Journal: Will Pakistan Implode Because of US in AF?

Pakistan will implode if the US does not leave Afghanistan The continuing US presence in Afghanistan fuels extremism in neighbouring Pakistan Imran Khan The Observer, Sunday 9 January 2011 The assassination of Salmaan Taseer has shown only too clearly the growing extremism in Pakistan, the radicalisation of its society and the polarisation that is taking …

Journal: Wikileaks & Israel, Wikileaks & Vatican

Published on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 by Reuters WikiLeaks: Israel Aimed to Keep Gaza Economy on Brink of Collapse by Reuters Cable from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv says Israeli officials wanted Gaza’s economy ‘functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis.’ Israel told U.S. officials in 2008 it would …

NIGHTWATCH Extract: Pakistan’s Penetration by Radicals–Why Fundamentalism Defeats Security

Pakistan: Update. On 5 January, Pakistani media reported more details about the assassination of Governor Taseer. The assassin said everyone in the governor’s protective detail knew of his intentions. The weird thing is no background investigation would find adverse information about a devout Muslim, not in Pakistan. The guard who assassinated Punjab Governor Salman Taseer …

Crisis Group CrisisWatch N°89, 3 January 2011

Five actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in December 2010, according to the latest issue of the International Crisis Group’s monthly bulletin CrisisWatch. Côte d’Ivoire was gripped by political crisis as incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power after losing to rival Alassane Outtara in the late-November presidential …

Worth a Look: ConsortiumNews.com

Message from Journalist Robert Parry Building a truthful historical narrative may seem abstract but has powerful implications and needs your support, says Robert Parry. Obama Should Read WikiLeaks Docs Before re-upping his Afghan strategy, President Obama might first read WikiLeaks’ evidence on the folly, advises Ray McGovern. January 3, 2011 The Danger of Pro-Israel Extremism …

NIGHTWATCH Extract: Trusted Bodyguard Executes Governor in Pakistan for Being a Blasphemer–Observations on Meaning for Church & State

Pakistan: An elite police commando from the provincial police force who was assigned as a bodyguard for the governor of Punjab Province murdered the governor today in Islamabad. The commando dropped his weapon and surrendered to the police, bragging that he was proud he killed a blasphemer. With that, Pakistan’s political crisis deepened.