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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Ed Webb

Ed Webb

SpyTalk - Israeli spies wooing U.S. Muslims, sources say - 0 views

  • “Israeli agents have become more aggressive in targeting Muslims living in the United States as well as in operating against critics.”
    • Ed Webb
       
      Because, y'know, criticism kills
Ed Webb

Gmail - Priority Inbox - 0 views

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    NB Arabic subtitles
Ed Webb

On Jordan's Cyber Crimes Law at The Black Iris of Jordan - 0 views

  • I was invited, along with a significant number of bloggers and online notables to attend one of several meetings with the minister of ICT, Marwan Jumah, who along with a legal aid, presented the law and, to his credit, tackled whatever questions, issues or concerns we had to offer. At the time, no one knew anything about the law so it was quite difficult to effectively argue the points, this is to say nothing of the absent legal background. However, to their credit, the concerns of those presented were taken in to consideration and proper amendments were even made to the memorandum accompanying the actual law before it was presented to the cabinet.
    • Ed Webb
       
      Quite striking that such consultation should take place.
  • This new cyber crime law is aimed at tackling specific issues related to online crimes, such as hacking, identity theft, financial transaction crimes, etc. And that’s all perfectly fine. The ICT ministry made the argument that this law was “urgent” enough to pass as a temporary law because of the number of cyber related crimes that are being presented before the judiciary every month. However, I am inclined to believe that given the fact that the Internet has been around for over 15 years in Jordan, it is unlikely that the government has just now noticed that crimes concerning its citizens are taking place online and there is a need for various protections.
  • The mere approval of the law made international headlines and will likely place Jordan firmly on the Internet Enemies list for the first time - putting out that beacon of hope we once took pride in throughout a region of highly regulated and censored Internet.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Laws are constructed to firmly place the citizen in either a constant state of fear through uncertainties, or in a bubble of complacency.
  • The equation may have been much simpler 10 or 20 years ago, when limiting free speech contributed to maintaining some political stability. But in this day and age I think the state has yet to recognize that these variables now sit in opposition to one another, and the limitations placed on media in the information age will undoubtedly create long term instability. The sooner this is recognized, the sooner we’ll be better off
Ed Webb

The Associated Press: Porn offers window into Iraq's chaotic politics - 0 views

  • The porn, in an odd way, has told the story of Iraq's security and political situation since Saddam Hussein's ouster in 2003. It emerged in the anything-goes atmosphere that erupted in the vacuum immediately following the U.S. invasion — then went back into hiding amid the anarchy when armed militias roamed the capital through 2008, targeting those they saw as immoral.Its reemergence since then reflects how security has improved but also how the fragile government is busy with more pressing issues than spicy videos.
Ed Webb

Middle East Report Online: Turkey's Search for Regional Power by Yüksel Taşkın - 0 views

  • Turkish TV series have found a considerable audience in the region and angered conservatives who see them as deliberate efforts to induce moral laxity among Muslims. Some scholars at the al-Azhar mosque-university, for instance, blamed the melodrama Gümüş for increasing the divorce rate in Egypt by raising the “romantic expectations of women.”
    • Ed Webb
       
      Turkey is competing successfully with Latin American countries as a supplier to Arab markets of racier soap operas than are produced in the Arab world itself.
  • enhance Turkey’s status as a vital and autonomous player in the region
  • Increasing signs of multi-polarity also provide ample opportunities for the Turkish government to enhance its regional influence, which can be converted into bargaining power in its dealings with the US and the EU. As Ahmet Davutoğlu lucidly described his vision: “The new global order must be more inclusive and participatory…. Turkey will be among those active and influential actors who sit around the table to solve problems rather than watching them.”[7]
Ed Webb

Israeli Ex-Soldier Defends Her Facebook Snapshots - The Lede Blog - NYTimes.com - 0 views

  • occupation also corrupts the Israelis
  • Ms. Abergil, whose compulsory service ended last year, refused to accept any responsibility for harming Israel’s international reputation, saying: We will always be attacked. Whatever we do, we will always be attacked.
Ed Webb

IDF soldier posts images of blindfold Palestinians on Facebook, from 'best time of my l... - 0 views

  • Israeli blogger Lisa Goldman contacted the former soldier via Facebook, who replied: "I don't speak to leftists."
  • "The horrible pictures demonstrate a norm of treating Palestinians like objects instead of human beings – treatment that disregards their feelings as humans and their right to privacy."
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