Dr. Denise Youngblood-Coleman

The Political Intelligence Briefing is a report on significant political developments across the international spectrum. The Political Intelligence Briefing is written by CountryWatch's editor on a weekly basis and it is intended to inform CountryWatch users of important political events evolving in the world.

In this edition (January 4, 2009):

The "Featured Country" is Israel.  The "International Hot Stories"  include coverage of: Guinea, Somalia, Iraq and Sri Lanka. Belgium is covered in the section titled, "Government and Politics."   The "Elections Update" looks at election results in Ghana and Bangladesh. The "Spotlight" highlights developments related to the incoming Obama administration in the United States. 

Editor's Note: CountryWatch users can make use of the section called "Special Reports" accessible from the menu tabs on the main page of the CountryWatch website.  The featured "Special Report" focuses on the United States and deals with the road to the White House, as well as the congressional elections,  and the governors' races that took place in November 2008 with dramatic results.  As well, subscribers can use the drop down menu to see summaries of other major elections in the world.


Featured Country:

Middle East: Israel
See also Palestinian Territory of Gaza

Israel vows to crush Hamas as Gaza becomes the current flashpoint in the Middle East

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2008, Hamas militants fired approximately 60 rockets into Israeli territory.  This action came a week after Hamas said that it would not renew its truce with Israel. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive against Hamas in Gaza days later.  Israel made clear that it intended to take decisive action against the  Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, otherwise known as Hamas.  Indeed, Israeli officials said that they intended to "crush Hamas."

Israel had warned that such a response was imminent if rocket attacks did not end.  Foreign Minister and Kadima leader Tzipi Livni had warned that Israel would not tolerate Hamas targeting its people.  She said, "Hamas needs to understand that our aspiration to live in peace doesn't mean that Israel is going to take this kind of situation any longer. Enough is enough."

Israel air raids pound the Gaza Strip; Israeli authorities say they seek to crush Hamas and not the people of Gaza

Israel's military response  began with aerial bombardment on Gaza.  The main targets included security compounds and government offices that make up Hamas infrastructure, as well as tunnels into Egypt.  While the vast majority of the casualties on these early targets were Hamas personnel, such as policemen, there were nonetheless civilian casualties.  Indeed, as the aerial bombardment raged on, reports emerged that it was the harshest military action against Gaza since the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war that led to Israel assuming control over the Gaza Strip, which was then under Egyptian administration.

Nevertheless, Israel appeared set on assuring the Palestinian people that its efforst were against Hamas and not them more broadly. In an address to the Palestinian people of Gaza,  Israel's caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that  Israel had no desire for ordinary Gazans to suffer, but that Hamas -- as Israel's enemy -- was Israel's intended target.  

As anticipated, Olmert's address was received with great skepticism by Palestinians while Khaled Meshaal, the leader of Hamas' armed wing, called for the Palestinians to rebel in an uprising or "the third intifada." More moderate Palestinian voices from the West Bank, such as Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Saeb Erekat, condemned  Israel's actions, characterizing it as "a savage Israeli assault."

On the third day of aerial bombardment, Gaza's Interior Ministry and Islamic University were the main targets.  Defense Minister Ehud Barak echoed Prime Minister Olmert by noting that Israel was not in a  fight with the people of Gaza but, rather, Israel was in "a war to the bitter end" with Hamas, which has held sway over Gaza since 2007.  In a special parliamentary session, the defense minister said that Israel was "taking all precautions" to avoid hurting Palestinian civilians, but warned that the militants were using the civilian population as human shield.
 
In this way, Defense Minister Barak's struck a hard line against Hamas, which he separated from the greater Palestinian population of Gaza.  However,  Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon made no mention of the Palestinian people, stating succinctly:  "The goal of the operation is to topple Hamas."

Hamas continues to launch rocket attacks at Israel

Meanwhile, Hamas was not cowed by Israel's air assault was stepping up its own attacks on Israelis.  Several  injuries and two deaths were reported at Nahal Oz close to  the border with Gaza and in the southern city of Ashdod in a short period of time as a result of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.  But Hamas was not content to limit its rocket attacks to the boundary region. 

On December 31, 2008, Palestinians militants  from Gaza fired long-range rockets that landed in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba -- as far as 30 miles away.  As well, two rocket attacks by Palestinian militants  left one person injured in the city of Ashkelon. While there were no deaths from those attacks, it was clear that Israel had not fully reduced the threat posed by Hamas, and that Palestinian militants had long-range weapons at their disposal.

With Hamas continuing its barrage of rocket attacks into Israeli territory, public support in Israel remained high for continued military action against Hamas in Gaza. On the other side of the equation, Hamas's military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades -- the military wing of Hamas -- made clear that it would continue to  fire at Israeli targets, and warned that they had the capacity to reach further into Israeli territory.  In this way, both sides made it apparent that a ceasefire would not easily be achieved.

Israel rejects international calls for a truce

With no end to the violence in sight and the prospects of a humanitarian crisis looming ahead, the international community began to call for a 48-hour truce to allow for the passage of humanitarian aid.  However, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected the notion of the 48-hour truce. 

Following a meeting with his cabinet, Prime Minister Olmert said the necessary conditions could not be met for a ceasefire. Olmert made clear that any ceasefire with Hamas would have to be permanent.   He did not, however, foreclose the possibility of such a prospect in the near future.  He reportedly said, "If conditions will ripen, and we think there can be a diplomatic solution that will ensure a better security reality in the south, we will consider it. But at the moment, it's not there." 

On the other side of the equation, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas  registered his outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza by characterizing Israel's aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip "barbaric and criminal aggression."  Abbas also warned that he could potentially bring a halt to  peace talks with Israel if he believed Palestinian interests were at stake.

Israel moves to ground assault

Almost a week after the air raids on Gaza began, Israel intensified its assault on Gaza as Palestinian militants fired more rockets into Israeli territory.   In one air strike, a senior Hamas military leader, Nizar Rayyan, was killed.  Further Israeli air strikes yielded other high value Hamas targets, including two commanders of Hamas's military wing -- Abu Zakaria al-Jamal and Mohammed Maaruf. Israel was also carrying out air raids on other targets, including a missile attack on mosque in Beit Lahiya.

Meanwhile, Israel amassed its military forces along the border and declared the area around the Gaza Strip to be a "closed military zone."  Since Israel was also calling up thousands of reservists, anticipation was growing that ground operations were in the offing. 

Indeed, by the start of January 2009, Israel and Hamas were ignoring  international calls for a ceasefire even as the conflict between them in Gaza raged on.  Israel had now deployed convoys of  troops and tanks to the northern part of the Gaza Strip and, supported by helicopters in the air,  was launching a strong artillery attack.  As before,  Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets into southern Israel.

By January 4, 2009, there  was direct confrontation  between Israeli ground forces and Palestinian fighters deep into the Gaza Strip.  In fact, Israeli troops, tanks and helicopters had surrounded Gaza City and were engaging in clashes with Palestinian militants at close range. Both sides were engaged in a concomitant battle of words.  Israel claimed that it had struck a massive blow against Hamas while the militant Palestinian body promised to turn Gaza into "an Israeli graveyard."

But Israeli forces had now reached the heart of Gaza City  including areas used by Palestinian militants to launch rocket attacks into Israel.  Moreover, Israeli forces had managed to thrust further south of Gaza City -- even past an Israeli settlement that had been abandoned years before.  In this way, Israeli forces had now penetrated large swaths of Gaza, and in so doing, Gaza City was now cut off from the rest of the Gaza Strip to the south. 

Israel prepared for "long campaign"

As the ground operation continued, Israeli forces would have to deal with the threat of house-to-house fighting, sniper fire, booby traps,  and other elements of urban combat, not to mention approximately 20,000 militants entrenched in this high-risk landscape. Still, Israel appeared to be committed to its mission  regardless of the difficulty of the endeavor, the international outcry, and the rising death toll.

For his part, Israeli President Shimon Peres said that his country's mission was not to either occupy Gaza or to "crush Hamas" as had been suggested by other Israeli authorities. Instead, the Israeli head of state said that the objective was to end the threat of terror.   President Peres noted that there was no point to discussing a ceasefire without an end to rocket attacks by Hamas.  To that end, in an interview with the United States media, President Peres said,   "We shall not accept the idea that Hamas will continue to fire and we shall declare a ceasefire.  It does not make any sense."    As such, President Peres believed Israel had to press forward with its mission to end terror,  the viability of such an ambitious goal notwithstanding. He went onto to note, "If there is somebody (who) can stop terror with a different strategy, we shall accept it."
 
In the West Bank and elsewhere in the Arab world, protests against Israel were gaining steam.  Aware of the international condemnation and the public relations challenge, the Israeli military was interrupting broadcasts on the  Hamas television channel, Al Aqsa, asking Palestinians not to serve as human shields for the militants, and publicizing the following message:  "Israel is acting only against Hamas and has no interest in harming you."

Death toll and looming humanitarian crisis

Since the start of Israel's assault on Gaza, as of the first week of January 2009,  the death toll in the Gaza Strip was more than 512, according to calculations from Palestinian health officials, the United Nations and various media outlets, including the Associated Press.  Approximately 2,500 Palestinians were said to have been injured.  While Israel has claimed that the vast majority of the deaths (80 percent) were Hamas militants, the United Nations has offered a slightly different estimate of  75 percent.  On the other side of the equation, five Israelis were reported to have been killed  and about 40 others were wounded. 

The Red Cross described the situation in Gaza's hospitals as dire and warned that its medical facilities were utterly  "stretched to the limit"  and running out of resources.   As well, the United Nations warned that a humanitarian crisis was at hand.  The United Nations relief agency in Gaza said that about 1,200 people could be homeless due to damage to their houses, or, because they were forced to flee the violence.  As well, some food and aid rations were running short. 

International Outcry

During  the first week of  Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza,  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate ceasefire.  The United Nations head said that  he was "deeply alarmed" by the  violence in Gaza.  He urged  both Israel and Hamas to "halt their acts of violence and take all necessary measures to avoid civilian casualties." 

By the close of the first week of  Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza, there was a rising chorus of calls for an immediate ceasefire among world leaders.  European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner declared, "The violence has to stop."  The European Union also issues a statement calling for an "unconditional halt" to rocket attacks by Hamas.  United States President George W. Bush also said that it was incumbent on Hamas to take the first step to ending the conflict by halting its rocket attacks on Israel.

But as Israel's efforts progressed toward ground operations,  and amidst spiraling civilian casualties, officials from the Middle East and Europe issued condemnations for what they viewed as Israel's disproportionate response to Hamas in Gaza.  This view was echoed by United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon, who acknowledged  Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks by Palestinian militants, while also decrying Israel's "excessive use of force."

United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown struck a diplomatic tone by concentrating on the humanitarian crisis looming in Gaza and thusly, urging an "immediate and urgent ceasefire."  

For its part, the United States issued a tacit approval of Israel's response to the threat posed by Hamas by urging Israel to try to avoid civilian casualties while also  placing blame for the situation solely on Hamas.  The United States also went further and blocked approval of a United Nations Security Council statement that demanded  an immediate ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the European Union was expected to send a delegation to the region, while Russia said it would send an envoy, both for the purpose of trying to forge some sort of resolution.  The Europen Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said the Israel-Hamas crisis was emblematic of  the failure of diplomacy and that every effort should be made to  advance the peace process.

Editor's Note:   

Why has Israel decided that it should take such drastic action not simply to "crush Hamas" as some officials have purported, but to "crush terrorism" as suggested by the Israeli head of state?  Why such a lofty goal at this particular time?

Some analysts have suggested that Israel seeks to quiet the ghosts of 2006 when Israel was ensconced in a bloody war with Hezbollah in Lebanese territory.   In the summer of 2006, as in late 2008, Israel said that it was launching an operation intended to stop missile and rocket attacks into Israeli territory.  But at the end of that conflict, Hezbollah as still able to launch missiles and, as such, it was that militant group who claimed victory, the civilian casualties notwithstanding.  In late 2008 and early 2009, Israel may be seeking to vindicate itself after what some saw as its failure in 2006.  Indeed, as Prime Minister Olmert leaves office, he may well wish to exit on a high note as opposed to the disgrace of the corruption charges that caused his resignation from power.

For its part, Hamas may be buoyed by Hezbollah's quasi-victory and may be seeking to achieve a similar outcome for itself, especially after being driven from power by Palestinian rivals in the West Bank.  Indeed, Gaza is Hamas' last stand and it is unwilling that these Palestinian militants will go quietly away, regardless of Israel's expressed mission.

Despite President Peres' lofty claims of "crushing terror," it is also possible that Israel has a more tactical objective.  Senior members of the Israeli military have acknowledged that it is hardly likely that they can end all rocket attacks by Hamas.  Accordingly, they hope to diminish Hamas' ability to launch as many attacks and, certainly, to diminish the accuracy of the attacks that do take place.  As well, a successful operation would favorably position Israel  to be able to  control the terms of a forthcoming ceasefire. Furthermore, a successful military operation would  deliver a warning to enemies  (such as Hezbollah in Lebanon) elsewhere in the region by acting as a deterrent.

There are other possible explanations for Israel's decision to respond forcefully to Hamas at this time.  Among them is the political rationale.  With parliamentary elections on the horizon, and with Israelis' dismal public opinion of the government's handling of Hamas in Gaza, augmented by the fact that hard-line Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu was leading in the polls,  the Kadima-led administration likely believed that it needed to prove its security credentials.  Indeed, as the new Kadima leader, Tzipi Livni, began to use stronger language against Hamas, her poll numbers against Netanyahu began to appear more competitive.   Thus, while it is clear that Israel has a concrete and real desire to deal with its security challenges and the threat posed by Hamas, the particular timing of the assault into Gaza does appear to possess a political element worth considering.

If national politics are not influencing the timing of Israel's efforts against what Israelis call "Hamastan," then international politics may well be at play.  With the Republican Bush administration about to leave office in the United States, and with the Democratic President Barack Obama about to be inaugurated into office, it is possible that Israel wants to take strong action now, while it has unquestioned support from its most important ally.  While the Obama administration promises to be a stalwart of Israel, there are prevailing suspicions that President Obama may be more amenable to diplomatic solutions to geopolitical challenges. 

Hot International Stories

Africa: Guinea

Guinea leader's death leads to coup

In December 2008, President Lansana Conte, who served as Guinea's leader for close to a quarter of a century, died after a long illness.   The president of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Sompare, flanked by Guinea's  Prime MinisterTidiane Souare and chief of the army, made the announcement of  Conte's death on national television.  There was to be a 40-day period of national mourning for Conte, who came  to power in a military coup after the death of Sekou Toure and presided over a return to civilian rule.  Conte had been elected three times into power, although critics questioned the fairness of those elections.

Seizing upon the power vacuum, the country's military launched a coup, dissolved   the country's government, and declared that  the constitution was suspended. In a statement read on national radio, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara said that he would establish  a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders  since state institutions were "incapable of resolving the crises which have been confronting the country."

According to Guinea's now-suspended constitution, the president of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Somparer, was to function as the cting president pending an election.  However, the  newly established "consultative council" intended to gather all government and military officials at a military camp, claiming that their confinement was intended to "guarantee their safety."  Such benevolent intentions were suspect when Captain Camara threatened to arrest members of the former government if they did not surrender voluntarily.  Indeed, on Christmas Day, Guinean Prime Minister Tidiane Souare and two dozen members of his government surrendered to the coup leaders.

The international community decried the subversion of the democratic process while neighboring countries, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, worried about possible spillover unrest.   The United States, for its part, threatened to suspend $15 million in aid while the African Union promised consequences if the military junta did not quickly facilitate a democratic transition of power. Instead, Captain Moussa Camara declared  himself "the president of the Republic" but refrained from offering further commentary.

While there was some limited show of support for the coup leaders among the Guinean people in the capital of  Conakry, most of those on the streets displayed no such positive sentiment.  Meanwhile,  the newly-established  National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) announced that a curfew would be established after the Christmas celebration in order to consolidate its lock on power. 

The CNDD also said that elections could take place as early as 2010, however, a Guinean opposition leader,  Sydia Toure of the Union of Republican Forces, said that  two years would be too long to wait.  Toure said,  "We made a communication  of this declaration to the CNDD (the ruling National Council for Democracy and Development) telling them that we think that two years is too long, and we hope that we can have new presidential elections within one year in Guinea."


Africa: Somalia

Somali's Yusef resigns as president

In mid-December 2008, Somali President Abdullahi Yusef  removed Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein from office on the grounds that the head of government had failed to end the conflict between hostile factions, effectively leaving Somalia without a functioning government and as something of a failed state. The move by the president came at a time when the United Nations was trying to broker peace talks with the Islamists militants.   To that end, Hussein said  that his removal from office was part of the president's plan to undermine the  United Nations-sponsored peace negotiations.  The prime minister's position was bolstered when African Union Commission leader, Jean Ping, condemned the president's decision to have Hussein removed from office.  Days later, the Somali parliament gave a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, declaring his ouster by President Abdullahi Yusef  to be illegal.  For his part, the president  said he would abide by the parliament's decision.

By the close of the month, as increasing blame was being placed on him for deepening the country's political crisis, Somali President Abdullahi Yusef Ahmed resigned from office.  For his part, he placed the blame on the international community for not doing enough to bolster Somalia's transitional government in its fight against Islamist rebels.  The outgoing head of state said in an address to parliament, "Most of the country was not in our hands and we had nothing to give our soldiers. The international community has also failed to help us."

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Speaker Adan Mohamed Nur called for unity in the face of the president's resignation. He also said, "I have received and accepted the resignation letter of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. I congratulate the president for the bold step he has taken in respect of the transitional federal charter."  According to law, with the president's resignation accepted,  the country's parliamentary body had 30 days to elect a new president by secret ballot.  In the interim,  the Parliamentary Speaker was to serve as  president.

Middle East: Iraq

Female suicide bomber targets Shi'a pilgrims

In early January 2009, a  female suicide bomber killed at least 35 Shi'a pilgrims close to  a shrine in the Kadhimiya area of the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.   There were 16 Iranians among the dead.  As well, more than 70 people were injured in the attack.  Most of the victims were women and children. 

Authorities said that the suicide bomber detonated an explosive device strapped to her body at a checkpoint just outside the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine.  As such, she appeared to target pilgrims gathering for a religious ceremony, which was associated with the Ashura holiday that marks the 7th century death of Imam Hussein -- the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.   Convoys and processions of Shi'a pilgrims have often been targeted by Sunni militants across the country.

This attack came on the heels of a car bombing in late 2008. 

Asia: Sri Lanka

Tamil Tigers claim they have  killed 40 soldiers

Days after the Sri Lankan government announced that it had captured the de facto rebel capital, Kilinochchi, Tamil Tiger rebels issued a claim that they had  killed 40 soldiers in the north of the island. A statement by the Tamil Tigers asserted that the soldiers had been killed during a battle on the main road towards the town of Mullaitivu, in an area still within rebel hands.  The claim, if true, would strike a blow against the Sri Lankan military, which was carrying out an aggressive offensive operation for several months, aimed at  capturing rebel strongholds and ultimately crushing the separatist movement.

To that end, Major General  Jagath Dias, the  commander of the battle for the town of Kilinochchi, expressed confidence in his task at hand: the capture  of the Tamil Tigers' remaining strongholds in the north and east of the island.  In an interview with the Associated Press, Dias said, "Day by day, the Tigers' territory is shrinking and their numbers are dwindling." He continued, "The objective of finishing this war won't be that long off."

Government and Politics Update:

Europe: Belgium

Belgian PM resigns due to role in Fortis; new PM sworn into office

In December 2008, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme offered the resignation of his government due to its alleged interference in judicial affairs.  

At issue was a report by president of Belgium's Supreme Court, Ghislain Londers, which argued that the justice minister attempted to block a court ruling, which froze the dismantling of financial group Fortis for 65 days.  During the financial crisis that gripped the globe in October 2008, the Leterme government brokered a deal in which 75 percent of Fortis' operations in Belgium were sold to  a French bank (BNP Paribas), with an eye on saving the enterprise. However, a Brussels court ruled that the partial sale of Fortis to BNP Paribas should not proceed until shareholders were consulted.

Since the findings of the court reached the public purview, Leterme and his government have been under pressure to resign from office.  Indeed,  the full Belgian opposition in parliament demanded Leterme's resignation on the grounds that the prime minister had violated the principle of the separation of the judiciary and the government.

In July 2008, Belgian King Albert II refused to accept Leterme's proposed resignation when the prime minister failed to bridge the political chasm over disagreements between Flemish and Walloon parties to devolve power  from the federal government to regions.  Thus there was speculation as to whether or not the Belgian monarch would accept Leterme's latest offer of resignation.  To that end, the king did indeed accept Leterme's resignation although he asked the government to remain in place in a caretaker capacity. 

Yet to be determined was who would replace Leterme as head of government.  Former Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene was mentioned as a possible contender for the caretaker role. But by the last day of 2008, it was  Flemish Christian Democrat Herman Van Rompuy who had been sworn into power by King Albert as Belgium's new head of government.  Van Rompuy served as budget minister in the 1990s and was viewed as a budget hawk and  an intellectual, according to the European Union Observer. He was to lead   a five-party coalition government. The five parties in the coalition included the Flemish Christian Democrat Party, the Flemish Liberal Party, the Francophone Liberal Party, the Francophone Christian Democrats and the Francophone Socialist Party, the same grouping as in the last government.

Elections Update:

Africa: Ghana

Ghanaians vote in presidential run-off

In a climate of tough security, millions of Ghanaians in late December 2008 voted for a new president in a run-off election, following an inconclusive first round earlier in the month.  The contest was between the two top vote-getters in the first round --  Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and John Evans Atta Mills of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In the first round, Akufo-Addo had 4,159,439 votes, representing 49.13 per cent, while Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) obtained 4,056,634, representing 47.92 per cent.  Other candidates made up the rest of the  vote share and their supporters were expected to decide the second round result, and ultimately, the presidency.  Indeed, the result would produce a new government.

Early results suggested that  John Evans Atta Mills, candidate of the main opposition NDC, had the lead.   With results from 197 of the 230 constituencies declared by the electoral commission officials, Mills had 50.97 per cent of the votes, compared to 49.03 per cent for  Akufo-Addo, candidate of the ruling NPP.

A spokesperson from the Mills camp issued an early claim of victory.  "We have people on the ground and we know Prof. Mills has secured the mandate of the people," said Koku Anyidoho of the Mills Campaign office.  But Mustapha Hamid of the Akufo-Addo Campign made a competing claim that his candidate would secure victory. 

Indeed, the  eventual results from 229 out of the 230 constituencies gave Mills  50.13 per cent of total valid votes cast, while Akufo-Addo garnered 49.87 per cent.  With less that one percent separating the two, the vote in the second round promised to be so close  as to be decided in the Tain constituency. Tain became crucial to the 2008 presidential race because the difference between the two candidates was so minute that voters in Tain, who could not go to the polls during the presidential run-off on December 28, 2008, would determine the winner.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO)  condemned acts of intimidation and violence, as well as cited incidences of ballot stuffing and disorder,  that characterized voting in the run-off election. 

With this climate of electoral insecurity at stake, and with voters were still to cast their ballots in the Tain constituency,  the NPP, said it was trying to get the Electoral Commission to call off the election in Tain constituency.  A spokesperson for the party explained that "conditions were not good for a free and fair election."  As well, the lawyer of the party, Atta Akyea, said he had filed a writ at the High Court to stop the election in the constituency.  He warned that  that the Electoral Commission would be in contempt if it went ahead with the election but  the country's Electoral Commission said it had not heard of any such action and that it was satisfied with the security situation.

Accordingly, voting began in the Tain constituency  in Ghana despite claims by the NPP that  it was boycotting the vote because of alleged insecurity.

Note: A new president should be inaugurated on  January 7, 2008, according to the Constitution. 

Profiles of the 2 candidates in Ghana's presidential run-off

Accra, Ghana (PANA) -

The following is the profile of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Date of Birth: 29th March 1944

Place of Birth: Swalaba, Accra, Greater Accra Region

Family: Married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo (nee Griffiths-Randolph). He has five children.

Education

* Lancing College, Sussex, England

* University of Ghana, Legon 1964-1967: B.Sc (Econs)

* English Bar (Middle Temple): July, 1971

* Ghanaian Bar: July, 1975

Work Experience

* Associate Counsel, Coudert Frees Law Firm, Paris, France: 1971-1975

* Junior Member of the Chambers of U.V. Campbell Law Firm, Ghana: 1975-1979

* Senior Partner & Co-Founder of Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. Law Firm: 1979-2001

Special Appointments

* Vice President, Greater Accra Regional Branch of Ghana Bar Association 1989-1991

* President, Greater Accra Branch of Ghana Bar Association 1991-1996

* Member, General Legal Council 1991-1996/2001-2003

* Member, Judicial Council 2001-2003

Political Career

* NPP Member of Parliament for Abuakwa Constituency 1997-2005

* NPP Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency 2005 to date

* Attorney General and Minister of Justice 2001-2003

* Minister of Foreign Affairs 2003-2007

Profile of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Date of Birth: 21st July 1944

Place of Birth: Tarkwa, Western Region

Family: Married to Ernestina Naadu Mills (nee Botchway), an Educationist. Prof. Mills has a son.

Education

* Achimota School: 'O' & 'A' Levels 1957-1963

* University of Ghana, Faculty of Law, Legon, LL.B 1963-1966

* Ghana Law School: Professional Certificate in Law 1967

* London School of Economics: LL.M 1968

* University of London: Ph.D 1971

Work Experience

* University of Ghana, Faculty of Law: Associate Professor 1971-1996

* Acting Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service 1988-1996

* Visiting Scholar, Liu Centre for the Study of Global Affairs, University of British Columbia, Canada 2002

Special Appointments

* Member of Commonwealth Administration of Tax Experts

* Member of United Nations Ad Hoc Group of Experts in International Cooperation in Tax Matters

* Member of the United Nations Law and Population Project

Political Career

* Vice President of the Republic 1997-2001

* NDC Presidential Candidate 2000 and 2004

Asia: Bangladesh

Hasina's Awami League wins election in Bangladesh

On December 29, 2008,  Bangladeshi voters cast ballots  to elect a new government, which would  replace the two-year rule by the military-backed interim government. The vote ensued in a state of high security with 50,000 soldiers and 600,000 police deployed to guard against election fraud and violence. 

The two main parties contesting the election were the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina,  and the Bangladesh National Party, led by Khaleda Zia.  Both party leaders were women who had served respectively as  prime minister and who had been jailed by the interim government for corruption. Both Hasina and Zia -- bitter rivals for Bangladesh's leadership -- had been released to contest the election and  campaigned similarly on platforms of fighting corruption and terrorism.

With the votes counted, it was clear that  Sheikh Hasina would return to power as prime minister after her party won a landslide victory.  Her Awami League secured  230 of the  parliament's 300 seats in Monday's vote, while only 29 seats went to Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.  The  Awami League's key ally in the elections Jatiya Party won 27 seats while Bangladesh Nationalist Party's key ally Jamaat-e-Islami won two seats. Another four small parties shared seven  seats while four seats were won by independent candidates.       

For her part, Zia rejected the election results,  issued charges of mass forgery of votes, and said that she had evidence to show how vote rigging had taken place. She said, "Therefore, this election has not reflected the will of the people." But despite this claim the Electoral Commission's official tally of the votes made it clear that Hasina would have more than enough parliamentary seats to form a new government.  She was expected to be inaugurated into office in the first week of January 2009.

Note: Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Sheik Mujibur Rahman, the leader of Bangladesh's 1971 struggle for independence against Pakistan, who was assassinated in a military coup four years later. Sheikh Hasina  was toppled from office in 2001 and faced serious legal charges.  As noted above, she, like her rival Zia, was released to contest the election.  While she is likely to become prime minister, given her party's parliamentary dominance, Hasina's political prospects could be dampened by the prevailing charges of  murder, extortion and corruption that have not been fully resolved,

Note: Bangladesh's major party Awami League, which  won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections,  endorsed its senior presidium member Zillur Rahman as the country's next president.

Noteworthy forthcoming elections include --

February 2009: Israel
Delayed: Cote d’Ivoire

Spotlight:

Americas: United States

Obama completes his selection of Cabinet appointments; choices indicate diversity and area expertise

The Economic Team --

As the United States' economy continued to falter, marked by a record number of individuals joining the ranks of the unemployed, the Obama team decided to accelerate its announcement of President-Elect Obama's economic team.  To that end, President-Elect Obama was expected to unveil the key economic players on Nov. 24, 2008.

Days before, on Nov. 21, 2008, it was revealed that  two well-renowned veterans of the  Clinton administration would figure highly in the incoming Obama administration.  Specifically, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was reported to have been selected as the new treasury secretary.   As well, Lawrence "Larry" Summers,  the  treasury secretary who succeeded Robert Rubin in the Clinton administration, was expected to be named as the director of the National Economic Council.

On Nov. 24, 2008, the nominations of Geithner and Summers were officially announced along with two other nominations:  (1) respected  economic theorist Christine Romer as the head of the Council of Economic Advisors;  and (2)  Melanie Brown, who served as chief counsel to Senator Edward Kennedy, as the head of the Domestic Policy Council.

Key Players on Foreign Policy and National Security --

President-Elect Barack Obama was set to formally announce key nominations to his foreign policy and national security team by the start of December 2008.

Among these, the marquee appointment was expected to be Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State.  Earlier, as speculation increased about the prospect of Hillary Clinton becoming the United States' top diplomat, media sources, including  the New York Times and NBC News, reported that Clinton would indeed resign from her Senate position to become the new Secretary of State in an incoming Obama administration.   For its part, Clinton's office declined to confirm the news but noted that discussions were "very much on track."   News sources indicated that a formal announcement could come after the national Thanksgiving holiday.

In addition, outgoing President Bush's Defense Secretary Robert Gates was expected to remain in that post, at least temporarily.  Gates was appointed by Bush following the resignation of the much-criticized Rumsfeld from that role.

Two non-cabinet level positions, which were nonetheless expected to carry much influence in the current global climate of instability, included the following:  Retired Marine General James L. Jones  for National Security Advisor and Obama's campaign advisor on foreign policy, Susan Rice, as the United Nations Ambassador.

The Energy and Environment Experts --

In early December 2008, President-Elect Barack Obama followed through with his campaign promise to focus on renewable energy with an Energy Secretary nominee who boasts both scientific expertise and stellar credentials in the realm of green technology.

Obama's selection was Nobel physics laureate, Steven Chu, who has been at the helm of  the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since August 2004. Under Chu's leadership, the laboratory has concentrated on the development of  new alternative energy technologies.  Moreover, Chu gained a reputation as an advocate for energy efficiency as a way of countering global warming and climate change.

In addition to Chu, Obama selected veteran regulators from diverse backgrounds to fill three  key positions on his team with a focus on the environment and climate-change.

To that end, Lisa P. Jackson, the former head of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the former chief of staff to New Jersey Governor Corzine, was to be named as the new  head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

As well, Carol M. Browner, who worked as an Environmental Protection Agency administrator  under President Bill Clinton, was expected to be named to a new White House post overseeing energy, environmental and climate policies.

Nancy Sutley, the deputy mayor of Los Angeles for energy and environment, was to be named as the chair of  the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

With an emphasis on the importance of science, Obama selected another four scientists for key posts in a bid to aggressively confront global warming.

John Holdren, a  Harvard physicist, was named as Obama's science adviser as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Holdren was also set to direct the president's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology. Holdren's co-chairs were to be a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, Harold Varmus, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Eric Lander, who specialized in  human genome research.

As well, Jane Lubchenco, a Oregon State University professor  specializing in over-fishing and climate change, as well as a forceful advocate of government action on climate change, was named  to  lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is responsible for the lion's share of government's research on global warming.

In a radio address, Obama said, "It's time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore America's place as the world leader in science and technology."   Obama noted that it was vital that facts and evidence are never manipulated or undermined by politics or ideology.

Other Important Cabinet Selections --

Eric Holder for Attorney General  (Holder was the Deputy Attorney General under the Clinton administration)
Bill Richardson for Commerce Secretary (Richardson has served as New Mexico Governor, as well as United Nations Ambassador and Energy Secretary in Clinton's cabinet)*
Janet Napolitano for Homeland Security Secretary (Napolitano enjoys high approval ratings as the Governor of the border state of Arizona)
Tom Daschle  for Health and Human Services Secretary (Daschle was the Democratic leader in the Senate until 2004)
Shaun Donovan for Housing and Urban Development (Donovan was the New York housing commissioner)
Ken Salazar (Democratic Senator from Colorado) for Interior Secretary
Tim Vilsack (Democratic Governor of Iowa) for Agriculture Secretary
Arne Duncan (CEO of Chicago Public School) for Education Secretary
Eric Shinseki (former Chief of Staff of the Army) as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Hilda Solis (Democratic congresswoman from California ) for Labor Secretary
Ray LaHood  (Republican congressman from Illinois) for Transportation Secretary
Ron Kirk (former Democratic Dallas mayor) as United States Trade Representative

Other  Team Obama Appointments --

Chief of staff : Rahm Emanuel
Senior advisers : David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett, Peter Rouse and John Podesta
Press secretary : Robert Gibbs
Director of Speechwriting: Jonathan Favreau
White House counsel : Greg Craig
Vice-President's Chief of Staff : Ron Klain

Editor's Note:

Obama's cabinet is a picture of diversity, with five women, four African-Americans, three Hispanic-Americans, and two Asian-Americans included in the mix.  Meanwhile, his cabinet selections appear to be of the technocratic variety, with clear expertise and/or experience in the areas to which they have been appointed.

* UPDATE: Obama's nominee for Commerce Secretary, Bill Richardson, withdrew his nomination due to a pending investigation involving  a company that did  business with New Mexico -- the state where Richardson serves as governor -- but which also contributed to the governor's political campaign.  Richardson has said that he is certain the investigation will make it clear that he was involved in no wrong-doing, however, the inquiry could take time to complete  and the public attention could hinder the Commerce Department's work. The Obama campaign accepted Richardson's withdrawal "with deep regret."


Editor's Note:

CountryWatch's coverage of global political events and developments is not an endorsement of any country’s political priorities or any political interest group's agenda.  CountryWatch takes a politics-neutral approach and encourages users to consider a variety of viewpoints  and the complex range of parameters when studying either domestic politics or the international spectrum.


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- Denise Youngblood Coleman Ph.D.
   Houston, Texas