Monday, October 16 06

Signals of alarm in Tbilisi even though the odds are remote that Russia will recognize the legitimacy of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Eritrean forces seize a U.N. checkpoint in UNMEE's Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). Human security in central Africa could be greatly improved by D.R. Congo's October 29 Presidential election, which the international community needs to monitor carefully and follow with firm commitments. For Turkey, progress on E.U. membership is explicitly tied to liberalization, and for Serbia it's turning over fugitive war criminals. On Monday the U.N. Security Council elected all but one of its non-permanent seats, by procedures virtually designed to minimize powersharing with the third world. Steadfast Iraq war supporter Makiya lays out his current view and draws a picture of post-invasion Iraq.