Author: Imran

Almost immediately, doubts about the conference’s legitimacy and effectiveness emerge: ‘Stormy’ Start to Fatah’s Historic Summit (Christian Science Monitor) An area once infamous for the distinct cultural differences between American forces and Iraqi citizens: Change of Guard in Baghdad’s Green Zone (Washington Post) Demonstrating the lack of democracy and free  speech in Morocco,  favorable polls…

“Hamas committed a very serious mistake preventing our members from Gaza from coming here,” said Nabil Shaath, a senior Fatah official and former foreign minister. “It destroyed a lot of goodwill for Hamas in Palestinian public opinion”: Abbas’s Party Holds Convention (Washington Post) “If they wanted to build new illegal settlements without kicking out Palestinians…

Described as a “return of dictatorship”, Iraqi government seeks censorship laws prohibiting the individual right to define their own morality… Iraq Censorship Laws Move Ahead (NY Times) … Meanwhile, Egyptian oppression on “freedom of the press” may offer a glimpse into the future of Iraqi democracy: Bloggers Held in Egypt Without Charge (CPJ) Despite atrocities…

U.S. unlikely to  reap any benefits from the study as the total number of civilian deaths continues to rise: In Afghanistan, Taliban Kills More Civilians Than US (Christian Science Monitor) “The conference plans to adopt a re-write of Fatah’s 1989 convention… the new one firmly commits the Palestinians to peace talks, although it still mentions…

Analysts believe the trials are the “beginning of an attempt to purge the political system … If the dissidents are convicted, their parties could be declared illegal and their backers labeled anti-revolutionaries”: 100 Iranians Tried for Disputing Election (Washington Post) Iran disputes the claim that the Americans accidentally crossed the Iranian border, saying they “they…

Iran is quickly crossing the fine line between an Islamic democracy and an authoritative theocracy: Violence Breaks Out In Streets of Tehran (Washington Post) Col. Timothy R. Reese believes the Iraqi military’s shortcomings, which  include problems of “corruption, poor management and the inability to resist Shiite political pressure” will not be solved by extending the…

“They’re waiting for Mladic to die before they have to choose between him and the European Union,” -  Petrovic, a former chief of Serbia’s civilian intelligence service: Serbian Officials Say Mladic Is ‘Within Reach’ (Washington Post) “This is a case about annulling the article that addresses women’s dress code, under the title of indecent acts.…

As Khamenei announces the closure of a detention center and criticizes the treatment of prisoners held there … Why Iran’s Conservatives Are Airing Their Dirty Laundry (Christian Science Monitor) … Emerging political divisions complicate any prediction of the future in Iranian politics: Iran Hard-Liners Warn Ahmadinejad he Could be Deposed (LA Times) Accusations of brutality…

With Ahmadinejad slated to be sworn in on August 5, Mousavi warns “today’s criminals should bear in mind that our people will never pardon them”: Iran Opposition Leader Calls for More Street Protests (LA Times) Although both sides are in agreement over the danger of a nuclear Iran, Israeli officials push for a military option…