Cap Phantom

“A humanitarian crisis” is how the Arab League described Gaza as it was plunged into darkness when its only power plant was shut down three days after Israel ceased the delivery of fuel supplies to the trouble-plagued territory. Fuel supplies have now been resumed but continued supply is certain to be disrupted.

The fuel stoppage – which represents about 70% of Gaza’s oil supplies – came after Gaza had caused “a humanitarian crisis” in Israel by permitting the indiscriminate firing of 230 rockets and mortars into Israeli civilian population centers during the previous four days.

Such a heavy and incessant barrage – following years of similar action that has seen thousands of such rockets and mortars fired at and landing in Israel – was the final straw as Israel began what will inevitably become the total severing all contact with Gaza – already declared to be a hostile entity by Israel.

Fair warning of such action had been served over the past six months but was ignored by a mindless leadership and terrorist sub-culture that dominates everything that has been occurring in Gaza – not only in regard to Israel but also as concerns the Arab population of Gaza.

This has divided Gaza into two bitterly opposing camps with each trying to inflict the maximum damage on the other in a deathly power struggle that unfortunately cannot be as easily resolved as cutting off the fuel supplies.

Gaza is one big mess. Supposedly now ruled by the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas – it displays anything but “strength and bravery” – its English translation.

When Israel totally withdrew its army and evacuated all 8000 Israeli civilians living in Gaza in August 2005, hopes were high that Gaza would take responsible and reasoned steps in showing the world that its solely Arab population was capable and ready to assume the responsibilities of statehood and to live in peace with a Jewish Israel.

Events since then have seen Gaza slide into an abyss of hopelessness from which there seems no way out.

The opportunity afforded by Israel’s evacuation has now been thrown to the wind – blown away along with the countless opportunities that have arisen in the last 60 years that could have seen Gaza develop and emerge as part of a new Arab State between 1948-1967 by a simple declaration of statehood.

The Hamas Covenant adopted on 18 August 1988 tells why it cannot happen now or in the future if the present chaotic situation persists.

The preamble to the Covenant explicitly states:

“Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious…The Movement [Hamas] is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah’s victory is realised.”

One such squadron – the 22 member Arab League – is indeed offering its support but in doing so is contributing to the continued destabilisation occurring in the region.

Instead of immediately sending fuel and food supplies by the truckload through Egypt to Gaza to relieve the crisis it claims was being suffered by its Arab brethren, the Arab League was apparently happy for that crisis to continue to worsen as it chose to play the political game – running off to the United Nations calling for it “to hold international investigations into the Israeli crimes.”

Resolutions or pious self serving declarations cannot end a humanitarian crisis. They will not turn on the lights or put food in the belly.

The Arab League should be counselling Hamas to show “strength and bravery” by abandoning its insane policy of trying to get rid of the Jews. This is a policy still shared with its rival seeking control in Gaza – the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

It is this policy which has and will continue to sow the seeds of suffering and despair for the ordinary Arab on the street who is powerless to do anything to end this mindless hatred of Jews.

That ordinary Arab must now be ruing the day he voted Hamas to power – even though the corrupt PLO alternative was little different in its attitude to Israel. He has helped create the political environment that now threatens his daily existence. He is not just an “innocent citizen” and totally without blame – as claimed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The Arab League needs to wash its hands of Hamas and to show its complete repudiation of what Hamas supports and stands for. In failing to do so it has become an accessory to endorsing the Hamas Covenant and has aligned itself with a movement that declares in Article 13 of the Covenant:

“There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavours.”

Supporting this policy makes a mockery of Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa’s current call on the countries that took part in the Annapolis conference to shoulder their responsibilities for Gaza and that the United States should be directly responsible for what was happening in Gaza.

The Arab League cannot have it both ways. It needs to choose between peaceful resolution or Jihad.

Intractability, duplicity and double dealing has marked the Arab League’s policies since its futile invasion of Palestine in 1948.

In dealing with Gaza it is displaying the same ineptitude that has marked its attitude and approach towards Israel at every critical stage over the last 60 years – when real opportunities for a negotiated settlement presented themselves only to be rejected each time by the Arab League imposing conditions that it knew could never be accepted by Israel.

The current support given to Hamas must end if there is ever to be any chance of Gaza emerging from the quicksand that is rapidly threatening to swallow it up.

One solution is to return Gaza to Egyptian control – a situation that existed between 1948-1967 – to end the rocket and mortar barrage and restore order and stability. Arab League support for such action could make it happen. Given its past performance the Arab League will do nothing -as usual.

Unless the Jew-hatred endemic in Gaza’s Government and its population is ended, Gaza is in for a tough time – and the Arab League will have to share the major responsibility for allowing a deteriorating situation to become far worse.

On the 17 of June, 1942, G.I. Joe was debuted as a Yankee cartoon soldier made by David Breger in the military’s YANK mag. GI Joe, became a American household name with the release of a picture the story of G.I. Toy business was the driver following the commercialization of GI Joe brand. As an example, The milliatray actions figures from the Hasbro toy company included members from every one of the four branches of the armed forces ; Action soldier, Action Pilot, Action Sailor and Action sea.

The story of of the military action figure started with an American cartoon soldier made in 1942 and began a considerable industry over some years. GI Joe military action figures have galvanized many young Yank to serve thier country and protect the state. The tenth annual convention was in New Orleans 2006 with Sgt. Massacre in attendance as a special guest. The sensation of GI Joe story is both a commercial success and the proof of American heroism. Actually, many up to date G.I. Joe action figures are based primarily on both army and civilian real-life heroes – Bob Hope, Dwight Eisenhower, Colin Powell, John F. Kennedy, Ernie Pyle, Theodore Roosevelt and George Washington.

The story of GI Joe has been influenced by each combat that the U. has been concerned. Even though in 1970 the Vietnam Confrontation, toy company Hasbro had rebranded GI Joe as journey figures to diminish the original war theme of G.I. Joe. The name of GI Joe frequently appeared in TV and paperspapers when writers followed war heroes who were spellbound with GI Joe action figures or GI Joe collectibles before they served in the military.

The formation of new GI Joe action figures are influenced by both major army and cultural procedures in the states. GI Joe actions figures have become favorite gifts for boys. A lot of men are obsessed about the collectibles. Like carved gifts, action figures are unique and special when it comes to the present giving.

I’m from a family of doctors & engineers. My training under my Govt. officer father’s eye was of a sternly simple life. He was determined that I should not be an exception in the family. And with the help of Almighty I didn’t grow up as an exception. In fact, If I divide life into two parts: “End of the Beginning” and “Beginning of the End”, I’m quite proud for a happy ending of the Beginning by pursuing a Bachelor in Computer Science.

But the story of the second part “Beginning of the End” is quite different. My whole family is settled in USA & I’m also in the pipeline for immigration. But may be the story of my life could be different if I could arrange that hefty amount of money I was asked by a broker to bring to the residence of a PSC (Public Service Commission) member. Thus, a terrible family crisis precipitated with rapidity. At one side, there was not only my strong desire to join cadre service at any cost prompted by the sorrow stories of my BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) failed brilliant friends living abroad but also my dissatisfaction over private jobs.

On the other hand, all my conservative family members from the USA was against my need to bribe, ridiculed me for being so dumb … saying you wont need to stay in a country where no one is safe and there isn’t any opportunity to explore your true energy, creativity & potentiality …Even now a days the life of an honest govt. official is not safe like our fathers time, cause if you don’t have link with political party high ups you could jeopardize your career and secured personal life. Despite all their heartbreaking teasing, I really wanted a simple living like the hero of my life “My Father” albeit he was single-minded that I should not be a black ship in his family.

Still now after years whenever I think of those crucial hours of my life, I just find myself in a mad rage over that PSC(Public Service Commission) official’s demand, feel so bad about the fighting with all my family members, relatives …begging money to my poor colleagues. Good thing is, now I want to assure them that I’ve totally got those stupid thoughts, angers out of me and I beg apology to them for all those misconducts.

Indeed all together that was a bitter lesson – the bitterest I think so far that really is playing a great role in the second part of my life “Beginning of the End”.

How time flies… All my childhood dreams crushed into real life. … …practicing life in the hardest way…very little energy left for pleasurable family life, friends after looking at all the horrific happenings around me.. this is what life is all about right now in Bangladesh.

Being at the brutal “Beginning of the End” of life is the hardest thing on earth at this moment. However, looking at the political turmoil during the last few months, questions arouse in my mind: does democracy exist in this country? Is it why my father fought for this country, though he didn’t care for a freedom fighter certificate?

In fact the way I see it, after all this episode of political game is over,

BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) or AL (Awami League) whoever is chosen by this ever forgetting/ forgiving nation with mountain of thunderous promises, they will blatant selfishly only uphold and safeguard the interest of their electors by shamelessly ignoring the actuality and will be more concerned about taking bigger bribes and come out with more safety measures to steal even bigger objects.

Same thing is occurring in this part of the world for centuries. Sometimes I wonder, Is it true that the present political situation arouses out of our forefathers mistakes, made one after another without foreseeing the upcoming blow?

Right now the nation is fighting an uphill battle against corruption. In our 36- years history, this is the first time we are seeing such a large number of rich, powerful and untouchable people behind bars. All these are taking place under a caretaker government whose legitimacy is overwhelmingly accepted but credibility is still untested. Time will say whether to congratulate them for their unprecedented, bold and historical move against the corrupt leaders. The people of Bangladesh will remember this CG (Caretaker Government) for a long time if they could wipe out corruptions from every sector of the society by bringing all the criminals behind the bars ensuring justice is done and sending the traditional family oriented political practice into museum who were using Bangladesh as their private business ground ignoring the normal citizens hassle.

Of course they can’t invent any instant remedy to restore decaying social mores of decades prompted by those in the highest seats of power in the country as they repeatedly rewarded widespread fraud over truthful warden ship, commode incompetence over professional competence, personal or party fidelity over merit and all other associates that fly in the face of unfair demeanor, meritocracy and rule of law. We have to give this CG (Caretaker Government) enough time to bring qualitative change in the political culture of the country as a whole so that democracy here starts to learn how and why they should elect the best man to public offices who will set the radar of the country towards the right direction without any fear.

I want to see alternative leaderships in the Bangladesh as all of the ex-ruling parties are seriously suffering from intelligibility, sincerity, answerability, inequity, intra-party democracy….(it wont finish). It’s our pride that despite the mountain of burdens, literacy rate is doubled over the last 35 years. Surely the days of politics with left or right, underworld or family-world are shrinking when I see Dr. Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2006) accompanied with different mindset people entering politics. I know they can’t change everything overnight. But definitely they are only hope left for us who can show us the silver lining after the blood baths for the ast 36 years. I’m wishing the best of luck to all the bold efforts taken so far. Definitely someday these will crate better opportunities for happy beginning or ending of every life and bring the best out of this hardworking nation.

750000 Gazan Arabs have vented their spleen – not against Israel – but against the policies of the Arab League which once again left them high and dry this week – as it has done for the last 60 years – after describing Israel’s refusal to supply oil to Gaza as a “humanitarian crisis.”

Israel’s action may have been drastic and ultimately proved to be temporary – for the moment at least.

It had come as the final response by a country that was no longer prepared to supply fuel to Gaza whilst Israel’s civilian population centers were subjected to a continuous barrage of rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza and whilst Gaza was controlled by Hamas – an organisation whose declared goal is the destruction of Israel.

The Arab League’s pathetic response to Israel’s action resulted in the Gazan breakout into Egypt by half of its total population .

Instead of despatching oil and food supplies to Gaza through Egypt to meet the population’s demands, the Arab League preferred to run off to the United Nations Security Council seeking the political condemnation of Israel for having the temerity to defend its citizens.

In scenes reminiscent of the demolition of the Berlin Wall, Gazan Arabs rebuffed the Arab League’s weak-kneed and inhumane policy and blew holes in the border fence separating Gaza from Egypt. Gazan Arabs were reunited with their Egyptian Arab brethren as they bought food and fuel in Egypt, which could easily have been transported into Gaza thus avoiding the chaotic scenes that followed the border’s demolition.

The Arab League in claiming Israel was solely responsible for the Gazan breakout still fails to recognise its own responsibility for what has occurred in Gaza during the last 60 years.

Gaza would not be the basket case it is today if the Arab League had pulled down the refugee camps and resettled and rehabilitated Gaza’s residents between 1948-1967 when the League’s most powerful and influential member – Egypt – exercised full control in Gaza with Arab League approval.

Those refugee camps still exist today. They were deliberately maintained as a festering sore breeding hatred and enmity and ruining the lives of countless generations of Gazan Arabs since.

Israel’s attempts to build housing and progressively close down the camps after assuming control in 1967 were met with fierce resistance by the Arab League.

The Arab attitude to such proposals is summed up by Norma Masriyeh in her article “Refugee resettlement: the Gaza Strip Experience” (Palestine-Israel Journal Volume 2 No. 4 1995) where she states:

“Israeli measures to resettle Gaza Strip refugees, which started in the early 1970s, do not conform with their humanitarian claims to improve the living conditions of refugees. Israeli measures can instead be seen as an integral part of modern counter-insurgency doctrines promoted by security considerations in response to revolutionary guerrilla warfare or Insurgency.”

Even where Israel is not involved – as in Lebanon – the refugees are housed in refugee camps as mendicants relying on UNWRA handouts, denied citizenship or any equality of human rights with the Lebanese Arabs in whose midst they reside – again with the intention of breeding hatred towards Jews and dreaming of revenge against Israel.

“Let the refugees rot in order that revolutionary guerilla warfare continue” has become the catchcry of Arab League policy and so it was employed again in Gaza during the past week – but the Gazans for the first time indicated they would not continue to be willing accomplices to this inhumane policy.

The Gaza breakout has given some indication that the residents of Gaza are sick and tired of being used as pawns and have sent a strong message to the Arab League that playing politics with their lives is no longer acceptable.

With this warning ringing firmly in its ears, the Arab League needs to review its 2002 Peace Initiative which professes to seek peace with Israel whilst imposing conditions that are impossible to accept and which have already been said to be unrealistic by President Bush – such as the right of return and the withdrawal by Israel to the 1967 armistice lines.

The Gazan Arabs have shown in the past week that political posturing and attempted points scoring is no substitute for giving them and future generations of Gazans real hope that their despair and suffering needs to be ended.

The Arab League needs to act with urgency to embrace policies of resettlement and rehabilitation – whether it be in Gaza, any host country in which Palestinian Arabs currently live or any other member State of the Arab League.

It is time for these refugees – trapped in a 60 year time warp – to direct their anger away from Israel and face their captors – the Arab League – and demand it undertake such programs within and with the support of the 22 member Arab States who purportedly have their interests at heart – but who in reality could not care if they remain in their state of misery and suffering forever.

The Arab League rejection of the United Nations Partition Resolution in 1947 and the subsequent invasion of Palestine in 1948 were the principal factors in creating the refugee situation that still continues in the Arab world today.

It is time the League started to make practical – not political – amends for those disastrous decisions.

The Arab League cannot continue acting as some disinterested bystander and turn its back on those who need its help and practical support in being given the opportunity to lead normal lives no different to other Arabs.

The time for political grandstanding by the Arab League is over.

Are you an active-duty military spouse with an existing MyCAA account? You are lucky, because now you can take advantage of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) decision to reinstate MyCAA funds, but only to existing MyCAA accounts.

Don’t take your existing MyCAA account for granted another day.  In fact, many military spouses with existing MyCAA accounts have yet to choose a career training plan.  Understandably, it’s an important decision that requires careful consideration, from what you will be happy doing to what will be best for your family – especially if you need a portable career.

Get moving today with these seven, easy steps to selecting the right career path:

Begin your Career Path Search with “you.”

What do you like to do?  Or on the other hand, is there anything that you can’t see yourself doing? The first step is to Identify your interests, skills, values, needs and traits to help you determine the best career fit for your personality and lifestyle.

Research different industries, career paths and or jobs that align with your traits, needs and lifestyle.

Based on what you’ve learned about yourself, check out various sources of occupational information to discover those jobs that seem to be the best match.  More than likely, you will find several types of occupations that match your interests.  Now you can form your list of career possibilities.

Narrow down your search.

Once you have identified favorable career options, the next step is to delve deeper into your research. For example, what’s the salary range, training requirements and future job growth of the industry your considering?  Also, talk to family, friends, neighbors or anyone you can – you may locate a contact who can offer real-world advice and experience concerning your career fields of interest.  Additionally, the Internet offers a variety of valuable tools for successfully conducting this type of research.

Gather up your research and choose your career path.

Now that you have matched your needs and interests with possible occupations, spent some time researching and hopefully talked to individuals in your potential career fields, it’s time to select which one you want to pursue.  This is a big step, but if you did your research and gave careful thought to your likes and dislikes, you should be able to make this decision with greater confidence.

Choose a career training program with portability.

Now you are ready to put your existing MyCAA account to work.  You can use the search option on the MyCAA portal to check out military spouse friendly schools. For example, the school must accept MyCAA.  Next, the school should offer portable education options, which is why an online school or university might be the perfect fit for your military family lifestyle.  Other important things to consider include national accreditation and live student support.

For information on how to use your existing MyCAA account, visit the military one source web site where you can access tools like Frequently Asked Questions and news/updates affecting your MyCAA benefits.