November 21st, 2008
ISTANBUL, Turkey –This past July, President Abdullah Gul of Turkey spoke to
an assembled crowd of Shiite Turks, known as Alevis. The speech, calling
for unity and acceptance of minorities, came less than a month after
Gul’s Justice and Development Party was spared
closure by the constitutional court for anti-secular activity, a decision hailed as the start of a more inclusive atmosphere in the country. Three
months later, a massive demonstration of Alevis in Ankara shows that the vision of a multi-ethnic, multiconfessional Turkey is in tatters.
Politics
November 21st, 2008
Several weeks ago, Congress passed an infamous, pork-laden $830 billion welfare handout to Wall Street gurus and banking big wigs to allegedly reduce the burden on the economy. Congress rushed to the “rescue” by passing a plan which granted bold, non-negotiable powers to the Department of Treasury and handed blank checks to bankers. As of […]
Politics
November 21st, 2008
JERUSALEM — Political posters are beginning to appear on Israeli streets,
sending early signals to voters in advance of next February’s
parliamentary election. In Jerusalem, discreet posters show Likud
leader Benjamin Netanyahu touting his pledge to “Watch over Jerusalem.”
In more progressive parts of the country, the ever-serious visage of
Kadima’s Tzipi Livni, the current foreign minister, highlights her
pragmatic vow to do “What is good for Israel.” With three months to go,
the tight contest is shaping up as a duel of personalities between
Netanyahu and Livni.
Politics
November 21st, 2008
MADRID, Spain — Spain is on high alert for a possible terrorist attack
following the arrest on Nov. 17 of the head of the Basque terrorist
group, ETA. Mikel Rubina’s arrest by French police in the southern French Pyrenées region is a serious setback for the armed separatists, especially for the hard-line faction within ETA opposed to peace talks with the Spanish government. Since the bombing of the Madrid airport on
Dec. 30, 2006, that ended ETA’s ceasefire, the Spanish government has launched an
unprecedented and, so far, successful crackdown on the group.
Politics
