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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 21-Mar-2012
21-Mar-12 World View -- India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws

Web Log - March, 2012

21-Mar-12 World View -- India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws

In Egypt, public debate over police officers' requests for permission to grow beards

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

Pakistan's parliamentary commission demands end to American drone strikes
India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws
In Egypt, public debate over police officers' requests for permission to grow beards
China's housing prices and demand for iron ore continue to fall
France in biggest manhunt in history for Toulouse killer

Pakistan's parliamentary commission demands end to American drone strikes

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday (AP)

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday (AP)

A long-awaited report by a commission appointed by Pakistan's parliament on reestabilishing good relations with the United States was released on Tuesday, recommending an end to U.S. drone strikes inside Pakistan, and demanding an apology for the drone strikes last November that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. As a result of the November incident, Pakistan has closed its borders as a route for U.S. and Nato supply lines to Afghanistan, forcing Nato to find alternate supply routes. U.S. and Nato officials hope that they can Pakistan's borders will be opened again, but the issue of drone strikes is a sensitive one. The Pakistani people are opposed to drone strikes, but it's believed that Pakistan's intelligence service is secretly cooperating with the U.S. on drone strikes to kill militants in Pakistan's tribal areas. It's not likely that the U.S. will agree to end drone strikes, even if Pakistan demands it. AP

India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws

According to General John Allen, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, India is not only a major economic donor to Afghanistan, but also has offered to support the development of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), as U.S. and Nato forces withdraw. This announcement is certain to worry India's mortal enemy Pakistan, and will also worry analysts who fear that the Nato withdrawal will lead to a proxy war in Afghanistan between Pakistan and India. Times of India

In Egypt, public debate over police officers' requests for permission to grow beards

In America, the politicians are arguing over whether churches should have to pay for contraception. In France, politicians are arguing over whether Muslims and Jews should follow halal and kosher rituals for meat. In Egypt, there's a similar cultural argument between politics and religion. The Egyptians are arguing over whether Sharia law allows police officers to grow beards. Some 300 police officers have requested permission to grow beards, claiming that they should be allowed to do so, since Sharia law prescribes it. However, Egyptian clerics are siding with the Interior Ministry in demanding that bears be shaved to maintain a respectable, clean-shaven appearance, saying that growing a beard is a custom, rather than a religiously recommend practice. According to one journalist,

"If we support [Muslim] officers growing a beard, the Church will support [Christian] officers wearing a cross. If only it ended there – but it is likely to drag us into [religious] fanaticism, and cause [officers] to be loyal to their religion rather than to the homeland. Military activity [is governed by] laws intended to benefit the homeland rather than any [specific] party."

The issue has split the Islamist political parties, with the more moderate Muslim Brotherhood siding with the Interior Ministry, and the religiously conservative Salafist al-Nour party siding with those wishing to grow a beard. Memri

China's housing prices and demand for iron ore continue to fall

China's housing prices have continued their slide ever since the housing bubble began to burst last October. Premier Wen Jiabao said last week that China’s home prices remain far from a reasonable level and he called on the government to continue efforts to regulate the housing sector, since otherwise there would be "chaos." China's economy as a whole appears to be slowing. The latest indication is the BHP Billiton, the Australia-based mining firm and the biggest mining firm in the world, who says that China's demand for iron ore has slowed. Politicians and economists in Europe and America are counting on China to keep the world out of a major new recession, so the news of a slowing Chinese economy is triggering concern. Reuters and Bloomberg

France in biggest manhunt in history for Toulouse killer

Residents of Toulouse, France, especially Jews, Muslims, and other minorities, are fearful that the man who coldly and methodically killed three Jewish children and a schoolteacher on Monday is going to strike again. Authorities believe he's also responsible for the recent fatal shootings of three soldiers of North African origin. "This is someone who has killed every four days, who is extremely organised, who has a high-calibre weapon," according to a police official. Friday is day four. Euro News/Reuters

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 21-Mar-12 World View -- India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (21-Mar-2012) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 21-Mar-2012 21-Mar-12 World View -- India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws

Pakistan's parliamentary commission demands end to American drone strikes

India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws

In Egypt, public debate over police officers' requests for permission to grow beards

China's housing prices and demand for iron ore continue to fall

France in biggest manhunt in history for Toulouse killer

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 21-Mar-2012
21-Mar-12 World View -- India poised to replace Nato role in Afghanistan as Nato withdraws