August 25, 2006

Friday, August 25 06

Europe's pledge of 7000 peacekeeping troops to Lebanon's UNIFIL breaks the deadlock and spurs Russia and others to ponder contributions. Meanwhile the U.N. continues to hold its own as peace is maintained in south Lebanon and a watchful eye is kept on crises in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and D.R. Congo. Is it too early to see the phrase 'Europe the Peacekeeper' splashed across The Guardian? Sanctions failed to bring about reforms in Zimbabwe, and tension and violence between President Mugabe's government forces and domestic opponents are unlikely to subside without help. The U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations posts information about U.N.-sponsored peace operations worldwide.

August 24, 2006

Thursday, August 24 06

Projections for future peacekeeping operations will make the U.N. second to the U.S. in overseas troop deployments. For the U.N. in Lebanon, stop hostilities first and hope diplomacy resolves the crucial issues: little progress on which countries will send troops, some indication of what the mandate will look like. Afghanistan's President Karzai petitions the international community for help dealing with domestic narcotics trade. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin explains Moscow's concerns to Izvestia about the West imposing what he calls the 'sovereigntization' of Serbian province of Kosovo. Leif-Eric Easley argues in The Korea Herald that nationalism is cheap and powerful.

August 23, 2006

Wednesday, August 23 06

As Italy gets set to assume lead role in Lebanon peace operation, Italians are re-assured disarming Hezbollah is not in the plan. Will adequate resources and support be provided? Syrian President Assad declares that international peacekeepers along the Lebanon-Syria border will be viewed by Syria as a sign of hostility. Amnesty International (AI) accuses Israel of targeting civilians. Signs that Sri Lanka is descending into civil war as the international community departs and four young Canadian men are arrested in U.S. for conspiring to acquire heavy arms for Tamil Tigers. With capacities stretched and U.N. preoccupied, the E.U. quickly deploys peacekeeping forces to stabilize crisis in D.R. Congo. An attempt to tighten the noose on former Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic by NATO and the EU. In The Weekly Standard, Jeremy Rabkin looks at criticism of Israel and the 'fantasy world of international law', and Michael Eisenstadt discusses the sectarian dimension of insurgency in Iraq.

August 22, 2006

Tuesday, August 22 06

D.R. Congo election leads quickly to intense armed conflict in Kinshasa between incumbent President Kabila and security forces of opponent Bemba's party. Today's U.N.-brokered ceasefire is the best scenario to keep civil strife at a slow boil until long-standing electoral confusion is sorted out or public confidence can be put behind October 29 election run-off. The effects of chemical weapon use presented as evidence in war crimes trial of Iraq's former President and military commander Saddam Hussein. A bizarre exchange between U.S. President Bush and press gallery over his administration's Iraq occupation strategy is parsed in The Nation. Proposals from the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, China, and the Swiss (negotiating for the U.S.) are rejected by Iran's government, setting up a historic standoff. Conflict in The Sudan will be remembered as an instance of U.N. inaction, but UN Dispatch explains how international reluctance emanates from powerful member states.

August 21, 2006

Monday, August 21 06

UNESCO is called in to participate in Lebanon rebuilding as the ceasefire continues to hold. U.S. President Bush calls for multilateral participation in Lebanon force. Does the middle east war call the U.N.'s future into question? U.N. Secretary General Annan is now 'extraordinarily concerned' about Sudan government's continued policy in Darfur region. With insurgency temporarily subdued, common ground surfaces about a new constitution for Nepal. Burundi's former President Ndayizeye arrested today for plotting to stage a military coup.