Saturday, August 19 06

It's no surprise that the recent push into Afghanistan's south faces challenges five years after the military intervention began. Azeris living in the Armenian breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh lose their cultural connections but live mainly in peace. In D.R. Congo, a run-off is likely to follow the split decision that marginally favoured President Kabila, as the country's 'political class' is seen as necessary to a peaceful solution. U.S. President Bush points out that Lebanon is a fragile democracy, and U.S. and Israeli militaries focus on Lebanon's borders and weapons smuggling. In the summer 2006 Dissent, Michael Walzer argues that regime change was an insufficient just war rationale for the 2003 Iraq invasion, and Jean Bethke Elshtain responds.

Friday, August 18, 06

It's called 'before and after': two weeks prior to the middle east ceasefire, several European countries are willing to dispatch troops to southern Lebanon. Most have backed out already. Questions are being raised about government claims of a militant Islamic uprising in Tajikistan. Hoping to stem militant violence, Iraq's regime takes aim at extremists. As military intervention continues in Ethiopia, heavy flooding puts vulnerable tribal peoples at risk.

Thursday, August 17 06

As a September 2006 independence referendum in Moldova's breakaway Transdniesteria approaches, regional power politics and recent efforts to tighten an insecure Moldova-Ukraine border become paramount. In Chechnya, attacks by Russian armed forces on civilian areas are shocking even for this war, and usually concealed from the international spotlight. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has posted important video footage of the May 2005 Babur Square uprising in the major Uzbekistan city Andijan. A new book by an Indonesian diplomat and U.N. representative tells the painful story of Indonesia's brutal military occupation of East Timor (1975-1999). The U.N.'s Working Group on Minorities convened last week, and extensive working papers, recommendations and conclusions have been posted on the website of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). A new website gives letter-grades to members of the U.S. congress for action and commitment to the Darfur crisis in The Sudan.

Wednesday, August 16 06

Serious and systematic human rights abuses in Kyrgyzstan. For impoverished Zimbabwe, Mugabe develops a luxuriant lifestyle. Hezbollah pledges to rebuild from Israeli strikes. Sri Lankan government officials now consider children legitimate military targets. The Minorities at Risk (MAR) Project posts risk assessment data on the world's national minorities.

Tuesday, August 15 06

With early signs of stability, Lebanese civilians start to return home and U.N. aid is on the way. Washington moves decisively to extend blame to Iran, as rumors persist about U.S. involvement in Israel's strategy. Democracy Arsenal picks the winners and losers. Civil society is losing ground against Turkmenistan's repressive President Niyazov. An article by Suisheng Zhaoon about 'China's liberal nationalism'. In Uganda, rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) drop demands for a ceasefire, paving the way for upcoming negotiations. Cause for alarm as civil war in Sri Lanka intensifies.

Monday, August 14 06

Middle east case-fire establishes a fragile peace and dramatically alters the strategic situation. Macedonia considers full inclusion of ethnicity-based political parties, as aggressive rhetoric re-emerges. Tamil Tiger leadership turns down peace negotiations, bringing Sri Lanka still closer to civil war. The U.N. Security Council holds a 'secret poll' to forecast upcoming competition for 'the most impossible job in the world' (U.N. Secretary-General).

Saturday, August 12 06

A collective feeling of relief as lengthy U.N. Security Council talks produce unanimous resolution 1701. Dangers remain: the text is ambiguous, will be viewed in Israel as weak, as Israel's international legitimacy continues to slide. Signs that Nigeria will adhere to President Olusegun Obasanjo's June commitment to cede the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon in accordance with World Court ruling. Here's some information about Canada's international policy on Afghanistan. A tense situation is set to boil over as violence escalates between Ingush and North Ossetians.