Last week’s meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in New Zealand brought statements of concern over China’s planned nuclear deal with Pakistan, but U.S. State Department officials avoided taking a strong position on the deal when pressed by reporters this week. China’s proposed sale of two nuclear reactors to Pakistan would, in theory, stand …
Continue reading “White House Low-Key on China-Pakistan Nuke Deal”
It’s gaining more powerful proponents, says Philip Giraldi
In a major victory for anti-embargo forces, a key Congressional committee voted here Wednesday to lift restrictions on travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba. If passed by both houses of Congress, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act will also ease restrictions on U.S. agricultural exports to the Caribbean island that were imposed by …
Continue reading “Key Congressional Committee Votes to Lift Cuba Travel Ban”
SILWAN, East Jerusalem — The sound of stun grenades and gunfire resounded through this embattled Palestinian neighborhood. Amidst increased tension over plans to tighten Israel’s grip over the occupied eastern part of the city, Israeli border police and Palestinian youths confronted each other all through Sunday night. Dozens of Palestinians were wounded, mostly from tear …
Continue reading “Talks Hit a Rock Called East Jerusalem”
BRUSSELS — Talks aimed at reaching an intelligence-sharing agreement between the European Union and Israel have skirted around the location of Israel’s national police headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem. In 2005, the EU decided that Europol, its law enforcement office, should negotiate a formal cooperation agreement with Israel. Although Europol stated last year that a …
Continue reading “When the Police Have an Illegal Headquarters”
At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 16 more were wounded in a string of small attacks. The worst, in Hit, involved a suicide bomber at a medial compound. Also, Ankara said the any issues with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) does not affect trade with Iraq.
The increasingly dangerous Afghanistan situation is worth analysis at two levels, that of the war itself, the ultimately doomed attempt by the United States to conquer the Taliban insurrection and impose a pro-American government, and the domestic political effect of Barack Obama’s misguided decision to replace “Bush’s war” in Iraq with “Obama’s war” in Afghanistan. …
Continue reading “When the ‘Right War’ Goes Wrong”
With the justified firing of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his replacement with Iraq water-walker David Petraeus, it’s as if people are hoping for a second coming of Jesus in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the replacement may be similar to the second coming of the water-walking Joe Gibbs as coach of the Washington Redskins. Although McChrystal’s derisive comments …
Continue reading “The Second Coming of Petraeus”
A system designed to track the success of Afghan police training is deeply flawed, says a report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan (SIGAR). Some 67 out of 101 Afghan National Police (ANP) units rated capable of working independently had regressed within a year, says the report that was published Tuesday. “It basically has …
Continue reading “Inspectors Call Afghan Police Tracking System a Failure”
When a Pakistani-U.S. national pleaded guilty last week to a failed attempt to detonate explosives packed in a vehicle in the heart of New York City, he admitted that one of the reasons he targeted the busy Times Square neighborhood was to “injure and kill” as many people as possible. The presiding judge, Miriam Goldman …
Continue reading “Unmanned Drones: Targeted Killing or Collateral Murder?” 
