Middle East Policy

United States Sets Sanctions Against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Revolutionary Guard, Quds Force targeted for proliferation, terrorist support By David McKeeby USINFO Staff Writer 25 October 2007 Washington -- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is the target of a new set of U.S. sanctions against its support for international terrorism and role in proliferating weapons of mass destruction. “These actions will help to protect the international financial system from the illicit activities of the Iranian government and they will provide a powerful deterrent to every international bank and company that thinks of doing business with the Iranian government,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said October 25. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who accompanied Rice, said the Iranian regime's ability to develop nuclear and ballistic missile programs relies on access to money from international commercial and financial systems. “Iran also funnels hundreds of millions of dollars each ye...

Here are the recent developments concerning the political life, reform and democratic movement in Egypt gathered from the Egypt Monitor . Previous " Egypt Democracy Watch " on Middle East Policy : June 2007 April 2007 December 2006 October 2006 July 2006 Egypt's Constitutional Amendments Egypt Democracy Watch: (Covers the latest two months) Source: The Egypt Monitor Newspapers Protests On October 7, 2007, Twenty-two independent and opposition party newspapers boycotted publishing their papers in protest of government violations of freedom of speech. The day has been declared an international solidarity day with Egyptian journalists. In September, five editors of major newspapers received two-year jail sentences for criticizing the Egyptian regime. The Journalists Syndicate issued a statement highlighting the message of solidarity from Egyptian NGOs and human rights activists. Muslim Brotherhood Leader Released On October 4, 2007, the Cairo Criminal Court decided to rel...

This is the news section of the latest issue of Arab Reform Bulletin (September 2007) Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Headlines: Morocco: Nationalists Win Parliamentary Elections; Journalists on Trial Tunisia: Political Prisoners Released Egypt: Four Editors Convicted; Brotherhood Members Arrested Palestine: Electoral Law Amendments; Hamas Crackdown on Journalists Lebanon: Run-Up to Presidential Elections; Army in Control of Refugee Camp Jordan: Coming Legislative Elections; Municipal Election Results; Prisoners Abuse Syria: Municipal Election Results; Political Prisoner Released Saudi Arabia: Calls for Reform; Suspension of al-Hayat; Demonstrators Charged Kuwait: First Female Minister Resigns; Blogger Arrested; TV Series Banned United Arab Emirates: Website Closed, Administrator Sentenced to Prison Yemen: Editor Abducted, Severely Beaten Mauritania: Slavery Criminalized Upcoming Political Events Contents: Morocco: Nationalists Win Parliamentary Elections...

Report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1757 (2007) of 30 May 2007 4 Sebtember 2007 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 3 of resolution 1757 (2007) of 30 May 2007, by which the Security Council requested me to undertake, in coordination, when appropriate, with the Government of Lebanon, the steps and measures necessary to establish the Special Tribunal in a timely manner and to report to the Council on the implementation of the resolution within 90 days of its adoption and periodically thereafter. 2. By resolution 1757 (2007), the Security Council decided, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, that the provisions of the document annexed thereto (the “Annex”) on the establishment of the Special Tribunal, including the statute attached thereto (the “Statute”), would enter into force on 10 June 2007, unless the Government of Lebanon had notified the United Nations in writing that the le...

Saniora Declares Victory, Vows to Rebuild Nahr al-Bared Naharnet 02 Sep 07 Prime Minister Fouad Saniora on Sunday declared victory over terrorism after the Lebanese army seized full control of the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. "It is the greatest national victory for Lebanon over the terrorists in Nahr al-Bared," Saniora said, hours after the Lebanese army took control of the camp in a ferocious battle that left 37 militants of Fatah al-Islam and three soldiers killed. Another 20 militants were captured, and an unknown number has fled, with troops giving chase. "It is a great success that the Lebanese army has achieved over the terrorists, those who sought chaos, destruction and tragedies for Lebanon," he said in a televised speech to the country. He pledged that the Lebanese government would rebuild Nahr al-Bared, but said that the camp would be placed under the authority of the state and "only the Lebanese state." "As we said at the beg...

This is the news section of the latest issue of Arab Reform Bulletin (July 2007) Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Headlines: Kuwait: Ministers Resign Bahrain: First Income Tax; Press Law; Truth and Reconciliation Committee Saudi Arabia: Government Critic Arrested Yemen: Opposition Journalist Arrested Morocco: Run-up to Elections Algeria: Electoral Law Amendments Libya: Journalists on Trial Egypt: New Islamist Party; Nour Update; U.S. Considers Conditioning Aid Jordan: Former MP Charged; Run-up to Municipal Elections; Child Labor Code Syria: Student Activists Arrested Upcoming Political Events Contents: Kuwait: Ministers Resign Kuwait's oil and transportation ministers resigned on June 30 over a parliament inquiry into corruption allegations. The parliament had scheduled a vote of confidence for July 9 regarding Oil Minister Sheikh Ali al-Jarrah al-Sabah's alleged involvement in the multi-million dollar Kuwait Oil Tanker Company fraud case. Ten MPs ...

Bush Blocks Property of Persons Undermining Lebanon's Sovereignty and Reinstating Syrian Control Naharnet 02 Aug 07 U.S. President George Bush on Thursday declared a "national emergency to deal with the threat in Lebanon" aimed at undermining Premier Fouad Saniora's government, reasserting Syrian control and undermining state sovereignty. Bush's move was made in an executive order and informed to congress for immediate application. It aims at blocking property of persons undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic process and institutions, according to a White House statement. Bush said the move aims at confronting the "threat in Lebanon posed by the actions of certain persons to undermine Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government or democratic institutions, "to contribute to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Lebanon, including through politically motivated violence and intimidation, to reassert Syrian contr...

Gulf Region Arms Sales Support Stability U.S. Congress still must approve large weapon purchases By Jacquelyn S. Porth USINFO Staff Writer Washington -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 30 announced a military assistance program for Israel, Egypt and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia, that is designed to enhance security and stability in the region. "This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran," Rice said in a prepared announcement. Rice said that she and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will talk to officials from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations during a trip to the region that began July 30. The discussions will focus on what types of military hardware best would help them “secure peace and stability.” Military assistance for the Gulf nations is part of a broad strategy to provide $30 billion to Israel and ...