September 02, 2006

Saturday, September 2 06

Afghanistan's interior ministry has the will to confront armed factions. Does it have sufficient support? Recent burial of assassinated Baluchistan rebel leader is meant to stem the tide of tribal rioting in Pakistan. The Pentagon points out that 'conditions for civil war exist in Iraq', as even The American Conservative attacks U.S. President Bush's unwise use of the concept 'Islamofascism'. Canadian Government remains 'active in Sudan' as Foreign Minister MacKay talks to Sudanese counterpart Akol about Darfur. With Security Council authorization for U.N. military intervention in Sudan already achieved, it remains likely more delaying tactics and a major offensive by Khartoum will further complicate and prolong the Darfur crisis.

September 01, 2006

Friday, September 1 06

Italy's major troop contingent to Lebanon UNIFIL mission set to deploy tomorrow. Security Council decision Thursday will boost U.N. peacekeeping operation in Darfur to 17,000 troops, with or without Khartoum's consent. Why is political opposition in Azerbaijan so divided? How has Uzbekistan President Karimov solidified power while facing constant political challenges? In Liberia, the U.N.'s UNMIL rebuilds a school as part of reconstruction initiative. Georgia President Saakshvili criticizes the hard line approach of Russia's political elite as Moscow repeats demand for consistency in Western approach to Kosovo in 1997 and today's conflicts in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transdnestria. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary General's point man in Georgia Tagliavini states in an interview that Abkhazian dialogue and UNOMIG mission leading toward 'positive' scenario. You must see the article found in the Armed Forces Journal and discussed in a Justwartheory.com editorial about 'Clausewitz and World War IV'. Also posted on JWT.com is an article by Jeff McMahon about the moral liability of killing civilians during war.

August 31, 2006

Thursday, August 31 06

Canadian Defense Minister O'Connor requests increase in support for Afghanistan mission. Uzbekistan faces a turning point in relations with U.S. and Russia. Belorussian students active in March 2006's demonstrations unofficially exiled in Prague. The World Socialist Web Site takes a dim view of Europe's military contribution to middle east war. Reason for concern in East Timor, where 56 detainees and their rebel militia leader escape their Dili prison. Another aid worker killed in Sri Lanka, with little question who is responsible (1,2). According to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Bolton, The Sudan likely to consent to U.N.-sponsored peace operation in Darfur.

August 30, 2006

Wednesday, August 30 06

Srebernica part of the FRY War Crimes Tribunal begins, as Mladic and Karadzic play cat and mouse on Serbian territory. Can Macedonia's domestic political institutions be relied on to deal with 'Albanian issue'. Beirut's devastation ends reconstruction effort and drains confidence of next generation of Lebanese. Center for Defense Information (CDI) and Jane's explain how U.N. small arms conference disintegrated. A report about U.S. non-military and non-coercive foreign intervention against Venezuela. According to commanding U.S. General George Casey, Iraq will assume independent control of internal security within 12-18 months.

August 29, 2006

Tuesday, August 29 06

The 'Kurdistan Freedom Falcons' (a.k.a. 'Liberation Hawks') bomb Russian and European tourist centre in Istanbul. Kyrgyzstan President Bakiev criticized for 'heavy-handedness' as he solidifies security ties with Uzbekistan. U.S. Government announces that Sudan President al-Bashir eventually made time for U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer. A new front opens in the Sri Lankan civil war. OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media challenges Turkmenistan's arrest of foreign human rights journalists, as Azerbaijani government officials criticize the OSCE Special Representative for Karabakh-related issues for unfair reporting of border hostilities. U.S. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld quietly defends policy and counsels patience in rebuilding Iraq.

August 28, 2006

Monday, August 28 06

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland warns the Security Counsel that a 'man-made catastrophe of an unprecedented scale' is weeks away in Darfur and nurtures the ceasefire between Uganda and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels. What reasons does the British government have for delaying extradition of Russian oilbaron Berezovsky, who is charged with plotting to overthrow Putin's Russia? Uzbekistan President Karimov boasts of leading his country toward democracy, but 'policy of internal violence' continues and overspill predict that upheaval is ahead. Pakistan's deadly surgical strike on a key Baluch leader draws fire and brings about rioting. Canada's NDP leader Layton argues that Canadian military is equipped to contribute 1200 to U.N. Lebanon peace operation.

Saturday, August 27 06

Key turning-points in two trouble spots: the international Federation for East timer (IFET) request full U.N.-integration of Australia-led coalition task force; Georgia's operations for control of the Kodori Gorge at the Georgia-Abkhaz border signals a tactical shift. It's known that security forces in Dagestan killed a key rebel official and several others. But questions remain unanswered: was this a law enforcement operation? Or was the group involved in a terrorist attack? In the middle east, Europe faces a test, the U.N. places itself to rebuild legitimacy, and Syria asserts itself again with threat to close Lebanon border.