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Indian rebels on the move in Myanmar
New Delhi has called on Naypyidaw to take decisive action against separatists
operating from camps on Myanmar's northwestern fringes. Yet as the border with
the restive Indian region of Manipur opens up, promises of security sweeps have
come to nothing and the rebel fighters are being allowed to move into deeper
cover. Inaction speaks to Myanmar's desire to maintain a buffer with its giant
neighbor. - Subir Bhaumik (Aug 9, '12)
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THE ROVING EYE
American (jihadi) Idol
Syria is now the ultimate Sex Pistol-inspired Holiday in the Sun (the jihadi
remix); a magnet to Libyans, Jordanians, Saudis, Algerians, Chechens, Af-Pakis,  plus
some enthusiastic young Brits. If anyone doubts this, the US establishment's
Council of Foreign Relations is prepared to put them right.
- Pepe Escobar (Aug 9, '12)
Syrian forces launch
ground assault in Aleppo
Some of the fiercest clashes in the Syrian uprising are being reported as the
Syrian army, using Russian tanks to sweep through the northern city of Aleppo,
attempts to push opposition fighters from a key stronghold. As shells rain down
and the killing mounts, the ground assault that has been months in the making
is in full force. (Aug 9, '12)
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Taiwan pours cement on maritime dispute
His hands tied by Taiwan's international isolation, President Ma Ying-jeou has
been looking for a way to fend off criticism that his stance on the regional
South China Sea tussle is too wimpy. The answer, reportedly, is to extend a
runway on Taiping, the largest of the Spratly Islands. While Taiwan has no
actual illusions about starting a military confrontation, this could be a smart
political move benefiting both Taipei and Beijing.
- Jens Kastner (Aug 9, '12)
Deadly flooding strikes the Philippines
A soaking wet child sits on a post on a flooded street in suburban Manila on
Wednesday. More than one million people in and around the Philippine capital
battled deadly floods amid relentless monsoon rains, with neck-deep waters
trapping slum dwellers and the wealthy on roofs. At least 19 people have been
killed, as a month's rain fell over two days.
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Israel hampers nuclear
diplomacy
Israel, concerned that an Iranian "breakout" capability would end the regional
nuclear monopoly that's given Israel four decades of strategic impunity, has
blocked diplomatic resolution of the Iran nuclear crisis through demonizing
Tehran and through threats of unilateral intervention. As Jerusalem sleepwalks
Washington into a Persian Gulf conflagration, President Barack Obama's room for
maneuver is practically nil.
- Richard Javad Heydarian (Aug 9, '12)
Iran's new summit diplomacy
Iran is eyeing significant diplomatic dividends from conferences in Saudi
Arabia and Tehran this month, with plans to repair ties with Riyadh as the
Syrian crisis enters a crucial phase. As the fall of rebel forces in Aleppo
delivers a rude awakening to Western countries funneling arms to the rebellion,
Iran plans to position itself as the region's best hope for a mediated
solution.
- Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Aug 9, '12)
 FILM
REVIEW
Bahrainis' freedom
struggle
comes to light
Shouting in the Dark,
by Al-Jazeera English
The world cheered during last year's Arab Spring as common people threw off the
chains of their tyrants - except, that is, in Bahrain. There, the revolt
against the royal family's autocratic rule was met with a harsh crackdown,
backed by the neighboring, much bigger autocracy - and key US ally - Saudi
Arabia, as Western media looked the other way. Finally, the courage and tragedy
of that struggle can be seen in this documentary compiling Al-Jazeera footage.
- Nama Khalil (Aug 9, '12)
SPEAKING FREELY
Speaking Freely is a Front Page feature for guest writers to have a say.
 To submit to
Speaking Freely click
here
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Bitter memories, little hope for
Syrians
Zaatri refugee camp in Jordan is a bleak landscape of hardship and sorrow,
where children wet their pants at the memory of the horrors of the conflict
back home in Syria. Such scenes are common in refugee camps anywhere; here,
they also foreshadow the fate of Syria once these people return home - products
of despair, deprivation, and disinformation. - Erin Banco and Sophia
Jones (Aug 8, '12)
Taiwan jumps into South China Sea fray
Those hoping Taipei would join the regional conflict against Beijing on
sovereignty of the South China Sea could be in for a bitter blow. While the
mainland Communists and Taiwan's ruling KMT certainly disagree on who should
run "one China", they are on the same page when it comes to China's hegemony
over the sea, its islands, and its potentially rich resources. Formal
cooperation on the dispute may be in the works.
- Brendan O'Reilly (Aug 8, '12)
Strategic US clean-up in
Vietnam
Revitalized US efforts to decontaminate part of Vietnam affected by Agent
Orange started this week at a former air base, with the US$49 million
initiative coming amid strengthened bilateral ties linked to Washington's
"pivot" towards Asia. A long-running source of Vietnamese anger at the US, the
defoliant is estimated to have affected the health of more than 4 million
Vietnamese.
- Richard S Ehrlich (Aug 8, '12)
Baloch insurgency faces uncertain
future
A shift from systematic militancy to indiscriminate violence by insurgents from
Pakistan's Balochistan reflects the separatist movement's desperation as the
West prepares to leave Afghanistan. Should Afghan security crumble after the
2014 withdrawal, Indian spymasters on the AfPak border will find it
increasingly hard to supply weapons, finances and training to the militants.
- Khuram Iqbal (Aug 8, '12)
Ahmadis lose hope this Ramadan
The fraternity that unites millions of Muslims around the world during Ramadan
doesn't extend in Pakistan to the Ahmadi community. Seven of the four-million
strong group, which was declared non-Muslim in 1974, have been murdered in
targeted killings this year. As places to worship safely are destroyed, the
persecution is intensifying.
- Zofeen Ebrahim (Aug 8, '12)
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 The
hunger wars
in our future
As climate change wreaks agricultural havoc and the "Great Drought of 2012" in
the United States, the social unrest and conflict to follow will bring the
world closer to the dystopian, resource-scarce future envisioned in The Hunger
Games. While that novel depicts gladiatorial designs to suppress a
rebellion by the starving - in the real world they will number too many to
defeat. - Michael T Klare (Aug 8, '12)
Tajikistan holds back on
cheering its huge oil, gas find
Newly found oil and gas reserves in Tajikistan, if confirmed, can make it a
wealthy fossil-fuel exporter and transform its relations with neighbors upset
by its large and numerous hydropower projects. The government is holding back
on cheering the good news. - Fozil Mashrab (Aug
8, '12)
China, Africa show lessons
learnt with $20 bn pledge
China shows no indication of retreat from pouring money into African nations in
the face of claims it represents a form of neo-imperialism. Even so, the latest
US$20 billion loans pledge does come with signs of learning by both sides. - Gavin
du Venage (Aug 8, '12)
 THE
ROVING EYE
Bomb Iran fever
Well-informed Israelis know striking Iran's nuclear program will only delay it
by six months, while no solution exists to Israel's lack of fly-over rights,
bunker-busters and intel. As the United States is also well aware of the risks,
the only reasons behind the "bomb Iran" mantra seem to be Jerusalem's regional
ambitions and Washington's desire to revive a Persian satrapy. - Pepe Escobar
(Aug 7, '12)
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US, India
face Sri Lanka challenge
The Sri Lankan government's reluctance to secure reconciliation with the Tamil
population and an increasing military role in the economy challenge the United
States and India, whose economic leverage is countered by geopolitical
concerns. - Anuradha Sharma and Vishal Arora
Istanbul Forum goals
look good on paper
Turkey is seeking through the Istanbul Forum to boost cooperation with
Afghanistan and Pakistan to promote economic development and resolve political,
social and security problems. The goals are laudable, the prospects of success
poor. - Egemen Bezci and James Warhola
Mercosur senses dangers
of
free trade with China
South America's Mercosur trade bloc, while welcoming improved commercial ties
with China, is not at all keen on establishing a free-trade agreement with the
Asian giant, as urged this summer by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. - Marcela
Valente
CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
Wacky and wackier
The euro crisis can still produce wacky moments, such as European Central Bank
chief Mario Draghi warning against shorting the currency or the Bank of Estonia
claiming its vote matches that of the Bundesbank. At least the German bank
knows better.
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
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TONY ALLISON (1953-2012)
Asia Times Online's Editor-in-Chief Anthony Allison died on June 20 after a
short illness. We extend our sympathy to Tony's family for their tragic and
premature loss.
Obituary
Tributes
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Chinese
warships in the Mediterranean
With the Syrian situation hotting up, Beijing couldn’t have chosen a curiouser
moment to show the flag in the Eastern Mediterranean...
- M K Bhadrakumar
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If the average American were half has critical as the average Israeli, our
country would be far better off.
Lester Ness
Kunming
China
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