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There is broad agreement today that a market economy works well within a Western democratic system, but there is much less consensus over whether it can function effectively in an authoritarian state. The contemporary political economy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) provides an excellent case in point. The Lao experience since the Communist takeover in 1975 suggests real limits to a development model that combines single party rule with market economics.

Checkered Economic Reforms

At the end of the Vietnam War, the Communist leadership of the newly formed Lao PDR inherited a bankrupt state. The new regime naturally viewed the suppression of the laissez-faire economy in the former Royal Lao Government zone as a critical step in consolidating its socialist revolution. But the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) wisely delayed radical socioeconomic transformation, pursuing gradual change. Economic reforms in the first years of the revolution focused on marketing and distribution, property rights, and agricultural taxation. The Lao PDR had little option but to introduce taxation to replace the subsidies provided earlier by the United States. Nevertheless, the levy of agricultural taxes, without a determined effort to explain their necessity, soured relations with the very peasantry the government claimed to represent.

After three years in power, the Lao government in 1978 suddenly announced an ambitious program of agricultural collectivization, a move precipitated by a decision in Hanoi to accelerate the pace of Vietnamese collectivization. There was some limited rationale for such a policy in southern Vietnam. However, there was no possible justification for its introduction in Laos beyond the ideological conviction of the Communist leadership in the superiority of the socialist mode of production. Opposition to collectivization was widespread, and within slightly more than a year, both Soviet and Vietnamese officials were advising a rethink. In response, the Lao government abruptly suspended the forced creation of agricultural cooperatives in 1979. By 1980, as few as 65 of some 2,800 cooperatives organized after 1978 retained any organizational basis.

When minor reforms introduced after 1980 were ineffective, the LPRP leadership in 1986 launched a new round of economic reforms. The New Economic Mechanism (NEM) called for the decentralization of administrative controls on pricing, production targets, and wages. The one market-one price principle, which abolished virtually all administered prices as well as the multi-tiered exchange rate, was the most far-reaching policy adopted under the rubric of the New Economic Mechanism.

The Lao PDR continued to encourage private holdings in agriculture after 1986. Consequently, private ownership by the early 1990s had become the dominant form of property rights in the agricultural sector. The situation in the industrial sector was somewhat different, but private activities here also expanded with the privatization of state enterprises and the emergence of new private firms. Unfortunately, the laws and regulations necessary to support market institutions and private property rights trailed the implementation of market-oriented reforms. The government didn’t pass contract, inheritance, and property laws until mid-1990, and laws covering the settlement of commercial disputes, bankruptcy, and liquidations passed only in 1991.

The financial crisis that hit Thailand in mid-1997 had a serious ripple effect in Laos in 1997-98. Thailand was the principal trading partner and major source of investment in Laos, and the macroeconomic instability the former experienced triggered a sharp depreciation in the Lao kipand a general loss of confidence in the Lao economy. Lax macroeconomic management and weakening domestic reform in Laos aggravated the situation. The Asian financial crisis also exposed a major weakness in the Lao political system. Where the political stability inherent in a one-party state facilitated reform policy in the initial stages of the transition process, it became a hindrance later when more balanced economic development was required.

Macroeconomic conditions improved at the beginning of the current decade, and the Lao economy began a slow recovery in progress today. Even as it regained some control over fiscal policy and followed a tighter monetary policy, however, the Lao PDR remained reluctant to implement needed structural reforms in areas like the state banking system. Instead, interventionist policies continued to prevent free market forces from reaching their full potential, and government policies too often proved counterproductive.

Aid Dependency

Laos has enjoyed a long history of aid dependency since it achieved independence in 1953. From 1968 to 1973, the Royal Lao Government received over $74 million in aid annually, making Lao nationals in the Vientiane-controlled zone among the highest per capita aid recipients in the world. In the same period, guerrilla leaders in the Pathet Lao-controlled zone presided over a primitive economy that received large quantities of commodity assistance from China, the Soviet Union, and North Vietnam. Aid dependency continued unabated after the fighting stopped. The total value of commodity aid received by Laos in 1975-78 was estimated at more than $100 million, with project aid and technical assistance worth an additional $126.5 million.

Ironically, the sources of revenue for the Lao PDR, as early as 1977, mirrored those of previous regimes in that foreign aid accounted for 81% of the total. Some 60% of multilateral aid came from the United Nations with the remaining 40% sourced largely from OPEC financial agencies. The socialist states after 1975 were the primary sources of bilateral aid, with the Soviet Union and its East Bloc allies the dominant contributors. Sweden was the most prominent Western donor with Australia, France, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom also contributing aid in the early years of the revolution. The United States donated modest amounts of food aid to Laos in 1977-79, despite the government’s socialist orientation.

The Lao PDR remained heavily dependent on foreign aid throughout the early 1980s with external assistance in 1982 estimated to be some 80% of annual revenue. In the first half of the 1980s, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) became the most important multilateral donor, providing both technical and financial assistance. With U.S. law prohibiting all but humanitarian aid, the United States dispatched occasional shipments of food and medicine to Laos, often in support of efforts to recover the remains of U.S. servicemen. Vientiane was thus successful in replacing Washington with Moscow and its socialist allies as primary donors. Nevertheless, it continued to experience difficulty in absorbing aid and achieving the self-generating growth envisioned in successive five-year plans.

Largely due to external events, the Lao aid picture changed dramatically in the second half of the 1980s. The withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Laos in 1987 gave the Lao PDR greater latitude to develop closer ties with neighboring states, especially China and Thailand. Laos also continued its close relationship with the Soviet Union, the source of approximately half the economic assistance it received in 1988. In turn, Moscow continued to criticize Vientiane for its inefficient use of Soviet assistance. The Soviet Union later welcomed increasing Western influence in Laos at the end of the decade because it offered a means to reduce Soviet investment at minimal political cost.

With the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Japan assumed the position of principal bilateral donor to Laos, extending annual economic assistance approximating $50 million. And Australia, France, Germany, and Sweden remained significant Western donors. With the death in November 1992 of President and LPRP Chairman Kaysone Phomvihane, a long-time Vietnamese ally, the Lao PDR expanded commercial and diplomatic ties with China. While Beijing provided aid, arms, and trade to Vientiane, its most important role was to validate the path of the LPRP. If China could succeed in pursuing market reforms and private ownership while preserving one-party rule, why couldn’t the Lao PDR do the same?

In the wake of the Asian financial crisis, Vientiane pursued closer relations with neighboring authoritarian regimes, expanding its ties with China as the latter moved to increase its influence in Southeast Asia. The Lao PDR also turned to Vietnam, its traditional patron, for guidance and aid. The most disappointing result of government economic policy in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis was its continuing dependence on foreign aid. In June 2003, Russia agreed to write off 70% of the loans outstanding from the Soviet era; nevertheless, the Lao external debt remained at nearly $2 billion in 2004. Moreover, a significant shift in the composition of aid to Laos occurred with grants accounting for a smaller share and loans a larger one, threatening the creation of yet another debt-strapped Third World state.

At the multilateral level, the IMF and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) continued to provide economic assistance. And the World Bank, in conjunction with the ADB, eventually approved the highly controversial Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project. Scheduled for completion in 2010, the project will feed electricity to energy-hungry Thailand and become a source of cash for the Lao PDR. Over the course of the first 25 years of operation, Nam Theun 2 will earn an estimated $2 billion. The extent to which the Lao government will use this windfall for promised social and economic development remains to be seen.

Cosmetic Political Reforms

Since 1975, the Lao approach to reform can be described as perestroika without glasnost, or economic change without political reform. As the LPRP cast off Stalinist economic doctrines and took tentative steps toward market reforms, it refused to share political power. Its approach here again mirrored that of its mentor, the Communist Party of Vietnam, in that it offered the Lao people increased economic openness and prosperity in return for continued Communist control of the political system.

At the Sixth Party Congress, held in March 1996, LPRP members advocating a slower reform path with greater control over the effects of reform policy succeeded in reinforcing their position in the Party. According to one observer, it was a victory of “reformers by necessity” over “reformers by conviction.” The Sixth Party Congress also reaffirmed the authority of the LPRP as Party leaders successfully argued that departure from one-party rule could lead to the political instability often associated with countries in transition.

At the Seventh Party Congress, which opened in March 2001, the LPRP adopted vague statements in support of market-friendly reforms and improved governance to placate the international donors financing some 80% of development expenditures. The Old Guard, however, retained its firm grip on political power. In the National Assembly elections held in April 2006, LPRP members won 114 out of 115 parliamentary seats. At the same time, democracy and human rights groups in the West, like Amnesty International, Freedom House, the Heritage Foundation, and Human Rights Watch, regularly condemned the absence of basic freedoms in the Lao PDR.

Revolution, 30 Years On

Thirty years after the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party seized power, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic remains a Lesser Developed Country (LDC). According to the World Bank, Laos is the poorest and least developed country in East Asia with more than three-quarters of its population living on less than $2 a day and about four-fifths of the people engaged in subsistence agriculture. In this milieu, economic and social inequalities are enormous and getting worse. The poorest 10% of the population receives less than 4% of national income while the richest 10% takes over 30%. With around 80% of the people working the land, the economic fruits of the limited reforms to date are concentrated in urban areas because urban Lao are best positioned to take advantage of new economic opportunities. Poverty alleviation has long dominated international discourse on Laos and probably made the Nam Theun 2 project inevitable, but which elements of the population stand to gain from hydroelectric revenues remains a subject of debate. In a word, Laos is poor, and the bulk of the population looks set to remain that way. The Lao government boasts of plans to escape LDC status by 2020; however, its performance over the last two decades suggests this goal is unrealistic.

In most countries, economics and politics are intrinsically related dimensions of a single social reality, and the Lao PDR is no exception. The economic crisis in Laos today is largely about how the country is governed. Although the Communist Party has used economic performance to retain governing legitimacy for over three decades, this development model has real limits, as the experience in Vietnam and elsewhere suggests. At some point, increased respect for human rights and religious freedoms, in conjunction with real democratic reforms, are certain to become a precondition for Party survival. Until that time, foreign aid dependency, and the corrupt and wasteful use of the aid extended, appear to have become permanent features of the Lao political economy.

Ronald Bruce St John, an analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus (, has published extensively on Southeast Asian issues for almost three decades. He is the author of Revolution, Reform and Regionalism in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (Routledge, 2006).

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Securing Release of Palestinian Prisoners A Top Priority: Hamas

8:39 - April 19, 2021
News ID: 3474487
TEHRAN (IQNA) – The issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails is a top priority for the people of Palestine, a senior leader of Hamas resistance movement said, stressing that the movement is determined to secure their freedom.

“We say that we are keen on conveying the prisoners’ message to all regional and international platforms,” Khaled Meshaal said in a television interview on the occasion of the Prisoner's Day on Sunday, which is marked by the Palestinians on April 17 every year, the Palestinian Information Center reported.

Meshaal went on to say that the main task for Hamas and all Palestinian factions is to guarantee the freedom of Palestinian prisoners, noting that the Gaza-based resistance movement is pursuing all available means to alleviate the suffering of the detainees and to release them.

He underlined the fact that Israel does not release Palestinian prisoners except through resistance, not through negotiations or bargaining, stressing that they will force Israel to free the detainees.

“The resistance is the way to liberate Palestinian land and prisoners”, Meshaal said.

Earlier in the day, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates called upon the international community as well as signatories to the Geneva Conventions to take on their responsibilities concerning protection of Palestinian detainees.

The ministry said in a statement that Israel must be held accountable for its persecution of Palestinian people, including its mass and arbitrary detentions.

The Geneva Conventions, four international treaties that aim to protect people not involved in conflict — civilians, medics, prisoners of war and soldiers who can no longer fight — were adopted on August 12, 1949 after lengthy deliberations.

The silence of the international community has enabled Israeli authorities to continue the policy of arbitrary detentions and systematic violations against Palestinian prisoners, their families, and their rights, the Palestinian foreign ministry said.

The ministry further pledged to continue working on the legal, political and diplomatic levels to ensure the protection of the inmates.

Israel keeps thousands of Palestinians behind bars in dire conditions even despite the coronavirus outbreak, which has seen many international rights organizations campaigning for the release of the inmates amid the pandemic.

More than 7,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in some 17 Israeli jails, with dozens of them serving multiple life sentences.

Over 350 detainees, including women and minors, are under Israel’s "administrative detention".

The so-called administrative detention, which is a form of imprisonment without trial or charge, allows authorities to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months. The duration could be extended for an infinite number of times.

Some prisoners have been held in "administrative detention" for up to 11 years.

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Quest Diagnostics Partners with CDC to Extend $0 Out-of-pocket COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing to Underserved Communities

Qualified uninsured individuals now have access to the company's COVID-19 molecular diagnostic testing at approximately 1,200 Quest Diagnostics patient service centers

SECAUCUS, N.J., July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced it is now a participating partner in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) for COVID-19 program, which is designed to support free COVID-19 laboratory testing for patients in U.S. communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Through the program, Quest will expand access to $0 out-of-pocket COVID-19 testing to uninsured individuals who qualify at approximately 1,200 of the company's 2,100 patient service centers. CDC chose Quest following a competitive bid. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Through this relationship with CDC, Quest will extend access to our COVID-19 diagnostic services in underserved communities, helping to close equity gaps in the nation's pandemic response," said Ruth Clements, Vice President and General Manager, Infectious Disease and Immunology, Quest Diagnostics. "We commend CDC for harnessing the power of public-private collaboration to broaden access to critical COVID-19 laboratory testing for those most in need. By making high quality laboratory testing financially accessible, this CDC-brokered model may help contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other contagions."

To qualify, individuals must complete a brief online screening questionnaire via QuestDirect™, the consumer-initiated testing service from Quest Diagnostics. Both uninsured and insured individuals 2 years of age and older are eligible. After completing the questionnaire, the QuestDirect platform will direct an individual who is uninsured and qualifies to schedule an appointment at an ICATT-participating Quest Diagnostics patient service center. Qualifications include being symptomatic, recent exposure to someone with COVID-19, and/or other health risks.

Quest and CDC have collaborated on several public health testing and research initiatives, including in the areas of SARS-CoV-2 variant sequencing and serology testing. In addition, through its Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) initiative, Quest is bridging healthcare gaps to reduce health disparities in underserved communities, including those impacted by COVID-19.

About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors, and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. Learn more at

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2011Effects of nurse navigators on health outcomes of cancer patients.CANCER NURSING


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Other Publication Details
Mandatory Fields
Book Reviews
Spehn, EM,Hector, A,Joshi, J,Scherer-Lorenzen, M,Schmid, B,Bazeley-White, E,Beierkuhnlein, C,Caldeira, MC,Diemer, M,Dimitrakopoulos, PG,Finn, JA,Freitas, H,Giller, PS,Good, J,Harris, R,Hogberg, P,Huss-Danell, K,Jumpponen, A,Koricheva, J,Leadley, PW,Loreau, M,Minns, A,Mulder, CPH,O'Donovan, G,Otway, SJ,Palmborg, C,Pereira, JS,Pfisterer, AB,Prinz, A,Read, DJ,Schulze, ED,Siamantziouras, ASD,Terry, AC,Troumbis, AY,Woodward, FI,Yachi, S,Lawton, JH
Ecosystem effects of biodiversity manipulations in European grasslands
Optional Fields
BIODEPTH European plant-experiment network biomass production canopy structure complementarity effect decomposition legumes light use multisite grasslands field study nitrogen retention plant species richness resource use selection effect EXPERIMENTAL PLANT-COMMUNITIES DIVERSITY-PRODUCTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS SPECIES-DIVERSITY FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY ELEVATED CO2 MEDITERRANEAN GRASSLANDS TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS POSITIVE INTERACTIONS SOIL NITROGEN
We present a multisite analysis of the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem functioning within the European BIODEPTH network of plant-diversity manipulation experiments. We report results of the analysis of 11 variables addressing several aspects of key ecosystem processes like biomass production, resource use (space, light, and nitrogen), and decomposition, measured across three years in plots of varying plant species richness at eight different European grassland field sites. Differences among sites explained substantial and significant amounts of the variation of most of the ecosystem processes examined. However, against this background of geographic variation, all the aspects of plant diversity and composition we examined (i.e., both numbers and types of species and functional groups) produced significant, mostly positive impacts on ecosystem processes.Analyses using the additive partitioning method revealed that complementarity effects (greater net yields than predicted from monocultures due to resource partitioning, positive interactions, etc.) were stronger and more consistent than selection effects (the covariance between monoculture yield and change in yield in mixtures) caused by dominance of species with particular traits. In general, communities with a higher diversity of species and functional groups were more productive and utilized resources more completely by intercepting more light, taking up more nitrogen, and occupying more of the available space. Diversity had significant effects through both increased vegetation cover and greater nitrogen retention by plants when this resource was more abundant through N-2 fixation by legumes. However, additional positive diversity effects remained even after controlling for differences in vegetation cover and for the presence of legumes in communities. Diversity effects were stronger on above- than belowground processes. In particular, clear diversity effects on decomposition were only observed at one of the eight sites.The ecosystem effects of plant diversity also varied between sites and years. In general, diversity effects were lowest in the first year and stronger later in the experiment, indicating that they were not transitional due to community establishment. These analyses of our complete ecosystem process data set largely reinforce our previous results, and those from comparable biodiversity experiments, and extend the generality of diversity-ecosystem functioning relationships to multiple sites, years, and processes.
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Tag Archives: being different

A Mermaid Girl by Sana Rafi illustrated by Olivia Aserr

A Mermaid Girl by Sana Rafi illustrated by Olivia Aserr

mermaid girl

I honestly don’t know how I feel about this book.  I have read it and reread it and thought about it and read it again, and ignored it and read it again, and alas I have no idea.  I really am having a hard time articulating my thoughts on this 40 page children’s book.  I think part of the problem is that I’m reading it shortly after reading another “religiously inclined” clothing inspired picture book for the same target demographic and I’m having a hard time not comparing them.  When I intentionally start to write a review that doesn’t compare them, I am cognizant that my readers probably will and the review spirals.  So I’m going to establish what I love about this book, and then highlight why I’m torn and leave it to you all to draw your own conclusions and opinions.  InshaAllah this will not be the new norm, I will not make a habit of straddling the fence, but for this book, I think it is the only way.

I absolutely love the illustrations.  The warmth and joy the pictures portray are endearing and smile inducing.  I love the mother and daughter relationship and how feelings are not dismissed or belittled.  The mom connects the little girl to a legacy of strength and conveys her confidence, that the little girl is similarly brave, not just when things are hard, but especially when they are.  The little girl is shown to “feel” confident and joy in her clothing, not just “look” pretty, which is messaging that I love.  It is never too early to show that how one feels is more important than how one looks.  This depth, is not examined, but by simply using the words “When I put it on, I feel like a dainty seahorse,” rather than saying, “I look like a dainty seahorse,” the priority is not lost on the reader.  I like that the character has growth and challenges and has to reaffirm her position and as a result raises herself and those around her as well.

So why some confusion you ask.  Well- the word burkini is used to explain the little girl’s new swimsuit.  Burkini traditionally is a Muslim implied modest swimsuit, derived from combining the words burka and bikini.  That said, anyone of any faith can order a burkini online and their faith is not a factor.  The little girl is young and doesn’t wear hijab, her hair is not covered.  The mother and the ancestors pictured wear hijab, but Islam or Muslim is never in the text.  Part of me likes this, people wear modest swimwear for a lot of reasons: comfort, religion, sun protection, personal preference.  Similarly for head coverings in a pool some people where them for hair preservation, modesty, hijab, aerodynamics, speed, preference, comfort, etc..  Unlike hijab which is in the Quran, birkini is not an “Islamic requirement.”  No one is forcing you to swim, no one is forcing you to wear this brand or that style if you choose to swim.  Covering and wearing modest clothing is a must on Muslim women, covering the awrah is required after puberty.  I both like that the little girl is covering up and wish that it said why she is, but also appreciate that it is left open.  I like that you should be able to wear whatever you want and be comfortable with it.  I like that you don’t have to conform, and you can be you and whether that comes from a religious rationale or a fashion one or a health one or a comfort one, it doesn’t matter, don’t police what women wear.  But the implied illustrated framing is Islamic and the link is not there in the text.  See why my thoughts are scattered.

Similarly, the term “mermaid” is gender specific.  But colloquially it is often used to just describe someone with a human top half and fist tail.  So, isn’t “mermaid girl” redundant? At the end when male presenting Sam asks if he can be a Mermaid girl too is it implying gender neutrality? Is it like female kids saying they want to be a girl policeman or a lady firefighter?  Does it matter?

The story starts with Heba and her mother looking at photographs of past generations on their wall remarking how they are all mermaid girls.  Heba has gotten a new swimsuit, and her and mama are going to match in their new burkinis.  When they get to the pool however, all the excitement is pushed back on when her friends ask her if she can swim in that, and they tell her it doesn’t look like a real swimsuit. Heba sticks up for herself, but when she looks around, she sees, they are right, she doesn’t look like everyone else.  Mama reminds her of those before her and reassures her that she is not alone. She rejoins her friends, doing all the things she wants to do, and by the end they too want to be mermaid girls.

There is music depicted and women in one and two piece swimsuits.  As someone who wore modest swimwear my whole life, this book had a lot of mirroring of summers arguing with life guards, showing up with other Muslims at public pools to rude comments and aggressive stares, and swimming all over the world to people asking where they could get a suit like mine as well.  Definitely normalizing swimwear that looks like a burkini is a great concept to see in a book.

I do wish there was backmatter.  Perhaps giving voice to the many reasons women should be free to wear what they want at all times, but how particularly in water activities it has become a political point of judgement and policing.  Perhaps something about how this little girl is wearing it for religion and modesty, but that people everywhere wear things for lots of reasons.  I like the ambiguity, but also wish their was more of a connection to Islam/Muslims.  I leave it to you to make your own decisions.  I found my copy at my local library, it is mainstream published and can be purchased here as well.


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Tag Archives: great Britain

Mabrook! A World of Muslim Weddings by Na’ima B. Robert illustrated by Shirin Adl

Mabrook! A World of Muslim Weddings by Na’ima B. Robert illustrated by Shirin Adl

This 32 page lyrical 9 x 11 hardback book with playful illustrations is a celebration on the similarities of all Muslim weddings and the cultural distinctions that make them unique.  Four countries are highlighted: Pakistan, Morocco, Somalia, and Great Britain, and I really wish there were more.  The book is written on an early elementary level, but would make a great wedding present, or even a text to be shared at interfaith gatherings that focus on traditions and women’s rights.  It is joyous and informative complete with a glossary and info blurb at the end.

The book starts out with verse 30:21, Chapter ar-Rum in the Holy Qur’an and then jumps in to jubilations of mabrook, congratulations.  It establishes what countries will be explored and that Muslims get married sharing religious rites, but different celebrations.

In Pakistan there’s a henna party and the groom rides in on a horse.  The brides are adorned with bangles of gold and guests enjoy biriyani and rasmalai.

In Morocco the entire neighborhood helps prepare couscous and roasted lamb with olives and pickled lemons.  At the waleemah the bride is carried in on a chair, and changes outfits seven times.

In Somalia, buraanbur is danced and blessings are sung to the mother of the bride.

In England the ginger bearded imam marries the groom to his hijab wearing bride in white.  There are people of all faiths and backgrounds there to celebrate and wish them well.

But before all of that, there are meetings with families, prayers, important conversations, agreement to the marriage contract, the woman is given a mahr and guidance is sought.

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf illustrated by Pipa Curnick

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf illustrated by Pipa Curnick

boy at the back.jpg

A perfect introduction to the refugee crisis for upper elementary aged kids.  The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed 9 and 3/4 year old narrator about her friends and how the filling of an empty chair in the back of the room changed their lives.  Ages 7 through 12 will enjoy the plotting and planning of the friends, the awesome climax and the gentle opening of their eyes to the atrocities and bigotry around them.  At 297 pages, with a few pictures and some engaging notes and tidbits at the end, the book is both big, yet completely non intimidating at the same time.

Right near the end we learn that the narrator’s name is Alexa, and not too much before that, I learned that she is a girl.  I kind of like that vagueness of it, especially as we also learn that she is half Indonesian and half Austrian.  You realize that it doesn’t matter, that it doesn’t change anything, and that we all bring our own assumptions to the story and learn a bit about our selves as the narrator’s identity is revealed.  But really, thats a tiny bit of the book, the book is really about a group of diverse friends battling bullies, bully teachers, and trying to help the new kid in their class Ahmet.

Ahmet is a refugee from Syria, but the information isn’t easy to establish, he doesn’t talk to anyone, he disappears at lunch and recess, so Alexa, Josie, Tom, and Michael, first have to figure out who he is, and how they can be his friends.  Along the way we learn the Tom is from America, the book takes place in England.  Josie is the best football player and her parents are nervous to have her interacting with Ahmet, Michael is incredibly wealthy and his parents are Nigerian and French, and Alexa lives with her mom a librarian who works really long hours, her dad passed away and money is incredibly tight.

Once friendships are established, Alexa learns that Ahmet’s mom and dad are missing and that his sister and cat died while fleeing Syria.  When she learns that the government is planning to close the borders to immigrants and refugees, the group of kids come up with plans to keep the gates open until Ahmet’s parents can be found and they can come to the United Kingdom.  The kids come up with a variety of plans, but “The Greatest Idea in the World,” is the one they decide to go with.  It involves a lot of danger, but the general gist is to get a message to the Queen of England, who will keep the gates open, find Ahmet’s parents and reunite the family.

Naturally, there are a lot of moving parts to the plan, and a lot of naivety on the part of the 9 year olds, but they do get the Queen’s attention, and they do have a wonderful support system of parents and teachers and while their are bullies around every corner, they do come together to make the world a bit better for Ahmet and for us all.

I love that it is realistic, with the plotting, and understanding of war, alike.  The war and Ahmet’s journey is very very simplified, but the tone, introduces kids to the intensity without overwhelming them.  Just like the plot to get the Queen’s attention is not celebrated, but appreciated.  What the kids did was wrong and dangerous and they lied, and the kids don’t ever know after if they are in trouble or being praised.  I like that the integrity of both situations is upheld and the book doesn’t get too far fetched.  Similarly, the book is fun and adventurous, and in many ways Ahmet is just a catalyst for the kids to come together to solve a problem and save the day.

There aren’t a lot of details about his life in Syria, because he doesn’t speak English, there isn’t anything about Islam, except he draws his mom with a scarf on her head.  But there is a lot of learning to accept each other, and stick up for whats right and to not give up on people.  I love the diversity of the friends and how they don’t expect each other to change, they accept each other and move along.

There is a slight typo on page 3, “…could be half as useful as a Tintin’s dog, Snowy,” that had me afraid that this book was going to be unrefined, but alhumdulillah I was wrong.  The book reads easily and wonderfully, and my children loved it as much as I did.  The author is a first time writer, and I hope she has a bunch more stories in her, because I look forward to reading them.

The book is clean and reads believably from a 9 year old’s perspective.

I would do this in an elementary book club in a heartbeat. I’ve suggested it to many and I hope to read it aloud to my 4th and 5th grade lunch bunch crew. It is well written, timely, and memorable.

Teacher’s Notes: https://www.hachetteschools.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/The-Boy-at-the-Back-of-the-Class-Teachers-Notes.pdf

A bit about the author: http://beingthestory.org.uk/speakers/onjali-q-rauf


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Is Nigo Clothing A Legit Website or Scam? Know Here

Find Out is nigo clothing a legit website .

Check is nigo clothing a legit website

Is nigoclothing legit or scam?

The Scam Detector's VLDTR® finds having a low authoritative rank of 23.70. This means that the business is characterized as Suspicious. Unsafe. Doubtful.

What brands does Nigo own?

In 2005, Nigo partnered with Pharrell Williams to create and launch the streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream footwear. In 2014, Nigo became the creative director for Uniqlo's UT brand and his new brand Human Made.

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Nigo, born Tomoaki Nagao, kick started his fashion career at the seminal Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo where he met his right hand man Jun Takahashi. Here he would also meet the… You Know NIGO, Fujiwara and Takahashi, but Do You Know Tsuyoshi Nakano?

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The business of belongs to a trendy Shoes niche. We tried scrapping a short paragraph from their website to see if it was 'friendly' enough (see below):

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ISO 14728-2:2004 specifies methods of calculating the basic static load rating, static equivalent load and static safety factor for linear motion rolling bearings manufactured from contemporary, commonly used, high quality, hardened bearing steel in accordance with good manufacturing practice and basically of conventional design as regards the shape of the rolling contact surfaces.

ISO 14728-2:2004 is not applicable to designs where the rolling elements operate directly on the slide surface of the machine equipment, unless that surface is equivalent in all respects to the raceway of the linear motion rolling bearing component it replaces.

General information

  • Status :  Withdrawn
    Publication date : 2004-06
  • Edition : 1
    Number of pages : 11
  • :
    ISO/TC 4/SC 8
    Load ratings and life
  • 21.100.20
    Rolling bearings

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Monday, May 04, 2009

Washington's new-old infectious disease

There's a new-old infectious disease going around Washington. No, it's not swine Mexican flu H1N1 virus, which is also an old disease. Here is "case zero" of the current outbreak of that other infectious disease in Washington.

Yes, that other new-old infectious disease afflicts mostly Washington officials and causes them to have an irresistible urge to bow to their Saudi masters. The latest manifestation comes from the US State Department.

You may recall that towards the end of last week I showed you a video in which Undersecretary of State William Burns told a Washington seminar that Israeli President Shimon ('New Middle East') Peres had met with Saudi King Abdullah on the sidelines of an inter-religious conference in New York in November 2008. You may also recall that I told you that the Saudis were furious and had demanded a retraction from the State Department. The Saudis claimed that the meeting never took place.

Well, the State Department has now done the bidding of its Saudi masters. It has issued a retraction.
The US State Department has denied that any meetings took place between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz and the Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Asharq Al-Awsat contacted the US State Department to comment on the statement issued by an official Saudi source that denied news reports that the Saudi King had spoken with the Israeli President on the sidelines of the Interfaith Dialogue Conference as claimed by US Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns.

Asharq Al-Awsat received the following statement from Acting Department Spokesman Robert Wood:

“The only thing I can tell you is that I know that at the Interfaith Dialogue Conference, there were a number of world leaders including King Abdullah and Israeli President Shimon Peres. Former President Bush was there, I believe, as well, and they participated in that session. I think they [King Abdullah and President Shimon Peres] both attended a dinner and a UN meeting, but my understanding is that no bilateral meeting took place.”
I'm so relieved. Can you imagine if the architect of the 'Saudi plan,' which calls upon all Arab and Muslim countries to accept Israel's 'right to exist,' actually met with the architect of the 'Oslo Accords,' which call for Israel and the 'Palestinians' to recognize each other's right to exist? I mean, what could go wrong?

P.S. If anyone happens to be reading this at the AIPAC convention in Washington, I'm dying for someone to ask Peres in public whether he met with Abdullah and see how he answers. I think I'm going to log in to my Twitter account and post that request there as well.

At 11:23 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like Saud-whine flu to me!

At 12:30 PM, Blogger NormanF said...

When the Saudis say "how high", Washington jumps!

Disgusting. Accommodating their rampant Judeophobia is not doing anything to bring the Saudi Royals into the 21st Century.

After all, how can the Saudis tell Israel to accept their peace plan when they're afraid to meet Israeli leaders in public? Peace cannot be made by continuing to deny Israel's existence. Its beneath even childishness to insist Washington aid them in their aversion to anything having to do with the Jews.

At 4:50 PM, Blogger Ashan said...

I don't know why there's such reticence to talk about widespread, insidious influence of the Saudi Lobby, which is very real, very dangerous and very well "oiled". We, and our media allies, should be using the term "Saudi Lobby" in the pejorative in high places to offset the fantastical "power" of the "Jewish Lobby".

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@KHReinhardt opened this Issue on July 7th 2022

Every time we try to open Administration/System/Geolocation or Administration/Diagnostic/System Check we get the following error message:

An error occurred
Template "@GeoIp2/serverModule.twig" is not defined.

The plugin is inactive due to usupported version. If we try to uninstall it though, we get a Server 500 error with following log entrances (paths edited):

[07-Jul-2022 10:38:21 UTC] PHP Fatal error:  require_once(): Failed opening required '[...]matomo/plugins/CoreVisualizations/JqplotDataGenerator.php' (include_path='[...]matomo\vendor/pear/pear_exception; [...]matomo\vendor/pear/console_getopt; [...]matomo\vendor/pear/pear-core-minimal/src; [...]matomo\vendor/pear/archive_tar;.;C:\php\pear') in [...]matomo\plugins\CoreVisualizations\CoreVisualizations.php on line 14
[07-Jul-2022 10:38:25 UTC] PHP Warning:  require_once( [...]): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in [...]matomo\plugins\CoreVisualizations\CoreVisualizations.php on line 14

"Configuration for server variables used by GeoIP 2 server modules" in Administration/System/General Settings is not set.

We did search the internet, matomo forum and git issues, unfortunatly with no success so far.

Expected Behavior

An inactive plugin does not influence settings. It is possible to uninstall an inactive plugin.

We cannot currently switch to the standard geolocation method since we cannot open geolocation settings. We cannot run System Check

Our Environment

  • Matomo Version: 4.10.1
  • PHP Version: 7.2.32
  • MySQL version: 8.0.28
  • Server Operating System: Windows
@sgiehl commented on July 7th 2022 Member

Hi @KHReinhardt I tried to reproduce the issue, but unfortunately I wasn't able to. Disabling the GeoIp2 plugin doesn't cause any issues for me. The geolocation page is still working. Even removing the template file GeoIp2/serverModule.twig doesn't cause any issues.
Did you maybe try to manually reupload all Matomo files? Maybe some files are missing or got corrupted

@KHReinhardt commented on July 19th 2022

Thank you for the swift reply. We checked the installation and you were right, the files were missing. We placed them back in place and we could disable the plugin. Thank you for your help!

This Issue was closed on July 19th 2022
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UPS: accent, difficulty understanding, and she did n...

Una recensione del cliente UPS da parte dell'utente GetHuman ~charley da novembre 28º, 2017

Background on ~charley 's case

GetHuman: ~charley - can you tell our other UPS customers when your case took place?
~charley : Yes I can. It was evening, on novembre 23º.
GetHuman: Did you reach out to UPS, and if so, how?
~charley : I used the 800-742-5877 number I found for on the GetHuman UPS customer phone number page I was on: UPS Customer Service Phone Number
GetHuman: And which of these common UPS customer issues best describes the reason you wanted to talk to them?
(Shows ~charley a list of common UPS problems)
~charley : "Lost package" was why I was trying to call.

~charley 's review of UPS customer service

GetHuman: So how would you sum up your experience for GetHuman's UPS customer community? We'll censor any IDs, numbers, or codes and any inappropriate words here out of respect to the millions of other customers using this resource.
~charley : accent, difficulty understanding, and she did not know where to direct my call. Question was simple, phone number requested for UPS corporate for retiree benefit info.
GetHuman: Let's quantify your experience contacting UPS. On a scale of 1 to 5, how easy is it go get help on a UPS problem?
~charley : I'd give them a four out of five for ease of finding your way to help.
GetHuman: What about quality of communication. How would you rate that on a 1 to 5 scale?
~charley : I'd give them a one out of five on communication.
GetHuman: And what about UPS's ability to quickly and effectively address your problem?
~charley : For that I would say two out of five.
GetHuman: And finally- any advice for other UPS customers?
~charley : Chiamali presto o tardi. Non dimenticare le informazioni personali o relative all'account di cui potresti aver bisogno per UPS sapere chi sei.
GetHuman: Well there you have it. Some useful feedback and words from ~charley taken from his UPS customer service problem that occurred on novembre 23º, 2017.

2.56 of 5 stars | 201 reviews

~charley 's UPS Review

Difficulty of finding help
4 out of 5 stars
Quality of communication
1 out of 5 stars
Timeliness and professionalism
2 out of 5 stars
Overall customer service rating
2 out of 5 stars

GetHuman collects and distributes reviews, how-to-guides, tips, hacks and secret contact information for companies like UPS, sourced by customers like you, to help us all get customer service better, faster and easier. GetHuman is not affiliated with UPS in any way.

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Thought Leadership

The Importance of Inventory Management in Supply Chain Evolution

Staying competitive requires use of the right tools and systems. A critical component in successful enterprise is proper Inventory Management

Now more than ever –  Digital Supply Chain

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Supply Chain Modernization – Front and Center in APAC

Technology embedded Supply Chain is imminent for business survival and growth. APAC contributes most of this growth.

5 Reliable features for supply chain returns

Without any question, there has been numerous disruptors in the digital market, but Supply Chain has intriguingly taken all these now..

Evolution of Smart Supply Chain Movement

Recent Gartner research confirms the supply chain technology predictions for 2021. The key findings from that article are, “72% of supply…

WMS Selection – Factors to consider for Cloud WMS and On-Premise WMS

WMS Selection Selection of appropriate software can make or break a business.  In the Supply Chain world, companies are faced…

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A Review of How Much Cbd Should I Give My Dog Answered

A Review of How Much Cbd Should I Give My Dog Answered

When it has to do with dogs, neurological conditions are a substantial issue. Each dog may have a different reaction to Benadryl, therefore it’s crucial to be certain that you speak to your vet about how much Benadryl you need to use for your dog in addition to how many times you should provide it. As a consequence, if you observe these sorts of signs in your dog then it is a very good idea to have them checked out before using Benadryl for dogs, simply to make sure. What your dog eats plays a major part in its wellbeing. Every dog differs and can have different needs in regards to medications. A heavier dog will probably require more CBD to get the wanted results and vice versa. First of all, you will need to learn what condition your pet is experiencing.

At this time you need to find out how much CBD you have to present your pet. Moreover, CBD treats have shown to be quite helpful once you own a pet that’s afflicted by anxiety. First of all, you should learn a little bit more about CBD or cannabidiol.

Generally, CBD helps with a broad range of conditions. CBD https://cbdoilconnect.com/ is a all-natural solution that serves as a wellness supplement. So long as CBD is suitably sourced from hemp, it’s legal in the States. As stated above, if you give your pet an excessive amount of CBD, it may secure a stomach ache. CBD is an alternative for patients with assorted ailments and seeking relief. There are a number of ways to give pets CBD. With very little downside, if any at all, pets CBD looks like a viable supply of pure wellness.

CBD is useful in restoring suitable the flow of blood in our pets’ bodies. Quite simply, CBD is not going to get you high. Although CBD doesn’t offer a high, it has several fantastic attributes. For this reason, you ought to be in a position to provide your pet CBD without needing to worry about getting it stoned. Pet CBD treats with an overall cannabinoid content of 150 mg is a superb place to begin, as you’re able to break them up to deliver the right quantity of CBD. If you’re interested in giving your pet CBD, there are a number of guidelines to follow so as to present the very best for your companion.

Even in the event the oil you bought doesn’t contain THC, it’s still true that you need to be cautious in regards to the dosage. Provided that the CBD oil comes from hemp sources, the THC will be minimized. If you use pure CBD oil, then you likely understand the prospective benefits that is offers your body and mind. Pets CBD oil what you need to know.

A number of the symptoms you should keep an eye out for are problems breathingor swelling in the facial place. Hopefully, natural remedies including CBD will gradually replace pharmaceuticals altogether. In addition, if you discover that it’s difficult to provide your dog medicine, you can get ready-made dog treats that already contain safe amounts of CBD. Virtually every expert Health spoke to agreed your CBD products ought to be tested by a third party to verify the label’s accuracy.

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Platelet hyperactivity in sickle-cell disease: a consequence of hyposplenism.
  1. M W Kenny,
  2. A J George,
  3. J Stuart

    Platelet function was measured on 29 occasions in 16 adult patients in the asymptomatic steady state of sickle-cell anaemia. There was a significant increase in platelet number and micro-aggregate formation, and a lower aggregation threshold with adenosine diphosphate, compared with 23 healthy controls. Similar changes were found, however, in 12 splenectomised patients without sickle-cell diseases. The platelet hyperactivity of the sickle-cell steady state therefore reflects an increased circulating population of young, metabolically active platelets resulting from previous autosplenectomy.

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Quick Answer: Texas Has Operated Under How Many Constitutions?

How many constitutions has Texas had?

The current constitution is the seventh in Texas history. The previous six were the 1827 Constitution of the State of Coahuila and Tejas, the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas, and different versions of the constitution of Texas for the years 1845, 1861, 1866, and 1869.

Which constitution does Texas currently operate under?

The current Texas State Constitution took effect in 1876. It is the seventh constitution in the state’s history and the fifth constitution since Texas achieved statehood. From 1876 through January 2015, the Texas State Legislature proposed 666 amendments to the state’s current constitution.

How many amendments does the Texas Constitution have?

As of 2019 (the 86th Legislature), the Texas Legislature has proposed a total of 690 amendments. Of these, 507 have been adopted, and 180 have been defeated by Texas voters. Thus, the Texas Constitution has been amended 507 times since its adoption in 1876.

You might be interested:  Readers ask: How To Get A Birth Certificate In Houston Texas?

Does Texas have its own constitution?

The Constitution is the foundational governing document of the State of Texas, second only to the U.S. Constitution. All Texas laws and regulations must comply with the Constitution or risk being invalidated by the state courts.

Can the Texas governor be impeached?

IMPEACHMENT BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Impeachment of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Comptroller and the Judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and District Court shall be tried by the Senate.

Why does Texas have its own constitution?

Because of escalating tensions between Texas and Mexico, Texas declared its independence in 1836, established the Republic of Texas, and adopted a new constitution. The Texas Constitution of 1836 lifted major portions from the U.S. Constitution. The new charter was brief, composed of less than 6,500 words.

What is the difference between Texas and US Constitution?

What’s The Difference Between The U.S. and Texas Constitutions? While the U.S. Constitution applies to the federal government with the states being subordinate, the Texas Constitution (and all state constitutions) sets in writing what the state government can and cannot do with the counties being subordinate.

Who wrote the Constitution of Texas?

The Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836), the first Anglo-American constitution to govern Texas, was drafted by a convention of fifty-nine delegates who assembled at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1, 1836 (see CONVENTION OF 1836).

What does the Texas Constitution have that the US Constitution does not?

The U.S. Constitution does not limit tax and spending policies. The Texas Constitution lists detailed restrictions that limit what state legislators are actually allowed to write into law.

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What does the Texas Constitution say?

1. FREEDOM AND SOVEREIGNTY OF STATE. Texas is a free and independent State, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and the maintenance of our free institutions and the perpetuity of the Union depend upon the preservation of the right of local self-government, unimpaired to all the States.

What is the process for amending the Texas Constitution?

Amendments start out as resolutions that must be approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate Chambers. If it is approved by Legislatures, the proposed amendment goes on a ballot during the next general election. Texas voters have the final approval by voting for or against the proposed amendment.

What is the longest article in the Texas Constitution?

The longest article of the constitution was Article VII, on General Provisions. Most of its thirty-seven sections were limitations on the legislature. One section forbade the holding of office by any citizen who had ever participated in a duel.

Can Texas leave the US?

Current Supreme Court precedent, in Texas v. White, holds that the states cannot secede from the union by an act of the state. More recently, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia stated, “If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede.”

What was the Texas Constitution of 1836?

On March 2, 1836, Texas declared itself an independent republic because of a lack of support in the United States for the Texas Revolution. The Texas Constitution also protected the right to own slaves and prohibited “Indians” and “Africans” from living freely in the country and from becoming Texan citizens.

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Young Adult Book Chat

Like to Read? Join us every Tuesday at 1pm on Zoom to discuss your favorite book, what you are currently reading and your recommended books. Registration is required. For more […]


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5 Types of Peace on Earth Jesus Gives His Followers

In C.S. Lewis’ Magician’s Nephew, Polly asks Aslan to help Uncle Andrew.Aslan

    “Could you say something to…to unfrighten him?”

How do we “unfrighten” those we love…or ourselves?

Enter the Professor of peace who not only professed peace, he possessed it. His peace syllabus was not fortune, fame, position or power, none of which he had. Before He was born, an angelic choir declared his God glorifying arrival with, “Peace on Earth”. He purveys an impenetrable peace rendering circumstances inconsequential. The Teacher states, I give my peace to you; not as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, don’t be afraid.”

Here are five A+ peace courses available to students of Jesus.

~ Peace with God – When we put our confidence in Jesus dethroning our self-will opposing His plan, we gain unshakable peace with God.

~ Peace of Mind – Who reigns over your kingdom/queendom? If the ruling force you trust causes dread and anxiety, a peace-full mind governed by the Spirit of Jesus is fully available.

~ Peace with Self – An internal civil war cease-fire will grace you with joy and peace from which hope overflows.

~ Peace with Others – The hopeful overflow of God’s peace changes the quality of our relationships. We can learn to live at peace with others as far as it depends on us.

~ Peace to the World – Jesus moves followers from knowing peace inside to being forces for peace in the outside chaotic world.

Which one(s) do you long for today?

How can I practice peace?

…with GodConfess through prayer and journaling to identify what keeps God away.Hand of God to Man

…of Mind – Memorize and think Romans 8:6 every time fear controls your cerebrum.

…with Yourself Joy robbers run rampant in our mental dark alleys. When you become your worst enemy, hear Jesus, “I give you the gift of my peace” to disarm self destruction.

…with Others – How will you make every effort to “pray then say in the next day” for peace sake to someone you’re battling?

…Making Jesus’ siblings work peacefully on purpose. What Jesus like peace-able moment will you seek & find today at school, work, in social media, at large?

Picture peace like…

  An anger-free home. Engaging a homeless person with love not fear. Being kind not rude when stuck in line. Work with less conflict, more cooperation. Peace officers and citizens with mutual respect.Homeless man

The Prince of Peace makes Peacemakers.

As the story goes, as Aslan breathed on Polly’s Uncle to unfrighten him,

“Uncle Andrew immediately rolled over with closed eyes and began breathing peacefully.”

May you sleep in heavenly peace tonight and tomorrow, may you & Jesus bring peace on Earth as it is in the highest Heaven.

by Doug Webster

Jesus College

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jesus College – Mentoring Apprentices to Master Love

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Subscribe today and as our way to say thanks, we’ll send you a free PDF of “Worry Free Living” course notes.

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Hello! I’m Doug Webster, a 45 year apprentice of an amazing Craftsman. In this blog I share what I’m learning about a good life from an unparalleled Teacher and His followers. If you’re like me, you want to live a good life, and ideally, become a good person. No doubt you’re intrigued by the “good” according to the One named Jesus. If you desire a good life, maybe enhancing your life, or candidly, trading in the life you lead, read along. My commitment is to publish a blog weekly to answer Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? of following Jesus today. Do you want to go to school with history’s best teacher? Enter your email below then grab the desk next to me. Class is in session. As my way to say thanks I’ll send you a free PDF of “Worry Free Living” course notes. Welcome to Jesus College, a good school. Jesus College exists to Lead Apprentices to Master Love by Equipping Trainers to Mentor Leaders to Disciple Apprentices of Jesus.

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The many messages of Biden’s Mideast trip
Foreign relationsPOTUS arrives in Israel on July 13

The many messages of Biden’s Mideast trip

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday that this would be a “historic” week for the Jewish state.

President Joe Biden (Photo via POTUS/Twitter)
President Joe Biden (Photo via POTUS/Twitter)

(JNS) U.S. President Joe Biden was scheduled to arrive in Israel on Wednesday for his first visit to the Jewish state as president, and there are a number of factors at play, experts told JNS.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday that this would be a “historic” week for the Jewish state. Biden’s visit, he said, “will deal with both challenges and opportunities.” He emphasized, however, that the discussions would focus on Iran and the progress of its nuclear program.

Professor Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Bar-Ilan University and a senior fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told JNS that the fact of the visit itself sends several messages.

“When an American president travels to a foreign country, the trip itself is the message and it represents a commitment,” he said.

According to Gilboa, Biden plans to form a regional defense alliance at the Jeddah conference. The coalition will include the United States, Israel and a host of Arab countries, including Gulf states, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. “In this sense, Biden continues Trump’s policy of the Abraham Accords,” Gilboa said.

“The new alliance is intended to contain Iran and, in the first stage, will be based on an air defense system against Iranian missiles and attack drones and cyber security measures. Biden may succeed in upgrading the relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

With this visit, he continued, Biden is telling Iran it has one last chance to reach an agreement with the West on its nuclear program, and that if it doesn’t, “the United States will sponsor an alliance between Israel, the Gulf countries, Egypt and Jordan as a mechanism of defense against you.”
The visit also sends a message to China, he said.

Biden announced last September that the United States is forming a new Indo-Pacific security alliance with Britain and Australia, called AUKUS, that will allow for greater sharing of defense capabilities, he noted. In addition to AUKUS, the United States also recently formed the “West Asia Quad,” an alliance between Israel, India, the UAE and the United States — officially referred to as the I2-U2.

“Both AUKUS and I2-U2 complete the belt of alliances designed primarily to defeat China,” Gilboa said. “The idea is to strategically connect the emerging alliance in the Middle East with the other alliances in Asia. And China is part of the Middle East alliance, because just a few months ago China signed a 25-year strategic agreement with Iran,” he explained.

“This is an attempt by China to create a military foothold in the Middle East,” he continued, adding that the strategic alliance in the Middle East is thus “designed to contain not just Iran but also China.”

The third message the visit sends is to the American people, Gilboa said.

The Biden administration completely reversed its policy toward Saudi Arabia and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) following the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, he noted. Biden even called MBS a “pariah” in connection with the murder. But “a lot has changed” since, said Gilboa. “Because of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Biden needs MBS to produce more oil to compensate for the loss of Russian oil and gas, and he prefers that over moral scruples, especially those adhered to by the so-called progressives.”

However, in light of his previous stance on Saudi Arabia and MBS, this leaves Biden in somewhat of an awkward position going into the November elections, he said, noting that Biden’s approval ratings are already very low and the U.S. economy is very bad. The kingdom’s normalization overtures to Israel may offer the U.S. president a way out, he said.

Prof. Joshua Teitelbaum of the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan told JNS that “Biden has realized he needs to climb down from the tree and rejuvenate the relationship with Saudi Arabia, but he needs a way to do this.”

Teitelbaum agreed with Gilboa’s assessment that Biden is sending a message to the American people that in order to advance Arab-Israeli peace, he will “do what he can,” despite any moral qualms.

“This allows him to go to Saudi Arabia and meet with MBS,” said Teitelbaum.

In an op-ed published in The Washington Post on Saturday, Biden noted that he is set to become the first U.S. president to fly directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia. This would be “a small symbol of the budding relations and steps toward normalization between Israel and the Arab world, which my administration is working to deepen and expand,” he wrote.

In Saudi Arabia, Biden is scheduled to attend the GCC+3 summit (the Gulf Cooperation Council—consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—along with Iraq, Egypt and Jordan) in Jeddah.

“In [Jeddah], leaders from across the region will gather, pointing to the possibility of a more stable and integrated Middle East, with the United States playing a vital leadership role,” he wrote.

Biden’s visit will result in a three-way deal that “helps all three parties achieve what they want,” Teitelbaum said.

Israel, he said, will see a soft rapprochement with Saudi Arabia, likely in the form of Israeli overflights to Asia countries as well as a toning down of anti-Israel rhetoric. The Saudis will return to the good graces of America and will also gain control of two Red Sea islands — Tiran and Sanafir — which will officially be returned to Saudi Arabia from Egyptian control. And America will receive more Saudi oil, while avoiding a major diplomatic crisis.

Teitelbaum also pointed to Sheikh Mohammed al-Issa, the Saudi cleric known as the “Zionist Imam,” who visited Auschwitz and who is now preaching relations with Israel, as a clear indication of Saudi Arabia’s improved attitude toward Israel.

Israel joining CENTCOM a year ago, he noted, was an early signal of warming relations with Riyadh, as it indicated that the Arabs were not rejecting Israel’s presence in the important group.

He also observed that Saudi textbooks “aren’t as antisemitic as they used to be.”

After visiting with Israeli leaders but before heading on to Saudi Arabia, Biden is scheduled to meet with P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. According to Gilboa, the meeting with Abbas will be the most insignificant part of Biden’s regional tour.

“There is a clear understanding that given the leadership in Ramallah and Israel, there is no place for any comprehensive initiative or peace proposals of the kind we have seen [in the past],” Gilboa said. “There is much agreement to weaken Hamas to prevent rounds of violence and strengthen the Palestinian Authority,” he added.

One reason the Palestinian issue has receded into the background, he said, was that the Saudis have grown impatient with the Palestinian leadership.
“The Saudis are no longer letting Palestinian issues get in the way of relations with Israel,” he said. “They care, but they are impatient with the leadership. Iran is more of an immediate concern than the Palestinian issue.”

Despite this, there is concern in Israel that the U.S. interests at stake during this trip could translate into pressure on Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians.

Among these concessions is the reopening the consulate for Palestinian affairs in Jerusalem, which Israel objects to strenuously on the grounds that such a move would undermine its sovereignty over its capital. The consulate was closed under the Trump administration. Biden could also demand that Israel freeze construction in Judea and Samaria.

In conclusion, Gilboa said that the U.S. president’s visit to the region will likely be “very critical.”

“We will see how much the visit produces concrete results, how it is covered, especially in the countries directly involved, and also in Iran,” he said. PJC

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