Egyptian Media Law
July 30th, 2008 by Sarah
Arab Media and Society provides an unofficial translation of Egypt’s draft legislation regarding the media. POMED previously blogged on concerns that the legislation could be used as a pretext to crack down on journalists, political opponents, and others, including Facebook activists and bloggers who have been important in mobilizing Egyptian opposition forces.
For the unofficial translation, click here.
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Der Spiegel Spurs Debate On Withdrawal
July 22nd, 2008 by Sarah
Matthew Yglesias at The American Prospect suggests that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki’s recent statement to Der Spiegel magazine reflects “the real post-surge shape of the political debate — a tug-o-war between the imperial fantasies of the American right, and the joint desire of the Iraqi and American people to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq.” According to Yglesias, the 16-month schedule for U.S. withdrawal will buy the Iraq government continued U.S. military support while also asserting Iraqi sovereignty, and will help the U.S. end the war in Iraq on the best possible terms, while freeing up needed resources.
Kimberly Kagan at The Weekly Standard strongly disagrees. “The whole purpose of the surge was to transform the conflict over power in Iraq from a military to a political struggle. We and the Iraqis have accomplished that goal–for now. But the most critical period in the birth of a new Iraq lies ahead. America can stand beside this fractious and sometimes violent young state whose people are now passionate about democracy. Or we can abandon them to their enemies, to their own fears and insecurities, and to the fragility of their months-old efforts at real reconciliation. It is a weighty choice, but not a hard one for anyone who has seen the vision of a possible future Iraq.”
Abe Greenwald at Commentary Magazine’s Contentions is dismayed by al-Maliki’s decision to publicly broadcast his support for a 16-month time frame for withdrawal, but ultimately suggests that “if al-Maliki truly wants U.S. combat forces out in 16 months, then we should leave. If he’s right — and Iraq sees a continued reduction in violence and progress as a viable state in the absence of American troops — then that certifies a gargantuan victory for America in the Iraq War. If he’s wrong, the world pays an incalculable price for a bad decision.”
Much of the debate about troop withdrawal centers on what is seen as improvements in Iraqi stability, yet Patrick Cockburn at The Nation isn’t so confident. “Nobody here knows whether this rebirth of the Iraqi state machine is a mirage.” On the whole, however, Cockburn concludes that there is no better gift to the Iraqi government than a timetable for withdrawal: “So long as the US occupation continues, the Iraqi government will be deemed illegitimate by its own people.”
For more opinions on withdrawal, check out the debate at Dissent Magazine, with Michael Walzer, Jean Bethke Elshtain, Sohail Hashmi, Gerard Power , and Trudy Rubin.
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Happy 4th of July!
July 4th, 2008 by Stephen
Wishing a happy United States Independence Day to all. The POMED Wire will return on Monday…
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2008: Obama’s Mideast Experts; Kaplan On What Obama Can Learn From Gates
June 17th, 2008 by Matt
In yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, Jay Solomon had a piece featuring interviews with three experts believed to have been highly influential in formulating Barack Obama’s recent speech before AIPAC–Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer, and James Steinberg. The three strategists offer Solomon some insight and detail about how an Obama administration might approach engagement with Syria and Iran, and why the candidate believes his strategy is the correct one.
At theatlantic.com, Robert Kaplan says that Sen. Obama must modify his withdrawal proposal as conditions on the ground in Iraq continue to improve. Kaplan argues that political and strategic adjustments by Secretary Gates (as well as Gen. Petraeus and Amb. Crocker) can offer Obama important lessons on how to carefully reposition himself as the situation in Iraq changes.
Posted in Election 08, Iran, Iraq, Syria, US foreign policy, US politics, Uncategorized | Comment »
Are Moderate Muslims The Solution?
June 17th, 2008 by Sarah
Steven Cook at Foreign Policy’s blog does not believe that encouraging moderate Islam is part of the solution to Mid East conflict. “Not only is it impossible to agree on a working definition of the word ‘moderate,’ but there is scant evidence that extremists really do moderate once they assume power.” Rather, policymakers should focus on identifying those who can contribute pragmatic solutions to the many problems we confront in the region, “moderate” or not.”
Marwan Muasher, author of “The Arab Center,” sees moderates as a key to success, but addresses their challenges in an interview with Foreign Policy. “Moderates on peace are not moderates on other issues of concern to Arab citizens, such as political reform, governance, and cultural diversity, and moderates on reform are not also always moderates on peace. For the Arab center to hold, it needs to apply moderation across the board.”
Posted in Political Islam, US foreign policy, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Can Religion and Democracy Go Hand-In-Hand?
June 17th, 2008 by Sarah
George Wittman of the American Spectator discusses the AKP’s legal controversy in Turkey and questions the motivations behind the country’s secular party. “Which is more democratic? Restricting religious costuming in the name of secular-demanded separation of state and religion, or allowing limited emblems of religious cultural belief to exist as a symbol of democratic process?”
Posted in Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Political Islam, Political Parties, Turkey, Uncategorized | Comment »
Rebuilding the U.S. Image
June 16th, 2008 by Sarah
Ted Widmer in the L.A. Times finds that “There is no question that U.S. foreign policy suffered a monster setback over the last eight years, and it does not take a genius to realize that the next president will have to speak differently to a world that has grown cynical about American promises.” The U.S. however should not disengage from world politics.
Likewise, the Washington Realist’s Nikolas Gvosdev argues that the global community does want the U.S. to be a leader in international affairs, just not the only leader.
Posted in Diplomacy, Election 08, Uncategorized | Comment »
International Conference in Support of Afghanistan
June 12th, 2008 by Sarah
Today, the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan meets in Paris to shore up international support for rebuilding the country. Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, and Ben Dear at the Center for American Progress suggest that the Conference keep in mind that while money is necessary for reconstruction in Afghanistan, “past experience has shown that dollars alone will not solve the country’s development problems.” They call for the U.S. to take the lead by coordinating international assistance and making good on its own pledges for Afghanistan, “which to date have fallen short.”
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2008: Obama at AIPAC
June 10th, 2008 by Matt
The speeches at AIPAC were probably the most important policy items that I missed while away, so I’ll address them briefly here, despite potential staleness (focusing only on Obama and McCain, as the general election so begins). Obama argued in his remarks that recent U.S. foreign policy has made Israel less secure by clumsily strengthening entities like Hamas, Hezbollah, the government of Iran, and other extremist organizations. For Obama, a solution is attained by: continuing large amounts of military aid to Israel ($30 billion over the next decade); a lasting two-state peace agreement with the Palestinians achieved in part by isolating Hamas (Obama opposed the 2006 elections that brought Hamas to power), championing Palestinian moderates (and asking other Arab states to do so as well), cutting off weapons smuggling through Egypt, and insisting that Israel live up to past agreements to improve freedom of movement, refrain from building new settlements, and aid economic conditions in the Palestinian territories.
All of these strategies would be accompanied by tough-minded engagement with Iran and Syria (which Obama elaborates on in more detail than I am aware of him doing previously) and a comprehensive energy policy that would help move us away from indirectly bankrolling many of the problems we are trying to fight.
At the Foreign Policy blog, Blake Hounshell wonders if Obama’s take on an “undivided” Jerusalem might come back to haunt him down the road.
Posted in Election 08, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, US foreign policy, US politics, Uncategorized | Comment »
Confessions Yield No Concessions
May 20th, 2008 by Pasha
Mohammed Bazzi argues in the Christian Science Monitor that the “antiquated power-sharing system” in Lebanon is the root of the current strife. He sees the Lebanese confessional system as stunting the growth of political institutions and that it “leads to a weak state” by encouraging “horse-trading and alliances with powerful patrons.” Bazzi also views the system as particularly susceptible to outside influence, another major cause of strife in Lebanon. Unfortunately, he concludes that the needed political players, both Lebanese and foreign, are too invested in the current system to replace it with a new, more egalitarian system. For this reason, the fundamental reforms Bazzi sees as necessary seems out of reach.
Posted in Lebanon, Sectarianism, Uncategorized | Comment »
Headscarves and Lawsuits
May 15th, 2008 by Amanda
Spencer Boyer at The Root insists that “Turkey is vital to our national and international security interests,” and suggests that when the courts agreed to hear a case to ban ruling AK Party , it “set in motion a dangerous chain of events that could undo years of political and economic progress in Turkey. “
Boyer believes Turkey is “serving as a literal and figurative link between East and West. ” If the AKP is banned from participating in the political process, he argues that the nation will lose its “credibility” in the Middle East, therefore “hindering its political capital,” which will “in turn, will make Turkey a less effective security partner for the United States. “
The lawsuit comes on the heals of the recent push for the AKP to end the ban on headscarves at public universities. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy provides analysis on the EU view on the constitutional amendments passed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party.
The Middle East Institute recently released an interesting policy brief on “The Turkish Business Climate,” by Robert Loony. The analysis highlights the current climate “in the face of political, social, and economic trends in the country.”
Posted in Islam and Democracy, Pakistan, Political Islam, Secularism, US foreign policy, Uncategorized | Comment »
Iran Votes in Parliamentary Elections
April 25th, 2008 by Amanda
Iranians head to the polls today in what is expected to be a solidification of the majority conservative group critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadindejad, who will run for re-election in 2009.
The run-off vote will fill the remaining 81 of the total 300 seats– 209 members were elected in first round elections earlier this year by winning the required 25% of the vote to obtain a seat, among whom 130 belong to the conservative party. They pose a significant challenge to Ahmadinejad if he vies for the Presidency again next year.
CNN reports that “Ahmadinejad has not announced whether he’ll run for a second term.”
Posted in Elections, Iran, Uncategorized | Comment »
American Might or Multilateralism?
April 25th, 2008 by Amanda
Michael Gerson, in an op-ed piece at the Washington Post, suggests methods to better US foreign policy toward nations such as Iran and Afghanistan– to either “improve”or even “bypass” the UN or “create a NATO that actually works.” While he admits that international institutions are now crucial to boosting worldwide US diplomatic efficacy and ameliorating world crises, he charges that “they have seldom been less effective.
Gerson claims that “It is the paradox of American influence: In a crisis, our power is irreplaceable — and we want nothing more than to replace it.”
At The Christian Science Monitor, Helena Cobban draws on what she considers to be “the American way” of dealing with the international community, to “treat[ing] the peoples of other countries as our true equals.” In doing so, she sees improved US diplomatic relations worldwide.
“Today, America’s relationship with the world’s 6 billion non-Americans is more vital to our wellbeing than ever before. Let’s work on making it the most constructive relationship we can.”
Posted in Afghanistan, Diplomacy, Iran, US foreign policy, Uncategorized | Comment »
Domestic Political Troubles for Ahmadinejad?
April 23rd, 2008 by Stephen
Mehdi Khalaji of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy analyzes the recent parliamentary elections in Iran, the makeup of the new Majlis, and what this means for the final year of President Ahmadinejad’s current term in office. Khalaji notes the poor performance of Ahmadinejad’s supporters and he argues that although the reformists gained a relatively small number of seats, it’s possible that “could unite with Ahmadinezhad’s conservative critics and, together, attract enough support from independents to defeat his supporters.”
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Feeding Egypt
April 21st, 2008 by Amanda
Jackson Diehl at the Washington Post believes that for Egypt, “the link between food and freedom — or the lack of it — has never been clearer.”He says that Mubarak’s regime is in trouble as “Egypt’s latest bread crisis comes on the heels of a pro-democracy movement” and people take to the streets in protest over wages and political oppression, not just a hike in grain prices.
Riots are being stomped out but strikers continue to reorganize, and as Eman S. Morsi at babelmed interestingly points out, “most of these events were led or initiated by women,” defying social norms to voice their frustrations. Visit 3rabawy for photos on the most recent sit-in by 500 workers at Misr Dairy Products Company in El-Amiriya.
At the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, David Schenker provides detailed analysis of the current economic and political situation in Egypt, the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in recent elections, and the relationship between the United States and the Mubarak regime. Schenker notes that “Washington faces an uphill battle on certain key issues” as Egypt faces “a political transition on the horizon.”
Posted in Egypt, Islam and Democracy, Muslim Brotherhood, US foreign policy, Uncategorized, Women | Comment »
The Two-State Debate…and the Brotherhood?
April 17th, 2008 by Amanda
At Democracy Arsenal Shadi Hamid comments on the recent publication of a second member of the Muslim Brotherhood in the prominent Jewish-American newspaper Forward. He argues that this is testament to the willingness of many Islamists to approach the Jewish community and work toward a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He notes that while this movement by some members is critical, others will refuse to recognize Israel. He cites more pressing concerns, namely, the group’s near total banishment from the Egyptian political process, stating that “the Brotherhood is currently fighting for its very political existence, after one of most sustained periods of repression the group has ever had to face.” The Carnegie Endowment analyzes the political unrest in Egypt and the government’s crackdown of the group while the Middle East Institute comments on Egyptian society and leadership.
Dipnote poses a question to the public this week: What are the most significant underlying factors behind the recent food riots?
Mathew Ygelesias continues discussion on the two-state debate at theAtlantic, commenting on the Jewish lobbying group J-Street’s attempt at “progressive mobilization on foreign policy issues.” He declares that J-Street serves as “alternate voice on Middle East questions,” in contrast to other lobbies who fail to recognize the “appalling failure of the hawkish approach” of U.S. foreign policy.
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Islam and Democracy, Mideast Peace Plan, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Parties, US foreign policy, Uncategorized | Comment »
2008: A Couple Obama Criticisms
April 11th, 2008 by Matt
Lee Smith, writing in The New Republic, makes the argument that Barack Obama’s policy of engaging with dictators is particularly ill-suited for Syria. While not reflexively rejecting a policy of engagement, Smith argues that Syria presents a unique case in which non-engagement is actually working to our advantage right now.
Meanwhile, Steve Clemons takes Obama to task for disagreeing with direct dialogue with Hamas leadership, even through an emissary like Jimmy Carter. Quoting a letter signed by many prominent members of the American foreign policy establishment at the time of the Annapolis Summit recommending engagement of Hamas, Clemons argues that Obama’s “triangulation” on the issue of Hamas calls into question his independence from special interests and threatens to jeopardize the legitimacy of his “new vision” for American foreign policy.
Posted in Election 08, Hamas, Palestine, Syria, US foreign policy, US politics, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Continued Debate on Petraeus and Iraq’s Future
April 10th, 2008 by Sharlina
David Ignatius highlights in The Daily Star how the Iranian issue was the heart of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker’s testimonies at the Senate on Tuesday, and how the most pressing concern at hand is how to engage Iran and how to limit its activities.
The Washington Times‘ Harlan Ullman feels the question “what next?” wasn’t answered by Petraeus and Crocker’s testimonies, and thus the future of Iraq and U.S. policy there still remains cloudy. In contrast, a recent publication at the Center for Strategic and International Studies argues that “there is still a marginally better case for staying than for leaving.”
His Excellency Samir Sumaida’ie, Iraq’s ambassador to the United States, urges the U.S. not to give up on Petraeus’ counterinsurgency doctrine, arguing that the big test is for the U.S. to stay strong while “Iraq find[s] the necessary internal accommodations between competing political interests, enabling the country to keep outside interference at bay and ensure its internal cohesion and national unity.”
Ambassador Sumaida’ie also spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies yesterday, so to view the video of his speech, please click here.
A comprehensive report on the current policy situation in Iraq and two alternatives that would reduce the U.S. commitment to Iraq is available at the United States Institute of Peace.
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Kissinger on Changing US Policy
April 7th, 2008 by Amanda
In the Washington Post, Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger draws on emerging roles for US Foreign Policy the next presidential administration will face, among them being “the radical Islamist challenge to historic notions of sovereignty.”
Along with the focus shift toward Asia and the constantly changing European map, he admits the “declining role of the state in the Middle East” is a result of post-colonial European border gerrymandering,” yet blames radical Islamism and its repudiation of “national sovereignty based on secular state models.”
And the role of the US? Kissinger suggests that the United States change not simply foreign policy focus, but its methods. He posits some questions for policymaking thought: “What goals can America realistically set for itself and the world community? Is the internal transformation of major countries an attainable goal?”
He declares that thoughtful debate on these inquiries should drive decisions, “not focus-group-driven slogans designed to grab headlines.”
Posted in Diplomacy, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Political Islam, US foreign policy, Uncategorized | Comment »
Videos on Middle East Affairs
April 1st, 2008 by Sharlina
Check out the Middle East regional page at FORA.tv for lots of videos on Middle East affairs. Current videos include Robin Wright on the future of the Middle East, Iran Fariborz on secularism’s role in Iran, and Ahmad Faruqui on Pakistan’s derailed democracy.
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