Global Security Studies Practicum

8 December 2011 With the withdrawal of Al-Shabaab from Mogadishu back in August, the government declared the city under control. Recently the Somali Capital has experienced a drastic change with numerous clashes between al-Shabaab militants and government forces backed by African Union troops in the northern districts of Karan and Huriwa. Reports imply the AU used tanks and artillery. Al-Shabaab failed to gain territory. Claims imply several al-Shabaab fighters instead of leaving, merged in to Mogadishu’s population. Since Al-Shabaab’s tactical withdrawal from Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, it has been suffering from several suicide bombings. Source: Somalia fighting: New clashes in capital Mogadishu http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16083451 Reliability: 9

Al-Shabaab and Kenya have been constantly exchanging insults through twitter, regarded as a media war. Emmanuel, Kenya’s army spokesman who currently has a twitter account with 10,000 followers, posts updates on the military state of play in the incursion into Somalia. With the screen name @HSMPress Al-Shabaab has joined the twitter community, it has currently posted 80 times and has about 3000 followers. Starting it first tweet in Arabic with a Qu’ranic phrase saying “ In the name of god, the most gracious, the most merciful.” Al-Shabaab has released its messages in fluent English. In recent months, Al-Shabaab has been running sophisticated media operations, including press releases in English with photos attached to them. Through this medium they have exaggerated claims such as total number of military victories. HSMPress has been self described as “Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen is an Islamic movement that governs South & Cen. Somalia & part of the global struggle...

13 December 2011 Saudi Arabia (CNN) – Accused of witchcraft and sorcery, Amina bint Abdel Halim Nassar, was executed on Monday, (12 December 2011), by beheading. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy and practices Islam; due to their conservative nature, such practices as witchcraft, sorcery, and blasphemy are punishable by death. The London based newspaper, Al-Hayat reports, a search of Nassar’s home by the Saudi Arabia’s religious police found books on sorcery, talismans, and glass bottles filled with liquids supposedly used for magic. The Saudi police claim that Nassar was selling the liquids for $400 each. The executions of Saudi Arabia have tripled in 2011 according to the human rights group, Amnesty International; 79 people, including 5 women. Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Interim Director of Middle East and North Africa Programme, states, “… executions are punishment for unfair trails of Saudi citizens exercising their freedom of speech.” Amnesty International is promoting the hal...

25 November 2011 Islamabad (CNN) – A Pakistani woman was arrested under suspicion of killing and cooking her husband. Zainab Bibi, 32, was arrested by Karachi authorities for supposedly stabbing her husband, Ahmad Abbas, to death, with the help of her 22 year old nephew, Zaheer Ahmad. Authorities also suspect Bibi of having cut her husbands body into little small pieces, with the sole intention of cooking his body to dispose of him to not get caught. Neighbors of Zainab Bibi complained of a foul smell in the neighborhood to police, which lead them to the home of Bibi shared with her husband. Zainab Bibi claims she murdered her husband because he wanted a physical relationship with their daughter. “I killed my husband before he dared to touch my daughter,” she told ARY News. She also claims to not regret killing her husband. Bibi is currently being held at the southern city of Karachi’s police station. Source: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-25/asia/world_asia_pakistan-husband-stew_1_c...

12 December 2011 UK- The physical abuse experienced by domestic partners [wives] in the UK is likely to change based on new definition by the Liberal Democrat ministries. Under the new proposed definition of domestic violence laws, husbands can now be prosecuted for treating their wives in controlling ways even if they do not physically abuse them. The new laws will also extend to cover forced marriages of children by parents. Additionally, it will encompass economic control, manipulation of children, and awareness focused towards teenage girls who are experiencing abuse from their boyfriends. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone are set to propose the new changes. In general, the new definition of domestic violence laws will change its definition; not solely geared towards men but for abuse females who abuse their partners [husbands]. The ministers are also considering the allowance to women to find out if boyfriends have criminal histories. Sour...

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 ...

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 b...

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 ...

Cairo- Syria can "avoid the dangers of a foreign intervention" if it agrees to a plan by the Arab League to defuse the current Syrian conflict. The current League plan calls for the Syrian government to allow observers into the country to monitor the government's response to the civil unrest, which the Syrian government has failed to control. Foreign ministers from 19 Arab League countries voted to slap economic sanctions on the Syrian regime, including cutting relations with the nation's central bank, freezing government assets, and prohibiting high-profile officials from visiting Arab countries. Sanctions have been imposed by the US Treasury , the European Union and Turkey . Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen said, "We will continue to work closely with our partners in Europe and around the world to hasten a transition to democracy in Syria." There are 17 targeted senior Syrian regime officials banned from ...

1 December 2011 Islamabad, Pakistan- The relationship between the U.S. and Pakistani militaries is deteriorated in results to the NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan’s army Chief General Ashfaq Perves Kayani met with U.S. Marine General John Allen , top commander in Afghanistan, immediately after the incident and concluded that Pakistan will withdraw all intelligence sharing with the U.S. and will stop the support offered to defeat the Afghan Taliban. The U.S. Embassy warned U.S. government personnel in Pakistan of possible retaliation against Americans and further precautions should be taken into consideration. President Barack Obama stated during a press conference that a complete termination in the U.S.-Pakistani relationship is unlikely, but the incident is likely to damage relations and his administration will investigate the circumstances of the airstrikes to clarify misunderstandings. According to Afghan officials, U.S. Special Forces located on the Af...