by: Dr. Sakena Yacoobi  |  On The Issues When I saw the Afghans in refugee camps in Pakistan in 1992, I couldn’t believe what was happening. I left Afghanistan in 1970 to pursue my education in the United States, but I was amazed by what I saw in the camps upon return. These were not the Afghans that I had known growing up in Afghanistan. People in the camps were traumatized; people were trying to figure out what was happening; people did not trust each other. Finally, I understood their issues. These people were changed and they were protecting themselves. It was … Continue reading Unlocking the Quiet Courage of Afghans

By M K Bhadrakumar The Nobel Peace Prize has a tradition. In the entire period from 1901 to 2009, it has never been awarded twice to any of its 97 individual recipients. United States President Barack Obama is thus unlikely to win a second Nobel. Yet, in an historical perspective, Afghanistan promises to become the first country in which Islamists will have been ushered into power on the wave of America’s newfound smart power. That too may only be the beginning. “Of course Afghanistan is not an island. There is no solution just within its borders,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization … Continue reading The winner takes all in Afghanistan

By Gareth Porter WASHINGTON – Evidence now available from various sources, including recently declassified United States State Department documents, shows that the Taliban regime led by Mullah Mohammad Omar imposed strict isolation on Osama bin Laden after 1998 to prevent him from carrying out any plots against the United States. The evidence contradicts claims by top officials of the Barack Obama administration that Mullah Omar was complicit in bin Laden’s involvement in the al-Qaeda plot to carry out the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. It also bolsters the credibility of Taliban statements in recent months … Continue reading How the Taliban pressed bin Laden

By Peter Lee The question of the day in Washington is will the People’s Republic of China veto further United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program? Informed opinion says “no”. China has exercised its veto only six times in 30 years on the council. In matters core to national priorities, like punishing countries such as Guatemala and Macedonia for their ties to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and protecting the interests of Pakistan, it has acted alone. However, on broader geopolitical issues, in recent years it has vetoed resolutions only when joined by at least one … Continue reading China feels US-Iran fallout

By Donald Kirk SEOUL – You would have to believe in miracles to think that the leaders of North and South Korea will ever meet to talk about the North’s nuclear weapons program. Improbable though such a meeting might seem, there’s so much talk about talks these days that no one is saying it will never happen. North Korea is edging toward six-party negotiations, and who’s to say these would not be a precursor for another inter-Korean summit? That’s the talk here, as United Nations undersecretary general for political affairs Lynn Pascoe winds up a four-day visit to Pyongyang. It’s … Continue reading A hard-to-reach summit for the Koreas

By Kent Ewing HONG KONG – If the Year of the Ox has been one of plodding progress on most fronts, devotees of the Chinese calendar hope that this coming year will roar like its zodiacal symbol, the Tiger. And, as its kickoff on February 14 coincides with Valentine’s Day in the West, they also hope that love is in the air, chokingly polluted though it is likely to be across most of Asia. Geomancers say those born in the Year of the Rabbit should be especially fortunate in their romantic quests this year, while monkeys and snakes are advised … Continue reading Roaring tiger, randy rabbit

By Sami Moubayed DAMASCUS – United States President Barack Obama’s decision to name Robert Ford as the new ambassador to Syria to fill a post that has been vacant since 2005 has been warmly received by the Syrians. Although his appointment still needs senate approval, Ford is considered a strong Arabist at the State Department, having previously represented his government in Algeria in 2006-2008 and more recently in Iraq. Once he arrives in Damascus, probably by mid-2010, the Johns Hopkins-educated diplomat will have a multitude of issues piled on his desk, all related to improving bilateral relations between his country … Continue reading Syria delighted with new US envoy