Month: November 2009

Israel and Palestine agree to a prisoner swap of Shalit for 450 Palestinians to be named by Hamas and another 530 [anti-Hamas?–Ed.] to be selected by Israel as “a gesture to the Palestinian people”: Israel: 980 Palestinians Slated for Release (Ma’an) “Iran’s nuclear policy has always been about walking the tightrope at the edge of…

Has Obama failed to deliver on his promised to break from the interrogation and detainee abuse of the Bush Administration? 2 Afghans Allege Abuse At U.S. Site (Washington Post) Logic like Swiss cheese– “Forced marriages and other things like cemeteries separating the pure and impure – we don’t have that in Switzerland, and we do…

Eid Mubarak (Blessed Feast of Sacrifice)! Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Adha (Al Jazeera) The resolution had the backing of China and Russia but it is unclear if they will support the expansion of sanctions: Iran Censured Over Nuclear Program by U.N. Watchdog (NY Times) Clear signs of Islamophobia in Europe: Swiss Vote on Proposal to Ban…

US endorsement of the plan that essentially allows Israel to continue all planned construction for the next ten months falls short of Obama’s original demand for a full freeze and unfairly shifts political pressure  shift to the Palestinians: U.S. Praises Netanyahu Plan (Washington Post) Palestinians Reject Israeli Offer (Al Jazeera) On the brink of political…

Blackwater operatives “plan targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, ‘snatch and grabs’ of high-value targets[,] … assist in gathering intelligence and help direct a secret US military drone bombing campaign …  parallel to the well-documented CIA predator strikes”: Blackwater’s Secret War in Pakistan (The Nation) It seems Obama’s new strategy will not…

Signs of Karzai’s commitment to curbing corruption or just the tip of the iceberg in Afghani politics? Afghanistan Investigating 5 Current and Former Cabinet Members (Washington Post) Mixed signals in the media on whether the prisoner exchange is progressing or stalled: Netanyahu Says Hamas Prisoner Deal Might Not Happen (Reuters / Washington Post) ‘Progress’ in…

Saudi attempts to spread Wahhabism across Yemen have backfired, marking the first time Saudi forces have engaged in a conflict without allies: Saudi Arabia Goes to War (Guardian) War games are meant to deter an Israeli attack, but France and Russia lose patience over the delayed formal response to negotiations … Iran Stages War Games,…

As illegal settlers get water free while the owners of the aquifer must pay … Fight for Survival in the West Bank (Altheos) … a rocket that caused no damage or casualties is Israel’s excuse to injure seven: Palestinians Hurt in Gaza Raid (Al Jazeera) In the increasingly regional conflict, analysts fear the displaced will…

The new approach targets Karzai’s cabinet members and provincial governors in an effort to more effective reach out to the people of Afghanistan… A Softer Approach to Karzai (Washington Post) … but the US presence protects Afghanistan “from the need to take responsibility for the fight against the Taliban”: To Succeed in Afghanistan, We Must…

It seems some Americans are unclear on the difference between revenge and justice served in an open court: Obama and Holder Defend Plans to Try Sept. 11 Suspects (LA Times) The University will challenge Saudi social norms by permitting women to dress as they choose, allowing men and women working, studying and socializing together, and…