It is unsurprising that Senator Barack Obama is not getting any love from Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle. She is a Republican. Lingle also happens to be the first Jewish governor of a state that has produced the nation's first black major party nominee and possibly its first black president. But don't let the fact that […]
The fragmented country of Somalia is no stranger to conflict and the last two years of fighting are beginning to take a toll on the lives of the countries children. Somalia is quite literally a raging battle ground, as fighting in the country continues, as insurgents exchange fire with the Somali government, Ethiopian troops and […]
The horrors of the DR Congo. The rapes, the pillages, the disregard for life, a conflict steeped in vengeance, power over precious resources, and the blood bath of Rwanda's genocide. And as the reports begin to filter through the newspapers and the televisions we become awed by the sheer numbers. Five million dead since 1998. […]
At Foreign Policy magazine's Passport blog, Elizabeth Dickinson has this moving and incisive piece on the causes and effects of the long-running conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which flared up again. It's a compelling read. As for the conflict, the EU is sending aid for some of the displaced civilians, of whom there […]
"The world ought to be treated like a playful child; whose smiles should delight, whose gambols should amuse, whose tears should soften, whose anger should alarm, whose vices should be corrected" – Unknown If only we did look upon the world as a child, as our global child for which we are all caring parents […]
The 2008 Election isn't child's play, but children are sure taking their voices to the streets and event the polls. The countdown has begun and soon American's will find themselves under new leadership, so who will it be, McCain or Obama? The votes are still out, but the heat is still on! So what do […]
Former UN High Representative in Bosnia Paddy Ashdown and American diplomat Richard Holbrooke wrote this column last week warning of an impending crisis in the region and asserting that the Dayton Agreement, which has crafted an uneasy and separate peace which has lasted more than a decade now in Bosnia, is on the rocks. Niheer […]
Kevin Heller at Opinio Juris points to an announcement by the ICC's Chief Prosecutor that he will bring war crimes charges against Darfuri rebels. As Heller ably lays out, it's not easy to decide what to think of the charges; the offense in question, an armed attack on African Union peacekeepers, seems appropriate for the […]
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili Tuesday strongly denied accusations his armed forces had committed war crimes during an August offensive in the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. The BBC reported Georgian troops had used indiscriminate force, turning their guns and tanks on civilian targets. Eyewitness accounts of the incursion details civilians being shot as they […]
Serb leader Radovan Karadzic's trial was adjourned until January today. Karadzic will keep busy testifying on behalf of a former Serb official, Momcilo Krajisnik. Alan Dershowitz, who is assisting with Krajisnik's defense, promises Karadzic will provide “significant exculpatory evidence.”
The New York Post reports the US strike in Syria Sunday killed Abu Ghadiyah, an Al Qaeda leader located on the Syrian side of the Iraq-Syria border. Syria has closed an American school and cultural center in response.
1.7 billion USD. That was the estimated total cost by the American taxpayer to rebuild Iraq. This was in April 2003, a month after the world was startled by Bush's unilateral decision to invade Iraq. Andrew Natsios of the Agency for International Development (USAID) told Ted Koppel of Nightline that another $700 million dollars would […]
Its not too late to muster up a troop of witches, warlocks, fairies and superheros, young and old, to make a big impact on children's lives this Halloween. Why not do some reverse trick-or-treating. What is reverse trick-or-treating? Reverse trick-or-treating is when you walk around door to door and instead or, or including, taking candy as […]
The LA Times reports that the Air Force and Department of Defense are investigating Brigadier General Thomas Hartmann, considering allegations that he interfered with certain Guantanamo prosecutions. The allegations are serious, in light of the high standards governing prosecutors’ conduct, and the Times reports the Air Force has already conducted a preliminary inquiry and found […]
SOMALIA: Conflict, drought force more children onto Hargeisa streets Conflict, drought and economic hardships have led to an unprecedented increase in the number of street children in Hargeisa, capital of Somalia's self-declared independent republic of Somaliland, with government and aid agencies calling for urgent steps to stem the increase. Saleebaan Ismail Bulale, chairman of Hornwatch, […]