By: Mohammad Hassam Kang

An executive order preparing to hand over control  over much of the country’s resources to the federal arm of government, namely the National Security Agency, in the case of a natural disaster or war, is causing widespread concern over the perplexing timing of its release. The document which can be read and accessed through the White House website contains such instructions as the dispensing of all domestic energy, production, transportation, food, and water supplies, as well as, collaboration with commercial entities for what seems is an increased wartime effort.

Brought forward just a week ago on March 16th, titled National Defense Resources Preparedness, it acts as a law  bending statement by not limiting the emergency status which would prompt seizing national resources to a state of war, but rather in any reason for national defense. For this reason it conjures negative thoughts in the mind of the paranoid who are already jaded by the existing erosions of freedom. It also allows federal officials to gauge and manipulate certain laws, with Congress already passing these measures, such as internet regulation and indefinite detention.

Embedded within the order in Section 103 with a subheading entitled General Functions, it states, "identify requirements for the full spectrum of emergencies, including essential military and civilian demand," which many are seeing as general language signaling for a military draft, as seen in Vietnam during the time of the red scare. Skeptics claim that the executive order is no call for martial law because almost identical orders have been issued by an amendment from President Clinton on June 7, 1994 to an order issued in 1958 by President Eisenhower. This was also later amended by EO 13286 and issued in 2003 by George W. Bush.

While it relays nothing about the seizing of public property, it does coalesce in a mandate to seize government assets and focus all executive power in military defense, and as such, the call is issued about every other decade.

While the skeptics are defeated in their attempt to prove that the U.S isn't preparing for war, when already international boundaries have been crossed in terms of U.S military involvement in over 6 nations, many predict fear of an impending Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear facilities could prove to be a twisted turn in U.S policy. Even more dangerous are sections making the decisions of the Secretary of Defense equal to those of President, namely in 104(b), backed by a section 204, strangely entitled Chemical and Biological Warfare, which says, "The authority of the President conferred by section 104(b) of the Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 2074(b), is delegated to the Secretary of Defense.  This authority may not be further delegated by the Secretary."

Furthermore Part VI is entitled Labor Requirements, and proportions the workforce for the need of the national defense. Other sections and subheadings strongly hint towards the rationing of gasoline, in the guise of controlling "civil transportation" to deter another national tragedy.

Again since it is stated in such a way that it causes discomfort with its overarching federal mandate, it is still seen as many as a shorthanded repetition of laws already existing. While many are seeing it as a unique document, others familiar with the President's policies which include voting for wiretapping and signing the Patriot Act, as well as ramping up wartime efforts around the world, are wondering what political alternative we have as supposedly free citizens in a waning democracy.

Random and unprecedented military action including assassination and detainment of U.S citizens on foreign soil, as well as an increased surge of military activity around the world, has been ushered in by this administration and all promises have been broken.

Still not sure? Decide for yourself how the random memo uses translucent text to summon the cloud of war at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/16/executive-order-national-defense-resources-preparedness

By: Mohammad Hassam Kang

Recent spikes of violence against youth and women in Iraq is taking shape in the form of hate crimes against young men who dress with piercings, long hair, or tight pants, which have long been hallmarks of rock, punk, and emo cultures and are widely recognized by American youth. The violence comes as moral police militias have been exposed for compiling lists of names and addresses of those who do not meet certain lifestyle requirements, and those perceived to be homosexual or having extramarital affairs.

Although most of the attacks have been on women, some of the brutal murders include boys who dress in alternative fashions, such as many American youth who are considered "emo" or "goth" and frequently dress in black. The militias justify the killings by claiming targets are devil worshippers, homosexuals, or adulterers. Most of the attacks convey some sort of warning in order to stop acting in transgression with Islam and the victims are told to change their ways or suffer a violent honor killing. A handful of victims were shot in cold blood, while others had their faces bashed in with heavy cement blocks.

Reports from NGOs, like the Brussels Tribunal, claim that as many as over a hundred youth have been murdered in the targeted killings by Islamic militias. Others say the numbers are greatly exaggerated as an act of anti-religious propaganda and to simply turn people against their faith.

This has brought out various commentaries by clerical officials on the matter. Muqtada al-Sadr, a top Shiite cleric has condemned the youth that act in a manner of being "emo" and said, “emos” are “fools” and “experts must finish them;" however in accordance with the law. Over a dozen of those murdered lived in Sadr city, where a Shiite majority offers al-Sadr political support.

Another member of Iraq's Islamic Supreme Council, revered Shiite Sheikh, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, somewhat differed with al-Sadr and said the killings are “bad phenomenon for the peaceful co-existence project,” and even went so far as to say they are acts of terrorism.

Revered Ayatollah Mohammed al-Yakoubi says that it should be the duty of people to advise such youth, encouraging a non-violent approach, and also suggested that the mainstream press seeks to defile Islam by making it seem like an unreasonable faith.

While activists have posted pictures of some of the battered teens, Ali al-Hilli, chairman of Iraqi LGBT, a non-profit group based in the UK, is quick to point to facts like the estimated 750 gay Iraqis that have been killed since 2006, as an example of the magnitude of violence. Collaboration between police, clerics, and schools has often cracked down on emo kids and say that their lifestyle encourages socially abhorrent behavior like practicing "dirty activities" at nearby coffee shops or cafes.

Militants in Sadr city have distributed a list of 33 names and addresses of kids that fit the profile of someone they feel need to be exterminated. One example is of fliers or leaflets that have been distributed in neighborhoods singling out teens by their nicknames and pointing out personal information like their address.

All but one of the targets on the list from Sadr city is male. However many males are scared to leave their home without cutting their hair for fear they may be targeted. The victims who are male are often conflated as homosexuals because of their hipster style that is common in western fashions. Recent reports link back to an Iraq Interior Ministry memo that classifies the "emo" culture specifically as a threat that encourages behavior that is socially abhorrent.

Officials discounted the memo as being misread or misunderstood. However human rights groups and people everywhere are scratching their heads wondering how clothing items and personal lifestyle choices can serve as a threat, and why these kids aren't being protected. As technology has made various degrees of human culture more accessible, counter cultures have seeped into the fabric of even Iraqi society, where they might seem in extreme unorthodoxy to those who have a one dimensional understanding of Islam.

As often we develop a habit of victimizing ourselves as Muslims but we see that there's a lot of hate amongst us that needs to be corrected. Iraq is historically a country known for sectarian violence. But those who drive people away from Islam and claim to fight for it are by definition hypocrites and ironically a caste of human that both punks and Muslims have historically fought against, making the rightly guided their formidable opponent.