Abu Muqawama: Post
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Londonstani who?
This blog long ago established a tradition of announcing the identities of its writers to mass yawns and mumblings of "yeah, so?"
Today, it's Londonstani's turn.
As many of you already know and a few have probably worked out with a little cross referencing via google, my name is Amil Khan.
And that's me.
After a few cameo appearances as AM's "violent Pashtun flatmate", I first wrote for this blog nearly two years ago after returning from a trip to Lebanon that was actually supposed to be a holiday. I used to work as a Middle East correspondent for Reuters. After six years abroad, I left to come back to London and work on documentaries. Since then, I've had the privilege of working for the likes of Channel 4 and the BBC on topical foreign and domestic projects. My speciality is looking into why people do bad stuff. Mostly, I looked at Islamist extremism but I've also spent time investigating the kinds of extremism we see more often, such as racism.
Towards the end of 2009, I moved away from the world of day-to-day journalism and cast my net further a field. This blog had a lot to do with that decision. Some of the stuff I'm proudest of having written came about following conversations in Walthamstow with Abu Muqawama that started with the words, "OK, so I saw [insert strange occurrence]. Weird or what??." To which, AM's reply often was, "why don't you blog on it?"
Presently, I am working on a project in Pakistan that aims to challenge the religious legitimacy claimed by extremists operating there. And since I am what a friend calls a "recovering journalist", I exorcise my demons on this blog whenever time permits. I usually restrict my writing to this blog, however, my latest thoughts ended up on the Guardian's Comment is Free site.
I intend to continue writing for this blog. I haven't yet figured out why AM himself is on Twitter, but I might even give that a go some day. In the meantime, I'll be posting here whenever I get the chance. The intention will be, as always, to provide readers with the context behind the news rather than the news itself (this is done far better than we can manage by the likes of Reuters, BBC, AP and AFP). And as always, expect to find many references to things that have no broader intellectual interest whatsoever and are only there for amusement value.
Hell, at the very least, everyone can rest assured that in keeping with the house style of this blog, Londonstani will not be referring to himself in the third person.
At least you're not assuming
At least you're not assuming you can quit us. We'll be waiting for your next post, Mr. Khan.
Amil, glad to meet you. I
Amil, glad to meet you. I have read your articles in other places.
There is one constant in life. Humans will continue to be humans and journalists will have something to write about as a result. When we decide to all be the same, then you will have to find a new job.
Hope you find what your looking for in your new project.
PS... I have never blogged in my over half century of life. Only reason I am here is because there is no log-in format. One day I said what the heck. Not sure it is really all that useful. Personally, I think it comsumes valuable time. We have only so many years on this earth, way spend it at a computer? It does provide a sounding board for ideas. For a journalist, that could be useful. Just have to decide if the audience is correct and the reply valid.
As far as twitter goes. It is the technology "de jour". I had a part in creating cell phones, computers, and communications in general. It makes a wicked bunch of money. Marketing folks love the stuff. Reason I resist technology is because it becomes more and more part of our culture. Why is that bad? Cause we have arrived at the day that the marketing guys have brought us to the point that we can not live with out paying them tribute. Think about it. Visa cards. Three percent of all purchases goes in their pockets. Cell phones, how about the itemized fees. I can go on and on. I just do not want to wake-up in the morning and have to put a $100 bill in the slot to take my first breathe. Guess I am showing my age, but not having to pay for all this garbage does make it easier to wake up in the morning to go to work. Feel like Oppenheimer sometimes, wish I never did it. Humans will be humans and there will always be some young upstart that needs the money and wants to live big.
Live in Rome...do as the Romans.....Until the wheels fall off, then you start over.
I'm glad to meet you. I
I'm glad to meet you. I figured out your name from an earlier article, but I guess it's still nice to come out in the open (not if I only knew who "Ibn Muqawama" is, as opposed to Andrew Exum/Abu Muqawama).
You look kinda cute, but
You look kinda cute, but dangerous. Danger is my middle name and I love bad boys.
Can somebody please ban Zak?
Can somebody please ban Zak?
That racism video looks
That racism video looks rather interesting. Is there anywhere a Canadian could watch it?
How's this for racism,
How's this for racism, Londonstani? Is it funny or sad, or both? (like this South Park episode: http://www.blackbottom.com/watch.php?v=eNT7RtrCTcG , or that wannabe gangsta getting pummeled on the bus by an old white guy)
A male voice came over the public-address system Sunday evening at a store in Washington Township, in southern New Jersey, and calmly announced: "Attention, Walmart customers: All black people, leave the store now."
Shoppers in the store at the time said a manager quickly got on the public-address system and apologized for the remark. And while it was unclear whether a rogue patron or an employee was responsible for the comment, many customers expressed their anger to store management.
"I want to know why such statements are being made, because it flies in the face of what we teach our children about tolerance for all," said Sheila Ellington.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/03/17/national/a03...
Khan: "Let them eat
Khan: "Let them eat static."
I would like to remind the good Blogger's who frequent this website, that since we now know who Mr. Khan is, what he does for employment and that he carries a set of journalist credentials there may be some communication limitations for you. Additionally, please remember if you work for the g.o.v. / military, you would be disqualified from discussing certain topics / information with him in this forum / format. Blogging or talking in person, to a person who is a Journalist - would be one in the same, especially if you're discussing work, foreign policy or random military topics. Mr. Khan is not your friend.
Sorry... I had to point out this out, but this could cause a precarious situation for many individuals in here who read and communicate on this blog.
I've enjoyed your postings "Londonstani", keep up the good work. You're got access to much more than many of us in here do and we do appreciate your efforts / hard work. Sadly, you would have been better off not telling us what you do. God and Allah Bless you. Keep fighting the good fight.
Mr. Khan, I've enjoyed your
Mr. Khan,
I've enjoyed your posting and insights. Thanks for unmasking yourself -- Exum has generally had some legit people posting on the blog, but of course it's always nice to see where the perspective comes from.
To be honest, I always found
To be honest, I always found the third person self referrals charming.
Can you substitute "Amil" for "I" in your posting for nostalgia reasons?
You, sir, rule. Keep up the
You, sir, rule.
Keep up the great job and the awesome reports!
Aw, I figured you were some
Aw, I figured you were some variant of Guardianista ages ago, Mr. Londonstani.
Twitter is a good way to highlight articles, a la Kings of War "what we are reading" side bar. Nerdy geeks, or geeky nerds, crush on that stuff. If you happen to surf, or read, good subcontinental blogs or twitterers, it might be a good way to highlight the stuff you've found for the rest of us. 'Cuz some of us is cheap and lazy and like the free heads-up to good stuff.
"Presently, I am working on a project in Pakistan that aims to challenge the religious legitimacy claimed by extremists operating there."
Question, because I don't know: how does nationalism and religion reinforce, or not, each other in that environment? Good luck with the writing!
The KOW side bar is titled
The KOW side bar is titled "We're reading," not "what we're reading," to be, I dunno, boringly pedantic and accurate and whatever else.
Amil, I value your insight
Amil,
I value your insight at home and in Pakistan. As for the earlier comment by CETI ALPHA FIVE, I can think of good reasons not to fear Amil's reporting and inducing fear is uncalled for. Finally it's nearly Spring here Amil, so time to come home and watch the daffodils.....
I believe you misinterpreted
I believe you misinterpreted CETI ALPHA FIVE.
He said "he enjoyed Amil's postings" and "keep up the good work."
What didn't you understand about that? He does write good material and provides us with good information.
As for inducing fear, if that's what it takes to keep OPSEC and keep active / reservist U.S. military personnel from communication with journalists, without specific permission from their Chain of Command, then so be it. I believe that's what CETI ALPHA FIVE was referring to. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Those who are in the U.S. Military do not have the same freedom of speech as you. That is, if you are a U.S. Citizen. You've peaked my interest, as to what Citizenship's you both hold.
Amil - Are you a US Citizen? Davidbfpo are you a US Citizen?
Care to respond?
I love your posts on this
I love your posts on this website and encourage you to post as much as possible
We're better off with the
We're better off with the free flow of information then we are running all our communications through "chain of Command". In the modern networked everything everywhere era Cold War regs on speech won't work.
Hell the wheels came off that bus by the Tet Offensive in 1968. The MACV model doesn't work.
Welcome special agent Amil Khan. I thought you'd be...scarier looking. Maybe you could yob it up a bit ;-)
USAalltheway, You stated:
USAalltheway,
You stated: 'As for inducing fear, if that's what it takes to keep OPSEC and keep active / reservist U.S. military personnel from communication with journalists, without specific permission from their Chain of Command, then so be it. I believe that's what CETI ALPHA FIVE was referring to. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Those who are in the U.S. Military do not have the same freedom of speech as you'.
Maintaining OPSEC is an individual responsibility and duty - if active US and other military / government - and in my use of this blogsite I've not seen any commentary that appears near operational matters. I assume Abu M has an oversight role for that. Commenting on military and government policy is quite different IMHO. Since most here do not readily identify themselves and use aliases how can a comment be a 'communication with journalists' ? I am not a lawyer nor familiar with US laws on this, so this is a comment from an outsider. On reflection isn't anyone who runs a blog like this a 'journalist', the Wikipedia definition is: 'A journalist collects and disseminates information about current events, people, trends, and issues'. So any comment here would be a 'communication with journalists', not just Amil.
There are other blogs which involve named and hidden US military commenting on policy. Notably SWJ / SWC, where I am a moderator.
Your other question was: You've peaked my interest, as to what Citizenship's you both hold. Amil - Are you a US Citizen? Davidbfpo are you a US Citizen?
I am British and so is Amil to my knowledge.
http://www.wired.com/dangerro
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/08/marines-ban-twitter-myspace-face...
I've heard scuttlebutt that USMC placed Abu Muqawama on it's list of banned social network sites.
Does anyone know if this is true?
good luck trying to
good luck trying to challenge their legitimacy, because a cursory reading of the Quran tends to support the Taliban rather than challenge them.
i'm w/hannah all the way. my
i'm w/hannah all the way. my thoughts exactly.
An interesting post to go
An interesting post to go through. Nicely articulated . Find more world sport news today
There are some very great
There are some very great sources here and thank you for being so kind to post them here. So we can read them and give our opinion on subject.
Douglas Mallette
Author: Turning Point ( Liga 2 )
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Gautam Malkani's extraordinary comic novel portrays the lives of young Muslim.
Regards,
parfume
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The novel was a "much-anticipated debut” well before its release, as a result of the book's reception at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair and the six-figure advance reportedly paid for the rights to the book by publishing company Fourth Estate.
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A controversial and jarring
A controversial and jarring look at the way race and identity politics operate in contemporary urban space. In its frank interrogation of racial categories and its adept play with language, Londonstani is a compelling debut that demands a response from its readers.
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Londonstani makes a very good point about its superficial treatment of "traditional Islam" vs. modern Islamism (whether radical or not) and the importance of understanding the rigid traditionalist socio-cultural concepts that are perpetuated among migrant communities.
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Cell phones, how about the itemized fees. I can go on and on. I just do not want to wake-up in the morning and have to put a $100 bill in the slot to take my first breathe. Guess I am showing my age, but not having to pay for all this garbage does make it easier to wake up in the morning to go to work. Feel like Oppenheimer sometimes, wish I never did it.
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I would like to remind the
I would like to remind the good Blogger's who frequent this website, that since we now know who Mr. Khan is, what he does for employment and that he carries a set of journalist credentials there may be some communication limitations for you.
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I would like to remind the
I would like to remind the good Blogger's who frequent this website, that since we now know who Mr. Khan is, what he does for employment and that he carries a set of journalist credentials there may be some communication limitations for you. Read how to earn money online. Join free paid surveys and
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I wish you the best of luck
I wish you the best of luck with your project. Even small inroads will be a major accomplishment. Most of the attention is currently focused on the extremists, no matter the subject group.
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