COMMON SENSE
By Hassan Al-Haifi
Amidst all the disappointments and despair that has dominated the atmosphere for many years, and notwithstanding all the frustrations we have been used to encountering day by day, we come upon a ray of hope has truly shone in the skies. The youth of our beloved land have once again shown us that Yemen will always be the shining mirror of Arab pride and true self-confidence. Our teen soccer team has once again made it known to the world that Yemen is a storehouse of latent talent and potential vigor that will undoubtedly raise the country on the pedestal of achievement and success, if only talent and achievement is given its right dues.
The success of our selected young national soccer team of being the only Arab team to make it to the youngsters' World Cup Soccer Playoffs (the first time for Yemen) attests to the wherewithal that can be exploited with little means to release a vibrant energy, even with the competitors enjoying greater means and resources to meet the challenges of raising great soccer teams. Yes Yemeni youth have clearly pointed out that "we can make it", given the right guidance and leadership and encouragement.
Undoubtedly, the credit for all this surprising success in the sports arena must go to the astute training and determination of the Coach of the young leaguers, the trusted Coach Amin Al-Suneiny, who literally brought out a team of great reckoning out of the empty blues, which we live in.
Surely, we should all find great remorse in realizing that all challenges can be overcome, if the right doses of determination and acumen are combined together, without waiting for the government to come in and start directing the resources of the nation towards overcoming the challenges we face to bringing the country out of its pitiful economic and social demise. If our youth have shown us that they can take on the world in soccer, than surely it is possible to start making our marks in the other fields that count in bringing prosperity to our people, if only the government can realize that the Yemeni people are capable of success and achievement if they are freed from the boggling regulations and tight bureaucracies that have been a source of frustration and literally stamped down any efforts towards the realization of economic and social progress.
Using his well engrained talent and stamina, Amin Al-Suneiny has directed the best youthful talent in soccer to take a place for Yemen in the international soccer arena, though the real test is still to come as our team now faces greater challenges with more established soccer leagues having longer experience and of course greater resources. However, we are assured that our team will do its utmost to prove to the world that Yemen is a country that is pushing to make its marks in every field and not just football. Therefore our leaders should take note that it is time to open up the field for the Yemeni people to release their energies and capabilities towards the realization of their goals and aspirations in every field. We know how much there is potential there is in the land of Sheba. We also know that the people of the land of Sheba wish to bring Yemen forward in all fields, if only their government would give them the chance, by providing them with access to equal opportunities and services that generate intellect and output.
After forty years since the September Revolution of 1962, we realize that there is still a long way to go before we have successfully achieved the goals and aspirations for which so many Yemenis gave their lives. However, the success of our youth in the international football arena is an indication that the future may not be all that bleak. A strong dose of determination can manage to overcome all the political and bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way.
Our congratulations go to the young national soccer team for Second Place in the Asian Cup (although they were not far from taking First Place as their adversaries won only on the Penalty Shots). Our best wishes also go to the Yemeni people for this 40th Anniversary celebration of the September Revolution. We will be watching the team in the World Cup playoffs with great interest and we will be cheering them all the way.

BY MOHAMMED AHMED NASSER
From time to time news reports come up with stories from third world countries and even from advanced nations on officials holding public jobs or senior posts at private companies being dismissed from their posts and deprived of some of their rights to be turned over to the law enforcement departments in their own respective countries to face legal action and subsequently be punished. This takes place in countries where respect and implementation of the law is above everybody.
Some analysts attribute this phenomenon to human weakness whilst others ascribe it to certain countries living standards where the individual's earning does not match his essential needs, thus the flaw appears, which drives the human-being to accept or collect what is termed as grace money or "Ikramiah" or in plain words a bribe for performing a task for someone which is part of his paid up duty by his employer.
Many ranks of our society intellectuals have spelled out their opinions in writing articles in our local newspapers each expressing his viewpoints on how to tackle this habit which permeated spheres of our daily life and suggesting ways to eliminating it.
Our Islamic religion forbids taking any under the counter money for any reason whatsoever to the extent that both participants would face punishment on the doomsday. A foreign investor once alluded to the fact that a country progress is measured by its being free form this plague.
To weed-out this malady from the society, tougher measures and accountability are required to attract foreign investors as well as Arab investors to revive the economy further for the country's sake and the creation of more job opportunities for our youth generation.
In summation corruption is a combination of human habit that turns to a plague if it is allowed to continue unchecked.

BY MOHAMMED .N. AL-HAKIMI
Julaibeeb@hotmail.com
Turning long since you're been cast into the vortex of a damnable yielding up and a callous eventuality, you develop even more a worst terrible headache as you attempt to make what they are boasting of! I wonder how they can lead a life of ease and harmony in a time they are being confronted with such inglorious destiny and deeply felt humiliation. Why should they always exalt the has-beens and turn down the aspirations of the laity.
I believe we never more need to show nerve in our words or have moist cheeks. We need but to take feasible and serious measures to create a powerful generation, destined for a common goal- an enlightened and cosmopolitan one that is preoccupied with his Islamic and Arab issues, but not with bowing low to lower leaders and kissing up to invaders, such a generation can surly step the struggle for a better life up.
As a matter of fact, what is presently being looked up to as a glory is but a mere force unless it ever clings to its greatness and keeps glorious. Glorious? Well, I never!
In fact, we are buying time while scandals and disgrace are gnawing into hearts, resulted in whines and whimpers that can soothe savage beasts, and prick consciences of those who have got minds. Should those puppet governments continue to be negligent? And will our leaders take stock and it over?
Pray send us a feedback on those issues at soonest.

BY GARY VEY
garyvey@earthlink.net
A very wise man once said that the search for truth is more about asking good questions than in giving good answers. I think we can learn much from this approach when looking at America's reactions to 9-11 and the mid-East crises. After reading the violent reactions to a recent Yemen Times article, it became clear to me that many Americans are not asking "good questions."For example, a recent interview with the parents of the so-called "American Taliban" John Lindh began as follows:
"How do you explain why an extremely intelligent and gentle young man, searching for his faith and God, ended up as a Muslim?" The question obviously infers that Lindh's selection of Islam as a means of spiritual enlightenment is contrary to being intelligent and gentle. This type of bad question will almost never result in truth.
America has also failed to ask "good questions" about its foreign policies in the mid-East. Instead of asking "Why do so many Arab people hate America?" we might want to ask "What have we done to Arab people to foster such bad feelings against us?" or, better yet, "How can we change our policies to become partners with Arab people?"
American news is awash with paid interviews with retired military officers and self-appointed terrorism experts, each with something personal to gain from the impending war in Iraq. Each appearance on CNN or similar news shows nets them several hundred dollars, or the chance to promote a book. Their personal gain from military action influences the public opinion through asking questions which are designed to avoid truth. A popular example are questions such as, "Do you think Saddam will use nuclear weapons in the war?" and "Who poses the greatest threat to America: Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein?"I am reminded of a man who is asked to reply either "yes" or "no" to the question: "Do you still beat your wife?" A bad question is born of ignorance and is destined for ignorance.