Is the Brotherhood Up to No Good?
Synopsis: Ahhhhh!!! Look out! The Islamist are coming! The radical Muslim Brotherhood to be more precise! They are going to take over Egypt if the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak falls! Another radical US-hating state like Iran is forming! Oh no! It’s the end of days!
NOT.
The Paid Avenger introduces the Muslim Brotherhood and explains why the democratic transition that is unfolding in Egypt is a radically different stage than revolutionary Iran in 1979, and offers 7 reasons why Egypt is not likely to go the route of full-on Islamic radicalization and/or theocracy.
Related Plaidcasts:
Iran: the State Built on Hate
Related Stories:
Whither the Muslim Brotherhood?
White House walks fine line on Muslim Brotherhood
Chart of the week: understanding the ?Arab moment?
Keywords: Muslim Brotherhood, Arab, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Ayatollah Khomenei, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia
Arab Anger: Why Here, Why Now?
Tunisia’s political revolution resulted in the overthrow of their president. Popular uprisings and protests are now peppered across Jordan, Yemen, and Algeria…and of course Egypt is on fire, and will very likely force the resignation of the 30-year old reign of Hosni Mubarak. What is the deal with all this Arab anger and rage that has suddenly bubbled to the surface of societies across the Middle East? And why is it suddenly all happening right now? The Avenger tries to answer these questions by explaining the root cause for this Arab frustration, and also assesses which Arab regimes are likely to be most (and least) impacted by this explosion of Arab angst.
Related Plaidcasts:
Professor Professes: Egypt
Arab Angst About Tumultuous Tunisia
The Pharaohs Take a Dump on Democracy
Related Stories:
The 'bin Laden' of marginalisation
Greed stirring Arab anger
Syria's Assad: Time for 'Reform'
Foreign Policy: Dealing With A New Arab World Order
Keywords: Arab, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Gulf States, Morocco, Libya, Sudan
Arab Angst About Tumultuous Tunisia
Synopsis: Holy Hookah! Tunisians have taken to the streets and overthrown their government and driven the President out of the country! As tumultuous as this is for Tunisia, the ramifications of this event will actually reverberate with WAY more impact into other Arab states that are in a similar scandalous predicament: too much political/economic power concentration into too few hands, while the Arab masses become more disenfranchised and desperate…especially in Egypt and Algeria. The Avenger also explains who is happy about this Arab anger, who is not, and what we are likely to see happen soon…
Related Plaidcasts:
Arabian Arms Race On!
Related Stories:
Arab states rocked by the mouse that roared
After Tunisia: Why Egypt Isn't Ready to Have Its Own Revolution
Arab summit to 'boost economies
Algeria vows to punish protesters
Tunisia: The next Iranian-style theocracy?
Keywords: Tunisia, Egypt. Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Arab, Persian, Islam, monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship, Hosni Mubarak, King Abdullah, Osama Bin Laden
Arabian Arms Race On!
Holy hookah my friends! A $60 billion arms deal is in the works between the US and Saudi Arabia, the largest such deal in all of US history….and an arms deal that the Avenger believes is the official kick-off for a full-scale arms race across the entire Middle East region. How does the US stand to gain significantly from this deal? More importantly, how will the deal affect the
current power struggle within the region, and why is it happening at all? The Avenger points out the cultural frictions and fallacies behind this volatile mix of Arab arms and angst!
Related Plaidcasts:
Iran: the State Built on Hate
Iran’s Nuclear Thirst on its 31st
Related Stories:
The Saudi Arms Deal
US pushing $60bn Saudi arms deal
US prepares to approve $60bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia
Conflict or containment in the Persian Gulf?
Keywords: Saudi Arabia, US, arms deal, Iran, UAE, Kuwait, Arab, Persian, Turk, Middle East
Turkey Tantrum Over US Genocide Vote
Synopsis: A US House subcommittee narrowly passed a resolution (23 yay to 22 nay) to recognize something called the Armenian Genocide of 1915. This has infuriated Turkey, a strong US and NATO ally, and caused them to recall their ambassador. Say what? Why would a 95 year old historic event still cause such Turkish tantrums in today’s world…and why the hell would the US Congress be voting on it anyway? The Avenger details the event itself, the Turkish vs Armenian angles on it, and how this vote is impacting current (and even future) events between the Turks and the Americans.
Other Plaidcasts mentioned:
Sledgehammer Tenderizes Turkey
Related Stories:
Genocide vote irks Turkey
Turkey says U.S. genocide vote endangers Caucasus peace
U.S. 'genocide' vote hurts stability: Azerbaijan
Keywords: Turkey, US, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Erdogan, Gul, Obama, Bush, 1915 Armenian Genocide
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Issue 2: Battle For Burma
Well, the battle for the heart and soul of this country is on, but no one outside Burma seems to be able to do a damn thing about it! Why not?
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