Title: EDGE Spring Presentation 9
1EDGE Spring Presentation 9
- Saudi Arabia taking lead in Middle east
- Arab League on Sudan elements of Oil
- Russia objects to US missile deployment
- Evo Morales and the Peoples Trade Association
- Agenda for Nigerias YarAdua
- Reaction to Student Proposals
2A Saudi Prince Tied To Bush Sounding Out Of Step
With Saudi KingBush administration officials
have been scratching their heads over steps taken
by Prince Bandars uncle, King Abdullah of Saudi
Arabia, that have surprised them by going against
the American playbook, after receiving assurances
to the contrary from Prince Bandar during secret
trips he made to Washington, D.C. For instance,
in February, Abdullah effectively torpedoed plans
by Secretary of State Condolleezza Rice for a
high-profile peace summit meeting between Prime
Israeli Minister Ehud Olmert and the Palestinian
president, Mahmoud Abbas, by brokering a
power-sharing agreement with Abbas Fatah and
Hamas that did not require Hamas to recognize
Israel or forswear violence. The Americans had
believed, after discussions with Prince Bandar,
that the Saudis were on board with the strategy
of isolating Hamas.
- After the Sept. 11 attacks, as the United States
learned that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi,
and focused on the strict Wahhabi school of Islam
that informed them and their fellow Saudi, Osama
bin Laden, Prince Bandar took a public role in
assuring the Americans that his nation would
cooperate in investigating and combating
anti-American terrorism. He also helped arrange
for more than a hundred members of the bin Laden
family to be flown out of the United States.
3LaLibnan Analysis- The Honeymoon's over for Bush
and the Saudis
- By Martin Indyk Washington Riyadh - What has
happened to the love affair between Saudi
Arabia's King Abdullah and President Bush? Two
years ago, down on the Texas ranch, they were
photographed walking hand in hand. It was the
beginning of a beautiful relationship - Bush dropped his demand for democratization in
the puritanical kingdom, and Abdullah did his
best to moderate oil prices. The dowry was a new
U.S. arms deal for the Saudis. A second honeymoon
was scheduled for this month, when Bush planned
to host Abdullah for his first state visit. - So the White House was mightily perplexed when it
was informed that the king's schedule didn't
allow for a spring visit to Washington. Then, at
an Arab League summit in Riyadh last month,
Abdullah denounced the U.S. war in Iraq as an
"illegitimate occupation." He also used the
occasion to make up with Bush's bete noire,
Bashar al-Assad, the brash Syrian president who
had previously denounced the Saudi leader as "a
dwarf. - To kick off his grand anti-Iranian design, Bandar
encouraged the weak but moderate Palestinian
president, Mahmoud Abbas, to confront Hamas. But
Bandar's boss, Abdullah, had another idea
Instead of sending Abbas the fat aid check that
Bandar had promised, Abdullah invited Hamas's
leaders to Mecca to forge a new Palestinian unity
government, to include the moderate Abbas and his
challengers in Hamas. Bandar's plan was in
shambles. The Bush administration, which had led
a year-long boycott of the Hamas government, felt
as though it had been sucker punched.
4A Saudi Prince Tied to Bush Is Sounding
Off-KeyBy HELENE COOPER and JIM RUTENBERG NY
Times
- WASHINGTON, April 28 No foreign diplomat has
been closer or had more access to President Bush,
his family, and his administration than the
magnetic and fabulously wealthy Prince Bandar bin
Sultan of Saudi Arabia. - For instance, in February, King Abdullah
effectively torpedoed plans by Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice for a high-profile peace summit
meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of
Israel and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud
Abbas, by brokering a power-sharing agreement
with Mr. Abbass Fatah and Hamas that did not
require Hamas to recognize Israel or forswear
violence. The Americans had believed, after
discussions with Prince Bandar, that the Saudis
were on board with the strategy of isolating
Hamas. - American officials also believed, again after
speaking with Prince Bandar, that the Saudis
might agree to direct engagement with Israel as
part of a broad American plan to jump-start
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. King Abdullah
countermanded that plan. - Most bitingly, during a speech before Arab heads
of state in Riyadh three weeks ago, the king
condemned the American invasion of Iraq as an
illegal foreign occupation. The Bush
administration, caught off guard, was infuriated,
and administration officials have found Prince
Bandar hard to reach since.
5Arab League Summit, Mar. 28-29, 2007 Saudi
Arabias King Abdullah bin-Abdul Aziz al-Saud
..an illegitimate foreign occupation of Iraq.
6China Today Analysis Arab countries step to
front stage on Darfur issue
- KHARTOUM, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Through a
multipartite ministerial meeting held in the
Libyan capital Tripoli at the weekend, the Arab
countries stepped up to the front stage regarding
the Darfur issue in the western Sudanese region,
local analysts said on Monday. - Â Â Â Â The meeting called by Libya, was attended by
officials from Sudan, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea,
Libya, the five permanent members of the UN
Security Council as well as the African Union,
the European Union, the League of Arab States,
and the United Nations. - Â Â Â Â The meeting was held at a time when Darfur
rebel movements were continuously boycotting a
resumption of peace talks and Khartoum was under
mounting pressures to approve the deployment of
UN peacekeepers in Darfur. - Â Shortly after the visit, Cairo announced that it
would send more than 500 soldiers to participate
in the AU peacekeeping forces in Darfur.
- Â Â Â Â The Egyptian soldiers will be the first
fighting troops deployed by an Arab country in
Darfur, where a number of medical teams and
engineering units from the Arab states are
working in the 7800-strong AU force.
7(No Transcript)
8By Andrew Gilligan, Evening Standard 24 August
2004 Britain has sent more than 180 tons of arms
to war-torn Sudan in the last three years,
according to the United Nations. The revelation,
which will embarrass Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
as he visits Darfur today, is contained in the
official UN commodity trade database, Comtrade,
which compiles information supplied by national
customs services. During his visit to the Abu
Shouk refugee camp, Mr Straw is expected to
condemn what he described as the "atrocities"
committed in Darfur by the Janjaweed, a militia
sponsored by the Sudan government. "I will
impress on the government of Sudan the scale of
international concern and the need to make full
progress in implementing their obligations," he
said last night. But the weapons which,
according to Comtrade, have been supplied by
Britain are exactly the types which are being
used by the Janjaweed in their campaign of rape,
ethnic cleansing and murder. The Comtrade website
shows that weapons weighing 184 tons and with a
net value at 2001 prices of ?441,000 were
imported by Sudan from the UK in 2001 and 2002.
The goods included parts and accessories for
pistols and revolvers, arms and ammunition.
Smaller quantities, including telescopic sights,
were imported in earlier years. The database
gives no details of the manufacturer or precise
specification of the weapons supplied, but given
the quantities and values they were almost
certainly small arms of the type commonly used by
the Janjaweed. The Government insisted last night
that it had not exported any arms to Sudan in
2001 or 2002, but said it was "continuing to look
into" the Standard's discovery. Â
Arms to Sudan trade revealed
9While discussing trade with Czech President
Vaclav Klaus on Friday, Russian President
Vladimir Putin criticized the US plan to place
anti-missile instillations in Eastern Europe. The
two leaders met in the Green Room at the Grand
Kremlin Palace.Putin and Klaus signed a number
of joint agreements and held a press conference
afterwards. The Russian President rejected the US
claims that the defense systems expected to be
deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic were
aimed at neutralizing a potential treat from
Iran. He said that no such threat exists or is
likely to exist anytime soon
Submitted by Dan Wilson on April 27, 2007
Back in 1972 the US and Soviet Union signed a
treaty banning the development of anti-ballistic
missiles. The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM
Treaty or ABMT for short) was signed on May 26,
1972 by then President of the United States,
Richard Nixon and the General Secretary of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Leonid
Brezhnev.
10Proposal from Bolivian President Evo Morales
concerningA People's Trade Agreement (PTA)
- To achieve a true integration among peoples that
transcends the commercial and economic arenas,
recognizing the differences of each country, and
at the same time prioritizing the protection of
internal production and national companies. A
treaty which holds, above all, the well being of
the people and a respect for their history and
cultures.Another integration is possible
11What does the PTA present?
- Unlike capitalist ideology, the PTA introduces
the following concepts into the commercial
integration debate complementarity,
cooperation, solidarity, reciprocity, prosperity
and the respect for the sovereignty of each
country. In this way, it incorporates objectives
which are absent from the commercial integration
programs advanced by the North, such as effective
poverty reduction, preservation of indigenous
communities and respect for the environment. - PTA considers trade and investment not just as
ends in themselves but rather as potential paths
to development therefore absolute liberalization
of markets and the shrinking' of the State are
not the primary objectives, rather the well being
of the people is the primary goal. - In other words, the objectives are to strengthen
small producers, micro-businesses, cooperatives
and communitarian enterprises and to facilitate
the interchange of goods with external markets.Â
- Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The purpose of the PTA is to be at
the service of more than just a small exporting
group. The PTA is proposed as part of a new
economic model, with the purpose of improving the
living conditions of the population (income
levels, health, education, access to water and
culture) and promoting sustainable development
which is equitable, egalitarian and democratic,
and which permits conscious participation of
citizens in making collective decisions. If the
FTAs are negotiated in secret, the PTA needs the
active participation and discussion of social
movements, who through using our new political
instrument, have begun to govern Bolivia for
Bolivians.
12Nigerian Bar Association sets agenda for
YarAdua April 27th, 2007
- NBA also demands quality education, improved
welfare of the people, protection as well as
respect for human rights and the rule of
law.       YarAdua was Monday declared
president-elect in the April 21 presidentialÂ
elections conducted by the Independent National
Electoral Commission ( INEC ) and is to take
over from President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29,Â
ushering in a successful civilian to civilian
transition  in Nigerias 47 years of
independence. Olisa Agbakoba, NBA president,
who spoke to Business Day advised the new
government to make a paradigm shift and address
the social welfare of the people. According to
Agbakoba, we need to see a shift in the economic
policy of the government. We need to shift from
what I call market fundamentalism where the
reform is dictated by what is called theÂ
Washington Economic Consensus  driven by the
World Bank, IMF, WTO and begin to think about a
home grown economic policy. I can not go and
tell my children that I have money in the bank
and they are hungry. The president as the head of
Nigeria can not go and tell his children that we
are keeping money for them to earn interest. So
shift in economic policy is very important.
13Textile industry gets N80bn lifeline April 27th,
2007
- Aliyu Modibo, Minister of Commerce and Industry
who disclosed this at the ministerial press
briefing of the Ministry said A Cotton/Textile
Revival Fund of N80-billion has been approved to
address the multiple problems of the sector at
all levels and to arrest the decline in the
production of textiles and promote export. The
minister who lamented that the strength of the
industry which had over 170 operating companies
has now reduced to just only 10, stressed that
this has become a great concern to the government
and is determined to find a lasting solution to
the collapse of the sector. Governments
injection of N80-billion to tackle the problems
of the sector is coming in the face of a total
collapse of a once vibrant industry, which
employed millions of Nigerians. The industry had
gone into complete paralysis following a
catalogue of problems caused largely by
infrastructural deficiencies in the country,
unfavourable import duty regime and governments
disinterestedness in the industrys plight over
the years.This change of heart by the government
will come as a relief for the sector, but it will
still have to pursue its own strategies for
survival as a new government to be headed by
Umaru Yar Adua takes over the reigns of
government next month.
14Colombia
- The role of the FARC and AUC with U.S.
- Terms of the Truce in 1990s
- Comments on the futility of the drug war
- Review of US Interest in Colombian oil resources
- National Debt review cancellation
- Degree of legitimacy of government elections
- Investment in farming and job creation for rural
populations
- Competing with Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia,
Nicaragua in social programs.
15Mexico-US
- Growing Mexican political power in city and
county jurisdictions, efforts to counter
- Effect of minimum wages and cities with living
wage
- Security threat?? Hatred and prejudice
- Economic impact of remissions and settlement in
Mexican retirement communities
- WTO and agricultural subsidies effects on Mexican
trade
- Control of remaining oil resources and their
value
- Investments in US communities, housing
businesses, ect. From Mexico and Latin America.
- Businesses in Mexico exporting to US, Chicken,
corn, biofuel, etc.
16Japan
- Check national debt, is it owed to foreign
nations or to local citizens.
- What is their military budget and what is the
future plans
- How is their early education related to Europe?
- If productivity has increased, why cant it
compensate for the reduced workforce of cute old
Japanese ladies
- Look into the keiretsu a bit more. Relate it to
the historic government.
- The era of Japan Colonialization before WWI, have
they learned their lessons
- Check on the indigenous population and the
treatment of other cultures within Japan.
- Present Political swing to the right.
17Diamond Cartel
- Check on the Debeers and the new Angolan Cartel
led by Angola.
- Also the starting of diamond polishing in
Angola.
- As a parallel check out the 5 sisters and the
formation of OPEC.
- As a projection look at the cotton trade and the
possibility of a developing nation cooperative
group.
18Romania
- Lay out the strategy of adjusting to the ground
rules of the EU
- A review of the formation and ability of the EU
to set rules for the starters of WWI and WWII to
coexist in a common market.
- The history culture that will be emphasized with
pride in the future
- Any residual effects of transition and how to fix
them.
19The Workings of OPEC
- Real world market effects, Texas influence
- Arab leadership in region
- Projection of Arab profits at projected crude
prices
- Millennium goals, how much promised.
- How much of 60/barrel would have to be directed
towards the goals by OPEC Fund to mandate by oil
tax
- Explanation of why to do it, for investment,
social, religious, elections, etc.
20(No Transcript)
21100 laptop
- Outline the positive policy not the criticisms
- One laptop per child is not as good as 30 laptops
per library and access to it in the evenings to
adults
- Check Linux for support projects
- Reference Moores law and power of todays cell
phones
- Identify all uses including direct ecommerce,
adult education, news, health etc.
- Check internet cafes and support of projects.
22India
- Spreading the growth especially to rural
populations.
- Micro credit and rural enterprises
- Political goals of different parties in
different states
- World trade positions and comparison with other
nations, China, Latin America, Africa
- India Pakistan issues.
23China
- Particular emphasis on projects to bring Western
China up to growth.
- Dealing of China with Africa, Latin America
24ASEAN
- Â I. The cultural background of each of the
nations before the Europeans arrived. You should
emphasize their cultures and languages and
religions and/or cultural practices. Be sure to
include that there were wars and empires then
too. Â Â Â Â II. The colonial era from discovery by
the Europeans up to World War I. Be sure to
include which nation and what goods they were
after. Dutch in Indonesia, Japan in Korea and
China,(Japan joined the Europeans.) The English
in China. The Portuguese in China. The French in
much of Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. The US in the
Philippines and other south seas islands and
Hawaii. Â Â Â Â III. The change in control during
WWII and then the Cold War.The Vietnam war for
independence is the most important in the ASEAN
group. You will also see the current military
occupancy in Thailand by US forces and in the
Philippines and Japan and Indonesia through arms
sales. Â Â Â Â IV. Following a reorganization of
forces under UN guidelines, what will be the
future of the ASEAN group. I think there is a
model that includes trade and common migration
between nations, similar to the Europe Union.
Look at the current exports to US and Europe, is
it similar to the colonial trade interests? Now
the West has to pay for the goods. Â Â Â Â V. What
are the characteristics of the populations left
behind economic development in each member
nation? See what enterprises they have or could
have with better investment.