Month: April 2007

Corruption plagues upcoming presidential election in Nigeria: Nigeria Holds Key Poll But Can it Be Democratic? (Reuters/Washington Post) Jury selection reveals hidden biases: “asked whether she considered Muslims disproportionately prone to violence. She replied: “Before Sept. 11, I would have said no. But from what I’ve heard since then on the news, I’d say yes.”…

Pentagon releases redacted transcript of statement by captured militant, in which he asserts he was tortured causing him to make false confessions about himself and have physical problems, such as seizures: Militant Tells Guantanamo Tribunal he was Tortured by CIA (Agence France Presse) Saudis agree to waive the interest on the interest-free loans and “failed…

Nigeria’s national elections already marred by violence and accusations of ballot manipulation become more complicated as popular banned candidate is finally cleared to run – 5 days before elections: Nigerian Court Overturns Ban on Accused Candidate (Washington Post) Voluntary pullout of Sadrists from Iraqi government could fill ministries based on merit, but also poses potential…

Washington Post columnist Robert Novak and the Daily Star Lebanon’s editorial examine Arab nations’ olive branch extended to the Israelis, and the consequences of the latter’s rejection of it: Olive Branch From Hamas (Washington Post) What are Arabs to make of Israel’s persistent refusal to make peace? (Daily Star Lebanon) Admissions at American universities in…

With his soft spoken style, transparent style of governance and support of the current President, Muslim politician Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is Nigeria’s current Presidential front-runner: Nigeria’s Soft-Spoken Top Candidate (Christian Science Monitor) Alleged “dirty bomber” case highlights the moral and strategic limitations of Bush administration’s counter-terrorism tactics: US Antiterror Tactics Crimp New Terror Case (Christian…

Washington Post reporter gives detailed eyewitness account of blast that hit Iraqi Parliament: In an Instant, a Junkyard of Humanity (Washington Post) Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations provides his analysis of militaries’ Middle East politics: Ruling But Not Governing: Militaries in the Middle East (Washington Post) Former Carter National Security advisor opines on…

One woman demands justice for her illegal detention in East Africa as she is mistaken for a ‘terrorist’… ‘I Want Justice for Terror Detention’ (BBC) …Following such stories, Ethiopia stages publicity stunt proclaiming how well it treats foreign detainees, but avoids discussing the real issue of illegal detentions: Ethiopia Shows 8 Foreign Detainees (AP/NY Times)…

While Iraq has been hit by some of the hardest fighting between joint US-Iraqi forces and Sunni militants, Sadr’s movement threatens to leave the government and escalate violence in the country:   Troops Backed by Helicopters Battle Insurgents in Baghdad (Washington Post) Iraq: Sadrists Threaten to Leave Gov’t (Associated Press) North Africa is rocked by…

Faced with the realities of a growing young and restless population, the Saudi government makes minimal concession by relaxing some of the country’s ultra-conservative social laws: Wave of Saudi Youths Challenge Kingdom’s Conservative Sway (Christian Science Monitor) The story of a joint Afghan-Dutch patrol’s firefight with Taliban units demonstrates the challenges to achieving security in…