HIZBUT-TAHRIR ( HT) STEPS UP ATTEMPTS TO SUBVERT BD ARMY

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy B.RAMAN It is learnt from reliable sources that the Bangladesh authorities suspect that the Hizbut-Tahrir (HT), Party of Liberation, banned in October 2009 had links with 16 middle-level officers of the Bangladesh Army involved in the plot to stage a coup against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which was discovered in [...]

EGYPT: It’s January Again in Tahrir Square

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani CAIRO, Nov 23, 2011 (IPS) – Days of clashes between protesters and security forces culminated on Tuesday evening in what was estimated to be a million-man rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to demand an end to military rule. The new political [...]

225,000 Killed – But Democracy Eludes Afghanistan and Iraq

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IDN By S. Chandler IDN-InDepth NewsReport           TORONTO (IDN) – At least 225,000 civilians and men and women in uniform have been killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which also involved Pakistan, and will cost the U.S. up to $4 trillion, albeit without any significant gains for [...]

Military Option for Iran Far From Prudent

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IDN Military Option for Iran Far From Prudent The writer | Credit: ACA   By Greg Thielmann* IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis         WASHINGTON D.C. (IDN) – Neither sanctions, cyber sabotage, nor off-and-on multilateral diplomacy has yet convinced the government of Iran to end its pursuit of activities that could give it [...]

INTROSPECTION IN PAKISTAN: WILL IT ENDURE?

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy B.RAMAN The anger and humiliation caused in Pakistan by the unilateral raid by  US naval commandos on the residence of Osama bin Laden at Abbottabad on May 2,2011, and by the inability of the Pakistani Army and Air Force to prevent the raid have had two significant effects. 2.The first [...]

No Impunity for Killing by Drones

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IDN By Richard Johnson IDN-InDepth NewsReport           GENEVA (IDN) – "If you use drones you must confirm and report who they killed," international lawyers say, adding: "Drones don’t allow hit and run." In fact, states that authorize or use armed drones as well as those who launch and control [...]

AFGHANISTAN: Obama Takes the Centrist Option on Withdrawal

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON, Jun 23, 2011 (IPS) – In a much-anticipated decision, U.S. President Barack Obama announced here Wednesday evening that he will withdraw 10,000 of the 100,000 U.S. troops currently deployed in Afghanistan by the end of this year and a total of 33,000 by some [...]

U.S.: Obama’s Claim of Libya War Powers Widely Disputed

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON, Jun 17, 2011 (IPS) – President Barack Obama’s claim that U.S. military operations against Libya should not be subject to the War Powers Act and do not require Congressional approval is drawing heavy fire from friends and foes alike. In a 38-page report submitted [...]

AFGHANISTAN: Debate Rages over U.S. Withdrawal

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, Jun 8, 2011 (IPS) – With only three weeks left before U.S. military forces are scheduled to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan, the debate over the size and pace of that withdrawal has become increasingly intense. On one hand, the Pentagon, backed by prominent neo-conservatives [...]

Obama Troop Surge Decision Ignored Pak-Taliban Ties

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS Analysis by Gareth Porter* WASHINGTON, May 22, 2011 (IPS) – The unilateral U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden created a spike in mutual recriminations between U.S. and Pakistani politicians, but their fundamental conflict of interest over Afghanistan was already driving the two countries toward serious confrontation. The [...]