Egypt: How Significant is the Muslim Brotherhood’s Election?
January 28th, 2010 by Josh
Hitching onto Shadi Hamid’s earlier comments on the rise of Muhammad Badie to General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood — namely that the MB’s “organizational commitments trump the beliefs of individual leaders” — Gregg Carlstrom of The Majlis doubts that the “election has much external significance, despite widely-publicized concerns that Badie (a conservative) will push the group to the right.” Expounding upon this point, Carlstrom echoes a Fawas Gerges post at The Guardian predicting that “the Brotherhood will be more preoccupied with increasing its membership…than lending a helping hand to the opposition.” If the MB maintains its non-violent rhetoric and avoids provoking the regime, Carlstrom believes that President Mubarak may tolerate the organization — but only if it doesn’t become more conservative. And in light of the MB’s “institutional inertia” and instinct for self-preservation, he expects the Brotherhood’s short-term politics to “remain largely unchanged.”
Posted in Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties | 1 Comment »
POMED Notes: Iraqi Ahrar Party Leader Speaks at Press Club
January 28th, 2010 by Maria
Ayad Jamal Aldin, leader of the Iraqi Ahrar (Liberal) party, spoke at the National Press Club this afternoon on the upcoming Iraqi elections. Aldin spoke on his party’s support of a secular Iraqi state and how he hopes this election will prove to be the turning point for Iraq. He forecasts doing well in the election and promised to participate fairly, advocating progressive measures like freedom of thought, women’s rights, civil society organizations, agriculture, the environment and responsible international relations. He also took questions on how his party will tackle some of the pressing issues Iraq faces as it begins to reshape the structure of its government.
Members of the media asked Aldin several questions about how his party intends to handle Iraq’s challenges, given the decision by President Obama’s administration to pull all U.S. combat troops by the end of August this year. Aldin responded that Iraq has been the “cradle of civilization” and survived an 8,000-year history; he invites the U.S. to remain in the country if it seeks to support Iraqi civilians in rebuilding their own government, but that they should not stay if they intend to interfere with the process. He cited that building a strong Iraqi army as well as a strong central government is especially crucial to Iraq’s future as an independent, sovereign nation. Aldin acknowledged the weaknesses of the country, but said that Iraqi citizens still wished to defend their country, land, and rights against any outside aggression.
The event was part of a week-long visit to the U.S. in which Aldin has met with the press, policymakers and congressional staff. He told members of the press that his trip to the United States was coordinated in order to exchange views with U.S. policymakers as well as gather support from the U.S. administration in support of the rebuilding of Iraq.
Posted in Elections, Iraq, Political Parties, Women | Comment »
Iraq: Does the Administration Really Support the Electoral Blacklist?
January 25th, 2010 by Josh
In a bit of a surprise, al-Arabiya relays an AFP report that shows Vice President Biden expressing the U.S. administration’s support for the recently released blacklist of Ba’th affiliated candidates. Biden traveled to Baghdad last Friday in a visit which signaled for many observers the administration’s discomfort with the current trajectory of Iraq’s electoral season. However, Biden quickly dismissed any notion that the U.S. would intercede, saying “I want to make clear I am not here to resolve that issue. This is for Iraqis to do, not for me.”
Meanwhile, Spencer Ackerman parses Biden’s language and derives a different conclusion than AFP, stating, “You can’t fairly look at [his] statement and say Biden blessed the process.” On the other hand, Ackerman notices a fair amount of subtlety within Biden’s remarks, conceding that perhaps Biden’s “soft touch” failed to “emphasize the dangers of a second sectarian election.”
IraqPundit uses this news to take a swing at President Obama for allowing Ahmad Chalabi, whom the writer sees as “the brains” behind the blacklist, to manipulate the elections. Even more concerning than Chalabi’s “stealthy” entrenchment within Iraq’s political infrastructure, however, is what the writer sees as passive engagement from the international community over the issue of free and fair elections. “Somebody better get their act together and let the Iraqi people decide who should run the country.”
UPDATE: A series of car bombings killed at least 36 people in Baghdad today, reigniting fears that sectarian violence might escalate in advance of the March elections. The coordinated attack was the first of its kind in more than 6 weeks.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Elections, Iraq, Political Parties, Sectarianism, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Assessing ‘A New Way Forward’: One Year of the Obama Administration in the Middle East”
January 21st, 2010 by Josh
The Project on Middle East Democracy hosted an event to analyze President Obama’s first year in office and present ideas for a more substantive engagement in democracy promotion moving forward. In his inaugural address on January 20, 2009, President Barack Obama declared, “To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” This vision of a “new way forward” became a theme of the Obama administration’s interactions with the Arab and Muslim world during its first year. President Obama further articulated this vision in his major speech in Cairo, in which he identified seven major challenges that the U.S. and the Muslim world must confront together: violent extremism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, nuclear nonproliferation, democracy, women’s rights, religious freedom, and economic development. Now, on the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s inauguration, we gather to assess the Obama administration’s first year and to examine further opportunities for the administration to implement its vision of a new beginning with the Arab and Muslim world.
POMED’s Executive Director Andrew Albertson provided opening remarks and introduced the keynote speaker, Senator Robert Casey, Jr (D-PA). Daniel Brumberg of the U.S. Institute of Peace then moderated a panel of six speakers, each of whom participated in one of POMED’s three regional conferences in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan: Mohammad Azraq, 2010 Leaders for Democracy Fellow in Jordan; Karim Bayoud, Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections; Cole Bockenfeld, International Foundation for Electoral Systems; David Linfield, Fulbright Fellow in Jordan; Bassem Samir, Egyptian Democratic Academy; and Jessica O’Higgins, International Student Exchange Programs.
Albertson moderated the second panel, which consisted of: Adel Abdellatif, Arab States Bureau, UN Development Programme; Michele Dunne, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Steven Kull, Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA). Congressman Tom Perriello (D-VA) provided closing remarks.
For POMED’s notes in PDF, please click here. Otherwise, continue reading below the fold.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Islamist movements, Jordan, Kurds, Lebanon, Legislation, Political Parties, Public Opinion, Publications, Reform, sanctions | 1 Comment »
Iraq: De-Ba’thification or Destabilization?
January 14th, 2010 by Josh
Ranj Alaaldin of the Guardian joins the chorus of those predicting the consequences of Iraq’s proposed electoral regulations (which we previously discussed here and here). In addressing concerns that “de-Ba’athification” may be derailing the national reconciliation process, Alaaldin emphasizes that the participatory blacklist is not yet law (pending a decision by Iraq’s electoral commission), but concedes that the saga itself may have already had the effect of destabilizing the push for national unity. With that said, he acknowledges the value of excluding a movement whose membership continues to include those responsible for terrorist attacks. What is difficult to determine, however, “is whether those seemingly reconciled Ba’thists have truly changed their [colors].” Thus far, Iraq’s other dominant Sunni groups have largely remained silent, perhaps indicating that they see no reason to boycott the spring elections. Alaaldin surmises that if these groups do in fact maintain full political participation, it may be a sign that “Sunnis have largely left, or hope to leave behind their violent, exclusionary past in the new Iraq.”
On a more pessimistic note, British Ambassador to Iraq John Jenkins alludes to Iraq’s violent history in warning that an Iraqi military coup remains a “real possibility.” In testimony to Britain’s ongoing Iraq Inquiry, Jenkins asserted that democracy in Iraq was “not a done deal” but admitted that “where we are at the moment is much better than we thought it was going to be back in 2004-05.”
UPDATE: al-Arabiya is reporting that Iraqi election organizers have barred an additional 500 parties and politicians from the spring election cycle. According to the Independent High Electoral Commission, approximately 6,500 candidates registered to compete in the election, which means that nearly 8 percent of all candidates have now been barred.
Posted in Elections, Iraq, Political Parties | Comment »
Just Released: New Issue of the Arab Reform Bulletin
January 14th, 2010 by Josh
The new issue of the Arab Reform Bulletin, published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlights ongoing political battles in Palestine, Jordan, Libya, and Egypt. Helga Baumgarten, professor of political science at Birzeit University in Palestine, uses her column to explore the question, “Who will be Arafat’s true successor?” The increasingly complex nature of the Palestinian political infrastructure has thrown a wrench into the traditional power equation which presumed, “whoever leads Fatah will lead the PLO, and the leader of the PLO will be elected president of the PA.” Though Mahmoud Abbas managed to win power immediately following Yasser Arafat’s death, Baumgarten largely dismisses him as a viable long-term option since he “lacks the charisma, mass popular base, and free access to external funds necessary to exercise control as Arafat once did.” After consideration, Baumgarten settles on four men who have what she believes is a sufficient balance between entrenched domestic ties and external (read: U.S.) friendships in order to challenge for a position of power: 1) Mohammed Dahlan, former head of Preventive Security in Gaza; 2) Jibril Rajub, Dahlan’s West Bank counterpart as head of the Preventive Security; 3) Tawfiq al-Tirawi, the former head of General Intelligence in the West Bank; and 4) Hussein al-Sheikh, another high-ranking official from the Palestinian security sector.
Elsewhere in the issue, George Joffé of the Centre of International Studies at Cambridge takes a critical look at Saif al-Islam Gaddafi’s ascension within Libyan politics, noting that he recently achieved the second most powerful post in the Libyan political hierarchy despite his ideological differences with his father, current Libyan president Muammar al-Gaddafi. Joffé maintains that “the significance of this appointment cannot be overstated,” although “it remains to be seen how compromised [Saif al-Islam’s] reform agenda might be” due to his “domestication within the current Libyan political system.”
With regard to Jordan’s recent parliamentary dissolution, journalist Ibrahim Gharaibeh examines the potential areas of political consequence. He senses newfound optimism emanating from domestic Islamist movements, writing that “there are changes to the electoral law rumored that might favor their interests.” The original election law was instituted in 1993 following a previous decision by King Abdullah to disband parliament, and Gharaibeh predicts that the government may use the space created by this most recent dissolution “to embark on a series of social and economic reforms to meet the goals of IMF and WTO programs.”
For an overview of Issandr Amrani’s article on Egyptian electoral politics, published in the Bulletin as well, see our earlier post here.
Posted in Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Palestine, Political Parties, Publications, US foreign policy | Comment »
Egypt: ElBaradei’s Long Shadow
January 13th, 2010 by Josh
In a column at al-Masry al-Youm, political analyst Issandr Amrani details what he terms the “ElBaradei Effect” on Egyptian politics, a reference to the looming presence of Egyptian-born Mohamed ElBaradei who served as the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1997 until 2009. In the absence of formidable challengers to the current regime, particular in light of the impending battle over Hosni Mubarak’s succession, many within the opposition community have thrust their hopes upon ElBaradei whom they view as an internationally respected leader with sufficient gravitas to demand democratic reform. However, ElBaradei put an end to speculation over a potential opposition platform candidacy with a December 2009 statement, saying he would only consider running as an independent in the 2011 election cycle (see our earlier post on this announcement here).
Regardless, Amrani uses ElBaradei’s reputation as an “eminently more qualified” politician than heir apparent Gamal Mubarak as the basis to explore the consequenses of his political emergence. Although pro-government news outlets have already issued a number of personal attacks, Amrani believes that ElBaradei’s call for internationally monitored elections — the first of its kind from a prominent opposition figure — might bring “greater scrutiny to 2010’s parliamentary polls.” But most importantly, he attributes a new environment of “amplified public attention” to ElBaradei’s political arrival, which will surely help to modify the democratic framework of future elections.
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Parties, Reform | 1 Comment »
Iraq: Will New Iraqi Election Law Reignite Political Violence?
January 12th, 2010 by Josh
The decision by Iraq’s Justice and Accountability Commission to institute an electoral blacklist provoked threats of boycott from the “Iraqi List,” an influential organization with deep ties into the power structures of Iraqi politics. The leaders of the group issued a statement calling on “all those involved to correct this grave mistake as soon as possible in order to maintain the positive electoral atmosphere.” Though it avoided inflammatory language, the group ended with the rather ominous message that the ban “could jeopardize the electoral and political process.”
Robert Dreyfuss of the Nation worries that the enactment of this ban could incite, if not another civil war, perhaps a painful round of renewed political violence. He quotes Raed Jarrar, an Iraqi-born political analyst in Washington and a senior fellow at Peace Action, as saying “it will have catatrophic results, because it will push people to fight outside the system, rather than inside the system.”
Posted in Elections, Iraq, Political Parties, Sectarianism | 1 Comment »
Iraq: Commission Bars Politicians, Parties from Spring Elections
January 11th, 2010 by Josh
Agence France Presse (AFP) reports that Iraq’s Independent Commission for Justice and Accountability has banned fourteen Iraqi politicians and parties from participating in the forthcoming March elections, signaling the government’s intent to “purge parties alleged to have been sponsored by diehard elements of the banned Baath party.”
Saleh al-Mutlak, head of the National Dialogue Front and perhaps the most prominent of the newly blacklisted politicians, denounced the ruling as “against the law and the Constitution.” He vowed to appeal the decision in federal court in order to procure a court-mandated override allowing full electoral participation, although AFP noted that it was not immediately clear how long that process would take.
The reaction from current Iraqi members of parliament was mixed. While some praised the announcement as a significant step toward erasing Saddam Hussein’s residual influence within the political system, others saw it as a dangerous precedent. Mahmud Othman, an independent Kurdish MP, claimed the commission’s ruling would “harm efforts towards national reconciliation,” which he contends is key to further reducing political and sectarian instability.
Posted in Elections, Iraq, Political Parties, Sectarianism | 2 Comments »
Constitutional Reform: Process and Momentum in the Arab World
January 7th, 2010 by Josh
A revealing report by the The Arab Reform Initiative highlights the previous two decades of constitutional reform in the Arab world, and examines both the underlying catalyst for “democratic shifts” and the future direction of these reforms within five countries: Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria, and Mauritania.
Though the report, written by Amina El Messaoudi, recognizes the unique internal circumstance of each country’s process toward reformation, it uncovers several thematic similarities across the Arab community. More specifically, it points to constitutional reforms in five general areas: 1) State support of human rights law, 2) Gender equality and women’s representation, 3) Reinforcement of constitutional law, 4) Multi-party systems, and 5) Financial regulation.
However, the impetus for democratic progress often came from different sources. Messaoudi writes that the ruling power initiated reforms in places like Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia, while opposition parties jump-started the process in Morocco. On a functional level, civil society and media helped to spur reformation in Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, and Mauritania, “whereas in [Algeria and Bahrain] national treaties served as the entry point for amendments.”
Parliamentary restructuring in favor of bicameral legislatures played a key role by slowly shifting power away from the executive, Messaoudi reports, however three roadblocks prevented widespread progress on that front: 1) The second legislative body is often significantly less democratic with many members appointed directly by the country’s executive, 2) most Arab constitutions impart similar powers and responsibilities to both parliamentary chambers, which “impedes a dynamic relationship from forming between them,” and 3) heads of state retain the sole authority to dissolve the parliament.
While acknowledging that these efforts “have not profoundly altered the political and constitutional arrangements in these countries,” the report attributes the “change in the relationship between the powers, and an increased role for political parties, as well as civil society” to the movement for constitutional reform throughout much of the region, and believes that civil society has been “empowered to undertake an effective role in future constitutional amendments.”
Posted in Algeria, Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Political Parties, Reform, Tunisia | 1 Comment »
Lebanon: Contesting Hezbollah’s Arms
December 23rd, 2009 by Zack
The Daily Star reports that the Phalange party is filing suit with the Constitutional Court contesting the legitimacy of article six of the Cabinet policy statement that upheld the right to Resistance. Hezbollah MP Nawaf Moussawi rejects the suit and claims that the party’s right to maintain an arsenal “is part of the national charter; thus we do not need approval from this side or another.”
At the same time, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is calling for a “psychological war” against Israel designed to counter recent Israeli maneuvers aimed at convincing the region of the Israeli army’s invincibility. In response, The Daily Star editorial staff contends that while Nasrallah is well-intentioned, he seeks to draw the entire country into Hezbollah’s camp. Instead, the paper pushes for a national diplomatic-defense initiative to build trust in the nation.
Posted in Freedom, Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Political Parties, Reform | Comment »
Iraq: A Critical Year Ahead
December 22nd, 2009 by Jason
Kenneth Pollack warns that “while [Iraq] has made tremendous progress in both the security and political realms, all of those gains are fragile and could evaporate quickly if strained.” Pollack argues “the mistake we are in danger of making in Iraq is that as our military steps back, our civilians are not always stepping up.” If Iraqis begin to question our resolve, then ordinary Iraqis will have no choice but to support militias who might protect them in what they perceive as an impending civil war.
Fareed Zakaria also warns against forgetting the war in Iraq, contending that while the surge was a military success, Iraq has yet to resolve its fundamental political differences that preclude a stable future. Therefore, the Obama administration should maximize this opportunity to realize Iraq’s potential as an “extraordinary model for the Arab world.” While more pessimistic than Zakaria, Andrew Sullivan agrees this year will be “critical” in determining the ultimate success or failure of the war in Iraq.
John Hannah responds to the Iranian incursion into Iraqi territory. He argues that the incident proves that the Iraqi government is increasingly confident in protecting its sovereignty and Iraq has the potential to emerge as a “central pillar” in America’s struggle against violent Islamist extremism. Given the “flaccid U.S. response” to the incident, Hannah urges to “do far more to support our Iraqi friends.” While the incident has since died down, George Friedman argues Iran showed it might not wait for the U.S. to initiate a conflict. Now that Prime Minister Maliki has proven he is not an Iranian puppet but an Iraqi patriot, Hussain Abdul-Hussain argues the Gulf countries should “embrace a neighbor currently emerging from years of tyranny followed by civil strife.”
Finally, the AP reports a suicide bomber in northern Iraq has killed a city council chief, a member of the Turkmen minority affiliated with the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Iraq, Kurds, Military, Oil, Political Parties, Sectarianism, Terrorism, US foreign policy | Comment »
Yemen: The Need for a Broader Perspective?
December 22nd, 2009 by Jason
Time Magazine explores the potential fallout from U.S. assistance in strikes and raids against Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen. The article quotes Gregory Johnsen who warns “you can’t just go kill a few individuals and the al-Qaeda problem will go away,” especially when such attacks result in civilian casualties. As Mohammad Quhtan of Yemen’s opposition Islamist al-Islah party explains, “Al-Qaeda will be able to recruit a lot more young people, at least from the tribes that were hit.”
Instead, Johnsen repeats his call for (see our previous post) a broader American foreign policy that will undermine Al-Qaeda. He points to a Reuters article that describes how, in addition to al-Qaeda, falling oil income, water shortages, humanitarian crises, the Houthi conflict, and a southern separatist movement all contribute to Yemen’s instability.
Posted in Middle Eastern Media, Military, Oil, Political Parties, Public Opinion, Terrorism, US foreign policy, Yemen, al-Qaeda | Comment »
Egypt: Brotherhood Chooses New Guidance Bureau
December 21st, 2009 by Jason
The Chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Mahdi Akef, announced the results of the elections for the organization’s Executive Guidance Bureau. According to Akef, the Shura Committee used elections to show “the Movement’s ideology promotes the adherence to democracy, respect of freedom of opinion and expression.”
The new members are: Dr. Ossama Nasr el-Deen, Gomaa Ameen Abdul Aziz, Rashad Albayoumy, Saad Esmat Elhosseiny, Dr. Abdul Rahman Albar, Dr. Essam Eleryan, Dr. Mohamed Badee, Dr. Mohamed Saad Alkatatny, Dr. Mohamed Abdul Rahman Almorsy, Dr. Mahmoud Morsy, Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Dr. Mahmoud Hussein, Dr. Mahmoud Ezzat, Dr. Mahmoud Ghozlan, Dr. Mohyee Hamed, and Dr. Mustafa Alghoneimy.
According to Marc Lynch, “the election has produced a dramatic turn towards the conservative end of the spectrum.” Notably, both Abdel Mounim Abou el-Fattouh and Mohammad Habib failed to win a seat in the Guidance Bureau. At the same time, Lynch notes that “virtually no other Arab political movement, party, or government holds such free or fair internal elections to positions of real power.” Lynch predicts the Brotherhood will now likely disengage from democratic politics in the face of regime pressure and instead focus on religious outreach. Meanwhile, Akef has rejected claims from some MB members that the elections are illegitimate because they did not adhere to typical procedures as a result of fears for arrest. Furthermore, Lynch notes that the elections are notable from the level of media scrutiny they have received, prying open internal Brotherhood differences.
Finally, Lynch observes that the Brotherhood must still decide who will replace Akef as the new Supreme Guide and argues this election will increase the likelihood that new leader will take a “less politically engaged stance, concentrating on social work and religious outreach rather than public politics.” This change of course will please the Egyptian regime “which wants no turbulence as it manages the transition from Hosni Mubarak to his successor. If a conservative is chosen as the next Supreme Guide, then Lynch believes the “real question is whether the frustrated reformists will split” from the Brotherhood.
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties | 1 Comment »
Kuwait: Confidence Vote “Unprecedented”
December 21st, 2009 by Jason
Gregory Gause III has written a guest blog at Abu Aardvark about last week’s confidence vote in Kuwait. As he explains, it was the first time in history Kuwait held a vote of confidence on the prime minister, which Sheikh Nasir al-Muhammad won 35-13. Admittedly, it would have been better if the session had been open to the press, but Gause still contends it was an “unprecedented” step in Kuwaiti politics.
Meanwhile, AFP reports that over 5,000 Kuwaiti tribesmen have staged a protest against a television program that alleged the bedouin are not true Kuwaitis.
Posted in Kuwait, Political Parties, Protests | Comment »
Lebanon and Syria: Hariri Meets With Assad
December 21st, 2009 by Jason
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri visited Syria this weekend in an attempt, in his words, to “open new horizons between the two countries.” In turn, President Assad insisted he is “very attached to sincere relations based on common understanding.” In response, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah observed the trip has helped make the “atmosphere comfortable” between the two countries. Hariri returned to Beirut Sunday night ahead of Monday’s first meeting of the new cabinet.
Many Lebanese politicians expressed their approval of the historic trip, except for Progressive Socialist Party head Walid Jumblatt who refused to comment. The New York Times focused on how “the trip epitomized a national story with anguished, almost operatic dimensions: a young leader forced to shake hands with the man who he believes killed his father.”
Meanwhile, Nasrallah also dismissed anyone who questions Hezbollah’s arsenal as “mercenaries” during a speech in the preparation for the Day of Ashura.
Finally, Joshua Landis reports that Ambassador Joseph Adam Ereli may be the next U.S. representative in Damascus, but admits that there are many other possibilities as well.
Posted in Diplomacy, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Political Parties, Syria, US foreign policy | 1 Comment »
Iraq: Tensions Ease with Iran
December 21st, 2009 by Zack
Iranian troops have reportedly begun to withdraw from a disputed oil well in Iraqi territory that Iran occupied last week (see our post). However, according to Iraqi officials, the Iranians have only withdrawn 50 meters and refuse to return to the other side of the border.
Juan Cole believes the standoff could have been an Iranian ploy to either influence the border demarcations, raise oil prices, threaten the U.S. and China, or be a way for Tehran to warn Iraq away from its campaign with Syria. The Christian Science Monitor reports that many Iraqis and the U.S. fear that Iran will fill the void as the U.S. begins to withdraw.
The NY Times has a piece profiling Sunni sheikh Abdul-Rahman Munshid al-Assi, a former American prisoner and insurgent who has established the Arab Political Council to represent Sunnis in Kirkuk. While opposing inclusion into the democratic system, the article argues that Abdul-Rahman is using political action “to tap into the simmering rage he says is still rampant.” The sheikh and his cousins have entered politics to exploit another “tool” in the insurgent campaign to retake Kirkuk and restore Sunni authority.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Elections, Freedom, Gulf, Human Rights, Iran, Iraq, Military, Political Islam, Political Parties, US foreign policy, al-Qaeda | Comment »
Iraq: Iranian Troops Enter Contested Oil Field
December 18th, 2009 by Jason
Iraq officials have confirmed that Iranian soldiers have entered Iraqi territory and claimed an oilfield whose ownership is disputed by Iran. A U.S. military spokesman stated “there has been no violence related to this incident and we trust this will be resolved through peaceful diplomacy between the governments of Iraq and Iran.”
During a trip to Iraq, Admiral Mullen affirmed that the Iraq drawdown will proceed as scheduled, despite delayed elections and a recent spike in bombings. Meanwhile, Iraqi forces are on alert after threats of violence during the coming Christmas holiday.
IraqPundit relays a conversation he had with laborers from Sadr City who expressed their discontent with Moktada al-Sadr as well as the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. Instead, they plan to vote for Nouri al-Maliki “because he is not an extremist.” At the same time, IraqPundit reveals that many “Iraqis are disappointed in al-Maliki because he has presided over an extremely corrupt government, and he has failed to prevent terror attacks.”
The New York Times editorial staff warns that “the bitter discord between Iraq’s Kurdish regional government and the Shiite-Arab dominated central government - over land, oil and the power of the central government - is the most dangerous fault line in Iraq today.” Therefore, the situation calls for “deft and sustained American involvement.”
Finally, Peter Galbraith has written a statement clarifying his activities in Kurdistan concerning his role in advising the formation of the constitution and the negotiation of oil deals.
Posted in Afghanistan, Diplomacy, Elections, Iraq, Kurds, Legislation, Military, Oil, Political Parties, Public Opinion, Sectarianism, Secularism, Terrorism, US foreign policy, United Nations | Comment »
Jordan: Crusade against Corruption
December 18th, 2009 by Jason
Bikya Masr reports that the new Jordanian Prime Minister, Samir Rifai, has pledged to launch a “crusade” against corruption and nepotism. Rifai affirmed “there will be no leniency in dealing with corruption and the corrupt, and no one will be above the law.”
According to King Abdullah II, “the forthcoming elections should represent a qualitative transition in Jordan’s democratic march and presents the kingdom as a model in transparency, fairness and impartiality.” In response, a member of the opposition party Islamic Action Front, Mohamed Ghanem, said “we will wait and see if the King comes through on his promises of a better country where democracy can flourish.”
Posted in Elections, Jordan, Judiciary, Political Islam, Political Parties, Reform | Comment »
Egypt: Brotherhood Members Released
December 17th, 2009 by Jason
al-Masry al-Youm reports that nine Muslim Brotherhood members were released Wednesday after completing jail sentences handed down by a military court in 2008. Meanwhile, a Cairo Criminal Court also ordered the release of ten other MB members who were recently detained in Beheira.
The editorial staff at al-Masry al-Youm criticizes the state-run media’s recent attacks on Mohamed elBaradei after he announced his potential presidential candidacy, a sentiment also shared by Hamdi Kandil.
Bikya Masr reports that the ministry of interior has for a third time ignored a court’s order to release the Egyptian-Christian blogger Hani Nazeer Aziz. They also report that the Under-Secretary of the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights, Dr. Mona Zou El Fokar, has called for the abolition of the death penalty and warned against the overcrowding of Egypt’s prisons.
An Egyptian MP for al-Shaab party has filed a lawsuit against a journalist who purportedly has promoted vice for publishing an article asking why women can’t practice polygamy given that men can marry more than one woman.
Finally, residents facing eviction in a Cairo neighborhood clashed violently with police, causing one death and injuring 28 people, including 17 policemen.
Posted in Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, Journalism, Judiciary, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs, Political Parties, Protests, Reform, Women | Comment »
