Seeing America at Christmas

I'm en route to the United States today to spend Christmas with my relatives.

Service will be limited today, but Mike Dunn will be keeping an eye on the holiday spirit that y'all are exchanging on the website.

Update on Muntazar al-Zaidi: I Will Not Apologise

Al Jazeera has the only significant update this morning, reporting on a meeting between Muntazar al-Zaidi and his lawyer, Dhiya'a al-Sa'adi. Al-Sa'adi, clarifying the alleged letter sent by al-Zaidi to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, makes clear that al-Zaidi has no wish to apologise to George Bush:

Muntazer al-Zaidi considers what he did when he threw his shoes at President Bush as exercising his freedom of expression, in opposing and rejecting the occupation, which has brought misery to Iraq.

Al-Sa'adi continued:

His actions were solely targeted at President Bush to tell him that he rejects the occupation and all that it stands for in Iraq, in particular, in light of the inhumane way that Iraqi prisoners have been treated by the American forces.

Al-Sa'adi also confirmed the reports from al-Zaidi's brothers that the journalist had been badly beaten:

There are visible signs of torture on his body, as a result of being beaten by metal instruments.

Medical reports have shown that the beating he was subjected to has led to him losing one of his teeth as well as injuries to his jaw and ears.

He has internal bleeding in his left eye, as well as bruises over his face and stomach. Almost none of his body was spared.

OK, Now It's Time to Talk Zimbabwe

Here's that latest exchange over Zimbabwe in full:

US and British Governments: Robert Mugabe, you must step down now.

Robert Mugabe: No.


A few weeks ago, we noted that US attention --- especially that of the incoming Obama Administration --- seemed to be on the Sudan, rather than Zimbabwe. In the last 72 hours, however, the tone has shifted. American officials, especially Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer, began declaring that the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe was "dead" and that Robert Mugabe should step aside. CNN this morning is featuring an interview with Frazer in which she declares that it is time for other African states to step up their pressure on Mugabe and that the US will now take the matter to the United Nations for further sanctions.

The problem is that a shift in rhetoric doesn't mean a significant shift in outcome. Calling the power-sharing patient deceased is only confirming a death that took place many weeks ago. And given Mugabe's tenacity, even in the face of appalling economic and social conditions in Zimbabwe, it is unlikely that any diplomatic measures or sanctions will shift him. Nor, given the apparent loyalty of the security services to the President, is a coup a foreseeable solution. That leaves military intervention, which Frazer explicitly ruled out --- at least with the participation of American forces --- in the CNN interview.

Forecast? Given that Obama's appointment as US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, is an African specialist, Zimbabwe will have its turns in the United Nations spotlight. But the prospects are more for finger-wagging, with the get-out clause that it's the African states who are to blame because they are "soft" on Mugabe, than for any significant change in fortunes for the Zimbabwean population.

Pakistan Update: The Missile Attacks Haven't Gone Away....

With all the attention given to Mumbai and its aftermath --- The Washington Post had an editorial today castigating the Zardari Government for "denying the truth" --- the local situation in Pakistan has receded from attention here in Britain.

It shouldn't:

Suspected US missile strikes killed at least eight people Monday in volatile north-west Pakistan.

As The Times of London writes about the links "between [the Pakistani intelligence service] ISI and the likes of LeT [the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba]: it's a monster we created and now we can't get it back in the bottle", it may want to consider what other monsters are being created with events such as yesterday's.

Iran: Closure of Human Rights Center

American media is reporting the closure of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights, headed by lawyer and Nobel Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi, by Iranian security yesterday. Center officials and the US media are speculating that the closure is connected with a ceremony, due to take place hours later, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.



Iran's Mehr News Agency said the closure was due to the Center's "illegal activities, such as publishing statements, writing letters to international organizations and holding news conferences". The Center was due to give a prize to Taghi Rahmani, an opposition figure arrested several times for "crimes against national security".

Any further information on the closure would be welcomed.