Author: Alejandro

After handing the army’s command over to Ashfaq Kayani, a man considered to have a “clean and solid reputation”, in his new civilian capacity as President, Musharraf announces an end to martial law on December 16: Ashfaq Kayani: The New Man with the Baton in Pakistan (Christian Science Monitor) Musharraf to End Emergency Rule (BBC…

After years of broken promises, Musharraf finally makes good on his word to step down from his position as army chief, meanwhile former CIA officer Arthur Keller finds Pakistan’s army has lost the will to fight Taliban militants and argues US policy supporting Musharraf has failed … Musharraf Gives Up Army Uniform (BBC News) Caution:…

Mansoor Ijaz argues that Muslim Americans should be considered for a cabinet level position to help defend America against religious militants because their unique cultural and religious sensitivities can help craft better national security strategies: A Muslim Belongs in the Cabinet (Christian Science Monitor) Showing disgust with the Karzai administration over its handling of recent…

Seeking to shield itself from further legal challenges to its invasive warrantless wiretap program, the Bush administration seeks to invoke “State Secrets” doctrine before a friendly Supreme Court that is likely to rule in favor of the administration: Congress, Courts Examine ‘State Secrets’ (Associated Press/New York Times) Modest numbers of Iraqis returning from Syria are…

In spite of a lack of evidence demonstrating the Virginia-based Islamic Saudi Academy’s curriculum espouses “extremism”, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and some US Senators continue their drive to shut down the school:  Islamic Academy in Virginia on Defensive (Associated Press/Washington Post)  Editors from the libertarian-leaning Reason Magazine, argue in a Washington Post…

Big brother powers once used under the guise of counterterrorism are now employed to fight regular crime as FBI agents seek secret warrants, many without probable cause, to find the location of drug traffickers, fugitives and other types of criminals: Cellphone Tracking Powers on Request (Washington Post) Although making important strides in human rights since…

In spite of last-ditch efforts to avoid a power vacuum in Lebanon, various parties to the talks say an agreement over a consensus presidential candidate is unlikely before current president Emile Lahoud leaves office on Nov. 24th, leading to a possible constitutional crisis and violence: Lebanese Presidential Vote Seen Unlikely (Reuters/New York Times) In a…

New York Times editorial praises some members of congress for trying to pass a bill that would restore some oversight to the ongoing NSA spying program and argues that “red lines” must be drawn on establishing clear sunset provisions, giving the FISA court oversight powers and denying amnesty to telecoms’ that collaborated with the government…

The uproar over the Los Angeles Police Department’s planned use of blatant racial profiling to prevent terrorism, civil society activists scrutinize department’s actions further and force law enforcement officials to try a different method—reaching out to Muslim community leaders: Why L.A. Police Nixed Plan to Map Muslims (Christian Science Monitor) With better security, some Baghdadis…

With little preparation and big expectations, the Bush administration is trying to get key players in Palestinian-Israeli conflict to begin first-round of “final status” talks at the upcoming one day-long Annapolis conference: Mideast Conference Nears, With Few Plans (Washington Post) Turkish human rights researcher Didem Cakmakli finds that long-term solutions of political representation and economic…