CIA Attack: A 'High-level Asset Meeting Gone Bad'
January 4, 2010 3 min. read

A former intelligence official called it a “high-level asset meeting gone bad.” Bad is definitely an understatement. Of course the comment is in reference to the suicide attack which killed 7 CIA agents at Forward Operating Base Chapman in border province of Khost. They were “experienced frontline officers and their knowledge and expertise will be […]

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If You Had Any Doubts
January 4, 2010 1 min. read

Regardless of you’re political views on Israel, the settlers, the two-state solution, and any other highly politicized issue, there rarely is there such a blatant example of the difference in values and tactics between Israel and its enemies. The IDF has been accused of certain questionable tactics (ie. Goldstone report) but the military still attempts […]

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Blackwater Remains Untouched
January 4, 2010 3 min. read

The New York Times reported on January 1 that the U.S. has dismissed the criminal charges against Blackwater for opening fire on Iraqi civilians in 2007.  Many Iraqi citizens were angered by the news, with one of the men injured during the gunfight saying that the U.S. is letting criminals go free.  The Federal judge […]

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The Two Elephants
January 3, 2010 2 min. read

Israelis and Palestinians alike generally exhale a sigh of relief as news reports, often citing undisclosed official sources, indicate Israel and Hamas are finalizing a prisoner swap and Fatah and Hamas are prepared to agreed to a reconciliation deal. Foreign officials, particularly Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, regularly insert themselves into the drama and use both situations to […]

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Secularism and Founding History of BNP Challenged by Striking Down 5th Amendment
January 3, 2010 2 min. read

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh lifted a stay on a four year old High Court verdict that had declared illegal and unconstitutional the fifth amendment of the Constitution of Bangladesh.  The fifth amendment had legitimized all successive governments after the assassination of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from 1975 until April 1979.  This ban now makes […]

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Education and Equality of Opportunity Starts Anew
January 3, 2010 3 min. read

If education is the engine of economic growth and social replenishment, and education outcomes are path dependent, then we must care about how our youth begin their studies. This is more the case in Bangladesh than in most other countries.  The sheer fact of the population of Bangladesh, its density and the growing divergence in […]

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Canadian Panel Endorses Mackenzie Valley Pipeline
January 2, 2010 2 min. read

A Canadian joint review panel has endorsed the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, which has been in the works for years — yet there are still many obstacles in its way. Estimated to cost $16.2-billion, the pipeline is supposed to transport natural gas from the Beaufort Sea to northern Alberta. But not all of Canada supports the […]

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Person of the Decade: Sharon
January 1, 2010 3 min. read

The FPA Israel blog person of the year was abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. You can vote on the Ha’aretz Web site for your top choices on the person of the decade. Selections include: Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu PA President Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah II Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad The Obama Team Former President […]

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Dreams for the new year
December 31, 2009 4 min. read

As India steps into a new decade it seems ready to take on the world. But this process will not be without some big challenges. While terrorism and internal security are crucial concerns, sustaining the rapid economic growth and making India easier and safer to do business with are also huge challenges. With the India-US […]

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Good News for a New Year
December 31, 2009 2 min. read

Let’s ring in the new year with forward looking news. Bangladesh and India are moving closer to politics in concert.  The cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding that Dhaka and New Delhi would import and export electricity from each other over the long term. The Daily Star reports: “A meeting of the cabinet chaired by […]

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FPA's GFR Blog on Invictus
December 31, 2009 1 min. read

At the FPA’s Global Film Review Blog Sean Patrick Murphy reviews Invictus. I am working on an essay on the movie, the book on which it is based, and another book on South African sport and Apartheid which I will share with you as soon as it is published.

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Disunity in South Africa (Self Indulgence Alert)
December 31, 2009 1 min. read

Recently the Foreign Policy Association published a “Viewpoints” piece of mine titled “Disunity in South Africa.” Please check it out if you have any interest in South African politics.

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