Readers of Muslimedia and its sister-paper, Crescent International are familiar with the writings of the late Dr Kalim Siddiqui (right). His articles regularly appeared in these newsmagazines over many years. He first introduced the concept of the 'Global Islamic Movement' which today has become a household word among Islamic activists worldwide. No discussion about the Islamic Movement is complete without reference to Dr Kalim Siddiqui or his thought.

Muslim activists are often engaged in heated debate about the model to follow to bring about change in Muslim societies. The best model is, of course, none other than that of the noble Messenger of God, upon whom be peace and blessings.

Playing the godess of death and destruction, the US continues to wreak havoc on the people of Iraq. Nearly six months after signing the ‘oil-for-food’ deal with the UN (security council resolution 986 - December 9, 1996), Iraq has received very little food or medicines it was promised.

The Arab world is not the monolith that Arab nationalists try to project nor is it full of people who want to surrender to Israel at the drop of a hat, as its critics suggest.

General Suharto, his ruling Golkar Party and the Indonesian armed forces have got it all wrapped up. The May 29 general election results in the largest Muslim country in the world have already been decided.

Democracy has become a popular ploy of dictators to gloss their jaded image. Musclemen around the world are donning civilian plumage in preference to their military uniforms and presenting themselves as less obnoxious creatures. This is particularly true in the Muslim world.

Ever since their deadly debut on the scene of world politics during the last stage of the second world war, nuclear weapons have played a profound role in shaping the conduct of military strategy and inter-State relations.

General Abdul Rashid Dostum’s tiny kingdom in northern Afghanistan collapsed around him suddenly. A major blow was delivered by generals Abdul Malik and Gul Mohammad, brothers of a slain former chief of staff of Dostum’s militia, Rasul Pahlawan.

Africa’s game of musical chairs produced another farcical comedy/tragedy when on the weekend of May 17-18, Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu waza Banga, the Zairean dictator, was flushed out of Kinshasa, the capital.

There are more than 200 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and perhaps 50 trillion cubic metres of gas in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea Basin. Such riches could keep the lights burning in the west for a long time.