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Asymmetric warfare, relativity, retaliation and lessons for the future: The Taliban behavior and the future of asymmetric warfare – Part II

March 25, 2012 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

As mentioned in the previous post, the Taliban soldiers are mistreated. However, their actions provoke retaliation and mistreatment. Though militarily wise, their actions serve as an example of asymmetric warfare, where the weaker violate human rights in order to gain an edge, but are then left with no rights once caught. Taliban actions do not alleviate their problem either. The Taliban use techniques which violate the Geneva Conventions. They use indiscriminate explosions and guns. They also attack civilians in order to gain publicity (Owen & … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Asymmetric Warfare, Geneva, human rights violations, relativity, retaliation, Taliban

Asymmetric Warfare, Relativity, Retaliation and Lessons for the Future: The treatment of the Taliban soldiers – Part I

March 24, 2012 by Ana Ila 1 Comment

Recent events in Afghanistan where US soldiers desecrated the Taliban corpses gained a lot of media coverage in the US. Moreover, they were supported by some public figures who justified these actions by comparing them to the behavior of the Taliban soldiers. The recent events indicate that retaliation and relativity are present in the international community’s actions against the Taliban soldiers. These events also depict problems of asymmetric warfare, which should be avoided in the future. Recent events confirm predictions made in 2002 by Michael … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Asymmetric Warfare, Geneva Convention, human rights, relativity, retaliation, Taliban

Too early for Taliban negotiations?

January 30, 2012 by Emily 2 Comments

“Our jihad has two targets. One is America and the other is the Foreign Ministry of the Taliban.” In his statement before the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden exemplified the incongruity between Taliban members who once harbored bin Laden and members of their Foreign Ministry, the branch which with the U.S. has historically negotiated. Today, America is once again hoping to engage the Taliban through negotiations with the Afghan government. Given the reality of America’s past attempts with the Taliban, it may seem rash to restart negotiations, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: 9/11, Afghanistan, Government, Guantanamo Bay, Islam, Middle East, NATO, Obama, Pakistan, Peace, security, Taliban, terrorism, United States

“Come on people this is a war”

January 20, 2012 by Ana Ila 2 Comments

Conservative blogger, Pamela Geller, and Dana LoEsch, a CNN contributor and conservative radio host, have made the news with their appreciation of the desecration of the corpses of the Taliban soldiers by the US soldiers. Their actions are examples not only of cultural bigotry, but also of how little these individuals respect the international law of war. Yes, terrorists and the Taliban soldiers do not respect the international law and thus their rights do not apply under the same law either. Ted Lapkin claims in his paper, Does Human Rights Law Apply … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, Dana LoEsch, human rights, International Law, Pamela Geller, Taliban

Re-evaluating US-Pakistan relations

January 5, 2012 by Emily Leave a Comment

While Islamabad and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have historically served as American allies, Pakistan’s tense relations with the American government and military as well as with the Karzai regime have forced America to reevaluate U.S.-Pakistan relations. America’s approximately $20 billion in military and economic aid since 9/11 have served to support Pakistan’s weak government, incentivize Pakistan and its intelligence agency to combat terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban, deter nuclear war between India and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: 9/11, Afghanistan, aid, foreign aid, foreign policy, Government, India, military, NATO, nuclear, Pakistan, Taliban, terrorism, war

Chinook Down

August 9, 2011 by Scott 1 Comment

On August 6 a NATO Chinook helicopter was shot down in the Wardak province of Afghanistan, killing all those on board. This tragedy was the single deadliest loss of US troops since the beginning of the war near the end of 2001. The troops occupying the Chinook were on their way to reinforcing ground troops that were in a firefight. While on the way to the incident the helicopter was shot down by an unguided rocket propelled grenade. Among those killed in the crash, 22 were US Navy SEALS along with several Afghan troops. The Navy SEALS operatives were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, military, NATO, Taliban, war

The media and its unfair view

August 1, 2011 by Anton Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago, a truly horrific event occurred. A bomb went off in the Norway capital of Oslo. Occurring almost simultaneously, a man in a police uniform randomly went on a shooting spree at a family campground. As a result of all these atrocities, 76 people died. 76 lives were cut short and for what? The person suspected of doing this killing spree is 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik. Mr. Breivik was angry at the Norwegian government. But, can we guess who the media blamed for the violence that happened? Yep, you guessed it right, on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: aid, Congress, EU, Europe, Government, Homeland Security, Islam, law, media, Muslim, Muslim American, Politics, security, Somalia, Taliban, war, youth

Kabul Siege: The Taliban is Alive and Well

July 1, 2011 by Scott Leave a Comment

Late Tuesday night, multiple armed attackers entered the Inter-Continental Hotel located in Kabul. This hotel is frequently occupied with foreign diplomats and has held various conferences and political events. They were heavily armed with suicide vests, machine guns, anti-aircraft weapons, rocket propelled grenades, among other high caliber weaponry. The Afghan forces took the lead in the fighting that lasted for nearly six hours until NATO forces were called in and a helicopter attack ceased the firefights. This shows that the Afghan security forces … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, NATO, Taliban

AIDemocracy Goes to the White House!

June 9, 2011 by Patrick McDermott Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I got an e-mail. Attached to the e-mail was an invite to attend the Welcoming Ceremony for German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the South Lawn of the White House. The ceremony is a tradition anytime the President welcomes a foreign dignitary to the United States for an official state visit. Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity, and brought two of our interns along, Rachel, our Development program intern, and Yasmine, our Student Organizing intern. It was, needless to say, a great experience to be on the South Lawn, amongst all of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, Be2021, climate, foreign policy, HIV/AIDS, Iraq, military, NATO, nuclear weapons, Obama, security, Taliban, war

Can the Taliban “Reintegrate” When Foreign Troops Are Still in Afghanistan?

May 16, 2011 by Patrick McDermott

What I mean by reintegrating is what NATO is defining as "reintegration." It's the process which NATO is employing to try and get Taliban foot soldiers (not the leadership) to voluntarily lay down their arms, register them with the government in Kabul and then submit biometric data so they can qualify for the perks and benefits that come with laying down one's arms. Spencer Ackerman of the blog Danger Room highlights this program in his article today on how the Taliban don't seem to be heeding the call for "reintegration." I am all for incentives for … [Read more...]