Oh, The Places You’ll Go

With all apologies to my wonderful Writing for Online Media professor, Nick Leshi, this will be my last blog post. While I truly enjoyed the experience, and wouldn’t have traded either this opportunity to exercise my writing skills or this chance to share Middle Eastern news and commentary, I simply will not have time to continue this blog as I begin my packed summer schedule.

I find it fitting that I began this exercise as the Middle East began to deal with major changes, and I am ending it as the impacts of another history-changing event unfold.

When I started, Tunisia and Egypt were completely overturning their government. Leaders everywhere were taken aback as slowly, surrounding countries began to follow suit; even now, we are still watching as Libya continues to fight for its freedom from Qaddafi, Syria fights for a break from oppressive traditions, and Yemen fights for civil rights. Truly, its been simply awe-inspiring to watch.

Now, I leave this blog one week after another major event: Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy Seals and C.I.A. operatives. 

Before I begin my main discussion, I want to say that I applaud Obama’s decision to keep the photographic evidence from the public eye. As a journalism student, it pains me a little to say this, yet I think the decision keeps the death from crossing the line from justice to vengeance. This was a classy move by a president facing a lot of criticism and a lot of unsolicited criticism.

Photo Courtesy of osamabinladen

A fake photograph of Osama's body.

Almost immediately after the news broke, a huge debate (in which I have partaken) began over the degree to which one can celebrate the death of a man, as evil as he may be. 

Personally, I am proud of our troops, and I celebrate their victory. Bin Laden’s death was a goal, but not the only goal, of the war in Afghanistan. The goal continues to be an end to terrorism; we are certainly not there, yet we were able to take down one of the biggest threats to United States security our generation has ever faced. 

I was not in New York or New Jersey on September 11, 2001, but I still remember getting into the car that day after school, and my mom telling me the news. I didn’t understand the gravity until the night, when the number finally hit me. Three thousand. Nearly half my town. Nearly 15 times the size of my grammar school. Gone.

Photo Courtesy of Sister72

Light beams representing the Twin Towers, one of the many ways the September 11 attacks were memorialized.

Still, what I am celebrating is not this man’s death. In an ideal world, he would be alive and in front of a jury or tribunal, but in an ideal world he would have never have orchestrated these attacks. Thus, I can only celebrate that the closest thing we can have to justice has been achieved. The bin Ladens are in my thoughts, as it is never easy to lose a family member, but most of all the families of the victims of September 11 are in my thoughts, because no one should have to lose a family member in an act of senseless violence.

Of course, as I end nearly every post, who knows what happens next; even now, one week later, no one knows how much to beef up security, how much to trust Pakistan, or really much of anything. 

Most recently, the Al Qaeda announced that it plans to carry our revenge against the United States; I obviously hope it does not, as that simply perpetuates the cycle of violence. In order to prevent this retribution, however, what needs to happen? More drones? More raids? More people are going to end up killed, and this is tragic, yet I don’t know how to ultimately stop all deaths, and I don’t think any military commander I could talk to could give me a guaranteed answer either.

The Middle East has produced a lot of violence over the recent years. Historically however, the countries are rich in histories of prosperous empires and lavish  kingdoms, with the pharaohs of Egypt and the riches of Persia. Conversely, our “civilized” world has historically brought about the Trail of Tears and the Inquisition. No area is perfect at an given time.

Photo Courtesy of Celeste Small

The pyramid and the sphinx, two of the many treasures offered by ancient Egypt

Thus, let us aim for peace in the Middle East, and in the meantime, remember that each Middle Eastern person is an individual worthy of respect, and that each country is a territory with its own priceless contributions to the world but also with its own shortcomings. These countries deserve respect and dignity, and I wish them the prosperity their citizens deserve.

The New and Tragic Definition of ‘Spring Weekend’

The last time I read about an offensive, it was in a rather boring article about hockey. Truly, as Fordham’s Spring Weekend comes to a close, launching an offensive seems much more descriptive of the intramural softball game I have tonight than of a deadly ban of insurgents.

Yet, the Taliban has an offensive season as well, and as it launches its newest one, world leaders are cringing while still attempting to prevent a major a loss of life. 

As of Sunday, May 1, the Taliban had already killed 11 people across Afghanistan. While both sides have promised to keep civilians out of the conflict, the U.N.’s chief of staff in Afghanistan has admitted that it is struggling to make sure that civilians are not affected by the strife between the militant group and the government.

The Taliban has further added a tragic new element to its operations, as it has introduced children bombers; on Sunday, a 12-year-old boy killed four civilians and injured another 12 in a suicide bombing. Also disturbing, while military leaders have been worried about increased violence with the start of spring for awhile, there was not the usual lull over the winter, meaning that the violence has overall escalated. Furthermore, as officials are preparing for the gradual withdrawing of troops, they are worrying about how to keep the violence at bay. 

In fact, the Obama administration is still uncertain as to how many troops will be coming home in July; according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General David Petraeus, who commands the troops in Afghanistan, has not yet offered his recommendations.

Photo Courtesy of NDU Audio Visua

General Petraeus is still deciding how many U.S. troops to pull out of Afghanistan in July.

While The Washington Post and ABC News conducted a poll which displayed that more Americans disprove rather than approve of Obama’s handling of the war in Afghanistan (including his injection of another 30,00 troops into the country), this offensive, as well as a massive prison break that released almost 500 prisoners on April 25 including Taliban fighters, show that Obama has his hands full in determining how to proceed.

Photo Courtesy of isafmedia 

Children talking with the military in Kandahar, where almost 500 inmates recently broke out of a prison.

On one level, the United States got its self into this mess and should clean it up. On another, at some point the military has to cut its losses and admit that it is, still, a separate country and it does need to stand on its own two legs. On yet another, if this is not a humanitarian crisis, the United States needs to prioritize and decide why it is still involved, while if it is such a crisis, other countries may want to join in to aid citizens. Finally, there is the question of how much of this escalation of violence the United States caused in the first place. 

Eventually, the United States does need to leave, but it is truly heart-wrenching to watch this country be plagued with such disturbing violence. Not having any semblance of knowledge on military tactics, I cannot try to discuss when the best time to pull out would be, or if an American presence would deter the Taliban (though, given that they certainly want us to leave and thus troops are one of their targets, our leaving could statistically reduce violence). 

The part of me that is horrified that a 12-year-old boy killed himself and four others wants the United States to stay and end the violence once and for all; the practical side of me that wants Afghanistan to stand up and thrive through its own institutions and actions wants the United States to pull out and give them their opportunity. In this case, where I am so conflicted and so uncertain that I suppose I have to trust Petraeus and hope for the best.

Still, I wish the Afghanis as beautiful and carefree a spring as Fordham is lucky enough to currently be seeing.  

The Libyan Diplomatic Crisis Shifts to Syria

Syrians took to the streets this past Friday, April 23, on what was incidentally Good Friday for Christians. According to The Los Angeles Times, at least 101 people were killed among the tens to possibly hundreds of thousands of protestors on what they dubbed “Great Friday.”

Obama has already issued a statement saying that “This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now,” and also accusing the Syrian administration of asking Iran, with whom the country has a strategic alliance, for help in the crackdown. Likewise, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has demanded an independent investigation into the violence, while France is “extremely concerned.”

Photo Courtesy of shamsnn 

Clearly, protesters are not letting the violence and danger stop them.

President Bashar Assad and his lackeys have taken to employing particularly cruel and disturbing methods for subjugating the citizens this time around. Citizens are guarding morgues in order to stop the government from snatching bodies and thus preventing funerals, which are often just as politically charged as the protests, while videos show men shot in streets, children shot in the head, and security guards both in plainclothes and in uniforms shooting from rooftops on unarmed civilians. Official Syrian news agencies, however, are saying that the security forces used only water cannons and tear gas, and that the army discovered fabricated footage of violence on digital cameras.

Assuming that the Syrian news agencies are lying, this use of live fire is particularly disturbing, especially as numerous protesters have attested to the victims being completely unarmed; sadly, many protesters are mostly asking for civil rights, including the right to protest peacefully. As the crackdowns have become harsher in the previous weeks, however, protesters’ demands have become more specific; rather than asking simply for the removal of the five-decades-old emergency law, they are demanding Assad’s ouster. 

Photo Courtesy of shamsnn

Many protesters simply want the right to protest peacefully, though most also want the end of Assad's regime.

Among the other demands listed by the group of activists currently speaking for the protesters is the stipulation of a three-day mourning period for those killed by the violence. Unfortunately, it does not look as if the protesters will even be allowed the chance to mourn at funerals; the security forces yet again fired upon protesters on Saturday, April 23, though this time it was on a funeral procession. Particularly disturbing, witnesses described snipers on roofs aiming at mourners.

Now, the citizens have called for a general strike, and have adopted the slogan, “The people want the overthrow of the regime.”

Photo Courtesy of shamsnn

Protesters are uniting around slogans demanding Assad's ouster.

“Can you hear it?” one witness told a reporter over the phone. “Listen. This is war. The regime has declared a war on the Syrian people.”

Still, Obama has not mentioned any kind of military action or aid in the vein of that provided to the Libyan rebels.

Yet again, it seems that world is faced with the horrible task of deciding when the violence becomes too much, and when a humanitarian crisis becomes such that it demands foreign intervention. Especially as Obama drew so much criticism for his handling of Libya (though, I disagree with those who believe he only intervened in order to save American oil interests), it will be a precarious albeit fascinating situation to watch as countries decide whether to react and how. It looks as if France is already showing interest in helping; given its attempts at leadership in Libya, it seems to be trying to take a bigger role in Middle Eastern politics, which is ironic given its recent ban of religious veils on women. 

It is a horrible fact that the world is being given the opportunity to refine its strategies on dealing with Middle Eastern protesters attempting to overthrow a repressive regime. Nevertheless, we can only hope for a swifter and less deadly conflict than the one which is currently still raging in Libya. My fingers remain crossed.

Religion Here and There

In light of Passover, I was looking for news about Israel and how it was dealing with the inevitable influx of tourists. As I was browsing, however, I came across this article from the AP discussing Libya’s Christians.

While I’m sure if you asked most people, they would of course know that there are Christian populations around the Middle East, the number of Muslims, Jews, and local religions, and, in particular, the strife among and within these groups, seems to overwhelm news about the Christians, barring the occasional article about a bombing at an Afghani church or a clash between Egyptian Coptic Christians and Muslims.

The AP article stated that, while Libya does not fully support Christianity, and bans missions, the government has allowed followers to practice; however, with the recent fighting, both membership and the churches’ ability to function have been hit hard. Conversely, Muslims have come up to local priests and requested that they contact the pope to halt airstrikes.

Photo Courtesy of rahuldlucca

Catholic Church at Dhara in Tripoli, Libya

Analysts whom I have read are predicting a decline in Christian communities in the area. In particular, Gerald Butt of The Guardian lamented that Christians and Muslims revolted together, yet the Islamic factions (be them Sunnis, Shi’ites or the Islamic Brotherhood), are the ones who are organizing politically. Granted, this may be lack of activity on the part of the Christians, but do they have the numbers and the clout to make their voices heard independently?

It is a touchy subject, and it is hard to write about religion in the area because it is so contentious. The Muslims have certainly been persecuted; I cannot even begin to count the number of times in Egypt when someone came up to a group of us and pleaded that we tell everyone we know in America that they were not all terrorists. There is a very real, and very problematic tension between the Sunnis and the Shi’ites. (There is a great op-ed in The Los Angeles Times showing the complexity of the tensions using Bahrain as an example), and there is a huge and deadly problem between the Jews and the Muslims in Israel and Palestine. 

Photo Courtesy of Jacobs - Creative Bees

Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Bahrain

When looking at all the religions in the area, worrying about Christianity seems irrelevant and selfish: How can I worry about a religion dominant throughout much of the West, when all the others are experiencing such strife? Still, I cannot help but feel that Muslims of all sects have a consistent presence in the Middle East and are active in politics; Christians, Jews (outside of Israel), and minority religions are forced to work harder. 

Yet, that does not mean that Christians are the only ones who demand attention. The difference lies both in that I am not well-versed enough in Islam to wax eloquent about the intricacies between the sects, and in that while I am very, very aware that persecution against Islam and especially against individual groups exists in the Middle East, I see it most here in the United States.

While we need to work for understanding between groups in the Middle East, it is much more feasible that we work for it here. We need to stop burning Qurans. Other countries (France) need to accept Muslim customs. We need to accept mosques and their presence, especially at Ground Zero. We need to combat what Al-Jazeera marks as rising discrimination against Muslims in America. If we want tolerance for all groups in the Middle East, we need to set the example.

Whether we like it or not, and whether or not America holds strongly to separation of church and state, religion is a political force. Be it Libyan Christians attempting to maintain their faith, or American Muslims asking for simple tolerance, all sides deserve respect.

Déja Vu

Remember when I started this blog, and Middle Eastern countries were just beginning to protest? It was exciting and invigorating, and the world was enraptured by the swift knockdown of nefarious protesters. Think back to before Libya, and before the country got mad at the undefinable and infuriating Obama Doctrine.

Guess what: They are protesting again.

Notably, Syria, who joined the foray in March, is stepping up its demands that authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad be ousted. At least 37 have died thus far around the nation, while limited cell phone service is making it difficult for others to follow events. Reports further state that it is not just the youth revolting this time; rather, even families are demanding that the once-reformist but now hardline president leave.

Photo Courtesy of byJoeLodge

Syrians protesting and demanding their president's ouster

Meanwhile, in Egypt, another 100,000 protesters returned to the now-iconic Tahrir Square on Friday, called the Day of Purification, to demand that the successfully ousted former president, Hosni Mubarak, be tried for his corruption, along with other members of his administration. This protest was again mainly spearheaded on the youth, and troops not only chased off demonstrators but also attempted to detain soldiers who had joined the crowds; in an uplifting show of solidarity and loyalty, the protesters did their best to shield and protect the rebel soldiers before they were taken. Unfortunately, this protest, too, degenerated into violence, with 71 hurt and one dead.

Photo Courtesy of RamyRaoof

Tahrir Square, where protesters are demonstrating again

Elsewhere, another group of about 1,000 Egyptians took to the Israeli Embassy, apparently angry over strikes on the Gaza strip, demanding that Egypt halt its natural gas exports to Israel. The Boston Globe notes that this put the military in a difficult position, as it claims to be working to provide greater freedom of expression (however, see the above paragraph regarding how that is working out), but also trying to assure Israel that it will maintain positive relations. So far, the military has forbidden protesters from getting to close to the embassy, and is encouraging them to disperse, but it seems to have refrained from violence.

The Yemeni continue to demand the President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down, while he continues to refuse. Tens of thousands protested in Sanaa, the capital, while in the city of Taiz, security forces killed three and injured numerous others during a funeral procession; this marks over 120 deaths since the protests began on February 11.

Photo Courtesy of Sallam

Sanaa, the capital of Yemen where protesters are meeting

In Jordan, a man set himself on fire in front of the prime minister’s office; the Washington Post marks this as the first act of protest in the country.

With more and more news of more and more violence, when did the protests turn from inspiring acts of bravery to tired and seemingly fruitless attempts? Has Egypt gone past the point of sympathy, as other countries have yet to manage what it has already done so swiftly? Has Yemen exhausted the avenue of protesting, while it does not seem to be able to find a back-up plan? Are Syria and Jordan too late to the game? 

The magic of the original protests is over, but these countries need to still be at least verbally supported; however, they also need to look into other avenues. Yes, protesting may seem like a last resort as it is, and no, I do not have any inspired suggestions for these nations. Yet, if tens of thousands can risk their lives, I have faith that they can put their heads together and find a solution. With some luck, they may take the world by a storm yet again.

And After All That...

The United States is becoming increasingly resigned to a possible stalemate or ceasefire in Libya.

That sounds good at first: Everyone will have stopped fighting and there will be a peace, albeit a shaky one, but does that mean that the entire mission was a failure? If Gaddafi stays in power, even in only some parts of the country or even if his powers are notably checked, was the money spent and manpower wasted worth it?

After one of the top aide’s in Libya, the now-former Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, defected and fled to London, leaders are pumping him for information regarding past crimes and the current situation; according to Koussa, the chances of forces loyal to Gaddafi giving up are slim to none, even as more defectors are following in his footsteps (Damien McElroy at The Telegraph compiled a pretty comprehensive list of these defectors here).

Photo Courtesy of Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας 

Defected Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa (right)

British officials disclosed that recent intelligence points to new avenues of fighting into which pro-government forces are looking, possibly breathing new life into attacks that have not yet died in the first place. Furthermore, analysts agree that Gaddafi is not about to relinquish power, no matter what other members of the government are doing, and he most certainly is not about to leave Tripoli, where he is surrounded by his loyal forces.

Like the rest of the entire situation, there are countless possibilities. To name a few, Libya could remain divided with Gaddafi simply “contained” within the country; military personnel could take out Gaddafi and work out a deal with the opposition; those loyal to Gaddafi could all defect and make separate deals with the opposition; everyone could work everything out and create a perfect democratic society. 

Even if the forces eventually defect to the point that there is no one left, analysts are admitting that things do not look good for the opposition, who have little organization or means of conveying important information. The opposition itself further seems to admit that it cannot win militarily, as a spokesman agreed to a ceasefire on the condition that Gaddafi remove his troops from the cities and allow for free speech. A government spokesman scoffed at the offer.

This is a disappointing update; everyone wants to see the evil dictator taken down and the underdog win (who doesn’t love an underdog story?). Unfortunately, as so often happens with politics, this was not an easy situation and, unfortunately, the gambles did not entirely pay off. 

Personally, I do not think that this was a wasted effort: Who knows how much United Nations intervention sped the rate of the defections, or how many lives were potentially saved by the airstrikes? Furthermore, simply by flexing out muscles and showing that we are watching, maybe, just maybe, Gaddafi is a little more scared and, maybe, he will clean up his act a bit. 

The Taliban: Yes, They Are Still Around

Libya has been the highlight of the news of late, and it is easy to forget that while it is one of many countries on the brink of history, there are other countries that are still reeling from the effects of their own history. Therefore, I would like to take the time to concentrate on a country which analysts are comparing to Libya after its own news domination one decade ago: Afghanistan.

September 11, 2001, is one of the dates about which anyone alive and able to retain memories at the time can name where they were when the heard about the towers falling. Everyone remembers the horror of hearing about the brutality, the pain of hearing about those who lost loved ones, and the swift patriotism of the aftermath. Ten years later, however, Afghanistan, the country targeted by Bush's War on Terror following the attacks, is beginning to be left out of the news, yet the Taliban is still very much a presence and a problem in the country itself.

Photo Courtesy of Wally Gobetz

The September 11, 2001, attacks

On Sunday, an article in The Boston Globe announced that the Taliban claims to have kidnapped 50 men from the Nuristan province who had just finished their training to join the police. The article states that this is part of the Taliban’s plan to intimidate and attempt to drive out anything and everyone U.S.-affiliated. While this is not the first time the Taliban has kidnapped policemen (the article reports that this has been common in other parts of the country as well), generally the group agrees to release them if they promise not to work with the Afghan government or the police. This time, however, “top Taliban military commanders in eastern Afghanistan” will decide on the policemen’s fate, but only after analyzing the situation on the ground, a move surely raising alarms.

BBC News also reported on the terrorist group’s power, noting that on March 23, the Afghan government shut off all mobile telephone networks in the Helmand province. This followed the March 22 announcement by President Hamid Karzai that Afghan forces are taking over security from the Lashkar Gah coalition. The province only has a one-percent landline penetration, meaning that shutting off telecommunications effectively cuts off all phone service. The Taliban has promised that it will blow up an cell phone towers of companies who do not comply with the ban; thus far, two masts have been burnt down. Of course, since the Taliban uses cell phones as well, this could prove counter-beneficial to the group. In particular, it often uses the mobile network to spread both anti-United States propaganda and many of the pro-Taliban songs.

A recent New York Times article went into detail about the updates regarding the war in Afghanistan. Recently, despite nominal gains earlier, the Taliban has picked up its violence, reportedly after Pakistan chastised commanders’ inadequate activity throughout the winter. The group first killed General Saidkhail, the police chief of the Kunduz province who has rather shady ties despite his ability to enforce change, followed by 30 civilians around a police compound in Imam Sahib, then over more than 36 people in a military recruiting office in Kunduz City.  Analysts are still split over what the assassinations and terrorists bombings mean in terms of progress; while the attacks undermine civilians’ confidence in the government, they also mark desperation on the part of the perpetrators.

In another rather confusing, seemingly counterproductive move, American forces are training militias to help with the fighting. Arming civilians: Ideal? Probably not. Necessary for bolstering the official troops? Most likely. The recruits are supposed to be vetted, but the government relies upon them, even putting them on its payroll, presumably making the vetting process a little more lax. If it worked for the American revolutionaries back in the 1700s, why not now? Of course, many of these militiamen used to work with the Taliban. It is surely a risky move, but who better knows the Taliban’s habits? In fact, many of these militiamen are in the same businesses as the terrorists, trafficking drugs and weapons, for example.

Photo Courtesy of davric

Afghan militiamen 

The article further reported the use of mines; unfortunately for troops, mine-locating technology still is leagues behind mine technology, evidenced by deaths and loss of limbs while searching for the weapons. Yet again, the tried-and-true is proving prevail.

The Taliban is clearly still in business. Whether it be targeted violence, followed-through threats, or hidden mines, it refuses to let go on their hold in Afghanistan. Was the United States effective in its work in the country? Surely, it was; the Times article reported that, in particular, General Saidkhail implemented countless services for his residents (increased security, the evacuation of the Taliban in man villages once controlled by the group, and improvements to the infrastructure). Yet, as we continue to look towards Libya, and as the debate about the United States’ involvement continues, this is a situation that we should probably keep in the back of our minds.

The group may not be at the forefront of American news any longer; in fact, the country’s time in the headlines became rather short-lived following Bush’s campaign against Iraq and Al-Qaeda. Still, do not let the “glamor” of the revolutions blind you from the often still-bleak conditions of the neighbors.