DOI 28 April 2008
NYT (BAGHDAD) - The latest episode in the struggle between the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr and and the Iraqi government unfolded Sunday, 27 April 2008 on the streets of Sadr city, where member of Parliament demonstrated peacefully as while clashes occurred a few blocks away. The mix of peaceful protest and armed attacks is characteristic of the many levels on which the Sadr movement and the government are locked in an all-out fight for political advantage. At stake is the outcome of October 2008 provincial elections in which other Shiite parties in the government stand to lose seats to Mr. Sadr’s supporters. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/world/middleeast/28iraq.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
(Reliability: 8.5)
Comment: Most of the members of Parliament who were demonstrating were not members of the warring Shiite factions; instead they were lobbying to improve the deplorable living conditions in Sadr City, a Baghdad suburb controlled by Moktada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army. American forces have been fighting militiamen there for over a month, resulting in the cessation of basic municipal services such as garbage pickup.
Showing posts with label Middle East/India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middle East/India. Show all posts
29 April 2008
Iranian President's Visit Is A Test For India
DOI 30 April 2008
NYT (NEW DELHI) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Ne
w Delhi Tuesday, 30 April 2008. An Indian official described the meeting as a "high visibility visit" with a slim chance of tangible outcomes. As the United States presses India to exert greater pressure on Iran to limit it's nuclear program, the government of Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh is under increasing pressure from it's political critics at home to assert it's independence from the US. Iran has become the perfect proxy. Lalit Mansingh stated, "It is good for the government to be seen taking a stand that the US may not like ". Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/world/asia/30india.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
(Reliability: 8.5)
Comment: India would like to maintain good relations with Iran for other reasons as well. Iran is the second largest supplier of oil to energy starved India, as well as potential future supplier of natural gas. India also has a substantial community of Shiite Muslims loyal to the Iranian Ayatollah.
NYT (NEW DELHI) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Ne
w Delhi Tuesday, 30 April 2008. An Indian official described the meeting as a "high visibility visit" with a slim chance of tangible outcomes. As the United States presses India to exert greater pressure on Iran to limit it's nuclear program, the government of Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh is under increasing pressure from it's political critics at home to assert it's independence from the US. Iran has become the perfect proxy. Lalit Mansingh stated, "It is good for the government to be seen taking a stand that the US may not like ". Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/world/asia/30india.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin(Reliability: 8.5)
Comment: India would like to maintain good relations with Iran for other reasons as well. Iran is the second largest supplier of oil to energy starved India, as well as potential future supplier of natural gas. India also has a substantial community of Shiite Muslims loyal to the Iranian Ayatollah.
25 April 2008
Iran Holds Parliamentary Polls
DOI 25 April 2008
AL JAZEERA (TEHRAN)-Iranians are voting in the second round of legislative elections which Al-Jazeera expects to further tighten the conservatives' grip on parliament. Around 21 million people are eligible to vote on Friday, 25 April 2008 to choose MPs (Members of Parliament) for the 82
seats in the 290-seat chamber which were not decided outright in the first round on 14 March 2008. The reformists' chances over the two rounds were harmed by a significant number of their candidates being disqualified. No official figures for the share of seats in parliament were published after the first round but of the 209 MPs who were elected at least 130 were conservatives. Under Iranian election law candidates needed at least 25 per cent of the vote to be elected outright in the first round. Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C6E52D0A-CADB-4C1B-8B96-35FA672B3953.htm
(Reliability: 8)
Analysis: It is unlikely the conservatives in the Iranian parliament will be willing to work with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on matters relating to the Iranian economy. Although President Ahmadinejad is a member of the conservative party, his economic policies have put him at odds with many in his party, and many conservatives blame President Ahmadinejad for Iran's high inflation and other economic problems. (Analytic Confidence: 7)
AL JAZEERA (TEHRAN)-Iranians are voting in the second round of legislative elections which Al-Jazeera expects to further tighten the conservatives' grip on parliament. Around 21 million people are eligible to vote on Friday, 25 April 2008 to choose MPs (Members of Parliament) for the 82
seats in the 290-seat chamber which were not decided outright in the first round on 14 March 2008. The reformists' chances over the two rounds were harmed by a significant number of their candidates being disqualified. No official figures for the share of seats in parliament were published after the first round but of the 209 MPs who were elected at least 130 were conservatives. Under Iranian election law candidates needed at least 25 per cent of the vote to be elected outright in the first round. Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C6E52D0A-CADB-4C1B-8B96-35FA672B3953.htm(Reliability: 8)
Analysis: It is unlikely the conservatives in the Iranian parliament will be willing to work with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on matters relating to the Iranian economy. Although President Ahmadinejad is a member of the conservative party, his economic policies have put him at odds with many in his party, and many conservatives blame President Ahmadinejad for Iran's high inflation and other economic problems. (Analytic Confidence: 7)
23 April 2008
Palestinian Conference To Raise USD 600 Million For Gaza
DOI 23 April 2008
REUTERS (RAMALLAH)-A Palestinian hosted investment conference hopes to raise USD 600 million for the Gaza Strip. The Palestine Investment Conference opens in the West Bank city of Bethlehem 21-23 May 2008. Hassan Abu Libdeh, chief executive officer of the conference, stated that he expects to raise USD 1.5 billion; USD 600 million would be designated for the Gaza Strip while the other USD 900 million would be spent on projects in the occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. The conference is part of efforts to boost the Palestinian economy as Palestinians take part in US-backed peace talks with Israel. Abu Libdeh said many of the planned "mega-projects" the conference hopes to promote would be slated for the Gaza Strip and 100 investors from the territory would attend the gathering. Under pressure from the United States, which wants to see a deal on Palestinian statehood by year's end, Israel said this week it would ease access to Bethlehem for the conference. Abu Libdeh said 1,200 foreign and Arab investors would also attend the conference. Asked if Israel was invited, he said, "The whole world is invited." Source: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-palestinians-conference.html
(Reliability: 8.5)
REUTERS (RAMALLAH)-A Palestinian hosted investment conference hopes to raise USD 600 million for the Gaza Strip. The Palestine Investment Conference opens in the West Bank city of Bethlehem 21-23 May 2008. Hassan Abu Libdeh, chief executive officer of the conference, stated that he expects to raise USD 1.5 billion; USD 600 million would be designated for the Gaza Strip while the other USD 900 million would be spent on projects in the occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. The conference is part of efforts to boost the Palestinian economy as Palestinians take part in US-backed peace talks with Israel. Abu Libdeh said many of the planned "mega-projects" the conference hopes to promote would be slated for the Gaza Strip and 100 investors from the territory would attend the gathering. Under pressure from the United States, which wants to see a deal on Palestinian statehood by year's end, Israel said this week it would ease access to Bethlehem for the conference. Abu Libdeh said 1,200 foreign and Arab investors would also attend the conference. Asked if Israel was invited, he said, "The whole world is invited." Source: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-palestinians-conference.html
(Reliability: 8.5)
16 April 2008
Tight Security For Olympic Torch In China-Friendly Pakistan, India Next
DOI 16 April 2008 CBC (ISLAMABAD)—Authorities in Pakistan are taking no chances as the country hosts the latest leg of the Olympic torch relay Wednesday, 16 April 2008 lining the streets of the capital, Islamabad, with thousands of police and sniffer dogs. Pakistan is one of China’s closest international allies and both countries want to make sure the progress of the torch is not disrupted by pro-Tibet rallies of the type seen earlier in Europe and the United States. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf stated no disruptions to the torch’s progress though his country would be allowed. The Olympic Torch is due in India on Thursday, 17 April 2008. Source: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/16/torch-pakistan.html (Reliability: 8)
India Set To Do Business With Nepal Maoists
DOI 16 April 2008
TIMES OF INDIA (NEW DELHI)—Senior government sources said that India’s ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee was in touch with the Maoists who on Tuesday 15 April, 2008 continued their winning spree in Nepal’s Assembly elections, adding that “we are ready to sit with them”. India can hope to derive benefit from the end of status quo since the monarchy, for long, had been hostile to India’s interests. To the extent the mandate for the Maoists can be interpreted as a “vote against Kathmandu”, India can expect fresh opportunities to repair ties which have frequently been strained by mutual suspicions. Unnamed sources state that the election in Nepal had helped achieve two goals that India was keen on – democratization and mainstreaming of Maoists. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_set_to_do_business_with_Nepal_Maoists/articleshow/2954828.cms
(Reliability: 7.5)
Comment: The final results of the Nepal’s Constituent Assembly election are still unknown. According to the New York Times, no party was expected to win by a landslide; however, the Maoists are doing much better than expected. As of 15 April 2008, the Maoists have won 108 out of 196 directly elected legislative seats.
TIMES OF INDIA (NEW DELHI)—Senior government sources said that India’s ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee was in touch with the Maoists who on Tuesday 15 April, 2008 continued their winning spree in Nepal’s Assembly elections, adding that “we are ready to sit with them”. India can hope to derive benefit from the end of status quo since the monarchy, for long, had been hostile to India’s interests. To the extent the mandate for the Maoists can be interpreted as a “vote against Kathmandu”, India can expect fresh opportunities to repair ties which have frequently been strained by mutual suspicions. Unnamed sources state that the election in Nepal had helped achieve two goals that India was keen on – democratization and mainstreaming of Maoists. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_set_to_do_business_with_Nepal_Maoists/articleshow/2954828.cms
(Reliability: 7.5)
Comment: The final results of the Nepal’s Constituent Assembly election are still unknown. According to the New York Times, no party was expected to win by a landslide; however, the Maoists are doing much better than expected. As of 15 April 2008, the Maoists have won 108 out of 196 directly elected legislative seats.
09 April 2008
Afghan President Hints He'll Run For Re-Election
DOI 07 April 2008
NYT (KABUL)—Afghan President Hamid Karzai hinted Sunday, April 6, 2008 that he plans to run for a second term. President Karzai stated that he still has goals left he wishes to accomplish. The comments were his first public indications that he would run for re-election in the 2009 elections. Mike McConnell, the US Director of National Intelligence, stated earlier in 2008 that the Afghan central government controls only 30% of the country. He further stated that the Taliban controls about 10%, and local tribes control the rest. Marvin G. Weinbaum, a former State Department analyst on Afghanistan and current scholar in residence at the Middle East Institute in Washington, stated that the US would continue to back Mr. Karzai despite shortcomings that include a willingness to tolerate corruption within the Afghan government. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/world/asia/07afghan.html (Reliability: 8)
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