Control of the Sahwa (Iraqi Awakening) Sunni militias was handed over by the American military to the Iraqi government today in the Baghdad region. That is the official line.

In fact many of the former insurgents/terrorists who fought with and supported Sunni groups such as al-Qaeda and Ba’athists for several years are quite uneasy, to say the least. It is clear that they have no loyalty whatsoever to the Baghdad government that is dominated by Shi’as and Kurds who together form about 85% of the population. It is also clear that the central government does not trust these groups and will do its best to keep them away from positions of responsibility in the military and security services. Many of their officers are former colonels and generals in Saddam’s military. This is also understandable: in the past that was how they, representing a minority of Iraqis, were able to stage military coups and take over the country (the coups of 1941, 1963, 1968). The Sahwa members are also uneasy about their own security, fearing reprisals against their leaders from Shi’a militias even as they try to evade other Sunni extremist assassins from al-Qaeda and other groups.

Al-jazeera quotes government sources that 440 Iraqi civilians died from violence during September, a large spike from August. Unfortunately Iraqis can't vote in U.S. presidential elections next November.

Middle East- designer doctorates:

Asharq alawsat daily (Saudi) reports that Iran’s Interior Minister has an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. It turns out that certificate is fake, the news probably leaked by his rivals. A rival newspaper broke the story and Oxford has denied having bestowed a degree on him.

The minister claims someone had approached him claiming he represented Oxford and offered him the degree. The minister is as unpopular in Iran as any minister of interior in the third world should be, especially in the Middle East, (both the Old and the moderate New)- they are the guys in charge of the internal security services, the police and the official thugs. They own the mid-night knock at the door and the miseries that follow. The Iranian minister claims he had sent a dissertation to Oxford through the intermediary before getting his honorary doctorate.

I thought grad students had to go through two years of multiple courses in such topics as statistics, econometrics, differential equations, linear algebra, microeconomics, macroeconomics, monetary economics, among other things. Then they had to take the dreaded written ‘Quals’, then the less dreaded ‘Orals’. Things must have changed in recent years.

Degrees for pay are a common phenomenon in the moderate polygamist New Middle East and sometimes they are called 'honorary degrees': many potentates, especially petro-potentates, have them. They simply turn up one day at the office with a piece of paper- comfortable education that does not discomfort the brain, from the comfort of home. It is considered 'chic’ to have a doctorate in the Persian-American Gulf region, even among the women of the oligarchy now. It is a desirable accessory, you can say, one that can be acquired from the equivalent of a posh shopping mall. Many petro-ladies wouldn’t think of showing up for a 'midday tea' without a degree in their purse, literally the best that money can buy. Easier on the brain yet still much cheaper than what a real degree would cost.

Bahrain- an uncharacteristically good idea:

Bahrain's foreign minister has proposed in an interview in New York a security organization that would include Arab countries of the Middle East as well as Israel, Iran and Turkey. The minister, Khalid Bin Ahmad al-Khalifa (of course) said that the Arab world as it is now has little influence on events, and that such a regional organization will reduce tensions as well as give the Arabs more say in regional developments. Actually it is a very good idea, but don't hold your breath. Iran and many Arab states will oppose it for now.

Legalized Mideast pedophilia under fire:

"A girl can legally marry as soon as she can 'handle' and 'bear' a man. A nine year old girl can do that as well as an older woman." M. al-Mughrawi, Head of a Moroccan Salafi group, being somewhat 'technical'. The legal age of marriage in Morocco is 18 years.

Salafi shaikhs do not believe there should be a minimum age limitation for a bride. An argument has been raging over that issue in Saudi Arabian media, where the shaikhs frown upon age limitation for brides, and where the phenomenon of 'very-old-man-meets-very-young-girl-in-the-playground' is widespread.

Maybe they can move all these shaikhs and their followers to special compounds in the Texas part of the vast Llano Estacado. They will have many heathens to try and convert. On the downside for them: the Feds will be after them without letup. Even the local cops may get religion and go after them.

And so it goes in the moderate polygamist New Middle East.

Cheers

mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com