IISS 2008 Regional Security Summit Press Coverage
- 17 Dec 2008 - - The National - Canal is dredged to make room for display warships
Security issues have been at the forefront of the Government’s agenda over the past few weeks. At a conference in Manama, Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, urged the GCC to include Iraq, to limit Iran’s influence in the region. The UAE is also negotiating with the US to purchase several missile defence systems.
- 17 Dec 2008 - - United Press International - Bahrain offers Middle East peace
Addressing a conference organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, Bah-raini Foreign Minister Sheik Khalid ibn Ahmad al-Khalifa on Friday said a forum was needed in which key actors in the region “could interact frankly and openly, and in which they can both hold one another to ac-counts for their actions and reactions.”
- 17 Dec 2008 - - The National - The Gulf states must press the nuclear issue before it’s too late
These concerns were clearly laid out during last week’s IISS Manama Dialogue, a gathering of senior officials involved in Gulf affairs. There, US Defence Secretary Bob Gates walked a fine line: he warned that an Obama administration would not get soft on Iran (a message meant to reassure his Arab listeners) but reiterated a preference for dialogue. Tellingly, the Iranian officials slated to attend failed to show up, a sign that there is no consensus yet in Tehran about how to deal with such overtures.
- 17 Dec 2008 - - McClatchy Newspapers - Should ground troops hunt pirates in Somalia?
One of the Bush administration's last foreign-policy initiatives immediately drew skepticism from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who said over the weekend that the United States lacked the military intelligence to carry out a land-based operation. Officials in other countries have suggested that land pursuits could violate international law.
- 16 Dec 2008 - - Middle East Times - The U.S. View of the World
As keynote speaker at the International Institute for Strategic Studies' 5th Manama Dialogue conference in the capital of Bahrain last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pointed the finger at Iran and Syria, accusing them, particularly Iran, of meddling in affairs of other countries in the region.
- 16 Dec 2008 - - The Hindu - India, Yemen in talks over detained pirates
The Indian naval ship, INS Mysore had been involved last week in the capture of 23 pirates, comprising 11 Yemenis and 12 Somalis. The incident had taken place in the piracy-hit, Gulf of Aden. Anti-piracy operations and the action taken by INS Mysore, were also discussed in detail at the Manama Dialogue — an international security conference in Bahrain. It was felt that international maritime law was deficient in addressing situations where foreign navies captured pirates at sea.
