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Iraq

Iraq: The New Vietnam

But Not In The Ways Popularly Proclaimed

By Warren Wilkins
From the initial political debate to the advent of the Iraqi insurgency, certain pundits have lamented the disastrous parallels between the current conflict in Iraq and America’s intervention in Vietnam. At first, the blithely opined comparisons seemed largely superficial, and many remain so despite the passage of time and continued conflict in Iraq. Yet now, with the benefit of added perspective, the oft repeated canard that Iraq is like another “Vietnam” may indeed have merit. Just not in the way...

Commentary | May 1, 2008 8:30 AM | | Feedback (3)

Iraq

CTA Symposium: Iraq v. Mahdi Army

Fadhil, Ledeen, Peters and Roggio Join Discussion on Iraq, Basra and Iran's Hand

By ThreatsWatch
The recent offensive operations taken by the Iraqi government against the Mahdi Army (Jaish al-Mahdi - JAM) of Muqtada al-Sadr have received much analysis and commentary since the onset. Each of the ensuing analysis and commentary offerings have agreed that the Maliki government’s military actions and the Mahdi Army response are revelatory in nature. But that is where the agreement seems to end, as there appears a divergence regarding precisely what has been revealed: Who has operated and enjoys the...

PrincipalAnalysis | April 7, 2008 3:00 AM | | Feedback (6)

West Bank

The Two Faces of Fatah

Terror Link Destabilizing Israeli-Palestinian Peace Initiatives

By C. Hart
Palestinian elements of Fatah, linked to terrorist leaders in Damascus, are trying to pave the way for a Hamas takeover of the West Bank. But, as reported on March 13, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) anti-terror units managed to eliminate top terrorist leaders in Bethlehem in order to deter such a takeover. Mahmoud Shehada, the Commander of Islamic Jihad in Bethlehem and one of the terrorists killed by the IDF raid, was on Israel’s most wanted list for the past eight...

PrincipalAnalysis | March 18, 2008 8:15 AM | | Feedback (3)

United States of America

Toward a Saner Surveillance Strategy

A Middle Way For Those Willing To Seek It

By Michael Tanji
The ongoing fight over what the US intelligence community is allowed to do under pending revised Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) legislation has been clouded by suspicion, hyperbole, and a lack of knowledge regarding the intelligence business. Those who are suspicious of government intentions are right to be cautious, but fail to consider the mitigating factors. On the other hand, the government’s efforts to explain why they need legislative reforms have been inadequate. Despite the polarizing debate, there is room...

Commentary | March 5, 2008 12:00 AM | | Feedback (3)

May 13, 2008

1. Five bombs explode in India’s tourist city of Jaipur, killing 60 and injuring more than 150. No reports or claims of responsibility at time of publishing.

2. Lebanon continues to roil in conflict as Hizballah takes over Druze village and demands PM Saniora resign.

3. Former PM Sharif’s PML-N party withdraws from Pakistani cabinet over failure to reinstate judges sacked by Musharraf. Sharif said he plans to return to Pakistani parliament.

4. Venezuela to buy $2 billion in Russian arms.

5. As President Bush heads to the Middle East to encourage Saudi Arabia to increase oil production, debate continues at home over US reserves left untapped.

More details available here.

2:25 PM | | Last updated at 8:28 AM

May 14, 2008

With Apologies To Hizballah: Victory Is Yours

As reported by the Jerusalem Post, the Lebanese government has ceded victory to Hizballah in the latest episode in the power struggle that is Lebanon. A Lebanese minister says the Cabinet has reversed measures against Hizbullah that triggered the worst...

By Steve Schippert at 7:13 PM | | Feedback (0)

Lessons in Counterinsurgency

So far, the Ethiopian military presence in Somalia has been a bumbling, disjointed affair. Ethiopia invaded Somalia in December 2006 with tacit American approval in order to topple the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a conglomeration of Islamist militias, and to...

By Clay Varney at 12:25 PM | | Feedback (0)

May 12, 2008

Counterfeiting – A Matter of National Security

No matter how you look at the problem, counterfeiting is a serious issue. Counterfeiting affects companies, it serves as a means of funding of terrorist activities and it preys on the unknowing customer who is victimized by faulty products, phony...

By Jay Fraser at 7:01 AM | | Feedback (0)

May 11, 2008

Mexico – Beyond Illegal Immigration and Narcotics

While much of the attention on Mexico focuses on illegal immigration and the continuing drug wars, the reality is that these are only a pair of the problems contributing to the instability faced by that country. This instability stems from...

By Jay Fraser at 10:36 PM | | Feedback (1)

May 10, 2008

Health Care – When Disaster Strikes

Almost seven years post the attacks of September 11th, one of the serious preparedness issues still facing the country is the state of its health care, especially hospital trauma centers that would not be able to deal with the surge...

By Jay Fraser at 11:07 PM | | Feedback (3)

  • AudioJanuary 7, 2008
    [Listen Here]
    Global Crisis Watch explores the potential for conflict in the dynastic world of Pakistan politics between the Bhutto and the Zardari clans, and the difficulties that await in the tribal regions for any counterinsurgency program to counter Taliban and al...

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