Iran's military posturing will not help it escape the sanctions crisis it has brought upon itself
Iran is inching closer to the moment of truth or more precisely, to the day that will change its course for the coming decades, columnist Satea Noureddine argued in the Lebanese daily Assafir.
"The image of a strong and able state that the Iranian leadership has tried to project, ever since the US began its military campaign on the Islamic world following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, is now quivering," he said. "All the military parades that Iran could stage at this point wouldn't serve to bolster its image or scare the United States into negotiations."
Iran must decide on its own whether it will continue to believe that it is America's competitor for power in the Islamic world and the Arab region, or a mere modest state facing multiple internal challenges.
The Iranians must choose between downsizing their ambitions and adapting to reality or finding bigger and better strengths that allow them to exert the pressure they want on Washington.
"Iran failed in warding off international sanctions. Some say that the decision-makers in Iran don't mind them, since they see the external siege as good for the survival and stability of their regime. Iran didn't make any serious efforts to prevent sanctions, through making concessions in its nuclear programme or through talks."
The Persian state is committing a grave mistake at present by taking advantage of the US withdrawal from Iraq and its gradual departure from Afghanistan to proclaim itself as the only great power in the region. The timing and the method were off. Worse are the unnecessary and unconvincing displays of force.
"At times, it seems as if Tehran is running without a defined system or state institutions," the columnist wrote. It was evident that Iran's provocations and challenges wouldn't succeed in pulling the West into negotiations. On the contrary, they will only provoke more sanctions that could eventually bring Iran's economy to a halt.
"It would be insane if the Iranian government believes that the West is actually apprehensive of its threats to close the Hormuz Strait or that it would hesitate to impose additional sanctions that target the oil and gas sector. It is after all the same West that disabled the oil and gas sector in Iraq for more than two decades, although Iraq's quota in the global market is much more considerable than Iran's," he added.
The West may not need to relinquish the less than three million barrels of Iranian crude oil that is exported mainly to Asian markets.
The financial sanctions alone could be sufficient to stoke a popular uprising against an ebbing regime that has yet to take notice that its battles are at an end no matter how hard it tries to make up for them with "fireworks" in the Gulf skies.
Militia fights threaten the future of Libya
Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chairman of the Libyan National Transitional Council has warned that possible civil strife could grow from widespread chaos and the proliferation of armed militias, the London-based newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi in an editorial.
Such a warning must be taken seriously, the editorial said, coming from for the country's top official, who is well aware of the facts on the ground.
Recent bloody altercations in Tripoli, between Misurata militants and Council forces, are focusing the world's attention on the chaos that has engulfed the capital city and many other parts of Libya since the revolution.
Four main militias control the country at the moment. Meanwhile, residents of the capital have been voicing their exasperation with armed manifestations and security blockades.
"In the absence of national reconciliation it isn't unlikely that the remnants of the former regime will try to rebuild their ranks. The armed chaos and the altercations among the rebels provide them with the perfect climate to orchestrate a bloody return to the political scene."
"Libya needs a charismatic leader who could impose respect for the state and its institutions and guarantee the security of all," opined the paper. "It is true that the new system of rule is still young and it is too early to pass judgement at the moment, but the present reality doesn't augur a peaceful future for Libya."
Civil organisations above Egypt's law
All hell broke loose when the Egyptian judiciary moved to protect the law and the country's sovereignty by ordering inspections over 17 different NGOs operating in the country. In reaction, almost immediately, the US threatened to stop all aid to Egypt unless the inspection campaign was cancelled, said Amjad Arrar, a columnist with the Emirati daily Al Khaleej.
Germany too joined the US in pressuring the Egyptian government and the ruling military council to allow the civil organisations to work freely. The EU and various world institutions defended the rights of the NGOs in Egypt, despite the fact that the activities and the operations of these organisations require massive financing from these Western countries that are all experiencing severe financial crises.
"Civil organisations have every right to operate freely and within the confines of the law, but at the same times, they are obligated to abide by the principles of transparency. Many NGOs across the world are operating as spying agencies and saboteurs at the service of colonial agendas," said the writer.
The writer wonders why the US came to the defence of the organisations while shutting down or freezing the assets of others for their alleged terrorist and money laundering activities.
* Digest compiled by Racha Makarem
rmakarem@thenational.ae
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
RESULTS
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m. Winner: Masaali, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m. Winner: Almoreb, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m. Winner: Imprison, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m. Winner: Raahy, Adrie de Vries, Jaber Ramadhan.
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m. Winner: Cross The Ocean, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m. Winner: Sa’Ada, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash.
Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
RESULTS
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Spezia v Lazio (6pm), Juventus v Torino (9pm), Inter Milan v Bologna (7.45pm)
Sunday Verona v Cagliari (3.30pm), Parma v Benevento, AS Roma v Sassuolo, Udinese v Atalanta (all 6pm), Crotone v Napoli (9pm), Sampdoria v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Monday Fiorentina v Genoa (11.45pm)
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
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Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
The%20Killer
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Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.