Taliban Archived Statements

This article is purporting that the analysis and statistical information on the Taliban, while useful, could use a supplement in terms of a more motive/psychological based look at the issue. They bring up the problem of reporting accuracy for both sides of the conflict as reporters that could most appropriately assess the Taliban's self perception (the reporters in the conflict area) are mum for fear of physical harm. The article creates an archive of statements taken from insurgents themselves maybe in hopes of clarifying or increasing understanding of the 'other' side's position. Is the assessment of intention via the stories told by a select view insurgents really all that valuable? Or is it more important from a humanistic view point than a foreign policy one?

Newsweek Article

More about pigless, and trashful, Cairo

See the post below also

"The One Thing Iran is Actually Afraid of"

Note: I really despise how people confuse the actions of a nation's government for its people. U.S. media are especially terrible at avoiding this (not insignificant) distinction. There's no fundamental difference in the people of the stretch of land between Tehran and Dhaka, or Kathmandu and Kandy, but if you listen to the choice of vocabulary on the part of the media it would seem as though we were all worlds apart. Anyway.

Applebaum attempts to argue that there are, in fact, two Irans, and the people who care about one "don't care about the other." Well that may be true, but the number is certainly higher than two if so, and Applebaum herself would definitely call into the category of someone who cares about only two of the three.

She goes on to argue that the worst fear of Iran is a sustained, well-orchestrated human rights campaign. I don't really believe her, or her conclusions regarding what we should do with that "information", but judge for yourself. 

"The Terrible Consequences of Egypt's Swine Slaughter"

For those who have never been, Cairo has a lot of trash. A lot of it. And, remarkably, most of that trash remains organic. Pigs tend to eat organic trash and convert it to flesh, in fact they do this at a rate faster than any other land mammal. Egypt's government recently ordered that all pigs be slaughtered to prevent the spread of swine flu. The natural, albeit incidental, consequences of that decision are chronicled here. 

Hitchens' sectarian analysis is particularly interesting, and as usual, he does not let the opportunity to rail against religion slide.

Clashes in the Holy City

In the realm of conflict resolution (and going off of Maryam's earlier post), I'm sure many of you are familiar with how the second intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada, started after Ariel Sharon visited Al-Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, leading to violent clashes in 2000. With the start of Yom Kippur, this does not bode well for the peace process. Jerusalem is a giant tinderbox of latent tension, and while a small incident, those have demonstrated to be just the spark needed in the past.

Just around the corner from where I lived this summer, the family that I grew very close with lives along the walls of the Al-Haram al-Sharif, and have been in the middle of this since the British mandate. Listening to their experiences, these kinds of events puts everyone on edge immediately with a particular fear of retaliation on innocent individuals. With the increasing settlements and land seizures in East Jerusalem/West Bank and US policy reversal, there is concern that the dragging/non-existent peace negotiations may come too late---thoughts? Did Obama make the right decision in reversing his settlement freeze precondition? Or does what we do even really matter? Some argue that the Second Intifada was furthered by Arafat walking out of the Camp David talks- does the example of Clinton's failure (and the potential for Obama's success now) demonstrate the US role could be significant? Or does that example do the exact opposite?


Update Here

A government shut-down of the Internet?

Despite questionable relevance to foreign policy as we define it, this interesting article from MSNBC raises a conundrum that I'm sure all political-minded constituents of Great Decisions would enjoy -- the possible government shut-down of the Internet in the face of an unprecedented security emergency. At first glance, such a transgression would slap the face of freedom, liberty, and everything we hold dear. But with the risk of cyber attack increasing in probability and severity every day, a national security takeover of vulnerable websites seems more rational than before.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33038143/ns/technology_and_science-security

And yes, I have nothing better to do at 4 am.

Qaddafi

May I just say.....

Congratulations.

Regardless of accuracy, Qadafi was very entertaining.

Foreign Policy compiled a top ten list of crazy U.N. moments.

I'm very proud Krishna Menon is up there with his rather epic filibuster on Kashmir.

Encounter them here

Also

"Do Not Mess With the Giant Squid"

Also

Bidenisms: A continuing list (modelled after Bushisms)

Also

Does anyone else think Ahmadinejad is one of the best gesticulators , gesturers, and body-language artists of all time? The man is mesmerizing.

I also suspect he's vastly more intelligent than many over here give him credit for.

Ok halftime's over, go heels!