Hot Conflict

Terrorism and the killing of infidels in "The Kingdom" of Saudi Arabia

There is a new movie about terrorism coming out in a few weeks. It will be interesting to see how the film portrays the story of people living in The Kingdom. The title of the film is The Kingdom, and the plot is based on the Riyadh bombings that took place in 2003. The country of Saudi Arabia is steeped with culture and actually a very different place, than the rest of the world. Some who have lived there understand that you are dealing with a place in a different time.
I spent three years in Saudi Arabia going to school and getting a degree in traditional religious studies, so I have been exposed to all sorts of characters and opinions. It was always interesting living with the people and being welcomed. Then going to an American facility and having to go through check points and security. The US is not exactly welcomed by the people even though the Kingdom has allowed bases in the country. Some claim that this specific issue of having US troops in The Kingdom is the tipping point that lead to the recent terrorist dilemma. Having troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the straw that broke the camels back ! it was then that Osama Bin laden left Saudi Arabia and began forming the beginnings of a base away from his home and family.  The Bin Laden family are the maintainers and  construction company that  built the structure around the two Holly Mosques.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been attempting to change their image and increase public awareness of their culture. Mekkah and Medinah the two Holly Cities are not allowed to be entered into by non-muslims. According to many religious leaders the whole Arabian Gulf is off limits to the "infidels". This is the same call that Osama Bin Laden is making, for the US to remove their troops from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This film, by Peter Berg the Executive producer of the TV series Friday Night Lights, has an all star cast.  The head liners are Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner as special agents. Jamie Foxx has been wearing a uniform a lot lately with his recent role in Jarhead. Jeniffer Garner most well know for her role as a special covert agent in the hit TV show Alias has not done a lot of films. It will be interesting to see her play a dominant woman in the chauvinistic terrain of The Kingdom. The film also stars Jason Bateman, yes from Teen Wolf 2, as well as the always amazing Jeremy Piven. Piven who recently was in Smoking Aces, but is well know by many as the lovable Ari Gold in the HBO series Entourage, is always a pleasure to watch. Also in the film is veteran actor Chris Cooper who is always a character.

Is The Kingdom, a work of entertainment or a piece of Western propaganda? It will be interesting to see if there is real substance in the story or just the typical stereotypes that we usually see when dealing with the Middle East and Muslims in general.   

Saleem Siddiqui is a Political Commentator, Public Speaker, and Consultant. He is a trained Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialist. Saleem Siddiqui is founder of HotConflict.com which is an effort to help network Muslim communities and organizations, with other counterparts in various fields. With an effort to increase Muslim and Islamic awareness in Communications, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Political Strategy, Media, Marketing, and many other fields as they relate to the integration of Muslims in the United States of America and around the world.

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Using Technology Internet Social Networks Trends To Understand People, the World

Alternative Careers for Muslims To Stop Terror and Win the War of Ideology in Islam

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Captain Bush makes Alberto Gonzales Walk the Plank

Just last week we saw the Architect or Bush's Brain, Karl Rove, take to the stage and declare that he was leaving the President. Now this week we see that the US Attorney General is also walking the plank. He resigned on Friday and there was a public statement made by Gonzales today to declare his resignation. it is becoming harder and harder to find people to dislike in the administration. Congress has been trying to get the Attorney General to testify and they have not been very successful. The same was true with Carl Rove.

Chuck Schumer has been one of the biggest critics of the administration. Well who is left for the Democrats to punch at. It was becoming a very difficult situation. The congress, especially Patrick Leahy, had been very critical of the administration members who were being called to testify. All of these people were unwilling to testify before congress and continued to claim an executive privilege. Many in Congress are claiming that these resignations by both Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales does not change the fact that they are still supposed to testify. Yet, now that the administration has gotten them to take a walk and they are no longer in the White House is becomes more difficult for the Democrats to use them as a punching bag. More than likely they will never end up appearing or testifying before Congress and the administration probably feels just fine with that!

Who is running the country now? Don' t worry everyone, we still have Dick!

Saleem Siddiqui is a Political Commentator, Public Speaker, and Consultant. He is a trained Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialist. Saleem Siddiqui is founder of HotConflict.com which is an effort to help network Muslim communities and organizations, with other counterparts in various fields. With an effort to increase Muslim and Islamic awareness in Communications, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Political Strategy, Media, Marketing, and many other fields as they relate to the integration of Muslims in the United States of America and around the world.

Where's the Beef ? Dennis Kucinich is a vegan running for President

I have been watching the Lance Armstrong Live Strong Presidential candidates forum on MSNBC. The forum has focused on the importance of health care and finding a cure for cancer. In this country where we are having a terrible problem with the health care industry, it seems natural that a candidate who is meticulous about his diet should be considered quiet influential when dealing with the subject of health.

The question then is if the American people and ready to have their Commander in Chief be someone who does not eat meat?

Although the candidate is leading by example on many fronts, is the country ready to be lead by a Vegan? it does not seem likely. Americans eat meat ! We are people who hunt and kill animals and favor a rough and rugged lifestyle. Yes is is true that most of us get our meat from the grocery store and we don't even truly know what we are eating. Sometimes it is not even actually meat, in our burgers, but still.

The truth is no matter how many time I go through the drive-thru intending to get a salad, i always end up leaving with a Big Mac! Two ALL Beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese...you know the rest !

Is there some benefit to the Vegan diet. According to Kucinich, he says he is 60 years old and his wife is 29, "make your own conclusions", he says. In a world where the Big Mac eaters like me have to actually pay attention to the hundreds of Erectile Dysfunction commercials on TV, maybe the Ohio Democrat has a point !

Kucinich for President....where's the beef ?

Saleem Siddiqui is a Political Commentator, Public Speaker, and Consultant. He is a trained Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialist. Saleem Siddiqui is founder of HotConflict.com which is an effort to help network Muslim communities and organizations, with other counterparts in various fields. With an effort to increase Muslim and Islamic awareness in Communications, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Political Strategy, Media, Marketing, and many other fields as they relate to the integration of Muslims in the United States of America and around the world.