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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 1-May-2011
1-May-11 World View -- Saif al-Arab Gaddafi killed by Nato strike

Web Log - May, 2011

1-May-11 World View -- Saif al-Arab Gaddafi killed by Nato strike

Is Iran's president Ahmadinejad about to resign?

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son, Saif al-Arab, reportedly killed by Nato strike

Saif al-Arab Gaddafi

Saif al-Arab Gaddafi

A Libyan government spokesman said that a Nato air strike killed Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son, Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, and three of the Libyan leader's grandsons. Muammar Gaddafi and his wife were in the same house at the time, but they were unhurt. According to a Libyan government spokesman, "This was a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country. This is not permitted by international law. It is not permitted by any moral code or principle. What we have now is the law of the jungle. We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has nothing to do with the protection of civilians." Al-Jazeera.

Some news reports have confused Saif al-Arab with Saif al-Islam, who has been a very visible international presence since the Libyan conflict began. (See "11-Mar-11 News -- Saif Gaddafi declares all out war on Libya opposition.") I've read that Saif al-Islam means "sword of Islam," so I assume that Saif al-Arab means "sword of Arabia."

Saif al-Arab is the least known of the sons. Until recently, he lived in Munich where he reportedly attended university. He has a reputation as a party animal and was investigated in 2008, but never charged, in an arms smuggling case. In February, Germany revoked his residency status and he will not be allowed back into the country. National Post

Is Iran's president Ahmadinejad about to resign?

Rumors are spreading that Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is about to resign over bitter differences with the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Asian News International

Climate change conference has little success raising large sums of money

Negotiators at the latest United Nations summit on climate change have been unsuccessful at raising large sums of money, purportedly to help poor nations adapt to climate change. The principal disagreement is that rich donor countries demand "cumbersome oversight," which the poor recipients refuse to tolerate. The next climate change conference is scheduled for December in Durban, South Africa. Reuters

Al-Jazeera rebukes columnist for favorable Israel comparison

In his April 27 column in the UAE-based Gulf News, Faisal Al Qasim wrote, "Zionist crimes pale in comparison with the manner in which some Arab regimes have cracked down on their own people for merely seeking change." He noted that "Israelis are very much less brutal" to Palestinians than some Arab regimes are to their own citizens. Because of this column, Al-Qasim was criticized for his column, and may have been forced to resign from his position at al-Jazeera.Memri

Al-Jazeera English vs Al-Jazeera Arabic - two messages

Al-Jazeera, headquartered in Qatar, broadcasts different messages in its English and Arabic editions. Al-Jazeera English has thoroughly covered the uprisings across the Mideast, but Al-Jazeera Arabic overreports events in Libya and Yemen, countries unfriendly to Qatar, while reducing coverage of uprisings in Bahrain and Syria. (As I've noted in the past, al-Jazeera is completely in the tank for Hamas, and is relentlessly hostile to the Palestinian Authority.) Washington Institute

Egypt proceeds to open Rafah crossing to Gaza

Egypt is rebuking Israel for objecting to Egypt's decision to permanently open the Rafah crossing to Gaza. This will essentially break Israel's blockade of Gaza, allowing people and goods to flow freely. Israeli officials fear that this will permit more weapons to be smuggled into Gaza. Jerusalem Post

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 1-May-11 News -- Yemen's president Saleh reneges on agreement to step down thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (1-May-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 1-May-2011 1-May-11 World View -- Saif al-Arab Gaddafi killed by Nato strike

Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son, Saif al-Arab, reportedly killed by Nato strike

Is Iran's president Ahmadinejad about to resign?

Climate change conference has little success raising large sums of money

Al-Jazeera rebukes columnist for favorable Israel comparison

Al-Jazeera English vs Al-Jazeera Arabic - two messages

Egypt proceeds to open Rafah crossing to Gaza

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 1-May-2011
1-May-11 World View -- Saif al-Arab Gaddafi killed by Nato strike