Middle East Policy

The Syrians are talking, are you listening? The international community faces a challenge in the Middle East and in Syria particularly to choose democracy, peace and moderation over totalitarianism, violence and extremism. There is no other way or other choice. Ignorance and prejudgments about the Middle East are not options anymore exactly as totalitarianism, extremism and terror. So, the international community should listen to the Middle East's intellectuals and make its decision against totalitarianism and extremism and for democracy and moderation without delay. The following is a letter from Syrian intellectuals, the prisoners of conscience and opinion in Damascus; it really explains so much the world has to know. This letter is dated 4/28/2007, I am reposting it to remind the world of Syria's suffer as this new year starts, which I hope to be the freedom and democracy year for Syria and Lebanon. From the Syrian Prisoners of Conscience in Damascus Central Prison We are pr...

UN, Netherlands sign accord to base Lebanon Special Tribunal in The Hague UN News 21 December 2007 – The United Nations and the Netherlands today signed an agreement to base in The Hague the court to judge recent assassinations in Lebanon, including that of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. The Headquarters Agreement for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was signed in New York by UN Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Larry D. Johnson and Dutch Ambassador Frank Majoor. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has already accepted the recommendations of the selection panel on judges for the Tribunal and will announce the names “at an appropriate time in the future,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement [see below]. According to the Tribunal’s statute, the chambers will consist of one international pre-trial judge; three judges to serve in the trial chamber (one Lebanese and two international); five judges to serve in the appeals chamber (two Lebanese and three internatio...

Syria: More Activists Arrested Following Opposition Meeting Human Rights Watch The Syrian government claims that it wants to engage with the outside world, but its only engagement with peaceful critics inside the country is with the boot of repression. Calling for democratic and peaceful change should not be treated as a criminal offense. Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC, December 17, 2007) – Syria should immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Ahmad Tohme, Jabr al-Shoufi, Akram al-Bunni, Dr. Fida’ al-Hurani, and `Ali al-Abdallah from detention, Human Rights Watch said today. Authorities detained the five political activists following a meeting of opposition groups in Damascus last week. State Security officers arrested the five as part of a countrywide crackdown that began on December 9 against people attending the National Council of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic Change, a December 1 gathering of numerous opposition groups a...

These are some excerpts from the latest Weekly Wire by the Project on Middle East Democracy . December 17, 2007 Stability & Security in Iraq: Last week, one pundit argued that the US can still stabilize Iraq if it steps up its efforts and addresses what Iraq really needs , which is “a surge of political, military, diplomatic, and humanitarian activity across the board,” which will lead to “more ambitious goals” and the possibility that “US forces can begin to withdraw.” Others highlight US counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq and the construction of security walls throughout Baghdad , writing that “While many here are grateful for the newfound calm, they say the price is an increasingly segregated city that is starting to feel like a collective cage.” Another critic argued that calling the security walls “successful” is “ only true if the goal behind them was to achieve less violence, as opposed to broader political reconciliation .” Thoughts on US Involvement in the Middle East:...

This is the news section of the November issue of Arab Reform Bulletin Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Headlines: Arab Countries: New Corruption Index Egypt: NDP Conference; Crackdown on Journalists; Ibrahim Trial Jordan: Upcoming Parliamentary Elections Lebanon: Presidential Vote Delayed Syria: Opposition Leader Faces Life in Prison; Activist Arrested Kuwait: Cabinet Reshuffle Oman: Shura Election Results Saudi Arabia: Activist Jailed; Curricula to Be Posted Online Bahrain: Human Rights Authority; Journalists on Trial; Marriage Age Set UAE: New Investment Laws; Foreign Workers Strike Yemen: Terror Convictions Tunisia: Critical Reports; Islamists Released; Hunger Strikes Algeria: Crackdown on Journalists; Censorship of Book Fair Morocco: Prison Sentence for News Agency Director Mauritania: Violent Protests; Journalist Trial; First Slavery Prosecution Upcoming Political Events Contents: Arab Countries: New Corruption Index Arab Parliamentarians Against Cor...

Brammertz' Report: Progress Led to Identification of New 'Persons of Interest' Naharnet 28 Nov 07 A U.N. inquiry has made progress in linking people to the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri and is closely examining the possibility that two or more teams may have prepared and carried out the attack, chief investigator Serge Brammertz said Wednesday. While not identifying anyone, Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in his final report to the Security Council that progress by the U.N. International Independent Investigation Commission in the last four months has led to the identification of new "persons of interest" and new investigative leads. "The commission has also deepened and broadened its understanding of the possible involvement of a number of persons of interest, including persons who have recently been identified by the commission, who may have been involved in some aspects of the preparation and commission of the crime or who may have k...