Month: July 2007

Pakistan goes from one extreme, letting Taliban supporters freely set themselves up in the Red Mosque, to another, having the authoritarian state appoint the mosque’s new Imam: Pakistan: PM to Choose New Imam for Lal Masjid (Adnkronos International) Recent bullish trends in Pakistan’s stock market have more to with the military’s manipulation of prices to…

“The controversy which we witnessed about secularism versus Islam has not materialized”—Sami Kohen, a columnist for liberal daily Milliyet; AKP will be able to form a solo government, but will need cooperation from other parties to pass constitutional amendments: Turkey’s Ruling AKP Wins Vote (Reuters) As Iraqi parliamentarians protest criticism of their upcoming summer break…

Amid the fight between religious extremism and military dictatorship, chalk one up for democracy and the rule of law: Pakistan Court Reinstates Top Judge in Blow to Musharraf (Agence France Press) Pakistan Supreme Court Reinstates Judge (Washington Post) Despite Russian opposition, Kosovo Eyes November 28 Independence Declaration (Reuters) Iraqis aren’t waiting to withdraw… Denmark airlifts…

Israeli strategy: destroy Gaza trade and turn the population into welfare dependents: Palestinians in Gaza Appeal for More Aid (Reuters) Sadr uses civil society to provide services the Iraqi government can’t: Cleric Switches Tactics to Meet Changes in Iraq (NY Times) As a marine is convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder in Iraq…

In latest twist of Zionist-Fatah symbiosis, Israel’s arrest of half of the Hamas parliamentarians gives Abbas a loophole to call for new elections: Abbas Plans to Decree New Palestinian Election (Reuters) Failure of Bush strategy provides an excuse for “more aggressive measures inside of Pakistan:” Bush Aides See Failure in Fight with Al Qaeda in…

Shooting the messenger—a demonstration of how certain U.S. allies impede America’s ability to get accurate information in the fight against our avowed enemies: ·        Afghan Governor Fired After Comments (ABC News / AP) The hopelessness of the Bush plan for revived peace talks is underscored by the emphatic statement of a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime…

Bush offers $195 million in taxpayer money to buy peace … ·        Bush Urges Mid-East Peace Talks (BBC) … but the pattern he would follow is one of failure: ·        U.S. Bet on Abbas For Mideast Peace Meets Skepticism: Intelligence Reports Cast Doubt on Strength While Warning of Tenacity of Rival Hamas (Washington Post) Israel…

Those who would conquer seek to divide; liberation requires unity: · Competing Visions for Palestinians: While the Israelis and US want to isolate Hamas, some Arab states see need for Palestinian unity (Christian Science Monitor) Imprisoned Egyptian radicals change their tune: Have they finally read the Qur’an for meaning, or are they speaking under duress?…

Members of congress, latest US military action against sectarian policemen and Middle East analysts issue their respective rebuffs to Bush spin on recent Iraq report:  US House Votes for Troop Pullout (BBC News)  U.S. Troops Battle Iraqi Police, Gunmen (Reuters/Washington Post)  Al Qaeda Stronger, but is it the Major Factor in Iraq? (Christian Science Monitor) …

In the wake of the Red Mosque battle, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz promises no tolerance for extremism in religious schools and vows curriculum reform: Illegal Activities in Madressahs Not to be Tolerated: PM (The Dawn) As White House is due release “mixed results” Iraq benchmark report, CIA already gave dark assessment last year, saying, Iraq…