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Seven steps to peace in Afghanistan
The ballots are still being counted in Afghanistan's elections, but a far more
important vote has already been decided. Contacts with the Taliban are well
underway in the first of what could be seven steps towards reconciliation. A
key negotiator, a former Taliban minister of religious affairs and now a
senator, Moulvi Arsala Rehami, believes the only stumbling block is Taliban
leader Mullah Omar. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug
21, '09)
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Cracks appear in Mousavi's 'Green
Path'
Rather than accept defeat in June's Iranian presidential election,
never-say-die challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi has launched a grassroots "social
movement" that he calls "The Green Path of Hope". The trouble is that the
supporting structure of Mousavi's ideology - Iran's Islamic constitution - goes
against his supporters' calls for a free and secular state. - Shahir
Shahidsaless (Aug 21, '09)
Is Iran gas ban a step toward war?
Many in Washington view Iran's shortage of refined petroleum products - namely
gasoline - as an opportunity to coerce Tehran into abandoning its nuclear-arms
program. Still, cutting off gas could be especially risky because it would
strengthen the hand of conservative clerics in Tehran and may entail a naval
blockade, setting off a chain reaction of violent moves. - Michael Klare
(Aug 21, '09)
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Stall and spin in Russian air
force reform
Citing the United States as a future threat, the commander-in-chief of the
Russian Air Force has outlined a grand reform, including new air and space
defense systems, fifth-generation fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles. He
has said little on how to tackle less exciting but more immediate issues. - Roger
N McDermott (Aug 21, '09)
No stopping China's cheaters
With over 40 million people taking at least one government-organized test every
year in China, cheaters are growing in number. In response, one district
brought in kids to guard its test-taking policemen and found that the young
watchers were far more efficient than their adult counterparts. But eventually,
they too are likely to come around to the dark side. - Stephen Wong
(Aug 21, '09)
INTERVIEW
From microfinance to social
shake-up
Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, 
after revolutionizing the way in which credit is disbursed among the poor, has
now set his sights on universities, arguing that students need to get their
hands dirty - not only for their own benefit, but also for the advancement of
rural folk. (Aug 21, '09)
BOOK REVIEW
India renews its tryst with destiny
Imagining India by Nandan Nilekani
Weaned off a half-century of dependency on quasi-socialist ideologies, India
may now be poised for a major role on the global stage if it can overcome its
internal divides, the author argues. With demographic and other advantages over
economic rival China, he writes, India's resurgence could even fulfill the
heady promise of its founding. - Dinesh Sharma
(Aug 21, '09)
Wary India frisks North Korean
freighter
Another mystery has surfaced concerning a North Korean cargo ship, nuclear
paranoia and a boatload of intrigue. After a tense six-hour chase, North
Korea's Mu San was dragged to India's Andaman Islands, where the ship
and its crew are now in custody. Delhi, which recalls North Korean ships
carrying missile and nuclear parts to Pakistan and Iran, has sent an
unmistakable signal not to snoop in its waters. - Sreeram Chaulia
(Aug 20, '09)
Politicians have their day in
Afghanistan
Afghanistan's presidential and provincial elections got off to a bang on
Thursday, with Taliban rocket attacks on a number of cities. The runup to the
polls has seen its own fireworks in the form of some strange alliances,
especially by President Hamid Karzai. The big challenge is to turn this
political expediency into a viable front to deal with the Taliban. - Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Aug 20, '09)
Karzai's fraud scheme could backfire
Evidence of fake registration cards, ghost voters, threats and intimidation
suggest Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his powerful warlord allies plan
large-scale voter fraud for Thursday's presidential election. Critics say the
reported scheme means the widely anticipated poll is more likely to damage the
government's credibility than boost it. - Gareth Porter
(Aug 20, '09)
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Typhoon turns into a political storm
Pro-opposition media and the Taiwanese public have targeted President Ma
Ying-jeou over his administration's response to Typhoon Morakot, demanding he
take the blame for the hundreds of lives lost and resign. Behind the backlash
lie deeper suspicions over Ma's overtures to China. - Cindy Sui
(Aug 20, '09)
American spirit emerging
The public hostility seen in US town-hall debates on healthcare reform may
start to embolden ordinary people to pressure Congress to stop the train of
ever-bigger government. Then could begin the painful road towards economic
restructuring. - John Browne (Aug 20, '09)
THE MOGAMBO GURU
Money wanted
Retail sales in the United States fell last month - and anything otherwise
would be a near miracle, given the ever-growing hordes of jobless folk, while
those still at work are not getting paid more, the price of stuff is going up,
up, up ... and every spare dime is needed to buy gold!!!
(Aug 20, '09)
THE ROVING EYE
The Afghan pipe dream
Washington says success in Afghanistan involves "diplomacy, development and
good governance" - but all that the world sees is the 96,500 - and counting -
coalition troops now on the ground to "fight the Taliban". As for the election,
who cares who's the winner - President Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah or
anyone else? Afghanistan will be ruled by Barack Hussein Obama. - Pepe Escobar
(Aug 19, '09)
Powers line up to stir Afghanistan's
pot
 If
Afghan President Hamid Karzai secures a clear-cut victory in the first round on
Thursday, he will bring into power a coalition that the United States will find
extremely hard to control. As such, regional capitals are concerned the US
might now engineer a post-election "Iran-like situation" to muddy the waters
and install a surrogate power structure in Kabul. - M K Bhadrakumar
(Aug 19, '09)
 SINOGRAPH
China leads an Asian charge
Experience learned from the 1997-98 crisis is helping emerging nations in Asia,
where data shows a China-led recovery underway. In saving itself and the
region, China is making a proud political and strategic statement, but by
taking a new role at the forefront of recovery, it is also dipping into
untested waters. - Francesco Sisci (Aug 19,
'09)
MONEY AND COMMODITY MARKETS, Part 1
Integrity deficit has its price
The role of a reserve currency in international trade is to keep all trading
nations monetarily honest. A reserve currency issuer, such as the United
States, can violate the laws of monetary integrity to finance fiscal and trade
deficits - but not forever, and not with impunity. - Henry CK Liu
This is the first article in a series. (Aug
19, '09)
Kim Dae-jung fought for an elusive dream
 To
the end of his days, 85-year-old Kim Dae-jung backed the "Sunshine" policy of
reconciliation with North Korea that he instituted during his presidency from
1998 to 2003. Kim, who died on Tuesday, was fighting a losing battle; the
Barack Obama administration's approach to Pyongyang will ensure that "Sunshine"
remains a mirage. - Donald Kirk (Aug 19, '09)
China-EU ties caught in vicious cycle
China and the European Union are part of a "comprehensive strategic
partnership", but critics say it is neither comprehensive nor strategic. China
resents perceived EU meddling in its internal affairs, while the EU cannot hide
its distaste for China's ideological heritage. In this environment of mistrust,
only economic cooperation proves fruitful. - Jian Junbo
(Aug 19, '09)
Maliki sees the light in Damascus
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, currently visiting Syria, has signed
accords that will increase economic and cultural ties between the countries.
Far more important is Maliki's realization that he needs the clout that
Damascus has among all the players in Iraq if he is to resolve escalating
problems relating to the oil-rich region of Kirkuk and the Sunni community. - Sami
Moubayed (Aug 19, '09)
Washington ponders its endgame
In its haste to lay plans for its departure from Iraq, the United States
promised everyone everything. This leaves Washington with two choices. Leave a
residual force of about 20,000 troops to guarantee Sunni and Kurdish interests,
or allow the country to become a cockpit for competition among neighboring
countries. (Aug 19, '09)
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The US has a plan for Afghanistan
With an unexpected boost from a heavyweight Uzbek warlord, Afghan President
Hamid Karzai's chances of winning re-election on Thursday have significantly
increased. Pakistan and the United States, though, are looking beyond the polls
to the creation of a broad-based administration that would include all the
major players - and a sprinkling of Taliban. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Aug 18, '09)
Ahmadinejad unveils some gender
savvy
When presidential challenger Mir Hossain Mousavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavand,
mobilized masses of Iranian women in the last election, President Mahmud
Ahmadinejad was taking notes. Now, Ahmadinejad has nominated three women for
his cabinet, a landmark move that reformist critics claim has "stolen" their
agenda and electorate. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Aug
18, '09)
 SUN
WUKONG
China cut to the core
When, after decades, a high-ranking Chinese official finally listed the
nation's "core interests" that other countries must respect, an army of
nationalists branded him a "traitor" for seemingly placing the survival of
China's "regime" over its territorial integrity. The critics badly missed the
point. - Wu Zhong (Aug 18, '09)
US healthcare debate sick to the
heart
Members of the US Congress descending from the Hill to hear the people's voice
regarding US healthcare reforms are being met by screams of ill-informed
opposition rather than tempered debate. They should not be surprised, but
Democrats among them should be concerned. - Julian Delasantellis
(Aug 18, '09)
Xinjiang serves as pan-Asian pivot
The portrayal of the deadly riots that gripped China's far-western Xinjiang
province as "ethnic strife" does not do justice to the complex forces at work
in this vast and strategically vital region along the ancient Silk Road. Such
misunderstandings belie the crucial role Xinjiang could play in stabilizing
Central Asia. - David Gosset (Aug 18, '09)
Through the (North Korean) looking glass
The administration of President Barack Obama has in many ways adopted the
policies of George W Bush towards North Korea, even using strikingly similar
rhetoric. There has been a conspicuous difference, however, in the response of
observers. Alice in Wonderland would describe it as "curiouser and curiouser".
Or hypocritical. - Bruce Klingner (Aug 18,
'09)
 ASIA
HAND
A desperate plea for amnesty
Four months after the bloody street battles in Bangkok, the red-shirted United
Front Against Dictatorship for Democracy movement is still a personality cult
driven by the aim of restoring exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to
power. Its inability to evolve into a more genuine pro-democracy movement will
most likely keep the movement's plea for Thaksin's pardon from reaching royal
ears. - Shawn W Crispin (Aug 18, '09)
 SPENGLER
Palestine problem
hopeless, but not serious
United Sates President Barack Obama has called the situation for Palestinians
"intolerable". But compared to what? And why haven't they moved to other Arab
countries if things are so bad? What the West needs to do is cut support to the
Palestinians to lower their quality of life as an incentive for emigration.
(Aug 17, '09)
Realpolitik revealed in Myanmar
release
United States Senator Jim Webb scored a public relations coup in Myanmar at the
weekend by gaining the release of jailed American John Yettaw, but the move was
hardly a major diplomatic breakthrough - it may have been the generals' reward
for Webb's strident anti-sanctions stance. The trip did make clear that Webb
and Washington have the larger goals of containing China in mind. - Brian
McCartan (Aug 17, '09)
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David P
Goldman
(Aug 16, '09)
The price of toxic assets has risen to the point that it makes no sense to buy
them. |
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Listing
boost for China's military
A surge in orders has given a lift to China's struggling shipyards, yet
underlying problems from overcapacity to management remain. China Shipbuilding
Industry's planned share sale could help to resolve these, while creating a new
funding route for the country's defense budget. - Russell Hsiao
MARKET RAP
All fizz and splutter
Losses at the start of the week were too much to overcome in subsequent
volatile trade. Support levels will now have their strengths tested, Shanghai
for one having an unfavorable outlook.
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
Customers losing out
in e-mail rivalry
Gmail has overtaken AOL to become the third-most favored e-mail service in the
United States. Yet as Google, Microsoft and others vie for customers, their
approach to blocking spam falls far short of what is necessary.
Martin J Young surveys the week's developments in computing, science,
gaming and gizmos.
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FROM THE BLOG
Troubled returns
If private investors can't make money buying into TALF funds, why on earth
should they own equity of banks that are doing the same thing and presumably
can't make money either? - David Goldman
 Over-exposed
The "Government National Mortgage Association" doesn't easily trip off the
tongue, but call it Ginnie Mae, and it rhymes pretty nicely with Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac - and its soon-to-be US$1 trillion mortgage exposure is another
pointer to the doom awaiting the United States economy.
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CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
Hard facts ignored
Investors expecting a typical US economic recovery will be disappointed, with
the economy overly exposed to domestic consumption while having insufficient
manufacturing to benefit significantly from heightened global demand. The stock
market is becoming increasingly detached from reality.
(Aug 17, '09)
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
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[Re Xinjiang serves as
pan-Asian pivot, Aug 18] David Gosset is right on every point he made.
China needs to get rid of Soviet-style ethnic policy. The new policy should be
region-based instead of "affirmative action" based on ethnic background. The
most important thing is to prevent the spread of fundamentalist Muslims ...
China needs to build more colleges and schools in these areas (primarily in
Xinjiang and Tibet, but also in Yunan, Guangxi, Guizhou). It has to get rid of
all segregation (as the US did). This is the best way to help people understand
each other ... starting from elementary schools. - quark
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ATol Specials
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By Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Jan '09) |
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VIDEO
Taliban's new breed of leader
(May '08) |
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The
Gates
Inheritance
By
Roger Morris
(June '07) |
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Syed Saleem Shahzad reports on
the Afghan war from the Taliban side
(Dec '06)
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How
Hezbollah defeated Israel
By
Mark Perry and
Alastair Crooke
(Oct '06)
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Mark
Perry and
Alastair Crooke
talk to the 'terrorists'
(Mar '06)
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China:
The
Impossible
Revolution
By
Francesco Sisci
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The Coming
Trade War
By Henry C K Liu
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A series
by Henry C K Liu
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Sinoroving
Pepe Escobar in China
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Money, Power
and
Modern Art
A series by Henry C K Liu
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Andre Gunder Frank on Uncle Sam and his
shrinking dollar
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By Pepe Escobar with
photographs by Kevin Nortz
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Nir Rosen goes inside the Iraqi
resistance
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Nir Rosen rides with the US 3rd
Armored Cavalry in western Iraq
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permission.
Copyright 1999 - 2009 Asia Times Online
(Holdings), Ltd.
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Office: Unit B, 16/F, Li Dong Building, No. 9 Li Yuen Street East,
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