Facts, News, Trends, Analysis
The Iranian Navy has begun military exercises in the Oman Sea in an effort to ensure readiness against its purported enemies and also as a posturing action to the international community. The Iranian media has stated that “more than 60 destroyers, light and heavy submarines, helicopters, aircraft, and reconnaissance drones were tested in the maneuver.” [...]
Imad Moustapha, Syria’s ambassador to the U.S., gave an interview with U.S News about Syria’s fragile and tentative relationship with the United States, especially after the U.S. launched a raid in eastern Syria in October killing eight civilians, in an attempt to target supposed Al Qaeda operatives. Sade San A Jong Bookmark It Hide Sites $$(‘div.d3278′).each( [...]
An Egyptian-born nuclear physicist, Abdel Moniem Ali el-Ganayni, said his rights were violated when the Department of Energy revoked his security clearance.The scientist, who has left the United States, had filed a lawsuit in June saying he was being punished for criticizing the Iraq war and President Bush’s treatment of Muslims after the Sept. 11 [...]
The reaction of Turkish officials to Barack Obama’s choice of statesmen is positive, especially that of Hillary Clinton. “The announcement on Clinton is due to come at a news conference in Chicago,” said officials on Obama’s transition team. The incoming president has also asked Robert Gates, the current defense secretary, to keep his job for [...]
After heated debate, the Iraqi Parliament passed the Status of Forces Agreement by a vote of 149-49. President George Bush praised the agreement that requires all US forces to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Perhaps the operative phrase here, though, is “by,” meaning it could occur before then, specially noted with [...]
The United States Senate confirmed Gene Cretz, a U.S. diplomat who has held positions in cities such as Tel Aviv, Cairo, New Delhi, and Beijing throughout his career, as the new ambassador to Libya. Cretz’s confirmation as a Washington ambassador to Libya occurred on November 20th, and he will be sworn into office on December 17th, starting [...]
At a conference in Damascus, American officials accused Syria of complicity in terrorist networks running cross-border operations into Iraq. Syria has previously denounced the flagrant violation of its state sovereignty by US troops and claimed that it was a victim rather than an aggressor, denying any active involvement with terrorists. Other conference attendees, including Iran, [...]
Demanding immediate withdrawal and an end to the American occupation, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Baghdad to voice their dissatisfaction with the proposed American troop extension. Spurred by the declarations of Moqtada Sadr, a peaceful multi-sectarian crowd, composed of Sunnis, Shias and Kurds, assembled downtown in a surprising show of collective [...]
Syrian Ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari, praised Obama’s announcement that he planned on making good on a promise that he made one of the major platforms of his presidential campaign: to withdraw troops from Iraq in sixteen months. This shows a level of respect and acknowledgment of the wishes of the people of the Middle East. In [...]
The spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Corporation, Mohsen Delaviz, stated that their first nuclear plant will open sometime in 2009. Russia agreed to build the plant in 1995, but it has continuously been delayed due to payment problems. The Bushehr plant is, interestingly enough, located on the same site as the plant that was planned [...]
