ONE REAPS WHAT ONE SOWS

Qaddafi’s Libyan Loot Likely Lost

August 29, 2011

By Dan Hennessey

Daniel Hennessey, an international affairs and geography major at the George Washington University, is an outreach and communications intern at Global Financial Integrity in Washington, DC.

$33 Billion Illicitly Left Libya between 2001-2009, Says Global Financial Integrity

Since the forces of the Libyan Transitional Council entered Tripoli last week, Muammar Qaddafi has not been seen, presumably hiding or on the run from the revolution aimed at ending his 42-year rule.  But as pointed out on ABC News last Wednesday, much of the money he looted from the country over the past 4 decades is still at large as well.

Citing Global Financial Integrity (GFI) research, ABC notes that at least $33 billion dollars left the country through illicit means in the past decade.  Explaining the figure, GFI’s Monique Danziger noted:

Libya has the “spottiest” data reporting of the 162 countries that report financial figures to the IMF and World Bank.

“These are all puzzle pieces,” she said. “No one can say they have a wholistic estimate. You’re working with huge data gaps no matter what.”

Earlier this summer, GFI’s Tom Cardamone wrote a piece for  Trust Law  about the challenges of actually recouping money taken by Qaddafi and his fellow ousted dictators, Mubarak in Egypt and Ben Ali in Tunisia.  In past recovery efforts, only about 1% of the money was ever recovered, based on a UNODC report .  The U.S. and other nations were quick to apply sanctions in the case of Libya, freezing many assets which may help with the recovery process.  In fact, some of those assets have already been returned to the Libyan people, with the Netherlands turning over some of the frozen money to fund medical relief efforts.

However, the process of finding all the illicit money is far from simple.  Bank secrecy laws, the routing of money through shell companies and secrecy jurisdictions, and all sorts of other shady financial maneuvering will make the recovery process challenging.  And in this case, as Robert Powell at the Economist Intelligence Unit notes , even if accounts are registered in Qaddafi’s name, the dozens of ways his name may be transliterated into the Latin alphabet makes tracking the funds even more daunting.

In order to prevent abuses of power like this in the future, it is vital that the U.S. and other nations take stronger measures to prevent illicit financial activity.  Strong anti-money laundering programs, including greater scrutiny into the activities of Politically Exposed Persons would make tracking and preventing dictatorial graft easier.  Making it harder to hide money in shell corporations with undisclosed owners will remove a key tool used to launder dirty money anonymously as well.

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POWER CORRUPTS - ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY !

KASHRUT

Abrahamic or Jewish dietary laws (called kashrut) are found in the Old Testament mainly in Leviticus - Chapter 11.

Leviticus is third among the five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) included in the Laws of Moses (Torah or Taurat Musa). The chapter warns and forbids practitioners of Judaism (Jews) from eating certain types of unclean animals/creatures for foods (hence for Jewish-Kosher-foods). In its strict application, the instruction also forbids direct contact between physical body and/or attires with carcasses of unclean animals/creatures.

The types of unclean animals and creatures are mentioned in verses 13 to 46 of the said chapter. Based on the descriptions in the verses, lists of unclean animals and creatures including their kinds below are found and taken from an internet-search (Reference: www.biblestudy.org/cleanfood.html).  

Types of Swine :Boar, Peccary, Pig (hog, bacon, ham, lard, pork, most sausage and pepperoni) Types of Canine - Coyote, Dog, Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wolf, Types of Feline: Cat, cheetah, leopard, Lion, Panther, Tiger, Types of Equine: Donkey (ass), Horse, Mule, Onager, Zebra (quagga) Others: Armadillo Badger, Bat, Bear. Beaver, Camel, Elephant, Gorilla, Groundhog, Hippopotamus, Kangaroo, Llama (alpaca, vicuña), Mole, Monkey, Mouse, Muskrat, Opossum, Porcupine, Rabbit (hare), Raccoon, Rat, Rhinoceros, Skunk, Slug, Snail (escargot), Squirrel, Wallaby, Weasel, Wolverine, Worm, All insects except some in the locust family.  Marine Animals wthout Fins and Scales: (i) Fish: Bullhead, Catfish, Eel, European Turbot, Marlin, Paddlefish, Shark, Stickleback, Squid, Sturgeon (includes most caviar), Swordfish,  (ii) Shellfish – Abalone, Clam, Conch, Crab, Crayfish (crawfish, crawdad), Lobster, Mussel, Oyster, Scallop, Shrimp (prawn), (iii) Soft body – Cuttlefish, Jellyfish, Limpet, Octopus, Squid (calamari)   Sea mammals: Dolphin, Otter, Porpoise, Seal, Walrus, Whale Birds of Prey, Scavengers and Others: Albatross, Bittern, Buzzard, Condor, Coot, Cormorant, Crane, Crow, Cuckoo, Eagle, Flamingo, Heron, Kite,  Lapwing, Loon, Magpie, Osprey, Ostrich, Owl, Parrot, Pelican, Penguin, Plover, Rail, Raven, Roadrunner, Sandpiper, Seagull, Stork, Swallow, Swift, Vulture, Water hen, Woodpecker Reptiles: Alligator, Caiman, Crocodile, Lizard, Snake, Turtle Amphibians: Blindworm, Frog, Newt, Salamander, Toad.

Apparently from the lists, it can be seen that the biological habitats and the natural feeding-characteristics of those animals and creatures are unclean. Thus hygiene is valid reason for the ‘khasrut’ against eating meats and foods from the unclean animals and creatures.

Two Significances

(i) Consuming meats and foods from the unclean animals/creatures including physical contacts with their carcasses makes practitioners of Judaism (Jews) ceremoniously unclean. Because of bodily uncleanliness they are forbidden to participate in worship unless they clean themselves accordingly. It follows that physically-clean bodies (free from contamination, sickness and/or infections) makes worshippers ceremoniously clean and holy in their worship of God for God is holy. Nonetheless, the chapter does not say that ceremoniously unclean believers are sinful or rejected by God.

(ii) The chapter is a picture of many intentional or accidental occurrences which contaminate and disqualify believers in worshipping holy God. The emphasis is believers must be well-prepared, be cleaned and holy (conduct-wise) in worshipping God for God is holy.

New Testament Concept of “bodily uncleanliness”

The New Testament teaches that “bodily uncleanliness” is not a religious restriction to appear in worship before God. Jesus clearly says what defile man before God is not what he eats but man’s heart and what comes out of his mouth:

“and He said:’ Are you lacking in understanding also? Do you understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth came from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; ....’”(Matt.15:16-20) (See also Mark 7:18-23)

The crux of Jesus’ teaching about being right with God is beyond Pharisee-taught physical and ceremonious cleanliness. At the same time Jesus did not abolish the restrictions on eating unclean foods.  

How does Leviticus Chapter 11 apply to Christians today?

This is an interesting question to discuss. To my personal knowledge, Seventh Day Adventist is one particular denomination of Christianity which observes food laws described in the chapter.

In the New Testament in Acts - Chapter 10 (verses 12 to 15), by Peter’s vision it is written: “....there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the airs ..... A voice came to him: “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!’... by no means, Lord I have never eaten things unholy and unclean .. the voice came to him again a second time: “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”

Depending on situation as one-man's food may be  another-man's poision. As for many Christians, taking “unclean” meats and foods (described in chapter 11) is not an issue but a choice through faith and by “prayer of sanctification in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

By man, the tendency to look at holiness is greater ceremoniously through external look including intake of foods and drinks. How can a man be holy from the outside when the inside is infested with much thoughts of filthiness?"..For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. ...."

The greatest reminder is what Jesus said (in Matt.15:16-20 and Mark 7:18-23). What defiles man is not come in and through his mouth, but what comes out from the mouth.   

IF MEN ARE SO WICKED AND CARELESS WITH RELIGION, WHAT WOULD THEY BE WITHOUT ONE?

After last Thursday’s evening devotion, the same group of friends met casually at a “kedai-pak-kopi” near Green Height Airport Road Kuching.

In starting their coffee-talk Alberto said and asked: “In reviewing history of wars, Christians were condemned for the Crusades or “Holy Wars”......In the light of what the Bible teaches, how do we seek to answer a question that: If Jesus Christ was still around during the Crusades, would He sanction the so called ‘holy wars’?”

Antonio replied: “The question is highly imaginative. However, I suppose that the question is well-intended and thought-provoking connected with real historical happening...it makes an interesting topic of open-discussions taken in the light of the recent and current happenings ....”

Earnesto was quick to explain saying: “As part of European history, Crusades had been badly misunderstood, miswritten and misinterpreted. The wars were sanctioned by Pope Urban II when he summoned the knights of Christendom through the Council of Clermont which met in 1095. Being Pope-sanctioned, the wars were portrayed as “holy wars”. In facts, the wars were direct responses to Islamic territorial conquests and expansions over Christians-inhabited lands in Europe during the 11^th and 12^th century. To “Christianize the wars” symbols of “The Cross” were used. The fighters or crusaders expressed sentiments of piety, self-sacrifices, and for the love of their Christian brethrens.....”

In joining the conversation Julio asked: “Whoever called the Crusades against the invading Muslim forces as “holy wars” were not quite right and abusive. How can any war be “holy” when it involved killings, taking women and children for sexual gratifications ... and slaves, plundering for war booths or treasury of wars.....?

Antonio said: “A war could not be “holy” in the light of what Jesus Christ said - God is God of LOVE and not of hate, revenge, slavery... not of an eye for an eye or not of a tooth for a tooth. Upon His death on the Cross, Jesus said of His accusers: Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”.....There are religious scriptures...... including some parts of the Old Testament did encourage and justify killings and torturing ...also suicides as an acts of love in defending or enforcing God’s truths and honour..... Who are we as human beings proudly acted in defence of God...I believe that God is more that capable of defending His truths and honour through believers who live their lives exemplary of God’s love, compassion, mercies and forgiveness. In the Gospels (or Injeels), Jesus was in total opposition against in the use of sword (in His defence by His follower) which is readable in Injeel (Matthew: 26 verses 51- 52).

Alberto quipped: “In each of world’s greatest religion, there is interwoven golden threads of truth which relate mankind one unto another... revolving around godly love, compassion, tolerance.... Thus mankind have been turning to religion in their search for ideal life.......Religion has been one of the most powerful moving forces in human history to forge unity in diversity in nation building until today.....Theocratic government is to unite and also to segregate (disunite) people in the name of religion....... If men are so wicked and careless with religion, what would they be without one? .... With regard to the Crusades, I see it historically as united defensive-war-actions (unholy alliances) among Christians against the invaders with the objective of pushing and keeping-out the invaders out of their conquered lands.  

Earnesto added: “We can agree to agree and also disagree. So in order to understand better the reasons for “branding” the Crusades as “holy wars” , we need to be open-minded and dig deeper into the history about the relationships between Judeo-Christianity and Islam post -Jesus Christ’s era..... In looking at the history from a safe distance of many centuries, it is easy enough for anyone to scowl in disgust at the Crusades. Religion after all is nothing to fight over.”

Antonio quickly chipped-in: “As far as I understand it, there was nothing to justify the Crusades as being “holy-wars” in the context of what Jesus Christ’s teachings which was against “an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth”. When challenged by the Pharisees, Jesus Christ said the two foremost   commandments were to: (i) Love the Lord God [Yehovah] with all one’s heart, soul and mind; and (ii) Love one’s neighbours as oneself. (Ref:Matt.22:37-40).

Earnesto said: “For the invading forces, territorial expansion was justified theologically in view of the religious concept in dividing the physical world into two spheres or territories namely Darul al-Islam (Territory of Peace) and Darul al-Harb (Territory of War). By the theological concept and interpretation, Darul al-Harb became the prime sphere of territorial conquests and expansions..... That explained the conquests of Palestine, Syria, and Egypt—once the most heavily Christians dominated worlds in the eighth century including North Africa and Spain. In the eleventh century, the Seljuk Turks conquered Asia Minor (modern Turkey), which had been Christian in term of religion since the time of St. Paul. The old Roman Empire, known to modern historians as the Byzantine Empire, was reduced to little more than Greece. In desperation, the Roman emperor in Constantinople sent word to the Christians of western Europe asking them to aid their brothers and sisters in the East....”

Alberto said: “With the historical happenings, it appeared the “holiness of religion” was infused and exploited strategically as divine authority or ruling to do something in the name of a religion. The Crusades are most misunderstood event in European history. Most of what passes for public knowledge about it is either misleading or just plain wrong. Nonetheless, Christianity as a religion naturally became a powerful “uniting force” tantamount to “coalition-of-rights-of-defence”- in defending fellow-believers (practically neighbours) from destructive invading forces. My personal view is that the Crusades were not and could not be termed as ‘holy wars” by the true standards and teachings of Jesus Christ.”

“Brother!” exclaimed Earnesto, “May be one way of looking at the Crusades (as act of love toward one’s neighbours) is look into the mind of Pope Innocent III who wrote to the Knights Templar: ‘You carry out in deeds the words of the Gospel by saying that: Greater love than this hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friends.'... May I also invite us to imagine that we were also in the midst of our fellow-believers at the material time of the Crusades and asked ourselves - what would be our reactions to the call made by the Popes? Like all warfare, the violence was brutal (although not as brutal as modern wars). There were mishaps, blunders, and crimes.

Alberto concluded: “We’ve discussed enough. To weave the memories of Crusades into intractable modern political problems is to exacerbate present-day hatreds...... In the propagation of its teachings, any religion including Christianity cannot be religion of peace as long as it remains intolerance and justifies violence in the propagation of its teachings. If men are so wicked and careless with religion, what would they be without one?”

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NOTE (18.08.11): Story of GENESIS 1 - Readable in http://www.histruths.blogspot.com 

WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE - BY GOD IT IS POSSIBLE.

A dramatic TESTIMONY of an Indonesian Bible college student who came back miracoulously from death to life. Readable in  http://www.histruths.blogspot.com   



"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." – Pericles

TRANSPARENCY IN ARMS DEALS ...

In its press statement dated 30^th July 2011, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) said (as quoted below):

Transparency in Arms Deals Vital 

“The arms trade is one of the most corrupt prone sectors. The impact of corruption in the arms trade has severe consequences for citizens, governments and nations.

The payment of kickbacks and bribes in defence purchases inflate the cost of weapons and this impedes the ability of governments to defend their countries. When there is high level of secrecy in arms deals, weapons may end up in the hands of criminals and violent dictators ending in the cost of many lives.

Transparency in the purchase of arms will assist governments in checking that arms do not

fall into the hands of those involved in criminal activities.

Taxpayers money intended for development needs such as education and healthcare have

often been diverted to the purchase of arms with dire consequences for social development

at national levels.

Member states of the United Nations are currently negotiating a UN treaty by 2012 to regulate the arms trade. Anti-corruption provisions will be an important part of the treaty.

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) certainly hopes that Malaysia will not object to the inclusion of anti-corruption provisions in the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The 27 member states of the European Union and others such as Australia, Costa Rica and South Africa are supporting the inclusion of anti-corruption provisions in the ATT.

Exporting governments, importing governments and defence companies are already beginning to introduce tools and mechanisms such as Integrity Pacts for greater transparency and accountability in defence procurement. Some of these tools include civilian oversight of defence procurement. Strong anti-corruption tools and measures are vital in defence procurement as payments of bribes in defence purchases are widespread.”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞.

Apparently the above press statement is self-explanatory which seems to have some connections with what Dr. Kua Kia Soong wrote which are readable in SUARAM website:  www.suaram.net, Malaysia Today in www.malaysia-today.net as well as in

Free Malaysia Today in www.freemalaysiatoday.com