Author: Alejandro

“It is a mix of tradition and modernity, Western-style democracy meets Somali-style politics….” The Other Somalia: An Island of Stability in a Sea of Armed Chaos (New York Times) Newly established ‘special’ court system for Gitmo detainees operates with little transparency and deprives the defendants of a lawyer: Hearings for 14 Guantanamo Detainees to Be…

The latest public opinion poll shows a new low in US public support for the occupation of Iraq…  Only 28% Think U.S. Will Win in Iraq (USA Today)   …amid fresh sectarian-based violence…  Tuesday: 10 GIs, 152 Iraqis Killed; 4 GIs, 383 Iraqis Wounded (Antiwar.com)  …while Congress still continues to appear doing nothing substantive to…

Pakistan’s political and military challenges come at a cost when helping the US take on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda:   Pakistan Walks Fine Line with Capture of High-Level Taliban Leader (Christian Science Monitor) Saudis and Iranians promise warmer relations, but avoid promising an end to violent sectarianism:   Saudi-Iran Meeting Yields Little Substance (New York…

Shift in US diplomatic strategy seeks to engage regional states, including Iran and Syria, to discuss the realities of Iraq’s instability: U.S. to Join Iran, Syria in Iraq Talks (Los Angeles Times) US Switch on Iran Adds ‘Missing Link’ (BBC News) Canadian parliament quashes bid to extend provisions forcing testimony in court and “preventive” arrests…

One member of the ‘Mideast Quartet’ Russia has reversed its policy toward the Palestinian government: Russia in Favor of Lifting Palestinian Aid Embargo (RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty) Shi’as, Sunnis and Kurds all reach initial agreement that could affect the economic future of Iraq: Iraqis Reach an Accord on Oil Revenues (New York Times) Sectarian execution-style killings are down,…

Op-ed in Jakarta Post slams Indonesian government for not doing to more to fulfill its promises to increase privatization of the economy:  State Minister Dreams of Cutting the Number of SOEs (Jakarta Post)  Indonesian economic minister says existence of democracy and rule of law are essential to economic prosperity:  RI Years from Sustainable Economy, Democracy…

Mr. Gonzales, can you please tell me one more time, how many ‘terrorists’ were caught?  Audit Finds U.S. Anti-terror Statistics Inflated (Associated Press)  Fighting terrorists networks outside the rule of law maybe more acceptable to some in America…  Court Rules Against Guantanamo Detainees (Associated Press)  …but not so in Europe:  Europe’s Rising Unease Over ‘Terror…

Quagmire in Iraq and support for repressive regimes have allowed Al-Qaeda’s influence to extend into North Africa: North Africa Feared as Staging Ground for Terror (New York Times) Terrorist Networks Lure Young Moroccans to War in Far-Off Iraq (Washington Post) Disclosure of US plans to attack Iran include wide list of military targets and would…

Latest BBC poll shows polarization, but possibility for a ‘middle ground’ between Muslims and Westerners: The Middle Ground on Islam and West (BBC News) Middle East professor Juan Cole gives his analysis and opinion on why Muqtada As-Sadr most likely did not flee to Iran and provides a link to the draft law on Iraqi…