The Week USA 03.20.2020

The world at a glance ... NEWS^9

Moscow

Putin eternal: Russian President Vladimir Putin this

week threw his support behind a constitutional

amendment that would let him remain in

power for life. The amendment—passed by the

lower house of the legislature—would reset

Putin’s term limit so that he could run for

office two more times, keeping him in charge

until 2036, when he will be 84. The measure

will apply only to Putin; all subsequent presidents will be limited

to two six-year terms. “When a country is going through such

upheavals and such difficulties,” Putin said, “stability may be more

important and must be given priority.” The package of constitu-

tional changes will be put to a referendum in April. Russians won’t

be able to protest, because mass gatherings have been prohibited to

avoid spreading the coronavirus.

Khartoum, Sudan

Failed hit: Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok survived an

assassination attempt this week, after unknown attackers targeted

his motorcade with explosives and firearms. One security officer

was wounded, and Hamdok said he was “safe and in good shape.”

The attempted hit shows the precarious nature of Sudan’s transi-

tion to civilian rule. Longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir was over-

thrown last April following widespread protests, and in August the

military and the opposition agreed

to install a ruling council led by

Hamdok, an economist and former

United Nations official. Several

unidentified people were arrested in

connection with the attack, and the

ruling council said it would step up

its drive to remove Bashir loyalists

who hold positions of power.

Riyadh

Purge of princes: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,

known as MBS, detained four top members of the royal family on

suspicion of treason this week in a bid to stamp out any opposition

to his rule. The detainees include his cousin Prince Mohammed

bin Nayef, 60, a former crown prince, and his uncle

Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 78—who opposed MBS

becoming crown prince in 2017. “This is a preparation

for transferring power,” a palace source told Reuters.

“It is a clear message to the family that no one can

say no or dare challenge him.” If MBS, 34, takes

power upon the death of his father, King Salman,

84, it will be only the second generational

transfer of power since Abdulaziz ibn Saud

founded the country in 1932. All kings since

then have been sons of Ibn Saud.

Tehran

Pursuing nukes? The United Nations’

nuclear watchdog has demanded that

Tehran stop blocking its investigation

of three possible undeclared nuclear

sites inside Iran. The International

Atomic Energy Agency said Iran

has accelerated its production of

low-enriched uranium, shrinking the

“breakout time” to acquire enough

fuel for a nuclear weapon to just four months. Iran ramped up

enrichment a year after the U.S. unilaterally pulled out of the 2015

Iran nuclear deal. But so far, its actions are not irreversible and may

be intended to push the West to restore the sanctions-relieving deal.

Ernest Moniz, who was U.S. energy secretary under Obama, says

Iran has not taken serious steps such as kicking out inspectors alto-

gether. “They are not in ‘breakout mode,’” Moniz said.

Makhmur, Iraq

ISIS kills Marines: Two elite U.S. Marine Raiders were killed in

Iraq this week on a joint mission with Iraqi forces to root out

ISIS fighters—the first combat deaths for the U.S. military in

Iraq in more than six months. Capt. Moises Navas and Gunnery

Sgt. Diego Pongo, both 34, were attacking a mountain hideout

where ISIS militants were holed up in caves and tunnels. Three

other Americans and one coalition member were wounded in the

close-range firefight, and 15 to 25 ISIS militants were killed. Some

analysts questioned why it took more than six hours to retrieve

the Marines’ bodies, but the Pentagon said the area was “verti-

cal” and very hard to reach. “It’s some of the worst terrain in the

world,” said Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central

Command. About 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq.

Kabul

Taliban deal: Backtracking on his earlier refusal, Afghan President

Ashraf Ghani this week agreed to release 5,000 Taliban prison-

ers, a condition of the peace deal signed between the U.S. and the

Taliban that left out the Afghan government but made commit-

ments on its behalf. The prisoners will be freed in

phases over many weeks, but the Taliban accused

Kabul of acting in bad faith, claiming it planned to

release mostly elderly or very ill prisoners. Peace

appears unlikely in the short term. The

Taliban launched attacks on Afghan

troops last week, forcing the U.S. to

respond with airstrikes on militant positions.

Still, the U.S. has begun withdrawing military

personnel and plans to cut troop numbers

there from 13,000 to 8,600 by August.

AP

(^5
)

Ghani: Releasing prisoners

Hamdok’s motorcade

An Iranian reactor

MBS: Power play

In power until 2036?