One of the official side events of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was scheduled today called “Implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Afghanistan” at the UN HQ. I was so struck by the contrast of… Read More ›
Archive for February 2012
GPS web extra: Dempsey skeptical about Taliban talks
Reblogged from Global Public Square: On GPS this week, Fareed had an exclusive interview with the top-ranking military officer in the U.S., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey. Here’s an additional, web-only excerpt with Dempsey’s thoughts on the Taliban and… Read More ›
U.S. cites progress in shadowy Africa military mission
U.S. cites progress in shadowy Africa military mission.
Are Oil Prices Rising Due to the Iranian situation? Who Wins?
This week Iran cut oil supplies to Britain and France ahead of the promised EU sanctions this summer; Iran is also threatening to cut supplies to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Germany in the coming days and weeks. Almost ahead… Read More ›
Report of the Chairman on the Negotiations between Sudan and Southern Sudan on post-Succession Arrangements
. Microsoft Word – PSC Report Sudan-South Sudan-14-02-12
Germany and Pakistan: A Comparative Analysis of Presidential Impunity
On Friday, Germany’s President Christian Wulff resigned after prosecutors from his home province of Lower Saxony asked the Bundestag to strip him of his impunity so that corruption investigations could go to scale. Adequate proof was presented for the Bundestag… Read More ›
Gerard Prunier: Africa’s World War: Congo, the Rwandan Genocide and the Making of a Continental War
Gerard Prunier has written the definitive volume on the complex, multi-tier relationship that ties Democratic Republic of Congo to Rwanda across one of the most beautiful valleys of the Great Rift Valley: the Kivus. I originally read this book on… Read More ›
Peace
“Peace is much more expensive then war …” Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Forgiveness
“There is no peace without forgiveness…” Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Joint Tripartite Agreement between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan – Feb 2012
Joint Statement of Trilateral Summit, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Post-Katumba Mwanke Vacuum Creates Competition Around DRC President and Between Provinces
Less then a week after the air crash that killed Katumba Mwanke, the top advisors of President Kabila are vying to replace him as the ex-officio “don” of the Congo Presidency. In this post they would have powers to advise… Read More ›
Comments on BRIC and Iran Post: Iranian Presidential Election in 2013 and Competing for Security Council Seats
A good friend of mine who knows the inner politics of Iran and the negotiations with the US/West sent me very valuable comments by email on the BRIC and Iran post. I felt I had to anonymously share his comments…. Read More ›
The BRIC and Iran: The Start of a New Era of Activism?
In the UN halls of power, one hears a lot of whispers about the ascent of the BRIC, or BRICSA as it has now become – Brazil, Russia, India, China and the newest member, South Africa. While the power of… Read More ›
Jo Nesbo “The Leopard” – thriller, crime and grim reaper!
This book is one of the most exciting books I have read recently. It starts with drawing you into two interesting characters with so much vulnerability and an ever thickening plot. You tumble into the book and a series of… Read More ›
Islamic Mosaic: The Patchwork of Shiite and Sunni Communities Quicksand for Regional Stability
Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Oman and Qatar form part of the Islamic Mosaic of Shiite and Sunni communities laying the groundwork for the enlargement of the Syrian Shia-Sunni conflict, if ignited. The world “Arab” does not distinguish… Read More ›
The Death of Katumba Mwanke: Implications for DRC’s Stability and Security
Katumba Mwanke was the “DON” of the Kabila cabinet! He was the mountain behind President Kabila that made decisions and determined policy on politics, foreign affairs, foreign and bilateral relations, and most importantly, all security issues and relationships. After the… Read More ›
Syria: Did Russia Visit Help or Hinder Continued State-Sponsored Violence?
Its not clear what if anything emerged from Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit to Syria this week, if anything the level of state-sponsored violence against its citizens has increased. What then was the content of the discussions? I find it impossible… Read More ›
Russian Naval Base in Tartus Syria: Reason for Veto and Current High-Level Visit
What Russia wants above all is a warm water port in the Indian Ocean or Mediterranean sea, but the Persian Gulf will do nicely thank you! Russia’s support for Assad’s corrupt regime is based on their interest in maintaining their… Read More ›
Pakistan’s Imminent Internal Collapse: De-facto Coup d’Etat by ISI
A lot has been written about the rise of the ISI, Pakistan’s intelligent agency, as a quisling factor in the pacification of the Afghanistan-Paksitan region and the war against Al-Qaeda. While ISI has been pivotal in providing important linkages to… Read More ›
Syria and Then Iran: China and Russia Veto Allows for New Solutions
Saturday afternoon(2/04), a small group of protestors marched from Brayant Park to the UN to demonstrate against the looming war against Iran. On the face of it, they looked like average Americans that felt compelled to object to the gaining… Read More ›
