Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh is planning a mass protest movement against the Awami League’s signed agreements with India. Claiming that the agreements are bound to diminish Bangladeshi sovereignty, the leader of Jamaat, Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami claimed that he would persuade Islamic leaders, students and intellectuals that their claims to Bangladesh as citizens would best be met […]
The Israeli Defense Force has been lauded as having launched one of the only effective response efforts in Haiti. However, anti-Semites will never pass up the opportunity to throw a little blood libel in the mix. Last year, a highly controversial article was published in a Norwegian paper alleging that the IDF regularly harvests Palestinian […]
Opposition groups to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary regime called for massive protests and unrest on February 11, 2010, the anniversary of the overthrow of the government of the Shah in 1979. The messages were disseminated via the web, on blogs and opposition group websites. The celebrations will conclude with a big political gathering in Azadi Square, […]
There is certainly no shortage of Israel-Palestine based lobbyists, think tanks, and non-profits in Washington D.C. The Center for American Progress’ Middle East Progress is adding to its portfolio by teaming with the Israel Policy Forum. The new partnership will leverage the expertise of IPF (established nearly two decades ago) with the resources of a […]
At the FPA’s Global Engagement Blog James Ketterer has a great post on Robert Kennedy’s June 1966 trip to South Africa. I once used Kennedy’s speech as a framing device for a journal article on teaching a course on race relations in the United States and South Africa. (The piece was republished here.) I agree […]
The Awami League government of Bangladesh will enact civil service legislation that will regulate the appointment and promotion of individuals within the government public service ranks. Though the Constitution of Bangladesh requires the nomination and promotion of individuals within government public service by an regulated institutional instrument, none has ever been devised. In a public […]
“The Canadian military planners expect that Pakistan will collapse by 2016, and the territory will be occupied by India. Sound bizarre? Not so to the security analysts in Ottawa.” Downhill for Pakistan? (Dawn) Tariq Amin-Khan. Tuesday, January 19, 2010 For the record, I want to make clear that I am a staunch supporter and promoter […]
At the end of December, leaders of Russia and Turkmenistan met to discuss the future of their relationship. First, on December 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met in Ashgabat and signed an agreement to expand bilateral “strategic” energy cooperation. Then the heads of Gazprom and Turkmengaz signed an agreement […]
Yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that rocked sections of Hyogo Prefecture near Kobe, Japan and claimed 6,434 lives. Ceremonies were held throughout Kobe, as government officials, members of Japan’s imperial family, and bereaved loved ones sat in silent prayer at 5:46 am, the time that the […]
The Israeli military is known for being the best in the world at certain things- namely assassinations, espionage, and long-range covert operations. Add another to the list. The Israeli military sent mobile hospitals to aid relief efforts in Haiti. The military certainly has experience, as the government set up hospitals during recent wars including Operation […]
Speculation surrounds the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to resume in the near future. Both sides have expressed their desire to jump-start high-level talks, although both parties still seem to find excuses for failing to meet. One perspective points out that negotiations would only improve the Israeli position and that the Palestinians have nothing to gain. […]
On Saturday January 16, 2010 the Security Council and Germany met to discuss economic sanctions on Iran. As of Saturday, the deadline to accept Russia’s proposal to enrich Iran’s Uranium in Russia had expired without an answer from Iran. In addition, the 2010 anti-proliferation conference is approaching and the U.S. would like sanctions in place […]
Begum Khaleda Zia has accused the Awami League government of selling out Bangladeshi’s interests in favor of security and India’s regional ascendancy. Insisting that she has not taken a stand against India, per se, she nevertheless claimed that Sheikh Hasina had given away Bangladesh;s national sovereignty during her state visit to India. The Daily Star […]
Michael Byers, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia and prominent researcher on the Arctic, has recently come out with a book entitled Who Owns the Arctic. This short, opinionated overview of Arctic issues encompasses a range of contentious topics such as sovereignty, which the title references. Perhaps of most importance […]
In China, accurately assessing public opinion on a given issue is more or less a hopelessly difficult task. With China’s huge population, the diversity of Chinese society, regional differences, lack of reliable public polling, etc., it is difficult to estimate with any certitude just how many people hold a certain belief. Anecdotal evidence and the work of a few bloggers […]