Global Security Studies Practicum

Al-Qaeda’s North Africa branch is relentless to develop a stabilized network in Morocco, both to weaken the country and to gain easier access for attacks in Europe. According to Mali's report, because of the partnership that Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Boko Haram group has there must be collaboration and cooperation by neighboring country’s, Niger, Nigeria and Chad, to oppose the group to successfully enter the country. Boko Haram is responsible for an attack that occurred on the 26 of August against the United Nations that claimed 23 people. AQIM is responsible for a variety of kidnaps and attacks, particularly against foreigners. Morocco recently broke up a three-man cell called the “Al Battar Squadron”, which had links to Al-Qaeda that intended to join camps of AQIM outside Morocco to undergo military training. The intent was to attend the training then return to the kingdom to conduct criminal acts. According to a Moroccan security source, this i

5 October 2011 (Kenya, Africa) Somali pirates have made the coastline of Somalia a no-go area for sailors. In recent years the Somalia Pirates have hijacked small and large ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. However, pirates have made recent alterations to their tactics of attack. The Pirates are aware that in international waters they are up against the fire power of US warships and other countries. Pirates have now found easier targets. Somali Pirates have gone into coastal resorts in Kenya. On 11 September at Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago Resort a Briton couple was attacked in their cottage, David Tebbutt was shot and killed while resisting his attackers and his wife, Judith was grabbed and taken aboard the pirates speedboat. She is believed to have been taken into Somalia. On 1 October another attacked took place in Manda Island where a French woman was taken. Officials representing the Kenyan government said that the Kenya Navy pursued a chase with the pirates and engaged in a

05 October 2011 Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama Israel has severed relations with many nations.   Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has succeeded in delaying peace negotiations.   Israel has withdrawn from Gaza and Lebanon to receive rockets in return.   Peace between Israel and Egypt is unstable and relations with Turkey have weakened.   Relations with the US and the Obama administration are strained.   Israel is the only one to blame for these deteriorating circumstances.   There has been an increase in anti-Israel sentiment throughout much of the Arab and Muslim world.   The Palestinians have a clear goal of using the United Nations to embrace the Arab Peace initiative .   Israel and Netanyahu have no plans or solutions to solve the many problems surrounding them.   The position they are in is dangerous and could increase violence and put the citizen’s safety at risk.   Reliability: 9 Source: Supporting Netanyahu’s policies i

5 October 2011 Sixteen people died and twenty injured by a suicide bomber attack at a crowded tourist café in Marrakesh, Morocco . Moroccan interests were threatened a week before in a Youtube video by men claiming to be members of al-Qaeda’s North African wing. Al-Qaeda ’s presence in the region is active making them strong suspects. Investigators continue to investigate all leads for the deadliest explosion attack in eight years to a tourist attraction. Condolences by Morocco's King Mohamed VI were offered to the families of the victims. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/morocco/8482799/Al-Qaeda-among-Moroccan-blast-suspects.html (Reliability: 8.5)

5 October 2011 Leopoldo Lopez talks to media outlets. Dow Jones Newswires (CARACAS) – The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ( IACHR ) ruled in favor of opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez on 17 September, allowing him to run in Venezuela ’s upcoming 2012 presidential elections. Venezuelan officials barred Lopez from seeking public office in 2005 through 2014 under allegations of mishandling public funds and corruption. Supporters of Lopez argue the charges are a ploy to prevent him and other opposition politicians from running for office. General elections are slated for 7 October 2012 amid questions regarding President Hugo Chavez’s health. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110916-712977.html (Reliability: 9) Comment: Despite the IACHR’s ruling in favor of Lopez, Venezuelan officials under President Chavez have ignored the court’s rulings in the past and banned presidential hopefuls from running for office. Lopez is emerging as one of the top con

26 September 2011 MANILA, PHILLIPINES – Officials have issued evacuations for more than 100,000 people, asking them to seek shelter from the powerful typhoon that hit the shores of the Philippines . The typhoon spanned as an incredible 400-mile cloud and dumped enormous amounts of rainfall on the country while pummeling it with winds over 100 miles per hour (170km), which threatened the main island on the Philippines known as Luzon Island . Due to the extensive downpour, Philippine officials were faced with having to shut down schools and Universities in the Philippine capital of Manila . Luzon Island is suffering from massive power outages, which left emergency services, hospitals, and hotels in the dark and without the basic necessities. In the Albay Province of the Philippines around 112,000 people have been instructed to leave their homes in order to safely escape massive landslides and flashfloods that the area is known for, while over 50,000 other pe

5 October 2011 Cairo- US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was in Cairo on Tuesday in an effort to defuse tensions between Egypt and Israel that have risen since the end of Hosni Mubarak’s rule. Panetta met with the country’s military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and strongly urged him to provide better security in the Sinai Peninsula due to Israel’s claim that an attack on its south originated from there. Panetta feels that any tension or friction within that area could create real problems for the region. Panetta also states that the need for better communication between both countries will help defuse the tensions between Israel and Egypt. Previously a peace treaty had bound Egypt and Israel since 1979 and tension has built up drastically since Mubarak’s was overthrown. The tension caused by Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Panetta is also requesting the release of the alleged Israeli spy, Ilan Grapel , although he is not involved with the negotiations personall

Durin g an annual meeting, the head of the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) , Antonio Guterres , criticized the international community for reacting too slowly to a deterioration in the Horn of Africa hunger crisis . Aid workers and critics say a string of early warnings about drought and failed rains in the region has been months if not years in the making. More than 13 million people face severe hunger across East Africa. Somalia is at the epicenter of the crisis, with 750,000 people facing imminent starvation. Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab has refused to allow food shipments to many of the famine-hit areas of which it controls. Other suffering countries in the region include Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Uganda. Guterres used his speech to highlight what many U.N. officials expect to be the increasingly unpredictable nature, frequency and severity of tomorrow’s humanitarian crisis. He appealed to UNHCR’s executive committee for a better understanding of the need for more funding fl

4 October 2011 DOBLEY, SOMALIA- Clashes between opposing armed groups have forced the humanitarian operations conducted by the United Nations to come to a halt temporarily. A high number of people have left the Somali city of Dobley in fear of being caught in the violence that has been occurring in the region. Dobley is a main city for transit in to the refugee camps across the border in Kenya. Source: Unrest in Southern Somali Town Suspends Flow of Aid http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Unrest-in-Southern-Somali-Town-Suspends-Flow-of-Aid-131055778.html Reliability: 9

28 September, 2011 Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani visits a Chinese minister to strengthen ties between Pakistan and China. Pakistan government has vouched to attack any Uighur militants who are training in Pakistan and are against Chinese government. Giliani emphasizes, “Chinas’s enemy is our enemy; we will extend our full cooperation to China on security.” Furthermore, Giliani sent out a warning to the U.S. demanding an end to the negative messages about Pakistan. This is due to allegations from U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen saying that Pakistan provided support for the September 13 attack on U.S. embassy in Kabul. Giliani also states that his country will not tolerate U.S. further action against militants on Pakistan soil. Source: http://www.siiaonline.org/?q=programmes/insights/pakistan-warns-us-pledges-closer-ties-with-china (Reliability: 9)

3 October 2011 On Tuesday, India and Afghanistan signed a partnership pact. In the pact, India pledged to increase cooperation in counterterrorism operations, training of security forces, and help in the stabilizing of Afghanistan. India is the largest regional donor to Afghanistan, having invested more than $2 billion in development and infrastructure projects. The India-Afghanistan pact coincides with increase of relations between Kabul and Islamabad following Afghanistan officials accusing Pakistan of support recent high profile attacks in the country. The agreement with India could further strain the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. India and Afghanistan also announce commercial ties in mining, mineral exploration, developing of hydrocarbons. Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/india-and-afghanistan-sign-security-and-trade-pact/2011/10/04/gIQAHLOOLL_story.html Reliable: 9

4 October 2011 In Minsk, Belarus, the government is in close terms with Iran for a $400 million loan to help its economic crisis. Officials from President Alexander Lukashenko’s office stated that in the other hand Russia might lend the country from its state-controlled bank up to $1 billion backed up by shares from the Naftan oil refinery. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit the country for progress on its reforms that may justify the $7 billion loan. According to officials from the IMF, the Belarusian ruble has lost three-fifths of its value against the dollar and its foreign reserves have fallen deeply putting the economy in crisis. If negotiations with the IMF fail, Minsk might turn back to Moscow, for which they have sought to access Belarusian assets such as the potash miner company Belaruskali . If this fertilizer company merges with Russia’s OAO Uralkali , it will create the largest potash company in the world. Belarus has become a more isolated state due to its c

Hakim Al-Zamili Radio Sawa (Baghdad) — Hakim Al-Z amili , spokesperson for the Liberal Bloc , denied that any political deal occurred to appoint a candidate to the Minister of Interior position. This denial comes after many local Iraqi media outlets reported that the Liberal Block, which rep resents the Sadrist Trend , and the State of Law Coalition reached an agreement to fill the position. Al-Zamili criticized the delay in appointing ministers to the security ministries, which include the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense , and called on Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki to choose one of the Iraqiya List’s candidates for Minister of Defense. Al-Zamili pointed to political disputes between the State of Law Coalition and the Iraqiya List as reasons that the Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior positions are still empty. Source: http://www.radiosawa.com/iraq/arabic_news.aspx?id=3376909&cid=24 (Reliability: 8.5) Comment

3 October 2011 Afghan President Hamid Karzai (at right) has decided to end efforts to begin direct talks with the Taliban. He is turning his attention to cutting the deal with Pakistan, as Kabul alleged that the killer of its top peace envoy was a Pakistani. Karzai is expected to outline his revised strategy, as he looks for new ways to bring a decade of war to an end. His move to reshape comes after the assassination of the peace negotiator, ex-president, Burhanuddin Rabbani . Afghan officials have concluded that a high level member of the Taliban’s leadership helped organize the attack, mentioning that the killer was a Pakistani citizen. While Pakistan has denied playing any role in the attack, Karzai aides that it is useless to pursue direct talks with the Taliban. That is because they believe the Taliban leaders are instruments of Pakistani policy, and cannot deliver any deal on their own. The U.S. has been actively aiding Karzai in his efforts to secure a peace deal that could r

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou 2 October 2011 ATHENS, GREECE – Forecasts predict Greece will miss deficit targets for 2011. Inspectors from the International Monetary Fund , EU and European Central Bank ( troika ) are examining the country’s books. The troika is deciding whether to approve another needed loan installment. Without the money, Greece could run out of cash within a month. The shortfall means that tax hikes and wage cuts have not been enough to ease the country’s financial problems. The inspectors are likely to approve the next loan installment. The troika’s forecasts for 2012-2014 could mean deeper losses for banks holding Greek debt. Those banks have already written off 21 percent of the value of debt they hold. Source: Greece to miss deficit targets despite austerity http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/03/us-greece-idUSTRE7900SU20111003 Reliability: 9

January 4 2011, Mumtaz Hussain Qadri former policeman and security guard for Governor Salman Taseer , shot him dead. Reason behind shooting was for Governor’s remarks on Pakistan ’s controversial blasphemy law . Quadi was charged with murder and committing an act of terrorism since shooting took place in a public setting. Quadi asked his lawyer not to go for an appeal as he stated, “Don't go for an appeal. I can't wait to see (the Prophet) Mohammed in heaven. I am proud that my sacrifice has been accepted by God.” Quadi argues he did not commit murder this was indeed an act according to the guidelines of the Quran and teachings of Prophet Mohammed. Trial was conducted by Pakistan ’s anti-terrorist court in which he has been convicted and sentenced to death. Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/01/world/asia/pakistan-death-sentence/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 Reliability: 9

Turkey and its neighbors are in a fierce tussle about who owns the right to drill for newly discovered natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean sea bed. Both Turkey and Cyprus lay claim to the offshore zone believed to hold about a trillion cubic meters of hydrocarbons. The natural gas is estimated to be worth over several billions of dollars and whoever comes out on top will control the energy future of Europe. The row flared-up when Cyprus allowed a U.S company to start drilling off its southern shores last month and Turkey retaliated by sending a seismic vessel to the same area accompanied by gun boats. Israel which is conducting drills in the area sent fighter jets to buzz the Turkish vessels and Turkey retaliated by scrambling its own fighter jets. Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has characterized the Israeli and Cyprus drilling as “madness” and denounced their activities in the area.  Turkish troops invaded Cyprus in 1974 to quell a coup orchestrated by Greece. The a