Arab Angst About Tumultuous Tunisia
Synopsis: Holy Hookah! Tunisians have taken to the streets and overthrown their government and driven the President out of the country! As tumultuous as this is for Tunisia, the ramifications of this event will actually reverberate with WAY more impact into other Arab states that are in a similar scandalous predicament: too much political/economic power concentration into too few hands, while the Arab masses become more disenfranchised and desperate…especially in Egypt and Algeria. The Avenger also explains who is happy about this Arab anger, who is not, and what we are likely to see happen soon…
Related Stories:
Arab states rocked by the mouse that roared
After Tunisia: Why Egypt Isn't Ready to Have Its Own Revolution
Arab summit to 'boost economies
Algeria vows to punish protesters
Tunisia: The next Iranian-style theocracy?
Keywords: Tunisia, Egypt. Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Arab, Persian, Islam, monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship, Hosni Mubarak, King Abdullah, Osama Bin Laden
Arabian Arms Race On!
Holy hookah my friends! A $60 billion arms deal is in the works between the US and Saudi Arabia, the largest such deal in all of US history….and an arms deal that the Avenger believes is the official kick-off for a full-scale arms race across the entire Middle East region. How does the US stand to gain significantly from this deal? More importantly, how will the deal affect the
current power struggle within the region, and why is it happening at all? The Avenger points out the cultural frictions and fallacies behind this volatile mix of Arab arms and angst!
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The Saudi Arms Deal
US pushing $60bn Saudi arms deal
US prepares to approve $60bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia
Conflict or containment in the Persian Gulf?
Keywords: Saudi Arabia, US, arms deal, Iran, UAE, Kuwait, Arab, Persian, Turk, Middle East
Turkey Tantrum Over US Genocide Vote
Synopsis: A US House subcommittee narrowly passed a resolution (23 yay to 22 nay) to recognize something called the Armenian Genocide of 1915. This has infuriated Turkey, a strong US and NATO ally, and caused them to recall their ambassador. Say what? Why would a 95 year old historic event still cause such Turkish tantrums in today’s world…and why the hell would the US Congress be voting on it anyway? The Avenger details the event itself, the Turkish vs Armenian angles on it, and how this vote is impacting current (and even future) events between the Turks and the Americans.
Other Plaidcasts mentioned:
Sledgehammer Tenderizes Turkey
Related Stories:
Genocide vote irks Turkey
Turkey says U.S. genocide vote endangers Caucasus peace
U.S. 'genocide' vote hurts stability: Azerbaijan
Keywords: Turkey, US, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Erdogan, Gul, Obama, Bush, 1915 Armenian Genocide
Sledgehammer Tenderizes Turkey
Synopsis: An uncovered military coup plot nicknamed ?Operation Sledgehammer? has seriously rattled the military and political foundation of Turkey. This military maneuver has its roots in the formation of the modern state of Turkey itself, and has serious repercussions for the the future direction of the Turks? secular democracy. The Avenger does his best to explain the background leading up to this event, and discusses why some elements of the powerful Turkish military would be greatly concerned about the rise of the Islamist-base AK Party…which is the most popular political party in the country right now. Let?s talk Turkey!
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More arrests over alleged 'Sledgehammer' plot to overthrow Erdogan
PM tells Turks to 'show courage'
Bashing Turkey's Army
Keywords: Turkey, Gul, Erdogan, Kemal, Ataturk, military, AK Party, Abdullah Gul, Recep Erdogan, Mustafa Kemal, NATO
Iran’s Nuclear Thirst on its 31st
Synopsis: What the hell are the Iranians spouting about with all this ‘20% uranium enrichment’ business on their 31st birthday? Why 20%? Why does 20% it so infuriate many other countries on the planet, many of whom are now aligning to slam Iran with punishing economic sanctions? The Avenger explains what all the fuss is about with the magic number 20, why Iran may want a nuclear weapon, and the players who are adamant that Iran should never get a nuclear weapon.
Other Plaidcasts mentioned:
02.06.10 - Sino Sniping Has International Impacts
Outside stories:
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Ahmadinejad provokes western anger
Hundreds of thousands back Iran Revolution
Iran further enrages Uncle Sam
Clinton warns of Mideast nuclear arms race
The case for an Israeli strike against Iran
Keywords: Iran, US, China, Israel, Arab state, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Khameini, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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Issue 2: Battle For Burma
Well, the battle for the heart and soul of this country is on, but no one outside Burma seems to be able to do a damn thing about it! Why not?
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