Obviously I haven't blogged in a while regarding the current events in the Middle East. I have been overwhelmed by the riots and government overthrows that has been rapidly spreading like an unquenched forest fire. Mubarak has stepped down (as of February 10th) and now Libya has erupted. What can we make of all of this?
I have absolutely no idea. I am mystified by all these revolts, unsure what the results may be. I don't think anyone can accurately predict what will happen to the governments in the Middle East. However, I was curious where I could find an accurate depositary of all these stories. Then it hit me. They may be biased (as most media is), but looking at arabnews.com and other Arab-based newspapers, I realized I can get the perspective abandoned by the media: cause, reason, and plot.
In Libya, Colonial Muammar Qaddafi has reigned for 42-years and has been quenching revolts in his country for weeks now. Best mapped out by Hindustantimes.com (http://www.hindustantimes.com/Libya-revolt-timeline/Article1-666768.aspx) they have acurately unfolded the rebellion:
February 15-16: Protests erupt in Libya's second city of Benghazi, days after president Hosni Mubarak resigns in neighbouring Egypt; February 17: Calls go out on the Internet site Facebook for a "Day of Rage" against Moamer Gaddafi's regime; February 18: Clashes reported spreading outside Benghazi; February 19: At least 12 killed as the army fires on a crowd in Benghazi. Clashes spread closer to Tripoli; February 20: Protesters sack the headquarters of state television in Tripoli and set government buildings on fire. In Cairo, Libya's envoy to the Arab League resigns to "join the revolution."; February 21: Moamer Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam goes on TV to warn that Libya faces "rivers of blood." Gunfire is heard in the capital for the first time; A series of diplomats, including Tripoli's ambassador to India and the deputy ambassador to the United Nations, renounce support for the regime; February 22: In a defiant TV appearance, Moamer Gaddafi orders his forces to crush the uprising; February 23: Moamer Gaddafi opponents appear firmly in control of Libya's coastal east with government soldiers defecting to join the uprising; Thousands of Libyans and foreign workers head for the borders with Egypt and Tunisia. Several oil groups suspend their activities in the country; US President Barack Obama says the repression is "outrageous.";February 24: Gaddafi says the revolt is being directed by Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, which he says has fed young people with drugs to make them rebel; Witnesses say Gaddafi loyalists have deserted Zouara, 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Tripoli; Some 23 people are reported killed and dozens wounded when pro-government forces attacked the strategic town of Az-Zawiyah, a newspaper says; More than 30,000 Tunisians and Egyptians have fled the country since Monday, according to the International Organisation for Migration; The EU seeks naval back-up in a bid to rescue up to 6,000 Europeans trapped in Libya; February 25: Forces loyal to Gaddafi open fire on protesters in several areas of the capital Tripoli, witnesses say. Gaddafi loyalists stage a bloody fightback in western towns near Tripoli; Libya's third city Misrata, 150 kilometres (100 miles) east of the capital, is deserted by regime loyalists, a resident says; The crackdown on protestors is 'escalating alarmingly' with thousands killed or injured, Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, says; Both the UN and NATO hold meetings to discuss the crisis; The UN's World Food Programme warns that Libya's food supply network risks collapse; Kadhaf al-Dam, a close aide and cousin of Gaddafi, has resigned from "all his official functions," Egypt's official MENA news agency reports.
In Iraq, "Iraq’s prime minister warned his people to boycott a planned anti-government protest scheduled for Friday, saying it was being organized by supporters of Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda" (http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article283710.ece)." "Omar Al-Mashhadani, an activist with the Al-Nahrian relief organization [said], 'Our aim is not to topple the regime but to make reforms and fight corruption.' In recent days, Iraqi officials have sounded a drumbeat of warnings that appeared designed to scare people off from taking part in the protest, and painting those who do in a bad light." This protest is held for today, Feb. 25.
Hopefully, I'll add to this and explicate other countries currently in revolt, and figure out what is going on in amidst the confusion.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
CE: West Bank Ballots
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/world/middleeast/09briefs-Palestinian.html?ref=middleeast
So, to clarify... I made a previous mistake in my last post of the elections of the Territories. Only the WEST BANK will be holding them, to defer the conflicts and revolts that have been spreading across the Middle East. Hamas, on the other hand, will not allow elections. The territories last vote took place in 2006.
So, to clarify... I made a previous mistake in my last post of the elections of the Territories. Only the WEST BANK will be holding them, to defer the conflicts and revolts that have been spreading across the Middle East. Hamas, on the other hand, will not allow elections. The territories last vote took place in 2006.
CE: The Faces and Rhetoric of Egypt's Protests
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/world/middleeast/09ghonim.html?_r=1&ref=global-home
" Mona el-Shazly. “They said what the previous generations couldn’t do, we can do.”
Newly freed Google executive and activist Wael Ghonim. He is a tech-savvy organizer of the antigovernment protests, secretly detained by the authorities as demonstrations gathered force.
Mr. Ghonim, emotive and handsome, quickly became the movement’s reluctant icon, and Ms. Shazly, poised and defiant, its champion.
Professor Bahrawy quit his post in the ruling party and for the first time traveled to Tahrir Square to join in the protests.
Mr. Ghonim said, “I want to tell every mother and every father who lost a child, I am sorry, but this is not our mistake,” he said. “I swear to God, it’s not our mistake. It’s the mistake of every one of those in power who doesn’t want to let go of it.”"
" Mona el-Shazly. “They said what the previous generations couldn’t do, we can do.”
Newly freed Google executive and activist Wael Ghonim. He is a tech-savvy organizer of the antigovernment protests, secretly detained by the authorities as demonstrations gathered force.
Mr. Ghonim, emotive and handsome, quickly became the movement’s reluctant icon, and Ms. Shazly, poised and defiant, its champion.
Professor Bahrawy quit his post in the ruling party and for the first time traveled to Tahrir Square to join in the protests.
Mr. Ghonim said, “I want to tell every mother and every father who lost a child, I am sorry, but this is not our mistake,” he said. “I swear to God, it’s not our mistake. It’s the mistake of every one of those in power who doesn’t want to let go of it.”"
CE: Egypt Update!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/middleeast/02jordan.html?_r=1
So, the Super Bowl is over, and America had turned it's eyes back on the Middle East! By the time I finish this paper, there will be new types of conflicts in the the Middle East, and my paper will be outdated! haha. But, back to the situtation....
From Tunisia to Egypt, now to the PLO in the territories and Yemen; from Yemen, to Jordan, finishing itself off in Syria; these riots challenge the governments of 4 countries and two territories. So, what's the point? I believe in five years... even less, the entire structure of the Arab world will have shifted to completed military-run states, or states of democracy and socialism. The Muslim Brotherhood is taking a stand in Egypt... with Hamas possibly, maybe, sort of, holding reelections in Gaza and the West Bank. Hmm... one could hope.
So, the Super Bowl is over, and America had turned it's eyes back on the Middle East! By the time I finish this paper, there will be new types of conflicts in the the Middle East, and my paper will be outdated! haha. But, back to the situtation....
From Tunisia to Egypt, now to the PLO in the territories and Yemen; from Yemen, to Jordan, finishing itself off in Syria; these riots challenge the governments of 4 countries and two territories. So, what's the point? I believe in five years... even less, the entire structure of the Arab world will have shifted to completed military-run states, or states of democracy and socialism. The Muslim Brotherhood is taking a stand in Egypt... with Hamas possibly, maybe, sort of, holding reelections in Gaza and the West Bank. Hmm... one could hope.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Egypt's Chaos
HAPPY ICE-DAY! My Final MPI Thesis paper will be in your inbox at the end of the day... (minus the "Jewish" segment.)
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Well, obviously there is a huge topic in our media now: Egypt. With the over throw of the Tunisian government, Egypt has been protesting trying to get rid of Pr. Mubarak who has been in power for the last thirty years. Do I support this revolution? What does this mean for Israel? How is this effecting America? I'll tell you...
My greatest fear is for Israel. Mubarak is the biggest supported of Israel in Egypt. The general population still sees Israel as an enemy country, and with the fall of Hosni Mubarak, the cold peace with Israel might crumble and fall. However, I am not sure who will most likely succeed Mubarak at this junction. But, if the new leader is in contempt of Israel, the border between Gaza and Egypt might be used for weapons, which can be deadly for Israelis.
Egypt is one of the U.S.'s biggest Arab allies in the Middle East! The U.S.'s role is once again shunned because of involvement with this. Obama is put in a difficult position because if Mubarak is overthrown, the American government has to worry about their strongest ally in the Middle East (Israel). And, if they are in open support of the demonstrations, America will loose egypt as an ally. However, if they DONT support the protesting, America will be passively letting Mubarak quench free speech in his nation, as well as other human rights violations.
My opinion on this is tricky. I feel that a new leader needs to be elected immediately and democratically... but also extremely carefully by the Egyptian people. Egypt is at the heart of the middle east, and with this political upheaval, more chaos can spread to other nearby Arab nations. I'm curious as to how the Palestinians feel about this. Especially their (un)democratically elected leaders like Hamas.
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Well, obviously there is a huge topic in our media now: Egypt. With the over throw of the Tunisian government, Egypt has been protesting trying to get rid of Pr. Mubarak who has been in power for the last thirty years. Do I support this revolution? What does this mean for Israel? How is this effecting America? I'll tell you...
My greatest fear is for Israel. Mubarak is the biggest supported of Israel in Egypt. The general population still sees Israel as an enemy country, and with the fall of Hosni Mubarak, the cold peace with Israel might crumble and fall. However, I am not sure who will most likely succeed Mubarak at this junction. But, if the new leader is in contempt of Israel, the border between Gaza and Egypt might be used for weapons, which can be deadly for Israelis.
Egypt is one of the U.S.'s biggest Arab allies in the Middle East! The U.S.'s role is once again shunned because of involvement with this. Obama is put in a difficult position because if Mubarak is overthrown, the American government has to worry about their strongest ally in the Middle East (Israel). And, if they are in open support of the demonstrations, America will loose egypt as an ally. However, if they DONT support the protesting, America will be passively letting Mubarak quench free speech in his nation, as well as other human rights violations.
My opinion on this is tricky. I feel that a new leader needs to be elected immediately and democratically... but also extremely carefully by the Egyptian people. Egypt is at the heart of the middle east, and with this political upheaval, more chaos can spread to other nearby Arab nations. I'm curious as to how the Palestinians feel about this. Especially their (un)democratically elected leaders like Hamas.
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