Middle East

Earlier this month, at a conference held in Egypt’s parliament, Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni said that he “would burn Israeli books … if found in Egyptian libraries.” This is disturbing, coming from an elected official in a country that ostensibly cooperates with Israel, particularly in the light of history. Numerous examples, from the Spanish Inquisition to the Third Reich, illustrate destroying all the books containing a certain idea is a step toward destroying all the people who hold that idea. The fact that Hosni is one of the “moderates” in Egypt, not an extremist, shows the extent of anti-Semitism within that country.

A group of Palestinian Arabs set fire to Jewish-owned wheat fields in the Israeli town of Yitzhar last week, for the sixth time in the past two years. A volunteer fire brigade extinguished the fire, but was then attacked by rioting Arabs throwing stones. An Israel Defense Forces contingent was called in to restore order to the area—which was unusual according to local residents, who say their complaints usually result in no security force response whatsoever.

Iraqi troops took over Muqtada al-Sadr’s Baghdad stronghold on Tuesday, following a truce between the radical Shiite leader and the ruling Shiite alliance signed nine days earlier. The Iraqi security forces encountered no opposition, indicating a deal—orchestrated by Iran—had previously been reached and that the al-Sadrite movement is moving toward working within Iraq’s political system. Iran has been overseeing negotiations between the government, dominated by its ally, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, and the al-Sadrite movement. The fewer divisions within the Shiite community, the stronger Iran’s position in Iraq will be. The progress made with al-Sadr, says Stratfor, “could greatly facilitate a U.S.-Iranian understanding on Iraq.”

On May 20, the Lebanese government and Hezbollah reached a political deal, which gave Hezbollah what it wanted: veto power in the Lebanese Cabinet. This means that no legislation calling for the terrorist group’s disarmament can be passed. The deal also calls for the election of Syrian-backed army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as president after months of stalemate.

Europe

The European Union and Russia finally agreed to begin new wide-ranging talks this week. “The new agreement we want to strike with Russia will shape Russian-EU relations for the 21st century,” said Cristina Gallach, spokesman for Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief. “It will replace what we currently have in place, which was the first agreement between the EU and Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union.” Negotiations for the treaty were delayed for 18 months, but now EU diplomats have overcome their differences. The Trumpet has often forecasted that Russia and Europe will sign a treaty similar to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This week’s agreements will be, at the very least, a step in this direction.

Italy, under one of its most right-wing governments in recent years, is cracking down on illegal immigrants. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini suggested updating the Schengen Agreement, which allows free travel between nations in the Schengen zone. This update will help the government crack down on illegal immigrants from Eastern Europe. For some in Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s coalition, the immigration issue is about more than merely securing Italy’s borders. For the Northern League, a coalition of parties from northern Italy, it is about supporting a “traditional Christian identity” for Europe. Watch for European countries to move from just targeting illegal immigrants to targeting anyone not part of their “Christian identity.”

German President Horst Köhler said on Thursday that he would seek to serve a second term. Köhler is a member of the Christian Democrats. The party’s coalition partners, the Social Democrats, are also expected to field a presidential candidate. This would pit the two coalition members against each other, making them less effective at ruling Germany. A stormy, lengthy election campaign could be on the horizon—if the German government makes it that far. Whatever happens, a German government crisis is in the air. In truth, the election crisis that began in 2005 is yet to be resolved. As Gerald Flurry wrote at that time, “Before this crisis ends, a new Charlemagne will get control of the EU or Germany—or both.” Through whatever means, watch for a strongman to wrest control of Germany and Europe in the near future.

Asia

Dmitry Medvedev began his first trip abroad as Russia’s new president on Thursday. In a move that reveals where Russia’s priorities truly lie, Medvedev traveled not to any Western nation, but first to Kazakhstan and then to China. He focused his talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on a deal he made last year as chairman of Gazprom concerning natural gas flow from Kazakhstan into Russia. As the EU is attempting to use its plans for the Nabucco pipeline as a means to access the natural gas reserves of Central Asia, Moscow and Beijing are allied in trying to keep the West out. The Kremlin continues to consider the former Soviet nations of Central Asia as its home turf. Medvedev’s visit to China was aimed primarily at reassuring the Chinese that their strategic alliance with Russia would continue unchanged, even though former Russian President Vladimir Putin had swapped titles with Medvedev. After years of disappointing relations with the West under post-Soviet President Boris Yeltsin and then Vladimir Putin, Russia is now definitely looking east for allies.

As the global food crisis escalates across Africa and Asia, Japan is coming to the rescue with huge stockpiles of rice it has saved up over the past several years for just such an hour of need. Much of these reserves came from the U.S. as a byproduct of trade talks America held with Japan in the 1990s. Most of this Japanese aid will be directed to the Philippines and African nations. This scenario represents an ideal situation for Japan, as it is able to use American rice to increase its standing among both the nations of Asia and the nations of Africa by sending humanitarian aid. The current global food crisis is revealing to the Asian peoples just how much they need each other.

During his inaugural address on Tuesday, new Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou stated that his nation is now ready to resume dialog with mainland China on the basis of the so-called 1992 consensus. This consensus states that China and Taiwan are one nation governed under different systems. Chinese officials issued an official statement within two days saying they would start talking with the new president, undoubtedly pleased after years of dealing with pro-independence, pro-democracy Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, who looked to the U.S. As Taiwan moves closer and closer to very undemocratic, quite oppressive Communist China, it will never have the option of distancing itself from the mainland again.

Africa, South America

Colombia announced that it will decrease meat exports to Venezuela by 98 percent as of May 19. While Bogotá claims the intent is to lower the price of meat at home, it has not reduced exports to any other country. The real intent, according to Stratfor, is to punish Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez for supporting the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. This will put President Chávez in a precarious spot politically, as he needs the $2.64 billion in goods Venezuela receives from Colombia each year.

The date for Zimbabwe’s runoff presidential election has finally been set: June 27. In the meantime, while the rest of the world becomes leery of the U.S. dollar, some Zimbabweans have begun carrying out transactions in U.S. dollars, sometimes in secret. Harare continues to set new economic records: This week, it topped 1 million percent inflation. Associated Press observed that “a small pack of locally produced coffee beans cost just short of 1 billion Zimbabwe dollars. A decade ago, that sum would have bought 60 new cars.”

Anglo-America

The U.S. ambassador to Japan, Thomas Schrieffer, on Tuesday exhorted the Japanese to increase their defense spending in response to a military buildup across East Asia. His main concern was that the United States needed a militarily strong Japanese ally to offset the rising dominance of China in the region. Over the past decade, China’s defense spending has increased an average of 14.2 percent a year, while Japan’s defense spending has stagnated. Japan is currently boosting its military capacity by seeking to buy six Aegis destroyers fitted with anti-missile capabilities and by passing legislation that removes a 40-year ban on using space technology for military purposes.

British scientists will now be allowed to splice human dna into nucleus-stripped animal eggs in order to create hybrid embryos for medical research, as Parliament has approved the creation of human-animal embryos. On May 19, the House of Commons rejected a ban prohibiting the creation of “human admixed embryos” by a vote of 336 to 176. As a result, British scientists now have the “right” to conduct the most far-reaching research into hybrid embryos in the world.

America’s teenagers are in trouble. A recent federal government survey indicates that over 2 million American teens have suffered at least one serious bout of depression sometime over the past year, defined as any episode lasting two weeks or longer and involving a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms including problems with sleep, concentration and self-image. The worst cases experienced an inability to carry out even normal day-to-day functions for an average of 58 days. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration survey polled 67,700 youths ages 12 to 17 and found that nearly 13 percent of teen girls and approximately 5 percent of teen boys had struggled with a major depressive episode in the previous year. An average of 12 youth suicides occur every day, and it is estimated that there are 200 attempted suicides for every reported “successful” one. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for young Americans between the ages of 15 and 24.

Over half of all insured Americans are taking prescribed medicine regularly for chronic health problems, according to a recent study. Americans are by far the largest consumers of medicine in the world, spending 16 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product on health care. This figure is predicted to supersize to one third by 2030. Almost two thirds of women over 20 years old use medication for chronic problems. The same is true for 52 percent of men and three fourths of people over 65. One in four children is on medication.