visionary

I knew something was coming between these guys and Iran. I said there was some tensions growing a few weeks ago. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/gcc-may-consider-severing-iran-ties-1.786718 I still think a war by them against Iran may not be too far off. Though I don't expect anything big to happen for a while. While I like them taking a stance against Iran...I think this is a dumb way of making Iran look like the good guy in this. Few in the Middle East really think Iran is driving any of these revolutions and to try to shift blame to them and condemn them now of all times, will just make these countries look worse. I don't remember them making a big deal when Iran was killing their own people a couple of years ago. To now criticize Iran for sticking up for people in these countries, would send a really bad message. "It's ok to beat your people to death, just don't criticize us when we do it too."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/20114215401513945.html Battle for Abidjan rages Reports of carnage emerged with the Red Cross saying at least 800 people were killed in Duekoue town. Last Modified: 02 Apr 2011 17:51 http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/20114264023646362.html

SYRIA http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201141132440493496.html http://twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi http://twitter.com/acarvin EGYPT http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201141144334505497.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

SYRIA http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418 Protesters are being beaten and attacking by security forces in parts of Damascus. Many are injured and possibly some are dead, according to Al Jazeera English. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

Major protests in Egypt, Syria, and Yemen today! YEMEN http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114110141210680.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418 SYRIA IVORY COAST http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201133141618292780.html

from CNN.com website http://www.cnn.com/

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/syria-regime-declares-friday-a-working-day-1.785902?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d95084bf54faae8,0

Al Jazeera Enlgish reported a few minutes ago that UN forces (French or a UN coalition?) have taken control of the airport in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast.

AJE says they have heard reports that French forces, helicopters and tanks are patrolling the city of Abidjan. Rebels are outside the city. There are also reports that Gbagbo has begun arming brainwashed youth militias in the city to fight for him in case the military stands down or leaves.

There's been a ton of Ivory Coast coverage in the past 15 minutes or so. Ghagbo's military chief has defected and fled the country to South Africa. Also a lot of casualties are not being taken to hospitals and medical centers. The rebels seem to be very organized and well trained (but then they have been fighting for years) ------------------------------------------- I found some videos of the shootings of protesters in Latakia Syria yesterday. Be warned, you will see people shot dead and badly wounded. http://twitter.com/acarvin Actually, I'm...not comfortable posting them here. Check the links Carvin provides if you want to see what the Syrian government has been doing to people who protest.

The latest from Al Jazeera English on the Ivory Coast is that the rebels are in control of the port city of San Pedro and have reached the outskirts of Abdijan. SYRIA I saw reports of more protests in Latakia yesterday after the speech and some of them being shot dead by the security forces. I think I saw a video or two on CNN and maybe twitter. I'll have to check to see if I can find more information.

Some very important news today from the Ivory Coast! The rebels have taken nearly all of the country except for Abidjan and the coast, they have even taken the capital, although that is not Gbagbo's place of power. At the moment they are close to entering a major port town on the western front. On the eastern front they are approaching Abdijan (although there has already been fighting there). Here's some earlier news from today: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201133010262614616.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201133010262614616.html# ---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 12:18 PM ---------- http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/20113301394489875.html http://twitter.com/acarvin http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

Daraa is surrounded by military and Al Jazeera reporters tried to get in with acredited ids and are told by military not to come in and that all journalists are not allowed in Daraa today. He said even Syria state television is being disallowed from entering the city. The reporter says he has never seen this heavily reinforced a checkpoint in Syria before.

Bashar Assad is giving his speech to the parliament in Syria, and is getting quite an exuberant reception from them. People keep standing up and making small speeches, apparently supporting him and the government. This seems like some sort of political theater. :mad: I'm not sure people in Daraa and Latakia or even Damascu will be too happy about this speech today. People on twitter are making fun of his lack of mustache and calling that "real change and reform". This sounds more like a defiance speech so far than a conciliatory one. We've seen this before too much lately. He keeps claiming that he speaks for all Arabs and not just Syria. Seems every dictator in the Middle East seems to think so. And yet they have no problem blaming other nearby countries sometimes all of them of causing the chaos in their country. ---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 07:51 AM ---------- http://twitter.com/jonathanshainin http://twitter.com/HalaGorani He's now talking about revolutions in other countries and saying it is all linked to Syria. He says there may be some actually calling for reform in this country. But that other elements are taking cover from them and are using it for evil purposes. He gets another round of applause from his lackeys and scum in the parliament. http://twitter.com/KMFlower Now he's saying the reason for a lot of these attempts and actions in Syria is to destabilize the country, split the country and aid Israel. Oh, boy... They are using tweets to different sects to incite each other to violence and coordinating with others. There are groups that work to falsify stories and push this. Wow...he just got applause for saying that Daraa was a border area. This is getting ****ing ridiculous. ---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 07:53 AM ---------- I have a feeling that unless there's some obvious and real reforms stuffed amidst this political fear mongering bull **** there's going to be some major riots today. ---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 08:05 AM ---------- http://twitter.com/blakehounshell http://twitter.com/glcarlstrom He says that the emergency law reform bill has been in the process for a long time now. In the year 2011 everything will be new. These reforms are in place and have been for a long time now, and there are no real hurdles. We have to avoid making these reforms a reaction to the current crisis. They have to be from ten years in the past and ten years in the future. He's talking about Tunisia and Egypt. Not saying anything about freedom, just economic stuff. ---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 08:24 AM ---------- http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-march-30 And **** just finished his speech. Ooops, I mean "Bashar"...silly me. Someone let me know if they can figure out what reforms he announced. ---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 08:25 AM ---------- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/201132975114399138.html ---------- Post added March-29th-2011 at 01:30 PM ---------- http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/2011329154436206976.html

Today in Syria there is a massive pro-Assad crowd in Damascus and it seems people have come from everywhere in Syria and even Lebanon to support him. Also the Syrian government has told Al Jazeera that the government will resign on Tuesday and a new cabinet will be announced. (isn't that what Mubarak did at one point?)

SYRIA http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/28/syria.unrest/index.html?hpt=T2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418 ---------- Post added March-28th-2011 at 04:07 PM ---------- http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/2011328133647412221.html

I'm seeing some reports that Syrian troops are keeping people from protesting in Daraa and Latakia. They have the city square in Daraa blocked off and are discouraging people from gathering. http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-march-28 http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-march-28

:mad: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/2011328111747469782.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418 EGYPT SYRIA YEMEN There are many reports of gunmen running around the area shooting people. Yemen is blaming Al Queda, but reporters and residents of that area have said there is no indication that Islamic terrorists are behind this.