Monday 8th February

Likely Yanukovych victory alters the balance of power in eastern Europe

Maddy Fry, 8 February 2010
Yanukovych victory may redraw spheres of influence in eastern Europe. Afghan police detained after killing of children. North Korea frees American missionary. Iranian president calls for enrichment work to begin. French police in scuffle with migrants. All this and more in today's update.

Iraq and the fig-leaf of just war theory

Bob Brecher, 8 February 2010
Dissension over the legality of the Iraq war, and the history of western military interventions since 1945, reveals the paucity of international law's moral underpinnings. The article continues our series Lest we forget: remembering historic conflicts, openSecurity’s new editorial project in association with History & Policy, asking historians to reflect on wars gone by and the light they shed on present conflicts.
Thursday 4th February

Fears of influx of militants prompts Kenya to tighten security on Somali border

Josephine Whitaker, 4 February 2010
Kenya tightens security on its north-eastern border with Somalia. Troops deployed as violence intensifies in Karachi. Clinton denies rumours of US-Iran prisoner swap. Rwandan opposition candidate attacked by mob in Kigali. Curfew declared in Srinagar, Kashmir, after days of violent protests. All this and more in today's briefing.

Af-Pak: what strategic depth?

Aziz Hakimi, 4 February 2010
Pakistan's military and political class have obsessed over gaining 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan for years, but the at times absurd concept is incompatible with Pakistan's zero-sum approach to regional politics.
Wednesday 3rd February

US military personnel killed in Pakistan school blast

Rukeyya Khan, 3 February 2010
US military personnel die in bomb blast in Pakistan as a record rise in drone attacks and militancy grips the country. Pressure mounts on Israel to hold inquiry into Gaza war. Iran test-fires satellite rocket. Sudanese president may face genocide charges. Suicide attack kills 20 in Iraq. All this and more in today’s security briefing.
Tuesday 2nd February

Iran takes critical stance on US missile defences

Dries Belet, 2 February 2010
Iranian officials attempt to discredit US missile defence deployments. China warns Obama over meeting with Dalai Lama. Somali Al Shabab unite with Al Qaeda’s jihad. Female suicide bomber kills 54 Iraqi pilgrims. All this and much more in today’s security briefing.
Monday 1st February

Israel admits to using white phosphorous in Gaza

Maddy Fry, 1 February 2010
Israeli government disciplines soldiers responsible for the white phosphorous attack on a UN compound in Gaza. Gaddafi’s bid for AU leadership rejected. Russian police disperse demonstrators. British couple claim ill treatment at hands of Somali captors. Haiti withholds Americans accused of smuggling children. All this and more in today's update.
Friday 29th January

Hizbollah prepares for war

Oliver Scanlan, 29 January 2010
Hizbollah upgrades its military capability as Israel is accused of assassinating a senior Hamas commander. indigenous leaders are attacked in Bangladesh. Obama approves arms sales to Taiwan. The US Senate backs tougher sanctions against Iran. All this and more in today’s security update.
Thursday 28th January

World leaders debate the future of Afghanistan

Josephine Whitaker, 28 January 2010
World leaders debate the future of Afghanistan at London summit. Bangladesh executes independence leader’s killers. Honduras’ Zelaya goes into exile. The international community unites to tackle al-Qaeda in Yemen. All this and more in today’s security briefing.
Wednesday 27th January

Sri Lankan president re-elected

Rukeyya Khan, 27 January 2010
Mahinda Rajapakse claims Sri Lanka election victory. North and South Korea trade fire. Taliban moderates taken off UN blacklist. Russia says US arms treaty to be ready in weeks. British court overturns freezing of terrorism assets. US blames Nigeria for extremism. All this and more in today’s security briefing.

Debaathication vs. reconciliation? The decision to ban Saleh al-Mutlaq from standing in the Iraqi election

Mohammed Hussainy, 27 January 2010
The Iraqi Accountability and Justice Commission's decision to ban former Baathist Saleh al-Mutlaq from standing in the forthcoming election threatens to derail the process of reconciliation in the country and provoke a crisis in Iraqi politics.
Tuesday 26th January

Yemen rebels offer truce to Saudi Arabia

Dries Belet, 26 January 2010
Houti Shi’ite rebels in Yemen want ceasefire with Saudi Arabia. Student killed in riots over Venezuelan media. ‘Chemical Ali’ hanged in Iraq. Hundreds arrested after violence in Nigeria. All this and much more, in today’s briefing.
Monday 25th January

Burmese Junta raises prospect of Suu Kyi release in November

Maddy Fry, 25 January 2010
Burmese dictatorship sets date for potential release of pro-democracy activist. Concern over possibility of violent Sri Lankan elections. Daughter of Yeltsin speaks out against Putin. China defends internet controls. All this and more in today's briefing.

The politics of poppy day

Lucy Noakes, 25 January 2010
Following the threatened demonstration of Islam4UK in Wootton Bassett, Lucy Noakes explores the fraught history of war remembrance. The article launches Lest we forget: remembering historic conflicts, openSecurity’s new editorial project in association with History & Policy, asking historians to reflect on wars gone by and the light they shed on present conflicts.
Friday 22nd January

Haiti to transfer 400,000 homeless out of the capital

Oliver Scanlan, 22 January 2010
Haiti announces that 400,000 people made homeless in last week’s earthquake are to be relocated outside the capital as the situation on the ground begins to slowly improve. The president of Afghanistan unveils a plan aimed to attract Taliban insurgents to the side of the Afghan government. The US and EU announce a united front in responding to the continuing standoff surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme. All this and more in today’s security briefing.
Wednesday 20th January

Why can't you buy the Taliban?

Aziz Hakimi, 20 January 2010
The longer the war continues in Afghanistan, the more likely it is that disparate Taliban groups will unite and join forces with international Islamist militant groups

Kenya: combatting radical Islam

John Onyando, 20 January 2010
Before Kenya can succeed in stemming the radicalisation of its Muslim minority, the US will have to change its Somali policy

US military presence in Haiti sparks controversy

Rukeyya Khan, 20 January 2010
US military presence in Haiti sparks controversy. Religious riots kill 200 in Jos, Nigeria. UN warns Israeli blockade puts Gazans’ health at risk. Yemen strikes house of suspected al-Qaeda militant. FBI 'fabricated terror emergencies' to get access to phone records. Suicide attack on Iraqi army HQ in Mosul. All this and more in today’s security briefing.
Tuesday 19th January

Securing our cities

Hugo Rosemont, 19 January 2010
The city forms a unique security environment and should be recognised as such

Taliban terrorize Kabul in series of attacks

Dries Belet, 19 January 2010
Afghan forces battle Taliban militants in streets of Kabul. China stonewalls possible sanctions against Iran. Deadly violence erupts in Nigerian sectarian clashes. UN seeks additional troops for Haiti. All this and much more, in today’s security briefing.
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