Tag Archives: barbarians

Critical reading of latest UN Security Council deliberations on Somalia

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At times it appears that United Nations analyses of local situations have become increasingly divorced from ground realities. This becomes apparent when one critically reads briefings to the Security Council, which often are closely reflected in subsequent Security Council resolutions.

In 2002, when I was political affairs officer for the UN mission in Afghanistan, I was charged with the compilation and writing of the weekly situation reports that were sent to the UN’s Department of Political Affairs, including the Secretary General’s office. Continue reading →

Venturing into the Darkness of Europe

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During the Middle Ages, hardly any Arabs traveled to Europe – the region simply had nothing to offer. Those who did travel north, however, complained about the “raw” and “animal-like” behavior of the “Francs” – and about their lack of culture. By Mona Naggar

“They lack a warm sense of humor; their bodies are large, their character is coarse, their customs rude, their minds dull and their tongues heavy. Their skin color is of such an extreme white that they appear blue. Their skin is thin and their flesh rough. Their eyes, too, are blue and similar to their skin color; their hair is smooth and reddish due to the damp fog. Their religious beliefs are unreliable, which can be traced to the type of coldness and lack of warmth. The further north they reside, the dumber, more vile and primitive they are.” Continue reading →