Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Nothing is Sacred: Saleem Shahzad



Nothing is Sacred:  Saleem Shahzad Shahzad's book released May 20, 2011 
What is truth? According to Merriam-Webster, truth is defined as: fact, the body of real things, an idea that is true or accepted as true, and reality.  What then is a journalist? A journalist is a writer who aims at a mass audience through the medium of journalism. Journalism is writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or a description of events without an attempt at interpretation. This means a journalist is a writer that writes truth without personal opinion based upon fact and reality.


Syed Saleem Shahzad was the Pakistan Bureau Chief of Asia Times Online, covering issues of global security, focusing on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Shahzad has reported on Islamist movements, taking him to Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Syria and the UAE.


Saleem introduced the world to Al-Qaeda and Sheikh Essa. His interviews include Taliban commanders Sirajuddin Haqqani, Qari Ziaur Rahman, and Ilyas Kashmiri, who leads 313 Brigade, the operational arm of Al-Qaeda.


In November of 2007, Saleem Shahzad, journalist and photojournalist, constructed a brief on Pakistan Security Research Unit (PSRU) entitled: The Gathering Strength of Taliban and Tribal Militants in Pakistan. Shahzad's brief focuses on extremism, terrorism, nuclear weapons, internal stability and cohesion, as well as a resource for anyone interested in the security of Pakistan.


To quote Saleem:  "The unending Pakistan/NATO/US military operations in the tribal areas, which are seen by Taliban and tribal groups as being fought for a complete victory and without a will for political reconciliation, have radicalized Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province."


"After 9/11, a very rustic religious zeal and the Taliban’s affinity with Pakistani tribal groups was the reason behind providing shelter to the Arab-Afghan Diaspora in South Waziristan and North Waziristan, but Washington sponsored Pakistan’s half hearted military operations in 2002-03 and sparked some of the force in a shared war of retribution."

STOP.

What Saleem is presenting is an investigative document based on historical fact and research without imbibing his own opinion. What then again is truth?  The body of real things.  A journalist?  A writer who aims at an audience with a direct presentation of fact without adding his own opinion.



On May 31, 2011, Saleem Shahzad was found dead.



Syed Saleem Shahzad went missing on Sunday, after he left his home in the capital to take part in a talk show, but never arrived. He disappeared two days after writing an investigative report in Asia Times Online that Al-Qaeda carried out last week’s attack on a naval air base to avenge the arrest of naval officials arrested on suspicion of Al-Qaeda links [see Al-Qaeda had warned of Pakistan strike, Asia Times Online, May 26.]


Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists and Democracy Now have issued public statements regarding the abject horror over one mans death. In 2006, Saleem were captured by Taliban in Afghanistan, yet he remained alive.


Refer to Saleem's 2007 brief:  "As Western-backed military operations continue, Taliban numbers are rising steeply and their confidence is growing. They have even been joined by some Pakistan Army officers who have resigned from the Pakistan Army."


He continues with: "The Taliban are planning to take the war to Pakistan and Afghanistan’s major cities to build an Islamic Emirate. The more the US-backed war is prolonged, the more sophistication the Taliban will be in their strategic development."


Read the above two paragraphs again.

And again.


That was 2007.


On May 20, 2011, 11 days before his untimely death, Saleem Shahzad's new book was released:  "Inside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11" through Pluto Press in the UK.  On May 04, Shahzad wrote of the death of Osama Bin Laden.


The Associated Press of Pakistan reports: "President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his deep grief and sorrow . . . The President expressed his determination to bring the culprits to justice. He said the present government firmly believes in freedom of media and promotion of democratic values."


The Constitution of Pakistan states in the Preamble: "Therein shall be guaranteed fundamental rights, including equality of status, of opportunity and before law, social, economic and political justice, and freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship and association, subject to law and public morality."


In Part II: Chapter 1: Fundamental Rights: Article 19:  "Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, commission of, or incitement to an offence."


Read that again.


Saleem's body showed signs of torture after it was found miles from his car on initial exam, but autopsy results were pending as of May 31, 2011.


Article 5: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."


Saleem Shahzad was a journalist in the truest sense. He presented fact without his own opinion based on research. Why then is he not alive?


Article 19: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."


Saleem Shahzad is survived by his wife and three children.  Purchase his book through Pluto Press  [for US purchase go HERE]  to further his work in journalism and assist his family in their time of such unnecessary loss.




Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Our Lady Peace Live Web Chat Ustream: Wed May 25



 Wednesday May 25
  4 PST / 7 EST

On Wednesday May 25, join Our Lady Peace live from the studio as they update you on the recording process of their upcoming album release and answer some of your questions! Raine, Duncan, Jeremy and Steve will all be taking part in the chat. This will be the first installment in the week long series of OLP studio streams leading up to a brand new album.

To join the webchat and ask questions, get settled at
OurLadyPeace@Ustream and log in with your Twitter account to interact live with the band. Interested in just watching the stream? Head on over to ourladypeace.net.





Don't forget that from May 26 - 30 at 4 PST / 7 EST there will be a new stream.



Our Lady Peace
1731 Lawrence Ave
Toronto, Ontario M1R 2X7
 

Sunday, May 22, 2011

To Gaza With Love


ON WGRZ NBC


THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO SAIL ON THE U.S. BOAT TO GAZA IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO APPLIED.



TO GAZA WITH LOVE

Featuring  Ali Abunimah, Kathleen Chalfant, Kathy Kelly, and Alice Walker.



UPDATE ON NYC BOAT EVENT


A special guest, Dr. Ahmet Dogan, will be joining us for this event. Dr. Dogan is the father of Furkan Dogan, the 19 year old Turkish American killed by Israeli forces on the Mavi Mamara, one of the boats in Freedom Flotilla I bound for Gaza last year. Immediately after learning about the attack on the flotilla the organizing for the U.S. BOAT TO GAZA, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE began. 

Now it is a reality and soon we will sail.

Let us come together to hear Dr. Dogan speak about his son and honor Furkan Dogan's commitment to justice for Palestine and look forward to the launch of THE AUDACITY OF HOPE as we affirm our commitment to help end the siege of Gaza and free Palestine.

SENDING PERSONAL LETTERS TO THE PEOPLE OF GAZA


The U.S. Boat to Gaza Campaign is collecting thousands of personal letters to the people of Gaza from people like you in the U.S., in an act of friendship and solidarity. These letters will be carried as our cargo on the U.S. Boat to Gaza when it sets sail in June 2011 in the next International Freedom Flotilla "Stay Human."

The Audacity of Hope will sail as a human rights mission to help end the illegal Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. The campaign To Gaza With Love allows you and thousands of other people to take part in this effort.  To include your voice please write a letter, card or postcard and send it to:


LETTERS TO GAZA
119 West 72nd St. #158
New York, NY 10023

or




Facebook Twitter Flickr 
US TO GAZA | PO Box 373 | Bearsville | NY | 12409




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