Group items tagged

Putin and Russia have intervened in the civil war in Syria by bombing opponents of ISIS. They are bombing the moderate opposition. The country says that it has a range of targets that it is bombing but residents and rebels say that this is not the case.

Documents reveal that Iran has been attempting to get a peaceful nuclear program fro years. The United States opposition towards the program has remained the same.

Assad regaining control of Aleppo, as pro-government forces manage to force the opposition out.

An attack claimed by the Islamic State killed dozens of people in Syria's capital of Damascus. This attack was aimed in disrupting the peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups that are currently beginning.

Syrian Rebel groups are skeptical of the truce that is supposed to take place this weekend. They worry that Syrian and Russian government will continue to attack rebels, but under the cover of attacking "terrorist groups" like IS.

A Reuters article discussing the possible cease fire/truce that is supposed to occur over the weekend. The article does a good job of highlighting the uncertainty amongst various groups as to what the terms of the deal will be.

Russia air force killed hundred of civilian in Aleppo. that kind of act opposite the goal which attacking ISIS in syria war .

It is crazy to think that as horrible as Osama Bin Laden was, he may not have been as bad as ISIS is right now. The new documents released showed directives from Bin Laden to behave in manners opposite to what ISIS currently does.

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.

the general intelligence revolution has revealed an alleged Hezbollah plan to take over Beirut by purposely bombing the organization's own munition factories as well as military positions of the Lebanese army

Both the Syrian government and the opposition have reported violations of the cease fire. Although the US is on board with the truce, Russia seems to believe they are not and are planning to use force against violators until the US agrees to the joint rules. 

Russia decided to partially withdrawal its troop from Syria due to Moscow's disappointment over failures by pro-regime Iranian and Hezbollah forces to achieve victories against opposition forces fighting to topple the Assad government.

"Regime forces undertaking two fronts, led violent battles with Syrian Opposition forces in Al-Eis town, located in south Aleppo. Regime forces entered Al-Eis yesterday and announced the death of twelve Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants and two militants from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC."

Egyptian authorities have invited foreign software companies to help the government track online speech amid a sweeping crackdown on dissent. A twin bombing Monday killed two police officers. Egypt is tightening its control over social media by acquiring new software that would facilitate extensive monitoring of dissidents' communications, putting even stay-at-home opposition supporters at risk.

I thought this article was interesting in contrast to today's viewings on women's rights in Egypt. Women in ancient Egypt had similar and nearly all the same rights as men, which is quite the opposite today.

This article talks about how women were in ancient Egypt. Women were given rights although a little disproportionate but they were treated well. Women had rights to own property, divorce their husbands, and inherit the property their deceased husbands owned.

Women in ancient Egypt were on the same level as men as pictured by art and contemporary manuscripts. The division was found within socioeconomic status, not gender.

Due to Libya's lack of institutional structure and weak centralized government, rival militia violence and clashes have created constant chaos leading the country towards another civil war. After the fall of Qaddafi, who obliterated institutions necessary for a functional government, Libya has been unable to manage the state. The National Transitional Council, which replaced the Qaddafi Regime, turned into the General National Congress and was given 18 months to form a democratic constitution. When the deadline passed the constitution was incomplete, which forced Congress to organize elections to a new House of Representatives. The former GNC members declared a new self proclaimed GNC, electing Omar al-Hasi as their prime minister. The new GNC is not recognized by Libya's parliament nor is it by the international community. Al Jazeera says the country literally has two parliaments and two governments, creating inconceivable instability throughout the state. The newly elected House has moved to Tobruk after armed islamic GNC militia groups overran the capital, seizing control over the major institutions in Tripoli. Due to this lack of a functional government, the rest of the state has turned to chaos. After the civil war, anti and pro Qaddafi forces branched into militias striving for power. Without a working state and government, militias had to rely on themselves to provide security, and really have no incentive to give up arms and no true government to be a part of. General Khalifa Hifter, a former Qaddafi general who later joined the Libyan rebel army in 2011, formed an anti-militia militia, targeting islamist militias like Ansar al-Sharia. Hifter is not affiliated with either of the governments, but rather strives for a military government, and supreme control of the armed forces.

Thsi article explores the state of Christians in Syria. Patriarch Gregorios and Bishop Ibrahim add to this discussion.

Syria's allies, Russia, Iran, and China, all stand by them despite western powers opposing the Syrian government. There are different reasons to why these powers seem to stay with Syria such as Russia's ideologies, Iran's strategy, or China's trading. Either way, these government will stand by them until there is nothing left to lose.