Stories about War & Conflict from November, 2009
Colombia: Tensions and ‘Winds of War’ with Venezuela
As a result of several incidents along the border, tensions have been escalating in the last few weeks between Colombia and Venezuela, two neighboring countries which already have strained relations.
Pakistan: Conflict With Afghanistan
Sikander Hayat discusses about the hurdles in the path of resolving the conflicts between Pakistan & Afghanistan and some possible solutions.
Pakistan: Not Eliminated
Kalsoom at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan posts a roundup of the latest news and information on the South Waziristan war against the Taliban.
Disturbing Images Blogged on alleged Timor Assassin
On the 15th November Portuguese language blogger, Timor Lorosae Nacao, posted disturbing images of the corpse of Major Alfredo Reinado undergoing an autopsy in Dili in February 2008. Major Reinado led a group of armed men to the house of Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta on the morning of 11 February...
Palestine: Twitter Reports Say Israel Bombing Rafah & Khan Yunis
During Israel's attacks on Gaza in January 2009, bloggers and Twitter users took the place of the media, which had been banned from entering, reporting on each event well before mainstream publications. Today, a user raises the alarm saying Israel has just bombed Rafah and Khan Younis.
Western Sahara: Aminatou Haidar Deported
Aminatou Haidar is a leading activist for independence of the Western Sahara (from Morocco). On Friday, November 13 when, upon returning to Laayoune (a city in the Western Sahara region), she was arrested and subsequently deported. Jillian C. York rounds up the reactions of bloggers.
Pakistan: Mumbai Attacks
Bilal Qureshi at Pakistan Foreign Policy blog comments on the 2008 Mumbai Terror attacks: “So far, we know that stateless actors were involved in carrying out these attacks. These people want nothing, but chaos and mayhem in Asia, and it is important to stop them without pointing finger at other.”
Saudi Arabia: We'll Defend Ourselves – For The Right Reason
In recent weeks a longstanding conflict between the Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government has expanded to involve Saudi Arabia, which which has been carrying out bombing raids within Yemen. In this post one Saudi blogger gives his view of the situation.
Serbia: Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle Dies
Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, died on Sunday, November 15. On Monday, Serbia’s government declared a three-day mourning. Sinisa Boljanovic translates some of the reactions from the Serbian blogoshere.
Africa: Allah is not obliged
Sokari reviews Ahmadou Kourouma's novel, Allah is not obliged: “There are three sets of interwoven stories. The story of Birahima and his many wanderings with different militias across the region which makes a mockery of the artificial boundaries created by colonial rulers – only tribes not countries have meaning in...
Sri Lanka: Militarization And Politicization
In Sri Lanka, the former army chief is poised to wage an electoral battle against his former commander in chief, the incumbent president. D.B.S. Jeyaraj comments that: “the current situation is (also) the culmination of a long process of militarization of Sri Lankan society and a gradual politicization of the...
CEE: The Berlin Wall
The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall: How To Marry a Bulgarian hosts a series of readers’ personal reflections: Biliana Velkova, Alexandra Grashkina-Hristova, Maria Vassileva; Hungarian Spectrum writes that “for Hungary and the Hungarians the whole thing started much earlier”; Belgraded writes about the upcoming and much-awaited...
Russia: 1999 Chechen Diary, Part 4
The final part (part 4) of Polina Zherebtsova’s 1999 Chechen Diary – at Sundry Translations and Other Tangentialia. (More links: intro, part 1, part 2, part 3, Russian-language original.)
Egypt: Nidal Hassan – Psychiatrist or Psychotic?
Major Nidal Hassan is the US military psychiatrist of Arab origins who went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people. He is now facing charges of premeditated murder. "Psychiatrist or Psychotic?", ask Egyptian bloggers.
Liberia: From guns to notebooks
From bullets and guns to notebooks and pens in Liberia: “Waking up in the morning…with my uniforms…on my way to school, sitting in the classroom taking notes – is something that I really like doing every day.” These are of words of Matthew Jacobs, a former child soldier who fought...
Japan: Hitler's “Mein Kampf”, the manga version
After more than 80 years since its first publication, Hitler's Mein Kampf has become a Manga comic. The 190 page volume, which sold some 45,000 copies in the first printing, tells in a very simple way the story of Adolf Hitler, from his childhood to his rise as the leader...
Sri Lanka: The General Resigns
The Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka General Sarath Fonseka has resigned today and speculations are high that he will run for presidency in the next election as a candidate of a newly formed opposition alliance. Sri Lankan Bloggers weigh in on the situation.
Palestine: Frustration With The “Swagger” Of Politics
Last week the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he would not stand for re-election in January, in frustration at the US failure to stop Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank. In this post we hear the opinion of one blogger who is also extremely frustrated – with Palestinian politics.
USA: Veterans ask Obama to reconsider Afghanistan
Brave New Foundation posts a petition and YouTube video with young veterans asking Obama not to send more troops to Afghanistan.
China: Sino-Indian tension and Dalai Lama
China Matters has an article looking into the Sino-Indian tension against the background of Dalai Lama's recent visits to Tawang and Nepal.
Liberia: Taylor accuses Britain of transporting arms to Sierra Leone
Alpha blogs about the trial of the former President of Sierra Leone: “Charles Taylor today accused Britain of transporting arms to Sierra Leone in violation of a United Nations arms embargo on the country, and of using him as a scapegoat by falsely accusing him of responsibility for the flow...
