Pakistan and state terrorism Terrorism in Pakistan originated with supporting the Soviet—Afghan Warand the subsequent civil war that continued for at least a decade. The conflict brought numerous fighters from all over the world to South Asia in the name of jihad. The mujahideen fighters were trained by Pakistan's military, American CIA and other western intelligence agencies who carried out insurgent activities inside Afghanistan well after the war officially ended. Though, it is not uncommon for Pakistan and India to accuse one another on all troublesome issues.
The targeted elimination of US citizen and radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki for his alleged role as a terrorist affiliate raises troubling international legal questions. This article however highlights how the extra-judicial killing of bin Laden by the US military undermines the rule of law and paints an ugly picture of the Obama administration.
Open Democracy U. Reports Mixed Results on Afghan Poppy Crops September 30, Afghanistan modestly reduced its poppy cultivation this year in Helmand province though nationwide production has remained the same or increased.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that the decrease is mainly the result of blight, despite a government initiative and Western aid. The report states that increasing poppy prices could undercut the efforts to reduce cultivation in the coming year.
Nearly all cultivation occurs in the country's least secure provinces. In this article from Al Jazeera, Mark Levine argues that if a peaceful future is to be secured for Pakistan and the wider world, relief aid is an ill advised area for the US to be fiscally prudent.
He suggests the US "war on terror" needs to be fundamentally rethought to consider relief, rebuilding and the struggle against poverty and hardship. And in the "multigenerational" campaign against Al-Qaida, more resources should be allocated towards reconstruction, than are used for purposes of destruction.
Al Jazeera The Secret Killers: Wikileaks has published the mass of secret U. Military experts are disquieted by the creation of such global hunter-killer teams who regularly kill civilians in their raids on supposed "targets. The United States has increased military and intelligence operations in a dozen countries.
These shadow wars have fuelled anti-American rage; blurred the lines between soldiers and spies;weakened Congressional oversight and led to a reliance on authoritarian foreign leader. They were transferred to a CIA "black site" for two years of interrogation, during which time they could not speak with attorneys or human rights observers.
The AP discovered that top White House, Justice Department, Pentagon and CIA officials were involved in the prisoner transfer, which law professor Jonathon Hafetz called "a shell game to hide detainees from the courts. The cover's title suggested that such crimes against women would increase if the US-led military force were to leave Afghanistan prematurely.
Many have claimed that TIME engaged in "emotional blackmail" and exploited "gender politics to pitch for the status quo-a continued US military involvement. Telling Aisha's story may raise awareness about the plight of women in Afghanistan, but drawing a connection between her situation and the US occupation is both inaccurate and manipulative.
BBC The Guantanamo Paradox August 6, More than men who have not been convicted, or in some cases even charged with a criminal offense, are being kept in indefinite detention in Guantanamo Bay.
As the Obama administration moves forward with the military trials at the detention facility, it is difficult to see how the President is fulfilling his commitment to "re-establishing our [US] credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law.
The maintenance of Guantanamo is just one of the ways in which this administration continues to resemble that of George W. Crimes of War Project Western Wars Vs Muslim Women August 5, The Time Magazine's cover story on the plight of Afghan women contributes to justifying the war on humanitarian "civilizing" grounds instead of criticizing it on the same grounds.
Military solutions to social problems fail to make the distinction between Islam and the Taliban or explain how women's rights can be attained by such means. This author suggests that "the war to liberate the women of Afghanistan," is more concerned with promoting "men's wars" rather than women's rights, whilst Muslim women are being progressively silenced in this discursive battle.
Although driven by contrasting ideologies, both serve to further disempower women from decision making. Security Council Resolution highlighted the contributions that women can make to conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.
Yet this suppression of female agency in Pakistan denies the importance of women's equal and full participation as active agents in peace and security.
The image is intended to remind the reader of "what happens if we leave Afghanistan. However, despite the lofty rhetoric about "freeing" the women of Afghanistan, the US-supported government of Hamid Karzai has not implemented policies to help women in any substantial way.
In this Brave New Films video, numerous experts show that conditions for women have actually deteriorated as a result of the US-led occupation.
The report says that the "life and death" power of drones should be entrusted to regular armed forces and not intelligence agencies like the CIA which have much less transparent oversight.
It is unlikely that the Obama Administration will alter its policy, as drone attacks have become an increasingly important tactic in US "counter terrorism operations" in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
However, as he calls for global cooperation, Obama has intensified the US war in Afghanistan and secret operations in the Middle East.
Pakistanis learn nothing of the attacks, and U.The End of The Counterterrorism Blog By Douglas Farah. To Our Readers: Thank you for your faithful readership through the past five years.
Over its short run, the Counterterrorism Blog served an important role both as a leading terrorism news and information aggregator and as a site where noted practitioner-experts presented commentary and analysis.
FINALLY, Pakistan has declared its own ‘war on terrorism’. The North Waziristan operation, the prime minister’s pronouncements and the adoption of the Protection of Pakistan Bill by the. Terrorism in Pakistan originated with supporting the Soviet–Afghan War, and the subsequent civil war that continued for at least a decade.
The conflict brought numerous fighters from all over the world to South Asia in the name of jihad.
Pakistan’s role in the war on terror, which had been recognised by the world until the last US government, has suddenly turned into a question mark.
The project is meant as a signal to Afghanistan — and perhaps the U.S. — that Pakistan sees itself as a victim of cross-border terrorism, not a perpetrator.
Tony Blair: a liar and a coward War is the greatest interest bearing debt generator known to mankind War is Murder for Profit UNICEF say Iraqi children are dying EVERY MONTH - stop sanctions NOW!
To save the lives of innocent fellow countrymen Western rulers must stop military invasions, occupation and covert operations NOW!