Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Nairobi Mall Attack Creates Chance to Extend Constructive Response
As last week’s horrific attack by the Somali militant group al-Shabab at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, stretched on and finally ended with at least 67 dead and many more injured, we have heard remarkable tales of heroism and camaraderie amid the country’s turmoil.
Syrian Women Struggle for Leadership Role in Conflict
Amid the human toll and destruction of the war in Syria, now in its 31st month, women there are fighting an additional struggle: defining their role in the conflict and their future in the society that will emerge.
Taking a Stand With Kenya and Somalia
Last weekend’s attack by al-Shabab militants on Westgate shopping mall in Kenya should be a wake-up call that more work is needed to stabilize Somalia and prevent it from falling back into another long period of chaos and famine.
Al-Shabab’s Kenya Attack – Avoiding the Pitfalls of a Military Response
An ill-conceived response by the Somali government and its international backers to al-Shabab’s attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall last month carries immense risk to Somalia’s fledgling state-making progress and to regional peace and stability.
ASAP – Not a Moment Too Soon for Afghanistan
The recently launched initiative, Alliance in Support of the Afghan People (ASAP), a bipartisan coalition dedicated to preserving and protecting the gains made in Afghanistan since 2001, is timely and welcome.
Colombia Peace Talks Produce 'Historic' Step Toward Final Accord
The Colombian government and the FARC-EP insurgents made a historic announcement yesterday during their ongoing peace negotiations in Havana: they have agreed on terms for how the insurgents could participate politically in the aftermath of a full peace accord.
Navigating the Rise of Sunni-Shia Violent Sectarianism
Sectarianism and extremist violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims have both increased to unexpected proportions since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the eruption of the Arab Spring, and the collapse of fragile states like Mali into conflict zones.
Afghan-U.S. Accord May Be At Risk in Informal Assembly This Week
This week will be momentous for Afghanistan’s future. A Loya Jirga, an informal national assembly, will convene to accept -- or not -- a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the U.S. that will govern the role of any remaining American troops after most international forces withdraw at the end of next year.
Fallout from China’s Air Defense Zone Underscores Need for Crisis Mechanisms
East Asia’s geopolitical fault lines have just become more pronounced. China’s establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea on Nov. 24 has prompted protests from its neighbors. It has also more deeply ensnared the U.S. in a dispute between Japan, its longtime ally, and China, a country with which it shares vital strategic interests and wants to foster peaceful ties.
Colombian President Santos Seeks Status as ‘Partner, Not a Cause’
U.S. President Barack Obama affirmed his support of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’s pursuit of an end to the conflict with the FARC rebel group during a White House meeting this week, as peace negotiations continued in Havana, Cuba.