Demilitarize This!

Obama’s speech in Cairo threw down the gauntlet for Israeli leaders to respond.  The New York Times observed that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech was as much done for the Israeli evening news as it was for the Obama administration.  I found it boring, infuriating, and tend to agree with Aliyana Traison of Haaretz that it [...]

Sri Lankan Clash of Identities

As per my resolution to cover a wide breadth of topics, I’ve delved myself into the conflict in Sri Lanka. And yes, most of my reasons for doing so also have to do with my idolization of Sri Lankan-British rapper and popstar extraordinaire MIA. I suppose I’ve also been inspired to learn more by the [...]

Prose, Violence, and Problems with Aslan’s Cosmic War

In a post-college world, looking at grad school and gainful employment on the horizon, it appears I need to step up my reading habits. So in an effort to make this a more regular segment of the blog, I’m going to read and review at least one book a month. This month, I bring to [...]

Gaza Crisis: A Threat to Israeli National Character

Since I’ve been posting about humanitarian crises and the Arab-Israeli conflict has proven to be a hot topic, I’m going to post more about Israel-Palestine.
A fuel crisis has struck the Gaza Strip due to border clashes. The Israeli government has closed all border crossings in response to a rocket that launched across the border, though [...]

Rediscovering Iraq: Triple Bombing, Working with Locals

Today, when I looked at the news headlines I saw a story about iraq. Its been a long time since I’ve paid attention to Iraq. In Fall 2006, I took a class entitled Post Saddam Iraq and it was one of the most intense classes I’ve ever taken. Since then, I’ve been largely unaware of [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Commending Belligerants for Nonviolent Actions in Iraq

I was very pleased to see this article as the main headline on the BBC News website this morning. However one may feel about Shi’a cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his followers, it is imperative that nonviolent actions in Iraq be publicized and positively acknowledged.The group may condone violence, but to only talk about their expressed [...]