By Nick Turse In the 19th century, it was a fort used by British forces. In the 20th century, Soviet troops moved into the crumbling facilities. In December 2009, at this site in the Shinwar district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, United States troops joined members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) in preparing the way for the next round of foreign occupation. On its grounds, a new military base is expected to rise, one of hundreds of camps and outposts scattered across the country. Nearly a decade after the George W Bush administration launched its invasion of Afghanistan, TomDispatch offers … Continue reading Black sites in the empire of bases

By Larry Jagan BANGKOK – As Myanmar prepares for its first elections in 20 years, uncertainty surrounding the promised democratic transition has crippled the workings of government and raised tensions inside the armed forces. While many analysts view the highly anticipated polls as mainly a one-horse race, there is also a growing sense that the elections may not go exactly as dictator Senior General Than Shwe plans. Even though an official polling date has not been announced, election fever has gripped the country, one of Asia’s poorest and most politically repressed. The state-controlled media are now full of reports, footage … Continue reading Myanmar takes a democratic step

By Ranjit Devraj NEW DELHI – After India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh announced on Tuesday a six-month ban on the cultivation of Bt Brinjal, the country’s first genetically modified (GM) food crop, food security experts and activists said this major farming country has been saved from a biodiversity disaster. “This is an historic decision. The minister deserves to be congratulated, given that he was under enormous pressure to give approval for Bt Brinjal, especially after the country’s Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) cleared it,” leading food security specialist Devinder Sharma told Inter Press Service (IPS). Had the genetically modified version … Continue reading People’s victory in India’s brinjal wars

Declared or otherwise, there are nine ongoing operations by the security forces to crush the militants in the NWFP and tribal areas, with at least one in the offing in North Waziristan. However, while the strikes themselves have weakened the enemy and caused it to retreat to the surrounding hills, subsequent security arrangements have done little to lay the foundation for a durable peace. The militants have not yet called it a day and continue their hit-and-run war. The writ of the state has not yet been established beyond cantonments and garrisoned offices. Currently, off-and-on explosions, targeted killings and kidnappings … Continue reading Civilians: first line of defence

THE recent conference in London to chart the future course for Afghanistan produced a small victory for Pakistan. Islamabad had insisted for many years that a long-term, stable solution to the 30-year-old Afghan problem could only be found if some of those identifying themselves with the Taliban movement were accommodated within the governing structure. This position was first advanced by Gen Pervez Musharraf and followed by the present government. The Americans, however, would not have anything to do with anybody who went under the banner of the Taliban movement. But then an interesting thing happened. The Taliban emerged as different … Continue reading A small victory

ISLAMABAD: The top brass of Pakistan Army is all set to undergo a reshaping process with the retirement of at least 12 three-star generals, including four corps commanders, during the ongoing calendar year, warranting promotion of major generals and the necessary reshuffle. Three of the lieutenant generals, including incumbent Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, are scheduled to retire next month. However, according to informed sources, Lt-Gen Pasha in all probability will get an extension ‘in the interest of continuity’. A senior security official told Dawn that the army chief did not need to send a … Continue reading ISI chief, four commanders retiring this year

NEW YORK: The play is just called “Palestine” and Najla Said, daughter of renowned Palestinian scholar Prof Edward Said, is acting in a one-woman show at an off Broadway theatre in New York. The play will formally open on Feb 17. Prof Said was a giant among intellectuals at New York’s Columbia University. His advocacy of the cause of free Palestine was so compelling that it earned him many enemies among the hardcore Jewish groups who supported Israel as a cause. But Prof Said was respected by all, even his staunchest of adversaries. “Palestine was this thing I didn’t understand,” … Continue reading Palestine – one-woman show

The Taliban in Orakzai Agency have confirmed that Hakimullah Mehsud is indeed dead. Rumours to this effect had floated for some weeks, and had been denied more than once. We are now told that Maulvi Noor Jamal has succeeded Hakimullah. Little is known about him and there is no way of saying if the decision is a unanimous one or if we are to see further rifts in the ranks of the Taliban. Following the death of Baitullah Mehsud last year, a power struggle within the organisation had been settled only with the intervention of the Afghan Taliban. It is … Continue reading Ten Takfiri Mullahs hanging on the wall, if one was accidently blown up there will be…