Arab Spring

We are at the end of the year 2011. Arab countries were at the top of the news all year around in what we have called the Arab Spring. Countries get rid of their dictators and others started to raise up against their leaders, like Syria and Yemen. Others have not yet started as the regime is strongly controlling the people, like Algeria. Others, like Morocco, have done very few changes in an attempt to control the situation the way it is. What will 2012 be for those countries? Will we see others revolutions in the Arab world?
We all hope so.
But in the meantime, I wish all of you a Happy New Year 2012.

What are the news on this month?

July is a month where Europe stops working. Or almost stops working. Everyone only thinks of holidays and where to find some sun and to rest. As it is important to rest, it is also important to know that a lot of countries go on on their lives as usual. For instance, in the US the White House is struggling to avoid default of payment in August if no agreement is reached by the Congress and the president. It is business as usual and it is a good thing to see that countries are working. Yesterday, a terrorist, a Norwegian, put a bomb in central Oslo, the capital and killed around 80 people in an island nearby. It is the worst catastrophe the country has seen since WWII. And Syrians are still demonstrating against their government and the president, who is a dictator like his father. Libya is still on war and no side is winning, at least yet. Europeans are struggling to help Greece, a country with the Euro and a phenomenal debt that could shatter the whole financial system. And there are plenty of other events happening in the world. Holidays? For some, probably but not for the majority.

Strauss Kahn

The story has taken another path that nobody would have believed. The maid, who claimed that the French politician has raped her and made love to her without her consent, is not believable. That is what the prosecution has discovered this week, of June 30th. They have doubts about the truth. The maid has accused Strauss Kahn but there are a lot of discrepancies. First apparently she cleaned another room before calling the police about what has happened to her with the French. But more than that she has gotten some 100,000 dollars in her account, in cash, a week before the claim. And she is in constant contact with a drug dealer who is in jail. And finally, she has supposedly lied about her arrival in the US. Therefore the prosecutor has asked the judge to free Strauss Kahn from house arrest. Although the trial is not yet finished, it appears that it would be completely different that one had supposed when the former IMF chief has been accused. But what's important is that is shows that the judicial system in the USA works well. And now depending on the issue of the trial (next appearance in front of the judge is programmed for July 17th) he might still be candidate for next year presidential elections. So let's see what will happen.

Obama and the Middle East

The speech given by Obama about the Middle East and Israel

What a story!

Dominique Strauss Kahn in jail in New York City. Who would have guessed that the (former?) general manager of the International Monetary Fund would be put in jail, in the infamous Rikers Island prison in NYC? Well it is the reality of the American judiciary system which doesn't make any difference between poor and rich. In a way it is a great system. What is the story? DSK, as everybody knows him, was in an hotel room in NYC before taking off to Europe for a meeting of the IMF, on Saturday May 14th. A housemaid entered the room to clean and he would have tried to rape her, and he practiced sex without her consent. She escaped and was taken to hospital and then to the police. DSK was localized in a plane to Paris and the police delayed without his knowledge the departure until they took him in it.
From there the judiciary system started working: precinct, lawyers, judge and on Monday the latter decided to hear the story in front of a Grand Jury on Friday 20th and refused to release him on bail. He could very well fly to France where he would be untouchable by the American law. So he is in Rikers Island until the Grand Jury decision. Well if it is sad that he, a potential candidate and winner of next year presidential election in France, has been involved in a sexual affair, as it happened in NYC, he has to live with the US judiciary system. And all French who criticize it should be happy that in the US anyone having committed or suspected of a crime is treated equally. Although it is sad for him and his family, he should have been more cautious and wise. Let's see what the Grand Jury will decide.

Arab countries

Unrest hasn't stopped yet and fortunately because it shows that the people are not impressed by the deaths and the inflexibility of their rulers. Recently the Tunisians have announced that former president Ben Ali will be judged by a military court. He is not in Tunisia but that means that his fate in his country is sealed. He won't go back there anymore. In Egypt, former president Moubarak is also under a warrant and should also be judged. It is a beginning but it has to go on further. Syrian ruler and his entourage should also be judged but for the moment he is still in power and his army is killing his own people. The good news is that noting will ever be the same in Syria even if he wins this time. Even if he stays in power. It shouldn't be for a long time, not any more. But what about the other Arab countries? Their rulers are still running the country the way it's their property. Algeria, Morocco and the Gulf states are, for the moment, rather quiet. Some demonstrations in Morocco and Algeria did happen but nothing more. When will their rulers understand that if they don't change their regime now, it'll be too late very soon.

Unrest in Arab countries

The Arab countries did not stop showing their leaders that they are fed up by them. Now it is the turn of Syria where the leader responds with his army. He is killing his people without hesitation. But where this will lead him and his regime? Syrian people might stop because of the deaths that are growing every day. But that doesn't mean that the regime is or will be saved from unrests. And one can only think about how this will end? And when? How many deaths till something will happen that would stop bloodshed? Is it enough from western countries to impose sanctions on Assad and his men? And what about Yemen? When those rulers, those dictators will understand that they are finished?
But there is one last thing that we should think about. What will happen after? Let's say that Assad contains the unrest and take over as it was before. But will he be able to rule his country like he has been doing for years and like his father did too? In a way we could say that he is finished because he will not be taken seriously and his ties with the international community should be like they were before. Let's just hope that it will end quickly, without any more deaths and violent.

France is showing its true face?

What is surprising in France today, is the fact that racism against Arabs and Africans is not only growing in the country but not any more in hiding. There is not one single week that passes by without some incredible news about how Arabs and Africans are not welcome anymore here. If they had ever been really well received in France. And this racism, xenophobia and to a certain extend even antisemitic attitudes by French people is clear, high and loud. But the main problem is that the government and its chief are amongst the people who clearly proclaim that those two, and sometimes even Jewish, are not part of the country. No one can forget that a few months ago, a member of the current majority in the parliament said that one potential candidate to next year presidential election cannot be president because of his background (he is a well known Jewish politician, French Jewish). And unfortunately only a few people criticized this statement. And almost none from the government. But the irony, is that France desperately needs Arab and African countries for its development and I to think that Americans should take advantage of it to take market shares in those regions of the world.

And Now?

After the US raid that killed Bin Laden, what is going to happen? Will Al Qaeda conduct or try to conduct attacks against Americans or other western countries? It seems unlikely as the terrorist organization stopped being as dangerous as in the 90s and the beginning of 2000. It has divided into various let's say branches, each working in a specific area, the more active being the Al Qaeda Maghreb, north African one. It has taken hostages from some European countries. With the end of its chief and mastermind of a lot of attacks in the world (the worst being the September 11th one in New York) there are still a lot of questions being asked but without answers yet. Apparently, the SEAL commando who conducted the raid has ceased documents and computers in Bin Laden's house. Hopefully they will give a lot of valuable information to the CIA and other US intelligence agencies. With those information, they might be able to understand better the organization and how it works today. They might also get information about the main people who are still heading Al Qaeda and eventually some operations that might have been programmed in the world. In any case, it should reveal a lot of interesting facts about it and on how it works. There is no better way to secure one's country than with information from organizations that plan attacks against it. Once again, it is a good thing that he has been eliminated. I don't understand people who think that he should have been taken prisoner.

What will happen now?

Once we digest the news of Bin Laden's death, it is wise to wonder what possibly could happen now? I don't think that anyone have a clear answer but we can only speculate. One thing is sure: his nefarious influence amongst extremists was already in decline. He, through his people, has been threatening the world and mainly the US for more than 10 years, but fortunately very few actions have been taken. At least against the Americans. Since September 11th, he didn't stop sending messages of hate and violence but he didn't conduct terrorists attacks against the US. I do think that the September 11th attack was his last real action. Yes he succeeded by killing a lot of innocent people. But he couldn't do more and in fact he started living in hiding since then. For someone who claimed his superiority and the war against the West, it was rather ridiculous. Finally what did he gain? Apart from the deaths of people who didn't have anything to do with the world's politics, nothing. So what will happen now? I don't see a lot of things, at least bad. In fact maybe, but it is a speculation, he helped the rise of Arab population against their dictators in various countries. But one thing is sure. If Bin Laden was head of state in any country, he would have been a dictator, like so many heads of state (Ben Ali, in Tunisia, Moubarak in Egypt, Gadafi in Lybia). So his loss is a no loss for Arabs, for Muslims and for the world.

Death of a terrorist

Finally Osama Bin Laden has been eliminated by the US forces in Pakistan. Although his influence has been limited during the recent years, his name was still a symbol. Symbol of hate, violence and death. His most infamous and famous action was the organization of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack against the US, in New York. Since then has been looked for by various secret services, mainly the Americans. And for a perfect reason: he was proud of what has happened in New York and Washington on that day. And while hidden, he went on organizing other attacks against the whole modern world. Against Arabs and Muslims as everybody was his enemy. Every person who did not think and act like him was an enemy. Well, now it is over and we can only congratulate the CIA and its Pakistani counterpart who conducted the operation. Well done guys. I am proud of you. God Bless America.

Marrakesh terrorist attack?

On Thursday, April 28th, a bomb killed around 16 people in the busiest tourist attraction in Marrakesh, Morocco. Moroccans and tourists died in this horrible attack. As for now nobody knows who did it and why. Some are already pointing at extremist Islamic groups. It is too early to clearly state who did it and every speculation is only the result, indirect result, of what is happening in the Arab world. In any case, if this was an action aiming at the pro-western Moroccan government in order to reduce foreign influence, it will not succeed. However, the political leaders and mainly the king should meditate about the situation in the country. Once again they have a warning sign demanding a real change for Morocco. The demonstrations that have been happening since February will not stop until the three main demands are met, which in fact could be summarized in only one word: real democracy. The apparent freedom given to Moroccans since the king Mohammed VI took over his father after his death (back in 1999) is not a real one and furthermore not in the main sectors of the country daily life: economy, justice and education. Not to mention the corruption that is probably higher now than ever. To be perfectly honest, the king should fire the whole government and appoint new people who have never been involved in politics to conduct the changes. He should demand to the people who took advantage of the regime to return their wealth, or at least a good part of it, and to stop being involved in the economy and politics. But that is only a pretty nice dream that will not happen. Too much is at stake, and the first hurdle is the people who take advantage of the non democratic regime. But one can always dream? In any case a terrorist attack is in no way an answer to any problem, political or social. Killing people who are just having a nice coffee or tea in a beautiful square (Jamaa Al Fnaa is the famous square where Hitchcock's 1956 movie "The Man Who Knew To Much" with Jimmy Steward and Doris Day was partly shot) where tourists from all over the world and Moroccans gather all day long. The first probable result will be a decrease in tourism in the country. But will this tragedy have an impact in the changes that the people are demanding? I do hope that the answer is YES. But I don't know.

War in Arab countries

April 27th

The uprising started in February in Lybia and as today, April 27th, it is still on. It is a fact that Gaddafi and his supporters are in bad shape since the beginning of the NATO attacks but his army is still holding the capital Tripoli. Then other countries are also boiling and masses march against their rulers and their systems. Syria and Morocco are two other examples, although different, where the people are fed up by their regimes. Syria is indeed a dictatorship. Morocco, one of the few countries in the Arab world with more freedom of speech, is showing its limits. It is true that since the new king took over his father, the late Hassan II in 1999, the situation improved a lot, both economically and politically. But what is happening today, is a proof that changing rulers doesn't necessary mean a new life for the masses. The biggest problem, or to be honest one of the biggest, is corruption. People like to be able to express themselves but if their economical situation doesn't improve it is a dead end for them. Western countries see Morocco as an example amongst Arab nations. But it is either a non impartial view (too much stakes at risk for them) or a misunderstanding of the needs of Moroccans. More freedom yes, but a better life. That is what they want.

The awekening of Arab people

No one ever thought that Arab People would one day wake up and succeed in ousting their corrupted presidents and head of states. No one thought that they would succeed after years of apparent acceptation. After decades of humiliation Arab people marched in the streets of cities where only a few weeks ago political police was feared so much that they would not even talk to each other about their governments. An suddenly they were out in the streets shouting words against their rulers. All of a sudden those dictators were as vulnerable as any citizen in his and her day to day life in those countries. But the most interesting part of it is that Europe and the USA (but much less) have never realized that Arab People were fed up by their "non life" and didn't have anything else to lose. And once a human being feels that he doesn't have anything to lose he or she can do things that are well above the reality. That is what has happened in Arab countries.

Lybia

Lybia's Gadafi is still fighting for his survival because we can only assume that he is going to loose shortly. Now that NATO and the most powerful countries in the world are bombing his positions and his army. But what will happen after? Which country will be prominent there after Gadafi's fall? I do hope that the US will be the leader in the new Lybia. France is trying desperatly to regain a kind of importance in the world. Fortunately for the world it will never be what it was centuries ago. Today's France is an open racist country, mainly toward Arabs and Africans. Its president, who thinks highly of himself (fortunately he is the only one who thinks that he is good) doesn't stop pointing at Arabs and Africans as not belonging to the country's values. Which one would like to know what those values are. At the same time he gives the false impression that he is with people who live under a dictator, like Tunisia and Egypt before their revolutions. And now he wishes to do the same with Lybians. But don't get mistaken. People know exactly who he is and what his ideas are in terms of races. He likes Arabs' money and Africans' natural ressources. But what he doesn't understand, and that is fortunate, is that having French from Arab or African descent in his country should be a plus for foreign relations. A little bit like what the US is trying to do. But for him and his party, we are only burden and people who don't know and respect French society. He only forgot that French did not let us feel at home here. They always told us that didn't belong to our country.Now it is time to show him that he is right. I'd advise Arabs and Africans to turn to the US where people know what immigration is and how to deal with Americans from foreign descents. And how to be seen as American.

Monday, February 21st

Well whoever thought that unrests would stop after the fall of Tunisia and Egypt's dictators. They were wrong. Now it is the turn of Libyans who are protesting heavily against the "supreme guide of the revolution", the infamous Gadhafi. And last sunday, it was Morocco's turn to see thousand of people in the streets of the capital but also in Casablanca, Tangiers and Marrakesh. Their demands are different from those that we heard in Tunisia or Egypt. But there are common points: corruption and more liberty. Will the king listen to those people who invaded the streets or will he be as deaf as the other former chiefs of states?

And now? What's next?

Everybody is talking about the Arab people uprising and wondering which country will be next? Fingers point to Yemen, Algeria, Jordan and Morocco. Before asking if those countries could get rid of their leaders, it would better to try to see if there are comparable to Tunisia and Egypt? Apart from the fact that they are Arab countries and not really democracies, they are very different. Their regimes and rulers are different. Their problems also. But what is exactly the same is the situation of the lowest class of people and the youth. The poor are poorer and they don't have a lot of opportunities to rise from their level of poverty. There is not enough work and reasonably well paid works for them nor for the youth. And the other problem that is common to all those countries is corruption. It is an endemic situation with no apparent will to eliminate or at least reduce it. The rulers know about this illness (we really are faced with an illness of people who rule a country in non democratic countries) but don't fight it. Or at least not officially. And there remains the main problem in countries like Morocco and to a certain point Jordan. The two other countries have also the problem of non democracy. So which country could be next? But before trying to answer this question, it'll be good to see those uprisings not as a trend but as a real will to change. The people, accessing the Internet and therefore what is happening in other free and democratic countries, start thinking that they have the right to be free, to live a better life and to be able to express themselves without restrain and without the threat of jail or/and tortures.

Situation in the Arab countries

A few weeks ago, Tunisian people started an uprising against their leader, a dictator who has been ruling the country for more than 25 years. And surprisingly they succeeded in ousting the president who had to flee with his family to Saudi Arabia. Since then, a lot of changes happened, the most important being the return of democracy. All political opponents, who were in exile in other countries and some in jail, are now free to express their opinions and some of them belong to the government that is organizing transition. Then uprisings started in other Arab countries, such as Egypt and Algeria but also Yemen and Jordan. The later has already taken measures to try to calm Jordan citizens who were angry about how the country was ruled. But the most surprising is Egypt where the people started huge demonstrations against the government and their rulers. And it is still going on. The president is trying to stay but he has already taken measures such as the nomination of a vice president and some reforms that his government will conduct shortly. Unfortunately for him Egyptian people are not satisfied and want him out immediately. As well as other governments, including the US. President Obama asked him to leave quickly in order to let people decide for their future. But as today, Friday February 11th, Egyptian president has not understood his people.
This is history and everyone can follow events in the world in various medias. But what is important is that finally Arab people are voicing their anger against their governments and their leaders who think that the country belongs to them. Arab people are fed up with the way their leaders rule their countries. They are fed up with corruption, poverty and the fact that no freedom exists. Opponents are jailed or in exile. There is no freedom of speech and newspapers and medias are just communicating what the leaders want to say. Will other countries follow? It is probable unless their leaders understand that this is the time for democracy, real democracy.