Breaking News: September 11, 2001

This is getting more bizarre by the minute. More involvement of Pakistan. From Agencies.

Fourteen youths, aged between 18 and 22 years, have been given ``full-fledged`` training to become professional commercial pilots, capable of handling sophisticated aviation instruments. These youths have also been trained in guerrilla warfare and have honed their hijacking skills to strike in countries where Muslim fundamentalism has been on the upswing in recent years. Recruited from West Asia and East European countries, these youths have been given training by the Afghan and Pakistani Air Force personnel, according to the British intelligence. Sources also said they have been told by the Britishers that these youths have been trained ``to strike not only the US, but India, Russia and Israel.``

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/14/us.binladen/

...``Revenge alone is not the answer,`` says security & terrorism analyst M.J. Gohel. ``There has to be a complete eradication, an elimination of all the training camps.``

On top of that much of bin Laden`s support base lies in neighboring Pakistan -- through which money from around the Arab world is funneled to the Al Qaeda coffers...

Soysauce:

It is in the Muslims vs US context not in the Indian context.

Zahra: thank you for your postings re: prayers and solidarity gatherings in NYC. I live a little north of NYC and haven`t been able to get to the city as I would have wanted to - but I would really like to participate in any of these gatherings over the weekend.

All reading this:

For what my thoughts are worth, we need to think of our responsibility here and to me that is thinking through many angles before posting anything that comes to our minds. This is a critical time and whether we like it or not, has affected many many of us deeply. I hope we can learn to withold any anger and practice all the tolerance we can build and not unleash hatred on these boards. Let`s sort this out together.

All my prayers and warm wishes.

Indian bureaucrats prove themselves to be useless ba$tards yet again.

Why haven`t the Indian embassy and consulates called local news stations urging them to inform the public that Sikhs are Indians, not whatever Americans are mistaking them to be!! (And before the anNys of CHowk jump on me, I am not suggesting that any innocent people get beaten up...just wishing the Indian govt does its job in ensuring the safety of its people)

TAhmed # 500

Thank you. This is a great country and we all should all try and live up to its values.

Are these not pakistanis - they have been named.

from Jang

The daily named the suspects as Pakistanis Muhammad Asif, Rana Abdul Gafhoor, Imran Asjid Husain, Mangat Sajid Hussain, Malik Tahir Mahmood and Muhammed Shahbaz; Bolivians Maria Angela Bustillo Molina and Ana Maria Vedia Barron; as well as Imtiaz Ahmad.

check out

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/sep2001-daily/14-09-2001/main/main5.htm

This is awful. Its a sad day. Pakistanis involved in terrorism. Boy this is bad.

Contemplative 482

This is not a hindu-muslim-sikh thing. This is the time to go after murderers being raised and brought up by Pakistan in Afghanistan. If some Hindus get beaten up by angry people, should America stop doing what it must?

One can only pray for a miracle that war does not come to South Asia. It is tinderbox, the smallest spark has the potential to blow it all up: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India. I can only appeal to the Pakistani government to somehow deliver Osama bin laden to the US as soon as possible, by whatever means possible, and divert the dogs of war away from our region.

-narain

#494 Zahra

The attacks on mosques is unfortunate. In our part of the world, the revenge killings would by now have resulted in the death of thousands more.

I don`t believe in any religious claptrap. But i was touched by a post in the local newsgroup (on the West Coast) reminding everyone that islam is not the enemy. She, improbably a zionist (!), reproduced passages from Rumi and Hafiz to highlight the gentle side of islam. The responses too were positive. We all would do well to keep in mind that this is ultimately a very civil society and the attacks on muslims are but an aberration.

ylh:

``I am quitting chowk now... atleast for next several days... I find it below me, and my values to engage in debate with senseless insensitive idiots who are acting out of spite and hatred against Pakistan.

I shall not be party to desecrating the memory of those who lost their lives in New York anymore!``

It is better to sleep then suffer the humiliation of letting Americans in Pakistan soil, and killing Talibans whom ur miltary govt has supported as of now.

This is the second sahmeful defeat after 1971.

Paki army should commit a suicide if it has some shred of honor.

A sequel to the NY Times Advertisement that I have posted earlier - All Faiths Prayer Meeting. I got to read this just recently so am forwarding the belated news. Sorry for that! But it`s important to learn that all faiths were there/were invited!


Dear Respected Religious Leaders and Friends:

Greetings of Peace and Condolences for the tragic Events of today.

I am pleased to confirm that the ALL FAITHS Prayers Meeting will be
held:

Date: Thursday September 13, 2001
Time: 6:00 PM - Program Starts at 6:30 pm Sharp.
Place: Steps of Pasadena City Hall - Centennial Square

The All Faiths Prayers Meeting is a SPIRITUAL EVENT. We are pleased to report that each of
the Leaders of A Religious Institution will deliver a spiritual prayer (not a speech) for 3 to 5 minutes. We pray that God will accept.

I am also pleased to report that the Honorable Mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogaard has agreed to host this event.

I am also honored to report that the following Institutions have confirmed their participation:

1. Catholic Archdiocese
2. Jewish
3. Quaker
4. Protestant
5. Mormon
6. Self Realization
7. Buddhist
8. Bahai
9. Coptic
10.Pentecostal
11. American Friends Service Committee
12. Muslim African Americans
13. Muslim Islamic Shura
14. Muslim Shi`aa

Please publicise for this event by contacting your list and E-mailing,

God Bless America and Bless You & Your Dear Families;

Dr. Yahia Abdul-Rahman, Chairman
Islamic Shura (Consultative) Council of S. California

Akash #490 Good post. As a Paki living in the US, I should add that I have no fear. Far from it. I have nothing to fear from the government. Indeed, people from President Bush down to congressmen like Lieberman (who is Jewish, I may add) have made it a point to remind people to not equate muslim Americans with those who conducted the evil acts of last Tuesday. Newspapers like the Washington Post carry editorials reminding people of this - the Washington Post in addition carried (and highlighted) a heartfelt article from a Pakistani American lady who reminded everyone of the same point. Right down to the school level - where my nephew`s teacher told his class that the school would summarily dismiss any student found harassing a muslim student, and where the head of my daughter`s school made it a point last night to come and share the table with me and my wife at a school dinner. I realize all societies have nuts: we did receive one threatening phone call many years ago when the US embassy personnel were taken hostage in Iran, and where my wife told the dumb caller to look up the map before confusing us with Iranis. But this time it has been nothing but concern for our well-being as muslims.

My advice to all chowkwallahs (muslims or not) is to participate in the mourning, not in order to be safe but in order to do what is right - there is a candlelight event planned in the Washington area tonight at 7 pm (everyone participating will light a candle and step outside the house as a mark of respect for those who perished). I think other communities will do something similar. And I am proud to note that while I am very proud of my Pakistani heritage, I am also proud to display the American flag on my house as a mark of unity with the rest of the community. And this is out of love for this great nation and wonderful people, and for the great tragedy it has gone through, not out of any fear.

Akash #490 Good post. As a Paki living in the US, I should add that I have no fear. Far from it. I have nothing to fear from the government. Indeed, people from President Bush down to congressmen like Lieberman (who is Jewish, I may add) have made it a point to remind people to not equate muslim Americans with those who conducted the evil acts of last Tuesday. Newspapers like the Washington Post carry editorials reminding people of this - the Washington Post in addition carried (and highlighted) a heartfelt article from a Pakistani American lady who reminded everyone of the same point. Right down to the school level - where my nephew`s teacher told his class that the school would summarily dismiss any student found harassing a muslim student, and where the head of my daughter`s school made it a point last night to come and share the table with me and my wife at a school dinner. I realize all societies have nuts: we did receive one threatening phone call many years ago when the US embassy personnel were taken hostage in Iran, and where my wife told the dumb caller to look up the map before confusing us with Iranis. But this time it has been nothing but concern for our well-being as muslims.

My advice to all chowkwallahs (muslims or not) is to participate in the mourning, not in order to be safe but in order to do what is right - there is a candlelight event planned in the Washington area tonight at 7 pm (everyone participating will light a candle and step outside the house as a mark of respect for those who perished). I think other communities will do something similar. And I am proud to note that while I am very proud of my Pakistani heritage, I am also proud to display the American flag on my house as a mark of unity with the rest of the community. And this is out of love for this great nation and wonderful people, and for the great tragedy it has gone through, not out of any fear.

Akash #490 Good post. As a Paki living in the US, I should add that I have no fear. Far from it. I have nothing to fear from the government. Indeed, people from President Bush down to congressmen like Lieberman (who is Jewish, I may add) have made it a point to remind people to not equate muslim Americans with those who conducted the evil acts of last Tuesday. Newspapers like the Washington Post carry editorials reminding people of this - the Washington Post in addition carried (and highlighted) a heartfelt article from a Pakistani American lady who reminded everyone of the same point. Right down to the school level - where my nephew`s teacher told his class that the school would summarily dismiss any student found harassing a muslim student, and where the head of my daughter`s school made it a point last night to come and share the table with me and my wife at a school dinner. I realize all societies have nuts: we did receive one threatening phone call many years ago when the US embassy personnel were taken hostage in Iran, and where my wife told the dumb caller to look up the map before confusing us with Iranis. But this time it has been nothing but concern for our well-being as muslims.

My advice to all chowkwallahs (muslims or not) is to participate in the mourning, not in order to be safe but in order to do what is right - there is a candlelight event planned in the Washington area tonight at 7 pm (everyone participating will light a candle and step outside the house as a mark of respect for those who perished). I think other communities will do something similar. And I am proud to note that while I am very proud of my Pakistani heritage, I am also proud to display the American flag on my house as a mark of unity with the rest of the community. And this is out of love for this great nation and wonderful people, and for the great tragedy it has gone through, not out of any fear.

Akash #490 Good post. As a Paki living in the US, I should add that I have no fear. Far from it. I have nothing to fear from the government. Indeed, people from President Bush down to congressmen like Lieberman (who is Jewish, I may add) have made it a point to remind people to not equate muslim Americans with those who conducted the evil acts of last Tuesday. Newspapers like the Washington Post carry editorials reminding people of this - the Washington Post in addition carried (and highlighted) a heartfelt article from a Pakistani American lady who reminded everyone of the same point. Right down to the school level - where my nephew`s teacher told his class that the school would summarily dismiss any student found harassing a muslim student, and where the head of my daughter`s school made it a point last night to come and share the table with me and my wife at a school dinner. I realize all societies have nuts: we did receive one threatening phone call many years ago when the US embassy personnel were taken hostage in Iran, and where my wife told the dumb caller to look up the map before confusing us with Iranis. But this time it has been nothing but concern for our well-being as muslims.

My advice to all chowkwallahs (muslims or not) is to participate in the mourning, not in order to be safe but in order to do what is right - there is a candlelight event planned in the Washington area tonight at 7 pm (everyone participating will light a candle and step outside the house as a mark of respect for those who perished). I think other communities will do something similar. And I am proud to note that while I am very proud of my Pakistani heritage, I am also proud to display the American flag on my house as a mark of unity with the rest of the community. And this is out of love for this great nation and wonderful people, and for the great tragedy it has gone through, not out of any fear.