Global Security Studies Practicum

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)