talking about, an AMENDMENT! Any doubts about the meaning of this noun?

US Constitution and the Quran - many seem to have trouble telling them apart

Islamic Seasons

Secular minded people who were naïve enough to have believed in the "Arab Spring" should now buy some thick overcoats and get prepared for "Salafist Winter"...

The works on the new Egyptian constitution clearly show the way: Christians are on the way to second class citizenship and women won't even qualify as that.

Cartoon by Doaa El Adl - "A constitution for all Egyptians" - Christians and Women will miss the top place in the podium...

Egypt's new despot, US educated "brother" Mohamed Morsi is issuing decrees like a pharaoh in a way that is bound to lead to further violence and economic collapse. The prospect of a civil war looms on the horizon. The Muslim Brotherhood cannot even build an Islamic Democracy as the Persian Mullahs managed.

In Libya and Tunisia the Muslim Brotherhood is also consolidating power, and "God Allowing" they expect to take Syria too. If eventually Bashar falls, a second civil war is bound to ensue, as Salafists fight the secular. Bashar should cut his losses: create a strong Alawite state in the West and  let the Sunnis fight it out in the rest of Syria.

Ironically the West keeps supporting these new theocratic regimes. Hamas people must be feeling very frustrated: they were the first branch of the Muslim Brotherhood to reach power and yet they are (rightfully) considered as terrorists, and yet they see their brothers elsewhere regarded as 'democrats'. The Brotherhood's true colours have been lost in Western daltonism.

Muslim brotherhood and Barack Hussein Obama - sheep and wolf - cartoon by A.F. Branco

Catalonia: the time is now

time for an independent Catalonia within the EU has arrived

Catalan Prime Minister Artur Mas said that if CiU wins the Nov. 25 election in the region, Catalans will then vote on "self-determination" during the coming legislature.

"If the (Spanish) government turns its back and does not authorize any kind of a referendum or vote, it has to be done anyway,".

Catalonia needed to increasingly take "sovereign decisions, independently of whether it is possible to reach agreements with Spain," the premier said.

"It is the natural evolution of a nation to have a state," Mas said. "This dependence on the Spanish state is cutting the wings of our economic and social progress," he explained.

However, Mas said he did not want to speak of a "breakup" with Spain, given that European Union member states "can share a lot of things."

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/09/26/2706708/catalan-leader-to-seek-referendum.html#storylink=cpy

Catalonia leaves Spain by popular demand - cartoon by KAP