Foreign Updates: Iraq, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Iran, Syria

Iraq

            The Iraqi’s are confronting a resurgent al-Qaeda, which has taken the two major cities in the restive Sunni Arab province of Anbar.  They have requested and are receiving American arms, while further requests are pending approval by the United States Congress.  The Iraqi government is being aided by allied Sunni Arab tribal militias, which is significant because of continued al-Qaeda and other Islamists’ efforts to divide the Sunni Arabs from the Shi’ite Arab-led government.  The Obama Administration is right to continue to support its Iraqi ally in the War on Terrorism, especially after it withdrew American troops.

Central African Republic

            The new Muslim leader who had taken power by force has resigned.  Much of the violence from Muslim and Christian militias has been quelled, thanks to the resignation and international peacekeepers, but stability is yet to be established.

South Sudan

            Tribal warfare has killed thousands of people in the world’s newest independent state.  The situation was bad enough to send refugees fleeing even to war-torn Central African Republic.  Thankfully, peace negotiations have begun.

Iran

            Iran reached an agreement to implement a nuclear agreement it had negotiated with the five parties it has been in negotiations with for several years: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Russia.  As doubts about its effectiveness increase, efforts in the U.S. Congress continue to pass sanctions that would take effect should Iran cheat, despite a threatened veto by President Barack Obama.

Syria

            Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons continues to be destroyed, but the civil war continues on.  Al-Qaeda affiliates are increasingly dominating the opposition and they are frequently clashing with non-Islamist militants.