October 27, 2005
The Deep Rifts in Iranian Politics
Safa Haeri, described by Asia Times Online as "a Paris-based Iranian journalist covering the Middle East and Central Asia," says The call by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday [October 26, 2005] for Israel to be "wiped off the map"... "signifies deep rifts within the country between his administration and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his small clique that ultimately controls the levers of power.
For more, please see "Iran on course for a showdown."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:43 AM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2005
Relations Between Syria, Lebanon Deteriorates Further
Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) reported October 11, 2005 that, "Relationship between Syria and Lebanon deteriorates further. Syria is openly showing that it is 'very angry' with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and MP Walid Jumblatt has called [Syrian President Bashar] Assad 'childish,'"the publication said. Read more here.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2005
Why Was an Attempt Made on May Chidiac's Life?
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC), the news organization for which Lebanese television news anchor May Chidiac, "who was seriously wounded" when her Range Rover blew up on September 25, 2005 when she turned the ignition, "was founded in 1985 by the anti-Syrian Lebanese Forces Party, of which Chidiac is a supporter," according to Agence France Presse (AFP).
The French wire service noted that, "The Lebanese Forces is headed by Samir Geagea, who was freed from prison in July [2005] after 11 years in custody for crimes committed during the Lebanese civil war."
Questions that come to mind about the attempt to kill Chidiac are: (1) Was the attempt made on her life related to her work? (2) Was it related to internal party politics? So far, news reports have given no conclusive answers. Here's a profile on Ms. Chidiac.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
Lebanon Bracing for the 'Political Hurricane Season'
"It is almost the end of the Hurricane season in USA, but in Lebanon it may be just the beginning of the political hurricane season," Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) contends in a September 25, 2005 article.
For more, please see "In Lebanon it may be just the beginning of the political hurricane season."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:26 AM | Comments (0)
September 23, 2005
Fuad Siniora: Emile Lahoud Should Resign
Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) reported September 22, 2005 that, "Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said yesterday [September 21, 2005] that Lebanon's president, [Emile Lahoud] a Syrian ally, should resign following the indictment of four top intelligence and security officials in the February 14 [2005] assassination of the country's leading reformer," Rafik Hariri.
I think Lahoud would be wise to heed the advice of those asking him to resign. If he doesn't, I suspect it will be just a matter of time before he is assassinated. Of course, he could be assassinated even if he resigns. As prime minister, the man no doubt has a lot of secrets.
For more, please see "Lebanon: PM Siniora calls on President Lahoud to resign."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)
As'ad: Landis 'Misses the Point, Unsurprisingly...'
As'ad Abu Khalil at The Angry Arab News Service says Joshua Landis at Syria Comment. Com "misses the point, unsurprisingly," of his criticism of Landis' Op-Ed piece in the September 17, 2005 edition of The New York Times headlined "Don't Push Syria Away."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:57 AM | Comments (0)
Is the Syrian Regime Capable of Reform?
Is the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad capable of reform?
Joshua Landis at Syria Comment.Com, an Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies in the History Department and the School of International and Area Studies at the University of Oklahoma, has an informative debate on the subject at his blog
Mr. Landis, an Arabic speaker, is currently living in Damascus on a year-long Fulbright Scholarship, which ends in December 2005.
For background on the debate, please see "Landis Defends: Young, Allaf, Abu Khalil Attack."
This is a good one, dear readers.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:36 AM | Comments (0)
September 20, 2005
Women Political Leaders in Africa, Middle East to Meet in Kuwait
"More than 50 women from across the Middle East and North Africa will gather in Kuwait from September 25-28 [2005] for the fourth Partners in Participation Regional Campaign School," according to AME Info. Read more here.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2005
Rifaat Assad Reportedly 'Staging a Comeback to Syria'
Rifaat Assad, Syrian President Bashar Assad's exiled uncle, is "staging a comeback to Syria" according to an August 15, 2005 Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) report based on an article in An Nahar.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:25 PM | Comments (0)
Aoun Rules Out Dialogue With Hezbollah
Lebanon's "General Michel Aoun told the Beirut daily Al Balad that there was no possibility of any dialogue between his Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah, which has established a state within the state and imposed certain political dictums about which it rejects any debate," Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) reported August 14, 2005. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:13 PM | Comments (0)
August 07, 2005
Netanyahu's Jerusalem Post Interview
On August 5, 2004 The Jerusalem Post published an interview that reporter Caroline Glick conducted with former Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This was "several days prior" to his August 7, 2005 resignation from the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over Mr. Sharon's determination to withdraw Israel forces and settlers from some portions of Gaza, which is 99 percent Palestinian out of a population of about 1.4 million. The interview is quite revealing.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 01:18 PM | Comments (0)
Why Netanyahu Resigned As Israeli Finance Minister
Diana Bahur-Nir and Ilan Marciano at Ynet News.com has the contents of the letter that Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "during Sunday's [August 7, 2005] government session. Mr. Netanyahu, resigned because: Its becoming clear that the unilateral withdrawal under fire is not giving us a thing. The opposite is true, it undermines the security of Israel, splits the nation, entrenches the principle of withdrawal to the 1967 borders, which are not defensible, and is not the way to achieve peace, Netanyahu wrote in his letter.
What do we get in exchange for the withdrawal? Bibi asks in his resignation notice. What do we get in return for the uprooting of families and their children, homes, and graves? Well get an Islamic terror base. "In recent months," he added, "I hoped the government would open its eyes in the face of this clear reality and change course, but the opposite happened."
The resignation did not stop the government from approving "the first phase of the Gaza evacuation by a 17-5 margin," according to YnetNews.com.
As the intrigue in Israel over the withdrawal continues. I wonder how many more cabinet members will resign before the withdrawal ends.
I also wonder how many more soldiers will go berserk and kill Arabs rather than uproot their fellow Jews from Palestinian land. Finally, who's going to protect Mr. Sharon from his former allies?
For more from Mr. Netanyahu resignation letter, see "Bibi announces resignation."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 12:35 PM | Comments (0)
August 01, 2005
What If Saudis Don't Pledge Allegiance to New King?
Arab News, citing a government statement, said "Saudi citizens will start pledging their allegiance to King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan at the Government Palace in Riyadh on Wednesday afternoon," August 3, 2005.
And what if they don't pledge their allegiance? I don't think it will matter. Things have already been decided. Unless something drastic happens, Abdullah will be king and Sultan will be crown prince. It's a family affair. Here is the bland Arab News report
Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:42 AM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2005
A Look At Lebanon's New Cabinet
Ya Libnan published a lineup of the new Lebanese cabinet formally approved by President Emile Lahoud on July 19, 2005. The publication said, "a presidential decree was issued in which Fouad Siniora was appointed as the Prime Minister."
See "Lineup of Lebanon's new Cabinet" for more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Rice's Visit to Lebanon Was 'Expected And Timely'
Adnan El-Ghoul of The Daily Star of Lebanon reported July 23, 2005 that, "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Beirut Friday [July 22, 2005] was not only not a surprise, but an expected and timely message to the key players on Lebanon's political scene conveying Washington's view on the eve of the release of the new Cabinet's policy statement."
"In her efforts to help shape Lebanon's fledgling democracy, the first free of Syrian hegemony, Rice paid a visit to the leaders of both the majority and opposition blocs in Parliament to compliment them on the ongoing political process," Mr. El-Ghoul wrote.
See "Rice meets with Lebanon's key players" for more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 14, 2005
Will There Be A Pan-Arab Parliament By The End Of 2005?
During the 46th session of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (APU) held in Algiers, the Algerian capital, July 11-12,2005, Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League, "said the first pan-Arab parliament will be created by the end of 2005," according to AKI of Italy. The APU conference attracted delegates "from 20 Arab nations in Africa and the Gulf." Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2005
A Look At Democratic Destabilization in Syria
Joshua Landis at Syria Comment.com points to two articles in LeMonde Diplomatiqueabout Syria that offer interesting perspectives on the political and diplomatic status in Lebanon and Syria and the U.S' destabilizing policy toward Syria.
Economist Samir Aita's article is headlined "Syria: a Monopoly on Democracy." Walid Charara is headlined "Constructive instability," which suggests that "The United States seems stubbornly determined to extend its current high-risk strategy of democratic destabilization to the entire Middle East."
See Mr. Landis' analysis of these articles.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)
A Timeline Of Assassinations In Lebanon in 2005
MIddle East Online has a timeline of assassinations and assassination attempts in Lebanon in 2005. The trend suggests there will be attempts to kill more politicians. Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt reportedly is so afraid of assassination that he has "sent his elder son and political heir, Taymour, to France to "make certain that at least one of the Jumblatt family is safe," according to The Thawra Project website.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)
There Will Be More Attempts To Kill Lebanese Politicians
The July 12, 2005 attempt to assassinate Elias Murr, "Lebanon's outgoing pro-Syrian Defense Minister, with a bomb was "the fifth explosion to target a Lebanese political figure within less than a year," according to Nada Bakri in a special to The Daily Star of Lebanon.
There will be more assassination attempts against pro and anti-Syrian politicians. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:21 PM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2005
U.S. Says By Electing Ahmadinejad President, Iran Out Of Step
"The US, which called the Iranian presidential election "flawed from the inception", has described the result as being out of step with a trend toward freedom and liberty in its region," Al-Jazeera.Net reported June 25, 2005. For more, see "Iran poll verdict out of step, says US." Also see "Foreign Ministry Spokesman: US should respect Iranians' votes."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 03:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Ahmadinejad Receives Congratulations From Some World Leaders
Several world leaders have sent congratulations to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's new president, according to the Tehran Times. See "World leaders congratulate Iran's president-elect" for more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Tehran Times: Iranians Voted Along Class Lines
The Tehran Times noted in a June 26, 2005 article that, Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad catapulted to power in a landslide victory in Iran's runoff presidential election on Friday [June 24, 2005]. "Class played a decisive factor in the election, with poor and working class voters overwhelmingly supporting Ahmadinejad, whereas his rival, Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was more popular with the middle and upper classes.
By the way, I was quite surprised that Mr. Rafsanjani didn't win. Based on what I read about the elections, it seemed that no one else had much of a change. On that note, I wonder how long before an assassinate attempt is made against Mr. Ahmadinejad.
See "Hello Mr. President" for more of the Tehran Times article.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 21, 2005
Iran's Presidential Run-off Set For June 24, 2005
IranMania reported June 21, 2005 that, "Iran's Guardians Council announced that it had found no evidence of fraud in last week's presidential election, saying a partial recount had confirmed the result and a run-off would go ahead Friday [June 24, 2005]."
"After complaints... the Guardians Council authorized the interior ministry to recount the ballots from a certain number of boxes. It was clear there was no fraud," the head of the Guardians Council, Ahmad Jannati, said in a statement read on state television, according to IranMania. "The vote was sound and the second round will be held on Friday."
IranMania said, "The Council, a hardline-controlled political watchdog, agreed to an extremely partial and random recount of ballots cast in a first round of presidential elections after several candidates complained of vote rigging." Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 03:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
What Will Become Of Emile Lahoud?
The June 21, 2005 issue of the Los Angeles Times calls Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, who is unabashedly pro-Syrian, "The Last Man Standing."
Staff writer Megan K. Stack, writing from Baabda, Lebanon, wrote:
He weathered demands for his resignation, shrugged off the insults and outlasted the Syrian protectors who were regarded as his sole source of clout. Through it all, Lebanon's seemingly unsinkable president, Emile Lahoud, has managed to hold on to his job. He has ridden out waves of tumult, bombings and street demonstrations. He stayed put while the political fortunes of virtually everybody in Lebanon's ruling class shifted.She said, "While billionaire businessman Saad Hariri celebrated his anti-Syria bloc's sweep in the final phase of parliamentary elections Monday [June 20, 2005], Mr. Lahoud stayed out of sight. And the question grew: What will become of Lebanon's deeply unpopular president, a staunch ally of Damascus who is widely seen as a symbol of the Syrian government?"
He'll probably end up in Damascus, if he is not assassinated. See "Lebanon's Lahoud: Last Man Standing" for more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 03:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 19, 2005
Iran Wants Bush To Apologize For Election Criticism
The Daily Star of Lebanon reported June 20, 2005 that Iran "demanded U.S. President George W. Bush "wake up and apologize" for his criticism of the weekend's presidential poll, saying Iran had been vindicated by a high turnout.
"Bush's statement helped those people who did not want to vote to come forward and vote. With their presence they have dealt a big blow to the United States," Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi told reporters," according to The Star. "We hope that the Americans wake up from their sleep and correct their position toward Iran and apologize."
The Star said Mr. Bush "had savaged the election process ahead of the vote, saying the polls ignored "basic democratic standards" and were the latest example of the clerical regime's "oppressive record."
"Iran's spy chief, meanwhile, used just two words to respond to White House ridicule of the poll: "Thank you." The sarcasm was easy to detect. So was the apparent backfire by Washington," according to The Star. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Will Saad Hariri Become Lebanon's Next Prime Minister?
Ya Libnan reported June 20, 2005 that, "The anti-Syrian Lebanese opposition alliance swept the fourth and final stage of Lebanon's elections, resulting in the first anti-Syrian majority since the 1975-1990 civil war. The tightly contested race between Saad Hariri's and Michel Aoun's candidates was critical in determining the dynamics of the new parliament."
The publication said Mr. Hariri's "victory gives the 35 year old an absolute majority of 72 seats out of the 128 total."
Ya Libnan noted that Sunday [June 19, 2005] "marked the final round of elections, as the selection of 128 members to form Lebanon's first post-Syria parliament has concluded. The week leading up to the showdown in the North was dominated by campaign rhetoric, and exposed the dark side of some candidates who engaged in a no-holds-barred slugfest," Ya Libnan said. See "Anti-Syrian Opposition claims victory in Lebanon election" for more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
