Flood-ravaged Pakistan faces economic, political and security fall-out. Deadly attacks rock Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Afghan’s protest ‘civilian’ deaths. IDF accused of systematic abuse by rights groups. Blast in the Caucasuses. All this and more in today’s security briefing.
South African cabinet meet to discuss the possibility of sending peacekeeping troops to Somalia. North Korea expresses further anger as Seoul and Washington carry out further military drills. Secular Palestinian groups join Hamas, saying that a return to direct talks with Israel would be ‘dangerou
The British prime minister’s charge that Pakistan plays a prominent role in exporting terrorism is grounded in an assessment of the Afghanistan war's core strategic realities, says Shaun Gregory of the Pakistan Security Research Unit.
Pakistani and British officials meet ahead of Zardari visit to London. One killed as rockets fired from Sinai towards Israel and Jordan. President Obama confirms US combat troop withdrawal from Iraq. Iranian president calls for one-on-one television debate with US president. Chechen leader hands o
The release of official United States material by the website Wikileaks confirms and amplifies enduring political assessments of the Afghanistan war, not least on openDemocracy.
Dave Lannen calls on Nato to make full provision for the care of wounded Afghan civilians.
US condemns release of tens of thousands of classified Afghan war documents. Duch, Pol Pot’s infamous prison chief, is jailed for 19 years. Tehran reacts angrily to further EU sanctions on Iran. Bangladeshi war crimes court issues first arrest warrants. All this and more in today's security briefi
Afghan civil society and NATO war aims: talk to the Taleban and all traditional leaders
Diplomatic reminiscences from Herat in the 1970s; delicate interventions, fragile civil society.
Clinton promises security for Afghan women. Sudanese security services criticised for role in repression. Israel likely to secure F-35 fighter deal. ASEAN summit hears concerns that Burma is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. All this and more in today's security briefing.
A decade of wars has produced a strategic shift very different from what Washington and its allies intended - less towards unipolar order than the complexities of multipolar disorder. This poses a challenge to policy-makers and analysts alike, says Arshin Adib-Moghaddam.
The war in Afghanistan could leave Nato powers excluded from the whole of central Asia, argues Ángel Gómez-de-Ágreda.
