One of the enduring obstacles to the consolidation of democracy in many African nations is the persistent issue of tribalism, raising problems that date back to the artificial imposition of nation states resulting from the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. The idea that people demand that leaders be appointed not out of merit and achievement but [...]
Tribalism And Democracy In Africa – OpEd
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The Struggle For Abu Kamal: Peace After Defeating The Dictator’s Forces – OpEd
By Asaad al-Saleh, an Assist. Prof. at the University of Utah Located on the bank of the Euphrates near the borders with Iraq, Abu Kamal, the city and its towns, has been an active participant in the revolution. The first significant demonstration was as early as 22 April 2011. This YouTube video shows people chanting [...]
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Hindus Want Desegregation Of Gypsy Children In Macedonia Schools
Hindus have asked for immediate desegregation of Roma (Gypsy) pupils in Macedonia schools. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that reportedly such a large percentage of Roma children in ‘special needs’ schools meant for learning-disabled pupils was highly unacceptable. Reportedly discriminatory segregation policies of Roma children must end immediately [...]
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NATO Decision On Patriot Deployment In Turkey To Be Made In ‘Next Few Days’
NATO is expected in the coming days to make a decision regarding Turkey’s request to deploy Patriot missiles along it’s border with Syria. According to NATO spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, NATO is “making good progress. Everybody has been working very hard.” “NATO Ambassadors, NATO military authorities and, of course, the site assessment team, who are currently [...]
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Monetizing Japan – OpEd
“If possible, I’d like to see the Bank of Japan purchase all of the construction bonds that we need to issue to cover the cost.” — Shinzo Abe, President of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Japan’s next prime minister has a plan for ending deflation, increasing exports and boosting growth. Unfortunately, entrenched elites in big [...]
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The Strong And The Sweet: Palestine And The UN – OpEd
It was a day of joy. Joy for the Palestinian people. Joy for all those who hope for peace between Israel and the Arab world. And, in a modest way, for me personally. The General Assembly of the United Nations, the highest world forum, has voted overwhelmingly for the recognition of the State of Palestine, [...]
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Autonomous US Stealth Drone Completes First Test Launch
The US Navy has executed the first launch of a stealth drone set to be the first robot aircraft piloted by artificial intelligence. The “killer robot” might be the next step in the development of machines with the power to decide who lives or dies. Landing on a flight deck just might be the most [...]
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Iran: U.S. Demands Lawyer’s Release
(RFE/RL) — The United States has called on Iranian authorities to free jailed human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has been on a hunger strike for more than six weeks. A State Department statement said Washington is “concerned for Sotoudeh’s well-being given Iran’s history of withholding treatment from prisoners and allowing them to die from [...]
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Van Rompuy Opposes Direct Election Of EU’s Top Leaders
(EurActiv) — Directly electing the European Commission President at the 2014 EU elections would “organise the disappointment in advance”, said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. Directly electing his own successor would be “even more absurd”, he added in comments that are likely to irritate proponents of increased democracy in the European institutions. Van Rompuy’s [...]
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Benghazi Terrorist Attack: Select Committee Needed To Investigate – OpEd
By Morgan Lorraine Roach and Jessica Zuckerman Almost three months after the September 11 attack on the U.S. facility in Benghazi, there are still many unanswered questions about what led to the deaths of four Americans. Despite Congress’s efforts to investigate the events surrounding the attack, little has been learned about how the United States [...]
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Turkey’s Kurdish Impasse: The View From Diyarbakır
Though battered economically, socially and politically for decades, the city and province of Diyarbakır could offer hope for Turks and Kurds who want to live together, if Ankara can refocus its policies on creating a more equal, democratic Turkey. Turkey’s Kurdish Impasse: The View from Diyarbakır, the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines [...]
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Syria Sees Incidents Of Anti-Christian Violence Increase As War Intensifies
Wednesday 28th’s twin deadly car bombs in the Christian and Druze suburb of Jaramana in the Syrian capital Damascus appeared to target two communities which so far have not joined the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s government. State media said “terrorists” were behind the blasts which killed at least 38 and injured at least 83; [...]
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Historic Victory For Palestine: Another Rejection Of Occupation – OpEd
The United Nations General Assembly vote of 11/29/12, which some in Lebanon’s 12 Palestinian refugee camps are calling a “birth certificate for our country” is the latest of more than 400 UN resolutions on the Question of Palestine and a rare major victory for Palestinians after 65 years of resisting occupation. The UN action, which [...]
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Georgia: Debating Prison Reform
By Paul Rimple The need for far-reaching changes in Georgia’s prisons, brought to life by recent graphic videos of rape and beatings, paved the way for Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s rise to power. But now, nearly two months after the parliamentary elections that put his Georgian Dream coalition in charge of the country’s 17 [...]
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Is The US Really Ending The War In Afghanistan? – OpEd
It is amazing to watch politicians trying to weasel their way around their promises. President Obama is providing us with a good illustration of the art. During the latest presidential campaign and in the final televised debates, both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were adamant in asserting that the US would be leaving Afghanistan [...]
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China: Tibetan Immolations, Security Measures Escalate
The self-immolation of seven Tibetans since November 26, 2012, highlights the failure of Chinese authorities to address Tibetan grievances, Human Rights Watch said. Increasingly pervasive and punitive security measures in response to protests have exacerbated the situation in Tibetan areas of China. A total of 89 Tibetans have self-immolated since February 2009, almost all of [...]
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Patriot Policy In Turkey Shows NATO Solidarity – Analysis
By Harriet Fildes Turkey made a formal request for Patriot missiles as a result of the Syrian shelling of Akcakale and a subsequent escalation of border tensions and the consequent violation of Turkish sovereignty. A joint Turkish-NATO delegation will assess where to place the missiles, the number needed and how many foreign troops should accompany [...]
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US Pledges To Continue Support For Palestine
The United States will keep providing financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) despite the PA’s new UN status, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Friday. “We will… continue to try to support the Palestinian Authority because this money supports their ability to administer the territories, provide security and take care of the [...]
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US Lawmakers Approve Ban On Russian Arms Exporter
The US Senate unanimously approved a measure that would effectively end the relationship between the Pentagon and Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state run arms export firm which has provided weapons to the Syrian government. “The American taxpayer should not be indirectly subsidizing the mass murder of Syrian civilians, especially when there are perfectly good alternatives for purchasing [...]
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Iran Says It Will Never Halt Uranium Enrichment Activities
The Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran will never halt its uranium enrichment activities, which are being closely supervised by the IAEA. “We will never ever suspend our enrichment. This is an inalienable right. Everything is under 24-hour camera surveillance of the IAEA,” Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh said. Pointing to [...]
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