The role of the UN and the UNSC in preventing conflict

The role of the UN and the UNSC in preventing conflict

    Saturday, April 01, 2023   No comments

The role of the UN and the UNSC in preventing conflict is non-existent because of its lack of independence from Western hegemony.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq was asked if the US military presence in Syria is illegal. Listen and watch his answer.

Substitute the questions about Syria with same questions about the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and you get your answers why the world is not up in arms against the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. Only the West is, but it was the West that made such actions acceptable.

Media review: Cracks in Western media coverage of the war in Ukraine created by the narrative of a spring offensive and Bakhmut

Media review: Cracks in Western media coverage of the war in Ukraine created by the narrative of a spring offensive and Bakhmut

    Friday, March 31, 2023   No comments

Ukrainian leaders institance to defend Bakhmut at any cost and the outcome of that battle may create a narrative problem for media, thus far eager to promote the notion that Ukraine will be able to retake all the lost terrirties militarily. 

Western media and officials in Ukraine are promoting the spring offensive as it will adjust the balance of military forces and restore dignity to the Ukrainian army, without any indication of the date of the attack or on which front it will start. There may be actual preparations for this counter-attack, but this does not negate that it may be a last attempt before the great collapse.

The words of Scott Ritter, a retired US Marine Corps intelligence officer whose statements were celebrated by the Russian media that Ukraine faces inevitable defeat, depend on military estimates and indicators that the Western media tries not to address.

The Ukrainian army has not been able to achieve a breakthrough in the Russian defenses during the past months, at a time when the continuous Western support did not succeed in changing the rules of the field balance of forces. The situation in Bakhmut embodies the course of the war throughout Ukraine. According to what was announced by the Ukrainian presidential advisor, Sergey Leshchenko, on Thursday, that Kiev no longer controls only a third of the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, which has been witnessing fierce battles for months. While the Russian forces control 70 percent of the civilian population. With this field reality in Bakhmut, it is clear that the Ukrainian forces are preparing to suffer a resounding defeat after months of attempts to defend the city with the support of Western countries. For this reason, the foreign ministers of NATO countries will hold a new meeting in Brussels between the third and fifth of next April, a meeting in which they will stress the continuation of US support for Ukraine. But what will the alliance do about the retreat of the Ukrainian army?

Away from the details of the decisive battles in Bakhmut, and in general, the reports that the Western media controls are obfuscating them, talking about the emergence of symptoms of the defeat of the Ukrainian army. And indications of developments indicate that Ukraine is not on its way to achieving a complete victory, with the apparent stumbling of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's attempts to recover what his country lost in the war.

Western media and officials in Ukraine are promoting the spring offensive as it will adjust the balance of military forces and restore dignity to the Ukrainian army, without any indication of the date of the attack or on which front it will start. There may be actual preparations for this counter-attack, but this does not negate that it may be a last attempt before the great collapse.

The words of Scott Ritter, a retired US Marine Corps intelligence officer whose statements were celebrated by the Russian media that Ukraine faces inevitable defeat, depend on military estimates and indicators that the Western media tries not to address.

Everything is already there, Ritter adds. The decisive defeat of Ukraine is inevitable. Ukrainian forces can do nothing to prevent Russia from destroying them.”

Regarding the promised spring offensive, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba says that the failure of the offensive planned by the Ukrainian armed forces will strengthen the positions of supporters of a settlement with Russia in the West.

“They (proponents of settling the conflict with Russia through diplomacy) are everywhere – in Washington, in Berlin, in Paris, in London. They will try to do something creative in the spirit of Minsk-3.”

According to Kuleba, if the Ukrainian offensive falters, this will affect the additional supply of American and European weapons. He also noted that there is a narrative in the West that is dangerous for Kiev that the Ukrainian Armed Forces must wage “one decisive battle” that determines the outcome of the entire conflict, otherwise military assistance must be stopped.

On the other hand, a lengthy report published by the New York Times revealed many imbalances among the American volunteers in Ukraine, some of which relate to claiming non-existent military experience, wasting resources, and trying to profit from the war.

The “New York Times” highlighted that the research and interviews it conducted revealed a series of acts of deception, mistakes, and disagreements among volunteer fighters in Ukraine that hindered the volunteer campaign that began after the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the end of February 2022, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launched an appeal requesting He asked all friends of Ukraine who wanted to join the fight in its defense to come to the country, stressing that Ukraine would give them weapons to do so.

NATO nations’ support to Ukrainian armed forces reaches another level

NATO nations’ support to Ukrainian armed forces reaches another level

    Thursday, March 30, 2023   No comments

Ukrainian officials have shown off nee weapons systems received from NATO nations, which they said will allow them to launch offensive actions to take back territories now under Russian control.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, released images of new weapons and transport systems handed over by the US. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, was shown testing the new Strykers and Cougars handed over by USA.

Also, more than 300 powerful DJI Mavic 3T Thermal copters for Ukraine's Defense Forces were transferred to the frontlines, according to Ukrainian forces.

This unprecedented number of weapons transferred to a war zone is likely to push both sides to escalate.

Russian officials have used a strategy of inserting new weapons to the battle field incrementally and in reaction to NATO’s increased involvement, which can lead to a dangerous nuclear confrontation.

These developments bring to the forefront once again the consequences of illegal wars, invasions, and aggressions undertaken by Western states in the last 3 decades. Most recently, the US invasion of Iraq and how that event is unmasking the inequality that permeates the world today. If Iraq has had reliable and powerful allies with nuclear weapons, who decided to take the same actions taken by Western nations to support Ukraine resist an illegal war, what would the outcome have been? What if Russia and China, had used the same logic, and decided to openly provide weapons and military support to Iraq to defend itself? What would that have done to the world order then?

And did Russia exert a level of restraint, voicing their opposition to those illegal wars (Ira, Syria, Yemen, and Libya) without providing any lethal aid to these attacked nations to defend themselves, made them think that if they did the same, attack another nations in the future, the West will do the same (not provide military assistance)?

Since that assumption is proved wrong now, will Russia supply its friends who are under threat of attack from Western nations, like Iran, with all kinds of weapons and technology to pre-empt an attack, or strike military alliances that would allow them to intervene militarily in defense of their allies?

This is how complex the effects of the war in Ukraine and the West’s reaction to it is. With election cycles around the corner in key Westerm nations, it is only  matter of months, not years, to see how these decisions will shape the outcome of the war in Ukraine.

Qatar acknowledges that it is vetoing the return of the Syria to the Arab League

Qatar acknowledges that it is vetoing the return of the Syria to the Arab League

    Wednesday, March 29, 2023   No comments

Qatar affirmed that it has not changed its position on the move to return Syria to the Arab League, noting that it “will not normalize relations with the Syrian regime until the reasons that called for boycotting it are gone.”

Yesterday, Tuesday, the official spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majid Al-Ansari, said that “there is still no Arab consensus on the return of the Syrian regime to the Arab League, and the State of Qatar deals with this issue as one of the priorities of Arab issues, so the Arab consensus in it is of interest, and even There is this consensus, which comes as a result of positive developments on the Syrian scene that we do not see before us.

Al-Ansari stressed the “steadfastness of the Qatari position,” saying, “We believe that there will be no change in the Qatari position. Our position is clear and stable and is not affected by what is going on in the scene unless there are real developments inside Syria in a way that satisfies the aspirations of the Syrian people, or there is a built Arab consensus.” On these positive developments inside Syria, but at the present time there is no reason for optimism about the nearness of normalization with the Syrian regime and its return to the Arab League.

He affirmed Qatar's welcome and support for Arab efforts in the framework of finding a solution to the Syrian crisis, stressing that this solution must be based on positive developments and a real response to popular demands, and that there should be no "betrayal of bloodshed" to achieve these aspirations, he said.

France: Millions of people demonstrate against Macron's pension amendments... and strikes continue

France: Millions of people demonstrate against Macron's pension amendments... and strikes continue

    Wednesday, March 29, 2023   No comments

The French CGT (General Confederation of Labor) union said today, Tuesday, that two million French people participated in the demonstrations in various French regions.

Meanwhile, the French Ministry of the Interior reported that about 740,000 participated in France's protests today.

According to the Al-Mayadeen delegate to Paris, the demonstrations today included 240 cities, and some of them were crowded in major cities, such as Marseille and Lyon, while the French police spoke of about 100,000 demonstrators in Paris.

Our envoy pointed to the outbreak of confrontations with police officers during the Paris demonstrations, in light of the police's use of tear gas, pointing out that the French unions called for the eleventh day of "strike and demonstration", next Thursday.

Saudi cabinet approvedthe decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Saudi cabinet approvedthe decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

    Wednesday, March 29, 2023   No comments

 The Saudi cabinet approved today, Wednesday, the decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as Riyadh embraces a long-term partnership with China, despite US security concerns.

The Saudi Press Agency said that the Kingdom had agreed to a memorandum on granting Saudi Arabia the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a Eurasian international organization, founded in the form of a political, economic and military alliance, in the Chinese city of Shanghai, on June 15, 2001, by 6 countries at first, namely: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries, with the exception of Uzbekistan, were members of the "Shanghai Five", which was established on April 26, 1996 in Shanghai.

Iran also signed full membership documents in the organization last year, and sources told Reuters that Saudi Arabia's accession to the organization was discussed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the kingdom.

The sources added that the status of the dialogue partner will be a first step before granting the kingdom full membership in the medium term.

The decision comes after Saudi Aramco announced on Tuesday that it had increased its investment in China by several billion dollars by completing a planned joint venture in northeastern China and acquiring a stake in a private petrochemical group.

The growing relations between Riyadh and Beijing raise concerns in Washington, a traditional ally of the kingdom. Washington says China's attempts to exert influence around the world will not change US policy toward the Middle East.

The member states of the organization intend to hold a "joint anti-terrorism training" in Chelyabinsk, Russia, in August of this year.

An investigative report reveals that some countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are secretly sending ammunition to Ukraine

An investigative report reveals that some countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are secretly sending ammunition to Ukraine

    Tuesday, March 28, 2023   No comments

A report on the "Intelligence Online" website said that a number of countries, which are part of an alliance with Western countries and NATO, secretly send ammunition and military aid to Ukraine.

The report stated that a large group of these countries, "despite their formal neutrality, especially countries dealing with the military industry sector in the West, are indirectly helping the war effort to support Ukraine militarily, by secretly opening up its stockpiles of weapons in favor of Kiev."

The site investigated, in particular, the supply of French "Crotal" and "Mistral" missiles, anti-aircraft and air targets, short and medium range, and French "Milan" anti-tank missiles, for use against Russia.

Ukraine's extensive use of missiles and missiles is a motive for its allies to urgently find new military supplies, especially after Kiev's growing demands for more ammunition and weapons to be used against Russian forces.

French officials remain silent so far on this issue, and it seems that the participation of these countries came as part of an agreement at the level of Western countries and their allies, according to which these participating countries were requested.

According to information obtained in the relevant capitals, a group of neutral governments have officially opened their military stockpiles, in order to compensate for the shortage caused by dwindling Western ammunition stocks, after more than a year of conflict in Ukraine.

The information stated that "the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar provided, within this framework, hundreds of "Mistral" anti-aircraft missile systems, which were delivered to Ukraine, thanks to the intermediary countries working for Kiev.

Other countries, officially involved in supporting Ukraine, such as Finland, supplied it with weapons and made it public. However, countries, such as the Gulf states, which have relations with Moscow, chose to maintain secrecy regarding the provision of "Mistral" missiles to Ukraine.

A few days ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Europe to "strengthen the supply of modern weapons, expedite their dispatch, and impose tougher sanctions on Russia."

"It is up to the 27-nation bloc to take measures to contain Russia, more than a year after its war with Ukraine," Zelensky said, in a speech that expressed exceptional and frank frustration.

He pointed out that the European Union "was the one that postponed decisions on providing long-range weapons and modern combat aircraft, and moving forward with talks to grant Ukraine its membership."

Czech Republic announces the cessation of military assistance to Ukraine

This comes after the President of the Czech Republic declared that his country “can no longer help Ukraine militarily by supplying weapons,” due to “the shortage of its military depots,” and its “inability to adequately produce ammunition,” especially since its forces “are suffering significant deficiency."

 

According to the Czech president, his country "has the opportunity to expand production in the field of air defense and ammunition, but there is a problem due to a shortage of labor with the current unemployment rate, which is very low in the republic," noting that "a way out of the situation requires attracting workers from Ukraine."

Last week, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced a new US military aid package worth $350 million to Ukraine, based on an authorization from US President Joe Biden, while the thirty-fourth withdrawal of US weapons and equipment from the stockpile allocated to the Ministry of Defense within a year.

UNSC failed to get Nord Stream blast international independent investigative commission

UNSC failed to get Nord Stream blast international independent investigative commission

    Monday, March 27, 2023   No comments

The UNSC, which literally stands for the United Nations Security Council, and whose mission “is to maintain international peace and security;” failed to adopt a resolution that “would have established an international independent investigative commission into the September 2022 “acts of sabotage” committed on the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.”

The vote, or lack thereof as was the case this time, shows how politicized this UN body has become. If the attack on an asset established to transact trade between a number of nation-states is not of concern to the UN body charged with maintaining peace and security, then what is?

The politics of power and control are not limited to the halls of the UN. The media, too, is deep in the business of writing narratives that are highly political and less informative. This screen capture shows how some of these media outlets reported about the vote: “Russia fails at UN to get Nord Stream blast inquiry” when the fact is clear: the UNSC failed to get Nord Stream blast inquiry.

It is because of media bias and the ineptitude of the UNSC that countries are invaded, peoples exploited, and resources and pillaged by the rich and powerful.

There Will be no Bakhmut Left for anyone to Keep or Liberate

There Will be no Bakhmut Left for anyone to Keep or Liberate

    Monday, March 27, 2023   No comments

The battle for the city of Bakhmut is not a battle for the city at all. Because there will be no city after the battle. That is one of the reasons why armed actors who seek shelter among civilians and fires from near their homes are committing a war crime according to international treaties. 

Although far from traditional homeland of Islam, here too, the Mosque stand witness to the recklessness and cruelty of war. A tank that appears to belong to the armed forces of Ukraine is stationed near what is left of a damaged mosque and firing.

There are many reasons why Ukrainian leaders are choosing to make a stand in the city of Bakhmut and not retreat. Perhaps one of the reasons is how they can use homes of civilians and their mosques and ch

urches as shield while they battle with the Russians. They want these cities and towns destroyed if they cannot be preserved under their control. That is criminal intent.

Urban warfare is not a neutral category. Urban warfare, when it is done intentionally, when an army or an armed group decides to engage in war activities from near mosques, hospitals, and other civilian structures, they are committing a war crime. 

   

When the US invaded Iraq in 2003, the Iraqi army collapsed very quickly. For civilians, especially those in large cities such as Baghdad, that was a good thing. The collapse of the Iraqi military spared large cities from complete destruction. 

But not all Iraqi cities avoided urban warfare. The fate of Fallujah comes to mind. Since the invasion, the city of Fallujah did not actually fall under the total control of the coalition forces. In fact, a year after the invasion, US troops tried to flush out pockets of armed rebels who took the city, especially the old city with its narrow walkways and dense neighborhoods as shield. From April 1 to May 1, 2004, US troops fought running battles with the armed groups. Knowing the cost of urban warfare is high for all sides, US troops decided to leave the city alone. That was the end of the First Battle of Fallujah. That retreat encouraged fighters from inside Iraq and outside Iraq, mostly fighters affiliated with al-Qaeda, to settle in Fallujah and use it as a base for their attacks. That brought back the coalition forces, this time, they were determined to liberate the city even if that meant its full destruction. 

From the first week of November to right before Christmas Eve of 2004, American, Iraqi, and British troops battled with armed groups in the city in what was officially called Operation al-Fajr, popularly known and the Second Battle of Fallujah. In the end, 710 coalition forces were killed or wounded and more than 3,000 rebels were killed or captured. But we may never know how many civilians, out of the more than quarter million residents of the city were killed or injured. That number was estimated to be in the thousands, to add to the estimate total number of 650,000 civilians who were killed in Iran during the invasion. As if two battles were not enough, when ISIL took over large territories in Syrian and Iraq, Fallujah falls back into urban violence once more.

If images of city buildings were an indication of the level of destruction urban warfare can bring, the images of the destroyed homes and mosques tell a story of unlivable devastation—the City of Mosques was reduced to a City of Ruin.

 The same applies to the urban warfare that took place in Syrian and is now taking place in Ukraine. 

Foreign ministers of the GCC, in a letter to Minister Anthony Blinkkin: "the United States of America to assume its responsibilities in responding to all measures and statements targeting the Palestinian people"

Foreign ministers of the GCC, in a letter to Minister Anthony Blinkkin: "the United States of America to assume its responsibilities in responding to all measures and statements targeting the Palestinian people"

    Sunday, March 26, 2023   No comments

In another setback for the so-called Abrahamic accord, the organization, GCC, that includes two of the States that signed the agreement, sent a letter to the USA protesting Israeli words and practices agains the Palestinians.

In a letter to Minister Anthony Blinkkin, the foreign ministers of the Six-state bloc, in a letter to Minister Anthony Blinkkin, denounced the statements of the Israeli right -wing Israeli Finance Minister of Smottrich about the necessity of "eradicating" the Palestinian town of Hawara, which witnessed the killing of two Israelis by an activist suspected of belonging to Hamas.

In its message published on its website, the Council called on "the United States of America to assume its responsibilities in responding to all measures and statements targeting the Palestinian people."

He also urged the American administration to "play its role to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution" to the Palestinian -Israeli conflict.

On Sunday, the UAE strongly condemned the decision of Israel to allow the restoration of settlement in the northern West Bank regions, and put it bids to build new settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reported by the Emirates News Agency.

In a statement, the Ministry affirmed, "The UAE's rejection of all practices that violate international legitimacy decisions, which threaten more escalation and instability in the region."

Saudi Arabia also condemned the Israeli decision, and stated in a statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry that Riyadh "calls on the international community to carry out its responsibilities to end the Israeli occupation and stop its provocative practices, which would obstruct the paths of political solutions based on the Arab peace initiative and undermine international peace efforts."

Last week, the United States described Smotrich's statements as "insulting" and "dangerous".

She also expressed its "great concern" after the Israeli parliament canceled part of a law that prevents settlers from residing in areas in the occupied West Bank that the Israeli government had evacuated in 2005, considering that the decision was "provocative."

The Gulf Cooperation Council, whose foreign ministers met in Riyadh last week, include six countries, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. The UAE and Bahrain printed their relations with Israel in 2020 under the "Abraham Agreements" sponsored by the United States.

Zelenskiy uses Islam for war purposes

Zelenskiy uses Islam for war purposes

    Saturday, March 25, 2023   No comments

Zelenskiy uses “Ramadan” and uses the power of “prayer” to help him “cleanse Ukraine” of the evil of the “Russian atheist.” An attempt to evoke the literature of “jihad” and incitement with the weapon of religion.

The Russian-Ukrainian war takes on a religious character in addition to its political, economic, and social dimensions, and this is evident when the Ukrainian president tried to use the month of Ramadan to serve him and his regime, and to tarnish the image of his Russian opponent.

Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his Twitter account, a controversial tweet, taking advantage of the month of Ramadan, saying:

May the power of prayer in this holy month of Ramadan help us cleanse Ukraine of Russian godless evil, of those who truly believe in nothing, and that is why they are capable of such terror. Let the next Ramadan begin in peace and on the entire Ukrainian land free from Russia.

Zelensky is addressing the Ukrainian Muslim community, which is mainly represented by the Tatars residing in Crimea, which Russia has controlled since 2014, but according to commentators at the same time, he does not explain to the Muslims the reasons why his soldiers set out to burn the Qur’an, nor does he offer an apology or justification for them.

In his use of the description of the “Russian atheist,” Zelensky goes back to the inflammatory literature and descriptions that were used against the “atheist” Soviet Union in Afghanistan and the “jihad” against it, trying to incite Muslims against the current Russian regime, which no longer adopts atheism and communism as an approach, and embraces Muslims and their mosques. (Moscow's Grand Mosque was personally inaugurated by Putin), and he shares their religious events with them. Even the most prominent ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin is the "bearded Muslim" Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.

Zelensky said in his tweet, which he published with a video clip: “A large part of Ukrainian society are Muslims, and we have the Crimean Tatars who are spending this blessed month in conditions of Russian persecution, and some of them are under other bombings on the fronts,” adding: “Let the month of Ramadan begin in peace and on peace... The entire Ukrainian land free of Russia.”

Activists and tweeters interacted with the Ukrainian president’s “religious” tweet, and some of them considered that the exploitation of religion in wars is no longer as effective as it was, while others found that the Kiev regime is far from caring and caring for Muslims, and a third said that the weapon of religion is imposed, regardless of the party we support.

Meanwhile, Kadyrov, visited with his troops, many of whom just returned from the frontlines in Ukraine, some will be going there soon. Here is his most recent release, a video, showing one of his elite units.

  

The following statement by Ramzan Kadyrov accompanied the video:

I took part in the ceremonial formation of the personnel of the 94th operational regiment of the 46th OBron of the North Caucasus Oblast of the VNG of Russia. The event was held on the occasion of the appointment of dear BROTHER Khasmagomed Magomadov to the post of unit commander. The corresponding order was signed by the Director of the Russian Guard, General of the Army, respected by us Viktor Zolotov.

⠀

I have known Khasmagomed Adikovich for many years. He showed himself excellently both while serving in the law enforcement agencies of the Chechen Republic, and in the zone of the special military operation in Ukraine. Khasmagomed has long proved in practice that he is a true warrior and patriot, for whom the interests of the Motherland are above all else.

⠀

Now, I am sure that under his competent and effective leadership, the 94th regiment will become one of the most combat-ready units of the National Guard. We will render full assistance to Khasmagomed in this task.

⠀

Being not only the head of the republic, but also the Colonel-General of the Russian Guard, I personally control the supply issues. I know perfectly well how much attention the director of the Federal Service for the National Guard Viktor Vasilyevich Zolotov pays to the issues of providing for the Russian Guards. We are deeply grateful to him for the comprehensive support of the units stationed in the Chechen Republic.

I sincerely congratulate Khasmagomed Magomadov on his appointment to the post of commander of the 94th operational regiment of the 46th OBron SKO VNG of Russia! I wish him good luck in his future service for the benefit of our great Motherland - Russia!

UN says both Russia and Ukraine executed prisoners of war: Ukraine executed 25 Russian POWs, Russia executed 15 Ukrainian POWs

UN says both Russia and Ukraine executed prisoners of war: Ukraine executed 25 Russian POWs, Russia executed 15 Ukrainian POWs

    Friday, March 24, 2023   No comments

On the other hand, the United Nations on Friday accused Ukrainian and Russian forces of carrying out dozens of extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine.

The head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, expressed "great concern" about the execution of "25 Russian prisoners of war" by the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as "the execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war" by the Russians.

Bogner confirmed that the United Nations documented these executions of Russians, which were carried out by Ukrainian forces, "most often ... immediately after their capture on the battlefield."

She added that the United Nations is aware of 5 investigations conducted by Kiev related to 22 victims, but "we have not been informed of any prosecution of the perpetrators" of these crimes.

As for the Russian armed forces' execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war "soon after their arrest," the official said that 11 of these operations were carried out by the Russian armed Wagner Group.

Iran condemns the suppression of demonstrators in France... and calls for non-use of violence

Iran condemns the suppression of demonstrators in France... and calls for non-use of violence

    Friday, March 24, 2023   No comments

 Today, Friday, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the suppression of peaceful demonstrators in the demonstrations taking place in the French streets.

In the details, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian wrote in a "tweet" on his account: "We strongly condemn the suppression of peaceful demonstrators and call on the French government to respect human rights and not use violence."

Simultaneously, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, posted a new tweet to him on Twitter, in which he demanded that Paris speak to the French people and listen to their voice.

In his tweet, Kanaani attached a videotape that included footage of French protesters who set fire to the municipality of Bordeaux, and firefighters joined the protesters, noting that "whoever sows the wind reaps the storm."

The Iranian diplomat stressed that this kind of violence has nothing to do with sitting on the chair of morality and proselytizing to others, adding that the French protesters are waiting to watch the group clip of the European, Australian and Canadian ministers who support the French protest.

Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, announced that the topic of the episodes of the month of Ramadan will focus on women’s rights in Islamic law

Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, announced that the topic of the episodes of the month of Ramadan will focus on women’s rights in Islamic law

    Friday, March 24, 2023   No comments

Sheikh of Al-Azhar, start the first episode by an attack on the colonial West, stressing that it is hostile to Islam. Because Islam stands against the aspirations of the new global colonialism.

This came in his daily Ramadan program, indicating that despite the large number of treatment of women's rights in Islamic law, and the repetition of the matter in explanation and statement and in response to objections and suspicions, the objections still float on the scene from time to time.

Al-Tayyib added that these objections do not base their backs on the logic of argument and proof, but are sophistical objections that are fueled by their promotion among Muslim women on Western agendas and with cunning plans and funds allocated to portray Islam in an ugly image to alienate people in the West and even alienate young people in the East.

He said that we do not know of a subject that has drained from the minds of thinkers, researchers, male and female researchers since the beginning of the last century until the present day what has been exhausted by the issue of women in Islam, pointing out that there are dozens or even hundreds of contemporary research, conferences and seminars that dealt with the issue of women in Islam and killed it in research, study and opinion, and despite that it remained The topic as if it had not been written by a pen or dealt with by thought before.

Al-Tayeb attributed the reason for this to the fact that the issue of women is the first in relation to the literature of Islam in the West, whether those who sympathize with Islam or those who hate it and who specialize in distorting its image, indicating that they return to it and resurrect it from its resting place whenever the reasons for modern colonialism call them to do so.

Al-Tayeb said that “Islam is the only rock upon which the aspirations of the new world order to impose its sovereignty on peoples, east and west, are shattered."

This development comes just months in the light of the role and reaction of Western governments and media to the protests that took place in Iran after the death of an Iran woman when she was in a police station answering a citation for improper head covering in public space.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's National Security Council, adds another scenario that could trigger a nuclear war: arresting the Russian President in another country

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's National Security Council, adds another scenario that could trigger a nuclear war: arresting the Russian President in another country

    Thursday, March 23, 2023   No comments

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's National Security Council, said on Thursday that any attempt to arrest President Vladimir Putin after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him would be tantamount to a declaration of war on Russia.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on Friday, charging him with the war crime of forcibly deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. The court noted that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the matter.

Medvedev, a former president and staunch Putin ally, told Russian media that the ICC was a "worthless legal entity" that had never done anything significant. There are countries that do not recognize the court, including Russia, China and the United States.

Medvedev said that any attempt to arrest Putin would be tantamount to a declaration of war.

And he continued, saying in a video he posted on Telegram, “What will that be? It will be a declaration of war on the Russian Federation... In that case, all our (war) assets, all our missiles, etc.... will fly towards the chancellery office and the Bundestag building," referring to the German parliament.

Russian officials deny war crimes were committed in Ukraine and say the West has ignored what they say are Ukrainian war crimes.

Medvedev described relations with the West as certainly at their worst.

He said nuclear risks were increasing, adding, "Every day that weapons are supplied to Ukraine from abroad brings the world closer to complete nuclear devastation."

Medvedev pointed out that the West now wants to divide Russia into a group of weak countries to steal its huge natural resources, he said.

The West denies it wants to destroy Russia and says it is helping Ukraine defend itself against colonial-style land grabs.

"Ukraine is part of Russia," Medvedev said, adding that most of present-day Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire.

  

Comparing Scenes from the Protests in the Garden of Prosperity and the Celebration of Nowruz in "Women-Oppressor" Iran

Comparing Scenes from the Protests in the Garden of Prosperity and the Celebration of Nowruz in "Women-Oppressor" Iran

    Thursday, March 23, 2023   No comments

In this week’s media review report, we would like to highlight the disparity in media coverage of social events when they happen in the West versus when the happen in Muslim-majority countries. We propose this media review because the constant and consistent negative coverage of protests in Muslim-majority countries and radio-silence when violent protests and brutal police handling of protesters in the Garden of Prosperity must be challenged as a matter of equity and as a matter of freeing the human rights discourse from political manipulation.

When protests in Iran were instrumentalized to portray yet another government in yet another Muslim-majority country as authoritarian regime ruling over an Islamic society still in need of the paternal protection of the civilized world, the progressives and liberals in the West jumped on the bandwagon. How could they be wrong if someone from somewhere stated in some social media platform that Iran executed 14,000 protesters? Reflexively, even politicians joined in. The Canada’s prime minister amplified the post and condemned Iran for not respecting the rights of peaceful protests.

Here we are weeks deep into the many “peaceful” protests across Europe, and in France, especially, with scenes of heavily armed police violently clashing with unarmed protesters. Yet, not a single Western government called for an end to the violence and the use of force against peaceful protesters.

This is not about using one case of protesters and counter-protesters’ measures to legitimize police brutality against civilians in any country or in all country. It is about the incessant, constant, consistent, and overwhelming media stream portraying violence happening in a Muslim-majority country as a normal event suggesting that Muslims are of violent nature, and the total blackout and abysmal coverage of protests in the West and the violent handling of protests in the West. It is the overwhelming negative coverage of Muslim-majority countries, the absence of any images or stories that depict positive aspects in Muslim-majority countries, and the lack of coverage of the violence that happens in the West that provide a bigoted narrative, and it is this negative narrative that produce a draft of history that is deeply flawed and cruel to people of the Global South.

Here is a glimpse of the deliberate selective coverage: during the same time when Iranian men and women, yes women, were celebrating the new Persian; the streets of Paris and other major French cities were literally on fire. The police were beating, dragging, and arresting protesters. No word of concern for the use of excessive force was uttered by any Western leaders.

When Iranians protested the death of an Iranian woman, all Western leaders reacted; they introduced resolution of condemnation in world organizations, and they imposed sanctions on Iranian individuals and institutions. The world was told that Iran is no place for women to walk the streets without head coverings, and those who do risk arrest and death at the hand of the police. That is a damning narrative not just for Iran, but for Muslims in general.

But when there is evidence of Muslim women in Iran and elsewhere in Muslim-majority countries walking the streets, and celebrating holidays in public spaces wearing or not wearing a range of head coverings, such scenes are suppressed, because they provide a counter narrative to the one that has been portraying Muslims as "woman-oppressing" peoples.

On the edge of a nuclear confrontation: Putin warned that Britain's supply of Ukraine with depleted uranium stockpile will force Russia to insert nuclear component, too

On the edge of a nuclear confrontation: Putin warned that Britain's supply of Ukraine with depleted uranium stockpile will force Russia to insert nuclear component, too

    Wednesday, March 22, 2023   No comments

British Foreign Minister James Cleverly denied on Wednesday the existence of a nuclear escalation in the Ukrainian war, after Russian President Vladimir Putin's criticism of London regarding the supply of depleted uranium shells to Ukraine.

Britain confirmed on Monday that it will supply Ukraine with depleted uranium stockpile. The heavy metal is used in the formation of weapons because of its ability to penetrate tanks and armor easily.

But Putin did not discuss the British plans to send such ammunition yesterday, saying that Moscow will have to respond accordingly because such weapons contain "nuclear components".

"There is no nuclear escalation," Cleverly added at the launch ceremony of the British International Technology Strategy. The only country in the world that talks about nuclear issues is Russia. There is no threat to Russia. It's all about helping Ukraine defend itself."

And he continued, "I must make sure that everyone understands that the word uranium mentioned in the context of depleted uranium reserves is not nuclear reserves, but purely conventional reserves."

Britain has been using depleted uranium in anti-armor missiles for decades and does not consider these missiles to have nuclear capabilities. It is also known that Russia has reserves containing depleted uranium.

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who is one of LeBoutine's close allies, said on Wednesday that Russia will reject the British decision to supply Belarus with a stockpile containing "real uranium".

He told the journalists in a video clip, "We need to retreat from this madness." As soon as this stockpile explodes at the locations of the Russian forces, there will be a terrible reaction, it will be a lesson for the entire planet.

He added, "Russia does not have depleted uranium, only... we have to slow down the pace of this trend towards escalating the conflict and moving towards a peaceful settlement".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Britain's decision to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium mines raises the situation to new and dangerous levels.

Media Review: The American magazine "Foreign Affairs" talks about that the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia can change the region

Media Review: The American magazine "Foreign Affairs" talks about that the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia can change the region

    Wednesday, March 22, 2023   No comments

The American "Foreign Affairs" magazine, in an analysis of the Iran-Saudi deal, said that the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia could change the region, and that the United States "can no longer simply demand the Arab allies to separate from China." and unity behind the leaders to fight against Iran".

The report stated that the historic agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the initiative of China, "is capable of changing the Middle East", by re-aligning the major powers, "and replacing the current Arab-Iranian divisions with a complex network of relations", which will help to weave the region within "China's global ambitions".

The report explained that for China, this agreement is a "big leap" in the competition with the United States, because the latter tried to be the mediator between the two countries, but the Saudis believed that the involvement of China is "the guarantee for the continuation of the deal with Iran".

"Foreign Affairs" stated that "if the deal is fully implemented, Tehran and Riyadh will agree once again" because according to the new agreement, both sides will reopen the embassies, and the Saudi government will stop supporting the international Iranian television channel, "which Tehran bears the responsibility of the local opposition". .

In addition to that, the Houthis, according to the magazine, committed to a ceasefire in Yemen, agreed upon in April 2022, and based on that, the official peace agreement to end the war there.

The agreement also calls for the strengthening of economic and diplomatic relations between Iran and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and for Iran and its Arab partners to start discussions on building a new regional security framework, with China continuing to supervise all these steps.

The report points out that "it is possible that the Iran-Saudi deal alone is one of the most important competitions in the region, and will lead to the expansion of economic relations across the Gulf, so that Iran will no longer stand alone to face the alliance of the Arab regimes and Israel, and the United States hopes to take on the difficult task of containment of Tehran".

And the magazine believed that "instead, the agreement has the ability to bring Iran closer to its Arab neighbors, and to achieve gradual stability in relations in the region", pointing out that "underlining this promise, the commitment of the Saudi Finance Minister, Mohammad Al-Jadaan, that if things go well We agree, because Saudi Arabia is prone to exploiting the Iranian economy.

Later, before the actual Iranian president, an invitation to visit Riyadh at an unspecified date, in another indication of the intention of the sides to "strengthen relations".

And these steps will have important implications, asserts the "Foreign Affairs" magazine, as "Firstly, for Iran, the transformation of its policies from strengthening its interests in Europe and the United States to strengthening its interests in the Arab world has so far restored relations with the Emirates, Kuwait, and now Saudi Arabia. It extends to Bahrain and Egypt.

According to the report, "Iran's better relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will reduce the threat, which has been formed by the official normalization agreements of some Arab countries, which was facilitated by the administration of former US President Donald Trump".

And secondly, regarding Saudi Arabia, "Riyadh's demonstration that if the American policy does not serve the interests of Saudi Arabia, then the Saudis will not be indebted to the alliance".

And thirdly, regarding China, "Foreign Affairs" asserts that the region is "important to China's Belt and Road Initiative, and the development of this corridor will allow China to bypass the Strait of Malacca, in the face of the formidable fleet built by the United States and its allies, and to strengthen these strategic priorities, Beijing is now ready to challenge Washington." I am the age of influence in Asharq Al-Awsat".

He points out the convergence of the broader strategic interests of China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding that "Beijing's breakthrough with Iran and Saudi Arabia is likely to be the basis of a new geopolitical reality in the Middle East".

This transformation represents a "historical challenge for the United States, as Washington can no longer simply demand the Arab allies to separate from China and unite behind the leadership to fight against Iran."

And the American report concluded that "this approach is old and does not match the current needs of the allies", and as one of the Saudi officials said, "the United States failed to understand that we cannot be allies at the expense of our interests", as the Saudis no longer see that their interests are theirs. The war with Iran or the confrontation with China.

China's President Xi Jinping: "changes have not happened since 100 years ago. When Russia and China come together, they will lead this change"

China's President Xi Jinping: "changes have not happened since 100 years ago. When Russia and China come together, they will lead this change"

    Wednesday, March 22, 2023   No comments

China's President Xi Jinping, Russia, on Wednesday, later expressed the country's solidarity with Moscow in the West, noting that the country's position on the war in Ukraine is a "neutral position".

Before leaving, Xi said that "changes have not happened since 100 years ago. When Russia and China come together, they will lead this change."

Butin's words: "I agree with you". Xi added: "Take care of yourself, my dear friend, please."

Regarding the visit, the statement issued by Beijing said that "the two leaders share the view that this relationship has far exceeded the bilateral scope, and has gained great importance for the world scene and the future of mankind."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement to the online Kremlin magazine that Russia and China are working to establish a "more just and democratic" world system with multiple poles.

He added that "this system must be based on the central role of the United Nations and the Security Council subordinate to it, international law, the objectives of the United Nations Charter and principles".

Regarding Ukraine, Putin praised the Chinese president for the peace plan he proposed last month and blamed Kiev and the West for rejecting it.

The Chinese leader arrived in Moscow on March 20, in his first foreign tour since the re-election of the third presidential term. The Russian and Chinese presidents signed documents to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, yesterday, Tuesday, in Moscow.

The former national security adviser in the White House, John Bolton, has said that "the alliance relations between Russia and China are a real problem for the Western countries, regardless of what is happening in Ukraine."

He added that the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow "will force the Western countries to think about their security", claiming that China has supported Russia since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, and did not try to remain neutral.

From Moscow, Russia, Chinese president: "complex problems have no simple solutions"

From Moscow, Russia, Chinese president: "complex problems have no simple solutions"

    Monday, March 20, 2023   No comments

Chinese President Xi Jinping said, upon his arrival today, Monday, in Moscow, that "China is ready to stand by Russia to protect international law," stressing that his visit "will be fruitful and give a new impetus to the development of relations between the two countries."

And the Kremlin announced today, Monday, that the Chinese president and his Russian counterpart will discuss the plan proposed by Beijing to settle the conflict in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "The topics mentioned in this (Chinese) plan on Ukraine will form part of the talks," adding that "the United States insists on its existing positions to continue fueling the conflict, obstructing the reduction of hostilities, and continuing to flood Ukraine with weapons."

Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Chinese president said that "complex problems have no simple solutions," but there will be a way out if there is equal dialogue.

In an article by the Russian RIA Novosti and Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspapers, Xi said that Beijing is convinced that a "rational way out" of the Ukrainian crisis will be found if everyone is guided by the concept of common, integrated and sustainable security, and they continue dialogue and consultations "in an equal, prudent and pragmatic manner."

He also noted that since the beginning of last year "there has been a complete aggravation of the Ukrainian crisis." "China has always taken an objective and impartial stance, and is making active efforts to promote reconciliation and peace negotiations," the Chinese president said.

The Chinese president also addressed the trade relations between China and Russia, stressing that "they need to increase the volume and quality of cooperation in the field of investment and trade." China-Russia trade in Jan-Feb soars 36.4% so far this year.

In the same context, the Chinese newspaper "Global Times" quoted the Chinese Foreign Ministry as saying that "China calls on the United States to stop blaming Beijing for the alleged arms supplies to Russia, and to start acting constructively on the issue of the crisis in Ukraine."

"China does not send weapons to the battlefield in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but the United States does," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin was quoted as saying.

He also indicated that it is time for the United States to stop "fanning the flames and pointing fingers" on this issue, and "must play a constructive role in the Ukrainian crisis, not the other way around."