The Age of Deception: Nuclear Diplomacy in Treacherous Times

Tarig Anter
-
2

…

The Age of Deception by Mohamed ElBaradei

The author of this book is the Nobel Prize laureate, Egyptian law scholar and diplomat, and the former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for three successive terms from 1997 to 2009, Mohamed ElBaradei. He declined to avail his services  for a further fourth term in the IAEA; and the IAEA Board of Governors was split in its decision regarding the next director general. After several rounds of voting, on July 3, 2009, Mr. Yukiya Amano, Japanese ambassador to the IAEA, was elected as the next IAEA director general.

The following book review was written by George Perkovich, Director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and co-editor of “Abolishing Nuclear Weapons: A Debate.” The book review was posted on The Washington Post on 21 April 2011.

This book was published by Metropolitan Books (in 352 pages),
(April 26, 2011).

George Perkovich said in his review:
[Mohamed ElBaradei fought the Bush administration over the war in Iraq, blocked it from attacking Iran, and for his efforts received harassment from American hardliners and, eventually, the Nobel Peace Prize. Now, having retired from the International Atomic Energy Agency, he plans to run for president of Egypt. He has interesting stories to tell, and he tells them with verve.

Like other presidential aspirants, ElBaradei places himself in a flattering light and takes the popular side of issues voters care about. But “The Age of Deception” is more than a campaign biography: Written before the recent Egyptian upheaval, it reaches far beyond the politics of Cairo. The struggles ElBaradei waged in Iraq, North Korea, Iran and Libya to shape the international management of nuclear technology represent a central dynamic of the 21st century.

Will rule of law trump unilateralism? Can a progressive international order be built when states differ over which rules should be strengthened and how they should be enforced, and when rulers in North Korea, Burma, Syria and Iran reject norms that others respect? ElBaradei’s vivid narrative brings these and other big questions to life.

“I am totally against wars,” a 12-year-old Spanish girl named Alicia wrote to ElBaradei after he received the Nobel Prize in 2005. “I thank you very much for your efforts to try to avoid the war in Iraq. Despite the fact that your strategy, based on dialogue, was absolutely not to the liking of the USA, you knew how to stay firm and you showed that there were not nuclear weapons in Iraq, even while gaining the hate of the most powerful country.”

Alicia sums up“The Age of Deception” in many ways. ElBaradei repeatedly describes the nuclear infractions of North Korea, Iran, Libya and other nations and then insinuates that the United States should be blamed for scaring them into misbehaving or impeding him from working out fair-minded solutions with Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, North Korea’s Kim Jong Il and Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. For example: The Iranians “were busily undermining the very solution they had worked so hard to achieve,” he writes after learning in 2006 that officials of former president Mohammad Khatami’s administration planned to attack the new president Ahmadinejad politically if he agreed to a deal with Washington. “I sighed. Tehran had been spending way too much time watching D.C. politics, I thought.” And: North Korea is “isolated, impoverished, feeling deeply threatened by the United States but nonetheless defiant.”

Libya had in the 1990s secretly bought uranium enrichment equipment and a blueprint for a nuclear weapon from the infamous network of Pakistan’s A.Q. Khan. This had not been detected by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but by British and American intelligence. ElBaradei was briefed before the story broke in December 2003. “I was told,” he writes, “that the genesis of the Libyan nuclear weapon program — and Gaddafi’s other WMD programs — was in retaliation for the April 1986 U.S. bombing raids during which Gaddafi’s adopted daughter, Hannah, was killed.” One is left to wonder whether he thought the Libyan terrorist attacks weeks earlier that killed Americans on TWA flight 840 and in the La Belle disco in Berlin were irrelevant, for he does not mention them. He does describe meeting Gaddafi who “spoke earnestly of his desire to develop Libya.”

Young Alicia tapped into ElBaradei’s wishful credo in another portion of her letter. “I hope that in the conflict with Iran you are luckier and that things get solved by using dialogue and not through arms,” she wrote. “And that the politicians of the USA accept the opinion of the UN.” But the world is not as nice as 12-year-old girls wish. Some states are ruled through violent repression, and even if their leaders are willing to compromise on some things, they may not accept peaceably the enforcement of international rules they violate, including resolutions of the U.N. Security Council.

Iran’s leadership is portrayed as fearful of the United States and very difficult to deal with. Still, ElBaradei insisted that Tehran would significantly constrain nuclear activities that could be used for military purposes if only Washington would take “yes” for an answer. ElBaradei makes no mention of the Iranian strategy revealed by the Khatami government’s chief negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, in a July 2005 interview. Rowhani, an urbane cleric since displaced by President Ahmadinejad, declared, “wherever we accepted suspension” of a nuclear activity, “we thought about another activity.” When Tehran suspended work on uranium enrichment at Natanz, it “put all of [its] efforts” into uranium conversion at Esfahan. This stall-and-advance, bait-and-switch approach continues today.

ElBaradei offers no insight into what can and should be done when unaccountable leaders refuse to accede to the requirements of the IAEA or the U.N. Nor does he address the possibility that despotic regimes cling to nuclear-weapons capability to protect their rule against domestic and foreign pressures for change.

The high-minded dialogue ElBaradei repeatedly calls for is not always sufficient, leaving the reader to wonder what then? Certainly, the United States should be more committed and supple in its diplomacy. Washington needs to realize that the states it fears are even more fearful of its power and judgment. But that is far from sufficient to solve the tough nuclear cases. President Obama, despite his Nobel credentials, has been unable to resolve the nuclear impasse in North Korea and Iran, or to persuade France, Russia, China, Pakistan and others to join him in moving towards a world without nuclear weapons.

ElBaradei displays an enmity toward Western nuclear-armed states that is sometimes overt and sometimes subtle, sometimes deserved and sometimes unfair. A fascinating mix of emotions and calculations seems to animate his analysis. Anyone wishing to glimpse some of the central tensions in 21st-century international diplomacy should read “The Age of Deception.”]

Are Arabs and Hebrews Antisemitists?

Tarig Anter
-
0

Are Arabs and Hebrews Antisemitists?

There are simple questions but difficult to answer.

If the Arabs and the Hebrews are Semites, and sure they are, would it be right to call their unending deep animosity, hostilities and killings to each other as “Antisemitism”?

And if it is so how come?

But if not why others are labeled “Antisemitists”?

What is really “Antisemitism”? and why it is exclusive to suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews and does not include Arabs who are Semites too?

Why the World and the media have to bother too much about such distracting conflict?

Don’t we have more serious issues?

The World’s Healthiest Foods

Tarig Anter
-
0

…

The World’s Healthiest Foods by George Mateljan

This is a list of 131 foods that can serve as the basis of your Healthiest Way of Eating.

Of course, there are many other nutritious foods other than those that we have included on our list that we feel are wonderful, health-promoting foods; if there are other whole foods – such as fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains, etc – that you like, by all means enjoy them. Just because a food is not on our list doesn’t mean that we don’t think that it can be included in a diet geared towards the Healthiest Way of Eating as long as it is a whole, natural, nutrient-rich food.
To find out why some of your favorite nutritious foods are not included in our list, read The Criteria Used to Select the World’s Healthiest Foods.

(The George Mateljan Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation with no commercial interests or advertising, is a new force for change to help make a healthier you and a healthier world.)

Among the thousands of different foods our world provides, the majority contains at least several of the nutrients our bodies need but to be included as one of the World’s Healthiest Foods they had to meet the criteria listed below.
The criteria we used will also help you understand why some of your favorite (and also nutritious) foods may not be included on our list. For example, Readers have asked why pomegranate, a very nutritious food, is not included on our website. While pomegranates taste great and are rich in vitamins and flavonoid phytonutrients, they are still rather expensive which makes them not as widely available to many people.

1. The World’s Healthiest Foods are the Most Nutrient Dense
The World’s Healthiest Foods have been selected because they are among the richest sources of many of the essential nutrients needed for optimal health. We used a concept called nutrient density to determine which foods have the highest nutritional value.
Nutrient density is a measure of the amount of nutrients a food contains in comparison to the number of calories. A food is more nutrient dense when the level of nutrients is high in relationship to the number of calories the food contains. By eating the World’s Healthiest Foods, you’ll get all the essential nutrients that you need for excellent health, including vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, fiber and more for the least number of calories. Read more about Our Food and Recipe Rating System.

2. The World’s Healthiest Foods are Whole Foods
The World’s Healthiest Foods are also whole foods complete with all their rich natural endowment of nutrients. They have not been highly processed nor do they contain synthetic, artificial or irradiated ingredients. And whenever possible, The Healthier Way of Eating recommends purchasing “Organically Grown” foods, since they not only promote your health, but also the health of our planet.

3. The World’s Healthiest Foods are Familiar Foods
The World’s Healthiest Foods are common “everyday” foods. These include the fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, lean meats, fish, olive oil, herbs and spices that are familiar to most people.

4. The World’s Healthiest Foods are Readily Available
Although there are many foods that are exceptionally nutritious, many of them are not readily available in different areas of the country. The World’s Healthiest Foods are foods that the majority people can easily find at their local market.

5. The World’s Healthiest Foods are Affordable
We have selected foods that are not only familiar and available, but also affordable, especially if you purchase them locally and in season. This is also the time when they are the freshest and of the best quality.

6. The World’s Healthiest Foods Taste Good
The World’s Healthiest Foods are also some of the world’s best tasting foods. We have created recipes using the World’s Healthiest Foods that do not overpower, but enhance, the unique flavor of each food. Each recipe provides a flavor adventure so you can discover new ways to experience and enjoy the great natural tastes of these foods.

The source: The World’s Healthiest Foods

About The George Mateljan Foundation:
The George Mateljan Foundation for the World’s Healthiest Foods was established by George Mateljan to discover, develop and share scientifically proven information about the benefits of healthy eating, and to provide the personalized support individuals need to make eating The World’s Healthiest Foods enjoyable, easy, quick and affordable.
Our Independent Perspective
The Foundation is not-for-profit so we can offer an independent perspective that is not influenced by commercial interests. Our only purpose is to help you discover the many joys and benefits of healthy eating. We believe that the Foundation’s independent perspective can help provide clear and easy-to-understand knowledge on how people of all ages and backgrounds can achieve and maintain their optimum physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.]

For more details, links and very useful information about each food and nutrient please visit the original page at : The World’s Healthiest Foods, or get the 880-page book from the same website.

NutritionData.com and caloriecount.com supplement more information to the information in this article. I suggest visiting them.
“The World’s Healthiest Foods” book is packed with great information.
Also,there is another but smaller book (400 pages) titled “The 200 SuperFoods That Will Save Your Life” out there and both of these two books are good to read and to keep at home, schools, libraries and health care units.

Sudanese; Nubian-Fadicca local nation/tribe; resident of Khartoum, Sudan. Political activist; new social democrat; Africanist; non-ethnic nationalist; secular humanist; Swadeshi believer; Anti-globalism; Anti-liberal democracy. Civil engineer; business interests include: optimum-cost housing; development of appropriate technologies; computer; and small finance.

US Corrupt Diplomacy Assisting Islamists and Activists in Syria

Tarig Anter
-
0

…

According to Wikileaks Cables as posted at Al-Akhbar English it is clear that bringing democracy and human rights are the convenient way for the USA for selective regime change. This is done in the Arab region where the major rich partners of the USA are neither democratic in any way, nor even recognizing many basic human rights.

Deceptive US Diplomacy

The World must define exactly what the US administrations mean by “Diplomacy”, “Democracy”, “Human Rights” and “Foreign Policy”. These values are great but the USA must adhere to decent laws and acceptable code of conduct. The USA must not make immoral shortcuts to achieve their real goals; or pretend to serve these principles while actually peoples are being used and their ambitions are exploited, including the Americans.

Date: 9/23/2009 13:36
refid: 09DAMASCUS692
Origin: Embassy Damascus
Classification: SECRET//NOFORN
Destination: 09DAMASCUS477|09DAMASCUS534|09DAMASCUS620

Over the past six months, SARG security agents have increasingly questioned civil society and human rights activists about U.S. programming in Syria and the region, including U.S. Speaker and MEPI initiatives.
Over the past six months, civil society and human rights activists questioned by SARG security have told us interrogators asked specifically about their connections to the U.S. Embassy and the State Department. XXXXXXXXXXXX questioned about MEPI-funded Democracy Council activities as well as visiting State Department officials.

It is unclear to what extent SARG intelligence services understand how USG money enters Syria and through which proxy organizations. What is clear, however, is that security agents are increasingly focused on this issue when they interrogate human rights and civil society activists. The information agents are able to frame their questions with more and more specific information and names. XXXXXXXXXXXX suggest the SARG has keyed in on MEPI operations in particular.

Except for the Netherlands’ public stalling of the EU Association Agreement over human rights, Syrian activists have heard little in the way of support from the international community.

Date: 7/8/2009 13:03
refid: 09DAMASCUS477
Origin: Embassy Damascus
Classification: SECRET//NOFORN
Destination: 07DAMASCUS1156|09DAMASCUS185

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in Syria Website published a “letter” on June 11 accusing external Damascus Declaration committees of violating the Damascus Declaration National Council’s bylaws on electing members to the General Secretariat. XXXXXXXXXXXX and explained the Muslim Brotherhood’s protest stemmed from the external Damascus Declaration committees’ failure to coordinate with the MB in setting up the external political structures meant to compliment the Damascus Declaration’s internal structures.

The rancor expressed in the MB’s letter suggested a growing fissure between expatriate Damascus Declaration representatives, especially between the MB and the small, but politically connected and increasingly active Movement for Justice and Development (MJD). More worrisome, however, is recent information suggesting the SARG may already have penetrated the MJD and learned about sensitive USG programs in Syria.

Background
Since 2005, internal squabbles among political parties signatory to the Damascus Declaration have stalled, but never obstructed, the organization’s forward progress. Disputes ranged from how vocal the organization should be in condemning U.S. policies in the region (ref A) to whether the Damascus Declaration should distance itself from the MB.

Nasserists and nationalists of varying stripes, especially those in the Arab Socialist Democratic Party, whose participation in the Damascus Declaration was permitted by the SARG as a wedge to create division among reformist ranks, proved especially adamant in their rejection of the MB. The Nasserists, XXXXXXXXXXXX told us, insisted the MB’s involvement provoked the SARG; for the Damascus Declaration to continue safely, MB participation would have to be jettisoned.

MJD vs. Muslim Brotherhood
Since 2008, expatriates have formed Damascus Declaration committees throughout Europe and the United States. Initially, XXXXXXXXXXXX remarked, little coordination existed among the nascent “external committees” in the U.S., Britain, Belgium, France, and Germany. The MB, despite having a developed network in Europe and being signatory to the original Declaration, was left on the margin.

The MB did not comment on the formation of the committees, nor was the MB’s input sought by those putting the committees together, XXXXXXXXXXXX said. XXXXXXXXXXXX added that the purpose of these committees was to put in place a temporary, seven person panel that could elect a small number of external representatives to the General Secretariat, an idea consistent with the founders intentions for the General Secretariat’s structure.

XXXXXXXXXXXX asked the representative of the London-based Damascus Declaration committee, Anas al-Abdah — who was also the leader of the Movement for Justice and Development, a self-professed moderate Islamic organization (ref B) — to contact the MB and invite them to participate in the formation and elections of the ad hoc political panel.

“After a year,” XXXXXXXXXXXX lamented, “nothing has been achieved. Abdah claimed he tried to contact them, but this is hard to prove.” XXXXXXXXXXXX added that other external Damascus Declaration committee members had reported back that they too had attempted to contact the MB without success. XXXXXXXXXXXX told us XXXXXXXXXXXX doubted attempts at contact commenced until it was effectively beside the point — that is, after the MB broke with the NSF and disavowed opposition activities in response to the Israeli attacks on Gaza. By then, he said, it was too late; the MB felt slighted by the external committees. When the MB broke from the NSF, XXXXXXXXXXXX said, “I tried to push XXXXXXXXXXXX to contact them directly,” to ask them to participate in the formation of the external political structure. “I said directly, not through (Anas) Abdah because I know competition among groups outside causes problems,” XXXXXXXXXXXX recounted. XXXXXXXXXXXX

According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, it was the external committees’ disregard for MB participation that prompted the Brotherhood to draft and publish its incendiary letter. XXXXXXXXXXXX said “some people are now saying the MB isn’t serious about joining in the Damascus Declaration’s work” and that the letter is just an excuse — they have already renounced opposition activities and do not plan to resume them against Syria. XXXXXXXXXXXX cautioned, “I think this comes from outside, not in Syria,” and that it is not true. XXXXXXXXXXXX argued MB participation in the Damascus Declaration was essential, observing, “The MB is the largest Islamic group in the country; the MJD is just a few people.”

MJD: A Leaky Boat?
XXXXXXXXXXXX had told us in the past (ref B) that the MJD (1) had many members who were formerly with the MB; (2) was at odds with the MB and sought to marginalize it abroad; (3) was seeking to expand its base in Syria, though it had not been successful; and (4) had been initially lax in its security, often speaking about highly sensitive material on open lines. The first three points speak directly to the ongoing feud and the MB’s recent letter of protest. XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXX told us security services had asked whether XXXXXXXXXXXX had met with anyone from our “Foreign Ministry” and with anyone from the Democracy Council (Comment: State Department Foreign Affairs Officer Joseph Barghout had recently been in Syria XXXXXXXXXXXX; we assume the SARG was fishing for information, knowing Barghout had entered the country. Jim Prince was in Damascus on February 25, XXXXXXXXXXXX

Born not as a political party, but as an umbrella organization composed of many different groups, the Damascus Declaration has been handicapped by internal divisions among unlikely allies: the Kurds, the MB, liberals, national socialists, communists and others. XXXXXXXXXXXX MJD’s organizational successes so far might best be explained as the by-products of its relationship with XXXXXXXXXXXX and the USG. Evidence the organization has a sizable, influential constituency inside and outside Syria is difficult to discern. Post has seen no reporting on the size MJD’s base in Europe and the U.S. XXXXXXXXXXXX; therefore it would not surprise us if an external committee member like Anas Abdah, who heads both the Damascus Declaration’s external London committee and the MJD, would drag his feet when asked to contact the MB.

XXXXXXXXXXXX report begs the question of how much and for how long the SARG has known about Democracy Council operations in Syria and, by extension, the MJD’s participation. Reporting in other channels suggest the Syrian Muhabarat may already have penetrated the MJD and is using MJD contacts to track U.S. democracy programming. If the SARG does know, but has chosen not to intervene openly, it raises the possibility that the SARG may be mounting a campaign to entrap democracy activists receiving illegal (under Syrian law) foreign assistance.

Date: 4/28/2009 13:24
refid: 09DAMASCUS306
Origin: Embassy Damascus
Classification: SECRET
Destination: 09DAMASCUS129|09DAMASCUS185|09DAMASCUS272

This cable represents a follow-up to “Re-engaging Syria: Human Rights” (ref A) and outlines ongoing civil society programming in the country, primarily under the auspices of the Bureau of Human Rights and Labor (DRL) and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

Both MEPI and DRL fund projects on which Post has varying degrees of visibility. Some programs may be perceived, were they made public, as an attempt to undermine the Asad regime, as opposed to encouraging behavior reform. In an effort to assist any Department level discussions on the SARG’s attitude toward human rights, this cable describes a possible strategy for framing the human rights discussion as an area of “mutual concern” for Syria and the U.S.

The New Policy Front
As the Syria policy review moves apace, and with the apparent collapse of the primary Syrian external opposition organization, one thing appears increasingly clear: U.S. policy may aim less at fostering “regime change” and more toward encouraging “behavior reform.” If this assumption holds, then a reassessment of current U.S.-sponsored programming that supports anti-SARG factions, both inside and outside Syria, may prove productive as well.

The U.S. attempt to politically isolate the SARG raised stumbling blocks to direct Embassy involvement in civil society programming. As a result, the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the Bureau of Human Rights and Labor (DRL) took the lead in identifying and funding civil society and human rights projects. Though the Embassy has had direct input on a few of these efforts, especially with DRL, most of the programming has proceeded without direct Embassy involvement.

DRL
DRL funded four major Syria-specific programs in the previous fiscal year. The grant recipients were (1) Freedom House, which conducted multiple workshops for a select group of Syrian activists on “strategic non-violence and civic mobilization;” (2) the American Bar Association, which held a conference in Damascus in July and then continued outreach with the goal of implementing legal education programs in Syria through local partners; (3) American University, which has conducted research on Syrian tribal and civil society by inviting shaykhs from six tribes to Beirut for interviews and training; and (4) Internews, which has coordinated with the Arab Women Media Center to support media youth camps for university-aged Syrians in both Amman and Damascus. In addition to these programs, the Embassy provided input on DRL grants awarded to Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), International War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), and The International Research and Exchange Board (IREX). Though Post does not directly monitor any of these programs, we have appreciated the opportunity to meet with representatives of CIPE and IWPR.

MEPI
In addition to smaller local grants, MEPI sponsors eight major Syria-specific initiatives, some dating back to 2005 that will have received approximately USD 12 million by September 2010. A summary of MEPI produced material on these programs follows:
-Aspen Strategic Initiative Institute, “Supporting Democratic Reform” (USD 2,085,044, December 1, 2005 – December 31, 2009). The institute, situated in Berlin, works with indigenous and expatriate reform-oriented activists and has sponsored conferences in international locations that brought together NGO representatives, media, and human rights activists from the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S., paying particular attention to Syrian Kurds. MEPI noted that “while this program has offered little intrinsic value and will not likely be continued beyond the terms of the grant, XXXXXXXXXXXX
-Democracy Council of California, “Civil Society Strengthening Initiative (CSSI)” (USD 6,300,562, September 1, 2006 – September 30, 2010). “CSSI is a discrete collaborative effort between the Democracy Council and local partners” that has produced XXXXXXXXXXXX “various broadcast concepts” set to air in April.
-Regents of the University of New Mexico, “The Cooperative Monitoring Center-Amman: Web Access for Civil Society Initiatives” (USD 949,920, September 30, 2006 – September 30, 2009). This project established “a web portal” and training in how to use it for NGOs. MEPI noted, “this program has been of minimal utility and is unlikely to be continued beyond the term of the grant.”
-XXXXXXXXXXXX
-XXXXXXXXXXXX
-International Republican Institute (IRI), “Supporting Democratic Reform” (USD 1,250,000, September 30, 2006 – August 31, 2009). “The project supports grassroots public awareness campaigns and the conduct and dissemination of public opinion polling research. XXXXXXXXXXXX
-XXXXXXXXXXXX
-XXXXXXXXXXXX
-MEPI has also proposed continued programming for IRI and the CIPE, as well as supporting independent journalists through joint efforts with NEA/PI.

Challenge Ahead: Programming In Syria
Regarding the most sensitive MEPI-sponsored programs in Syria, Post has had limited visibility on specific projects, due in no small measure to SARG-imposed constraints. XXXXXXXXXXXX. Through the intermediary operations of the Movement for Justice and Development (MJD) (ref B), a London-based moderate Islamist group, MEPI routes money XXXXXXXXXXXX. Our understanding is that the aforementioned Democracy Council grant is used for this purpose and passes the MEPI grant money on to the MJD.

The SARG would undoubtedly view any U.S. funds going to illegal political groups as tantamount to supporting regime change. This would inevitably include the various expatriate reform organizations operating in Europe and the U.S., most of which have little to no effect on civil society or human rights in Syria.

Strategic Thinking: Next Steps
The current review of policy toward Syria offers the USG an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to human rights through the strategic and incremental opening of dialogue between the two countries. The core issues facing a human rights strategy for Syria are (1) how best to advise the SARG that its tolerating dissent will be a key issue as our bilateral relationship moves forward; and (2) how to bring our U.S.-sponsored civil society and human rights programming into line a less confrontational bilateral relationship.

Conversations between U.S. and SARG officials have examined the parameters of what might constitute a “common interest” between the two countries, “shared concerns” upon which to center future bilateral discourse and achieve concrete results. This strategy might prove equally effective in raising human rights with the SARG by clearly articulating how recognizable and sustained behavior change in relation to human rights would enhance SARG’s image, which currently represents a stumbling block to advancing bilateral relations. In the past, both the Department and the White House have made public statements condemning the SARG for its human rights record; these statements have not, unfortunately, produced positive results. Visiting Congressional delegations have also made public statements that have not been met with the desired action by the SARG.

The SARG reacts defensively to public announcements, so more private channels of communication might reinforce a “common interest” theme, allowing the SARG to act without being perceived as bending under U.S. pressure.

Should the current administration wish to send such a message, action on any one of the following five concerns might shift the SARG’s image into a more positive light. (1) The release of specific imprisoned high-profile civil society and human rights activists; (2) credible movement to resolve the citizenship status of stateless Kurds; (3) loosening media restrictions, including Internet censorship; (4) lifting travel bans on Syrian citizens; and (5) following up on promises to establish a “Senate” that would create a legislative space for opposition politicians to work in.

The perennial challenge is how to build programming in Syria without drawing SARG scrutiny to Syrian contacts and Embassy personnel. XXXXXXXXXXXX. If our dialogue with Syria on human rights is to succeed, we need to express the desire to work in Syria to strengthen civil society in a non-threatening manner. We also need to ensure that programming here is fully coordinated, that the Embassy has the resources it needs to administer the programs, and that the programs are compliant with U.S. economic sanctions against Syria.

While DRL- and MEPI-funded programs have explored new areas where we can achieve results, some of our time-honored programs may also prove to be extremely effective. The attractiveness of U.S. culture is still a powerful engine for change in Syria. It is revealing that when the SARG sought to punish the U.S. for its alleged role in the October 26, 2008 attack in Abu Kamal, they avoided political targets and instead shut down the three main sources of American culture in Damascus: the American Culture Center (ACC), the ALC, and the Damascus Community School. Countering with more cultural programming, more speaker programs, and the IV exchange program remain our best tools for having a direct effect on civil society. To this end, VIPs coming to Syria might be uniquely positioned to request and receive opportunities for addressing public audiences.

Be the first to like this post. Sudanese; Nubian-Fadicca local nation/tribe; resident of Khartoum, Sudan. Political activist; new social democrat; Africanist; non-ethnic nationalist; secular humanist; Swadeshi believer; Anti-globalism; Anti-liberal democracy. Civil engineer; business interests include: optimum-cost housing; development of appropriate technologies; computer; and small finance.

View the original article here

President Jakaya Kikwete Take Part in Discussions On “Africa-From Transition to Transformation”held at the Davos

-
0

President Jakaya Kikwete with other leaders shortly before  taking part in discussions on “Africa-from Transition to Transformation”held at the Davos Congress centre in the on-going  World Economic Forum at the Swiss mountainous resort of Davos. Others from left are Prime Minister of kenya Mr Raila Odinga, Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr Meles  Zenawi, President of South Africa Mr Jacob Zuma, President of Guinea Mr alpha Conde, Mrs Sarah Brown and Former British Prime Minister who was the moderator of the discussion Mr Gordon Brown.

President Jakaya Kikwete take part in in discussions on “Africa-from Transition to Transformation”held at the Davos Congress centre in the on-going  World Economic Forum at the Swiss mountainous resort of Davos.Others from left are President Alpha Conde of Guinea, Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr Meles Zenawi, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and the moderator former British Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown. (Photo by State House)

Neocon Israel Mouthpiece Writes Syrian Opposition Intervention Paper

News Ghana
-
0

Al-Assad blames ‘external conspiracies’ for Syrian violence

“The mask has fallen off these faces,” [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad] said. “No wise person denies these international conspiracies that (are) being done in order to spread fear inside. But this time, it was done with people from inside.”

Bashar al-Asad is right. There are international conspiracies to take him down.

This is for example obvious when the expatriate Syrian National Council uses a policy papers arguing for military intervention in Syria that was written by a neocon and Israel supporter and paid for by the U.S. State Department. To further the military intervention the paper is defended by doing away with the local protesters in Syria who oppose any intervention.

Michael Weiss is Director of Communications and Public Relations for the Henry Jackson Society, a British neocon organization which patrons include the U.S. neocons Richard Perle, William Kristol and James Woolsey. He also has a blog at the Telegraph website.

Michael Weiss is also executive director of Just Journalism a “pressure group whose stated goals are to focus “on how Israel and Middle East issues are reported in the UK media.” Critics characterize Just Journalism as a “privately-funded mouthpiece for Israel”. Until the end of 2009 Weiss published a blog for the Jewish magazineTablet.

Recently Weiss wrote a policy paper Safe Area for Syria – An Assessment of Legality, Logistics and Hazards (pdf) which is an amateur attempt (Weiss is, as far as can find out, neither a lawyer nor does he seem to have military experience) to write a playbook for military intervention in Syria:

In the interest of assessing all suggested options for hastening the end of a totalitarian dictatorship and/or averting a mass humanitarian catastrophe, this paper examines the way in which foreign military intervention could work for Syria.

The paper was written for the Strategic Research & Communication Centre, a somewhat mysterious organization in Britain that claims to offer “Informed insight on Syria”, founded in 2010 and run by the Syrian expat Ausama Monajed who “previously served as the director of Barada Television”. As is known from Wikileaks cables:

Barada TV is closely affiliated with the Movement for Justice and Development, a London-based network of Syrian exiles. Classified U.S. diplomatic cables show that the State Department has funneled as much as $6 million to the group since 2006 to operate the satellite channel and finance other activities inside Syria.

We can safely assume that Ausama Monajed, who’s current organization does not reveal its funding sources, is still on that indirect U.S. State Department payroll.

The paper Weiss wrote to argue for military intervention is endorsed as a Special Report by the expat Syrian National Council on its slick new website.

In a recent Foreign Affairs piece Weiss again argues for military intervention in Syria but sees a more united opposition as a requirement toward that. He achives that more united opposition by simply doing away with those parts of the opposition that are against intervention.

His way to do so is seemingly to promote the interventionist expat Syrian National Council (SNC) while denigrating the non-interventionist on-the-ground protesters in Syria who are organized in the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change:

Making matters worse, in the last two weeks, the SNC has further embarrassed itself by sending mixed messages about its real intentions. First, the group said that it was in favor of foreign military intervention. But on December 30, 2011, reports swirled that Ghalioun and a handful of senior SNC figures had inked a unity agreement with theanti-interventionist National Coordination Body for Democratic Change, a domestic opposition group that activists suspect is a cover organization pushing reconciliation with Assad’s regime.

The local Syrian protesters who do not want outside military intervention are now a “cover organization pushing reconciliation”. Cover for whom? How dare the protesters in Syria to want a peaceful solution and have a “cover” for that!

Two high-ranking members of the SNC, Ausama Monajed and Radwan Ziadeh, told me that the council rejected the text of the agreement, which they claimed was only a “draft.” Sure enough, a few days later, the SNC launched its official Web site that, drawing on a blueprint I prepared, called for outside forces to establish a safe zone in Syria. This more aggressive call for foreign military intervention reflects a need to hang on to support from the protesters, who now often denounce the regime and the SNC in the same breath.

Weiss then does away with the split between the expatriate regime-change-by-force militants and local Syrian protesters who want peaceful solutions by simply vanishing the later:

Nevertheless, there are signs of progress. Now that the SNC has endorsed foreign intervention, bringing it in linewith what all factions of the Syrian insurgency have advocated for months, there is a greater likelihood that the various political and military arms of the opposition will unite, if only out of their shared desperation over the unabated carnage.

See, that nasty “cover organization pushing reconciliation” that represents the real protesters in Syria is now simply done away with.

The neocon org’s communications director and excecutive director of a “mouthpiece for Israel” Michael Weiss writes a paper to further military intervention in Syria for a U.S. State Department funded expat Syrian think tankwhich then gets adopted by the expat militant Syrian National Council.

Weiss then takes to the pages of Foreign Affairs where he excommunicates the anti-intervention local Syrian protesters as “cover organization pushing reconciliation” to then claim that military intervention is endorsed by all factions involved in the Syrian protests.

Assad says that there are “international conspiracies” driving the violence to overthrow the Syrian government by force. He is right. The neocons and zionist are out to take him down by military forces against the will of the Syrian people including that of the protesters.

Posted by  Permalink

NKRUMAIST UNITY IS A FIASCO . . . Part One

News Ghana
-
0

In a party like the Convention People’s Party, which is just emerging from its political stupor, there are many ills to right, many problems to solve. As a result, the party has become vulnerable and easy prey for immature and unscrupulous politicians. It is a fact that the CPP has become very easy for the WEAK in these conditions to discover grounds of dissatisfaction in which to plant and water the seeds of resentment and grievances against the STRONG. Yes! Such is the person who explicitly calls herself the rightful landlord of the party, just by the sheer fact that she has been deceived to buy into the perception that the party belong to her family.

 

Meanwhile, some of the supposed landlords who may be deemed fit to occupy the inheritance of their father, do not see any value in that property, except for one ravenous individual who is not interested in anything, apart from clamoring for every nook and crimp with her legs and feet; that property is the CPP. As if She is doing that with good intent, She is just doing that to satisfy her whims and caprices.

 

I am going to meticulously talk about UNITY, because that is exactly what many of us in the CPP have been deceived to buy into.

 

The first time I met the Chairperson and Leader of our crippling CPP, I became so soothed by the soft and cool voice of this wonderful lady who had clearly accentuated her passion to see all Nkrumaist factions unite for one political goal; that’s what I believed in. I became so much pinched by her romantic voice and nearly became emotionally uncontrollable. I got myself extremely seduced by her gestures, to the extent that I would do anything to ensure the accomplishment of this noble adventure. That adventure is UNITY, unity of the CPP, PNC, GCPP and all the ‘Koo mi ni nees’.

 

As we speak, whether the UNITY is going to happen today, tomorrow, next month or next year, it is still uncertain. But one thing I can boldly say without crumbling words is that, the so-called unity pact to be built between all the Nkrumaist Parties in Ghana is a fiasco and unachievable in the near future, may be, in the next Golden Jubilee. One may be wondering why a committed member like myself would be talking this way.

 

However, the question I pose is, who and what is the UNIFIER? And it is between which entities? Is it between the PNC and CPP, which has virtually become an illegal entity with less number of executives to man the activities of the party? This is where the problem lies.

 

From where I sit, one individual that we can calculably rely on as the unifier at this crucial time is the Idolized woman in CPP, Hon. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, who inadvertently is the true daughter of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. For those who may not know Dr. Kwame Nkrumah very well, he is the first president of this country and root of all the supposed Nkrumaist parties. He has now become a public asset and a father for all.

 

Now, let’s go into the intricacies of the possibilities of the likely merger between the Nkrumaist factions and ultimately, African unity.

 

Hon. Samia Yaba Nkrumah is one credible individual who often openly professes UNITY. But to be frank with you, she barely possesses any attribute of a person who can bring about unity within her family, party, Nkrumaist factions and ultimately, the whole of Africa. She appears too distant from the generally accepted acumen of a UNIFIER.

 

Are you surprised? Do not be, because there is a conventional axiom of truth which crystallizes the point that footprints of hidden attitude can never be traced, so do not judge people by their looks but by the content of their character. The trivia expressions may not necessarily be the true reflection of her makeup. That is exactly what I am going to expose here.

 

Today, as you read this piece from me, Hon. Samia is at war with her own siblings, especially General Dr. Sekou Nkrumah. One may wonder why blooded siblings would be at each other’s throat, at the time when they should be forging ahead. It is simply because Dr. Sekou Nkrumah believes that his sister, Hon. Samia Nkrumah is an immature politician who should take her time to learn to be able to have a good grasp of the political trend of this country. He also thinks his sister is being used as a puppet by some hidden hands to push their agenda, to the detriment of her father’s legacy. Dr. Sekou also believes that Hon. Samia is ‘Rushing’ too much to catch the wind. He holds the view that Samia is taking undue advantage of her father’s name to do things that do not reflect the true principles their father stood for. He has even said that the CPP’s brouhaha is due to Samia’s narcissistic Presidential ambition for 2016. It is this and other blatant truth spewed out by Sekou , that is why Samia refuses to talk to him. She has used unraveling tactics to drive Dr. Sekou out of their family house. She even refuses to pick his phone calls.

 

Samia’s hatred for Sekou is all because of the fact that she believes Sekou’s genuine views would be detrimental to her political career, for which she must protect with her life, even if it will cause that of others.

 

Again, in our party –CPP, Samia refuses to see eye-to-eye with true comrades whom she thinks will not kowtow to her machinations of naivety. She expects everybody to be at her feet. She even rubbishes any aspect of the party’s Constitution which does not play according to her tune. A clear example is the recent interdiction of some party National and Regional officers. What was the cause or what was it for? It is because of the fact these interdicted executives do not share in her wild dreams. They also came out publicly to make known the fact that Samia is using authoritarian moves to subvert the constitution of the party, just to serve her insular interest. These and other matters they could not solve internally because she refuses to give listening ear to people who hold different views to issues in the party. Is Samia truly an Egyptian goddess that everybody must bow at her feet even at the mere mention of her name?

 

Just recently, she travelled to Italy to go and launch the Italian version of ‘The African Must Unite” book, authored by her father, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Whether that move was done with good intent or dire intent, it is still unclear the objective of that adventure. The content of the book depicts the very essence of UNITY. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s main aim was to enlighten and promote cordiality, unity and peacefulness amongst Africans from Communal, National to Continental level. It was also meant to expose Africans to the causes of their predicaments and why they continue to remain in their inertia development as a result of their crass petty differences and disunity.

 

However, one would be forced to question whether Hon. Samia really has full grasp of the content of that book or really comprehends what her father sought to attain by that publication? I have my doubts. There are two things I have derived from my observation of the subject. It is either she does not UNDERSTAND the actual philosophies of her father OR that she does not BELIEVE in what her father stood for.

 

Since the day Hon. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, was elected into office as the Chairman and Leader of our party, all she has been able to do is to terrorize people out of the party with her tyro despotic tactics.  She has also shown that she is not interested in numbers but the very few who tickle and say nice things to make her happy, even if they are unrealistic or untrue.  I was expecting that if she really wanted unity in Africa, then she would have translated that book into African Languages and sold it in African countries, yet because she was doing that for her financial greediness, she decided to translate ‘Africa Must unite’ into Italian Language and to sell them to Italians in Europe. Is it about Unification of Africa or Unification of Italy? I guess it would have served her interest most if she rather wrote a new book and called it ‘Italy Must Unite’

 

So what happens to the unity between the CPP and the PNC? Is it achievable under the stewardship of the Samia led CPP? If Unity does not start from within, how does it come from without?  I will discuss that thoroughly in my next article.

Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta!


 

Dr. Appau Gyamera

Aspiring Parliamentary Candidate –Cape Coast

University of Botswana – Lecturer

[email protected]

Academy and OnTheRedCarpet.com Announce Oscar® College Journalist Contest

News Ghana
-
0

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and OnTheRedCarpet.com today announced the On The Red Carpet (OTRC) College Journalist Contest, inviting college students from around the country to compete for a chance to report live from the red carpet at the 84th Academy Awards®.

From today through Sunday, February 5, college students are invited to submit a three minute video to redcarpetjournalist.com, showcasing their interviewing skills and proving why they deserve to represent future broadcast journalists at the Oscars®.  All videos submitted must be from teams made up of one reporter, one producer and one videographer. Two teams will be selected from each of the ABC-owned television stations’ markets – Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh and San Francisco – for a total of 16 finalist teams. These 16 teams will then be judged by an expert panel composed of representatives from the Academy and KABC-TV who will determine the contest winner.

The winning team will be flown out to Los Angeles to cover Academy Awards pre-events, including the Animated Feature Symposium, Foreign Language Film Award press event, the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Symposium and the Governors Ball preview.  Additionally, the winning team will have the exclusive opportunity to work with KABC-TV’s OTRC team and report live during the “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars” pre-show (1:30–4 p.m. PT).

For the complete contest rules and online entry form, go to www.redcarpetjournalist.com.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

# # #

ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
www.twitter.com/TheAcademy

ABOUT OnTheRedCarpet.COM
OnTheRedCarpet.com provides breaking entertainment news as well as original stories, exclusive video and aggregated content comprising celebrity, fashion, movies, television and more. On The Red Carpet, a weekly entertainment news show, highlights the week’s developments in celebrity and style. On The Red Carpet gives viewers front-row access to premieres, award shows and special events, celebrity interviews, red carpet fashion, movie news and more. Rachel Smith and Chris Balish co-host.

Drama by Chykay (Official Video)

News Ghana
-
0

Blackbody Entertainment would like to present to you the 1st official video of Chykay’s first single ‘Drama’ which was produced by Canadian based producer, Mr Rad.
The long awaited video was shot in Lagos and was produced and directed by Filmboyz Inc.

Be sure to expect much more good music and videos from Chykay this 2012.

 

OSCARS® “CELEBRATE THE MOVIES” WITH LAUNCH OF DIGITAL EXHIBITION

News Ghana
-
0

84 ICONIC FILM IMAGES SHOWCASED IN ONLINE, OUTDOOR GALLERIES

 

Beverly Hills, CA – In anticipation of the 84th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences has launched “Celebrate the Movies,” a digital exhibition spotlighting iconic moments from 84 films.

Beginning today, January 23, the exhibition will appear on digital billboards in Los Angeles, and on ABC’s digital “SuperSign,” an electronic landmark in New York’s Times Square. It will also be showcased on an online gallery on Oscar.com, and extend to youtube.com/Oscars, where fans can share their most memorable movie-going experiences through video or text.

Images will debut in groups of 20 within the next two weeks. The 84 films represented span eight decades, beginning with “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935) and culminating in “Avatar” (2009). Highlights from each decade include “Gone with the Wind” (1939), “Casablanca” (1942), “The Killers” (1946), “Sunset Boulevard” (1950), “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961), “True Grit” (1969), “The Exorcist” (1973), “Saturday Night Fever” (1977), “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980), “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), “Apollo 13” (1995), “Shrek” (2001), “Ray” (2004), and “The Dark Knight” (2008).  The exhibition highlights all of Hollywood’s major genres, as well as independent, animated, foreign-language, and documentary films.

Included in the first 20 images are the eight that were featured in the key art campaign, which was unveiled in late December.

The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, at 5:30 a.m. PST in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

# # #

Editors Note: Downloadable images available.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
www.twitter.com/TheAcademy

1...49,51849,51949,520...49,569Page 49,519 of 49,569