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Putin: Russia Will Have to Aim Armed Forces at Countries Posing Threat

RIA Novosty / Russia - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 20:28
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if someone threatens Russian territories, Moscow will have to aim its armed forces at the territories from which the threat is coming from.






Categories: Russia & CIS

Press Release on Irans talks

EEAS News - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 20:04
Categories: European Union

Kishegyes: Elektronikus szavazatszámlálóval szerelték fel a képviselő-testület üléstermét

VajdaságMA (Szerbia/Vajdaság) - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 19:50
Módosították a községi költségvetést, információ hangzott el arról, hogy miért halad lassan a regionális hulladéktároló építése, valamint először használták az elektronikus szavazatszámláló rendszert a kishegyesi községi képviselő-testület ülésén.

Szabadka: Koszorúzás és tudományos konferencia a helyi zsidóság deportálásának évfordulóján

VajdaságMA (Szerbia/Vajdaság) - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 19:43
A szabadkai önkormányzat és a Szabadkai Zsidó Közösség közös megemlékezést tartott június 16-án, a szabadkai zsidók deportálásának 71.

Russia's new missiles to overcome any type of missile defense systems

Pravda.ru / Russia - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 19:37
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian Armed Forces would receive more than 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2015. The new missiles would be capable of overcoming any, even most technically advanced missile defense systems, Putin also said. Russia has also developed a new amphibious ship to replace the French Mistrals
Categories: Russia & CIS

Cet avion amphibie que le Japon veut vendre à la France

Défense ouverte (Blog de Jean Guisnel) - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 19:33
VIDÉO. Les Japonais reviennent sur le marché des ventes d’armement. Et proposent un premier matériel : un quadrimoteur. Découverte en images.
Categories: Défense

Cet avion amphibie que le Japon veut vendre à la France

Défense ouverte (Blog de Jean Guisnel) - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 19:33
VIDÉO. Les Japonais reviennent sur le marché des ventes d’armement. Et proposent un premier matériel : un quadrimoteur. Découverte en images.
Categories: Défense

Iran Détente Still a Poison Pill for Gulf Arabs, Nuclear Question or Not

Foreign Policy Blogs - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 19:05

The majority of the estimated 250,000 people displaced by the Houthi conflict scattered across the vast landscape of north Yemen, seeking shelter and food among the local rural populations.
Photo: Hugh Macleod / IRIN / 201003170737560353

U.S. policymakers face many difficult choices in pursuing rapprochement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. There is little chance that Iran and the Arab monarchies, led by Saudi Arabia, can countenance each another’s respective aspirations. The U.S. is trying to make a deal with Iran while still tying itself to the demands of its other security partners in the region.

Iran’s ambitions are not new or “revolutionary”: Before the overthrow of the last Shah, a number of modern Iranian leaders had hegemonic aspirations in the Gulf, expressed in terms of past imperial grandeurs. The revolution in 1979 unleashed a torrent of anti-Americanism, but it did not diminish Iranian leaders’ aspirations. Instead, it emboldened them, as they were now animated by true revolutionary zeal, and not the reactionary imaginations of some “pan-Iranists” who called for a “Greater Iran.”

Today, such naked ethnic supremacism holds little stock among even the most hardline Iranian policymakers. While Supreme Leader Khomeini expressed himself in religious terms, he and his colleagues still yearned for national greatness beyond Iran’s borders, to export their model of governance so that would be surrounded by far friendlier regimes. Now they must balance this desire with the realization that their rule cannot survive without better international relations and a lessening of economic sanctions.

Iranian leaders still fear that offensive action might topple them from power — they know full well Western powers could stoke discontent against the ruling class — but they also want be feared and treated as equals. Iranian influence is seen in much of the Arab world as Shia, Persian chauvinism – an unsurprising view given the way Tehran carries itself. But that chauvinism is only exceeded in pretensions by the chauvinism of the Gulf States arrayed against the so-called Shia Crescent.

These Arab powers have many of the same underlying fears of their own citizenry that Iranian leaders do, though there are several notable differences. For one, the Arab states are not under the same sanctions as Iran and need to fear the socioeconomic impact of decades-long censure. Yet the underlying economic and political contracts they have with their subjects are under strain, because of the simple fact that people cannot be bought off forever, especially those who seek to overthrow the state, remove all “undesirables,” and institute a new Islamist order. Yet even with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) at the House of Saud’s doorstep, the Gulf States collectively seem to fear dissidents who may look to the Islamic Republic even more – and do too little to quell the extremist messaging emanating from their own religious establishments that has empowered ISIS and AQAP.

This shortsightedness is why the outcome of the current Gulf-led intervention in Yemen will prove decisive. Saudi leadership has sought to build up a consensus on Yemen among other predominantly Sunni nations. In drawing in as many of these countries as possible, including apparent outliers such as Sudan, Malaysia and Senegal, they wish to obscure that any political solution Riyadh finds acceptable will be unacceptable to many Yemenis.

Iran, for its part, seems content to let the coalition bleed itself. The previous beneficiary of Saudi (and American) largesse, Ali Abdullah Saleh, was tossed aside in 2011 not because he suddenly discovered reform or sided with the Houthis (as he did after losing power), but because he had so badly bungled things that domestic unrest threatened to embolden al Qaeda – which, we now learn, may have deeply infiltrated his security services. Riyadh fails to realize that its actions could deepen the quagmire that Saleh dug himself into with U.S. military assistance.

For now, the U.S. is content to distance itself from the Saudi campaign over Yemen while pursuing a grand bargain with Tehran. The coming months will tell if this remains doable, or if Washington will have to truly set down the rationale for its courting of Tehran while still upholding sanctions and arming the Gulf Arab and Israeli militaries.

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Reimagining Peacemaking: Women’s Roles in Peace Processes

European Peace Institute / News - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 19:01

Peace and political transition processes provide key opportunities to transform institutions, structures, and relationships in societies affected by conflict or crises. Despite these wide-ranging implications, women’s participation in formal peacemaking remains low. And empirical evidence regarding the impact of women’s participation on peace has been lacking.

The International Peace Institute’s new report, “Reimagining Peacemaking: Women’s Roles in Peace Processes” examines the challenges and opportunities presented by women’s participation in peace and transition processes. It shares new quantitative and qualitative evidence on the impact of this participation and explores models and strategies for strengthening women’s influence throughout mediated processes.

Based on research carried out at the International Peace Institute in New York and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, the new report shows how the lag in women’s participation is linked to broader dilemmas in the peacemaking landscape today. Drawing on a comparative study of forty peace and transition processes from the Broadening Participation Project, it demonstrates that when women are able to effectively influence a peace process, a peace agreement is almost always reached and the agreement is more likely to be implemented. The report also features a case study on two distinct peace processes in the Philippines, where an unprecedented level of women’s participation offers lessons on their influence.

The authors suggest that those seeking to strengthen a peace or transition process by advancing women’s meaningful participation can leverage four key strategies:

  • Build coalitions for women’s inclusion based on both normative and strategic arguments.
  • Establish a credible selection process when deciding who should participate.
  • Create the conditions to make women’s voices heard.
  • Keep power politics and the broader public in mind throughout the process to ensure that broader participation remains a positive force for peace.

Download

Flüchtlingsfrage spaltet Europa

EuroNews (DE) - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 18:53
Italien und Griechenland sind mit der stetig wachsenden Anzahl von Migranten überfordert. Die anderen EU-Staaten versprechen zwar Solidarität, doch…
Categories: Europäische Union

Szaúd-Arábia megvásárolná az Iszkander rakétakomplexumot

Hídfő.ru / Biztonságpolitika - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 18:42
Magas rangú szaúdi delegáció érkezett az Armija-2015 nemzetközi haditechnikai fórumra, ahol bejelentették igényüket az orosz Iszkander rakétakomplexum megvásárlására vonatkozóan.
Categories: Biztonságpolitika

Opération Chammal : Renseignement dans la profondeur en Irak

Dimanche 13 juin 2015, des équipages de l’armée de l’air et de la marine nationale ont réalisé une mission de renseignement conjointe au dessus de l’Irak.
Categories: Défense

Juncker kritisiert die Athener Regierung scharf

EuroNews (DE) - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 18:32
EU-Kommissionspräsident Jean-Claude Juncker hat der Regierung in Athen vorgeworfen, die Vorschläge seiner Behörde in der Öffentlichkeit Griechenlands…
Categories: Europäische Union

Ramadan and the Leadership Crisis in the Middle East

Foreign Policy Blogs - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 18:32

This Ramadan comes at a time when the world is facing a catastrophic leadership deficiency, and nowhere is that catastrophe more evident than in the Middle East. This resource-rich, predominantly Muslim region has produced some of the worst tyrants that the world has ever known — Bashar Assad, Saddam Hussein, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Muammar Gaddafi and many more.

Ramadan is the Islamic holy season in which the faithful diligently tries to maximize his/her spiritual benefit by seeking purification of the soul, enhancement of one’s moral vision and boosting one’s conscience. It is a time in which the faithful works hard to restrain all of material and flesh temptations by turning inward and increasing his or her level of worship, altruism and reflection.

However, Ramadan is not only about the individual’s relationship with God, but also about his/her relationship with other creatures on earth, especially human beings, regardless of their beliefs.

Dysfunctionality of the World Order

Never before in recorded history has the world — specifically the Islamic world — simultaneously experienced so many national and transnational challenges of economic, social, ecological, political and spiritual nature.

The actual and the perceptual order of things have been turned upside down. In a number of countries, the role of the state is being redefined, and the state’s power has diminished drastically. The role of the younger generations and disenfranchised communities has been systematically increasing; thus, setting the stage for reform, but also a power-vacuum, insecurity and chaos.

While the elements that created such daunting conditions are many, chief among them is leadership deficiency.

Many Muslim nations are in a functionally broken or a deplorable state of existence. Some, like Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen are already junglified. According to UNICEF, over 20 million Yemenis need humanitarian aid. Others, such as Egypt, Lebanon, Nigeria and Mali are perfectly placed on the conveyor belt while periodically projecting artificial agency or state authority. Meanwhile, economic predators continue to enhance their exploitation strategies into fine arts.

The Perilous Protection

Some monarchies and emirates have entrusted all their own personal security and that of their respective nations into the hands of mercenaries. Countries such as United Arab Emirates have cultivated deeply-rooted business relationships with the likes of the ever-elusive and infamous Blackwater, which is now known as Academi.

Ironic as it may seem, the UAE became the center where private security companies gravitate towards or the global trade fair where international mercenaries showcase their lethal services.

Unfortunately, times have profoundly changed from the day when Marzabaan the Persian emissary arrived at Medina and could not find a royal palace in the city. When the emissary was lead to Umar — the Second Caliph — took a nap under a shady tree in the outskirt of the city. That was the day when the wise emissary was compelled to make this famous observation: “You assumed authority over them, you served them justly, you felt safe among them, and earned to sleep (exposed and without guards).”

Today, most of the so-called Muslim leaders are known as dictators, kleptocrats and absolute monarchs. Many of them lack the trustworthiness needed to earn public confidence. They lack the vision to lead and the fairness and empathy to care for the least represented of their fellow citizens. But, make no mistake — the real power still rests with the people. Rulers need justice more than their subjects.

Nature of the Deficiency

Throughout today’s world, leaders who are morally anchored, who have the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of those in whose affairs are entrusted upon them, are in short supply.

What’s needed are leaders who can be trusted by their people and are agents for positive change. Leaders need to possess a broader vision and refrain from letting their own interests define their country’s national interests. They need to be driven by causes that transcend themselves their clan or region interests. They also need to recognize that their authority is a time-constrained privilege, not a right. Leadership, after all, should protect the rights of others and ensure that no grievance is left unaddressed.

At all levels — social, economic and political — these dire times demand transformational leaders who can inspire visions that transcend time and space, who have the capacity to translate those visions into actions, and who could cultivate the right minds and institutions to sustain that vision.

The Metaphor of the Double-decked Ship

In this month of reflection, it is worth remembering the many examples of bad endings of all bad leaders. History is peppered with such examples.

Warning against the abuse of privilege, Prophet Muhammad used the two-decked ship parable in which the morally pompous people were housed in the upper deck and the laity in the lower deck. Whenever the  people on the lower deck needed water, they had to go to the upper deck, where they were given a hard time. This went on for a while until one day, out of frustration, one of the lower deck people decided to bust a hole in the ship in order to access the water beneath. It wasn’t long before they all perished.

Transformational leaders are trend watcher. They are always vigilant of any seemingly small problem with the potential to develop into a major crisis.

Counsel to the Leaders

There is no good leadership without good ethics — the two go hand in hand. Ethics is as a code of conduct or values that distinguish right from wrong, the moral from the immoral, virtuous from the vile in governing the lives of individuals, groups, and societies. In Islam it is known as khuluq. “Deal with people in the best and the most ethical way,” said Prophet Muhammad.

As you reflect and refine your leadership qualities, you should consider these five points.

First, know your advisers as well as they know you, especially those in charge of national security.

Second, always keep in mind that anyone who would kill others for money or greed would have no moral obligation to compromise you and your nation for the right price.

Third, never assess your political crisis based solely on current events. If you are not into history, at least, try to rewind your memory database to recall how events came to be in the first place.

Fourth, keep your passions in check. Never become enamored with the seat of power; it is the only way to spare yourself, your people and your country’s imminent destruction.

Fifth, the best protection that a leader can have is the authentic confidence of the people. Always listen to the people to know what might matter to them the most, and who among them might be disenfranchised, deprived or aggrieved.

The alternative is a roller coaster ride into a perpetual state of chaos, exploitation and suicidal extremism.

Russie: Poutine annonce le renforcement de son arsenal nucléaire

RFI (Europe) - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 18:30
Alors que le Pentagone a proposé hier de stationner des armes lourdes dans certains pays d'Europe de l'Est, ce mardi, le président russe Vladimir Poutine a profité de la première édition du Forum international Armia 2015 pour rendre publics certains éléments de la modernisation des forces armées russes. Et il annonce que la Russie va renforcer son arsenal nucléaire.
Categories: Union européenne

AFBV : demander une moindre protection des cultures par la chimie et refuser le progrès issu du génie génétique est scientifiquement incorrect

Fondapol / Général - Tue, 16/06/2015 - 18:28

La Fondation pour l’innovation politique souhaite relayer l’action de l’Association Française des Biotechnologies Végétales (AFBV) suite aux manifestations organisées par Greenpeace pour réclamer le zéro pesticide pour la protection des cultures et en particulier pour la protection des pommes de terre. En conséquence, nous partageons avec vous ce communiqué de presse publié le 14 juin 2015.

Cet article AFBV : demander une moindre protection des cultures par la chimie et refuser le progrès issu du génie génétique est scientifiquement incorrect est apparu en premier sur Fondapol.

Barkhane : 5 000 heures de vol pour les Reaper de Niamey

Un an et demi après leur engagement sur le théâtre de l’opération Barkhane, les drones Reaper viennent de franchir les 5 000 heures de vol au-dessus de la bande sahélo-saharienne au cours de plus de 350 missions.
Categories: Défense

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