Revocation of five foreign terrorist organisations designations and the delisting of six Deceased Individuals as specially designated global terrorists
From Twitter
2/3 The only viable path to legitimate leadership is by allowing Libyans to choose their leaders. The constitutional talks underway in Cairo are now more important than ever. #Libya
— U.S. Embassy – Libya (@USEmbassyLibya) May 17, 2022
Graphic Content
Egyptian security forces thwart a suicide attack on a checkpoint in Northern Sinai, killing a terrorist element wearing PBIED. pic.twitter.com/4pka5QYyxj
From speech : <<And we will interconnect the Greek electricity grids with Cyprus, Israel and Egypt in order to import cheap renewable energy from the Middle East and Africa into the European electricity system. >>
— Embassy of Egypt USA (@EgyptEmbassyUSA) May 17, 2022
BIG NEWS: Egypt 🇪🇬 forms a public-private consortium in partnership with 🇰🇷 Samsung Heavy Industries Group to upgrade the Egyptian shipyards and build new shipbuilding docks in Suez & Alexandria within the state plan to boost the national marine industries. pic.twitter.com/rBl2mehy8I
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 21, 2022
A little trip across Egypt ends up over Cairo and the Nile river delta leading into the Mediterranean. Such wonderful colors. Captured live from the @Space_Station at 5PM EET today. May 21, 2022 pic.twitter.com/fC0CbNlZ97
Court sentences 5 men to jail for blackmailing teenage girl and pushing her to suicide for blackmailing a teenage
National Dialogue between the government and political and youth currents to run in ‘a neutral and impartial way’ among all segments of society among all segments of Egyptian society
Archive sheds new light on Tutankhamun discovery, 100 years on. Ijeoma Ndukwe
Sports
Classy Mo Salah celebrate FA Cup win with former Egypt team-mate Zakaria who has ALS
From Twitter
Gama’a al-Islamiyya, an Egyptian Sunni Islamist movement that fought to topple #Egypt’s gov during the 1990s. It conducted hundreds of deadly attacks against the police and security forces as well as tourists. The group was first designated in 1997.@APhttps://t.co/Ctm31i7NXj
US set to remove 5 groups from foreign terrorism blacklist, including 2 Islamist groups have been active in Israel, the Palestinian territories & Egypt!
#Egypt– #ISIS photos of the May 7 attack near al-Qantara al-Sharqiya showing at least 12 militants with red headbands for IFF (and possibly inghimasi, though wasn't used) – 10 AKs, 1 RPG & 1 MAG visible. Likely at least some PBIEDs.
Egypt's military spokesperson announces the death of 23 terrorist elements in army operations in Northern Sinai.
The Egyptian military also thwarted a terrorist attack on an army outpost in Rafah city earlier this morning, where an officer and four soldiers were KIA. pic.twitter.com/fIhETmV6hr
U.S. CENTCOM Commander meets in Cairo with Egypt's President al-Sisi, Defense Minister Mohamed Zaki & the Armed Forces Chief of Staff Osama Askar. pic.twitter.com/ElHKkR4UEH
Egyptian Armed Forces are working with an “integrated plan” to uproot terrorism and clean the isolated border areas of the remnants of terrorists, said Military Spokesperson for the Armed Forces Gharib Abdel Hafezhttps://t.co/9f2NqLmTJF
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 15, 2022
To fight inflation even at the cost of its farmers' income India's government will no longer allow wheat exports cutting off another supply source for North Africa & mostly Egypt, the world's largest importer that relied on grain from the Black Sea ports, War damage is expanding
Thank goodness that Egypt had started discussions with India to procure wheat before the Indian decision to ban wheat exports. With this supply and after Egypt purchases locally-produced wheat, all the stocks should last to the year end.#FoodSecurityhttps://t.co/Z9UmgClmHQ
"On Tuesday, the Ukrainian MoD said shiploads of stolen Ukrainian grain had reached the Mediterranean Sea on Russian-flagged vessels bound for the Middle East. In the past week, Egypt has turned away two Russian ships carrying stolen Ukrainian wheat,"https://t.co/C76BYarqSf
— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) May 11, 2022
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 14, 2022
The 3,200-year-old tomb of Queen Nefertari also called the Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt. The paintings, which are found on almost every available surface in the tomb, are considered to be the best-preserved and most eloquent decorations of any Egyptian burial site pic.twitter.com/FKyP3A9j1Z
Ethiopia’s next move on Nile dam may hinder negotiations. Ahmed Gomaa
From Twitter
Egypt's President al-Sisi chairs a meeting of Armed Forces Supreme Council, following a terrorist attack in Sinai yesterday. pic.twitter.com/u8L8Rh3ir6
"I assure you that these treacherous terrorist actions will not undermine the determination of the sons of this nation and its armed forces to completely uproot terrorism," #Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on the Suez Canal terrorist attack. pic.twitter.com/IgRFlWMnDi
Qantara is far away from North Sinai —the usual playfield of #ISIS and a has very important history in the psyche of #Egypt—ian army as it was a flashing point during the pre 1973 war of attrition. A disturbing message from those sick terrorists!
The @_AfricanUnion condemns in the strongest terms the terorrist attack in #Sinai that resulted in the death of 11 soldiers.Our sincere condolences to the bereaved families, in full solidarity with President @AlsisiOfficial, the Govt & the people of the Arab Republic of #Egypt.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) May 8, 2022
Utter condemnation of yesterday's abhorrent #terrorist attack in #Sinai against mil. personnel | Deepest condolences to the grieving families & wishes for speedy recovery to those injured | We stand in #solidarity with our partner #Egypt 🇪🇬 in the fight against terror & extremism pic.twitter.com/QDWGNEXUoD
I strongly condemn yesterday’s terrorist attack in East Suez Canal area. My deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The UK stands with #Egypt in its fight against terrorism.
— Gareth Bayley, British Amb to Egypt 🇬🇧🇪🇬 (@GarethBayleyUK) May 8, 2022
Today terrorist attacked near Suez Canal, Egypt leaving 11 killed including one officer and 10 soldiers. May they all rest in eternal peace. Egypt is fighting the same terrorism that we all are fighting. #StandWithEgypt
— حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) May 7, 2022
russia tried to sell grain stolen from #Ukraine to Egypt. #Egypt refused to buy the stolen grain, so the ship changed direction to #Lebanon and #Syria. In total, 27,000 tons of #Ukrainian grain are on board the Matros Pozynych, which is currently trying to sell the stolen goods pic.twitter.com/B11FXfTqSA
'When I returned to Egypt, I took new ideas with me and we established our organisation, Africa Hope, with a vision of improving access to education for every child in Africa.'
Read more on Chevening Alumnus, Mohamed Moamen's Africa Hope project here👇
Wishful thinking!#Turkey “want” to normalize Egypt ties after ‘progress’ with #SaudiArabia, #UAE. However, closer of the Brotherhood channel won’t be enough to entice #Egypt. As long as Turkey is in Libya, they won’t be normalisation with Egypt! https://t.co/JY5NxigZWo
Countryside #Menofiya. Harvest season of wheat has started. Gov hopes to collect significantly more wheat than past years, as imports from Ukraine have been hit by the war, and global wheat prices surged #Egyptpic.twitter.com/vk9Yo5uxtH
"First-ever direct flight between Israel, Egypt takes off" https://t.co/XUtV4oE49M I am confused by this headline. I have flown between Cairo and Tel Aviv on both El Al and Air Sinai–the latter aboard an EgyptAir plane stripped of most of its telltale livery.
While tensions in Jerusalem, particularly on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, have been elevated over the past couple of weeks, this year’s Ramadan has been relatively quiet as compared to last year’s Ramadan. While last May featured clashes in the Old City, outside of Damascus Gate, and in Sheikh Jarrah, the most notable element was Hamas’ launching of rocket barrages from Gaza, culminating in Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Walls. While there were isolated rockets fired out of Gaza on five separate days last week, resulting in some limited Israeli counterstrikes and a two-day suspension of entry permits for Palestinians coming into Israel from Gaza, this week has been quiet, and the prevailing assessment is that last week’s rockets were fired by Islamic Jihad rather than Hamas. The evidence suggests that Hamas is doing what it can to keep Gaza quiet and to avoid risking another conflagration similar to the one…
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah is named Football Writers’ Association Men’s Footballer of the Year for 2021/22
From Twitter
Today marks 100 years of U.S.-Egypt diplomatic relations. To mark the centennial of our strategic partnership, I gifted Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry with the 1922 telegrams congratulating Egypt on its independence. pic.twitter.com/0nC753Es1t
"For a civilization as old as Egypt, 100 years is not a long time, but for the United States…that makes us old friends!" – Acting Assistant Secretary Lempert marks the centennial of U.S-Egypt relations at an iftar hosted by @EgyptEmbassyUSApic.twitter.com/BD0k1Ia18v
— U.S. State Dept – Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) April 28, 2022
The world is really changing rapidly … Muslim Brotherhood TV channel “Mekameleen Satellite Channel” is shutting down operation in Turkey pic.twitter.com/Bt0r90sbv3
— حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) April 29, 2022
— Bracewell Hydrogen Highlights (@H2Bracewell) April 29, 2022
#Egypt– latest #ISIS al-Naba newsletter (#335) includes report on an April 6 raid on homes in the village of Misfaq, east of Bir al-Abd, North #Sinai, in which 2 alleged army spies were captured and executed (a 3rd proved he was innocent and released) pic.twitter.com/IftHsDt6T7
A while ago, the hashtag “Sisi is the enemy of Allah” was trending in Egypt. Now the counter hashtag “Sisi is the enemy of the Brotherhood” is trending. Both are bots promoted. I hope @elonmusk stands by what he said and kill these bots.
His Majesty King Abdullah II holds a trilateral meeting with #Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the #UAE Armed Forces at Al Ittihadiya Palace #Jordanpic.twitter.com/RstgVGTjq2
UAE 🇦🇪 and Egypt 🇪🇬 sign agreement to produce green hydrogen – Sky News Arabia pic.twitter.com/lV8dpqZjBR
— حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) April 24, 2022
Egypt’s Public Prosecution said that the autopsy that was conducted on the dead body of economic expert Ayman Hadhoud revealed that he died of a chronic heart disease and no signs of torture were found on his body.#Egypt#HumanRights#AymanHadhoud | #ايمن_هدهود#مصرpic.twitter.com/8s7nd880lO
State controlled TV show host Amr Adib hinting at the free floatation of the Egyptian pound, most probably a key request of IMF before the third bailout. Very tough days ahead. https://t.co/KBRmFrG8WU
The Grand Imam of Al Azhar (highest religious authority in Egypt) strikes again against extremists and those who hate others, he calls their views “absurd, not related to Islam”-the leaders of moderate Islam like him are the true enemies of extremisms and extremists. pic.twitter.com/02YOLUqFBg
You can’t go into convulsions every time Israeli soldiers storm Al Aqsa mosque, then sit and whistle while watching football with news of IS blowing Shia and Sufi mosques during Ramadan prayers in Afghanistan #Egyptian_media
2 beautiful Egyptian girls took Cairo metro few days ago; a lady started screaming at them “because they wearing inappropriate cloth” – a T-shirt was in her eyes “inappropriate” She insulted them verbally and physically.
Ancient Egyptians were well aware that you can’t manage something unless you can measure it, including water in the Nile River. I just returned from Cairo where I learned what lessons the Nilometer can teach us on Earth Day. #COP27pic.twitter.com/mgcBi0bLha
Great photo of Egypt's 🇪🇬 President Sadat, then-VP Hosni Mubarak and Israel's 🇮🇱 Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1979. Photo: Yaakov Saar pic.twitter.com/dDIcsNriWn
More than 50 days have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the attitude in the Middle East towards the war is ambiguous at best. Apart from formal statements from various governments in the region that claim “neutrality,” public reaction is still confused, misguided, and dominated by resentment towards the United States, instead of focusing on the human tragedy playing out in Ukraine as a nation.
From the beginning of the Ukraine war, Arabs have considered the conflict solely through the prism of a revival of the Cold War between Russia and the United States. Apologism and justifications for the Russian invasion have been all over social media since the beginning of the conflict, with expressions such as Russia was “dragged,” “tricked,” or “provoked.” As Merissa Khurma has written, many Arab analysts are not convinced by Western “hysteria” over the Ukraine crisis. Moreover, rather than decrying Russia’s unlawful invasion of a sovereign state, many Arabs have denounced the ‘double standard’ of sports bans on Russia. In other words, it has been the responses of Western countries that have irked Arabs, rather than Russian aggression.
Within the Arab psyche, it seems Ukraine as a nation and the will and aspirations of the Ukrainian people are not part of the narrative that is shaping their opinion towards the war. Ironically, in a region that built its entire cultural narratives on concepts of resistance, jihad, and anti-colonialism, many are resenting Ukraine for resisting Russian occupation. Such an attitude prevails not just among traditional allies of Russia in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, but also in countries like Egypt and the Gulf States.
In fact, the war in Ukraine has highlighted how the most unifying factor among Arab political factions, whether they are leftists, Nasserites, nationalists, or capitalists, is their collective resentment of the United States; often for conflicting reasons. It was interesting to see an overlap between the anti- and pro-Iran camps in the region. Both projected an understanding of Russian motives in Ukraine, and regard the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to voice their grievances towards the US. Each camp resents the US for different reasons; Iran sees the US as its archenemy, while regional opponents of Iran resent the US for not standing strong against Iran, and for its efforts to reach a nuclear deal with the Mullahs in Tehran at any price. Both camps, however, see Russia as an alternative ally that can stand against perceived American hegemony over the global order.
The same contradiction is seen in Turkey, where, as Suat Kınıklıoğlu wrote, both Nationalist-Islamism and Eurasianism overlap, as they both despise Western dominance in the international order, feel threatened by the liberal cultural-civilizational siege of the West, and thus have a common counter-hegemonic view of the world. In Egypt, Mohamed Salmawy wrote, “a third bloc is needed”, one that yearns for the 50s, and the Non-aligned Movement, led by Egypt, India, and Yugoslavia.
Arab media outlets’ coverage of the conflict, while claiming neutrality, is full of ambiguity and subtle bias towards Russia. Most, if not all, of the Arab media start the news with almost identical themes that include “Russia says,” “Russia did,” or “Russia claims,’ which has triggered positive bias towards Russia among their followers.
It is perhaps understandable to see how the conflict in Ukraine is used as an excuse to lash out against the Biden administration’s policies that have neither supported America’s traditional allies in the region, nor stood firm against US enemies such as the Mullahs’ regime in Tehran. Nonetheless, such ambiguous handling of the war in Ukraine is worrisome to say the least, and for many reasons:
First, Russia can’t balance US dominance
It is a mistake to assume that Putin’s Russia will counter what Arabs perceive as “US hegemony.” Historically, apart from its rule in the Syrian civil war, Russia has a poor record of supporting any Arab cause. It failed to help Iraq, Libya, and the Palestinian cause. The economic impacts of this war, together with the crippling US sanctions on Russia will limit its influence and ability to navigate the global order. Furthermore, its strong relations with the regime in Tehran will limit its ability to support Arab Gulf states in their quest to limit Iran’s destructive regional policies.
Second, calls for a “third bloc” are equally delusional. The fifties Non-aligned Movement (NAM) tried to transcend the Cold War, but the NAM ended up as one of the Cold War’s chief victims. The group eventually moved closer to the Soviet camp and lagged behind the Western world on all fronts, militarily, technologically, and economically. Furthermore, denying Ukraine’s right to self- determination is an insult to all the values of the NAM and the anti-colonial stance of all Arabs.
Third, fanning the flame of anti-Americanism is counter-productive. Crying about American’s double standards exposes Arabs’ own bias and inconsistencies. Arabs behave as if they are not too bothered about colonialism and imperialism when it’s being conducted by a non-Western actor, and they only unleash their anger against what they perceive as American imperialism. While they bitterly remember the US invasion of Iraq, Arabs forget how the ex-Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait and denied its legitimacy as a sovereign nation, which, in many ways, resembles how Putin handles Ukraine.
Regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, the current ambiguity and soft stance towards Russian aggression will have negative long-term impacts on the Arab world. It will destroy the moral compass of young Arabs, who will grow increasingly susceptible to conspiracy theories, tolerant towards injustices as long as they are committed by non-Western actors, and cynical about the universal values of freedom and the right to self-determination.
It’s time for Arabs to remove their biased Cold War cloak and look at Ukraine as a country yearning to be liberated from its colonial master. Arabs must recognize the sovereignty of independent states, from the West and the East, and reject the bullying, aggression, and catastrophic destruction of human life that has characterized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is not Russia, exactly as Kuwait is not part of Iraq, and Lebanon is not part of Iran. It is about time to stand for Ukraine, regardless of our grievances about American policies in the region.
Egypt steps up efforts to fulfill its water needs. Asharq Al-Awsat
From Twitter
#Egypt, the world’s top #wheat importer, has approved India as a supplier to fill a sizeable void in the North African nation’s food stocks due to the Ukraine conflict.
▪️Examine aspects of the bilateral and strategic relations ▪️Discuss a number of international & regional issues ▪️Affirm the importance of continuing consultations and coordination
#Egypt: In Cairo, at the start of a 3 day visit for discussions with Government, Civil Society, Parliamentarians, NCHR and others, about particular #HumanRights matters.
#Greece is taking seriously its owns potential gas resources. The govt will expedite the mapping of potential gas fields by 2023, aiming for extraction by 2027. Focus in offshore areas will speed up processes in line with the model of other regional countries such as #Egypt. pic.twitter.com/WxjJuqgpN4
Egypt is digging a man-made river to pump recycled and treated wastewater into the desert to reclaim 3 million new acres, and transform them into productive agricultural land. pic.twitter.com/Nhz3P1zaTR
Another gas price hike in Egypt. The social contract successive Egyptian govs had with the people is now gone. You keep us in power, we give you subsidies. This is no more. I understand, with reservations, the economic implications that led to the end of this equilibrium, but..
Some are criticizing singer Amir Eid, who sang some of the revolution's popular songs, for endorsing the Decent Life initiative. I disagree. Any attempt, by anyone including the Egypt gov or regime, to improve living conditions of the poor should be encouraged and supported.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is in Washington to quell US concerns over Cairo's ambivalent position on Ukraine may face an uphill battle due to long-standing concerns in DC over the human rights record of Egypt, one of the largest recipients of US military & economic funding.
The first direct flight between Israel and Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since the two countries agreed to launch the flights, has just landed 🇮🇱🇪🇬
Famous Koshry restaurant branch in #Egypt closed, after refusing service to Christian woman before Iftar https://t.co/z5e2HgM8ns convoluted story, as branch says it was an individual action and not company policy; what if a Muslim had requested early supper? pic.twitter.com/Bg5odt5gcC
Pesach is a festival of liberation, commemorating the Jews leaving Egypt, and the seder plate we have is full of symbolic foods. This year, we’ve added flour to make us think of Ukraine, today’s most urgent liberatory struggle pic.twitter.com/l6KiOzTZwi
Time to visit our neighbours at #Egypt after almost 7 hours at the border due to dozen of Israelis that are visiting I’ve started my Passover vacation in Sinai May you have a great #Easter & #Ramadan Mubarak 🐬💙❤️🐪🐟🐠🐡 pic.twitter.com/mKYke5w2vl
— Shmuel Shalom שמואל سمؤال عبد السلام (@ShmuelShalom) April 17, 2022
pleased with The Red Sea resorts from Sharm El Sheikh to Taba welcoming direct flights from Qatar and Israel,hope they get full of tourists from all nationalities, from all over the world. A late result of President Sadat’s peace initiative,it got him killed,he is smiling now.
VIDEO: 🇪🇬 'Shaggy', 'messy', 'unprofessional' — natural curls were once looked down on in Egypt, where Western beauty standards favoured straight locks. One Cairo studio that caters to women and men alike is part of an aesthetic liberation movement pic.twitter.com/7cj3HF3Kka
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I read several important Twitter threads on the conflict that are worth reading. However, I choose those three threads ( plus few other tweets)because they highlight important angles of the conflict and debunk many myths.
To talk about Ukrainian nationalism, we first have to establish the context of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. These are not just countries sharing a common border. Our relationship is that of an empire and its colony.
The Russian empire erases the culture of its colonies. The captured lands are renamed Russia, ethnically cleansed, and/or forcibly assimilated. For Ukraine, this manifested in several genocidal famines, and a centuries-long policy of elimination of the language and culture.
…and defensive nationalism, poised to preserve traditions and identities.” Defensive nationalism is common to peoples whose identity is in existential danger.
That said, although Ukraine has been oppressed and colonized throughout its history, there are many horrific examples of atrocities and mistreatment against Roma, Jews, Poles, and others, committed by Ukrainians.
Now, let us look more at the far-right movement. As in many European countries, there are right-wing parties in Ukraine. But unlike places such as Hungary, Italy, and others, in Ukraine, such parties have tiny support.https://t.co/qQ4ubFYXg9
Thus, the actual scale of the far-right problem in Ukraine was significantly overblown by the Western media (and Russian propaganda), especially compared to incredible progress in recent years despite the war raging since 2014https://t.co/GfVtN4S4Yq
Russia wants the world to believe they are “de-nazifying” Ukraine, implying Russia is free of neo-Nazism. But of course, this is very far from the truth.
An essential element of such nationalism is the idea of one's own greatness, which becomes a justification for territorial expansion beyond Russia's existing borders.
Despite this, I think Russian nationalism is weakly covered in Western media, even when relevant. For several years, Alexei Navalny has been an example of the systemic struggle against the regime in authoritarian Russia. But even Russia's opposition has close ties to nationalism.
Navalny's nationalism is also evident in his stance on illegally annexed Crimea. When asked about Crimea, he replied that "Crimea is not a sandwich", and added: “Crimea will remain part of Russia and will never become part of Ukraine again in the near future."
TL;DR: Western media and Russian propaganda wildly inflate the problem of the Ukrainian far-right. The coverage fails to put the Ukrainian far-right in the larger context. Once done, it's evident that it is a tiny problem compared to Russian and even European right-wing movements
First, a bit about Medvedchuk. He has long been among the loudest advocates for Russian interests in Ukraine, as the leader of the pro-Russia Opposition Platform – For Life party, which was biggest opposition force in the Rada (Ukrainian parliament) against Pres Zelenskyy. 2/16
Medvedchuk was known to own Ukraine's ZIK, NewsOne and 112 TV channels, which have been linked to the Kremlin and were pushing pro-Putin propaganda in Ukraine. (Though officially, the owner was Medvedchuk's Opposition Platform colleague, MP Taras Kozak). 4/16
Let's put it to the Putin Table Test. Compare how closely Putin sits to Medvedchuk (Sputnik, March 2020) vs. how far he is from his defense minister & chief of the general staff of armed forces (2022). Sure, it's a different time, but Medvedchuk is at poisoning distance. 8/16 pic.twitter.com/RAgdJVwtFe
In 2014, the U.S. said Medvedchuk used his “resources or influence to support or act on behalf of senior Russian government officials,” sanctioning him following Russia’s invasion of Crimea. 10/16https://t.co/u65hMDc2Ay
So, in summary: Putin's (failed) plan for Ukraine appears to have been a quick invasion launched on Feb. 24 and over within the week. In that push, he planned to remove Zelenskyy and replace him with pro-Kremlin puppet government likely spearheaded by Medvedchuk & party. 12/16
Why is Medvedchuk's capture important? Ukraine has shown that even Putin's best bud can't evade its forces. "Let Medvedchuk be an example for you," Zelenskyy said last night. "Even the former oligarch did not escape … We will get everyone." 14/16https://t.co/1Ukn5HziLg
But this makes Putin look even weaker, and helps Zelenskyy and his forces look more competent, at a time when he needs to show the West his government and authorities are well run, and is asking for additional assistance in form of weapons and EU membership. 16/16
I finally came up with something close to an answer.
It is a paradoxical combination of extreme short-termism and extreme long-termism. A mix of myopia and hyperopia that did not allow the Kremlin and Putin personally to see the reality at hand. 2/15
In other words, Putin decided to play the only game he knows – the game of chicken – with the new US president. He probably thought that Biden was weak and would cave easily. 4/15
Biden, of course, did not cave and the Geneva talks in Summer 2021 brought no results. Again, Putin responded in the only way he knows – by raising the stakes and once more ordering to concentrate troops at the border. He also expanded his demands towards the US. 6/15
At this point, the invasion was the only option Putin perceived in the chicken game he himself started. If none of his demands are met, what else is there to do? Lose the game? Not a chance! 8/15
In sum, the logic of the game (as Putin perceived it) pushed him towards launching the invasion. Still, the gravity of the decision dawned upon him. This is when long-term, "historical" thinking kicked in. 10/15
As Volodymyr Artiukh noted, "The [Kremlin's] logic is: “There’s seven bad years ahead, but then we’ll have our hundred years of empire.” This is the frame of mind, if you read closely what the Russians are saying."
To sum up: the invasion was caused by extremely short-term and extremely long-term considerations. Basic common sense just disappeared between Putin's immediate desire to "show them" and the fantasy of "securing his place in history". 14/15
Perhaps none of this matters now. The decision is made. But the valiant Ukrainian resistance to this murderous aggression changed everything. Whatever Putin's motives, he was already taught a lesson. 15/15
"It was 14 years ago, in 2008, that Merkel, together with France's then president, Nicolas Sarkozy, helped block NATO's membership invitation to Ukraine during an alliance summit in Bucharest. They saw it as a provocation to Russia." https://t.co/kltdo5qtum
Woman tells how Russians were shocked how Ukrainians lived – "They have all houses made of bricks, laptops and Nutella in every house – it can't be," pic.twitter.com/223aDNib4q
Before the russian murderers came, Mariupol was a cozy city where Greeks, Ukrainians and other ethnic groups lived in peace and harmony. That was the case in the rest of Ukraine as well. We have to bring russia to justice. Every murderer must be punished, from putin to a killer.
— Alexander Khara 🇺🇦 Αλέξανδρος Χαρά (@alexanderkhara) April 7, 2022
Maria Zakharova calling Ukranians "Soup Nazis". No joking. She is definitely drunk. Seinfeld crying 😢 https://t.co/prTVsDbxJE
Read this interview with Karaganov (reliable bellwether of 🇷🇺ruling elite majority consensus).
If afterwards you still harbor any illusions about sustainable negotiated settlement with Putin's Kremlin on European security order read it again. And again.https://t.co/PjbuJF8GoK
Egypt, which has recently sought IMF assistance, is set to overtake Turkey as the region's largest issuer of sovereign debt, with $73 billion worth of bond sales, S&P analysts forecast.https://t.co/izSbHXxiVT
In this week's Political Risk report 🔷Developing security situation in Tripoli 🔷Response of domestic stakeholders to freezing of #oil revenues 🔷Latest updates on GNU & GNS 🔷Cairo to host next Constitutional Track discussions Subscribe to our Free Trial https://t.co/SVhb7RXzeB
#Libya– in a raid on a compound in Bani Walid #GNU Unit 444 released 195 people (from Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Eritrea & Ethiopia) who were held for ransom (tortured, raped and starved) by human trafficking gangs. pic.twitter.com/1hDg9FTMgV
Cairo seeks to be an African political, economic, and security gateway to the rest of the continent, and on the other hand, it presents itself as an emerging strategic player with a growing footprint in the security and intelligence sectors across the continent.
Behind this “mentally unstable” murderer is a whole ideology of hate towards #Copts that must be dismantled. Reading Salafi clerics posts is enough to fill an entire society with hatred! https://t.co/pscAtHF1iL
From @/orthodoxsaintstories. This is so incredibly sad. Praying for his family and all of the Copts in Egypt facing persecution. pic.twitter.com/1COKvTMveh
Remembering the 47 Christian martyrs who were killed on 2017 Palm Sunday by ISIS affiliated terrorists at two churches in Egypt. pic.twitter.com/8WofmppEm7
When are you going to have a serious talk with the Ministry of Interior to explain that this camera-phobia, this insane paranoia, is hurting Egypt’s int’l image? You spend millions on CNN ads, to be wasted by the police. Talk to them! @TourismandAntiqhttps://t.co/snoyE9ibbu
Nervana 
Time for Arabs to stand with Ukraine
More than 50 days have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the attitude in the Middle East towards the war is ambiguous at best. Apart from formal statements from various governments in the region that claim “neutrality,” public reaction is still confused, misguided, and dominated by resentment towards the United States, instead of focusing on the human tragedy playing out in Ukraine as a nation.
From the beginning of the Ukraine war, Arabs have considered the conflict solely through the prism of a revival of the Cold War between Russia and the United States. Apologism and justifications for the Russian invasion have been all over social media since the beginning of the conflict, with expressions such as Russia was “dragged,” “tricked,” or “provoked.” As Merissa Khurma has written, many Arab analysts are not convinced by Western “hysteria” over the Ukraine crisis. Moreover, rather than decrying Russia’s unlawful invasion of a sovereign state, many Arabs have denounced the ‘double standard’ of sports bans on Russia. In other words, it has been the responses of Western countries that have irked Arabs, rather than Russian aggression.
Within the Arab psyche, it seems Ukraine as a nation and the will and aspirations of the Ukrainian people are not part of the narrative that is shaping their opinion towards the war. Ironically, in a region that built its entire cultural narratives on concepts of resistance, jihad, and anti-colonialism, many are resenting Ukraine for resisting Russian occupation. Such an attitude prevails not just among traditional allies of Russia in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, but also in countries like Egypt and the Gulf States.
In fact, the war in Ukraine has highlighted how the most unifying factor among Arab political factions, whether they are leftists, Nasserites, nationalists, or capitalists, is their collective resentment of the United States; often for conflicting reasons. It was interesting to see an overlap between the anti- and pro-Iran camps in the region. Both projected an understanding of Russian motives in Ukraine, and regard the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to voice their grievances towards the US. Each camp resents the US for different reasons; Iran sees the US as its archenemy, while regional opponents of Iran resent the US for not standing strong against Iran, and for its efforts to reach a nuclear deal with the Mullahs in Tehran at any price. Both camps, however, see Russia as an alternative ally that can stand against perceived American hegemony over the global order.
The same contradiction is seen in Turkey, where, as Suat Kınıklıoğlu wrote, both Nationalist-Islamism and Eurasianism overlap, as they both despise Western dominance in the international order, feel threatened by the liberal cultural-civilizational siege of the West, and thus have a common counter-hegemonic view of the world. In Egypt, Mohamed Salmawy wrote, “a third bloc is needed”, one that yearns for the 50s, and the Non-aligned Movement, led by Egypt, India, and Yugoslavia.
Arab media outlets’ coverage of the conflict, while claiming neutrality, is full of ambiguity and subtle bias towards Russia. Most, if not all, of the Arab media start the news with almost identical themes that include “Russia says,” “Russia did,” or “Russia claims,’ which has triggered positive bias towards Russia among their followers.
It is perhaps understandable to see how the conflict in Ukraine is used as an excuse to lash out against the Biden administration’s policies that have neither supported America’s traditional allies in the region, nor stood firm against US enemies such as the Mullahs’ regime in Tehran. Nonetheless, such ambiguous handling of the war in Ukraine is worrisome to say the least, and for many reasons:
First, Russia can’t balance US dominance
It is a mistake to assume that Putin’s Russia will counter what Arabs perceive as “US hegemony.” Historically, apart from its rule in the Syrian civil war, Russia has a poor record of supporting any Arab cause. It failed to help Iraq, Libya, and the Palestinian cause. The economic impacts of this war, together with the crippling US sanctions on Russia will limit its influence and ability to navigate the global order. Furthermore, its strong relations with the regime in Tehran will limit its ability to support Arab Gulf states in their quest to limit Iran’s destructive regional policies.
Second, calls for a “third bloc” are equally delusional. The fifties Non-aligned Movement (NAM) tried to transcend the Cold War, but the NAM ended up as one of the Cold War’s chief victims. The group eventually moved closer to the Soviet camp and lagged behind the Western world on all fronts, militarily, technologically, and economically. Furthermore, denying Ukraine’s right to self- determination is an insult to all the values of the NAM and the anti-colonial stance of all Arabs.
Third, fanning the flame of anti-Americanism is counter-productive. Crying about American’s double standards exposes Arabs’ own bias and inconsistencies. Arabs behave as if they are not too bothered about colonialism and imperialism when it’s being conducted by a non-Western actor, and they only unleash their anger against what they perceive as American imperialism. While they bitterly remember the US invasion of Iraq, Arabs forget how the ex-Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait and denied its legitimacy as a sovereign nation, which, in many ways, resembles how Putin handles Ukraine.
Regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, the current ambiguity and soft stance towards Russian aggression will have negative long-term impacts on the Arab world. It will destroy the moral compass of young Arabs, who will grow increasingly susceptible to conspiracy theories, tolerant towards injustices as long as they are committed by non-Western actors, and cynical about the universal values of freedom and the right to self-determination.
It’s time for Arabs to remove their biased Cold War cloak and look at Ukraine as a country yearning to be liberated from its colonial master. Arabs must recognize the sovereignty of independent states, from the West and the East, and reject the bullying, aggression, and catastrophic destruction of human life that has characterized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is not Russia, exactly as Kuwait is not part of Iraq, and Lebanon is not part of Iran. It is about time to stand for Ukraine, regardless of our grievances about American policies in the region.
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