Libya

Pierre Korkie was a South African teacher working in Yemen, where his wife, Yolande, did hospital relief work. They were kidnapped by al-Qaeda operatives in May 2013. Yolande Korkie was released without ransom payment in January 2014. Pierre Korkie, however, was held for a $3 million ransom. On December 5, he was murdered by his kidnappers during the course of the failed U.S. effort to free American journalist Luke Somers, who was also killed. The South African non-governmental organization Gift of the Givers has said that it had secured Korkie’s release, scheduled for the following day with the payment of a $200,000 ransom. Hence, Korkie was murdered apparently only a few hours before he was to be released. It is usual al-Qaeda practice to murder its kidnap victims at the first sign of a rescue operation. South Africa, like the United States, does not pay ransom and does not engage with terrorist groups. Establishment South African reaction to Korkie’s murder has been dignified and restrained. The tone has been set by Yolande Korkie who has refused to finger-point and has called for the forgiveness of her husband’s murderers. Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, has said that he does not blame the U.S. as “…They were acting in the interest of their own citizen. Any government would do that.” However, Stevens Mokgalapa, the shadow minister of international relations and cooperation of the Democratic Alliance, in his condolence message called on the South African government to “urgently engage with American representatives to get to the bottom of the circumstances that led to Mr. Korkie’s death.” Popular reaction in the media has been more variable. There is skepticism about the U.S. assertion that the planners of the failed rescue attempt did not know that Somers and Korkie were being held in the same space. Imtiaz Sooliman is reported by the New York Times as saying that his NGO had not informed American or Yemeni officials of the planned released because it had been told by al-Qaeda to keep the plans “confidential.” From the beginning of the kidnapping of Pierre and Yolande Korkie it has been working for their release. Gift of the Givers, founded in 1992, is the largest disaster relief organization of African origin. It has worked in Bosnia, Pakistan, Somalia, and Haiti, among other places. It is Islamic in character (South Africa has a small but vibrant Muslim community). The New York Times makes the important point that a no-ransom policy may lead family members of kidnap victims to become “amateur negotiators” with terrorists, and the Korkie tragedy shows “the dangerous disconnect that can occur when civilians are left to negotiate hostage releases on their own.” As in the United States, the Korkie tragedy is likely to lead to calls for a re-evaluation of South Africa’s no-ransom policy. Yet the arguments for it remain sound. In some parts of the Sahel, ransom payments have become the largest single source of revenue for radical jihadis.

Yezid Sayegh, in an interview with Syria Deeply, argues that a deteriorating situation in Syria may incentivize some rebels to strike a deal with the Assad regime. Ismail Dbara looks at how Tunisia is responding to the growing crisis in Libya. Mazal Mualem sees the upcoming Israeli elections as more focused on removing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than security issues or the economy.

This is a guest post by Amanda Roth, a former intern for the Council on Foreign Relations Africa Program. She is a graduate student at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, where she studies international security policy.  Last year, the horrific shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa brought international attention to the dangers faced by the thousands of migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea to find safety in Europe. The wreck, which occurred less than a quarter-mile from Italy’s shores, killed 366 migrants from Eritrea and Somalia. The Mediterranean is the world’s deadliest migrant crossing, according to the International Organization for Migration, with more than three thousand reported deaths so far this year. That number is up from approximately seven hundred the year before, and accounts for 75 percent of all documented migrant deaths worldwide. More people are making the journey from Africa and more people are dying. In response, the Italian government launched Operation Mare Nostrum. Run by the Italian Coast Guard, the operation has saved the lives of more than 150,000 people. Yet, as of November 1, 2014, Operation Mare Nostrum came to an end, leaving the fate of the thousands of migrants expected to attempt future journeys uncertain. There is no adequate replacement for the now-expired Operation Mare Nostrum. Despite the program’s success, it ended due to “unsustainable” costs. Instead, Mare Nostrum will be replaced by Operation Triton, which is run by the EU and is significantly smaller in scope and has one-third the budget of Mare Nostrum. It will not have an explicit search and rescue function. Instead, the operation will only patrol within thirty miles of Italy’s borders. There is little political support among EU governments for larger search and rescue missions. Last week, the United Kingdom announced that it would not contribute to future rescue missions. Although the country has received harsh criticism for the decision, James Brokenshire, UK immigration minister, defended the choice, arguing that “since Italy launched its Mare Nostrum operation in October 2013, there has been an unprecedented increase in illegal immigration across the Mediterranean and a four-fold increase in the deaths of those making that perilous journey.” Networks of smugglers charge migrants large sums of money in exchange for passage. These human traffickers have been accused of grave human rights abuses, including the rape and torture of migrants. The UK and others accuse the smugglers of abusing existing search and rescue missions by knowingly using unsafe boats and hoping their human cargo is rescued and brought to European shores. Does Operation Mare Nostrum encourage migrants to make the dangerous journey? Although it may contribute, it isn’t the entire reason. Ongoing conflicts and brutal repression in Somalia, Eritrea, and elsewhere have caused tens of thousands of refugees to flee. Turmoil in northern Africa following the Arab Spring means that fewer refugees are settling in Egypt and Libya, preferring to risk the crossing to the EU. While Italy’s Mare Nostrum has saved tens of thousands of lives, it still hasn’t been able to respond to the full scope of the crisis. A few days after the UK’s announcement in October, for example, a boat sank off the coast of Libya. Although the Italian Coast Guard rescued ninety-three people, another twenty African migrants died. Tightened border security, stricter scrutiny of asylum claims, and the close patrol of traditional land routes have driven many migrants to try and reach Europe by sea. Now that Mare Nostrum has ended, many more are likely to die. Despite the United Kingdom’s claims, it’s far from clear that the decision not to support rescue missions will reduce the numbers of people making the journey. Will the European Union really turn its back on the thousands of refugees trying to reach safe shores?

Explore the Qatar Digital Library, an archive featuring the cultural and historical heritage of the Gulf and the wider region. Janet Basurto, writing for Egyptian Streets, explores the reasons behind Egypt’s intervention in Libya. Mark N. Katz examines the security worries of the GCC countries.

Significant Developments ISIS-Turkey. Turkey announced on Monday that it would allow Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces to cross its border to come to Kobani’s defense, five weeks after the start of ISIS’s assault on the town. U.S. military planes airdropped ammunition, small arms, and medical supplies over Kobani on Sunday to resupply depleted Kurdish fighters. However, the Daily Beast reported on Tuesday that ISIS had posted a video online in which it claimed to have intercepted some of the munitions dropped by the United States. Iran. The New York Times reported on Sunday that the Obama administration would not seek Congressional approval if a deal is struck with Iran over its nuclear program. Any such deal would most certainly include the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States. While only Congress can permanently lift the sanctions, the president is likely to choose not to “seek congressional legislation in any comprehensive agreement for years,” according to a senior official. The suspension of the current economic sanctions against Iran would only be authorized once the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) determines that Iran has complied with the conditions imposed by the United States and other Western powers. However, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano announced on Monday that Iran had not yet complied with an agreement to disclose information about its nuclear activity approximately two months after the August 25 deadline to do so. U.S. Foreign Policy Syria. New evidence has emerged that the Assad regime is using chlorine on civilians in northern Syria, less than a month after the joint OPCW-UN mission announced that it had completed removing Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation, Simon Limage, said on Monday that “It is virtually impossible to account for, eliminate and ban its [chlorine] use, because it has so many legitimate commercial uses.” Iraq. Four former Blackwater security guards were convicted yesterday in a U.S. federal court for their roles in killing seventeen Iraqi civilians during the 2007 Nisour Square shooting in Iraq. The jury convicted them on charges of murder, manslaughter, and possession of weapons. Saudi Arabia. The Periodic Review Board approved Muhammed Murdi Issa al Zahrani, the Saudi detainee and al-Qaeda affiliate, for release from Guantanamo Bay on Monday. The Board, which was established in March 2011 by President Barack Obama’s executive order, also determined that al Zahrani could be repatriated provided that security concerns in the host country were addressed. While We Were Looking Elsewhere Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi traveled to Iran on Tuesday for his first foreign visit since being appointed in September. Al-Abadi announced that “choosing Iran as [his] first destination after taking office indicates the depth of ties.” Meanwhile, the Iraqi Parliament filled the important Interior and Defense minister posts. Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban, a member of the Badr Organization, a Shiite political group and militia, was appointed interior minister. Badr officials had threatened to withdraw from government if one of their members was not nominated for the post. The defense minister is Khalid al-Obeidi, a Sunni engineer for the Iraqi air force. Libya. Libya’s internationally recognized government, led by Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni, announced on Tuesday that its troops are prepared to recapture the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Renewed clashes between pro-government militias led by General Haftar and rival armed groups in the past five days have resulted in seventy-five casualties. Meanwhile, Ahmed Abu Khattala, the man charged with orchestrating last year’s attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that killed four U.S. officials, including the late Ambassador Chris Stevens, pleaded not guilty on Monday. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper has ordered Khattala to be held without bond until his next hearing on December 9. Khattala was captured by U.S. Special Forces in Libya in June. Lebanon. UNHCR country representative Ninette Kelley told the Daily Star that Lebanon’s borders would remain open to Syrian refugees, although in reduced numbers. Her remarks came in response to comments by Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas on Monday that implied Lebanon would not accept any more refugees. Syria. The European Union officially named sixteen individuals and two companies to be targeted in sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The companies include Pangates International Corporation Ltd, based in the United Arab Emirates, which acts as an intermediary in the supply of oil to the regime, and its Syrian parent company, Abdulkarim Group. The individuals targeted were twelve ministers from Assad’s new government who were appointed in late August, two energy company executives, and two military officers responsible for “violent repression against civilian population in Syria.” Israel-Palestine. A three-month old baby was killed and several other civilians were injured yesterday evening after a Palestinian man ran over passengers disembarking from a light rail train in Jerusalem. The suspect, Abdel Rahman Al-Shaludi, is a resident of the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem and is reportedly affiliated with Hamas. Israeli police have confirmed he was shot while trying to run away from the scene and later died in the hospital. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered extra police patrols in Jerusalem and declared that he is holding PA President Mahmoud Abbas accountable for the attack. On Monday, Palestinians attacked a building with Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs in protest against Israelis moving into Silwan. The housing purchases were facilitated by Ateret Cohanim, an NGO working to settle Jewish Israelis into Arab area of Jerusalem. Yemen. According to Al Jazeera, a UN panel of experts is preparing to impose sanctions on five prominent political figures accused of undermining Yemen’s democratic transition. This is the first time specific individuals have been targeted since the UN Security Council authorized sanctions against anyone attempting to “obstruct Yemen’s political transition or commit human rights violations” in February. The accused include Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former Yemeni president, and his son, Ahmed Ali, who is currently the Yemeni ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. The United Nations also plans to sanction three leading members of the Houthi rebel group: Abdulmalik al-Houthi, the leader, Abdulkhaleq al-Houthi, and military chief Abu Ali al-Hakem. Saudi Arabia. Thirteen people were sentenced to prison by a Saudi court on Tuesday for plotting an Al-Qaeda attack against U.S. forces stationed in Qatar and Kuwait. The accused were convicted of planning to target the forces with hand grenades and rockets. Their sentences ranged from eighteen months to thirty years. Meanwhile, a special Saudi court sentenced two people to death for their role in the Shiite protests that began three years ago. A third defendant was imprisoned for twelve years. The sentences are meant to have a “deterrent” effect, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai reports on the mysteries surrounding Egypt’s new surveillance system. Rozh Ahmad interviews a former member of ISIS. Thalia Beaty evaluates the efforts of the United Nations to build peace in Libya.

After 30 years, Beirut’s Maghen Abraham synagogue has been restored and is scheduled to reopen. Zamaaan offers a glimpse into a people’s history of the Middle East via crowd-sourced family photos. Adela Suliman reports on Misrata’s economic and social rejuvenation.

Orit Bashkin examines the role of the radical Israeli left. Ali Mamouri, writing for Al-Monitor, explores why the Islamic State and other fundamentalist Salafi groups refuse to support Hamas. Filmmaker Rachel Beth Anderson reports on the growing instability in Libya.

This article was originally published here on Muftah on Tuesday, April 22, 2014.  It has been more than three years since the uprisings in the Arab world began.  The civil war in Syria, the persistent conflict between rebel militias and the government in Libya, the return of authoritarianism in Egypt, and the ongoing bloody crackdown in Bahrain all make for considerable hand-wringing among regional observers—to say nothing of Middle Easterners themselves, who once hoped for a better future. Each post-uprising election, constitutional reform, and declaration of faith in democracy by people who never previously committed to democratic ideals have not become the “turning points” that so many hoped they would be. Instead of democratic transitions, a diverse range of political systems is the most likely result of the uprisings, among which democracy seems the least probable. Some analysts believe political trends or indicators are actually moving in the right direction, and claim the region’s remaining despots cannot possibly cling to power when their citizens have become politicized and mobilized. They also see what is happening in the Middle East today as a process comparable to the wrenching emergence of democracy in Europe. These assessments, however preliminary, are based on hope and faith rather than facts on the ground.  In Egypt, the old political order—discredited long before the January 25 uprisings—remains essentially intact, which hinders the development of a new more just system.  Those who previously lent their voices and prestige to democratic activism have, after three tumultuous years, become authoritarians in spite of themselves. Continue reading here...

Flipboard.com’s  booklet of news related to press and media freedom across the Arab world. Turkey’s internet problem.  Reporters Without Borders worries about the lack of freedom of information in Libya and its effect on the prospects for democracy.

Rodger Shanahan says that Shiites fighting in Syria are doing so not for sectarian reasons, but rather for reasons of geopolitics and self-preservation. Mohammed Fadel argues that Egypt has returned to the status quo of the 1950s with the Free Officers’ moves to consolidate power by destroying their opponents. Imad Mesdoua analyzes Libya’s current security situation, discussing the country’s ever expanding network of militias.  

Alex Vines, director of Area Studies and International Law, and head of the Africa Program at Chatham House, a London based think-tank, has written a thoughtful article for CNN. He looks at U.S. counterterrorism operations in Africa, including questions about their legality under international law and their impact (often unintended) on weak African states. I agree with his point that U.S. military engagements can–and have–caused greater instability in some African venues, rather than countering successfully terrorism and other forms of instability. Vines tees-off his analysis with discussion of the October 5-6 U.S. military operations in Libya and Somalia. Vines recalls on-again, off-again American involvement since 1993 in Somalia, and makes a convincing argument (at least to me) that the effect was to promote radicalization in that country. Turning to contemporary terrorism, He reiterates the crucial point that “jihadi” terrorism is far from homogeneous–Boko Haram in Nigeria is very different from al-Shabaab in Somalia. But, such groups do well in weak states that are poorly governed. That reality implies that institution building, promotion of good governance, and more jobs is the way to address terrorism, rather than the quick fix of military action. But, that prescription requires sustained attention, now sorely lacking in paralyzed Washington. Also salutary is Vines’ reminder that “counterterrorism policies live on the edge of international law.” They can have consequences that are directly contrary to U.S. long-term interests.

Abdel Bari Atwan looks at the devastating reality of the "new" Libya. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen says that Syria is paying the price of international indecision. Nervana Mahmoud offers insight into how the Muslim Brotherhood has coped with its situation following the end of the pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo.

World leaders converged at the United Nations this week for the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly. The Middle East was well represented, with numerous heads of states and governments attending from across the region. Middle East Matters has excerpted remarks from Middle Eastern leaders who spoke from the General Assembly’s rostrum this week. The debate concludes next Tuesday. President Abdullah Gul, Turkey: On Syria: “Were it not for the use of chemical weapons, would the international community have continued to turn a blind eye to the deaths of more than a hundred thousand people? For how long can we afford to evade our moral responsibility to the people being killed even as we speak? This conflict neither began with the use of chemical weapons nor will it end with an agreement to eliminate them. We therefore bluntly reject any position that is not troubled by the killing of innocent people in itself, but only by the means of such killing. Such an approach is immoral and totally unacceptable.” On Syria and the United Nations Security Council: “It is a disgrace that the United Nations Security Council has failed to uphold its primary responsibility in this case. It is deeply regrettable that political differences, balance-of-power politics, and geopolitical considerations have prevailed over the imperative to end this tragedy.” King Abdullah II, Jordan: On regional issues: “Our region can be, must be, a House of Peace and Prosperity…But no house can be built when its city is burning.” On Syria: “The Syrian crisis is a global humanitarian and security disaster. Escalating violence threatens to hollow-out the rest of that country’s economic and political future.” “The flow of Syrian refugees in Jordan already equals one-tenth of our own population. It could reach one million, some 20% of our population, by next year. These are not just numbers; they are people, who need food, water, shelter, sanitation, electricity, health care and more. Not even the strongest global economies could absorb this demand on infrastructure and resources, let alone a small economy and the fourth water-poorest country in the world.” Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar: On Syria: “The Syrian people has not risen up for putting the Syrian chemical weapons under the international supervision but for getting rid of despotism and corruption and to end the injustice it has been facing.” On the United Nations Security Council: “We all know that the responsibility for failure to impose the political settlement we all prefer for Syria is due basically to the inability of the Security Council to take the required decision to stop the bloodshed and continued intransigence of the Syrian regime and its refusal of all regional and international initiatives. From this perspective, the decision-making process at the Security Council has become in need of change since it lacks fairness and objectivity.” On Palestine: “The organizations of the international community have been established on the basis of granting the right of self-determination after the world wars. And it is unreasonable that they could not do anything about the last colonial issue of our world.” President Hassan Rouhani, Iran: On Iran’s nuclear program: “Iran’s nuclear program…must pursue exclusively peaceful purposes. I declare here, openly and unambiguously, that, notwithstanding the positions of others, this has been, and will always be, the objective of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nuclear weapon and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran’s security and defense doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions.” “The Islamic Republic of Iran, insisting on the implementation of its rights and the imperative of international respect and cooperation in this exercise, is prepared to engage immediately in time-bound and result-oriented talks to build mutual confidence and removal of mutual uncertainties with full transparency.” On sanctions and international engagement: “Unjust sanctions…are intrinsically inhumane and against peace. And contrary to the claims of those who pursue and impose them, it is not the states and the political elite that are targeted, but rather, it is the common people who are victimized by these sanctions.” “[T]hose who harp on the so called threat of Iran are either a threat against international peace and security themselves or promote such a threat. Iran poses absolutely no threat to the world or the region.” On Syria: “Pursuit of expansionist strategies and objectives and attempts to change the regional balance through proxies cannot be camouflaged behind humanitarian rhetoric. The common objective of the international community should be a quick end to the killing of the innocent.” President Michel Sleiman, Lebanon: On Syria: “As for the most pressing and biggest burden, which has begun to take an existential dimension, it derives from an unprecedented increase in the numbers of incoming refugees from Syria, way beyond Lebanon’s capacity of assimilation, exceeding one fourth of Lebanon’s population.” “The Lebanese must also revert to their commitment to the ‘Baabda Declaration’ which sets out Lebanon’s disassociation from the negative fallout of the regional crises and the policy of axes...” On Palestine: “As for the main challenge, it still derives from the repercussions of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the persistence of the Israeli occupation and oppressive practices, as well as Israel’s attempt to establish more illegal settlements, and Judaize the city of Jerusalem (Al-Quds), and the failure of the international community to find a just and comprehensive solution for all the aspects of this conflict, especially with the subsequent Refugee problem in the neighboring host countries, in particular Lebanon, the enhanced sense of injustice and tendency for extremism and violence, and the resulting human and material losses that have hindered the projects of economic and social progress throughout the Arab nation.” Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah, Kuwait: On Iran’s nuclear program: “[T]he state of Kuwait supports the ongoing efforts to peacefully resolve this issue in a manner that will preserve the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran and all the countries in the region, to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under the supervision and monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency.” On Palestine: “We value in this respect the ongoing efforts of the United States of America to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process, hoping that persistent efforts and pressure on Israel will make it accept the resolutions of international legitimacy.” On relations with Iraq: “Through communications at the highest level between the leaderships of both countries, our bilateral relations have developed positively and tangibly by overcoming past differences between the two countries, and looking forward to strengthen and develop future bilateral relations for the welfare and interest of the peoples of both countries.” Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, Libya: On Libya: “The constituent body election law to draft a permanent constitution issued by the National Congress on July 20, 2013 is another step to accomplish the most important National agenda items, towards the formulation and adoption of a permanent constitution for Libya that would end a difficult transitional period the country is currently experiencing, with some security incidents and breaches occurring from time to time, that the official authorities are addressing with the available potentials.” On Palestine: “The time has now come for the international community to assume its responsibilities to end this tragedy as soon as possible, by taking urgent and decisive actions to ensure the full protection of the Palestinians, and to stop the daily suffering and relieve the injustice through comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue that would remove the occupation and enable the Palestinian people to restore their territory and establish their own independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital, and the return of all Palestinian refugees to their homes, according to the relevant international resolutions.” On Syria: “We reiterate our call to the UN Security Council to act in accordance with the concept of the Responsibility to Protect, in order to find a solution to the problem, through consensus among its members, to save the Syrian people from daily massacres and help in achieving their legitimate demands.” President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestine: On Palestine: “I am honored to address you today, and for the first time in the name of the State of Palestine, before the United Nations General Assembly, after your historic decision last 29 November to raise Palestine’s status to that of an observer State.” “The objective of the negotiations is to secure a lasting peace accord that leads immediately to the establishment of the independence of a fully sovereign State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on all of the Palestinian lands occupied in 1967, so that it may live in peace and security alongside the State of Israel, and the resolution of the plight of Palestine refugees in a just agreed upon solution according to United Nations resolution 194, as called for by the Arab Peace Initiative.” “Here we reaffirm that we refuse to enter into a vortex of a new interim agreement that becomes eternalized, or to enter into transitional arrangements that will become a fixed rule rather than an urgent exception. Our objective is to achieve a permanent and comprehensive agreement and a peace treaty between the States of Palestine and Israel that resolves all outstanding issues and answers all questions, which allows us to officially declare and end of conflict and claims.” “History teaches us – and it is the best teacher – that waging war, occupation, settlements and walls may provide temporary quiet and a momentary domination, but they certainly do not ensure real security nor guarantee a sustainable peace.” “Let us work to make the culture of peace reign, to tear down walls, to build bridges instead of walls, to open wide roads for connection and communication. Let us sow the seeds of good neighborliness. Let us envision another future that the children of Palestine and of Israel enjoy with peace and security, and where they can dream and realize their dreams, a future that allows Muslims, Christians and Jews to freely reach places of worship; and a future in which Israel will gain the recognition of fifty-seven Arab and Muslim countries and where the States of Palestine and Israel will coexist in peace, in order to realize each people’s hopes for progress and prosperity.” “The Palestinian people do not want to remain "out of place" in the words of Edward Said. Our people wait for a day when its cause ceases to be a fixed item on the agenda of the United Nations. Our people want to have freedom, God’s gift to humanity, and to enjoy the grace of living an ordinary life.” Vice President Khudheir Mussa Al-Khuzaie, Iraq On Syria: “[W]e in Iraq, whose people suffered tremendously from the horrors of war caused by the recklessness and follies of the defunct Saddam regime, are deeply concerned by the worsening events and tense situation on our borders with Syria, a country with which we have over 600 km long borders. This is why we consider the Syrian conflict a serious threat to our security, stability and the integrity of our land and people.” On regional issues: “[N]o pre or post 2015 sustainable development is attainable with the existence of organized terrorism thriving on the bloodshed of innocent people as it claims their lives. This scourge has adopted extremism as its approach, death as its craft, violence as its means, hatred as its culture and senseless and indiscriminate murder as its hobby.” On relations with Kuwait: “Iraq suffered for more than two decades from international sanctions because of the invasion of the State of Kuwait by the former regime, however the new Iraq has managed, through its cooperation with the international community on the one hand and through the development of its brotherly relations with the neighboring State of Kuwait, to overcome the effects of the sanctions and work together with UN Security Council...” “Today, we look forward together to build the present to be a springboard and a solid foundation for a prosperous future for the generations that will reflect its positive effects on the entire region.”