The year in security

Luke Heighton, Oliver Scanlan, and Daniel C Giacopelli 1 January 2011

openSecurity's briefings team highlight a selection of security developments from the past year and the clues they hold for 2011.

US military changes mind over ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy on homosexuality

Luke Heighton 1 December 2010
Defence Secretary Robert Gates urges Congress to allow lesbians and gays to serve openly in US military; Anger and confusion in Ivory Coast, as results of first presidential election in a decade are torn up; British government considers selling its intelligence agencies' services to private companies. All this and more in today's security briefing.

'Lord of War' arrives in US following extradition

Luke Heighton 17 November 2010
Viktor Bout, the man at the centre of a long-standing war of words between US and Russia, finally arrives in NYC; Millions of North Koreans face food-shortages despite better harvest, says UN report; Serbia asks Interpol for help in the hunt for Ratko Mladic. All this and more in today's global security briefing.

Review: Granta, The Magazine of New Writing, Issue 112: Pakistan, 2010

Luke Heighton 17 November 2010
It is difficult, if not outright impossible, to talk about Pakistan without also talking about the politics of the region. As such Granta Magazine's latest issue, Pakistan, is perhaps the magazine's most political work to date. openDemocracy's Luke Heighton responds to the issue's highly political short fiction, art and essay.

Armenia and Georgia foil latest uranium smuggling plot

Luke Heighton 10 November 2010
Joint anti-nuclear proliferation operation results in multiple arrests in Georgia. One year after Fort Hood shootings, US army outlines plans for radical security overhaul. Somali pirates land largest-ever ransom payment. All this and more in today's security briefing.

Letter bombing campaign uncovered in Greece

Luke Heighton 3 November 2010
Multiple bombs destined for top-level targets discovered in Greece. Iran chides Russia over decision not to honour arms deal. Months after Kyrgyzstan violence, tensions and resentment still running high. All this and more in today's security briefing.

Blackwater still in the dock, but for how long?

Luke Heighton 27 October 2010
Blackwater trials failing to produce convictions. Yemen resource conflict highlighted in two reports. Arms thought to be destined for Nigerian Delta intercepted. Karzai presses ahead with ban on private military companies, drawing mixed response. All this and more in today's security briefing.

Russian attendance at Nato summit confirmed

Luke Heighton 20 October 2010
Russia has accepted an invitation to Nato's forthcoming Lisbon meeting. Islamist rebels attack Chechen capital. Rifle fire hits Pentagon. New report casts doubt on North Korean nuclear technology containment strategies. All this and more in today's security briefing.

Strains mount on US-Pakistani relationship after new allegations of ISI-Taliban links

Luke Heighton 12 October 2010
The US accuses Pakistan of aiding Afghan militants - again; Are ancient weapons a testament to al-Qaida's weakness or its resourcefullness?; Tension rise in Bangkok amid fears of renewed Red Shirt protest; Chaos in Belgrade, as anti-gay protesters attack Gay Pride March. All this and more, in today's global security briefing....

Iran blames Stuxnet worm on western powers

Luke Heighton 5 October 2010
Iran subject to largest-ever cyber-attack. Nigerian Independence Day marred by bombings. Europe steps up terror-alert following US warnings. All this and more in this week's security briefing.

A Jihadist census: ‘Al Qaeda-Affiliated and ‘Homegrown’ Jihadism in the UK: 1999-2010'

Luke Heighton 5 October 2010
A new report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue has collated and published unprecedented levels of data on thousands of individuals implicated in Jihadist terrorism.

US strikes major arms deal with Saudi Arabia

Luke Heighton 14 September 2010
Saudi Arabia agrees one of the world's largest ever arms deals; Sweeping constitutional reform in Turkey challenges military; US attack drones under the spotlight once again in Pakistan; Large-scale personnel changes for Nigeria's security services; More drug arrests, as Obama contradicts Clinton over Mexico; US considers how to deal with homegrown terrorism. All this and more in today's briefing.

Report implicates Rwanda in crimes against humanity committed in Congo

Luke Heighton 31 August 2010
Rwanda responds angrily to allegations of genocide; Iran tests new generation of ballistic missile guidance system, but maintains it remains committed to terms of nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Ukrainian Security Service accused of adopting Soviet-style tactics against political opposition. CIA worries about wider effects of US citizens' involvement in terrorist activity. India and China contemplate suspending defence exchanges. All this and more in today's security briefing.

Al-Shabab renew offensive in Mogadishu

Luke Heighton 24 August 2010
More attacks in Mogadishu, as Al-Shabab steps up its campaign against African Union troops. Convicted Islamists escape prison as fears of militant action in Central Asia increase. Russian security forces kill top Causcaus Emirate leader. Report calls for further US-Russian nuclear disarmament. All this and more in today’s security briefing.

This week's editor

Heather McRobie


Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

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