Commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan Gen. McChrystal was dismissed by the President Obama after he and his staff had made some inappropriate comments about U.S. Afghan war policy and about various U.S. political leaders and diplomats.
Afghanistan has been the center of U.S. war on terror since October 2001. Afghanistan was attacked primarily to capture Osama Bin Ladin and dismantle the network of Al-Qaeda. Second, to oust Taliban from government in Afghanistan as they had refused to hand over Osama bin Ladin to U.S. Taliban were easily over thrown from government but the prime U.S. mission of capturing Osama had failed so far and they had also failed to really eliminate Taliban from Afghanistan.
Gen. McChrystal remarks show a declining confidence in the campaign and the abilities of the political leadership to lead to any success. For a serving ‘General’ it may not be not appropriate or legal to pass such remarks but on the other side as a realist these remark refer to realities on ground. Does this not mean the American army has lost hope for success in Afghan war? The way Obama administration sharply reacted does not reflect the frustrations on part of the civilian leadership as well? Does the whole situation not show dearth of confidence between civilian and army leadership on the issue of Afghan war?
Afghan war never dominated the social media since Pew started its News Media Index (NMI) in January 2009 but the news of Gen. McChrystal became a top story on the social media as well. Looking at Pew NMI it becomes obvious that bloggers debate show frustrations regarding Afghan war. Mostly the issue of withdrawal comes to the surface repeatedly at various blogs and the issue of ‘success’ & ‘salvation’ remains very dim. Bloggers really captured the frustrations surrounding the issue.
How do you see this whole episode of Gen. McChrystal dismissal? Why an army general will make negative statements about his campaign, or political leadership if he is winning the war? does it not show the dearth of confidence between army generals at ground in Afghanistan and a civilian leadership in U.S?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Can Turkey Really Deliver To Palestinians & The Muslim World?
Last decade has seen a new Turkey; politically stable and economically prosperous. This led to the change in foreign policy mood of the Turkish state. As a result of the last month Freedom Flotilla episode Turkey remained in the headlines of the news channels across the world. Palestinians, as found in the recent survey believe Turkey to be the closest ally.
The survey shows that Palestinians now hope that Flotilla really advocated the Palestinian cause effectively before the international community. They expect that these efforts will result in lifting or softening of Israeli blockade. Turkey played major role in the whole of Freedom Flotilla campaign and this won appreciation from Muslims living all across the world and especially Palestinians.
Following the incident Turkish Prime Minister Tayyib Erdogon declared that he himself would lead a Flotilla to ameliorate Palestinian conditions. Besides Flotilla Turkey has been quite active in addressing the issues related with Muslim countries. Turkey took a clear stand in favor of Iran regarding its nuclear issue. Turkey remained active in Freidns of Pakistan forum. Turkish leadership also remained very mobile in the last couple of years visiting the Muslim countries.
Does Turkey really has the capacity to deliver anything to Palestinians or the Muslim world? AKP at home has been trying to bring forth several reforms but it had not been very successful except for taking bold initiatives. It came to the verge of being banned by the constitutional court regarding the legislation about lifting ban on scarf. Recent surveys also show that CHP popularity is also growing among Turks.
Is AKP taking more interest in the Muslim world related issues to win yet another ballet at home? Current Turkish leadership did not really remained successful in bringing revolutionary changes that it propounded like lifting ban on headscarf’s, will it be able to achieve such a high goals at international front? Should Palestinians really attach more hopes with Turkey to help them win their independent homeland? Should the Muslim world look toward Turkey for providing leadership?
The survey shows that Palestinians now hope that Flotilla really advocated the Palestinian cause effectively before the international community. They expect that these efforts will result in lifting or softening of Israeli blockade. Turkey played major role in the whole of Freedom Flotilla campaign and this won appreciation from Muslims living all across the world and especially Palestinians.
Following the incident Turkish Prime Minister Tayyib Erdogon declared that he himself would lead a Flotilla to ameliorate Palestinian conditions. Besides Flotilla Turkey has been quite active in addressing the issues related with Muslim countries. Turkey took a clear stand in favor of Iran regarding its nuclear issue. Turkey remained active in Freidns of Pakistan forum. Turkish leadership also remained very mobile in the last couple of years visiting the Muslim countries.
Does Turkey really has the capacity to deliver anything to Palestinians or the Muslim world? AKP at home has been trying to bring forth several reforms but it had not been very successful except for taking bold initiatives. It came to the verge of being banned by the constitutional court regarding the legislation about lifting ban on scarf. Recent surveys also show that CHP popularity is also growing among Turks.
Is AKP taking more interest in the Muslim world related issues to win yet another ballet at home? Current Turkish leadership did not really remained successful in bringing revolutionary changes that it propounded like lifting ban on headscarf’s, will it be able to achieve such a high goals at international front? Should Palestinians really attach more hopes with Turkey to help them win their independent homeland? Should the Muslim world look toward Turkey for providing leadership?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Disillusionment About Obama?
U.S. President Barak Hussein Obama came to White House as one of the most popular leader of U.S. He was equally popular abroad and people took him to be a man of change. He himself chose ‘change’ to be spirit of his presidential campaign. With his election views about U.S. favorability in the world begin to hike and so was the views about U.S. leadership. Far more people across the world expected him to do right things in the international affairs than President Bush. This surge in public opinion about U.S. and its leadership was quite obvious in 2009 opinion polls.
Some 18 months down the line, public opinion though largely intact but has begun to deteriorate. Favorable opinion of U.S. in many countries has started declining except in East Europe where it has ameliorated. The decline in a survey of 22 countreis is between 1 to 10 percentage points, the highest decline is observed in Egypt. Similarly the views of President Obama himself have begun to decline again except in Russia where his views have improved by 4 percentage points. The decline is between 2 to 12 percentage points and the highest decline is observed in Argentina, Mexico, China, Turkey and U.S. itself.
The publics that were highly enthusiastic in 2008 and the same trend sustained through 2009 seems to have become disillusioned about President Obama. In his 18 months in office the larger picture at the international front has remained the same. Economic crisis though beginning to disappear but still people in many countries are struggling. The situation in Afghanistan and Iraq has not much changed and the public demands for withdrawal of forces are still to be materialized. The tension with Iran is continuing without any practical solution for the Iranian Nuclear crisis. The Palestine issue has been revitalized with the Flotilla episode and U.S. role remained ambiguous in this crisis as ever. Similarly on climate change issue public across the world are not happy with the U.S. policies.
The performance of President Obama on the above counts has disillusioned the world that he probably can not deliver beyond a certain limit. Keeping these changing public sentiments across the world and in U.S. itself, how do you feel that President Obama will go down in history as a popular President of U.S? Will he be able to maintain a positive image of himself and U.S. in the world? What steps do you think will be essential for President Obama to take at home and regarding international affairs to maintain his image as a popular President?
Some 18 months down the line, public opinion though largely intact but has begun to deteriorate. Favorable opinion of U.S. in many countries has started declining except in East Europe where it has ameliorated. The decline in a survey of 22 countreis is between 1 to 10 percentage points, the highest decline is observed in Egypt. Similarly the views of President Obama himself have begun to decline again except in Russia where his views have improved by 4 percentage points. The decline is between 2 to 12 percentage points and the highest decline is observed in Argentina, Mexico, China, Turkey and U.S. itself.
The publics that were highly enthusiastic in 2008 and the same trend sustained through 2009 seems to have become disillusioned about President Obama. In his 18 months in office the larger picture at the international front has remained the same. Economic crisis though beginning to disappear but still people in many countries are struggling. The situation in Afghanistan and Iraq has not much changed and the public demands for withdrawal of forces are still to be materialized. The tension with Iran is continuing without any practical solution for the Iranian Nuclear crisis. The Palestine issue has been revitalized with the Flotilla episode and U.S. role remained ambiguous in this crisis as ever. Similarly on climate change issue public across the world are not happy with the U.S. policies.
The performance of President Obama on the above counts has disillusioned the world that he probably can not deliver beyond a certain limit. Keeping these changing public sentiments across the world and in U.S. itself, how do you feel that President Obama will go down in history as a popular President of U.S? Will he be able to maintain a positive image of himself and U.S. in the world? What steps do you think will be essential for President Obama to take at home and regarding international affairs to maintain his image as a popular President?
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Freedom Flotilla and Cyber Public Sphere
The May 31 incident on a Turkish ship that caused 10 lives remained a dominant story on blog for that particular week. It generated a hot debate regarding the Palestine issue on the cyber space. This refers to the decade long debate on potential of Internet for changing our social, political and economic lives.
Like the coffee houses of 18th century where people discussed and debated issues of their common interest, Internet blogs today are providing the same space. Flotilla issue remained a top news story for the week May 31-June 06 on blogs. 32 percent of the news links on blogs were saying something about this issue. Some of these blogs were updated several times a day to cover the ongoing incident followed by protests world wide especially in the Muslim countries. These blogs also discussed how the incident was covered by mainstream media in various countries. Several American News Channels were censured along with BBC.
Mostly the blogs censured Israelis attack but still there was a vocal minority defending the Israelis stance. Whether the bloggers were pro Palestinian or Israel is something else but this whole process on blogs testifies the political potential of Internet. These blogs have really provided a new space where public discussed this issue and showed their sympathies or annoyance about any of the two parties involved. A computer with Internet connection provides you access to this sphere, so it’s a universal one and anyone can be part of it.
Whether it was really a rational critical debate is a difficult philosophical question, but did it really served any end should be pondered at this stage. This debate on blogs must have created more awareness about the Palestine issue and especially about the Gaza blockade episode that might lead to a serious loss of human lives.
Looking at the incident of Freedom Flotilla and blogosphere response to it, do you think that Internet has the potential to provide a new public forum for debate on modern issues of common interest? Does such a debate can really have political implication? Who do these blogs represent, public or individuals?
Like the coffee houses of 18th century where people discussed and debated issues of their common interest, Internet blogs today are providing the same space. Flotilla issue remained a top news story for the week May 31-June 06 on blogs. 32 percent of the news links on blogs were saying something about this issue. Some of these blogs were updated several times a day to cover the ongoing incident followed by protests world wide especially in the Muslim countries. These blogs also discussed how the incident was covered by mainstream media in various countries. Several American News Channels were censured along with BBC.
Mostly the blogs censured Israelis attack but still there was a vocal minority defending the Israelis stance. Whether the bloggers were pro Palestinian or Israel is something else but this whole process on blogs testifies the political potential of Internet. These blogs have really provided a new space where public discussed this issue and showed their sympathies or annoyance about any of the two parties involved. A computer with Internet connection provides you access to this sphere, so it’s a universal one and anyone can be part of it.
Whether it was really a rational critical debate is a difficult philosophical question, but did it really served any end should be pondered at this stage. This debate on blogs must have created more awareness about the Palestine issue and especially about the Gaza blockade episode that might lead to a serious loss of human lives.
Looking at the incident of Freedom Flotilla and blogosphere response to it, do you think that Internet has the potential to provide a new public forum for debate on modern issues of common interest? Does such a debate can really have political implication? Who do these blogs represent, public or individuals?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Muslims Reaction to Israeli Attack on Freedom Flotilla
Last week Israel attacked Gaza bound flotilla that was taking aid to the besieged Palestinian. The voyage was actually a protest against the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The ship was carrying European parliamentarians, civil society representatives, journalists from different countries and the common people as well, most of them were Turks. Israel attacked the ship in international waters that was against international law. The attack took at least ten lives, nine of whom were Turks. Turkish president, prime minister, foreign secretary, and Turkish media censured Israel for this attack. Similar was the out rage in other Muslim countries. However a recent survey in Turkey shows that people were still not satisfied with the Turkish government reaction to Israeli attack. What does Turks and Muslims living in other parts of the world are expecting from their governments?
International community also censured for this attack. Several countries including European as well, Arab League, and Organization of Muslim Conference demanded for an international investigation. However the U.S. reaction to incident was very cautious and it supported an Israeli investigation.
Looking at the survey, what does the Turkish dissatisfaction with their government reaction mean? Is the Turkish reaction representative of all the Muslims living in different parts of the world? Generally we find a gap between public perceptions in predominant Muslim countries and their states official state on several foreign policy issues. Take the example of relations with U.S. or Israel, and war on terror. Somewhat similar seems to be the public feelings on this current episode of flotilla.
The Israeli attack has once again revitalized the Muslims sympathies with Palestinian. Will this further help unite Muslim states on a single stand regarding Palestine issue? Can Muslims states really generate international diplomatic pressures at this point of history against Israel to pay due respect to Palestinian right to co-exists? To what extent this incident bring U.S. pro-Israel policy to lime light?
International community also censured for this attack. Several countries including European as well, Arab League, and Organization of Muslim Conference demanded for an international investigation. However the U.S. reaction to incident was very cautious and it supported an Israeli investigation.
Looking at the survey, what does the Turkish dissatisfaction with their government reaction mean? Is the Turkish reaction representative of all the Muslims living in different parts of the world? Generally we find a gap between public perceptions in predominant Muslim countries and their states official state on several foreign policy issues. Take the example of relations with U.S. or Israel, and war on terror. Somewhat similar seems to be the public feelings on this current episode of flotilla.
The Israeli attack has once again revitalized the Muslims sympathies with Palestinian. Will this further help unite Muslim states on a single stand regarding Palestine issue? Can Muslims states really generate international diplomatic pressures at this point of history against Israel to pay due respect to Palestinian right to co-exists? To what extent this incident bring U.S. pro-Israel policy to lime light?
Summary of Global Opinion Report # 122
This week report consists of 23 surveys;
West & Central Asia-01
Northeast Asia-01
Sub-Saharan Africa-01
East Europe-01
West Europe-01
North America-09
Latin America-02
Australasia-01
Multi-country surveys-04
Cyber world-02
West & Central Asia-01
Northeast Asia-01
Sub-Saharan Africa-01
East Europe-01
West Europe-01
North America-09
Latin America-02
Australasia-01
Multi-country surveys-04
Cyber world-02
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Why Arabs Are Getting Negative of U.S. Leadership?
With the change in office in White House, U.S. image across the world begin to ameliorate and this was also true of Arab countries. President Obama approval rating especially got a stimulus in the Muslim world from his Cairo speech. Primarily his vows to bring ‘Change’ in U.S. and its image as a power in the world helped him improve U.S. deteriorating image. But just over a year since Obama has been in office, some of the Arab countries have again taken a U-turn regarding perceptions about U.S.
A recent Gallup USA survey shows that in some of the Arab countries public percpetions of U.S. have taken a U-Turn. This is especially of true of Egypt-the country that President Obama chose for his address to Muslims. Did he made a wrong choice of the venue? Soon after his speech U.S. image soared up in Egypt and in many Arab countries which shows that probably venue his little significance in this regard. However Egyptians and all the Arabs were highly optimistic with the change in Washington. They had a lot of expectations from Obama. One of the survey conducted by Gallup USA then showed Egyptians priorities for Obama in order to improve U.S-Mulim relations. These priorities equally reflected the concerns in the Muslim world in general. People wanted Obama to take steps to pull out troops from Iraq, remove military bases from Saudi Arabia, support Muslim countries economically and technologically and help them get thier right to make their own governments. However over the last year, public in Muslim countries saw little effort on part of president Obama to achieve these goals.
People across the world always attach high hopes with change, so was the case in the Muslim world. Obama campainging and initial enthusiastic steps to improve U.S-Muslim relation gave a hope to Muslim. But the actual performance of Obama administration diappointed them and again created the air of distrust. This resulted in the U-Turn in several Arabs perceptions about U.S.
How can President Obama restore the trust in the Muslim world?
What initial steps Presidetn Obama may take to ameliorate U.S-Muslim relatons?
Is there any need for another Cairo speech?
A recent Gallup USA survey shows that in some of the Arab countries public percpetions of U.S. have taken a U-Turn. This is especially of true of Egypt-the country that President Obama chose for his address to Muslims. Did he made a wrong choice of the venue? Soon after his speech U.S. image soared up in Egypt and in many Arab countries which shows that probably venue his little significance in this regard. However Egyptians and all the Arabs were highly optimistic with the change in Washington. They had a lot of expectations from Obama. One of the survey conducted by Gallup USA then showed Egyptians priorities for Obama in order to improve U.S-Mulim relations. These priorities equally reflected the concerns in the Muslim world in general. People wanted Obama to take steps to pull out troops from Iraq, remove military bases from Saudi Arabia, support Muslim countries economically and technologically and help them get thier right to make their own governments. However over the last year, public in Muslim countries saw little effort on part of president Obama to achieve these goals.
People across the world always attach high hopes with change, so was the case in the Muslim world. Obama campainging and initial enthusiastic steps to improve U.S-Muslim relation gave a hope to Muslim. But the actual performance of Obama administration diappointed them and again created the air of distrust. This resulted in the U-Turn in several Arabs perceptions about U.S.
How can President Obama restore the trust in the Muslim world?
What initial steps Presidetn Obama may take to ameliorate U.S-Muslim relatons?
Is there any need for another Cairo speech?
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