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Europe stoops to conquer the Uzbeks
A controversial decision by Europe to lift an arms embargo on Uzbekistan comes
as alarm bells are ringing in Central Asian capitals over a possible spillover
of the Afghan war. Tashkent may be the key to a northern supply corridor, but
regional leaders - increasingly skeptical of the West's will to win and the
prospect of "Afghanization" - are bracing for a Taliban victory. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Oct 29, '09)
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Strong messages in Pakistan
 The
primary job of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her
visit to Pakistan is to relay the message to both its civilian and military
leadership that it would be wise to join the US in fighting extremists as part
of the war in Afghanistan. The massive car bomb that killed 105 people in
Peshawar on the day of her arrival is the militants' message.
(Oct 29, '09)
Rivals fiddle while Kabul burns
As President Hamid Karzai and his rival Abdullah Abdullah scramble to secure
political alliances and argue technicalities ahead of next month's presidential
runoff, a brazen attack on a United Nations guesthouse in Afghanistan's capital
highlights the Taliban's resolve to derail the vote. Monday's violence
underscores that even a resounding win for Karzai does not guarantee he will
form a strong, credible government. - Abubakar Siddique
(Oct 29, '09)
SPEAKING FREELY
Hamid Karzai: Afghanistan's Diem
Fresh revelations of the Hamid Karzai government's opium trade links and the
alleged involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency render the United States
role in Afghanistan more murky and contradictory. With all the attention on
General Stanley McChrystal's troop increase demand, historical perspective has
been lost. We are back in Ngo Dinh Diem's Saigon of 1963. - Michael Wallach
(Oct 29, '09)
A turkey hunt in Iraq
Rather than finding those who struck at Baghdad's Green Zone in August, killing
100 people, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki searched for political
scapegoats to protect his own neck. There has been more of the same in the wake
of Sunday's bombings that killed at least 150 people, leaving the terrorists at
will to strike again. - Sami Moubayed (Oct
29, '09)
SINOGRAPH
China no longer
a law unto itself
China and the West, in particular ancient Rome and Greece, followed markedly
different routes on the way to developing the legal systems in use today. The
West was notably influenced by the needs of merchants and the market place for
equitable regulation, while China saw this as a threat to central power. As
China steps onto the international stage, it will have to reconcile such
differences. - Francesco Sisci (Oct 22, '09)
In Cambodia, a threatened tribe
of Islam
The distinct practices of the Cambodian Imam San community, which blend Islam
and animism, are seen by many Muslims as impure. Adding to the group's
estrangement, its members have rejected foreign-funded incentives to convert to
more orthodox Islam amid concern over the possible radicalizing influence of
foreign teaching. - Brendan B Brady (Oct 29,
'09)
Bollywood gets political
Times are changing in Bollywood. 
No longer just a song-and-dance film industry, India's massive movie machine is
moving ahead of the curve both politically and socially, with recent
productions, one featuring box office star, Shahrukh Khan, pushing viewers to
address issues of communal relations and religious intolerance. - Noor Iqbal
(Oct 29, '09)
Helicopter rumors refuse to die
The United States is battling yet another rumor in Afghanistan, that Western
forces are using helicopters to transport Taliban fighters from the volatile
south to the north of the country. Officials have dismissed the claims as
rubbish, but locals are sticking to their stories. - Ahmad Kawoosh
(Oct 28, '09)
Taliban take over Afghan province
 Following
the withdrawal of United States troops from key bases, the Taliban have taken
control of Afghanistan's Nuristan province. It is now under Qari Ziaur Rahman,
a Taliban commander with strong ties to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. With this
haven, the Taliban's first goal is to disrupt next month's runoff presidential
election, then to assist militants in Pakistan. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Oct 28, '09)
VIDEO
Nuristan's top gun
Qari Ziaur Rahman, the Taliban commander who has assumed control of Nuristan
province, represents the new breed of anti-United States leaders. Syed Saleem
Shahzad interviewed him last year.
US report tarnishes Sri Lanka
victory
A United States report on human-rights abuses during the Sri Lankan
government's final offensive on the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
finds that while the rebel group used child soldiers and human shields, the
government shelled civilian populations and badly neglected refugees' rights.
(Oct 28, '09)
Bring on the banking dullards
Is it fair that a banker comfortable with annual income of US$30 million should
now, under government dictat, earn only one-third of that? When the competence
hitherto rewarded helps bring about a financial crisis on the scale recently
witnessed - yes. If such lower rewards bring back banking dullards - again,
yes. - Julian Delasantellis (Oct 28, '09)
China hawks target US sign-off shuffle
United States President Barack Obama has delegated presidential power of
scrutinizing and approving exports of missile- and space-related technology to
the Commerce Department. But anyone who thinks that Obama has suddenly
rewritten the rulebook when it comes to exports of missile and space-related
technology to China is mistaken. - Peter J Brown
(Oct 28, '09)
Britain's Afghan role in question
The British government has hinted that the Barack Obama administration's
"wavering" on the war in Afghanistan is hampering progress there. This ignores
the fact that Britain's own military contribution is undermined by its
unfavorable colonial legacy, poorly received anti-narcotics campaigns and tense
relations with a key Afghan player, Iran. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
(Oct 28, '09)
China leads solar home
revolution
Chinese homes are increasingly likely to carry a solar water heater on the
roof, with one in 10 families already getting electricity from the devices.
This is attracting overseas investment into the fragmented market, while local
companies are also boosting sales overseas. - Ryan Rutkowski
(Oct 28, '09)
Yuan gaining currency beyond
borders
Beijing's apparent disinterest in developing a policy on the convertibility of
the yuan has given way since the global financial crisis to a clear
determination to increase international use of the Chinese currency,
particularly by its Asian neighbors. The launch in January of the China-ASEAN
free trade area will help to accelerate this regionalization of the currency. - Russell
Hsiao (Oct 28, '09)
Gates gets grumpy in Tokyo
United States Secretary of Defense Robert 
Gates expected to leave Japan with a firm agreement in place for the relocation
of the US Marine Corps base from Okinawa to Guam. But the recently elected
Democratic Party of Japan played hardball, leaving Gates empty-handed. This and
other disputes are a sign that Tokyo and Washington may be drifting apart after
decades of close alliance. - Peter J Brown (Oct
27, '09)
As ASEAN dithers, the US circles
The rhetoric used at the latest summit of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations risks generating false expectations of the 10-member grouping
developing into a nascent European Union. Certainly, progress was made on
economic integration, but such issues as dealing with Myanmar remain
unresolved, which sends a mixed message to the United States as it ponders its
engagement in the region. - Simon Roughneen (Oct
27, '09)
Kerry argues for counter-insurgency
lite
The death on Monday of 14 United States troops in two helicopter accidents -
the single-deadliest day for US forces in Afghanistan in more than four years -
adds to the urgency for the administration of President Barack Obama to settle
on its war strategy. Democratic Senator John Kerry, following an extended visit
to the country, spells out his vision for counter-insurgency operations. - Jim
Lobe (Oct 27, '09)
Welcome to 2025
An affiliate of the United States Central Intelligence Agency has predicted
that America's global pre-eminence will gradually disappear over the next 15 or
so years. Six recent developments - including reports on America's economic
rivals exploring a diminished role for the US dollar and Chinese rebuffs of the
US over strengthening sanctions on Iran - indicate we are already entering that
era. - Michael T Klare (Oct 27, '09)
Afghan fury at Koran burning claims
Allegations that American forces burned copies of the Koran during a recent
raid in central-eastern Afghanistan have led to a series of protests, including
two in the capital, Kabul. The United States military denies the charges,
saying Taliban insurgents are behind the burnings. - Abdullah Obaidi
(Oct 27, '09)
Beijing runs a diplomatic marathon
From the Americas to Europe to Asia, Chinese leaders this autumn are engaged in
wide-ranging diplomacy to play up the country's status as a near superpower
that is also a responsible stakeholder in the world community. The danger in
Beijing's no-holds-barred projection of military and diplomatic prowess is that
it may also render the "China threat" theory more credible. - Willy Lam
(Oct 27, '09)
India lost in 'love jihad'
Religious groups in India's Kerala state say young Muslim men are luring
non-Muslim girls into marriage as part of an organized campaign of forced
conversions to Islam. Dubbed "love jihad", the phenomenon has sparked police
investigations and national security fears. It has even united Hindu and
Christian groups previously at loggerheads over the sensitive issue of
religious conversions. - Sudha Ramachandran (Oct
27, '09)
THE BEAR'S LAIR
Where have the savers gone?
Numerous steps that could encourage a higher savings rate in the United States
are possible - but would prove unpopular. With the alternative a future along
the path taken by Argentina, the pain would be worth it. - Martin Hutchinson
(Oct 27, '09)
US threats prompted Iran nuclear
facility
The United States has accused Iran of duplicity over the construction of a
second uranium enrichment facility at Qom, and says Tehran only revealed its
existence once the Iranians realized that Washington knew about it. Yet US
intelligence estimates tell a very different story, one in which Iran carefully
reacted to what appeared to be an imminent US strike against it. - Gareth Porter
(Oct 26, '09)
 SUN
WUKONG
Insurers denied run of property
The Chinese government's decision to allow insurance companies to invest some
of their near US$500 billion in holdings directly in real estate has property
developers keenly anticipating a new inflow of cash. Yet the red tape with
which Beijing is tying up the reform should be sufficient to ensure no quick
bucks - or sharp losses - for anyone. - Wu Zhong
(Oct 26, '09)
 CHAN
AKYA
The truth about banks and dogs
Over-aggressive, yappy and totally incapable of fending for themselves -
today's banks are similar to small breeds of dogs created by man's manipulation
of nature. Banks know full well that any misstep will lead to a government
rescue, just as Chihuahuas and Pekinese turn into furry balls of trembling fear
without their masters. (Oct 23, '09)
US zeroes in on China's clout in
Myanmar
A senior United States State Department mission is going to Myanmar to
ostensibly discuss democracy and human rights, but the subtext will clearly be
boosting ties and building influence in a country long considered to be in
China's diplomatic pocket. The competition between Washington and Beijing for
influence in Southeast Asia could hinge on how Myanmar's generals react. - Brian
McCartan (Oct 23, '09)
Hour of decision on Iran
Iran, Russia, the United States and France are considering a draft agreement
that would see low-enriched Iranian uranium further processed in Russia and
France before being returned to Iran for use at a research reactor. The deal
has the potential to significantly defuse the crisis over Iran's nuclear
program, but Tehran is wary of making any hasty decisions. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
(Oct 23, '09)
Korean summit not such a sick idea
As Washington pledges continuous military support for South Korea and issues
cautious words for the North, South Korean media are hinting that an
inter-Korean summit might not be as absurd an idea as previously believed.
Maybe the Dear Leader will go on a medical tourism journey to Seoul. - Donald
Kirk (Oct 23, '09)
<IT WORLD>
Windows users in seventh heaven
Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 7, was launched with promises the
software will deliver above and beyond its much-maligned predecessors. With
Google and Apple snapping at its heels, Microsoft has finally introduced a new
version that doesn't require expensive hardware upgrades to run it.
Martin J Young surveys the week's developments in computing, science,
gaming and gizmos. (Oct 23, '09)
America, condoms and the Taliban
The United States didn't seem to care that it was unprecedented for a tribal
chief like Afghan President Hamid Karzai to be made to admit defeat in front of
his people - as he did in a press conference to announce a run-off election.
Whether Karzai was efficient or corrupt is no more the issue. The crux now is
the Afghan perception that Westerners use their friends like condoms - to be
discarded after use. - M K Bhadrakumar (Oct
22, '09)
AN ATol EXCLUSIVE
Al-Qaeda's guerrilla chief lays out
strategy
 The
top field commander of al-Qaeda, in an exclusive interview with Asia Times
Online, proves he is alive and well after repeated drone attacks and delineates
in broad strokes al-Qaeda's strategy. The Afghanistan trap, baited on September
11, 2001, has been sprung, says formidable guerrilla leader Ilyas Kashmiri, and
events from Gaza to Mumbai should not be seen in isolation but as part of the
master plan to bloody the United States and its proxies. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Oct 14, '09)
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David P
Goldman
(Oct 28, '09)
The administration has [been] handing money to favored projects - and the
grassroots economy gets crushed.
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Peshawar
blast adds
to investor woes
The Peshawar car bomb blast that killed at least 105 people on Wednesday will
add further pressure on overseas investors to turn their backs on strife-torn
Pakistan, after foreign direct investment tumbled by more than 58% last month
from a year ago. - Syed Fazl-e-Haider
Lesson unlearned
Eighty years after the market crash in the United States that led to the Great
Depression, the "lessons" learned from that grim period have since been
accepted by central bankers, in particular the role of monetary policy. They
have also given birth to an economics of instability. The real lesson is that
weak national economies must seek redress through economic nationalism. - Henry
CK Liu
Turkmenistan gas sets Ciceronian
riddle
Reports emerging from "confidential sources" in Russia and Turkmenistan cast
doubt on the spectacular volumes of gas resources claimed by Turkmenistan and
verified independently last year by a British firm. The first question to ask
is: who might gain from such doubts? - Robert M Cutler
Inflation by stealth
The very fact that prices for most goods in the United States are holding
steady when the economy is in its present black hole indicates that inflation,
far from being absent, is all too present, lurking in the shadows like a ninja.
Once it strikes, price rises will be fast and deadly. - John Browne
FROM THE BLOG
Credit crunch worsens
The credit crunch in the United States is getting worse, not better, with
year-on-year percentage growth in commercial and industrial loans at a negative
10%, the worst during the 60 years in which records have been kept. - David
Goldman
CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
Mortgage madness
US Federal Reserve claims that prices of mortgage-backed securities are likely
to fall when it eventually begins offloading them are far-fetched. Not only
will the Fed have to live with exposure to the securities for years to come;
Washington's mortgage risk will at some point make or break the US dollar.
(Oct 26, '09)
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
MARKET RAP
Asia stops to catch its breath
Aside from the significant exceptions of Shanghai, Hong Kong and India, the
region's markets remained largely neutral. By far the biggest gainer on the
week, Shanghai, may now have a clear field for a charge.
(Oct 23, '09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
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"... Compare the behaviour of the Western banks to those of the Asian banks
from 12 years ago. You don't see term mismatches on assets and liabilities,
pretty much no Asian bank today has loans in excess of deposits, nor a huge
amount of higher risk lending ... .The landscape is relatively clean, banks are
well managed and more importantly, very very liquid: all due to their
near-death experiences of a dozen years ago ... . This contrast ... is what
drove me to examine the behaviour [of Western banks]. About the only reasonable
comparison that seemed remotely plausible was that of small dogs ..." - Chan
Akya
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From Our Mailbox
[Re China's culture
offensive hits a wall, October 27] Perhaps the ideal approach to
addressing Western Sinophobia would be to address insecurities on the part of
Western society towards China from a perspective of pluralism, acceptance,
understanding and common ground. It's really not that hard; you simply have to
empty your cup.
Hank
Australia
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ATol Specials
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By Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Jan '09) |
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VIDEO
Taliban's new breed of leader
(May '08) |
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The
Gates
Inheritance
By
Roger Morris
(June '07) |
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Syed Saleem Shahzad reports on
the Afghan war from the Taliban side
(Dec '06)
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How
Hezbollah defeated Israel
By
Mark Perry and
Alastair Crooke
(Oct '06)
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Mark
Perry and
Alastair Crooke
talk to the 'terrorists'
(Mar '06)
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China:
The
Impossible
Revolution
By
Francesco Sisci
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The Coming
Trade War
By Henry C K Liu
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A series
by Henry C K Liu
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Sinoroving
Pepe Escobar in China
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Money, Power
and
Modern Art
A series by Henry C K Liu
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Andre Gunder Frank on Uncle Sam and his
shrinking dollar
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By Pepe Escobar with
photographs by Kevin Nortz
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Nir Rosen goes inside the Iraqi
resistance
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Nir Rosen rides with the US 3rd
Armored Cavalry in western Iraq
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