Potential Senate Campaign for Giffords

Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, (D) is steadily recovering from a gunshot wound to the head that she sustained during an attack at a political event earlier this year. Despite the intense injury, there are rumblings that Giffords may run as a prime Senatorial candidate in an effort to replace Republican Senator Jon Kyl, who is vacating his seat next year.

According to a New York Times article, Giffords' aides and supporters are currently focused on her health rather than politics, as she is still in the hospital. Giffords' husband, astronaut Mark Kelley, is highly optimistic about her recovery, claiming that "she is improving everyday" in terms of memory, walking, and talking. Giffords was among those wounded during her "Congress on Your Corner" event on January 8th, when a gunman opened fire, leaving 6 people dead and 19 injured.

Giffords had expressed interest in running for the Senate before the January shooting, and politically speaking, as a third term representative, she has a strong chance at winning a nomination. Other Democratic hopefuls have expressed support of Giffords recovery and her possible candidacy: one stated that any Democrat running against her "would be doomed." Another hopeful and friend of Giffords, Fred DuVal, has said he will run only if Giffords opts out. However, pending recovery, even a popular Blue Dog Democrat like Giffords still faces fierce competition in a state as red as Arizona.

Libyan Loyalists Face Military Opposition by West

In a self-proclaimed effort to protect Libyan citizens from Colonel Qaddafi's forces, both American and European forces launched airstrikes on Saturday March, 19th, across the country's key cities. The military intervention was passed by the UN Security Council in favor of a no-fly zone on Thursday night, with varying degrees of support.

On Friday the 18th, President Obama issued a strong statement to Col. Quaddafi, calling for an immediate cease-fire, saying his demands were not negotiable, and claiming that military intervention by the United States would be a consequence of any continuing violence. The New York Times reports that the President said he was forced to act because Qaddafi has shown "no mercy to his own citizens." While Qaddafi paid lip service to the warning, stating he would pull back, the attacks on rebel forces continued in Benghazi, and other key areas. As a result, France, Britain, and the United States unleashed warplanes and missiles on Saturday afternoon.

President Obama portrayed the US in a supporting role, saying that Britain, France and Arab nations would take the lead, and that NATO could offer more leverage over as days go on. Indeed, as of this morning, NATO is meeting in Brussels to try to negotiate how the organization can undergird the no-fly zone.

The UN-backed vote passed 10-0, however, both Russia and China abstained from voting, and each country has expressed strong disapproval of military action. According to the Washington Post, Russian Prime Minster, Vladmir Putin, likened the assault to "medieval calls for crusades." Germany also abstained from voting, while Spain, Norway, and Denmark supported the no-fly zone resolution. Even Italy, who has strong ties to its former African colony due to oil, has sent military forces to Libya. Some Arab League leaders expressed support, while other were reluctant due to the potential for civilian deaths that airstrikes often pose.

Obama has pledged that this action will not involve ground troops, and this intervention is largely being carried out with Navy and Air force soldiers, due to the larger Army presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, issued a statement that the current military operation is not focused on Qaddafi himself, but on the protection of Libyan civilians and rebels, as not to violate UN-approved mandate.

To read more, visit these sites:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/africa/20libya.html?scp=2&sq=libya&st=cse

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-jets-strike-gaddafis-forces-coalition-continues-hitting-libyan-air-defenses/2011/03/20/ABgFNa3_story_1.html

Tea Party Prominence Threatens Conservative Candidates

Tea Partyers have rallied throughout Utah since the 2009 Taxpayer March on Washington. Add in the fact that Mormons tend to be politically conservative, and one can see why the Beehive state has been rendered a cozy haven Tea Party idealists. Three key politicians, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch (R), former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (R), and former governor of Utah, Jon M. Huntsman Jr. (R), are Mormon. The latter two are also GOP presidential candidate hopefuls, while Hatch is carefully courting conservative voters in an effort to win his seventh sojourn in Washington.

Why is Hatch so attentive to his potential supporters? It turns out that Utah's Mormon Tea Party members are looking for more conservatism in their candidates. According to the New York Times, David Kirkman, a business man who founded one of Utah's first Tea Party groups, the Tea Party "opposes all three" candidates due to their individual actions.

Romney has been criticized because of his support of state healthcare legislation in Massachusetts, which makes healthcare compulsory in the Baystate, and was passed during his tenure as governor. Many Tea Partyers see Massachusetts healthcare laws as a model for the the Obama-proposed plan, which they interpret and ideologically oppose, as a big government stronghold. Huntsman, who announced his resignation of ambassadorship to China in January, had taken a fairly moderate position on key social issues and "supported carbon emissions cap-and trade legislation to reduce heat-trapping gases." Those bipartisan stances are deal breakers for Tea Party voters.

And only last year, veteran Utah GOP Senator Robert Bennett lost what would have been his 4th term to the Tea Party candidate, Mike Lee. Hatch faces a battle for his re-election for the same ideological reasons that thwarted Bennett. Therefore, he's taking a pro-active stance by seeking out prominent tea party members in the community, and taking a hard line anti-Washington stance. In addition, he's against same-sex marriage, the national healthcare reforms, and gives no leeway to unions.

Only time will tell if Hatch's strategy will secure his long-running political career as a Utah Senator, and, if Romney and Huntsman can make headway among such staunchly conservative citizens.

To read more, visit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-utah-sen-hatch-courts-tea-partyers-one-by-one-in-quest-for-survival/2011/03/01/ABieqTP_story.html

Wisconsin Cuts Bargaining for Public Workers

Three weeks of Senate stalemate in Wisconsin may have come to an end, after Republican senators voted to pass a controversial bill late last night. The bill, proposed by new Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, is supposed to address current budget issues by limiting public employee benefits, and collective bargaining rights, more specifically. While large anti-bill demonstrations have been a staple outside the state Capital building in Madison over the last month, now groups are protesting the voting measures in addition to the bill itself.

On Wednesday, March 10th, 19 Republican senators strategically trimmed the bill of fiscal policy measures that would render the 20-senator quorum necessary. The senators voted 18 to 1 to pass the bill, without any debate and without a single Democratic counterpart present. The 14 Democratic senators had fled to Illinois in hopes of blocking a vote by absence, and their plan proved unsuccessful. The passage of the bill and the tactics taken to vote on it may threaten the job security for the Republican senators and the governor himself, as recall petitions are being passed around by citizens.

According to The Washington Post, Gov. Walker applauded the Republican strategy, stating it allows leaders to "stand up to the status quo and take a step in the right direction to balance the budget and reform government." The bill that passed targets Unions by limiting bargaining to issues of wags and raises only, unless the public concedes in a referendum. In addition, it does not allow compulsory union dues form members, or let dues be taken from a worker's paycheck. Workers would also have to pay for more of their healthcare.

Walker cited the current economy as impetus for the bill, which was proposed as a fiscal initiative, but voted through without those measures. Walker states that the bill will help create jobs by freeing up money to fill gaps in the current budget, and keeping taxes from rising in his biennial budget proposal. A Rasmussen poll last week, however, reported that 57 percent of likely voters in the state disapprove Walker's sojourn in office so far.

To read more, visit the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/us/10wisconsin.html?pagewanted=2&hp&adxnnlx=1299765656-KoE6D5AyjZ%20BWim4IfIOBQ

International Responses: Conflict of Resolutions in Libya

Libya appears to be in the throes of a full-on civil war, with violence escalating throughout the country. Indeed, loyalists are reportedly sniping from rooftops, storming houses, and carrying out airstrikes. Bombing by pro-Qaddafi forces began on Monday, March 7th, targeting the western city of Zawiyah. Loyalists are also closing in on Ras Lanuf, the location of a sizable oil refinery, yet, the opposition appears to be holding Benghazi and Zawiyah, despite heavy air raids.

Bodies line the streets in Zawiyah, which has been under heavy shelling for five days. Numbers of injuries and casualities remain undetermined, but it can be assumed that the total is steadily rising in Tripoli, Misurata, and other cities. According to Al Jazeera sources, some estimates range into the thousands. Numbers of refugees fleeing Libya are said to be around 215,000, and according to the UNHCR, foreign workers are being forced to leave at gunpoint for the Sudanese, Tunisian, and Egyptian borders.

There are reports that Qaddafi's government is negotiating with opposition forces regarding a potential step down from power. The New York Times, wrote that the Head of National Opposition Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, claimed that rebel forces were approached by a government official with demands that Qaddafi be able to keep his assets, evade prosecution for war crimes, and secure a safe passage for him and his family, if he leaves Libya within 72 hours. An official of the Provisional Transitional National Council, however, Abdel Hafiz-Ghoga, asserted that there was no truth behind such negotiations. Indeed, such allegations are suspicious, considering not long ago Qaddafi himself vowed to fight "to the last drop of blood."

As brutalities multiply in Libya, foreign policy leaders are conflicted. Most rebel forces voice a desire for a no-fly zone to fortify their few strategic advantages, but they not want direct military intervention. The international community, however, risks losing support from Russia and China if a no-fly zone were carried out. In addition, such a plan is difficult to authorize by legal international standards, and Britain and France are in discussions to bring about a United Nations resolution.

The Arab League is said to be meeting on Friday to discuss options for the current violence, and word from the African Union is coming in regards to solutions. President Obama has called the violence in Libya "unacceptable."

Link to an interactive map from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/02/25/world/middleeast/map-of-how-the-protests-unfolded-in-libya.html?ref=africa

Read more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/07/AR2011030701703.html?hpid=topnews

Protests Continue in Yemen

This week, Amabassador Tom Krajeski is coming to UMASS Amherst to lecture and lead a discussion on Yemen, and current events throughout the Middle East. The timing is apt, as protesters have returned to the streets in Sanaa, Yemen, on Tuesday for a "Day of Rage".

Protesters for and against President Ali Abdullah Saleh were joined by an alleged former mentor to Osama bin Laden, cleric Sheik Abdul Majid al-Zindani. Zindani, whom the US claims has ties to al-Qaeda, called for Saleh to step down in order to make Yemen an Islamic state. At this point, many anti-government factions are looking for the support of Zindani, while others express ambivalence about the strong religious sentiments.

Both The New York Times and Al-Jazeera report that Saleh is laying blame for protests at the feet of the United States and Israel, claiming they are responsible for destabilizing Yemen and the entire region. The Times contends that the US has been Mr. Saleh’s most powerful Western backer during his three decades in power.

24 people are reported dead so far in the Yemeni protests that have spanned about a month thus far.

Ambassador Krajeski will speak about these events, among others, at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst on Thursday March 3rd at 5pm in Thompson Hall, 106.

For more on Ambassador Krajeski

http://www.ndu.edu/info/LeadershipBios/Krajeski.cfm

Violence Boils Over in Libya

Protests in Libya are entering their second week, as Libyan leader Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi claimed that he would 'die as a martyr' before resigning, according to an article in the Washington Post. Unrest has been intensifying between Qaddafi loyalists and anti-government protesters, and forces on both side are clashing in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, in Benghazi and throughout the North African Country.

When opposition groups gathered in Tripoli's Green Square on Monday, they were met with open gunfire on the ground, and by helicopter, from pro-Qaddafi forces. Exact numbers of dead and wounded are unknown, but estimates range between 300 to 500. Libya's second biggest city, Benghazi, is most recent target of violence for both civilians and military deserters.

Libyan diplomats and religious leaders are voicing their discontent about the assaults. According to Al Jazeera, Ibrahim Dabbashi, who is Libya's deputy ambassador, claimed that current events are a "genocide against the Libyan people." Libya's ambassador to the United States has declared his resignation, and he called on the US to "raise its voice very strongly" to help topple the 68 year-old dictator. In addition, an influential Muslim cleric, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, has issued a fatwa on Qaddafi's life, which is tantamount to calling for a vigilante assassination.

UN Security forces are to meet with Arab Union Leaders today to discuss the bloodshed. Both the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemn the ongoing violence towards the anti-government protesters.

Qaddafi's regime has been in power since 1969, when he successfully led bloodless coup at the age of 27.

Read more below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/world/africa/23libya.html?_r=1&hp

A useful map:

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/02/22/world/africa/22libyaGraphicA.html?ref=africa

Civic Initiative Speaker Series: "Yemen: The Next War"

The Civic Initiative Speaker Series will continue this month with a lecture and discussion by Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski, who is currently the Senior Vice President of the University. The ambassador will speak about current affairs in the Middle East, and Yemen, more specifically.

Throughout his diplomatic career, Mr. Krajeski served as the Senior Advisor on Northern Iraqi Affairs in Baghdad in 2008-2009, working to delineate the permanent boundary of Iraqi Kurdistan. On July 30, 2004, he was sworn in as the American Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen of where he served until July 4, 2007. From 2001 to 2004, Ambassador Krajeski was the Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (Iran and Iraq) in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department. From July to October 2003, Ambassador Krajeski served as a political advisor on Ambassador L. Paul Bremer’s staff at The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Baghdad. Ambassador Krajeski also served inNepal, India, Poland, Tunisia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and WashingtonDC. In 2007, he received the President’s Distinguished Service Award for his service in Iraq and Yemen. He is an alumna of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Please join us for “Yemen: The Next War”, on Thursday, March 3^rd from 5 to 7 p.m. in Thompson 106 at the University of Massachusetts.

To learn more about the Ambassador, visit:

http://www.ndu.edu/info/LeadershipBios/Krajeski.cfm

The Social Media Professor

Professor Marcus Messner of Virginia Commonwealth University teaches about global and multimedia journalism, and the latest developments in communications: social media. Networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linked, along with the seemingly unending blogosphere, are eclipsing older mediums like newspapers, and even televised nightly news. On his website he shares insights on everything from the significance of social media in recent events in Egypt to more domestic affairs.

Follow him on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/marcusmessner

Political Unrest Grows in the Middle East

Tunisia first lit the flame of civilian discontent in North Africa, then Egypt exploded by successfully overthrowing their leader last Friday. Throughout the last month, huge anti-government protests have spread throughout the region, first in Algeria and Jordan, and now in Iran, Yemen, and Bahrain. The recent cries of protesters parallel those heard in Tunisia and Egypt, calling for democratic ruling and the end of elitist, authoritarian regimes.

While the anti-government protesters have generally been peaceful, police and pro-regime factions are reacting with extreme violence. In Bahrain, two protesters have been shot dead by the police, while plainclothes police hidden among civilian loyalist carry electric tasers and batons, in the streets of Sanaa, Yemen. Iranian Political leaders are calling for opposition leaders to be handed the death penalty, and two have already died. Many others have been wounded while assembling to support the recent activity in Tunisia and Egypt. Most protests show no signs of stopping, though frequent arrests and teargas have slowed them down.

Both President Obama and Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton have voiced support for peaceful protesters and called for peace between various government responses and those who fill the streets.

Read more here:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/20112158387191255.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/world/middleeast/16bahrain.html?hp

New Abortion Bill Changed

On January 20th, a Republican-backed bill was introduced that seeks to render the Hyde Amendment permanent, among other antiabortion provisions. In an effort to cut federal funding for abortions, the new bill tailored existing Hyde Amendment language, changing exceptions for rape to "forcible rape". The new language was met with immediate public outcry from women's groups, prochoice activists, and advocates of rape victims. Their concern was surrounded the new definition of rape, which is widely understood as being a sexual crime of force.

The linguistic change was cut on February 3rd, and returned to the original Hyde wording, which funds abortions in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. According to The Washington Post, lawmakers claimed they changed the language because the term forcible was being "misconstrued". The abortion debate has returned to Capitol Hill with a vengeance.

Read more here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/us/politics/09congress.html?scp=1&sq=new%20abortion%20bill&st=cse

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3/text

Mubarak, No More

On the evening of February 11th, Hosni Mubarak released his iron grip and formally resigned his presidency of almost three decades. His step down from power was met with an ecstatic frenzy from both Egyptian civilian protestors and the military alike, and shouts of "liberation" were exclaimed the world over. The ever-present Egyptian army was quick to make statements about their new governmental control, whilst essaying to calm anxieties about their potential for militaristic rule. In an official statement, the army said that the current civilian leadership would be supported, until a new governmental structure can be put in place. Indeed, the desires of the peaceful protestors were clearly made and heard: they seek democratic reformation of their government.

The tone and volume of the military rule has yet to be fully revealed, along with the role of former Vice President Omar Suleiman. While civilians and soldiers hugged and took hands in the streets on Friday, it's yet to be seen if the army will sincerely meet the demands of the people. Protestors remain in Tahrir square still and they vow to stay put until the democratic standards are met.

As the balance of power swings, the role of the small, yet powerful Muslim Brotherhood remains in question. Throughout the 18-day mass protest throughout the country of 80 million, the Muslim Brotherhood seemed to play a peripheral role at best, as most organizing was carried out through social media like Facebook and Twitter. While much of the Western media has sought to portray the Brotherhood as a band of Islamic extremists, Egypt's Brotherhood has laid low during the protests. The organization has issued only brief statements of support for the revolt, and they will not front a candiate for the presidency.

In the streets of Yemen and Algeria, anti-government protestors emerged to demonstrate after Mubarak's resignation. They were met, however, with police clubs and many were arrested. Although the Egyptian people's breakthrough spring hope for ending dictatorships in Yemen and Algeria, the futures of all three countries remain in the balance.

Read more here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/world/middleeast/13egypt.html?_r=1&hp

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/12/AR2011021200888.html?hpid=topnews

Egypt in the News: Different Perspectives

While recent unrest in Tunisia may have lit the flame of anti-government protest throughout the Arab World, Egypt is undoubtedly in the forefront of the fire. Mubarak supporters, including the military, have reacted to anti-government protesters with extremely violent tactics--from club beatings and frequent gunfire, to rocks and firebombs. This week the violence came to a head between both factions at a rally of tens of thousands in Tahrir Square on Wednesday, leaving at least five dead and over 800 wounded. Most news sources confirm these happenings as fact, however, the coverage on the Egyptian varies from central to peripheral according to different newspapers.

The Dallas Morning News' coverage of Egypt is largely absent on the website, with only an editorial, while the homepage is focused on local weather and the Superbowl. Short stories regarding the inflammatory protests are buried in the World News section, yet they offer little information about the repercussions from Egypt in the rest of the Arab world, the minor role of the Islamic Brotherhood, and the media-centered nature of the protests.

Both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, however, have offered more comprehensive coverage. The Times remarks that contrary to previous speculation, the revolution is not being led by Islamic Brother, but young people and intellectuals. Moreover, the Times refers to Egyptian protest as largely symbolic in the Arab world, evoking powerful echoes of Abdel Nasser. Egyptians themselves in protest are utilizing language of Arab unity, which was so familiar in the 1960's.

Plastered all over the Journal's homepage are stories and images from Egypt. Their coverage also refers to messages of Arab unity, based on the common problem of despotic and corrupt regimes, and efforts to overthrow them. Both the Journal and the Times have made it clear that new media, such as Facebook and Twitter have been central to the Egyptian organizing process. Lastly, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Al Jazeera have all reported on the spread of the Egypt government crackdown beyond Egyptian nationals to foreign observers and reporters. Two NYtimes reporters, two Washington Post staffers, and three Al Jazeera reporters are among the detained journalists. The Al Jazeera detainees have yet to be released.

Unrest continues in Cairo and throughout Egypt.

Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/world/middleeast/03arab.html?hp

Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/public/page/mideast.html?mod=quicklinks_egypt

Al Jazeera:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201123165214813586.html

Protest in Egypt -- "Egyptians' Fury has Smoldered Beneath the Surface for Decades"

Egypt has erupted in protest. The grievances behind the protests have long been there. Egyptian President Mubarak has held power for over 30 years, largely through election rigging. This past November in the Parliamentary elections, the president’s party won 500 of 518 seats, which resulted in the loss of almost all opposition seats. The effect is that voices of opposition have been pushed out of government. Furthermore, the Egyptian government does not have a clean history in regards to human rights. The Emergency Law, passed in 1981 allows people to be arrested without charges, detain prisoners indefinitely, and limit freedom of expression and assembly. While the law is only supposed to be used to combat terrorism, that is not the reality. Low wages and poverty are also a source of the Egyptians’ discontent with the current regime. Nearly half of Egyptians live on less than $2 a day. The people have taken to the streets in protest, calling for President Mubarak to step down.

To the full New York Time Article, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29mubarak.html?_r=1&hp

State of the Union

On Tuesday, the 25th, President Obama delivered this year’s State of the Union address. He emphasized bipartisanship and efforts to get the economy back on track. He also emphasized spending in critical areas, such as education and clean-energy technology. However, Republicans believe his approach is to the deficit is not enough.

To hear the State of the Union Address, click here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2011

To read about the State of the Union Address, click here: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/state_of_the_union_message_us/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=state%20of%20the%20union%20&st=cse

All Signs Lead to Secession in Southern Sudan

While the Sudan has suffered from civil war and bitter division for many decades, the latest political action almost guarantees an absolute divide in the form of secession. Indeed, a week-long referendum poll that ended on Saturday, January 15th, indicated that around 95 percent of the Southern Sudanese population, both domestic and abroad, favored becoming a separate country, according to a recent New York Times article. While tallying votes began last week, the results are not expected to be formally announced until early to mid-February 2011.

Moreover, if secession from the North is the final outcome of the referendum, Southern independence would not take place until the expiration of the "Comprehensive Peace Agreement" on July 9th of this year. The 2005 American-influenced agreement marked the end of the 22-year Second Sudanese Civil War between Northern Arab political leadership, and Animists and Christian populations in the South. Yet, secession will not end strife between the North and the South, and the more complicated schisms regarding religion, ethnicity, and oil. While votes were being cast in the South, rallies were active in the North, with groups shouting anti-government slogans and expressing disillusion over whether fair elections were possible. In addition, as Al Jazeera reports, a secession means that nearly nine million Southern Sudanese would "take with them some 80 per cent of Sudan's oil reserves--leaving the north's 32 million people to go it alone" without the economic security that oil can bring.

To learn more about the current situation in the Sudan, come to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst on February 10th, to hear Dr. Andrew Natsios of Georgetown give a talk entitled: "The Future of the Sudan."

To read more:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/201111513594958973.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/17/world/africa/17sudan.html?scp=2&sq=sudan&st=cse

Self-Immolation, Social Media, and Tunisian Strife

The recent riots throughout Tunisia were provoked by many things, such as the self-indulgent behaviors of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, socio-economic discontent, and old-fashioned corruption. The ultimate trigger, however, was the suicide of a desperate 26 year-old man, Mohammed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire because his fruit stand had been confiscated by the local police. His act of self-immolation unleashed the anger of middle-class, and college-educated Tunisians, who face rampant unemployment, while the now-former President Ben Ali enjoyed a ultra lavish life-style.

For almost a month now, Tunisia has been flooded by rioters in rural areas and in the streets of Tunis, who are calling for political reform and accountability. Riots were organized via various social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tunisian bloggers. In addition, many of the protests are being documented by videos posted online, prompting more action and unrest. At least 78 Tunisians have died, and 100 have been wounded in the protest, often due to police violence. The demonstrations, however, have been effective in toppling the regime: Ben Ali has fled to Saudi Arabia, more than five ministers from makeshift unity government stepped down, and there are calls for Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi to resign.

While Tunisia is the current powder keg, there is a single flame uniting these protests in Tunisia with the the rest of the Arab World: the target of political despotism. Indeed, protesters from Jordan to Sudan have been activated by the demonstrations in Tunisia, though often in self-destructive ways. As of January 17th, five more North African men have set themselves ablaze, two in front of their respective parliament buildings. These self-immolations have taken place in Egypt, Algeria, Mauritania,Tunisia, and the common thread is the brief and fleeting relationships these countries have had with democracy. According to an Al-Jazeera article, "Tunisians, many other Arabs are frustrated by soaring prices, poverty, high unemployment and systems of rule that ignore their voices." Indeed, an Egyptian group is organizing a protest via Facebook for January 25th, to fight against "torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment."

Click here for the latest news:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/world/africa/19tunis.html?pagewanted=1&hp

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/20111179413130528.html

The Future of the Sudan

On Thursday, February 10th, Dr. Andrew Natsios will visit UMASS Amherst to give a talk entitled: "The Future of the Sudan." Dr. Natsios is a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. Dr. Natsios is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. From 1993 to 1998, he was vice president of World Vision U.S., the largest faith-based NGOs in the world. Natsios was a member of the US Army Reserves for 23 years, served in the Gulf War in 1991 on active duty and was a Lt. Colonel when he retired in the 1990’s. He has served as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development from 2001 to January 2006. In addition to teaching, he served as President Bush’s Special Envoy to Sudan from October 2006 to December 2007. Dr. Natsios is the author of two books, U.S. Foreign Policy and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1997) and The Great North Korean Famine (2001), collaborated on eight other books, and numerous articles. His book Sudan and Darfur: What Everyone Needs to Know is forthcoming.

Here is a comprehensive article about the Sudan by Dr.Natsios:

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/64904/andrew-natsios/waltz-with-bashir

Also, heck out this video on the upcoming Sudanese referendum, featuring Dr. Natsios:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/12/30/VI2010123002164.html?referrer=emaillink