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| February 22, 2002 | atimes.com | ||
  
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Pakistan and the Taliban revisited Pakistan is not prepared to be sandwiched between an antagonistic Afghanistan and an even more unfriendly India. Thus, when the Taliban begin to make themselves a nuisance again, which Syed Saleem Shahzad firmly believes they will do, using the Pakistani tribal areas as a base, Islamabad will turn a blind eye - if not give them support. (Dec 21) Full text THE ROVING EYE Afghanistan, year zero There is much talk of hidden agendas on the part of the United States, Pakistan, the Northern Alliance and the Pashtun tribal leaders when it comes to rebuilding Afghanistan. Whether there is any truth in this is not really the issue, writes Pepe Escobar. The stark reality is that Afghanistan will never again have such an opportunity to emerge from the black void in which it has been lost for far too long. (Dec 21) Full text Too good an opportunity to miss Hawks within the Indian government argue that now is as good a time as any to strike against Pakistan, accused of harboring the terrorists who attacked the parliament buildings in New Delhi. Aware of the political mileage such action could give Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ahead of elections, the opposition has changed its tune on supporting him. Such shifts, and divisions, are reflected throughout the country, reports Sultan Shahin. (Dec 21) Full text Russia may rethink its pro-Western policy Russia has recently drifted toward the West, but, writes Sergei Blagov, the US decision to abandon the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty has left the Kremlin mulling strengthening its ties with Beijing. Russia and China reportedly agree that the real US motives behind ditching the ABM differ from Washington's official pronouncements. (Dec 20) Full text US victories mute Chinese criticism on ABM When the United States announced its unilateral withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, Beijing kept its protest rhetoric down. State media have even praised America's successes in its high-tech war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Chinese observers say Beijing needs to acknowledge the deficiencies of its own low-tech, Cold War-era arsenal. (Dec 20) Full text World panel outlines guidelines for military intervention "The basic argument is that sovereign states have a responsibility to protect their own citizens from avoidable catastrophe. However, when they are unable or unwilling to do so, that responsibility must be borne by the broader community of nations." That's the nutshell of a new report submitted to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that its authors hope will break new ground for international consensus on military intervention on sovereign states. (Dec 20) Full text Exiting Afghanistan - the next American quandary In order to engineer an exit strategy that will see the United Nations play a major role in ensuring some degree of stabilization in Afghanistan after a US military withdrawal, Washington imperatively needs to tread carefully in its dealings with Russia and China, writes Alexander Casella. (Dec 19) Full text Pakistan rethink over support of militants Pakistan's tolerance - and some say active support - of militant Islamic groups operating from its territory to wage jihad in Kashmir is likely to bring severe pressure from both India and the United States in the wake of the terror attacks on India's parliament, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Dec 19) Full text Bin Laden traced to Iran The guessing game continues over the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden now that the United States has failed to unearth him despite the many stones it has overturned in Afghanistan. An extensive investigation by Asia Times Online traces bin Laden's movements over the past few months, and finds that they lead to Iran, where he is possibly being sheltered by a dissident group labeled by the US as a terrorist organization. Syed Saleem Shahzad reports. (Dec 18) Full text On the brink of war? Sections of the media in India are beating the drums of war in response to the attack on the country's parliament building in New Delhi last week, saying that Pakistan, where the attackers are said to have originated, ought to be punished. But Sultan Shahin points out that there are alternatives to a confrontation that would have disastrous repercussions in the region. (Dec 18) Full text US to cast security net over the seas "The ease with which a terrorist could smuggle chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons in a [ship] container, without detection, is, in a word, hair-raising," said Senator Joseph Lieberman at a recent Senate hearing. Given that, the United States is framing new laws that would see an unprecedented expansion of US powers to investigate and search foreign ports, merchant ships and cargo. (Dec 18) Full text Jakarta changes tack The United States says it isn't, but Jakarta itself has admitted that the Al-Qaeda terrorist network is operating in Indonesia. Ken Ntalarana interprets the move as realization on the part of the Megawati administration that in the face of limited domestic support for a crackdown on militant Islam, it now needs international support to restore calm to regions torn by religious conflict. (Dec 17) Full text How to unseat Saddam If ridding Iraq of the regime of Saddam Hussein will be difficult, experience has shown that living with it will be even more so, writes Michael Eisenstadt, a senior fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He outlines the four key steps he believes that Washington must take if it opts to tangle with Baghdad next. This report is from the Foreign Policy Research Institute. (Dec 17) Full text UN sidelined in global war against terrorism The strain of marginalization between the United States and the United Nations is showing. After the initial bombing of Afghanistan, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned that military strikes would serve only to undermine the international coalition against terrorism, but the US went ahead all the same. Member states, meanwhile, have kept up a steady campaign of calling on the US - directly and indirectly - to play by the world body's rules. (Dec 17) Full text Terror tactics could backfire on India In the wake of the suicide attack on its parliament, India could be rushed into adopting controversial measures, such as bulldozing anti-terror legislation into law and launching military strikes on Pakistan-based militant groups. This would be a grave mistake, writes Sudha Ramachandran, and play right into the hands of the very people who seek to spread terror. (Dec 14) Full text Nagging doubts over US sincerity It is the global dimension of the terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir that India has been aware of for quite some time and which the United States doesn't seem to fully appreciate despite its own experience that now worries New Delhi, writes Sultan Shahin in the second part of a two-part report. (Dec 14) Full text
Still smokin' Three months into the war on terror, Pepe Escobar takes stock of the situation, charting the fortunes of the winners (Russia) and the losers (Pakistan), and those of the United States, which is still nowhere near in realizing its initial objectives. (Dec 14) Full text Stability and instability beyond Afghanistan As was the case centuries - and millennia - ago, conflict and solutions in what is now Afghanistan extend far beyond its borders. As it played a key role in the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, Afghanistan now could be part of a reshuffling of conflicts and alliances in the Indian subcontinent and beyond, writes Francesco Sisci in the conclusion of a two-part analysis. (Dec 14) Full text
Over the past few decades, the political strength of the religious schools in Pakistan has steadily grown, culminating in the emergence of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. President General Pervez Musharraf does not want a repeat of the Afghan experience in Pakistan, though, and he has launched a campaign to draw (or push) religious students into mainstream society, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Dec 14) Full text The Grand Game in Afghanistan The geopolitical intrigues of East and West met in Central Asia two millennia ago, setting in motion a Grand Game that continues to be played today, writes Francesco Sisci in the first part of a two-part series. Contemporary Afghanistan and its plight owe much to this history that scarred its very land. (Dec 13) Full text
An Indian-Pakistan rivalry in Afghanistan is the last thing that the United States wants while the war against terrorism is still incomplete, but this appears to be exactly what is happening, writes Sultan Shahin in the first part of a two-part series. (Dec 13) Full text
At the very time that Indian members of parliament were discussing controversial anti-terrorism legislation, six suicide bombers stormed the parliamentary complex in New Delhi on Thursday. They, and six security force members, were killed. The raid was not entirely unexpected - an Al-Qaeda member captured in India recently said that such attacks were in the pipeline. (Dec 13) Full text Next stop Somalia? Increased attention by the United States on Somalia, a country hopelessly split into warring factions and without an effective central government, is fueling speculation that Washington is targeting the Horn of Africa country in which Al-Qaeda is increasing its presence, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Dec 13) Full text Asian governments seen exploiting September 11 Since the terror attacks in the US three months ago, China has taken a harder line with the Uighurs, a Muslim minority in the western province of Xinjiang. But Beijing is only one of a number of Asian governments using the martial tone set in Washington to pursue their own tough measures domestically on internal unrest, separatist movements or even local opposition under the guise of global anti-terrorism efforts. (Dec 13) Full text Taliban's trail leads to Pakistan When the dust finally settles over Tora Bora, there will be no Osama bin Laden, only a trail leading to Pakistan's tribal area, where, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, many Taliban have already taken shelter, with no little help from a senior Pakistani dignitary. (Dec 12) Full text
Pakistan and Iran are coming to terms with a new relationship as the demise of the Taliban has removed a major irritant between the two countries. And beyond political issues, there are also important economic matters to be dealt with. (Dec 12) Full text
Fired by religious fervor, thousands of Pakistani men trooped into Afghanistan to join the Taliban's fight against the United States. Many have not yet returned, while those who have tell of disillusionment, not least because of the action their government plans to take against them. (Dec 12) Full text Hollow ring to Russia's reassurances Russia has taken some trouble to reassure its strategic partners in Asia - notably China - that they will not be ignored in the context of Moscow's increasingly friendly ties with the United States. However, writes Sergei Blagov, circumstantial evidence may suggest otherwise. (Dec 12) Full text THE ROVING EYE The last battle? The last frontline in Afghanistan is an affair between Arabs and Afghans and it is being played out in the Tora Bora mountains, writes Pepe Escobar, who shares a bunker with hardened mujahideen fighters who are resigned to a long, tough battle. (Dec 11) Full text Taliban ideology lives on in India For decades, Pakistani, Afghan and Kashmiri militant groups have claimedas their spiritual powerhouse the Deobandi philosophy, centered on fundamental Koranic tenets that were vigorously embraced by the Taliban. Its thriving heartland, in Deoband in India, is home to more than 3,000 students. (Dec 11) Full text US networks singled out over 'patriotic' journalism From a US Afghanistan-based reporter carrying a gun and vowing to shoot Osama bin Laden, to perceptions that it is US television stations, and not their government, that are bombing Afghanistan, US networks face criticism for their role in covering the war on terrorism. And the criticism is not just from across the Muslim/West "divide", but from the BBC as well. (Dec 11) Full text Al-Qaeda primed for wider struggle The driving motive behind the US war on terrorism is not, as some claim, to get its hands on mineral resources in Central Asia, but to eliminate the Al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden. The cat-and-mouse game between him and the US has been going on for a long time, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, but now it is expected to become a more open struggle across the world, with Hamas playing a pivotal role. (Dec 7) Full text THE ROVING EYE Taking a spin in Tora Bora Pepe Escobar takes a trip to the caves of the rugged Tora Bora mountains, where the net appears to be closing in around Osama bin Laden. There's excitement on the ground, with much fighting, and excitement in the air, too, over the new "deal" for Afghanistan. (Dec 6) Full text OSCE countries pledge to combat terrorism Ministers from the world's largest cooperative security body, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, met this week and resolutely condemned "all acts of terrorism". They also proposed to address root causes, namely the political, social and economic inequalities that provide a fertile breeding ground for potential terrorists and organized crime. (Dec 6) Full text Saudi Arabia: Papering over the cracks On the surface, Saudi Arabia has been the perfect Arab partner as far as the United States is concerned. It is stable, it has allowed US troops on its soil since the Gulf War in 1991, and it has strongly supported the war against terrorism. But this cooperation with the US, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, has spawned a generation of dissidents, the chief one being Osama bin Laden, and the tight control that the monarchy exerts might not be as secure as many believe. (Dec 4) Full text Battle lines drawn in Kuwait Comments made by Osama bin Laden's Kuwait-born spokesman sent shock waves through the government and prompted it to strip him of his citizenship. But it also led to charges by Kuwait's liberals that the government has been too lax on Islamists, whose power has been growing. (Dec 4) Full text COMMENTARY War on terror: Chinese strategic miscalculation? Russia has fully embraced the global war on terrorism, and consequently achieved previously unimaginable close ties with the United States. Where has China been, what has the Beijing leadership been thinking as these developments unfolded? Marc Erikson writes that "nowhere" and "nothing" would appear to be the answers. (Dec 4) Full text KABUL DIARY, Part 6: Cultural holocaust The Taliban's idea of culture was simply to destroy anything that went against their idea of Islam. Thus it was that they took the hammer to priceless artifacts in Kabul's main museum. Fortunately, writes Pepe Escobar, they did not manage to wipe out the museum's entire collection, and the slow process of restoration has begun. (Dec 4) Full text
Pakistan's under-fire Islamist groups bide their time Pakistan's military government is delivering a clear message to hardline Islamist groups that anybody harboring "radical Islamic agendas" has no room in the country. But the religious parties are taking advantage of the lack of democracy to get back into the political mainstream. (Dec 4) Full text Egypt reaps the benefits, again Ten years ago, when the Egyptian economy was in shambles, the United States and other lenders forgave US$14 billion of Egypt's debt as a reward for its support during the Gulf War. New aid packages this past month hint that Washington is again applying a similar aid-for-support strategy. Rewards from the Bush administration may include 53 sophisticated missiles and four patrol boats on which to base them, threatening Israel's military edge over its neighbors. (Dec 4) Full text US turns to drug baron to rally support During the mujahideen war against the occupying Soviet army in Afghanistan in the 1980s, Pakistan and the United States made good use of Pakistani drugs baron Ayub Afridi to help finance the struggle. Today, in desperate need of someone to rally splintered Pashtun warlords as a counterbalance to the Northern Alliance, Afridi, unexpectedly freed from jail, has once again been called into service, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Dec 3) Full text KABUL DIARY, Part 5: Afghan democracy in action While others talk and dally, the people of Pashtun-dominated Logar province in southern Afghanistan have moved quickly to establish their own form of government, basically involving the rich and the respected, and no women. And the Northern Alliance has been told to keep out, writes Pepe Escobar. (Dec 3) Full text Full text Full text Full text Full text The latest remarks by the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have widely been interpreted as a softening in the Tigers' stance. This is simply not the case, writes Sudha Ramachandran, who argues that a separate state of Tamil Eelam still remains the final goal. (Dec 3) Full text Next stop, Iraq The United States has no option but to go after Iraq's Suddam Hussein if it is serious about fighting the war against terrorism. So says Richard Perle, the chairman of the United States Defense Policy Board. (Dec 3) Full textUS seen resisting cooperation on terrorism, arms "The war has been a strategic disaster for [Pakistan President General Pervez] Musharraf," writes one analyst. Another says that Washington's stance on its nuclear arms talks with Moscow suggests that the US goal remains "permanent unipolar dominance". (Dec 3) Full text ANALYSIS Policy row over phase two With the war in Afghanistan in its final phase and post-war arrangements under way, speculation is rife in Washington and elsewhere on targets and theaters for "War on Terror, Phase Two". Is Iraqi President Saddam Hussein now in the crosshairs of Pentagon planners, as several US defense officials have been demanding? If not, he should be, writes Marc Erikson. (Nov 30) Full text Syria bluntly warns US not to attack Iraq ... "Any threat to an Arab country would not be tolerated. Any attack on an Arab country would create an endless chain of problems. Any harm to an Arab country would be a fatal mistake." If, as speculation has it, Washington turns its sights on Baghdad after its strikes against Afghanistan, Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa says it will be the end of Arab support for the international war against terrorism. (Nov 30) Full text
India has been forceful in its support of the Northern Alliance as the representative administration in Afghanistan. It is of some concern to Delhi, then, writes Sultan Shahin, that a high-profile Afghan woman is using India as a base to vociferously campaign that members of the alliance are no better than the Taliban when it comes to their treatment of women. (Nov 30) Full text KABUL DIARY, Part 4: Super defector When the Taliban abruptly vacated Kabul, their deputy minister of the interior decided to stay put, even throwing his hat into the ring with the incoming Northern Alliance. He has a vision for Afghanistan, writes Pepe Escobar, although it does not exactly coincide with the goals of the alliance's smooth-talking foreign minister. (Nov 30) Full text
The United States is offering a reward of US$25 million for Osama bin Laden. Not so notorious is Pakistan's most wanted man, Riaz Basra, a sectarian leader said to be responsible for hundreds of killings. Muhammad Rafique reports that like bin Laden, Basra is on the US's list of wanted terrorists, albeit with a modest $165,000 on his head. Unlike bin Laden, it appears that Basra's time has already run out. (Nov 30) Full text Bush's military tribunals assailed Lawmakers from the left and the right of the US political spectrum are expressing growing concerns over President George W Bush's intention to try suspected foreign terrorists in US military tribunals. Washington's allies are no less pleased, and critics see the plan as a major blow to both civil liberties in the United States and Washington's claims to be a leader in propagating human rights and due process around the world. (Nov 30) Full text
Germany's Luftwaffe began this week to transport military supplies to an air base in Turkey to support US troops in Afghanistan, raising a storm of consternation at home. But across the English Channel, where the very word Luftwaffe evokes memories of death raining out of the skies during World War II, the British, concerned about casualties if they are forced to engage in a ground war, are keen to see Germany take on a stronger role in the war against terrorism. (Nov 30) Full text Powers behind the throne Although the United States and Russia are not official parties to the talks being staged in Germany on Afghanistan's future government, they have obvious interests in the outcome. And in case things don't go their way, there are always other options, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Nov 29) Full text
Shots across the DMZ: Should we worry? Against a backdrop of gunfire across the demilitarized zone, George W Bush hinted that North Korea could be where the US-led war on terror heads after Afghanistan. Aidan Foster-Carter is more worried about words in Washington than shots in Korea, as brief border shootouts are far from unprecedented, and writes that of bigger concern is the North's belligerent intransigence toward Southern efforts at reconciliation. (Nov 29) Full text
Afghanistan's national carrier Ariana was once a proud airline, with hundreds of employees, a fine fleet of aircraft and an extensive network of routes. But as the country slid into civil war, occupation and repression, so too did Ariana. Pepe Escobar charts the decline and reveals how the Taliban used the airline for their own purposes, including ferrying some very important people. (Nov 29) Full textBattle rages over UN anti-terror treaty "The entire world is preoccupied with international terrorism," a diplomat noted, and yet United Nations members cannot agree on what terrorism is. Are Hizbollah, the Chechen separatists, the Muslim Kashmiris terrorists or "resistance movements"? Are the Israelis "state terrorists"? And what to do about American flyers who bomb embassies? (Nov 29) Full text Japan struggles over how best to keep the peace Following close on the heels of legislation allowing it to send troops to back up the United States-led war on terrorism, Japan is about to introduce changes to the law governing its participation in international peacekeeping missions. Peacekeepers will be given wider powers, writes Axel Berkofsky, but questions still remain on exactly how they will be able to use their weapons. (Nov 28) Full text KABUL DIARY, Part 2: Life is a movie Every day thousands of people try to squeeze into Kabul's tiny movie house, reopened after five years of Taliban rule. While they drool over tacky films, far more poignant stories are revealed to Pepe Escobar by ordinary people who defied the cultural brutality of the Taliban to become heroes. (Nov 28) Full text
The head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has suggested that a Tamil homeland separate from the Sinhalese majority in Sri Lanka may not be essential to ending the decades-long conflict, and has lashed out at nations that include his group in the global war on terrorism while turning a blind eye to "state terrorism". (Nov 28) Full text COMMENTARY Indonesia must confront the terror within Indonesia is without question involved in state-sanctioned terrorism, writes Lesley McCulloch in reviewing the latest report by the United Nations Committee Against Torture. The UN body says that Indonesia is awash with allegations of maltreatment of civilians by the police, the army, and paramilitary groups allegedly linked to the authorities. (Nov 28) Full text China breaks its silence In an interview with Francesco Sisci, China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Tang Jiaxuan breaks Beijing's long silence on the international war against terrorism, its own war against Muslim separatists, and the future of Afghanistan. Tang's comments on Afghanistan, as well as on relations with the US, Taiwan, Japan and the Vatican, reveal a China that now thinks and acts like a big political and economic power. (Nov 27) Full text It IS a 'clash of civilizations' In order to enlist a broad alliance of nations in its fight against terrorism, the United States has taken great pains to stress that it is not fighting a war on Islam and that there is no "clash of civilizations". Marc Erikson argues, however, that it is precisely in the context of the clash of cultures and civilizations that the war is being fought, and that the sooner this is recognized, the sooner the war can succeed. (Nov 27) Full text
People have not been as relaxed in Kabul for decades, Pepe Escobar finds as he tours the Afghan capital, making acquaintance with a former Olympic wrestler, an interpreter, an impoverished shopkeeper and a man who served time in a Taliban jail. But behind the new-found freedom, the shadows of the past hang heavy. (Nov 27) Full text
Islamabad is working on a plan to merge Pakistan's tribal areas into North Western Frontier Province in an attempt to stamp some control over the habitually lawless region. The task will not be an easy one, writes Sultan Shahin in the second part of a two-part series, and it may be a long time before the region loses its reputation as a safe haven for criminals. (Nov 27) Full text
While political leaders are meeting in Germany to seek a solution to the vacuum left by the collapse of the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, hundreds of people have gathered in Pakistan for a high-level conference to map out a strategy for the physical reconstruction of the country and to find ways to meet the multibillion-dollar costs involved. (Nov 27) Full text
The tribal areas in North West Frontier Province in Pakistan are awash with guns and ammunition, are virtually beyond the control of the central government and provide welcoming refuge to Taliban fighters fleeing Afghanistan. In the first part of a two-part series, Sultan Shahin writes that if the war against terrorism is to be successful, order needs to be brought to this region. (Nov 26) Full text Empty words of war With the Taliban losing all administrative control in Afghanistan, the pressure intensifies to find a broad-based government to replace them, but the talks that open in Germany on Tuesday will not do this, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. Meanwhile, the Taliban regime is regrouping to exercise a new form of power. (Nov 26) Full text THE ROVING EYE Friend or foe? Beyond the larger Afghan cities and out of the news headlines, pockets of Taliban in small towns are engaging the Northern Alliance. Pepe Escobar rides with one of the alliance's commanders and grapples with the complicated dynamics that exist among the soldiers fighting in the country. (Nov 26) Full text
Two reports released on the eve of the United Nations-chaired conference on Afghanistan have called on the world body to take a strong role in helping develop the battered country. Germany, too, is pinpointed as having a special role to play. (Nov 26) Full text
Often criticized as being uncommunicative and out of touch, Taliban leader Mullah Omar has temporarily handed over power to his army chief, who will adopt a new strategy to ensure that the Northern Alliance cannot lay claim to the country, reports Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Nov 23) Full text Reconstructing Afghanistan - on oil and gas Afghanistan's best chance for attracting foreign capital rests with its strategic location as a potential major transit route for Siberian and Central Asian oil and natural gas exports to South and East Asia. In 1997, an international consortium announced plans to build a pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan, but they fell through. Uwe Parpart writes that the time is now right to revive the project. (Nov 23) Full text Syria turns deaf ear over Hizbollah Hizbollah is one of the groups the US has named on its list of organizations subject to financial sanctions as a part of the anti-terror campaign. Based in Lebanon and backed by Syria and Iran, it forced Israeli troops out of south Lebanon last year after 22 years of occupation and is now launching attacks to drive Israel from the Golan Heights and from the Shebaa Farms near the border. The EU recently asked Syria to intervene, but found an unsympathetic ear. (Nov 23) Full text US on its own in biological weapons debate After the September 11 terrorist attacks and the anthrax cases that subsequently appeared in the United States, biological weapons disarmament negotiators from around the world expected a more flexible US attitude at ongoing talks in Geneva. They quickly found out otherwise. (Nov 23) Full text Talks promise only hot air It is a misconception to think that with the reversals of the Taliban thousands of people can simply vanish into thin air. They will remain very much active in Afghanistan, albeit in a different guise, and unless they are included in talks on the country's future there is no hope of a meaningful settlement, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Nov 22) Full text US pledges massive military, economic aid to Philippines With the leaders of their two countries agreeing that the war against terrorism should be fought in parallel with the war against poverty, the United States has vowed to provide a 15-fold increase in its financing of the Philippine military over the next two years, as well as an additional US$1 billion in trade benefits. (Nov 22) Full text
The September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States have claimed their first victim in Japan's business world. On Thursday, the Taisei Fire & Marine Insurance Co filed for bankruptcy. Company president Ichiro Ozawa said Taisei, which sold reinsurance on the airplanes used in the terrorist assaults, had total payments of more than US$600 million connected to the attacks. (Nov 22) Full text W(e)ary of wartime relations Some countries question the true resolve of the United States to pay a price for the principles it so vigorously espouses in its quest to stamp out international terrorism. Pakistan might be one of these, but it is in no position to strain the ties that now inextricably link its future to that of Washington, writes Nadeem Malik. (Nov 21) Full text EDITORIAL From Kabul to Berlin: Wrong road To put it mildly, the idea of staging an all-Afghan conference in Berlin next Monday is not particularly brilliant. Events on the ground in Afghanistan are still moving far too quickly for there to be any assurance that the true representatives of the country's ethnic groups will attend. (Nov 21) Full text Taliban's retreat undercuts hardliners The sudden "strategic retreat" of the Taliban militia last week from Kabul and most of its other strongholds has resulted in a bitter sense of betrayal among its most fervent supporters in Pakistan, completely dampening the jihad fervor that had gripped the country. (Nov 21) Full text Americans launch Ramadan offensive of another kind The decision by the United States ambassador to Pakistan, a Christian, to observe the fast required of Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan is officially being described as an attempt on the part of the envoy to "understand better what Muslims experience". The move could also be a clever stroke of public relations, writes Muhammad Rafique. (Nov 21) Full text Beijing accused of politicizing terror war The government of mainland China has tried to link the Taiwan issue with Beijing's participation in the US-led anti-terrorism coalition, but neither Taipei nor Washington will let China use the war on terror as an excuse to damage Taiwan's interests, the island's president says in a wide-ranging interview. (Nov 21) Full text Vajpayee has fight on his hands over terror law India has enthusiastically backed the international war on terror, with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying that for too long the world has been lenient on terrorists. At home, however, writes K K Chandar, his efforts to introduce new anti-terrorist legislation are being vigorously opposed as being too oppressive. (Nov 20) Full text OPINION Afghanistan: The end game Forget about the Taliban taking to the hills in Afghanistan and fighting a protracted guerrilla war, as many pundits predict. The bottom line is that the military aspect of the first phase of the war on terrorism is close to completion, with all of its goals intact. (Nov 20) Full text Moves to get a foot in Afghanistan's door The rush to influence the composition of a future administration in Afghanistan is not confined to the many factions within the country, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, with several countries already making sure that their voices will be heard. (Nov 19) Full text
Until just a month before the September 11 attacks, the United States blocked intelligence agencies' investigations on terrorism in favor of negotiating with the Taliban over a deal on Osama bin Laden, a recently-released book claims. The motivation behind the policy, the authors say, was to secure US oil interests in Central Asia. (Nov 19) Full text Targeting terrorists' war chests Three global economic bodies met in Canada over the weekend to discuss a world - in particular its majority languishing in poverty - shaken by terrorism and the war in Afghanistan. While there were few concrete commitments to combat poverty, a battle plan for freezing terrorists' assets was drawn up. (Nov 19) Full text More Asian Muslims put religion ahead of state South and Southeast Asian nations with large numbers of Muslims have, for the most part, remained largely secular in their outlook. But in recent months, for many Muslims loyalty to Islam has come to matter more than allegiance to the state as it is constituted at present. (Nov 19) Full text EDITORIAL War: Victories on the economic front Today's Islamic terrorists abhor all forms of economic progress, which is why the Doha agreement on a new global round of trade negotiations and the laying of a foundation between Washington and Moscow for Russia to leave behind the economic misery of the 1990s are of significant importance in the war against terrorism. (Nov 16) Full text Mujahideen take up the Taliban's fight The mujahideen warlords and jihadis of the Afghan resistance movement against the Soviets in the 1980s, most notably Gulbaddin Hekmatyar, have emerged as a new and powerful force against the United States and its allies and the non-Pashtun Northern Alliance. And not surprisingly, the hand of Pakistan can be seen, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Nov 15) Full text British troops face the reality that is Afghanistan In Afghanistan nothing is as it first appears. Caves are not dark holes in the ground, but sophisticated hideaways, "fleeing in confusion" is more likely a considered retreat, and loyalty is a concept involving but fleeting obligations. With this in mind, the thousands of British troops preparing to head for Afghanistan on a "stabilization" mission should heed that their brief might not be as easy as it sounds.(Nov 15) Full text The price being paid by the West Regardless of which side God is on, the West is paying heavily for the terrorism perpetrated upon it, and its response. In the new climate of terror, it is easily spooked by things that turn out to be mere accidents, like the run of bad luck that has crashed three airliners. This, in turn, is taking its toll on the global economy. But perhaps the heaviest price, writes Francesco Sisci, is the erosion of the West's fundamental values of democracy and transparency. (Nov 15) Full text Putin and the Family ties that bind Since taking office nearly two years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin has steadily gone about his business of turning the country into a strong, more modern and disciplined nation that can regain its place as a world power. This has involved policy twists and turns, and new friendships, such as that with the United States. Yet Sergei Blagov writes that some old ties still need to be broken. (Nov 15) Full text
Full textChristians caught in the middle To intolerant Muslims in the Middle East, they are allies of the West and are targets for bigotry. To ignorant Americans, they look like Muslims and are targets for bigotry. The recent massacre of 17 Christians in Pakistan has heightened the unease of this minority community in Egypt, Lebanon and elsewhere. (Nov 15) Full text Pakistan boxed into Taliban's corner Pakistan's top brass have been caught on the hop by the rapid withdrawals of Taliban militia in Afghanistan, so much so that Islamabad's position as a key player in the establishment of a new administration in the country has been seriously undermined. To claw back some influence, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, Pakistan might have to do a 360 degree policy reversal for the second time in a matter of months, and resume supporting the Taliban. (Nov 14) Full text Taliban melt away, leaving questions behind After five weeks of America's "war on terrorism", Taliban forces, as yet the only apparent target of this war, are withdrawing from key Afghan cities. These rapid developments on the ground raise some key questions for the United States. (Nov 14) Full text ANALYSIS It ain't over till it's over Pakistan is a valuable US ally, but only as long as Islamabad and its intelligence services and military do not impose their own particular objectives on the campaign against terrorism. To make sure that the first phase of the war is brought to a quick, successful conclusion - albeit one against Pakistan's wishes - someone in Washington will need to explain that to President General Musharraf in no uncertain terms, writes Marc Erikson. (Nov 14) Full text THE ROVING EYE Electrocution Pakistan has been eletrocuted, writes Pepe Escobar. Up to last weekend it was the epicenter of the New World (Dis)Order. Now it is no more than a startled side player begging the international community to do something about Kabul. And everything happened while President Musharraf - hailed during the UN's General Assembly in New York as a Great Leader - was literally in international air space. (Nov 14) Full text China intensifies its 'terror' crackdown For the first time, China has detailed links between Muslim separatists in northwestern Xinjiang province and the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden. The surprise revelation is being seen as Beijing's justification for an intensified crackdown on separatist groups. (Nov 14) Full text Lebanon, US on collision course over Hizbollah Lebanon has refused to freeze the assets of the anti-Israel Hizbollah group, and now appears to be on a collision course with the US. Washington added Hizbollah, which is also backed by Iran and Syria, and 21 other groups to its terrorist blacklist last week. The latest list has caused great concern in Lebanon and is expected to add to tension between Arabs and the US. (Nov 14) Full text THE ROVING EYE Slouching towards balkanization  The rapid military gains by the Northern Alliance over the past few days have left most political leaders floundering in their wake, especially those Pashtun opposed to the Taliban. They will need to act quickly, writes Pepe Escobar, or risk seeing Afghanistan become more divided than ever. (Nov 13)Full text Pakistan turns to indebted West Pakistan has been promised billions of dollars in aid and assistance in exchange for allowing itself to be a frontline state in the war against Afghanistan, but the fear is that the country's efforts to bring in financial discipline will be undermined. (Nov 13) Full text Afghanistan's future starts with the children In a country rated as one of the most destitute and war-weary in the world in terms of human development, the children of Afghanistan have been brutalized by years of warfare. A senior United Nations official warns that unless these youngsters are rehabilitated, the chances of lasting peace are severely diminished. (Nov 13) Full text One step forward ... The withdrawal of the Taliban from the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif in the face of advancing Northern Alliance troops has given a welcome shot in the arm to supporters of the United States bombing of the country. But Syed Saleem Shahzad writes that this could just be the beginning of a much longer - and costlier - struggle. (Nov 12) Full text EDITORIAL Rotten deals bound to prolong war A just war to eradicate global terrorism has in effect been reduced to a war against a government - and even that's going badly enough for there to be no early end in sight. The problem, as usual, is politics. That's what has the US telling the Northern Alliance to back off from Kabul when the capital's seizure would deal the Taliban a decisive blow and spare Afghanistan prolonged suffering. (Nov 12) Full text COMMENTARY The shift in Washington's China policy In one of the less dramatic but potentially crucial international developments prompted by the September 11 attacks, President Bush has set the tone for a mature US China policy that promises to avoid the oversimplified and false choice between China as "partner" or "adversary". If Bush can contain expectations about the extent of cooperation possible between countries with both common and conflicting interests, a more constructive relationship is now possible, writes Avery Goldstein. (Nov 12) Full text THE ROVING EYE Operator, call a sat-phone number in Toba Hamid Karzai, official representative of Afghanistan's former king, is supposedly on a mission in Taliban country to drum up support for a grand council. Hamid "is safe, in Afghanistan, in the south of Uruzgan province", his brother tells Pepe Escobar. He could also be in Toba, or hitting jackpots in Vegas. (Nov 9) Full text Pakistani protesters apply the brakes Protesters and strikers took to the streets as expected in Pakistan on Friday to express their dissatisfaction with the pro-United States stance of their government. Whether this unrest will turn into broader civil disobedience, though, is another matter, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, who argues that the leaders of the demonstrators are fearful of exactly what forces might be unleashed. (Nov 9) Full text US turns a blind eye toward its Uzbek hosts United States support for Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov - whose crackdown on political opponents and religious leaders has caused widespread dissatisfaction - may result in the very Muslim-fundamentalist, anti-US government Washington wants to avoid. (Nov 9) Full text Islamic terrorists' budgets Running a terrorist organization with the sophistication and reach of Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda does not come cheaply. A recent study, reports Marc Erikson, estimates that the group has assets of at least $5 billion, and it can avail itself of an annual budget of $20 million-$50 million - which means it has more funds that the government agencies trying to track it down. (Nov 8) Full text Bush, Putin have much to agree on United States President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have much to talk about in their upcoming summit, including their common stance on the war against terrorism. High on the agenda, though, writes Sergei Blagov, will be differences over the US's planned national missile defense system, and energy reserves in the Caspian and Central Asian regions. (Nov 8) Full text EDITORIAL The political left and Afghanistan: To hell together It's all clear as daylight to the political left: The arrogant new imperialist Americans brought September 11 upon themselves, and now they are arrogantly and callously bombing the hell out of one of the world's poorest nations. But for the better part of the less left-sophisticated populace of Western and Asian nations alike, such sophistry holds little water. Mass murder was committed on September 11. (Nov 7) Full text Anthrax vaccine a shot in the arm for India A new type of vaccine for anthrax developed by Indian scientists will be available at a fraction of what existing vaccines cost when it hits the markets in a few months. With world demand soaring following bio-terrorist attacks worldwide, the millions of dollars in profit that the vaccine is expected to generate will be ploughed back into India's vast chain of government-run laboratories - further improving their world competitiveness. (Nov 7) Full text India, Russia stand united in defense Lauding bilateral military cooperation as a "promising area", India and Russia on Wednesday committed to jointly developing a fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft. And on the political front, the leaders of the two countries agreed that they both had a role to play in determining the course of any settlement in Afghanistan. (Nov 7) Full text The propaganda war, and why bin Laden is winning The United States, as the champion of the West, weakens the position of moderateMuslims by supporting them, argues Francesco Sisci. The "coalitionagainst terror" must enlist non-Western nations to build bridges to theseMuslims, or else continue losing the propaganda war, and the war againstterrorism itself. (Nov 6) Full text Saudis raise the Ramadan stakes Saudi Arabia is becoming increasingly concerned over pro-Taliban sentiment within the country, which it fears could boil over when millions of pilgrims flood the country during the month of Ramadan. Syed Saleem Shahzad writes that Riyadh has conveyed its concerns to Pakistan, creating yet another dilemma for President General Pervez Musharraf. (Nov 6) Full text War prompts Beijing to accelerate energy plans Reducing its dependence on Middle East oil is now, more than ever, seen as vital for China's long-term oil security. To that end, Beijing is being urged to quickly establish a strategic oil reserve, and the Chinese government is looking with fresh eyes at its west-east gas pipeline, which experts see as the first part of a much larger grid that will link gas fields in Central Asia with China. (Nov 6) Full text Media off target with Pakistan nuclear scare Concerns being raised in the United States media over the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons appear designed, among other things, to solidify support among Washington's anti-terror alliance. The fact remains, though, that since 1975 and the rule of eight prime ministers, four presidents, six army chiefs, four dismissals of government and two military coups, nuclear safety has not once been compromised. (Nov 6) Full text OPINION Mazar-e-Sharif: America's way forward The United States campaign in Afghanistan seems to be losing momentum and focus. Washington must bring to bear, now, all the power it possesses and, along with the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, make a coherent, coordinated push to take Mazar-e-Sharif before winter sets in. This, argues Alvin Z Rubinstein of the US's Foreign Policy Research Institute, would provide a winter base for operations and start a province-by-province process of taking Afghanistan away from the Taliban. (Nov 5) Full text How not to win friends and influence people The Pashtun ethnic majority is key to restoring any lasting stability to a post-Taliban Afghanistan, and the US had been trying to woo Pashtun leaders who were either alienated from or less zealous than the Taliban. But after having over 1 million pounds of bombs dropped on their territory, they are now unlikely to see things Washington's way. (Nov 5) Full text COMMENTARY The New Imperialism The time for a "New Imperialism" has come, according to various commentators and scholars. The world, they believe, would be a better place if the "responsible" great powers of the West colonized wayward countries like Afghanistan. The future that they preach is the past. But Pepe Escobar writes that these dreamers had better read some history - or the Greek classics - to find out what happens when great power overextends itself. (Nov 5) Full text Pakistan walks a bed of nails Over the weeks that the United States-led attacks on Afghanistan have dragged on, Pakistan has found it increasingly difficult to adopt a consistent policy on the myriad issues that the campaign has raised, resulting in a number of about-turns, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Nov 5) Full text Musharraf goes on the offensive The sudden arrest of a leading opposition Pakistani politician on what appear to be trumped-up charges is a clear indication that President General Pervez Musharraf is taking calls for a mass civil disobedience campaign much more seriously than he took appeals from the United States to crack down on suspected terrorist organizations, reports Syed Saleem Shahzad. (Nov 2) Full text ANALYSIS The economic dimension While most eyes are fixed on developments in Afghanistan, US President George W Bush is putting the economy on a war footing appropriate to the new type of battle being fought against terrorism. Uwe Parpart writes that this involves legislation that will enhance US energy independence, an agenda for business recovery, and open markets. At the same time, Bush is pursuing a strategic economic program on the international stage that will lay the foundations for sustained global recovery. (Nov 2) Full text Differences emerge between US and Britain The growing disillusionment with the bombing in Afghanistan is beginning to surface in public, media and political debates in Britain, Washington's closest and so far only military ally directly involved in the attacks. Prime Minister Tony Blair remains fully committed to the US strategies and goals, but differences are emerging, particularly at the military level. British commanders think that the US has taken the wrong approach. (Nov 2) Full text Nuclear worries mount by the day Recent indications that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is not safe amid unrest over the war in Afghanistan, and that the United States might be planning to "neutralize" it, again highlight the nuclear danger in South Asia. (Nov 2) Full text COMMENTARY Japan's place in the coalition against terrorism Japan has changed its law to enable it to participate on a military level in a coalition against terrorism, and on this front it is performing rather well. But, writes Devin Stewart, a healthy global economy is also a public good. As the world's second largest economy, one of the best and most substantial ways for Japan to make a contribution will be to stay vigilant in fixing its economic problems. (Nov 2) Full text Musharraf directly in the line of fire Unconfirmed though they might be, reports that Pakistan is handing over to the United States people suspected of having links to terror organizations - including two Pakistani nuclear scientists - have further fired opposition to President General Pervez Musharraf. And with little chance of dialogue between the protagonists, Syed Saleem Shahzad writes that the general is in for a rough ride. (Nov 1) Full text THE ROVING EYE Life and death come in yellow packaging As long as yellow-colored bombs and food parcels rain from the skies over Afghanistan, the job of those trying to feed Afghanis will be increasingly difficult. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on a visit to the region, admits this. He also defends the military operation and the "political objectives" of the war against terrorism. Figure that one out, challenges Pepe Escobar. (Nov 1)Full text Indochina watches US war with unease "Before the United States expects the world to support its so-calledwar on terrorism, it should stop covertly supporting these terrorists whoare threatening the societies of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia," says anAsian diplomat in Bangkok. Otherwise, he says, in the post-Cold War world the Orwellian phrase "some people are more equal than others" may seem to apply to the United States. (Nov 1) Full text How safe are Pakistan's nukes? A scientist of the knowledge and background of Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, who was detained in Lahore on October 23 over his links with Osama bin Laden, is eminently capable of building a radiological device which could produce the effect of a major, Chernobyl-type nuclear reactor incident. Whether he, like bin Laden, considers the quest for weapons of mass destruction a "religious duty" is an open question, but one to be resolved with utmost urgency, writes Marc Erikson. (Oct 31) Full text Taliban steal another march on US In a move that surprised many, the Taliban said thanks, but no thanks, to thousands of volunteer fighters who wanted to cross from Pakistan into Afghanistan. The official line was that the largely untrained men would get in the way. Much more likely, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, is that the Taliban were once again a jump ahead of their opposition and knew of plans to use the volunteers as a cover for infiltrators. (Oct 31) Full text Iran a fly in US ointment Iran is opposed to any plans of the United States to involve the former monarch of Afghanistan or the United Nations in a post-Taliban administration, even though Tehran acknowledges that its favorite, the Northern Alliance, does not have the strength to offer a viable alternative on its own. Matters are not helped, writes Nadeem Malik, by Tehran's blunt refusal to talk directly to the US. (Oct 31) Full text Israel threatens to derail best-laid plans "The world will never see the end of terrorism if the Palestinian question is not resolved." Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has added his voice to the mounting chorus that ties September's terror attacks in the United States to frustration among Muslims over Israel's policies on Palestine. (Oct 31) Full text Musharraf plays a political game The good news for Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf is that the United States has cleared the way for a full resumption of economic and military aid to the country. The bad news, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, is that opposition to Musharraf has taken a bitter turn, forcing him to court a group of people he has previously labeled as corrupt and useless - politicians. (Oct 30) Full text Syria in the hot seat Damascus is still on Washington's blacklist of regimes that support terrorism, but its very links with extremist organizations - and its new role on the UN Security Council - could now make it an asset in the US war on terror. Syrians wonder whether the US will embrace them as allies or rain bombs on them. (Oct 30) Full text For Egypt, it's the same old story The "war against terror" started decades ago in Egypt. Nowhere have Islamic extremists been repressed so violently and relentlessly, with the possible exception of Syria. Cairo has been imprisoning, executing and torturing Muslim radicals for years, and today there is a nagging desire to tell the West: "We told you so." (Oct 30) Full text Musharraf has new battles to fight Having failed to court any moderates within the ranks of the Taliban, Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf is increasingly voicing criticism of the regime in Afghanistan. This has alienated him from the religious political parties in Pakistan, and they plan massive demonstrations. And, as a former senior military official recently released from jail for plotting to create an Islamist revolution in the country tells Syed Saleem Shahzad, there could be serious unrest within the army too. (Oct 29) Full text EDITORIAL Afghanistan quagmire or strategic deception? There are many who question just what the United States is up to in Afghanistan, with no apparent signs of military success in the field and the danger of being sucked into a protracted struggle. What should be borne in mind is that Washington has never said that it would be a quick campaign, and that dragging out the Afghanistan action may be intentional and serve a broader strategic purpose. (Oct 29) Full text In Syria, Palestine is the real issue Syria, which the United States has kept on its list of states that sponsor terrorism, has expressed its displeasure with Washington for not taking a stronger stance against violence perpetrated by Israel on Palestinians, viewing the question of terrorism through the prism of the Arab-Israeli dispute. Instead of Osama bin Laden, editorials are about Israel and the hardline policies of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. (Oct 29) Full text Whispers of Vietnam haunt US Three weeks into the US-led military campaign against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, it is clear that this war is not going like those in Panama, Iraq, and Serbia/Kosovo over the past 12 years that helped Washington forget its humiliation in Vietnam a generation ago. That painful memory has not yet forced its way into general public debate, and while there are major differences between the two situations, in some ways this war is beginning to resemble Vietnam. (Oct 29) Full text Flood of responses to Escobar's 'This report ...' Letters continue to pour in about Pepe Escobar's This report cannot be independently verified of October 25. Sadly, it seems many irate readers have not understood that the article was about media coverage, not about the rights or wrongs of the Afghanistan conflict. Anyway, we let everyone have their say. (Oct 29) Full text THE ROVING EYE A glimpse into the Taliban mind Ahmad Faiz, the Taliban's vice-consul in Peshawar, comes across not as a hardliner, but not as a moderate either. In an interview with Pepe Escobar, his words and silences are a useful barometer of the Taliban mindset as the bombing campaign enters its fourth week. (Oct 29) Full text OPINION Bin Laden's grand miscalculation Osama bin Laden, it seems, wants Muslims to unite in a grand anti-West alliance with him at its helm. His miscalculation is that by threatening the United States, China, and Russia both on their home soil and in terms of their places in the world, he is near to triggering the establishment of an alliance far more fearsome than any conceivable alignment of Muslim countries. (Oct 29) Full text Taliban snatch away America's hope If there was one man who could sow dissension within the ranks of the Taliban it was revered fighter Abdul Haq, who earned respect, and scars, in the fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Fearful of this, and chillingly well prepared for him, the Taliban on Friday captured and killed Haq while he was on a mission to garner support for a post-Taliban government. Syed Saleem Shahzad and Nadeem Malik report that now it is inevitable that the United States will have to commit ground troops for an extended struggle in Afghanistan. (Oct 26) Full text
The detention of two Pakistani nuclear scientists who have links to the Taliban has focused fears that Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda organization may be acquiring a nuclear weapon. The scientists, who played leading roles in Pakistan becoming a nuclear-armed power, now work for a non-governmental organization linked to the Al-Rasheed Trust (see THE ROVING EYE: Anatomy of a 'terrorist' NGO, Oct 25), which does relief work in Afghanistan as well as help finance Al-Qaeda. (Oct 26) Full text Philippines the second front in war on terror? The Abu Sayyaf Group has long-time, firm links to Osama bin Laden. It hides out with its hostages, including two American missionaries, and fights bloody skirmishes with the Philippine military, on the southern island of Basilan. Now US military counter-terrorism specialists have arrived in the area, and Abu Sayyaf is itching for a fight. The US officers may want to recall some history lessons about Gen John J "Blackjack" Pershing's days as military governor of Moro Province. (Oct 26) Full text Ten years down the track ... A flurry of diplomatic activity in recent days has seen representatives from France, Britain, Germany and Italy, as well as the United Nations, shuttling around South and Central Asia, and to Iran in particular. What is emerging, reports Nadeem Malik, is a 10-year plan involving billions of dollars to bring peace to Afghanistan. (Oct 26) Full text THE ROVING EYE Anatomy of a 'terrorist' NGO The Pakistan-based Al-Rashid Trust, banned by the United States as a terrorist organization, is unlike any other NGO, with some of its cadres trained in Afghanistan's military camps and with close links to jihadi organizations. Charity and relief work, though, such as food for Afghanistan's hungry, are its main goals. Yet, Pepe Escobar reveals, one of Al-Rashid's chief beneficiaries is Osama bin Laden. (Oct 25)Full text Afghan cake not big enough to go round An important gathering of groups vying for position in a broad-based post-Taliban administration in Afghanistan ended on Thursday with almost everyone agreeing to differ. In view of this, and in the light of simmering rifts within the Northern Alliance, Pakistan and United States intelligence officials have had to change their strategy, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad (Oct 25) Full text EDITORIAL Collateral damage ... and how to limit it Regional governments, upset about seeing their political-risk ratingsdowngraded and economic fortunes plummet, may believe that toning down their support for and limiting their actions in the war on terrorism will buy some added security and get them out of the firing line. That would be a fundamentalmistake. In war, halfway measures lead to setbacks and defeat. (Oct 25) Full text Americans take a new view of the world The devastating attacks on the United States have changed the way Americans see their country's role. In the wake of September 11, there is a "new internationalist sentiment", as well as much greater support for a strong military, including a National Missile Defense system, according to a major poll. (Oct 25) Full text King's men can't put Afghans together again The third in a series of meetings embracing a wide spectrum of opinion began in Pakistan on Wednesday to thrash out the framework for a post-Taliban administration in Afghanistan. Absent, though, in the face of strong opposition, writes Syed Saleem Shahzad, were the four members of a delegation sent by former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah. (Oct 24) Full text 'Bridge of Friendship' links foes once again The "Bridge of Friendship" spans the Amu Darya River, connecting Uzbekistan andAfghanistan. The bridge is closed now, but it could soon see new traffic if theUS military in Uzbekistan moves to reinforce the anti-Taliban forces fightingfor Mazar-e-Sharif 65 miles away. Military convoys heading south over the bridgeare a familiar sight for the people of Termiz, writes Tarek Mahmood: thiswas the major staging area for the doomed Soviet invaders of the 1980s. (Oct 24) Full text COMMENT This report cannot be independently verified This is the new mantra of Western 24-hour news TV as Afghan civilians die by the hundred as a result of American bombing. Afghan civilian eyewitnesses obviously do not qualify as independent in the eyes of super-independent CNN, BBC, and Donald Rumsfeld, writes Pepe Escobar. (Oct 24) Full text Friends fall out: US, Israel head for confrontation Long-time allies Israel and the United States appear headed for a major confrontation following Israel's rejection of US demands that it withdraw its troops after their deepest incursions into Palestinian territory in a decade. Washington is worried that continuing clashes will inflame Arab passions. Israel, however, claims its right to defend itself against terrorism. (Oct 24) Full text Putin rejects Taliban - and that's not final In public, Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken a hard line against the possible inclusion of any Taliban in a future coalition government in Afghanistan. There are indications, however, writes Sergei Blagov, that in line with the United States, he might be prepared to accept some "moderate" elements. On the domestic front, meanwhile, Putin faces a dilemma over oil production. (Oct 24) Full text Moscow shrugs off anthrax allegations Russia has dismissed allegations that the anthrax outbreaks in the United Statesare linked to the legacy of the Soviet biological warfare program, but ordinaryRussians are not convinced by Moscow's reassurances that they are safe. Thepeople's fear is not bio-terrorism, reports Sergei Blagov, but theaccidental release of deadly bacteria from old stockpiles. (Oct 24) Full text India has the medicine to aid US anthrax fight With fears of anthrax spreading daily in the United States, supplies of the antibiotics used to fight the disease are widely considered insufficient, although the German company that holds the patent says that it will increase production. If this patent is waived, however, as is possible in the case of a national emergency, several Indian firms are ready to flood the market with pills at a fraction of the cost at which they are presently on sale. (Oct 22) Full text Tehran fidgets over shadow of US For so long now an implacable foe of the United States, debates rage in Iran as mixed signals emanate from influential voices in the country following the September 11 terrorist attacks. The makeup of the regime which replaces Afghanistan's Taliban, and any long-term American presence in the region are the main points of concern. (Oct 22) Full text Will Indonesia's leader please step forward After enthusiastically embracing Washington's war on terrorism, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has had to modify her stance to appease radical Muslim elements within her country. The trouble is, writes Bill Guerin, with Megawati now retreating into her customary silence, and other national figures doing the same, who will speak out on behalf of 210 million people facing perhaps the most critical period in their country's history? (Oct 19) Full text India lays down the law on terror In a fight against what is described as religious fundamentalism, and weapons in the hands of unscrupulous persons, liberal courts and bleeding hearts, India this week introduced tough anti-terrorist legislation. Critics are appalled, saying that a detainee held under the new law will be at the mercy of the police rather than a judicial body, as required by international standards. (Oct 19) Full text Afghan fallout raises the stakes in China's west India has its Kashmir and China has its Xinjiang, and the destabilizing forces radiating from Afghanistan threaten to increase the pressures exerted by both these trouble spots. But for China, writes Francesco Sisci, the issue of Xinjiang's Uighur insurgency is different from that of Kashmir - less dangerous but possibly more tricky. (Oct 19) Full text 'Anti-Americanism' has roots in US foreign policy From President George W Bush down, Americans are astounded at the "vitriolic hatred for America in some Islamic countries". The dichotomy between American self-image and how others view the country can be laid at the feet of its foreign policy. As Henry Kissinger once remarked, "to be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal". (Oct 19) Full text ANALYSIS The trap is closing ... but on whom? From a purely military standpoint it is blindingly clear that only a fast and decisive defeat of the Taliban holds any hope for the capture of Osama bin Laden and the destruction of the Afghanistan-based Al-Qaeda components. The danger, writes Marc Erikson, is that politics will get in the way of achieving this objective. (Oct 18) Full text Intrigues mark evolving US relations with Iran Iran's participation in multilateral efforts with the United States to restore peace in Afghanistan could be used by Washington to develop better ties with Tehran, although this will have to be done with care as there is still a strong anti-Iran lobby in the US. (Oct 18) Full text THE ROVING EYE Islamophobia and the new great game Everyone agrees that the world order has changed, and will continue to change following the terror attacks on the United States. Exactly how the new geopolitical map will be drawn, though, remains an issue of intense debate and speculation. For some startling views, Pepe Escobar canvasses opinion from an Islamic scholar, an Old Wise Man and a Sharp Dressed Man in Peshawar, as well as a Professor in Paris - and an Israeli viewpoint too. (Oct 17)Full text There will be no surrender: Taliban envoy The United States has begun the second phase of its attacks on Afghanistan with the deployment of AC-130 gunships, but still with no signs of the Taliban buckling under the pressure. Syed Saleem Shahzad speaks with the Taliban Consul-General in Karachi to get the Taliban's view of the current situation and their reaction to the strikes. (Oct 17) Full text Alliances pull US in different directions Despite claims by India that Delhi and Washington are natural allies, United States Secretary of State Colin Powell is finding on his whirlwind tour of South Asia that this is not exactly the case, especially when Pakistan is thrown into the equation, writes Sandeep Shenoy. (Oct 17) Full text
If some US senators and members of the House of Representatives get theirway, one of the belated victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks onthe US may turn out to be the CIA, writes Marc Erikson. One unpleasant scenario for the agency involves the establishment of a separate clandestine service for covert actions outside the country. (Oct 16) | ||||||||||
