Thursday, August 2 07

"Largest ever" peacekeeping operation is tasked under the UN Charter's Chapter 7, but nevertheless involves a new, hybridized military intervention. Here is it's operational framework (1), initial announcement by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2), plus an expanding U.N. news source (3). Allan Gregg ruminates about the links between national identity and peacekeeping in Canada. Just as UNHCR Arbour praises Rwanda's abolition of capital punishment, an expatriate accused of participating in 1994 genocide requests Canadian war crimes prosecutions, citing the potential for human rights abuses in Rwanda. U.N. Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-moon endorses troika cooperation to settle Kosovo tensions.

Tuesday, July 31 07

U.N. Security Council votes to send peacekeepers into The Sudan: but troops will be deployed next year, political momentum is uncertain, and the operation will strictly continue the hybrid model. John Gray strikes a chord announcing the death of "liberal interventionism". U.S. command ignores many lessons with a return to high-altitude strategy in Iraq. Decades-old crimes against humanity by Khmer Rouge prosecuted by U.N. in Cambodia.

Monday, July 30 07

The bottom line "after the Americans leave": local military powers will carve up what's left of the former Iraqi state. The offer by Pakistan's ex-PM Bhutto to "re-balance power" sends the central government toward its tipping point, but signals are increasing that shortsighted strategy of stability by repression will continue. In Afghanistan, NATO increases efforts to protect civilians by contemplating a reduction in weapon loads. The U.N. Security Council shows commitment, extends UNMEE operation Ethiopia/Eritrea. Part of the "failed state phenomena": prosecutions of former regime officials, like recent D.R. Congo trials, prolong the conflict but become the cornerstone of rebuilding.

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.