Conflict: all articles

Monday 19th October

War without end, amen

For an informed and sceptical take on the Afghanistan war, see Paul Rogers' many columns on the subject in his weekly openDemocracy commentary

Yet another British casualty in the war in Afghanistan has just been announced.  Only the British dead rate a mention, not those who are injured or maimed for life, nor the dead and injured of the country itself.   It is a long way from Tony Blair's confident statement in the House of Commons in October 2001 that British troops were joining a 'strong' coalition with 'robust plans' and 'humanitarian plans ... falling into place'.  There was debate, but no vote, on Blair's commitment of troops.

In January 2006, John Reid announced in Parliament 'a seamless package of democratic, political, developmental and [oh yes!] military assistance in Helmand'.  No vote.  In March Reid added this comment: 'If we came for three years here to accomplish our mission and had not fired one shot at the end of it, we would be very happy indeed'.  A large contingent of troops was deployed in Helmand in May of that year, the British presence rose by some 3,300 troops by the following summer.   Fatalities immediately began to rise every year, from 39 in 2006 to nearly 70 so far this year.  Now over 120 British troops have died there, the coalition is weak and growing weaker, and humanitarian plans have fallen into a corrupt limbo.

This eight year long war, tragic not only for the UK but more so for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has never once been put to the vote in the House of Commons.  There has been no need.  The government was able to enter into the war, and then to escalate the British commitment, through Royal Prerogative powers that do not even oblige ministers to inform Parliament on actions that they take under these powers.  As Andrew Blick said, in his magisterial dissection of the Ministry of Justice report reneging on the aborted government pledge to reform the Royal Prerogative, Parliament's ability to debate and vote on the deployment of troops in action will not be statutory (but is limited to a parliamentary resolution), and leaves the government enough discretion to drive a battalion or two through.

Suicide bomb in Iran kills 42

42 people killed and dozens injured in a suicide bombing in Iran's southeast. Civilians flee as Pakistan launches South Waziristan offensive. South Sudan village raided, seven die. Gun battles and bombings in southern Russia. UN passes resolution in support of Gaza report. All in today's security briefing.
Friday 16th October

AfPak: the unwinnable war

The US is preparing to escalate and retool in Afghanistan. But Pakistan shows why it can't win

UN High Commissioner backs Gaza Report

The UN Human Rights chief backs the Goldstone report. More bomb attacks strike Pakistan. The head of Mi5 defends Britain’s foreign intelligence co-operation. All this and much more in today’s security update.
Thursday 15th October

Angry exchange between India and China exposes ongoing rift

China and India exchange words over disputed Himalayan territory. Grenade attack injures forty in Moldova. Hezbollah plays down Israel's claims of missile stockpiling. North Korea accuses South of naval transgression. Deadly attacks hit police in Pakistan. All this and more in today's update.
Wednesday 14th October

The Armenia-Turkey process: don’t stop now

The critics of the Yerevan-Ankara protocols neglect their potential benefits

DR Congo: arc of war, map of responsibility

A new assessment illuminates the roots of conflict in Africa's most complex region

China and Russia strengthen ties at Beijing summit

Officials meet for Shanghai Cooperation Organization talks as China and Russia commit to improving relations. UN-backed Congo offensive a ‘humanitarian disaster'. Britain commits 500 more troops to Afghanistan. Syria and Turkey to hold joint military exercises. China tries fourteen more over Xinjiang unrest. All this and more in today's security briefing.
Tuesday 13th October

Armenia-Turkey: genocide, blockade, diplomacy

A bad agreement cannot turn old adversaries into good neighbours

Al-Qaeda influence wanes in face of financial crisis

U.S. targeting of al-Qaeda funds harming group's influence, alleges US Treasury. Clinton pushes for Iran sanctions in Russia. North Korea test fires missiles ahead of talks. Fatah agrees Palestinian unity deal. All this and more in today's update.
Monday 12th October

Airstrikes target Pakistan Taliban after weekend of deadly militant attacks

Militant attacks prompt Pakistan to accelerate Waziristan offensive. UN representative admits fraud in Afghanistan election. Turkey and Armenia normalize relations. All this and much more in today's update.

Armenia and Turkey: forgetting genocide

The Armenia-Turkey accord entails a pragmatic and dangerous silence over the events of 1915
Friday 9th October

Israeli Foreign Minister says ‘no chance’ of peace deal

No chance for peace in the middle east, says Israeli foreign minister. The US denies involvement in the disappearance of an Iranian nuclear scientist. Over forty people are killed in a devastating bomb attack in North West Pakistan. All this and more in today’s security update.
Thursday 8th October

Afghanistan: from insurgency to insurrection

A change in the Afghan war's character has momentous implications for Washington

No Help for Sex

Kristen Cordell reflects on the countrywide effort in Liberia to stop sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers.

Last month the UN Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 1888, reaffirming the UNs commitment to ending rape as a tool of war. The UN Mission in Liberia is leading efforts in six countries in Africa to check its own staff on a highly visible and challenging part of the problem: sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers. 

Wednesday 7th October

US considers Afghan strategy on eighth anniversary of conflict

The US considers its strategy in Afghanistan on the eighth anniversary of the conflict; Pakistan weighs its options in its fight against insurgents; Anti-IMF protests take a violent turn in Turkey; Uganda frees Somali defense minister and Mugabe seeks better relations with the West. All this and much more in today's security briefing.

Carrots and sticks in Moldova: Russian peacekeepers, big loans and the need for reforms

The rhetoric of the new Moldovan government is not music to the Kremlin's ears. However the powers that be in Chishinau have no choice. Immediately after the present summit of the Community of Independent States, the government has to move ahead with the hard work of serious reform of the economy, judiciary, media and bureaucracy.
Tuesday 6th October

North Korea ready to restart nuclear talks

North Korea ready to restart nuclear talks in return for improved US relations. A key suspect in Rwandan genocide arrested in Uganda. US set to stay the course in Afghanistan despite deliberation. All this and much more in today's security briefing...

From Cable Street to Cable Broadband

The extreme right has harnessed the power of Britain's twenty-first century connectivity, revolutionising the threat to our multicultural society.

Turkey's political-emotional transition

Ankara is renegotiating its pro-west commitments and its Islamic family-ties
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