..."Those who applaud the new government and those who are against it must stop and turn to the strict application of Sharia."...The military junta overthrew Mauritania’s first democratically elected president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a bloodless coup on August 6. Two days later, the African Union suspended Mauritania from the bloc saying the country must return to constitutional government. >>>>>

This is a clear example where Westerners can put their democracy where their mouths are...no matter what your opinion of Islam; if the people sought an Islamic government by a democratic vote, then the armchair champions should be against this current government as well.  If not, then they just proved that this is about imperialism and lends to the notion that there is indeed a war against Islam and Muslims - which is might fine with them.  No further attempts to rationalize the flag-waving ignorance would then be necessary.  Your true colors are already showing -- and they're not red, white and blue.

Earlier this month I mentioned that the Arab coup d'etats that came immediately to my mind in the aftermath of the latest Mauritanian coup occurred in late spring or summertime. However, the indispensable alle reminded me of several other coups occurring in November, May, January. I gave several reasons for my belief that summer was a good time for a coup, some of which are not necessarily confined to that season. As alle suggested, I decided to go through as many Arab coup d'etats I could and catalogue them by month and decade in a spreadsheet, with graphs. Eventually, I hope to add any coups I may have missed and apply Sam Huntington's three categories of coup to the data. Here are my initial impressions of the admittedly unscientific and general sample I gathered:

(1) The assumption that coups are more likely to be staged in the summertime than other seasons is only partially justified. The most coup prone months were July (7 coups), November (6 coups), August (5 coups), April and September (4 coups each). Coups occur in almost every month (October is the exception). Summer and autumn show higher activity than other seasons. Coups occur over more month in the summer than in the autumn, and the summer months have more coups on average (4.6) than autumnal ones (3.3). Autumn's lower average is due to a lack of activity during October. Originally, I had offered a couple of reasons as to why I assumed that summertime would be the most common time for coups to occur. One was that summer was a time when leaders were likely to be out of the country or the capital on foreign visits or vacations, allowing those with a thirst for power to seize power more easily. This is also true of spring and early winter (leaders often make official visits at the beginning and end of the year). Coups while a leader is abroad are not as common as one might think, though, and they tend to take place in countries with small populations and low levels of development. Using Sam Huntington's three coup categories, only one Arab state, Algeria, has seen a "Veto coup d'etat," in which the military intervenes to override the overwhelming popular will of the people. Military coups in the Arab world are often bloodless as acts in and of themselves, though they may precipitate (or at least exacerbate) inter-communal or inter-party violence as they have in Iraq, Algeria, Sudan, and Comoros. Exceptions to this include the Iraqi coup of 1958, in which the putschists rather unceremoniously put the kibosh on the royal family.

(2) Since 1949 the Arab world has not known a decade in which there has not been at least two successful coup d'etats. The 1960's through 1980's are especially coup-laden, and the 2000's have thus far known only two coups, both of them in Mauritania, fewer than any other decade. It is important to note the Cold War context of these decades, both the global Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, but also the "Arab Cold War" between the "progressive" republican (and often Arab nationalist) Non-Allied states and the conservative, often monarchical, Western allied ones. In view of this, the frequency of Arab coups is similar to sub-Saharan Africa's during the 1960's and 1970's in its elevated number of coups. In the most coup afflicted states, periods during or following armed conflict, the period after the first Arab-Israeli War, the Sahara War, or the Sudanese Civil War for instance, are particularly active. During and after the 1980's, coups drop off. Many states made their peace with Israel or accepted American patronage and developed a more effective internal praetorian complex in which organized domestic opposition from the military or other groups was co-opted, neutralized, or eliminated. Many of the leaders who came to power in the 1980's have remained in power since, or until very recently. Coups after the middle 1980's tended to occur outside of the American sphere of influence, particularly in Arab Africa. Several of these states were incapable of building a strong authoritarian order in the face of a variety of centrifugal forces, and a lack of strong unifying forces, politically, culturally, or otherwise. A variety of particular factors, which I will not parse, contributed to this failure in each state and continue to plague the weakest Arab states. As Naison Ngoma wrote in 2004,

[T]he seemingly unremitting rate of coups [ . . . ] shows that despite the improvements of sub-Saharan Africa’s economic performance (which is generally considered synonymous with the democratisation of the states) the danger of coups d’état remains high. Society’s expectations have tended to supersede governments’ economic capacity. The solution in this regard would seem to be economies performing beyond the demands made by the general society. Since this is hardly likely, given the general lack of capacity of the states in the region, military coups remain a realistic threat."

(3) Syria, Mauritania, Comoros, and Sudan lead the coup count. Syria has had the most, though all of these occurred between 1949 and 1970. Comoros's first coup came less than a year after its independence in 1975. Mauritania's first coup came during the disastrous war in the Western Sahara, when mismanagement of the war effort caused military leaders to depose Mokhtar Ould Daddah in 1978. Close up, Mauritania's tradition of coup and counter coup during the early 1980's is reminiscent of Syria's during the early 1950's and 1960's: both begin with disastrous wars, disgruntled military men, and a weak national identity ending with a strong man dictator of many years. Mauritania appeared to have broken that cycle for a brief time in 2007. The chances of that democratic experiment being restarted are lower than they might be if the former president had been removed legally. What will follow is increasingly murky.

Suggestions/recommendations, observations, comments, questions, corrections, etc. are welcome and encouraged.

The denunciation came as the head of the African Union (AU) Commission said he held an "optimistic" meeting with the junta's leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, aimed at restoring a constitutional government. >>>>>

Al-Qaeda seeks the same as the U.S. and the other Western - democratic nations, a return to the democratically elected government. Except maybe they aren't "Al-Qaida." Maybe they want us to believe that anyone with just Islamic rule should be labeled as Al-Qaida.

Recently, an American friend sent me this question by email. I decided it was an important enough issue to do a blog post on.

No, Islam does NOT encourage or condone cheating people who are of another religion. Yet this is often given for a rationale when it happens. How is this so?

What this is all about is that the person in question (doing the cheating) is already WANTING to cheat, is a dishonest person. He is looking for an excuse. This isn't about religion; it's about who's in the IN group, and who's in the OUT group. The person is essentially looking for a reason to rip someone off, and is rationalizing it by saying to himself, "This person is not one of us, so it's OK."

In Muslim countries, the easiest criteria by which to say that is religion, and the second most common excuse is being a foreigner (he's not one of us). Now let's suppose for a moment that you have a shopkeeper in Luxor, Egypt (just picking an example city and country I have spent considerable time in). When presented with another Egyptian Muslim (same religion, same country), he will have no problem saying, "He"s a 'city-slicker' from CAIRO; he's NOT one of US!") So the person from another city will get ripped off, too.

Now suppose a Luxor man goes to Cairo, and takes a taxi. The taxi driver will have no problem saying to himself, "He's from out-of-town, a 'hick' from Luxor; he's NOT one of US." The taxi driver will drive him all around and take the long way!

In just about every country in the world (and I've traveled to about 90), I've found that the taxi driver's first question, seemingly to make conversation, is, "Oh, where are you from?" It's to establish if you are a "local," or know the local ways as a frequent visitor (your first visit here, Sir?), and if they think they can get away with setting the meter on the higher night price, starting it at a higher price than they should, not using it at all, claiming "it's broken," or just driving by very long routes to your destination.

It's NOT the Muslim religion that says this; it's INDIVIDUAL DISHONEST PEOPLE who are looking for an excuse. With a foreigner, religion is the first "difference" that comes to their mind where they can put the person in an "out" group. It might be similar to how a group of blacks might treat a white who was in the wrong neighborhood in the United States, or vice-versa.

Islam emphasizes honesty and forthrightness, just as does Christianity. But some people follow a "cafeteria" Islam, just as some people follow a "cafeteria" Chistianity. Sometimes Muslims go to the mosque, yet cheat people in business during the week. (And some "Christians"do the same!) Sometimes Muslims put more emphasis on PRACTICE (saying prayers five times daily), yet don't follow through in their daily actions.

Islam does NOT say it is OK to lie; but SOME Muslims have the idea that saying your prayers washes out all your sins (kind of like "confession" in Catholicism). We had a maid who used to pilfer constantly, yet she was always praying! My fifteen-year-old Muslim daughter pointed out to me, "Mom, if she wants it, she takes it. That's all. She just thinks that if she prays, it takes away all her sins!"

Don't forget there are MANY, MANY honest Muslims. Unfortunately, tourists most often encounter those out to make an easy buck. When I became a teacher in the Muslim world (instead of working in tourism) I began to meet the DECENT people. It's often hard to meet the right people as a tourist, however (in ANY country).

Eileen

Mauritania / Arrest of the prime minister / Statement by the French government

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania, August 23, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The arbitrary arrest of Yahya Ould el-Waghef, constitutional prime minister of Mauritania, is unacceptable. We demand his immediate and unconditional release.

We call for the prompt return to constitutional order and, as the essential precondition, the immediate liberty and return to office of President Abdallahi, elected democratically in March 2007, with whom our ambassador in Nouakchott was able to speak last night.

This position is shared by the international community which is unanimous in its condemnation of the coup and in its demands, as shown by the statements on the political situation in Mauritania from the European Commission, the African Union and the UN Security Council president.

We support the proposal of EU Development and Aid Commissioner Louis Michel to begin consultations under article 96 of the Cotonou Accord.

This procedure could lead to the suspension of European aid.

We also support the mission of African Union Commission President Jean Ping who will travel to Nouakchott on Monday, August 25.

We urge the military junta and all the Mauritanian political leaders to cooperate as quickly as possible with the African Union, the European Union and the international community to find a swift solution to the crisis.

SOURCE : France - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The President justified this decision on the grounds that he considered Mauritania unready for western-style multi-party democracy. Under this one-party constitution, Daddah was reelected in uncontested elections in 1966, 1971 and 1976. He was ousted in a bloodless coup on July 10, 1978, after bringing the country to near-collapse through a disastrous war to annex the southern part of Western Sahara, in an attempt to create a "Greater Mauritania".

According to Zain's chief executive officer, Saad Al Barrack, the firm's investment in its African operations beats direct aid from United States, China and European Union respectively.According to a report from Malawi's local daily of the Nation, the rebranding of Zain from Celtel is part of bringing together their African and Middle East operations under a single and unique identity.The chief executive officer further said that the mobile firm had injected in US$ 2.5 billion for networks and infrastructure development in its existing markets.

The report quoted Barrack who was in Kenya recently as saying Kenya was one of the countries where Zain has spent more money and that its operations were expected to consume about US$ 1 billion in the next five years.In the Southern African country of Malawi, the mobile firm will pump in US$ 91 million between this year and next year towards upgrading and other services.Zain according to a media report serves up to 50 million customers in 22 countries of Africa and Middle East.In Malawi Zain has faced competition from another mobile firm TNM. The two recently introduced cheaper cell phones.

Mauritania / UN Security Council condemns 6 august overthrow of mauritanian government, demands Immediate release of president, restoration of democratic institutions / Mauritania says country has not turned its back on democracy;

'corrective change' no coup d'etat; state institutions functioning normally

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania, August 20, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Security Council today condemned the Mauritanian military's overthrow on 6 August of the democratically elected Government of Mauritania and the State Council's move to seize the powers of the presidency, and demanded the immediate release of President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi and the immediate restoration of the legitimate, constitutional, democratic institutions.

In a statement read by its President for the month of August, Jan Grauls of Belgium, the Council expressed its opposition to any attempts to change Governments through unconstitutional means, and called for assistance in restoring constitutional order in Mauritania.

The Council welcomed the statements by the African Union, European Union and other members of the international community condemning the coup.  It also recognized the important role played by the African Union, as well as the support of regional and international partners, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, through his Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit.

Addressing the Council at the opening of the meeting, Mauritania's representative, Abderrahim Ould Hadrami, said that the people of Mauritania had massively supported "the corrective change" of 6 August, which had replaced a weak and unpopular regime.  Elected through transparent and widely accepted elections in 2007, the President had had all the possibilities to carry out his electoral programme, but instead of responding to the aspirations of the people, he had found himself hostage to a political entourage that had diverted him from his supreme mission.  His presidency had been marked by dangerous tendencies and a series of unprecedented terrorist acts.

Describing the conditions that had led to the events of 6 August, he underlined rampant insecurity, fear and disarray in the country; a dire economic and social situation; growing prices; corruption; squandering of resources; and nepotism.  Instead of dealing with the real problems, the former President had entered into conflict with the majority in Parliament and had refused a request for an extraordinary session of Parliament.  To crown those unfounded policies, the former President had fired all the military leaders on 6 August.  Taking into account the prominence of the military institution in the country, the decapitation of the military commandment had been an unwelcome provocation.  The change had been supported by two thirds of Parliament, most of the country's mayors and popular movements throughout the country.

He emphasized that the situation in Mauritania was stable and calm, adding that the Parliament and State institutions were functioning, and human rights were protected.  The corrective change of 6 August could not be qualified as a coup d'etat, because fundamental liberties had been preserved and the administration was functioning normally.  He assured the Council that Mauritania had not turned its back on democracy.  On the contrary, the hope raised by the democratic transition of 2007 was still alive.  The current stage was just a phase in the development of democracy in Mauritania.  The Council should understand the realities on the ground and carry out an objective evaluation of the events, which were going to take the country out of the impasse that had been leading it to an uncertain future.

The State Council, headed by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, had named the Prime Minister and was planning to hold free and transparent elections, he added.  The international community should help Mauritania to develop its democracy, fight underdevelopment and oppose the powers that had shown their limits.  The Council should reflect the aspirations of the majority of Mauritanians and support the change of 6 August, which had led to stability and prosperity in the country -- in other words -- to peace and security in Mauritania.

The meeting was called to order at 1:56 p.m. and adjourned at 2:10 p.m.

Presidential Statement

"The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2008/30 reads as follows:

"The Security Council condemns the Mauritanian military's overthrow of the democratically elected Government of Mauritania and welcomes the statements condemning the coup by the African Union, European Union and other members of the international community.

"The Security Council opposes any attempts to change Governments through unconstitutional means.

"The Security Council condemns the actions of the State Council, in particular its move to seize the powers of the presidency.

"The Security Council demands the immediate release of President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi and the restoration of the legitimate, constitutional, democratic institutions immediately.

"The Security Council recognizes the important role played by the African Union as well as the support of regional and international partners, including the United Nations Secretary-General through his Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, and calls on all to assist in restoring constitutional order in Mauritania.

"The Security Council will monitor developments in this situation."

SOURCE : UNITED NATIONS

This is the swimming pool I attend. There is a mixture of all types of people here. Some mothers sit around in Islamic-style clothes, while their children swim. Some Muslim mothers wear bathing suits and swim also--maybe about 20 percent. But most of those who choose to wear hijab (Islamic hair covering in public) at the pool DID swim as girls before they started to wear the hijab.

Some girls swim only until puberty, and take the hijab, after which time they can no longer swim (generally by choice), unless it's at a women's-only facility (and many mothers choose to swim at only this type of facility). Two-thirds of girls wear bikinis (even three-year-olds) that by American standards, look very risquée, especially on young girls. Although they aren't in these pictures, there are plenty of teenage girls and boys who swim, too. Most girls wear bikinis. When they aren't in the pool, the girls and boys generally sit around in a large group and play cards, or just visit and laugh together.

I tell my kids at school when then tell me, "Everybody's doing it," to go by the two-thirds rule (my own invention). This means that if two-thirds of the people are doing something, then it's generally accepted. (I tell them half is not enough.) So when my own daughter wanted a bikini at six years old, I did let her get one, and that's what she's worn ever since. She fits right in. (She's a teenager now.)

The reason I did this post is so that people realize that the entire Middle East is NOT like the image we see on TV of the Taliban-controlled areas.

It is in the Middle and Upper classes that both boys and girls go to swimming pools. There are some VERY crowded public pools available, with extremely badly-behaving wild kids, and generally the poorer boys (lower middle class) go there. Some poorer girls go, too. It's expensive to belong to a private club, of the type in this picture, which offers the pool and tennis, and a small restaurant that basically gives snacks, or sandwich lunches.

In the lower classes, few children would have the money to go to even a public pool. In the lower classes, it would not be considered respectable for a girl to go swimming, although it might be all right for a boy. But most of the lower classes would only swim at the beach.

There is no thought among the middle and lower classes here of teaching children to swim for safety reasons, although the upper classes (who travel abroad) do think of it.

Islam does not prohibit swimming for women and girls. It does encourage women and girls to be modest, which is why some women stop swimming at puberty, and other women choose a women-only pool. Taking good care of your body with correct nutrition and exercise is encouraged in Islam.

Eileen

The military junta that led last week's coup in Mauritania has appointed a former ambassador to the post of prime minister.

The junta issued a decree Thursday announcing that Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is the country's new prime minister as well as head of the transitional government. Laghdaf is the former ambassador to Belgium.

Unfortunately I haven't been keeping informed on this situation, and I am unsure of the details surrounding the military coup that happened in Mauritania on the 6th.

This may be a little controversial... I completely support the over throw of corrupt, violent or authoritarian leaders. It must be controlled and transparent though... and because of that I believe that it is far better for a coup to come from an outside force rather than a military unit from within.

More on this in a later post.

Mauritania / Two journalists conditionally freed

Nouakchott, Mauritania, August 19, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Two journalists conditionally freed

Mohamed Abdellatif, publisher of the privately-owned weekly paper Al Houriya, and one of his reporters, Mohamed Nema Oumar, were conditionally released by the Nouakchott appeals court on 17 August.  They were arrested and imprisoned on 21 July.

SOURCE : Reporters without Borders (RSF)

Maybe according to the majority of the country's politicians, presently in office - POST COUP.  But according to the most recent elections, prior to the coup -- the PEOPLE spoke otherwise.  That's part of the problem with our understanding of democracy - it's kind of like statistics...we tend to spin matters to subsets of people (numbers), manipulating other variables in order to justify the 'new official position.'   We are forgetting about an element greater than that of the label of democracy itself....the rule of law. 

Would Americans accept it if a "...coup has also been backed by the majority of the country's politicians?"  Not too hot of an idea, I take it.  If a coup successfully took place in a country, do you really believe those against the coup would be open to voice their opinion?  Didn't think so on this one either?  Power is respected more than democracy itself.

The leader of Mauritania's military junta has assured his commitment to organise "free and transparent elections as soon as possible."

In his first radio and television broadcast on Sunday, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said, "I commit myself before you and before God the almighty that I will organise free and transparent elections as soon as possible."

The general, who led renegade soldiers to overthrow the democratically elected regime of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi on 6 August, failed to give a specific date for elections.

Mr. Aziz has been leading an 11-member military council. On Thursday, he appointed Mauritania's former ambassador to the European Union as Prime Minister to lead a transitional government.

The appointment of Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf might have been a calculated attempt by the junta to douse off international condemnation of the bloodless coup.

General Aziz had earlier promised to appoint a government before orgnising presidential polls, and has since invited political parties for talks on the formation of a new government.

The European Union and African Union condemned the coup in totality, and urged the junta to restore constitutional order.

However, majority of the West African country's senate and the lower house members supported the move. They said coup was effected "in the interest of the Mauritanian people" because it had nailed "an acute political and institutional crisis" caused the ousted leader.

General Aziz also blamed the ousted leader of tolerating a "climate of corruption" characterised by "miserable economic performance." He vowed to take tough action on terrorism and organised crimes in the country.

The international community has widely criticized the coup, and in less-great news, "the leader of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb" has publicly announced his wish that Mauritania be transformed into a "Caliphate Style" Islamic state.  For those (like me) who do not know exactly what that means, here's one of MANY definitions...

caliphate(kăl'ĭfāt', -fĭt) , the rulership of Islam; caliph (kăl'ĭf'), the spiritual head and temporal ruler of the Islamic state. In principle, Islam is theocratic: when Muhammad died, a caliph [Arab.,=successor] was chosen to rule in his place. The caliph had temporal and spiritual authority but was not permitted prophetic power; this was reserved for Muhammad. The caliph could not, therefore, exercise authority in matters of religious doctrine.

So, things are going along in Mauritania, with no Peace Corp-specific news.  Though, I can gather by Obie's comments late in the letter, that they are still going ahead with the swearing in of the Trainee's to full Volunteers -- Adam being one of them.

Good luck to everyone, our thoughts are with you.

Hello Volunteers and Trainees:
 
I hope this eMail finds you doing well.  There has not been a great deal of change in the political situation here in Nouakchott over the past few days with the exception of the release from custody of the Prime Minister and a number of other government officials who had been held by the military junta.  The democratically elected President of Mauritania remains in custody.  The coup continues to be strongly condemned by the international community.  The U.S., E.U., African Union, and other countries have all joined the chorus (including Algeria this afternoon).  Most nations have cut all non-humanitarian aid to the country pending the reinstatement of the legitimate government.  The Arab League has not yet taken a collective position on the coup.  The online mainstream press has been relatively good at following the situation in Mauritania.  I would recommend Google News as a good over all resource for news.
 
Press reports quoted the leader of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) as having called for the establishment of a caliphate style state in Mauritania.  I want to assure you all that PC staff members in both Nouakchott and Washington are following the situation closely and your safety and security is our primary focus.  I am in daily contact with the U.S. embassy.  If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (648-1783).  I would be pleased to answer any questions you have.    
 
I would also stress that the mood in Nouakchott remains calm and businesses are operating normally both in Nouakchott and in the regions as well.
 
To the trainees, we are moving forward with your swear-in as scheduled.  At this stage, we are expecting to keep the ceremony low key (no press and no government authorities).  Ambassador and Mrs. Boulware will be joining us for the celebration.
 
I would like to remind you all of the importance of keeping your family and friends informed of your well-being.  Please keep in contact with them! 
 
Thank you all again for your professionalism and positive attitudes.  It has helped a great deal in our ability to manage this situation.  It is my sincere honor to be serving with you.
 
Best Regards --- Obie

Back on the home front, Adam was not able to attend out annual Man's Weekend (for obvious reasons), so we poured a little out to give him mad-props.  That's how we do.

Although the current situation in Georgia is obviously getting the lion’s share of attention in the news media it might be worth noting that just over a week and a half ago the only "elected democracy” in the Arab World fell as an ambitious group of officers under the lead of Gen. Mohamed ould Abdelaziz ousted Mauritanian President Abdellahi who had himself been installed in an election AFTER a coup.  I am not going to pretend to be an expert on the ins and outs of the Mauritanian scene and for some more informed commentary there are well written and thoughtful posts on both the Moor Next Door and Western Sahara blog.    What I am curious about and what I imagine is causing some potentially late nights for analysts in  AFRICOM is the prospect of yet more chaos and confusion in the Maghreb/Sahel region: a place which already has more than its fair share of complicated and protracted transborder issues.

The principal reason that this is so vexing from a US security perspective is the ongoing campaign by terrorist groups in the Maghreb who are to varying degrees aligned with or sympathetic to Al-Qaeda and their preference for operating in places where government officials can be relied upon to turn a blind eye or simply don’t exist to interfere with their operations.  I haven’t read anything reliable that estimates to what degree such groups might be operating in Mauritania (there was an attack on the Israeli embassy earlier this year) but you would have to conclude based on the total confusion, the almost nonexistent international response to the coup and porous border with Mali, Algeria, and Western Sahara/Morocco that there is plenty of space to operate especially if an already limited Mauritanian military presence is distracted by all the cloak and dagger in Nouakchott.

As the previous post about Somaliland might indicate, we here at Parmenides Fallacy have a rather strong interest in parts of the globe that break-away, formally secede, are "semi", outright “failed” or have their own non FIFA recognized soccer team (alla Zanzibar). I will leave it to others to decide where to categorize Mauritania on the continuum but I think it’s worth noting that tackling any of the major problems in the region requires cooperation between countries, who historically have slightly less than friendly relations, and have a tenous amount of control at best over their borders.  This coup has all the makings of a serious step backwards whether you are concerned about fighting Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, promoting democracy in the MENA region, reducing human trafficking to the Canaries, or stopping the flow of contraband cigarettes through the Sahara.  Ok admittedly probably just about no one in the region is in favor of stopping the flow of contraband cigarettes.

The fact that the international response has been so limited is a damning indictment of the current state of international cooperation in the region.   Not that this part of Africa has ever been of particular concern to the Western powers except France

but given that two strong Western allied countries; Senegal and Morocco are just next door you would think that this would warrant a slightly bigger response from US officials, at the moment Algeria and France seem to be the leading critics of this coup.   It’s all very interesting stuff and I will be curious to see what happens in the long run-- no doubt if things get too much worse we can always look forward to Mauritania being added to our much hyped list of “new Somalia(s).”

The nation of Mauritania faces a myriad of social, political and economic problems, which has greatly impacted it's ability to develop. While most Mauritanians live and work in urban centers, a sizable number still depend on agriculture and animal husbandry, specifically in rural areas where the government has had little influence in affecting policy. One area where this is most apparent has been with gavage, or the practicing of force feeding. In his book Mauritania, Alfred G. Gerteiny wrote this of gavage:

Women are subjected to gavage-that is, forced feeding, in order to gain weight. Fathers send daughters 10 or 11 years of age to live with herdtending dependent aznagui who see to it that the girls gain weight ... often by being tied to the ground, and, to expand their stomachs, given nothing by water for three days. Then they are crammed with milk, usually camel's milk.

Though decades have passed since Gerteiny wrote of the practice, gavage still occurs. In Mauritania, women who are overweight, or in some cases, obese, are considered beautiful and alternatively, women who weigh what we here would consider a healthy weight are shunned. In recent years, the government and NGO's have forcefully led a campaign to discourage the practice. The forceful feeding of adolescent girls creates a plethora of health complications as the young girls mature into women. In the larger cities, the practice has visibly been cut, both by a changing of the times and by the discouragement of the practice. However, things are different in the desert, where people continue traditional practices.

One woman told the BBC:

"I make them eat lots of dates, lots and lots of couscous and other fattening food,"

But even in the cities, the reduction in gavage has not impacted the allure of obesity, which is still a pervasively dominant paradigm.

One woman told the Christian Science Monitor.

"The real gavage is on the point of becoming extinct. But there's a new method ... They take pills, some of them ones you usually give to an animal."

While the practice of force feeding has reduced, obesity is still seen as a sign of beauty and women continue to go to great lengths and widths to gain weight. Al Jazeera explores the issue of gavage and the changing psyche of Mauritanians in their Africa Uncovered series.

Part 1

Part 2

Después de tomar el poder por golpe de estado el 7 de Agosto, la Junta Militar libera al Primer Ministro, Yayha Ahmed Waqef. El presidente Abdallahi continúa preso.

(New York Times)

Conoce más en http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/world/africa/12briefs-PRIMEMINISTE_BRF.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=Mauritania&st=cse&oref=slogin

The Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD), which was the main opposition party under Abdallahi, supported the coup; its leader, Ahmed Ould Daddah (who was defeated by Abdallahi in the 2007 presidential election), told Al Jazeera on August 12 that the coup was "a movement to rectify the democratic process". Abdel Aziz met with political parties to discuss the formation of a new government.

The APP said that it would not participate in this government, but the RFD said that it intended to "study the offer". 106 of the 151 members of both houses of Parliament (67 out of 95 deputies and 39 out of 56 senators said in a statement on August 13 that they supported the coup. According to this statement, the coup occurred "in the context of an acute political and institutional crisis" and Abdallahi "only listened to sycophants". The statement also urged international support. Aside from the members of Parliament, 191 out of 216 mayors also supported the coup.

Abdel Aziz appointed Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, a former ambassador, as Prime Minister on August 14, 2008. Laghdaf was already closely associated with Abdel Aziz, and some suggested that he might have been appointed in hopes that doing so would help international relations due to Laghdaf's diplomatic service in the European Union. Waghef said at a news conference on the same day that this appointment was "illegal" and that the government he had headed was still the legitimate government.

It was reported on August 15 that 71 out of 95 deputies wanted an extraordinary session of Parliament to be held on August 20, with the intention of appointing members to a special court; this could in turn lead to a trial of Abdallahi and some of the ministers who had served under him for alleged mishandling of state affairs.

“Raise the banner of jihad and let us bleed and have our limbs severed until we bring back a caliphate styled along the lines of The Prophet’s way,” the leader of the Al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb, Abu Mus’ab Abd el-Wadoud, said in a statement posted on the Internet last week. 

In several Washington circles, there is a tendency to blame/ attribute Al-Qaeda to random phenomena. Drugs in Morocco? Al Qaeda. Jihadists in Cairo? Al Qaeda... Everything in Afghanistan? Al Qaeda. How much of "Al Qaeda" is a well-organized international Islamist movement ..and how much of "it" is people wanting to get high or people protesting against Mubarak?.... Feham 3laya? (" You know what I mean?")

Widely seen as self-important and arrogant, she had insulted members of the military and the Senate. The Khatou Boukhari Association (KBA), a charitable group established by the former First Lady, was the largest humanitarian group in the country. Members of the Senate accused Khatou of using its funds for bribes and to finance other forms of corruption. Newspapers caught on, releasing the accusations to the public. She filed a libel suit against one paper in 2007 over the charges, but the case dropped. On official visits abroad she called her accusers in the Senate "liars" and fraudsters. Earlier on in her husband's Presidency she had made public statements in which she announced that now that she was President time to "crush" the opposition. Last winter her foundation used its funds to throw an enormous and extortionate party in the capital, featuring a live performance by Cheb Khaled. This as one of the world's poorest country was on the verge of famine amid rising food and fuel prices. For whatever good work it did, KBA was as much a bastion of Third World corruption as could be. Members of parliament threatened an official investigation into its finances; something that would have ended the Abdallahi's presidency with less honor than the Generals' solution to the Sidi problem.

Mauritanians joke that their country's population is really closer to 10 million people. A 7 million strong jinn population lives side-by-side with 3 million or so human beings. These jinn, they say, are responsible for the country's ills, which are so monumental that mortals alone could not have prosecuted them. This said, superstitions and belief in magic are common in Mauritania, a testament to its position at the intersection between Moorish and black African culture. Khatou's resolute and sincere belief in the powers of the black arts are well known. Months ago, members of the Presidential Guard found two female members of Khatou's entourage digging a hole on the grounds of the Presidential Palace. On further investigation they discovered that the women were burying a donkey's head, which had pins and needles stuck into it, with talismans drawn drafted on its cheeks. After the coup, another member of her entourage was arrested carrying a rooster with all its feathers plucked out. On one side of its body, the name of General Ghazouani was written; on the other General Abdel Aziz's. The rooster remains under police custody until further notice. The women served as the First Lady's intermediaries between her Malian and Senegalese "Black Magic Entrepreneurs," whose payment came at the state's expense. She is known to have used "offensive" and "defensive" witchcraft against (mostly female) rivals in Nouakchott's high society, to whom she attributes whatever her woe of the moment may be.

As she inserted herself into the public eye, her husband's credability and popularity dipped. She blabbered and swindled at her husband's expense. Her misconduct is surely amplified by the fact that she is a woman in a society where women with magnanimous (and indeed, obnoxious) personalities have yet to find appreciation in the public sphere. And there is a hint of sexism to be found in the tone of those blaming her for her husband's demise. But her corruption and aggressiveness has a place in the story of the coup, alongside her husband's inability to produce any meaningful semblance of leadership

The post will be taken by Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, Mauritania's former ambassador to the European Union, state media said on Thursday.

Coming from the southwestern region of Hodh Chargui, considered key electorally, Mr Laghdaf is a member of the influential Tajakant tribe.

After ousting Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, the country's president, in a bloodless coup, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the coup leader, has promised to appoint a government, before holding presidential elections.

Judging by his European diplomatic contacts, Mr Laghdaf may have been appointed in an attempt to lessen international condemnation of the coup, say observers.

'Political and institutional crisis'

But the EU has said that the bloc would prefer Mauritania to return to the pre-coup situation and have the old government restored.

Saying that the coup was carried out "in the interest of the Mauritanian people", a majority of Mauritanian politicians from both the senate and the lower house declared their support for the coup on Wednesday.

The members issued a statement that said the coup had been carried out "in the context of an acute political and institutional crisis" brought about by Mr Abdallahi who "only listened to sycophants".

The world powers have been called on by politicians to support the coup leaders"in their objectives to preserve the stability of the country".

General Abdel Aziz ousted Mauritania's first democratically elected president, formed the State Council comprised of 11 military officials to the government and promised to hold elections quickly, though he did not give any dates.

Global food crisis

Earlier this week, the general began consulting political parties about the formation of a transitional government.

As it imports more than 70 per cent of its food needs, Mauritania, a desert country, has been affected by the global food crisis.

In November last year, the northwestern African country faced food riots and the UN World Food Programme warned in March that the country faced a year of record hunger.

Seven people, including four French tourists, have been killed in three attacks from groups linked to al-Qaeda.

Before the coup, the country went through months of political tension and two recent government reshuffles.

Does this mean that the U.S. is now going to help take on the non-Islamically run government that has unjustly, overtaken a democratically-elected, U.S.-ally, Islamic government? Didn't think so.

City readies warehouse for mass DNC arrests [Rocky Mountain News] - Warehouse. Kind of like how they call people locked up awaiting their court date in New York "bodies". Complete with chain link fences with barbed wire tops, stun gun warnings. And just like was done in other cities as shown in Alex Jones' Police State 2 the Takeover. Email this out and call it in to every news organization and demand they cover this! Once the public knows this at large it won't be stood for. Americans aren't as dumbed down as we are made out to be. Watch Police State 2 on Google Video.

Man accused of locking family in trash-filled trailer [CNN] - "After Thurmond's arrest, the trailer was cleaned out, but yellow jackets swarmed around a Dumpster full of trash -- including a stroller, car seat and toys -- from the trailer. A horrible stench still lingers. Anthills remain under a mattress in the master bedroom, maggots creep around the trailer, and roaches roam inside the fridge."

Report: U.S. Refuses Israel Weapons to Attack Iran [AP] - Just like I've said. Iran is off the table. Daniel Estulin, who exposes the activities of Bilderberg attendees, said that the Europeans said Iran was off the table back in 2006, Jim Tucker revealed that the European attendees at Chantilly in July were not for it, and more and more evidence is showing by the day that this is the case, despite the threatening gestures being made by both "sides".

It would crack the world economies too fast and even their own wealth would be in jeopardy. The Illuminati always do things that are to most, unexpected, to pump the maximum shock through the human group mind, even though they use the same principles of attack every time. Who would have thought that Georgia would pull that stunt on the opening day of the Olympics? Israel and the Zionists, from what it looks to me, will have their leash yanked if they try anything there. Because they are still subordinate to the agenda. Everyone is expendable if they become a liability. In 2000, Raphael de Rothschild just died in the street in New York City. There have been other suspicious deaths in that family in history.

Brain will be battlefield of future, warns US intelligence report [The Guardian] - "The report warns that while the US and other western nations might now consider themselves at the forefront of neuroscience, that is likely to change as other countries ramp up their computing capabilities. Unless security services can monitor progress internationally, they risk "major, even catastrophic, intelligence failures in the years ahead", the report warns." Hence a main reason for the EU-US data sharing. What is with that devil drawing or whatever that is? Reminds me of those pictures that supposedly have demon faces in them taken at the WTC. I have no idea and cannot say either way whether they are real or but I will make note of it here because it certainly is possible in this crazy universe. And the skull underneath that. Why is that there for?

Russia to US: Choose Georgia or us [CNN] - "Russia pressed the United States on Wednesday to choose between "a real partnership" with Moscow or an "illusory" relationship with U.S. ally Georgia. Washington said it's sticking with Georgia." And the buildup to the deliberately manipulated into WW3 continues. Read this to see what I mean. Ossetia is just a struggle for control of territory, I now believe. The 2000+ deaths and mass people displacement is the worst that will happen in the region military conflictwise.

Knights Templar to Vatican: Give us back our assets [The Register] - One of several offshoot groups, the biggest one of which is known in modern times as the freemasons. I cringe as I post this. I can see the tabloid lovers who don't even care about history drooling over this. Oh...templars.....secret society....secret....wow!

Pelosi slammed in LA on failure to impeach Bush [LA Times] - Yeah, failure. Blocking every impeachment push and ignoring every resolution on the subject. Ms "impeachment is off the table" Failure my ass. There's a youtube clip so all can watch this traitor being talked to exactly how she should be.

Syria and Lebanon agree diplomatic relations [Reuters] - Rice is for it, so those countries are probably siding with the controllers of the US.

Mauritania's military junta names prime minister [AP] - And who are they siding with? US and France cut off aid to the country in response.

Russia may not have attacked Georgia websites [ChannelWeb] - War propaganda. The information in this article supports this line of thought.

Tsvangirai Stopped from Leaving Zimbabwe [New York TImes] - "In a blow to prospects for a settlement of Zimbabwe’s political crisis, agents of the country’s intelligence service Thursday confiscated the passports of the chief opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, and his party’s main strategist at the airport in the Zimbabwean capital and prevented them from boarding a flight to Johannesburg, opposition officials said."

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Demands Written Guarantee [Allafrica.com] - It keeps being called a power sharing deal. If one guy is the head of state, then there's no sharing anything. This Tsvangirai guy won't agree to it unless he becomes head of government. How do we know that he was democratically elected himself in the first place? Tsvangirai looks very reptilian and crooked. I don't trust him for a second. Zimbabwe is an extraordinarily natural resource rich country. Mugabe is also tight with China, and I strongly believe that this sudden media focus on Mugabe and the Zimbabwean situation after nearly thirty years of ignoring it, is to get Mugabe out and get a pro-West, anti China puppet in.

Pakistan coalition snubs Musharraf reconciliation plea [AFP] - Looks like the latest Al-CIAda video criticizing Musharraf for being so pro-West didn't have the expected effect. It'll take something dirtier to keep Musharraf in.

American and British Airways Plan an Alliance [New York Times] - Airlines are dying and merging all over the place. Stewart Swerdlow says there is an agenda to merge all existing airlines into one, creating bad service policies to justify this. If this is true, the world should see calls across the spectrum for a single world airline. If.

TV Networks Rewrite the Definition of a News Bureau [New York Times] - Bloggers and the alternative media are eating their lunch. They have to change or die out.