Thursday, November 16 06

Increasingly clear that 5-year-old Afghanistan peace operation has not improved the well-being or rights-protections of Afghan society. A quiet but strong consensus that we deserve better communications about security status and trajectory of Afghanistan peace operation, which is poised to enter new phase with old mujahideen gradually reappearing. Kabila triumphs in D.R. Congo Presidential run-off, as opponent Bemba promises legal action. Social services and infrastructure are so dilapidated in D.R. Congo that observers anticipate possible consensus behind Kabila-driven rebuilding effort. Thanks to the Genocide Intervention Network, web surfers can view each U.S. Representative's 'score' working to stop human rights abuses in Darfur and obtain information and advice to contact representatives individually by telephone. Somehow worldwide enthusiasm after U.S. mid-terms produced rumor-like suggestion that Iraq pullout might parlay into beneficial new mideast alignment (1,2). Carrying out military action in the collective name of Lebanese people was Hezbollah's earliest war crime, but fragile state left behind is the direct consequence.