Stories about International Relations from February, 2007
Egypt: Spy Update
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia has updates on the Egyptian-Mossad spy here.
Nigeria: US Marines in the Niger Delta
Black Looks blogs about the connection between US Marines and the Niger Delta, “It took a 5 minute scan of their website to figure out that they were an American military and intelligence outfit undertaking contracts for the US government – check out the “leadership” – all ex US military...
A Week in the Saudi Blogosphere
False assumptions of a Saudi threat to US campuses, a bald Britney Spears, two new Saudi air carriers, Valentine's day, and the infamous “burqini;” all that and much more is in this week's roundup. I noticed many Saudi bloggers referring to the recent happenings in Jerusalem. As it turns out,...
Syrian Blogsphere in a Week
We start off with a very special goodbye from Brian Anthony… Brian has lived, taught, and blogged from Damascus for more than two years, he returned to the US a couple of months ago… We all want to wish him the best of luck. This was his last goodbye post...
Lebanon: Terrorist Attack and Hariri’s Commemoration
Two years ago, on February 14, a massive terrorist explosion targeting Rafic Hariri took away his life and the lives of many others. Fast forward, two years and many dramatic incidents later, the Lebanese marked the event with a mass rally in Martyr’s Square. A day before the memorial, a...
Indonesia: Israeli Scholar Warns Australia on Indonesian Immigrants
Indonesia Matters has a post on an Israeli scholar currently teaching in Australia. The professor is asking Australia to tighten its immigration policies to prevent Indonesian Muslim immigrants.
Russia, Estonia: The Bronze Soldier, Again
Vilhelm Konnander writes about Tallinn's Bronze Soldier monument: “Why is it that a WW II-monument repeatedly sparks bilateral crises between Estonia and Russia?”
Lebanon: Anti-Syria Sentiments ‘Real’
Lebanese blogger Mustafa says although a rally in Beirut yesterday was tarnished by useless gimmicks, it showed that the anti-Syrian majority ‘is definitely not “fictional”.’
Qatar: US Islamic Forum
Blogger Abu Aardvark (Marc Lynch) is off to Doha, Qatar, to participate the US-Islamic World Forum. “I hope to be able to blog from Doha like I did last time, wireless permitting,” he writes.
The Balkans: On the Way to EU
Neretva River writes about the EU's enlargement prospects: “Serbia in the fast lane, Croatia more of the same, and road blocks for Macedonia and Bosnia.”
Russia: Kremin and Its Opponents
The Economist's Edward Lucas posts his piece on the Kremlin and its opponents battling in London and replies to critics in the comments section.
Arabisc: Are the Americans Bribing Arab Journalists?
Are the Americans bribing Arab journalists? And how should Arab journalists react? These are the sensitive questions posed by Jordanian blogger and writer Batir Wardam in his blog, Jordan Watch, this week as he discusses the merits of familiarisation trips for Arab journalists, paid for by the US State Department....
Israel: Where are the WMDs?
Israeli blogger Desert Peace tackles new US accusations that Iran is supplying Iraq with weapons here.
Nepal: Our very own bishop
The Pope's benediction for Nepal – a bishop. Nepali Netbook says “If anyone had it all worked out these bewildering past months, it surely was Pope Benedict XVI. Nine months after the secularization of the Nepali state, the pontiff has elevated the Apostolic Prefecture of Nepal to the rank of...
Egypt: More Dangerous than a Monkey..
Egypt-based blogger Tom Gara is still in stitches over Hugo Chavez's description of George Bush Junior. “I really think that describing George Bush as “More dangerous than a monkey with a razor blade” is a perfect, beautifully descriptive analogy. Spot on. Anyone know if this is a common turn of...
Central Asia & Caucasus: Nonmarket Economies
Registan.net discovers a law proposed in the United States Congress that would slap all of Central Asia and the Caucasus except Kazakhstan with extra tariffs because they would be considered to be economies not functioning on market principles.
Myanmar: Arming the Junta
Yangon Thu is urging Myanmar's neighbours to stop arming the ruling Junta. “The Burmese junta doesn’t need anymore carrots. They need sticks and they need to be beaten with it. OK, if you aren't going to beat them, at least could you starve them? A little? I mean, most of...
Haiti: Cité Soleil raids and judiciary
Jojo at Collectif Haiti de Provence reacts to a story about a recent UN raid in Cité Soleil, alleged siege of the gang leaders who have terrorized the capital with kidnappings: “We acknowledge with emotion and desolation the total blackout on the judiciary activity that should end the process begun...
Cuba: Arriving in Miami
Marta Darby remembers arriving in the US from Cuba with her family in 1961, on the day before Valentine's Day: “Back then, in early 1961, Cubans would still go to the airport to greet other arriving exiles. I remember being oh-so-tired and happy. I remember seeing my dad on the...
Cuba: Soyinka in Havana
Jesús Risquet reports on Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka's attendance at the 16th International Book Fair in Havana, Cuba.
Lebanon: Sectarianism and Peace Groups
The fears of sectarian strife may be the reason why a good number of bloggers wrote about sectarianism this week. However, as one may expect, bloggers do not agree on how to define or confront this issue. While some see that it is blown out of proportion, or that ignoring...
