Hermits should get stuck in Hermits can act as a valuable reminder of the spiritual dimension of life – but what’s the point of them if they’re hidden away? Naseem Khan guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 June 2010 09.00 BST Article history It came as something of a surprise to learn that there could be around 200 hermits living in the British Isles. Or so it would seem from the membership of the Fellowship of Solitaries. Karen Markham‘s attempts to resist eviction from her isolated cottage lifted the issue of withdrawal and the invisible 200 briefly above the radar, before they all … Continue reading Hermits can act as a valuable reminder of the spiritual dimension of life

Using social scientists in military human terrain teams blurs the lines between independent academia and partisan militarism James Denselow guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 June 2010 13.30 BST Article history General Stanley McChrystal believes the use of civilian, not military, power is key to the success of the new counterinsurgency. Photograph: Nacho Doce/ReutersDavid Cameron says Afghanistan is his number one priority. The doubling of operational allowance and the conveyance of messages from the England team may win the prime minister the hearts and minds of our troops, but the reality is that little has changed in the larger strategic picture. More important … Continue reading Scholar soldiers in Afghanistan are on dangerous terrain

Labour allowed counter-terrorism powers to be used unlawfully. We are committed to rebuilding the public’s trust in them Theresa May guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 June 2010 17.30 BST Article history Thousands of people have been stopped in the street and searched unlawfully under anti-terrorism powers. Photograph: David Parry/PAThe first job of any government is to keep its people safe. If we are to achieve that, the police need to be able to stop and search suspected terrorists. But there is no excuse for an abuse of these powers. I have discovered that, under the last government, counter-terrorism stop and search powers … Continue reading Stop and search policy will be robustly reviewed

HUM HINDUSTANI: Of Bhopal and books —J Sri Raman Moro is all heart about Sonia and all harsh about her Congress mandarins. This may explain what one hears about their different reactions. Sonia, say insiders, is for a less belligerent stand on the book. It must be hoped that she has her way Talk of the quirks of fate. Today must have been a time for India to remember him and his book about a tragedy that has just turned more terrible. Instead, he appears before us now as an author facing official fury for another work of his. Italian … Continue reading Of Bhopal and books

COMMENT: Of ambassadorial appointments —Zafar Hilaly The test of good diplomacy often lies in the ease and success with which an ambassador is able to transact a whole range of practical and everyday matters between states Following the reported resignation of Abdullah Hussain Haroon as the permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, the search for his successor must be under way. Mr Zardari will once again be able to indulge his whim and fancy. Very few leaders can afford to do that, but we Pakistanis are an indulgent lot. Besides, our patience to suffer fools is infinite. In the … Continue reading Of ambassadorial appointments

VIEW: Playing favourites —Gulmina Bilal Ahmad For terrorism to be tackled, we must stop playing favourites amongst terrorists. A bomb creates the same havoc in a Shia’s life as it does in an Ahmedi’s or an Ismaili’s life Is it a coincidence that both ‘Taliban’ and ‘terrorists’ start with a T? This is not surprising because they have become synonymous with each other. Whether we talk about the Punjabi, Pakhtun, tribal or the Swat Taliban, all are labelled as terrorists. While some analysts distinguish between the “good” and “bad” Taliban, it is generally believed that the Taliban are not kosher, … Continue reading Playing favourites

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has distanced himself from his father’s image and seems intent on bringing modern democracy to Libya Nabila Ramdani guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 June 2010 16.00 BST Article history Coming out of an infamous father’s shadow is difficult at the best of times, but especially so when your surname is Gaddafi and you’re frequently tipped as the next ruler of Libya. The crude caricature of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the so-called “Brother Leader”, as tribal warrior turned unsmiling despot is certainly one which has dominated the entire life of his second son, Saif al-Islam. Despite recent reforms, which have seen … Continue reading Stepping out of Gaddafi’s shadow

COMMENT: A nation complicit —Zaair Hussain We cannot possibly claim, as a country, that we value freedom of speech above all else. If we did so, we would choke on the magnitude of our hypocrisy. When, in human history, has the oppression of a country’s own citizens paid dividends to either the oppressed or the oppressors? In recent times, we as Pakistanis have developed not an immunity, but a resistance to the mental strain of terrorism. This is a tragedy of the times, and a triumph of our spirit. Recently, however, we encountered a new horror, one that I hope … Continue reading A nation complicit

VIEW: Of pens and names —Dr Mahjabeen Islam The written word, in the hands of the majority, can achieve what partisan governments or extremist ideologies cannot, especially when it can be transported across the world in the blink of an eye I write because it gives me a high. If, in the process, some cobwebs in the reader’s mind and mine can be cleared, it is just an added bonus. “How can you be an addictionist, you do not drink or do drugs!” said an outraged colleague when he found out that I was practising as one. Amused, I reminded … Continue reading Of pens and names

VIEW: Pakistan’s defence budget and the Greek example —Jan Assakzai The country’s economic planners use the same method as the Greeks. The usual strategy Islamabad adopts is managing the deficit with borrowed money, contributing to the debt nightmare (both external and internal) and adding to the current financial crisis Given the hike in defence spending in the budget for 2010-2011 presented by the federal government, the present economic crisis and means for its solution are synonymous with the Greek crisis in many ways. Both countries have more or less similar geo-political settings that have been instrumental in shaping their security … Continue reading Pakistan’s defence budget and the Greek example