MidEast News Wire
Username: admin
Password: bavelhasfallen
http://www.themedialine.org/
http://www.mideastinfo.com/news.html
admin
bavelhasfallen
November 30, 2010
Among the tens of thousands of documents released by WikiLeaks saying all kinds of good and bad things about
world leaders, there seems to be one leader which almost everyone seems to agree about: that is of course the
leader of Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The documents point to a great fear and distrust of Iran, especially among the countries of the Middle East such as
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, according to the released documents, has repeatedly pressed the US to stop Iran’s
nuclear program and to destroy their nuclear facilities. In King Abdullah’s own words, “to cut off the head of the
snake.”
The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa as well as Zeid Rifai, a Jordanian lawmaker separately but in agreement
have also urged the US to stop Iran. Rifai is reported in one document to have told an American official to “bomb
Iran, or live with an Iranian bomb.” Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed stated that “Ahmadinejad
is going to take us to war.”
According to a recently leaked cable sent by the US State Department last December, Qatar is the “worst” contributor
to the struggle against terrorism in the Middle East. The cable, released along with the avalanche of over 250,000
classified documents by WikiLeaks this week, goes on to state that Qatari security was "hesitant to act against known
terrorists out of concern for appearing to be aligned with the U.S. and provoking reprisals."
Another cable from the same time period urged counterterrorism as a talking point when the Emir visited the US in
January, 2010.
These two cables, previously secret, reveal a gap in what the US State Department has said publicly and what they
presumably really believe in their internal memos and cables. In 2008 the State Department called Qatar’s terrorism
support since 9/11 “significant” in a Congressional Research Report delivered to Congress.
Analysts have offered their opinions on the reason for the contradiction in the State Department’s remarks
concerning Qatar.
"Keeping U.S. basing rights in Qatar and ensuring the stable flow of oil and LNG gas [liquefied natural gas] are both
more important than Qatar's willingness to deal seriously with its citizen’s involvement in terrorism," says Toby Jones,
an assistant Middle East history professor at Rutgers University. "The cost of [the United States] pressuring them
publicly to take counterterrorism seriously, it seems, might come at too high an economic cost."
December 6, 2010
In one more bit of information from the seemingly endless storehouse of Wikileaks documents it has been revealed
that in 2009 Hilary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, accused Saudi Arabia as the main funding source for terrorists.
In the memo released on the Wikileaks website Clinton is quoted as saying, “Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the
most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide.”Clinton continues to state that the Saudi
government is unwilling to cut off the flow of money to these groups. In addition she mentions Kuwait, Qatar and the
UAE as also giving money to terrorist organizations.
This bit of secret revelation is so far the one document receiving the most responses in the Middle East and was
signed by Ms. Clinton. Its strength is that it confirms that what until now was just an assumption that the war the US
is conducting now in Afghanistan and Pakistan is paid for by rich citizens of the Gulf States whose governments
continue to fund the terrorists we are fighting against.
The second edition of the Middle East Missile and Air Defense Symposium opened on Sunday, December 5th, 2010 at
the Armed Forces Officers’ Club in Abu Dhabi. The Institute of Near East and Gulf Military Analysis launched the
symposium under the patronage of the Armed Forces General Headquarters in partnership with the UAE Air Force
and Air Defense.
Attended by many diplomats, military and political leaders from the Gulf region and elsewhere the symposium is
expected to last two days.
Sunday’s schedule included an opening session and two plenary sessions with speakers from the UAE Armed Forces,
the CEO of INEGMA and General Mattis of the US Central Command (CENTCOM.)
Monday’s sessions will includethe following subjects: ‘UAE Network Enabled Capability: A Local Solution to a Global
Problem’, ‘Adapting to Seize the Opportunities of Technology’, ‘Reducing Risks and Consequences with the
Deployment of Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense’, ‘Consolidating Extended Low Tier Air Defense’.
December 13, 2010
In a distinctly out-of-character display of silence, Iran has quietly been conducting war games along the border with
Iraq without fanfare or announcement. Iran announced the conclusion of their military maneuvers, in contrast to
their usual display of bravado by giving extensive publicity to military exercises mostly designed to show off weapons
systems. It has not been made clear why the large military exercise was not announced beforehand by Iran.
Two months ago Iran had announced that it would hold war games during the month of December, and that was the
last anyone heard of these games until it was revealed, indirectly, that the games were already over. The Iranian state
news agency IRNA reported on Monday that two military officers had been killed in a car accident on their way home
from the large exercises by the military ground forces. No further details were given.
Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff is planning on meeting soon with Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq. Later Mullen will visit U.S. military installations and talk with the U.S. military forces before
they begin the year long process of ending their mission in Iraq.
There is an agreement between the U.S. and Iraq for the U.S. to be out of Iraq by the end of year 2011. However the
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has stated that the U.S. would be willing to consider the possibility of continuing
U.S. presence in Iraq if Iraqi officials request it.
According to Nouri al-Maliki, however, he sees the agreement being fulfilled, as he believes that the Iraqi military is
quite capable of taking care of its own security. The tenuousness of the situation, however, was underscored the day
before Mullen’s visit when a suicide bomber murdered 17 people outside government offices in Baghdad.
December 20, 2010
American Tourist Murdered in Israel
Kristine Luken, with her friend Kaye Susan Wilson were on a nature hike last Saturday in a forest in Israel when
suddenly two Arab men attacked them with what Wilson believes was a ‘bread knife.’ Susan was able to live and tell
the story to police and reporters from her hospital bed after being stabbed and pretending to be dead. When the
Arabs were safely gone Wilson managed to walk over to a nearby parking area and get help. Her friend Kristine was
not so lucky. The Christian Evangelical woman in her mid-40s was found dead, hands and feet bound together, on
Sunday, with multiple stab wounds.
Ms. Lukens was not Jewish, but a great lover of Israel. Her and her friend Kaye Susan Wilson, a professional tour
guide, both love hiking and decided to go into the forest during the Christmas vacation. The forest they were in was
inside the green-line when they were attacked, but not far from several Arab villages. Investigators of the murder
believe that although it appears to be a terrorist attack and not a crime committed for criminal reasons, it is unlikely
that any terrorist group was involved but rather was a terrorist attack initiated and carried out by individuals.
Wikileaks Document Reveals Vulnerability of Yemen’s Nuclear Material
According to a cable sent by an un-named Yemeni official dated January 9, 2010 and sent to U.S. Embassy, about a
week went by with no security at Yemen’s National Atomic Energy Commission’s nuclear facility. "Very little now
stands between the bad guys and Yemen's nuclear material," is a quote from the cable which was reprinted in the
newspaper The British Guardian.
The cable stated that the one guard at the facility was removed from the site on December 30, 2009, leaving the
nuclear facility completed unguarded. The one closed circuit TV camera had not been functional at the facility for a
period of six months previously. Yemen is the poorest of all the Arab countries, and they also play host to an
especially active branch of Al-Qaida. The Yemeni branch of Al-Qaida has not only attacked the Yemeni government on
numerous occasions, but it plotted, but failed, to attack and explode an airplane last Christmas in Detroit.
The cable urges the U.S. embassy to persuade the US government to secure the nuclear material.
December 27, 2010
Seattle Says “No” to Anti-Israel Advertisements
In the face of an international outcry King County executive Dow Constantine announced that Seattle busses would
not place vitriolic political billboards on busses this holiday season. The original billboards clearly anti-Israel in nature,
boldly stating “Israel War Crimes-Your Tax Dollars at Work” on a background of Gaza strip post-battle scenes of
destroyed buildings and confused people. In response the pro-Israel camp proposed to sponsor billboards stating
“Palestinian War Crimes” adjacent to an exploded Israeli bus in flames.
Explaining his decision to not run either of the billboards on Seattle busses Constantine stated that:
"The escalation of this issue from one of 12 local bus placards to a widespread and often vitriolic international debate
introduces new and significant security concerns that compel reassessment."
As a result to the incident Seattle and King County officials have decided to put at least a temporary stop to all new
advertising of a non-commercial nature on the county’s busses.
Jewish organizations from around the world expressed relief on Friday after staging a protest campaign via e-mails,
letters and phone calls to not place the billboards.
Not so happy was the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign who had sponsored the anti-Israel billboards. In their
view King County and its officials are not allowing free-speech on what they see as a legitimate foreign policy issue of
the United States.
"The county gave in to bullying. Opponents who want information about Israeli war crimes silenced mounted a
campaign to silence us. That seems outrageous to us," said Edward Mast, a Seattle playwright and pro-Palestinian
activist.
Bethlehem is Star in Christmas Celebrations
Hosting numbers larger than in any previous year since Israel handed over control of Bethlehem to the Palestinian
Authority, visitors poured into the traditional Christmas Christian capital by the tens of thousands for holiday
celebrations.
The weather was perfect, and cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian governments helped ease the ability of
tourists and visitors to enter into the ancient city and enjoy their religious pilgrimage. The only hitch in the arrival of
tourists were the sever snowstorms which closed down several European airports, hindering the ability of many
tourists to arrive in time for the ceremonies.
Manger Square hosted the traditional revelry which included the singing of Christmas carols sung in both English and
Arabic; and the ancient Midnight Mass which began as a procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem led by the Latin
Patriarch Fouad Twal and finished as a church service.
January 3, 2011
Israel Heading Towards the Sun for Its Electric Supply
A national master plan has been formulated in Israel and is now awaiting cabinet approval which will optimize the
country’s reliance on solar energy to meet the country’s electrical needs. The plan calls for photovoltaic panels to be
installed on roofs and agricultural areas which will produce electricity which will feed into the electrical grid of Israel.
The plan is new in that it uses already existing structures to place the photovoltaic panels, creating the solar power
infrastructure without needing to spend huge amounts of money building free standing solar energy farms. Not only
does the plan save money, it also saves the even more precious land in Israel for other uses.
A shoot out in Saudi Arabia left one suspected Al-Qa’ida operative dead while a second was taken into custody. The
shooting took place at a checkpoint in central Saudi Arabia on Saturday when a couple, which appeared to be a man
and a woman but were revealed later to be both men, began to shoot at the police. The Saudi police returned fire,
killing one of the suspects. After the incident Saudi officials stated that despite this incident they believe that they are
making good headway into the prevention of Al-Qa’ida operations in the kingdom. In recent months the Saudis have
arrested about 150 members of Al-Qa’ida, making what officials believe is a large dent in Al-Qa’ida’s ability to
function there.
January 10, 2011
As riots continue to rage in Tunisia, the neighboring North African country of Algiers joined in with riots of their own,
leaving 18-year-old Azzedine Lebza dead as the first casualty, another two dead and as many as 800 injured.
The riots have been continuing for the past three weeks in Tunisia, inspired by widespread economic insecurity,
including inflation and the great divide between the life situations of the rich and the poor. The United States State
Department issued the first statement on the events in Tunisia this past Friday when Philip Crowly, the State
Department spokesman said the “American administration was concerned by the Tunisian government's interference
with the internet, urging restraint on all sides."
Algeria joined into the fray on January 5 with rioting in response to rising unemployment and a decision by the
government to increase the prices of many staples such as flour, sugar, and oil for cooking. Despite a government
decision to cut the cost of import duties and taxes on those products, rioting continued into Sunday.
The Jewish Community of Yemen in Decline
According to the spiritual leader of the once large Jewish community in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, Rabbi Yahe
Yousif Mousa, there are today only 400 Jews left in Yemen, down from about 50,000. Those 400 remaining Jews are
divided into two small enclaves, one in Sana’a, where there are about 100 Jews,and the remainder in Reida. The two
communities have very little to do with each other.
The Jews there are completely integrated into the Yemeni society, going to each other’s weddings, visiting at their
homes, and going to school together. The Jews in Yemen were forced to leave their homes in Sa’ada by the Houthis in
2004, when all their property was confiscated and they were lucky to flee with their lives and the shirts on their
backs.
January 17, 2011
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, said at his weekly cabinet meeting that the recent unrest in
Tunisia points to the general problem of turmoil, unrest and instability throughout the Middle East. This fact of the
general state of instability underlines the problem for Israel of signing peace treaties and expectations for the future.
This is why, Netanyahu emphasized the great need for security guarantees to go along with any treaties signed with
neighboring countries.
"We don't know if a peace agreement would be respected and so any peace deal would have to include on-theground security arrangements," the premier said.
Despite the fact that the Obama administration generally agrees with the resolution which the Palestinians are
planning on bringing to a vote in the United Nations Security Council this week, Washington has hinted that it will
veto such a resolution.
The draft resolution contains condemnation of Israel’s continuing building of towns in the disputed territories known
as the West Bank. It included the eastern part of unified Jerusalem in its wording, and declares that Jewish building is
illegal. The resolution also calls on a freeze of Jewish construction so that peace talks between the sides can resume.
Washington is against using resolutions such as this one as a way to encourage peace negotiations, and sees bringing
motions before the Security Council as counterproductive and not bringing the sides closer to an agreement, but
further from it.
January 24, 2011
In Baghdad on Monday a car bomb exploded, killing six pilgrims. This is just the latest deadly attack committed
against Shiite Muslims who are on their way to perform religious rituals in the Iraqi city, considered holy by many,
stated police and hospital officials.
In addition to the 6 dead, 13 others were wounded in the explosion which took place in a parking lot in close
proximity to busloads of pilgrims in the outlying area of Karbala, 55 miles from Baghdad. A second bomb was
discovered and disarmed before it exploded, police added.
Last week 56 Shiite pilgrims were killed as a result of a triple suicide bombing which took place along two separate
highways which lead to Karbala from Baghdad. An additional 180 people were injured, the majority of who were
Shiite Muslims on a pilgrimage to Karbala.
Hundreds of thousands of Shiites are gathering in Karbala on Monday night to mark the conclusion of Arbaeen.
Arbaaen is a 40-day period of mourning which observes the death of the Imam Hussein in the 7th century. The Imam
Hussein is one of the most revered of Muslim leaders among the Shiites.
Although no group has taken responsibility for the attacks, it is believed that Sunni religious extremists with ties to alQuaida are the perpetrators, especially since suicide attacks are the trademark of the Islamic State of Iraq.
In response to the arrest of woman activist Tawakul Abdel-Salam Karman, hundreds of students, lawmakers and
activists took to the streets for the second day of protests in Sanaa, the capital city of Yemen. Yemini police arrested
Karman for her role in leading anti-government demonstrations. Karman is a senior member of the opposition Isleh
Party in Yemen, which represents the interests of Islamic fundamentalism.
Police arrested Karman early on Sunday, and since then have had to use tear gas and force to disperse the
demonstrators, who are demanding her release. The Interior Minister Mouthar al-Masri spoke on state television on
Sunday, calling on demonstrators to march and gather only within the limits of the law, adding that the protesters do
indeed have the right to express their views, but only within the appropriate limits.
January 27, 2011
Today marks the third day of protests and violence in Cairo as activists, hoping to force the removal of President
Hosni Mubarak, take to the streets. In what observers see as unprecedented protests, the demonstrators have
clashed repeatedly with police resulting in the death of at least three protestors and one policeman. Analysts believe
that the protestors have taken their cue and their inspiration from the protests that have rocked Tunisia over the
past week, as the Egyptian disturbances protest the 30-year reign of Mr. Mubarak.
Hosni Mubarak has a reputation as a strong-armed leader, and such violent demonstrations on this scale have not
previously ignited under his rule. In response to the throwing of rocks and petrol bombs Egyptian police have fired
tear gas and rubber bullets at the activists. On Wednesday demonstrators burned tires and threw stones at police in
central Cairo, and in Suez a government building was set aflame.
January 31, 2011
As unrest in Arab countries continues to spread from Tunisia and now Egypt, governments are cracking down on one
of the chief ways activists have been organizing their protests, and that is by shutting down the internet. Syria joined
Egypt in disrupting its internet service as a pre-emptive action. By such a move the Syrian leadership hopes to
prevent the Egyptian and Tunisian unrest from spreading into its own borders.
Controlling the internet is nothing new in Syria. In previous government interference with the free movement of
information Syria has blocked programs that allow people to chat on Facebook from their cell phones. As riots
continued to escalate in Tunisia, control of the internet became more drastic, and then finally, as the violence spread
to Egypt the internet was shut down completely.
In Egypt it is being reported that Facebook, which was used as an organizing tool for the successful demonstrators in
Tunisia, has been shut down for days. Since last night Egypt’s internet service has been curtailed entirely.
January 31, 2011
As activists in Tunisia inspired the protestors in Egypt, so too will Egyptian demonstrations motivate rebellion in Syria.
The truth behind this piece of street wisdom is far from clear, with analysts saying that quite the opposite is closer to
the reality. Certainly Syrian President Assad feels confident that his people are satisfied with his leadership and
foreign policy, although this hasn’t stopped Assad from shutting down the internet.
The reasons Syria and similar regimes throughout the middle east feel relatively safe is because they, as opposed to
the governments of Egypt and Tunisia, have taken stridently anti-US and anti-Israel positions. Notwithstanding that
poverty and societal insecurity are the real fuel igniting the violent upheavals, the fact that Tunis and Cairo are
moderates when it comes to foreign policy towards the west makes them that much more vulnerable.
In the case of Syria especially, there is the added dimension of a historically oppressive regime to making revolt an
even more unlikely prospect. As an extra added dimension the Syrian leadership is actually joyous at the turn of
events in Egypt, and will celebrate if Mubarak is eventually ousted. Unless of course the analysts are reading the
situation incorrectly, and oppression, poverty, and insecurity trumps hatred of the west, making Assad and his fellow
dictators in a more precarious situation than anyone seems to suspect.
February 2, 2011
The unrest in the Middle East which has been raging in recent weeks has taken a new and disturbing turn as the
governments of Yemen and the Sudan have begun to attack journalists in an effort to suppress the news of
demonstrations and protests from spreading to their citizens.
Mohamed Abdel Dayem, the coordinator in the Middle East and North Africa for the Committee to Protect Journalists
stated:
"We are disturbed by the targeting of journalists that is spreading across multiple countries in the Arab world. The
governments of Sudan and Yemen are physically attacking journalists in an effort to disrupt the free delivery of news
to local and international audiences. Those governments seem to not have learned anything from the mistakes made
by the governments in Tunis and Cairo."
Reports from the Sudan describe the beating of several journalists while at least another eight have been detained. In
Yemen journalists have been equally ill-treated, with harassment occurring while they stand among protesters who
are calling for the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh from his office.
February 3, 2011
As violence continues to escalate in the Middle East analysts in the United States are wondering what the best
approach to achieving security in the region might be. In wake of the rocket attack of a convoy of British embassy
personnel which took place in the Yemeni capital of San’a recently the United States is considering a proposal to
dedicate $1.2 billion to upgrading their military presence there over the next six years with increased equipment and
training in order to better combat the threat of al-Qaida in Yemen.
Those critical of the ‘more money for guns’ approach wonder if the cause might be better served, as well as being
more cost-effective to take a more global or holistic approach; a position which has at its root the improvement of
such basic societal issues as economic development and internal stability, not just in Yemen but in the entire region.
Indeed, the two approaches are not mutually exclusive and can be worked into a unified program which will most
likely have better results than either of the approaches worked alone.
February 7, 2011
Officials of South Sudan are considering creating a new capital city for their newly created independent country.
Declaring that the present main city of Juba will not be able to adequately accommodate the needs of a true capital,
South Sudanese leaders are deciding if they should just enlarge and modernize Juba, built a capital near Juba, or pick
another location which is better suited to the needs of a capital.
"A committee has been formed to look into a more suitable place for a capital ... that is befitting an independent
nation. There are so many things that Juba doesn’t have now in terms of services," said Anne Itto, from the South’s
ruling party.
The independent country of South Sudan is scheduled to join the family of nations this coming June, after
independence was overwhelmingly favored in a vote which took place this past January. Although the official results
have not yet been released, preliminary numbers revealed that almost 99% of voters voted for secession from
northern Sudan. The vote was made possible by an historic peace deal which was signed in 2005 after decades of
brutal civil war over ideology, religion, oil and ethnicity.
Since the signing of the peace treaty, Juba has been growing steadily but in a less than orderly manner. Situated along
the White Nile, it has played the role of the unofficial seat of the South’s semi-autonomous government, but now, as
independence looms, a decision about the capital will have to be made soon.
February 7, 2011
High Hopes Rest on Salva Kiir’s Shoulders
Now that the vote has decided that South Sudan will become an independent country this coming July, hope for a
successful secession has been vested into the hands of what many analysts are describing as an unassuming leader,
Salva Kiir.
Kiir’s modis operandi will be consensus building, in contrast to the years of violent conflict which the Sudan was
engaged in during the decades of civil war between north and south until the signing of a peace treaty between the
sides in 2005.
Kiir has already reached hero status in Southern Sudan after successfully staging the vote for secession which
received the go ahead from almost 99% of the voters.
Voters will continue to rely on the former army intelligence officer to guide them to the development of the newest
country in Africa, a country which produces oil but is terribly under developed at the moment.
Great challenges loom on the horizon for Kiir as the next 5 months leading to independence will require tricky
negotiations over vital issues such as the division of oil revenues, defense and trade with northern Sudan, their
former arch enemy during the bloody civil war.
Salva Kiir is a tall man who likes to sport a flashy cowboy hat; but the demeanor is a disguise behind which many say
lays a keen negotiator and consensus builder who is capable of leading his country to a peaceful and prosperous
future.
February 8, 2011
Jailed Yemeni journalist Abdul-Elah Haidar Shaye was granted a pardon by President Ali Abdullah Saleh even before
the recent anti-government demonstrations broke out in Yemen last week, but he had not yet been released. As part
of concessions President Saleh made to the protestors was included the agreement to finally release Haidar Shaye.
However this eventuality never transpired due to intervention from President of the United States, Barack Obama.
According to reports Obama called President Saleh on February 2nd to congratulate him on his new political reforms,
but voiced concern over the proposal to release Shaye. Last August Shaye was arrested at home during the night and
held for over a month without contact with his family or a lawyer. His trial began in October when he was charged
with and found guilty to “participating in an armed gang, having links with Al-Qaeda and for taking photographs of
Yemen security bases and foreign embassies to be targeted by the terrorist organization.”
He was sentenced to five years in prison and became known in Yemen as “the media man” for Al-Qaeda. Shaye’s
lawyers assert that the charges were fabricated not only because he reported on Al-Aaeda but also because he has
accused the Yemeni and US governments of covering up the true perpetrators of a December 2009 bombing in the
southern province of Abyan in which 55 people, 21 of whom were children, were killed. An additional 14 Al-Qaeda
opperatives were also killed in the incident. Shaye reported that the US was responsible for the incident; information
which he bases on documents which were leaked which include a recording of a meeting between the head of the
US central command General David Petraeus, and President Saleh, in which Saleh is quoted as saying, “We’ll continue
saying the bombs are ours, not yours.”
February 9, 2011
The governor of the northern Yemen province of Sa’adah met with the head of the International Commtittee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) this week to discuss the available options for increasing the amount of food aid to the area.
Governor Taha Hajjer met on Tuesday with Klaus Spreyermann to explore the ways in which provisions can be
delivered to the distressed districts of his region and the mechanisms of distributing that food in a dependable and
timely way. Coordination is needed with the executive units of the displaced persons camps to assure proper delivery
and distribution.
Hajjer reassured Spreyermann that he and his administration are prepared to do whatever is needed to facilitate the
ICRC programs so that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will receive the crucial help that they require for
survival. Hajjer praised the efforts of the ICRC and its regional partner the Red Crescent Society which operates in the
province of Sa’adah.
February 10, 2011
Mustafa Souag, the head of the news department at the Arabic language station of Al Jazeera said this past Monday,
"We knew something was coming. Our main objective was to provide the most accurate and comprehensive
coverage that we could by sending cameras and reporters to any place there is an event. And if you don't have a
reporter, then you try to find alternative people who are willing to cooperate because they believe in what we are
doing."
And what Al Jazeera is doing, and has been doing for the past 15 years, has been bringing an element of freedom into
Arabic broadcasting of the news that exists nowhere else in this part of the world. And this revolution in freedom of
the press which has been brewing for 15 years seems to have led to another revolution in the political fabric of
Middle Eastern governments, so far in Tunisia and Egypt, with the possibility of more on the horizon.
Beginning in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, Al Jazeera showed the world, but more importantly showed the people of the
Middle East, that the Tunisian regime was in fact not impregnable nor its security forces invincible; this was just the
government’s propaganda whose purpose was to keep the Tunisian people down. Al Jazeera broadcast live and in
real time that it was in fact possible for the millions of disaffected people of Tunisia to demand more from their
leaders; more from their government; to demand their legitimate rights. This news literally broke the bubble of
oppression and showed Al Jazeera viewers that change was really possible everywhere in the region.
Al Anstey, the managing director of Al Jazeera English explained how Al Jazeera responded to the events they
covered in Tunisia: "We did not foresee the drama of events, but we saw how events in Tunisia rippled out and we
were mindful of the fact [that] things were changing, and so we prepared very carefully. We sent teams to join our
Cairo bureau and made sure that we were covered on the ground in other countries in the region so when the story
unfolded we were ready to cover all angles."
As the unrest spread to Egypt Al Jazeera was forced to face-off with a more formidable foe. State-run Egyptian
channels showed less-than-truthful versions of the dramatic events in a feeble attempt to answer Al Jazeera’s more
accurate coverage. Some Egyptian journalists even resigned their positions in anger and disgust, including a popular
TV talk-show host, Mahmoud Saad, who was later shown in Tahrir Square being carried on the shoulders of grateful
demonstrators.
The outgoing Egyptian Information Minister Anas al-Fiqi tried to shut down satellite transmission and even had
several Al Jazeera journalists detained, including Ayman Mohyedin, who was finally freed after 9 hours in custody.
Despite this systematic campaign on the part of the Egyptian government to shut down Al Jazeera in Egypt they were
able to keep broadcasting throughout.
"The regime did everything they could to make things difficult for us, but they did not succeed," said Souag. "We still
had the most comprehensive reporting of the events in Egypt."
Now we are left with the question, ‘How far will the ripple effect of the popular uprising go?’ Hints of ripples have
been felt in poorer countries such as Algeria, Yemen, Jordan and Bahrain, but what about the wealthier states like
Saudi Arabia, or Qatar, the wealthiest country in the world and the home of Al Jazeera?
Although a popular uprising in Qatar, where the GDP is heading past $145,000 per capita seems highly unlikely,
political security for Saudi Arabian leaders does not seem a forgone conclusion. It might seem that, given Saudi
Arabia’s power and wealth that they might be more able to silence Al Jazeera than Egypt was, Souag disagrees.
"Al Jazeera was absent from Saudi Arabia for a long time, so we don't have pictures or information from within the
country," explained Souag. "Finally the Saudis allowed us to open an office about two weeks ago, and so we have a
correspondent there now, and if there is something that needs to be covered we will report it in the same way as
events anywhere else."
February 15, 2011
With the help of the internet and opposition websites such as Saham News and Kaleme, tens of thousands of
protesters organized and marched down Revolution Boulevard towards Azadi Square in Teheran on Monday before
they were violently dispersed by security forces that used batons and tear gas to do the job over most of the day.
When it was all over on Monday evening dozens of protestors were detained by police while others were chased and
beaten according to videos posted on the internet. The semi-official Iran news agency Fars reported one person killed
and several others in serious condition due to shooting by the police, while the government blamed “agitators and
seditionists” for the violence.
Revolutionary Guard member Commander Hossein Hamedani told the official Islamic Republic News Agency his
opinion of the demonstrators. "We definitely see them as enemies of the revolution and spies, and we will confront
them with force."
Uploaded to YouTube are videos of demonstrators marching, burning posters of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other
actions, violent and otherwise.
Those who had called for rallies in support of the insurgency in Egypt and the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak
after almost 30 years rule had their homes blocked by the Iranian government.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the following statement after her meeting with the US House
Speaker John Boehner: "There needs to be a commitment to open up the political system.” She added that the
crackdown “is an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime” which “hailed” the Egyptian uprising but “"once
again illustrate their true nature."
A week before the Iranian rally two opposition leaders were detained by Iranian security forces after they had called
for their supporters to come to Azadi Square. One of them, Mir Hossein Moussavi is the force behind the opposition
website, Kaleme, which was where the call for a rally was published. Kaleme also reported that cell phone service and
phone lines to the area where Moussavi lives had been cut off and also said that Moussavi’s wife Zahra Rahnavard
was not permitted to leave her home on Monday.
Outside Mehdi Karrubi’s house (the other detained opposition leader) surveillance equipment which had been
installed by the government had been destroyed or stolen according to Kaleme.
February 16, 2011
Bahrain Joins Voice of Internet Organized Protest
Protesters clashed with police in Bahrain on Monday as the opposition called the incident the “Day of Wrath” which
left at least 14 people injured and two dead of their wounds.
Inspired in large part by the success of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt which, in both cases, succeeded in toppling
the ruling regimes; the demonstrators in Bahrain are demanding political and economic reforms.
The clashes took place in the village of Diya, east of the Bahrain capital of Manama., where soldiers used tear gas and
other force to scatter the protesters who were able to organize via internet social networking sites such as Facebook.
The interior ministry of Bahrain issued a statement saying that it would open an investigation into the deaths, and in
an earlier statement the Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa expressed “his deep condolences to
the family of the man who died of wounds he sustained in the events in Diya.”
Additional locations of protest have been reported by the Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV station, describing violent
clashes in two Shiite villages west of Manama, Darraz and Sanabis, according to eyewitness accounts.
February 21, 2011
Benghazi Death Toll Soars as Protesters Lose Their Fear
Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader for more than 40 years, was never well-liked in the eastern Libyan city of
Benghazi, where very little of the county’s oil wealth has been felt. But fear of Gaddafi has always kept the population
there docile, that is, until the general unrest which has been spreading throughout the Arab Middle East finally
reached the shores of Libya, and especially Benghazi.
Benghazi is 620 miles east of Tripoli, the nation’s capital, situated on the Mediterranean Ocean. Last Tuesday
protests in the city began, but not until the weekend did tensions and violence really mount when security forces
began attacking the protesters from behind their high-walled fortified compounds. Bloody clashes continued to
escalate as mourners, accompanying the victims of the government attacks, were themselves fired upon as they
walked past the city’s barracks. Protestors returned fire with rocks and Molotov cocktails, but aside from those feeble
weapons, were unarmed.
Doctors and other eyewitnesses are claiming that so far at least 200 unarmed demonstrators have been killed by
large-caliber automatic weapons. Most protesters believe that the people will respond with outrage, and will
fearlessly take to the streets as a reaction to the brutal force shown by the government, the opposite affect Gaddafi
was probably aiming for. Some people there have describe Benghazi has having turned into a ‘war zone.’ Some local
residents have formed vigilante groups to protect neighborhoods from the government’s brutality.
Despite the violence in Benghazi, many there believe no change can come to Libya as a whole unless the protests
spread to Tripoli, which has in effect begun to happen. Dozens of lawyers staged a ‘sit-in’ by the court buildings to
demonstrate against Gaddafi’s regime. The sound of guns were reported in two suburbs of Tripoli, Fachlum and
Tajura; protesters gathered in the working class area of Gourghi in the western part of Tripoli; and Libyan forces have
used teargas and live bullets to send the crowds of demonstrators home. According to reports from Al-Jazeera
thousands of protesters and Gaddafi supporters came head to head in Tripoli’s Green Square. One eye witness told
reporters that, “We haven’t had such disturbances before."
February 23, 2011
South Sudan Discusses Diplomatic Relations with Israel
On the cusp of becoming and independent nation, Africa’s newest nation of South Sudan is planning to establish
diplomatic relations with the Jewish State of Israel. The declaration of independence is expected to occur this coming
July, and in anticipation of that day the head of a delegation of South Sudanese, Suleiman Alhariri, invited Deputy
Minister of Israel Ayoub Kara to visit his newly established country. The leaders were together at an inauguration in
London of a new organization which will be created to help develop the economy and society of Nigeria. Kara and the
South Sudanese delegation met together informally but they discussed forging economic and diplomatic ties.
At the conclusion of the playing of Hatikva, the Israeli national anthem the various event’s speakers each praised the
State of Israel in their turn, emphasizing the crucial role Israel has played and continues to play in combating
terrorism and Islamic radicalism that today threatens the entire free world. All the speakers called on their
governments to tighten relations with Israel, supporting Israel’s diplomatic choices, and helping to protect Israel’s
citizens.
Ayoub Kara, a druze minister who represented Israel at the inauguration in London, also said a few words about
himself and his country:
"I am not a Jew and my loyalty to the State of Israel derives from the faith in its right to exist as the state of the
Jewish people in the Land of Israel. I do not see myself under a regime or entity other than Israel, which is the sole
island of sanity in the Middle East, where democracy exists for all citizens, and where citizens' rights are respected
more than in any other place."
"I am fighting on behalf of Israel because I have no other state and I call upon you to support Israel's decision to hold
on to its territory and to the unity of Jerusalem," he said, adding that recent events had shown that the partners that
Israel is being offered cannot be trusted to hold on to power.
February 24, 2011
According to Oscar Wendel, commentator for ArabianBusiness.com, the question of what to expect from the
construction sector of the Egyptian economy is still difficult to predict. Noting that the only truly reliable truth when it
comes to predicting direction for economic trends is that when there is political turmoil and uncertainty, the
marketplace suffers. Investors do not like to take unnecessary risks during times when almost any prediction about
the future is unreliable and speculative.
However if we discount the recent shocking events which have rocked what looked like an otherwise stable Middle
East, predictions for excellent growth in the construction sector in Egypt were optimistic. Many investors have been
continuing to back their projects, many of which are major developments, literally banking on the continuing growth
and prosperity of what looks like to many an uncertain future.
In conclusion, Mr. Wendel explains that since it is always impossible to predict the future of a nation or region’s
growth and development, whether during crisis or stability, it is much more productive for investors and
businessmen to focus on the things they can control, like their own balance sheets, business models and overall
business strategies. Predicting the future should be left to the prophets, while good business decisions are the best
guarantee of good economic growth and stability.
February 28, 2011
Bahrain Parliament Blocked by Protesters
As part of a larger plan to disrupt the Bahrain government from functioning and forcing the resignation of Prime
Minister Khalifa Al Khalifa, protesters have blocked entrance to the parliament of Bahrain, forcing officials to cancel a
meeting of the leader’s hand-picked envoys.
This demonstration is just one of many gatherings at key political locations in the Bahrain capital of Manama. The
main goal of these rallies is to increase the pressure on the monarchy after two weeks of unrest including marches
and violent clashes in which seven people have been killed.
The latest protest on Monday at the parliament consisted of the forming of a human chain which was successful in
preventing the 40-member upper chamber of parliament from meeting. The chamber is made up of people
personally appointed by Bahrain’s monarch Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa.
In light of the success of the protests the monarchy is requesting to talk with opposition groups so that the crisis can
be resolved soon.
Swatting Moving to Protect Bahrain Government
The elephant of Saudi Arabia appears to have taken action to swat the fly on its back- Bahrain- by sending in an
armada of 30 tanks to help strengthen the beleaguered Bahrain government. The Bahrain government has been
subjected to two weeks of protests from demonstrators, with no end in sight, demanding the resignation of the
government, abdication of the king and democratic constitutional reforms.
Eye witnesses in Saudi Arabia have reported observing 15 tank carriers rolling towards Bahrain, each one carrying two
tanks. The Egyptian daily al-Masry al-Youm is reporting this development in today’s edition of their newspaper.
This latest action is in response to the Bahrain government’s decision on Saturday to withdraw their military vehicles
out of Pearl Square, the focal point of the recent protests, after clashes between police and demonstrators led to
violence and bloodshed there. The opposition demanded the withdrawal of the military presence as a pre-condition
to any talks between the sides.
However, the arrival of the Saudi tanks come on the eve of yet another scheduled rally in Pearl Square, scheduled for
Tuesday and organized by the Bahraini opposition and the protesters. The United States was informed by the Saudis
that they are prepared to intervene if they view it necessary as a way to protect the embattled Bahrain government.
March 2, 2011
South Yemen Not Happy With Unification
Discussions these days in the qat saloons of southern Yemen focus on the discontent people feel with what they see
as the failed attempt at unification of what used to be two distinct countries, Yemen and South Yemen. Taking the
lead from other protesters across the Middle East, dissenters in southern Yemen have taken to the streets in protest
over the past two weeks.
Financial advisor Yassin Makkawi was speaking while he was chewing on the mild stimulant known as qat, a national
pastime in Yemen, saying that, "President Ali Abdullah Saleh, like the rest of the Arab tyrants, will go down. It will be
a crucial step toward regaining the south's independence."
Twenty four deaths have already been reported as a result of the demonstrations, and most of those deaths have
been in the south. Demonstrators are calling for the ouster of President Saleh, who has lead with an iron fist for the
past 32 years.
In 1990 a less than stable unity treaty was signed, but within four years civil war erupted between the south and
mostly tribal north. The south lost the war, and the people there now fell that there is more corruption, their society
has become more conservative religiously, and their incomes have gone down.
"Even the water used to taste better before. Unity has been a disastrous experience in every way. We never imagined
that a united Yemen would mean discrimination and domination of our land and resources," Makkawi added.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/03/inside-gadhafis-secret-underground-arsenal/?utm_source=co2hog
March 6, 2011
Gaddafi’s Hidden Arms Now in Hands of Rebels
For 41 years Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has been secreting away weapons in underground bunkers in the city of
Benghazi. But these were not weapons meant for Gaddafi’s regular army, which the eccentric dictator never trusted,
but rather for Gaddafi’s Special Forces used mostly to oppress his own people.
Rebels In Control
Now the tables have turned, and the almost antique weapons are in the hands of the rebels. In the last week of
February rebels stormed the various military compounds in the city of Benghazi. One of the tank commanders that
led the attack, Colonel Mohammed Samir al-Abar described the way he pushed his tank through the outer wall of the
compound, allowing rebel soldiers as well as civilians to storm the fortress. With just Molotov cocktails, rocks and
swords the rebels overran Gaddafi’s compound; the regular Libyan army being unequipped with weapons to defend
Gaddafi properly.
Old Weapons Still Deadly
One reserve soldier who has joined the rebel forces, Adel Mustafa, described the old weapons that the rebels found.
“It’s dirty, outdated equipment, but it works. Ninety percent are Russian made, but there’s a Chinese 107 mm
multiple rocket launcher behind you. Before the people captured these cannons, the regime was using them against
people. Take a look at the size of the ammunition. They were designed to be used against planes, but Gadhafi used
them to kill Libyans. When this bullet hits a human being it shatters him.”
Marching on Tripoli
It is not known exactly how much ammunition and weaponry the rebels now control but it seems to be a certainty
that the weapons will be used soon, to march on Tripoli to oust Colonel Gaddafi.
“I think there will be massive fighting if we go to Tripoli,” said Salem Abdelhassid El Dressy, a 41-year-old accountant
who volunteered on Tuesday. “I hope to god I am wrong, but I am ready to fight. We all want to go to Tripoli to get
rid of Gaddafi.”
March 8, 2011
It is now being reported that troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi are herding together black African migrant workers in
Libya and forcing them to fight against the anti-Gaddafi rebels. This latest information is being reported to the
Reuters newswire from a refugee camp in Tunisia where many of these young African men who have managed to
escape and flee from war-torn Libya.
The men described being raided while in their homes by Libyan soldiers, beaten and then relieved of their savings,
identity papers and other possessions. They were then held in custody and offered payment to fight on behalf of
Libya and Colonel Gaddafi. Refusal to agree was met with threats that they would never be allowed to leave.
Gaddafi’s government denies such tactics, and has explained the sudden presence of dark-skinned soldiers in the
army as neither African mercenaries nor detained migrant workers, but as “dark-skinned” Libyan nationals.
Rebels began spreading the rumor that Gaddafi had brought in African mercenaries from places such as Chad and
Zimbabwe when the fighting began three weeks ago, but these rumors have never been proven. Now it seems clear
that the best explanation for the appearance of the ‘dark-skinned’ soldiers is the joining of the African migrants in the
fight on the side of Gaddafi.
Over the past 10 days more than 105,000 migrant workers have escaped from Libya to Tunisia, a majority of who are
Egyptians, but also about 20,000 workers from Bangladesh. The Egyptians have been repatriated, but the
Bangladeshis as well as thousands of west Africans are populating the UN transit camp that has been established for
them in Ras Jdir, Tunisia.
Twenty-three year old Fergo Fevomoye was able to cross the border into Tunisia on Sunday:
"They will give you a gun and train you like a soldier. Then you fight the war of Libya. As I am talking to you now there
is many blacks in training who say they are going to fight this war. They have prized (paid) them with lots of money.
They said I should take money and fight. They would give me 250 dinars. I said no. When I told them No they told me
I would not go anywhere."
Another refugee, Obinna Obielu was an electrician in Libya for 12 years. During that time he managed to save 10,000
dollars. He managed to escape with two friends, their two wives and two babies in an old Land Cruiser. Because the
main road was too dangerous he drove through the bush adjacent to the frontier.
"I go off, because it is not a good road. Because they are attacking people and sending them back to go and fight in
the war," he said. "The car is left back there."
Two other refugees, Daniel Chibuzor and Tijanx Sadiki told how Libyan troops stormed their home, robbed them and
left them with no money or identity papers. They described being terrified of appearing in the streets until they
finally decided their best option was to head west to Tunisia. One of the two babies that travelled with them out of
Libya was treated for tear-gas inhalation.
Ike Emanuel from Nigeria described how he buried his six month old baby in the desert as he was fleeing Libya. He
said that he has spoken to many refugees in the week since he arrived at the camp and has discovered the recurring
story of African workers being trapped and having to choose between fighting or fleeing.
March 10, 2011
Nearly a month after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, violence escalated once again on Tuesday as
Christians and Muslims fought each other in the capital city of Cairo. Thousands of Christians gathered in two
separate locations in Cairo to protest what they perceive as persecution and discrimination by the country’s Muslim
majority. Police fired shots into the air to break up the clash between the two groups while the protestors burned
tires and smashed cars.
In other protests in the capital women gathered to protest rampant sexual harassment and to demand equal rights
while men confronted them, verbally abusing them and pushed them in the now infamous Tahrir Square in central
Cairo.
Meanwhile Al Jazeera satellite TV reported that soldiers detained the head of the state security services on Tuesday.
Last week demonstrators rampaged through the building which houses the state security forces and confiscated
documentation which, according to the protesters, show proof of human rights abuses by the security forces. No
confirmation of this has yet been released.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Cairo and met with the head of the Egyptian head of the Armed Forces,
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, on Tuesday to explore ways in which the two countries can strengthen
their political and economic ties. Al-Bashir is the first Arab leader to come to Egypt after the resignation of Hosni
Mubarak a month ago on February 11th.
Tantawi is the leader of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in Egypt, the body that is currently running the
country. In addition to discussing strengthening bilateral ties, they also discussed the developing events around North
Africa and the Middle East.
“Al-Bashir's visit to Cairo reveals a Sudanese supportive stance for the Egyptian people during such a historical
situation," said Sudanese Ambassador to Egypt Abdul Rahman Siral-Khatim.
While Mubarak still ruled Egypt he supported al-Bashir against an arrest warrant which was issued for him by the
International Criminal Court in 2009. The Sudanese leader consistently defied the indictment, which sought his arrest
for his role in directing war crimes and genocide in Darfur.
March 13, 2011
Reports of at least 30,000 people are in attendance at the funeral of five members of the Fogel family, who were
brutally murdered on Friday night while asleep in their beds. According to the Israeli army, two terrorists entered the
town of Itamar, not far from Nablus, at about 10:30pm. The first house they entered was empty, but the second
house was full with five children and two parents. The terrorists killed three of the children, ages 3 months old, 4
years old and 11 years old and the father, 36 year old Udi Fogel and the mother, 34 year old Ruth. Two children were
overlooked, a 6 year old and a two year old. At about 12:30am the family’s oldest child returned from a youth activity
and discovered her massacred family and her two surviving siblings.
In response to this bloody incident the Israeli cabinet approved the construction of several hundred new homes in
several different localities in the disputed West Bank, including in Gush Etzion, Maale Adumim, Ariel and Kiryat Sefer.
The Associated Press reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office sent a text message to journalists stating that
all the new construction has been approved in areas which are considered to be major settlement blocs that Israel
intends to keep after a final peace settlement has been reached.
Saeb Erakat, senior PLO official and a former key Palestinian negotiator said that the Palestinian Authority (PA)
condemns the "decision of the Israeli government to speed up and increase the building of settlements."
"[The PA] strongly condemns the settler attacks against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and we ask the
Quartet [the United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia] to urgently intervene to stop the actions of
the settlers," Erakat said.
Nabil Abu Rudeina, the spokesman for the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the Israeli decision
to build more housing units, saying that it is a “big mistake” and will lead to “more problems.”
"The decision taken to build new settlements is a mistake and unacceptable," he said in a statement.
"It will destroy everything and will lead to big problems."
About 300-500 new apartments were approved according to an anonymous source. There have been ground
breakings for about 500 new housing units since the 10-month long moratorium on building by Israel expired in
September, but approval of hundreds of additonal construction plans have been held up by the government, until
now.
March 15, 2011
Iran Annoyed with Saudi Troops in Bahrain
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mahmanparast voiced his country’s displeasure with the arrival of 1,000
Saudi troops on the soil of the island nation of Bahrain on Monday.
"The presence of foreign forces and interference in Bahrain's internal affairs is unacceptable and will further
complicate the issue," the foreign minister stated during his weekly news conference.
GCC Decides to Intervene
The Saudi soldiers were sent into Bahrain after the decision was taken by the six members of the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) that forceful intervention was the best way to protect the interests of the government of Bahrain
against the rising protest movement which has been threatening stability there.
The arrival of the soldiers came soon after a crowd of mostly Shi’ite protestors overtook Bahraini security forces on
Sunday. They also prevented traffic on the highway to the central financial district in what was the most violent show
of dissent by demonstrators since seven protestors were killed in February.
Sunni versus Shi’ite?
The majority of rulers of the Gulf States are Sunni Muslims, while the protestors are predominantly Shi’ite. Iran,
which is not ethnically Arab, is the main Shi’ite power in the area. Iran has been accused of supporting the protestors,
while Tehran has consistently denied this contention.
Although Iran is facing its own dissenters at home, they have nevertheless taken the stand of backing the spreading
protest movements across the Arab Middle East, describing the unrest as an “Islamic awakening” against tyrants and
dictators.
"People have some legitimate demands and they are expressing them peacefully. It should not be responded to
violently ... and we expect their demands be fulfilled through correct means," Mehmanparast said on the situation in
Bahrain.
March 16, 2011
Six are reported dead as troops and riot police used tear gas and other force to evict hundreds of demonstrators from
their vigil in Pearl Square in the capital city of Manama, Bahrain. This action came after just one day of emergency
rule which had been imposed on the violent-stricken kingdom.
Assault Began at Daylight
Pearl Square has been the center of protests in Bahrain since the unrest began about one month ago. Protestors have
been staging a continuous protest there, demanding that the Sunni monarchy relinquish at least some of its power to
the Shi’ite majority which makes up the population of Bahrain. Soldiers staged a full-scale assault on Pearl Square,
sending tear gas into the crowd and setting tents ablaze. Officials and witnesses said that six people were killed in the
action, and at Ibn Nafees Hospital one protester died later from a gunshot wound to his back.
According to Bahrain state TV two policemen were also killed when they were struck by a car as the protesters were
evacuating the square. The Interior Ministry also announced that a third policeman was killed without defining the
cause of death.
Which Soldiers Led the Assault?
As of yesterday soldiers from other Gulf States were sent to protect Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy but it is still unclear
whether foreign troops or Bahraini soldiers, or a combination of the two, led the attack. The military vehicles which
were in the attack flew the red and white flag of Bahrain, perhaps indicating that the soldiers were Bahraini.
Helicopters flew over the square while protesters ran into side streets and security forces blocked main roads in
Manama. Cellular phones were jammed in central Manama at the peak of the assault, and internet access was
severely restricted.
Emergency Rule Declared
On Tuesday the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, declared a three month state of emergency. According to
officials emergency rule bans “rallies and disrupting public order” and demands “movement restrictions” including
curfews in some places. The King also ordered his military to fight the civil unrest. After emergency rule was
announced there were clashes across the country resulting in the deaths of two civilians and one Saudi soldier.
Bahrain is a small island nation in the Persian Gulf with high strategic profile. The US Navy’s 5th fleet is hosted in
Bahrain. Iran has criticized the presence of foreign soldiers in Bahrain, and although there are no direct political ties
with the main Bahraini protesters, Iran has referred to Bahrain in the past as Iran Republic’s “14th Province.” Iran has
called for a “peaceful” settlement of the dispute between the ruler and the ruled in Bahrain.
The rulers of the Gulf States, who are Sunni Muslims, fear that a Shi’ite victory in Bahrain against the Sunni rulers
there could give inspiration to the Shi’ites among their own populations, especially in the case of Saudi Arabia.
Clinton Calls for Calm
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State is afraid the situation in the Gulf States could escalate to full scale war and
has criticized what she called "provocative acts and sectarian violence." She also asked the Saudi Foreign Minister
Prince Saudi to urge the foreign forces to promote dialogue and not escalate the violence.
"We call for calm and restraint on all sides in Bahrain," Clinton told reporters in Cairo.
March 17, 2011
The US is reported to have fired two pairs of missiles at a compound in northwestern Pakistan last Thursday. The
missiles were fired from an unmanned aircraft at targets where a meeting was being held of about 40 militants who
were most likely members of al-Qaida and the Taliban. The area along the Afghan border in the Datta Khel area of the
North Waziristan tribal region is known to be a main sanctuary for the Taliban and al-Qaida in Pakistan.
It is not clear exactly how many of the militants were killed. One group of Pakistani intelligence officials gave the
number to be 25, while another group said the number was more likely 34.
The militants were attached to one of the more prominent of the Pakistani Taliban commanders in the region, Hafiz
Gul Bahadur, who has recently been stepping up his fight against foreign soldiers in Afghanistan.
It is far from a new undertaking for the US to fire missiles at militant targets in Pakistan. Such actions have been going
on since 2004; however the pace of the missile strikes has increased substantially since 2008. Just last year, in 2010,
the US launched 120 such strikes. All the strikes are carried out by unmanned drones and are launched either from
inside Afghanistan or Pakistan itself. So far this year about 20 such strikes have been launched, the majority of them
in taking place in the North Wazinstan region.
The US does not acknowledge officially that it engages in such actions, and because journalists are forbidden access
to the area there is no reliable way to verify the number of dead. The missile strikes have been officially protested to
by Pakistani leaders, but it is widely believed that Pakistani intelligence groups cooperate in some of the strikes.
March 21, 2011
The chief executive officer of Dohaland, the company which is redeveloping a portion of Qatar’s capital city Doha, has
announced plans for the state run company to raise up to $2.5 billion by the end of 2013 in order to finish the
project.
The Musheireb project, estimated to be worth about $20 billion will include the construction of four new government
buildings in one of the oldest sections of Doha. Also included in the plan is the construction of shops, a heritage
center and a hospital. The project will proceed in six separate phases, the first coming to completion in 2012 and the
final phase finishing in 2016.
Issa Al Mohannadi, the CEO of Dohaland said in an interview that, “We are looking at providing our own financing,”
after the completion of the first two phases. “There are many options we are considering now and it could be a
combination of a number of things,” such as bonds or loans, he said.
The immense building project is part of Qatar’s intensified focus on the future as a country with the world’s third
largest reserve of natural gas. In 2022 Qatar will be hosting the Soccer World Cup and wishes to invest in
infrastructure and development so it will be able to showcase its modernization and competitive nature as a world
class society. Qatar is also preparing for a projected population growth of about 50% by the year 2030, to about 2.6
million people.
March 22, 2011
In response to the air strikes on Libya from the west, oil prices are rising as well as the price of gold. Economists are
worried that inflation will set in as gold becomes a safe bet for investors concerned that Mideast tensions will not
resolve as quickly as first anticipated.
In addition, analysts are closely monitoring the situation in Japan which seems to have averted a full-scale nuclear
meltdown in the aftermath of one of the worst earthquakes in history and the resulting devastating tsunami that
took the lives of an estimated 10,000 or more people. The Japanese situation led to three year highs as the price of
physical gold premiums surged upwards.
Spot gold posted an increase of 0.2% arriving at a cost of $1,427.86 per ounce at 0706 GMT. This was after reaching
$1,434.70 in the proceeding session, which was only $10 from the March 7 record high.
US gold also gained, but just 0.1% to $1,428.20.
"The tension in Libya and the Middle East and North Africa region is supportive of gold prices. There is little doubt
that gold would test a new high in the near future," said Li Ning, an analyst at Shanghai CIFCO Futures.
"In the medium to long term, concerns about inflation will continue to buoy gold."
Li also said that worry over inflation has been spreading from emerging economies like China, to more developed
economies such as the European countries. If oil prices stay high for too long, inflationary trends could set in, which
has the effected of strengthening the price of gold which is the traditional vehicle for hedging against inflation.
March 23, 2011
Jordanian Reform Runs Into Roadblocks
Despite the efforts of King Abdullah of Jordan to move his country to a more democratic system of government,
opposition groups, especially Islamists who are the largest and best organized of the opposition, would like to see a
faster time-table for change.
King Abdullah appointed a panel last week to discuss changes to the Elections Law and Political Parties Law, but the
Muslim Brotherhood announced that it would not join this panel, called the National Dialogue Committee. It is
probable that other opposition groups will join the Muslim Brotherhood and stay away from the King’s panel.
"So far we have received no replies from the government satisfying our minimal demands," Hamza Mansour,
secretary-general of the Islamic Action Front, explained. Mansour believes that because the committee was officially
commissioned by the Prime Minister of Jordan, Marouf Al-Bakhit and not by the King himself, it is unlikely that the
panel will have any power to implement any of its decisions.
"In this country, governments have no real say in decision-making," Mansour said.
Jordan has been faced with similar issues as the other Middle Eastern countries who are on the cusp of implementing
political reforms into their systems of government. The questions of how fast to change, what reforms to implement,
what should the future role of the monarch should be and how or whether he should be implementing the reforms
himself. In Egypt the voters did not heed the calls of the opposition to implement change gradually so that the people
could organize political parties and other civil institutions. Instead the Egyptian people voted overwhelmingly for
constitutional amendments that would bring the country quickly to free elections.
The Jordanian King Abdullah has been faced with the pressure of massive street protests demanding the
implementation of democratic changes. Up to now the demonstrators have not demanded the abdication of the King
or to give up his power. Abdullah was, however, forced to fire his Prime Minister Samir Rifai at the beginning of
February.
The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan is the most important of all the opposition groups in Jordan. They are represented
in the parliament by the Islamic Action Front, and included in their demands are far reforms to the Constitution which
will bequeath onto the parliament more power and guarantee the accountability of politicians in the courts.
Three Islamists were appointed to the panel, which has been meeting since last Saturday, but they have refused to
join until amending the constitution becomes a topic which is allowed to be discussed. Such discussions would go far
beyond what the current panel’s mandate allows, and the government has refused to address these concerns.
The Secretary-General of the Jordanian Democratic Popular Union Party, Sa’id Diab, is also the spokesman for the
opposition parties in Jordan. Diab has stated that the other opposition may follow the example of the Islamists and
quit the committee this week unless constitutional reform becomes part of the committee’s agenda.
"If the constitution is discussed, the problem will be solved," Diab told The Media Line. "The issue will be clarified
today."
March 27, 2011
Mideast News Roundup
Libyan Rebels Retake Brega
With air support from the United States and its allies Libyan rebels have made major progress across Libya—taking
the centrally located city of Ajdabiya, recapturing the eastern city of Brega and making major advances towards the
important oil depot of Ras Lanuf. Warplanes from the west have been bombarding the strongholds of Muammar
Gadaffi, including tanks, artillery and soldiers along the coast as well as near Gaddafi’s capital of Tripoli.
Saudi Stocks Rising
Saudi stocks rose to their highest levels in five weeks as investors are expressing their newly found confidence in the
Saudi government and economy, which is the largest of the Arab economies. This outpouring of hope was seen as a
reaction to the ordering of the establishment of a housing ministry by King Abdullah.
In addition, the governor of the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad Al-Jasser has declared that the Gross
Domestic Product of the kingdom will be “north of four percent” in 2011 but the bond markets in the Gulf Arab State
are “not well taken care of.”
According to Majdi Hariri a member of the Shura consultative council of Saudi Arabia, the council may pass the draft
mortgage law on April 3rd.
Egypt Expecting Stability Soon
The Finance Minister of Egypt, Samir Radwan, predicts that the Egyptian stock market should regain its former
stability as the government makes $250 million available to purchase shares. The market there reached a two year
low after a seven week stoppage.
Egypt is also planning to raise $840 million in treasury bills at an auction in Cairo, while simultaneously the Egyptian
Central Bank did not intercede to help prop up the value of the Egyptian pound, as it reached its lowest point in over
six years on March 24th.
Two businessmen and the former minister of tourism in Egypt Zoheir Garranah are scheduled to go to trial on April 9
for profiteering and enabling the theft of public monies.
March 29, 2011
Middle East Unrest Puts Breaks on Airline Industry Growth
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the air travel industry has been adversely affected by
the widespread unrest throughout the Middle East and North Africa during the month of February.
The Director General of the IATA, Giovanni Bisignani pointed out on Tuesday that the industry showed only a 6%
growth during the month of February, as compared to an 8.4% increase in growth during the previous month of
January. Compounding the problems of February will be the expected negative reaction of the industry to the
Japanese nuclear disaster, which will most likely place further pressure on the ability of the airline industry to recover
from the recession.
Bisignani pointed out that, "As the unrest in Egypt and Tunisia spreads across the Middle East and North Africa,
demand growth across the region is taking a step back."
He added that, "The tragic earthquake and its aftermath in Japan will most certainly see a further dampening of
demand from March."
The estimate which the IATA made for the overall effect that the ongoing crises, which began in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya,
and other countries has had on the industry is at least a 1% across-the-board total reduction in air travel.
"The industry fundamentals are good. But extraordinary circumstances have made the first quarter of 2011 very
difficult," explained Bisignani.
An additional factor in the slowing down of the airline sector comes from the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Shutdowns of Chinese factories over this holiday are partly to blame for the 2.3% growth of air freight as compared
to the 8.7% growth rate seen in January, according to the IATA.
IATA is an international organization which represents about 230 airline carriers which make up about 90% of
scheduled air traffic internationally, however they do not include some of the major, big budget airlines.
March 30, 2011
Gaddafi Succeeds in Fight for Sirte
Reversing gains made by rebels in the past several weeks after NATO forces gave air support to Libyan rebels;
Gaddafi’s loyalist forces took Sirte, Gaddafi’s hometown, in their continuing advance east, blocking the way of the
rebels’ westward push. Rebels were forced back to Bin Jawad, a town which they had taken on Monday, and the fear
is that they will continue to lose ground to Gaddafi’s loyalist forces unless further intervention on the part of NATO is
forthcoming.
The US President, Barak Obama, addressed the US last night on the subject of Libya, but did not discuss the position
on NATO intervention in any other Middle East countries who have turned to violence to persuade their governments
to make major changes.
Syrian Take to the Streets
The cabinet of Syria resigned on Tuesday in Syria. The move was a concession made by President Bashar al-Assad to
appease demonstrators, who have not been satisfied with other concessions offered by the Syrian dictator. There
have been antigovernment uprisings springing up all over Syria for more than a week, and the disbanding of the
cabinet is just the latest move to try and bring calm to the tense situation there. It is expected that President Assad
will speak to his people soon and declare that the decades-old emergency law will be appealed.
An estimated hundreds of thousands of Assad supporters took to the streets in Damascus on Tuesday demonstration
their loyalty to the President and the present Syrian government, showing the world and fellow citizens that Assad
still commands a loyal following among many in Syria.
Yemen Re-Ignites
Tuesday saw another round of protests in the streets of Yemen after a short period of calm over the weekend as
demonstrators waited to see the outcome of power transfer discussions. The failure of the discussions to produce
any meaningful agreement led to the renewed protests demanding the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh from
his office.
April 3, 2011
In order to help calm the violent atmosphere among protestors against the rule of President Bashar Assad of Syria,
the president appointed Adel Safar, a former minister of agriculture, to put together a new government. This move is
part of several attempts at reform on the part of Assad which he hopes will send a message to his detractors that he
is serious about change.
Many people have a genuine respect for Mr. Safar, and his choice as the man to form a new cabinet, in the wake of
the dissolution of the previous cabinet last week, is clearly a step on Assad’s part towards his opposition.
In addition to dismissing en masse his entire government last week, Assad also set up committees to investigate
civilian deaths which have occurred during the past two weeks of protests and demonstrations against what many
view as one of the Middle East’s most repressive and authoritarian regimes. There has also been a call to disband the
“state-of emergency” laws that have been in force for decades.
Adel Safar is 58 years old and was educated in France at the French polytechnic center where he received a doctorate
in agricultural sciences. Mr. Safar is the director of the Arab Center for Dry and Arid Lands, and was the dean of the
agricultural faculty at Damascus University from 1997 until 2000.
The recent civil unrest has proved to be the most serious challenge to the 40-year-plus rule of the Assad family in
Syria. The spark that set off this most recent round of demonstrations was the arrest of a number of teens who had
written anti-government slogans on walls in the impecunious and drought- stricken southern city of Daraa.
President Assad had not recognized the force of the citizens unhappy with his rule, and has often blamed “foreign
conspirators” for the protest movement surging in Syria. Protesters have said that the reforms so far instituted by
Assad are simply not far-reaching enough to satisfy their demand for a real, effective change.
April 5, 2011
Dirar Abu Sisi the 42 year-old engineer who was arrested by Israel while traveling in the Ukraine, was indicted
yesterday in an Israeli court for being a member of Hamas and for designing rockets for the Islamist group’s military
branch.
The official summary of the court indictment, which prosecutors filed in a Beersheba District Court, charged Abu Sisi
with belonging to a militant group and with hundreds of counts of attempted murder in addition to making rockets.
The document states that, "Abu Sisi is accused of nine charges regarding activity in a terrorist organization, hundreds
of counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arms production offences."
In addition the indictment alleges that Abu Sisi helped to create locally made rockets which were used by Gaza
militants, and was also responsible for “increasing their range and ability to pierce steel so as to penetrate IDF
armored vehicles and thus harm soldiers."
The indictment adds that Abu Sisi ran the Hamas military training academy which was begun after Israel’s assault on
Gaza in December of 2009, Operation Cast Lead, which lasted 22 days and was designed to halt the threat of rocket
attacks from Gaza into Israeli territory.
Smadar Ben-Natan is Abu Sisi’s Israeli lawyer. She explained to journalists that her client did confess to “certain
things” but she could not specify what “things” due to court-imposed restrictions. She was able to say, however, that
her client’s confessions were given "under very heavy duress which I would characterize as torture."
Dirar Abu Sisi disappeared last month while on a train in the Ukraine, where his wife Victoria was born. Shortly after
his disappearance Israel announced that he was in Israel’s custody in Shikma prison in Ashkelon.
The German magazine Der Spiegel has hinted that Israel abducted Abu Sisi because they believe that he has
information regarding the location of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was taken in 2006 by Gaza extremists and is
still being held.
Both Abu Sisi’s wife and his lawyer assert that he does not have any information regarding Shalit.
A gag order in Israel prohibits the publication of further details regarding Abu Sisi’s case.
April 6, 2011
The wealthy Gulf State of Qatar will have a key presence at one of England’s leading sports events this year as the
Qatar International investment and Projects Development Holding Company (Qipco) has signed a “multi-million
pound” title sponsorship deal with the British Champions Series.
Karl Oliver, chief executive officer of the British Champions Series said in an interview that the deal “will have a
significant impact on the sport as a whole.”
The two year deal gives Qipco exclusive naming rights of the inaugural series plus right of full partnership for the
revitalized British Champions Day at Ascot, which will take place on October 15th. This crowning even will award prize
money totaling 3 million pounds, ($4.9 million), making this the most sumptuous single event in the history of British
horseracing.
“We want to raise the international profile of Qipco and the British Champions Series provides the perfect platform
for the company to reach a wider audience,” said Qipco CEO Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani in an e-mailed
statement. “Through Qatar Bloodstock, which owns the stallion Makfi, we already have an interest in the British
racing and breeding in industry.”
The commercial branch of United Kingdom horseracing, Racing Enterprises Ltd., hopes to use the Champions series to
increase the interest in the sport in the country, which has been in serious decline in recent years. Betting income is
down, television coverage is in decline, and attendance at racing events is anemic. Long term goals of Racing
Enterprises is to remake the British Champions Series in the image of the prestigious and popular Breeder’s Cup in
the United States and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France.
The British Champions Series begins with the Guineas Festival at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on April 30, where Qipco
will be the official partner, continuing with the Sussex Stakes which will be part of the Glorious Goodwood festival in
July.
The owners of Qipco are six brothers who are part of the Qatar royal family. Qipco is a private shareholding company
with shares in a large variety of business ventures, including, oil and gas, real estate, health and finance industries.
April 17, 2011
Colonel Muammar Qaddafi’s forces are attempting to break the two-month-long siege of the important port city of
Misrata in Libya by intensifying its bombardment of the embattled western city.
A spokesman for the rebels accused Qaddafi’s forces of creating a humanitarian crisis in what is the single western
city still held by the rebels. Doctors in Misrata confirm the spokesman’s statement by asserting that they are having
serious trouble coping with the large number of casualties resulting from the unrelenting bombardment caused by
the loyalist forces. Residents of the city have also confirmed reports of violent bombardment of Misrata which they
claim does not discriminate between civilians and military personnel.
Alain Juppe, the French Foreign Minister declared yesterday that he believes a new United Nations resolution to force
the Libyan leader to quit is not needed at this time, while the German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle proposed
the freezing of Libyan funds which would be sent instead to the UN to help pay for the aid being given to the victims
of the conflict.
There is also intense fighting being reported in the eastern part of Libya as rebels, with the help of NATO air strikes,
made progress from the town of Ajdabiya in the direction of Brega, an important oil city.
In Misrata it was reported that six people were killed and 31 hurt on Saturday, in addition to a comparative number
on Friday. Six others died and 20 were wounded in Ajdabiya.
April 20, 2011
Protestors in Syria were subjected to a strong mixture of concessions with repression as government forces clamped
down on demonstrators in Homs, Syria’s third largest city, leaving at least two dead on Tuesday.
The demonstrators had rallied together to create one of Syria’s largest gatherings, an Egyptian-inspired sit-in at the
city’s largest public square only to be dispersed violently by the Syrian police, army and other forces, who had the
square cleared by early Tuesday morning.
Just hours later the government announced sweeping reforms, specifying exactly what the government would do to
follow up on its general promise to create major changes in policy last Saturday. Among the reforms announced will
be the repeal of an emergency law which has been in force since the Baath Party seized power in 1963.
President Bashar Assad, or the Parliament, must approve the repeal, but that action is considered to be just a
formality. Demonstrators expressed concern that the decision to reform is also a mere formality, wondering whether
they will ever see any real changes in the iron grip the government has over the people.
April 20, 2011
Mubarak Blamed for Deaths During Revolution
A new investigation by the Egyptian government into who bears responsibility for the bloodshed and violence during
the three-week long revolution which took place in Egypt last February points an incriminating finger at then
President Hosni Mubarak as being at least partly responsible for the approximately 846 deaths which occurred during
the uprising.
The investigation describes a reaction to demonstrations which utilized snipers, thugs and other forces characteristic
of a police state in which to put-down the efforts of the protesters to oust President Mubarak and create sweeping
changes in the governmental system of Egypt.
The judge leading the fact-finding commission established by the government stated on Tuesday that Mubarak is at
least indirectly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators through the agency of the police and Interior
Ministry personnel. The release of the conclusion of the study came only a few days after the former president was
arrested and held for questioning concerning the killings and for more general corruption charges during his almost
30 years of ruling Egypt.
The number of dead is now said to be at least 846, a figure which is more than twice what the government had
previously reported. The deaths took place in the two week period from January 25th until February 11th. This fact
only emphasizes the extent of the violence perpetrated against the protestors, including snipers firing onto crowds of
people from roofs to thugs hitting people with heavy sticks.
April 22, 2011
According to Zainab al-Khawaja, the daughter of arrested Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, was
put on trial by a military court last Thursday. The past two months has seen the worst unrest since back in the 1990s,
mostly originating in the Shi’ite majority community in opposition to the Sunni-led government of this Gulf Arab
Kingdom.
In reaction to the widespread uprisings taking place in Bahrain, the King enacted martial law as well as requesting
troops from neighboring Sunni-led countries to help put down the revolt. Khawaja was arrested along with his two
sons-in-law earlier in April when the government began to crack-down harshly utilizing check-points within the city of
Manama and in outlying Shi’ite villages.
As a result of this crackdown hundreds of citizens have been arrested, a large number of whom are politicians and
opposition activists. The government claims that only those accused of perpetrating a crime were arrested, and that
all accusations will be investigated.
"The trial against him (Khawaja) started today but we family members were not allowed to enter the court. I don't
know what charges are brought against him," his daughter Zainab al-Khawaja said.
"My father called last night. He didn't sound fine. I think he has a mouth injury because he could barely speak," she
said.
"He kept saying oppression is great," said Khawaja, who on Thursday stopped a week-long hunger strike to demand
the release of her family members.
April 24, 2011
Regardless of the news coming out of the Middle East, trading on the Gulf State Arab markets seem to be doing just
fine, if the new highs reached that week can be any indication.
Saudi Arabia companies posted positive first quarter earnings pushing the markets up, while the petrochemical sector
has been forecast to continue to outperform as fuel prices rise. Analysts do expect a correction at some point as the
trading moves to follow global equities and energy prices more mindfully.
The price of Brent crude topped $122/barrel last Wednesday due to a rebound in equities and a greater than
anticipated fall in the US oil product surplus helped relieve the fear of an eroding demand for oil.
“I think investors are looking for pause, and new positions will be limited to mainly petrochemicals if at all,” said
Muhammad Shabbir, chief investment officer and head of Saudi asset management at Rasmala Investment Bank.
Investors are remaining cautious until more large cap stockes in banking and real estate post their earnings.
“Not a lot of people are expecting blazing earnings growth,” said Ibrahim Masood, senior investment officer at
Mashreq Bank. “Real estate and banks are still in a challenging environment.”
April 27, 2011
According to a poll done by the Pew Research Center, the post-revolutionary Egypt is even more anti-Israel and antiAmerica than it was before the political turmoil and ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in the early months of 2011.
The poll, which was released on Monday, also showed that there is also strong support for democracy and human
rights, despite the negative feelings toward the dominant world democracy, the US, and the only democracy in the
Middle East, Israel.
President Obama has shown consistent support for the changes which have come to Egypt, including calling for
Mubarak to resign his position only a week after the beginning of the anti-government protests erupted. Obama has
also expressed strong approval of Egypt’s transition to a democratic form of government. Yet the poll of 1,000
Egyptians conducted in face-to-face interviews taken from March 24th to April 7th showed that Egyptians still feel
negatively towards the United States.
The report stated that “No dividend emerges for the United States from the political changes that have occurred in
Egypt. Favorable ratings of the U.S. remain as low as they have been in recent years, and many Egyptians say they
want a less close relationship with America. Israel fares even more poorly.”
The results of the poll must be a disappointment to President Obama, who has made improved relations with the
Muslim world one of the major themes of his administration’s foreign policy. Two years ago Obama made a
‘watershed’ speech in Cairo in which he called for a “new beginning” in bilateral relations with Egypt and the rest of
the Arab world, including pressuring Israel to come to a final agreement with the Palestinians. The policy in the US
towards the various protest movements in the Middle East of late has been one of support in the hope that this
support will win the favor of the Arab people resulting in an emergence of a new, pro-Western, liberal and
democratic Middle East.
Maye Kassem, associate professor of political science at American University of Cairo explained that a majority of
Egyptians do not consider relations with the US a high priority. According to Kassem, the subject Egyptians are most
concerned with in recent days is making sure that the corrupt politicians and others from Mubarak’s regime are
brought to justice.
“A lot of people are more concerned now whether these people are going to be charged or are they going to get
away. This is more on people’s minds than the U.S.,” Kassem said. About attitudes towards the U.S, she added: “I
wouldn’t say they are positive. I would say neutral.”
May 1, 2011
Three missiles hit a private residence in the Libyan capital of Tripoli late on Saturday, killing the youngest son of
Colonel Muammer Gaddafi and three pre-teen grandchildren.
Libyan government officials brought journalist to see the site of the air strike where they observed the roof
completely caved in in several places. Mangled remains of reinforced steel and concrete hung down from the ceiling.
One sofa was left miraculously intact while other furniture was covered in debris. The house was is located in a
wealthy residential neighborhood of Tripoli, where glass and other remnants of the house lay covering the well-kept
lawn.
Government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim commented on the attack:
“What we have now is the law of the jungle. We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has
nothing to do with the protection of civilians.”
NATO denies that it was targeting Colonel Gaddafi, his family or any civilians, but did admit to launching air strikes on
military targets which are found in the same area as the site which was shown to reporters.
“NATO continued its precision strikes against regime military installations in Tripoli overnight, including striking a
known command and control building in the Bab al-Aziziyah neighborhood shortly after 1800 GMT Saturday
evening,” said a spokesman for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Charles Bouchard, Canadian Lieutenant-General and NATO’s commander of operations in Libya explained that the
target was part of a general strategy to destroy command centers which threaten the welfare of civilians.
“All NATO’s targets are military in nature ... We do not target individuals,” he said.
May 3, 2011
After what amounted to a ten year old manhunt, Osama bin Laden was found and killed early on Monday morning,
local time in Abbottobad, Pakistan, by a small group of US military forces.
President Barak Obama made the announcement on Sunday evening in the US, interrupting regularly scheduled
broadcasts, that the most sought after enemy of the American people had been discovered and killed.
The response of the citizens was swift and strong, with spontaneous gatherings erupting in front of the White House
in Washington, DC; at the site of ‘Ground Zero’ and in Times Square in New York; and in many other locations
throughout the US.
Politicians, Democrats, Republicans and former US presidents all praised the operation, calling it an historic moment
which has shown the world that persistence pays off and the US is relentless in its pursuit of justice.
The information which finally led to the one million dollar high-security luxury compound about an hour’s drive north
of Islamabad, Pakistan, can be said to have begun years ago with interrogations of key figures in Al-Qaeda, bin
Laden’s organization which has been responsible for numerous attacks on the US, other countries and most
notoriously the September 11, 2000 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
A highly trusted courier for bin Laden was revealed through the interrogations, and through painstaking
investigations, surveillance and follow up. The great breakthrough came last July, when Pakistani agents working for
the CIA noticed the courier driving in the vicinity of Peshawar. After watching him closely for weeks, he finally drove
to the huge compound in Abbottabad, which clearly pointed to something or someone big within, perhaps even bin
Laden.
After eight months of painstaking planning, practice, and evaluating options for an attack and the what-ifs of failure,
the decision was finally made to send in 79 Navy Seal commandos in four helicopters. The helicopters descended just
past midnight on the compound on a moonless night, waking the residents. A firefight ensued in which five people
were killed and none of the US soldiers were injured. One of the dead was a woman used by one of the men as a
human shield, unsuccessfully. One of bin Laden’s sons was killed, along with the courier and the courier’s brother.
The commandos were prepared to take bin Laden alive, but when he resisted them, the soldiers returned fire and
killed him.
A photo was taken of bin Laden’s face and uploaded to a facial recognition computer program, where his identity was
confirmed to a degree of 95% certainty. A DNA sample was also taken and matched with bin Laden’s family member’s
DNA, giving further proof of 99.9% that the man they had killed was truly bin Laden. By 1:10am the helicopters left
the compound, leaving several women and nine children ages 2 to 12 years old behind.
The commandos took possession of the body, flew him to an air craft carrier, performed a ceremony in keeping with
Muslim tradition and buried him at sea. The US decided that burial at sea would avoid the potential problem of
creating a holy shrine for his followers to flock to, but his burial at sea was done within 24 hours, also to adhere to
Muslim custom.
May 4, 2011
Reaction to bin Laden Slaying Mixed in Middle East
As the Middle East continues to deal with instability and changing political realities a new element has been added
into the mixture, with chaotic results. The news of the death of Osama bin Laden was met with a large variety of
responses from Middle East observers; from shock and anger, to satisfaction and delight.
In Saudi Arabia, bin Laden’s birthplace, joy could be discerned as well as mourning and denial. Several conspiracy
theories have even emerged.
Expert observers of the Middle East have asserted that the successful hunt for and killing of bin Laden will certainly
give the US a huge domestic boost while at the same time the political situation in the Middle East has been rendered
more complex with the chances of terrorist attacks and other violent responses increasing.
In the hours shortly after the news of bin Laden’s death reached Saudi Arabia a debate raged about whether bin
Laden was a criminal who gave their country and Islam a bad name while others declared that bin Laden was a holy
martyr who stood up to western imperialism.
According to one online poster, Mohamed al Saeedi from Qatif in Saudi Arabia,
“Small groups of Saudis consider him a hero, while most think he is a criminal, but the voices of extremists are
louder.”
Not surprisingly, the official statement from Israel was highly praiseworthy of the US action. Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said that the raid was a “resounding victory for justice, freedom and the common values of all
democracies (who are) fighting shoulder to shoulder against terrorism.”
The reaction of Hamas, however was highly condemnatory. In the Gaza strip the leader of the Islamist Palestinian
movement, Ismail Haniyeh called the US action a “continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the
shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.”
Disbelief in the reality of bin Laden’s death afflicted many online Islamist militant activist, and those that did believe it
vowed revenge. “Oh God, please make this news not true. God curse you Obama,” read one post in Arabic. “Oh
Americans…it is still legal for us to cut your necks.”
The Islam Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt issued a carefully constructed statement, taking care to protect their
potential role as a powerful political influence after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak during February’s revolution.
Criticizing neither the US action nor al-Qaeda, they rather urged the west to “stop linking Islam to terrorism” and
called on western powers such as NATO, the EU and the US to depart from Iraq and Afghanistan.
One shopkeeper in Jordan probably summed up Middle Eastern sentiment by saying that:
“Although we’re against killing civilians, we sympathize with him because he’s a Muslim and was killed this way. He
became a symbol of fighting against American occupation.”
May 8, 2011
Salafists- Islamists who are more conservative than Hamas- staged a protest in the Hamas-led Gaza strip on Saturday
carrying posters of Osama bin Laden and chanting “We warn you America, we warn you Europe!”
Hamas broke up the gathering of dozens of Salafists denouncing the raid by US forces in Pakistan which ended in the
death of the Al Qaeda leader bin Laden. Some other banners said “We are all your soldiers Osama” and “Osama is
alive inside of us.”
The square in Gaza City where the protest took place was cordoned off by Hamas police forces, who also prevented
protesters from marching in the streets of Gaza City, and then gave them orders to leave the area.
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas in Gaza forcefully condemned the US killing of bin Laden, calling it an
“assassination of an Arab holy warrior.”
Expert analysts explained that Haniyeh’s statement was an attempt at pacifying the Salafists who believe that Hamas
is too moderate in their beliefs and practices. The Salafist would like to see Gaza led by a more fundamentalist Islamic
leadership more closely based upon the faith which was followed by their founders.
There have been several gun fights between the Salafists and Hamas in recent weeks.
Some of the signs of Hamas’ moderation have been the signing of a unity agreement with the head of the secular
Fatah movement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo. Despite Hamas’ alleged moderation, the United
States and the European Union officially classify Hamas as a terrorist organization because of its violent approach to
relations with Israel.
May 9, 2011
Just days after the US successful raid on Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan, US drones attempted to kill the
radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen.
US officials stated that the missile strike was unsuccessful, and Awlaki is still alive. Awlaki is a US citizen, born in the
United States, who became a leader and prominent voice for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is the
Yemeni branch of al Qaeda.
According to Yemeni officials two other al Qaeda members were killed in the action, which took place last Thursday in
an obscure area of Yemen.
Thursday’s missile strike utilized a predator drone, a departure from the usual use of Tomahawk cruise missiles which
are launched from Navy vessels more commonly used on strikes against targets in Yemen. This is the first admitted
missile strike in Yemen in exactly one year, however. In May of 2010 US missiles accidently killed one of president
Saleh’s envoys by mistake. The drones which have flown over Yemen until now have all been unarmed.
Despite the fact that Awlaki is a US citizen, the Obama administration authorized the CIA and the US military to kill
Awlaki. Awlaki was born in New Mexico, but in 2004 he moved to Yemen. Faisal Shahzad admitted to having been
inspired by Awlaki to bomb Times Square, and Major Nidal Hasan, the alleged Fort Hood killer, also exchanged emails
with Awlaki. In January 2010 Awlaki said that he was in contact with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the so-called
“underwear bomber” who has been accused of attempting to explode a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day in
2009 flying from Amsterdam to Detroit.
This past September the government of Yemen said that they had converged on Awlaki in the town of Houta, but
then later said that they had captured about 25 al Qaeda fighters in addition to a “vital terror headquarters.”
May 12, 2011
According to a human rights watch group, at least 750 people have perished so far in demonstrations, protests and
unrest in Syria over the past seven weeks due to the violent reaction of government forces to the demonstrators.
Officials in the Obama administration are coming closer to calling for the resignation of President Bashar Assad of
Syria, saying that his recent responses to his people’s demands have proven that he has abdicated his right to rule the
country.
Such a statement from the United States would represent a serious shift from former declarations which had
condemned Assad’s brutal crackdown, by falling short of declaring Assad’s reign illegitimate and calling for his leaving
the presidency.
Tanks can be seen within the villages of southern Syria, the central location of the anti-government protests. Activists
of the uprising have stated that the regime as essentially isolated several areas of the country.
The government’s crackdown has proceeded by closing of certain areas of Syria and doing house-by-house raids in
search of men and women whose names appear on lists of wanted activists. Many people have been forced to flee as
a result of the searches, for fear of being arrested by the government of Assad.
May 15, 2011
NATO Should Increase Pressure on Gaddafi Says UK General
General Sir David Richards, British Armed Forces chief expressed his belief that NATO must begin direct attacks
against the foundations of the regime that are propping up Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.
UN Allows for All Necessary Measures
The Security Council resolution of the United Nations allowed for “all necessary measures” to be utilized in order to
protect the citizens in Libya who are under threat of attack, without authorizing any actual occupation force there.
The United Kingdom and other NATO countries have been bombing Libyan targets under the resolution’s mandate,
but with certain restrictions.
General Richards advises that those restrictions be widened in order to force Gaddafi out of power, including the
possibility of killing Gaddafi in an air strike.
General Richards is not alone in his belief that enlarging the targets from only those objectives that are direct threats
to more peripheral targets which are nonetheless helping to keep Gaddafi in power. In order to widen the scope of
the air strikes, however, would require the support of NATO member states.
Gaddafi Legitimate Target
General Richards explained that killing Gaddafi within a command center would certainly be “within the rules” of the
UN resolution, although ousting Gaddafi is not a stated military objective of the action. General Richards continued,
“The vice is closing on Gaddafi but we need to increase the pressure further through more intense military action.
The military campaign to date has been a significant success for NATO and our Arab allies. But we need to do more. If
we do not up the ante now there is a risk that the conflict could result in Gaddafi clinging to power. At present, NATO
is not attacking infrastructure targets in Libya. But if we want to increase the pressure on Gaddafi's regime then we
need to give serious consideration to increasing the range of targets we can hit."
In addition, General Richards pointed out that there had been "hardly any civilian casualties as a result of the extreme
care NATO has taken in the selection of bombing targets."
May 17, 2011
Israel and Lebanon File Protests at UN Over Border Confrontation
Diplomats representing Lebanon and Israel at the United Nations formally submitted protests concerning the violent
border clashes that took place between Israel, Lebanon and Syria on May 15, Nakba Day, this past Sunday.
May 15th is the day the Arab world calls Nakba, the Arabic word for ‘catastrophe.’ The day commemorates the
anniversary of the founding of Israel in May, 1948. Traditionally this day is observed by Arabs inside and outside of
Israel with protests, demonstrations and other activities just on the cusp of turning violent. It is not unheard of for
these protests to indeed occasionally turn violent, with rock throwing and tire burning.
This year an added element to the day was added; thousands of Arab protesters converged on the Syrian and
Lebanese border with Israel. As the demonstrators began to overrun the border, tear down the fence and enter
Israel, Israeli troops shot into the crowd, and as a result, 14 Arabs were killed and hundreds more were wounded.
Lebanon is accusing Israel of using “excessive force” against the unarmed protesters. Meron Reuben, the Israeli
ambassador to the UN from Israel, said that the demonstrations were a “dangerous provocation” in letters submitted
to the UN Security Council and to Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the UN.
Meron Reuben stated that Israel had shown “maximum restraint in confronting the significant threat of violence.”
In his letters to the UN Mr. Reuben added that, "Any harm caused to the individuals involved in these violent
demonstrations lies clearly with" Lebanon and Syria.
Mr. Reuben also expressed his opinion that, at least in the case of the protests in the Golan Heights, the Syrian
government helped to organize the border incidents.
The Israeli ambassador continued to say that the huge protest on Sunday "raises disturbing questions about whether
certain actors in our region are seeking to such provocations as a cynical distraction from other issues," referring to
the violent confrontation Syria is dealing with now on its home front with dissenters in the south of the country and
elsewhere.
Nawaf Salam, the Lebanese ambassador to the UN, said that the Israeli soldiers ‘opened fire’ on the unarmed
demonstrators, even though Lebanese troops took “tight security measures” to accompany the protestors at the
border between Lebanon and Israel.
Salam said that the killings point out “Israel’s aggressive nature, as it did not hesitate to use excessive force against
civilians in blatant contravention of international law and customs."
As one of the countries of the 15-nation Security Council with a rotating seat, Lebanon demanded that the council
"pressure Israel to renounce its belligerent and provocative policy toward Lebanon and hold it responsible" for the
deaths.
May 18, 2011
Electric Cars Coming to Israel
Better Place, the Israel-based electric car company, released its pricing schedule in advance of its introduction of the
world’s first nation-wide battery charging grid.
The grid will be used to power-up Better Place’s electric cars, soon to go on the market. According to company press
releases, the Better Place’s charging network will give total coverage to drivers of electric cars, allowing them to drive
from one end to the country to the other in an electric powered vehicle with no limitations on their range.
Better Place is planning on deploying 40 Battery Switch Stations before the year’s end, and has already signed
agreements with 400 parking lot owners all over the country to install thousands of ‘charge spots.’ In addition, the
company has made deals with 27 municipalities across Israel to guarantee that there will charge spots easily
accessible to customers at centralized locations within their cities.
“By the end of this year, the solution you see here will be visible across the country – giving drivers the freedom to
drive zero emission, zero oil cars with the same convenience they enjoy today”, said Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO of
Better Place. “This model, will serve as a template for countries around the world to replicate as they march down
the path towards oil independence.”
On Tuesday Better Place released its pricing schedule and estimated cost for its flagship car called the Fluence Z.E.
from the French car manufacturer Renault. The car is priced at 123,000 shekels, about $34,670.
The pricing for the electricity is dependent on how much driving the consumer engages in; the more miles driven, the
less expensive per mile. The subscription rate for low-mileage users is 1,090 shekels per month ($310) for up to
12,000 miles/year. For high-mileage users the price is $450 for 20,000 miles/year. There will also be an unlimited
usage package over the course of three years priced at 157,500 shekels ($44,530) for the three year period.
Better Place says that the price schedule can save consumers as much as 20% in overall costs as compared with gaspowered vehicles. The Renault is due to go on sale beginning in August.
May 22, 2011
European Bank Considering Expansion Into MENA
Despite the recent and ongoing turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, the European Bank of Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) is considering expanding their business into the area.
At present the bank supports projects in Eastern Europe and the former states of the Soviet Union, but yesterday
they began to take the steps necessary to expand into the MENA region.
"EBRD shareholders have made significant progress towards a decision on extending the bank's investment to
countries in the Middle East and North Africa," a spokesman for the bank said.
Speaking at the bank’s annual meeting, Thomas Mirow, the EBRD chief explained that the bank would like to begin
investing in the region sometime next year. The meeting for the twenty year old bank took place in Astana, the
capital city of Kazakhstan.
"We are quite confident that it should be indeed possible to start with initial liquidities as of spring 2012," Mirow
said.
The consequences of this move would be that the EBRD may even begin investing in Egypt, and perhaps Morocco as
well, before the completion of the 18-month process of re-ratification of the bank’s new status.
Mirow said that the bank will hopefully make available 2.5 billion euros ($3.54 billion) of investments into the region
each year.
Mirow added that “The move would be a major part in the international community’s response to the Arab Spring,”
referring to the Arab uprising, especially which took place in Egypt, which resulted in the downfall of the former
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt is already being considered as a strong contender for the bank’s investments. Egypt’s temporary government
submitted their request for the EBRD to lend funds to small and medium-size businesses after the downfall of Egypt’s
previous government. Morocco has also voice interest in investments from the bank.
May 24, 2011
Egypt to Borrow $4 Billion from Saudi Arabia
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi of Egypt told the official Egyptian press agency, MENA on Saturday that
Saudi Arabia will lend Egypt emergency monies in the amount of $4 billion.
Tantawi, who is the head of Egypt’s ruling military council said, “The $4bn will be distributed in the form of soft loans,
deposits and grants.”
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have long been strong allies, as they are the two most powerful of the Sunni Arab states, but
with the removal of Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak, a tried and true friend of Saudi Arabia, by the recent Egyptian
revolution, it was unclear if Saudi Arabia still holds Egypt in its favor. There is also distrust brewing on the part of
Saudi Arabia as Egypt has begun seeking closer relations with Iran, thirty years after the Shah was deposed.
But Saudi Arabia seems to want to maintain its good relations with Egypt, agreeing to the loan. Field Marshall
Tantawi phoned King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Saturday in order to thank him for the generous loan, as reported
in the Saudi press.
Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves have been depleted over the months since the revolution, creating an atmosphere
of uncertainty about Egypt’s economic stability. In December, two months before February’s revolution Egypt’s
foreign exchange reserves were at $36 billion. Last month’s foreign exchange reserves were reported to be at $28
billion, a loss of $12 billion, or about one third of the total.
President Barak Obama had already announced last Thursday, before the Saudi loan was announced, that the US will
cancel as much as $1 billion in bilateral debt which is owed to the US by Egypt. President Obama added that the US
will also begin to set up enterprise funds on behalf of Egypt.
May 25, 2011
World Bank Takes Optimistic View towards Mideast Upheaval
The World Bank released a report on Tuesday saying that despite the short-term downward movement of Middle
Eastern and Northern African economies, in the long run the world can expect to see positive movement in that
region.
The report is the World Bank’s regional economic update for May 2011 for the area which is more and more
frequently being referred to as MENA. According to the report:
“The medium-run growth prospects are likely to improve” for Middle Eastern and North African nations, whose
broader geographical region is often referred to as MENA, “especially if the political changes are associated with
more open and accountable governance and more rapid reforms.”
The report also stated that the MENA countries had already mostly risen out of the global financial crisis that had
typified many economies across the world by the end of 2010. Before the political crisis occurred economic
predictions expected the area to fully recover from the financial crisis sometime during 2011.
In early 2011 however an unexpected event took place; unrest, uprisings and revolution shook the region, causing
regime changes in powerful countries such as Egypt and Tunisia. The pro-democracy demonstrations spread further
to Bahrain, Libya, Syria and Yemen, leaving economic turmoil in their wake, and a change in attitude.
The World Bank report asserts that often change is for the better.
A “better rule of law will promote competition, and political stability will attract investment, facilitating more rapid
growth in a sustainable way,” the World Bank said.
Now it is up to the various countries to install governments with credibility and a commitment to reform as quickly as
possible.
In the short term, the report states, it is “inevitable that investment will be delayed and economic challenges will
emerge.” But previous crisis have shown that these problems are almost always limited in nature, with growth
slowing for about one year after which it returns even surpasses the previous levels.
May 29, 2011
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared a report for the G8 summit which was held at the end of last week
in Deauville, France which stated that the oil-importing nations in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa)
will need a boost of at least $160 billion of external funding to get them through 2013 in an economically stable
fashion.
The Group of Eight met for two days to discuss many issues of strategic international concern, including how the
global community can assist countries in the area to strengthen their economies, especially after the de-stabilizing
effect the pro-democracy movements can potentially have on those economies.
The IMF’s Middle East director Masood Ahmed explained to journalists that although there will be and expectation
that a large part of the needed funds will come from the countries themselves, “over the next two to three years
there is a need to rebuild confidence,” which will surely lead to an economic transformation of those countries which
will benefit the entire world.
“Our role is to provide support early and use that as a catalyst to give private investors confidence,” Masood Ahmed
added.
The G8 leaders were in agreement with the head of IMF’s Middle East director, promising their “strong support” for
the pro-democracy movements which have been sprouting up across MENA. No specific aid was mentioned; however
earlier in the week the World Bank had already announced its own plans to fund the economies of Tunisia and Egypt
to the tune of $6 billion. Tunisia and Egypt were the catalyst countries which toppled their own regimes at the
beginning of 2011, inspiring a general movement across the Middle East to bring political reforms to their own
oppressive regimes.
The IMF has already pledged $35 billion as aid for the region, and is currently negotiating with Egypt about providing
the needed financing to stabilize the economy. According to Ahmed Egypt will require from $9 billion to $12 billion in
external financing this coming year until the end of June 2012.
May 31, 2011
The influential Swiss Bank UBS AG announced on Monday that the former banker of Crédit Agricole, the corporate
and investment bank, Albert Momdijan is slated to take charge of UBS’s business with the mega-wealthy clients of
the Middle East and Africa as of August 1st.
Financial Advisor to the Mega Wealthy
Momdijan was the head of the French bank’s corporate and investment business in the Middle East until recently. As
the head of Crédit Agricole’s Middle East section Momdijan advised on some of the largest transactions in the region.
Included among his deals was the Emirates International Investment Company’s $1.5 billion purchase of a 3% share in
the media powerhouse Vivendi SA as well as Kuwaiti Telco Zain in the unsuccessful $12 billion attempted takeover of
the United Arab Emirates’ Etisalat.
Trend to Hiring Investment Bankers
The employment of Momdijan by UBS AG is another in a growing number of private banks hiring of experienced and
well-connected investment bankers to dedicate their talents and experience to exclusively dealing with ultra-high
net-worth clients. Banks consider any client who brings in at least $50 million in assets into the bank as mega clients.
Paul Raphael, the head of UBS’s global emerging markets department said in a statement that Momdijan “"brings
with him deep relationships and unrivalled experience in advising ultra-high net worth and corporate clients on their
banking needs."
In addition to this role Momdijan will also act as head of UBS’s regional corporate advisory group.
June 1, 2011
Skype Rebellion Met with High-Tech Listening
Skype was the method of choice for secure communications among anti-government organizers in Egypt during the
past winter’s uprising, believing that Skype “cannot be penetrated online by any security device.”
However it turns out the protestors’ feelings of privacy were misplaced and Egypt’s security service was indeed
listening in on their Skype conversations.
Egypt’s “Electronic Penetration Department” issued an internal memo which actually bragged that it had intercepted
one such conversation discussing the non-penetrability of Skype to unwelcome ears.
Skype is a familiar internet tool used by millions of people throughout the world to make inexpensive, and often free,
international phone calls over the internet. Microsoft is about to purchase Skype for $8.5 billion, and Skype,
headquartered in Luxembourg, has also become a valuable tool for dissidents organizing revolutions around the
globe. The reason for Skype’s popularity? It is known to have powerful encryption technology built in which easily
evades traditional wiretaps.
Egyptian dissidents are not the only ones using Skype. All over the Middle East and North African region Skype has
been used for video calls and conferences, ordinary phone calls, instant messages and even exchange of files. Antigovernment leaders in Iran relied on Skype to plot strategy as well as to organize the February protest. US State
Department cables release on WikiLeaks attest to the fact that activists in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam are also
enamored with Skype.
But the love affair has taken a bad beating. After the successful toppling of the Egyptian government and its leader
Hosni Mubarak in March, several demonstrators entered the headquarters of Amn Al Dowla, the state’s security
agency where the discovered that secret memo mentioned above gloating over the agency’s ability to intercept
messages sent over Skype. One activist, Basem Fathi claims that he found files describing his personal life, including
trips he took to the beach and about his girlfriends, which he believes were taken from intercepted e-mails and
phone calls.
"I believe that they were collecting every little detail they were hearing from our mouths and putting them in a file,"
he says.
It turns out there are some companies based in the US and elsewhere that are designing tools which can be used to
either block or listen in on Skype calls. The tools use “spyware” which is capable of intercepting the audio stream and
bypassing completely Skype’s encryption. Egyptian documents attest to the fact that Egypt’s spy service tried FinSpy
last year, one such spyware product.
Skype’s chief information security officer, Adrian Asher, explained that it is impossible to expect his company to
prevent these technologies from compromising the service which Skype delivers:
"Can we control [spyware] taking an audio stream off the speakers or the microphone? No, there is nothing we can
do."
June 5, 2011
Israel Clashes with Protesters on Syrian Border
Despite several warnings from Israeli troops to stay away from the border fence, hundreds of pro-Palestinian
demonstrators stormed the fence on Sunday until Israeli troops fired across the Syrian frontier, scattering the crowd
in a panic.
Syrian television is reporting at least four dead, including a 12-year-old boy, with the number of dead and wounded
likely to increase.
The demonstrators were at the border near the druse town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights to mark the 44th
year since Israel defeated the Arab armies in what has come to be known as the Six Day War, or the ’67 War.
Israel is accusing the Syrian government of cynically instigating the border tension to draw domestic attention away
from the internal Syrian crackdown of dissidents within its own borders, which has been escalating into a bloodbath
in recent days.
Israel had assured Syria and the world community to prevent a repetition of the deadly outcome of a similar protest
last month. In May hundreds of demonstrators were able to enter the Israeli side of the Golan Heights, directly
clashing with Israeli military personnel. That confrontation marked the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the State
of Israel in May of 1948, a day known in the Arab world as “Naqba” or “Catastrophe” Day. This month thousands of
Israeli soldiers were mobilized and put on alert in anticipation of a similar clash in the hope of avoiding bloodshed.
Unfortunately that was not to be.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet that, “Unfortunately, extremist forces around us are trying today
to breach our borders and threaten our communities and our citizens. We will not let them do that.” Netanyahu
added that the military was ordered to show “maximum restraint.”
June 12, 2011
Yemen in Turmoil After President Injured
On June 3rd the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh was seriously injured in what appears to have been a bombing
on the presidential palace. The following day Saleh, aged 69, was evacuated from the capital of Yemen, Sanaa, had
transported to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He apparently suffered critical head injuries as well as upper body
burns.
Supporters of Saleh may be in denial, insisting that the president will return to his post “soon.” Government
opponents do not believe this prediction will come to pass.
This latest development has left an already overburdened Yemen with an even gloomier prospect for stability and
prosperity. Since February the country, among the world’s poorest, has been embroiled in an internal struggle for
control, bringing it to the brink of collapse. This latest development can very well be the last straw.
Saleh’s regime is fighting off a list of opponents, from demonstrators to army defectors to tribal enemies in the
capital. In the southern part of the country the US has been using unmanned drones to strike against al-Qaida targets
in an effort to contain the rebellious southern citizens and prevent al-Qaida from seizing more power than what they
already have.
"The situation is uncertain. Everyone thinks that everyone else is 'cooking' something," said Hamza Shargabi, a
surgeon, speaking from Sanaa. "(It) is still very, very tense in so many places around the country."
Shargabi added that in Yemen’s third largest city, Taiz, population 430,000, government tanks attacked crowds of
protestors.
June 14, 2011
Analysts are sighing with relief as second-quarter figures for Middle Eastern loans out pace first-quarter numbers by
43%.
At the beginning of the year uncertainty was the main attitude of economists and other observers as they stood by
watching the Middle East turn to flames during revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and to a lesser extent several
other Middle Eastern nations.
First-quarter numbers for lending reflect that uncertainty very well, with only $8 billion raised in the first quarter. The
total volume for second-quarter loans will reach $11.5 billion, if the $5.5 billion of loans for the Middle Eastern
borrowers is completed.
Sabic Capital, Investment Corp. of Dubai and Commercial Bank of Dubai are the leading banks, contributing the
greatest percentage to the overall 43% rise in the value of loans.
Companies are once again ready to take the risk that taking a loan represents as the uncertainty in the Middle East
dissipates and governments, along with their economies, seem to be stabilizing.
What is now being called the “Arab Spring” was a time of great turmoil and unrest, resulting in the overthrow of
dictators in Egypt and Tunisia.
“At the start of the year there was a lot of uncertainty about the Arab Spring and the popular uprisings in the Middle
East,” said Dirk Hentschel, head of distribution and loan syndication for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at WestLB
AG in London. “That has improved a bit now and we’re seeing an increasing pipeline of deals.”
June 15, 2011
Turkish Elections Strengthen Democracy
On June 12 elections in Turkey resulted in the return to power of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) which won
50 percent of the votes. This not only brings the incumbent Prime Minister Erdogan back to power, but also bodes
well for Turkish democracy.
Now that the AKP has a strong and clear mandate to govern for another term, they will begin to gather together a
consensus to create a new constitution and solve the Kurdish issue in a peaceful way.
This is the first time since multi-party politics began in Turkey in 1946 that one political party has remained in power
for three terms in a row while also increasing votes. The AKP has been instituting numerous reforms since they came
to power in 2002. These include political and judicial reforms, strengthening the economy of Turkey, and enlarging
foreign policy.
Election results show that the majority of Turkish voters are in favor of the reforms which Prime Minister Erdogan
and his government have implemented, and they are ready for more.
This election is more evidence supporting the fact that democracy in Turkey is strong and vital, especially considering
the fact that there are decades of military coups and anti-democratic practices in Turkey’s history. The great success
of the AKP is due mainly to its power to maintain a balance of democratization and reforms on one side and
continued economic development and national services on the other side. Financial markets have already responded
positively to the election’s outcome, with a great expectation that the Turkish economy will continue to expand.
June 19, 2011
NATO Airstrike Hits Libyan Residential Neighborhood
Reports from Libya claim that a NATO conducted airstrike hit a residential area in Tripoli early on Sunday, killing at
least four civilians, including two children.
NATO has repeatedly denied targeting non-military areas for their airstrikes, and at the moment the charges that
NATO did hit a non-military target have not been independently verified.
The accusation, whether true or not, will most likely give Colonel Muammar Gaddafi a new point to rally support to
end the international intervention which NATO represents, into the civil war taking place in Libya.
Journalists in Tripoli were quickly transported to the site of the airstrike in the early morning hours on Sunday, to
witness the destruction of what appeared to be an apartment building whose construction was not yet completed.
Moussa Ibrahim, spokesman for the Libyan government, was not immediately at liberty to confirm the number of
killed and wounded caused by the NATO airstrike. He did, however point out to the journalists that there are no
military targets anywhere near the building that was struck.
After the visit to the bomb site the journalists were ferried to the hospital where they were shown four bodies, two
of which were children, who were allegedly the victims of the NATO airstrike. It is noteworthy to mention that
journalists are not permitted to travel or report freely from Libya, and are almost constantly being watched by
government agents.
"There was intentional and deliberate targeting of the civilian houses," said deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim
during a visit to the site shortly after reporters arrived. "This is another sign of the brutality of the West."
NATO officials say they are investigating the allegations, but at this time do not have information about where the
airstrike took place. It is not unheard of for the Gaddafi regime to make false claims against NATO and its activities,
including lying about civilian casualties caused by NATO missions in Libya.
June 21, 2011
Incomes Increase for Businessmen in the Middle East, Study Shows
A new survey conducted by Mercer shows that executives throughout the Middle East have voted themselves pay
raises on the order of 5.7% on average.
Managers Do the Best
The data also points out those employees on the managerial level have also benefitted from pay increases to an even
larger extent then the executives, reflecting the fact that companies are focusing their financial resources on what
they see as the “rainmakers” in their firms.
These average pay rises are on the average higher than what executives in Western Europe have received, although
in Pakistan the average increase in yearly salary went up by 13.5% in 2011.
Qatar the Lowest and Bahrain the Highest
In Africa the average pay increase was 8.2%. Execs from Qatar had the lowest pay hikes, only 4%. Next up were
Kuwaiti executives with 4.5% increases, Saudi Arabia had 5% raises as well as the UAE.
Bahraini executives did the best with 6% average salary increases, among all the Middle East countries that were
included in the survey.
The data was analyzed by the Mercer Pulse Survey, which included information from 406 subsidiaries of multinational
companies which do business in more than 60 European countries.
This survey focused its attention on the executive pay raises which was reported by all companies, including those
who have frozen salaries in the past year while the date itself included the median increase in salary over a large
variety of employee groups.
June 22, 2011
Italy Calls For End to Libyan War
The Italian government called on world leaders and NATO to do what it must to end the bloodshed in Libya.
Meanwhile NATO defended the value of its air strikes despite the tragic misfiring of bomb which killed civilians when
it misfired.
Franco Frattini, the Foreign Minister to Italy, said on Tuesday that the value of NATO’s air defense and attacks is
brought into question whenever civilians are killed. Frattini added that it was crucial that NATO make sure that it
does not add more ammunition into the propaganda war which Qaddafi is fighting.
"With regard to NATO, it is fair to ask for increasingly detailed information on results as well as precise guidelines on
the dramatic errors involving civilians," Frattini said.
Frattini made his remarks in response to the misfiring of a NATO bomb in Tripoli. Up to nine civilians have been
reported killed, according to Libyan official news sources.
NATO Wing Commander Mike Bracken, NATO’s military spokesmen responded to Frattini’s comments.
"I would suggest that our reputation and credibility is unquestionable. What is questionable is the Qaddafi regime's
use of human shields, (and) firing missiles from mosques."
The tragic incident is a high profile embarrassment for the NATO mission in Libya which boasts that its presence is
there solely to protect civilians from the brutality of the Libyan regime. It also comes immediately after a friendly fire
event last week which saw NATO firing on a line of rebel vehicles from the warplanes.
"If you look at our track record, we have taken utmost care to avoid civilian casualties and we will continue to do so,"
said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu.
July 3, 2011
Life in Gaza One Year after Mavi Marmara
One year has passed since the Israeli raid by commandos on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which left nine so-called
aid workers dead. The Mavi Marmara was part of a larger flotilla whose stated aim was to break the blockade on
Gaza and bring desperately needed supplies, like medicine, school supplies and construction materials into the war
torn area.
Today in Gaza the economy is growing, with only small signs of any kind of blockade on the citizens here. Technically
the blockade is still in force, and Israel does turn away materials it believes can be used in attacks against its citizens,
but short of that limitation, almost all items are allowed in.
The restrictions on people entering and leaving Gaza have also been reduced, most notably in May along the
Egyptian-Gazan border. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the economy of Gaza has expanded by
15.2% in the past year as freer access of people and goods allowed economic activity to thrive.
In the case of the purchase of chickens, there are three main sources: Egyptian chickens, which are still mostly
smuggled in through a network of tunnels under the border. They go for about 50cents a pound, but even at that
price they are not popular for fear of diseases. Frozen chickens from Israel are also available, ranging in price from 50
cents to $1 per pound. The most expensive choice is fresh chicken from Gaza, from $1 to $1.50 per pound. For many
Gazan consumers, the Israeli chicken is the preferred choice.
“I came all this distance to buy Israeli frozen chicken,” said Suha Al-Mushrugi, mother of four, who travelled 20 miles
from Rafah to Gaza City to go shopping. “The Egyptian chicken sold in Rafah is sick and now the Palestinian fresh local
chicken has gotten sick, too, so the Israeli chicken is the best in the market now and the price is good.”
Despite the evidence that consumers in Gaza have food and other essentials readily available for purchase, a new
flotilla is in the planning stages by the organizers of last year’s disastrous flotilla. Named the “Freedom Flotilla Two,”
the Turkish Islamist Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is hoping to launch 10 boats with more than 1,000 activists
on board.
According to most observers this flotilla is completely unnecessary. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in
the Territories (COGAT) trucks delivering goods into Gaza has increased dramatically since last year, with an average
daily number of trucks delivering goods to Gaza at 120 in April 2010, increasing to 237 each day, on average, in
March, 2011.
The average Gazan will explain that wheras smuggled Egyptian goods used to be a necessity, they are now only an
option utilized to fill in the gaps when Israeli goods don’t get through or are in short supply. Gazans say that they
purchase Israeli products because there are more choices and higher quality.
“In Gaza, you’ll find the basics most the time and a huge variety of goods usually,” says Abu Wael Bseiso, age 43.
Underlying the lack of need of the latest flotilla, is the fact that just days before the flotilla is scheduled to arrive the
largest shopping mall so far to be developed in an autonomous Palestinian area is set to open. The mall will be three
stories tall with over 3,000 square meters of stores to shop in. It will be near the Haidar Abdel Shafi Square west of
Gaza City. It is also the second shopping mall to open in Gaza in the past year.
July 5, 2011
A Jefferies study has revealed that Middle East consumers are more than ready to join the west and purchase a tablet
computer device and keep head to head with the most advanced and sophisticated technology available today.
Just like other consumers around the world, consumers in the Middle East are increasingly dependent on their mobile
devices, feeling it a necessity to stay connected no matter where they are or what time of day it is. The popularity of
the tablet-style devices is attributable to the fact that more and more consumers wish to have something more
portable than a laptop, but more versatile than a netbook. Tablets fulfill these criteria perfectly.
Consumers have also come to expect longer battery life, improved interfaces and highly competitive pricing.
Consumer technology companies, such as the giant Samsung Company, agree that today people demand immediate
and convenient connectivity wherever they may be.
The general manager of Samsung gulf Telecommunications Group Ashraf Fawakherji predicted what consumers can
expect in the future.
“After achieving strong results in 2010, we anticipate continuing the year with a strong demand for the Galaxy Tab
10.1 and 8.9 in the Middle East,” said Fawakherji.
Fawakherji explained the reasons for the popularity of the tablets in Arab countries, especially in the United Arab
Emirates.
“The tablets are catered towards Arabs and are fully-equipped with Arabic content and lifestyle applications.”
In another report by Morgan Stanley, the tablet market is about to explode with sales predicted to be even larger than
last year. The Morgan Stanley report expects shipments in 2012 to reach 100 million.
July 7, 2011
Key Labor Shortage Reported in Middle East
According to a study conducted by Mr. Kenneth McKellar, a partner and Middle East energy and resources expert at
Deloitte in the Middle East, unless more, young, skilled and talented individuals are trained and employed for
leadership in the utilities and energy sector, these industries will soon face a crisis in management services.
Mr. McKellar explained the development of the crisis as follows:
“In the recent past, national oil companies in the Middle East had to compete with other regions of the world for the
best available human resources from their partners, the International Oil Companies who positioned their best
exploration and production talent at the more technologically challenging areas such as the deep water Gulf of
Mexico, Brazil, West Africa, the Caspian and emerging areas of Asia Pacific. Today, IOCs are attracted by the size,
availability and stability of the resources available in the Middle East region.”
Fortunately the shortage of talent from the Middle East is being addressed by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
countries in several ways. Quotas are being established to insure there is at least a minimum number of nationals
employed at the management level in the utilities and energy sector; funding for educational as well as vocational
programs is gaining strength; and succession planning is also being emphasized as a ‘key imperative.’
Today, according to McKellar’s study, the average age of the technical staff in the resources and energy industry is
over 50. An important approach to correcting this problem and bringing down the average age of technical staff is to
select the most talented young employees and fast-track them according to their individual technical and business
skills.
The study identified some important ways that the national oil companies are using in response to the problem of
nationalization and dearth of skills, including paying for advanced education which is a primary part of staff
development and retention. Just last year Saudi Aramco sponsored the continuing education of almost 2,000
undergraduate and graduate Saudi students in North America, Europe and also in Saudi Arabia.
If the GCC and other Middle Eastern countries do not fully address the issue of lack of home-grown talent in the
energy and resources sector, an unsustainable and untenable situation of transient, expatriate labor will be needed
to support this crucial industry, a prospect which is fraught with problems and uncertainty.
July 10, 2011
Sales Soar in Saudi Arabia for General Motors
The giant car manufacturer General Motors posted a rise of 22% in sales during the first half of the fiscal year,
throughout the Middle East, in comparison to the same time-frame last year. Total car sales were reported to be
67,624 for the region.
Sales are recorded at the dealer outlets which are spread throughout the Middle East, and include the sales tallies for
passenger vehicles, crossovers, sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks. Included are the three brands GM
manufactures; Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac.
The greatest gains were in the purchases which individual customers made. Individual consumer purchases rose by
54%, which represented 71% of their total sales.
Increased sales were fueled by the popularity of GM’s newest models. Those models are Chevrolet Cruze, Camaro,
Captiva and Malibu; the GMC Terrain; and the Cadillac SRX and CTS Coupe. Sales of these models rose by 35 % during
the first half of the year.
Sales of passenger cars rose by 26%, while there was a 19% rise in the sale of SUVs and crossovers. Pickups faired the
best with increased sales amounting to 37%.
The most popular brand was Chevrolet, which was purchased the first half of this year 29% more than last year; while
GMC showed an impressive 15% increase in sales.
“June capped an outstanding performance in the first half for us in the Middle East. Our newest models are driving
showroom traffic, which is fuelling the impressive growth of our retail sales,” said John Stadwick, president, MD of
General Motors ME Operations.
"In 2011, we have increased our investment in new customer facilities and customer care training across the
region," Stadwick stated.
"As we strive to create a world-class shopping, buying and ownership experience; consideration for our passenger
cars, crossovers, sport utility vehicles and pickups continues to grow among our customers," he added.
July 12, 2011
Data supplied by Bloomberg points to rising prices of crude oil from the Middle East to Asia as Saudi Arabia sends
hints that it will refrain from selling extra supplies to refineries there.
Two grades of crude, Murban and Qatar Marine posted rises in their prices for September loading of 6 cents to a
discount of 2 cents for Murban per barrel, and 2 cents to a discount of 15 cents a barrel for Qatar Marine.
The Saudi Arabian Oil Company did sell additional barrels in July, but refiners did not seek more oil in August,
according to two refiners who are part of this market. This action should reflect in the prices for Murban and Qatar
Marine grades which are sold on the spot market. Yesterday the oil supplied Aramco reassured processors yesterday
that it would supply full long-term amounts for the month of August.
The price for Oman crude, ready for immediate loading, fell $1.55 to $109.36 a barrel, a drop of 1.4%. Oil from Dubai
for September delivery also fell a similar percentage, down to $108.90 a barrel, while Murban shrank 1.3% to $113.26
a barrel.
July 13, 2011
US-Syrian Relations Hurt by Attack on Embassy
Pro-Syrian government protestors attacked the US mission in Syria on Monday, breaking windows, writing graffiti
which referred to the American ambassador as a dog, and raising the Syrian flag. These actions came in response to
Ambassador Ford’s unauthorized visit to Hama, where he was welcomed with flowers and olive branches on his car.
Hama is a hot-spot for anti-government protests in Syria.
Just before the angry mob of several hundred protestors formed in Damascus, one of the Syrian TV stations close to
the regime of Bashar al-Assad, urged the people to send a “message” to the US ambassador. The TV station had
reported that the ambassador had incited the people of Hama to riot against the Syrian government during his visit
four days before.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reacted angrily to the charges, to the incitement, and to the attack.
“President Assad is not indispensable and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power,” Ms.
Clinton said.
“Our goal is to see that the will of the Syrian people for a democratic transformation occurs.”
Ambassador Ford defended his visit to Hama, saying that he and the French ambassador went to Hama on Thursday
to get a first-hand look at the types of protests happening there as well as to send a message that the US and other
countries were watching the actions of the Syrian regime in Hama and elsewhere.
“The Syrian government can organize protests at our embassy if it wants, but the world will not be distracted from
the fact that it is the Syrian government that is imprisoning, torturing and killing people who want to peacefully
protest,” J.J. Harder, the embassy press attaché, told reporters.
July 17, 2011
Hosni Mubarak in a Coma in Sharm el-Sheikh
The 83-year-old former president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, is said to have suffered a heart attack and lapsed into a
coma in the Red Sea Resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
President Mubarak has been under arrest in the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula desert ever since his ouster
from power during the February Egyptian protests which have come to be known as the “Arab Spring.”
On August 3rd Mubarak was scheduled to be put on trial for the murder of protestors during the uprising as well as
abuse of his power as president. During early questioning of Mubarak in early April the ex-president was said to have
suffered from heart problems and was immediately placed in hospital, where he has remained ever since.
In late May a group of doctors were called upon to examine Mubarak and evaluate his state of health to decide if he
should be moved to a prison hospital instead of the civilian hospital where he is now. The doctors’ conclusion was
that Mubarak was too ill to be moved at that time, revealing that Mubarak was suffering from depression, poor
circulation, and had a high risk of suffering cardiac arrest.
The medical evaluation also revealed that the former president of Egypt had cancer in his gall bladder and pancreas, a
recurrence of an illness for which he had previous surgery.
There is a history of rumors which circulated about the ill-health of Mubarak, but government officials in Egypt
always denied that he was suffering from any illness considered life-threatening. Last month, however, Mubarak’s
lawyer, Farid el-Deeb admitted that Mubarak had cancer, and today el-Deeb revealed that Mubarak is now in a coma
after suffering a heart attack.
July 19, 2011
Israel Succeeds in Peaceful Takeover of Blockade Blocking French Ship
Flaunting the warning that Israel would repel any attempt to cut through its sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, the
French ship “Dignity al-Karama” nevertheless approached the Strip, only to be forcibly stopped by Israeli defense
forces.
The takeover of the ship was said to be peaceful and without incident. No harm was caused to activists aboard the
boat, or to any property.
"The takeover was orderly and done with restraint," the navy's deputy commander, Brig. Gen. Rani Ben-Yehudah
explained to reporters at the Israeli port of Ashdod. "Nobody was hurt and the ship wasn't damaged."
Soldiers served the activists on board water and snacks after they took over the boat about 40 miles off the coast of
Gaza.
The Dignity al-Karama was the sole boat left of a larger flotilla that was supposed to leave from Greece last month
but was prevented from doing so by Greek authorities.
The foreign protestors on board will be questioned by Israeli authorities and then deported to “to their countries of
origin as soon as possible,” said the Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.
The activists are from several countries, including Sweden, Canada, France and Greece. There were also three
journalists along, one of them Israeli, as well as crew members.
Israel placed a blockade on Gaza since the takeover of the government there by the Iranian backed terrorist
organization Hamas. Israel refutes the activists’ claim that the takeover of their ship is akin to piracy on the high seas,
while Israel asserts its right to defend itself against the infiltration of weapons and materials into Gaza which could be
used against it. Many analysts schooled in international law support Israel’s contention that it has a right to defend
itself against its enemies.
Activists assert that Israel is preventing much needed building materials from reaching Gaza, thus collectively
punishing the 1.6 million residents for the sins of the few Hamas rulers, while Israel says that metal, glass, cement
and other materials can be used for military purposes. In many cases Israel has approved the shipment of these
materials for specific construction projects in coordination with the international community.
Underscoring this fact is the opening of a three-story, $4 million mall, with Gaza’s second escalator and only movie
theater. During the 1980s militants destroyed by fire all the movie houses in Gaza. The mall was built, despite the
embargo, and under the supervision of Hamas in the posh neighborhood of Rimal, and opened for business on
Tuesday.
July 21, 2011
Car Bomb in Yemen Kills British Citizen
According to witnesses to the explosion in Yemen’s southernmost port city of Aden, a car exploded after a man
entered the car and turned on the motor. A person passing by the area was also badly injured in the explosion.
The explosion occurred in an area known as Moalla, not far from a hotel which is the headquarters of the shipping
company which the victim was employed by.
An investigation has been instituted and preliminary findings point to al-Qaeda involvement.
The victim was well-known and a long-term resident of Aden. He was about 60 years old, and had just returned from
inspecting a ship offshore which had been attacked by pirates.
British nationals have been singled out as targets before in this Gulf country which is one of the poorest of the Arab
states, as well as one of the most unstable. Only one year ago in April, 2010 was the British ambassador to Yemen
attacked by another car bomb, which hit his convoy in Sanaa. The ambassador was able to escape unhurt. In October
of last year a rocket-propelled grenade hit a diplomatic car and wounded three people, one of which was a diplomat.
July 24, 2011
Libya is once again under attack from NATO air forces as Tripoli was bombarded with air strikes on Sunday.
As Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi called the latest attacks on his regime “a colonial plot,” bombs fell on
military targets throughout the country’s capital.
"In Tripoli there were two command and control nodes, two surface-to-air missile launchers and one anti-aircraft gun
(hit)," the NATO official said from the mission's headquarters in Naples, Italy.
Smoke was reported rising above Gaddafi’s residential complex which is within the heart of Tripoli, with other strikes
witnessed in the southeastern and eastern suburbs.
Gaddafi addressed his nation and the international community via an audio broadcast on state television late on
Saturday after the bombardments. He said that the unrest which has been brewing since mid-February this year was
a ‘colonial plot,’ but he did not explain further. Gaddafi also said that he is not guilty of brutal suppression of
protestors in Libya, and denied that accusations of the international community that he has killed thousands of antigovernment protestors.
"They lie to you and say, 'Libya kills its people with bullets, that is why we have come to protect civilians'," Gaddafi
said, referring to the NATO air attacks which were allowed by the United Nations to protect civilians from Gaddafi’s
brutal rule.
The most recent NATO air strikes are in retaliation for government attacks on rebel forces to the east of Tripoli,
where rebels say they lost 16 fighters.
"Sixteen of our fighters have fallen as martyrs and 126 more have been wounded in fighting with loyalist troops in
Zliten," rebels declared in a statement. They described heavy fighting in the suburban town of Souk al-Thulatha.
Rebel fighters have been attempting for several weeks to take Zliten, which is 120 miles from Tripoli and 25 miles
west of Mistrata. Zliten is the last coastal city between rebel-held Mistata and Tripoli, making it an important
strategic location.
July 25th,2011
Iranian Forces Kill Two Kurdish Civilians in Rebel Town in Iraq.
Iranian forces have killed at least two people and wounded three others during a cross-border bombardment of
Sidkan, a Kurdish town in Iraq.
Sidkan is located about twenty kilometers from the Iraqi border with Iran and is located within the semi-autonomous
Kurdish region of Irbil province.
The mayor of Sidkan, Ahmed Qadir reported on Monday that shelling continued on his town for over four hours
during the night. The two people killed and three wounded were all Iraqi Kurds who live in Sidkan. The casualties
count was confirmed by the Captain of the Kurdish border guards, Ahmed Saleh.
The Iranian offensive against the Kurds in Iraq started earlier this month. It has almost become routine for the
civilians in the area to suffer bombardment at the hand of the Iranians, who have repeatedly threatened to attack
Kurdish military bases belonging to the rebel group “The Party of Free Life of Kurdistan.” The group originated in Iran,
but sought and received shelter in the partly autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq which is along the border with Iran.
According to the International Red Cross over 800 Iraqi Kurdish refugees have been forced to leave their homes as a
result of the recent violence. The Red Cross stated that most of the refugees are now living in temporary shelters or
being forced into crowded conditions inside the homes of friends and/or relatives.
August 21st
Fighting escalated in the streets of Tripoli on Saturday night as anti-Gaddafi rebels began a push to finally free Libya
from the oppressive grasp of Muammar Gadaffi.
Witnesses and rebels reported hearing explosions and gunfire beginning shortly after sunset on Saturday evening.
Protests mingled with fighting were seen in the eastern neighborhoods of Souq a-Jomaa and Tajoura. Later on,
starting around 9pm, citizens began to leave their homes in Fashloum, Fournaj, Sabah, Ghoud al-Shayal, Hanshir and
Dahra neighborhoods, joining together to protest and fight.
Residents also could be seen leaving mosques to join in the protests while chanting “God is great!”
Libyans living outside of their country who were in communication with family and friends still within the capital said
that men, some armed and some not, were going out to protest the regime of Gaddafi while their women and
children remained at home. In addition NATO fighter planes were reported to have bombed the city during the night.
Moussa Ibrahim, a spokesman for the government of Libya, announced that although rebels did attempt to attack the
city, the government had “dealt with” the situation.
Early on Sunday morning Libyan state television broadcast Ibrahim riding in a car, surrounded by dozens of
supporters in central Tripoli’s Green Square. Although Gaddafi himself was not shown during the broadcast, an audio
message was released in which Gaddafi congratulates Tripoli’s residents for repelling an attack by “rats.”
"Sure, there were some armed militants who escaped into some neighborhoods and there were some scuffles,"
Ibrahim said. "But we dealt with it within a half hour and it is now calm."
Ibrahim added that volunteers fighting on behalf of the Gaddafi regime had repelled the attacks by insurgents in
many of the capital’s neighborhoods. He also denied that the regime is on the verge of collapsing. Yet, more gunfire
could be heard after the television broadcast.
Foreign correspondents holed up in the hotel in Tripoli in which their movements are closely watched could clearly
hear the sounds of mortar rounds and gun battles continuing.
August 23, 2011
Bahrain’s Gulf Air Seeking New Routes
Gulf Air is now in the midst of a three year reorganizational plan which will hopefully not only make the Bahrain
state-owned airline more profitable but also more desirable as an airline with many choice destinations to choose
from.
According to chairman Talal al-Zain Gulf Air is planning new routes to Europe but also within the Middle East, with a
special interest in major financial centers.
Al-Zain spoke from his office in Manama, explaining that the financial injection of BD400 million ($1.06 billion) last
year from the government of Bahrain helped “very much” in the airlines reorganization efforts.
“Even though we are streamlining the airline, we wanted Gulf Air to reach more destinations,” said al-Zain, who is
also the chief executive officer of the Mumtalakat Holding Company. Mumtalakat is a sovereign wealth fund which
owns the airline. Al-Zain added that Gulf Air is also seeking to add more flights on routes which they are already
flying.
Gulf Air began flying back in the 1950s, making it one of the oldest airline companies in the Middle East. Originally
owned in partnership between several Gulf States, eventually Bahrain became the sole owner as the neighboring
Arab sheikhdoms withdrew their support and began to form their own airline carriers. Today Gulf Air faces steep
competition from several new rival carriers in the region, such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.
Al-Zain called Gulf Air a “challenging asset,” explaining that rising fuel prices and natural disasters can drastically
affect the airline’s profits. Despite these challenges Gulf Air is also “one of the most important assets we have” added
al-Zain, explaining that the airline is a major component in Bahrain’s general policy to boost interest by global players
to begin to create headquarters or branches in the prosperous island nation.
August 28, 2011
Abdullah Khalfan Al Rumaithi, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to South Korea said in an interview that the UAE
is eager to enlarge and strengthen its partnership with South Korea, especially in the areas of renewable energy, oil,
training, education, construction, shipbuilding, semiconductors, information technology and telecommunications.
Progress in the economic and diplomatic relationship between South Korea and the UAE has been bolstered by the
efforts of the President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Kalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the President of South Korea
Lee Myung-bak. The two leaders have expressed their strong desire to create a situation of full partnership in both
the investment and economic spheres.
"Due to these efforts the two friendly countries have attained achievements and inked several agreements to ensure
the security of energy and economic development of the two peoples", said the UAE representative.
The alliance between the two nations got its recent major boost as a result of the successful bid of a South Korean
Consortium to build four nuclear reactors in the UAE in 2010. The construction was part of the UAE’s civil nuclear
energy program. After that bid the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
visited South Korea in May of 2010.
"The visit has kick started the new era of furthering the bilateral relations in different fields between the UAE and
South Korea", said the UAE ambassador to South Korea.
In order to further the development of economic relations between South Korea and the UAE, the South Korean
Ministry of Knowledge will open an office in Abu Dhabi. The office will help Korean investors better control their
investments in the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed that the establishment of this office is a reflection of
the great confidence South Korea has in the economic placement of Abu Dhabi in the region.
August 30 2011
In what analysts are calling a “dramatic departure” from the stated goals of the protests by dissidents in Syria over
the past 5 months of confrontations with the Syrian regime of president Bashar al-Assad, activists are calling for
‘international protection’ for their cause.
Two amateur videos posted over the weekend on YouTube demonstrate this turn of methodology of protest from
one of an internal struggle to quite another-of foreign intervention.
In one of the videos, filmed in the small southern town of Horan, a small crowd of several dozen Syrian youths are
shown clapping and chanting “the people demand international protection.”
In the second video protestors are seen holding signs stating “we need international protection” in Arabic and in
English.
Until now any suggestion of international intervention was rejected by activists in Syria. The idea of any foreign
intervention, similar in kind to the NATO forces bombing Libya, was anathema to the Syrian protest movement.
But this non-interventionist position has been worn thin within the Syrian protest movement as the death toll
continues to rise at the hands of the harsh crack-down Assad has utilized to squash the protest movement there. The
United Nations estimates that as many, or even more than 2200 people have already been killed during the Syrian
uprising. Mass arrests have also taken place and activists have also stated that Syrian security forces have also used
torture on the detainees.
As a result of the brutal crackdown and the apparent change in the attitude of the activists to foreign intervention,
some of Syria’s neighbors and allies have called for the Syrian regime to begin to implement social and political
reforms to calm the situation.
The Arab League called on Syria to show ‘restraint’ and to ‘end the violence’ there, and will be sending their secretary
general on an ‘urgent mission to Damascus.’
The president of Turkey Abdullah Gul harshly criticized Assad in a televised speech, admitting that Ankara had ‘lost its
confidence’ in what had formerly been Turkey’s trading partner and ally.
"We have reached a point where anything would be too little, too late. We have lost our confidence," Gul said.
Turkish intelligence has reported that as recently as last Thursday 17 people were killed in Syria.
"There is no place for totalitarian regimes and one party governments. Clearly, the leaders of these countries will take
the initiative or they will be changed by force," Gul added.
September 4, 2011
Baker Botts Hires New Lawyer in Dubai Office
Baker Botts, the international law firm, has just named a new partner in their Dubai office, Vanessa Abernethy.
Abernathy has extensive experience working with clients engaged in capital market transactions all over the Middle
East, specializing in advisory as well as transactional work.
Ms. Abernathy has years of experience representing and advising clients who are raising capital utilizing equity
securities through IPOs and privately, throughout the region. She has also counseled a large number of clients
wishing to engage in mergers and acquisition transactions and has also obtained listings on the Dubai NASDAQ,
Financial Market and the Abu Dhabi Securities Market.
"Vanessa's wealth of experience in the corporate and financial sectors of the Middle East further strengthens our
capabilities there. The addition of Vanessa to our team demonstrates our commitment to providing highly-skilled
lawyers who can handle some of the most complex transactions in the Middle East," said the Managing Partner at
Baker Botts Walt Smith.
Baker Botts is one of the world’s leading international law firms, with 13 worldwide offices and more than 725
lawyers. The 170 year old firm has 3 offices in the Middle East utilizing the expertise of 25 lawyers who are specialists
in the fields most needed in this region, including Islamic financing, conventional lending and project finance. This
past year Baker Botts has added 7 new lawyers to their offices in Riyadh, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with Vanessa
Abernathy the most recent addition.
The recent economic instability of the region has seen an increase in demand for the services of Baker Botts. In
addition the firm has recently represented high profile clients such as the Saudi Electric Company (SEC) and the
Mitsubishi Corporation which engaged the firm’s services for the highly publicized South Gas Project.
"Since opening in Riyadh more than 10 years ago, in Dubai in 2005 and Abu Dhabi in 2009, our Middle East portfolio
has expanded beyond energy industry issues," said Robert W. Jordan, Partner in Charge of the Middle East practice
for Baker Botts. "While we remain heavily involved in energy, we are now regularly working on complex and novel
projects and sophisticated transactions throughout the region, particularly involving government entities. We will
continue to expand our capabilities to support the needs of clients either based in the region or looking to do
business here."
September 6, 2011
Telecommunications Overseer Sends Warning to Bahraini Telecom Companies
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Bahrain has sent stern warnings to two of the largest providers of
mobile phone service to consumers in Bahrain, saying that their pricing for international mobile phone calls was
“detrimental to competition and bad for consumers.”
In statements sent by email to Bahrain Telecommunications Co. (Batelco) and to the Saudi Telecom Company, the
TRA said that it has been investigating several complaints from users who accused these two companies of “abusing
their dominance in the international mobile telecommunications market, therefore breaching the conditions of
competition which the law provides for.”
The TRA is waiting for a response from these two companies before they issue a final decision regarding the issue.
According to a spokesman for the TRA, Abdulelah Abdulla, “Batelco and Viva (Saudi Telecom) will have until October
13 to respond to our notice.”
The destinations whose pricing is in question include calls to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the
Philippines.
There are three main licensed mobile phone operators in Bahrain; Batelco, STC Bahrain (which controls the Viva
brand); and MTC Vodafone Bahrain. There are several other smaller companies with their own licenses to provide
international prepaid phone calls.
"TRA believes that such pricing destroys the market's forces and hinders competition between operators by reducing
the opportunities for fair competition in the market, and harms the interests of consumers in the long run," explained
the overseeing body in a statement.
"Batelco has been informed of this decision and is in process of making a detailed submission to the TRA outlining
reasons why we believe we acted fairly and consistent with the regulatory and competitive laws of the Kingdom,"
said Rashid Abdulla, the chief executive officer of Batelco Bahrain in emailed statement. "We look forward to the
opportunity to outline our case to the TRA and we are confident we will receive a fair hearing."
There was no equivalent statement, or comment of any kind, issued from STC Bahrain.
Analysts believe that any decision issued from the TRA will have no meaningful effect on the way Batelco or Viva do
business.
"The TRA is doing its job to prevent aggressive competition so other operators don't suffer. Eventually Batelco and
Viva will have to reduce their prices. This will reflect on their market share, but could help margins as prices
increase," the analyst said.
September 11, 2011
President of the Jordan Construction Contractors Association (JCCA), Ahmad Tarawneh has expressed his concern
that developers of giant building projects throughout Jordan will renege on their financial obligations to pay
contractors for work they were contracted to do.
If dues from public sector institutions are factored in, then the amount of money owed to contractors is greater than
JD 200 million, said Tarawneh.
If they don’t get paid soon contractors will be forced to fire staff.
Among the stalled projects are the Disi Water Conveyance Project which is contracted to the Turkish company GAMA;
the Saraya Aqaba real estate development; and the Abdali Urban Regeneration Project. Just these three schemes
together are worth JD100 million, which has still not been paid.
"For the past two years, developers have been promising to pay their financial obligations to contractors but nothing
happened," complained Tarawneh. He added that the delays have seriously harmed contractors, which will cause
massive layoffs unless the companies begin to meet their financial obligations.
The government is also obligated to contractors, owing them an additional JD100 million, according to the JCCA. The
Minister of Public Works and Housing Yahya Kisbi announced last week that the public sector owes contractors at
least JD50 million. He said that the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation owes about JD21 million,
which is connected to the financing of the Amman Development Corridor Project.
However, Tarawneh pointed out that there is an additional JD50 million that the government owes to contractors for
projects that do not have allocated funds from the state budget.
September 13, 2011
The bank which calls itself “The World’s Local Bank,” HSBC, has decided to lay-off at least 200 employees in six
countries in the Middle East. The job cut of 200 in the region is just the beginning of a major reduction in worldwide
employees reaching as many as 30,000 cuts by the year 2013. The number 200 represents a 2.3% reduction in jobs in
the Middle East region.
The proposed lay-offs will affect HSBC workers in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon and
Oman. A regional “hub and spoke” model of organization will also be newly instituted, with the hub located beyond
these six countries, in Dubai, where operations will be strengthened.
The manager of personal financial services at HSBC, Rick Crossman, in the UAE has said, "The UAE has a very strong
retail banking and wealth management business, and in addition will become the hub country for the regional
business. Because of these factors, we anticipate minimal - if any - job losses in the UAE.”
A leaked memo which was cited by the Times of Oman quotes the MENA regional head of retail banking and wealth
management for HSBC as saying, “We have more management layers than is necessary, and accountability between
region and country is not well defined.”
September 18, 2011
Violence has stepped up a notch or two in Syria as the government continues to crackdown harshly on antigovernment protestors across the country. One hundred people or more have already died just this past week in the
Syrian regime’s attempts to suppress rebels in the face of growing concern and criticism within the international
community.
The latest battle took place last Wednesday along the Syrian border with Turkey, the latest region targeted for
punishment by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to witnesses and activists heavily
armed troops along with armored cars drove through the town of Jabal al-Zawiya in the north-western province of
Idlib, cracking down on protestors and disrupting communications to and from the area.
Rami Abdul Rahman, member of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London stated that, “They used heavy
guns in that area, starting from this morning.”
Mr. Rahman said that at least 100 people were killed at the hands of the Syrian security forces, with a total of 22 just
last Monday. In a recently revised update provided by the UN of the estimate of the number of people killed in Syria
since the protest movement began in March 2011, the number has already reached 2,600.
“In all Syria they are arresting the first and second line of activity people, that’s why you don’t see big
demonstrations, they’re all in jail or killed or hiding,” said Mr Abdul Rahman.
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed the fear that most leaders in the region share, that the
situation in Syria will lead to a civil war between the two Muslim sects; the Sunnis, which the majority of Syrians are
members of, and the Alawites, the sect of the ruling class.
Western outrage over the violence in Syria was dismissed as irrelevant by Syrian presidential advisor Bouthaina
Shabaan. He believes the west’s attitude is part of a clever plot to undermine Syrian stability. Shabaan told the state
run news agency that,
“We don’t believe the west and other forces in the region when they talk about democracy and human rights.”
September 20, 2011
Public Hanging Routine in Iran
Iran has the dubious title of second in the world in carrying out executions of criminals; only China has more.
On Tuesday this week a murderer was hung in one of Tehran’s main squares, bringing this year’s number of
executions to201, but it is believed that Iran does not disclose all the executions they administer. Iran admits to
having executed 179 criminals in 2010, but international human rights groups believe that many more actually took
place.
This week’s hanging was of convicted murderer Sajad Karimi, who, according to his own confession, shot a physician
while he was walking outside his office in a highly populated eastern neighborhood of Tehran. The crime took place
about one year ago, after Karimi planned to take revenge on the cardiologist and university lecturer, who was
Karimi’s mother’s heart surgeon. Apparently Karimi blamed the doctor for his mother’s death.
Before being led to the gallows Karimi stated that, “I believed the doctor made a mistake.”
Spokesmen in Tehran say that the death penalty is an essential part of their judicial system which helps to maintain
law and order. They said that executions are only carried out after intensive investigation and judicial proceedings.
Murder is not the only crime punishable by death in Iran. Rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are just
a few of the crimes which can have an execution applied.
September 22, 2011
The 31st anniversary of the commencement of the Iraq-Iran war was marked last week with a spectacular military
parade complete with a display of Iran’s growing arsenal of short and medium range ballistic missiles.
The solid-fuel Sajjil was brought back for another year, after its parading last year was such a success.
The Sajjil missile has a range of over 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) which, in theory can be a direct threat to Israel
and several US allied Arab countries, especially those with US military bases on their soil.
The parade and military display was held only a few weeks after Turkey agreed to place an early warning radar
system within their borders as part of a general NATO defense system whose main purpose these days is to counter
Iranian missile threats. Military and political leadership in Washington, DC are hopeful that the radar system will be
up and running in Turkey before the end of the year.
Iran’s response to the announcement of NATO’s intention to deploy the missile defense radar system in Turkey was
to warn the west that such an action would force an escalation of regional tensions.
September 26, 2011
Palestinian President Abbas Cheered in Ramallah
President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, returned home on Sunday to a hero’s welcome.
Thousands greeted him in Ramallah upon his return from delivering a controversial speech to the United Nations
General Assembly in which he called for the creation of a Palestinian State.
It is estimated that about 6,000 people cheered Abbas as he returned to work at the headquarters of the Palestinian
Authority in Ramallah. They were holding Palestinian flags as well as flags symbolizing the political party Fatah, the
party which Abbas leads. The crowd also held aloft posters with a photo of President Abbas.
Conspicuously absent were signs and flags of the Islamic party Hamas, indicating that Hamas, the party which rules in
the Gaza strip, is opposed to Abbas’ speech at the UN.
Despite Hamas’ apparent disapproval, it is believed that the bid for UN recognition of an independent Palestinian
state, and the fierce opposition from the US and Israeli that this move has provoked, has actually improved Abbas’
position among his own people. Until now the common view of Abbas among the Arabs of Palestine was that he is a
weak, uncharismatic bureaucrat who cannot stand up to pressure exerted from either Washington or Jerusalem.
Analysts contend that both Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the UN with the primary intention of
impressing their constituents back home.
“As absurd as it may be, these two leaders, the Palestinian and the Israeli, travelled to New York to speak to
Ramallah and Jerusalem,” wrote Sima Kadmon of the popular Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper. “Just like Netanyahu
took care to maintain his political standing in Israel, [Abbas] sought to bolster his image on the Palestinian street and
in Arab states and boost Fatah’s position as compared to Hamas.”
October 2, 2011
The former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is being accused of “parroting” the same demands as Israel is making,
delegitimizing his role as unbiased mediator in the eyes of the leadership in Palestine.
One senior Palestinian leader, Nabil Shaath, has stated that Palestinian officials seriously considered whether or not
to make a formal request to remove Blair from his position as envoy for the Middle East Quartet. In the end the
request was not made, but Palestinians are still not happy with remarks made by the prime minister which they say
are too biased in favor of the Israeli position on the issues concerning Israel and Palestine.
"Everyone had reservations about Blair's performance, but we don't want to embarrass him anymore," Shaath said.
"If you want to do it, you wait until things have quieted down."
Blair became envoy for the Quartet after his leaving the office of prime minister in 2007.
Palestinian confidence in Blair as Quartet envoy began to falter last July, when Blair supported the side of the Israelis
in a debate which took place within the Quartet membership over statement describing a return to peace talks
between Israel and the Palestinians. Other members of the Quarter, the EU, US Russia and the UN were not able to
come to an agreement on such a statement. The role that Blair played in this debate gave cause for “serious doubt
that (Blair) could carry in his duties” in an unbiased way, said Shaath.
When Blair took the role of envoy "we thought he would be a real support to the Palestinians. But he gradually
reduced his role to that of asking the Israelis to take down a barrier here or a barrier there… He really escaped all the
political requirements of his job as representative of the Quartet," explained Shaath.
October 4, 2011
Double Attack Thwarted by Troops in Iraq
Three attackers and as many as 14 others were killed on Monday when Iraqi troops recaptured a government
compound and police station in Anbar province, about 120 miles west of Baghdad.
The attack began in Baghdadi when two bombers detonated an explosive device outside a government compound,
while others attackers stormed the compound disguised in uniforms, taking approximately 20 people hostages.
Simultaneously the town’s police station was also attacked, but the security forces there were able to defend the
station by killing two of the attackers and arresting the third.
Anbar Provincial Governor Qassim Mohammed announced the end of the siege: "The operation is over. Iraqi special
forces stormed the compound; all the attackers have been killed."
Mohammed said that in addition to the three attackers who were killed, four others, including a police chief were
also killed. Other sources revealed that as many as 13 people were killed in the action and the attack.
It is believed that somewhere between three and seven bombers participated in the attack on the compound. The
government building where the hostages were held, which was the headquarters for the provincial council, was
partially destroyed in the siege and subsequent rescue.
October 10, 2011
Robots Coming to Abu Dhabi
According to the financial journal Arabian Business, a Barcelona-based company, PAL Robotics, has developed a
human-size robot which is designed to replace non-skilled and low-skilled workers in factories and other places of
employment.
PAL Robotics, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate Royal Group, is dedicating its research and
development department to the production and commercialization of humanoid styled robots.
Several months ago PAL Robotics released REEM, a robot which is mobile, measures 1.65 meters tall and can travel at
speeds of about 5 km/hour. REEM was on display at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, and excited such a stir
that theADNEC ordered 20 robots from PAL. As a result of the successful showing PAL Robotics is planning on opening
a factory to produce the REEM robots in the UAE.
Robots in Arabia Part II
Jorien Guijs, the marketing manager for PAL Robotics is excited about the future of PAL Robotics.
“To be able to deliver these robots to ADNEC, and other future clients, we are building a factory in Abu Dhabi. If all
goes according to plan, the factory will be ready by the second half of 2012, producing about a dozen of robots a
month.”
Guijs added his expectations about marketing REEM.
“At the moment REEM is prepared for use at exhibition centers and shopping malls. In the future we will focus as well
on the healthcare sector, airports, museums and other public spaces.”
REEM is classified as a humanoid robot. It is able to navigate autonomously, it has a touch screen to deliver tasks and
other commands, and the developer claims that REEM can walk itself through any type of environment and therefore
has the potential ability to replace low-skilled workers in the marketplace.
The robot can also be used as a guide with the ability to track faces. REEM has other recognition functions, and a
small flat space which can be used to transport small objects such as luggage, food, and more. The built-in lithium
battery gives about 8 hours of use, and then can be recharged.
The expected price for each REEM humanoid robot is expected to be about $269,157, dependent on the demand.
October 23, 2011
First Free Vote After Arab Spring in Tunisia
Sunday, October 23 marks an historic day, not only in Tunisia, but for the entire Arab world as citizens go to the polls
in what will be a free election for a 217-member assembly whose mandate will be to appoint a temporary interim
government and to draft a new constitution.
Elections come exactly nine months after the former President Zinedine el Abidine Ben Ali fled the country on
January 14 as the first of many mass demonstrations across the entire Arab world occurred in Tunisia.
Vying for power is the Islamist party Ennahda, which is expected to gain the most votes although it will probably not
receive a clear majority in the assembly. The other parties are secular, and campaigning has been marred by
disagreements between them and the Islamists, especially concerning party funding and voter apathy.
Reports however from Tunisia describe widespread optimism as the campaign ended and the voting began.
The mother of the man who is given credit for igniting the Arab Spring in December 2010 by setting himself on fire
said that the election shows that her son’s actions has brought dignity and freedom to Tunisia.
"Now I am happy that my son's death has given the chance to get beyond fear and injustice," Manoubia Bouazizi said.
"I'm an optimist; I wish success for my country."
October 25, 2011
Two major Middle East players have joined forces with the aim to strengthen their IT effectiveness in the fastgrowing region in which they inhabit. Accenture, which specializes in management consulting, technology and
outsourcing, acquired a majority of one of Saudi Arabia’s leading information technology companies, Al Faisaliah
Business & Technology Company (FBTC.) FBTC is a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabia-based Al Faisaliah Group.
The joint venture between the two companies was first announced last June. FBTC will bring to the table their
excellent enterprise architecture, systems implementation and technology consulting skills, and excellent addition to
Accenture’s focus on consulting.
The partnership will allow Accenture to give all-encompassing IT services to clients in Saudi Arabia, while
simultaneously achieving its goals of global best practices and the latest high tech processes and solutions for the
international market. The plan now formulates that FBTC will take on the name Accenture and will become
integrated into the Accenture global network.
"Establishing the joint venture is an important step to enhancing our capabilities and positioning Accenture as a
leading technology services provider in Saudi Arabia," said Omar Boulos, managing director of Accenture in the
Middle East. "We will now turn our focus to supporting the business goals of our clients and addressing the growing
needs of companies in the market."
October 30, 2011
Chairman of Al Jazeera Steel Products Co SAOG, Sulaiman Mohamed Shaheen al Rubaie announced impressive results
for the company’s net profits during the nine months from January until September 2011. The company,
headquartered in Sohar, Oman posted an 81% net profit after taxes, reaching RO 2.751 million from RO 1.523 million
during the same time period the previous year.
Announcing the results al Rubaie added,
"Your Company has also adopted a policy of working with low inventory so as to minimize risks from the volatility. A
better management of inventory and emphasis on improving sales realizations and volume has in turn resulted in an
overall better performance even in a market of challenging prices and lower demand. Shorter cycle time and more
attractive interest rates helped the Company to reduce the borrowings. Even though the employee cost has gone up
by more than a half million riyals, compared to the last corresponding period, the Company has managed to maintain
reasonable profits."
The Chairman further explained Al Jazeera’s startling success. The Merchant Bar Mill (MBM) began producing
commercially during the last three months of 2009, yet was able to reach a 70% production capacity level with only
12 hours of operation per day. The company is, however, planning on increasing operations to 24 hours/day in the
coming days. Due to Al Jazeera’s ability to develop a broad product base for MBM products this past year was key in
establishing high volume sales for the company, according to al Rubaie.
November 1, 2011
Cadillac Brand Manager Adrian Enciso Optimistic at Motor Show
The month of November brings the International Motor Show to Dubai, where the world’s most prestigious and
coveted cars will show off their best features.
Among the many manufacturers and brands in attendance will be Cadillac, which will display its award-winning lineup for the 2012 car-buying season. Included in the Cadillac list is their exclusive CTS Coupe and Escalade models. One
exciting development for Cadillac is the sport package which is being offered for the 2012 CTS Coupe loaded with
rear-wheel drive.
The regional brand manager for Cadillac in the Middle East, Adrian Enciso, explained why he is enthusiastic about
Cadillac’s offerings for the coming year:
"The CTS Sport Coupe and Escalade Sport continue to offer Cadillac's advanced features and luxury experience.
Cadillac's 2012 range delivers the power and refinement of the brand, setting the standard of the world in the
automotive industry, paving the way for innovative features and designs while maintaining the highest level of quality
and safety."
The Dubai International Motor Show is scheduled to take place at the Dubai World Trade Center from November 10
to 14, and will showcase other car brands in addition to Cadillac, such as Maserati, Ferrari, Jaguar and more.
November 6, 2011
Giordano Middle East Expanding in Abu Dhabi
The Mushrif Shopping Mall in Abu Dhabi is soon to be home to the 200th shop of Giordano Middle East.
The goal for Giordano, one of the world’s leading clothing retailers, is to operate 250 stores in the region by the year
2015. Giordano has had a presence in the Middle East for 18 years during which time it has been continuously
expanding. This year alone 14 new stores have opened here, including 12 in Saudi Arabia, one in Kuwait, and the last
in Abu Dhabi.
“We are in full-swing getting our shops closer to our customers across the region. The substantial investments
earmarked for this expansion programme seal our commitment to be a leading player in the retail apparel industry
not only in the Gulf but also across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and the Asian sub-Continent. Since our
first regional store opened in Burjuman in 1993, we have continued to grow and reaching our 200th store landmark
this year is an indication of our strength and success in the market. Our growth is all due to valued customers who
have continuously supported and trusted our brand and our products,” said Ishwar Chugani, Executive Director at
Giordano Middle East.
Due to the streamlining of operations in the region plus the introduction of product-lines in high demand Giordano
has succeeded in posting double-digit profit growth this year as compared to the same time last year. Low inventories
and increased cash flow have also helped the success of the company.
As Chugani added,
“Giordano’s strategy of ‘less is more’ means we focus on the essentials – which provide the right product mix and
choices for our customers. We have made it through 18 years here in the Region and we look forward to many more
years to come. While many things have changed over the years, our promise will never waiver. Our customers are
assured of a collection that is essential, relevant and of superior workmanship.”
November 13, 2011
Emirates Airline Orders Fifty Boeing Jets in $18 Billion Deal
With options to buy an additional 20 777-300ERs, Emirates Airline has placed an order for 50 of the Boeing jets in a
deal valued at an estimated $18 billion.
The deal marked the opening of the Dubai Air Show Sunday, making an impression as the deal is described as the
single largest order in the Boeing Company’s history of selling commercial aircraft. The purchase is one more example
of the Middle East’s largest airline carrier’s efforts to continue its remarkable aggressive expansion push.
Delivery of the 50 wide body aircraft is set for 2015, according to Emirate’s chairman Sheik Ahmad bin Saeed Al
Maktoum.
Emirates Airline is not the only carrier who has been expanding over the past year. Other Middle East airlines, such as
Qatar Airways and Etihad of Abu Dhabi, have also engaged in bold growth strategies including buying additional
aircraft and adding new routes to their business plans.
The option to purchase an additional 20 aircraft will up the value of the deal by $26 billion, Sheik Ahmad added,
saying that the airline was examining a selection of different alternatives for funding the order, including export
credit agencies and Islamic funding mechanisms.
Each of the Boeing 777-300 long range, wide body aircraft is valued at $298.3 million according to the aircraft
manufacturer’s website. Each plane can carry 365 passengers and has a range of about 14,685 kilometers. According
to Emirates Airline, the Boeing 777 is at the moment their most profitable of the company’s aircraft.
November 14, 2011
Dana Gas Posts Profits for Third Quarter of 2011
Dana Gas PJSC announced its financial outcome for the fiscal quarter which ended on September 30th 2011. Dana Gas
is an incorporated company in the Emirate of Sharjah of the UAE and is the largest private sector natural gas
company in the region.
The results for the third quarter of 2011 are impressive: Dana posted increased revenue from the sale of
hydrocarbons to AED 645 million (176 million dollars) with a gross profit of AED 315 million. This translates into
increases of 58% and 76% respectively when compared to last year’s results for the same time period.
The company credits the improved income and profitability to a total growth of 20% in production across the entire
Group, while at the same time oil prices rose. There was an especially large increase in production in the Kurdistan
region in Iraq due to the fact that two transport trains were simultaneously running from the Khor Mor Field, which
helped satisfy the increased demand for gas at the power stations in Arbil and Suleymania in Kurdistan.
Dana Gas Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ahmed Al Arbeed commented on the company’s third quarter profits:
"Dana Gas continues to deliver strong performance and increases in profits driven by our successful operations, in
spite of a globally challenging environment. We have and will continue to respond to challenges successfully and with
confidence, ensuring that we maintain our operations uninterrupted while we manage our expenditures prudently.
As a regional company committed to the long term benefit of our region and its stakeholders, we are committed to
operating our assets with a view to creating sustainable value for our shareholders."
November 20, 2011
Egyptian Marble Industry Growing Quickly
Analysts believe that under the correct conditions investments in the construction industry in Egypt will continue to
grow, and the most impressive growth will be in the granite and marble sector of that market.
Experts believe that revenues for the marble and granite industry in Egypt can reach as much as 2 million dollars in
the near future. The industry is exploring the possibility of increasing exports to several Arab countries where it is
already doing a good business, such as Kuwait, which is at the moment one of the main importers of Egyptian
building materials such as marble and granite.
Today the volume of marble investments in Egypt is EGP 17 billion, (2.85 billion dollars) while growth has been
between 30% and 40% per year. Egypt ranks 6th in the world of marble exporters and this year’s export value of
marble is approximately 330 million dollars. Six years ago, in 2005, marble exports were worth 220 million dollars.
The Head of Marble and Granite Division at the Chamber of Building Materials Industries of the Federation of
Egyptian Industries, Ahmed Abdel Hamid, believes that there are many challenges facing this industry which, if met
will help the industry continue to grow at an even faster pace.
Hamid explained that there are 350 marble plants and 800 workshops. The average direct and indirect manpower is
about 700 to 800 workers. The volume of marble exports, according to Hamid, totals to a value of about EGP 500
million, 5% of which is for granite. He added that the growth rate for the industry is about 5% to 6% annually.
November 22, 2011
Mike Grant Appointed Chief Restructuring Officer for the Al Jaber Group
The privately owned Al Jaber Group, and Abu Dhabi-based civil and electro-mechanical engineering contractor,
announced the appointment of Mike Grant to be their new chief restructuring officer.
Mike Grant will be leading the company’s latest move to further along their debt reorganization, according to
spokesmen for the company.
Grant is a veteran of restructuring at several Middle East-based companies, including the Kuwait firm of Investment
Dar and Eurotunnel. This move by Al Jaber is an attempt to forge an agreement between the company and its
creditors.
"The group confirms that it is continuing to move forward with its plans to reschedule its borrowings," a company
spokesman said. "As part of this process the group announces the appointment of Mr Mike Grant of The Aaronite
Partnership LLP as chief restructuring officer to the group.”
Al Jaber has never publicly released the amount of debt it is restructuring, however last year they had a difficult time
raising funds for $4.35 billion in projects.
November 27, 2011
UAE Introducing New Dh500 Paper Currency
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates announced that Abu Dhabi will soon be placing into circulation a new
Dh500 banknote. The amended banknote will be reprinted with updated security features.
New Bank Note Will Be Circulated November 29
“This currency note will be put in circulation as legal tender along with currency notes currently in circulation with
effect from Tuesday, November 29,”said a statement released by the Central Bank.
An economist based in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Mohammad Amerah explained the bank’s decision.
“The Central Bank’s move reflects that there has been a considerable growth in the domestic economy and the
money in circulation is getting enlarged. It seems the people, businessmen and the economy as a whole feel the need
to use larger bills that show their increased purchasing power and increased number of financial transaction.”
Updated Security Features
The improved Dh 500 note will replace the variable stripe of the old bills with a clear window on the right side of the
front face. When backlit by bright light the denomination value of “500” is seen in decorative circles; but when held
over a darkened background only the ornamental design is visible.
“The new security features on the note will curb counterfeiting,” Amerah added.
Optical Variability Key Change
There is an optically variable stripe present which extends throughout the see-through window. The stripe depicts
the head of a falcon, the National Emblem, and the banknote’s value. A unique feature is that the appearance and
the colors change depending on the angle one looks at the bill.
The silver thread which appeared on the back of the old banknote has been replaced by a wider 3mm window thread
which shifts colors and says “UAE 500.”
“The metallic ink surrounding the UAE emblem on the top front of the note is replaced by multicolor ink print,” added
the bank.
SEO:The Central Bank of the UAE is introducing an updated Dh500 banknote with many updated features to help
improve security and prevent counterfeiting.
November 29,2011
An executive for the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for Distribution (ADNOC) announced that his
company is creating a natural gas grid in several residential areas in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The company, which is popularly known as Adnoc Distribution, is concentrating its efforts at the moment on servicing
the residential sector, but they have their sights set on expanding into the commercial and industrial sectors as well,
according the firm’s general manager Abdullah Al Dhaheri.
Al Dhaheri added that Abu Dhabi is presently seeing a growth in demand for natural gas from both the residential and
commercial sectors.
December 4, 2011
Group Buying Trend Beginning to Grow in Middle East Market
In recent years the popularity of group buying, also known as social buying, has grown by leaps and bounds. Now a
multi-billion-dollar business, group buying businesses such as Groupon have become household names throughout
Europe, the US, Australia, China and beyond through their use of daily e-mails and huge discounts on everything from
appliances, vacations, restaurant meals, and much more. Each group buying company has its own way of doing
business, but the essentials are the same: in exchange for a share in the total profits the group buying firm brings the
customers to the retailer’s door.
Group buying, however is taking longer to latch on to the imaginations, and bank accounts, of Middle East residents.
Although retail is a hefty slice of the Middle East economic pie; and credit cards are used generously; group buying is
lagging behind due to the fact that on-line shopping is still experiencing birth pangs.
"The history of online buying in this part of the world can be measured in days and weeks, not years," says Dan
Stuart, chief executive of GoNabit, which was the first firm to open in this region.
"When we started, people could buy flowers, gift baskets and flights through the internet, but not much else. They
had to buy from sites based outside the region but we've seen a big shift in that."
That growth potential is now being exploited by several group buying firms. Groupon is opening offices in Dubai this
year, and GoNabit is going to rebrand after being bought-out by another US company, Living Social.
Cobone.com, a UAE-owned company, started operating last year. In order to meet the local needs and the hesitation
Middle Easterners have about shopping on-line, the vast majority of sales (about 80%) during the first few months of
operation were done with cash on delivery. Customers made their purchase on-line, but only handed over the
payment when a voucher was physically delivered to them.
"That might sound strange to someone in another part of the developed world," says chief executive Paul Kenny,
whose firm now has more than half the Middle East market share by revenue, according to data from research firm
Kongregator.
"But until very recently, that's the way it was."
SEO: Social buying or group buying has become a successful way of marketing throughout the world which is just
beginning to catch-on in the Middle East.
December 5, 2011
If all goes well, Wataniya Palestinian Mobile Telecommunications Public Shareholding Company, otherwise known as
Wataniya Mobile, will launch its mobile phone service in Gaza next year. Wataniya is the second mobile telecom
operator in the Palestinian territories, and is only waiting to get approval from Israel to use certain frequencies in
order to launch its 3G mobile services.
Bassam Hannoun, the chief executive officer of Wataniya Mobile commented on the upcoming introduction of their
mobile service to Gaza: "We are planning 3G services in 2013. It seems late and we don't want it to be this way. The
acquisition of the frequencies from the Israeli officials is the issue."
Watanya Mobile is a subsidiary of Qatar Telecom, or Qtel. Qtel went public at the end of last year, floating 15% of its
shares in an IPO which raise $50.3 million. That was the largest sale of shares in the Palestinian territories in 10 years.
The only competition facing Watanya is Palestine Cellular Communications Company, which started its commercial
services in late 2009.
"Certainly the entrance into Gaza completes the operations in Palestine and this naturally will increase revenue and
integrate the services in the area we are licensed to operate in," said Hannoun.
December 13, 2011
iPhone 4S Coming to the UAE
In a race to be the first to get the latest hi-tech phone to the people of the UAE, du, one of the UAE’s two telecome
providers, announced that it will have the iPhone 4S available for customers to purchase this coming Friday,
December 16th.
This announcement came in response to a similar announcement by Etisalat, the other UAE telecom provider, stating
that it is now accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 4S.
"The much awaited iPhone 4S will be within our customers' grasp shortly! We are glad to confirm the availability of
iPhone 4S in du Shops beginning December 16," said a statement issued by du spokesmen.
Further details, such as price, were not yet made available to the public.
It is believed that du’s prices will be similar to those already announced by Etisalat which are as follows:
iPhone 4S 16GB for Dh 2,749; 32GB for 3,149; 64GB for Dh 3,549.
Etisalat announced that their customers could pre-order the iPhone 4S by logging onto their website and charging the
price to their credit cards.
SEO:
December 18, 2011
Indian and Saudi Business Leaders Meet
In an effort to improve the trade relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, a thirteen-member delegation of
Indian business leaders met a group of influential executives from Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Great Opps For Investment Now
The Secretary-General of the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce, Abdulrahman A. Al-Wabel, was among the Saudi
business leadership at the summit. Al-Wabel told the Indian business community that now is the time to take
advantage of the many investment opportunities which are available in Saudi Arabia.
"Make the most of our favorable investment climate," he told the visiting delegates.
There are over 200 companies from India now doing business in Saudi Arabia, said Al-Wabel. “Their total investment
exceeds AR 4 billion,” he stated.
Joint Projects Can Be Launched
The Saudi business leader suggested to their Indian colleagues that they should think about possibly launching joint
projects with an intention of eventually transferring technology. It was acknowledged at the meeting that over 50
Saudi companies, or partnerships with India, are now under way in India, with an investment total of at least SR 858
million.
The head of the Indian delegation, K.K.M. Kutty, a representative of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
addressed the growing trade relations between the two countries.
"However, there is still an enormous potential to take this business further," he said.
Successful Visit
The first secretary of commerce and education at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Ashok Warrier, stated that the visit of
the Indian delegation to Saudi Arabia was a great success.
"They met a number of Saudis and had fruitful discussions," he said. "This is yet another testimony of the growing
relationship between our two countries."
SEO: Business representatives from India and Saudi Arabia met to discuss the continuing economic cooperation
between the two countries and the sharing of technology.
December 20, 2011
In order to boost the development of Qatar as a center of finance in the Middle East, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund
has been modestly injecting up to $2 billion into the finance economy to allure asset management companies to
establish themselves as key players in Middle East finance.
According to regional bankers the Qatar Investment Authority will invest the money in international and area asset
managers who plan to set up business in Qatar. This is in response to the failure of the Qatar Financial Center to bring
in a large customer base.
The development of Qatar’s financial sector will not be easy as other Gulf Co-operation Council states are also
working hard to boost their own financial industries by exploiting the huge amounts of capital gathering in the oil-rich
region. There is additional competition from the emerging Asian economies, which are conveniently located for
investors from the East.
The QFC’s acting chief executive, Shashank Srivastava, said, "The growth market is changing - its east of the GCC, not
west of the GCC. New financial centers will emerge for geographic reasons, and for pure financial efficiency reasons."
The goal of the QIA for their investment is to encourage additional business to the QFC. The QFC was established in
2005 to regulate and also aid in the development of Qatar’s financial services industry, according to bankers who are
knowledgeable of the plan. So far the center has licensed approximately 150 companies, but it has not been able to
create excitement in investing, and the experts have admitted that the amount of assets under Qatar management is
meager.
December 25, 2011
Gaza Building Boom Comes from Underground
There is a building boom taking place now in Gaza, despite the blockade Israel has imposed on the Strip since Hamas
took power there. The boom is due in part to an intricate network of tunnels dug into the sandy soil reaching from
Gaza, extending over the international border, and ending in Egypt.
There are said to be hundreds of tunnels, supplementing the building materials that Israel is already allowing into
Gaza by more ordinary means. Israel allows construction material into Gaza for use by international relief agencies to
construct houses, schools and other urgently needed buildings. Recently Israel relaxed their requirements and has
also allowed limited amounts of building materials to be used for the construction of factories. Many factories were
destroyed in 2009 during a large military offensive there by Israeli forces in an effort to reduce or silence the number
of Scud rockets being shot over the border into Israeli territory.
A UN report on the Gazan economy stated that despite the fact that for the past decade the economy in Gaza has
been severely depressed, developments during the first half of 2011 have brought some margin of relief.
"Employment jumped by more than 47,000 jobs in first-half 2011, or 24.7 percent, to an estimated 237,475. The
broad unemployment rate declined to 32.9 percent from 45.2 percent in second-half 2010," the report said.
"Despite the easing of restrictions on the Israeli-imposed blockade, tight controls of the crossings from Israel into
Gaza are a significant factor behind the growth in the tunnel economy," said Chris Gunness, spokesman for the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians (UNRWA).
The Gazan citizens say that the tunnels allow them to satisfy all of their needs, “from the needle to the rocket.”
SEO: There is a building boom going on now in the Gaza Strip despite the Israel blockade due to a complex network of
hundreds of tunnels from Gaza to Egypt.
December 27, 2011
Gulf States Show Interest in Afghan Oil Sector
Afghan Minister of Mining Wahidullah Shahrani said last Tuesday that his country is preparing to accommodate
foreign investments in mining, oil and gas, including counterpart companies from the Gulf Cooperation states.
We have been communicating with Kuwait Energy and calls are being made with Emaar Mining (United Arab
Emirates) and Maaden (Saudi Arabia). Both the Saudis and the Emiratis are very keen on copper and gold," Shahrani
told a group of Kuwaiti journalists in Kabul.
The Afghan government is on the verge of signing a trade agreement with China’s largest oil and gas company, CNPC.
In the next few days CNPC will complete a deal which will allow then to extract and refine oil from the Amu Darya
basin in the northwestern part of Afghanistan.
CNPC already has a contract to take oil via pipeline from the neighboring Turkmenistan, where they built an oil
pipeline which transports oil from there all the way to China.
Companies from some of the world’s largest economies, such as China, India and Canada, have acquired the bidding
rights for the development of valuable minerals including copper and iron ore deposits which are located both north
and south of Kabul.
Minister Shahrani has been instrumental in simplifying the procedures required for foreign investors since he took
over his position as minister of mining, including placing oil and gas development into the same office as mining.
According to US government estimates there is about $3 trillion worth of as of now untapped natural resources in
Afghanistan including Niobium, Lithium, Copper, Iron-ore, Cobalt, gems and oil and gas. The goal of the Afghan
government is to diversify foreign investments in the development of these resources between as many countries as
possible. With many millions and billions of dollars in investment money coming into the country Afghanistan hopes
it will be able to rebuild its destroyed infrastructure and reduce considerably its dependence on foreign aid.
Not just money will be pumped into Afghanistan. "Transportation is a major problem," added Shahrani, pointing out
that Afghanistan is landlocked, making it hard to bring goods and building materials to businesses. To solve this
problem Afghanistan has asked investors who are in the excavation industry to build railways. "These railways will
later be used to carry passengers," the minister emphasized.
These kinds of projects will also bring jobs to the country, as many as 10.6 million is estimated, a figure representing
one third of the country’s 29 million residents.
SEO: Afghan Minister of Mining Wahidullah Shahrani is easing the way for foreign investors from the Gulf States to
invest in mining, oil, and gas in Afghanistan.