Terror organizations are spreading across the globe. They are transnational. There is no place for these people to hide. No more safe havens. The recent deportation of Indian national Abu Jundal Hamza, from Saudi Arabia, is a clear case. He was wanted for the Mumbai attacks of 26/11. Surprisingly, he was holding a Pakistani passport, had traveled from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, looking to recruit fresh people for the terror organization.
Families of 26/11 victims, which include people from various nationalities, will be more than happy to see the cooperation extended by the Saudi authorities in deporting the terror suspect. This is not the first time Saudi Arabia has taken such a leadership role in the fight against terror. We know the Kingdom has a no-nonsense approach toward terror. Prior to this we have seen how successfully the Saudi authorities tracked the potential suicide bombers in Yemen, who were planning to use high-end devices, incapable of being seen at the airport body scanners.
These examples truly demonstrate that the Kingdom is serious in its fight against terror, unlike Pakistan, who claims they are at the forefront in fight against terror, but end up supporting these elements. The whole argument of Pakistan being a victim of terror is not going to hold water after this incidence. You reap as you sow. (Bhaskara Sujeet Kumar, Riyadh)
New Egyptian president
After a year of unending turmoil and military rule, Egypt's new president, Muhammad Mursi can take some pleasure in seeing the Egyptian Stock Exchange rise in the days after the news of his election victory became known.
Egypt faces an acute financial crisis that could undermine its political transition and pose a defining challenge to Islamists now coming to power. With mounting debts, negligible economic growth and dwindling foreign reserves, the military rulers and the new Islamist-led Parliament now confront some difficult choices.
The first test of the new government will be negotiating terms for a $3.2 billion the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have offered, which Egypt badly needs to stave off a financial crisis. In Parliament, the FJP opposed taking the loan for technical reasons, but during the presidential campaign it vowed to reach a deal quickly and even hinted it might seek a bigger loan.
Debt continues to rob the people of a safe and sustainable existence and of a dignified livelihood, and will continue to hold impoverished countries and people in poverty until the vicious cycle of debt rescheduling and debt servicing is ended.
The universal nature of the present crisis needs universal change in their present financial set up; a patch up solution to repair only minor wear and tear cannot work. They need an overhaul of their economic system that may redesign it on the basis of true values and sound principles that make it equitable, well balanced and inherently immune from turmoil. They should exert their utmost to counter acts of thuggery and violence and attempts at stoking the fires of sectarian sedition. It is essential for law and order to return to the street, for chaos to be put paid to, for rumors to come to an end and for professional protests to be swiftly and decisively dealt with. Only then could Egypt be re-crowned the heaven of Arab and foreign investors. Only then could their nation be safe again.
In modern democracies, we are told that it is the fate of minorities to suffer; strength of numbers here becomes the passport to power and privilege, but in Islamic democracies, spiritual strength necessarily goes with physical or numerical strength. Mursi should rise to the situation. (Israrul Haque, Jeddah)
Summer break
After getting over with exams, children look forward to summer vacations, but soon find it to be boring if they have nothing to do. There is good news for the parents to engage their children in some constructive work to explore their hidden talents and make use of their time in a constructive way.
I visited the Saudi Aramco Cultural Program in Dammam and it is beyond description what I found there. There are different places for different activities like 1001 Inventions, Ice Park, Generation Oasis, a food court and many others. In one go, one can only visit one stall as they have many activities for kids.
When I visited Generation Oasis, I found different experiments done by children who could make their own models and get the scientific concepts clear. There was one section of how the world would be in 2050 and it would be transformed into virtual world. There was a very interesting place where in a playful manner kids are taught traffic rules and they drive their own cars getting a license. One section comprised of robotics and kids playing games like football, gymnastics, and weight lifting with the help of robots.
I request the parents to make use of the time and to visit such a place where you will find your child getting away from cell phones, computer games to utilize their potential to do some constructive work. (Mumtaz Rizvi (Seema), Dammam)
Train derailment
It was shocking news that a Saudi passenger train heading from the kingdom's eastern city of Dammam to the capital Riyadh derailed on Wednesday, causing injuries to several passengers.
The train journey in Saudi Arabia is very safe and comfortable, and this is the first time that I read about the train accident in Saudi Arabia. I wish all the injured passengers a fast recovery and hope that the Saudi railways will continue its good work as usual. (Zakaria Sultan, Riyadh)
Letters — No place to hide
