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Sino-Indian rivalry fuels Nepal's turmoil
As Nepal's Maoists intensify efforts to paralyze the central government, the
group's mass protests and provocative acts over a political impasse threaten to
plunge the nation back into civil conflict. With the Maoists claiming the
support of China, and a pro-India government in place in Kathmandu, a barely
concealed proxy contest is developing between Beijing and Delhi for a strategic
advantage in the Himalayas. - Peter Lee (Nov
13, '09)
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A witches'
cauldron brews in Yemen
Saudi Arabia is on the offensive in Iraq and Afghanistan to counter Iranian
influence. The Saudis, though, are on the defensive in Yemen, which has become
a safe haven for al-Qaeda elements to make incursions into Saudi Arabia. In
addition, the Shi'ite Houthi clan has made the Saudi-Yemeni border highly
volatile. Tehran, while doing nothing adventurous, is highly pleased. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Nov 13, '09)
OBAMA ON THE ASIAN HIGHWAY
Japan: A new battle over Okinawa
United States President Barack Obama's visit to Japan comes as rifts deepen
between Washington and the new government in Tokyo over US troops in Okinawa.
Tokyo still sees the US's strike capabilities as crucial for ensuring Japan's
security, but it is gradually shifting its 
axis of cooperation towards Asian nations. - Kosuke Takahashi
(Nov 13, '09)
Korea: Looking
for a fight
After the 5,000 rounds that four South Korean patrol boats fired at an errant
North Korean vessel, President Obama's visit to Seoul will seem tame in
comparison. But while there won't be any fireworks over Pyongyang's nuclear
weapons, the contentious US-Korean free-trade agreement could provide
sufficient ammunition for a fight. - Donald Kirk
(Nov 13, '09)
COMMENT
China: A need for strategic reassurance
Given the residual mutual concerns and suspicions between China and the United
States, even as their common interests and interdependence have never been as
marked, a concept of "strategic reassurance" is emerging. In terms of this, the
US would not seek to impede China's rise, while Beijing would ease Washington's
fears over its emergence on the world stage. - Jing-dong Yuan
(Nov 13, '09)
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Welcome home, war
Wars, even the most distant ones, come home in strange, unnerving ways - as
Americans have just discovered with the killings at Fort Hood. In less noticed
but no less crucial ways, America's wars are now coming home, with techniques
developed in the crucibles of Iraq and Afghanistan migrating from Baghdad and
Kandahar. - Alfred W McCoy (Nov 13, '09)
Right seizes on Fort Hood killings
As much as senior military and Barack Obama administration officials are trying
to pre-empt an anti-Muslim backlash following the shooting spree by a Muslim
soldier at Fort Hood, right-wing pundits and politicians have been quick to
label the incident an act of Islamic terrorism, and demand radical changes.
(Nov 13, '09)
 BOOK
REVIEW
An extraordinary life,
an ordinary man
Don't Call Me a Crook
by Bob Moore
Dissident Books, in rediscovering and editing this overlooked classic first
published in 1935, has resurrected a one-time author whose ignorance,
rakishness and lack of conscience are indicative of his time. What's
extraordinary, however, are his Chinese misadventures, which include tales of
murder and kidnappings. - Kent Ewing (Nov 13,
'09)
Afghans fear infiltration from Iran
 Every
day, scores of refugees return to Afghanistan from Iran through a small, poorly
supervised border town in Herat province. Most of them have been kicked out by
Tehran, which, say helpless border police, is also sending across both Afghan
and foreign fighters to join the Taliban-led insurgency. - Zia Ahmadi and
Mustafa Saber (Nov 12, '09)
US air supply drop turns deadly
An American air supply drop that went horribly wrong is the latest incident to
provoke Afghan anger. Up to 25 United States and Afghan personnel, plus several
civilians, were reportedly killed or injured in insurgent-riddled Bala Murghab
district, with everything going from bad to worse when two paratroopers went
missing in a fast-flowing river. - Mustafa Saber
(Nov 12, '09)
Sri Lanka split over war honors
 A
widening rift between Sri Lanka's armed forces chief General Sarath Fonseka and
President Mahinda Rajapaksa over who should take credit for the defeat of the
separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is adding spice to competition
ahead of a presidential election, and increasing concern for the country's
democratic future. - Sudha Ramachandran (Nov
12, '09)
Complacency creeps back in Mumbai
Life is buzzing again in Mumbai, almost back to normal nearly a year after
Pakistani-trained gunmen rampaged there, killing more than 200. But there are
doubts the city has learnt from the violent attacks. Regular government pledges
of vigilance and anti-terrorism conferences may help create some sense of
urgency, but the sight of under-trained, dozing policemen does not. - Raja
Murthy (Nov 12, '09)
The rise of Rimland?
Energy deals across Southwest Asia - such as between Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey
- are redrawing international relations for years to come, bringing full circle
the region's post-Ottoman Empire history. On the periphery, and crucially, lie
Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. - Robert M Cutler
(Nov 12, '09)
Indian stocks face power shortage
 Strong
gains in Indian equity markets have been helped by government stimulus
spending, inflows of foreign cash, and improved company earnings. The driving
power behind all three could soon be running on empty. - Kunal Kumar Kundu
(Nov 12, '09)
Drones: A slam-dunk weapons system
 In
Afghanistan and Pakistan, drones seem to be the only things that "work". They
are not, however, the first wonder weapons so hailed. The atomic bomb,
Vietnam's electronic battlefield, Star Wars, "smart bombs" and "netcentric
warfare". All failed, just as drones will. But it made no difference, all
"succeeded" at home; yet another mini-sector of the military-industrial complex
was born. - Tom Engelhardt (Nov 11, '09)
The 'myth' of a counter-revolution in Iran
The crisis sparked by Iran's allegedly rigged presidential election has more
than ever exposed the reformists as confused ideologues who for material,
political and ideological reasons are unable to definitively break with the
ruling establishment. But it is the street protesters who are killing off the
reform movement. - Mahan Abedin (Nov 11, '09)
Space is suddenly on the China agenda
As United States President Barack Obama prepares for his first official trip to
Asia, a Chinese army commander has called for China's "superiority in space".
This could be taken as proof that China seeks military dominance in space, and
that the US's planned cooperation in civilian space programs would in effect
transfer technology to a potential adversary. - Peter J Brown
(Nov 11, '09)
Clouds over Tokyo and Seoul
Disagreements over a United States army base in Japan and a free-trade
agreement with South Korea are likely to figure prominently in President Barack
Obama's visit to Northeast Asia. Nonetheless, Obama is expected to grasp this
opportunity to reaffirm the US's longstanding relationship with its two closest
allies in the region. (Nov 11, '09) |
 ASIA
HAND
Plots seen in Thaksin's Cambodia
gambit
Cambodia's welcome to exiled former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra,
has added a volatile regional dimension to Thailand's political impasse. Thai
military planners now believe Cambodia's leader could be working with Thaksin
to bring down the government in Bangkok. However, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit
'Vejjajiva may see no political point in easing tensions, given his surge in
domestic opinion polls over the issue. - Shawn W Crispin
(Nov 11, '09)
US finally wise to Pyongyang's ways
Through a canny mix of precipitous threats and conciliatory gestures, North
Korea had continually succeeded in manipulating the United States into granting
it vast amounts of food and energy aid - while giving away little in return.
The US now appears to have cottoned onto this, recognizing that Pyongyang
hasn't the slightest intention of surrendering its nuclear program. - Andrei
Lankov (Nov 11, '09)
 SINOGRAPH
A sacrificial lamb
Discussions between India and China on disputed border issues could be hastened
by Washington's need to find a political solution for Afghanistan, something
that could compromise the cause of the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual
leader who donated "his" Tawang to New Delhi. - Francesco Sisci
(Nov 11, '09)
JP Morgan's $80m bill spills
into court
JP Morgan's US$80 million bill for its failed defense of Australian miner
Consolidated Minerals against a hostile takeover attests to the cost and profit
of such battles - won or lost. The decision of the successful bidder, Ukrainian
magnate Gennady Bogolyubov, to oppose the claim is opening the lid on how such
sums add up - right down to the price of a burger. - John Helmer
(Nov 11, '09)
Hezbollah back in the Lebanon fray
After five months of bickering, Hezbollah got its way in Lebanon on
Monday with the formation of a cabinet to its liking. The end of the impasse
has a lot to do with Syria and Saudi Arabia, which want peace in Lebanon while
they concentrate on hotter areas, such as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. - Sami
Moubayed (Nov 10, '09)
Dalai Lama calm in the eye of a
storm
While the visit by the Dalai Lama to the disputed area of Arunachal
Pradesh in India has not helped already frosty relations between India and
China - some even talk of war - the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader is possibly
closer to the reality when he points out "my visit here is non-political". -
Saransh Sehgal (Nov 10, '09)
India probes Maoists' foreign links
Indian security forces poised to launch a major offensive against Maoist rebels
say there is growing evidence of foreign support for the insurgency. It is
emerging that remnants of Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are
training the Maoists, funds are arriving from Nepal and weapons from Myanmar,
Bangladesh and possibly China. - Siddharth Srivastava
(Nov 10, '09)
Maldives faces up to extremism
A puritanical version of Islam is taking root in the Maldives, driving the
tropical paradise towards a path to religious extremism. Not only are cultural
practices changing, but an increasing number of Maldivian youth are being drawn
into global jihadi groups, with many now fighting in Pakistan and
Afghanistan. - Sudha Ramachandran (Nov 10, '09)
THE BEAR'S LAIR
Which big country will default
first?
No leading economy has defaulted on its debt since the 1930s, yet conceivably
that could be the fate of the United States, Britain and Japan, an indication
of the wrong-headedness of policies taken to address the downturn. The world
should hope that the urge for fiscal responsibility hits London, Washington and
Tokyo pretty soon. - Martin Hutchinson (Nov 10, '09)
Oil floats high on easy money
Conspiracy theorists need only look at the number of tankers berthed over the
horizon from Singapore to find support for the notion that speculators are
helping to drive up the cost of oil. Media pundits favor the "China demand fits
all" approach. Reality seekers in the United States should delve a bit deeper,
and look a bit closer to
home. - Julian Delasantellis (Nov 10, '09)
Failure written into 'too big'
policy
Even as Washington tries to ensure limited damage from any future collapse of
"too big to fail" financial institutions, its own policies are helping the top
US banks tighten their market dominance. Nor is Washington addressing the
inherent risk from small entities failing in large
numbers. - Henry C K Liu (Nov 9, '09)
'Cronies and warlords' wait in the
wings
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pulled no punches in saying that
"cronies and warlords" should have no place in the future of a democratic
Afghanistan. But the point is, cabinet and provincial governor appointments are
a part of a complex political contract in Kabul and it is extremely doubtful
that Karzai is in a position to oblige Britain, or any other country, even if
he wanted to. - M K Bhadrakumar (Nov 9, '09)
It's payback time in Kabul
In return for their pledges to guarantee huge majorities for Hamid Karzai in
the August 20 election, the Afghan president had to make promises to a number
of power brokers and warlords in the provinces of key ministries in the next
government. Now Karzai has to deliver. - Gareth Porter
(Nov 9, '09)
Dalai Lama at apex of Sino-Indian
tensions
Along with the tension created by the Dalai Lama's visit to the disputed Indian
state of Arunachal Pradesh, shifts within the Tibetan movement, India's
evolving geopolitical stature and the United States' growing economic ties with
China are converging to create dangerous instability in Sino-Indian relations.
- Peter Lee (Nov 9, '09)
Cambodia rattles Thailand's
chain
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's appointment of former Thai premier Thaksin
Shinawatra as an economic advisor has riled Bangkok. Hun Sen must have known
that his cozying up to Thaksin, who lives in exile and has been convicted on
corruption charges, would have this effect. But the long-serving Cambodian
leader more likely has other reasons in mind. - Craig Guthrie
(Nov 9, '09)
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David P
Goldman
(Nov 11, '09)
The Fed has effectively placed a giant wealth tax on America by devaluing the
dollar.
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No
country for gold men
People of all nationalities should now look to gold as the ultimate hedge
against inflation as well as globally irresponsible monetary policy, as the
absence of an exit strategy from central banks combined with an explicit
targeting of inflationary increases would create the ideal conditions for
wholesale destruction of savings stored through financial instruments. - Chan
Akya
CHINA'S REVOLUTION, Part 3
The Soviet experience
Conflicting views of how to pursue revolution, not least between Lenin and
Trotsky, and concessions made by the Kremlin leadership, meant there was much
to learn from the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. But these lessons were
quickly forgotten as Stalin pursued narrow geopolitical needs. - Henry C K Liu
This is the third article in a multi-part series.
 Part 1:
In the beginning was Tiananmen
Part 2:
Revolutionary lessons
Page turns for Baghdad's ancient
book center
Two years after a bombing brought death and destruction to Baghdad's legendary
al-Muttanabi street, the centuries-old center of the city's book trade,
enthusiasts from youngsters to artists to election candidates are returning to
browse, buy and socialize in the refurbished and, for security reasons,
traffic-free zone. - Jinan Farhan
FROM THE BLOG
US economy withers
With US unemployment at 17.5% of the workforce by comprehensive measure,
American prices won't move at the rate at which the dollar is devalued. Labor
will remain cheap. The grass roots of the US economy continue to dry up. - David
Goldman
CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
About a half paradigm
The shift in global financial power is increasingly evident, and when an
unchanging US Federal Reserve loses its already waning power over global
yields, the risks associated with its present course will manifest themselves
in a very problematic financial and economic crisis.
(Nov 9, '09)
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
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"[Re Uyghur activist
seeks talks with Beijing, Nov 5] 'Urumqi is now 70% Han, resulting in a
lot of resentment among the Uyghurs, especially in the capital city.' Just
about every propaganda piece published on NYT and elsewhere tries as hard as
they can to make similar lies ... all Uyghur in Urumqi are immigrants from
south Xinjiang (500 miles away from Urumqi) or their descendants. Urumqi is a
city created by Chinese emperors first as a military post." - quark
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From Our Mailbox
[Re Welcome to
Pashtunistan, November 6 and
Breaking up is (not) hard to do, November 7] India is using its support
for the Pashtuns' age-old desire for their own independent state to recruit
Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan to attack the government of Pakistan. And
Pakistan in turn is using the Taliban Afghans it created as an irregular force
to wage an irregular war against India.
Fariborz S Fatemi Virginia, USA
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to Letters to the Editor |
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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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