The Divide in Baghdad as seen by the US Military

Here is the US Military has released a new map of the ethno-sectarian divide in Baghdad

(h/t Times Online (UK))

[2006-12-15 1:14 PM] More here…

All Out War in the Horn of Africa Gets Closer

War will break out “any time now“, says Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf of the Transitional National Government (TNG). Players in the pending conflict are the Islamic forces of the Council of Islamic Courts against the TNG and ethopian forces (who are said to already be in Somalia). The US government is backing the TNG and Ethopia. Yosuf claimed “Al-Qaeda is opening up shop in Somalia” through the Council of Islamic Courts in a statement that coincides with a recent comment made by a US diplomat. The validity of this statement is questionable but I personally tend to agree.

Bill Roggio has much more on the possible relationship between Somali Islamists and al Qaeda…

Bahrainian Election Backlash

The Shi’a majority of Bahrain has been ruled by a Sunni minority. In the wake of recent elections in the island kingdom, in which the Shiite made “stunning gains” and laid claim to 17 of 40 seats in Parliament, the INAA has called foul at the controversial appointment of Sheikh Ahmad bin Atiyatullah al-Khalifa as minister for Cabinet affairs; among other things. In response, the INAA has claimed “royal interference in the distribution of posts within the Parliament.” An INAA statement stated that

…Sheikh Ahmad was the “principal accused in the Bandar report scandal.” That was an allusion to claims by an alleged British spy that he headed a “secret organization” within the government aiming to maintain Sunni domination of the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom.

Sheikh Ahmad’s appointment is “considered by the majority of the Bahraini people – Shiites and Sunnis – as a message of provocation,” the statement said.

As to alleged royal interference in filling key posts within Parliament, the statement claimed this reflected a “policy of exclusion and marginalization” and said the INAA should not attend a meeting on assigning the posts.

It added that the group would refuse to accept any leadership positions in the Parliament, where “our presence will be purely symbolic.”

Poll: Arab Public Opinion 2006

Anti-Americanism is rampant in the MENA (full .pdf report).

Attitudes toward the U.S. from those in the Arab world have suffered greatly as a result of American foreign policy in the region, according to an Arab American Institute/Zogby International poll released today.

The results, presented by AAI President James Zogby, show that uncertainty resulting from conflicts in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon have significantly dampened Arab confidence in U.S. leadership and prospects for economic development and political stability.

“Baker and Hamilton had it right,” Zogby said at the press briefing announcing the results. “U.S. policy regarding the Middle East is hurting our ability to lead a coalition in Iraq. Addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would provide us with much needed credibility from the Arab world.”

Mark Marc Lynch kindly crunches the data

Iranian Elections

Today Iranians went to the polls to vote on local councils and more importantly the Assembly of Experts. The Assembly of Experts is the body that selects and provides oversight of the Supreme Leader; the most powerful political position in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This election is being framed in the press as “the first electoral test for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his allies.”

Results will be provided ASAP as an update or another post…

[2006-12-15 1:20 PM] Poll’s have been kept open for at least another hour.

[2006-12-15 3:35 PM] After a 3 hour extension due to high turnout, the Iranian poll have closed. Results are said to be released on Sunday.