Many People are Homeless in Gaza

Due to recent attacks on Gaza by Israel, the people of Gaza have found themselves in a world of chaos. Many houses and stores have been destroyed, and many families are now homeless. The actions of Israel are questionable, and the question of whether or not they committed war crimes is now being investigated.

Obama's New Language in the Middle East

Khaled Meshaal, the political leader for Hamas, has been known for his constant calls for the destruction of Israel. Today he speaks of something different, he speaks of praise for Barack Obama. President Obama last week wanted a "new beginning" in relations with Iran. To Meshaal this was fantastic news, since Iran is one of the Middle Eastern states backing Hamas. Obama's sudden change in US foreign policy was praised by the Meshaal in his most recent interview with an Italian newspaper. He told the paper that "a new language towards the region is coming from President Obama" This policy change could be the first step in world power's solving the conflict in the Middle East.


By Jimmy

Fatah Official Killed in Lebanon

Lebanon has been known for it's poor security in their Palestinian refugee camps. Kamal Medhat was the leader of the Lebanese base for a Palestinian liberation faction. He died today from an explosion outside of the Mieh Mieh camp in Sidon, Lebanon. The story is lacking details due to the fact the event happened recently, but a spokesmen for Medhat most recently called this an assassination attempt.

By Jimmy Crudele

British and US tourists take a holiday vacation in Iraq

The group of tourists included five British tourists, two Americans, and a Canadian. They spent their last two nights of their seventeen day long trip in the Sheraton in Iraq. They started their trip touring Irbil in the north and traveled all the way to the holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala. On their last day, they visited the Baghdad parade ground installed by Saddam Hussein. They said that a lot of their time was spent at checkpoints. On their way to Kerbala from Najaf, they spent a total of six hours in checkpoints. Despite this, they said they felt welcome. The majority of people did not feel endangered by the conflict going on in the area. The archaeologist from London said that she was not nervous because she remains optimistic, and thinks nothing could happen to her. She did however admit that she heard an explosion or two, and said she would rather die in a car bombing then in a hospital geriatric ward.
The ministry of tourism in Baghdad says that they would like to fix their bad reputation. They would like people to stop thinking about Baghdad as a terrorist danger, but rather as a tourism destination. They commented that they would like to see a turn around similar to the turn around Northern Ireland experienced in tourism.

US rejecting a plea from Isreal to attack Iran

For the third time in the past three years, Bush has rejected an Isreali plea to attack Iran because of their developing nuclear program. The attack would have been an airstrike on areas of nuclear development in Iran. Sources say the Bush showed Isreal plans to do the same thing to Iran


Jim Crudele
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/11/iran.israel.nuclear/index.html

Bin Laden's Driver just freed from jail

The former driver of Osama Bin Laden has just been released from jail. He had been sent to Yemen from Guantanamo bay a little over two months ago. He was sentenced to 66 months in prison for providing material support for terrorism. He was the first Guantanamo detanie to be sentenced by the US militiary commision. He addmitted to working for Bin Laden for $200 a month, and said that he only worked for wages, not because he was against the US and supported the terrorism directed at the US. There are still 255 inmates who were accused of plotting against the US. It is decided that they are innocent and they are cleared. President elect Barak Obama said that he plans to shut down the camp.

Lebanon Bombing

As the war in the Middle East presses on, Isreali hasn't exactly recieved any attacks untill now. An unknown group in Lebanon fired rockets into Northern Isreal last Thursday. The Lebanesse government condemns the attack and is determined to find out who is repsonisble. If the government of Lebanon was responsible, they would be violating a UN resolution from 2006. Although the Isreali army's retalitory attacks had no casualties, the Lebanese government did not see at as just to send an attack. The UN is continuing an investigation on the government on Lebanon. In a recent statment Prime Minister Fouad Siniora declared that the attack did infact violate the UN agreement from 2006.


Jim Crudele

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/08/israel.rockets/index.html

Oil Prices rising in the Middle East

Oil prices have risen in the past week because oil producers are worried that Israel's attacks on Hamas will disrupt and prevent further oil production. Earlier last year, OPEC announced that it intended to reduce oil production by at least 10 million barrels a day in order to keep the price of oil from dropping. Now, due to recent fears of the oil producers they have risen the price of oil along with the production costs. The average price for a barrel in America has risen $1.22. Prices are slightly rising in the US. In October, the US demand for oil dropped by 833,000 barrels a day.

And Israel Presses On

During the tenth day if Israel's war agaisnt Hamas, they Israelis push further into the Gaza Strip. The tenth day of fighting had more civilian bloodshed with twelve children apart of the massacre. This raises the total to 550 killed overall. Other Civilians in the Gaza strip who were not killed are straining to get supplies of water, food, and fuel. Niether side seems to be giving in. When will all the fighting end?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/world/middleeast/06mideast.html?_r=1&ref=world

Deprogramming Jihadists

This is an article by the New York times that i found very interesting. In Saudi Arabian Prison's there is class that tries to correct the "theological misunderstandings," of young Jihadist. Even thought King Abul-Aziz united Saudi Arabia with a Jihad, the Saudi Government is using programs like these to give men who are convicted of being Jihadist stability in there life, Such as; "a car, a job, and possibly a wife." This is an attempt by the Saudi Government to show that they are fighting against terroism in there own way. It seems to be a step in the right direction.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/magazine/09jihadis-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=middleeast

Finally Justice! Or What looks like it.

The Justice Department as released five indictments accusing five Blackwater gaurds to have killed 17 Iraqi Civilians, and injured several more. Also, a week earlier, another Blackwater gaurd by the name of Jeremy P. Ridgeway pleaded guilty to two counts of mansluaghter. Experts say that Ridgeway will testify against the other five Blackwater gaurds. This case may finally clear up what contracters oversea's can and cannot do. This is sure to be a case that has alot of gray areas that will be decided.

Green Zone Attacked in Bagdhad

The Green Zone which houses foriegn embasssies and government offices. A rocket attack killed two UN contractors in the blast. The contractors worked for a catering service that worked for UN representatives in Bagdhad.

Ali Hassan al-Majid receives his second death sentence

Also known as Chemical Ali, Majid newly recieved his second death sentence. Majid was Saddam Hussein's defence secretary and also his cousin. He was sentenced to be hanged for genocide and the killing of over 100,000 people durring the 1988 Anfal campaign against Iraq's Kurds. Witnesses in the trial reported that they would kill people and families by throwing them out of helcopters. The judged sentenced him to be hanged for murder and crimes against humanity. He got his name Chemical Ali because he ordered poisonous gas attacks on innocent people. He was due to be hung June 2007, but because of legal battles he remains live in american custody.

OPEC decides to not make another cut

Last month, the members of OPEC decided to cut oil production by 1.5 million barrels a day in hopes to decrease the supply to increase the price. The demand is no longer there for oil because of the struggling economy around the world. Venezuela is the one country that continues to push for another oil production reduction. The other countries have decided to not make another cut, they are relying on their last cut to take effect. This does not mean that there wont be another cut in the future, but it dampens the rumor that another cut will be made this weekend.

QE2 is put out of commision in Dubai

The famous cruise ship the QE2 made her final voyage on November 11th. She left her home in Southhampton on a final two week cruise. She was bought by Nakheel, who is a big real estate developer in Dubai. Plans for the ocean liner involve transforming her into a fancy floating hotel. They plan to make the rooms larger and remodel them to fit today's standards. What kind of standards require them to remodel an already very prosperous and luxurious ship I have no idea, but it is going to be in Dubai, which is the most desireable and lavish vacation destination. They want to rip off the red smoke stack and use it as a large entrance. In place of the smoke stack, they want to create a four story room out of frosted glass. Their intent is to make this room the most luxurious and desireable room in Dubai. The ship was bought for £50 million.

Stunt Bikers in Iraq?!

Recently, a group of stunt-bikers practiced and performed their stunts in closed streets in front of a number of spectators. The event was put on as something fun to do. Not only was this cool to watch, but it was meant to demonstrate that perhaps there is some hope of freedom in Iraq. They wanted to show the world that fun can still be had in Iraq. With all the violence going on, its nice to have something fun and enjoyable.

Roadside Bombings in Iraq

At least 13 people died in a roadside bombing on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq. Many of these people were Iraqi government officials on their way to a meeting. The bomb completely blew up the bus that was carrying these officials.
Seprate from this attack, a women blew her self up, taking with her five other people. Two of these five people were Iraqi intelligence agents. Chaos countinues in the middle east. It's obvious some people are not very happy.

Brawl In the Iraqi Parliment

Choas erupted during a discussion, in the Iraqi parliment, on the security pact the will soon be voted on by Iraqi legislators. In this security pact contains the agreement that the U.S will stay through the year 2011. Even before the dicussion started legislators and lawmakers alike, felt the apprehension. It grew from raised voices to actual physical confrontation. Guards were already in the room because of the almost sure voilence that follows such a huge decision. Many different sects that hold seats in the parliment are fundamentally agaisnt dealing with Americans such especially followers of Cleric Moktada Al-Sadr (a very anti-American cleric) who hold 32 seats out of the 275 overall seats. The Parliment may vote on the Security Pact as soon as next week. After yesterdays showing in Parliment there is much to be worked out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/world/middleeast/20iraq.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast

Meeting of Two Sides On a Bridge

The Aimma Bridge has just recently been reopened for public use, since the numerous deaths that occurred on the bridge when there were rumors spread that there was a suicide bomber during a religious ceremony. The preceding stampede killed nearly one-thousand people; most were trampled on but many drowned when they jumped of the bridge and into the tigris river. This bridge is symbolic because it divided the Shiite neighborhood from the Sunni neighborhood. Now since reopened the two sides are symbolically linked. This is one event that makes Iraq look a little less bleak.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/world/middleeast/12iraq.html?ref=world

Three blasts kills 28 people in Iraq

This morning on November 10, 2008, three synchronized bombs went off in the north of Baghdad. The attack was carried out in a mixed Sunni and Shi'a neighborhood. First there were two car bombs planted near a market, they went of five minutes apart. After this explosion a crowd appeared looking at the damage; at this time, a suicide bomber ran into the crowed and detonated his explosives. This is the deadliest attack in Iraq since June. This attack came after weeks of calm and peace.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin