Safe Democracy Foundation - Safe Democracy

Carlos Jorquera analyzes the harsh criticism that Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has been receiving in past weeks, and explains why her popularity has been declining so rapidly. Jorquera points out several important factors in Bachelet’s loss of support: ambiguity in leadership, indecisiveness, and poor communication within government. In Jorquera’s opinion, Bachelet must take a stand and decide to govern in order to help her country overcome its crises and set Chile on a positive, unwavering course.

Asoka Ranaweera gives a brief history of Liberia from its foundations up to the modern day, discussing the disastrous effects that civil war and instability have had upon the region. In Ranaweera’s opinion, the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf marks a new chapter in Liberia’s history with the possibility for economic growth and prosperity. But, Ranaweera warns, positive change cannot be made without the support of the international community.

Martin Varsavsky analyzes the current war between Israel and Lebanon labeling it a distraction strategy on the part of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In Varsavsky’s opinion, Ahmadinejad used his influence with Hezbollah to create a war and divert attention away from his nuclear aims. Varsavsky identifies three possible outcomes for the current conflict: either Israel succeeds in drawing UN troops to police the Israel-Lebanon border, Lebanon turns into a second Iraq, or Israel and the United States decide to wage war on Iran. No matter what the outcome, Varsavsky reminds us, those who will suffer the most in this conflict will be the civilians.

Walid Salem lays bear the rhetoric on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon war, claiming that despite the confusion and emotion built up over decades of conflict, it is possible to find a solution for peace. In Salem’s opinion, Israel must withdraw from the Shebaa Farms and release its Lebanese prisoners, and Hezbollah must recognize Israel, disarm and integrate into the Lebanese army, and promise to uphold a lasting peace on its borders with Israel. The most important way to sort through all of the rhetoric and propaganda on both sides, Salem points out, is to view your enemy as human. Only then can the healing necessary for peace take place.

Arshin Adib-Moghaddam explains how Iran has developed a multilateral strategy to enhance the diplomatic bargaining power of the Ahmadinejad administration. In Adib-Moghaddam’s opinion, given Iran’s defiant international stance and widespread influence, resolving the nuclear crisis will depend on a realistic assessment of Iran’s role in world politics.

Mohammad Darawashe describes what life is like as an Arab Israeli living in Northern Israel during war. Hezbollah does not discriminate between Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis in its bombings, and for Darawashe and his family, the Katyusha rocket attacks have become routine. Yet, despite the equal dangers that Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis share in the North of Israel, Jewish towns are better equipped to defend themselves against missile attacks, making Darawashe feel that Arabs are being treated as second rate citizens by the Israeli government. Maybe it is too early to point the finger –states–, but one thing I know for sure is how to sympathize with the innocent civilians who are dying because of this ridiculous show of power.