Author: Imran

As Iran inches closer towards a military dictatorship, the best policy is not direct intervention, but “deterrence and containment” … Wisely Doing Nothing (Washington Post) … Meanwhile, signs of a destabilized, divided government are abundant: Iran President Clashes with Conservatives; 2 Protesters Said to Die in Custody (LA Times) Taliban strategy attempts to consolidate power…

“[M]ass radicalisation of the EU’s 20-odd million Muslims has not taken place” : Fears of an Islamic Revolt in Europe Begin to Fade (Guardian) Obama remains undeterred despite gaining little ground in the peace process … US Steps Up Middle East Diplomacy (Al Jazeera) … However, signs of more inclusive negotiations are present: MPs Urge…

The new policy could be a huge stride in obtaining recognition and legitimacy from the West: Hamas Shifts From Rockets to Public Relations (NY Times) Does the shift in policy manifest concerns for the Afghani civilian population or further obscure transparency in US military operations? U.S. Stops Giving Militant Death Tolls in Afghanistan (LA Times)…

“Power is always inclined to become absolute, and only people’s movements can put a hold on this inclination” –Mousavi: Iran Opposition Leader Plans Large-Scale Social Movement (LA Times) The physically ill have always been exempt from the pilgrimage obligation: H1N1 Prompts Hajj Restrictions (Al Jazeera) Pakistanis object to a US policy that would crush militancy…

Pakistan continues its obsessive focus on India as a security threat, preferring dialog with the Taliban over moving troops from the Indian border to Baluchistan: Pakistan Objects to U.S. Plan for Afghan War (NY Times) Challenging his strongest and most important supporter in Iran: Ahmadinejad Defies Ayatollah on Vice President (LA Times) Is Clinton threatening…

A case of “assertion of the state secrets privilege,” often used against Muslims, is found to be “fraud on the court”: CIA Committed Fraud, Judge Writes in Ruling (Washington Post) An interim report states, “Justice cannot be done … unless those who are accused of crimes are proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a…

Although he sees victory in Afghanistan as a “long-term project,” … Gates: US has One Year to Make Progress in Afghanistan (Christian Science Monitor) … yet, similarities to Vietnam persist in Afghanistan: Marines Face Stiff Taliban Resistance (Washington Post) “Afghans are arbitrarily detained by police, prosecutors, judges and detention center officials with alarming regularity”: Pentagon…

“Breaking the Silence is an organization of veterans who served in the Israeli military during the Second Intifada (since September 2000) and have taken it upon themselves to expose the Israeli public to the routine situations of everyday life in the Occupied Territories”: Breaking the Silence (Shovrimshtika) During his Friday sermon, Rafsanjani “implicitly challenged the…

Described by US forces as a “misunderstanding”, the standoff between a Kurdish militia and Iraqi troops points to a larger issue threatening to fragment Iraq: Kurdish Leaders Warn Of Strains With Maliki (Washington Post) Attacks on Muslims during Jummah prayer underscore concerns over the state of freedom and Islamic democracy in Iran reflected in Rafsanjani’s…