Whew. Big day folks.
Norman's International is over and done with. The day, however, marks a significant change we must acknowledge. This being a foreign-policy-focused blog, one line needs to be noted from the new president's inauguration speech today:
". . .our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."
Lets hope this moral pragmatism guides our foreign policy in the future. Eat it, neocons.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
This is the End
Friends and neighbors;
We regret to inform you that due to the downturn in global finance, Norman's International has been forced to lay off a majority of its staff and is now folding. It's been a fun ride, and to the two or three people that read this and the one that subscribes to it -- probably a blood relative -- thank you. It's been real.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Hell Hole
One day after Ethiopean troops pulled out of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Somali rebels have attacked the presidential palace. The group, seeking to establish in Somalia a Muslim state, say they will now turn to the thousands of AU peacekeepers in the country as targets, reports the LA Times.
Failed State
The death toll from Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak hit 2,201 today, and there is no sign it is under control. Meanwhile, 1,550 new cases are being reported daily, with the grand total of infected people standing at 41,986.
The Washington Post says that the disease is due to the country's crumbling health care system and economy -- many doctors can no longer afford to work.
In related news, the country has also rolled out a new $100 trillion bank note -- worth about $30 US -- to fight back the dollarisation process underway. Yes, you read that right; 100 trillion, with a T.
The Washington Post says that the disease is due to the country's crumbling health care system and economy -- many doctors can no longer afford to work.
In related news, the country has also rolled out a new $100 trillion bank note -- worth about $30 US -- to fight back the dollarisation process underway. Yes, you read that right; 100 trillion, with a T.
White Smoke
The UN is accusing Israel of illegal use of phosphorous munitions, saying such bombs hit their facility today. In the facility were thousands of tons of food and medicine aid.
Human Rights Watch says it has witnessed "dozens and dozens" of such bombs used in heavily civilian-populated areas.
The Israeli army says it uses all weapons legally.
The BBC put it guardedly, saying "there is no way independently to explain the contradiction between both sides' reports, as Israel has prevented international journalists from entering Gaza since its offensive began."
Human Rights Watch says it has witnessed "dozens and dozens" of such bombs used in heavily civilian-populated areas.
The Israeli army says it uses all weapons legally.
The BBC put it guardedly, saying "there is no way independently to explain the contradiction between both sides' reports, as Israel has prevented international journalists from entering Gaza since its offensive began."
Something to Think About
The CFR asks if peaceful elections in Ghana are an anomaly or a signal of a wider trend to follow throughout Africa.
What do you think?
What do you think?
This is Not News
Condoleezza Rice and Tzivi Livni signed today a "Memorandum of Understanding" concerning the prevention of the supply of arms and related materials to terrorist groups. Whoopity-doo.
ECB Rate Cut
The Economist takes a look at the European Central Bank's recent rate cut and the state of the European economy (hint: it's dismal).
The Celtic Tiger of yesteryear seems to have its tail between its legs these days; the article notes that Ireland and Spain are seeing the fastest retreats in consumer spending. Germany has seen dramatic falls in its exports, a large source of the nation's GDP.
The Celtic Tiger of yesteryear seems to have its tail between its legs these days; the article notes that Ireland and Spain are seeing the fastest retreats in consumer spending. Germany has seen dramatic falls in its exports, a large source of the nation's GDP.
On Day One
Obama told USA Today that he plans, "on day one," to appoint a special team of diplomats to tackle the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Obama acknowledged the issue is interwoven into the politics of the entire Middle East, signaling a departure from Bush's strategy, which tended to isolate the issue.
Obama acknowledged the issue is interwoven into the politics of the entire Middle East, signaling a departure from Bush's strategy, which tended to isolate the issue.
New York City Game
Attorney General-designate Eric Holder laid out a somewhat expansive, if not ambiguous, definition of torture in his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, saying that waterboarding and some other methods approved under the Bush administration do constitute torture.
The decisions regarding torture will have consequences that defy easy solutions. With many of the tactics used to gain information in Guantanamo deemed as torturous, such evidence must be thrown out in court, only complicating the matter of what to do with and how to try those detainees still in holding.
Still, many upon release have gone on to fight against America throughout the world, whether they were a threat to America before or as a result of their time in Guantanamo. "I've struggled with that," said Holder. "We're going to have to come up with an American solution."
Holder also voiced a strong desire to bring the Justice Department back to a standing where it represents "not one president, not one political party, but the people."
In the morning session of Holder's first hearing, democratic senator from Wisconsin Herb Kohl, in making sure that Holder understood the Attorney General must act independently of the president, asked:
The decisions regarding torture will have consequences that defy easy solutions. With many of the tactics used to gain information in Guantanamo deemed as torturous, such evidence must be thrown out in court, only complicating the matter of what to do with and how to try those detainees still in holding.
Still, many upon release have gone on to fight against America throughout the world, whether they were a threat to America before or as a result of their time in Guantanamo. "I've struggled with that," said Holder. "We're going to have to come up with an American solution."
Holder also voiced a strong desire to bring the Justice Department back to a standing where it represents "not one president, not one political party, but the people."
In the morning session of Holder's first hearing, democratic senator from Wisconsin Herb Kohl, in making sure that Holder understood the Attorney General must act independently of the president, asked:
"(Obama) is reported to have considerable skills as a basketball player, and you have indicated to me. . .that you also are a person of considerable skill. In the event, Mr. Holder, that he invites you to the gym for a little one-on-one, will you promise us and the American people that you will do everything in your power to defeat him as badly as you can?"
To which the Honorable Mr. Holder replied:
"Senator Kohl -- he's ten years younger than me; he plays a lot more frequently than I do. Having said that, I got a New York City game. I come from the city that produced Connie Hawkins, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Nate "Tiny" Archibald; I learned how to play ball at PS127 in Queens. If you give me a little time and a little space to get back in shape, I think I could hang with him. I don't think I'll ever be in a position to beat him, nor do I think that would be a wise thing to do.
Starving
Kenya is now making pleas for international food aid after a famine has left 10 million hungry. The government has labeled the famine a national emergency.
“The primary cause is the severe drought we are currently facing, including the failure of the short-rains throughout most of the country and the cumulative effects of four consecutive poor rain seasons in the last two year," said President Kibaki.
Kibaki also laid some blame on the nation's post-election violence this past year, which he said had "severly disrupted the planting season."
“The primary cause is the severe drought we are currently facing, including the failure of the short-rains throughout most of the country and the cumulative effects of four consecutive poor rain seasons in the last two year," said President Kibaki.
Kibaki also laid some blame on the nation's post-election violence this past year, which he said had "severly disrupted the planting season."
Balance of Power
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will meet with President Robert Mugabe in an effort to salvage the decrepit power-sharing deal between the two.
I'm unsure why the media continues to call Tsvangirai the "opposition leader" when the elections in Zimbabwe are long behind us and the so-called "unity government," which is entirely in disrepair, is supposed to be leading.
The article refers to the meeting as one of Zimbabwe's "last chances" of saving itself from becoming a failed state, but it is obvious Zimbabwe, largely due to Mugabe's dereliction of duty and leadership, has already earned itself that label. I think the international community or the AU need to apply pressure on Mugabe to get the hell out of there.
I'm unsure why the media continues to call Tsvangirai the "opposition leader" when the elections in Zimbabwe are long behind us and the so-called "unity government," which is entirely in disrepair, is supposed to be leading.
The article refers to the meeting as one of Zimbabwe's "last chances" of saving itself from becoming a failed state, but it is obvious Zimbabwe, largely due to Mugabe's dereliction of duty and leadership, has already earned itself that label. I think the international community or the AU need to apply pressure on Mugabe to get the hell out of there.
I'm Not a Copy Editor
Afghanistan's private sector seems to be having trouble importing certain necessary staples, though the government denies there are problems.
Governement efforts to buy other staples seemed to have hit a roadblock as well.
Governement efforts to buy other staples seemed to have hit a roadblock as well.
Lashkar-e-Tai-Notgunnawork in Pakistan Anymore
Pakistan says it has shut down five training camps, all publications and banned all websites of the outlawed Jamaatud Dawa and Laskar-e-Taiba terrorist groups, that latter of which has been widely accused of carrying out the attacks in Mumbai.
Is it Clear that I'm Sick of Writing Headlines Yet?
UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband, who made headlines the other day (seen here checking out a goat's arse) decrying the Bush administration's use of the term "war on terror", travelled to Pakistan today to urge the governement to move quicker in their probe of the Mumbai terrorists.
Milliband said he believes Islamabad is committed to uncovering the facts, but says the "whole international community wants Pakistan to go further and go faster."
Milliband has disagreed with India that the attacks were carried out by Pakistani state institutions, but that he has no doubt the attack did originate from within Pakistan.
Milliband said he believes Islamabad is committed to uncovering the facts, but says the "whole international community wants Pakistan to go further and go faster."
Milliband has disagreed with India that the attacks were carried out by Pakistani state institutions, but that he has no doubt the attack did originate from within Pakistan.
Thai Brutality
A boat carrying 46 refugees from Burma was intercepted off a southern Island of Thailand this morning, reports the BBC.
This comes as some have accused the Thai military of taking boatloads of Burmese asylum-seekers deep into the Indian Ocean on motorless boats with no food, then setting the refugees adrift.
The military is denying the claims, but testimony taken from dehydrated and exhausted survivors found in neighboring Indonesia or on the Andaman Island well off the coast of Thailand described brutal treatment from Thai security forces.
The refugees are of a Burmese minority group known as Rohingyas, a Muslim group of Indo-origin seen by the Buddhist rulership in Burma as the lowest of the low. Rising numbers of Rohingyas in Bangladesh and Thailand are seen by some as a security threat with possible ties to Islamic extremists, though there is no evidence of this.
The Thai government has ordered an investigation into the matter, declaring its dedication to dealing humanely with immigration.
This comes as some have accused the Thai military of taking boatloads of Burmese asylum-seekers deep into the Indian Ocean on motorless boats with no food, then setting the refugees adrift.
The military is denying the claims, but testimony taken from dehydrated and exhausted survivors found in neighboring Indonesia or on the Andaman Island well off the coast of Thailand described brutal treatment from Thai security forces.
The refugees are of a Burmese minority group known as Rohingyas, a Muslim group of Indo-origin seen by the Buddhist rulership in Burma as the lowest of the low. Rising numbers of Rohingyas in Bangladesh and Thailand are seen by some as a security threat with possible ties to Islamic extremists, though there is no evidence of this.
The Thai government has ordered an investigation into the matter, declaring its dedication to dealing humanely with immigration.
Shake-Up
The South Korean government is in the midst of a large shake-up; heads of the nation's major agencies -- the Prosecutor General, the National Tax Service (NTS), National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the National Police Agency (NPA) -- are all expected to be renamed as early as this weekend.
The shake-up comes after NTS leader Han Sang-ryule had announced plans to resign. Han has been mired in corruption and bribery allegations, says the Korea Times, including giving an expensive painting to his predecessor -- all accusations Han denies.
The shake-up comes after NTS leader Han Sang-ryule had announced plans to resign. Han has been mired in corruption and bribery allegations, says the Korea Times, including giving an expensive painting to his predecessor -- all accusations Han denies.
More Talk
Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza have intensified yet again, but I'd put my money on Israel stopping whenever she feels ready.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is in the West Bank, Israeli Defense Minister Tzivi Lipni is in Washington, and new Arab leadership meetings are being held in Kuwait and Qatar.
Egyptian and Saudi Arabian officials declined the Doha, Qatar talks and are headed to Kuwait -- a sign of a major rift in the Arab world, say some.
The leadership in Doha recognizes Palestinian political factions Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), whereas Egypt, Saudi Arabia (both meeting in Kuwait) and Western nations have sidelined such factions in cease fire talks, seeking to delegitimize the groups. The former want to condemn Israel, show solidarity with Palestine and keep the US and the West out of the Middle East; the latter seek to find a so-called moderate solution and keep Iran -- Hamas' main sponsor -- out of their region.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is in the West Bank, Israeli Defense Minister Tzivi Lipni is in Washington, and new Arab leadership meetings are being held in Kuwait and Qatar.
Egyptian and Saudi Arabian officials declined the Doha, Qatar talks and are headed to Kuwait -- a sign of a major rift in the Arab world, say some.
The leadership in Doha recognizes Palestinian political factions Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), whereas Egypt, Saudi Arabia (both meeting in Kuwait) and Western nations have sidelined such factions in cease fire talks, seeking to delegitimize the groups. The former want to condemn Israel, show solidarity with Palestine and keep the US and the West out of the Middle East; the latter seek to find a so-called moderate solution and keep Iran -- Hamas' main sponsor -- out of their region.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
How the Private Sector Affects US Foreign Policy
Iran has expressed interest in buying Boeing commercial passenger planes if the US lifts trade sanctions on the Muslim nation.
You can bet your ass Boeing and other aircraft trade organizations are flipping through their rolodexes in search of lobbyists in Washington right about now.
Good Move
The Czech ambassador to Russia made statements today signaling that the EU will begin looking to diversify its gas providers after the most recent dispute between Russia and Ukraine. He also said the two nations risk losing the EU's confidence in Russia and Ukraine as political and economic partners.
The ambassador cited the proposed Nabucco pipeline as an alternative -- a $7- to $8-billion dollar project that would bring Central Asian oil to Europe, circumventing Russia. The project is slated to begin in 2010, though it faces some major challenges and depends on the acceptance of Turkmenistan, an uncertain partner.
Second Attempt
Russian and Ukrainian officials have agreed to meet for talks over the ongoing gas dispute between the two nations. The meetings will be held on Saturday in Moscow, but some express grave pessimism over the outcome
"(An agreement) is practically impossible," says Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. "The conditions laid by one and the other side are so contrasting that this simply cannot work."
Retreat!
US military and pentagon officials say they are drawing up plans to draw down troops quicker than anticipated, assuming Obama will reject current plans as too slow, reports the International Herald Tribune (IHT).
Officials with Obama say he's committed to the goals he set out in the campaign but is willing to listen to commanders on the ground and their recommendations.
Smells Like Desperation
In a showing of just how much falling oil prices are hurting his political ambitions, hard-line anti-West, anti-capitalist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is now courting western oil companies for investment.
Western companies' -- Chevron, Royal/Dutch among them -- interest in investing in Venezuela, says the NY Times, shows the scarcity of oil projects open to investment elsewhere, principally in the Middle East.
Experts are saying that Venezuela's shrinking production capabilities became obvious even a year ago, when the government first began considering Western investment, where companies tend to have more expertise in shoring up higher production rates.
In 2007 Chavez nationalized oil fields and began kicking out Western companies -- matters that Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips have ongoing legal battles over.
Venezuela remains a risky investment and no one seems sure how the bids, expected to be finalized by June, will turn out. "An agreement on a piece of paper means nothing in Venezuela because of the way Chavez abruptly changes the rules of the game," said one anonymous Venezuelan oilman.
Cholera?
At least 27 children between the ages of one and 10 are reported dead in the Nigerian state of Ebonyi following a cholera outbreak.
This Day reports the government has been slow to act, saying they have not concluded that it is truely cholera or contaminated water.
Tamils in Retreat
Troops in Sri Lanka claim to have taken full control of the northern peninsula that was the last hold out of the rebel Tamil Tigers in the area.
The area, known as the Jaffa peninsula, has long been seen as a symbolic base for the rebels. 1,700 Tamil civilians in the area fled the fighting for refuge in government-held areas.
124
Pakistan arrested 124 suspected militants across the country today. None have been linked directly to the Mumbai attacks. Officials say the moves are part of a larger, seven-weeks-long-so-far operation to rid Pakistan of militants. The operation has also shut down networking websites and publishers of "questionable material."
Down in the Flood
Major floods have displaced over 109,000 in the southern Philippines, reports the Manila Bulletin (MN), sending victims fleeing to already crowded evacuation centers.
The centers were set up last year to allow villagers to escape the fighting between government forces and the rebel MILFS (not that kind of MILF -- see previous post). Now government and aid workers cannot delineate between those fleeing floods and those fleeing violence.
Though the government had previously declared the fighting had calmed some time ago, many were hesitant to leave the evacuation centers where three daily meals were a guarantee. Now, many of those in the center have no homes to go to after floods severely damaged them.
Resultant landslides wiped out highway routes, "leaving thousands of commuters and more than 100 public and private vehicles stranded yesterday," reports MN.
Spent Rods
After a year of stagnation, South Korean officials are heading into the North to restart denuclearization talks with Pyongyang.
Talks and an aid-for-disarmament deal stalled in 2007 when North Korea refused to let international inspectors in to fully inspect all weapons without the same promise from South Korea, whom they say has nukes from the US. Both Seoul and Washington deny the claim.
Talking Heads
After years of suspicion, predating even the Iranian revolution of 1979, officials of the Islamic government have looked scornfully at the BBC as a propaganda machine for British, and in turn American, interests and ambitions.
So it is no surprise that when the BBC launched a Farsi-language news station yesterday Iran's intelligence minister labeled the new station a "security threat" hours before the first broadcast of BBC Persian TV.
The official said Iran will take "necessary measures" to deal with the station, which is to be broadcast to Farsi-speakers in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the rest of the world.
Read more about the tension and the roots of Iranian suspicion towards Britain at the United Arab Emirates daily paper The National.
Concrete Jungle
Israel pushed deep into the heart of Gaza City today, hitting a UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) building where hundreds were taking shelter, though only three were confirmed injured. Also hit was a foreign press office and a hospital.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret, but told reporters that a Hamas militant fired from beside the compound and then ran in for cover. Ban Ki-Moon, however, said Defense Minister Ehud Barack told him the shelling of the compound was a "grave mistake." Ban is "outraged" at Israel.
UNRWA officials told the NY Times the IDF were given GPS coordinates for all UN buildings.
The heavy urban raids come as negotiations in Egypt are stepping up, reports just about every major paper (FT), but they have also described the peace talks as "stepping up" every day of this conflict.
In the midst of the aggression, the European Commission has canceled plans to increase economic and diplomatic relations with Israel.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Clintonian UnRealism
Stephen Walt over at Foreign Policy Magazine was not impressed with Hillary Clinton's "strategic goals" as Secretary of State, not surprisingly, and I can't say I disagree.
But hey, at least she's not a neocon, Stephen -- I'll bet she knows "spreading democracy" is a terrible foreign policy.
Wow. Bad Idea.
US forces in Afghanistan are working on a terrible idea for arming villagers in tribal areas to guard themselves against better-equipped and better-trained Taliban fighters in the area. No details are clear on how the plan would work.
Perhaps they're thinking about the successful Awakening Councils in Iraq, if they're thinking at all, but the circumstances in tribal Afghanistan are so incredibly different the program is likely to cause havoc.
Perhaps they're thinking about the successful Awakening Councils in Iraq, if they're thinking at all, but the circumstances in tribal Afghanistan are so incredibly different the program is likely to cause havoc.
Rigan Riots
Peaceful protesters accusing their government of economic mismanagement, spurred by a shrinking economy and rising unemployment, turned violent last night in the Latvian capital Riga.
30 protesters and three police officers were injured while 126 mostly young men were arrested, many of whom were drunk, reports the BBC
30 protesters and three police officers were injured while 126 mostly young men were arrested, many of whom were drunk, reports the BBC
Taiwan
At a conference ending yesterday, Chinese officials warned US delegates that American arms sales to Taiwan may strain growing relations between the two nations. "Recently, some hard-won advances have been made in cross-strait relations," said one Chinese official, "we certainly don't want something like arms sales to disrupt that."
China has 900 missiles along its coast aimed at Taiwan, who are planning to buy $6.5 billion worth of US weapons, namely Lockheed Martin's Patriot Anti-Missile systems.
China-Taiwan relations have improved drastically in recent years, though the issue still seems to be the most contentious between China and the US, says a Bloomberg.com report.
China has 900 missiles along its coast aimed at Taiwan, who are planning to buy $6.5 billion worth of US weapons, namely Lockheed Martin's Patriot Anti-Missile systems.
China-Taiwan relations have improved drastically in recent years, though the issue still seems to be the most contentious between China and the US, says a Bloomberg.com report.
Czech in Charge
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who took the rotating EU presidency on January 1, gave a policy speech today. Most noted were his remarks, described by France24 as "lukewarm", on the future of the Lisbon treaty.
the Czech parliament is scheduled to vote on the treaty Feb. 3 but "euroskeptic" Czech president Vaclav Claus says he will delay signing the treaty as long as possible.
the Czech parliament is scheduled to vote on the treaty Feb. 3 but "euroskeptic" Czech president Vaclav Claus says he will delay signing the treaty as long as possible.
Gas Spat Continues
The European Commission is warning of legal action towards Russian state-owned Gazprom and Ukrainian Naftogaz if the two do not move quickly towards a solution in their dispute over gas shipments.
Both sides seem to be waiting for the other to admit defeat, says a BBC correspondent.
Both sides seem to be waiting for the other to admit defeat, says a BBC correspondent.
Nth Times the Charm
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is seeking yet another referendum to abolish term limits.
A recent survey, says the LA Times, shows that 55% of the population would oppose the measure.
With oil prices dropping and a recession looming, some think this is Chavez's last shot, even if a long one, at passing the measure. Otherwise, they say, he'll be gone in four years. To that end, Chavez is campaigning hard for the measure, saying his defeat will signal an end to his welfare programs for poor Venezuelans and a victory for the "US empire."
A recent survey, says the LA Times, shows that 55% of the population would oppose the measure.
With oil prices dropping and a recession looming, some think this is Chavez's last shot, even if a long one, at passing the measure. Otherwise, they say, he'll be gone in four years. To that end, Chavez is campaigning hard for the measure, saying his defeat will signal an end to his welfare programs for poor Venezuelans and a victory for the "US empire."
When it Rains it Pours
Lack of funding for the UN's World Food Program (WFP) and a poor harvest are threatening severe food shortages in Mozambique, warns the UN. After a season of half the average rainfall, heavy rains have poured in this week causing floods, killing 25 people and leaving thousands homeless.
Worsening the impact of the rain, central provinces have seen an influx of crop-destroying locusts in the past few days.
Worsening the impact of the rain, central provinces have seen an influx of crop-destroying locusts in the past few days.
Mogadishu in Trouble
Violence and political turmoil followed the pullout of Ethiopian troops from the Somali capital Mogadishu yesterday, reports Garowe Online.
Border Region
Despite minor improvements and millions spent in "training and professionalization," the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remains porous, with terrorists moving freely between the two.
Gilani
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said yesterday that the government had reviewed the information provided by India connecting the Mumbai attackers to Pakistan and concluded the evidence was insufficient.
Gilani said he wants to work with New Delhi to find the truth about the attacks.
Gilani said he wants to work with New Delhi to find the truth about the attacks.
MILF
Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia have tightened international security across their borders following a rise in violence on Mindonao, a small Philippine island, threatening US-lead peace efforts in the region.
The violence is part of a continuing fallout between the majority-Christian Philippine government and a Muslim separatist group, whose truce collapsed this past August. The group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (or MILF -- I kid you not), has waged a decades-long war for autonomy and an independent Muslim state.
US led efforts at a sustainable peace seemed fruitful as plans were hatched for an independent Moro state when the Philippine government rejected the plans last August, paving the way for more MILF-led violence that has escalated since November.
The Philippine government is looking to Qatar to help with peace negotiations after Malaysia pulled out. Until then, says a resident of the island, "fear and loathing is expected to dominate life in the south, with many bracing for the worst."
The violence is part of a continuing fallout between the majority-Christian Philippine government and a Muslim separatist group, whose truce collapsed this past August. The group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (or MILF -- I kid you not), has waged a decades-long war for autonomy and an independent Muslim state.
US led efforts at a sustainable peace seemed fruitful as plans were hatched for an independent Moro state when the Philippine government rejected the plans last August, paving the way for more MILF-led violence that has escalated since November.
The Philippine government is looking to Qatar to help with peace negotiations after Malaysia pulled out. Until then, says a resident of the island, "fear and loathing is expected to dominate life in the south, with many bracing for the worst."
China
Despite falling exports, China has maintained it's trade surplus, reports the Economist. While exports have fallen, imports have fallen even quicker, they say. Most consumer spending in the country has held up "reasonably well," says the Economist, but with construction projects halted all over the country, raw building material imports -- one of China's biggest imported goods -- has fallen precipitously.
The Economist predicts that with big government stimulus investments planned for infrastructure building in the near future, which will reinvigorate the need for imported raw materials, the surplus may become a deficit in 2009.
China is probably the only country whose credit lending has increased this past year, and continues to do so. The Economist recommends they use this to stimulate domestic demand.
The Economist predicts that with big government stimulus investments planned for infrastructure building in the near future, which will reinvigorate the need for imported raw materials, the surplus may become a deficit in 2009.
China is probably the only country whose credit lending has increased this past year, and continues to do so. The Economist recommends they use this to stimulate domestic demand.
South Korea
South Korea saw in December its first rise in unemployment and subsequent shrink in job growth in five years, reports Yonhap News.
Some locals have lashed out in anger at what they call "young American hippie couples who come to teach English for big pay and easy work, stealing our jobs."
In a related news story, young American hippie couple Jared Acker and Jen Cooper, who moved to South Korea to teach English for big pay and easy work, have recently fled the country southwards to Thailand. South Korean officials believe Acker set fire to a school, tried to pass blame on to a small child, then fled.
You can follow the crazy antics of these two at Fudgepack--urr, I mean, BackpackerAcker.com
(Jared, sorry if your site is not prepared for the traffic you receive from Norman's International. I apologize in advance if it crashes, just trying to help.)
Some locals have lashed out in anger at what they call "young American hippie couples who come to teach English for big pay and easy work, stealing our jobs."
In a related news story, young American hippie couple Jared Acker and Jen Cooper, who moved to South Korea to teach English for big pay and easy work, have recently fled the country southwards to Thailand. South Korean officials believe Acker set fire to a school, tried to pass blame on to a small child, then fled.
You can follow the crazy antics of these two at Fudgepack--urr, I mean, BackpackerAcker.com
(Jared, sorry if your site is not prepared for the traffic you receive from Norman's International. I apologize in advance if it crashes, just trying to help.)
Still Flowing
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has called for an embargo/boycott on all business relations with Israel for their "uneven war" with Gaza, but to no avail.
A Saudi foreign minister said today that oil shipments will continue to the United States and its allies. "The oil producers who need their income are not going to do that," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.
Most of Iran's oil is shipped eastward to Asian clients, perhaps making their calls for a Western embargo ring hallow to many in the region.
A Saudi foreign minister said today that oil shipments will continue to the United States and its allies. "The oil producers who need their income are not going to do that," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.
Most of Iran's oil is shipped eastward to Asian clients, perhaps making their calls for a Western embargo ring hallow to many in the region.
Saudi Schools
Suadi Arabia is beginning a large scale plan to modernize and reorganize the nation's education system, implementing the practices and structures of many successful Western nations, reports Arab News.
Abdullah
Suadi Arabian King Abdullah supports the Egyptian peace talks and urged both sides to come to the table to stop the fighting. Meanwhile, reports the Arab News, cemeteries in Gaza are increasingly over-filling with nowhere to bury the newly dead.
A US ship carrying ammunitions from a Greek port to a US warehouse in Israel was canceled after Athens objected to the arrangement, in place before the war in Gaza, says the Pentagon.
A US ship carrying ammunitions from a Greek port to a US warehouse in Israel was canceled after Athens objected to the arrangement, in place before the war in Gaza, says the Pentagon.
Towards Gaza City
Israel continues to push further into Gaza City. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon arrived today, though diplomatic efforts to reach a cease fire still seem slow to come. Previous attempts at an Egyptian-led cease fire proposal were side-lined by bickering within Hamas, reports the NY Times, where Gazan Hamas officials wanted a cease fire but saw opposition from their Syrian counterparts.
Support for the effort runs high in Israel, where 10 soldiers and three civilians were killed by Hamas rocket fire. The Palestinian death toll stands just below 1,000.
All the while, Israel says that after two weeks of heavy bombardment, their main objectives remain unfulfilled.
Osama bin Laden released a voice recording calling for jihad against Israel, his first such recording since May.
Support for the effort runs high in Israel, where 10 soldiers and three civilians were killed by Hamas rocket fire. The Palestinian death toll stands just below 1,000.
All the while, Israel says that after two weeks of heavy bombardment, their main objectives remain unfulfilled.
Osama bin Laden released a voice recording calling for jihad against Israel, his first such recording since May.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Hmm. . .
Iran is trying four citizens on charges of trying to topple the government with support from the U.S. government and the CIA, reports the Washington Post.
It'd be mighty presumptuous to make any connections, but it is a slight oddity that this comes a day after the NY Times report on Bush's expanded 2008 covert operations in Iran. Hmm. . .
Today, In Obama News
Obama is working on clarifying plans for closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, which he now says could take up to a year to finish.
At the same time, his team is reassessing their Afghanistan strategy, saying the additional 30,000 troops they plan to send in will be more of an attempt to "buy time" to create a more concrete strategy than a complete turn-around of the situation.
Some officials have written off the idea of a "stable, democratic Afghanistan" as entirely unrealistic, and are ready to make concessions and compromises in their final strategy.
Vestiges of a Fascist Past
An NPR report looks at Italian views towards immigrants as of late. "Once a poor nation that sent millions of its citizens abroad to find work," they write, "Italy now imports workers."
Which only serves to highlight the irony of increasingly vitriolic attitudes towards incoming workers. With between four- and five million immigrants -- or roughly seven percent of the workforce -- Italians are among the most suspicious of immigrants, say some surveys. According to these surveys, a majority of Italians believe immigrants "have too many rights . . . that many should be deported, and that immigration has brought only crime."
Italy has some of the west's most restrictive citizenship policies, and many human rights groups excoriate both the state and the citizenry for blatant racism and open police brutality towards immigrants. These positions have strong support in Italy's center-right governing political parties, says the report.
Just When You Thought it Was Over
Just when it looked as if the dispute between Russia and Ukraine over European gas shipments was solved, Russia claims that Ukraine is not sending the resumed gas flow westward into Europe. Ukraine called on Russia to stop "blackmailing" them.
The latest is a symptom of the lack of trust between the two countries, says one BBC reporter.
EU monitors in Russia said the gas flow released was "very limited."
The Tragedy of Haiti
Haiti's humanitarian situation is expected to grow even more dire in the coming year due to what the Miami Herald is calling a "perfect storm" of unfortunate events, but what might be better labeled an outright shit-storm of tragedy and calamity.
A series of hurricanes this summer left nearly 800 Haitians dead and thousands homeless, wrecked farms and washed away millions of dollars worth of crops and livestock, increasing poverty and malnutrition.
And if it can be said that the poverty in Haiti could possibly be worse than it is, rising poverty is expected to meet the global financial downturn head on this year, making matters worse.
All the while, donor fatigue is setting in as less money is available for aid and little economic or social progress have been seen in Haiti in the past few years -- any of which was entirely wiped out by the hurricanes.
The world financial catastrophe, says the Miami Herald, has largely stolen the spotlight from the tragedy of the 2008 hurricanes in Haiti, the nation's worst humanitarian disaster in 100 years.
Meanwhile, the nation is struggling with an extremely fragile political system in a staggered process of reform.
Read about the struggle at the Miami Herald link above.
Leaving Mogadishu
To the praise of local residents, soldiers supporting the western-backed government in Somalia began pulling out of the capital Mogadishu yesterday.
The troops arrived in 2006 to bolster the interim government in its fight against rebels at the time, an intervention that was deeply unpopular among the Muslim population in the area.
Free Speech in Jeopardy
Tensions are surfacing between the Russian embassy in Tajikistan and Tajik media outlets, says a report on EurasiaNet.org.
As many as one million Tajik migrant laborers work in Russia, and Tajikistan is heavily dependent on their remittances. In December, two such workers were murdered in the Moscow region, sparking Tajik media criticism of Russia's lack of upholding migrant rights in the face of growing nationalism and xenophobic violence. Making matters worse, Putin and Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov sought to limit the number of work permits for migrants shortly thereafter.
Then, on December 24, the Russian embassy sent a letter to Tajik officials demanding that such critics and journalists be "muzzled," accusing them of deliberately distorting facts and insulting top Russian officials. The actions only intensified media criticism.
The two sides continue condemning one another.
Communication Breakdown
Officials with the Indian government announced yesterday they plan to break all business, transport and tourist ties with Pakistan if the latter does not step up efforts in investigating the Mumbai attacks, reports the Pakistani newspaper the Daily Times.
The official, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram, said Pakistan has done "nothing" in assisting India.
British delegates are meeting with Chidambaram later today.
Chidambaram did not say when such actions will be taken but said cooperation is needed immediately.
LDP in Peril
Yoshimi Watanabe, an official in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), split with ranks yesterday after his policy suggestions were ignored by Prime Minister Taro Aso, reports Asahi.
Watanabe also said Aso needs to "quit politics that give top priority to maintaining the administration's hold on power." The remarks come at a critical time for the LDP, reports the BBC, who have approval ratings hovering around just 20 percent. Some in the party, which has been in power for all but a few months of the last 50 years, fear that the resignation may signal more to come.
Elections are scheduled for September.
China Down
China's export numbers made their most precipitous decline in a decade in December, reports Market Watch
Peace Talks
The Khaleej Times reports on the ongoing Egyptian cease fire talks, saying that while Egypt is eager to end the fighting and Israel has shown interest in signing the current plan, Hamas leadership from Damascus and Gaza are having a tough time coming together and signing the agreement.
The Cairo talks involve five Hamas delegates, three from Damascus and two from Gaza.
Meanwhile, Qatar has requested an emergency Arab League summit to find a solution to the conflict, to which no Arab countries have as of yet signed on to. Some are afraid that the meeting will prove ineffective, making Arab states look helpless, while others can't get passed certain divisions in the Arab world, a Reuters report makes clear.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are opposed to Hamas militants, while Syria and Qatar are sympathetic to them. Egypt sees Qatar's announcement as a means of embarrassing or undermining talks in Cairo.
Protesters in Syria, Yemen and Iran have excoriated Egypt's refusal to open their border crossings with Gaza to allow civilians to flee the war torn area. Egypt won't do it without support from the PA government in the West Bank.
From the North
Shots were fired at Israeli troops stationed on its northern border with Jordan yesterday, reports Al Jazeera. The shooters identities or affiliations remain ambiguous, and Jordanian officials deny any shots were fired.
Jordan and Israel signed a peace agreement in 1994 and the border they share has largely been calm since.
Phase 3
Israeli air strikes intensified as ground troops pushed into the suburbs of Gaza City, reports the BBC, and Hamas rocket fire into Israel continues.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas decried Israel for attempting to "wipe out" his people. The PA used to hold power in Gaza before elections in 2006 put Hamas in power, and many predicted the outcome of the current conflict would put Abbas's PA back in power there.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is headed to Gaza to push for an immediate truce.
A Triumvirate Emerges
Clinton faces smooth sailing in her hearing to head the State Department, and John Kerry looks forward to filling Biden's former role as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reports the Washington Post, paving the way for a new triumvirate of American foreign policy leaders; Obama-Clinton-Kerry.
Said Andrew Bacevich of Clinton in a FOX News report, "(she) certainly will be a very important voice when it comes to advising, but basic U.S. policy does not get made in the State Department . . . Her effectiveness will require to a considerable degree that she demonstrates that she's a loyal subordinate."
Bacevich also hopes to see substantive statements on issues like Pakistan and the conflict in Gaza from Clinton during the hearing rather than the tired cliches we've already heard. Norman's International could not have said it better.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Thus Spoke Walt
For a nice sampling of a variety of viewpoints on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with all its vitriol, see famed co-author of The Israel Lobby and professor of International Relations at Harvard University Stephen Walt's recent blog on ForeignPolicy.com, in which he imagines a different outcome of the Six Day War, and all of the comments that follow.
Iran Frontin'
Iran makes extensive use of fraudulent front companies to purchase electronics for weapons parts in the U.S. for explosives in Iraq and elsewhere against U.S. troops, reports the Washington Post.
The article outlines a cat and mouse game where, like mutating bacteria in their arms race to circumvent antibiotics, Iran has adapted to U.S. enforcement against illegal electronics and weapon sales, continuing to buy extensively from the U.S. The findings come from new reports released by the Justice Department and an independent Washington research institute.
The findings paint a picture of a network increasingly internet-based and more sophisticated, where U.S. suppliers often have no idea who their end-users are and unwittingly sell to Iranian interests.
Read all about it here.
Driving Mr. Bin Laden
After serving his prison term out in Yemen after release from Guantanamo, Osama Bin Laden's former driver Salim Hamdan was released last week after signing a pledge not to commit violent acts, reports the NY Times.
Mauritania
The military junta that took control from the democratically-elected leadership in Mauritania last August announced it will hold elections by June of this year. Some see the intense international pressure on the junta to restore democracy to the country as responsible for the recent decision.
Inexcusable
Some very dim-witted Frenchmen attacked a synagogue north of Paris over the weekend. The attackers threw "petrol bombs" into the synagogue, reports the BBC, a week after a similar attack on another French synagogue.
The protests starkly illustrate a strain of anti-semitism that blinds some protesters to the realities of the international system. Diasporan Jews have about as much to do with Israeli foreign policy as I do with American foreign policy. Attacking a French synagogue because of Israeli actions in the Gaza strip is nothing if not blatantly racist. I imagine if any westerner were to attack a mosque because of the act of a Muslim terrorist, they would be deemed racist and condemned, rightfully, by all parties involved.
Protesting in the streets of cities across the world allows one's voice to be heard, and though it may seem ineffective, it is far more justifiable and relevant to their cause than violent attacks aimed at unaffiliated parties -- as unjustifiable as Katyusha rockets into Israel or Israeli cluster bombs in Gaza city.
Comrades to the End
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez spoke with a fondness for Fidel Castro in a television and radio address yesterday, but said he believes it is unlikely his old comrade will ever appear in public again.
Castro underwent emergency intestinal surgery two and a half years ago and has rarely appeared in public since.
Chavez did not comment on Castro's health.
China & Venezuela, Sittin' in a Tree
Venezuela took control of a $400-million, Chinese-built communications satellite over the weekend. China built the satellite under contract for Venezuela and launched it in October, reports the LA Times.
Chavez said the satellite will allow Venezuela to overcome the U.S. "media bombardment" thereby strengthening Venezuelan sovereignty. The satellite is also expected to bring internet connections to schools across Venezuela and improve the nations health industry via improved IT and medical record-keeping and communicating.
Venezuela is also waiting on 18 military jet training aircraft this month it purchased from China.
Some see these deals, as well as increased Venezuelan oil buying on China's part, as both a sign of strengthening ties between China and Latin America and waning influence of the U.S. in the region.
China has also invested in oil production projects in many parts of Venezuela where U.S. firms were booted from not long ago.
Chavez critics say China is the main beneficiary in these trades and that with oil pricing waning Chavez will not be able to continue such arrangements for long.
German Stimulus
German daily Deutsche Welle reports on German plans to inject close to $68 billion in government spending and infrastructure investment in the coming year.
Government officials are meeting tomorrow to finalize the details, but it looks as if the plans will breach EU caps on government spending that seek to reduce borrowing. According to Deutsche Welle:
"The Maastricht rules agreed when the euro was introduced require euro nations to limit net borrowing to no more than three percent of GDP. The strict rules are meant to underpin the common currency and keep it stable."
German spending plans will equal about 3.5 percent of the nation's GDP this year and near 4.5 percent next year.
Eastern Gas
The NY Times reports that a deal has been struck to resume gas supplies between Russia and Europe via Ukraine and to send European monitors to the area today.
Russia says, barring any future obstacles, the pipes will open tomorrow morning. Still, the agreement does not address the demand by Russia that Ukraine begin paying higher prices for gas close to market value.
Russia has been selling the gas to the Ukraine at a discount to help that country develop, but now says Ukraine has reached a level of development that requires it pay near-market-value prices. Ukraine maintains this would bankrupt the country's fragile economy.
Obama-Calderon
As reported last week by Norman's International, President-elect Obama will meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderon today in his first meeting with a foreign leader since elected in November.
Predictably enough, violent crime in Mexico, immigration, trade and the U.S.-Mexican border will be at the top of the agenda, reports the BBC.
HIV/AIDS Progress
A new report by the UN program that monitors and works to reduce AIDS and HIV worldwide, UNAID, has released a report indicating progress made on preventing new infections in sub-Saharan Africa.
Good news indeed, but let us not forget that roughly two-thirds (percentage, Bryan?) of the world's HIV/AIDS-infected population exist on that continent.
I have not read the report in its entirety, but you can do so here.
Zuma
The South African Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling dismissing ANC leader Jacob Zuma of graft charges today. This comes just months before elections in that country which Zuma declared he would be running in.
Nonetheless, reports the Mail & Guardian, the decision may prove unlikely to stop him from being elected.
The 18-Year Refugee Crisis You've Never Heard of
Here is a very interesting article on a refugee crisis most people are unfamiliar with.
In the early 1990s in the tiny Himalayan nation Bhutan, the majority-supported Drukpa (a Buddhist sect) ruling elite began a campaign that purged the nation of it's minority Lhotsampas' -- people of Nepali origin that lived in the south of Bhutan. That population, now near 107,000, have sat idly for the past 18 years in a group of UN refugee camps in the east of Nepal.
This past year the U.S. and some other western nations declared they would offer resettlement to up to 60,000 of those refugees. Chicago was a major destination for many of those participating in the resettlement program.
I was fortunate enough to become friends with a young refugee now living in Chicago, along with his six-member immediate family, plus an extended family too numerous to count. I did some reporting on the refugee situation and the resettlement process for a class that I hope to submit somewhere once I brush it up a little. For those interested, here is a link to a very very rough draft of that continuing story.
Like a Phoenix . . .
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced today his nation is likely to be the first to emerge from the world's financial sinkhole and anticipated new measures to bolster the Chinese economy in the next few months, reports China Daily.
Key policies include tax and credit incentives to keep auto sales continuing and, in turn, auto manufacturers working.
Chinese exports dropped in November for the first time in seven years.
C.R.E.A.M.
Disputes over the history of WWII have crippled relations between Japan and South Korea in the past. South Korea has accused Japan of rewriting history in national textbooks to ignore atrocities committed by Japan during the war.
But as the great 20th-century political thinker Method Man once observed, "cash rules everything around me." The economy has proven a remedy in putting that dispute aside as the two nations leaders met today to forge new economic relations to overcome the worldwide downturn.
The two leaders discussed the future of their financial structures and vowed to work closely together in dealing with trade negotiations, both agreeing to broaden foreign investments.
They also discussed their mutual commitments to dissuading North Korea from continuing nuclear plans.
Kuwait
Kuwait swore in a new cabinet today. You can read more about the swearing in ceremony at the Kuwait News Agency.
Secrets
For those of you who missed this very interesting NY Times article yesterday, it appears that President Bush declined secret Israeli requests for bunker-busting bombs and permission to fly over Iraq for an attack on Iranian nuclear sites last year. Bush told Israeli officials he had initiated covert operations on the ground aimed at dismantling Iranian nuclear ambitions from within and that an overt attack would not be necessary. The report questions whether Israel had plans to carry out the attack or was seeking to engage Bush in more aggressive planning before he left office.
Bush was continually briefed on the options for an overt American air strike on the Iranian nuclear targets but never told the Pentagon to move beyond contingency planning. Some in the administration, led Defense Secretary Robert Gates, warned such an attack would be ineffective, likely result in the expulsion of international inspectors and possibly spark a broader Middle East war.
The Israeli requests came after a National Intelligence Estimate (N.I.E.) from last year that painted a very calm picture of Iran's enrichment program and progress towards nuclear weapons manufacturing, but the report was viewed skeptically by almost everyone in the Bush administration and Israel.
The covert operations, questions of their efficacy, questions of how they may or may not interfere with efforts to engage Iran in talks, as well as Israel's willingness to settle for such a plan will all be handed off to Barack Obama on the 20th, adding to an already staggering list of problems he will be confronting.
The article is a fascinating read, one of those rare glimpses into the secret world of international negotiations and covert operations most often not revealed until decades after a conflict has cooled. Certainly, check that out.
As Ugly as Reality
Israel has slowed its air assault on Gaza overnight, though ground forces have been stepped up, reports the BBC. Reserve forces have been sent into Gaza via ground. While Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denies any increase in ground fighting, some reports claim reservists are being sent in to secure already won areas while front-line troops move further inward. With no international reporters allowed on the ground, such reports can neither be confirmed nor denied.
A military spokesman said that while reservists are being called in mostly to provide relief for engaged soldiers, this does not signal an escalation in ground fighting. Forces in Israel continue training in the case of an expanded ground invasion.
Olmert says Israel is nearing its goals in Gaza, and some claim an Egyptian-brokered cease fire is progressing, though we've heard this before.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post seems to sound a more alarming note, saying that with the strong back-up from the reserve units, Israel is bracing for what may be the "fiercest fighting yet" as they push into the major population centers in the so-called "phase three" of the operation.
Talks in Cairo hinge on Israeli calls for an Egyptian monitor at the Gaza-Egypt border to ensure that no more weapons are smuggled into Gaza -- a request which Egypt has so far balked at.
An all-out push into Gaza City will mean increased death tolls and heavy destruction on both sides. The question seems to be whether or not Israel should use the position they've gained in weakening Hamas to negotiate (yet another) cease fire, or should move to debilitate Hamas to such an extent they cannot fire rockets, if not wipe them out completely -- a question that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barack, both of whom are vying to be the next PM, disagree on.
In a strictly military-strategic perspective, as ugly as it may sound, I think their only option is to push ahead. Any cease fire will prove as transient as any in the past. True, the elimination of Hamas will by no means mean peace in the Middle East, but it will reduce Iranian influence in the area and restore a (perhaps only slightly) longer peace in the area from which to build. Israel's reputation is as bad as it will be -- a further offensive will probably not change that.
One note to add -- if any traces of phosphorous munitions are found in an area like Gaza City, that will and ought to be the end of Israel's bargaining position. UNHRC has already declared Israeli actions have "resulted in massive violations of human rights."
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Shomer Shabbos
Single, double, triple pay -- I ain't gonna work on Saturday.
Good Shabbos everybody.
Good Shabbos everybody.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Concision
In what is perhaps the shortest news article I have ever seen, Hamas claims to have hit an Israeli Air Force base outside of Tel Aviv today with rockets fired from the Gaza strip. As Josh Nanus points out, this might be the first time Hamas' has targeted something other than defenseless civilians.
Common Interests
Gen. David Petraeus spoke in D.C. yesterday about some shared interests the United States and Iran may have in Afghanistan. Though making it clear that any increased cooperation was to be decided by policymakers, Petraeus did say that Iran does not want "ultrafundamentalist extremist Sunni forces" to gain control, nor see opium production increase.
The idea coincides nicely with the incoming president, who has voiced considerations of a dialogue with Iran.
'Having said that," the general said, "I'm sure there's an element (in Iran) that is determining how they can make life miserable for the coalition and the alliance and Afghan forces as well. NATO troops in Afghanistan have intercepted small amounts of weapons coming in from Iran.
Also interesting is the reporter's use of the word "loggerheads" in describing the relationship between the US and Iran in the last paragraph. Loggerheads? Really?
Mad in Malaysia
Malaysians, led by the Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association (MMCA), are boycotting in great numbers US products for the United State's support of Israel in the Gaza conflict.
Coca-Cola has been pulled from many grocer's shelves and more than 2,000 Muslim restaurant menus. A spokesman for Coca-Cola said, though deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip, the boycott would do little more than hurt the local Malaysian economy. The company employs 1,700 Maylasians, 60% of which are Malay Muslims.
"A boycott is the best way for us to protest Zionist cruelty . . . as consumers (we) can weaken the economy of countries like Israel and its ally the U.S.," said a MMCA leader. Good luck on that last one, guys.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has called for sanctions on Israel.
Op-Ed
Here's an op-ed in US News & World Report arguing why the military strike in Gaza may be counterproductive to Israeli interests. It explains more explicitly a statement made in an earlier post by Norman's International regarding the effect the strike will have once a cease fire is reached and it's time to come to the negotiating table.
In sum, ". . . the consequence is not the pacification of the target population but an intensification of violence."
Or, maybe not. Here's an Op-Ed that says, while unfortunate, there is literally no other option --Israel must respond with overwhelming force if anything is to change; if Israel is to continue existing, something has to change.
Strategic Partnership
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Georgian Foreign Affairs Minister Grigol Vashadze gathered at the White House today to sign the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership. Vashadze looks forward to growing engagement with the west, while Condi looks forward to feeling that mustache scratch softly at her face.
The Future of Capitalism
French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed financial experts in Paris to discuss "the future of capitalism," seeking to create a new system of international financial governance and institutions.
Merkel suggested a "powerful new economic council at the UN," reports France24.com. Both urged the US not to stand in the way of tighter financial regulation, which they blame the current crisis on -- a good sign for those of us eager to get past the Reagan-Thatcher era.
The goal, said European leaders involved in the two-day event dubbed "New World, New Capitalism," was not to end capitalism or finance as we know it, but to foster the "return of the state" as a regulator.
Tony Blair, chairing the event, told attendees -- Amartya Sen, Pascal Lamy and Joseph Stiglitz, among other notables -- that the current system of seven powerful economies making global financial decisions is an "absurdity" in these times, calling for the inclusion of a wide array of emerging economies and interested parties.
"We have mid-20th century international institutions governing a 21st century world," he said, calling for the reformation of the IMF and the World Bank.
Hug It Out
Gazprom officials are meeting with diplomats in Brussels right now in an effort to hug it out over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine gas dispute -- one of those rare gas disputes that cannot be blamed on the dog. Russia's conflict with Ukraine over a gas pipeline has caused the loss of heating gas to much of Europe, leaving plenty in the cold.
Gazprom says they want EU monitors in Ukraine to watch the pipes and ensure Ukraine is not stealing gas en route to Europe. The EU says they'll do it if both Ukraine and Russia agree to restore the flow of gas to Europe.
The German paper Deutsche Welle points out that, while cold Europeans are the immediate concern, of a longer-term concern is the reputation of Russia as a reliable provider of gas for Europe (a very similar dispute disrupted flows in 2006). With Ukraine vying for a spot in NATO, and Russia trying to deny them that spot, Europeans may be better off seeking gas elsewhere. (Turkmenistan?)
Team Intelligence
As Obama makes the announcements official, some are questioning the Panetta-Blair team.
Blair is being scrutinized for his part in U.S. involvement in East Timor a decade ago. A paramilitary group with Indonesian and American backing slaughtered 200,000 East Timorese over a two decade period. Blair sought to work with the Indonesian military, including training, in an attempt to gain leverage in the situation -- a move many are critical of.
In 1999 Blair met with military leaders in Indonesia to resume talks about training aid. Days before the discussions, Indonesian-trained militias slaughtered almost 60 people seeking refuge in a Church. Blair said he did not find out about the slaughter until after the meeting.
Blair also faces questioning regarding a conflict of interest investigation when in 2006, working for a Pentagon think tank, he sat on the membership board of two of the defense contractors whom the think tank was reviewing.
Q&A
Columbian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos will be approaching the new Obama administration to plead that it maintain its $556-million-a-year drug eradication program Plan Columbia. In the face of a never-before-seen deficit, he faces a steep battle.
The LA Times ran a Q&A with Santos today.
Santos told the LA Times Plan Columbia is responsible for bringing Columbia from the brink of a failed state to a working democracy and subduing of the FARC.
In closing remarks, Santos said:
"Look, we're a success story here, asking for minimal financial commitment compared with your other problems, so don't sacrifice something that's much more important than the value of the dollars you have invested. It's in the interest of the U.S. to maintain a strong democracy in Columbia. And Plan Columbia is one of the determinants."
Turkmenistan
Some Europeans are now looking to the autocratic Turkmenistan as a new source of gas after the Russia-Ukraine dispute that halted gas shipments to much of Europe.
Which reminds me, please read this.
20,000
U.S. Deputy of Foreign Affairs Richard Boucher met with Afghanistan's foreign minister today, assuring him 20,000 more American troops into Afghanistan by August.
Two Down
Two top al-Queda leaders, known locally as 'the Lion' and 'the Engineer', were killed by a drone aircraft last week, US officials say.
Both born in Kenya and killed in Pakistan, Usama al-Kini and Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan were involved in numerous bombings on embassies and other western targets over the past decade.
China
Two of China's major economic hubs, Guangdong and Shanghai, are, like much of the world, facing severe market troubles. As a result, nearly a third of all migrant workers in southern China have returned to their homes throughout the country.
Overlooked
Here's editorial from Haaretz, though belated, worth reading. I think the moment has passed, but it would have been a great move.
Unaided
UN aid has been suspended after Israeli fire hit a UN convoy and killed two fork-lift operators with the UN. Operations will continue once Israel can guarantee security, says the UN.
Unworkable
Israel released a statement on what they called the 'unworkable' U.N. cease fire proposal, saying "the IDF will continue to act in order to obtain the objectives of the operation -- to bring about a change in the security situation in the south of the country -- this in accordance with the plans that have been approved upon embarking on this mission."
Sounds a lot like they're moving on to phase 3, as earlier predicted by Norman's International.
The Beat Goes On
Showing the impotency of the institution, the U.N.'s declared cease fire was ignored by both sides of the conflict in Gaza today. Israel continued on with a fresh wave of aerial bombardments and Hamas continued firing rockets into southern Israel.
Questions of war crimes on Israel's part were raised in the U.N. on account of an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reporting that claims IDF forces ignored the emergency medical needs for civilians required by international law. In perhaps the only good news to come from the discourse, the U.N. has demanded human rights monitors be deployed to the area to monitor the situation.
Israel continued it's brief window of calm to let in aid this morning, during which time Hamas fired an undetermined number of rockets into Israel, who returned fire.
14 of the 15 U.N. security members signed on to the cease fire demands, with one abstaining. You guessed it -- the United States.
Bail-Out
A five-member congressional oversight panel is releasing the findings of their study of the Treasury Department's $700 billion bail-out package today. The findings report that the plan has no clear goals, poor mechanisms for oversight and "significant gaps in the Treasury's ability to track hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money."
Of central concern to the bipartisan panel was the plan's complete avoidance in dealing with the massive amounts of foreclosures and borrowers struggling with homes worth less than their mortgages cost.
Their were also no means of guaranteeing that the money lent to credit-lending institutions would in turn be lent out, the declared goal of the program.
This is sure to stoke the deepest fears of government-big business collusion. Financial institutions were given a cash injection with no monitoring of where that investment went, saving themselves and doing very little for the taxpayer.
If it isn't corruption, it is somehow a surprisingly resistant strain of belief in trickle-down economics. We need to get beyond this.
Obama's transition team is working hard on fixing the future of the bail-out, as is Rep. Barney Franks (D-Mass.), who has worked on legislation to require closer monitoring of aid packages and restricting executive bonuses. Go get 'em Barney.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Intercepted
A package marked "tractor parts" traveling from Iran to Venezuela was intercepted by Turkish customs officials and found to contain lab equipment capable of generating explosives.
There were no traces of radioactive materials, but an investigation is under way, say officials in Turkey.
In Ghana
John Atta Mills was sworn into office today as Ghana's new president. John Mahama is his vice president.
Oops
Pakistani National Security Adviser Mahmood Ali Durrani was fired today for telling reporters that the sole surviving Mumbai attacker, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, was Pakistani. Oops.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Gilani said he was fired for speaking on national security issues without the Prime Minister's approval, though many think the government was looking for a reason to rid themselves of the pro-American adviser.
Many see this as a sign of the shaky and tenuous nature of governance in Pakistan.
Perhaps the real story here is Durrani's eyebrows. Eyebrow. Look at that thing!
Out in the Cold
Serbs and Bosnians are facing the brunt of the European gas shortages brought on by the Russia-Ukraine spat with "a mix of incomprehension, anger and stoicism," reports RFE/RL.
Bolivarian Revolution, Please Hold
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has had to curtail government spending by declining oil prices, threatening the socialist model that nation is built upon and his position as a political and philanthropic leader in the region.
The Miami Herald reported this morning that the first to go was Chavez's program that supplied free heating oil to poor people in the United States, but quickly changed the story after the Washington Post said that Chavez will continue the program, which supplies fuel to 200,000 American households in 26 states and 65 Native American tribes.
Cutting domestic spending on Venezuela's poor would be disastrous for Chavez's political career; a referendum is around the corner to lift term limits on his presidency, he trails by 20 points in polls and his base of support is the poor.
Next on the chopping block may be the subsidized and heavily discounted oil Venezuela sells to poor nations in the region.
"Chavez's meddling (in foreign affairs) will certainly be a lot less effective in 2009," said former Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga.
Change Gon' Come
Like some rich white folks locking the entrance to a gated suburban community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to beef up civilian and perhaps military defenses along the U.S.-Mexico border to guard against the violence stemming from the drug economy from spreading north.
Officials at the DHS said the operations call for aircraft, armored vehicles and special teams, and if unable to be quelled by civilian units like border patrol and local law enforcement, the military may -- though not likely -- be called in for assistance.
Napolitano is heading the Obama administration's HSD; it's been a long time comin', but I know a change gon' come.
Down and Out
Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced plans to inject nearly $150 million to ailing industries in an effort to save jobs. The move is part of a larger '25-point' plan that includes freezing gas prices and increased unemployment benefits, reports the BBC.
Because 80% of Mexican exports go to America, and the dependence of many communities on remittances from Mexican laborers in the United States, the economic downturn here has had dramatic implications there.
Plans for infrastructure building are expected to create another quarter-million jobs later in the year.
AARRRrrrrr!
The U.S. Navy has announced plans to head a new anti-pirate unit in the pirate-stricken Somalia coastal waters. More than 20 nations will contribute to the operation, slated to being later this month, reports the BBC.
Last year saw more than 100 pirate attacks. The area targeted by the new force, larger than the Mediterranean, consists of a 480-mile-long shipping lane. A navy spokeswoman said effective patrolling will require 60 warships.
Ongoing
Spokesmen from India have declared that the lone surviving member of the Mumbai attack is Pakistani citizen, specifically from a small town near Okara. Pakistan still rejects the claims, demanding more evidence. At the same time, Pakistan and its ISI say they have launched their own investigation.
Sri Lanka at War
In a battle a quarter century old, Sri Lankan forces have gained further ground in pushing back against the rebel Tamil Tigers today after taking the Tiger's declared capital city last Friday.
The Tamils are a militant group of minority Hindus in the majority Singhalese Buddhist country Sri Lanka. The Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland through terrorist tactics over the past few decades. "Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the Tamil Tigers started fighting government forces in the 1980's, seeking a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils," reports Al-Jazeera.
Failed State Blues
With unemployment near 80% and an inflation rate a surreal 231,000,000% (!!), Zimbabwe has unofficially dollarised, that is, taken a foreign currency as its de facto currency. Citizens have abandoned the Zimbabwean currency and are widely using U.S. and South African currencies to make everyday purchases.
The government refuses to acknowledge the extent of the problem, claiming their own currency as still the law of the land. Some say that dollarisation is a bigger threat to sovereignty than re-colonization given how important money is to a nation's identity.
To make it official would require an okay by the U.S., which is unlikely. Zimbabwe is in talks with South Africa to help extend their currency, the rand, into the area and save the economy.
One of South Africa's negotiating demands is that Mugabe agree to a legit power-sharing deal, which has as yet proved futile. I suggest they refuse to prop up the economy unless Mugabe unequivocally steps down.
N. Korea
North Korea announced plans for their first parliamentary elections in six years on March 8. The elections are true North Korean style -- one candidate, chosen by 'supreme leaders,' will run for each seat unopposed.
Clearly a charade, some suggest it may be an effort to reorganize the government in the wake of the ailing health of leader Kim Jong-il. Elections are regularly held every five years but were postponed last year to do Kim's ailing health. His current physical status is unconfirmed in the international community.
Some see in the coming changes a nascent movement towards economic liberalization, though slow the movement may be.
China-Hong Kong Colabo
Hong Kong and their neighboring province of mainland China have began talks of a first-time economic cooperation plan, reports the South China Morning Post. They also charge a subscription fee, so that's about all I know about the deal.
Egyptian Influence
An editorial in the Egyptian online weekly Al Ahram questions whether Egypt, so pivotal a player in Middle East negotiations, is up to the diplomatic challenges their now facing. With hawkish elements in the U.S. and Israeli administrations and the growing influence of Iran thwarting attempts at peace throughout the past year, they question Egypt's role in the region.
Is this an 'Iranian era' of strength building? And is Egypt less relevent? The article ends in the negative. "The answer is a definite no. When all is said and done, Egypt is still a crucial player in the Arab world," they conclude.
No Money, Mo' Problems
In the first sign of the global financial crisis in the Gulf region, one of Kuwait's largest investment firms -- Global Investment House -- has defaulted on most of its loans. The bank is seeking to renegotiate many of their loans.
The bank was financed by loans from many foreign creditors, much of which has, obviously, dried up in the past year.
Some see this as a major predictor for Gulf banking in the coming year.
More on Iran
Heres a short blurb from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) about how involved Iran is and what the broader implications of the current conflict may mean.
Obviously, a "loss" for Israel and "win" for Hamas would bolster Iran and make its meddling more aggressive, while a "win" for Israel may make Iran rethink its strategy. Missing, however, is how we would define a loss and a win from either side.
Iran into the Conflict
This guy over at Haaretz says that Iran is behind the rockets from the north of Israel, which is probably true. He also says Hizbullah (funded by Iran) was in on it as well.
This Just In
Here's an article sent along by Bryan Fenster. In that inimitable way they do, the Economist breaks down in clear-sighted prose the historical context of the incidents in Gaza right now, and how it fits into the general narrative. An excellent read.
PA
The future of the PA is uncertain as Abbas' term nears its end. Some say it is likely he will remain at the helm until elections can be held. It is uncertain whether his more moderate Fatah party will retain power -- making negotiations with the West more likely -- or whether a Hamas candidate may win popular support.
. . . part 3
The NY Times is painting a pretty grim portrait. UN Food Relief has ended deliveries into Gaza after the death of (another) food-truck driver, claiming the most minimum requisite security is not there. All the while, peace negotiations seem to be deadlocked, though the UN Security Council may be close to a cease fire resolution sponsored by many Arab states -- albeit one that may make a US veto likely.
Shit! part 2
Heres a BBC rundown on the rockets. Hizbullah, they say, has a much more powerful arsenal to attack with than the rockets that were fired, and would likely have used them if they wanted to stage another theater to the north. Also a factor is Hizbullah's political situation; now a bona fide partner in Lebanese government, they likely would not want to jeopardize that status.
But, the BBC says, "not a leaf can move in southern Lebanon without its people knowing about it." Perhaps they were complicit, were their finger not on the trigger.
The BBC also points out the ease with which just about any small extremist group could smuggle missiles into and fire from southern Lebanon. There are 400,000 Palestinian refugees in the area who claim Israel as their homeland.
Shit!
Three rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon in the north. Israel responded with five mortar shells.
This comes after Lebanese Information Minister Tarek Mitri told reporters the other day he did not think Hizbullah would fire at this time.
He did say that Hizbullah was not involved and some in Israeli intelligence believe it is the work of Palestinian groups in the region. Border patrols have been stepped up by UN, Israeli and Lebanese forces.
The Daily Star says that Hizbullah has more than 40,000 rockets "ready to be fired at Israel," should the situation escalate. Some feel that Israel's mortar response could push Hizbullah -- whether they fired or not -- into a response.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah sounded a defiant tone towards Israel and declared that "all options are on the table."
Despite the fierce talk, I don't foresee armed conflict between Israel and Hizbullah right now. The situation in Gaza is probably weakening Israeli forces to a far weaker extent than would prevent them from leveling southern Lebanon should the need arise, and Hizbullah and Lebanon in general probably know this.
European Sentiments
The CS Monitor reports that pro-Arab sentiment throughout Europe, once dominated by French diplomacy, is dwindling.
Support for the Palestinian plight, once seen as a struggle for independence and a right of return, is now seen in "shallower emotional and humanitarian grounds . . . forgetting the old issues of substance and Israeli occupation," said one European diplomat.
Among other factors, many contribute the decline to the friction caused throughout much of Europe in the past decade or so brought on by abrupt increases of Arab and Muslim immigration into Europe, as well as a reaction to 9/11.
Some are rehashing the "Clash of Civilizations" theory put out by Samuel Huntington, as if this were an inevitability. For those unschooled, please read Huntington's 1993 Foreign Affairs article "The Clash of Civilizations."
I think the thing to remember is that there are moderate groups and extreme groups in every civilization, and there is a fundamental common humanity that need not clash; this is the basis of diplomacy.
Anyway, read the CSM article, an excellent piece on the worldview of Gaza.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Spanish Language News
The evening news came on as scheduled last night on the Mexican Televisa network. Outside the Monterey station, two cars pulled up. Men with ski masks jumped out and sprayed the entrance with bullets, then lobbed a grenade into the station.
The attackers left a note nearby warning the station to stop reporting on violence due to drug cartels.
In case you haven't noticed, Mexico is in the midst of a quasi-civil-war amongst its extremely powerful drug cartels and goverment forces. It's a god damn bloodbath down there.
"15 journalists have been killed and many newspapers have stopped investigative reporting on drug cartels" since 2006, reports the BBC.
The attackers left a note nearby warning the station to stop reporting on violence due to drug cartels.
In case you haven't noticed, Mexico is in the midst of a quasi-civil-war amongst its extremely powerful drug cartels and goverment forces. It's a god damn bloodbath down there.
"15 journalists have been killed and many newspapers have stopped investigative reporting on drug cartels" since 2006, reports the BBC.
DRC
The leadership split within the Democratic Republic of Congo's CNDP has brought mediators to declare cease fire talks must begin in preparation for a summit of African leaders scheduled for later in the month, reports the Mail & Guardian.
Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, now mediating the conflict, says a cessation of hostilities is needed before the planned meeting of African leaders in the region can begin.
Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, now mediating the conflict, says a cessation of hostilities is needed before the planned meeting of African leaders in the region can begin.
Talkin' Smack
India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is ratcheting up the rhetoric in his latest accusation of Pakistani official involvement in the Mumbai attacks. Yesterday he made statements saying their is enough evidence, based on the high tech tactics of the attacks and the fragility of the Pakistani state, that the government was involved. "The more fragile a government, the more it tends to act in an irresponsible fashion," he said.
Pakistan denies any official involvement and has called Indian evidence "not credible."
Just to keep in mind, these are two nuclear armed states we're dealing with here.
Pakistan denies any official involvement and has called Indian evidence "not credible."
Just to keep in mind, these are two nuclear armed states we're dealing with here.
View from the Left
Here's how Tariq Ali sees the situation in Gaza. Tariq Ali is editor of the New Left Review, a widely published writer and human rights activist.
Tariq says that Israel and other powers in the region sought to subvert the democratic process in an effort to keep Hamas from rising to power in Gaza. When that didn't work, they tried to bend Hamas to their own will. With support from the people in Gaza because of the many humanitarian projects they engaged in, Hamas became even more defiant. These are the roots of the current conflict, and with this view he draws his own conclusions about what ought to be done now.
An interesting point of view, and certainly worth reading whether you agree or not.
Tariq says that Israel and other powers in the region sought to subvert the democratic process in an effort to keep Hamas from rising to power in Gaza. When that didn't work, they tried to bend Hamas to their own will. With support from the people in Gaza because of the many humanitarian projects they engaged in, Hamas became even more defiant. These are the roots of the current conflict, and with this view he draws his own conclusions about what ought to be done now.
An interesting point of view, and certainly worth reading whether you agree or not.
Brotherly Love
Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari as a "brother" in their fight against terrorism and "non-state actors" in Kabul yesterday. Relations between Karzai and former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf were more tenuous -- a rift that led in part to an inability to govern tribal border areas between the two neighbors.
Let's hope this paves the way to a cooperative relationship in combating extremism. I wonder what Tariq Ali has to say about this.
Let's hope this paves the way to a cooperative relationship in combating extremism. I wonder what Tariq Ali has to say about this.
Bird Flu
China's first 2009 incidence of bird flu was reported after a 19-year-old woman died of the disease two days ago. After noting the World Health Organization, Beijing blocked all poultry from other parts of the country from coming into the city while the origins are investigated.
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