After SoS, Blinken appeared to geenlight Poland sending fighter jets to Ukraine, the Pentagon clarifies: ‘No Decisions Made’

After SoS, Blinken appeared to geenlight Poland sending fighter jets to Ukraine, the Pentagon clarifies: ‘No Decisions Made’

    Tuesday, March 08, 2022   No comments

The Ukrainian government asked Western nations to supply them fighter jets or impose no-fly-zone over Ukraine. US state department appeared to support the idea of Poland providing such military support. Russia responded saying that any such move by a European nation will make them directly involved in the conflict and Russia will respond accordingly. Once that threat was issued and when Poland felt the lack of support should Russia respond, the Polish government commented on it sending fighter jets to Ukraine: "Fake News".

 On Monday, the Pentagon downplayed the chances of Poland sending Ukraine Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said such a plan would get a “green light” from the US.

Blinken said that the US was in discussions with Poland to replenish Warsaw’s fleet with US-made jets if it transfers the MiG-29s to Ukraine. But as recently as Sunday, Polish officials have characterized the idea of Poland sending warplanes to Ukraine as “fake news.”

When asked about the comments from Polish officials, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, “no decisions have been made,” and that the decision was ultimately up to Poland.

“This will be a sovereign decision for a nation-state to make. Whether it’s Poland or anybody else, that should they want to provide aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force, that’s a sovereign decision that they can make,” he said.

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China seeks clarification from the United States on military biological activities

China seeks clarification from the United States on military biological activities

    Tuesday, March 08, 2022   No comments

US urged to clarify biomilitary activities, accept multilateral inspections as Ukraine found to have 30 biolabs

China has urged the US to make full clarification of its biological militarization activities at home and abroad and accept multilateral inspections, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, following media reports that revealed a network of about 30 biological laboratories were formed in Ukraine at the request of the US.

The US' biological laboratories in Ukraine have aroused great concern, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in remarks during a press conference. Zhao cited media reports as saying that the biological laboratories store large quantities of dangerous viruses, and Russia has found during its military operations that the US is using these facilities for biomilitary projects.

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Media bias or media doing what it has always done: mainstream propaganda

Media bias or media doing what it has always done: mainstream propaganda

    Monday, March 07, 2022   No comments

 Not every war gets the same coverage as Russia's invasion — and that has consequences

It's a fact of modern life that some wars get more attention than others. And Russia's invasion of Ukraine has captured the public's attention in the West in a way that other recent wars — like those in Yemen or Ethiopia — simply haven't.

The reason is obvious, says Christopher Blattman, an economist at the University of Chicago and the author of Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. This is more than a regional conflict. It's a potential global conflagration. Superpowers are taking sides. There are fears that it could lead to nuclear escalation.

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Media coverage of Ukraine shows it's time to rethink what we know about Africa

"It's very emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed." These were the words of Ukraine's Deputy Chief Prosecutor, David Sakvarelidze, during a recent BBC interview about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It wasn't so much what he said, it was more what was implied; that not all lives have equal value. And that idea -- the belief that some races are superior to others -- is a fundamental principle of racism. It's alarming to me that Sakvarelidze was left unchallenged during his interview.

As a Black, African woman without the benefit of blue eyes or blonde hair, it's been equally emotional to see the number of racist and ignorant comments in the coverage on Ukraine that have passed unchallenged by the interviewers and media platforms that have aired them. CBS, Aljazeera, France's BFM TV and ITV have all reported the invasion in ways that illustrate deep bias, informed by a belief system that screams of an old-world, White-led, order.

ITV News correspondent Lucy Watson on ITV reporting back to the studio summed up the collective hypocrisy and underlying narrative that the Ukrainian war has exposed when she said: "The unthinkable has happened...this is not a developing, third-world nation; this is Europe!"

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How the world covers the war in Ukraine

How the world covers the war in Ukraine

    Sunday, February 27, 2022   No comments

 How the world covers the war in Ukraine:

When war Remind us, again, that not all human beings are created equal;

Some human beings, in some countries, could be conquered, occupied, and exploited;

When they resist, they become terrorists, uncivilized;

Other countries cannot be invaded;

When countries of this kind of people are invaded, the world must supply them with everything to resist… everything…

Federal Supreme Court of Iraq Ruling: Oil and Gas Law is unconstitutional

Federal Supreme Court of Iraq Ruling: Oil and Gas Law is unconstitutional

    Wednesday, February 16, 2022   No comments

On Tuesday, the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq issued several rulings regarding the export of oil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq outside the approval of the federal government.

 The court decided the following:

Ruling that the Oil and Gas Law is unconstitutional and repealed it for violating the provisions of the constitutional articles.

- Obligating the region to hand over oil to the federal government, specifically the Ministry of Oil.

The plaintiff has the right to pursue the nullity of the oil contracts that the regional government concluded with foreign parties regarding oil.

- Obligating the two parties to review all contracts concluded for auditing to ensure the region’s share of the budget.

Charge the defendant with fees and expenses.

The decision was passed by a majority, with only two members dissenting.

It is noteworthy that the Federal Court held, earlier Tuesday, the hearing of the case (59 federal) regarding the export of oil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq outside the approval of the federal government.

2:31 A Week In Review: January 23, 2022 world news recap

2:31 A Week In Review: January 23, 2022 world news recap

    Monday, January 24, 2022   No comments

2:31

A Week In Review: January 23, 2022 world news recap

 

Afghanistan under Taliban, replenishing the military with Taliban fighters

Afghanistan under Taliban, replenishing the military with Taliban fighters

    Sunday, January 09, 2022   No comments

Spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, Enayatullah Khwarizmi, confirmed that so far 80% of the Afghan army has been prepared, and the number of the army is scheduled to reach 100,000 soldiers, including members of the former army, and the priority in the new Afghan army will be for the Mujahideen.

Afghan caretaker foreign minister visits Tehran, Iran

Afghan caretaker foreign minister visits Tehran, Iran

    Sunday, January 09, 2022   No comments

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, met this evening, Sunday, with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Maulvi Amir Khan Mottaki and his accompanying delegation.

According to Afghan news sources, the Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Mottaki was quoted as saying that had discussed with Iranian officials trade, oil, transit, politics, the current situation and security issues, which would have good results.

Afghanistan’s Taliban leader Issues a Decree on Rights of Women

Afghanistan’s Taliban leader Issues a Decree on Rights of Women

    Friday, December 03, 2021   No comments

 

Translation of full text:

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Decree of His Eminence the Commander of the Faithful on Women's Rights

 

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

Under the direction of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, all officials, distinguished scholars, and tribal leaders must take serious steps regarding the necessity of observing the following rights for women:

The consent of the adult woman is required in the marriage (when the husband is competent, and there is no fear of corruption or fitnah). No one has the right to compel a woman or force her to marry.

A woman is not property; she is a free and authentic human being, and no one has the right to marry her in exchange for resolving the conflict.

A woman whose husband has died is free to determine her fate after the expiry of her waiting period (four months and ten days or the delivery of a pregnancy), and neither the brother-in-law (the husband’s brother) nor anyone else has the right to marry her against her will, provided that competence is taken into account and that there is no sedition or corruption.

Taking the dowry from the second husband is a legal right for the woman.

A woman whose husband has died has a fixed right (Fard & Ta`sib) to the inheritance of her husband, children, parents, and the rest of her relatives, and no one can prevent her from taking her share in the inheritance.

Whoever has more than one woman under him, he is charged with justice between them and giving each of them their legal rights.

In order to implement the provisions stipulated in the best way, the following government agencies must take the necessary measures in their regard:

 

The Ministry of Hajj and Endowments is charged with guiding scholars and preachers to educate people about women’s rights, not to oppress them, and to give them their rights, in Friday sermons and through awareness programs and preaching councils.

Assigning the Ministry of Culture and Information to publish targeted awareness programs (through targhib & tarhib) about women’s rights, through its various media (written and audio). In order for scholars to be alert and public awareness and education about the legitimate rights of women, it would be easier to deal with matters and prevent injustice.

 

The High Court of the Supreme Court is instructed to direct all courts to register cases relating to women's rights, especially bereaved women, in a fundamental manner, so that they do not despair from obtaining their rights and repel injustice.

The governors of states and directorates shall cooperate with the aforementioned ministries and courts in implementing all the provisions of this decree.

Peace, mercy and blessings of God

The leadership position of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

28/4/1443 AH

12/8/1400 AH

3/12/2021 AD

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Ford: Assad won the war and Washington failed to unite the opposition

Ford: Assad won the war and Washington failed to unite the opposition

    Friday, November 12, 2021   No comments

The former US ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, admits the failure of US policy there, and the unification of the Syrian opposition, considering that the recent visit of the UAE Foreign Minister to Damascus confirms Assad's victory in the war.

The former US ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, said that "US policy has failed to establish a Syrian government through negotiations."

Ford added in an exclusive interview with "France 24" that "there are many divisions within the ranks of the Syrian opposition, from the beginning, and US policy has failed to unite the ranks of the opposition groups."

Noting that "the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is present, and controls 70 percent of the Syrian territory, including major cities, the armed opposition is unable to remove al-Assad," he stressed that "despite the destruction of the Syrian economy, but in the end al-Assad won the war." eligibility.”

He continued, "I think that the Arab countries, not only the UAE, but also Egypt and Jordan, have recognized that the Syrian government is staying and continues to be in power."

The former US ambassador to Syria acknowledged that "the Syrian government will remain, and the Arab countries must find a way to coexist with it."

While he revealed that "there is no American politician who supports the idea of ​​restoring diplomatic relations with Damascus," he considered that "the United States has circumstances that differ with the Arab countries, Syria's neighbors."

He also admitted that "Washington understood that it would be difficult for it to oppose Arab efforts to find a way of coexistence with the Syrian government that continues in power in Damascus. This does not mean that Washington is happy with Arab efforts to coexist with Damascus," stressing that "Washington is unable to offer an alternative to the Arab strategy." That we saw with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan."

Ford also ruled out imposing sanctions on Arab regimes that restore relations with Damascus, noting that "President Biden's administration is currently focusing on the Asia file."

Ford's position came after the UAE Foreign Minister's visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus, last Tuesday, where he met President Assad, and said from there that "Syria, led by Assad, is capable of overcoming challenges."

And the UAE foreign minister said last March that "Syria's return to its Arab surroundings is inevitable, and it is in the interest of Syria and the region."

In conclusion, the former US ambassador to Syria also acknowledged that “the United States bears responsibility for what happened in Syria,” and said, “We sent arms to groups open to the idea of ​​finding a negotiated solution,” referring to the opposition, which he had assured in the year 2019 to "expect nothing from Washington."

On June 17, 2017, Ford admitted that the Americans had given the Syrian opposition false hope, contrary to American expectations and ambitions.

And the former US ambassador admitted last May that "Washington cannot remove Assad, and the elections are a failure of its policy," and that "the Americans are convinced that Assad will remain president of Syria until the next elections."

In a similar position to Ford, former US official Jeffrey Feltman said last January that "Washington's policy in Syria in the past two eras failed to achieve any tangible results, and that President Assad is now militarily stronger."

Two days ago, Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra confirmed that "the time has come for Syria to return to the Arab League."

In the context of these developments, the Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post" commented on the visit of the UAE Foreign Minister to Damascus, and asked: Does the UAE's openness to Syria indicate a major transformation in the region? It said that "the UAE and other countries made quiet initiatives to Damascus for years, and there is consensus emerging between the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and its partners, that the time has come to bring Syria and its regime out of isolation.

"The visit is widely seen as an indication of regional efforts to end the diplomatic isolation of President Assad," France 24 said.

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