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Posts from ‘August, 2009’

Strategic Communication with the Muslim Community

Strategic communication recently made the news because of a column Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff wrote for the Joint Forces Quarterly. His basic point was that by making it an organizing item, strategic communication has become a goal in itself, rather than being a process to enable the larger objectives. [...]

Arrests for Afros & Low-slung Jeans in Saudi Arabia

According to some reports 800+ people have been arrested in Riyadh for wearing low-slung jeans and sporting Afros in Saudi Arabia. Mosques in the Eastern Province have warned people that they will be banned if they are caught with either at prayer time and can also be arrested.
The youth arrested were released after their parents [...]

Blackwater (Xe) Founder Officially Charged

The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince was officially charged in court on Friday, Aug 29, 2009 with intent to kill .
The plaintiffs hold Erik Prince responsible for 20+ Iraqi deaths, and the defense wants the motion to be dismissed. The Judge, T.S. Ellis III has not issued a ruling yet, however as the Washington [...]

Al-Qaeda Alive and Thriving in Saudi Arabia

Despite the Saudi crackdowns on suspected militants, the latest attack by Al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was an assassination attempt against the Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs.
Prince Mohammad bin Naif was only slightly injured by the suicide bomber however the security breach was HUGE. Arab News reports:
The king asked Prince Muhammad [...]

China and Rare Earth Elements

China produces some 95% of the world’s rare metals, mostly mined in Mongolia. With its virtual monopoly over the world’s rare earth elements (REE) supply, China is considering banning the export of some and drastically reducing the export of others to ensure sufficient supply for its internal demand. So why do we care?
REEs are essential [...]

US Postal System Crisis

Did you know that the US Postal Service (USPS) is the second largest civilian employer in the country, after Wal-mart? It has also been running in the red and after cutting 25,000 jobs earlier this year it is offering to pay some 30,000 additional workers to leave.
Facing a $2.6 billion loss in the last [...]

Finally, a Check on the CIA!

The controversial CIA program for assassinating al-Qaeda leaders using Blackwater as a contractor is becoming an ever-increasing political problem for the CIA as more information gets revealed. Congress was not informed about the program’s  existence when it was formed in 2004. The new CIA Director Leon Panetta (Obama’s appointee) cancelled the program this summer when [...]

Riyadh Camel Souk- Camel Herder

The outskirts of Riyadh is home to one of the largest camel markets in the Middle East. Spread out over several acres there are camels in every color and size, hay and stalls as far as the eye can see. They are available for purchase as food, as assets or as pets. The next few [...]

Riyadh Camel Souk: Camel Bling

The outskirts of Riyadh is home to one of the largest camel markets in the Middle East. Spread out over several acres there are camels in every color and size, hay and stalls as far as the eye can see. They are available for purchase as food, as assets or as pets. The next few [...]

Riyadh Camel Souk- Runaways!

The outskirts of Riyadh is home to one of the largest camel markets in the Middle East. Spread out over several acres there are camels in every color and size, hay and stalls as far as the eye can see. They are available for purchase as food, as assets or as pets. The next few [...]