written November 7, 2008 If all goes as planned, for the next few weeks I'll be telling you a story that is thirty-three years in the making. It begins in the barren deserts of the Western Saharan and stretches into a protracted stalemate between the Saharwi people and Morocco. It involves a conflict of state-centric interests, […]
The result of the 2008 U.S. presidential election is a long delayed step towards expanding opportunities for and chances of future presidential hopefuls. Now that Obama's historic victory has taken place, one is left to wonder how much he can continue this trend towards change for a better and more unified country. Obama was an […]
The question of “meeting rebel leaders” (or rogue states) has been at the front of international diplomacy over the past few years – particularly with the public debate in the United States about Obama's potential meeting with Iranian President Ahmadinejad “without preconditions.” When is it advisable for the diplomatic process to include rebels – or even terrorists? Two days ago, […]
I mentioned yesterday the Russian challenge to Obama, an escalation in the dispute over missile defense in Europe. Why is Russia mounting a nuclear challenge to a candidate who promised to dramatically change the U.S. nuclear policy by seeking a ban on the production of fissile materials, a reduction in nuclear stockpiles, a reaffirmation […]
"The commercial sexual exploitation and abuse of children is nothing less than a form of terrorism — one whose wanton destruction of young lives and futures must not be tolerated for another year, another day, another hour." – Carol Bellamy, Former Director of the United States Peace Corps, Executive Director of UNICEF, and President and […]
Economic crises and terror attacks reside in different parts of the America brain. The former requires patience and discipline, the latter demands action and decisiveness. Several months ago, it's quite likely the more violent aspects of the American psyche would've sent John McCain to the White House. Then came the financial meltdown. According to exit […]
Pakistan just might be the thorniest of the myriad pressing foreign policy challenges that will demand President Obama's attention the minute he's sworn in. Josh Hammer has this summary of the several recent terrorist attacks conducted by Taliban-allied forces. Meanwhile, the United States continues to target Al Qaeda militants living on the Pakistani side of […]
Yesterday I wrote on Shari’a law and the stoning death of a 13 year-old rape victim, during the same week this atrocity was carried out in Somalia, reports of anouther underaged execution have been reported in Iran. Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated than an Afghan national, convicted of murder when he was only 17 years old, […]
What is Shari'a law? Shari'a literally translates as "way " or "path to the water source". Shari'a law is derived from the Qur'an (Koran), the Muslim holy book, and Sunna or hadith, which means example and is derived from the sayings and practices of the prophet Muhammad. Therefore Shari'a law is often derived from what […]
John McCain’s Role – Watching John McCain’s concession speech the other night, I was struck by the sincerity in his pledge to help the new President with the work ahead. Here’s an article from AP, via Yahoo, that gives me further food for thought: Democrats say McCain can help mediate standoffs. McCain has a track […]
The pseudo-civil war raging in Pakistan has resulted in a new wave of violence across the troubled-nation. The Taliban and associates have claimed at least two terror attacks in as many days, while Pakistani military personnel responded with heavy air attacks on suspected militant targets in the northwest frontier. Thursday, a meeting amongst Tribal […]
While President-Elect Obama is busy planning his transition, the foreign policy challenges he will face are not waiting for his inauguration. Russia welcomed his election with an announcement that they will station missiles on Russia's western border to counter the U.S. missile defense system (WaPo editorial here), sparking fears of a new arms race. And as this […]
As Barack Obama makes history by becoming America's first African-American president, the election took other more conservative turns. Same-sex marriage bans were passed in California, Florida, and Arizona. Arkansas also passed a measure that would bar homosexual couples from adopting children. (South Dakota did however reject an abortion ban for the second time in two […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo once again finds itself embattled in a deep and violent conflict, continuing to have a deep and lasting impact on the countries children. The past two days have seen continual fighting in the east of the country, and fears of ensued violence continue to rise. In recent weeks the conflict […]
Here's a small collection of what I came across today. First, every day the Newseum, a museum dedicated to Journalism in Washington, DC, publishes the front pages of every major newspaper from every state in the nation, along with some foreign papers. Today, this display drew crowds. You can view it online here: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp (Their […]