You guy keep talking about different countries in the middle east and now one mentioned Syria, there has been major protest in a city called Daraa, 12 people dead as of now, more than 200 injured, and more than 300 protest arrested around the country.
Check your facts on Iraqi oil output. It's close to the highest its been in 20 years, and many are predicting it to double from today's levels. Could be a very positive impact on global oil supplies.
Syria doesn't get much mention because at some point if the protests go too far, they will be violently suppressed without any regard for bloodshed. There is no chance of success in Syria. Part of me wants the demonstrations to continue, but the other part of me knows what will happen if they do. It's going to be horrific.
This also proves that God spoke to George W Bush. God knew how critical Iraqi oil output would be, Bush didn't. That's how you get rewarded for faith.
Is this different from Bahrain or Libya? or Yemen even? Wherever Al Jazeera decides to point its magnifying glass, that's the regime that will fall IMO. At the moment, people don't know what went on and is going on in Bahrain. I have literally seen more photos of dead people than the numbers being reported. Syria is the same, they are silencing it big time, and letting Gaddhafi keep the spotlight. Overall, I agree that Syria ultimately won't be succesful, but I don't think that means it doesn't deserve to be discussed.
That's not saying much considering that for the first 12 of those 20 years Iraq was under sanctions and couldn't legally sell oil so they are getting to a high point now after 8 years of being able to legally sell oil and still are not up to pre sanction levels.. Anyway this just shows again that war isn't a good strategy to get oil.
I am hearing on the radio that Bashar Al Assad is promising reforms in Syria such as ending emergency rule and possibly allowing multi-party elections. There is also a large protest going on right now in Damascus. Its way too early to tell what will happen in Syria but some hope that another regime may fall.
False promises, He has been saying the same thing over and over since he became president. they held conference today because they are feared from the outcome, not only Damascus but 2 other cities are protesting at the moment. I hope the regime fall.
Fair enough Mathloom. We all know and realize that the Bahraini government is the culprit here, i hope Bahraini people get thier freedom sooner than later.
Thought i would share this! Bahraini TV propaganda... sick! <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bFh5TaQqtMo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
This brainless blood-thirsty Saudi soldier says there's no room in Bahrain for Jews, Christians,Mage?(Shia) <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6MNFc1JRfEA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe Looks like they have given them the license to exterminate anyone who's not sunni.
CNN Crew Arrested! A human rights activist in Bahrain claims CNN crew was arrested in his house: @Nabeelrajab Nabeel Rajab #CNN crew who were in my house have been arrested #bahrain #feb14 http://twitter.com/#!/Nabeelrajab
The other country in the Middle East that hasn't been getting as much attention as Libya is Yemen. While there are concerns that Libyan rebels could be aligned with Al Qaeda it is already known that Al Qaeda is active in the tribal regions of Yemen and the US is already actively fighting them there. In the article below it also states that the US and international community are now pushing for the removal of Saleh but other than diplomatic there doesn't seem much other action, or calls for action, internationally there. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42413911/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa Troops open fire on Yemeni protesters As Yemen's president steps up crackdown, US reportedly decides its longtime ally must go SANAA, Yemen — Security forces and plainclothes gunmen opened fire on crowds of Yemenis marching through a southern city Monday, killing at least 15 and wounding dozens, in an intensifying crackdown against the uprising against the 32-year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Witnesses described troops and gunmen, some on nearby rooftops, firing wildly on thousands of protesters who marched past the governor's headquarters in Taiz in the second straight day of violence in the southern city. Some — including elderly people — were trampled and injured as the crowds tried to flee, witnesses said. Violence has swelled in recent days amid frustration over behind-the-scenes efforts to convince Saleh to step down in the face of a nearly two-month-old uprising. The United States and European countries have been contacting Saleh and his opponents, trying to find a formula for the president to leave his post with a stable transfer of power, an opposition spokesman said. The New York Times on Monday said Washington had "quietly shifted positions" and "concluded that [Saleh] is unlikely to bring about the required reforms and must be eased out of office." Saleh has been a key ally of the United States, which has given him millions in counterterrorism aid to fight al-Qaida's branch in the country, which has plotted attacks on American soil. So far, Washington has not publicly demanded that he step down, but the diplomatic effort was a clear sign that the Americans have decided the danger of turmoil and instability outweighs the risks if Saleh leaves. Mustafa al-Sabri, a spokesman for a coalition of opposition parties, said U.S. and European diplomats who had been in contacts with Saleh had asked the opposition for their "vision" for a transition. In response, the opposition over the weekend gave the Americans a proposal that Saleh step down and hand his powers to his vice president, who would then organize a process for rewriting the constitution and holding new elections, al-Sabri said. But the 65-year-old president has dug in against the idea. On Sunday, Saleh took a tough line, saying no negotiations could be held without a "halt to all protests and the mutiny by some units in the military." "We are prepared to explore the peaceful transfer of authority in the framework of the constitution. But arm-twisting will absolutely not work," he said. Harsh crackdown The U.S. Embassy has not commented on its efforts, saying only in a statement over the weekend that "Saleh has publicly expressed his willingness to engage in a peaceful transition of power; the timing and form of this transition should be identified through dialogue and negotiation." A diplomat in Sanaa said on Monday the focus for now was still on talks, and that public calls to stand down — which have only so far come from France — were premature. "It depends on developments in the coming days. This is one of the options that all capitals have if they want," he said. "At the moment, diplomatic parties are working behind the scenes to encourage an agreement on political transition between Yemeni parties. Other options are being kept at the moment in the drawer," the diplomat said. If Washington were to call on Saleh to go, "I'm not sure if he (Saleh) would immediately cave in," he added. Saleh has managed to cling to power even after many of his top allies in the government and military abandoned him and joined the opposition because of the harshness of his crackdown on the protesters. The opposition has been holding continual protest camps in main squares of the capital Sanaa and other cities around the country, and hundreds of thousands turned out for the biggest and most widespread marches yet on Friday. At least 97 people have been killed since demonstrations began Feb. 11. The violence in the mountain city of Taiz began when thousands of protesters marched down its main street toward Freedom Square, where demonstrators have been camped out surrounded by security forces. As the march passed the governor's headquarters, troops stationed there blocked the procession, and clashes broke out, with some protesters throwing stones, witnesses said. Troops on nearby rooftops opened fire with live ammunition on the crowd and the marchers then turned to besiege the governor's headquarters, said Bushra al-Maqtara, an opposition activist in Taiz, and other witnesses. "It was heavy gunfire from all directions. Some were firing from the rooftop of the governor's building," said one man in the crowd, Omar al-Saqqaf. He said he saw military police load the bodies of two slain protesters into a car and then speed away. The military has clamped down on the city of nearly half a million, about 120 miles south of the capital, Sanaa. For a second day, tanks and armored vehicles blocked entrances to the city to prevent outsiders from joining the protests. They also surrounded Freedom Square, bottling up the thousands in the protest camp there and arresting anyone who tries to exit. Saleh's top security official in Taiz, Abdullah Qiran, to oversee security in Taiz, is accused by demonstrators of orchestrating some of the most brutal crackdowns against demonstrators, particularly in the southern port town of Aden, where he was previously stationed until his transfer several weeks ago. On Sunday, police attacked a march by thousands of women in Taiz, sparking a battle with a separate group of male protesters. Marches in solidarity with the Taiz protesters erupted in the cities of Mukalla, in the east, and Hodeida, on Yemen's western Red Sea coast. In Hodeida, protesters tried to march on a presidential palace in the city but were blocked by security forces, who opened fire with tear gas and live ammunition, said activist Abdel-Hafiz al-Abbasi. He said three people were wounded. Nothing but 'immediate departure' Protesters massed in a Sanaa square they have renamed Taghyir, or Change, Square, said they too would hold a march Monday in support of Taiz. At the same time, pro-government gunmen in civilian clothes were seen taking up positions on a man boulevard in the capital, raising worries of a new confrontation. Over the crisis, Saleh has offered to step down in 2013, when his term ends, or as early as the end of this year — if a transfer of power acceptable to him is reached. The opposition fears that Saleh is using the discussions over stepping down to stall for time — either to stay in power or to ensure he is succeeded by one of his sons, a prospect the opposition has staunchly rejected. But the opposition is not united on their demands. A group of official opposition parties put forward the proposal that Saleh hand over power to his vice president, Abd Rabou Mansour. The youth activists who have been organizing the protests are distinct from the opposition parties — and many of them have refused the proposal, believing that it would mean an extended transition that would keep Saleh in power for a longer time. "We refuse any initiative or proposal that doesn't explicitly state the immediate departure of the president and his sons. That is a central issue that we will not put aside," said Adnan al-Odeini, an activist leader of the protests in Sanaa.
Looks like the authorities in the United Arab Emirates are now cracking down on dissenters as well. UAE detains democracy activist, blogger in Dubai Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have detained a blogger and rights activist who says he's gotten death threats for calling for political freedoms in the Gulf nation. Ahmed Mansour's wife and a colleague say he was detained Friday at his Dubai home. Mansour told The Associated Press Thursday that he's been getting threats for signing a petition calling for an elected parliament. The Emirates is an alliance of seven sheikdoms where political activity is severely restricted. Mansour's wife, Nadia, says 10 policemen searched their home, seized two laptops and took him into custody. Another political activist, Mohammed al-Mansouri, also reported the arrest. Police and government officials could not be reached for comment. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MFJQU00.htm ------ UAE steps up harassment of activist, blogger DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- An Emirati blogger and a human rights activist says authorities in the Gulf country have launched an "unprecedented campaign of outrages insults and threats" against him since he signed a petition calling for political reform. Ahmed Mansour says he has been getting death threats and has been a target of a smear campaign on social-networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Mansour says the harassment has been stepped up since he and others in the United Arab Emirates petitioned the rulers to allow a popularly elected parliament. There are no official opposition groups in the Emirates, a union of seven sheikdoms. The oil-rich Gulf federation has not seen the kind of political unrest spreading around the Middle East. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/04/07/general-ml-emirates-activist-harassed_8396023.html
