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
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.
A response to Alex Holland's analysis of Tony Blair's testimony to the Iraq Inquiry
At the Chilcot inquiry, Blair claimed the risk of terrorists being supplied WMDs by rogue states justified a policy of invasion rather than containment and deterrence. Alex Holland analyses this argument for regime change
Ahead of Blair's testimony on the Iraq war, it is worth considering a recent exchange in the American blogosphere which illustrates the imperial temptation in the politics of both nations
Anthony Barnett goes back to the openDemocracy archives
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.
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.
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
The kidnapping of Peter Moor has unveiled divisions and Iranian influence within the movement of Muqtada al-Sadr.
The persistence of violence in Iraq reopens the question of the impulse of the war unleashed by Washington in 2003 on the Saddam Hussein regime.
Secret document shows Iran working on key nuclear bomb component. Car bomb kills eight near Kabul hotel. Japan postpones decision on US Okinawa base. Sri Lanka general denies surrendered Tamil rebels shot. All this and much more in today’s security update.
