Pretty Places And Conflict Resolution

In honor of Earth Day, I’m going to post a little news story about Afghanistan’s first national park and the concept of peace parks.
Weird Connotation, Cool Concept
Doesn’t the name “peace park” just bring all sorts of images of granola eating vegan hippies singing about free love? It does to me! Luckily, it is [...]

Afghan Girls Face Danger in Pursuing Education

A recent attack on a group of Afghan school girls highlights the need for better security in the war torn country. At least 15 girls were sprayed with acid near a school in Kandahar. The attack is believed to be the act of those who are against women’s education, but the Taliban has denied any [...]

Winning Minds in Afghanistan

Here’s a story that demonstrates that there’s much more than just a fight for security at stake in Afghanistan.
BBC reporter Jill McGivering interviewed a local shopkeeper in the province of Helmand. He says the international forces have not helped, but instead made violence worse. Asked if he would rather have the Taleban in control, he [...]

Negotiating With Militants

Yesterday, I wrote about the debate over whether the US, Afghanistan, and Pakistan should begin negotiations with select militants that would include the Taliban. Well it looks like its actually happening.
The [joint statement issued by the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan] statement said that each would continue to deny providing a sanctuary to terrorists and [...]

Aid and Afghanistan

Hooray! Another (self described) “crazy conservative” has responded to my blog! And its a good one. The response was to a previous post, “Human Security Over Military Security in Afghanistan?”.
Doesn’t the military presence there help a little with some of that security stuff? So shouldn’t it be we’re spending $107M a day on human security [...]

Protests Against the Taliban

I’m committed to promoting nonviolent acts that seek to publicize the nonviolent will of the people who are impacted by violent conflict. And so today, I bring you a story from Afghanistan.
People in eastern Afghanistan are demonstrating against the violence used by the Taliban against 27 young men who were pulled out of a bus [...]

Human Security over Military Security in Afghanistan?

We are living in such a globalized world that even the most unrelated of issues impact each dramatically. Today I am talking about the war in Afghanistan, the food crisis, and the 2008 US presidential election.
According to a BBC News article, Children in the Bamiyan province are suffering from severe malnutrition and the resources to [...]

No hearting of the Huckabees

So what to do today? Hmm…How about tear apart a presidential candidate’s article for Foreign Affairs magazine? Yes. That sounds like a good idea. Spotlight on: Mike Huckabee.
I have issues with Huckabee outside of his article, America’s Priorities In The War on Terror. Like sticking to a very silly promise made to an American [...]

Sycophantism and Waziristan Part III

Fresh on the heels of Robert Gates’ statement that the US was ready to send troops into Waziristan, Dr. Ahmed talks about the dangers of favoring a military option in Waziristan, especially in light of the failures in Iraq and Afghanistan in Part III of his interview with The Globalist.
“I would say that the [...]

Sycophantism and Waziristan "Part Deux"

Soon to come on this blog, more discussion of religion and destruction as I am writing a short paper about it this week. It should be fun. In the meantime, enjoy more discussion of my awesome professor.
Here’s a quote from Dr. Ahmed’s interview with The Globalist Part II where he answers a question about Waziristan [...]