15-0 Majority Passes Resolution Against Libya & Ghadafi

Yesterday, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution to impose arms, asset-freeze and travel embargoes on Libya, her embattled leader and several of his key associates. The resolution seems to give carte blanc for "all necessary measures to enable the return to Libya of humanitarian agencies and to secure the prompt and safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need." This seems to suggests military action. I think Russia and China might have something to say about it. Their stake in pipelines means they have their own interests to protect.

This certainly won't be the first time Libya had been imposed sanctions on. After the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, it took Libya almost 15 years to claim responsibility. The bombing of the Boeing 747-121 also known as "the Clipper of the Maiden Seas" were probably as a result of confrontations with the US Navy in the 1980s in the Gulf of Sidra, a body of water was under dispute on which Libya claimed territory. Suffice to say, despite the then sanctions, Libya could still muster up a USD2.7 billion compensation for the victims' families. Probably the first time sponsored terrorism had offered compensation to terror victims.

In Bahrain, her King has reorganized the cabinet and cut government housing loans by 25% in what is supposed to be a bargaining chip to entertain reforms and start dialogues for its implementation. This is probably in reacting to the return of Hassan Mushaiman, the opposition leader of the Haq Movement, a major Shite group to deliver his speech on regime change. So far, the casualties are far less compared to Libya. The dialogue proposing sovereignty has issued orders for the mortal harm of civilians; not just, but its people.

The clashes in Yemen have apparently has no effect on President Salleh's resolute. His security forces are starting to show brazen disregard for safety and life and the anti-government protesters were hit by gunfire when they shot into crowds, just like Libya. These demonstrators, mostly students have lined the streets outside Sanna University and are still taking flack from pro-government supporters. Yemen is probably "knackered", wracked by Shite Muslims, an American aided crackdown of Al-Qaeda operatives and shortage of water.

Mostly, cries for the ouster of the current government and the end of political and economical woes and the end of corrupt government officials rings through-out the Arab nations in these recent times. I am utterly perplexed by the apparent inequality of the distribution of wealth. At one time, deposed Egyptian leader, Hosni Mubarak's total wealth was said to have exceeeded USD70billion.

An interesting book I came across scouring the Internet for more reading material on Middle East socio-economical related problems. A Duke University professor of Islamic studies, economics and political science by the name of Timur Kuran authored this book, titled "The Long Divergence: How Islamic Law Held Back the Middle East"- which is essentially the decline of the Arab nations and the Middle Eastern economies at the hands of Muslim based economies which are incompatible with capitalism. Various laws in Islamic societies were not conducive to large-scale economic structures, at precisely the time when such structures were becoming profitable and are drivers of economic growth - whether it is on inheritance law, contracts, forming corporations, etc. I reckon a book by a Muslim and an insider will be a good read, lest a non-Muslim writer would probably be accused of being biased and western in thought.