2011 has been quick I feel. We have had issues revolving around the middle-east to its current climax in Libya where several reliable news sources have stated that the French maybe arming Libyan rebels. – However there has been no confirmation by official French sources yet.

Just before 2011, in late December 2010, we had trouble on the Korean peninsular with the North Korean’s firing artillery barrages on Yeonpyeong Island. The North blamed the South for firing first, but the South stated they fired away from North Korean territory. In March 2010 the South Korean warship the ROKS Cheonan was apparently sunk by a North Korean submarine. Tensions in this region spared at its highest on toward 2011 with these 2 major incidents taking place. These attacks certainly have not gone unnoticed however have considerably died down quite a bit by the world media. – With no full-scale retaliation taking place from the South Korean military.

Also in late December 2010, France made deals to sell aircraft carriers or officially amphibious assault carriers which can carry attack, transport helicopters and other vehicles. The US expressed concern within NATO stating that these carriers could one day be used against the alliance. Russia wanted 4 of these carrier type ships, 2 to be built in France and 2 to be built in Russia valued at a total cost of $2 billion USD.

World attention turned to the middle east after countless protests which lasted weeks. In Tunisia, Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled the country to Saudi Arabia while a revolution backed by the people overran the government. Then after, Egypt seemed to be the next country to fall after 30 years of what is seen as dictatorship from President Mubarak. The military backed down and didn’t go against the people, but acted as a neutral party until Hosni Mubarak gave all political power to the military to concede to an election.

In April 2011, trouble stirred up in the Ivory Coast. There was an election which stirred up trouble on a level which displaced 1 million people and almost caused civil war, had there not been a United Nations intervention. Alassane Ouattara a candidate for the presidency contested the results and stated that Mr. Gbabgo cheated in the elections. Mr. Quattara was internationally backed and was under protection by forces coordinated by the United Nations. A French-led UN force ousted Mr. Gbabgo out of power and he was arrested and Ouattara took the presidential seat.

[To be updated]