State Department Official Discusses US Policy in Sharq Al Awsat
April 26th, 2011 by Ali
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the US State Department, Tamara Wittes, gave an interview to the Arabic daily Sharq Al Awsat. Throughout the interview Wittes affirmed the points that have driven US policy toward the Middle East since President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Forum for the Future speech and the latter’s more recent speech at the US-Islamic World Forum: while the US supports certain universal rights, it does not view itself as the originator of change in the region. She said while the US has interests in the region such as the “free flow of energy resources,” “the reintegration of Iraq” into the region and the protection of allies, she emphasized that reform is inevitable for regional stability. When asked how the US came to view stability as linked to reform as opposed to the security of its allies, Wittes referred to the more recent Clinton recent speech in which the Secretary declared that gaps between a government and the aspirations of its people are not conducive to stability. Wittes added that while the need for reform has been discussed for some time, what has become necessary now is its “faster application.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Middle Eastern Media, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
Obama Administration to Take Stronger Stance on Syria
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
Writing at The Cable, Josh Rogin discusses the new policy course the Obama Administration will take in regards to Syria. He states that in light of the violent crackdowns and the lack of substantial reform over the past two weeks, the mood inside the administration has shifted. In the coming days we can “expect a new executive order on Syria, a draft presidential statement at the U.N. Security Council, new designations of Syrian officials as targets for sanctions, and a firmer tone on the violence that will include references to Iran’s unhelpful influence on Syria’s crackdown,” Rogin states. He notes, however, that the new sanctions will not target Syrian President Bashar al-Assad directly and there will be no calls for him to step down. Elliott Abrams, among others, has criticized the administration’s response, including President Barack Obama‘s statement on Friday, as too weak and too slow. This may have been due to the perception in the White House that protests in Syria would not have escalated this far, Rogin states. According to an administration official, “The general assessment [inside the administration] was that this wouldn’t happen, that Assad was too good at nipping these movements in the bud and also that he was not afraid to be brutal. All of these things combined made this more of a surprise and made it much harder to deal with.” George Washington University professor Marc Lynch states that the Assad regime’s use of force left the administration with no choice but to increase our involvement.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Libya, Protests, Reform, Syria, US foreign policy | 1 Comment »
White House Spokesman Jay Carney Addresses Questions on Syria
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
On Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney addressing questions from the press on Syria, reiterated U.S. condemnation of the use of force by the Syrian government against demonstrators. Carney called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to honor promises to lift the emergency law and institute reforms and in response to a question, Carney stated that having an ambassador in Syria “has been useful” as it has allowed the U.S. to “communicate directly what our positions and views are.”
He also noted how the situation in Syria differs greatly from that in Libya as Muammar Gadhafi‘s regime was “moving against its own people in a coordinated military fashion” with the promise that it would show no mercy. He also pointed to the international consensus and support of the Arab League the U.S. and its allies received before intervening in the country. Carney stated that the U.S. is looking at a range of options, including targeted sanctions to “make clear that this behavior is unacceptable.” However, he noted that the U.S. is not considering sending aid to the opposition, as suggested by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), given the fact that “there is not an organized opposition to whom we would give aid at this point.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Military, Protests, Reform, Syria | Comment »
Freedom House Releases Internet Freedom Report
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
Last week, Freedom House released its report on internet freedom in 37 countries around the world. The report found that while the number of internet users have increased, “governments have stepped up efforts to regulate, and in some instance tightly control, the new medium.” The study highlights the increase in the number of blocked and filtered sites as well as the arrest of bloggers and internet users posting information contrary to the government’s views. It also notes the fact that a large number of governments, such as Saudi Arabia, have deliberately blocked access to information related to politics, social issues, and human rights. It also notes the sophistication of these regimes to filter and control content or even shut down the internet, as was the case in Egypt. The report notes that intensified censorship and arrest of users came “in the context of popular protests or contentious elections” in countries like Bahrain, Iran and Tunisia and highlights the importance of sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter in social and political activism during the recent and ongoing events Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain. In the study, Jordan was listed as a “country at risk” due to the monitoring of some activity by authorities and the adoption of a new law on cybercrimes that may be used to limit free expression on the internet.
Jordan, Turkey and Egypt received a “Partly Free” designation while Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Iran were labeled as “Not Free.” Iran received the lowest internet freedom score due to the internet restrictions put in place following the 2009 Green Revolution, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s stake in the Telecommunications Company of Iran and the banning of encrypted e-mail sites like Gmail.
Posted in Bahrain, Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Iran, Jordan, Protests, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Technology, Tunisia, Turkey | Comment »
CNN Asks Experts to Comment on Future of “Arab Spring”
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
Given the uncertainty surrounding events in the Middle East, CNN.com asked five experts to address how the “Arab Spring” will play out in the coming months. Ibrahim Sharqieh, deputy director of the Brookings Doha Center, states that in the coming months we will see a new paradigm for political transition in the Middle East as dictators use more forceful means to quell popular uprisings. Nader Hashemi notes the misnomer of ”Arab Spring” given the differing internal dynamics of the countries, but notes that the days are numbered for Arab dictators. Parag Khanna, senior research fellow with the New America Foundation, argues that the region is likely to remain volatile especially in Egypt during the lead up to parliamentary elections and in Bahrain where the government has suppressed the opposition instead of addressing its concerns. He also notes the role the International Monetary Fund and the Gulf countries can play in supporting structural economic modernization throughout the region.
Julie Taylor, a political scientist at the RAND Corp., stated that in the next six months, we will likely see regime change in Yemen and Libya. Taylor also notes the Syrian armed forces commitment to President Bashar al-Assad and the strong support the regime will likely receive from Iran for a mass crackdown. Feryal Cherif draws parallels between the events in Egypt and those in Syria where both leaders offered concessions in hopes of appeasing protesters, but tended to remain a step behind protesters’ demands. She notes, however, that Syria lacks the presence of a strong civil society and experience with activism, which will likely hinder their movement.
Posted in Bahrain, Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Gulf, Iran, Military, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen | Comment »
NDI Releases Report on Tunisian Youth Opinion About Transition
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Last week, the National Democratic Institute released a report outlining the results of a qualitative study to explore what Tunisia’s youth think and feel about the past, present and future of their country. The information will be used to ensure the Tunisian political elites understand and address the expectations of the youth during the transition process and develop outreach strategies to increase youth involvement. The study, which looks at data compiled from ten focus groups in nine cities across the country, shows that the Tunisian youth are excited about voting and participating in the first free election to be held in their lifetime and hope to play a meaningful role in the unfolding transition. The report also highlights youth fear that the transition will be co-opted by individuals and elite groups ”attempting to profit from the revolution for personal gain,” noting the non-transparent process thus far. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that the political parties and civil society organizations are unknown by the youth today, due to their severe repression under former President Zine Ben Ali.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Islam and Democracy, Protests, Tunisia | Comment »
Commentators React to Violence Escalation in Syria
April 25th, 2011 by Ali
Walter Russel Mead argues that U.S. justifications for intervention in Libya, humanitarian and strategic, are more evident in Syria, especially following the killings of the past weekend. Aside from Syria’s role in supporting extremist groups, Mead argues that pressuring Iran would rekindle US-Saudi relations.
Israeli officials are debating whether or not it is in Israel’s interests to see regime change in Damascus. “We prefer the devil we know,” said Ephraim Sneh, a former deputy defense minister. Dore Gold, a former foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argued that undermining Iran’s influence with a pro-Western regime in Damascus presents a huge policy opportunity. The debate provoked Martin Kramer to dismiss whether Israel’s preferences matter at all for Syria’s future. Kramer added,”It’s not the 1950s. So sit back, watch the show, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Syria, US foreign policy | Comment »
Yemen Update: Opposition Accepts GCC Plan
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
On Monday, a Yemeni opposition source told Reuters that the opposition has fully accepted a plan created by the Gulf Cooperation Council for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. The source also said that the opposition would participate in the transitional government. The plan, which transfers power to the Vice President and grants Saleh immunity, was initially rejected by the opposition who called for Saleh to step down immediately. Other members of the opposition rejected the plan with the demand that Saleh be prosecuted.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Elections, Gulf Cooperation Council, Protests, Reform, Yemen | Comment »
Senator McCain Discusses Protest Movements Across the Middle East
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
In an interview with The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his belief that the U.S. should resume its leadership of NATO operations in Libya, recognize the Transitional National Council as the “legitimate voice of the Libyan people,” and arm the rebels lest the situation turns into a stalemate which empowers al-Qaeda or Muammar Gadhafi‘s regime. He also called on President Barack Obama to formally declare that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lost his legitimacy as a ruler by slaughtering his own people. However, he cautioned against calls for regime change as failure to secure regime change could hurt the United States’ credibility. He also stated his opposition to direct U.S. involvement in Syria noting that he does not see a way for the U.S. to help the opposition in any way other than through expressions of solidarity with the protesters.
Discussing Egypt, Senator McCain stressed the importance of ensuring a successful transition in Egypt given the regional importance of the country. He expressed his belief that the Supreme Military Council under the leadership of General Mohamed Tantawi has handled the transition “very well so far.” The Senator also expressed his concern over the situation in Yemen where it is unclear what will come next. McCain also noted the different situations and complexities in the various protest movements across the Middle East and also noted the impact it has had in places like China and Russia.
Posted in al-Qaeda, Bahrain, Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, EU, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Jordan, Libya, Military, Morocco, NATO, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, United Nations, US foreign policy, Yemen, Youth | Comment »
Prospects for Democratic Transition in Tunisia and Egypt
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Alfred Stepan, writing at Democracy Digest, discusses whether Tunisia and Egypt will successfully transition into democracies. Stepan optimistically states that Tunisia will successfully transition to a democracy this year noting the fact that the military is not complicating the transition, that the civilian-led interim government has engaged in interactive negotiations about the democratic rules with virtually all major actors, and that a Constituent Assembly is being formed and will step down following the formation of a government. Additionally, he notes that the Constituent Assembly, which is free to choose the system of government, will likely form a parliamentary government following the model of post-communist European countries. Stepan also points to the inclusion and moderation of Al-Nahda as a reason for the success of Tunisia.
Looking at the case of Egypt, Stepan states that while democratization is probable in the long term, the country does not have the “especially favorable conditions we find in Tunisia.” He points to the fact that every president in Egypt’s history has been military officer and the role of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) in the transition period as a hindrance for democratic development. He also states that the U.S. emphasis on maintaining strong relations with the army, which receives $1.3 billion of the total $1.5 billion of U.S. aid to the country, may also hurt the the transition.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Islam and Democracy, Military, Protests, Reform, Tunisia, US foreign policy | Comment »
Libya: Rebels Sign Contract with DC PR Firm
April 25th, 2011 by Ali
The National Transitional Council has signed up with the Harbour Group, a well-connected DC-based public relations firm, according to Justice Department records. The firm, which is working pro-bono, aims to gain US recognition of the rebel council, in addition to encouraging US humanitarian aid to Libya and freezing the assets of Libyan ruler Muammar Gadhafi in order to pay for that aid. To this end, Harbour will “help prepare speeches, press releases and op-eds, contact reporters and think tanks and develop a website and social media for the council.”
The contract is currently under Justice Department review. While the article declares, “Unrest in the Middle East has led to more business for K Street,” citing recent deals with the Bahraini government, among others, Harbour professes different motives. According to Richard Mintz, Harbour’s managing director, “It’s the right thing to do.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Foreign Aid, Libya, Technology | Comment »
State Department Discontinues America.gov in Favor of Social Media Outreach
April 25th, 2011 by Ali
The State Department has ceased to update the democracy promotion website America.gov. The decision came as the result of a review last fall, which concluded that the State Department’s Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) needed a “more proactive” web engagement strategy that focused less on “static” websites and more on social media, according to IIP Deputy Assistant Secretary Duncan MacInnes. The website, which was launched in January 2008, is currently being archived. The resources it provided will now be available through individual embassy and consulate websites.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Middle Eastern Media, Technology, US foreign policy | Comment »
Obama Condemns Violence In Syria, Calls for Immediate Reform
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
On Saturday, President Barack Obama issued a statement strongly condemning the use of force by the Syrian government against peaceful protesters: “This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now.” The President also expressed his belief that that Syria’s repeal of the Emergency Law was “not serious given the continued violent repression against protesters.” He called on the Syrian government put aside their personal interests and address the legitimate demands and aspirations of his people. Obama reiterated U.S. support for democracy and universal human rights. He also criticized President Bashar al-Assad‘s statements blaming outsiders for the unrest and the Syrian governments “continued destabilizing behavior more generally, including support for terrorism and terrorist groups.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Protests, Reform, Syria, US foreign policy | 2 Comments »
Debating the Wisdom of Foreign Support for the Arab Spring
April 25th, 2011 by Ali
Two pieces on the Foreign Policy website situate the Arab Spring in political-historical perspective and argue over the wisdom of foreign intervention. The first, an interview with University of Massachusetts professor Gene Sharp, whose writings have been hailed as manual for nonviolent resistance in Eastern Europe and the Arab world, says “the U.S. should stay out of these situations completely,” arguing “[p]eople have to learn how to do it themselves.”
In a separate op-ed, however, Washington Post columnist and author David Ignatius argues that foreign support and strong leaders have been a necessary, even if not sufficient, condition of successful revolutions: “even with the genius of America’s founders and the backing of France, Americans still made a mess of things initially with their first constitution, the Articles of Confederation.” Drawing on this and other historical examples, Ignatius argues that diplomatic support and aid to Egypt and Tunisia’s transitions are imperative (though, he is skeptical of the trajectories in Syria, Libya and Yemen). Both authors, coincidentally drawing on the shared example of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, agree that while media technology serves as a linchpin to revolutions, the trigger lies more in the message being communicated.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Protests, US foreign policy | Comment »
Moroccan Opposition Rejects Draft of Constitution, Calls for Reform
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
On Sunday, thousands of Moroccans held peaceful demonstrations calling for “a radical overhaul of the country’s governance” before the new constitution is unveiled in June. The protest was organized on Facebook by Morocco’s February 20 Movement, which has refused to join a consultative committee, formed by King Mohammed VI, to review the constitution. Leaders of the movement argued that the present draft of the constitution was written by a unilaterally formed committee which does not appear to take the demands of the people seriously. Demonstrators called for a committee “which represents all the Moroccans.” Although the king announced last month that he would give up some powers and make the judiciary independent, protesters state that they believe his statements are simply empty rhetoric. Many are calling for the government to address the widespread corruption in the country, which was ranked as the 89th most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International. Protesters also called for an end to political detentions in Rabat and Casablanca.
Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Morocco, Protests, Reform | Comment »
Human Rights Groups Call for International Action Following Crackdown in Syria
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
On Monday, the crackdown in Syria escalated as the Syrian army sent tanks to Dera’a and arrested scores of protesters, killing five in the process. Nearly 350 people have died since protests began five weeks ago. According to Jordanian officials, phone lines have been cut in the area and the Syria-Jordan border crossing near Dera’a has been sealed on the Syrian side. Syrian security forces also arrested dozens of Syrians in the towns outside of Damascus such as Douma and Maadamiah, in an attempt to prevent protesters from marching on the capital. 12 people were also killed in clashes with security forces in the coastal city Jabla, inhabited largely by the Alawite minority. Human rights groups inside Syria are also reporting the disappearance of hundreds of activists since Friday.
On Sunday, Human Rights Watch urged the United Nations to set up an international inquiry into the Syrian security forces’ use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters, after the killing of protesters in 14 towns last Friday. HRW also called on the international community to impose sanctions on Syrian officials responsible for the use of lethal force and arbitrary arrest of protesters. The International Committee of Justice called for the referral of the Syrian situation to the U.N. Security Council and the International Criminal Court while U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay called on the Syrian government to stop the killing of its people and implement reform. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Obama Administration “is drafting an executive order empowering the president to freeze the assets of these senior Syrian officials and ban them from any business dealings in the U.S.” Officials state that they hope that U.S. sanctions will pressure European countries to follow suit.
Update: National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said Monday that President Obama “is pursuing a range of possible policy options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the crackdown and make clear that this behavior is unacceptable.” He added, “The brutal violence used by the government of Syria against its people is completely deplorable and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, EU, Freedom, Human Rights, Multilateralism, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy | 3 Comments »
Senators Discuss U.S. Involvement in Syria and Libya
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Speaking on Face The Nation, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) called for U.S. support of Syrian protesters: “”We should use the diplomatic weight and press authority of the United States to undermine the Syrian dictatorship…I think we are witnessing the slow end of the Assad dictatorship, and we should stand with the people of Syria.” Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Coons (D-DE) echoed Kirk’s sentiments stating, “America is safest and America is strongest when we lead with our values. And the values we have that are really compelling to folks around the world are when we stand up and support democracy and people who are seeking a greater role in their own countries.”
The senators also discussed the ongoing situation in Libya and Senator John McCain (R-AZ)’s recent statements that the U.S. should expand its mission to remove Muammar Gadhafi from power and recognize the rebels. Senator Kirk called for following the example of our European allies and recognizing the rebel government and also expressed his believe that “we have a responsibility to win.” Senator Coons stated that we should give the multi-national coalition more time before we formally expand our mission and Senator Blumenthal cautioned against recognizing the rebel government and let the Libyan people decide who their government is.
Update: On NBC’s “Today” show, Senator McCain apologetically announced that he does not support military intervention in Syria: “I don’t see a scenario right now or anytime in the near future where the injection of U.S. or NATO military action would in any way beneficially help the situation, I’m sorry to say.”
Posted in al-Qaeda, Congress, Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Libya, Military, NATO, Protests, Syria, US foreign policy | Comment »
Turkish President Says Future of Arab Spring Depends on Middle East Peace Agreement
April 22nd, 2011 by Ali
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, in a New York Times op-ed, argued that a comprehensive agreement between Israel and the Palestinian authority is necessary for regional security and democratic consolidation in the wake of the Arab Spring. Gul’s presumes that a reliable peace and stable regional democracies are complimentary, given that the “plight of the Palestinians has been a root cause of unrest and conflict in the region and is being used as a pretext for extremism in other corners of the world;” and because “[h]istory has repeatedly shown that a true, fair and lasting peace can only be made between peoples, not ruling elites.” The hypothesis linking the the Palestinian question with stability in a post-revolutionary Middle East has been rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though supported by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Gul proposed that Turkey “facilitate” negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis while conceding the chief mediating role to the United States. He toted Turkey’s mediation credentials while implicitly acknowledging the recent cooling in Turkish-Israeli relations, “Turkey’s track record in the years before Israel’s Gaza operation in December 2008 bears testimony to our dedication to achieving peace.” He acknowledged Turkey’s own stake in regional peace and stability in its eagerness to facilitate negotiations. Turkey’s geo-political interests in the region were underscored in an Al Hayat op-ed which described Syria as pulled between the influences of Anakara and Tehran.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Mideast Peace Plan, Protests | Comment »
POMED Notes: “A Conversation with Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi”
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
On Thursday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a discussion with Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi about her new book, The Golden Cage: Three Brothers, Three Choices, One Destiny about the Iranian revolution and the struggle of activists and the human rights movement. Jessica Matthews, President of the Carnegie Endowment made opening remarks and Karim Sadjadpour moderated the event.
To read full notes, continue below or click here for pdf.
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Protests, Reform, sanctions, Tunisia, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “From Revolution to Democracy: The Next Generation of Democracy Builders”
April 22nd, 2011 by Kyle
On Tuesday, Freedom House hosted an event on the political transition within Tunisia following the overthrow of President Ben Ali and prior to the Constituent Assembly elections on July 24th. The talk also addressed the promulgation of a new electoral law by the interim government that institutes gender parity in upcoming elections. The speaker was Sofiene Chourabi a journalist, blogger and civil society activist, who discussed the developments on the ground and the challenges facing Tunisians with regard to the upcoming election and the role of youth in shaping and driving forward the transition.
For full notes continue below, or click here for here.
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Posted in Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Protests, Reform, Tunisia | Comment »
