Mali: A Defeat Waiting to Happen...

French soldiers prepare for a patrol in Mali (AP/Reuters)

The joke goes that if you Google “French Victories,” the search engine will snarkily ask you if you meant to search for “French Losses.” While this sort of comment rankles many French patriots (I'm part French myself), the truth is that ever since the 17th century, France’s track record of winning wars has been extremely poor. And once again, it appears that France has involved itself in a war that it simply cannot win, this time in the North African nation of Mali.

Into Mali
On Wednesday, January 16, French soldiers launched an extensive air and ground campaign against Islamist rebels in Mali. The Guardian reported on the 16th that France launched air strikes against Islamist camps and mobile forces in Mali, its former colony, to stop a rebel offensive and "safeguard" Mali's existence. Troops from Nigeria and other regional powers will join about 1,700 French troops involved in the operation, part of a contingent expected to reach 2,500 soldiers. President François Hollande said France intended to "destroy" the Islamists or take them captive if possible.

These Islamists are al-Qaeda linked fighters that took control of the northern deserts of Mali early last year. The militants are well armed and well trained: Reuters notes that many are coming directly from the US conflicts in the Middle East. Determined to hold onto their gains in the country, the Islamists have warned that French troops will become bogged down for years.

The people of Mali are welcoming the French soldiers with open arms: the Islamists have imposed harsh Sharia law upon the region, cutting off hands and feet for minor crimes in addition to desecrating the sacred religious shrines in the fabled city of Timbuktu (yes, it does actually exist). The citizens have feared for their lives, worried of the potential damage the volatile terror groups might wreak. Mahamadou Abdoulaye, 35, a truck driver who fled from the northern Gao region of Mali into Niger, said the Islamists new recruits were both armed and inexperienced: a dangerous combination.
"We were all afraid. Many young fighters have enrolled with them recently. They are newly arrived, they cannot manage their weapons properly. There's fear on everybody's face," he said.

Nuclear Concerns
Unfortunately, there is more at stake here than meets the eye. Although Mali was originally a French colony, this invasion is not merely a “mother nation looking out for her children.”  As Mark Tran of The Guardian notes, the West and Mali's neighbours fear that the Islamists, who took over northern Mali, an area the size of France of desert and rugged mountains, will use the country to destabilise the rest of west Africa, including neighbouring Niger, France's main source of uranium for its nuclear industry.If the Islamists gain complete control of Mali, turning the nation into a stronghold, the potential that terror groups such as al-Qaeda In the Maghreb (AQIM) will use the area as a base for launching international attacks is huge. The potential that AQIM will use the area as a foundation for a takeover of Niger’s vast supplies of uranium is even greater. As J.G. Gilmour explains, the AQIM has direct ties to the Nigerian terror group, Boko Haram. Both groups have sworn to “expel all westerners in the Sahel and establish an Islamic theocracy with poor countries which have limited resources and weak military forces to react to their insurgency operations.”  The AQIM is hoping that terrorism activities will destabilize such countries by recruiting extremists to their networks and cells. Ultimately, this destabilization puts France’s almost unending supply of uranium at risk. This uranium, as activist Adam Cooper reports, is much of the reason for initiating this offensive in Mali.

Without an End
If France has not learned from the US example in nations like Afghanistan or Iraq, then they will learn soon enough that fighting terror groups is utterly different from fighting a conventional war. As the US realized in Iraq, enemy soldiers may be anywhere, and they have no qualms about hiding among the civilian population.

French Army chief Edouard Guillaud said France's air strikes, involving Rafale and Mirage jet fighters, were being hampered because militants were using the civilian population as a shield.

"We categorically refuse to make the civilian population take a risk. If in doubt, we will not shoot," he said.
This honor of the division between militant and civilian is the great weakness of Western nations attempting to eradicate a terror group from a region. Nations such as the US, Britain, and France come to the conflict with rules of war and the terrorists capitalize upon those restrictions. Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian acknowledges the difficulties facing France. "It's tough. We were aware from the beginning it would be a very difficult operation.”

Any five year old will tell you that it is almost impossible to play with someone who refuses to respect the rules of the game. If the experiences of the US in Iraq and Afghanistan are any indication, this holds true not only for Candyland as it does for war. France may maintain the moral high ground in this conflict, but will receive a defeat in return.

Grace...

Physics tonight. And a poem.

Grace

The drops spatter at the windowpane
Nose to glass, I watch the rain.
Water mixed with Autumn mold
A world for me that's bitter and cold.

A robin flits by, shaking its beak,
Escaping the frost that has left it weak.
A thought escapes as I dry my eyes,
An added cloud in my misery gray skies.

A wounded heart sits silently here.
No answer to this soul's shouted prayer.
Please; a way to run, to hide.
I can't handle this grief, I tried.

A bit of red in the now falling snow,
This broken heart bleeds out below.
A bit of coal amongst all the white,
Mars the beauty in the fading light.

The snow has stopped, and so have my tears.
The cold remains, and so do my fears.
Anger; tell me why did this happen?
The argument circle I'm still trapped in.

Tell me I'll be alright, that I'll be ok.
No, leave me alone--keep your cliches.
I can't do this myself--please let me be strong.
Something make my life right, its now so wrong.

The orange lines of sun split through the clouds
Warm on my face, the sunset glow astounds.
A ray pierces my heart, through the painful dark hue,
And I hear a whisper, "I painted this all for you."

[when I wiped the tears from your face / I called it all, Grace]

Divorce Notice...

A friend sent this to me. Its snarky, but sometimes I think a bit of humor is needed in politics. A good idea? I'll leave that to you to decide.

(note: this is not my own work)
_________________________

DIVORCE AGREEMENT


Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters,et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's for the sake of the kids, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has clearly run its course.

Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right for us all, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a our separation agreement:

--Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a similar portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

--We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them.
--You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.

--Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military.
--We'll take the nasty, smelly oil industry and the coal mines, and you can go with wind, solar and biodiesel.
--You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell. You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them.
--We'll keep capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street.
--You can have your beloved lifelong welfare dwellers, food stamps, homeless, homeboys, hippies, druggies and illegal aliens.
--We'll keep the Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks.
--We'll keep Bill O'Reilly, and Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .
--You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.
--You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.
--We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Volt and Leaf you can find.
--You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors.

--We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.
--We'll keep "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The National Anthem."
--I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute "Imagine", "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", "Kumbaya" or "We Are the World".
--We'll practice trickle-down economics and you can continue to give trickle up poverty your best shot.
--Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.

Sincerely,

John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin & Charlie Sheen, Barbara Streisand, & ( Hanoi ) Jane Fonda with you.

Rasa, Rasa...

Physics tonight. And a poem.

Rasa, Rasa

My heart beats,
As a man, as a drum.
Hear the lifeline of this earth
Dominion and destruction

Return to this paradise
Respite of the fallen
Roll the dice, pass the cup
Revel in this pleasure den.

If you fly higher
You shall fall all the more
Ten graves deeper down
Looking only to travel lower.

Fall away, call away
What are you looking for?
Famed in the darkness
But starbright at the core.

Raise up, rise up.
Rasa, rasa, tabula rasa.
Rewrite your story,
Reclaim those you lost.

A man once paid ransom for you,
Heaven met Earth for your soul.
Death brought life: Ni kumaliza
Let your debt be paid in full.

See your deeds, failures, your scars
He sees them, knows where you've been
Where you've lived up, down, tried to let go
But calls you Saint, no more condemned.

Child, child, child
Why do you weep?
When Hope seems gone,
Joy destroyed,
Love has left,
Life at dead end.
Remember: you're the one I chose to keep.

[never stop living]

Recap: 2012

Now is the time of year that any self-respecting news organization publishes its "best news of the year" in high style with flashy graphics and an upbeat soundtrack. Unfortunately I neither have the time nor budget to produce a video for you, however, I will do my best to replicate the other aspects.

 I have compiled this list from my own musings, as well as with input from other reputable sources. I have tried my best to pick news events that happened on an international scale and that had exterior ramifications for not just the nation involved, but for the world on a larger scale.  This list is by no means extensive--many of you may feel that I arbitrarily picked my subjects--but know that I gave it my best shot. Also, the numbers are not a ranking scheme, but merely a way for me to stay organized; all these events were equally important.

            Thus, without further ado: the top 10 news stories of 2012 (if you want a soundtrack for this recap, have at it:  Soundtrack for 2012)

1. Egyptian Presidential Election & Constitution

            Of all the nations that rode the rollercoaster of emotions produced by last year's "Arab Spring," Egypt has been one of the most driven to define its own democracy. Enter Mohammed Morsi, a relatively unknown politician into the elections held in June of 2012. Despite the political shenanigans of the ruling Mubarak-era military junta, Morsi defeated the state-supported candidate and became Egypt's newest democratically elected president.

            For Morsi, the win was merely a jump out of the frying pan into the proverbial fire; the time had come for Egypt to write its constitution and the military-dominated Supreme Court was threatening to disband all legislative committees involved in the creation. Morsi feared that the courts could have gone further, writes Noah Feldman, a law professor at Harvard University who’s an expert on Islam. The courts may have “declared the presidential election invalid as well, creating a constitutional coup d’état against the president.” Morsi passed a referendum placing himself above and beyond the current laws and jurisdiction of the courts, promising to rescind his powers once a constitution was passed. Extremely wary of such a dictatorial grasp at power, the constitutional committees quickly drafted and approved a constitution on December 26th.  The document is a rather shoddy protector  of civil liberties in Egypt, but is a solid step in the direction of full democracy.

2. Successful North Korean "Rocket" Launch

            As a government, North Korea has always been partial to dangerous pyrotechnic displays, and the new ruler Kim Jong Un is no exception. Ever since the nation completed its first nuclear warhead, the challenge for the Korea scientists has been to find a vehicle that will deliver that warhead around the world.

            On December 12, North Korea launched a rudimentary weather satellite into partial orbit above the earth atop a Unha-3 rocket. The nation insists that the launch had nothing to do with military objectives and was merely a scientific exposition. However, weapons experts in South Korea, upon analyzing the debris left by the rocket, stated that the launch was a test of North Korea's ballistic missile vehicle. “They efficiently developed a three-stage long-range missile by using their existing Rodong and Scud missile technology,” a senior military intelligence official said Sunday, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity.

            If armed, this ballistic missile could at maximum reach any target within 6,000 kilometers of North Korea. However, before you worry, experts are unsure as to Korea's ability to weaponize the missile. Analysts doubt that North Korea has mastered the technology needed to make a nuclear bomb small enough to mount on a missile. If they do manage to miniaturize their warhead, the furthest target Korea could possibly hit would be Sarah Palin's home.

3. Russian Presidential Election

            Vladimir Putin has long been famed for his physique and feats of strength and valor. This year, it appears that the Russian he-man has strong-armed his way back into power as the president of Russia. After serving as the premier for his protégé Dmitry Medvedev, Putin switched places in the last election, taking the presidential title and choosing Medvedev as his premier. This is not the first time Putin has been president either: he previously held the position from 2000 to 2008.

            If you think something smells fishy, you are not alone. In the latest Russian election, not only did Putin win, but all candidates from his party either reclaimed seats or defeated opponents as well. This apparent election-rigging caused numerous protests from citizens and complaints from international watchdog groups. In response, the government has severely cracked down on dissension and contact with foreigners.  Russia has been down this road before; lets hope they remember the outcome in 1991.

4. Aung San Suu Kyi Elected

            In the CPI (Corruption Perceptions Index) rankings for 2012, the nation of Myanmar (previously known as Burma) ranked as the third most corrupt government in the world. One woman however is attempting to change that statistic.

            Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the Burmese National League of Democracy (NLD), the opposition party in Myanmar's parliament. The NLD has a 59% majority in parliament for this session, for the first time in decades. Suu Kyi's election was a landmark because of all of the NLD candidates elected, she has been the most verbal, the most outspoken, and the most aggressive in pursuing sweeping reforms to Myanmar's faulty government. In the last election that she participated in, in 1990, she was placed under house arrest for twenty years, becoming one of the world's most noted political prisoners. This political prisoner however has now set out to change the system that imprisoned her.

            For all of her work, Suu Kyi was this year's recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Medal of Honor. Not only has she called for reforms within her own country, but also reforms around the world, making her a strong advocate on the international stage. For her courage and fortitude, world leaders have lauded her, including US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

5. Syrian Civil War

            It seems that there has been a news story from this conflict on the front page every day. The Syrian civil war is a bitter battle that shows no signs of coming to an end. What began as a mostly peaceful protest against dictator-president Bashar al-Assad in hope of reform has become a fight to the death between the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian government with innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 57,000 people have died in the fighting, with over 23,000 of those casualties being non-combatants.

            The war has spilled over into the nearby nation of Turkey on occasion as well, causing Turkish casualties and international ire. However, Assad was already in the proverbial international doghouse due to his regime's human rights violations. From mass executions to rigged juries, Assad is accused of numerous crimes against humanity. In a recent attempt to prevent further innocents being killed en-masse, the United States has deployed Patriot missile batteries to the Turkey-Syria border to deter Assad from firing his biological and chemical weapons on the Syrian rebels. Policy officials at the Heritage Institute note that Assad realizes that he is losing his grasp on his power. Assad recognizes the fact that it is only a matter of time before his end--and he will make sure to cause as much damage possible in his death-throes. As one man once put it, "Some men just want to watch the world burn."

           

6. Chinese Presidential Selection

            Of all of the transfers of power staged this year, the Chinese presidential selection promises to hold the most implications for the rest of the world. This year the elite political body that forms the core of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was reshuffled. The Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), as this body is known was announced to the world with new faces and a new organization. The number of seats on the PSC shrank from nine members to seven and included the names at the top of many speculative lists: Xi Jinping (President), Li Keqiang (Premier), Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli.

            Cheng Li of the Brookings Institute says that these choices do not bode well for those who were hoping to see some political reform in China. "This Party congress has sent a very clear signal that this leadership is politically conservative." While in America, conservatives are considered the best choice for achieving political reform, in China, the selection of conservatives signals a maintenance of the dictatorial power exercised by the state so far, Li believes. However, Noah Feldman, a constitutional law professor at Harvard, thinks that the streamlining of the PSC and the overall willingness to change leadership shows promise for reform: "China isn’t on the royal road to democracy or to capitalism without major state direction. But in 2012 it reaped the benefits of its historic move away from dictatorship -- and in historical and comparative terms, that’s impressive enough."

            Like any election, we will just have to wait to see how things pan out for the governing body of China.

7. Israel-Gaza Conflict

            You might ask, what else is new? After all, it seems that the Israeli-Gazan fighting is always on the front page and is always considered a momentous event. Well, I'll admit that you are correct. However, I think that this issue deserves some attention, especially because of some of the new developments in that arena.        

            In August, a rash of rocket attacks by Hamas fighters spurred retaliatory attacks by the Israeli SDF; Israeli airstrikes, missiles, and artillery quickly struck back at the rocket launch sites. These airstrikes spurred only more rocket attacks by Hamas, and both sides found themselves in a tit-for-tat fight with the innocent populace caught and killed in between.

            The military tensions were only worsened when the UN granted Palestine observership status within the council, lending legitimacy to Palestine's cause. To make matters worse, new evidence surfaced that Yasser Arafat, beloved leader of the PLO, may have been assassinated by Israeli agents. Only causing more anger by Gazans was Israel's decision to continue the expansion of its Jerusalem settlements, encroaching on the border that Palestine claims.

            A ceasefire was finally reached in late November, but not before hundreds had died. This is one conflict where both sides seem to repeat their mistakes, and with great vigor. The old adage says that nothing new happens in the world--it is merely history repeating itself. The Israel-Gaza conflict proves that point perfectly.

8. EU Financial Crisis & Bailouts

            In the 2008 foreign film Slumdog Millionaire, one of the characters makes a rather astute judgment: "There are two reasons to make mistakes in this life: money and women." While promiscuity may not be a problem, money has certainly caused its share of troubles for the European Union and its Euro this year. The European financial problems of last year became the European financial crisis of this year, with several nations almost declaring complete bankruptcy. Greece, on the verge of financial collapse, even attempted to leave the failing organization in the hope that as a nation it could define its own economic freedom.

            Realizing the imminent threat of complete EU collapse brought about by not only Greece's wage woes, but also the troubles of Spain and Italy as well, German chancellor Angela Merkel quickly put together a bailout package. The Eurozone countries approved a 237-billion-euro rescue package for Greece, as well as for Spain and Italy. Economic officials at Bloomberg believe that while the bailouts did afford some slight benefit, the danger of defaulting on the debt still looms.

            On a interestingly related note, when the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) was published for 2012, the nations who received bailouts were found to have ranked 5 or 6 places lower than previously (indicating more corruption). Apparently money, as well as power, corrupts.

9. Attack on US Embassy in Benghazi

            The attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya that left 5 Americans dead, including ambassador J. Christopher Stevens has been called many things: a terrorist attack, a freak explosion of violence, a retaliation for the infamous anti-Muslim video published in the US. Finally however, we have answers: an independent inquiry as well as a congressional committee have both come to the conclusion that the attack was premeditated and carried out as a terrorist strike.

            As the New York Times reports, the independent report slams the “systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels” in the State Department’s bureaus of diplomatic security and Near East affairs that resulted in a “security posture that was inadequate for Benghazi and grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place.” Problems with security, intelligence, and grasp of the situation plagued the Obama administration both during and after the attack. However, it seems that the administration is responding appropriately now. The Times goes on to note that "Mrs. Clinton accepted all of the panel’s 29 recommendations and has already begun to make changes."

            As to the mastermind behind the attack, FBI and CIA agents have questioned a suspect who was detained in Turkey, then extradited to Tunisia. Authorities have stated that Ali Harzi, a Tunisian, is "strongly suspected in the attack." It seems that finally answers are forthcoming in this deadly situation.

10. 2012 London Olympics

            The excitement and expectation began to build long before the first athletes moved into the Olympic village in July. On 18 May the Olympic Flame set down on British soil, beginning the torch relay that swept around the country and allowed everyone the opportunity to share in the occasion. Eight thousand inspiring individuals took part, from sporting legends such as Dame Kelly Holmes and fellow Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave to those nominated for their work in the local community.

            Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees rose to walls and waves of sound as unprecedented levels of support inspired outstanding performances and records tumbled. On the track, Usain Bolt’s double triple (100m, 200m and 4x100 relay gold for the second time) brought cheers not only in the stadium, but also from his home nation of Jamaica.

            In the pool, Michael Phelps graciously rose from Olympic waters for the last time, taking an incredible 22 medal haul with him – 18 of them gold. And in the velodrome Sir Chris Hoy won his sixth gold medal to become the most decorated British Olympian of all time.

            The positive repercussions from hosting the Games will be felt across the UK’s capital for decades to come, thanks to the regeneration of the area and the legacy created by the state of the art stadiums and facilities such as the Velodrome and the Aquatics Centre. London 2012 was an Olympic Games that pervaded the boundaries of sport the world over, and is one that will not be quickly forgotten.
________________________________________________________________________________

           2012 has been an eventful year. We have lived, cried, laughed, mourned, celebrated, and remembered. Like any year, we won't get to live it again, but don't regret it in any way. There is no sense in saying "what if...;" just accept and live with what was.

We Grieve...

     Yesterday, twenty children died. Twenty kids who hadn't even graduated from elementary school, twenty kids who were loved dearly by their families and community, twenty kids who just  the day before ran and played without a care in the world, gunned down where they stood.

 Yesterday, six adults died. Six mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends; six adults who devoted their lives to teaching and mentoring the future who will never see their work come to fruition; six people who gave all they had for the children they taught.

  We ask how this could have happened. Of all the towns in America Newtown, Connecticut is one of the least touched by crime and poverty, yet is now the site of the worst school shooting in our nation's history. "How is this possible?" we wonder. Of course it was the shooter's fault--Adam Lanza is responsible for every life that passed before his bullets; but we almost want to place the blame elsewhere as well--after all, Americans are normal, stable people. Surely Adam is not solely to blame for this tragedy. It was the legislators who have not passed strict gun laws. It was the US healthcare system for not providing affordable mental counseling. It was Adam's own parents that failed to raise him correctly.

     But why do we need to blame anyone else? This shooting has brought grief to every one of our hearts--why stir up more angst and frustration? For those of you who think this is political fodder, please cease. This is not a "prime piece of evidence for gun control." This is not the platform for more political pontification on our health system. This is where twenty-six innocent souls died. This is where mothers and fathers will never see their children again in this life. This is where children's blood stained the pavement.
     Do not be afraid to mourn those lost.

     Yesterday, I lived life as normal. I spent time with friends; I went and saw a movie; I celebrated this Christmas season with my family. Am I cold? Am I insensitive to the fact that for twenty-six families, Christmas will now be a funeral? Should I have stopped my life because lives ended yesterday? I mourn those killed; I grieve for the families and pray for their loss, however, America, do not be afraid to carry on. Grieve in your hearts but show strength in your actions. If we cease to continue, when shall we begin again? Dedicate the quiet parts of your life to remembering these children and teachers, but do not be afraid to proceed with life.  Courage is rising the the challenge and meeting adversity. Let us meet this adversity with resolve.
     We will remember these dead for decades to come.

     For the families of this tragedy, and all whose hearts were wrenched by this horror--look for hope. Look for peace. Look for joy.
     Look for Christ.
     I don't know why the shooting happened. I don't know how it fits into God's plan. Nay, I do not claim to have the answers. Remember this though: what Christ has to offer is far greater than what you are feeling now. We cannot bring them back...

One of the children wrote this note for his mother the day before dying in the shooting.

...but we can find peace in the arms of Christ.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." 

This sounds like a cliche answer, but it is a true answer. Christ grieves with you over your children. He loved your children. He loved every laugh and smile that came from their lips; He loved every time their eyes lit up with joy.
     America, find commiseration in Christ. He grieves with us today.

Yasser Arafat: A Grave Matter

Former PLO & PA leader, Yasser Arafat (AP)

            The old adage says that dead men tell no tales, however, thanks to modern science and medicine, corpses now can tell their stories. This ability is extremely useful as you may imagine, especially if these corpses happen to be infamous deceased world leaders who suffered, shall we say, controversial deaths.

            Such is the case with the former leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Arafat.

            Before you start worrying that some terrorist has resurrected Arafat to lead an army to destroy the world, let me clarify that thankfully that has not happened. Instead, a joint team of Swede, French, Palestinian, Swiss, and Russian scientists are excavating Arafat’s tomb in order to exhume his body to determine whether the former premier was assassinated.

Just a Trace

            Last year, news organization Al-Jazeera published a documentary in which Swiss experts declared that high levels of the radioactive substance polonium-210 had been found on Arafat’s clothing and personal belongings in his home. Polonium-210 is not only one of earth’s rarest elements but also one of the most lethal. Ingesting less than 1 gram (0.04 ounces) of the silver powder can kill a healthy adult in a matter of a week. Polonium first made headlines in 2006 when it was used to kill KGB agent-turned-Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko in London.  Once again, the element is suspected as the poison of choice in Arafat’s 2004 death.

            CNN interviewed  Francois Bochud, director of the Institut de Radiophysique in Lausanne, Switzerland. Bochud said his researchers had tested Arafat's toothbrush, clothing and keffiyeh, the distinctive black-and-white headscarf he often wore.

A body fluid stain from the clothing contained 180 megabecquerels per liter of the radioactive isotope, while a typical sample would contain 5 megabecquerels per liter, Bochud said. (A becquerel is a unit of measurement of radioactivity for all of you non-geeks out there.)

Assassination? Maybe.

            The close friends and family of Arafat have long declared that his death was the result of an assassination by the Israeli secret service. Just prior to his death, Arafat claimed repeatedly that Israeli special forces were attempting to kill him. Many ignored his claims as the paranoid accusations of a 75 year-old man against a government that had long frustrated his hopes of seeing Israel and Palestine united again. However, the discovery of the presence of polonium-210 has changed the entire situation surrounding his death, lending credence to the claims of assassination.

            One note must be made though—until the full exhumation and toxicology report is published, no fingers can or should be pointed.

Severe Ramifications

            Extreme care must be taken on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict with regards to the results of this exhumation. In addition to the already tense relations over the incessant rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on Israeli urban centers, and the retaliatory airstrikes made by the Israeli Air Force upon the Hamas/Hezbollah rocketeers, the discovery that Israel assassinated the Palestinian’s beloved leader could force the area into a direct and bloody conflict. As  scholar Michael Fisbach notes “To the end of his life, Arafat remained a polarizing figure. To most Palestinians, he remained  the almost mythical symbol of their drive for independence and dignity, who pulled together a dispersed and downtrodden people, turned them into a movement, and led them to the doorway of independence.”

            The PLO is seeking to cross that threshold of independence that Arafat led them to, as evidenced by the recent bid for UN recognition and membership. The organization is fiercely determined to achieve acceptance upon the world stage, and to find that Arafat was assassinated would make the PLO all the more determined to fulfill that dream. Arafat longed to see a free Palestine and his legacy still lives on. If he was truly a martyr for the cause, then the cause will be seen as all the more legitimate: a dangerous place for both Israel and the entire Middle East to be in.

            In life, Arafat was, as Fisbach said, a polarizing figure. He was labeled often as a terrorist, yet was a recipient of the distinguished Nobel Peace prize for his efforts.  In life, he wished to be able to tell the story of Israeli-Palestinian peace, but now in death his remains may only begin yet another tale of violence.