Is Karzai trapped?

Karzai trapped in no-man’s land By M K Bhadrakumar Afghan President Hamid Karzai has made his first political move a week after the assassination of the head of the Afghan High Peace Council and former president, Burhanuddin Rabbani. Following a meeting in Kabul that included tribal elders, legislative chairmen, cabinet ministers, former mujahideen commanders and his two vice presidents, Karzai’s office issued a statement on Wednesday admitting that a question mark should be on the Taliban’s capacity to take independent decisions, implying they were merely a Pakistani proxy. The statement suggested that Karzai no more regards the Taliban as his … Continue reading Is Karzai trapped?

Mongolia opens for business?

Mongolia hands it to a cast of neighbors By Peter Lee ULAN BATOR – Before embarking for the United States, Mongolia’s President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj sat down with the Washington Post for a charm offensive, at least in terms that Mongolians understand: dispensing comparisons to Genghis Khan that they, at least deem flattering. Elbegdorj has lessons for USA from Mongolia’s past  As the leader of a diminished land that was once an invincible superpower, President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj has some advice for Americans fatigued by the burdens of global power: Remember Genghis Khan, and stick with your friends. “It is tough, but … Continue reading Mongolia opens for business?

Soldiers Have Injured Souls

Beyond PTSD: Soldiers Have Injured Souls by: Diane Silver, Miller-McCune (Photo: United States Marine Corps / Flickr) John Fisher got his soul back when he visited a cemetery in Greece. Shelley Corteville felt “rocketed” into healing when she told her story at a veterans’ retreat after 28 years of silence. Bob Cagle lost his decades-long urge to commit suicide after an encounter at a Buddhist temple. These veterans and thousands like them grapple with what some call “the war after the war” — the psychological scars of conflict. Working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and private organizations, these men and … Continue reading Soldiers Have Injured Souls

Heil Cheney! – Der Fuhrer of The Tea Party?

Dick Cheney, the Ultimate American Terrorist by: William Rivers Pitt, Truthout | Op-Ed Vice President Dick Cheney in a June 20, 2007 file photo. (Photo: Doug Mills / The New York Times) Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. – Dick Cheney It is axiomatic by now: when someone leaves government service, especially from a high-profile position, they write a book. They all do it, sometimes more than once. Richard Nixon is the main example of one who produced a multi-volume apologia; by the time he went into the ground, he’d penned … Continue reading Heil Cheney! – Der Fuhrer of The Tea Party?

Deferred Dreams, Self-Destruction, and Suicide Bombings

By Shaykh Hamza Yusuf There was a story in the New York Times a few days ago about how the “revolution” in Tunisia was sparked in December by the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old, befuddled roadside green grocer. Like so many young Arabs, he was born poor and only dreamed of providing for his siblings and his mother. He had been to college, where he studied law, but had found no employment possibilities. So, given the basic dignity often found in people in places like Tunisia, he chose to humble himself and find a halal means to generate some … Continue reading Deferred Dreams, Self-Destruction, and Suicide Bombings