Who is the real victor of Iran's presidential election? Is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lying when he says that he beat Mir Hossein Mousavi?
You tell me. Something like thirty-eight million votes needed to be counted by hand, and yet that was accomplished in somewhere between six to eight hours. Amazing!!. No hanging chads, no questionable handwriting.
I would like to know who actually counted the ballots and that fast, because my understanding is that none of the process was computerized. That means people keeping a hand tally of votes and then all areas reporting to the central balloting office with the results.
Now I know that some of you will think I am cynical of Iran's Democratic practices, but you have to admit that even Superman would have trouble counting that many votes that quickly.
Of course the sad truth of the matter is that the clerics who actually run Iran - after all Iran is a theocracy, not a democracy- feel they have more power and influence over of Ahmadinejad than they ever would have over Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Logic told us the outcome even before the election took place. The question is, why did Iran even bother? Is there more resistance in Iran than we initially thought? Are things boiling up? Is there a possibility of a civil war taking place in Iran in the near future?
I don't know. I need to know more. Which way is the Revolutionary Guard leaning? Do the mullahs really have the power they think they have?
A lot of questions with no answers. However, trying to get those answers should be interesting, and the situation in Iran could bring on yet another new dimension to the troubles going on the Middle East.
For the time being we will have to sit back, watch, and hope that we (the USA) remain neutral observers and don't get sucked into the middle of it.
Its Common Sense!
Showing posts with label Middle East. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middle East. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Obama's Diplomatic Team
I was pleasantly surprised when Obama named Richard Holbrook and George Mitchell to be special envoys to two of the most troubled spots in the world. These are old pros at the diplomatic game, and more importantly, they both have no problem speaking their opinion. They are definitely not "yes" men and it will be interesting to see if Hillary Clinton's State Department is truly going to be open to discussion and debate.
Another interesting thing I found out this week was about the tunnels in Gaza. I thought they were all about HAMAS. Well, I was wrong. Turns out they are offshoots of economic necessity and capitalism. Although HAMAS uses the tunnels to bring in supplies - like missiles and other weapons - business men in Gaza also bring in supplies to fill their stores. They pay the owner of the tunnel for bringing in their merchandise.
While the tunnels are being built, workers receive $200.00 a week, a pretty good wage for that part of the world.
So the question is, what will happen to the tunnels if Israel opens the crossings and allows commerce to flow at normal levels? The merchants will no longer need the tunnels. HAMAS will.
It will be interesting to see if tunnel owners raise their price when they are down to one client. Of course it appears that Iran is supplying HAMAS with unlimited funds, but eventually they are going to want some kind of "bang" for their buck.
If George Mitchell can work with the Israelis, Palestinians and Egyptians to insure that the West Bank and Gaza are allowed to trade like a free country and Egypt becomes diligent in patrolling their side of the tunnels, HAMAS may lose whatever face and power they had in Gaza and the legitimate Palestinian government can take control.
As for Richard Holbrook, Afghanistan and Pakistan are going to be real challenges. We wise him luck.
These first decisions by Obama appear impressive, let's hope that he continues to make the right moves for the good of all of us.
Its Common Sense!
Another interesting thing I found out this week was about the tunnels in Gaza. I thought they were all about HAMAS. Well, I was wrong. Turns out they are offshoots of economic necessity and capitalism. Although HAMAS uses the tunnels to bring in supplies - like missiles and other weapons - business men in Gaza also bring in supplies to fill their stores. They pay the owner of the tunnel for bringing in their merchandise.
While the tunnels are being built, workers receive $200.00 a week, a pretty good wage for that part of the world.
So the question is, what will happen to the tunnels if Israel opens the crossings and allows commerce to flow at normal levels? The merchants will no longer need the tunnels. HAMAS will.
It will be interesting to see if tunnel owners raise their price when they are down to one client. Of course it appears that Iran is supplying HAMAS with unlimited funds, but eventually they are going to want some kind of "bang" for their buck.
If George Mitchell can work with the Israelis, Palestinians and Egyptians to insure that the West Bank and Gaza are allowed to trade like a free country and Egypt becomes diligent in patrolling their side of the tunnels, HAMAS may lose whatever face and power they had in Gaza and the legitimate Palestinian government can take control.
As for Richard Holbrook, Afghanistan and Pakistan are going to be real challenges. We wise him luck.
These first decisions by Obama appear impressive, let's hope that he continues to make the right moves for the good of all of us.
Its Common Sense!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Gaza
Fighting continues in Gaza, with Palestinian civilians taking a heavy toll. Neither side wants to talk cease-fire - the Israel military is slowly but surely gaining ground and Hamas continues to defiantly fire missiles into Israel. Both talk about the innocent civilians, but the sad truth of the matter is that neither side really cares about innocent civilians, because if they did a cease fire would be in effect.
Both sides are committed to achieving their goals. Israel, to insure their country will never be threatened from Gaza again and Hamas, showing the world that they will not be dictated to by their enemy.
For both to achieve their goals, the Palestinian citizens of Gaza have to pay the price. As all too often is the case, when zealots and radicals meet, innocents pay the price.
I do not understand why the United Nations has not gotten off its butt and sent in a peace keeping force, that will actually keep the the peace and hold both sides accountable to the agreement made in 2007. The peace keepers should have the right to take the necessary action to enforce the peace.
Okay, I know that our own beloved country is one of the reasons no peace keepers have been sent. George W believes Hamas is guilty because of their rocket attacks on Israel and I agree. I believe that as soon as Hamas broke the peace agreement, UN peace keepers should have entered Gaza and sealed the smuggling tunnels, arrest the Hamas militants responsible for the violations and allowed life to continue as normal as possible.
Of course that did not happen. The world had to wait until the situation escalated out of control and then were forced into calling for a cease fire.
The United Nations is a good idea in theory, but it has allowed itself to become so bogged down with politics, diplomacy and keeping face, that it has failed as an institution for international peace. To be effective, the UN has to be pro-active, anticipate the problem and act. Coming in after the fact will always be too little too late.
If the UN had sent peace keepers in six months ago, there would be no need for the massive relief effort that will be needed once the Israeli troops return home.
Death and destruction could have been avoided if the UN had acted quickly and effectively.
That's my opinion. Now, maybe I am hoping for too much from the UN, maybe I am a dreamer and not a realist, at least in this situation.
What should the UN do? How should they act? When should they step into a crisis?
Let your voices be heard.
Its Common Sense!
Both sides are committed to achieving their goals. Israel, to insure their country will never be threatened from Gaza again and Hamas, showing the world that they will not be dictated to by their enemy.
For both to achieve their goals, the Palestinian citizens of Gaza have to pay the price. As all too often is the case, when zealots and radicals meet, innocents pay the price.
I do not understand why the United Nations has not gotten off its butt and sent in a peace keeping force, that will actually keep the the peace and hold both sides accountable to the agreement made in 2007. The peace keepers should have the right to take the necessary action to enforce the peace.
Okay, I know that our own beloved country is one of the reasons no peace keepers have been sent. George W believes Hamas is guilty because of their rocket attacks on Israel and I agree. I believe that as soon as Hamas broke the peace agreement, UN peace keepers should have entered Gaza and sealed the smuggling tunnels, arrest the Hamas militants responsible for the violations and allowed life to continue as normal as possible.
Of course that did not happen. The world had to wait until the situation escalated out of control and then were forced into calling for a cease fire.
The United Nations is a good idea in theory, but it has allowed itself to become so bogged down with politics, diplomacy and keeping face, that it has failed as an institution for international peace. To be effective, the UN has to be pro-active, anticipate the problem and act. Coming in after the fact will always be too little too late.
If the UN had sent peace keepers in six months ago, there would be no need for the massive relief effort that will be needed once the Israeli troops return home.
Death and destruction could have been avoided if the UN had acted quickly and effectively.
That's my opinion. Now, maybe I am hoping for too much from the UN, maybe I am a dreamer and not a realist, at least in this situation.
What should the UN do? How should they act? When should they step into a crisis?
Let your voices be heard.
Its Common Sense!
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