February 24, 2013

How Does Chartering a Grand Strategy for Lebanon’s Military Factor in Accountability?

On Wednesday, February 20th, PITAPOLICY attended the Aspen Institute’s discussion on Lebanon, entitled, “National Defense: Charting a Grand Strategy?” Lebanon’s military is an institution that poses many questions for U.S. military and political analysts.  Aram Nerguizian from the Center for Strategy and International Studies stated, “The best thing that can happen now is that #Lebanon be neither heard nor seen from a security standpoint.”   Also, Nerguizian highlighted how a a generation of Lebanon’s Armed Forces officers are up for retirement in April. This poses both cost & benefit when dealing with legacy issues.  Furthermore, “It’s unhealthy for #civilsociety if military leadership shifts towards presidential role-not just in Lebanon,but anywhere,” adds Nerguizian.

One viewpoint, from an American Lobbying perspective asked about US legislative funding for Lebanon’s Armed Forces: Why did #US stop w/legislative 1206 financing of Lebanese armed forces?  Colin Kahl, a former U.S. Government official from the Obama Administration, stated,  Lebanon “lost its place in line”. 

Tweeted Observations

  1. North=new south b/c of #syria? @aramnerguizian of @csis: North Bekaa will be crux of instability due to Sunni-Shia competition #lebdefense
  2. But @aramnerguizian still worried if groups co-opted @colinkahl: Lebanon no longer epicenter of conflict #lebdefense
  3. #Syria factors in2 #LebDefense strategy RT @AspenMEP: @aramnerguizian of CSIS: you now have ungovernable areas in the south and in the north@AspenMEP Spence: Lebanon has more syrian refugees than #turkey & jordan -factors into grand strategy #LebDefense
  4. MP Robert Fadel: total number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon today is closer to 500,000.
  5. .@AspenMEP @AspenInstitute: Matthew Spence=1st #dod official to visit #Lebanon in 2 yrs responds to Charting a Grand Strategy #LebDefense
  6. Matthew Spence, US Defense Department: One of the most important things we can do now is strengthen institutions before we come to crisis point
  7. @colinkahl: I hope were going to look at some more creative ways to address #Hizbollah – financial, law enforcement, etc

Another viewpoint that was more critical of LAF’s legacy also surfaced.  Reporter Hussain Abdul-Hussain stumped the panelists with a few questions regarding the the power, impact, and goals for the Lebanese Armed Forces. 

To clarify, PITAPOLICY requested some more details on the background of Hussain’s opinion, which points to quite a few challenges regarding the political dynamic and funding impact of the LAF.   In a nutshell, Hussain uses PITAPOLICY’s favorite word “accountability” in questioning the LAF impact, not just on Lebanese civilian society, but its legacy in the region.  Please see below for his published opinion for Abdul-Husain’s piece for Now.

“Let’s Hold Lebanon’s Army Accountable”

By: Hussain Abdul Hussain

February 6, 2013

The Lebanese have elevated their armed forces to levels incompatible with democracy. While it is customary in any country to thank the men and women in uniform for their service and their willingness to risk their lives for the safety of others, any army in the world is just another institution whose members should remain under the law and whose leaders should be held accountable before an elected government.

Because the dysfunctional Lebanese state and all of its institutions are fragmented, corrupt and unaccountable, there is no reason to assume that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is an exception. Just like the state, the army is made up of Lebanese people, and the majority of these people put tribal loyalty before national interest and have little regard for rules, regulations or policies.

And because of its inadequate equipment and inferior training, the LAF has always been viewed as a benign institution whose main role is to show up at Independence Day parades and send its personnel to be filmed in music videos praising the army.

Also because of its weakness, the army has often served the ceremonial role of being a “national symbol.”

Lebanese culture is riddled with examples of how people fail to understand what would make up a healthy relationship between the citizens and the military.

Fans of former army commander, now lawmaker, Michel Aoun idolize his picture in military uniform. When the national anthem plays, they often stand and hold their arms high in an imitation of Mussolini’s fascist salute, perhaps mistaking their posture for heartfelt nationalism.

And when the LAF defeated the Fatah al-Islam terrorist group in 2007, after an unjustifiably long campaign that left the army’s elite forces bruised, a popular advertisement showed Lebanese people saluting a soldier military style, an image suggesting citizens are under the military in the chain of command, which is a mistake. In America, a similar “support our troops” ad showed Americans simply shaking hands with a soldier who had just returned to the country, therefore emphasizing the separation between warzone and civilian life.

This undue veneration of the mostly weak and rarely competent Lebanese army, in a culture that idolizes macho figures and fascist nationalism, has put the LAF above the law.

Throughout history, army commanders have acted independent of elected governments. Most recently in May 2008, then-Commander Michel Suleiman decided to keep his forces out of the fray of a mini civil war that had broken out and that was concluded with the Doha Conference, only after March 14 had taken a beating and surrendered to Hezbollah-led militiamen.

Suleiman justified his stance at the time by saying that the army would have splintered, so instead he thought it was wiser to let the country as a whole fracture for the sake of keeping the army together. This raised a question that remains unanswered: If the army cannot prevent the outbreak of a civil war, what, exactly, can it do?

Also independent of any national oversight is the LAF’s Intelligence Directorate. [click here to continue.]

 

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February 20, 2013

Social Media Week: Giving Voice to the Voiceless Builds Momentum #SMWAJSTREAM

Poll:

Whether you answered ‘Yes’,’No’, or ‘Unsure’, we would love to see you at our 2nd #PITAPAL tweetup in honor of Social Media Week in Washington, DC this week (#SMWWDC), on February 21st!  We are in the middle of Social Media Week, which is a series of panels, workshops, and social gatherings to maximize how to engage with different social media tools.  So we would like to add to the mix of topics and focus on the ‘pita-consuming’ region because we know you all have much to say.

  • Tweetup: Feb 18-22nd is Social Media week in DC. We discussed #socent in #MENA last time. On FEB 21st: let’s debate #socialmedia: noise or benign?Date: Thursday, February 21st, 2013Time: 6pm-8pmVenue: Point Chaud Cafe Creperie 1100 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC (located on 11 street between New York Ave and H street NW)
    1 block from Metro Center, exit 11th StreetSponsor: Pay It Forward Foundation Founder’s Interview: Pay It Forward

In The Stream: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless

Yesterday, PITAPOLICY attended a new media event hosted by Al Jazeera’s The Stream, which “gives a voice to the voiceless”.   Their motto served as the inspiration for their new media style show, which goes beyond traditional reporting style and includes questions and comments from the online community in real time.  NOT only was this a new idea for media engagement, but this idea originated with an Arab news outlet, rather than the older conglomerates founded in the UK and the US.  Plus, The Stream’s concept gives other large American news outlets, like CNN and Fox News, a run for their money!  As The Stream team would say, we were “in the Stream” at The Stream’s tweetup at Busboys and Poets Restaurant on K Street.  This is pretty fitting since Busboys serves as a hub of activism and social media activity in Washington, DC and ‘K Street’ is a neighborhood of DC activity – ranging from lobbying to general activism. 

The Stream’s co-hosts: Malika Bilal and Lisa Fletcher, welcomed fans and fielded some story ideas.  PITAPOLICY Founder, Mehrunisa Qayyum, was SUPER excited to see fellow bloggers from the Huffington Post community: Omar Baddar (@omarbaddar) and Rami Khater (ramisims) and Al Jazeera reporter, Vera Sajrawi.  Also, the show’s team, like Rami Khater, Senior New Media Producer reshared our message, “.@busboysandpoets Breaking pita bread w/ @ramisms @hismeal @danaballout961 for #smwajstream #smwwdc @PITAConsumer“

We are very pleased to be following @AJStream on Twitter–and VERY Excited that @AJSTREAM is following us back on Twitter!  We can’t wait to see how they will use our tweets from last night’s event in some snazzy message!

 

Tweets from Al Jazeera The Stream’s Tweetup: #SMWAJTSTREAM

  1. Thx to all the @ajstream tweeps who came to #smwAJstream tonight! Had a great time talking to everyone. Nice to meet viewers face to face!

  2. Didn’t get to use this hashtag nearly enough b/c I was having such a great time talking to the @AJStream team in real life. #Smwajstream

  3. @delaneychambers streaming both was an awesome idea! Thanks again for having me! #smwajstream

  4. @VRSphotography took some pretty great photos at #SMWajstream tonight. Can’t wait to share with @AJStream and all who were there!!!

     

  5. “I’m in the stream” video booth at the #AJStream event. #SMWAJStream. http://instagr.am/p/V7yTsEjgBa/ 

     

  12. Just met @albanyassociate where their work has taken them to #iraq to help develop #media policy @busboysandpoets #smwajstream #smwwdc

  13. #smwajstream #smwwdc Great to see @mmbilal doing very well and having her own show. NPR Interns Summer ’05 Forever. @ajstream

  17. Starting of #SMW13 right with AJ Stream’s networking event at @busboysandpoets #SMWAJStream (@ Busboys and Poets) http://4sq.com/15tixr9 

  20. At #SMWajstream puttin people on TV. Come to Bus Boys and Poets on 5th an K and record an #ImInTheStream!!

  23. .@wasime Day 89: Free james Foley who was kidnapped in #idlib, #Syria while reporting hospital bombing. #smwajstream #smwwdc mt @cpjmena

  24. #SMWWDC Editorial member @SSonies just stopped by Busboys! Glad to see you in the #AJStream, Sarah! #SMWajstream

  32. Hanging out (offline) with @EBA_Roberts, @acavalier, and @wyethwire at #SMWajstream, our #SMWWDC mixer. Come say at @BusboysandPoets 5+K!

  36. Hello, @mmbilal! #DC tweeps, head to #SMWajstream to meet Malika and the rest of the #ajstream team. http://img.ly/sNrC  #SMWWDC

  42. Live at Al Jazeera’s #smwAJStream event chatting with @monisismissing & watchin @lisa_fletch make the rounds.

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February 13, 2013

Press Release: #DCMENA Tweetup on FEBRUARY 21st

Second #DCMENA Tweetup: Join #PITAPAL on Thursday, February 21st, 2013

When? Thursday, Feb 21 @ 6pm – 8pm (EST)
Why?

  • Because we are inspired by Pay It Forward’s philosophy, and thank them for their work in Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates.
  • Charley Johnson, Founder of Pay It Forward Movement: “As for how “Pay it Forward” can influence business and organizations globally, we believe this movement can have some profound impacts in the simplest of ways.  I used to own a business for 15 years and had over 250 employees so I saw the good, the bad and the in between when it came to keeping morale up and keeping people happy.  We did what most companies did, hired expensive consultants or motivational speakers to come in and “rally the troops” but got what all companies got, a quick jolt of increase productivity that went away very quickly. It wasn’t authentic, it wasn’t real, it was a thing we did and all companies do to become more profitable and get more for less from our employees. It wasn’t done for the people, it was done for the company.”

Where? #PITAPAL Tweetup 1100 New York Avenue – Washington, DC

Point Chaud

 

Feb 18-21st is Social Media week in DC. We discussed #socent in #MENA last time. On FEB 21st: let’s debate #socialmedia: noise or benign?

Date: Thursday, February 21st, 2013

Time: 6pm-8pm

Venue: Point Chaud Cafe Creperie1100 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC (located on 11 street between New York Ave and H street NW)
1 block from Metro Center, exit 11th Street

Sponsor: Pay It Forward Foundation Founder’s Interview: Pay It Forward

 

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February 11, 2013

What will President #Obama discuss during his 2013 State of the Union Address? #SOTU

  1. Tomorrow, February 12th, 2013: PITAPOLICY will livetweet President Obama’s State of the Union Address from the Arab American Institute.  Which of the Maghreb countries below will he even mention in his address: Libya, Tunisia, or Egypt?  Will he discuss drones?
    1. PITAPOLICY’s latest political economy reflection published in the Vancouver Observer: “How Libya Can Earn Backs Its Frontier Market Status”
    2. About two weeks ago, The Project on Middle East Democracy held a forum with some of their co-authors of their latest report “MOVING beyond RHETORIC: How Should President Obama Change U.S. Policy in the Middle East?”.    The forum included
    • Esraa Abdel Fatteh, Democracy Activist visiting from Egypt (Also known as “Facebook Girl”, Fattah was interviewed by Mehrunisa Qayyum in 2011 for Horizons Magazine.)
    • Brian Katulis – Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress
    • Larry Diamond – Senior Fellow at Hoover Institution at Stanford University

     

    Tweets from #POMED Event

    Diamond talks about a creative idea to translate free courses to Arabic through Courses & to expand technology/internet broadband. #POMED

  2. Fattah: we need to be focused on economic development in Egypt, build projects in Egypt to change image of US administration #POMED

  3. Fattah: How can the Egyptian people have any confidence tht the US can or will do anything if there is more election fraud in Egypt? #POMED

  4. Political Legitimacy= @Katulis: We need to banish labels such as ‘#ArabSpring‘ ‘Arab Awakening’ or ‘troubles in the middle east’ h/t #POMED”

  5. Diamond: There has to be some sense of urgency from the top in the Administration. To ask not just for a MENA plan, but a strategy. #POMED

  6. We concur: “historicizing” RT @maie_89 Abdel Fattah @Esraa2008 (on US policy and activists): They read. They write. And that is all. #POMED

  7. Abdel-Fattah: People are still willing to give up their souls for their country. #POMED #Egypt

  8. Beyond Rhetoric event going on now. Video will be posted at http://www.pomed.org  tomorrow. Our publication: http://pomed.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Moving_Beyond_Rhetoric-2.pdf … #POME

  9. Brain Katulis raises a good question: do we have someone w/ John Brennan-like stature lead on support of democracy movements in MENA? #POMED

  10. Fattah: We are struggling with Egyptian law, we need to change the constitution, we need a new government. #POMED

  11. Abdel Fattah (on US policy and activists): They read. They write. And that is all. #POMED

  12. Fattah: years later and we are still searching for social justice in Egypt @Esraa2008 #POMED

  13. Diamond: The economy will not recover with Morsy’s hegemonic approach and policies. #POMED

  14. Katulis: We need to contain conflicts such as those in Syria from crossing over borders #POMED

  15. Katulis: We need to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon #POMED

  16. Katulis: We need to banish labels such as ‘Arab Spring’ ‘Arab Awakening’, or ‘troubles in the middle east’ #POMED

  17. Katulis: We need to have country-specific strategy. And we can’t just preach to the choir. #POMED

  18. Katulis: There aren’t enough advocates in Congress to work on democracy policy. #POMED

  19. Katulis: The administration needs to define someone above the Assistant Secretary level to actually work on #MENA policy. #POMED

  20. Brian Katulis: We need to banish the terms ‘Arab Spring,’ and ‘Arab Awakening.’ #POMED

  21. #POMED Diamond, you spoke of a disappointment with admin action. What has held it back, an immovable U.S. bureaucracy, lack of imagination?

  22. Fattah: US administration has made the same mistakes in Egypt with Mubarak that they are now making with President Morsi #POMED @Esraa2008

  23. Fattah: US needs to support Egypt in this process, they need social and economic development. We have a crisis in Egypt. #POMED

  24. Abdel-Fattah: Foreign powers should be supporting the economy and the people from behind the scenes. #POMED

  25. Esraa Abdel Fattah: Foreign powers refuse to listen to the call of the people and only focus on govt-govt relationships. #POMED

  26. Diamond: Palestine/Israel, the time for a 2 state solution is rapidly evaporating. We have to re-energize this conversation. #POMED

  27. Diamond: Is it any surprise that Morsy’s power-grab was unrolled 2 days after the cease-fre? We need to stop falling for this. #POMED

  28. Diamond: Our voice’s been silent in #Bahrain. We need to stand against political imprisonment, failure to implement Bassiouni report #POMED

  29. Diamond: Get serious.Go beyond lofty rhetoric we need a clear unequivocal effort to not settle for a pseudo-democracy in Middle East #POMED

  30. McInerney: we’ve seen good rhetoric so far but a lack of follow up. US policy needs to live up to high standards of rhetoric #POMED

  31. Diamond: We can’t settle for pseudo-democracy. #POMED

  32. Larry Diamond: My advice to the Obama admin on #MENA: “Get serious!” #POMED

  33. At @POMEDwire‘s event on ‘How Should President Obama Change US Policy in #MENA?’ Will tweet interesting remarks! #POMED

  34. Join us in today’s event and direct your questions to #POMED : we’ll include a few from our virtual audience.

  35. Live tweeting our event @ 10:00EST How Should Pres Obama Change US Policy in MENA?Panelists include @LarryDiamond @Esraa2008 @Katulis #POMED

  41. #pomed McInerney: #Yemen commitment and institutional process helps avoid some pitfalls seen elsewhere in region. #CIPEEvents

  42. Mcinerny of #pomed: #Yemen youth now see revolution as how fundamental change is pushed if politics fail. Keep in mind. #CIPEEvents

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February 6, 2013

WHARTON Business School To Hold Annual MENA Conference

On February 16th, Saturday, PITAPOLICY is excited to attend and cover the Wharton School of Business Annual MENA conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Early-Bird registration will end Friday evening, so don’t hesitate too much longer!

Conference Theme: “Economies of Freedom: Reshaping the Future of the MENA region”

Last year the keynote speakers included Turkey’s ambassador to the US–and it was funtabulous. This year’s conference keynote speakers include: 

  • Alex Chalaby, Chairman of the Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (Mobinil)
  • Dr. Freddy Baz, Group CFO, Strategy Director, and Deputy Chairman of the Group Executive Committee, Banque Audi Saradar Group
  • Joe Saddi, Global Chairman of Booz & Company

Panelists scheduled to speak (More to be confirmed!):

  • Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, Founder Chairman of the AIWF
  • Amir Khella, Founder of  Keynotopia
  • Maha Al Ghunaim, 13th Most Powerful Arab Woman in 2011

Th speakers will address this year’s theme: “Economies of Freedom: Reshaping the Future of the MENA Region,” which will explore the positive social and economic changes taking place in the region today while uncertainty lingers over the political landscape. Our outstanding group of guest speakers includes business executives, policy makers, ambassadors and foreign affairs experts, and global scholars, who will engage in dialogue about the MENA region’s most pressing issues. Not only will you have an opportunity to hear distinguished panelists’ local and global perspectives; you will have ample opportunity to network with them one-on-one while enjoying the spectacular view from the top floor of the Wharton School’s Huntsman Hall.

Hope to see #Pitapals and pitaconsumer fans there!

Connect with Wharton MENA Business conference 2013 on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @WhartonMENAconf.  To follow the discussion with us and comment, please use their hashtag: #WhartonMENAConf … See you there!

******************************************************************************************************************************************

Related developments:

Tunisia: “World Bank Approves $500 Million Loan to Tunisia” – The Daily Star Lebanon

The World Bank has approved a $500 million loan to Tunisia to support its 2013 budget and help its economy after the first Arab Spring uprising that toppled its former ruler, a minister said on Thursday.

Two years after the revolution that ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, increasing numbers of Tunisians are staging street protests to demand jobs and economic development.

The new loan follows another of the same amount last November to support economic recovery by providing funds to improve the business and financial sectors and reform social services.

“The World Bank approved a loan of $500 million to support Tunisia’s budget in 2013,” Riadh Bettaib, minister of investment and international cooperation, said.

Tunisia, whose uprising sparked political changes across North Africa, said in November it is seeking a $2.5 billion loan from the IMF, and Fund officials said last Friday discussions were under way to establish what was needed.

 

 

 

 

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February 3, 2013

Misperception or Perception: Professional Development for Women Is a Challenge, Period.

Dear Pitaconsumers,

Last week I received a few tweets about my article for the Vancouver Observer arguing that there are even stronger candidates for the Top 100 Arab Women of Influence.  (The Top 100 list is compiled by Arabianbusiness.com, which I reviewed in 2012 as well.  PITAPOLICY Consulting’s analysis received attention in other articles.)  But before I jump into that conversation, I would like to invite those PITAPALs in the Washington, DC area to register for a joint professional development-yoga seminar “Mind Your Body; Mind Your Stress” workshop, which is a monthly series in partnership with Jordin’s Paradise Dance, Yoga, and Fitness studio.  Details and registration here.  Basically, I don’t like to just criticize lists without offering a solution, which is providing a professional outlet for women to network and attend a seminar on defining a strategy, purpose, and mission for your next campaign, non-profit, or small business.  Professional development is a continuous process that is a challenge for women everywhere–not just the Middle East & North Africa region!

The most intriguing tweets relate to a conversation that highlights a common misperception–or perception if one agrees with the first tweet–about Arab governments’ treatment of women’s rights.  Please take a look at the conversation thread, read the article reposted below, review the 2012 list for yourself, and form your own opinion.  We are happy to repost your responses to the opinions below next Sunday, February 10th as part of the PITAPAL community discussion.  Just send to info at pitapolicyconsulting.com!  Thanks…

Primary Twitter Exchange:

  1. @pitapolicy @VO_World I feel Arab women generally have to be granted basic rights and freedoms. A human being is not a possession.

  2. @ThomasJeffries3 @VO_World I concur, but this applies 2all #women. Pornography in the #US, #UK & #Canada facilitate the notion of possession

  3. @pitapolicy @VO_World Ingrained values are hard to change. In Media it is finally getting better. Porno is bad and so is human trafficking.

@ThomasJeffries3 @pitapolicy / kick asses n take names. Arab women have fought men for power and won since before Canada existed.

Top 100 Arab Women Leaders: How More Can Join the List

By: Mehrunisa Qayyum

Source: Vancouver Observer

CEO of the Olayan Group Lubna Al-Olayan advised at the World Economic Forum in Davos, “We need to pressure the CEOs in GCC countries” in the banking industry to mentor women and “we need to get them to believe in it…not just play lip service.”

This year, Ms. Olayan ranked as number 3 in the “100 Most Powerful Arab Women” by ArabianBusiness.com. If her advice is applied, we could see Arab women in finance and banking tap into the Islamic Banking industry, which has the potential to make headway into socially responsible investing, a global trend. It would be a shame to miss this opportunity to advance and participate in an innovative field.

 Last year, I reviewed the top 100 Most Powerful Arab Women and argued that I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, the women were influential and mostly resided in the Arab countries. Moreover, the activists named in the Top 100 effectively leveraged social media for organizing and activating communities, as described by Altmuslimah Assistant Editor, Shazia Kamal. On the other hand, most of them primarily came from a legacy of family wealth, like #5 ranked Raja Easa Al Gurg of the UAE.

 The most represented category of women who exhibited “influence” was the ‘Culture and Society’ sector. Yet the…click here to continue.

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January 31, 2013

Not Should we, but WHEN #MIDEBATESyria. Yesterday.

Dear Pitaconsumers,

I just listened to four policy experts, or “Four Anglo-Saxon Men” on Syria at the McCain Institute…and I am almost tempted to complete a PhD in Middle East Studies just so I can write a dissertation on how horribly disappointing the consensus, or lack thereof, emerged from the panel.  I no longer understand what a “moral imperative” means anymore, but I learned some new terms from the panelists: “Manic Interventionist” and “Grand Extricator”.  These are labels that hawks sometimes use to  describe U.S. consideration for human rights issues.

I rarely blog right after attending a policy debate or event, because some of the best advice from my baba is: sleep on it first, then make a decision–speaking or writing. But I can’t sleep: after attending the McCain Institute’s first debate in its series of foreign policy debate, I wish I could say that Syria was “lucky” to be selected as the first topic.  The question posed to the four debaters was: “Should the United States Save Syria?”  The question should have been “When?”.  My response would have been: Yesterday.

For the last 22 months I have been blogging about Syria. Initially, I reviewed it from a political economy perspective in Aslan Media…then after the death toll mounted, despite peaceful protests, I reviewed it from a human rights perspective for Huffington Post. Consider that over 60,000 are dead because of the Assad regime’s intransigence and greed for power; more than 1.5 million Syrians are internally displaced, and an additional 1 million Syrian refugees are the result of the Shabeeha raiding towns, the Syrian Armed forces bombing bread and gas lines populated by civilians…and oh yeah: Syrian forces are raping their own Syrian women.  That’s a Warcrime.  That’s a “Redline”  for all the bureaucrats and military analysts who obsess over chemical weapons.  (This obsession is nearly pornographic.)

Neither approach was working.  In 2012, I tried the Diaspora approach.  No change in the US, Russian or other non Arab countries’ stance.  I have written about Syria for almost every outlet that I am allowed to contribute to…but nothing has changed.  So for the moderator that has asked all of us attendants to “write positive reviews” of this event.  Are.  You.  Kidding Me?

Syrian women, children–minority and “majority”–are still being shot at, tortured and rape while one of your debaters lectured us on the Lincoln Doctrine (Aaron David Miller, former U.S. Bureaucrat), and another argued not to intervene as ethnic cleansing is taking place because more intervention will inspire more ethnic cleansing (Joshua Landis, Director of Middle East Studies at University of Oklahoma).

Sadly, I almost rooted for the more conservative debater: Leon Wieseltier because “No one on panel has addressd that breadlines have been bombed, the civilians R suffering genocide, ” as I tweeted this, Wieseltier explained that even a “cold-hearted” pragmatist will see that “U.S. human rights interests intersect with its strategic interests” because the conflict has already spilled over and is only going to worse.  (Yes, I realize that there are circles that call Wieseltier ‘liberal’, but that has been among Conservatives…and he has served on the “Committee for the Liberation of Iraq“.  So, yeah, I’m not convinced enough to call him “liberal”. )

Ironically, the fourth debater, who focuses on U.S. and European Policy at Brookings, Robert Kagan, made the most sense.  It was only fitting that he drew parallels with Bosnia to counter Landis’s point that ethnic cleansing will result if the U.S. intervenes.

So here’s my review as @PITAPOLICY who live-tweeted questions that received no answers: Are. You. Kidding. Me?!

****************

For Tweets Replaying the points…here you go:

  4. Best part of debate: Kagan & Miller just burned each other down but after they were in the lobby deciding where to get drinks #MIDebateSyria

  5. @HowIvana Landis: “Leave the Syrians to fight it out” I remember when they used to say that about #Bosnia. #MIDebateSyria V @michaeldweiss

  6. Analysts defending and explaining lame US performance on #Syria is not good analysis #MIDebateSyria

  7. @omarsyria Your mom’s according to #MIDebateSyria “experts”, we aren’t ready for democracy yet. So, let’s roll back & go home.

  8. Opening this debate will show the US just how much people disagree with its vacuum sucking wind as policy #MIDebateSyria

  9. #Syria needs the intl. comm.’s help to overthrow a brutal, ruthless, strong dictatorship not to in *creating* a democracy. #MIDebateSyria

  10. Great debate with the @McCainInstitute. I still fall on the side that the US can and should save Syria. #MIDebateSyria

  11. Ladies & gentlemen in #Syria, according to #MIDebateSyria “experts”, we aren’t ready for democracy yet. So, let’s roll back & go home.

  12. Best debate on #Syria?? Umm considering there were 4 debaters on the stage &not one of them Syrian, I’m going 2have 2 say NO. #MIDebateSyria

  13. Perfect example of why these things should never be live streamed RT @KreaseChan: Now the self congratulatory bit #MIdebateSyria

  14. Arabs do not own their politics. How can Arabs own their own politics if there is no real democracy yet? #MIDebateSyria

  16. Robert Kagan at #MIDebateSyria: Obama will tolerate 100s of 1000s of deaths in #Syria and wait for CW before intervening.

  17. I reckon Landis is obsessed with “winners” and losers because for so long in this fight he was on the losing side. #MIDebateSyria

  18. Tonight’s panel is wrapping up but you can continue the debate at #MIDebateSyria

  19. Inorder 2stop what is #genocide I would arm the opps’ion, help the council,& provide a safehaven.#Syria #MIDebateSyria #finallyusedtheg-word

  20. The guy whose in-laws are all fighting for the regime says we can’t pick winners in #Syria. Shocking. #MIDebateSyria

  21. LOL RT @LeRifai: The only good thing about this #MIDebateSyria is the choice of furniture.

  22. The only good thing about this #MIDebateSyria is the choice of furniture.

  23. Robert Kagan at #MIDebateSyria: Obama will tolerate 100s of 1000s of deaths in Syria and wait for CW before intervening. #Syria

  25. Yup “@ImmAloush: Why does Joshua Landeis insist on classifying effort as “choosing the winner”-its about stopping bloodshed. #MIDebateSyria”

  26. ADMIller: THis is not Bosnia.. really not Bosnia — give me a strategy.. strategy.. give me strategy.. don’t get it.. etc #MIDebateSyria

  28. Aaron David Miller has drastically boosted his credentials as an absurd, delusional nincompoop in my book. #MIDebateSyria #Syria

  29. Landis: “Leave the Syrians to fight it out” I remember when they used to say that about #Bosnia. #MIDebateSyria

  30. Ouch “@BBCPaulAdams: Robert Kagan at #MIDebateSyria: Obama will tolerate 100s of 1000s of deaths in Syria and wait for CW before intervening

  31. J. Landis once AGAIN just said the US came in and divided Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. ??? #MIDebateSyria

  32. Bob Kagan just owned Aaron David Miller. #MIDebateSyria

  33. An unmitigated stream of fatuous horseshit from Joshua Landis and Aaron David Miller right now #MIDebateSyria.

  34. Landis: they can sort out among themselves!! whoa !.. #Syria #MIDebateSyria

  35. @joshua_landis honestly, you’re a disgrace to humanity #SYRIA #MIDebateSyria! Who in the hell invites this guy to talk about #SYRIA

  36. At some point 1 of these people is gonna get exasperated and say “OK khalas – let the US full on invade & occupy #Syria” #MIdebateSyria ;-0

  37. Landis now claims that Syrian secularists will get along just fine with Al Qaeda types without American intervention. #MIDebateSyria

  38. @aarondmiller2:When limited measures don’t work, won’t there be pressure 2 do more, and where would we draw the line? #goodpt #MIDebateSyria

  39. “Manic interventionism” and “The Great Extricator” are now two of my favorite phrases #MIDebateSyria

  40. It’s like there are two Realists and two Liberals with no Constructivist in this argument? #MIDebateSyria

  41. #MIDebateSyria is opened up to questions and comments from the audience. pic.twitter.com/dnNNOq4Q

  42. I think @joshua_landis just flinched when he heard the word ‘moral’ #MIDebateSyria

  44. @joshua_landis sticks with the argument that ethnic cleansing could happen if the US intervenes to stop..ethnic cleansing #MIDebateSyria

  45. Thank you @RafifJ for reminding @joshua_landis of how #syria conflict really started: peaceful. #MIDebateSyria Rafa’ati rasna!!

  46. J. Landis just completely mischaracterized the Yugoslav wars and the US role in it. Should get his facts straight. #MIDebateSyria

  47. Leon Wieseltier: “No greater blow could be dealt to Iran, Hezbollah or Hamas than the fall of the Assad Regime” #MIDebateSyria #Syria

  48. #midebatesyria Leon Wieseltier “one side of the struggle in syria needs our help and the bad guys are helping the other side”

  49. Who is this guy that was just speaking? I like him. #MIDebateSyria @RafifJ

  50. “Other side of the struggle is getting help from” Iran, Putin you name it.. #SYRIA #MIDebateSyria!

  51. US interest in Syria is that the two parties destroy Syria so the Syrian people will be busy for decades resolving their pbs #MIDebateSyria

  52. Chemical Weapons, not rape nor torture, mutilation, killing, bombing, shelling, is a red line. #MIDebateSyria

  53. .@RafifJ: No one on panel has addressd that breadlines have been bombed, the civilians R suffering genocide. #MIDebateSyria @McCainInstitute

  54. @joshua_landis doesn’t think that Syrians are READY 4democracy He focuses on Alwaites bc he’s wife is one and related 2ASSAd #MIDebateSYria

  58. What if France debated like this instead of helping Americans gain their independence #MIDebateSyria

  59. Okay we r not ready 4 democracy in #Syria so lets sit back & tell Syrians 2 put up w/Assad’s ruthless indiscriminate killing #MIDebateSyria

  60. McCain Enstitusundeki Suriye tartismasini konuyla ilgilenen herkesin internetten seyretmesini tavsiye ediyorum #MIDebateSyria

  61. Luck and chance, better than anything else @WashingtonPoint: Kagan: what outcome we expect if we don’t do anything?.. #MIDebateSyria!”

  62. Aaron David Miller at #MIDebateSyria: US doesn’t want Arab Spring in Saudi Arabia. Not in US interest.

  63. Are they debating whether or not we’re ready for democracy? Really? After 2 years of revolting? #MIDebateSyria

  64. Robert Kagan makes key point on chem weapon redline, “who thinks Assad will go down w/out using every weapon in his arsenal?” #MIDebateSyria

  66. Panel: all Caucasians NO SYRIANS.. @joshua_landis married to a SYRIAN relative of ASSad doesn’t qualify http://mccaininstitute.org/live  #MIDebateSYRIA!

  67. “Should the United States Save #Syria?” http://mccaininstitute.org/live  @BarackObama will tolerate so many deaths it doesn’t matter #MIDebateSyria!

  68. Robert Kagan at #MIDebateSyria: Obama will tolerate 100s of 1000s of deaths in Syria and wait for CW before intervening.

  69. “What is the outcome that we are going to get if we do nothing”–Robert Kagan asking the MOST important question–#MIDebateSyria #Syria

  70. Kagan: what outcome we expect if we don’t do anything? — Kagan has been the best performer so far– clarity.. #MIDebateSyria!

  71. Kagan “the use of chemical weapons will be the red line for the US” #MIDebateSyria

  72. Following the debate “Should the United States Save #Syria?” #MIDebateSyria of @McCainInstitute in #DC; hot and but fruitful debate goes on.

  73. @BarackObama will tolerates 100’s of thousands of deaths in Syria #MIDebateSyria! #SYRIA CW already used FYI!!

  74. #midebatesyria Bob Kagan “I am prepared to support democracy promotion in Middle East” and “what is outcome when we do nothing in syria?”

  75. @b_momani: Landis just argued tht #ArabSpring is a mvmnt 2 get #Islamists into mainstream power-Guess I missed that newsbrief #MIDebateSyria

  76. I find it very pathetic that not one of the four “experts” speaking at #MIDebateSyria are actually Syrian. Explains a lot.

  77. While Syrians die every day…RT@McCainInstitute:@joshua_landis “We are going to make sure that no side wins in Syria. #MIDebateSyria

  78. Joshua Landis at #MIDebateSyria. US will make sure no-one wins in Syria. It’s in US interest.

  79. A pretty huge leap in logic there Mr.Landeis–2 claim that every1 who isnt Sunni is going 2 be cleansed, is a HUGE assumption.#MIDebateSyria

  80. .@joshua_landis “We are going to make sure that no side wins in Syria. #MIDebateSyria

  81. .@joshua_landis apparently knows what all Jews & Palestinians want, not one state. #MIDebateSyria #Palestine

  82. Great turnout at @McCainInstitute‘s Syria debate. “Democratization is not an event – it is an era.” #MIDebateSyria pic.twitter.com/gfAwoaYP

  83. Moderator of #MIDebateSyria @eliselabottcnn: How do you avoid the Pottery Barn prblm “if u break it, u buy it” w/ #syria? #mccaininstitute

  84. Debate getting pretty heated with some great FP experts- Bob Kagan, Josh Landis, Leon Wieseltier, Aaron David Miller #midebatesyria

  85. L. Wieseltier “Democracy is an exercise in destabilization” #MIDebateSyria

  86. #midebatesyria Leon Wieseltier “democratization is a long process…a process in destabilization”

  87. Not that either #Bosnia or #Syria are “ethnic conflicts” to start with #MIDebateSyria

  88. #midebatesyria aaron d miller “we have 10 yrs of bad history behind us…so prove a Syrian intervention would be any different than Iraq ”

  91. Miller “prove to me you can do this with military aid?” #MIDebateSyria

  92. what the hell Aaron D. Miller talking about? got no idea.. questions there and here.. #MIDebateSyria

  93. To those fearing the consequences that follow Assad leaving, what is happening today is the consequence of him staying #MIDebateSyria

  94. TY R. Kagan for mentioning intervention in #Bosnia as counterpoint to argument the US shouldn’t get into “ethnic conflicts” #MIDebateSyria

  95. thank you! finally, a mention of the moral imperative! #MIDebateSyria

  96. @joshua_landis, R U saying that only rich old pple get democracy? Syrians are intelligent, entrepreneurial & innovative! #MIDebateSyria

  97. #midebatesyria Bob Kagan “if we sit on our hands what is our action when Assad uses his weapons in his arsenal?”

  98. .@pitapolicy RT @airguitarGenius Aaron David Miller: extrication is not the metric by which we should measure success. #MIDebateSyria

  99. Kagan “What is the policy when Assad uses the chemical weapons in his control? What then?” #MIDebateSyria

  100. Why does Joshua Landeis insist on classifying this effort as “choosing the winner”–its about stopping bloodshed. #MIDebateSyria

  101. Landis at #MIDebateSyria. Democracy won’t be outcome in Syria. Can’t defeat militias with Harvard-educated liberals.

  103. Ugh Landis is doing his thing. RT @McCainInstitute: .@joshua_landis “democracy is not happening in Syria anytime soon” #MIDebateSyria

  104. .@joshua_landis: Can’t put a group of Harvard educated ppl to run the country post-#Assad #MIDebateSyria

  105. #MIdebatesyria Let’s just have Mossad tells us where Assad is hanging out and then “drone” his ass into oblivion. Whaddya think?

  106. Excited that our first debate is in front of a packed room! #MIDebateSyria pic.twitter.com/H2r27dhk

  107. Shorter Leon Wieseltier – with our lack of support, the next Syrian leaders will not feel they owe the US anything #MIDebateSyria

  108. .@joshua_landis “democracy is not happening in Syria anytime soon” #MIDebateSyria

  109. #midebatesyria josh landis “the notion that we will find the democrats in Syria is a false notion”

  110. Wieseltier “We are talking about assisting a democratic rebellion already in progress” #MIDebateSyria

  111. Aaron David Miller: extrication is not the metric by which we should measure success. #MIDebateSyria

  112. #midebatesyria Leon Wieseltier “given our lack of help the next government of Syria will not feel that it owes the US and the West anything”

  113. Had the USA intervened earlier, it wouldn’t have had to donate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of relief aid #MIDebateSyria

  114. Miller ignoring fact that international community is seeking to intervene in Syria. This is not a unilateral US interest. #MIDebateSyria

  116. Aaron David Miller at #MIDebateSyria: Obama “the great extricator”.

  117. @aarondmiller2: Syria not a fair test of US foreign policy. To oppose involvement in Syria not same as pulling back frm world #MIDebateSyria

  118. @joshua_landis: argument against intervention in #Syria is fear of ethnic cleansing? What’s happening now? #MIDebateSyria MT @ehdomenech

  120. Aaron David Miller at #MIDebateSyria: Obama a less reckless, more disciplined version of George W Bush. Hence GOP probs with US for policy

  121. @ImmAloush @PoliticallyAff #SYRIA #MIDebateSyria Who says its a sectarian ethnic war? Heard this one for the first time!

  122. Miller says @MCCAINinstitute: Even if we could save Syria we shouldn’t b/c we don’t have the resources: eg cost of #noflyzone #MIdebateSyria

  123. One of Joshua Landis’s argument against intervention in Syria..fear of ethnic cleansing? What’s happening now? #MIDebateSyria

  124. #midebatesyria aaron david miller “we don’t want to own another arab country”…”need to understand our ends and what means we have”

  125. @joshua_landis, stop saying US support for #Syria is abt picking ethnic winners! Assad is head of a mafia not the Allawites. #MIDebateSyria

  126. Motives MT @McCainInstitute: Wieseltier “no greater blow..could be dealt to..Iranian regime than..fall of the Assad regime.” #MIDebateSyria

  127. #MIdebatesyria Joshua Landis makes “some” sense1

  129. .@joshua_landis: to think that we can save #Syria is foolish. We can’t unradicalize them. We tried twice and failed. #Iraq #MIdebateSyria

  130. “Should the United States Save Syria?” Watch the debate LIVE now from the @McCainInstitute: http://bit.ly/Wyukk3  #MIDebateSyria

  131. @McCainInstitute Many flaws in Landis’s argument & I shudder to think how many in the audience are being misinformed. #MIDebateSyria

  132. RT@cspan: Experts Debate U.S. Role in #Syria, hosted by @McCainInstitute #MIDebateSyria – LIVE online here: http://cs.pn/TYHMzs 

  133. Its not about putting 1 group on top another group!Its bout taking out a dictatorial regime thats butchering its own citizens #MIDebateSyria

  135. .@joshua_landis “I don’t think America can decide this equilibrium.” #MIDebateSyria

  136. Joshua Landis: Getting involved in this kind of internecine conflict is bound to come to grief #MIDebateSyria

  137. #MIDEBATESYRIA Weiseltier argues @MCCAINinstitute: But even cold-heart realism will benefit as it’ll be a blow to #Hamas & #Hezbollah.

  138. Sen. McCain opening debate “Should US Save Syria” at McCain Institute #Syria #MIDebateSyria pic.twitter.com/VTAdiUSo

  140. #MIDEBATESYRIA Weiseltier argues @MCCAINinstitute: Nobody is talking abt deploying 200K troops to #Syria.

  142. “America cannot nation build in the Middle East” says Joshua Landis #MIDebateSyria

  143. So happy this is finally a questions for debate! Do you think US should help Syria? #MIDebateSyria

  144. Agree with Wieseltier that from a purely strategic standpoint vs Iran, the best outcome is the removal of Assad #midebatesyria

  145. #MIdebatesyria how do we know our $$ for humanitarian assistance isn’t being stolen by Assad? We don’t, of course. Let’s stop our madness!

  146. .@joshua_landis “Only the Syrians can save Syria. The US cannot nation-build in the Middle East.” #MIDebateSyria

  147. #Midebatesyria josh landis “America cannot nation build in Middle East”

  148. Shorter Leon Wieseltier – the pursuit of our moral values abroad often aligns with our strategic interests abroad #MIDebateSyria

  149. Leon Wieseltier: “Iraq War doesn’t tell us all we need to know about US foreign policy choices” #MIDebateSyria

  150. Leon wieseltier No greater blow could be dealt to Iran, Hezbollah or Hamas than the fall of the Assad Regime #MIDebateSyria

  151. Wieseltier “there is no greater blow that could be dealt to the Iranian regime than the fall of the Assad regime.” #MIDebateSyria

  152. .@pitapolicy someone should ask Kagan about the millions of Iraqi lives destroyed by US efforts to save Iraq #MIDebateSyria

  153. Bob Kagan for doing more in Syria: compared w other cases of boots on ground, supporting anti-Assad forces is least US can do #MIDebateSyria

  154. #MIdebatesyria Let’s have Leon Wieseltier pickup an AR-15 and go rescue some Syrians from oppression. Don’t hold your breath!

  155. #midebatesyria Leon Wieseltier: “we can”t ask the world for a time out on US leadership while we get our financial house in order”

  156. Wieseltier “History doesn’t allow us zero sums or timeouts.” #MIDebateSyria

  157. LIVE now. Im watching @McCainInstitute: “Should the United States Save Syria?” http://bit.ly/Wyukk3  Live-tweet us: #MIDebateSyria

  158. #MIDebateSyria the US supposedly stands for humanity and democracy and the least this administration can do is save the Syrian people

  160. #midebatesyria Bob Kagan: “we should establish a no fly zone in the North of Syria”

  161. Kagan @brookingsFP: Yes, intervene #Syria b/c #humanrights & Strategic interests – can’t afford a failed state #MIDebateSyria #Aid #Nofly

  162. Robert Kagan: Syria as failed state not a prospect US can countenance. #MIDebateSyria

  163. #midebatesyria Bob Kagan: “failed states like Syria are extremely dangerous to US interests”

  164. Is Syria a nexus of strategic interests and humanitarian need? Robert Kagan argues yes, at the McCain Institute Debate #MIDebateSyria

  165. #MIdebatesyria How many tax dollars are being wasted by all this bloviating by “international scholars”?

  166. bunch of white men debating whether US should save #Syria (one of them helped push US effort to save #Iraq) #WTF #MIDebateSyria

 

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Filed under Analysis, Interests, Politics

January 30, 2013

Egypt: Cleaning House Before the IMF Visits–Again

 Do you have that friend that insists on cleaning his or her home BEFORE the cleaning lady arrived?  Well, whether it is irrational or not, sometimes countries’ leaders could benefit from some of these Obsessive-Compulsive tendencies 🙂 
On that note, WE are monitoring how Egypt will prepare before the next International Monetary Fund will return to visit Cairo — date yet to be determined, according to The Daily Star.  Earlier on January 7th, IMF MENA & Central Asia Department Director, Masood Ahmed, met with President Morsi in Cairo to discuss loan terms. Ahmed also met with Prime Minister Hisham Kandil, Central Bank of Egypt Governor Farouk El Okdah, Finance Minister Al-Mursi Hegazy, and the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ashraf Al-Araby.  Press Release available here.

Egypt Stocks Drop Most in World Amid Turmoil, Political Standoff

By: Ahmed A. Namatalla on January 29, 2013

Source: Bloomberg News

Egypt’s shares fell the most in the world after the country’s main opposition bloc rejected talks with President Mohamed Mursi, signaling the nation’s political crisis may be prolonged.

The North African country’s benchmark EGX 30 Index (EGX30) retreated 2.1 percent to 5,490.36 as of 1:30 p.m. in Cairo. That’s the biggest drop among 93 indexes tracked by Bloomberg. The gauge has retreated 3.5 percent this week as escalating violence left dozens dead since the second anniversary of the Jan. 25 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Egyptian Defense Minister Abdelfatah Al-Seesi warned… click here to continue.

Egypt’s Chronic Public Service Nightmare Leaves Citizens by Wayside

Train, car crashes and a building collapse lead Egyptians to wonder who’s watching out for them. Click here to continue.

By: Nancy M. Salem

Source: Vancouver Observer

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Filed under Analysis, PIDE (Policy, International Development & Economics), Politics

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January 27, 2013

Development Directions by Raza Rumi Mentions How Millennials “Pay It Forward”

Dear Pitaconsumers:

We are pleased to be listed by a new #PITAPAL, Raza Rumi in his Development Directions electronic newsletter.  Mr. Rumi tracks development aid/assistance news, and PITAPOLICY’s Huffington Post article got listed–thanks to Twitter sharing by our intern, @Pitaconsumer–who is also from the Millennial Generation! 

Raza Rumi is a Writer/development professional and tweets as @Razarumi.  Rumi currently serves as the Director of Policy & Programs at the Jinnah Institute in Lahore, Pakistan.  We invite you to follow Rumi and his affiliates on Twitter: @jinnahinstitute. C.Editor @TFT_/ @Himalistan.

Last week PITAPOLICY covered many happenings of the 57th U.S. Inauguration for President Barack Hussain Obama’s second term.  Although it was January freezing cold, it was heart-warming to see how the celebration intersected with Martin Luther King’s birthday–a day that also celebrates community service.  The following is the repost from PITAPOLICY, aka, Mehrunisa Qayyum’s Huffington Post essay, which was listed as an ‘Impact’ piece and tweeted by Huffington Post Inaugural Alerts and their Egypt Alerts!  Thanks @HuffPostImpact for being the first to publicize over Twitter!

Millennial Generation Demands Innovation from Both Public and Private Sectors

Source: Huffington Post Impact~ Thursday, January 24th

By: Mehrunisa Qayyum

Post inauguration discussions mostly reviewed the following:

    • First Lady Michelle Obama’s haircut,
    • the First Lady’s evening dress,
    • who got tickets to which ball or event; and
    • whether Beyonce lip-synced or not.

The bottomline is: we distracted ourselves away from some of the most important developments, like the variety of community service projects organized throughout Washington, DC that consider the power of collective efforts and how to capitalize on community innovation.

Community service projects might not have trended on Twitter with the hashtag #Inaug2013, but community service is “trending” in a different way. For example, the New America Foundation, a Washington-based think tank co-organized the “Millennial Ideas Forum” with the Millennial Trains Project to publicly ponder the potential legacy of the “millennial” generation through speakers, films and performances at the M Central in Northeast Washington, DC. Topics included:

    • Tinkering: “How Millennials Are Making Government Better”
    • Tenacity: “Magic and Tragic Tales from Merlindia’s Main Man”
    • Rethinking: “The Costs and Values of Global Leadership”
    • Disruption: “Techonomy: Reinventing Business As Usual”

Who are the “millennials”? Well, millennials are born into it. But the mindset is what defines the most active within this generational cohort. Aside from the 20-somethings who activate debate over social media, they are the future that President Obama referred to in his speech who must reconcile shortfalls in public funding and lend their innovation. As Juan Martinez, a National Geographic Explorer shared, “the millennials include those who elected the first African-American president” as part of our “legacy”.

In fact, the millennials are those who have already pushed for climate change to be part of the global agenda. On that note, The Millennial Trains Project was initiated by Patrick Dowd’s goal to harness the energy coming from the Occupy Wall Street Movement and channel the questions regarding corporate social responsibility into action. Dowd was a Fulbright Scholar in India who organizes problem solvers in the business and the activist community. Dowd’s full story may be found here as Huffington Post shared in its Entrepreneurship Expo last summer.

Rethinking the Costs and Values of Global Leadership

The “Costs and Values of Global Leadership” panel invited both the private and public sectors’ perspective on why invest to in innovation overseas. The Huffington Post Chief of Staff, Koda M. Wang, moderated the Rethinking panel by asking the panelists to explain why global initiatives need both the public and private sector. Whether we like it or not — the U.S. still assumes a key position in global leadership. Steve Fedelstein framed the public sector perspective as the Director of Policy from the U.S. Agency for International Development by drawing attention to the rise of “non-state actors,” like the Gates Foundation, who carries out philanthropy in 35 countries, like Egypt, Afghanistan and Pakistan. What the public sector calls development, the private sector calls corporate social responsibility, or “intraphilanthropy.” J. Skyler Fernandes framed the private sector perspective as a venture capitalist and Founder of the “Missing Middle Initiative” by describing how leading countries, like the U.S., might consider investing in certain sectors or expanding its notion of public good.

What is the real harm of offering free Internet hubs if budding thinkers or programmers have access to ideas and improve upon programming… and develop the next innovation? Qualcomm operated an “Internet bus” in Egypt to provide connectivity to communities so that they may connect with other communities. If the social and financial gains outweigh the costs, that is not socialism, that is a savvy investment.

The cost of global leadership means that we engage with “frontier” markets — those that have not yet proven a politically risk-free environment nor provide the necessary infrastructure to attract big tech companies. On the other hand, the value of global leadership appreciates that such “frontier” markets include communities of people that require development aid. More importantly, “frontier” markets may provide the backdrop for the next big innovation.

Whether we believe in our immediate ability to bounce back financially or not, our economic position is still relatively stronger than most. Regardless of whether we are operating from a powerful financial position, or not, our leadership has resulted from our talent, drive for innovation and ability to take risks beyond the initial stage. This last point sums up what Skyler Fernandes advocated for: not only America’s business health, but for the “frontier markets” that are alternatively referred to as “the developing world.” As Fernandes stated,”innovation benefits from harsh conditions… that’s where innovation comes from in the sectors of technology, alternative energy and pharmaceuticals.” Lately, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon have already taken note of this — considering its human capital surplus. Not too long ago, Dubai innovated in the petro-chemicals industry because they were not blessed with the oil-wealth of their neighboring gulf countries.

Millennials Demand Innovation From Both Public and Private Sectors

Back to the inauguration, and the expectations we may have of government in addressing some of the biggest challenges President Obama mentioned: climate, community’s social investment, and the economy. The “collective action” he spoke of can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Some political commentators interpret Obama’s words as an insidious call to socialism or view his words as an ode to liberalism, as stated by George Will. Others stated that the speech did not push far enough, or address unemployment and the larger economic challenges, as stated by Jack Welch.

Eighteen minutes will not produce the immediate solutions on paper. Rather, the speech is a way to galvanize those who will take the risk and collaborate — be it individually or organizationally via public-private partnerships, intraphilanthropy or pushing our corporations to take on more social responsibility.

As I argued before, when the Occupy Wall Street Movement caught our attention with its socially responsible mantra (which was championed by many “Millennials”), innovation is neither liberal, conservative, partisan, capitalist nor socialist. Innovation is born out of both individual and collective design and requires both public and private sector attention. The country that best harnesses innovation, at home or abroad, wins more than leadership status–it earns its return on investment.

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January 24, 2013

Revolutions Are Not Time-Bound: #Libya

Yesterday’s U.S. Congressional hearings put Libya in the focus regarding security and terrorism.  But there is more to Libyan engagement and post-revolutionary rebuilding apart from Al Qaeda’s terrorist role in the “Arab Awakened” countries. Ambassador Chas Freeman continues to present a dreary view of the Arab transition countries by refusing to use “Arab Spring” or “Arab Awakening”– which is unfortunate since even the American revolution did not bring liberty and freedom to Americans over night either.  The struggle for true emancipation extended into the 20th century after the American Civil War.  Sure, the revolutionary period may be accelerated with the role of technology, but the motivation to hold those accountable is still an innate feeling–and is not “time-bound”.  To initiate group dynamics does not fall within a predictive model that spits out the amount of time needed.
Within Libya, their domestic concerns regarding institutions, reconciliation, and holding Ghadaffi era officials accountable remain at the forefront of their foreign relations agenda.  Thanks to PITAPAL, Hafed Al-Ghwell, for forwarding this update from @Reuters on Libya’s efforts to hold former government officials accountable.  Basically, Libya is spending financial resources to extradite ex government officials, like Abdullah el-Senussi (who is the former Libyan intelligence chief) to face International Criminal Court charges. ~@PITAPOLICY

Libya paid Mauritania $200 million to extradite ex-spy chief: lawyer

Source: REUTERS
Wednesday 1/15/13 2:53pm EST
AMSTERDAM/TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya authorized payment of almost $200 million to Mauritania months after it extradited the Libyan ex-spy chief to face trial at home in defiance of an International Criminal Court warrant for his arrest, Libyan government documents show.
Abdullah al-Senussi is wanted by the ICC on suspicion of orchestrating brutal reprisals during the 2011 uprising that led to the fall and death of Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled the North African country with an iron fist for 42 years.
A lawyer for Senussi told Reuters he believed the $200 million payment, equivalent to about 5 percent of Mauritania’s gross domestic product, was designed to secure Senussi’s repatriation after he fled to Mauritania in March last year.
The payment was shown in government documents seen by Reuters, and Libyan officials said it was made as aid for Mauritania, a poor West African country with which Tripoli has had important investment ties.
Former Libyan deputy prime minister Mustafa Abu Shagur denied that the 250 million Libyan dinars – about $200 million – donation to Mauritania was made for Senussi’s handover.
“That amount was made to help Mauritania as Libya has helped the Mauritanian economy before. We already have big investments in Mauritania,” he told Reuters.
Abu Shagur led the first Libyan delegation to the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott after Senussi was arrested in March 2012 to lead the negotiations for his handover.
Senussi was one of Gaddafi’s closest lieutenants for decades and may have information about the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am passenger jet over Scotland and the 1984 shooting of policewoman Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London.
Lawyers for Senussi are keen to see him extradited from Libya to the ICC in The Hague because the international war crimes court does not have the death penalty.
In a July 24, 2012 diplomatic “note verbale” from the Libyan embassy in Mauritania, also seen by Reuters, Libyan authorities requested authorization for an airplane chartered from a Libyan company to land for 72 hours in Nouakchott with the purpose of “transporting the Libyan spy chief”.
But Senussi was not repatriated until early September, arriving in Tripoli on September 5, when he was taken into custody by Libya’s post-Gaddafi transitional authorities.
DONATIONS
On November 14, the Libyan council of ministers published a decree authorizing payments to several countries, including a payment of 250 million Libyan dinars “as a donation to the Mauritanian people”.
There have been Libyan investments in Mauritania since 1978, starting with an investment by a company dealing with the fisheries industry, a government official told Reuters. There are also commercial investments, including in banking.
Reuters was not able to confirm that there had been previous large donations.
“These new documents establish conclusively that Libya was responsible for the rendition of Senussi and that it paid a vast sum of money to Mauritanian officials to induce them to violate international law,” said Ben Emmerson, Senussi’s lawyer.
“The figure of 250 million Libyan dinars represents more than 5 percent of the entire GDP of Mauritania. That is an indication of the lengths Libya was prepared to go to in order to get its hands on Senussi.”
Emmerson cited press reports from Mauritania in which an opposition member of parliament raised questions as to what had happened to the $200 million from Libya.
Since the ICC issued a warrant for Senussi after a referral by the U.N. Security Council, any attempt to have him extradited to anywhere other than the court’s detention center in The Hague would violate international law.
ICC WRANGLING
The ICC indicted Senussi along with Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam but both remain in Libya while the Tripoli government and the ICC wrangle over who has the right to try the pair.
Libya has said that since it is willing and able to give the two men a fair trial, the ICC has no jurisdiction over the case. Libya has hired top human rights lawyers to argue its case before ICC judges in The Hague.
Libya has said it will abide by the ICC’s ruling. On Tuesday, in a filing to the ICC, Libya denied press reports that the trials of Senussi and Saif al-Islam would begin in February regardless of any ICC ruling.
“Mr al-Senussi has been charged with some of the most serious offences imaginable,” said Emmerson, adding that this could still not excuse a flagrant breach of international law.
“There should be no repeat of the disgraceful show trial and execution of Saddam Hussein (in Iraq),” he said.
(Reporting By Thomas Escritt, Ali Shuaib and Marie-Louise Gumichian, Editing by Sara Webb and Mark Heinrich)

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