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.
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