Palmecentret: Är demokrati i Mellanöstern viktigt?

Fick alldeles nyss en lite småläskig (mellan raderna) seminarieinbjudan från Palmecentret (kursivering tillfört här). Kanske är den olyckligt formulerad eller också ett oroande tecken i tiden:

"Demokrati förknippas med en hel del positivt; såsom folkets samlade röst, frihet att uttrycka sin egen mening, frihet att bilda föreningar och partier, individens rättighet och skyldighet att vara med och bestämma om gemensamma angelägenheter etc.

Om demokrati har blivit ett oumbärligt faktum för de flesta i väst, är det då ett lika oumbärligt behov för folket i Mellanöstern? Och hur uppfattas demokratin av folket i regionen? Är det en prioriterad fråga?"

Jag förutsätter att svaret på kursiverade frågor inte blir något annat än ett obetingat JA. Om inte så är socialdemokraternas internationella center väldigt, väldigt snett ute. Borde inte frågeställningen istället varit "Hur kan vi sprida demokratin i Mellanöstern?".

Medverkande vid seminariet är följande:

Nasrin Huseini - statsvetare
Nalin Pekgul - politiker
Mehmet Kaplan - Sveriges muslimska råd
Samtalsledare - Thair Ismail - Palmecentret

Information:
Tid: fredag 1 september, kl. 10.00-12.00
Plats: Streets Mellanösternfestival, Hornstulls Strand (T-bana Hornstull)
Karta: http://www.middleeast.se/omradet
______________________________________
DENNA INBJUDAN SKICKADES FRÅN PALMECENTRET.
Önskar du få/ej få dessa utskick - gå till www.palmecenter.se
Skriv in din e-post-adress och kryssa för SEMINARIER,
i den vänstra kolumnen. Välj prenumerera eller avbeställ.
____________________________________________
Olof Palmes Internationella Center
Box 836, 101 36 Stockholm
Telefon: 08-677 57 70, Fax 08-677 57 71
E-post: info@palmecenter.se

The Iranium Enrichment Program Still Going Strong

The deadline for the Iranian regime to (yet again) comply with demands from the international community regarding its uranium enrichment program is today. As far as I can see the Iranian regime has adopted point nr. 2, 4 or 5 or all of theme at the same time (see previous post). The Iranium Enrichment Program obviously lingers on.

Another day, another terrorist attack in Iraq

Terrorist attacks in Iraq happen on a daily basis - more or less. Today CNN reports that at least 24 Iraqis were killed and another 45 were wounded by a bomb in Baghdad this morning. An hour later two died and 15 were wounded, including five police officers, by the explosion from a car bomb. When rescue teams arrived another bomb went off. At least 12 people were killed and 38 wounded when a bomb, strapped on a motorcycle, exploded just outside an Iraqi army recruitment center in Hilla (60 miles south of Baghdad). In Baquba, north of Baghdad, at least three people were killed and 10 wounded, including three police officers, when a roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi police patrol.

And just to clarify things; all of this happened today. Read the article from CNN if you want to know what happened yesterday.

Iranian Regime Wants To Be "Serious"

According to every major newspaper the Iranian regime says today, in a very short version, that they are ready to enter "serious negotiations'' with the permament UN Security Council member states and Germany.

So what does this mean?

1. Iran has never entered a serious negotiation on its nuclear program before?
2. This time they really intend to tell the UN Security Council to fuck off FOREVER?
3. This time they really want to comply with international and legitimate demands of Iranian cooperation?
4. This time they will once again play with the UN and continue the enrichment process?
5. This time they will tell the UN that the sons and daughters of the Islamic Revolution will definitely build that damn bomb so that their nutcase president can put some real weight behind his fuming antisemitism?
6. Or what?