Discuss the dual role of security sector in the arab world as both a Essay

Discuss the dual role of security sector in the arab world as both a source of political stability and instability - Essay Example As such, an analysis will have to be made concerning the role that the security sector has played, and continues to play, within the Arab world with reference to stability. The security forces of the various Arab countries have been involved in a diverse number of conflicts since they were formed, and as a result have been a cause of instability in the region. One will find that as long as the Lebanese conflict took place, security forces of the Arab countries that neighbor Lebanon contributed to its falling apart as each of them attempted to protect their own interests. It has been found that none of the countries that were involved in this conflict saw any reason for the peaceful solution of the Lebanese sectarian conflict, and instead they all supported their own sectarian factions within the country. For example, Syria gave its full support to Hezbollah and Alawite militia groups, while Libya and Egypt supported the various Sunni militias. All of the security forces of the Arab s tates involved in this conflict, wanted the sectarian factions that they supported to take over Lebanon so that it could be used as a base for attacking Israel in a war, which many of them believed, was inevitable (Haddad, 589). The loss of life among the native Lebanese population was massive, but this did not end the conflict as one would have expected, since the various security forces involved in the conflict were determined to make themselves dominant within Lebanon. Instead, this conflict became even worse, with each of the sectarian factions even more determined to establish its dominance all over the country. The security sector of the Arab world, therefore, had a direct hand in the causing of the Lebanese crisis since each of the countries involved attempted to use Lebanon to achieve its own ends. Among the reasons which have led to the influence of the security sector in the Arab world is the wealth that has been brought about by the oil boom in some of the countries in th e region. The huge finances that have been gotten from the sale of oil have gone a long way in ensuring that the security forces of the oil rich countries are well equipped and paid so that they can easily deal with dissent from the population. The security forces as well as the oil wealth that backs their operations have enabled the rulers of most Arab countries to be less accountable to their people since they do not rely on them for the purpose of funding governmental activities, as they do not rely on taxes. The oil wealth, which some of these governments within the Arab world have control over, has tended to act as a means of their maintaining power because they have the funding needed not only to buy out the opposition, but also to maintain the loyalty of the security forces (Ghalioun, 129). In some cases, such as that in Bahrain, where the monarchy was almost overthrown, these repressive regimes have had the support of the security forces of their more powerful allies in main taining their grip on power (Dalacoura, 75). In Bahrain, the demonstrations and government assaults that took place at the height of the Arab Spring

Constitutional Law M9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Constitutional Law M9 - Essay Example Therefore, Gideon had to defend himself in the trial. After his guilty was confirmed, he was sentenced to imprisonment for five years. This became a contentious issue which presented this crucial aspect that as protected by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, the failure by the state court in appointing counsel for Gideon went against his fair trial rights. Conclusion The Court held that Gideon had a right to be represented in court. This was arrived at in a unanimous opinion. The Court found that in this case, for fair trial, the guarantee by the Sixth Amendment of a counsel was a right which was fundamental. With the absence of counsel assistance, a poor defendant is not guaranteed justice thus the trial would not be fair. Lawyers in criminal courts are not merely luxuries but necessities. In the past, if one was arrested for breaking the law, it was unless you had money that one could have the right to an attorney. This became a right because Clarence Gideon, who was a prison inm ate lacking the money for council representation, wrote a personal petition to the Court. Without a lawyer, he managed to take his case to the Supreme Court and winning important rights for all. It was in 1961, when Clarence Gideon was apprehended for breaking into a pool hall. He was a prime suspect since he had the profile of a law breaker because he was a 51-year old drifter with a criminal record. With little education, since he had not even finished the eighth-grade, he knew two things when he was arrested: (1). He was innocent (2). He would not have a chance to convince a jury of this fact since he did not have a lawyer. Gideon asked the judge to get him legal council to stand for him in court because he was unable to hire one. The judge refused, then convicted and sentenced him to five years in jail. Gideon utilized his jail time. He first filed a petition before the Supreme Court of Florida but it was denied. Next, he filed a petition in the Court in which he argued that put ting him on trial without legal representation was not fair since he was denied his rights as clearly stated in the14th Amendment of the constitution. Since Gideon filed the petition, he was the petitioner while Louie L. Wainwright being the person against whom the petition was filed, was in this case the respondent (a petition against Wainwright was filed by Gideon since Wainwright was responsible for Florida prisons where he was held illegally). However, 20 years earlier, the Court dismissed the argument that every defendant reserves the right to an attorney. This was the biggest problem for Gideon. Therefore, his appeal hand-written as it was, was requesting the Supreme Court for a change of its mind on the issue. He was fortunate that the Court was ready to consider doing this. At the time of his appeal (1963), almost half of all of those convicted in state courts were not financially capable of hiring a lawyer. A lot of convictions had to be reversed by the Supreme Court Justic es because of serious legal errors made after the defendants had been forced to argue out their case in court without legal representation. Therefore, the Court made a decision to listen to Gideon's petition, and a famous Washington attorney by the name Abe Fortas was appointed to represent him. We later on see that a few years later, Fortas became a member of the Supreme Court. In Gideon v. Wainwright decision1963, the Supreme Court had a unanimous agreement that: any person tried without an attorney can’