Norway attacks and multiculturalism
"If Islamic people do something bad, you think, 'Oh, it's Muslims.' But if a white Protestant does something bad, you just think he's mad. That's something we need to think about."
- Sigrid Skeie Tjensvoll, Norwegian citizen
Anders Behring Breivik, 32, the suspect in the worst attack in Norway since World War II, acknowledged carrying out the attacks and claims to have worked with two other cells, a judge said Monday.
Breivik defended the attacks as necessary to combat the "colonization" of Norway by Muslims, Judge Kim Heger said. He accused the Labour Party, the target of the mass shooting, of "treason" for promoting multiculturalism, the judge said.
Here are some views on the debate on multiculturalism in Europe: FULL POST
Europe's resurgent far right focuses on immigration, multiculturalism
By Tim Lister, CNN
The far right in Europe has enjoyed a renaissance over the past 30 years, driven by resentment of the growing powers of the European Union and by rejection of the "multiculturalism" that has accompanied rapid immigration from the developing world.
Political parties opposing immigration and integration have done well in elections in recent years - and beyond them, neo-fascist and "national socialist" groups have become well-established across the continent, including in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Scandinavia, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
Most of those belonging to such groups would not contemplate the sort of carnage that occurred in Norway on Friday, but they would probably sympathize with what appears to have been the manifesto of the alleged assailant, Anders Behring Breivik. FULL POST
Beyond bombs and bullets in Pakistan
The following is a transcript of my interview with Nancy Birdsall, President of the Center for Global Development. Â We discussed the Center's latest report: Beyond Bombs and Bullets: Fixing the U.S. Approach to Development in Pakistan. The Center brought together a wide variety of experts and policy-makers from the U.S. and Pakistan to examine how the $7.5 billion of U.S. aid over five years is being spent - and what the main challenges are.
Tim Lister: Would it be fair to say that the overall tone is somewhat gloomy?
Nancy Birdsall: I would say the overall tone is gloomy about what’s happened so far but there is a possibility that it could get better going forward subject to a lot of serious thinking going on inside the government.
There is potential in Pakistan - it is a democratically elected government; there is an independent judiciary and a free press; there’s a very large, sophisticated urban middle class…I think in some ways it’s ahead of where Egypt is today. FULL POST
Friday Middle East Roundup: Libyan troops on Viagra and Syria's leaderless rebellion
By Tim Lister, CNN
Overview
– Libyan fighting spills across border into Tunisia
– Libyan troops on Viagra?
– Syria’s "leaderless" rebellion makes crackdown hard for Assad
– Turkey tries to intervene in Syria while the European Union considers sanctions
– In Yemen, President Saleh’s exit deal is at risk of unraveling amid accusations
Wednesday Middle East Roundup: Gadhafi's cellphone network hijacked
By Tim Lister, CNN
Overview
– Egypt: Mubarak and sons held by military government
– Qatar conference: UK seeks broader co-operation with rebels; Germany says "no military solution" in Libya
– Libya: new video/photos show misery of Misrata; plus, Gadhafi's cellphone network hijacked
– Bahrain: Human Rights Watch says detainee suffered horrific abuse
– Yemen: deadly clashes in two cities
– Syria: new protests Wednesday as security crackdown continues
– Saudi Arabia: continued anger with U.S. over Middle East policy
Tuesday Middle East Roundup: More dead in Syria
Overview
– UK and France want more aggressive NATO action to break Libya stalemate
– Former Libyan Foreign Minister warns his country may become another Somalia
– Syria: More clashes around Baniyas; 200 killed in unrest so far
– Yemen: Opposition presses for Saleh's immediate exit
– Egypt: Tensions within military as it tries to establish new rules
Khalifa Haftar: The man who left Virginia to lead Libya's rebels
By Brian Todd, Tim Lister and Katie Glaeser, CNN
His story reads like a political thriller. Once a confidant of Moammar Gadhafi and then his sworn enemy, he led a band of Libyan exiles trying to overthrow the Libyan regime before being spirited in secrecy to the United States when things went bad. His name is Khalifa Haftar.
He has lived in Virginia for 20 years but now he's back in Libya, trying to knock the rebel force into some kind of shape.
CNN has spoken to several people who know Haftar well, and they agree on one thing: His role will be crucial if the opposition is to mount a serious military challenge to Gadhafi.
Friday roundup of Libya and the region
By Tim Lister, CNN
Get up to speed on the fast-changing events in Libya as of Thursday morning, ET:
OVERVIEW
– Gadhafi reportedly offering to pass power to younger generation
– Libyan Rebels float ceasefire proposal
– Aide to Gadhafi son seeking deal in London?
– Syria tense –Â security forces seal off Daraa
– Yemen: massive pro- and anti-govt protests in Sanaa =Â risk of clashes
Thursday Roundup of Libya and the region
By Tim Lister, CNN
Get up to speed on the fast-changing events in Libya as of Thursday morning, ET:
OVERVIEW
– Libya’s foreign minister flees; are there more to come?
– Rebels try to make a stand at Brega as Gadhafi forces adopt new tactics
– NATO, France say no to arming rebels
– Maltese boat on mercy run to Misurata
– Exile for Gadhafi? Not so easy
– Syria claims to be preparing to scrap emergency law
– In Yemen, Saleh playing a dangerous al Qaeda card
Tuesday Round-up of Libya and the region
By Tim Lister, CNN
Get up to speed on the fast-changing events in Libya as of Tuesday morning, ET:
OVERVIEW
– Rebels retreat from Sirte; Gadhafi loyalists tighten grip on Misrata
– Dilemma for coalition as Gadhafi forces dig in - how far to go; U.S. not ruling out arming rebels
– U.S. deploys AC-130s and Warthogs to boost rebel ground attacks in Libya
– London Conference: U.S. ponders releasing seized Libyan assets to opposition
– Syria: large pro-government rally ahead of Assad speech
– Yemen: security deteriorates, and al Qaeda takes advantage
Challenges for al-Assad as events in Syria threaten regional upheaval
By Zain Verjee and Tim Lister, CNN
In January, Bashar al-Assad sat down for a long interview with the Wall Street Journal. That was noteworthy in itself; the Syrian leader doesn't spend much time with the Western media. He was in confident mood - saying that Syria would not succumb to the unrest then spreading in Tunisia and Egypt.
That same month Vogue ran an effusive feature on Syria's first lady, Asma al-Assad, describing her as a "rose in the desert."
But in his interview, al-Assad also recognized "anger and desperation" in the region and the need for reform in Syria, to "open up the society," as he put it. Change was needed, he said, but "if you do it just because of what happened in Tunisia and Egypt, then it is going to be a reaction, not an action; and as long as what you are doing is a reaction you are going to fail."
Now, after 10 days of deadly protests in Syria, that "reaction" is well and truly under way. The government has responded with a mixture of aggression and appeasement.
Friday: Round-up of Libya and the region
By Tim Lister, CNN
Get up to speed on the fast-changing events in Libya as of Friday morning, ET:
Warplanes roared through the skies over the Libya capital, Tripoli, early Friday, dropping bombs on the outskirts of the city where military bases are located. Anti-aircraft fire quickly punctuated the darkness, and then fell silent again.
CNN's Nic Robertson tweets: Driving through E. outskirts of Tripoli, drive past mil base, apparent bomb damage, still smoking. FULL POST
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