News and Analysis (8/10/09)

Even Khomeini chose to co-opt the shah’s clandestine services rather than build his intelligence ministry from scratch; by now replacing longtime officials with loyalists, “the purge does away decades of intelligence experience”,

• Iran’s President Purges Intelligence Ministry (LA Times)

“[F]or years [Washington] touted Dubai as a model of a modern, prosperous Muslim land that, though far from democratic, seemed anchored in the rule of law and committed to basic rights”:

• As Dubai’s Glitter Fades, Foreigners See Dark Side (Washington Post)

The UN  report criticizes the sacrifice of freedom in the name of security:

• UN Voices Concern Over Afghan Poll (Al Jazeera)

The strategy challenges  traditional concepts  of military’s rules of engagement and international law:

• U.S. to Hunt Down Afghan Drug Lords Tied to Taliban (NY Times)

Exacerbating the diplomatic standoff, Iran believes the three Americans were “definitely spies”:

• Iraq Asks Iran to Release 3 American Hikers (La Times)

Station shut-down takes censorship to the max:

• Saudi Arabia Loses TV Station After Sex Talk (AP / Washington Post)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant