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# In it for the long haul
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/in-it-for-the-long-haul/
- Published: 2007-11-02T16:11:06.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:57:24.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 19:46

**LTTE political chief killed**

Tamil Tiger spokesmen have confirmed that [SP Thamilselvan](http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CC00CE13-2F3D-4954-8A5E-092884B2539F.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), the leader of the rebel group's political wing of the Tamil Tigers, has been killed in an air-raid by Sri Lankan forces. Thamilselvan had a wealth of negotiating experience, and his death will come as a stiff blow to the rebels.

**The long shadow of the PKK Keep up to date with the latest developments and sharpest perspectives in a world of strife and struggle.** 
  
**Sign up to receive toD's daily security briefings via email by clicking** [**here**](https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=terrorism@opendemocracy.net&su=Subscribe&body=Please%20add%20me%20to%20the%20toD%20security%20briefing%20list.%20Thanks.&ref=opendemocracy.net)

As Iraq meets with its neighbours to explore ways of improving internal security, discussions have been [overshadowed by the growing crisis along the Turkey-Iraq border](http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DD41FB49-A70A-46D5-8EF7-1FE86A75EF50.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), where Turkish troops are poised to invade and flush out dug-in Kurdish rebels.

Hawkish Turkish commentators suggest that the main Kurdish political party, the [Democratic Society Party](http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=126064&ref=opendemocracy.net) (DTP), is distancing itself from Turkish Kurds by refusing to condemn Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) "terrorists".

As the economic, political and cultural conditions of life in the Kurdish areas of Turkey have improved, [support for the PKK has waned](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/world/europe/02turkey.html?ex=1351656000&en=59c6b55d57686c58&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&ref=opendemocracy.net).

Iraqi Kurds are braced for [potentially devastating sanctions](http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2203569,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront&ref=opendemocracy.net) placed on their autonomous region by Ankara for Erbil's failure to handle PKK rebels hiding in its territory.

**Radio Mullah tunes in**

[Maulana Fazlullah](http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/02/rss.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net#27), the firebrand radio cleric leading the insurgency in the valley of Swat in northwestern Pakistan, has demanded that Pakistani troops withdraw from the area ahead of possible negotiations.

Militants in Swat paraded [48 Pakistani paramilitaries](http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/south%5Fasia/7074591.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net) captured in recent fighting.

A US military drone struck a religious madrasa affiliated with [al-Qaida in Waziristan](http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL274440.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), killing five people.

According to a World Public Opinion poll, 60% of Pakistanis believe that ["sharia" should play a larger role in Pakistani life](http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/11/pakistan%5Fand%5Fislamism.php?ref=opendemocracy.net).

**Here for the long haul** *Countries mentioned in today's security brief:*  
  
**\- Turkey** 
**\- Iraq** 
**\- Iran** 
**\- USA** 
**\- Russia** 
**\- India** 
**\- Pakistan** 
**\- Sri Lanka**  

General John Abazaid, a former commander of US troops in west Asia, has suggested that the American military will have to be in the region for [at least fifty years](http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2203337,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront&ref=opendemocracy.net).

**Militants surrender in Assam**

A key Assamese insurgent leader, [Bhaskar Bora](http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/02/stories/2007110261661900.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), surrendered along with 67 other militants to Indian authorities.

A little known group fighting for the autonomy of certain [hill tribes](http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/02/rss.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net#28) in Assam ambushed a police convoy, killing seven policemen and pilfering their weapons.

**A cataloguing nightmare**

The "terrorist watch" list maintained by US federal agencies, and growing at a clip of 20,000 records per month, has come to include all sorts of people, [including deadbeat dads](http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=our%5Fballooning%5Fterrorist%5Fwatchlist&ref=opendemocracy.net). Increasingly unwieldy, the list has made officials ponder whether it is indeed, in this instance, "better to be safe than sorry".

**Iran a flimsy excuse**

Russian foreign ministry officials have criticised their counterparts for insisting that the ["nuclear threat" posed by Iran](http://www.payvand.com/news/07/nov/1008.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) is an excuse for establishing a missile defence shield. The nuclear "umbrella" that Washington seeks to open above much of Europe and the western hemisphere is seen in Moscow as an aggressive move against Russia.

Russian investigators have found a suspect thought to be involved in [the Wednesday bombing](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/world/europe/02briefs-Bombing.html?ex=1351656000&en=a53455160ca5a4dd&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&ref=opendemocracy.net) on a bus in the city of Togliatti which killed eight and injured 50 people, mostly students.