Author: Alejandro

Driven by faith and neighborhood troubles, Muslim Americans organize faith-based crime patrol and show almost immediate results: Muslim Patrol Quiets Crime in Shaw (Washington Post) Army General issues fresh veiled threat toward AK party day before expected victory by Abdullah Gul: Turkish Army Issues New Warning (BBC News) Although the NSA still has its Big…

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a long-time supported Big Brother NSA wiretapping and marred by allegations of political favoritism over respect for the rule of law, resigns: Embattled Attorney General Resigns (New York Times) Columnist Jackson Diehl notes that the expected election of Abdullah Gul in Turkey “looks like a victory for democracy as well as…

One Million Signature Campaign for women’s rights in Iran is another example of where American interventionism works against the efforts of local civil society activists: A Quiet Battle for Rights in Iran (Washington Post) Events in Sudan are taking a dramatic turn as political saber rattling over Darfur leads to the expulsion of Canadian and…

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell admits telecom cooperation in NSA warrentless wiretaps, boosting cases against the program’s legality: Telecom Firms Helped With Government’s Warrantless Wiretaps (Washington Post) Muslims flex their political muscles at civic event and local politicians respond: Reston Event Shows Clout of N.Va. Muslim Voters (Washington Post) As reports emerge that the…

Libya’s heir-apparant seeks decentralization and growth civil society as part of plan for  political reform tht suggests democracy a a market economy, but he dare not cross some “red lines” as long as his father remains “The Leader:” Gaddafi Son Seeks Reforms (The Age) Big Brother seeks to probe charity groups working abroad, while shrouding…

After months of detention and interrogations, the Iranian government finally releases Haleh Esfandiari on bail from the Evin Prison: Iran Releases Jailed Iranian-American (Associated Press/Washington Post) Survey of 100 top foreign policy and security experts paints a bleak picture of that state of American power and national security–84% say the U.S. is “losing the war”…

Civil society activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim marks the fourth anniversary of the disappearance of a prominent Egyptian journalist by describing the rising levels of State repression and Mubarak’s use of Islamophobia to ensure Western support for his tyranny: Egypt’s Unchecked Repression (Washington Post) British mosques begin teaching course that mixes citizenship with faith: British Civics…

Action doesn’t match rhetoric and the Bush administration sinks its own democracy promotion agenda by opting for military adventurism in Iraq and support for local dictators over civil society activists: As Democracy Push Falters, Bush Feels Like a ‘Dissident’ (Washington Post) Iraq’s political leadership takes another big hit as the second provincial leader is assassinated…

Seeing that its not safe for children to go to school and learn in their own country, Iraqi children are now attending classes in Jordan, but at the cost of overwhelming their host country’s education system: Iraqis Enrol in Jordan’s Schools (BBC News) “It is not possible… to stabilize Iraq and at the same time…

Conviction of Jose Padilla proves that due process is not an impediment to trial of alleged terrorists, while a Washington Post editorial slams the Bush administration for taking so long to grant him his due process rights Padilla Is Guilty on All Charges in Terror Trial (New York Times) Jose Padilla’s Due Process (Washington Post)…