Notions

The US administration has never shied away from depicting the Iranian regime in the worst and most diabolic forms of governments. Slurs such as the axis of evil, a terrorist-harbouring state, and a deranged theocracy are some of the synonyms of the Ayatollah regime in Iran. Most recently, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech in which he accused the Iranian regime of being a corrupt Kleptocracy, insinuating that the overthrow of such a corrupt system was a common dream of Americans and Iranian friends. Not to be outdone,   Donald Trump issued a dramatic tweet in all caps and with the signature exclamation remark at the end: "NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS! " These intelligent words came after Iran's foreign minister’s meeti...

     Donald Trump ’s agenda was - surprisingly – clear when he met with Vladimir Putin during the July 16 summit in Helsinki. Trump’s wish-list included maintaining the gains made against the Islamic State, constraining Iranian influence in Syria, and gradually pulling out all military presence from the country. It does not really matter who stays in power, as long as the Islamic State in the eastern part of the country has been defeated, and Iran’s influence in Damascus is reined by Russia. It is a question of time before Assad gains control over the entire country – eastern side in particular – and the Syrian Democratic Forces will no longer be recognised as the authority on the ground, including by its US patron. What is left for the US to save face is to appear to have minimised Iran's role in Syria. The Trump administration clearly wants to kick Iran out of Syria. Russia is neither crazy about Iranian growing influence and power in Syria.   A compromis...

An article posted in Al Monitor describes the growing tensions between Israel and Turkey over the latter’s activities in Jerusalem Haram Al-Sharif /Temple Mount. Whether it is the rising funds directed to non-profit associations , primarily the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency, the soaring number of tourists flocking into Jerusalem, or the opening of a series of Turkish shawarma places, Tel Aviv is concerned with Istanbul’s hidden agendas. One concern however seems to stick out - again as reported on the aforementioned article: ´ The Israelis are convinced that Erdogan is trying to return Ottoman grandeur to the Temple Mount to intensify tension between Jews and Muslims in the holy places and become the top Islamic figure to protect the mosques and Al-Aqsa. “We won’t let this happen, no way,” an Israeli security source said on condition of anonymity ’. Now, what does this anonymous Israeli security official mean with return Ottoman grandeur to the Temple Mou...

     The strong, brown and henna bearing hands dug me a hole to serve as a loving womb. I sat there small yet secure, waiting for the rain – and sometimes the tears – to feed me life. As a sprout I dug myself up to find myself between my rising siblings who were hugging the confident and fair sun. I was showered with love and hate, with peace and war, and with screams and music. When the hands that planted me embraced my trunk, I felt at home...I felt I belonged. However the thunder of gunfire and angry boots crushed the serenity, and shook my existence. I tried to stand but the forces were stronger…and I succumbed watching my lifeless body bidding this land farewell. When I finally fell over the land upon which I once stood tall, I gazed into this beautiful, unjust world. Only then did I find the unborn, fragile seeds hiding in the blood-soaked soil, waiting for death before seeing life.  It was then that I realised that my sacrifice was not in vain, and that I...

        Un artículo publicado en El País el 19 de junio hace un resumen sobre la entrevista de Pedro Sánchez con TVE, emitida desde el Palacio de La Moncloa. Siendo que El Pa ís socialista decidió arrojar luz sobre estas 10 frases principales, uno debe suponer que conllevan claves para la visión de Sánchez sobre que debe gobernar España en lo próximos años, y la manera de tratar los   temas prioritarios en la agenda nacional. Pues no. Fijándose en estas 10 frases claves, se puede deducir que todos lo que sale de las boca del presidente del gobierno nuevo es algo retorico, dolorosamente esperado, o un intento de auto justificación o elogio. De hecho, las frases son totalmente superfluas y vacías. Éstas son las frases. 1. Aspiro a agotar la legislatura y que las elecciones sean en 2020. Esperado. El objetivo de Sánchez fue y sigue siendo ser jefe de gobierno. Nadie pensaba que los socialistas llaman a celebrar nuevas elecciones y ar...

              Electronic voting (e-voting) in parliament is a transparent voting mechanism that allows for accurate counts of votes and monitoring of deputies´ voting behaviour. However, not all parliaments have introduced such a modality in their voting sessions. Jordan is one of the countries that have considered this voting modality but has shied away from implementation. The question is why? Background E-voting was introduced in the Jordanian House of Representative (HoR) in 2006 with the support and funding of USAID. The system  per se  was installed in 2004, but was non-operational owing to the lack of reference in the  HoR’s  Internal By-law (No. 800 of the year 1996) to e-voting as a voting modality. The By-law was modified in 2006 under the tenancy of HoR Speaker Abdel Hadi Al Majli, whereby reference was made to using ‘modern technical means’ for voting, with the exception of voti...

     The Charlevoix G7 Summit (June 8–9, 2018) Communique started off with a poetic confirmation to the ‘shared values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and commitment to promote a rules-based international order’. The Communique laid out a number of commitments, grouped under common headings of investing in growth, preparing for jobs of the future, advancing gender equality, building a more peaceful and secure world, and working together on climate change. Point 13 of the aforementioned document indicates that the G7 elite club is committed to ‘responding to foreign actors who seek to undermine our democratic societies and institutions, our electoral processes, our sovereignty and our security as outlined in the  Charlevoix Commitment on Defending Democracy from Foreign Threats ’. What is the Charlevoix Commitment on Defending Democracy from Foreign Threats? Well, it is yet another commitment of the Leaders of the G7...