February 7th & 8th, 2018

New Face in the Syrian Conflict

Syria has reported an attack by Israeli warplanes launched from Lebanon early in the morning on February 7th. The attack targeted the Syrian military near Damascus. Most of the missiles were destroyed by the Syrian air defense system. Israel is yet to respond to the accusations. This could be the addition of another military power into the quagmire of conflict in Syria. Israel opposes Assad for his ties to the Shiite militia known as Hezbollah and Iran. Israel has reported attacking Hezbollah and the Syrian army around 100 times since the war began six years ago and has warned if Iran expands its role in the conflict, they will push back.

The Next Immigration Struggle: Africans in Israel

The global trend of immigration debates has spread to the Middle East. On February 7th, a crowd of protesters with their faces painted white gathered outside the Rwandan embassy in Herzliya, Israel. They are asylum-seekers who have been told by April 1st they will be returned to Africa, most likely Rwanda or Uganda. The protesters say deportation would place them in danger and urging Rwandan President Paul Kagame not to cooperate with Israel’s plan. The white face paint was explained by one of the banners held by protesters that read: “Would you deport me if I was white?” Most of the migrants come from Eritrea and Sudan. Many Israelis also oppose the decision, as Israel was created to be a refugee state, they feel it is their duty to protect asylum seekers. The government has denied any obligation to accept migrants. Women, children and families, however, will be exempt from the order.

And the Winner Is…

SpaceX’s Starman, who has begun a journey to the Asteroid Belt after the successful Falcon Heavy launch yesterday.

Quotable Citizen:

“I made a dumb joke”

-Justin Trudeau on his “peoplekind” comment

February 1st, 2018

Syrian Status Update

Yesterday, the Department of Homeland decided to extend temporary protected status to the 7,000 Syrians living in the United States, since it would be unsafe for them to return to their home country. This special status lets people of a particular nationality live and work in the U.S. without being deported due to a war or natural disaster making it impossible for them to return. More than half of the individuals in the United States with TPS are from El Salvador, and currently ten countries are afforded this special status. Recently, the Trump administration has announced that the arrangement will no longer exist for people from Nicaragua, Haiti and Sudan. Others with TPS are beginning to feel nervous that they will soon be at risk of deportation too. This announcement yesterday promises Syrians eighteen more months before they have to worry about being sent home.

EU Citizens: Exit Before Brexit

There is currently a proposal that would grant EU citizens residency in the UK during the Brexit “transition period.” Prime Minister Theresa May has hinted that she won’t allow this policy to transpire. She’s stressed the importance of “difference” between EU citizens who moved to Britain before its departure and those trying to make their way in after. It looks like EU citizens who are already in the UK will be allowed to keep these privileges, but it will be more difficult for anyone seeking residence after. Immigration was a big motivator for many Brits who voted “leave,” and now their hopes of a more exclusive UK residency policy is coming to fruition.

And the Winner Is…

MarioKart fans, who can now play on their smartphones if they subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online.

Quotable Citizen:

“Not even a little bit.”

-Philadelphia Eagle’s DT Tim Jernigan when asked if he’s intimidated by the Patriots. The underdogs will take on the Reigning champs in the nation’s biggest game this Sunday. Fly Eagles, Fly.

January 31st, 2018

Forgotten Wars: Yemen

It is easy to lose track of some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. The civil war in Yemen, for example, has been raging for almost three years now. With an Iranian backed rebellion and the Saudi-supported government, this may be the ultimate proxy between the two Islamic powers.

It is not for lack of resources that the Yemeni government has not crushed the Houthi rebels and driven them out of Sanaa. It is because they are cautious. Government forces know the resistance movement is popular and they fear that unleashing absolute destruction of their enemy would cause political problems during the transition from negative (armistice) to positive peace (a conflict-free Yemen).

History is not on Yemen’s side. This is the third civil war between North and South Yemen in forty years. The Houthis are a formidable fighting force and it has actually been southern rebels who have aided the government in regaining control in the South, in the key port city of Aden and securing the international airport. Even if the government forces prevail, they are going to have to share their power with groups who were previously opposed to them.

Bigger problems arise when you consider the allies on either side of the conflict. Yemen has provided a battlefield for Iran and Saudi Arabia’s tensions to play out. Both sides, especially the Saudis, have been accused of egregious human rights violations in Yemen. So, as tempting as it is to turn away, the world would do well to take a closer look at this conflict.

Problems in Palestine

“You are not welcome anymore!” was the cry of Palestinian protestors who ran U.S. diplomats out of Bethlehem yesterday during a business training session. Citing President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem is Israel’s capital last month, the protesters chanted, showed anti-U.S. signs and did minor damage to the delegation’s vehicles. Israeli news outlets are focusing on disruption and vandalism in their reports. Palestinian sources call the protestors “activists” who are simply speaking out against “racist” governments. The different versions of the incident being published further display the nature of this protracted conflict.

A People’s President?

The leader of Kenya’s opposition, Ralia Odinga inaugurated himself as the “People’s President.” The Kenyan government shut down TV stations to prevent live coverage of the event. Mr. Odinga lost a highly contested election to Uhuru Kenyatta twice last year (the original August vote and a re-vote in October). Due to low turnout (just 39%), Mr. Odinga believes the election was illegitimate. Since the original vote in August, it is estimated that 50 people have been killed in incidents of election-related violence in Kenya. 

And the Winner Is…

Not Dexter, the emotional support peacock who United Airlines would not let on a plane leaving Newark Airport. The bird “did not meet guidelines due to its weight and size.”

Quotable Citizen:

“Struggling communities, especially immigrant communities, will also be helped by immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American workers and American families,”

-President Donald J. Trump in his first State of the Union Address, an interesting line as Congress moves to negotiate immigration reform in the coming weeks.

January 9th, 2018

Time’s Up: Not Just for Hollywood Execs

“Time’s Up,” was the dominant message at the Golden Globes this Sunday, but today President Trump issued his own ticking-clock ultimatum when he canceled the temporary protected status granted to people from El Salvador who were displaced by a devastating earthquake in 2001. This is not surprising, considering the administration ended similar protections for Haitians and Nicaraguans. “Salvadoreans now have until 9 September 2019 to leave or face deportation unless they find a legal way to stay.” Currently, around 200,000 Salvadoreans live in the United States mostly settled in Texas, California and in the DC area. The Center for Migration Studies reports that about 88% are part of the workforce, 10% are self-employed and 10% have married US citizens. The future is also in question for another group of 200,000: their children, who risk deportation as well, especially if Congress does not find a way to to sort out DACA, an Obama-era executive order protecting immigrant’s children that Trump announced a plan to repeal in the Fall. Democrats in Congress are planning to tackle this issue in budget negotiations, but with a government shutdown looming, the pressure to come to an agreement may impede negotiation of the best possible deal. 

(Nuclear) Deal or No Deal?

In case anyone thought recent protests weren’t enough of a reason to pay attention to Iran, Tehran is upping the ante. Ali Akbar Selahi, the country’s top nuclear official has hinted at the country “rethink[ing] its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency if President Trump scrapped American participation in the 2015 agreement limiting Iranian nuclear activities.” A key piece of the deal is required inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities ensuring that they’re engaged strictly in energy production and not developing a weapon. So far, they have been compliant, holding up their promise to “never develop nuclear weapons.”

Selahi’s announcement is timely, since Trump has only a few days to decide if the U.S. will continue to waive nuclear-related sanctions against Iran, which wouldn’t be too surprising based on his emphatic denunciation on Obama’s participation in the “worst deal” ever, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry even seemed to take a page from President Trump’s “diplomatic” rhetoric saying that, “all options for any situation are on the table for Iran,” should the U.S. pull out of the deal. Many believe that Trump will uphold the deal, especially with other leaders from the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia) who negotiated the deal urging him to keep the U.S. in the picture, which may be the thread keeping the agreement from unraveling if Iran’s latest statements aren’t just bluster.

One Strategic Allegiance on the Rocks, Please

Over the weekend, CDB stated about the importance of Pakistan aiding the US in fighting groups like the Taliban and Haqqani Network in the Af-Pak border region. The Pentagon certainly agrees, suspending $900 million in coalition support for Pakistan. If Pakistan makes “significant progress” against the Haqqani network, some of these funds will be restored. This is all part of the broader strategy to drive the Taliban from Afghanistan by eliminating their support structure operating in Pakistan. The U.S.-Pakistan relationship is a tough one, both countries needing the other to support their security goals in the region, but the U.S. has been critical of Pakistan not playing their part in the fight against international terrorism. This suspension of funds may be the strategic pressure needed to solidify Pakistan’s support of the U.S. in the fight against the Taliban or the beginning of a new era of tensions between once-allied nations.

And the Winner Is…

Alabama took home the National Championship last night/early this morning  in overtime. It marks their fifth title in nine years after a loss against Clemson at literally the last second last year. Georgia put up quite a fight, shutting out the Tide in the first half and an incredible performance by star kicker Rodrigo “Hot Rod” Blankenship.

Roll Tide.

Quotable Citizen:

“There’s not prerequisite for worthiness”

-Viola Davis