Kuwait clamps down on Gulf critics

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32018785



This BBC article highlights the plight of a Kuwaiti satirist named Muhammad al-Aimi, who was recently detained by Kuwaiti State Security in response to a Twitter Post.  al-Aimi, who posts under the name Abo Asam, has 151 thousand followers on the social media site.  In late January, he was pulled over by five cars and was handcuffed, blindfolded, and taken away by more than ten armed men. Not a stranger to being detained for his critical posts concerning religious and political figures, this event was different in that he was arrested for comments he had posted criticizing Saudi Arabian officials.  The charges were offending the Saudi royal family and harming the image of human rights in Saudi Arabia. While it is not uncommon for Arab states to police their citizens in regard to political activism against the nation, it is a new trend recently instituted by Kuwait to police its citizens that make critical comments about the political leaders of neighboring countries.  According to a Kuwaiti official, citizens' rights remain "protected and guaranteed."  But, he then adds this caveat, "What is the point of democracy and freedom if you do not have security?"  People often debate "civil liberties versus security."  But it seems the Kuwaiti State Security have taken this debate to a new, more dubious level.    

Kerry Says U.S. May Negotiate With Assad

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/15/kerry-says-u-s-may-negotiate-with-assad.html

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's statements made some headlines this week.  Kerry announced the U.S. may negotiate with Syrian president Bashar al Assad to end the now five year old civil war in Syria.  This comment shows a change in stance by the United States regarding al Assad. Previously, all U.S. Statements were quite adamant in stating Assad must go.  Kerry's statement comes on the heels of a statement by CIA director John Brennan that a collapse of the Syrian government would create a danger of Islamic Extremist groups, namely IS, of seizing power.

These comments show the Utilitarian nature of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.  This foreign policy seems to measure the greater good in its decisions.  Unfortunately, the United States determination of what this greater good actually is is seemingly as nebulous and quick to change as the political theater in the region.  In this case, the "Pros and Cons" list has clearly evolved.  Initially, Assad needed to be removed as he was killing peaceful protesters.  The greater good seemed to involve the suffering Syrian people.  Now, as the threat of IS grows, the greater good has shifted to one of stabilization.  Suddenly, the enemy has become the enemy of my enemy, and this is apparently an entirely different proposition.  

Detained Saudi Blogger's Second Round of Flogging Postponed

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31061125

This article discusses the plight of Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi.  In 2012, Badawi was arrested and charged with "insulting Islam through electronic channels" and "going beyond the realm of obedience."  Badawi established the Liberal Saudi Network in 2008.  This was an online forum that encouraged debate on religious and political matters.  Badawi was cleared of charges of "Apostasy" and the death sentence that charge carried with it.  The charges he was found guilty of carry a sentence of 1000 lashes and 10 years imprisonment for insulting Islam.  His first of twenty rounds of lashing was carried out early last month.

This story relates in several ways to the information in our text.  First, Saudi Arabia represents a very clear example of the "connection between the social life of the culture, and its religion" (Rosenstand, 2013, p.16).  This story has gathered international condemnation and drawn attention to the reality of Saudi Arabia.  People in the West are unused to a religious government controlling social discourse with such a heavy hand.  As Rosenstand (2013) states, "philosophical investigation of moral issues must involve more than faith in a religious authority" (p. 17).  The reality, as demonstrated in this story, is that the ethical investigation process that we have grown accustomed to in the West is illegal in this part of the world.

Rosenstand, N. (2013). The Moral of the Story, An Introduction to Ethics, 7th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw- Hill.