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March 24, 2004
So, embassies closing, some fine blue APCs out today; prayers and financial crises.
Fun stuff.
It made me recall during the war when I was walking an American in from out of town through the financial district and we ran into a major demo. All the guys in blue camo were out, the blue APCs with the MGs and water cannons, fun stuff. I recall he asked me "Is this safe" and without thinking I replied, "Well, I don't smell any tear gas so it can't be that bad." I will never forget the look on his face. Really amusing, but he may be right, my standards of bad are getting warped.
And so, off again for lunch. Right next to the UN HQ here. Sure going to be fun.
Ah side note, from my convo with the CBoJ fellow yesterday. We had a fun conversation about the currency crisis in 1989, he was as I mentioned, the responsible official for the forex operations. The interesting point here was on prayer, they're in the midst of a currency crisis and he has staff disappearing for an hour "for prayers." Nice excuse, few are willing to challenge that given the political situation in the region. Our CBoJ fellow indicated he called staff in and asked them if they did Fajr (early am) prayer on time? Nobody did. So, he asks, in the midst of a currency crisis, you can't be late with your afternoon prayer or do it after work?
Excuses and exploitation of the religion for personal reasons.
Posted by The Lounsbury at March 24, 2004 01:05 PM
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Jan-Jul 2004
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