Group items tagged

A New York Times article discussing how the various sides were following the truce at the time of publication. I think this truce is a step in the right direction and therefore is worth bookmarking.

New York Times article with youtube videos of rebel fighters using Russian SA-7s to shoot down fixed and rotary wing aircraft

A New York Times article talking about the differences as far as legal terms between a truce, a cease-fire, and an armistice. I think that it's an excellent article to include because there's a lot of mixing and matching of these three terms by media sources when in actuality they are very different.

New York Times article discussing how the US and Russia are getting involved in the Syrian conflict have turned it into a proxy war. I bookmarked this because I think it's significant to keep this in mind and how it echoes the events leading up to say Vietnam.

A New York Times article on the violence in Greece between Syrian refugees and the Macedonian border guards. The article talks about the Europeans not being able to come to a consensus on what to do with refugees. Additionally the page has a video of the protesters attempting to break through the barricade, which in response Macedonian authorities indiscriminately fired tear gas into a crowd including small children.

Another New York Times article about the weekend truce. Unfortunately according to the article it seems that Russia used the clause that allows airstrikes against ISIS, as an opportunity to also bomb some opposition fighters positions.

This article discusses the growing suspicions that have risen from the Muslim Brotherhood. According to many, the Muslim Brotherhood has an active influence on the Obama Administration.

Ironically, the Muslim Brotherhood has come to be seen by some in the State Department as a force of moderation in contemporary Islamist politics. You should look at the recent New York Times op-ed criticizing Sisi for cracking down on the Brotherhood.

Here is another perspective issued today from the New York Times; stating an Israeli soldier accidentally shot an army officer on the West Bank while they were aiming at a "Palestinian assailant trying to attack the officer." This author quotes the strife on the border as a "scene of numerous Palestinian attacks against Israelis."

US special forces were able to take an ISIS member into custody. Through questioning, the military men were able to learn that ISIS is now beginning to make plans to use mustard gas as a chemical weapon. The Red Cross has been identified because of the possible use of chemical weapons.

An Islamic State detainee currently in American custody at a temporary detention facility in Erbil, Iraq, is a specialist in chemical weapons whom American military officials are questioning about the militant Sunni group's plans to use the banned substances in Iraq and Syria, Defense officials said. The member of ISIS who is probably dead at this point reports say, told the miltants that they were planning on using mustard gas with upcoming attacks planned.

The New York Times reports that eleven oilfields in Libya are not operational due "theft, looting, sabotage and destruction." The armed groups responsible remain unidentified. ISIS has allegedly beheaded Egyptian Christians in the area, but as of yet, are not taking responsibility for the oil field looting.

This New York Times article discusses the lead up to, the details of, and the resultant trilateral agreement that came from the Middle East Peace Talks that President Clinton held at Camp David in July of 2000. While talks initially seemed to be going well, negotiations reached an impasse over the control of Jerusalem. While Barak agreed to lesser control of East Jerusalem, Arafat would not consider anything of the sort. Both Clinton, Barak, and the media blame Arafat for the failed discussions.

This is hands down the most helpful article I have read when it comes to trying to get a grasp on the issues Saudi women face. It covers many bases including that of a woman who does not want women's rights to be changed and even goes so far as to wish great punishment on activists. The article includes some information on activists of varying degrees including a teacher, a blogger, a YouTube video maker, and more.

In this New York Times article, the author covers the final statements made by both front runners during the recent Prime Minister elections in Israel. Chief among the comments was Netanyahu's strong statement against a Palestinian state.

This is an article from the New York Times regarding a call from activists and social media to release two women that were arrested for driving. Both women held valid driers licenses but because they are women driving without a guardian they were arrested.

After the fall of Gaddafi a power vacuum allowed rival militias to thrive. Now, Libya has become a proxy war for other Arab nations. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Algeria on one side and Qatar and Turkey on the other. 

It really frustrates me that the US is often very outspoken about rights, freedom and democracy. Yet time and time again, I have seen that politics are nothing more than a pursuit of interests. The US continues its "ambiguity" of action in Syria, essentially furthering the spread of chaos. Now Turkey, and important US ally is frustrated that the US has been siding with alleged Kurdish terrorist groups.

REALLY GOOD NEWS - I have been skeptical of our relations with Iran since we agreed to lift sanctions and cease surveillance on their nuclear programs, but as of yesterday, NYTimes reports Iran has turned over a new leaf with not only the U.S., but other nations as well.

Here is an interesting currently updated timeline of events in Tunisia. I find it interesting that last week protesters demand jobs.

This article is about the facebook page that was made after the death of Khaled Mohamed. It offers a more specific example of a time when social media was used in a middle eastern revolution.