5 000 strong crowds were from all race, religion and communities. Substances of their speeches were true, accurate and factual. They also condemned Israeli war crimes and genocide.
NSW Green will move a motion tomorrow to condemn Israel.
MEN, women and children from Sydney's Middle Eastern communities shouted "Is-ra-el, U-S-A, how many kids have you killed today" as they stormed the CBD's Town Hall forecourt tonight.
"Israel is a terrorist state" and "Free Palestine" were some of the messages that nearly 1000 protesters in Sydney brandished over the humanitarian aid deaths near Gaza.
The rally organised by the Social Justice Party kicked off about 5.30pm (AEST) to protest yesterday's deaths in the Middle East.
Four Australians are in Israeli detention after attempting to travel with an aid flotilla to Gaza, while a fifth is being treated in hospital for a gunshot wound.
At least nine people were killed when Israeli forces stormed the aid ships, sparking global criticism.
Police from the riot order squad watched from the perimeter as people shouted during the proceedings.
A spokeswoman for the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine spoke first to the crowd by acknowledging the traditional Aboriginal landowners of the site.
"We must also remember the people of Palestine are facing dispossession of their land," the spokeswoman said.
She also asked the crowd to observe a minute's silence over yesterday's events.
"We are remembering that people died yesterday (Monday),'' the spokeswoman said.
Activists on board claim the Israelis opened fire without provocation while Israel claims its forces fired in self-defence.
Social Justice is protesting what it calls "Israel's illegal hijacking, attack and murder of humanitarian activists".
The NSW TDA represents ONLY Bailee drivers, Lessee drivers and Owner drivers.
Through the Networks and CCN and the Taxi Council Ltd the Plate Owners/Investors are leeches that contribute nothing to the taxi industry and for years have screwed operators and drivers financially by unilaterally raising weekly lease fees whenever it suits them.
The NSW TDA opposes these leeches that screw drivers and operators.
Whereas the owner drivers that the NSW TDA represents also carry all the other costs of operating a taxi and doing the hard graft of running and driving a taxi.
Trevor states to the Committee that, quote: “we represent Bailees Lessees and Plate Owners, that is in the constitution too, and even on the Letterhead”.
That is utterly false!
Our Constitution makes NO mention of Plate Owners.
Our Letterhead makes NO mention of Plate Owners.
Our Constitution and Letterhead refer ONLY to Bailee drivers, Lessee drivers and OWNER DRIVERS.
While deliberately quoting the NSW TDA Constitution and Letterhead,
Trevor, you have DELIBERATELY changed the words of our Constitution and Letterhead from Owner Drivers to PLATE OWNERS!
That is deliberately incorrect, false and misleading to our Committee!
What very deliberate game are you playing, Trevor?
It is suggested you immediately retract and amend and correct your email to the Committee.
The NSW TDA very deliberately represents ONLY Bailee drivers, Lessee drivers and OWNER DRIVERS as per our Constitution and Letterhead!
(Other aspects of your email are also incorrect but I refrain from comment on them.)
Cheers,
Ted
My replies are in red.
Generally speaking, do we have plans to take care of 9 points and other issues mentioned in “Ann Turner – Do Not Destroy the NSW TDA”. Anyway, Ann was a metaphor to address everyone.
I haven’t questioned your integrity. However, I was worried about your naivety. Your “down time” debacle could have been worse. The good part is that you have declared it publicly and be careful in the future about his type of trap.
Apart from this, we have to carry the heavy load as usual.
Eddie,
Any comment or decision based on correct information ought to be good. Please make sure you got your facts in order.Else, have a nice day.
Ted,
I am pleased to hear that you would like to assist the NSW TDA. Good luck.
POSTCRIPT - Where to next ?
The saga of the sacking is over.
Yesterday 18 Nov 09 Ted was sacked by a 5 to 4 vote from the Committee to which he had been reelected by the members on 30Aug.
He continues to be a member of the TDA from its inception 5 years ago.
Fortunately the sacking affair was conducted without infighting. In part because Ted avoided attacking others and by, perhaps mistakenly, agreeing to step outside several times (despite still being a voting Committee member !).
Some aspects of the decision are however somewhat puzzling.
Ted’s detailed Explanation was not questioned (bar a minor quotation where Ted proved to be correct in fact). So what else beside the only sacking charge of “Unauthorized use of Letterhead” – like the ‘unauthorized letterhead ’ of the Media Release - could possibly have taken a lengthy hour discussion after the Explanation presentation?
Unfortunately there appears to have been an obsession in some quarters with removing Ted, regardless. However an obsession never discussed openly and frankly with him. And for reasons not related in any way to the sacking charge.
As Ted commented afterwards, personal difficulties should be resolved personally face to face whenever possible.
And TDA problems should be resolved at the Committee level.
But sackings should only ever be contemplated in the absolutely most extreme circumstances, because not only are they invariable unnecessary but totally disruptive and potentially destructive, as we know from bitter TDA experience.
Pleasingly, Anne agreed to Ted’s request afterwards to meet next week to discuss some of those personal aspects.
So where to next for Ted ?
Sadly, the sacking papers of 11Oct09, 11Oct09 Minutes and 18Nov09 paper are all fatally flawed. They will not stand up for 5 minutes to a challenge in the Supreme Court. As alluded to in the Explanation penultimate para. And as should be known by some of the more experienced Ctee members.
Alternatively a quieter life – quieter perhaps than foreshadowed in Ted’s written withdrawal from Secretary on 11Aug09 – may be the go.
The next 2 months of the TDA’s actions may perhaps decide.
So where to next for our TDA ?
Very happily the full elected Committee was present yesterday with all new members participating actively. That is a great omen; the way to a future strong Committee which is the strength of the TDA !
And the after meeting drinks were bubbly, enthusiastic, full of ideas, just as the Ctee should be.
Dreadfully however, the failure to debate the ’75 Drivers’ on 11Oct09 (due partly to a substituted non-urgent sacking proposal !), meant the TDA not intervening on behalf of those drivers. That was one of the greatest opportunities ever for the TDA. Instead it turned out to be one of the greatest disgraces and blackest marks in the TDA’s 5 year history !
Next year will be huge and full of major challenges !
With potentially momentous developments !
1.The most critical is the Plate Leasing Bill going through the NSW Parliament presently and which is the greatest taxi revolution in 20 years ! It means the end of the “mafia” raising plate lease fees all the time at the cost to drivers, lessees and operators. NSW TDA support of this new system (while seeking by various means to minimize the number of extra leased taxis on the road) is a critical test of the TDA and its approaches in the next few weeks.
2. Secondly how to support the milepost NSW Upper House Inquiry due for completion next March (?), will also test the TDA. The idea of a GM in Feb to encourage our members to make individual submissions as requested by the Inquiry was floated over drinks. Similarly to distribute flyers or a Squeaky Wheel.
3. The ACCC caseagainst Cabcharge is also momentous and could possibly also affect the TDA in some ways.
4. At the same time there are concerns about the possibility of forces usurping the TDA or pulling the TDA in wrong directions. Disturbing concerns are being expressed about unauthorized ‘TDA’ meetings with Govt bodies and taxi industry bodies concerning (seemingly) issues surrounding the Plate Leasing etc.
I may be a renegade, but I support constructive dialogue with all participants of the taxi industry as potentially important. But always at arms length ! And we must never get into bed with these bodies.
But these recent meetings have been neither notified nor debriefed as to their nature to the Ctee. That is indeed disturbing.
There are also concerns that some may be interested in occupying or taking over the TDA for other purposes.
We must all guard carefully against such possibilities ! Always.
The NSW TDA is strictly and
Constitutionally and only for drivers ! Bailee drivers, lessee drivers and owner drivers. It is the only body for taxi drivers representing their interests and no other major body is in the least concerned about the problems of drivers! That membership means that our TDA concerns span those of drivers and operators.
Owner drivers and lessees and bailees who have been the victims of huge rip offs for many years by the Networks, CCN and the Taxi Council Ltd in unilaterally escalating plate lease fees on behalf of plate investors.
But the NSW TDA is not about taxi plate investors who do not contribute to the taxi industry and only draw out profits at the expense of drivers and operators. Plate investors are free to go elsewhere because they have many investment choices, in the form of taxi plates or else property or else shares etc etc, whatever is most profitable for them.
That some may be seeing the NSW TDA as a useful means of advancing non-driver interests is of concern which we must guard very carefully against !
Finally.
Being no longer on the Ctee, I request that Ernie as the moderator, remove my name from the Exec site. As per the rules governing that site which is only for Ctee business for Ctee members - as I have often said to him in the past .
Similarly, like Ernie, who is not on the Ctee (nor a Delegate BTW), I am happy to assist our TDA with any submissions or other matters if invited and available.
Wishing the Committee the very best in this challenging year,
Cheers,
Ted
Geoff,
You are not a friend of taxi drivers. You have consistently acted against taxi drivers in many forums and ways including court rooms of this town. Only good thing you did in your entire life is, standing with us against the Mexican Bandit i.e. Michael Jools.
You got no plan or vision of the NSW TDA. Last time you have wasted six months of our time by trying to remove Ted and myself for no good reason in the first place!! Your action of that time was improper, incorrect, immoral and illegal! The whole debacle blew on your face. You then resigned. Although you did resign in many times before to destabilise the NSW TDA. Last time you thought, the NSW TDA us dead. But, we managed to resurrect it again. Now, you are trying to crawl back in and making smart comments!
From: gjcoates2@bigpond.com Subject: Ann Turner - Do Not Destroy the N.S.W. T.D.A.
To: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au Cc: princessannie@unwired.com.au, Faruque,
Your email 18/11/09 1:36 PM
We have been in the Boxing Ring for over fifteen years. We have not discussed winners or losers.
This was not our priority. As long as the contest continued the spectators would learn.
Now that you are hitting below the belt, no doubt the Referee and Judges will disqualify you.
Yours sincerely,
Geoff Coates
Trevor,
You have failed to add any value in this debate apart injecting insanity and obscenity. Then again your past records are not very clean anyway. However, I neither intend to dwell in the past nor do I worry about your recorded misbehavior.
You got no plan or vision of the NSW TDA like Geoff. Last time you have wasted six months of our time by trying to remove Ted and myself for no good reason in the first place!! Your action of that time was improper, incorrect, immoral and illegal! The whole debacle blew on your face. You then went silent. Then for some reason you reappeared in the scene.
Anyway that was the last committee and nothing to do with the current committee! Yet, you went on tell lies to the entire committee about that improper, incorrect, immoral and illegal “Spanish Inquisition” of yours to prejudice the outcome of voting regarding Ted during the last committee meeting. Believe you me, if Ted decides to challenge us at the Supreme Court, we will be in trouble because of vicious and deliberate lies of yours.
--- In NSWTDAEXEC@yahoogroups.com, "teebrad54" wrote:
Faruque, I do not know if you are raving mad or just a complete ratbag!
Have you taken leave of your senses?
What's wrong with you? Why did you attack Annie?
I just cannot believe the insane ravings in your email or your vindictive intent. Annie has been the best friend to you in the whole TDA.
What on earth is this rubbish you are pumping out. It is disgusting and false.
No Faruque Annie is not a waitress. No Faruque Annie has not sold her arse to the Mafia or anyone else. No Faruque there have been no secret unreported meetings. No Faruque Annie is not converting the NSWTDA to Trunk operators or Owners or Investors or Cabcharge. These accusation are not just false, they are ludicrous. No Faruque, Anne must not be stopped. Anne will not stop, Anne is doing a great job, and she has the support of the committee and the members. Who supports you Faruque? the only one who was doing that was Anne, and I think you have lost her support. You have achieved this great feat single handedly. I wouldn't be surprised if Anne sacks you, anyway that is up to Anne.
Faruque, it has always been our goal to be recognised by the bureaucracy, and the Government and the Industry. We are finally achieving this. If you disagree with these actions then you should have read the constitution when you joined, because it is all in the goals and aims. Also we represent Bailees Lessees and Plate Owners, that is in the constitution too, and even on the Letterhead. Faruque, as I said at the start; Are you really as thick as four planks or just a ratbag? I really don't know which.
Israel has openly and repeatedly expressed it's intention to nuke/attack Iran. On the contrary Iran never said it would demolish Israel, all this despite a totally false and vindictive Israeli campaign which was assisted by the BBC and other zionised media outlets.
It is perfectly natural for the Iranian youths to demand more freedom. It also true that as is often similar to any other theocratic regimes, the mullahs of Iran are misusing their power and many people are not happy! However, the current Iranian protests are not really related to the so called election fraud. In fact it is another rerun of "Mohammad Mossadegh and Operation Ajax" conducted by Israel and USA.
The spectre of Operation Ajax was clearly revealed and it lost it's cover when Israel and the USA openly questioned and attacked the Iranian election result just recently. Like many people I pondered and I asked myself out loud the question, "why is it Charles Manson should be taking care of Sharon Tate"?
Anyway, I have posted the article below at the Yahoo Q And A forum and it has attracted many honest and valuable responses. Yet, the Zio-Nazi cliques certainly appear to have murdered and censored this link just like they have a million other links/posts that I can think of! Honestly, I am sick and tired of these types of well orchestrated and systematic Zio-Nazi (Zionist/Israeli/Israeli supporters/Jewish) attacks on free speech.
Remember, like Dr. Mohammad Mossaddeq the current bogeyman Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has done many good things for his country and his people. Both of these identities did nothing for their own personal benefit. So why have they been targeted by the so called democracy loving humanitarian and god fearing regimes like USA, UK, Australia and their master Israel?
Effects of ill-advised CIA plot in Iran still haunts U.S.By John M. Crisp
11/27/06 -- - - (SH) - Now that Iran looms on our horizon, here's a story that every American should know. Journalist Sandra Mackey tells it in "The Iranians," as does Daniel Yergin in "The Prize," his monumental history of oil. But the best extended version of the story that I've read is in "All the Shah's Men" by Stephen Kinzer. Although other historians have told this story as well, I suspect that the average American has never heard of Mohammad Mossadegh and Operation Ajax. To make a long story short: Kinzer says that democracy dawned in Iran in 1891 when the shah's wives - he had a harem of around 1,600 - gave up smoking in protest of the shah's sale of the tobacco concession to the British. In fact, the shah, Nasir al-Din, sold concessions of all sorts - mineral rights, railroads, banks - to foreigners in order to support his extravagant tastes. But the shah's son committed an even greater treachery on his own country by selling the oil concession to William Knox D'Arcy in 1901, granting exclusive rights to Iranian petroleum to the British for a period of 60 years.
The unfavorable terms of this concession, as well as many other abuses of monarchial power, led to the Iranian Revolution of 1905, the diminishment of the shah's power, the establishment of a parliament and the beginnings of a democratic tradition in Iran. In the meantime, D'Arcy discovered oil, a resource that suddenly became enormously valuable when Britain converted its coal-burning warships to oil just before World War I.
Naturally, the British favored a friendly, compliant monarchy to balance the power of the parliament, which might have other ideas about the extremely unfavorable terms of the petroleum concession. They found their man in Reza Khan and staged a coup in 1921. Reza soon became the shah, a dictatorial leader who suppressed the parliament and fathered Mohammad Reza, who Americans know as the shah of Iran.
The succession of Mohammad Reza, a weak leader with the personality of a playboy, provided an opportunity for the parliament to reassert power in Iran, which it did, under the leadership of Mohammad Mossadegh, a well-educated eccentric who had opposed the shah for many years. By 1951, Mossadegh was the prime minister, and he had emerged as an international spokesman for a global wave of anti-colonial nationalism. He addressed the United Nations and appeared on the cover of "Time" magazine. When Britain refused to renegotiate the exploitative terms of its oil concession, Iran nationalized the petroleum industry, to Britain's great consternation.
The British hinted at an armed invasion and planned a coup, but were unable to acquire the cooperation of President Truman, who had more sympathy for the emerging nationalism of the former colonies than for the old colonial powers. Things changed, however, when Eisenhower became president in 1952. The Dulles brothers, John Foster as secretary of State and Allen as CIA director, both devoted anti-Communists, convinced Eisenhower to support a coup that would depose Mossadegh and restore the power of the shah to stand as a bulwark against the U.S.S.R.
Operation Ajax, planned and financed by the CIA and orchestrated by Kermit Roosevelt, grandson of Teddy Roosevelt, was pulled off in August 1953. Hundreds died. Mossadegh was sent to prison for three years and spent the last 11 years of his life under house arrest. Supported by the U.S., the shah became a dictator who controlled Iran with secret police and terror until he was deposed in 1979, when, some historians believe, the U.S. hostages were taken in order to prevent another restoration of the Shah, like the one that occurred in 1953.
Although most Americans never knew or have forgotten this story, many Iranians have not, and the effects of Operation Ajax persist. But the point of the story isn't to berate ourselves over an unseemly intervention into Iran more than 50 years ago. We should note, however, that the story implies that the current radical regime in Iran isn't inevitable, nor does it enjoy the support of all Iranians. Our diplomacy should be careful not to weaken moderates by overly demonizing the leadership. As bad as its leadership is at present, the country itself isn't inherently evil and it retains echoes of a short-lived democratic tradition in its past.
John M. Crisp teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. Email: jcrisp@....
Nancy Pelosi is an American and in fact 3rd powerful person in the country. She made a valid comment for the sake of America. Yet, she is getting abused and insulted by people who clearly appear to be more Israeli than Americans! One must wonder is America is free country?
This is not your country your racist and fascist mongrel. This country belongs to Aboriginals. I do not believe you are married to an Aboriginal. If you have done so as you claim then you would not be behaving the way you are carrying on! I always gain the impression that you are a congenital liar like most of the Nazi Zionists and you deserve the gas chamber.
--- In freeamericanow@yahoogroups.com, "bruceksim" wrote:
This is MY country knucklehead!! I was born here as were my children. My son is part aboriginal and that is why he feels it is worth fighting islamo-fascist scum to protect it!! As a fellow Australian aren't you proud of him?? I am!!
Cheers Bruce
--- In freeamericanow@yahoogroups.com, "union_faruque" wrote:
Re: The rough road from career to killer
Nazi Zionist Bruce,
This is not your country and therefore you should not be talking to me in this manner. I think you should volunteer yourself to the nearest gas chamber.
--- In freeamericanow@yahoogroups.com, "bruceksim" wrote:
If you hate your adopted country so much why don't you just piss off back to the cesspool you crawled out of??!!
Cheers Bruce
--- In freeamericanow@yahoogroups.com, "union_faruque" wrote: Re: The rough road from career to killer
Please leave "prejudice and bigotry" aside and ask the following questions. How the hell the elite of the elites of USA, UK and Australia ignored their:
1. Intelligence communities and falsified almost every information,
2. Experts advice and adopted a murderous path,
3. Democracy, fairness and decency in support of an invasion which is in every sense and purpose, nothing but an act of TERRROISM,
4. The duty of care to their respective nations and forced them in an act of terrorism in support of the Nazi Zionist Israel,
5. Conscience (if they have any in the first place) and deliberately murdering Iraqi women and children.
I say this because 94% Iraqis say, "the insurgents are FREEDOM FIGHTERS" and 90%Iraqis say, "the invaders (USA, UK etc.) should leave Iraq". The whole situation is compounded because of the INBUILT RACISM and SACTERIANSIM in the USA military establishment, government, bureaucracy, media and society in general. They are blatantly evidenced by many reported and unreported tragic massacres as well as training manuals and music used to hype up the soldiers, the usage of depleted uranium, phosphorus and many more prohibited weapons and tactics used and adopted by the US military. Many credible sources have proven, "97% of the victims of Iraqi theatre are CIVILIANS". This civilian casualty has worsened due to deliberate targeting of water, sewerage, electricity and utilities by the invaders.
The overall situation in Afghanistan and Palestine are worse than Iraq! A campaign against Iran is simply frightening!
Iraq used to be a secular, peaceful and orderly society. Despite the western propaganda and grandeur campaign against it, Iraq used to be one of the best countries in the region in terms of education, healthcare, food, housing etc. etc. Today, Iraq is a mega graveyard. Every Iraqis are victims of multiple and avoidable tragedies. In many ways, Iraqi lives worth less than dogs!
The Green Zone is another recipe for disaster. It is a state within a state! It is a mini USAKentucky, McDonald, regular Bible classes as well as Cha Cha, Rumba, Salsa discos. No Iraqis, even the Christian Iraqis are not allowed to be in side the `real Green Zone'. The boot polishers and cooks are from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines and other countries. Beside the invading armies - a large number of privately hired killers have been murdering and terrorising Iraqis inside their homes! equipped with
Generally speaking, Islam and Arab bashings are the most spectacular sports in town today.
The illustrious Prime Minister of Australia misused and abused anti-Terror legislations and conspired a strip search of New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clerk to make Israel happy.
Philip Ruddock, the filthy Attorney General of Australia `virtually' asked his daughter to open her legs for Israeli child molester for power as demonstrated in credible links of Legs are Open for Business.
Whereas the Muslims and Arabs are guilty of every thinkable and unthinkable crimes before even being charged! The Zionised and Zionist media will crucify them without any evidence whatsoever.
In the middle of the deliberately explosive situation, if one or two medial practitioners as reported in the media recently, act incorrectly and foolishly – no one should try to crucify all ARABS and MUSLIMS as it is happening today.
Although raised in Australia, as a hospital registrar of Bangladeshi and Muslim background I am often approached by overseas-trained doctors with tales of woe and misery. They feel I can offer a sympathetic ear. From colleagues berating their clinical skills to patients abusing them for poor English, many feel hard done by. I remember a Pakistani doctor taking me aside on a ward round to bemoan how the nurses had complained about the smell of his curry lunches. This was surely an example of racism, or so he felt.
While technology gurus, management consultants and investment bankers rule the modern economies, doctors remain the quintessential high-status professional, especially in the developing world. While the best and brightest here go on to a variety of occupations, in the Third World a greater proportion go on to study medicine.
It is also reflected locally when you consider children of Asian migrants form a high proportion of students in Australian medical schools. In their lust to make a difference, many are later attracted to positions in the clergy or politics. Intervening in human life becomes inseparable from dabbling in human meaning.
Part of the attraction of studying medicine for foreigners is the possibility of migrating to the West, a trend magnified in the past decade when Western governments have produced fewer doctors per capita. The shortfall has been filled by a steady supply of overseas-trained doctors, primarily from Asia and the Middle East. The Australian Medical Association estimates about 25 per cent of the medical workforce is overseas-trained. This figure rises to almost 50 per cent in areas of greater shortage such as rural communities and in states such as Queensland and South Australia.
As a result, a visit to the public hospital these days will have similarities to catching a taxi or going to a convenience store. While the skill sets for the jobs are very different, the interaction is likely to involve a recent immigrant from the developing world, and very often a Muslim. These are the spaces where the south meets the north, right in our own backyards.
While all immigrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds suffer a loss in status, overseas doctors suffer a loss greater than most. Extended periods of examinations, racism and discrimination from health staff and an obligation to do the least desirable jobs often produce a sense of humiliation, a trait central to would-be terrorists.
Doctors are said to be at the centre of the latest attacks in Britain. This would appear inexplicable, especially to those who believe terrorism is attractive only to those who are poor or alienated.
But doctors from the developing world have long been at the centre of terrorist operations or affiliated with radical groups. It is in line with professional, highly educated operators undertaking leadership roles in many Islamic extremist groups.
The most notable is Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian-born pediatrician who rose to be Osama bin Laden's closest aide. He is widely credited to be the major thinker behind al-Qaeda and credited with its shift from targeting apostates in the Middle East to attacking the West in its own backyard.
Many of the senior figures in Hamas are doctors, from the founder Mahmoud Zahar, who was a surgeon, to the notorious Abdel Rantisi, a pediatrician killed three years ago in a precision Israeli assassination.
An Australian parallel can be seen in the forthcoming trial of the medical student Izhar ul-Haque. He stands accused of joining a banned terrorist group dedicated to Kashmiri liberation. He said he was "fed up with Westerners" before he left on a trip to Pakistan.
Like al-Haque, the Jordanian doctor at the centre of the current British investigations was also very suspicious of Westerners when he moved to Britain. Mohammed Asha was worried about racism. In the Midlands where he lived, The New York Times has reported, he was forthright in asking neighbours about racist attacks in the area. Asha was described as a brilliant man by his peers in Jordan.
For those with a sense of victimhood and alienation, Islamism offers a potent identity to express alienation and connect their personal story to a larger, global struggle, fuelled by television images of conflicts such as those in Palestine, Chechnya or Iraq. In this way Islam has become a symbol of protest - political or social - attracting many who feel disenfranchised or wronged by the society in which they live.
This gains greater weight when you consider that not only are a great proportion of the world's poor Muslim, the places of social exclusion in the West also have a strong ethno-religious flavour, from North Africans in Paris to South Asians in Britain and to a lesser extent, Lebanese in south-western Sydney. These groups often perceive themselves as marginalised or undervalued in their society and thereby feel a connection with the "real" poor and dispossessed Muslims in other parts of the world.
These imagined feelings of connection with the poor and dispossessed are the reasons why the middle classes of the developing world have so often been the leaders in radical groups, including terrorist operations. This is heightened when they feel a sudden drop in status on migrating to the West or are excluded from its liberal social mores.
Overseas doctors as a group are not a terrorist threat. Most make a wonderful contribution to our society. It is a quirk of immigration patterns and Western skill shortages that they have formed the bulk of the latest terrorism detainees. But the event illustrates the kind of groups that may be vulnerable to the lure of terrorism. In this case, sadly, those who were dedicated to preserving human life were transformed into the exact opposite.
Tanveer Ahmed is a psychiatry registrar and writer
