Friday, July 27 07

Yesterday's report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) on Sudan recommends all-around support for the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)--without multilateral military intervention. The issuing of ICC warrants will bring political change in Khartoum. Foreign Policy's 2007 "Failed States Index" ranks Sudan the worst among 59 other troubled states on 12 indicators of instability. Patience is wearing thin in Kosovo. Here's an excerpt of Chomsky's new book Interventions on the dynamics of Washington-Tehran antagonism. Belarusian regime sets the standard for garden-variety political repression.

Thursday, July 26 07

The players know it's crucial to keep Darfur rebel groups in one tent (1,2). British politicians return from Burma reporting human rights abuses "on an unimaginable scale". A characteristic form of 21st century civil war: Eritrea will be challenged this week by the U.N. for shipping arms, and fighting "by proxy", alongside neighboring Somalia's insurgency. Does Georgia's new policy in Iraq say anything about its own legitimacy? The Pentagon is no longer certain about withdrawing 114,000 U.S. troops from Western Europe. It's about time Inuit claims enter the debate about Canadian Arctic sovereignty. Liberty is ill in Putin's Russia, as civil disobedients are put on notice. Hard-liners wait for revolutionary moment in Pakistan. The Fall 07 Dissent contains an informative interview with Seyla Benhabib about Turkey's July 22 election.

Friday, July 20 07

Situation unchanged in Darfur, as refugees look for safety across the border and militias operate freely. Canadian policy shows how Western involvement in the crisis is restricted to a humanitarian role. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gently recommends strict adherence to the 2002 judgment of the Eritrea-Eritrea Boundary Commission. Extrajudicial murders becoming routine for both sides of Sri Lankan civil war. It still appears Kosovars will celebrate independence day alone. Armenia asks why its regional neighbors are readying for war. Nepal's peace process remains on track, but success depends on political integration of the Tarai region's Madhesis. The Canadian Government's analysis of its Afghanistan mission.

Monday, November 27 06

U.N. mission in D.R. Congo (MONUC) responds to attack by rebel troops (1,2). Small Canadian contingent contributes to 'African peacekeeping school' in Mali. Jordan's King Abdullah warns of widening military conflict and the spread of civil war in middle east. U.N. Secretary General Annan gives Sudanese government two days to consider U.N.-A.U. hybrid peacekeeping operation. Diplomatic sparring turns to military maneuvering as Somalia increases troops on Ethiopian border. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) holds summit in Minsk to discuss unity, already resulting in cooperation agreements between Kyrgyzstan and Belarus. Despite Russian powerful influence, Georgia's primary focus remains joining the E.U. and NATO.

Saturday, November 25 06 (2)

Belarusian opposition leader Milinkevich is released by police after apparently flimsy arrest. Uzbekistan reacts against U.S. political interventions as diplomatic row continues. Bahrain is determining its future by finding a balance of internal factions. Former Chilean President Pinochet accepts 'political responsibility' for human rights abuses. Somalia security situation illustrates deadly combination of state failure and uninformed foreign interference. Russia's military presence inside Georgia diminishing on schedule. This discussion of American all-volunteer military dynamics paints a picture of success.

Saturday, November 25 06 (1)

Lebanon inches from collapse if government talks go ahead over international tribunal for Hariri assassination (1,2). Riga summit considers NATO's two divergent future configurations. Kyrgyzstan's constitutional reforms will be put to the test by politicians. Repressive Mugabe regime cannot be sustained if local groups continue to align around Zimbabwe's mounting military opposition. Darfur conflict redefining 'regional destabilization': displaced refugees unwilling to return home, rebel military activities are threatening Chadian capital N'’djamena, and international peace operations remain deadlocked in diplomacy.

Friday, November 24 06

Two different revolutions in Georgia (2004) and Ukraine (2005). Nobody is qualified than the International Crisis Group's (ICG) President Evans to reflect on ethical commitments and implementation obstacles of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework ('From an Idea to an International Norm'). ICG's Nick Grono speaks on early warning and qualitative determinants predicting civil war. Assassination in the middle east is pathological, and Lebanon's popular 'Cedar Revolution' of 2005 now seems like ancient history. Iraq 'is broke beyond repair', calls for immediate troop withdrawals are unsuprising. U.S. military anticipates major troop withdrawals by accelerating Iraq's own security forces training. Somalia and Ethiopia are fully militarized. In Afghanistan, Taliban resurgence thrives on political incompetence everywhere in new regime. Long-time skeptic China increasingly a leader deploying U.N. peacekeeping troops.

Wednesday, November 22 06

Lebanon's pro-democracy, anti-Syria movement 'is in quite a bit of trouble', and Prime Minister Siniora's government is quickly approaching collapse (1,2). E.U. sharpens the edge of Belarus neighborhood policy: aid and trade for immediate human rights and democratic reforms. Nepal's Prime Minister Koirala and rebel leader Prachanda reinforce legitimacy of peace accord by issuing joint declaration of peace. Today Ukraine contemplates the past and future with 2004 Orange Revolution celebrations on national 'Freedom Day'. Russia adopts an increasingly aggressive posture, continues to ruthlessly occupy Chechnya and blatantly violates international human rights, but weaker rivals Georgia and Moldova often stand alone demanding reforms in WTO entry negotiations.

Tuesday, November 21 06

Today the Sri Lankan government began bombing of rebel strongholds. Afghanistan Defense Minister Wardak thinks domestic troops will be ready by 2008. U.N. peacekeepers in D.R. Congo disperse riot in Kinshasa at Supreme Court. Will the Nepalese punish their King for political repression? U.N. Security Council extends E.U. Stabilization Force (EUFOR) for one year in Bosnia-Herzegovina. E.U. decision-makers seek to expand E.U. Neighborhood Policy as far as Belarus. Iraq and Syria open channels of diplomacy. Is Canada in Afghanistan to export peace, order and good government? In the midst of a worsening situation in Darfur, the struggle for peace is being pushed forward by women. This Washington Post article asks why internationalists are selective calling for intervention in Darfur alone.

Monday, November 20 06

Washington is caught in a 'fake options debate': can't increase, can't stay, can't go home. The odds are not good for constitutional democracy in Iraq. 'Rumsfeld doctrine' of 20th century warfare taking shape on schedule. Nepal's constitution forbids prosecution of King Gyanendra for harsh repression during 15-month direct rule. Ambiguity embedded in last week's high-profile U.N.-Sudan agreement is spawning debates about complex peace operations and chains of command. Soon-to-be-replaced British Prime Minister Blair pledges his country's commitment to rebuilding Afghanistan however long that takes. U.N. High Commissioner for Human rights Arbour warns of 'massive' human rights abuse Arbour warns of 'massive human rights violations of Gaza noncombatants (1,2). New reports about Serbian President Milosovic's Kosovo activities illustrate how security services and paramilitaries can be centrally coordinated in breakaway regions. Tongo peacekeeping expedition a reminder that south pacific security is becoming expensive for New Zealand and Australia. China's Deputy Procurator General Wang speaks openly of systematic policy of torture. Unresolved factional conflict continues to re-surface in the Ukraine. Canadian Prime Minister Harper firm but mindful rejecting U.S. North Korea request.

Saturday, November 18 06 (2)

Sri Lanka President Rajapakse asks Tamil rebel leadership to stop violence. The moral standing of allied terror bombing in WWII still sparks debate. Hereditary rule is challenged by rioters in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, as 150 Australia/New Zealand peacekeepers dispatched without delay. NATO political talks achieve two-stage consensus about Afghanistan crossroads: everyone agrees additional troops urgently needed, however still nobody willing to contribute. NATO faces endgame challenges in Kosovo, where the war to save Albanians now leaves them in state of enforced limbo. U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and U.S.-based not-for-profit Afropop Worldwide will combine to enhance local communications in African U.N. peace operations.