Peace and Justice Post

Egyptian protesters wave their national flag and shout slogans in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Photograph: Mohamed Hossam/AFP/Getty Images

The historic revolutions that have rippled through the Arab world this year were in danger of eclipse on Friday night as protesters returned to the streets to profess their disgust at how the movement is being stymied by regimes old and new.

Six months after the Arab spring claimed its first dictator, the main squares of Cairo and Tunis were again alive with protest, teargas and fury at the resistance to change shown by interim authorities. In Syria activists said at least 19 people had been killed in the latest crackdown against protests that have convulsed the country for more than four months. At least seven people were killed in Yemen amid a political limbo that appears no closer to resolution. And in Jordan a heavy security presence policed pro- and anti-reform demonstrations which turned violent.

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Immannuel Wallerstein, Commentary No. 309, July 15, 2011

The United States and Pakistan have been close geopolitical allies almost since the birth of Pakistan in 1948. They have needed each other in the past. They need each other today. But their priorities and policy objectives have moved further and further apart. They are both appalled by the idea that the close alliance may end. But it may.

The origin of the alliance was rather simple and straightforward. In the process of British withdrawal from India, two states came into existence, not one. Essentially, Pakistan broke away from India. Pakistan and India have been in steady conflict ever since. For each the greatest fear derives from the actions of the other. There have been three wars between the two – in 1947-48, in 1965, and in 1971. The first two were over Kashmir, the result of which was a de facto partition which neither side has ever accepted as legitimate. The third was over Bangladesh’s secession from Pakistan, in which India sided with Bangladesh.

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By Patrick Martin, wsws.org, July 15, 2011

Proving that President Obama is the first choice of Wall Street and the American super-rich, his reelection campaign announced Wednesday that it had broken all previous records for fundraising, raking in $86 million during the second quarter of this year.

The $86 million total dwarfed the previous record for presidential reelection fundraising, the $50 million raised by George W. Bush in the third quarter of 2003. It was far above the $60 million target set by Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina.

Obama for America, the official name of the reelection effort, raised $47 million, while the Democratic National Committee collected $38 million, largely from fundraising events featuring the president, where big donors are allowed to give up to $30,800 apiece. Individual donations to Obama for America are limited under federal election laws to a maximum of $5,000.

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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, July 15, 2011 –
Urgent Appeal Update: AHRC-UAU-036-2011

[Re: AHRC-UAC-005-2010: PHILIPPINES: Torture and filing of questionable charges against three peasant community organisers]
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PHILIPPINES: No investigation to complaint of torture filed one and a half years ago
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LIST OF “CLOSED & TERMINATED” CASES
http://www.humanrights.asia/countries/philippines/cases/terminated
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Dear friends,

Similar to other cases raised with the Ombudsman the office has also ceased its intervention in the complaint of torture by the three victims, collectively known as the ‘Talisay 3’, invoking the excuse that it is the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate complaints of torture. While the Ombudsman argued that it is the primary responsibility of the CHR to investigate, the latter did not conduct an investigation since the complaint was filed one and a half years ago.

DETAILS OF TERMINATED CASES:

On 1 February, 2010, we issued the appeal (AHRC-UAC-005-2010) about the illegal arrest, torture and filing of questionable charges on three community organizers, namely Charity Diño, 29; Billy Batrina, 29; and Sonny Rogelio, 26; in the municipality of Talisay, Batangas on 23 November, 2009.

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Khalid Amayreh, MWC News, July 13, 2011

On the eve of his visit to Israel, Greek President Karolos Papoulias spoke of the “strong relationship in all aspects” between his country and the Zionist state. The fact that Israel continues to occupy Palestine, expand Jewish-only colonies on occupied territory and persecute millions of Palestinians, including many who practice Greek Orthodox Christianity in the West Bank, seems to have little or  no bearing on the evolving relations between the Greek and Israeli governments.

“We are now involved in an intensive process of cooperation. Our ministers and officials systematically consult and work together on all levels and in key areas, including energy, defence and security, as well as agriculture and tourism,” said the Greek president.

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Human Rights First,  July 14, 2011

For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C.–Despite an ongoing national dialogue between the government and some parts of civil society, Human Rights First documents in a report released today how the Bahraini government continues to intimidate, torture, and detain human rights defenders, and shoot at civilians.  The report cites the continuing government crackdown in Bahrain through eyewitness accounts and testimonies from human rights defenders, and calls on the U.S. government to insist on benchmarks for the dialogue.

The complete report and recommendations can be found here.

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Consortium News, July 13, 2011

Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, back from Greece where he was part of an effort to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, describes his experiences on the U.S. boat, “The Audacity of Hope.” Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjudlGlYJbI; and Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPaaaOliY8o&feature=relmfu

 Deadly drone attacks kill 61 in 24 hours Foreign, Punjabi militants among dead

Surge, bribe and run? Or surge, bribe and stay? How US military bases and the energy war play out in Afghanistan.

Pepe Escobar, Al Jazeera, July 13, 2011

Among multiple layers of deception and newspeak, the official Washington spin on the strategic quagmire in Afghanistan simply does not hold.

No more than “50-75 ‘al-Qaeda types’ in Afghanistan”, according to the CIA, have been responsible for draining the US government by no less than US $10 billion a month, or $120 billion a year.

At the same time, outgoing US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been adamant that withdrawing troops from Afghanistan is “premature”. The Pentagon wants the White House to “hold off on ending the Afghanistan troop surge until the fall of 2012.”
That of course shadows the fact that even if there were a full draw down, the final result would be the same number of US troops before the Obama administration-ordered AfPak surge.

And even if there is some sort of draw down, it will mostly impact troops in supporting roles – which can be easily replaced by “private contractors” (euphemism for mercenaries). There are already over 100,000 “private contractors” in Afghanistan.

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