France is showing its true face?

What is surprising in France today, is the fact that racism against Arabs and Africans is not only growing in the country but not any more in hiding. There is not one single week that passes by without some incredible news about how Arabs and Africans are not welcome anymore here. If they had ever been really well received in France. And this racism, xenophobia and to a certain extend even antisemitic attitudes by French people is clear, high and loud. But the main problem is that the government and its chief are amongst the people who clearly proclaim that those two, and sometimes even Jewish, are not part of the country. No one can forget that a few months ago, a member of the current majority in the parliament said that one potential candidate to next year presidential election cannot be president because of his background (he is a well known Jewish politician, French Jewish). And unfortunately only a few people criticized this statement. And almost none from the government. But the irony, is that France desperately needs Arab and African countries for its development and I to think that Americans should take advantage of it to take market shares in those regions of the world.

And Now?

After the US raid that killed Bin Laden, what is going to happen? Will Al Qaeda conduct or try to conduct attacks against Americans or other western countries? It seems unlikely as the terrorist organization stopped being as dangerous as in the 90s and the beginning of 2000. It has divided into various let's say branches, each working in a specific area, the more active being the Al Qaeda Maghreb, north African one. It has taken hostages from some European countries. With the end of its chief and mastermind of a lot of attacks in the world (the worst being the September 11th one in New York) there are still a lot of questions being asked but without answers yet. Apparently, the SEAL commando who conducted the raid has ceased documents and computers in Bin Laden's house. Hopefully they will give a lot of valuable information to the CIA and other US intelligence agencies. With those information, they might be able to understand better the organization and how it works today. They might also get information about the main people who are still heading Al Qaeda and eventually some operations that might have been programmed in the world. In any case, it should reveal a lot of interesting facts about it and on how it works. There is no better way to secure one's country than with information from organizations that plan attacks against it. Once again, it is a good thing that he has been eliminated. I don't understand people who think that he should have been taken prisoner.

What will happen now?

Once we digest the news of Bin Laden's death, it is wise to wonder what possibly could happen now? I don't think that anyone have a clear answer but we can only speculate. One thing is sure: his nefarious influence amongst extremists was already in decline. He, through his people, has been threatening the world and mainly the US for more than 10 years, but fortunately very few actions have been taken. At least against the Americans. Since September 11th, he didn't stop sending messages of hate and violence but he didn't conduct terrorists attacks against the US. I do think that the September 11th attack was his last real action. Yes he succeeded by killing a lot of innocent people. But he couldn't do more and in fact he started living in hiding since then. For someone who claimed his superiority and the war against the West, it was rather ridiculous. Finally what did he gain? Apart from the deaths of people who didn't have anything to do with the world's politics, nothing. So what will happen now? I don't see a lot of things, at least bad. In fact maybe, but it is a speculation, he helped the rise of Arab population against their dictators in various countries. But one thing is sure. If Bin Laden was head of state in any country, he would have been a dictator, like so many heads of state (Ben Ali, in Tunisia, Moubarak in Egypt, Gadafi in Lybia). So his loss is a no loss for Arabs, for Muslims and for the world.

Death of a terrorist

Finally Osama Bin Laden has been eliminated by the US forces in Pakistan. Although his influence has been limited during the recent years, his name was still a symbol. Symbol of hate, violence and death. His most infamous and famous action was the organization of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack against the US, in New York. Since then has been looked for by various secret services, mainly the Americans. And for a perfect reason: he was proud of what has happened in New York and Washington on that day. And while hidden, he went on organizing other attacks against the whole modern world. Against Arabs and Muslims as everybody was his enemy. Every person who did not think and act like him was an enemy. Well, now it is over and we can only congratulate the CIA and its Pakistani counterpart who conducted the operation. Well done guys. I am proud of you. God Bless America.

Marrakesh terrorist attack?

On Thursday, April 28th, a bomb killed around 16 people in the busiest tourist attraction in Marrakesh, Morocco. Moroccans and tourists died in this horrible attack. As for now nobody knows who did it and why. Some are already pointing at extremist Islamic groups. It is too early to clearly state who did it and every speculation is only the result, indirect result, of what is happening in the Arab world. In any case, if this was an action aiming at the pro-western Moroccan government in order to reduce foreign influence, it will not succeed. However, the political leaders and mainly the king should meditate about the situation in the country. Once again they have a warning sign demanding a real change for Morocco. The demonstrations that have been happening since February will not stop until the three main demands are met, which in fact could be summarized in only one word: real democracy. The apparent freedom given to Moroccans since the king Mohammed VI took over his father after his death (back in 1999) is not a real one and furthermore not in the main sectors of the country daily life: economy, justice and education. Not to mention the corruption that is probably higher now than ever. To be perfectly honest, the king should fire the whole government and appoint new people who have never been involved in politics to conduct the changes. He should demand to the people who took advantage of the regime to return their wealth, or at least a good part of it, and to stop being involved in the economy and politics. But that is only a pretty nice dream that will not happen. Too much is at stake, and the first hurdle is the people who take advantage of the non democratic regime. But one can always dream? In any case a terrorist attack is in no way an answer to any problem, political or social. Killing people who are just having a nice coffee or tea in a beautiful square (Jamaa Al Fnaa is the famous square where Hitchcock's 1956 movie "The Man Who Knew To Much" with Jimmy Steward and Doris Day was partly shot) where tourists from all over the world and Moroccans gather all day long. The first probable result will be a decrease in tourism in the country. But will this tragedy have an impact in the changes that the people are demanding? I do hope that the answer is YES. But I don't know.

War in Arab countries

April 27th

The uprising started in February in Lybia and as today, April 27th, it is still on. It is a fact that Gaddafi and his supporters are in bad shape since the beginning of the NATO attacks but his army is still holding the capital Tripoli. Then other countries are also boiling and masses march against their rulers and their systems. Syria and Morocco are two other examples, although different, where the people are fed up by their regimes. Syria is indeed a dictatorship. Morocco, one of the few countries in the Arab world with more freedom of speech, is showing its limits. It is true that since the new king took over his father, the late Hassan II in 1999, the situation improved a lot, both economically and politically. But what is happening today, is a proof that changing rulers doesn't necessary mean a new life for the masses. The biggest problem, or to be honest one of the biggest, is corruption. People like to be able to express themselves but if their economical situation doesn't improve it is a dead end for them. Western countries see Morocco as an example amongst Arab nations. But it is either a non impartial view (too much stakes at risk for them) or a misunderstanding of the needs of Moroccans. More freedom yes, but a better life. That is what they want.

The awekening of Arab people

No one ever thought that Arab People would one day wake up and succeed in ousting their corrupted presidents and head of states. No one thought that they would succeed after years of apparent acceptation. After decades of humiliation Arab people marched in the streets of cities where only a few weeks ago political police was feared so much that they would not even talk to each other about their governments. An suddenly they were out in the streets shouting words against their rulers. All of a sudden those dictators were as vulnerable as any citizen in his and her day to day life in those countries. But the most interesting part of it is that Europe and the USA (but much less) have never realized that Arab People were fed up by their "non life" and didn't have anything else to lose. And once a human being feels that he doesn't have anything to lose he or she can do things that are well above the reality. That is what has happened in Arab countries.