While this news is not surprising, the Burmese government is forcibly recruiting many children, some as young as age 10, into its armed forces. The Human Rights Watch report Sold to Be Soldiers: The Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers in Burma found that military recruiters and civilian brokers receive cash payments and other incentives …
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Category:2 Geopolitics
The US’s poor example of nuclear weapon management
From The Economist: Concerns were raised about the handling of America’s clear weaponry apparatus. Around 70 air force personnel, including four officers, were disciplined for an incident in August when six cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads were mistakenly flown on the wing of a B-52 from North Dakota to Louisiana, a serious breach of …
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This is not the EU constitution
The world’s biggest economy, the EU, passed a slightly rephrased constitution calling it a “reform treaty” so that a referendum would not be needed. Whether or not the constitution is good is irrelevant to teh fact that the process by which the reform treaty was passed goes against the raison d’etre of the EU. The …
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US sanctions on Iran – the pot calling the kettle black?
As expected, the US has stepped up its sanctions on Iran for “supporting terrorists” and pursuing nuclear activities – new measures target the finances of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and three state-owned banks. The US said the moves were part of “a comprehensive policy to confront the threatening behaviour of the Iranians”, while Iran …
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To be a journalist in Iraq – 2 die every week
A couple of years ago I met the founder of Globalegacy at The Frontline Club in London. While waiting, Pranvera Shema kindly allowed me to work in the bar upstairs. I had been to correspondents’ clubs before, but here I was struck by the number of sad stories of journalists dying in the line of …
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At last, well spent Iraqi reconstrcution funds on power from China and Iran
It is welcome news that Iraq is working with Chinese and Iranian businesses to expand the country’s power infrastructure. Shanghai Heavy Industry of China will build a $ 940 million, 1,300 MW plant and Sunir of Iran will build a $ 150 million, 160 MW plant. Together they will increase Iraqi electricity generating capacity by …
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Iraq is a resounding success …
It’s The Oil by Jim Holt (a conservative Republican) puts us in the picture. While his pitch is depressing it’s also realistic and underlies all the concerns about the quagmire of Iraq. Bush/Cheney (or should we say Cheney/Bush) got what they wanted from their boondoggle to Iraq – oil and money. And the reason they’ve …
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A war of virtual imperial powers
It seems that the political dynamic of our world remains dominated by tension between imperial powers. The primitive psychology is the same as any caricature of Romans, Huns or Brits, but the banners under which they march are not so tangible. Today the powers are virtual. They are fighting for minds and souls, rather than …
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Dalai Lama, Politics and Religion
The hosting of the Dalai Lama by Bush raised hackles in China, as expected. The Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honour. China is upset because it sees the Buddhism as a threat to state unity. It seems as if it is fighting a rearguard action though, because in August …
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What coalition … ?
A senior Pentagon official has been on a fortnight tour of little-known European and Eurasian capitals trying to deliver a dribble of troops for Iraq and Afghanistan. As the NYT notes “The low-profile trip reads more like a geography test than a geostrategic foray.” Debra Cagan, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for coalition affairs, …
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