It's still not certain what motivated the Georgian government to launch its attack on South Ossetia in the face of ongoing Russian hostility and recent military maneuvers which all-but guaranteed a swift and devastating response. Georgia's Deputy Defense Minister Batu...
US-India Nuclear Deal Headed for Fiasco
NEW DELHI - As the tortuous negotiations for the United States-India nuclear deal enters its final stage, it becomes clear that India seriously underestimated the discomfort and opposition the agreement would arouse in many countries because of the special privileges...
Thursday: 2 US Soldiers, 7 Iraqis Killed; 14 Iraqis Wounded
Updated at 7:10 p.m. EDT, Aug. 28, 2008Two U.S. soldiers died in separate events today. At least seven Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded as well.Controversy continues to rage over security forces in Kurdish regions of Diyala province. Elsewhere, Shi'ite...
Iran Could Reap Benefits of U.S.-Russian Tensions
Iran could emerge as a big winner, at least in the short term, from the rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and Russia over Moscow's intervention in Georgia, according to analysts. Whatever waning chances remained of a U.S. military attack on Iran...
Clearing Out Guantánamo: Two More Algerians Transferred
As part of its alleged "desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary," the Pentagon announced on Tuesday that two Guantánamo prisoners had been transferred to Algeria. This follows the repatriation of two other Algerians Mustafa...
Georgia On My Mind
For 16 days I had hoped the world would stand still so I could watch the spectacle and history of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on my widescreen HDTV. Although there is certainly an element of national pride (both for the host country and all the...
Israel Pushes Ahead with Settlement Expansion
JERUSALEM - Israel has published tenders for the construction of 1,761 illegal housing units for Israeli settlers in occupied east Jerusalem alone, according to the Israeli rights group Peace Now. The expansion plans come despite promises by the Israeli government at...
Mystery in Moscow
Crisis in the Caucasus took an unexpected twist this week. As Russian troops pulled out of Georgia, their demolition of American-built military bases nearly complete, the government in Moscow recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Until now,...
Wednesday: 1 US Soldier, 14 Iraqis Killed; 47 Iraqis Wounded
Updated at 7:12 p.m. EDT, Aug. 27, 2008At least 14 Iraqis were killed and 47 were wounded in the latest incidents. Baghdad was the scene of a spate of bombings, while tribal warfare in Hay left a small number of casualties. Meanwhile, a U.S. soldier was killed in a...
Sectarian Clashes Flare Up Again in Iraq
BAQUBA - A military operation said to target al-Qaeda has ended up targeting Sunni Muslims instead, creating new sectarian tensions. A U.S.-backed security operation launched last month has only targeted cities with majority Sunni populations such as Buhriz, Tahreer,...


