Global Security Studies Practicum

06 December 2011 London (Reuters) — The crisis in the Horn of Africa which has left more than 13 million people at risk of starvation is said to continue into the spring, and possibly the summer. The crisis, triggered by the worst drought in decades, has affected Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. Kristalina Georgieva, European Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, said the Sahel region faces very dramatic hunger next year and feared some countries there are ignoring the problem. Georgieva said she was extremely concerned about the famine’s long-term repercussions on the region because of the vast numbers of Somalis who had fled to refugee camps in Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen. Instability in Somalia meant they were unlikely to return home once the crisis was over. The commissioner said there were probably 400,000 to 500,000 Somalis in Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, plagued by unrest, and that the flow of refugees from poor country to poor country has stability and security impl

7 December 2011 MEXICO CITY- Mexican intelligence agents have stopped a plot for Saadi Gaddafi , the third son of Muammar Gaddafi , to sneak into Mexico under false identification. Several people from different countries were involved in the plot, including Mexico, Denmark and Canada. According to Mexican Interior Secretary Alejandro Poire the plan involved a criminal ring "of international dimensions." Cynthia Vanier, a Canadian woman stayed in constant communication with the Gaddafi family and was in charge of the finances of the operation. Vanier was the mastermind behind the plot. Three other suspects include a Danish man, a Mexican man and a Mexican woman who resides in the United States . The scheme involved falsification of official documents, the opening of bank accounts with false documents and the purchase of real estate in Mexico , including one near the resort of Puerto Vallarta that was intended to serve as a residence for the Gaddafi family.

Anti-government protesters marched to Manama’s Pearl Square clashed with security forces firing tear gas and rubber bullets this Wednesday. As the religious holidays of Ashoura draw near, opposttion supporters gathered in Shiite villages around the capital Manama for this religious procession. They were intersected by heavily guarded forces, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. This square in Manama carries a symbolic value to the people of Bahrain that security forces brutally prevented the protesters on reaching this square. Bahrain’s security forces stormed the opposition supporters at this landmark square in March 2011 after the government declared martial law to suppress a wave of anti-government demonstrations and marches. The Bahrain Health Ministry declared that a 27 year old woman that sustained head injuries during Novembers riots died in the hospital due to the metal rod head injury. Comment: Ashoura marks the anniversary of the death in the seventh century of

7 December 2011 Sanaa, Yemen – After the signing of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) deal on November 24, 2011, Vice President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi issued a decree to form the government while naming 35 ministers, including Prime Minister Mohammed Basindwa and Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi. Hadi also mentioned on Sunday, December 4, 2011, the future formation of a 14 member military council, to stabilize the country, comprised evenly between members of the ruling party and opposition. According to the GCC deal, Hadi was supposed to announce the military council members five days after the signing of the agreement, however, heavy clashes between government forces and opposition fighters in northern Sanaa prevented that from occurring. Many protesters believe the GCC deal is illegal and continue to urge other citizens to reject any deal offering President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity. This tension has also escalated violence in Taiz leaving dozens dead and injured, according to

7 December 2011 Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he would ask Pakistan to explain why it provides sanctuary for an extremist group suspected of killing dozens in Afghanistan. Mr. Karzai pledges to seek justice with a thorough investigation into suicide attacks targeting the Shiite. The U.S. embassy said one American was killed in the Kabul Attack. Critics say that Pakistan has been reluctant to crack down on the organization for fear of backlash and retaliation of these extremist groups. There have been several attacks over the past days killing a significant amount of people and injuring plenty of others. The Taliban and other terrorist groups are engaging in terroristic attacks to remind government officials they remain visible. The attacks are causing a sense of insecurity for the president of Afghanistan, he plan to confront Pakistan and question their involvement in providing for these groups. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203501304577084171736240212.html

7 December 2011 President Chavez meets with President Hu Jintao of China in 2008. In a public statement on 6 December, President Hugo Chavez said China could surpass the US and become Venezuela ’s top trade partner. Growing economic ties between Venezuela and China have strengthened their strategic alliance in the last few years, amounting to US20 billion in trade. China previously agreed to more than US32 billion in loans to the South American country, while the latter increased oil shipments to China in return. Source:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/chavez-china-story.html (Reliability: 9.0) Comment: The loan agreements with China provides key support to Chavez as he looks to finance spending in social programs ahead of next year’s presidential elections. Meanwhile, relations between the US and Venezuela remain strained. The US Embassy in Caracas is without an ambassador since July 2010 and the US has revoked the visa of the Venezuelan amba

7 December 2011   Moshe Katsav, Israel’s former president, embraced his son as he entered Maasiyahu prison on Wednesday to begin a seven-year sentence for rape.  ISRAEL – Israeli ex-President, Moshe Katsav , enjoys his last day as a free man in his home surrounded by family and friends.   He will serve a seven-year sentence for rape.   He was convicted for raping an employee twice while minister of tourism in 1998 and sexually abusing and harassing two more while head of state .   He claims he is innocent of all charges.   He stated in an interview that he doubted the system to which he devoted his life.   He will be place in a special wing of the Maasiyahu Prison in Ramle with other religiously observant Jews.   It is highly likely that he will be in the company of many of the prisoners whose pardons he rejected while serving as president from 2000 to 2007.   He stated that he will not succumb to the conspirators and that Israel has become like Saudi Arabia where a hug is

05 December 2011 Uyghurs are in protest against Chinese crackdowns in Xinjiang. They are taking action by protesting at a Soviet-era Congress hall in Kazakstan. Kakhraman Khodzhaberdiyev who is an official from the U.S. based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) stated, “We want an investigation let by the likes of the United Nations, Amnesty International , and Human Rights Watch . China may not let anyone in to conduct such an investigation but we must do everything possible.” Concerns that Chinas extensive trading connections will influence the investigation are amongst the WUC. Uyghur’s desperately ask for the global powers help to punish China’s actions. They are likely to continue with protest and other extreme methods in order to obtain the help they seek. Source: http://www.kazembassythailand.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=156:uighurs-in-kazakhstan-rally-against-china-crackdown&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50 (Reliability: 8.5)

06 December 2011 (ATHENS, Greece) – The interim Greek government passed a series of unpopular tax hikes and spending cuts to complete its 2012 budget. The package is a signal that Greece is attempting to sort out its finances. Prime Minister Lucas Papademos believes the budget will create the conditions necessary for recovery. Conservative leader Antonis Samaras , however, vows to ease the tax burden if elected prime minister in February. The New Democracy party lost control in 2008. If Antonis Samaras comes to power in 2012, he will likely lead a coalition government. New Democracy is unlikely to have a majority in parliament. Comment – The economic turmoil in Greece is far from over. No political party is currently in position to have a clear majority in the government. This is likely to cause many debates and political maneuvering. If Greece is to continue receiving aid from the European Union, it will have to hit budget benchmarks. So far it has been unable to do so.

Afghanistan has opened bids for copper and gold deposits worth billions of dollars in Badakhshan, Ghazni, and Heart provinces as well as an area that spans the Baulkh and Sar-e-Pul providences. The country plans to sell the right for up to five mines every year until 2014. Officials hope the revenue generated from mining will help rebuild the country. Copper mining could potentially generate four to five thousand jobs in Afghanistan. Afghanistan poses vast deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, gold, and other rare minerals. Having few exports, the revenue from mining is needed. The US Defenese Department estimates the mineral reserves as being worth one trillion dollars, whereas Afghanistan claims them to worth at least three trillion dollars. Source : http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Afghanistan-opens-bids-for-massive-mines-PAVDJ?opendocument&src=rss Reliability: 8

6 December 2011 A suicide bomber slaughtered 56 Shiite worshipers and wounded more than 160 others today outside a Shiite shrine in the capital of Kabul. Many people were devastated with the attack and were blasting a recitation of the Quran. The Taliban condemned the attack and suspicion centered on militant groups based in neighboring Pakistan where Sunni attacks on minority Shiites are common. A man who belongs to a Pakistan-based group that has carried out attacks against Shiite Muslims, called various media outlets claiming responsibility for the bombing in Kabul. However, the validity of the claim could not be determined. The decade long Afghan war has experienced an increase in violence, where civilians are targeted for their membership in a particular religious group. The Taliban are now generally refrained from mass attacks against purely civilian targets. They usually focus instead on the U.S.-led coalition Afghan forces or government offices. Today’s powerful explosion in Ka

Turkey is still eager to join the European Union despite the ongoing debt crisis . Turkey’s deputy prime minister Ali Babacan states that European countries must act robustly to tackle their sovereign debt else the global economy will worsen. The European Union is expected to cut interest rates and offer extra long liquidity operations to shore their banks. Babacan reiterated that it is imperative for Turkey to improve on its democratic system and uphold the rue of law in order to reach the political benchmark of European membership. Babacan also stressed that in terms of economics, the European Union is not a model for Turkey to emulate. Turkey is the world’s sixteenth largest economy and is projected to 7-8 percent after growing 9 percent last year. Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/06/turkey-eu-idUSL3E7N60PH20111206 Reliability: (9) Comments: Turkey is Islamic democracy who firs applied to join he EU in 2005. Turkey’s membership application has been hobbled by its

Baghdad- Iraq's top diplomat under Saddam Hussein , Tariq Aziz , will be executed next year after US forces leave Iraq . Aziz's lawyer, Badi Arif, claims the decision "will drag this country to the edge of the abyss." Saad Yousif al-Muttalibi, an adviser to Iraq's prime minister, said a new law under consideration requiring death sentences to be ratified by the president within 15 days of their being handed down is favored by the three sectarian groups: Sunnis , Shiites and Kurds . Aziz was captured in April 2003 after the US-led invasion that toppled Hussein and appeared frail during testifying in Hussein's 2006 trial on war crimes charges. In October 2010, Aziz was sentenced to death by the Iraqi High Tribunal for his role in eliminating religious parties during Hussein's regime. Amnesty International and The Vatican have opposed the death penalty, preferring other methods of punishment in an attempt to "promote reconciliation and reconstruction

6 December 2011 BANGKOK, THAILAND – Very rarely are the people of Thailand graced with the presence of their leader, King Bhumibol Adulyadej . The Thai King recently made a public appearance in order to show his support to victims affected by the recent heavy flooding. The King also made it a point to declare an end to various political conflicts and encourage cooperation among his subjects in order to better serve the millions of Thai citizens that have been hit hard by flooding. The King was met by a large crowd in the tens of thousands, holding flags and chanting, “ Trong phra charoen! ”. However, out of respect for those that are still suffering, the King asked of his people that their celebrating be put on hold. Normally, this time would be one of celebration with the King’s birthday and the procession of Royal barges down the Chao Phraya River , but the heavy flooding has resulted in the crest of the River making it inaccessible. Currently 84 years of age, King Bhum

30 November 2011 MOGADISHU - A suicide bomber dressed in a military uniform detonated himself at Somalia's army headquarters on Wednesday, killing four soldiers. This is the latest in recent weeks in a series of blasts including roadside bombs and grenade explosions in the capital of Somalia. The attacker was said to be targeting Gen. Abdikarim Yusuf Dhagabadan, the chief of Somalia's armed forces, but discharged himself when security forces approached him, killing three instantly. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al- Shabaab is highly likely to be accountable. According to Somali information minister Abdulkadir Hussein, three other explosive devices were safely defused elsewhere in Mogadishu that same day, blaming all incidents on Islamist Al-Shabaab insurgents, who have frequently been targeting the city. “They are engaged in a campaign of terrorizing the civilian population,” Hussei

The two Belarusians terrorist that blew up a bomb in the subway system that killed 15 people, have been sentenced to death by a court in Minsk, Belarus . Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalyov, sentenced to death not because of political motives but because of hatred to humankind, according to investigators. They had prior accusations to other non-fatal bombings in 2005 and 2008. According to evidence collected, the Supreme Court found that Konovalov built a bomb and stayed with Kovalyov in his apartment in Minsk to prepare for the blast. Also noted was that Kovalyov was aware of the bomb attacks . Opposite to this eveidence, Konovalov’s lawyer claims that the presented evidence was trivial and inconclusive. It included a videotape of the subway station supposedly showing Kovalyov to the blast area with a very poor image quality and that certain experts claim there were no traces of explosive objects. Not just the attorneys felt there were no convictions against their clients, but al

Parliamentary elections show domination by Islamists and the liberal youth are losing the elections. Mohamed ElBaradei , a possible presidential candidate, expresses concern about the rise of hard-line religious elements advocating extremist ideas such as banning women from driving. ElBaradei hopes for moderate Islamists to rein in the extremists and to send a reassuring message to the world that Egypt will not go down an ultraconservative religious path. Islamist parties are currently capturing an overwhelming majority of the votes during the first round of elections last week. ElBaradei claims that the youth now feel let down by the results of the voting and that they are far from accomplishing their revolutions goals. In addition, ElBaradei feels that the failures of the youth consist of failure to unify and form ‘one essential critical mass’ in order to have a bigger impact on the voter turnout. The strength between the two top-place Islamist bloc s is a shock to everyone, especia

NAIROBI, Kenya- Militant terrorist group Al-Shabaab has recently been under attack by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) . Colonel Cyrus Oguna, in charge of information and operation at the Department of Defense said, “Al Shabaab only has three options; to defect; surrender or leave Somalia as they have limited options. Their resistance is crumbling, their logistics are getting disabled day by day.” Recently, the KDF in collaboration with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces destroyed many of the camps and weapons used by the Al-Shabaab. Nine Al-Shabaab fighters were seriously injured by air raids at militant training camps in El Adde Township, and top leader of the militant group was recently captured by KDF and is being interviewed and interrogated for details about the militia and its networks in the country. Col. Oguna stated that the KDF has achieved their primary initial objectives against Al-Shabaab and has eliminated confidence that they would emerge