Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, Mar 30, 2011 (IPS) – Despite the clear opposition of the Barack Obama administration and apparent ambivalence on the part of the right-wing government in Israel, neo-conservative hawks here have set their sights on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who they hope will be the [...]
Libya Uprising Hits West’s Dinner Tables
March 31, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS Analysis by Simba Russeau CAIRO, Mar 30, 2011 (IPS) – Linkages between the Libyan uprising and shelling out more money than usual at a local market in the West may not at first seem apparent but the common denominator is oil. Muammar Gaddafi’s grip on power is not [...]
MIDEAST: Washington’s Patchwork Policy on Democracy
March 31, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By David Elkins WASHINGTON, Mar 30, 2011 (IPS) – While a NATO-led coalition continues to enforce a no-fly zone in a Libya that seems to be on the brink of catastrophe, the Barack Obama administration has yet to formulate a set of guiding principles in dealing with ongoing [...]
SRI LANKA: Latest Elections Reinforce Status Quo
March 31, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Amantha Perera COLOMBO, Mar 30, 2011 (IPS) – The latest elections in Sri Lanka serve as yet another reminder that despite all its follies, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government is unshakable. In the Mar. 17 elections for 234 local government bodies, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led [...]
CORRUPTION: Post-Mubarak Egypt Probes Public Land Contracts
March 31, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Emad Mekay CAIRO, Mar 30, 2011 (IPS) – Egyptian authorities have opened dozens of criminal investigations into hundreds of millions of dollars worth of public land contracts that were awarded illegally to real estate developers associated with former President Hosni Mubarak without proper procedures at below market [...]
Ouattara Forces Seize Cote d’Ivoire Towns
March 31, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Correspondents* ABIDJAN, Mar 30, 2011 (IPS/Al Jazeera) – Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of Cote d’Ivoire’s presidential election, say they have seized control of another two central towns in their advance toward the country’s capital. Captain Leon Alla, a defence spokesman for Ouattara, [...]
U.S.: Budget Cuts Threaten Handful of Beds for Homeless Youth
March 31, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Cléo Fatoorehchi NEW YORK, Mar 30, 2011 (IPS) – When Malika, 21, fled her parents’ house in the U.S. state of Virginia three years ago to escape a forced marriage in Iran, she did not expect to end up homeless and living in shelters. "When I came [...]
LIBYA-U.S.: Obama Speech Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
March 30, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, Mar 29, 2011 (IPS) – Widely praised as an effective defence of Washington’s 10-day- old military intervention in Libya, President Barack Obama’s speech Monday evening appears to have left several key questions about his future intentions unanswered. While confirming that the ouster of Libyan [...]
Syria Between Hope and Fear
March 30, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Mona Alami DAMASCUS, Mar 29, 2011 (IPS) – Pro-democracy ‘Day of Dignity’ rallies in Syria have led to many casualties in recent days. Before real political reforms are introduced, many lines will be crossed, lives lost, and human rights discarded "The regime has been rattled by protests, [...]
Libyan Rebels Facing Tough Fight for Sirte
March 29, 2011 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Correspondents* NAWFALIYA and DOHA, Mar 28, 2011 (IPS/Al Jazeera) – Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi are resisting an advance by Libyan rebels towards the embattled Libyan leader’s hometown of Sirte in the fiercest clashes since the start of a sweeping offensive that has brought a string of [...]
