tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10425874940123310212024-03-18T20:10:44.545-07:00Revolutions and Political ViolenceThis is the class blog for PSCI 3062: Revolutions and Political Violence. The posts for this blog detail the current political processes in the Middle East & North Africa region building upon the theories discussed in class. Michael Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669512353829041768noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-43636529681509310702013-05-03T16:56:00.001-07:002013-05-03T16:56:05.399-07:00Unexpected Support for Female Drivers in Saudi Arabia
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Prince</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The campaign for gender equality in Saudi Arabia received
support from an unexpected source recently, a member of the Saudi royal family.
On April 15<sup>th</sup>, Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal tweeted that women should
be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming his commitment to a movement
that has received a lot of attention in recent years. (Jamjoom) Considering Al Waleed’s
position in the royal family and his substantial fortune and influence, his
endorsement is a significant step towards promoting human rights and gender
equality in Saudi Arabia. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://htekidsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/woman_driver_555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://htekidsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/woman_driver_555.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Traditional Values</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits
women from driving. Though it is not explicitly stated that women cannot drive,
they are forbidden to do so in practice because of the nation’s
ultraconservative interpretation of Sharia law, the moral and religious code of
Islam. (Jamjoom) One explanation of this phenomenon is that driving will encourage women
to leave the household and may lead to improper interaction with men they are
not married or related to. (Perazzo) The ban is certainly a reflection of the Saudi
Arabia’s patriarchal society and their adherence to traditional Islamic values.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though this may appear to be a problem of cultural
relativism, a clash between Western ideals and the Arab world, we need to
accept that this is a gross and flagrant violation of human rights. This is the
21<sup>st</sup> century and every person in every country should be able to
enjoy the most basic requirements for human dignity. Saudi Arabia is the only place
in the world that women are not allowed to drive, and it is time for that to
change. (Jamjoon) Tradition is a valuable asset, but there comes a point when change is
necessary to reflect contemporary ideals and needs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What's Next?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is likely that the Saudi government will allow women to
drive someday, but that may not happen for a while. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy,
and as we learned in class, is not as susceptible to domestic criticism,
especially when Saudi citizens enjoy such a high quality of life. Employment,
food, and security may be more important to the general populace than demanding
the concession of human rights that have never been in place. Furthermore, the
subservient role of women in Saudi society and culture leads me to believe that
there is little chance of the marginalized women taking a stand against the
government. What is far more likely is that international pressure from the
United Nations and the United States will encourage King Abdullah to change his
policies in accordance with more contemporary and Western values.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The United States should use their significant soft power
and economic relations with Saudi Arabia to support reform in the country. The
two nations enjoy a long and mutually beneficial relationship, with the United
States providing security to Saudi Arabia in exchange for favorable crude oil
markets. (Gardner and Rascoe) President Obama should not do anything so drastic as to endanger our
alliance and our access to cheap energy, but he should make it clear that the
United States is unhappy with the current status of women’s rights in Saudi
Arabia. Instead of turning a blind eye or passively suggesting our
disagreement, Obama needs to make it very clear that this is a priority of ours
and it needs to be fixed soon or it may endanger the relationship between Saudi
Arabia and the United States. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Works Cited:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Gardner, Timothy, and Ayesha Rascoe. "Saudi embraces U.S. oil boom even as kingdom's output steadies." </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Rueters</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/30/us-usa-saudi-supplies-idUSBRE93T0UE20130430>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Jamjoom, Mohammed. "Billionaire Saudi prince tweets support for women driving."</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">CNN.com</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/world/meast/saudi-prince-women-driving>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">MacFARQUHAR, NEIL. "Saudi Monarch Grants Women Right to Vote." </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">The New York Times</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/world/middleeast/women-to-vote-in-saudi-arabia-king-says.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Perazzo*, Bayan. "Saudi Women Driving." </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Saudi Women Driving</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://www.saudiwomendriving.blogspot.com/>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Meyer. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Saudi Woman Driving</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">. N.d. Here There Everywhere: Kid News, Online.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06295758856782884988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-29805999014720871972013-05-03T09:11:00.005-07:002013-05-03T09:30:28.177-07:00Life in Prison for a Poem?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6503/images/poet350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6503/images/poet350.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7041</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A poet named, Mohammed al-Ajami (picture to the left), previously a student at the Cairo University, was sentenced to life in prison in a private hearing last October on the grounds that he recited a poem that criticized Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani's monarchistic rule in Qatar. A video was released of him privately reciting this poem, and was discovered by Qatar authorities.<br />
<br />
His sentence was recently reduced to 15 years and this was by in large due to the fact that his initial arrest was meant to show other possibly dissident activists against the Qatar monarchy would be punished severely. As our class has studied in a monarchy, there is very little room for criticism, especially if this monarch does not collect taxes and provides many public goods. Qatar is the epitome of a well run rentier state. According to the CIA World Factbook, Qatar's government revenues are composed of primarily oil and gas revenues (over 70%). With Qatar owning 13% of the worlds oil reserves, it should be able to rely on this resource wealth for almost 60 years. Because of this wealth, the government has been able to achieve unemployment rates of 0.5%. It is seemingly impossible to be unhappy with the monarchy of Qatar, as they have done an incredible job at making sure everyone is working and provided for.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5hr98ljPK1qge4jz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5hr98ljPK1qge4jz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://dohanews.co/post/24943734733/report-worker-exploitation-and-forced-labor-conditions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One hugely important factor that they need to keep a close watch on, is the fact that they also have the largest migrant population as percentage of their population in the world. The giant pull factor of having higher pay and many available public goods has enticed these workers to flock to Qatar, but because they make up such a giant population of this oil rich monarchy, they can actually cause serious trouble for the monarchy. International light is being spread more and more heavily on the lack of human rights regulations for these migrant workers partially due to their winning of a bid for a 2022 FIFA World Cup. Organizations (like HWR) and individuals have started to speak up about problems within the government, and it will be interesting to see how Qatar is able to deal with these outbursts with the international community now paying close attention. Will Qatar be able to increase its rentier effects out to this migrant population and give in to pressures from the international community? It's initially hard to tell, but Ajami did not even speak out publicly and he was initially sentenced to life in prison. Based on this event and others similar to it, it seems that Qatar will have very little patience for any of its citizens that speak out against their regime.<br />
<br />
Further Reading/Works Cited:<br />
<br />
Burch, Michael. Lecture 4/8/13.<br />
<br />
Alsop, Harry. <i>Qatari Poet Has Sentence Reduced</i>, Telegraph. UK. 2013.<br />
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/qatar/9892619/Qatari-poet-has-sentence-reduced.html<br />
<br />
Human Rights Watch Organization. <i>Qatar: Promises Little Action on Migrant Workers Rights, </i>HWR. 2013.<br />
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/07/qatar-promises-little-action-migrant-workers-rights<br />
<br />
Picture:<br />
http://dohanews.co/post/24943734733/report-worker-exploitation-and-forced-labor-conditions<br />
Picture:<br />
http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7041<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Phil Sunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193846535290534739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-87150847948278507412013-05-02T20:56:00.006-07:002013-05-02T21:01:01.294-07:00Blaming the ol' Scapegoat<a href="http://chicagoagainstobama.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/amhadinjad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://chicagoagainstobama.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/amhadinjad.jpg" width="220" /></a> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">With his end in sight, it seems Iranian president <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Mahmoud Ahmadinejad</span>’s good standing
has expired among other regime leaders.
According to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/world/middleeast/as-election-nears-ahmadinejads-critics-pile-on.html?_r=0">The
New York Times</a>, politicians and clerics alike have begun openly badmouthing
their country’s president as the limit of his rule approaches. State run media outlets have also take up the
charge, publishing reports blaming Ahmadinejad for the country’s economic downturn
and claiming it is not a result of international sanctions. While Ahmadinejad has reached his
presidential term limit, he has been grooming a protégé in Putinesque fashion: Esfandiar
Rahim Mashaei</span>. Iran’s government
is such that those who hold the real power are never in a position to face an
election and it seems they’ve tired of Ahmadinejad’s antics preclude Mashaei’s
presidential chances as well.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This recent overt
outcry against the Iranian president reflects what Timur Kuran called
preference falsification in his piece Sparks and Prairie Fires. It would appear that now that Iran’s
theocratical regime has openly dismissed Ahmedinejad, others are voicing their
true opinions of the impoverished leader as well. It could also be the case that these people
are simply voicing a second set of false opinions more in line with those in
power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It goes without saying
that Ahmadidejad often appeared more like a fanatical mad man than a head of state;
however, he is far from responsible for Iran’s current state of affairs. International sanctions and Iranian oil boycotts
have taken their toll despite what any state run media may claim. The root cause of these problems is in the
Ayatollah’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and the fact that the rest of the world
does not tolerate this. The Iranian
presidency and parliament have always acted as a political buffer between the
people and the Supreme Leader. At this
point it seems Ahmadinejad is more useful to the Ayatollah as a scapegoat than
a figurehead.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">Erdbrink, T. (2013, April 30). As election in iran nears, ahmadinejad’s critics are piling on. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">The New York Times</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/world/middleeast/as-election-nears-ahmadinejads-critics-pile-on.html?_r=0</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Kuran, Timur. (1989).
Sparks and prairie fires: A theory of unanticipated political revolution.
Public Choice 61, no. 1 (April): 41–74.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">Photo from: </span></span><a href="http://chicagoagainstobama.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/amhadinjad.jpg">http://chicagoagainstobama.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/amhadinjad.jpg</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626985451526291676noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-79324152164179840292013-05-02T20:20:00.000-07:002013-05-02T20:22:10.011-07:00Yemen Youth Activist Steals The Stage: US Senate Public Hearing - Drone Strikes <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PelxKNvl-ds?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
The US Senate Judiciary Committee held the first ever congressional
public hearing on Obama’s secret drone strikes revealing a powerful testimony
from Farea al-Muslimi, a Yemeni youth activist and journalist. After being born
and raised in the poor agricultural Yemeni village of Wessab Mr. Muslimi received
an education in America, which he expressed great appreciation for the
opportunity and financial aid provided by the US. Unfortunately, just a few
days before the hearing the village of Wessab was struck by drones sand Mr.
Muslimi expressed his personal accounts of the psychological fear and terror
changing the face of America for Yemenis. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Yemenis are far to familiar with the buzzing sound over their heads
from American drones. The escalations of al-Qaida territorial power along side
US counterterrorism efforts using drone strikes has left Yemeni civilians
caught in crossfire. The public resentment has grown and emerging protest call
for an end to the strikes. The US counterterrorism methods in the country have
led Yemenis to contemplate joining al-Qaida because they feel their innocent
differentiation appears unnoticed as US drone strikes continue and justice for
the deaths remains unseen. Many tribal leaders confirm the strikes only
strengthen public support of al-Qaida and recommend alternative mechanism to
resolving the issue. With the most powerful branch of al-Qaida already laying
within Yemen borders the unnecessary risk of future expansion as a result of
drone strikes not only threatens the US but also neighboring countries in the
region. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Mr. Muslimi describes his concern for these villages and their
reactions to the drone strikes along with his own personal sense of insecurity.
The drone attacks have dramatically increased in Yemen under the Obama
administration shifting the previously dominated missions in Afghanistan and
Pakistan led by President Bush. In 2012 Yemen experienced more drone attacks
than any other country and the US claims they are filling the gap due to the
weak central government control. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aqU5S8WpgLE/UYMr8Q0MeII/AAAAAAAAAFc/pW3iJMIMXhs/s1600/drone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aqU5S8WpgLE/UYMr8Q0MeII/AAAAAAAAAFc/pW3iJMIMXhs/s640/drone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
The lack of political authority and terrorism remains a major problem
in Yemen and Jones explains in <i>The Mirage
of the Arab Spring </i>how the uprising increased the countries instability and
fractured state as al-Qaeda and other groups attempt to fill the power vacuum
across the region. Jones also claims all signs indicate that violence and
economic despair will continue to ravish Yemen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi, the southern successor to
Mr. Saleh, has continued the pro-drone campaign claiming to sign off on each
attack in Yemen himself. Historically the alliance between Yemeni government
officials and US military presence has been uncontested by the local
populations but the increased drone warfare across the country has spread a new
wave of anti-American sentiment in the region. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTBrWTiKtM8/UYMsg_NeqfI/AAAAAAAAAFk/zgHTAnrPwQc/s1600/drone+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTBrWTiKtM8/UYMsg_NeqfI/AAAAAAAAAFk/zgHTAnrPwQc/s640/drone+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
The paradoxical nature involving the use of drones to fight terrorism
remains a controversial debate. The
extreme fear over the weapons buzzing above haunts the effected locals and
drives their participation into the very terrorist organization the weapons
target. Fighting radicalism with radicalism will only further fragment the
fragile state of Yemen and drive conflicting interest in the region. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Farea al-Muslimi’s testimony stole the stage at the US congressional
hearing and became a viral news clip revealing his moving first hand account of
the damage caused by drone strikes in Yemen. Mr. Muslimi created a presence for
the victims of drone strikes detailing personal complications associated with
his US-Yemeni relationship and the widespread anti-American sentiment
accumulating across Yemen. The testimony received international attention and
will hopefully inspire less counterproductive measure against terrorism in
Yemen and other counties in the region. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Bibliography: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Al-Shamahi, Abubakr. “BBC News - US Drones Strain on
Yemeni’s Dual Loyalties.” Accessed May 2, 2013. </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22340837"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22340837</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As Obama Shuns Hearing, Yemeni Says U.S. Drone War
Terrifying Civilians, Empowering Militants</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 2013. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PelxKNvl-ds&feature=youtube_gdata_player"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PelxKNvl-ds&feature=youtube_gdata_player</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jaime Lynn Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06275378824115127470noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-2596895006762986002013-05-02T19:56:00.000-07:002013-05-02T19:56:01.249-07:00The Fear of Violence Spreading from Syria and Outside Intervention
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>442</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2122</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>32</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3094</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/fn2/video/061212_fr_syria_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/fn2/video/061212_fr_syria_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The Syria conflict goes much
further than a Syrian rebellion group attempting to over throw an oppressive
unpopular regime. The rebel group is made up of different factions each with
different backings in the local and international community. Also the government
and its supporters have a complex network of allies both near the region and
far away. This web that blankets the conflict makes any sort of international
intervention that much harder to act upon. This conflict also poses a fear to
the region that the violence in Syria could spread to it neighbors, especially
Lebanon and Jordan. Not unlike other conflicts in this area throughout history,
religion is playing a big part in who supports whom. The Assad regime comes
from a small sect of Islam that is radical but can associate with Shia’s, where
as the rebels are mostly made up of Sunni’s. The fear that religious
allegiances will transcend borders in the region is a big concern. An example
of this has been Hezbollah leaders, mostly Shia, stating that they would aid
the Assad regime militarily if necessary and already hinting that they have had
Hezbollah fighters operating against the rebels. Hezbollah is based in Lebanon,
making the public of Lebanon fear a spillover of violence. Millions of Syrians
have been displaced by the violence and have fled to neighboring Jordan and
Turkey causing problems in these countries. This has been exemplified in recent
violence at the Turkish border when a large group of Syrians attempted to cross
illegally. This resulted in a firefight were several border guards were injured
and one killed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The potential for the spread of
violence and the recent suspicions of the use of chemical weapons has
heightened urgency from some sort of outside intervention. President Obama has
been vocal in support of aid to the rebels but there has been little real help.
The US did come to the side of ally Turkey, a fellow NATO member, in providing
Patriot missiles to protect their southern border but beyond this, there has
not been any physical help. Britain and France too seem as though they want to
help the rebels but have yet to make any substantial moves. Actions from a
powerful outside country, especially a western one, will have far reacting
implications and rippling effects in the region. As this conflict continues to
develop it will be interesting to see what actions are taken by the US and
others. The US will have to navigate the situation very carefully in order to
gain an effective result, which in the US’s eyes will be a fall of the Assad
regime with a take over of a coalition party and eventually democracy. This
will be incredibly difficult in Syria.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Work Cited:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/05/20135214438305615.html">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/05/20135214438305615.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/05/01/widespread-middle-east-fears-that-syrian-violence-will-spread/">http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/05/01/widespread-middle-east-fears-that-syrian-violence-will-spread/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/201343022456525184.html">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/201343022456525184.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04324333807052015096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-51618821242736663972013-05-02T19:35:00.006-07:002013-05-02T19:35:55.246-07:00Where Did all the Jobs Go?: Lack of Tourists destroying Egypt’s Economy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>410</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2341</o:Characters>
<o:Company>University of Colorado</o:Company>
<o:Lines>19</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2746</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1WrrXJuPXJkFcdLJm2F0DJ9RJxjdZ6TObKxOb4VKdND4B7OeBpRjuJ4YvAWNaI6DhO_Iso1iVka0LUUzcBTti44QJzO8EC5lGXykGpojDXNBQV-JKxct5XtAUD6s_E_ObdjYdcQTzx4M/s1600/s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1WrrXJuPXJkFcdLJm2F0DJ9RJxjdZ6TObKxOb4VKdND4B7OeBpRjuJ4YvAWNaI6DhO_Iso1iVka0LUUzcBTti44QJzO8EC5lGXykGpojDXNBQV-JKxct5XtAUD6s_E_ObdjYdcQTzx4M/s320/s.jpg" width="320" /></a> When the Arab Spring descended upon Egypt, political
activists were enthusiastic about the possibilities that the new government
offered. Unfortunately, two years of protest, high unemployment, and economic
instability have left the Egyptians wondering if they were better off under
Mubarak. Egypt’s economic woes have once again brought protestors to the
streets demanding President Morsi’s overthrow.
Unfortunately, these protests are significantly worsening Egypt’s
economic situation because the country is losing billions of dollars in tourism
revenue. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2010,
the last year before the revolution, the tourism industry represented 13% of
the country’s GDP. 14 million tourists traveled to Egypt that year and the
industry directly or indirectly employed one in seven workers. Nowadays, the
industry offers a different story. Nile cruise boats are left idle on the riverbanks
and trinket-sellers practically mob any tourist in site. Tourist arrivals
plummeted from 14 million to 9.5 million in 2011. Hotel occupancy rates are
barely 15% in Cairo and below 5% in Luxor, home to the Valley of the Kings. But
protests are not the only thing driving tourists away. Last February 19 people
were killed in a hot air balloon explosion. In 2006, bombings in the resort
city of Dahab killed 23 people. Islamist extremists killed over 60 tourists at
an archeological site in 1997. The tourism industry was able to rebound from
these incidents, although constant negative media coverage on the region could
keep travelers away for longer durations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgoxu9lYMCalK7oaoeqQVKmYcbMQ1ttZ21Y2Otp8m_m-eGoXhutZD_-om5bQb7ZXRefagQZYdVAT8WeW9eQasF8d4HK8SD48pGSyWS8SwQ-aFHWlmbmvhHr8b5hU6dkIBd35CBtcKMVHj/s1600/s.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgoxu9lYMCalK7oaoeqQVKmYcbMQ1ttZ21Y2Otp8m_m-eGoXhutZD_-om5bQb7ZXRefagQZYdVAT8WeW9eQasF8d4HK8SD48pGSyWS8SwQ-aFHWlmbmvhHr8b5hU6dkIBd35CBtcKMVHj/s320/s.tiff" width="320" /></a></div>
The issue
of Egypt’s economy is especially important because political analysts are
beginning to examine whether the Arab Spring actually increased living
conditions throughout the Middle East. For Egypt, it appears that civil unrest
and a polarized Islamist government have created conditions equal to or worse
than Mubarak’s regime. It has been over two years since the revolution in Egypt
and political activists have sacrificed too much to give up now. As their fight
continues, Egypt’s GDP will continue to fall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only
way for Egypt’s economy to recover is through the achievement of long-term
political stability. This is a particularly difficult solution because it appears
that the two variables are contingent on one another. People are protesting
because they have no job but they have no jobs because tourists are afraid of
the protests. Tourism provides critical income for more than 70 industries and
20% of the states foreign currency. Foreign currency is especially needed now
as the Egyptian pound continues to plummet. The Good news is: if your
interested in Egyptian history, you may just be able to explore some of the
Worlds most infamous historical landmarks all by yourself.<br />
<br />
Sources:<br />
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/02/egyptian-president-mohamed-morsi-s-biggest-challenge-the-economy-stupid.html<br />
<br />
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/world/middleeast/egyptians-struggle-as-wary-tourists-stay-away.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0<br />
<br />
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21577089-turmoil-has-scared-all-rugged-and-russians-arab-spring-break<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->BillyMullinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18087374280509197738noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-75567480676027122042013-05-02T15:57:00.003-07:002013-05-03T12:32:26.854-07:00Sanctions, Sustainability, and Suppression -- Will Iran's Use of Oil Revenues Reach a Breaking Point?<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH250/IranVote400-03864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH250/IranVote400-03864.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">With the Iranian elections approximately a month
away, casual observers are all-too-quickly heralding the downfall of the Ayatollah
and his economically "ruined" Islamic Republic. The combined optimism
ushered in by the "Green Movement" and a poor understanding of the
dynamic Iranian state have eclipsed their attention to reason and reality. Many overlook the
capacity of the Iranian government to use what little oil money they are still
able to generate to continue buying the loyalty of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">portions of the middle class
and the Revolutionary Guard. Though Western sanctions have had a crippling
effect on the Iranian state, they have not wholly eliminated Iran’s oil exports
nor its ability to buy off the loyalty of its people. The Ayatollah’s economic maneuverability
is being choked, but not asphyxiated...yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">The Iranian government has equitably balanced
their use of their oil revenues to produce both a visible “rentier effect” and “suppression
effect.” This use of oil money has thus far proved effective at limiting the expression
of public dissatisfaction and cries for regime change, especially since the
eruption of the Green Movement in 2009. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/68200/michael-l-ross/will-oil-drown-the-arab-spring">Traditionally</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">, the
rentier effect is best defined as the use of oil revenue to circumvent the
necessity for taxation or to provide free social services and funding to the
population, essentially buying off popular loyalty and allowing authoritarian governments
to operate freely. In Iran, taxation is
not eliminated altogether, but income and sales tax rates </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.parstimes.com/law/taxation_system.html">are relatively low,</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.parstimes.com/law/taxation_system.html"> </a>hovering around 25
to 1.5 percent, respectively. Additionally, it is estimated that approximately<a href="http://www.parstimes.com/law/taxation_system.html"> </a></span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.parstimes.com/law/taxation_system.html">60 percent</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"> of all taxable sources of revenue are
actually not collected on a regular basis in Iran. Certain levels of the
military and the middle class are allowed to avoid paying taxes in exchange for
their explicit political loyalty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/11/1276241733817/Irans-Revolutionary-Guard-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/11/1276241733817/Irans-Revolutionary-Guard-006.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">Beyond the issue of taxation and the “rentier effect,” however, lies the “</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/68200/michael-l-ross/will-oil-drown-the-arab-spring">suppression effect</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">” that is best exemplified by the Iranian government’s recent
campaign of privatization. Since the outbreak of popular protests in 2009, the
Iranian privatization campaign has conservatively placed </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FMES%2FMES45_01%2FS0020743812001250a.pdf&code=82b944660e4da454ead73b8e039e5e6c">60 percent</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"> of the entire Iranian economy in
the hands of the Revolutionary Guard. In 2008, the Ayatollah announced a
campaign of privatization that had initially been largely <a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FMES%2FMES45_01%2FS0020743812001250a.pdf&code=82b944660e4da454ead73b8e039e5e6c">successful </a>in terms
of decreasing the breadth of the public sector. In light of the Green Movement,
however, this privatization campaign was re-purposed, focusing instead on the transfer
much of these formerly state-held businesses and agencies into the hands of the
Revolutionary Guard. This has in effect bought off the loyalty of the
para-military group and simultaneously given them a much larger stake in the maintenance
of the status-quo. Should more protests break out following the 2013
presidential elections, the Revolutionary Guard's loyalty should ostensibly remain with the
ruling conservative establishment. Any threat to their economic supremacy would therefore be violently expunged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.raceforiran.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/iran-sanctions_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.raceforiran.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/iran-sanctions_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">The Western sanctions,
though explicitly aimed at halting the Iranian nuclear program, also have an implicit—and
much more realistic—goal of eventual regime change in Iran. Iran’s capacity to
buy off the aforementioned influential portions of its society has been
limited by the sanctions, but when an economy is in free fall as Iran’s is,
economic gains and tax incentives become all the more meaningful to alleviate the economic hardships and are likely
driving these “bribed” groups closer to the regime as economic conditions continue to worsen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">This system of bribery is unsustainable under the weight of increasing economic sanctions, however, and the Iranian
government will soon need to make a decision to cut either its incredibly costly
nuclear program or its capacity to buy off the influential sectors of the
Iranian populous. It is unlikely that the Iranian economy will be at this imminent
decision point by the beginning of the next elections, however. Regime change
is certainly on the horizon, but not yet. </span>James Glassmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05009163868468382001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-13797473329886890782013-05-02T15:22:00.001-07:002013-05-02T15:22:35.765-07:00
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>855</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4877</o:Characters>
<o:Company>La Canada High School</o:Company>
<o:Lines>40</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>5989</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Crossing the ‘Red Line’<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">A
recent </span><i style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Foreign Policy </i><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">article by
Aaron David Miller describes President Obama’s current Syria dilemma perfectly
– damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. Recent reports describe that there
is some evidence that Assad has in fact used chemicals weapons on his people.
This, as some may remember, represents a “red line”, that if crossed, would
result in serious US action in Syria. Well, serious thought about action in
Syria. President Obama announced that if the Syrian regime used chemical
weapons on its own people, then he would be forced to change his policy towards
Syria. Now that reports confirm this has indeed happened, President Obama is in
a difficult place. If the US does not act, we may seem weak or encourage
further use of chemical weapons by the regime. If the US does act, there is a
whole list of possible options with an even larger list of possible side
effects, many negative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRv8_ayGkEC2lj07iCRP3p3Or_mPilubHOYEfJNT_IWXXw7zAVU" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRv8_ayGkEC2lj07iCRP3p3Or_mPilubHOYEfJNT_IWXXw7zAVU" /></a><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">So
what are the US options now that Assad has crossed the red line? Establishing a
no-fly zone is one feasible option. The United States and NATO allies did this
successfully in Libya and it could be done again. The advantages of this would
be to even the playing field and give rebels on the ground relief from Assad’s
air support. This may, however, be more difficult to do than it was in Libya.
Assad’s anti-air batteries would have to be removed either by bombing runs or
by inserting tactical teams to destroy them. We would then have to enforce the
no fly zone with US or NATO air power. To do this we would need a base of
operations that would probably need to be in one of the countries neighboring
Syria or we could launch these attacks from aircraft carriers in the
Mediterranean or the Persian Gulf. Operating out of neighboring state might
prove difficult because many are reluctant to allow US forces to set up shop in
their territory and states like Turkey were not all that cooperative during the
second Gulf War and US forces are currently trying to get out of Iraq. This
makes a no-fly zone in Syria a more complex task than it would seem on the
surface. Another option is to set up safe-zones for civilians but this too
requires eliminating Assad’s air forces with a no-fly zone first and then
enforcing the safe-zones with peacekeepers. Arming the rebels is another option
on the table but given the current divisions within the opposition movement, it
may be difficult to prevent weapons from getting into the hands of some of the
more extremist factions, like al-Nusra, who have links to al Qaeda. A full-scale
military intervention proves even more difficult and could be a political
disaster given the public’s current stance on military intervention after two
unpopular and costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTR1q86c9mouXpGE1yb6tuc3PGwVlW72UdUM3eBRYxAMeR2TdzC9g" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTR1q86c9mouXpGE1yb6tuc3PGwVlW72UdUM3eBRYxAMeR2TdzC9g" /></a><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">While
these options are all on the table and could possibly manifest within the next
several months, many in Washington are still uncertain whether the US should
rush to intervene in the conflict. In a recent </span><i style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">Foreign Policy</i><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> article by Jeffrey Lewis, the author points out that
there is still not enough evidence that Assad has used chemical weapons to
warrant a US military intervention. Lewis also notes that it is unclear if
whoever comes to power after the regime falls will be any better than Assad,
not because Assad is great, but because the divisions within the opposition
make it entirely likely that an unfriendly government will take power in Syria
post-Assad. Lewis also discusses how there is a great deal of literature that
suggests durable democratic systems rarely thrive after violent conflict with practically
no evidence to suggest that one can “drop democratic processes on a country by
JDAM” (Lewis).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQL5Q_-kMSU_HKQaRVyuCz7LQ85PhCJsyKHRSrZ6N5FZKvi6ZMvbg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQL5Q_-kMSU_HKQaRVyuCz7LQ85PhCJsyKHRSrZ6N5FZKvi6ZMvbg" /></a><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Policymakers
should be hesitant to get involved in a messy civil war because of still shaky
evidence of chemical weapon use. Before the US escalates its Syria policy, we
need more hard evidence. While there is legitimate concern that Assad has or
will use chemical weapons on his people, who’s to say he won’t escalate this if
the US were to escalate their policy. The chemical weapons also represent a dilemma
for the US because if the Assad regime were to fall, these weapons would likely
fall into the wrong hands, namely, terrorist groups who would not be as
hesitant to use them. The US should evaluate the evidence closely and determine
policy from there without rushing into one of the options listed above that
could lead to unintended and negative consequences. The US options above could
very well lead to the fall of Assad and the victory of the opposition but is it
unclear who would take power and what the new government would look like.
Implementing a no-fly zone or any of the other policy options is feasible, but
could result in further escalation of the conflict and may lead to another
state-building mission like we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the most
important lessons from those cases is that problems facing a country do not end
with the regime. In fact, they may only begin with the fall of the regime and
get worse in the following year. The US should not rush into a military
intervention in Syria without first knowing ALL the facts (see: Iraq). Overall,
Obama’s declaration of the “Red Line” has left some in Washington asking, “What
was he thinking?”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Sources:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/30/17985682-obama-there-is-some-evidence-syrias-assad-used-chemical-weapons?lite">http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/30/17985682-obama-there-is-some-evidence-syrias-assad-used-chemical-weapons?lite</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/01/thick_red_line_chemical_weapons_evidence">http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/01/thick_red_line_chemical_weapons_evidence</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/04/26/obama_syria_dilemma">http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/04/26/obama_syria_dilemma</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Keaton Herzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15960586580249674350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-56384355527773506292013-05-02T10:32:00.005-07:002013-05-02T10:32:45.681-07:00A Discourse on the Syrian Conflict: Possible Responses to Assad's Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRAriPLV9FRx0dFDI1PjaWwMI_pNEwv-QTG9ND14xuSdL81BkQlDZd2xSeXMjCFmiJ_VLTuHrtlduHds-NfxQABGmbvhUaFowh6FttUeol6jN3qv9GDkNB4sRUg_Oz5U-d8q4-RoPhct4/s1600/syriapic1main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRAriPLV9FRx0dFDI1PjaWwMI_pNEwv-QTG9ND14xuSdL81BkQlDZd2xSeXMjCFmiJ_VLTuHrtlduHds-NfxQABGmbvhUaFowh6FttUeol6jN3qv9GDkNB4sRUg_Oz5U-d8q4-RoPhct4/s320/syriapic1main.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violence near Turkey-Syria border as Syrian refugees try to illegally cross the border</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The United States government is still investigating details about the supposed use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against the rebellion movement. US Defense secretary Chuck Hagel confirmed this on Monday. The US government released a statement last week indicating the the Syrian government has likely used chemical weapons against the rebels on two separate occasions. It is unclear at this time how severe these attacks were. Congress’ calls for proactive measures - e.g. declaring a no-flyzone - have become increasingly louder over the course of the week.</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">President Obama declared that the Syrian government would cross a red line by resorting to the use of chemical weapons against its own civilians. Hagel, however, was reluctant to discuss any questions about a possible military intervention as the investigation surrounding the recent events is ongoing.</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Meanwhile, preventative measures have been taken at a Turkish hospital located near the Turkey-Syria border for the treatment of Syrians injured in the attacks. It was reported that dozens of Syrian rebellions may have been injured in an attack involving chemical weapons, as was confirmed from sources from inside the Turkish hospital on Tuesday.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowv2xSuRVZl8zdqKPR1qg04dXcI4LYYFPts1yiFpnk0TP1n3LC6Vhbv9F44IZG45kGLhR7Mx17VVTj4eqQgcjP8yf2kaK91zpvey4LDynt8uE3PPJFklHg_9ef_LoUkbvgGUWKr_82QpG/s1600/02syria-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowv2xSuRVZl8zdqKPR1qg04dXcI4LYYFPts1yiFpnk0TP1n3LC6Vhbv9F44IZG45kGLhR7Mx17VVTj4eqQgcjP8yf2kaK91zpvey4LDynt8uE3PPJFklHg_9ef_LoUkbvgGUWKr_82QpG/s200/02syria-articleLarge.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assad during a rare public appearance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The use of chemical weapons is considered to be crossing a red line in the international political community. Though there is no conclusive evidence of such warfare tactics occurring in Syria, the possibility and accusations elevates the situation to a new level. The international political community, NATO, and the US in particular, have various options to consider in their efforts to aid the people of Syria. </span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One, is military action and sending forces to Syria. Obama issued a warning to Assad last August, stating that if he resorted to the use of chemical weapons - or preparing them for use - that would be considered crossing a red line with “enormous consequences”. Prior to that, Obama made the statement that Assad’s government would be held accountable. </span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Another possibility is for the US to increase their support for the opposition movement. So far, the US has supported the rebels with non-lethal aid. Recently, the Obama administration announced that they would continue and increase their support - up to $250 million worth of assistance. While the supply of arms is one of the various options currently in consideration, that option is to be refrained from until there is conclusive evidence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The careful selection and supplying the rebels with arms would greatly increase the movement’s appeal in Syria and its effectiveness in their struggle against the authoritarian regime under Assad.</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Lastly, NATO needs to consider its role in the Syrian conflict and assess their capabilities and preparation for a possible intervention. The US secretary of state has urged NATO to consider how they are prepared to respond to threats by Syria. Thusfar, NATO has expressed of having no intention to using military intervention in the Syrian conflict. Though there is concern for a possible regional threat to some of its 28 member states, NATO maintains that they will not intervene militarily. If conclusive evidence shows that Assad has in fact used chemical weapons against Syrians, however, NATO and the US government will have to take preventative action to protect its member states and hold firm on their outward political values.</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The situation remains uncertain while the investigation is ongoing, but it appears that an intervention by the international community is imminent. The Syrian civil war is an ongoing conflict lasting over 2 years at this time and recent escalations are troublesome. It is recommended that the international community watch closely as the conflict continues and take measures to protect the people of Syria and aid them in their mission to establish an appropriately representative government regime.</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>Lin Nouheid, Alex Warren. "The Battle for the Arab Spring"</div>
<div style="color: #021eaa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Al Jazeera. “Gauging Hezbollah’s role in Syria” <<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/05/20135262433130722.html"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/05/20135262433130722.html</span></a>></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">CNN. “For Syria, chemical weapons also a ‘red line, information minister says” </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html</span></a>></span></div>
<div style="color: #021eaa;">
<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">New York Times. “Israel Says It Has Proof That Syria Used Chemical Weapons”. <<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/world/middleeast/israel-says-syria-has-used-chemical-weapons.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/world/middleeast/israel-says-syria-has-used-chemical-weapons.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0</span></a>> </span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #021eaa;">
<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Al Jazeera. Syria Live Blog <<a href="http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/topic/syria-153"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/topic/syria-153</span></a>></span></div>
<div style="color: #021eaa;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">Deutsche Welle. "NATO worried about Syrian chemical weapons"</span><br />
<div style="color: #021eaa;">
<http://www.dw.de/nato-worried-about-syrian-chemical-weapons/a-16766049></div>
<div style="color: #666666; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #021eaa;">
<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Al Jazeera. “US urges NATO to consider role in Syria” <<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/2013423133258432886.html"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/2013423133258432886.html</span></a>> </span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-73873750289231265342013-05-01T13:00:00.002-07:002013-05-01T13:03:37.067-07:00Economic Turmoil in Tunisia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>Michael</o:Author>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-02-06T16:27:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-04-30T21:00:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>622</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3547</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>29</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4355</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In early March, a cigarette vendor named
Adel Khazri set himself on fire in the capital,
Tunis, an act reminiscent of Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation that triggered
the beginning of the Jasmine Revolution. He was protesting the high level of
unemployment in the country. Overall unemployment is currently 17%, with levels
as high as 30% in rural areas (F.T., 2013). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The struggling economy remains the focus
of Tunisia’s civil unrest. Despite current changes regarding women’s rights and
the reemergence of the Salafist movement, high unemployment and rising debt are
the focus of international attention. Many blame “tunisia’s
tax code [that] favours exporting companies. Those that sell locally face higher
tariffs and more regulation”(F.T., 2013). This creates a dynamic where exports
are encouraged rather than investment, trade, and capital flow within the
country’s borders. Similar to this globally-focused economic dynamic, many
believe that economic policy has been formed in favor of the global market
rather than for the benefit of the country, and hope that “<span style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">economic policy will be written for the Mohammed
Bouazizis of the world rather than the bankers” (Ryan, 2013). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3-2FeY29Ao91T6orCj2uUl5Uj-hj4prXv9aKtu9ilE0LHINlIuz3fnTylTnXdkEjvIcAxD9WFv9nJockmynkEDo0rkDrHNu0HxPQetdFg_NraV5jhf9hs4OFnLMY4AGQXIwUrOhmzvkP/s1600/Tunisia+Map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3-2FeY29Ao91T6orCj2uUl5Uj-hj4prXv9aKtu9ilE0LHINlIuz3fnTylTnXdkEjvIcAxD9WFv9nJockmynkEDo0rkDrHNu0HxPQetdFg_NraV5jhf9hs4OFnLMY4AGQXIwUrOhmzvkP/s200/Tunisia+Map.gif" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2013 WSF was located in Tunis.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Another aspect of the current economic
turmoil in Tunisia is the “looted assets”(Reuters, 2013) from Ben Ali’s rule;
recently Tunisia received a check for $28.8 million dollars, retrieved from a
Lebanese bank account held by Leila Trabelsi,
former president Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali’s wife. This is the result of a
appointed UN representative’s efforts to <span style="background: white;">recover
stolen assets</span>; billions remain missing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Both the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and World Social Forum (WSF) are currently playing roles in the country
regarding rehabilitation of the economy and next steps for Tunisia’s
government. Tunisia is </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">currently
negotiating a $1.78 billion dollar loan from the IMF in order to keep the economy
afloat. However, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">the way in which the IMF is pushing economic reform could undermine
the public’s confidence in the democratic transition of the government if the
new policies are pushed through without the debate and approval of the
country’s elected officials.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In terms of political stability, a reemergence of </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">a "Bourguibist" tradition has been predicted, based upon the
rule of Ben Ali’s predecessor, Habib Bourguiba, who was deposed in 1987.
Currently, the government is attempting to retain legitimacy in the democratic
transition by including more parties;</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> the Prime
Minister</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, Ali Laarayedh, ceded key ministries to
non-party figures in response to the assassination of leftist politician Chokri
Belaid on February 6</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> of this year (E.B., 2013).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJW7TPOFcs9XjPBnU8qFiRWJ91FN7_1VYvTbzciA9lPkEnDVhWPkbOmXPPfYveUPw1IunASuH9a-8nP-Tit9udljiJxvi8i6WmqrFNw7T7PenUCIQKmN_hCgO8Prh-vLMt93ZBONPRaG/s1600/thumb_wsf-demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJW7TPOFcs9XjPBnU8qFiRWJ91FN7_1VYvTbzciA9lPkEnDVhWPkbOmXPPfYveUPw1IunASuH9a-8nP-Tit9udljiJxvi8i6WmqrFNw7T7PenUCIQKmN_hCgO8Prh-vLMt93ZBONPRaG/s1600/thumb_wsf-demo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demonstration at the World Social Forum in Tunisia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Focusing
upon the economic instability of the country and ways in which economic policy
can reflect negatively upon the democratic transition of Tunisia is important
when considering the future of the country. As a “homegrown” revolution
originally, Tunisia may face further and increased uprisings if the public does
not feel that anything has changed. Based on Tunisia’s past experiences and the
current social climate, it seems that future demonstrations will continue to be
largely nonviolent. The protests will most likely also continue to include the
most affected parties, which are the younger college-graduate part of the
population, that is highly educated and in dire need of opportunities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2sTOLugdmN4pVNoyVTjbBQFBpW6JsueXcM8PeFPN3Alrk43HqAvOgcGTlhg-bEfkWf5un7cdOLQ3xIYnhV7Zvpz5_hn-qIVZeY2-2BgEg6WH74bTOXTZDaNcAKVZrJNXVpf44mgUH0z1/s1600/ts-lgflag.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2sTOLugdmN4pVNoyVTjbBQFBpW6JsueXcM8PeFPN3Alrk43HqAvOgcGTlhg-bEfkWf5un7cdOLQ3xIYnhV7Zvpz5_hn-qIVZeY2-2BgEg6WH74bTOXTZDaNcAKVZrJNXVpf44mgUH0z1/s200/ts-lgflag.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunisian Flag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The public will
need to see improvement in job opportunities and over all unemployment rates,
as well as accountability and transparency within the government that indicate
a successful democratic transition. I would recommend that the government wait
until the legislative and presidential elections later this year to make
decisions concerning the IMF loan, so that the process is facilitated by elected
officials rather than representatives from the IMF. I would also recommend that
the government pay particular attention to changing cultural and social
factors; the backlash from the states previous restraint of Muslim practices
and religious parties and the
growing ambiguity of women’s rights will be important changes that could affect
economic and political issues as the cultural climate of Tunisia changes. For
now, it seems we will have to wait for the elections this fall to see what Tunisia does with this rare opportunity to
redefine itself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Works Cited:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>Michael</o:Author>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-02-06T16:27:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-04-30T21:00:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>151</o:Words>
<o:Characters>865</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1062</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
E.B. “Macbeth in Tunis: Fair is foul and foul is fair.” The Economist.
25 March 2013. <<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/03/macbeth-tunis"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/03/macbeth-tunis</span></a>><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
F. T. “Tunisia’s economy: Still struggling.” The Economist. 19 March
2013. <<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/03/tunisias-economy"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/03/tunisias-economy</span></a>><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reuters. “Tunisia: Millions recovered from ex-leader’s assets.” The
New York Times. 11 April 2013. <<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/world/africa/tunisia-millions-recovered-from-ex-leaders-assets.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/world/africa/tunisia-millions-recovered-from-ex-leaders-assets.html</span></a>><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ryan, Yasmine. “Tunisia World Social Forum to blast austerity.” Al
Jazeera. 26 March 2013. <<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/03/201332653645288688.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/03/201332653645288688.html</span></a>><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04310002975072437489noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-77980053918058053552013-04-29T19:41:00.000-07:002013-04-29T19:41:20.258-07:00Failure to Launch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/061/000114716/jalal%20talabani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.nndb.com/people/061/000114716/jalal%20talabani.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Jalal Talabani</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2013 has proved to be a rough start
for </span><st1:country-region style="text-indent: 0.5in;" w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
thus far. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Sectarian </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">animosities </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">are
still present, however, they are starting to </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">take new form. They are </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">now playing out without some </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">of the
players that were once very influential </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">in enforcing </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">the rules. While the majority of Iraqis grew very tired </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">of </span><st1:country-region style="text-indent: 0.5in;" w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> presence, the
reality was that the </span><st1:place style="text-indent: 0.5in;" w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
was the </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">only actor </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">capable of bridging sectarian divisions before </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">they spiraled
into </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">violence. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Now with the U.S. gone, and
President Jalal Talabani’s heath decreasing, charges of political dominance and
sectarian discrimination among Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s opponents have
left most wondering if Iraq is about to face the year’s first open
confrontation. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.topnews.in/files/maliki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.topnews.in/files/maliki.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px;">Prime Minister </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px;">Nuri al-Maliki</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='width:3in;
height:3in'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\jdewitt3\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:href="http://www.topnews.in/files/maliki.jpg"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span>A few months ago, Iraqi police invaded
the Finance Ministry <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://radiowarsan.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Dr-Rafi-al-Issawi-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://radiowarsan.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Dr-Rafi-al-Issawi-.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafa al-Issawi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
building and detained around 150 bodyguards who worked </div>
<div>
for
Rafa al-Issawi, the chief minister for financial affairs and </div>
<div>
one of the government’s
top Sunni officials. Shortly after, </div>
<div>
news
broke out that the Shia led government was targeting </div>
<div>
the staff of a top Sunni
politician. Upon hearing this, </div>
<div>
thousands
of Iraqis from the Sunni heartland flocked </div>
<div>
to the streets in protest. These were so large that </div>
<div>
the major highway
connecting <st1:city w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:city> to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> </div>
<div>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region>
was completely shut down.<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2011/12/19/1324325277010/Tariq-al-Hashimi-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2011/12/19/1324325277010/Tariq-al-Hashimi-007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start; text-indent: 48px;">Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">This, however, wasn’t anything new
for the Sunni population. Last year,
they experienced something similar to this when Iraqi security forces arrested
several guards who worked for the Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi. After the confession of plotting terrorist
attacks, Hashimi fled the country to </span><st1:country-region style="text-indent: 0.5in;" w:st="on">Turkey</st1:country-region><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> in order to avoid the death
sentence. Whether or not he was actually
guilty is irrelevant, though. What is
important is that a huge majority of the Sunni population viewed these arrests
as a carefully planned vendetta by a Shia led premier against the Sunni rival. The marginalization and alienation felt by the
Sunni’s when Saddam Hussein was overthrown was now being relived and
reinforced.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the past, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and President Talabani were
able to suppress those feelings until that current crisis needed intervention. With the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
no longer present and Talabani recovering from his stroke in a German hospital,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>
must find someone who can perform this difficult task. I think in an ideal world, al-Maliki would
fill the spot himself, however, with protests continuing and the prime minister
reluctant to back down, it is quite unlikely this will actually happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Source: <a href="http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/07/a-rough-start-for-iraq-in-2013/" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/07/a-rough-start-for-iraq-in-2013/</a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
Jason DeWitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478346842448165033noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-80099443179152486812013-04-29T17:45:00.000-07:002013-04-29T17:45:09.608-07:00Tunisia-A bright future, or a return to the past? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-45045" height="210" src="http://www.theprisma.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-Tunisian-revolution-1-Part-5-300x133.jpg" title="The Tunisian revolution 1 Part 5" width="332" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> In recent months, we have seen tremendous strides made in Tunisia for equality and freedom. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just last month, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">tens of thousands of activists from around the globe converged on Tunisia for the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> World Social Forum</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">, the "annual counter-hegemonic meet where opponents of neo-liberalism, free trade and austerity rally together".</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> The slogan of this year's forum, which ran from March 26th to 30th, in keeping with the spirit of Tunisia's January 2011 uprising, was dignity. After all, the Jasmine Revolution began only after <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year old Tunisian street vendor, set himself afire on December 17th 2010, in protest of the confiscation of his wares and the humiliation that was inflicted on him by a municipal official. All Mohamed wanted was dignity, and his cries for it can still be heard across Tunisia, echoed by most of the countries citizens.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> Most Tunisians describe their uprising as a struggle for dignity – the term "Jasmine Revolution" was only ever used by foreign journalists. They have been demanding affordable basic necessities, the right to employment and to a more just and equitable society. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><img class="i" height="225" src="http://www.occupy.com/sites/default/files/styles/slide_narrow/public/field/image/ws-article.jpg?itok=ehC6NECk" width="400" /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> Romdhane Ben Amor, a spokesperson for the WSF organising team, told Al Jazeera that organisers had initially hoped to hold the event in Egypt, but had opted for Tunisia due to its comparative stability.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">It's the first time the forum was held in an Arab country.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The issue of public debt was one of the main topics on the forum's agenda.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"It's a leading dilemma in Tunisia," said Ben Amor. "There's no work, prices are rising, the government isn't able to invest in society, and it's all because of the debt."</span></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> According to Al Jazeera, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Tunisia is currently negotiating a $1.78 billion dollar loan from the IMF to help keep its economy afloat, and the newly-formed government may sign the agreement this month. Yet the reforms the IMF is pushing the government to accept would, according to some economists, make life even harder for a population that so recently rose up in revolt over economic misery." We can only hope that this is not the case, especially after the tremendous strides Tunisia has made as a nation in recent months. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"> It is estimated as many as 50,000 visitors from 128 countries gathered at the World Social Forum to discuss shared economic and social problems. The forum began with all these participants marching down the streets of Tunis, the capital. For the Tunisian citizens who attended, I am sure there was a feeling of dejavu from when their protests initially began several years ago. However, this time they were marching in a different Tunisia, a changed Tunisia. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> T</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">he debt has not kept Tunisia from making great strides in efforts to promote freedom and equality.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> Just last week, g</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">uarded by armed Tunisian police, Jewish revelers chanted and danced in a three-day pilgrimage to the El Ghriba synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Africa, located on an island resort 500 kilometers south of Tunis.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><img alt="Jewish men pray inside the blue-tiled El Ghriba synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba following a wedding ceremony May 10, 2012. REUTERS/Anis Mili" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-116285" height="266" src="http://uploads.static.vosizneias.com/2012/11/2012-11-01T141902Z_1_CBRE8A013RS00_RTROPTP_4_TUNISIA-JEWS-725x483.jpg" title="Jewish men pray inside the blue-tiled El Ghriba synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba following a wedding ceremony" width="400" /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;"> In 2011, after the uprising that toppled former president Zine El </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">Abidine</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;"> Ben Ali, the annual celebration was canceled. In 2002 militants linked to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">al</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">Qaeda</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;"> attacked the synagogue with a truck bomb killing 21 Western tourists. In 2012 only a few dozen Jews attended out of fear of possible attacks by hard line </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">Islamists</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span id="midArticle_3"></span><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Security for this year's pilgrimage was tight, with hundreds of police on duty.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">"The strong presence of security is a positive step and sends a message to the Jews in the world that Tunisia protects us even if its leaders are Islamists", Perez Trabelsi, the head of the Jewish community in Djerba, told Reuters.com</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span>
<div style="line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Hosting both the World Social Forum, as well as offering high levels of police protection for an ancient Jewish pilgrimage? This does not sound like the Tunisia we know and have learned about in class. So we must ask ourselves, have we truly seen progress in Tunisia? Is the Tunisia we see now different from the Tunisia of a year ago? Two years ago? Or even of 10 years ago? It is hard to argue that Tunisia has not changed. Hosting the World Social Forum and the recent return of an ancient Jewish pilgrimage under military protection seem far from possible under the regime of Ben Ali. Perhaps Tunisia has yet to reach its goals of dignity for all, but the country where the Arab Spring started is setting a wonderful example for it's neighboring countries to follow. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img alt="Tunisians protest outside the gates of the French Embassy after remarks made by the French ambassador that were perceived as insulting. Such a public display of expression by Tunisians would have been unheard of during the Ben Ali reign. " itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://www.thenational.ae/deployedfiles/Assets/Richmedia/Image/SaxoPress/AD20110507726674-5-Tunisians%20prote.jpg" /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="article-content" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="article-sidebar-right" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font: normal normal normal 13px/17px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="field-items" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style node-body-social-buttons" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> This is not the Tunisia we have learned about in class. It is a new Tunisia; one striding for freedom, equality, and of course, dignity. It is nearly impossible to say Tunisia has not changed, and is not continuing to change and transform from the country it once was to a more democratic nation. Prior to the revolution, Tunisia was plagued by government censorship, a lack of civic life, corruption, and vast human rights violations. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since the revolution, non-governmental organizations have reconstituted themselves and hundreds of new ones have emerged. For instance, the Tunisian Human Rights League, the first human rights organization in Africa and the Arab world, which operated under restrictions and state intrusion for over half of its existence, is now completely free to operate. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"> Tunisia is a shining beacon of future possibilities in an area of the world ravaged by war and revolution. Tunisia has proven that through the chaos, we can find peace and new democratic ideals. Although Tunisia still faces tremendous debt as well as other more complicated social issues, if the nation continues in the direction it is currently moving, we can only expect to see a once corrupt,authoritarian state, become a budding democracy and a role model for other nations within the Middle East and North Africa.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Works Cited:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Amara, Tarek, "Jews revive annual pilgrimage to Africa's oldest synagogue", Reuters.com, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/27/us-tunisia-jews-idUSBRE93Q07L20130427, last updated Saturday April 27th, 2013</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Yasmine, Ryan, "Tunisia World Social Forum to blast austerity", Aljazeera.com, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/03/201332653645288688.html, last updated March 26th, 2013</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00174198153714543366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-79537306222184274462013-04-29T16:21:00.001-07:002013-04-29T16:21:17.827-07:00More Protesters Apprehended by Police in Bahrain
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<h4>
Bahrain remains in full of protests and riots, as the
government tries to crack down they have taken many new suspects into custody.</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="main_page" style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Tahoma; height: 100%px; width: 960px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Tahoma; height: 100%px; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td id="main_con" style="padding-left: 8px;" valign="top"><div class="news_pic">
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.vob.org/en/media/pics/1367243264.jpg" /><div class="pic_info">
Protesters wave Bahraini flags during an anti-government demonstration in the village of Diraz, west of Manama, late on April 27, 2013 (AFP Photo / Mohammed Al-Shaikh)</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was announced this past weekend that police have arrested 22 suspects who have
allegedly been part of the civil protests and unrest within Bahrain. Some have
been accused of participating in what the Bahraini police are calling, a
terrorist attack, police forces in a small village outside of Manama as that
took place on March 7<sup>th</sup>. Others are being arrested for their part in
the Formula One Riots that just recently took place. Still some are being
arrested on charges of blockading roads and burning tires. The majority of the suspects were picked up in Shiite neighborhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is estimated by human rights groups that since the start
of these demonstrations in 2011, at least 80 people have been killed and
thousands arrested.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
comes after the indefinite postponement of the UN torture reporter Mr. Juan
Mendez meeting in Bahrain. The cancellation was a unilateral decision made by
Bahraini officials. This event had been in the making for a year and a half yet
after recent events, Bahrain was not willing to oblige.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As
these two stories come out within a week of each other, the cancelled visit
impacts the way we view the new suspects, that have been apprehended. Is this
something the UN should be watching more closely? With this meeting cancelled
does this imply Bahrain is using various methods of torture and not willing to
stop? That is what it seems like to me, while there isn’t any hard evidence the
connections seem too strong. As we have discussed in class due to the threat
felt by the regime, they are more likely to use repression to try and control their
population, torture is part of that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sources</div>
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/world/middleeast/un-expert-says-bahrain-canceled-visit-in-torture-inquiry.html?ref=bahrain&_r=0<br />http://www.vob.org/en/index.php?show=news&action=article&id=2238<br />
<!--EndFragment-->Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094922449179854922noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-31293045685545277772013-04-29T13:30:00.002-07:002013-04-29T13:30:18.771-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Elections without the US<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">April 20<sup>th</sup>, 2013 was the first Iraqi
election without security help from the US. This election replaced 18 local
councils elected in 2009 with 18 new <span style="color: black;">governorates.
The campaign for this 2013 election has been violent but not as violent as many
thought it would be.</span> Leading up to the election there were 14 candidates
killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Iraqi government implemented
many security measures leading up to the elections in order to keep citizens
and candidates safe. These measures included a car ban and a curfew on Election
Day. Three providences, <span style="color: black;">Anbar, Kirkuk and Nineveh,
did not hold elections because of insecurity in the region. The security
measures produced a major problem with the elections, by making the polling
centers very difficult to get to. Many Iraqis claimed that the voting centers
were too far away without the use of cars and therefore they were not able to
vote in this election. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="Iraqelection1.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" style="height: 263.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 468pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Iraqelection1" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
violence leading up to this election has been the same violence that has
overcome Iraq and the Middle East; racial disputes between the Sunni’s and
Shiites. The fourteen candidates that have been killed in this election were
all Sunni. It is reported that some assassinations were by political opposition
but others were by Sunni radicals associated with Al Qaeda. It may seem odd
that radical Sunnis would attack other Sunnis when they want more
representation I the Shiite controlled government, but the targets have been
more moderate Sunnis that look to work with the Shiites for equality. The
deterrence of voters due to curfew and car bans is not the reason people are
not appearing at the polls to vote. The problem is fear. The violence between
the Sunnis and Shiites is deterring both voters and viable candidates. </span><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><v:shape alt="" id="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 24pt; width: 24pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><o:p></o:p></v:shape></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKHhg7lGj8AIDjWjBq7sWb0-MtulsrVAsuDcaV0Z9bhlukmrVq8gTMYJta3qY0LcDXsw0aol6xZ5r3upuozIwKymnN7LdKODfbIGiR74LYT4Q5JOuCBnwv5PDEXPi8iNQZ_e2Q_TWG10/s1600/Iraqelection1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKHhg7lGj8AIDjWjBq7sWb0-MtulsrVAsuDcaV0Z9bhlukmrVq8gTMYJta3qY0LcDXsw0aol6xZ5r3upuozIwKymnN7LdKODfbIGiR74LYT4Q5JOuCBnwv5PDEXPi8iNQZ_e2Q_TWG10/s320/Iraqelection1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><v:shape alt="" id="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 24pt; width: 24pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><o:p></o:p></v:shape></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A political science professor at a
Bagdad university explains, “Killing candidates means instilling fear and that
is why I think it will affect voter participation, because I don’t think people
will want to risk their lives again.” Many believed that the violence leading
up to this election was mild compared to what it could have been. However, next
year Iraq will hold general elections for the first time without US security
forces. This is the main concern in Iraq right now. If this amount of fear is
being provoked for eighteen local councils, what will happen in a general election
in Iraq?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/20134206539908312.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/20134206539908312.html</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/world/middleeast/killings-grow-as-iraqi-elections-near.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/world/middleeast/killings-grow-as-iraqi-elections-near.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/20/world/meast/iraq-elections/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/20/world/meast/iraq-elections/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10646989019739143134noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-28586648824317162232013-04-29T10:27:00.001-07:002013-04-29T10:27:34.981-07:00Mubarak's Appeal Granted by Judge who Recused Himself
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
President Mubarak held power over Egypt for 30 years. The
revolution that took place in several cities in Egypt took Mubarak out of
office and later made Morsi the new president. During this revolution, many
nonviolent protesters were killed, and Mubarak faced a trial in which he was
charged over these killings. Mubarak appealed to these charges and on April 13<sup>th</sup>
his appeal was granted, “technically freeing him in the case involving the
killing of nonviolent protesters.” Nonetheless, Mubarak was to <o:p></o:p></div>
remain behind
bars due to new charges that we added to the other allegations.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YX3EI6Q31ZJOu1NCja_xZzPlgUv78T-rM6yq21mxttOiXFBGRcyb1GZoJLspVb9GSnusm4JfUoLI6WkzGd79W23SNwMc0Z8u4nkUVhyphenhyphennYN8l5PuSAYdhI7kiiZB3Ps0ABZfMIlnuhysx/s1600/Mubarak_2535408b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YX3EI6Q31ZJOu1NCja_xZzPlgUv78T-rM6yq21mxttOiXFBGRcyb1GZoJLspVb9GSnusm4JfUoLI6WkzGd79W23SNwMc0Z8u4nkUVhyphenhyphennYN8l5PuSAYdhI7kiiZB3Ps0ABZfMIlnuhysx/s400/Mubarak_2535408b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mubarak waving at his supporters during trial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The retrial that was to take place on Saturday “was delayed
after the judge recused himself and walked out, leaving the court without
leadership.” The court requires that a new judge must be found within the next
60 days. The reasons behind the judge’s recusing were to health reasons, as
stated by Mubarak’s lawyer. Needless to say, relatives of the victims that died
during the revolution were outraged. One of the victims explains, "the government
is not giving us the moral support we need, and they're allowing this circus of
a trial to continue. We were hoping for a death sentence, but the way it's
going, we may see Mubarak free, and his sons free, which means my brother died
for nothing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Mubarak’s trials are of extreme importance, not only to the
relatives of those who died, but also to the international community. Many
human rights crimes were committed during these event and need to be punished
with the weight of justice. The delays occurring during Mubarak’s trials are
antagonizing those who opposed his regime and are making the situation prolong.
These issues could proliferate the conflict trap theory that seems to be
happening in Egypt. Although, president Morsi is the new leader of Egypt, a
large control from the military can still be felt and the sense of clear
victory is lost. If the trials continue to prolong, the people affected might
take matters into their hands and oppose to the current court system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What needs to be done by policymakers in this process is to
move quickly and find a judge replacement. It is imperative to provide
information to citizens of all the steps that are taking place leading to
Mubarak’s trial. In order to mitigate the conflict, the government has to show
that the situation has not stagnated and it is in the process of coming to its
end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">Brumfield, Ben, Reza Sayah, and Journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy. "Egypt's Mubarak Wins Petition but Will Stay Detained." </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">CNN</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Amedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11769295611799025498noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-8312041857362179632013-04-29T08:50:00.001-07:002013-04-29T08:51:04.993-07:00Tactics of The Unfriendly Opposition<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi" height="171" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67302000/jpg/_67302442_a904fd50-db24-4612-b80f-8192907a1077.jpg" width="304" /></div>
According to Syrian state-rum media, an explosion in
downtown Damascus nearly claimed the life of Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi.<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Although there are few details about
the attack at the time of this posting, it seems that this is the latest
attempt by the Syrian rebels to disrupt Bashar al-Assad’s regime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human rights organizations report that
Halqi’s bodyguard and five civilians were killed in the bombing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bombing in Damascus this morning highlights an
interesting development in the Syrian civil war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebel groups increasingly turn to guerrilla, asymmetrical
type attacks against the Syrian regime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices have become common
instruments in the fight to overthrow the government.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These tactics also reflect the large influx of militant
fundamentalist organizations to Syria since the war began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Groups like al-Nusra Front, an
organization with ties to al-Qaeda, provide weapons, ammunition, and other
supplies to segments of the Syrian opposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As such organizations join the fight against the al-Assad
regime, Syrian rebels’ tactics have changed also.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The militant groups’ support for the Syrian opposition
movement has provided much support as the international community largely
refrains to intervene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
participation in the conflict, however, will further limit the chances of
international intervention in Syria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Muddling the message and motivations of the opposition, these
organizations will cause the West to further hesitate before supporting the
opposition.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What’s more?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This could make the conflict in Syria even more deadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the support the Syrian
opposition receives from terrorist organizations, the international community
may be less likely to act even if the Assad regime resorts to widespread use of
chemical weapons, which President Obama has referred to as a “red line.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img alt="A fighter from Jabhat al-Nusra runs as the group's base is shelled in Raqqa province, eastern Syria, in March 14, 2013" height="261" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/66908000/jpg/_66908319_017696043-1.jpg" width="464" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Syria's Al-Nusra Front 'Part of Al-Qaeda'."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>BBC</i>. Published electronically 10
April 2013. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22078022.">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22078022.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Syria Crisis: Pm Halqi Survives Damascus Car
Bombing."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>BBC</i>.
Published electronically 29 April 2013. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22335430.">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22335430.</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07501842922879381059noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-68538477628050716732013-04-26T20:07:00.001-07:002013-04-26T20:07:16.109-07:00Chemical Warfare in Syria
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>291</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1664</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>13</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2043</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1539</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The conflict in Syria has faded slightly from our spotlight
media in recent months and has been pushed completely from our minds
understandably due to threats much closer to home but nonetheless the conflict
rages on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This conflict was pushed
to a new level when it was suspected that government troops used some type of
chemical weapon against the rebel forces in the month of April. The use of
chemical weapons of any kind brings great concern to the region as well as to
the US and NATO for their allies in the region and also to the UN who would
like to prevent anymore humanitarian tragedies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israeli General Itai Brun announced this week that he highly
suspected the use of chemical weapons, most likely the nerve gas Sarin, due to
the physical symptoms the victims suffered before death. These statements have
yet to be verified by the Israeli or US governments. (Aljazeera) If these
claims turn out to be true then that definitely turns up the pressure on the
international community to intervene. The international community has held back
even in the face of claims of large massacres and resorted to supplying only
non-lethal aid leaving them in a moral gray area on how to prevent human rights
violations. President Obama has declared that the use of chemical weapons would
be a red line for the United States and that it would lead to further US action
in the conflict. (NY Times) He was diplomatically very vague in describing what
these actions could consist of. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As of today the United States has officially announced their
suspicion of the use of chemical weapons by the government on Syrian rebels.
President Obama stated that if found out to be accurate it would be a game
changer in the US’s approach to the conflict in Syria.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Work Cited</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">"US Urges NATO to Consider Role
in Syria." <i>Aljazeera.com</i></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">.
N.p., 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.</span><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list .5in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Rudoren, David E. Sanger And Jodi.
"Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons, Israel Says." <i>The New York
Times</i></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">. The New York
Times, 24 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04324333807052015096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-48752646944578210352013-04-26T15:37:00.003-07:002013-04-26T15:41:40.737-07:00Bahrain’s Eventful Week: Protests, International Races, Human Rights Abuses, and Promising Economic Opportunities<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330599_free.jpg?1365789473856" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330599_free.jpg?1365789473856" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Description: http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330599_free.jpg?1365789473856"
style='width:468pt;height:324pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\reynolad\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="slide_291683_2330599_free"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Photo credit: Hasan Jamali/AP Photo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Bahrain’s indefinite postponement
of Juan Mendez’s planned May 8th-15<sup>th</sup> visit to the small island
nation on behalf of the UN Human Rights Council sparks international concern.
The Bahraini government’s decision to cancel this visit, for the second year in
a row, follows a spike in national protests and flying rumors of torturing of
torture within Bahraini prisons. It also falls on the heels of the internally
controversial Formula One Race that was held just a few days ago on April 21<sup>st</sup>
in the coastal region of al-Manamah, nearby the University of Bahrain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
Formula 1 race had to be cancelled in 2011 due to the political unrest
unfolding in Bahrain that year, but the race continued on as planned last year
and this year with increased security despite the mass political protests of
the people. During this year’s April 12<sup>th</sup> protests of the race where
demonstrators carried signs with slogans like “Stop Racing on Our Blood” and
carried signs of solidarity for jailed Bahraini human rights activist
father-daughter duo Abdulhadi and Zainab
al-Khawaja as well as the activist Nabeel Rajab. To the credit of the Bahraini
government, the April 12<sup>th</sup> protests were officially approved by the
recently enacted laws cracking down on large protests, which is at least a
small step towards allowing its people to have larger political voices.<o:p></o:p><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Description: http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330600_free.jpg?1365789483170"
style='width:468pt;height:346.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\reynolad\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="slide_291683_2330600_free"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330600_free.jpg?1365789483170" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330600_free.jpg?1365789483170" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Photo credit: Mohammed
al-Shaikh/AFP/Getty Images<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It was reported by the Saudi
Arabian online news organization, Arab News, that two Bahraini girls were
arrested for plotting a terrorist attack at the race track. The unnamed girls
were claimed to have been arrested while doing a “dry run” in which one girl
had concealed a pillow under her clothes to test the thoroughness of the track’s
security. The Arab News article continued on to that the Bahraini police claims
to have seized 1000 petroleum based bombs, 72 fire extinguishers intended to be
used as bombs, and 137 tires that protestors were intending to set fire to.
While the protesters in Bahrain are known for low scale violent acts such as
setting tires ablaze at demonstrations, I think we must question the numbers
and possible validity of the rest of the claims in this article. Not only are
there a reason for the Bahraini government to exaggerate the scale of violence
of the protestors, but the Saudi-run paper also has reasons to vilify these
protestors in Bahrain. It is a well-known fact that the Saudi Arabian
government and the Bahraini government have very close ties, close enough that
Saudi forces were deployed onto the small island during the 2011 protests to
help the Bahraini government quell protesters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Increased protests aren’t the only
concerns of the Bahraini government this past week. In the Bahrain News Agency
an article was published April 24<sup>th</sup> with Samira Ibrahim bin Rajab,
the Minister of State for Information Affairs and Government’s Official
Spokesperson, making a statement in response to the United States’ State Department’s
2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Her statement contained the
expected reaction of a country of Bahrain’s limited political freedoms, as well
as a claim that the State Department’s report lacked objectivity and “totally”
sided with “terrorists who seek to sow chaos in the region.” The official
statement included a commitment to comply with human rights principles and
standards while confronting terrorist threats to Bahrain. The statement also
called out the United States’ contradictory stance in the global war on terror,
with its own questionable security measures, while it continues to “deny” the “right”
of other countries to do the same. Frankly, this is a fair, albeit indirect,
way for Bahrain to call out the US for its activities in places like Guantanamo
Bay, and raises equally troubling questions to the US’s validity in calling out
other nations for Human Rights abuses. However, the US doesn’t restrict the
press, free speech, or professional and civilian journalists the same way that
nations like Bahrain do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Despite these two major events this
past week or so, the Bahraini government is decidedly optimistic about its
economic and socio-political future. With the boastful headline “Bahrain Ideal
for Doing Business” The Gulf Daily News: the Voice of Bahrain published a
pat-on-the-back style article on April 25<sup>th</sup> in no real news was
relayed, but a few statistics and vague statements about economic prosperity
and possibilities for future growth. Quotes from Industry and Commerce Minister
Dr. Hassan Fakhro following the Bahrain-United Kingdom Business Forum in London
filled the article, stating facts such as Bahrain’s $28k GDP/capita and its
historically strong relationship with Britain in many economic sectors. This
relatively mundane article isn’t the only article within the last week or so
discussing growing and new economic opportunities within Bahrain. A snippet of
an article announced an agreement Bahrain signed with the Islamic Development
Bank on April 24<sup>th</sup> to help support the countries small agricultural
sector. The projects supported by this agreement are hoped to create new jobs
for young people in the nation to help combat the high youth unemployment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But what is probably the most exciting—and
politically controversial— economic announcement this week was from Bernie
Ecclestone, the head hauncho of Formula One.
He is quoted as having said that Bahrain has done a “super job” in hosting the
race and hinted at extending Formula One’s racing contract with the nation for
an additional five years. An extension to the contract could possibly become a
point of political contention in the upcoming few years. Already the Formula
One race is a sore spot amongst protesters as they see their political issues
ignored or downplayed in the light of this international race. Since peace
talks between the Bahraini government and al-Wefeq have stalled, it will undoubtedly
be an interesting series of events to watch unfold over the next few years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1042587494012331021" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330618_free.jpg?1365789571362" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/291683/slide_291683_2330618_free.jpg?1365789571362" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Photo Credit: Hasan Jamali/AP Photo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://rt.com/news/bahrain-un-torture-investigator-391/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22265484<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=352045<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/apr/22/bernie-ecclestone-deal-bahrain-gp<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.arabnews.com/news/449247<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/558032<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22251998<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=351999<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/newsbriefs/2013/04/25/newsbrief-10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/bahrain-protests-formula-1-race_n_3071095.html#slide=2330599<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2013/04/19/u-s-state-department-country-report-on-bahrain-highlights-key-abuses/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Allie Reynoldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06793093534308204003noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-39996580129874029372013-04-25T15:23:00.000-07:002013-04-25T16:03:28.158-07:00Qatar faces backlash among Syrian opposition groups for outsized role in Syria<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As conflict continues in Syria
and rebel groups are fighting to topple President Bashar Assad, Qatar continues
to give support to opposition groups and holds a big role in the civil war but
they limit their financial and physical support to only groups that they
like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many smaller groups are
complaining that Qatar is not providing the necessary amount of ammunition,
guns, and supplies to them because they are not Islamic enough or do not have a
obvious Islamic ideology. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Qatar has too much
power in post Assad Syria buy buying up outsized influence and giving support
only to groups who are Islamic minded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many opposition groups and group members are dispersing from their
groups or disbanding because they will not stand for the exploitation of Qatar in
the Syrian revolution because they see it as personal gain for Qatar and is
allowing them too much control of the area which makes many believe that Qatar
is trying to shape the new government of Syria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even more of a problem is the back that certain rebel groups that are
backed by Qatar contain fundamentalists such as the Muslim Brotherhood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Syrian National Coalition was hurt by Qatar's involvement as many members left
after Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood used their pressure to get their
candidate to become prime minister of the coalition which has weakened the
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What rebels are seeing is the
government of Qatar composing most of the new interim government in Syria which
is an outrage to many rebel groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
worse Qatar continues to provide weapons to only religious ideological rebel
groups and is not supporting militant or ultraconservative rebel groups,
hurting the chance of those groups to be successful and ultimately making
people grow further apart from each other due to due to the deliberate lack of
support from some but not others. Islamic brigades do not share ammunition,
guns, or supplies to nationalist brigades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The groups that are not receiving support from Qatar and other countries
offering support are beginning to mistrust Qatar because they feel that
ultimately Qatar is only interested in ruling Syria and is hoping for the
entire regime to topple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
should care about this issue because if Qatar and other involved countries are
giving unfair support by only helping certain religious regimes in the fight
and putting Qatari people in charge of large groups, we should worry that Qatar
is exerting too much power in the fight and that it has other interests besides
helping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Qatar is secretly trying to
take over Syria and ruin its rebuilding by supporting only certain groups whom
have different views that normal militant or nationalist groups, then the
United States will be faced with losing Syria to Qatar and destroying all the
work that has been done to try to fix the problems in Syria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This article in whole was trying to say that
we should be suspicious of Qatar and its huge support in the opposing group
fight in Syria because it may have another hidden agenda that might cause more
damage in the middle east before anyone even realized what has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Qatar was supporting all groups with equal
shares of supplies and money and it wasn't putting its own leaders in charge,
then there would be nothing suspicious. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
analyzing the entire situation and evidence stated in the article, the future
of Syria and Qatar is quite clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using
theories learned in class, I have come to the conclusion that if Qatar
continues to take more and more charge of Syria and focusing on only rebels
that they favor, eventually all other rebel groups will disappear, Qatar will
put its own people in charge of Syria, and slowly the rebel groups will be
taken out while Qatar takes quiet rule of the country, effectively destroying
the interim government there right now and ending the opposition forces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would ruin all chances for saving and
rebuilding Syria after its intial fall and start making Qatar more powerful and
more influential which in turn can make Qatar more power hungry and have it
start going after other problematic countries as long as Qataris know they can
just use their money to give off the idea of fake support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think policymakers and rebel groups in
Syria should take an active role in removing Qatari officials from the head of
rebel groups and find another source of money and support so Qatar loses its
influence and trust.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sources Cited:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/04/24/qatar-faces-backlash-among-syrian-opposition-groups-and-rebels-for-outsized/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14308701546863565949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-55337775198730136342013-04-24T10:00:00.002-07:002013-04-24T10:00:36.773-07:00The Future of Western Sahara
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7 8;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:1 0 16778247 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoNoteLevel1, li.MsoNoteLevel1, div.MsoNoteLevel1
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:1;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:1;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:1;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel1CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:1;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel2, li.MsoNoteLevel2, div.MsoNoteLevel2
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:2;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;
tab-stops:list .5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:2;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;
tab-stops:list .5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:2;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;
tab-stops:list .5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel2CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:2;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;
tab-stops:list .5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel3, li.MsoNoteLevel3, div.MsoNoteLevel3
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:3;
mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:3;
mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:3;
mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel3CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:3;
mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel4, li.MsoNoteLevel4, div.MsoNoteLevel4
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:4;
mso-list:l0 level4 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:4;
mso-list:l0 level4 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:4;
mso-list:l0 level4 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel4CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:4;
mso-list:l0 level4 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 1.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel5, li.MsoNoteLevel5, div.MsoNoteLevel5
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:5;
mso-list:l0 level5 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:5;
mso-list:l0 level5 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:5;
mso-list:l0 level5 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel5CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:5;
mso-list:l0 level5 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel6, li.MsoNoteLevel6, div.MsoNoteLevel6
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:6;
mso-list:l0 level6 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:6;
mso-list:l0 level6 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:6;
mso-list:l0 level6 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel6CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:2.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:6;
mso-list:l0 level6 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 2.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel7, li.MsoNoteLevel7, div.MsoNoteLevel7
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:7;
mso-list:l0 level7 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:7;
mso-list:l0 level7 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:7;
mso-list:l0 level7 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel7CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:7;
mso-list:l0 level7 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel8, li.MsoNoteLevel8, div.MsoNoteLevel8
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:8;
mso-list:l0 level8 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:8;
mso-list:l0 level8 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:8;
mso-list:l0 level8 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel8CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:3.75in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:8;
mso-list:l0 level8 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 3.5in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel9, li.MsoNoteLevel9, div.MsoNoteLevel9
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:4.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:9;
mso-list:l0 level9 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 4.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpFirst, li.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpFirst, div.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpFirst
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:4.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:9;
mso-list:l0 level9 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 4.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpMiddle, li.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpMiddle, div.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpMiddle
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:4.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:9;
mso-list:l0 level9 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 4.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpLast, li.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpLast, div.MsoNoteLevel9CxSpLast
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:4.25in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:9;
mso-list:l0 level9 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 4.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Verdana;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-hansi-font-family:Verdana;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.rtejustify, li.rtejustify, div.rtejustify
{mso-style-name:rtejustify;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:-227;
mso-list-template-ids:838211104;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 1";
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 2";
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:.75in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 3";
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:1.25in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 4";
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:1.75in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 5";
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:2.25in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 6";
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:2.75in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 7";
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:3.25in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 8";
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:3.75in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-style-link:"Note Level 9";
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:4.25in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:706635066;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1980577648 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:ideograph-digital;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level2
{mso-level-number-format:ideograph-digital;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level3
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level4
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level5
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level6
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level7
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level8
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
@list l1:level9
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-text:"";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whats going on with the present Western Sahara? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blog#2</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Overview: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front failed to make progress in
mediated talks on Western Sahara’s status in 2011. Informal negotiations
failed once again, with no future round scheduled. Meanwhile, Sahrawis
continued to be denied basic political, civil, and economic rights.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
</span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Western
Sahara was ruled by Spain for nearly a century until Spanish troops withdrew in
1976, following a bloody guerrilla conflict with the pro-independence Popular
Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario Front).
Mauritania and Morocco both claimed the resource-rich region, agreeing to a
partition in which Morocco received the northern two-thirds. However, the
Polisario Front proclaimed an independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
(SADR) and continued its guerrilla campaign. Mauritania renounced its claim in
1979, and Morocco filled the vacuum by annexing the entire territory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moroccan
and Polisario forces engaged in a low-intensity armed conflict until the United
Nations brokered a ceasefire in 1991. The agreement called for residents of
Western Sahara to vote in a referendum on independence the following year, to
be supervised by the newly established UN Mission for the Referendum in Western
Sahara (MINURSO). However, the vote never took place, with the two sides
failing to agree on voter eligibility.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Morocco
tried to bolster its annexation by offering financial incentives for Moroccans
to move to Western Sahara and for Sahrawis to move to Morocco. Morocco also
used more coercive measures, engaging in forced resettlements of Sahrawis and
long-term detention and “disappearances” of pro-independence activists.
Neighboring Algeria will not accept Moroccan control of the territory and hosts
refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, which are home to an estimated 90,000
Sahrawis as well as the SADR government in exile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
2004, the Polisario Front accepted a UN Security Council plan that called for
up to five years of autonomy followed by a referendum on the territory’s
status. However, Morocco rejected the plan, fearing it could lead to
independence, and in 2007 offered its own autonomy plan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Because
the Polisario Front remains committed to an eventual referendum with
independence as an option, while Morocco continues to push for autonomy, the
two sides have failed to make meaningful progress in a series of negotiations
that started in 2007 and continued in 2011. A November 2010 meeting was
overshadowed by a confrontation in the Gadaym Izik protest camp outside Western
Sahara’s main city, Laayoune, in which Moroccan forces violently dispersed
residents who had mobilized within the camp. Around a dozen people were killed
and scores were injured in the fighting, although the precise numbers are
difficult to verify. The talks were reconvened on July 19–21, 2011, and
brokered by the UN special envoy, Christopher Ross. These talks, which also
included Algeria and Mauritania, failed as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Political Rights and Civil Liberties: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
the occupying force in Western Sahara, Morocco controls local elections and
works to ensure that independence-minded leaders are excluded from both the
local political process and the Moroccan Parliament.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reports
of corruption are widespread. Although the territory possesses extensive
natural resources, including phosphate, iron ore deposits, hydrocarbon
reserves, and fisheries, the local population remains largely impoverished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Moroccan constitution provides for freedom of the press, but this is severely
limited in Western Sahara, and there is little independent Sahrawi media
activity. Moroccan law bars the media and individuals from challenging Morocco’s
sovereignty over Western Sahara, leading to self-censorship. The authorities
expel or detain Sahrawi, Moroccan, and foreign reporters who attempt to conduct
first-hand reporting on the issue. The internet and independent satellite
broadcasts are largely unavailable due to economic constraints.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nearly
all Sahrawis are Sunni Muslims, as are most Moroccans, and Moroccan authorities
generally do not interfere with their freedom of worship. There are no major
universities or institutions of higher learning in Western Sahara.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sahrawis
are not permitted to form independent political or nongovernmental
organizations, and their freedom of assembly is severely restricted. As in
previous years, activists supporting independence and their suspected foreign
sympathizers were subject to harassment. In April 2010, activists faced
harassment at the Laayoune airport upon their return from the
Polisario-controlled refugee camps in Tindouf. Sahrawis are technically subject
to Moroccan labor laws, but there is little organized labor activity in the
territory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">International
human rights groups have criticized Morocco’s record in Western Sahara for
decades. In the aftermath of the November 2010 clashes outside Laayoune,
Amnesty International renewed its call for independent monitoring of human
rights violations. Three Sahrawi activists who had been arrested in Morocco in
October 2009—Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek, and Ahmed Naciri—were released
from prisons in Salé and Casablanca in April 2011.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
October 2011, Moroccan police prohibited two Spanish members of the European
Parliament, Willy Meyer and Jόse Pérez Ventura, from disembarking from an
airplane at the Laayoune airport; they were seeking to observe the human rights
situation in Western Sahara. Spain lodged a formal protest about the treatment
of the men, who reportedly sustained injuries in an altercation on the airplane
stairway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Polisario Front has also been accused of disregarding human rights. In
September 2010, the Polisario Front arrested a Sahrawi dissenter, Mostapha
Selma Sidi Mouloud, as he returned to the Tindouf camps after publicly
endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan in Western Sahara. A former police chief,
Sidi Mouloud, was held by the Polisario for more than two months before being
released in December 2010 to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; he now
lives in exile in Mauritania and has kept a low profile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Morocco
and the Polisario Front both restrict free movement in potential conflict
areas. Morocco has been accused of using force and financial incentives to
alter the composition of Western Sahara’s population.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
SADR government routinely signs contracts with firms for the exploration of oil
and gas, although these cannot be implemented given the territory’s status, and
no credible free market exists within the territory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sahrawi
women face much of the same cultural and legal discrimination as Moroccan
women. The significant reform in 2004 of the Moroccan <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mudawwana</i>—a law governing issues including marriage, divorce,
inheritance, and child custody—does not appear to have been applied to Western
Sahara. Conditions are generally worse for women living in rural areas, where
poverty and illiteracy rates are higher.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ratings
Change: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Western Sahara’s civil liberties rating declined from 6 to 7 due to the
inability of civil society groups to form and operate, as well as serious
restrictions on property rights and business activity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life
under Moroccan rule<br />
<br />
The fighting drove much of the indigenous population of Western Sahara into
refugee camps in Tindouf in southern Algeria, but some remain as a minority
within the territory, west of the 2,600-kilometre separation wall that Morocco
built during the war with the Polisario.<br />
<br />
The UN peacekeeping mission, MINURSO, has limited jurisdiction: unusually for
such missions, the UN Security Council has not given it a mandate to monitor
rights abuses. Nor is it sufficiently staffed: the mission has only six police
officers and 237 military personnel covering an area larger than Britain.
MINURSO staff said they need an additional 10 civilian police just to monitor
their own compound.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Media
access in Western Sahara is extremely restricted: almost no foreign journalists
are given permits to enter, and the occasional groups of journalists who are
allowed in have their movement controlled by the state. Accordingly, little is
known about the lives of the Sahrawi in the disputed territory. <br />
<br />
"Our group is underground," Fatima Tobarra, president of the Sahrawi
Observatory for Women and Children, told Al Jazeera. "We tried to make an
official organisation, but the authorities refused even to receive our
application, so we can have no premises."</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Neither
the Moroccan police nor the Moroccan government's human rights department
responded to requests for comment for this article.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-left: right; mso-table-lspace: 3.0pt; mso-table-rspace: 3.0pt; mso-table-top: middle; width: 22px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 3.0pt; mso-element-left: right; mso-element-top: middle; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 3.0pt; mso-element-left: right; mso-element-top: middle; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life
expectancy is just 54 years in Western Sahara, tellingly lower than Morocco's
72. The Observatory says discrimination and abuses against the local population
are rampant."The police here guard the schools, and intimidate the Sahrawi
children, then inside they are discriminated against by the teachers who are
almost always Moroccans, so attendance drops," said Tobarra.<br />
<br />
"Our children are not even allowed to join the activity groups that the
Moroccan children have, so we run groups for them."<br />
<br />
Many of the families have had relatives killed or "disappeared".
Fatima's own father and uncle were split up as refugees, and neither have been
heard from since. Her grandfather and grandmother were both jailed in Agdz
prison, and died there, she said.<br />
<br />
"We cannot live like this, and we will not," Fatima said. "We
want our self-determination so that we can live good lives. The people in other
countries, in Tunisia, in Yemen, they won their freedom - and we want that to
happen here. It has to happen here."<br />
<br />
Repressing resistance<br />
<br />
Despite the extensive security apparatus, the Sahrawi have been holding
demonstrations against Moroccan rule, and what they see as their second-class
citizenship, for years. <br />
<br />
This peaked in October 2010, with the establishment of the Gdeim Izik protest
camp: a tent city set up by activists south-east of Laayoune. The camp was
forcibly dismantled by the Moroccan police, and between 11 and 36 Sahrawi were
killed as well as eight members of the Moroccan security forces.<br />
<br />
A group called Coordination Gdeim Izik played a key role in the protest camp,
and continues to organise regular non-violent demonstrations in Laayoune,
Smara, and Dakhla. Most recently, they organised a protest on International
Human Rights Day in front of the Moroccan Human Rights Organisation (CCDH)
office in Laayoune. <br />
<br />
The protest was forcibly broken up, and many - like Salimah, a Sahrawi woman in
her late twenties - were beaten. "I was very badly attacked. They smashed
my teeth to pieces and I had to get them reconstructed," she said,
displaying the artificial replacements that now lie in place of her lower front
six teeth. "The police came to the protest out of their uniforms and beat
us with clubs."<br />
<br />
Another young member, Khalil, said that the security forces have become
adept at pre-empting and breaking up protests, routinely using clubs and batons
against anyone who attends. "They do not care if you are young, old, man,
woman - if you come to the protests they will attack you," he said.<br />
<br />
Some demonstrators have lost their lives in the protests. Maryem Dambar says
she watched her brother, Said Dambar, be shot in the head by police at a
protest near his own house in Laayoune in December 2010.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maryem
says the Moroccan security forces then attacked the house, clubbing her and her
mother after she fled inside. The police subsequently denied all responsibility
for Said's death, and to this day refuse to admit that the killing happened, or
to investigate it.<br />
<br />
"All our family wants is justice for Said," Maryem said. "I saw
him killed, and cannot understand how the Moroccans can deny that they murdered
him. If there were any human rights in Western Sahara, Said's death would not
be denied, and his killers would be brought to justice."</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
case may not be unique. Human Rights Watch has complained that
Moroccoan authorities failed to follow-up on the beating of the group's
research assistant in 2010, calling the attack a "case study of impunity
for police violence". </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"If
there is impunity for police who beat up a citizen who works for an
international organization in broad daylight, in front of witnesses and despite
formal complaints, it's clear how vulnerable ordinary citizens are," Sarah
Lee Whitson, a Human Rights Watch spokesperson, said in a March
2012 statement.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'Restricted
freedoms'</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
April, Amnesty International reported
that: "Sahrawis advocating self-determination for the people of Western
Sahara remained subject to restrictions on their freedoms of expression,
association and assembly, and leading activists continued to face
prosecution."<br />
<br />
Despite the danger of documenting unrest - anyone caught filming or taking
pictures of protests in Western Sahara faces punishment, and usually the
destruction of the camera equipment - Coordination Gdeim Izik say they have
video evidence of the attacks on their protests. <br />
<br />
In one video seen by this reporter, a 55-year-old woman is savagely beaten and
kicked to the floor by two riot policemen; in another, uniformed military
personnel beat a young girl so severely she had to be hospitalised, according
to her friends. A senior member of the group, Sidi Muhammad Ramadiy, pointed to
the screen and said: "This is human rights for Morocco."<br />
<br />
The group's de facto leader, Lahib Salhi, said: "We live here always under
the eyes, and under the clubs of the Moroccans. The world must do what it
promised to do when the UN first came: hold the referendum, and give us the
chance to live as we wish to live."<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many Sahrawis in fact blame the
international community. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"The
Moroccans make the claim on our land because they can, because they are strong
and because they are supported by France, the United States, and Britain,"
said Salhi. "But they know the claim is false. The Mauritanians once
claimed Western Sahara for themselves. Where are they now? How much longer will
the world permit this injustice?"</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sources:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Freedomhouse.org</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/12/201212247936401443.html
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14944722454570394965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-32568666269955690702013-04-24T00:57:00.002-07:002013-04-24T00:57:57.354-07:00Large Protests in Tunisia: An Optimistic View<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://admin.rt.com/files/news/1e/5c/e0/00/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tunisian people shoot slogans during a demonstration to mark the 40th day of mourning after the death of anti-Islamist opposition leader Chokri Belaid (featured on poster) on March 16, 2013.(AFP Photo / Fethi Belaid)" border="0" height="210" src="http://admin.rt.com/files/news/1e/5c/e0/00/36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Protesters on March 17th rallied around the image </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of assassinated opposition leader, Shokri Belaid.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On March 17th, the streets of Tunisia were flooded with thousands of protesters in the largest demonstration since opposition leader Shokri Belaid was assassinated in February. Initially beginning as a show of support for Belaid and his secular politics, the demonstration eventually transformed into one that was more focused on general discontent with the current ruling moderate Islamic party, Ennadha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There were no violent reactions from the government. There was no crackdown on dissent. The people were allowed to voice their opinions and nothing bad happened to them as a consequence of doing so. Some might claim that protests as large as this one are a sign of government failure. However, with an Ennadha-led coalition government at the state's helm, the state appears to be respecting citizens' rights to assemble and protest. In the MENA region, respect for such rights is not entirely common- thus the Tunisian government's restraint in relation to the protest ought to be considered a sign of government <i>success</i>. </span><br />
<div>
<a href="http://admin.rt.com/files/news/1e/5c/e0/00/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Tunisian people take part in a demonstration to mark the 40th day of mourning after the death of anti-Islamist opposition leader Chokri Belaid (featured on poster) on March 16, 2013.(AFP Photo / Fethi Belaid)" border="0" height="212" src="http://admin.rt.com/files/news/1e/5c/e0/00/39.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Furthermore, many of the secularists' fears about Islamic parties in Tunisia have (so far, although time could very well tell a different tale) been disproved. Ennadha, which holds the majority of the seats in the transitional Tunisian assembly, is, as mentioned before a moderate Islamic party. Much of early secularist discontent centered on the fear of an Islamic party gaining control and then establishing an oppressive and religously-driven regime. In a quick assessment of the current situation, this has simply not been the case. Ennadha has formed a coalition government with the moderate secularist party Congress for the Republic and they have not shown any signs of oppression towards secularist protesters or towards people of other faiths (or no faith at all). </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Even with all of this in consideration, though, things could still go sour very quickly in Tunisia. If, for example, the transitional government does not step down, if Ennadha begins to enact oppressive legislation, or if the secular opposition is exposed to more political violence directed towards them, what now appears to be a slow but hopeful progress towards democracy could, unfortunately, become something much different.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sources: <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/03/2013316181919493512.html" target="_blank">Al Jazeera #1</a>, <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/04/2013413162937132886.html" target="_blank">Al Jazeera #2</a>, and <a href="http://rt.com/news/tunisia-protests-belaid-eu-366/" target="_blank">Russia Today</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-20243435588692286272013-04-23T23:58:00.000-07:002013-04-24T00:03:52.111-07:00At Last, Legislative Elections in Qatar? Thank the Arab Spring.<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2011/11/1/1320161112058/Qatar-to-hold-first-natio-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2011/11/1/1320161112058/Qatar-to-hold-first-natio-007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, in all his glory.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<b>In April 2006</b>, an <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/04/20084915535895953.html" target="_blank">article</a> on Al Jazeera's website appeared which quoted Emir Hamad promising that legislative elections would be held early the following year, as part of a larger process of "democratization" in the tiny Gulf Emirate. Fast forward 6 years, and we get the Guardian reporting the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/01/qatar-to-hold-first-national-election" target="_blank">same thing</a>. In-between, the proposed elections (which are constitutionally mandated, but try and tell that to the Emir) have been constantly delayed as the Emir refuses to give up his ability to appoint all 45 members of his Advisory Council. Yet in June 2013, those elections are finally going to happen. No, this is not just another bit of wishful thinking on the part of observers--things are different this time in Qatar. The regime watched the events of the 2011 Arab Spring carefully, and actually having the legislative elections, this time, is just another smart move on the part of a very successful regime.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
An article we read in class titled "Authoritarian Institutions and the Survival of Autocrats" made the argument that institutions play a critical role in the survival of autocrats, as even seemingly unimportant "advisory boards" can give authoritarian leaders a tool with which to reel in opposition groups and to make them a part of the governing apparatus, thus giving them a stake in the regime's continued survival. Emir Hamad of Qatar has long understood the importance of appeasing any potential opposition in Qatar, as he has been making vague promises of democratic reform ever since he took power in 1995. He even paved the way for Qatar to have its first elections in 1999 for a group known as the Central Municipal Council, which <a href="http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/qatar" target="_blank">Freedom House</a> notes advises the municipal affairs minister and has a little political power at the local level. Yet despite having very little importance, the Municipal Council's elections draw respectable turnout levels in which 40-50% of eligible voters come to the polls; and as a result, the Emir can get a good feel for the political thoughts and desires of his citizenry without having to trade any real political power to do so.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Emir apparently felt as though his population was ready to agitate for additional reforms come 2005, as that year the monarchy adopted the current constitution which, among other things, mandated the elections for the Advisory Council. While the Emir felt comfortable pushing back these elections over the coming years, preferring to directly appoint the entirety of the Advisory Council himself, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/11/there-arent-protests-in-qatar-so-why-did-the-emir-just-announce-elections/247661/" target="_blank">it has been argued </a>that the events of the Arab Spring have made him change his tune, as he announced once again that the elections would be held, this time in June 2013. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.qatarchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Advisory-Council-conducts-weekly-cession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://www.qatarchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Advisory-Council-conducts-weekly-cession.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Advisory Council in its current "Emir-Approved" state.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And this time, it seems as though the elections really will be held, primarily because (from the Emir's point of view) they really <i>should</i> be held. The article mentioned above makes the point that while inadequate levels of institutionalization can doom an autocrat's reign, over-institutionalization can only help an autocrat endure, as more of the population feels involved in a country's governance and more of any potential opposition can be dealt with directly in a formal way, on the ruling regime's own terms. And clearly, given the events of the Arab Spring, Emir Hamad understands the importance of preempting any possible source of discontent among his citizenry. Also critical to the election actually being held is the fact that it would be nothing more than a symbolic and unimportant change in the monarchy's governing structure. The constitution only calls for 30 of the 45 members of the Council to be directly elected, as the Emir would retain his right to appoint the other 15. And the Advisory Council, while a legislature in name, has little real legislative authority, as it can only propose laws and act in an advisory role to the Emir. As a result, I would argue that Qatar's legislative elections are finally about to happen, as by having them the Emir has plenty to gain and only very little to lose--and the alternative opens up the chilling possibility of tangible political unrest in Qatar.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06437388896020831529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-56557785973180233732013-04-23T17:54:00.001-07:002013-04-23T17:54:32.821-07:00Peacekeeping in Mali<span style="font-family: inherit;">In January, France sent military troops to intervene in Mali. They had pushed most of the Islamist extremists out of the northern towns and cities and were restoring stability to Mali. Chad sent military forces to aid in the desert fighting. All of this international intervention looked like it would put Mali back on track as the model democratic stable country it was in the last few years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the last few weeks this has all changed. Chad has announced they are going to be pulling their troops out of Mali. The Chadian President announced, "Chad's army has no ability to face the kind of guerrilla fighting that is emerging in northern Mali. Our soldiers are going to return to Chad. They have accomplished their mission,''(Aljazeera). The Chadian military has suffered casualties from multiple suicide bomber attacks recently (Aljazeera). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">France is also making plans to pull troops out of Mali. They plan to pull out half of the current troops by early July this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They continue to encourage the democratic election that is also scheduled for early July (Aljazeera). Malians have continued to support the French presence in Mali.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <img alt="" height="212" src="http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/images/2013/2/4/20132417041130156_8.jpg" width="320" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">A Malian man showing his support <span style="font-size: x-small;">for</span> the French intervention</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mali has asked the UN to send troops on a peacekeeping mission to make up for all of the international forces that are leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A senior UN official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the operation would be the fourth largest UN peacekeeping force and cost up to $800m annually” (Aljazeera).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
Is more intervention really what Mali needs? As talked about in Salehyan, Gleditsch, and Cunningham’s article “Explain External Support for Insurgent Groups”, intervention has the potential to lengthen a conflict. This is what appears to be happening in Mali. The Tuareg rebels continue to claim the North as an independent state and Islamic Extremists are still fighting back from positions in the vast Northern deserts. The intervention has pushed the extremists out of the cities but France and Chad are now planning on leaving. Before the intervention the extremists were winning the fight and it makes sense that they will gain power again once the foreign militaries leave. A UN peacekeeping mission will be costly and beneficial results from it are far from guaranteed.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
works cited</div>
<br /> Agencies. "France urges Mali to stick to election date" Aljazeera. April 6, 2013.<br /><br /> Agencies. "UN 'considers' peacekeeper deployment in Mali" Aljazeera. April 15, 2013.<br /><br />Agencies. "Chad to pull its troops from war-torn Mali" Aljazeera. April 15, 2013.<br /><br />Salehyan, Gleditsch, and Cunningham. “Explain External Support for Insurgent Groups”International Organization (2011).<h1>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--></h1>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002893824445279516noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-84219974805690418312013-04-23T16:22:00.000-07:002013-04-23T16:23:08.709-07:00Qatar's Outstanding Domestic Military Superiority<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Kampfpanzer_Leopard_2_A6.jpg" class="decoded" height="210" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Kampfpanzer_Leopard_2_A6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Kampfpanzer_Leopard_2_A6.jpg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The German Leopard 2 main battle
tank is hailed by many as the finest tank the world has ever seen. With
its 120mm, smoothbore cannon, reactive armor plating, and cruising speeds of
45mph over rough terrain, it is a $5.74million battlefield force to be reckoned
with (Military-Today, no date). </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Guess who just ordered 62 of these
bad boys along with a complement of the world’s most advanced self-propelled
howitzers from Germany? None-other than the tiny nation of Qatar. The contract
was sealed April 18<sup>th</sup> and plans are in the works to round the final
purchase number to 200 of these tanks, worth $2.6billion (PressTV, 2013).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Michael Ross, as discussed in
class, explains three ways in which resource-rich autocratic countries maintain
control overt their populaces: citizen buyoff, financial secrecy, and “lavish”
military expenditures (Ross, 2011). Qatar certainly has the wealth to
accomplish all three of these aims, this particular example benefiting the
military. Qatar already ranks 3<sup>rd</sup> in the world for highest spender
of GDP on its military with an average of 10% GDP every year (CIA, 2013). An
advanced tank force such as this would command respect from the most developed
of world militaries, and strike fear into the hearts of underdeveloped would-be
adversaries. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So from what adversary does Qatar
anticipate hostilities requiring such an advanced tank force? In the MENA
region visited by the Arab Spring, does Qatar too face domestic threats?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
With a per capita GDP of $102,800,
the highest in the world (CIA, 2013), the citizenry of the monarchic state are
usually considered contently docile as they themselves are bought off with tax
cuts and government handouts. The true inhabiting population of potential
dissidents comes from somewhere further from home: Southeast Asia. As described
in my last blog entry, Qatar is to play host to a future FIFA World Cup. This
will require the rapid creation of an enormous stadium, vast transportation
expansions, and overhauling of all the infrastructure in and around Doha in order
to not only accommodate the event, but to showcase the country’s “boundless”
wealth. This will require a massive influx of workers to join the already
swollen ranks (1.5 million, according to Blake Hounshell, 2012) of migrant
laborers, putting their numbers well above the current population of Qatar,
which sits around 2 million (CIA, 2013).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Qatar has not been known to treat
these workers with ample respect and fairness; The Sponsorship Law of the
country dictates that once a migrant worker arrives, they cannot do anything of
importance, not even leave Qatar again, without the express permission of their
Sponsor (Weingarten, 2011).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
veiled indentured servitude allows for the mistreatment and low pay given to
the current migrant workers. An influx of migrants would mean an outnumbered
Qatar population and the potential for some very overworked laborers that
wonder why their construction toiling for a better Qatar did really bear them
much fruit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Qatar has bought off its citizens,
has already been known to lavish its military, and now has the ability to conduct
a technologically advanced ground war tank campaign. The only remaining
domestic threats are those of a foreign origin, and although they may have the
manpower, but they lack one key ingredient to posing a threat to their unfair masters : German tanks.</div>
<br />
<u>References: </u><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Central Intelligence Agency, (2013). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CIA World Factbook</i>. Retrieved from
website:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: .5in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hounshell,
B. (2012, June). The Qatar bubble. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Foreign
Policy</i> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Military-Today.
(n.d.). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leopard 2 main battle tank</i>.
Retrieved from <a href="http://www.military-today.com/tanks/leopard_2.htm">http://www.military-today.com/tanks/leopard_2.htm</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">PressTV. (2013,
April 23). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Germany’s KMW to sell Leopard
2 tanks to Qatar</i>. Retrieved from <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/04/23/299719/germanys-kmw-selling-tanks-to-qatar/">http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/04/23/299719/germanys-kmw-selling-tanks-to-qatar/</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: .5in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ross,
M. L. (2011). Will oil drown the arab spring? democracy and the resource curse.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Foreign Affairs</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">9</i>(5), doi: FRNA000020110902e79100001</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: .5in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Weingarten,
E. (2011, March 25). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why qatar seems
immune from the arab world's revolutionary fever.</i> The Slate Group.
Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2011/03/were_not_gonna_protest.html
</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12399125412806123476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-50862280023781135782013-04-23T13:23:00.002-07:002013-04-23T13:23:24.412-07:00EU and Morocco Start Negotiations for Closer Trade Ties
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2050"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>EU and Morocco Start Negotations for Closer Trade Ties<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="file://localhost/Users/jessamy/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="::Desktop:D427CC89-03C8-4334-A092-53333C65B1CE_w640_r1_s.jpg" border="0" height="140" hspace="9" src="file://localhost/Users/jessamy/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.png" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="202" path="m0,0l0,21600,21600,21600,21600,0xe">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t202" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:238.05pt;margin-top:218.6pt;width:243pt;
height:50.45pt;z-index:2;mso-wrap-edited:f' wrapcoords="0 0 21600 0 21600 21600 0 21600 0 0"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"/>
<v:textbox inset=",7.2pt,,7.2pt">
<![if !mso]>
<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%">
<tr>
<td><![endif]>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>
<span style='font-size:8.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Moroccan
Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane speaks with European Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso during a meeting in Rabat on march 1, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<![if !mso]></td>
</tr>
</table>
<![endif]></v:textbox>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a href="file://localhost/Users/jessamy/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Text Box: Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane speaks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso during a meeting in Rabat on march 1, 2012" border="0" height="52" hspace="9" src="file://localhost/Users/jessamy/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.png" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="245" /></a><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="::Desktop:D427CC89-03C8-4334-A092-53333C65B1CE_w640_r1_s.jpg" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:229.05pt;margin-top:80.05pt;width:245.05pt;
height:138pt;z-index:1;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text' wrapcoords="-176 0 -176 21287 21684 21287 21684 0 -176 0">
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/jessamy/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image002.jpg"
o:title="D427CC89-03C8-4334-A092-53333C65B1CE_w640_r1_s.jpg"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Morocco
is now the first out of four other countries to come to the negotiation table
in hopes of progressing the negotiations towards the “Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Areas” plan with the E.U. Negotiations were launched on 1 March 2013
with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Moroccan Prime
Minister Abdelilah Benkirane in the city of Rabat. A boost from the 200
association agreement which guaranteed tariff-free trade, the negotiations will
have an overview of a deeper trade agreement as well as cover more areas not
included. Some of these issues include services and public procurement, and
protection for investments and new commitments on competition on intellectual
property rights. This also includes a refinement of border procedures and
customs in reducing conflicting and burdensome industrial standards and
requirements including food safety requirements. Overall, these talks are
aiming towards the reshaping of Moroccan industry to better fit into the EU as
perhaps, one day a single market economy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The next negotiation meeting is
scheduled for the end of June in Brussels, and thus poses potential in the many
ways in which the Moroccan Kingdom should project itself and what should be
done for the general well being of the country. This is especially important
because Morocco is not a resource rich monarchy and is thus very dependent on
import/export as the EU’s biggest trading partner, which according to the
article accounts for around 50% of the countries total trade. Thus, after this
weeks article titled “The Middle East and North Africas Resilient Monarchies”
which argues that regime type explains variation in political stability, we see
that the muted nature of protests in Monarchies as well as Moroccans discontent
being channeled into the political movement based on a “transformation without
violence” is (economically) on the right track with these negotiations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This weeks reading argues that
monarchies are well suited to deter political unrest through strategic use of
constitutions, formal political institutions, Islamic principals as well as
informal norms, moreover, it can thus be argued that this predictability is
attractive the outside investment as well. This is why it can be surely
predicted that the EU and Morocco will succeed in establishing trade agreement
pact with the EU. I also believe that Morocco will enforce EU methods in order
to further stabilize the country from possible spillover or unrest in
neighboring/regional countries in MENA who are still experiencing the ripple
effect from the Arab spring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
-Jessamy Bardin</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-344_en.htm?locale=en</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jessamy Bardinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00249815618628448768noreply@blogger.com4