Palestinians invited to sign unity deal next week

GAZA, April 29 (Reuters) - Egypt has invited Palestinian leaders to Cairo next week for the signing of a unity agreement that would end a rivalry among ruling factions, Palestinian officials said on Friday.
The Egyptian-brokered deal, announced unexpectedly on Wednesday, calls for forming a new government acceptable to both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, which is dominant in the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip Hamas's rulers.
Israel denounced the agreement, saying Abbas could not be a peace partner if he mends ties with Hamas, an Islamist group with a charter calling for Israel's destruction.
Western powers received cooly news of the unity deal, saying it was an important step, but made clear they expect any new administration to accept international demands, which include the recognition of Israel and a renunciation of violence.[1]

hm! As we can see after revolution Egypt changed its politics in the Middle East region. That's a second step which couldn't be seen during Mubarak was in power. First one as i remember was the renewal of diplomatic negotiations with Iran. So, can it really be true that Egypt started to renew ties with 'bad guys'?! Oh, yes! It seems to be true...

A Few Words on the ‘Great Man-made River’

A Few Words on the ‘Great Man-made River’

The Libyan war, which started two months ago, is still riveting world’s attention; till now Internet space is excited about nuances and process of this war. Speaking candidly, about month ago I also couldn’t hold myself from making an attempt to figure out possible consequences of this war event; today, I think, it’s time to write something about the Kaddafi regime which is already Libyan past.

Lyrical digression or thoughts about Libya: Unfortunately, we all became dependant on Mass Media and Libya’s war is not exclusion: the long confrontation between this country and western world made specific image of this country in the world. However, we should give the due to Gaddafi regime: “It is one of the few countries where the natural resources were used directly for increasing people's living standard without encumbering the country with debts or loans - in spite of the indisputable political 

Pro Gaddafi Rally in Benghazi April 25

oh! that isn't something I can see on TV

UN Security Council members failed to agree the statement on Syria

The UN secretary general has condemned Syria for using tanks and live ammunition against protesters.

Calling for an independent investigation into recent killings, Ban Ki-moon said Syrian authorities had an obligation to respect human rights.
UN Security Council members have so far failed to agree a joint statement. [1]

but why?! and here is the answer: as we all remember, Russia and China were neutral about Libya's 'problem'; however, in Russian society this step was considered as a big mistake in foreign policy. So, and this respect, Russia and China won't make one mistake twice. UN Security Council won't agree a joint statement and, maybe, there is possibility to use NATO forces, as it was in Iraq. Moreover, it becoming obvious that the Syrian so-called 'humanitarian intervention' might be infringement of Russian and Chinese business and military interests.

Some news from Muslim World

Danish cartoonist who drew The Prophet is being tried in a Jordan court

A Jordanian court has begun blasphemy proceedings against Danish artist Kurt Westergaard for a controversial cartoon he drew of the Prophet Mohammed.

[1]

Spying for Iran in Bahrain

Bahrain declared a diplomat posted in the Iranian embassy in Manama persona non grata, and ordered him to leave within 72 hours due to his alleged links with a Kuwait spy ring, Bahrain’s official news agency reported on Tuesday.

Libya: from the political conflict to ethnic one

Libya crisis: Misrata tribes 'may fight rebels'

Tribes loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have said that if the army cannot drive rebels from the besieged port city of Misrata, they will, a senior official says.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said the army had tried to keep civilian casualties low but the tribes would not show the same restraint.

Colonel Gaddafi's forces have been pounding Misrata for weeks.

Meanwhile, Nato forces carried out more air strikes on the capital, Tripoli.

The Libyan government says three people were killed by the strikes.

Journalists were shown a concrete bunker near Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Azizia compound that received two hits early on Saturday.[1]

"Hopes of Al Qaeda’s demise are proving premature" by Al Arabiya news

Of course it was very "premature" to forget about Al Qaeda! 
"Al Qaeda and its various militant affiliates have been relegated in recent months to statements of support as protesters across the Middle East and North Africa demand greater freedom and an end to authoritarian rule. If anything, empathy for Al Qaeda’s violent, militant version of Islam appeared to have dissipated as youthful protesters challenged authoritarian leaders and forced the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt to resign".[1]

There is other thing that I'm very interesting in: Why do journalists always speak about Al Qaeda if there are so many other terrorist organization on Middle East and North Africa, of course they are well connected; but, it is hardly doubtful that Al Qaeda became a brand of Sunni terror movement in the world, but the problem is not this organization but ideology... And by using this brand, journalists and politicians simply do concept shift, something like stereotype.

Meet British military officers in Libya!

Oh! Amazing!
"British military officers will be sent to Libya to advise rebels fighting Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces, the UK government has said.
The BBC understands 10 officers will provide logistics and intelligence training in a UK and French operation.
Mr Hague said it was compatible with the UN resolution on Libya, which ruled out foreign military ground action.
He stressed that the officers would not be involved in any fighting and the move was needed to help protect civilians." [1]
William Hague: "This is not British ground combat forces going in... this is fully in-line with the UN resolution" [2]

I think, it is to late to speak about legality of this step, I jast want to say that this is first official confirmation of the ground support for Libyan rebels.

Iran, Egypt renewing ties?

Today Alarabia.net published an interesting news:
"Iran said Tuesday that it had appointed an ambassador to Egypt for the first time in 30 years, and that diplomatic relations between the two countries—among biggest and most influential countries of the Middle East—had been re-established".[1]
So we are becoming witnesses of renewing not only Egypt-Iranian relations, but renewing of whole Muslim world.
"Ties between Iran and Egypt were severed in 1980 following Iran’s Islamic revolution 1979 and Egypt’s recognition of Israel.
Cairo has long been an ally of the United States and Israel but since a popular uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, there have been signs of warming between mainly Sunni Muslim Egypt and predominantly Shiite Iran."  [2]

NATO Secretary General's Press Conference

NATO Secretary General's Press Conference 


Great Video about Great Aspiration!
during the press conference Mr Rasmusen answered on some question about NATO's role in Libyan conflict.
So main objectives in this operation:

Yesterday the NATO foreign minister made clear the three military objectives of our mission in Libya: firstly, an end to all attacks and thread of attacks against civilians. Secondly, that will draw of all receive forces to barracks. Thirdly, an immediate humanitarian access. And we strongly endorsed the call by the contact group for Qaddafi to leave power, So, NATO is absolutely determine to continue its operation for as long as the thread against Libyan civilians and it’s impossible to imagine that this thread disappear when Qaddafi in power.

KavkazCenter.com about Arabic language and "strategic direction"

Few days ago I've found an interesting article on ideology of 'Caucasus Emirate' movement. This is Abu Halid's point of view on a strategic direction of cooperation of Caucasian separatists. So, as I understand there are many voices of Wahhabi ideologists for searching some help from Turkey, A.Halid calls this ideas wrong, and point out :

"The main argument of the supporters of the Ottoman language is based on the geopolitical perspective of Turkey; I believe that this is a deceptive perspective". 

possible crisis in EU & NATO

In one previous post of mine I tried to figure out what consequences might be because of the Libyan war; however, I didn't imagine that would such migration crisis in Europe. Moreover, as we can see, this crisis influences on internal EU relations:

Eddie Izzard about Assassins

Very Short Introduction to assassin's life:

The second chance to resolve the Libyan conflict

"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has begun seeking a country, most likely in Africa, that might be willing to provide shelter to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi if he were forced out of Libya, even as a new wave of intelligence reports suggest that no rebel leader has emerged as a credible successor to the Libyan dictator.
The intense search for a country to accept Colonel Qaddafi has been conducted quietly by the United States and its allies, even though the Libyan leader has shown defiance in recent days, declaring that he has no intention of yielding to demands that he leave his country, and intensifying his bombardment of the rebel city of Misurata." [1]

What a great news; however, nobody did say that after his exile he can return back like ... Napoleon returned from Elba with all followed consequences. So there is a little chance for a good and long life somewhere in Africa. :-)

News on terror(2011 Apr 11 - 17)

Belarus: Apr 11 (Monday) "A blast tore through a packed metro station near Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's headquarters Monday killing at least 12 people and wounding 100 others, in a suspected act of terror. Lukashenko also ordered the head of the KGB to "immediately investigate and consider everything until the last detail. All those responsible must be found." [1]
According to State Security Committee of Belarus(KGB) was arrested 2 men who are suspected in the act of terror on metro station.
Apr 13 Lukashenko: "Crime was detected". "The main thing is that we know who and how made this act of terror; however we still don't know why it was madden. But this question also will be clear soon." [2] [3]

Some Libyan rebel photos

Some Libyan rebel photos:

Opium problems in Afghanistan

"Fighting the war on Afghanistan opium seems almost insurmountable, but the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, works hard at finding ways to solve the problem. In 2000, a ban on the Taliban-led Afghanistan, which produced 75% of the world’s opium, yielded a 98% drop in the poppy production. However, when the Taliban lost control in 2001 the opium trade increased. By 2006, Afghanistan generated 94% of the world’s supply"[1].

France: fingers in many African pies

France returned in NATO and wanted to make up leeway?! The Ivory Coast conflict has just resolved with France help:

“Ivory Coast's UN-recognised President, Alassane Ouattara, has urged restraint after the dramatic capture of his rival Laurent Gbagbo”[1].

Modern "Toyota War"

“Cheap and fast” are two main criteria of modern war in Africa. And Toyota became one of the symbols of such wars. We could see them during the Chadian–Libyan conflict

 

Developing of Libyan crisis

Today African Union mission arrived for Tripoli talks[1]; this step has all possibilities to become a crucial point in Libyan conflict. “An African Union mission has arrived in Libya to try to negotiate a ceasefire between rebel forces and those loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi.

Postmodern “Year of Africa”: what should we expect

The year of 2011 has already become a year of great revolutions in Muslim Asia and Africa. Because of its large scale this movement can only be compared with the Year of Africa[1] that was in1960 when many African countries got the independence from colonial powers. In my opinion, all these revolutions are part of postmodern picture of the world, and it can be seen as mixed ideas of pre-democratic societies and contra-reaction against western politics in region. For example, in Libya both Islamist[2] and democratic ideas can be seen among anti-Kaddafi rebels. Both of these forces are hoping to come in power in the fullness of time. And we could see that the aphorism ‘my enemy’s enemy is my friend’ is working very well during Egyptian revolution. That’s why George Soros expressed support for The Muslim Brotherhood during the very beginning of this revolution.

Central Asia and oil extraction decreasing

The modern terrorist threat became one of the most important problems of global security and in now day’s it is obvious that terrorism is very useful leverage in geopolitics. Leverage that can be afford only by “big players” of international relations, such as states, big companies and corporations. Terrorist acts, of course, are cheaper than war as itself, but they are still expensive for “simple” people, who are disagreeing with same points of pursued policy. This “disagreeing” can be provide only if there are great economical and ideological possibilities. Here will be briefly examined such economical possibilities and prognoses if this possibilities will be cut.