Liberating Libya 2: International Invasion Intrigue
In this second installment of reporting on aspects of this current international intervention into Libya, the Plaid Avenger attempts to explain the role of the major states and international organizations that have driven the action of this ‘liberating’ project. Led by France (France in the lead?) and the UK, and joined by a hesitant US, these major world players got a resolution passed through the United Nations which cleared the way for the international community to ‘protect’ Libyan civilians from their own government. But this was a very shady deal, indeed! Who voted for it, and who did not? And now that it is passed and military action has been initiated against Libya, who is in charge of this rapidly escalating event? NATO….WTF…NATO? Yeah, this whole business is baffling, and the Avenger does his best to enlighten the befuddled…including himself.
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Keywords: UN, NATO, BRIC, sovereignty, US, France, UK, Germany, BRazil, Russia, India, China, veto, UN Security Council, UN Permanent Security Council members
Liberating Libya 1: Sovereignty Smasher
Libya! Libya! Libya! It’s blowing up with revolutionary spirit and been invaded by international forces in order to stop Muammar Qaddafi from slaughtering his own citizens! We must stop Muammar! We must protect Libyan civilians! Save the Libyans! Liberate Libya!
But wait a minute….this seemingly innocuous and humanitarian mission has mad future repercussions that no one has yet considered. This international incursion into Libya flies in the face of the accepted modern definitions of what it means to be a sovereign state. For decades, if not centuries, no one would mess with the actions of a government inside its own sovereign state unless that state threatened/invaded another state or committed a genocide within its state…and Muammar has obviously not done either. In this episode, the Avenger explains the importance of this Libyan situation to the future of international policies and relations, as we dawn on a new age of redefined sovereignty in the world.
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A chink in the armour of sovereignty
Libya revolt amended state sovereignty rule
Max du Plessis and Christopher Gevers: State sovereignty
Pesky Pirates Neutralized by NATO
Synopsis: Shits ahoy, mates! A shit-state of affairs on the waters off the Horn of Somalia, that is. While piracy has made a slow comeback in this area ever since the collapse of the Somali government two decades ago, the death and destruction has truly accelerated pace in the last 5 years….making these waters the most dangerous to traverse on the planet. But never fear! NATO may be here! Indeed, lacking any sort of singular global counter-piracy policy, it may fall to a powerful military alliance like NATO to adopt security of the oceans as a new mission.
The Avenger talks about the why here and why now of this pirate situation, the global response thus far, and the possible promise of NATO intervention.
There be troubled waters ahead…but maybe NATO will be stepping in to calm the high seas!
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Nato seizes 'pirate mother ship' off Somalia
Pirates seize oil tankers, putting oil supply routes at risk
Somalia: Analysis of a failed state
What Somali pirates reveal about the global economy
Keywords: Somalia, pirates, NATO, Operation Ocean Shield, Johnny Depp, Russia, China, Japan, EU
Is the Brotherhood Up to No Good?
Synopsis: Ahhhhh!!! Look out! The Islamist are coming! The radical Muslim Brotherhood to be more precise! They are going to take over Egypt if the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak falls! Another radical US-hating state like Iran is forming! Oh no! It’s the end of days!
NOT.
The Paid Avenger introduces the Muslim Brotherhood and explains why the democratic transition that is unfolding in Egypt is a radically different stage than revolutionary Iran in 1979, and offers 7 reasons why Egypt is not likely to go the route of full-on Islamic radicalization and/or theocracy.
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Whither the Muslim Brotherhood?
White House walks fine line on Muslim Brotherhood
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Keywords: Muslim Brotherhood, Arab, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Ayatollah Khomenei, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia
Arab Anger: Why Here, Why Now?
Tunisia’s political revolution resulted in the overthrow of their president. Popular uprisings and protests are now peppered across Jordan, Yemen, and Algeria…and of course Egypt is on fire, and will very likely force the resignation of the 30-year old reign of Hosni Mubarak. What is the deal with all this Arab anger and rage that has suddenly bubbled to the surface of societies across the Middle East? And why is it suddenly all happening right now? The Avenger tries to answer these questions by explaining the root cause for this Arab frustration, and also assesses which Arab regimes are likely to be most (and least) impacted by this explosion of Arab angst.
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The 'bin Laden' of marginalisation
Greed stirring Arab anger
Syria's Assad: Time for 'Reform'
Foreign Policy: Dealing With A New Arab World Order
Keywords: Arab, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Gulf States, Morocco, Libya, Sudan
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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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