Middle East Policy

Any regime's foreign policy depends on the nature and the interests of this regime. The connection between totalitarian regimes and regionally destabilizing efforts is natural in contexts in which these regimes are at risk. We must be aware that regime's survival is what matters in determining the regime's domestic and foreign policy more than the state's interests and national security. This is a genuine political phenomenon in terms of totalitarian authoritarian political systems. So, let us empirically and transparently read the Middle East realities and events to find the basic relations and rules controlling what happens there. See: About Iran Regime Totalitarianism, violence and Terror The Neo-Internationalism After 9/11 . Here is a Backgrounder from the Council on Foreign Relations on the status of human rights in Iran the important Middle East player: Iran's Waning Human Rights By Lionel Beehner , August 9, 2006 Introduction The recent death of activist Ak

Here is a recent policy watch of the U.S. efforts, stances and statements concerning democracy promotion worldwide, especially in the Middle East: (Source: International Information Programs , U.S. Department of State.) Headlines: New Egyptian Press Law Restricts Free Speech, U.S. Official Says U.S. Pledges Full Support for Middle East Democratization Bush Outlines Effort To Resolve Middle East Crisis Stressing Middle East Freedom And Democracy U.S. Condemns Death of Iranian Activist U.N. Council Must Address Rights Violations in Mideast, Sudan U.S. Hails Anniversary of Iran's Constitutional Revolution "...instead of having foreign policies based upon trying to create a sense of stability, we have a foreign policy that addresses the root causes of violence and instability. For a while, American foreign policy was just, let's hope everything is calm, kind of managed calm. But beneath the surface brewed a lot of resentment and anger that was manifested in its -- on September

In the context of the international struggle for the new Middle East, where freedom, democracy and peace should replace totalitarianism, authoritarianism and violence come from the dictators' interdependent authoritarian system, which fights to survive after the liberation of Iraq in 2003 through the Operation Iraqi Freedom. We need to know more about the key players in the Middle East starting from their domestic affairs and internal structure including the power structure to understand the events and conceive a vision about the region dynamics and, finally, to have a transparent empirical insight into the Middle East affairs and geopolitics. (See: The Neo-Internationalism After 9/11 Totalitarianism, violence and Terror The International "New Deal" of the Middle East ) Therefore, I am posting quotes about Iran from the Freedom House book, Freedom in the World 2005 , selected by Prof. R.J. Rummel : Iranians cannot change their government democratically. The most powerful

Here are the recent news and developments concerning the political life and democratic stirring in Egypt gathered from the Egypt Monitor . Egypt watch is of extreme importance for the Middle East democratization research. For my comment on this subject go to Arab Democracy and Egypt Paradigm . Egypt Democracy Watch: (Covers the latest two months) People's Assembly Preparing a Report on Constitutional Amendments On July 11, the People's Assembly- lower house of parliament- starting to discuss constitutional amendment to be presented to president Mubarak. A report will be handed to president Mubarak, who in turn will choose the amendments to be introduced. Mubarak Abolishes Jail Sentences for publication Offenses In a sudden last minute move, on July 10, president Mubarak instructed members of parliament from the ruling National Democratic Party to abolish publication offenses in a new law on the press. This move came to ease the tensions between civil society activists and the

This is the news section of the current issue of the Arab Reform Bulletin Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace : Headlines: Syria: Continuing Crackdown on Dissent Egypt: Controversial Press and Judiciary Laws, Arrests, U.S. Aid Debate Kuwait: Reformists Gain in Elections Iraq: Amnesty Plan Yemen: Run Up to Presidential Election Bahrain: Debate over Anti-Terror Bill; New Association Law Saudi Arabia: Reduced Powers for Morality Police Jordan: Islamist MPs Arrested; Evidence of Torture in Prisons Algeria: Referendum to Amend Constitution; Prominent Journalist Released Morocco: Electoral Law Debate; Wave of Arrests of Justice and Charity Members Democracy Assistance Dialogue: Sanaa Conference Syria: Continuing Crackdown on Dissent Seventeen state employees in Syrian ministries were dismissed by Prime Minister Muhammad Naji Al Otri on June 14 without explanation, but human rights activists believe it was because they signed the Beirut-Damascus declaration, a petiti

The totalitarianism constitutes one system. The totalitarianism has one nature in many aspects and shapes; it pragmatically develops a reciprocal structure and unified means under a consistent code of conduct—all rest on violence. Apart from ideologies, religious or not, the problem has one name, one identity and one essence; it is the totalitarianism. A comprehensive reading of the current state of the region between the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf will clarify and support this thinking. The totalitarian dictatorships and terrorists are in an alliance of convenience. Although they have two different ideologies and agendas, they have mutual basic interest and pursuit is to keep freedom and democracy along with their culture out of this region. Saddam had known this fact early and began soon after his defeat in the gulf war ΙΙ the Islamization of the state notwithstanding the official totalitarian secular ideology of al-Ba'ath. Moreover, he had a chance of about 12 years to do th

The Amnesty International has released its 2006 report , which covers events from January - December 2005. Here are some excerpts from the regional overview of the Middle East and North Africa: At first sight, the pattern of widespread abuse that has long characterized human rights in the Middle East and North Africa remained firmly entrenched in 2005. Indeed, considering the appalling toll of abuses perpetrated by all parties to the conflict in Iraq, the continuing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians, and some of the views expressed by Iran’s new President, the picture could have appeared very bleak. Despite this and the persistence of grave violations across the region, there were some signs to suggest that 2005 might come to be seen as a time when some of the old certainties began to look less certain and a new dynamic began to take hold. The wall of impunity behind which so many perpetrators of torture, political killings and other abuses had sheltered for so long began t

After 9/11, the international order has failed in terms of security when the world super power became under attack followed by many other attacks throughout the world. This incident indicates a new nature of the international dangers and threats exceed the 'state borders' and the related international norms and standards. Furthermore, the 'internal affair,' the extremely important term in the international relations is subject to re-identifying because the internal situation is no longer just an internal concern and, thereby, an internal affair, it becomes an international concern too in the post-9/11 reality. Then, what I call the 'Neo-Internationalism' is sought and called for. This 'Neo-Internationalism' represents a state of international relations in which the democratic interventionism is required and legitimate for the international security and prosperity, and for forming an international order can cope with the international challenges and maint