CULF 3331: "Middle Eastern Revolutions"

Journalist Charles Sennott recently returned from Tahrir Square, where he was filming a documentary on the revolution for PBS's Frontline. He describes how various groups of the youth came together to support a common cause. The Muslim Brotherhood had a very strategic role in the revolution. They hesitated to join in the beginning, and then the youth in their group pushed for greater involvement. The Brotherhood brought a lot of organization to the revolution. They positioned themselves as a central force of the revolution rather than a leading player in the uprising. They did not want Mubarak to pin the revolution on them. And it was not their revolution--it was a revolution of all Egyptians. Although the Muslim Brotherhood is aiming toward more of a social movement toward Islamic incorporation into the structure of society, they also want to establish themselves on the political playing field.

In the Risk it All music video's description box Helly Luv dedicates the song to Kurdistan: FINALLY AFTER SO MANY MONTHS CREATING THIS VIDEO IT'S FINALLY DONE TODAY!!!!! I COULD NOT BE MORE IN LOVE AND PROUD OF THIS VIDEO. FIGHTING FOR YOUR DREAMS AND RISKING EVERYTHING FOR WHAT YOU LOVE IS WHAT I BELIEVE IN. THIS VIDEO WAS INSPIRED BY MY STRONG BEAUTIFUL KURDISH PEOPLE. WHO NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND INDEPENDENCE. TOGETHER WE CAN FIGHT FOR THIS DREAM. TOGETHER WE CAN BECOME ONE. TOGETHER WE CAN RISK IT ALL. THANK U EVERYONE WHO WAS PART OF THIS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, ESPECIALLY ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND THE SYRIAN CAMP THAT MADE THIS VIDEO COME ALIVE. ALSO, GOLDEN SCREEN THAT CREATED THIS ART PIECE WITH ME. I AM TRULY CRYING TEARS OF JOY TODAY! LONG LIVE KURDISTAN!!!

In a 4 billion dollar deal an Israeli firm agreed to export natural gas to the Egyptian firm Dolphinus Holdings. 2.5 billion cubic meters gas will be exported from the Tamar offshore gas field in which US based Noble Energy owns 36%. The gas would be exported over the pipeline which Egypt had used to export gas to Israel before it was sabotaged 2 year ago. For more than a decade Israel had relied on Egypt for 40% of its gas under a 2005 export accord but Egypt annulled the treaty in April 2012 citing that Israel had not held up their financial obligation.

This news report in International Business Times covers quite a bit of information, as a lot has happened during the past week in regards the conflict with ISIS. The US has declared support for the PKK and other Kurdish forces, because they are fighting against ISIS. Meanwhile, Turkey's President Ergodan, has condemned the US for supporting the PKK, as the US and Turkey are long-standing allies, and the PKK and Turkey have been embroiled in a decades-long conflict. Kurdish fighters are currently battling ISIS forces in the Syrian town of Kobani, and Turkey is opposing giving the fighters any weapons, and equating them with the PKK.

In a column in the independent Iraqi newspaper Kitabat, Mohammed Jawad Al-Abdali writes that it is doubtful that different parties will be able to from a stable coalition government after the country's recent elections.

Kurdish pop singer Helly Luv has received death threats from extremists in Iraq due to her recently released music video "Risk It All," which has more than 2.5 million views on YouTube.

This timeline by Al Jazeera details the history of conflict between the PKK and Turkey from 1920 to 2013. I chose this article because I still felt I could use some more background information about Turkey and the PKK's relationship, as it has had a great impact on Turkey's participation in the coalition against ISIS. While I knew about the conflict up until the Gulf War, I did not know that it was still active and ongoing in 2013.

This article provides an analysis of the role in religion moving forward from the revolution. While some groups promote a totally secular state, others are encouraging a system of government that is dictated by Sharia law. Some articles have been passed in the new constitutional referendum that are very controversial. The articles (2, 54, and 219) were an attempt to establish Islamic authority in rule, as well as the authority of other groups like Coptic Christians and Jews. In short, the identity of the Egyptian state is being defined by these political moves. Although different Islamic groups try to distinguish themselves politically, other leaders have tried to present the issue as a dichotomy between and Islamic state and a secular state. In reality, the political diversity is better represented by a spectrum. However, these groups must find enough popular and physical support to enact policies. Any policies enacted will be too much for one group, and not enough imposition for another.

Kurdish soldiers recovered images of ISIL picking a baby girl down with a knife near her throat. It is unclear what happen to the child. Many other images were found in the phone like the terrorist group playing football with heads.

ISIL killed a 17 year old boy because he was suspected of taking photos on the headquarters in Raqqa. It was said that the boy took the photo for 500 Turkish lira.

I heard this on morning edition this week! So crazy!

Intresting!! The Dutch are killing two birds with one stone; fighting ISIS and getting rid of their gang members.