Friday, September 21, 2007

Putin Shuffles Government, Posing Mystery

Reference

Chivers, C.J (2007, September 12). Putin Shuffles Government, Posing Mystery. Retrieved September 13, 2007 from the New York Times. http://nytimes.com


Summary

In Chivers's article, "Putin Shuffles Government, Posing Mystery", he tries to explain how and why the Russian President Has nominated one of his closest men Mr. Zubkov, as a Prime Minister, after accepting the resignation of the former Prime Minister Mr. Fradkov. He then says that this surprising nomination is the object of analysis and comments by some political actors and diplomats who are arguing to find out the main reason of the President for doing that. Next, he shows how the elections are organised and how the results are treated in Russia. He also underlines that the choice of that nomination should be approved by the parliament. In the end, he mentions the career of the nominated Prime Minister in other functions before this one and gives some statements and points of view of the former advisor to the Minister of economy, Mr. Remchukov, about the nominated Prime Minister.


Reaction

In politics, the games and strategies are sometimes used, but as I perceive this nomination, they must probably have a major hidden reason. According to me, the Russian President is using a sort of stratagem, in spite of the opinions of some politicians. He is seeking to prepare his successor and his support for the next president. As shown in the article, the actual Prime Minister is one of Putin's confidants, with whom he shares the same political views and ideologies. Probably, that might have influenced Mr. Putin to choose Mr. Zubkov for the presidency. The President is making himself more discrete; that is a positive side for a real statesman to not allow the public opinion to easily figure out your aspiration. The resignation of the former Prime Minister seems to be one of the government's secrets, which are sometimes difficult to be revealed because of some political realities. Who knows if that resignation was pushed or influenced by the President? That remains to be known.

The ideological reality is really considered in politics to preserve power and force, which are important elements in the sector. it's usually something done by a president by the end of his mandate in order to influence the successor to have the same polical tendency. Such an event happened recently in France. The former President Mr. Chirac had used Mr. Villepin as a Prime Minister to prepare him for the elections and to push back Mr. Sarkozy for the errand of Elysee because Mr. Villepin had the same political ideology as Mr. Chirac, compared to Mr. Sarkozy, despite the fact that they were all in the same political party. Surprisingly, Mr. Sarkozy was a favorite candidate in the party.

This is to illustrate how stakes are in politics and to state that the hidden diary of the Russian President is about his succession as he seemed to prepare Mr. Zubkov for the Presidency by making him maybe more responsible or by observing the way he will accomplish the task in order to have an idea about his choice for a candidate. Although that nomination has to get by the parliament for approval, there will be very little effect as a result because he is supervising everything, even in this parliament. In addition, the parliament is supposed to be independent for controlling all the government actions, but on the contrary, this one is not able to escape from the President's domination. At least a bad side about Mr. Zubkov is that he is not strongly well known as an influential political man; that's why his nomination creates some debates, but sometimes politics reserves surprises; that's why the Russian President is still trusting. And like all politicians, he may be thinking about both strategies and choices for the elections, after he leaves from the presidency.

Monday, September 17, 2007

U.N. Chief Heads to Sudan

Reference

Lederer, E.M (2007,September 03).U.N. Chief Heads to Sudan. Retrieved August 9, 2007,from http://www.time.com/world/article/0,8599,1658485,00.html

Summary

In this article "U.N.Chief Heads to Sudan", the author shows the concern and the ultimate wish of the U.N.Secretary General for peace in Sudan, and precisely in Darfur, where violence is increasing day after day. He explains that in order to stop those conflicts, which have caused a good amount of deaths in the population, two tasks had to be done. The first one is to deploy a mixed-peacekeeper force between the U.N. and the A.U. The second one is to push and to create a scheme for negotiations and peace between all the parties in conflicts. In order to do so he needs also the implication and the support of Sudan's president and government.

According to the author, both the U.N. Secretary General and Sudan's U.N. ambassador have expressed their willingness for peace in Darfur despite the fact that some difficulties might be encountered. Then, he talks about the wish of the U.N.Secretary General to help Sudanese refugees both in Chad and in the North part of Cental Africa. He then mentioned the source of those conflicts in Sudan which have caused the deaths of many people. In the end, he underlined the next step that the U.N.Secretary General will take in Libya to resolve issues with the rebel's group about peace agreements.

Reaction

I personally think that this idea is very nice because when I look at the Sudanese situation in Darfur, they are really suffering due to the political conflicts between the government and the rebel's force; furthermore, those two parties are accusing each other of the violence and the massacre but they express no feelings to stop fighting, killing, and destroying the population. One really important thing about that situation in Darfur concerns the U.N.Secretary General. Here is a man, a right ambitious political man, who has a vision about things and works with determination. This act is appreciable because it deserves it. Even if the situation seems complicated, for a politician it requires an open mind to change the situation; or another way to continue toward the goal.

The U.N. Secretary General is setting an example by trying to bring peace in a territory which is in total disorder and terrible violence. This solution is hard to be obtained in an environment where all conditions are not yet gathered. The U.N. Secretary General's determination proves that he is a good international leader because he wants to respect the main objectives of the U.N., which are to maintain peace and security in the entire world. Another important person is Sudan's U.N.ambassador; despite all those difficult conditions of his country, he shows his patriotism for peace in Darfur. This is a very good factor in politics because in order to serve your country you first need to love it.

The negotiations have always had an impact on achieving peace and without that it is difficult to get to the progress and development of the country. According to me the step that the U.N.Secretary General is undertaking in Darfur must call upon all Sudan's government to take real steps to cease fire because the fight for the power has a big impact on the civil population. They die every day and many of them leave their country, their residences, and their families to get abroad, just because the leaders are fighting for power. Also all political leaders of the world should be called on to resolve this situation.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Can Maliki Save His Coalition?

REFERENCE

Kukis, M. (2007, August 6). Can Maliki Save His Coalition? Retrieved August 30, 2007, from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1650070,00.html

SUMMARY

This article talks about the political situation in iraq, especially the governmental crisis that the Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki is undergoing. The author mentions that the crisis is due to the resignation from the government of some political factions. He claims that those factions are condemning the irresponsability of the Maliki's government about the Sunni's concerns and the US army's presence. Next he shows how this situation does not affect the Iraqi Prime Minister because he is being supported by the US president and he counts on other support in his country, even in the Sunni community, especially the support of Sittar (the leader of a tribal alliance in Anbar province. Finally he underlines some disadvantages of that coalition which engenders some debate in the Iraqi political area.

REACTIONS

That situation seems to be very complicated and difficult. In my opinion, the government role is to lead the political machine of the country and from that it requires more attention to the daily evolution of the country. Something that Iraqi political class misses is the general interest of the population because they have been watching the situation as if they are all trying to preserve their own personnal interest and for their part.

In the political arena, the dialogue is really necessary to avoid instability in the country, but likely Iraq's Prime Minister is not about to consider that reality and hesitates to approach a kind of talk with the resigned faction from the government and attempts to count on other's support, even in the Sunni's factions, Especially the one of Sittar. That can be a little bit mistaken, because of the political position of Sittar. He has no majority in the parliament, something very important that can influence in some case in the political stakes. In addition, compared with those who abandoned the government, this one seems to be less influential and not a real statesman. On the other side that coalition can also be possible to be saved, despite some imperfections, at least to find efficient strategies to overcome those realities. But there is another aspect to not forget about; it's Maliki's circle. Their position can positively or negatively affect the debate.

So, about Tawafiq and other factions that have resigned from the government. According to me, that can be irresponsable, because it brakes the country's step in some field. In conclusion, i would say that the actual situation in which Iraq is crossing , it is very necessary for his political class to undertake a kind of private upkeep to search for the central solutions that will satisfy both the politicians and the population, instead of facing each other, which is going to deepen tendacies as well in the Sunni community with Sittar and as Maliki's closer.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Welcome!

Dear Visitor,

Welcome to my blog, I am a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale,
I am currently taking a class in reading,listening, and writing in English (CESL), i am originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and interested in political sciences and administration. Please feel free to leave your opinions on my blogs, also if you would like to be my friend, please leave your e-mail so that i can get in touch with you.

Herve Mukuna