If your post wasn’t so sad, it would be hysterical! The enemy we are fighting isn’t really the government per se, its the radical elements of the moslem world who are doing exactly what your are preaching and trying to get rid of the tyrants .. except, they think the tyrants are that of US foriegn policy makers!

You quote Lebanon as a successul example ..lebanon is a mess, and is barely 3 steps away from a civil war at any point in time ..

Oh, and with all due respect for American civil liberties, they really only apply to America. The rest of the world doesn’t really get the same treatment ..

‘Stay the course’ my friend .. stay the course ..

This means that if our government even entertains a notion of oppression, 75 or 100 million citizens can grab their sporting implements.

Yeah, a 50-cal is going to stop the AirForce from obliterating your entire suburb.

Half of Iraq already onwed Ak’s but I dont think that put a dent in Saddam’s master plans.

-Ibn

A very important right is the 4th amendment. It guarantees that the government cannot conduct arrests, or seizures without “Due process of law.” It also serves to protect economic rights and privacy by implication.

Another important right is the 1st Amendment. It protects speech, press and religion. When you, as a private citizen, or as a member of the new media can say your leader “Farts in the bathtub and bites the bubbles,” without fear of arrest, or when an Orthodox Jew can vacation in Baghdad, Damscus, or Tehran, I would say the Middle East has finally arrived!

But the most important right we American’s enjoy, is the Second Amendment. It means that law-abiding citizens can own guns. More than half of the households in America has a firearm in their closet. This means that if our government even entertains a notion of oppression, 75 or 100 million citizens can grab their sporting implements.

Here is a notion for the Middle East: Engage in a Jihad for liberty! You, and the other M.E. Blogs have been firing the first salvos in this revolution whether you know it or not. The battle cry should be “You can take my PC from my cold dead hands!” Or “Blogs don’t kill people, governments do!” Declare a virtual Jihad against tyrants. If enough people join in, they will fold like a house of cards. Lebanon is the example. Once the people lose their fear, tyrants crumble!

Ibn, you and I, and many here, blog anonymously. If we were to use our real names and disclose personal, identifying details, I doubt we would be as candid. Hell, I censor myself even anonymously

True, Lujayn…

…But then again, I do not own a blog.

If someone were to come after me for speaking freely and jail me, I doubt anyone would lose any sleep over it but myself. Mahmood has a full blog, capturing the soul of the struggle for freedom in the Middle East. What do I have?

In other words, there is more at stake and more to lose when they censor Mahmood, than when they censor me. Im not worth it. Which is why I self-censor my full name and the rest of my personal information.

I guess it is easier said than done. Mahmood, what you have done is very very brave. It is hard enough for an individual, let alone one with a family to raise! I commend you for your bravery.

Who knows, maybe they will place a sculpture of you in downtown Manama one day, with the motto: “He fought for us..”, but better hire someone else besides me to come up with it so it doesnt sound so cheesy.

-Ibn