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shafique

Berrin -thanks for the reminder.

shafique

Now this bailout of the financial system is nothing but damaging to the real economy, because taxpayers need to pay for public debt from increased taxes. This is so non-productive policy. Doesn't make sense. It does make sense for a bunch of crooks politicians who want to be reelected by bailing ou...

shafique

Ok, whilst you're working out the question above, here's the next quotation from the book. This relates to general authorship of the Bible and cites one historical inaccuracy relating to where Jesus was born - quoted in full so that you can digest the context and let us know whether you agree or dis...

shafique

Support of the US for Israel is more emotional than rational IMO. I'd instinctively agree with this statement. However, after reading 'Failed States' by Noam Chomsky there is a logical explanation for the US support of Israel. And Chomsky backs this up with examples. But on the face of it - it is a...

shafique

Wiki has a page on 'Foreign Military Financing' - but the stats are a bit out of date. The figures there show that Israel is in a league of its own - $2.4bn vs 1.3bn for Egypt 300m for Pakistan (in 2008). Perhaps this has changed in the past two years? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fore...

shafique

Well, I found a US (Congressional Research Service) report from December 2009, entitled 'US Foreign Aid to Israel'. The introduction basically verifies that Israel is the largest benefactor of US foreign aid. (It also details the other forms of aid - Loan guarantees and other grants) : Israel is the...

shafique

I'm glad you clarified. When you said: Compared to US support to other Arab countries or Pakistan, US aid for Israel is really not that big. Contrary to what all those conspiracy theories want you to believe. I thought you were saying the 'conspiracy theories' were wrong when they stated the fact we...

shafique

In 2009 US aid to Israel and Egypt was almost equal (2,4 billion vs. 2,3 billion resp.). In that year US aid to Israel was around 1,5% of the Israeli GDP. So yes, combined US aid to Arab countries is larger than US aid for Israel. Some fancy logic there FD. Largest recipient of aid: Israel Largest ...

shafique

You and your fantasies again. :roll: So, Israel breaks international law in East Jerusalem and blames the victims. The fanbois blame the Muslims - and ignore the fact that Christian and Muslim Palestinians are protesting against Israel's illegal annexation. And the retort... 'you are ok with Muslim ...

shafique

It will be fascinating to see how the balance of power shifts in a few years time when China starts throwing it's military weight around more explicitly. Then we'll see whether the bravado/chutzpah and reality are in accordance. Israel seems schizophrenic to me - on the one hand complaining it is a ...

shafique

Epic failure of comprehension eh - or is it just wishful thinking? :P Let me repeat: Just because you have weird interpretations of God's words, don't assume anyone else shares your fantasies! You're the one who denies what is in your scripture (and that is very sensible of you to do so). So, perhap...

shafique

Actually, the first verse of the Quran clarifies the matter and we explained what 'Rahman' means. It appears your memory is letting you down as well as! Thereafter I asked you to consult what up to date scholars such as Prof Hans Kung have concluded. Hey, if you want to continue to believe quaint id...

shafique

You seem to be missing the point. If you disagree with Dawkin's conclusions - please state why and which ones you disagree. I happen to agree with his conclusions. Whether he is basing some of the points on the incident where Abraham does not kill his son, may be a defence against one or two points ...

shafique

Bump: When an earthquake machine is invented, then I'll be able to answer your hypothetical question. Until then, all earthquakes, tornadoes, plagues, hurricanes, Tsunamis, cancers etc are natural disasters aka acts of God. Virgins being enslaved and their families slaughtered will remain war crimes...

shafique

So, just to be clear - the two points we're waiting for you replies to are: 1. the list of attributes of God from the OT - do you disagree that the OT does show God acting in these ways? 2. the quote about how the story of Jesus being born in Bethlehem being inserted to fit in with OT prophecies in ...

shafique

I've got a private target of the total number of direct questions eh will refuse to answer. I'm about half-way there.

(I'm easily amused, you see)

Cheers,
Shafique

shafique

I'm surprised that Rob is getting most of the attacks - it was Bora that started this thread. :wink: That said, many people did appreciate the good things about Dubai (there were many) and were very sceptical about the 'pie in the sky' promises and explanations. I was routinely viewed as a person wi...

shafique

Don't count too much on the Chinamen to come to your rescue. Hey, the Chinese are already here in Mauritius in force. :) But why do you think I need rescuing? You're not stereotyping are you FD? Tut tut. Then we'll see whether the bravado/chutzpah You eman the right to defend oneself Oh, you're a f...

shafique

Well, I did use to work for the guy when I was in London!

Cheers,
Shafique

shafique

Small cog in a big machine. I worked for Gen Re - part of Berkshire Hathaway (sorry to disappoint). The sage of Omaha is quite straightforward in his thinking though - if he can't understand it, he doesn't invest. He understands insurance, but called derivatives 'financial weapons of mass destructio...

shafique

So you are basically suggesting for a full government takeover of banking? You want to eradicate the private sector and allocate capital inefficiently? I don't get that logic. Explain your idea in full please. Well, that is the conclusion of the guy who made 'Money as Debt'. I would still keep bank...

shafique

Done.

shafique

Rather than supposing what Kung concludes, why don't you quote him? Here's his book (in full) - Islam, Past, Present and Future. http://www.scribd.com/doc/6387447/Islam-Past-Present-and-Future He's still a Christian and I don't agree with all his conclusions about Islam, or Islamic history - but you...

shafique

and 'is there really that much Iranian/Russian/Saudi black money around to buy all those appartments coming on line' etc etc Shaf, I really appriciate your inf. about the UK but why are you so sure that Russians have nothing better to invest than to crappy built Dubai's appartments? Is there nothin...

shafique

Why would I agree with your weird interpretation? I said: No Muslim scientist has been chastised by Muslim clerics for stating the fact the earth orbits the sun despite the fact that relative to the earth the sun rises and sets, as does the moon. You're confusing the Catholic church with Islam eh - ...

shafique

Head in sand AND an ad hominem attack - impressive going eh.

A white flag smiley would have been easier.

shafique

I asked whether you were proud that you are more extreme a religious fanatic than Al Qaeda. We've established that I don't (and won't) share your views that the Israelites' actions can be condoned. Are you ashamed of your views, or just ashamed to say whether you are proud to be a bigger fanatic th...

shafique

May I refer you to the other quaint interpretations you have. God says the sun rises and the sun sets, and in the movement of the sun and the moon there are signs for mankind. You seem to be objecting to this observable fact in the Quran and yet are strangely silent about the Bible saying that the S...

shafique

See pgs 87 to 91 of Kung's book: http://www.scribd.com/doc/6387447/Islam-Past-Present-and-Future 'The common belief in God in the three Abrahamic religions' He quotes the Quran there and gives you the references for the attributes of God. Rahman, as we've pointed out before, is also dealt with. The ...

shafique

You disagree with Dawkins' view that Ibrahim was a religious fanatic Well, I'm still waiting for you to quote Dawkins, to be honest. Perhaps I will disagree with him about his interpretation of Abraham not sacrificing his son. However, I do agree with him on the quotes I've given above, and the que...

Dubai Forums

shafique - Posts

Re: For Eh- Qur’an 9:5-Kill the disbelievers wherever you find ?

Re: The Business Cycle Theory - Economics

Re: God Delusion - Dawkins

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Clashes break out over re-opening of Synagogue

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Quran and Science (Conversation)

Re: Eh- Are you a born sinner or a "Born Again"

Re: God Delusion - Dawkins

Re: Biblical war crimes

Re: God Delusion - Dawkins

Re: God Delusion - Dawkins

Re: Quicksand

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: The Business Cycle Theory - Economics

Re: Critical Juncture Israel vs. Iran

Re: Eh- Are you a born sinner or a "Born Again"

Re: Quicksand

Re: Quran and Science (Conversation)

Re: Eh- Are you a born sinner or a "Born Again"

Re: Biblical war crimes

Re: Quran and Science (Conversation)

Re: Eh- Are you a born sinner or a "Born Again"

Re: God Delusion - Dawkins

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