Sanitas Weekly Web Summary for the Week of January 16th

Sanitas International offers a weekly summary of influential and informative media articles from around the world regarding strategic communications, crisis management, digital media and political affairs.  Particular interest is given to articles discussing topics in developing countries and emerging market.

The highly contested SOPA and PIPA bills spurred online protests this week with many sites like Google and Wired “going dark” to show discontent for the acts, which were later shelved indefinitely. In other digital news, online protests against Obama’s drone failed to have the same impact as those against SOPA and PIPA. The hacking group Anonymous, who have been highly vocal about both acts, also released “the first direct and public activist malware,” which forced “unwitting bystanders to join in a potentially illegal action” by clicking on a shortened link that sought to shut down the Justice Department’s website. In foreign policy news, France stated this week it would consider pulling out of Afghanistan after four of its soliders were killed.  Also in Afghanistan, President Karzai said he “met with insurgent faction Hizv-i-Islami” in for peace talks. Also in the Middle East, a prominent Syrian Kurd leader stated, “the revolution would not succeed without minorities.” In response to many other issues facing the Middle East, including tensions with Iran, after a brief visit to Israel, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called for closer ties with the nation highlighting its importance to the region. In other political news, President Obama called for a “return to American values” during his State of the Union address while the South Carolina primary showed Newt Gingrich surging in the polls after “…his aggressive performances in two televised debates.” Debate still continues to swirl about what kind of president the supposed GOP front-runner Mitt Romney would make with some speculating he would “move left” on economic issues after being elected or concluding his campaign.

This week’s summary highlights these and other developments around the world. As Sanitas constantly emphasizes, government and business cannot afford to ignore these growing and evolving challenges. Especially as these and others issues influence reputations, challenge operational decisions and affect overall revenues and influence.

Strategic Communication:

Syrian Kurd Leader: Revolution Won't Succeed Without Minorities

Afghanistan’s Karzai says he met with insurgent faction Hizb-i-Islami for peace talks

Obama to call for ‘return to American values’ in State of the Union address

China Leader Warns Iran Not to Make Nuclear Arms

Crisis Management:

Cruise Captain Suspended

Citing Security Fears, Rushdie Won’t Attend Literary Festival

Central Bank Becomes an Unlikely Hero in Euro Crisis

Digital Media:

SOPA and PIPA postponed indefinitely after protests

SOPA protests shut down Web sites

Anonymous Tricks Bystanders Into Attacking Justice Department

Online Protest Against Obama’s Drone War Flops

Pro-Israeli hacker posts what he says are log-in details for 100,000 Facebook accounts

Political:      

Would President Romney move left after the campaign?

In South Carolina, a sharply tightened race

Meshaal Planning to Step Down as Leader of Hamas

Foreign Policy:

France Weighs Pullout After 4 of Its Soldiers Are Killed

U.S. General Urges Closer Ties With Israel

Charles Taylor 'worked' for CIA in Liberia

New York Times:

An Ethnic War Is Rekindled in Myanmar

Self-Immolation Is on the Rise in the Arab World