Headlines:
• US ‘to React’ if Russia Crosses into Ukraine
• Egypt Sentences 683 to Death in Mass Trial over Islamist Riots
• Friends of Yemen Announce New Structure to Support Transition
• US Considers Pakistan an Important Country, says US Envoy
US ‘to React’ if Russia Crosses into Ukraine
The US Ambassador to Ukraine says an “inevitable, sharp reaction” should be expected from the United States if Russian troops were to cross the border into Ukraine. Geoffrey Pyatt, speaking at a news conference in Kiev on Tuesday, said such a move would be “a major escalation”. Russia has massed tens of thousands of troops in areas near the Ukrainian border, feeding concerns that Moscow aims to use unrest in the east as a pretext for an invasion. Pyatt also said the Ukrainian government had been advised not to use force to clear local government buildings seized by pro-Russian protesters. The separatists have seized city halls, police stations and other government buildings in at least 10 cities and towns across eastern Ukraine. [Source: Aljazeera].
The threats of sharp reactions have been bellowing out from US officials recently. But practically, what is it that the US and her allies can do. Russia is no Iraq or Afghanistan, and NATO has little stomach for a fight. Moreover, the American public is averse to any kind of military conflict with Russia. So all of this means that America will use more economic measures to punish Russia, but in doing so, America risks losing not only half of Ukraine but many Eastern European allies who will question America’s commitment to European security.
Egypt Sentences 683 to Death in Mass Trial over Islamist Riots
The supreme leader of the Muslim Brotherhood has been sentenced to death with 682 other people after a five-minute hearing which will renew international concern over Egypt’s so-called “road-map to democracy”. Mohammed Badie was found guilty of inciting riots in the town of Edwa last summer which led to mass arrests of what the authorities said were Brotherhood supporters furious at the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi. No attempt was made at least in the public hearing to distinguish the parts played by any of the other hundreds of defendants in the riots, in which churches, businesses and government offices were burned down and some policemen killed. In the same hearing, the judge, Said Yussef, commuted to life imprisonment all but 37 of the 529 death penalties he handed down in a separate case last month, linked to a similar riot in the nearby town of Mattay. He gave no explanation for the decision, though the verdicts had been automatically referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti for a clerical opinion. Life terms in Egypt usually mean 25 years in jail. [Source: The Daily Telegraph]
The verdict is very clear in telling ordinary Egyptians where their country is heading under Sisi. Torture, extra-judicial killings and now mass executions will become the standard bearers for Sisi’s civilian rule. Sisi’s venom against political Islam and any form of political dissent is plain for all to see. What’s next? Will he be submitting Egypt to Jewish domination in the near future?
Friends of Yemen Announce New Structure to Support Transition
The seventh ministerial level meeting of the Friends of Yemen endorsed a new structure designed to align support for Yemen with the priorities set at the conclusion of the National Dialogue. A senior level Steering Committee was established, along with three working groups focused on the key economic, political and security reforms needed to complete the country’s democratic transition. The World Bank Group agreed to co-chair with the Government of Yemen the Economic Working Group of the Friends of Yemen. “We welcome the new Friends of Yemen structure,” said Inger Andersen, World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, at the conclusion of the meeting. “The people of Yemen deserve coordinated, reliable and impactful support from the international community. In parallel, strong leadership in Yemen to deliver on the agreed refocus will be critical to generate growth and opportunity for the people of Yemen.” The Economic Working group will monitor progress on economic reforms and the delivery of donor pledges, while ensuring that international support is coordinated around the reform agenda. The Government of the United Kingdom hosted the meeting of the Friends of Yemen, which was co-chaired by the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Yemen. Senior officials from 39 donor countries and international organizations attended the meeting. [Source: Saba]
The friends of Yemen are in fact her staunchest enemies and are led by the arch crusader Britain, the foremost enemy of the Muslim world. The new structures announced takes decision making away from Yemeni hands and place them directly into the hands of the crusader. Decisions regarding economy, political reform and the like will be decided by foreigners and left to the Yemenis to rubber stamp and implement. The only salvation for the people of Yemen from repeated outside interference of Kafir colonial powers is to re-establish the Khilafah state. The Khilafah state, will not only return decision making back to the people of Yemen, but will ensure that Yemen is never again subject to outside Kafir forces.
US Considers Pakistan An Important Country, Says US Envoy
The United States is committed to promote peace and harmony in the world and wants equal rights for all people, said President Barack Obama’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Rashad Hussain on Tuesday. “A large number of Muslims, especially Pakistani Muslims, are living in the US, which considers Pakistan as an important country,” said Hussain addressing students at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) in a seminar on “America and Muslim World” organized by the Iqbal Institute for Research and Dialogue (IIIRD). Dr Mumtaz Ahmed, Executive Director IIIRD, chaired the seminar while Dr Sayyid Syeed, Director Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) Office of Interfaith and Community Alliances and Arslan Suleman Deputy US Envoy to OIC, were among the key speakers. The US envoy said the US desired to deepen and expand partnership with OIC countries and Muslim communities around the world. He said war was not a solution of any issue, but promotion of peace and harmony could solve all issues, including intolerance and deterioration of ties among nations. “Some elements, who want their views to be followed forcibly do act against humanity and Muslims can discourage such thinking by educating their youth and identifying their shortcomings while putting aside the personal differences,” he said. Addressing the seminar, Dr Mumtaz Ahmed lauded the efforts of the US for harmony and peace and shed light on relationship among Muslims and the US. He admired the efforts of both governments for peace and strong ties among Muslims and the US. He also referred to President Obama’s Cairo speech and said promise made by the US president regarding rights of the Palestinian Muslims in his famous speech, awaited to be fulfilled. [Source: News International]
While Obama’s Special Envoy spoke about how US considers Pakistan an important country, Dr. Mumtaz did the unthinkable and told the audience about American efforts to promote peace in the Muslim world. Is Dr. Mumtaz, oblivious to the frequent American drone strike on Pakistani soil, the destruction of Afghanistan and Iraq through US occupation and the indiscriminate killing of Muslims in Yemen and elsewhere? Any sane person with a modicum of common sense can see that America is the enemy of Muslims and Obama is no peacemaker.