Wednesday, May 1, 2013


I had recently posted an article on the bombings in Quetta, Pakistan targeting Shia Muslims that killed and injured hundreds. The BBC article addressed the fact that organizations such and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Lashar-e-Taiba and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, who have always accepted responsibilty for the attacks on minority shia Muslims were backed by the Pakistan Government in the past  who used them as proxy forces to nuetralize the threat of India in Kashmir and Iran in Afghanistan. It also explained that countries in the Middle East are a big funding source for these organizations as these organizations follow a strict interpretation of the type of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia (wahabism). 

I lived in Pakistan through most of my teens and I can assure you first hand that most of my friends who went to Madrassas (religious schools) were preached a strict variant of wahabi Islam, where tolerance towards other Muslims or human beings was not part of the curriculum. By now almost every person whose done research on this topic will tell you that most, if not all such madrassas are funded by SAUDI money not only in Pakistan but all over Africa (where I work now). 

We all also have an idea that the west uses a lot of Saudi Oil - 10 million barrels of them are used in the US every day. We all criticize the US and the west to be part of this "Islamic Terrorism" problem. We argue vehemently that fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq against "Islamic extremists" are like putting a small bandage on a gun-shot wound of someone that you shot yourself. "They just don't connect the dots" we say.  "They buy oil from Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia funds terrorists, and then they go fight the terrorists". I've had many of my friends over the years say "well 19 out of the 22 terrorists on 9/11 were Saudi, why doesn't the US go bomb Saudi Arabia". 

Well I agree with what they are saying, and I also understand the argument that the US can't just stop using Saudi oil because the entire economy will crumble if that happens etc etc. What I CANNOT understand is the fact that all my, or I should say most of my Shia Muslim friends in America criticize the US governments actions all the time but fail to see their actions as being part of this problem. 

EVERY SINGLE one of my Shia friends in America criticizes Saudi Arabia, yet ALMOST EVERY SINGLE one of them drives a car that uses crude oil bought from Saudi Arabia. Hence they are paying the Saudi oil field owner money that he then uses to fund Laskhar-e-Jhangvi, members of which then go and blow up Shias in Pakistan. And they feel that they are absolved of any wrong doing and that criticizing the US and Saudi Arabia and marching on the street a few times a year is what will do the trick. 

I am by no means against protesting and criticizing, I believe those are brave and noble acts but at the same time I have a problem with hypocrisy and stupidity. 

Now coming to what I feel CAN actually be done in the long run to lessen the influence of Saudi Arabia on further funding terrorism. 

1. Support all Government and Non-Government initiatives that help the west move away from Middle East oil dependence. 
2. Vote for officials who do care about alternative energy sources and want to move away from fossil fuels. 
3. Call, write, do whatever to put pressure on your elected officials to vote for alternative energy initiatives. 
3. Research into what Oil companies do not use Saudi Oil and start filling your cars at their pumps (Almost all big ones do except for a very few select ones that use Canadian Oil only - Sinclair and Sunoco don't use Saudi oil. I can give references if anyone likes.
4. Sell your Gasoline Car and buy a Prius if you're really interested in not paying the Saudi's any part of your hard earned, Halal, Shia loving money. 

And if you can't do that, it's okay, there are other ways in which you might be doing your part and you should continue to do but for the love of God don't JUST be a hypocrite, look into your actions before opening your mouth.