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America’s Terrorism Hypocrisy

Terrorism and fear of terrorism has become a central touchstone in the American psyche over these years. A 2017 Gallup poll reported that 60 percent of Americans feel that it is very or somewhat likely that a terrorist attack will occur in the United States in the near future; this percentage is up from 38 percent in 2011. The same poll found that 38 percent of Americans are less willing to attend large events and 46 percent are less willing to travel overseas because of concerns related to terrorism, whereas 42 percent are very or somewhat worried that they or a family member will be a victim of a terrorist attack.
Yet despite a generation ‘fighting’ against terrorism the response to the attacks on the US Capitol in January of this year, now commonly referred to as 1/6, displays a stark inconsistency in how large sections of the US political elite and the population understand what terrorism actually is.
Upon joining the US Senate, US Senators must swear an oath that starts “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. However, what 1/6 has shown is that for many terrorism is viewed as solely a ‘foreign’ threat and are unable to countenance violence for political means when it is pursued by their fellow Americans.
Let us not forget that 1/6 was political violence in its most classic sense. A mob storming a political assembly looking to overthrow the legitimate results of a democratic election. Although the violence that followed wasn’t a full-fledged firefight, people did die in events that will forever stain this period of America’s history.
However, such are the divisions between America’s political parties that concepts such as a single ‘truth’ and ‘facts’ have become warped beyond any common sense of understanding. Republican Congressman Paul Gosar called the individuals who violently broke into the Capitol “peaceful patriots” and claimed that the Department of Justice is “harassing“ them. Republican Congressman Andrew Clyde said: “Let me be clear, there was no insurrection and to call it an insurrection, in my opinion, is a bold-faced lie…You know, if you didn’t know the TV footage was a video from January 6, you would actually think it was a normal tourist visit”.
When one side sees a tourist and the other sees a terrorist you can start to understand how out of control the gravity of US politics currently is. The hypocrisy is that fear of the ‘other’ and the war on terrorism was used to justify invasions of countries and the deaths of hundreds of thousands, yet on reflection the fact that the concept isn’t actually understood when it comes knocking at your own door shows that it was always a means to an end rather than a legitimate objective.
The current Congressional inquiry into events is unlikely to shine the light of factual consensus on what occurred as the very process has been formally boycotted by the Republican Party. Despite two Republicans defying the leadership of their own party to join it, not supporting an attempt at genuine bipartisanship means that the politics around what happened is likely to heat up rather than cool down.
One interesting device that has been mooted for the US to try and tackle the dysfunctional partisanship has been used in countries that have experienced horrendous civil wars, like Rwanda, or deeply divided political processes, like South Africa. That is a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Rather than expecting a divided body politic to be the glue that restitches America’s national identity back together again, perhaps it is time to think more creatively about how civil society and Americans from all backgrounds and parts of the country can be given the mandate themselves to chart a peaceful and accepted path back to some form of normalcy. levant
by: James Denselow levant

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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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