The US has been critical of Pakistan’s efforts to root out insurgency leadership in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas(FATA). Much of the worst criticism has been reserved for Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) long suspected of offering covert support and sympathy to the ins
France has already done it, but now it appears China is flexing its naval muscles in the Middle East too. The Gulf of Aden is a very strategic stretch of water where oil needs to pass through freely. Somalian pirates patrol the area hopeful for ransom monies, and Iran may have plans to count
We have reported before about the real recession behind the official numbers in the underground or “black” economy. These are the numbers that the government does not and cannot disclose, but the declines there are equally as bad. A 2005 Wall Street Journal article estimates the underground
There are many that demonize Hamas’ governance of the Gaza; however, they fail to realize things may well be catastrophic if the Hamas falls. Hamas has so far kept the more extreme jihadists in check that have snuck into the territory as well as home grown extremists. There is no doubt that Al
An estimated $325 billion of criminal funds have flowed into the mainstream economy and kept several shaky banks afloat according to Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. He says he has seen evidence that the proceeds of organized crime were "the only liquid investment c
Israel won't allow concrete and other construction materials into blockaded Gaza. This raises problems for the many Palestinians made homeless there in the wake of Operation Cast Lead. Israel says raw materials could be seized by Hamas to make weapons or fortify their military structures, but
Jordan’s economy is under pressure as a result of changing global circumstances. In addition to internal economic pressure, remittances sent home by Jordanians working elsewhere such as in the once booming Gulf economies have also dropped considerably. Up until recently Jordan’s government w
In a good news story out of Ethiopia the power of collective action by women, despite the lack of confidence from their spouses, shows how much can be achieved when effective co-ordination happens. In the village of Nadugne Agam, women were expected to haul heavy loads of water for miles as no d
Where is the line between decisions of conscience and an absence of social responsibility? How many children before one says that is just too many? American is home to many conservative Christians and the Duggar family is just one more. Their conservative interpretation of their Baptist faith ha
If there was ever a question about the sarcastic humor of the Iranians it can be found in the recent Facebook protest where Iranian men are posing wearing a chador (Islamic head covering) as a symbolic protest against the oppression of the current Tehran regime. Why wearing a chador? It is
While in the West we have long been used to restrictions as to where one can smoke and the health effects of passive smoke, this has not been the case in many other parts of the world. Despite being reformed ourselves, one expects to be exposed to smoke when travelling in Asia Africa and the Mid
It is becoming a thematic position of ours that in the case of international relations, change is best effected by showing not telling other countries what they should do; foreign policy efficiency resides in slowly affecting change from within. Afghanistan is a case in point. We have been t
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