As the Taliban's influence in southern Afghanistan grows, the faction is setting up its own local government institutions and court systems in some areas to mediate property and inheritance disputes. The move is just the latest example of how the Taliban movement,...
Iraq Pact May Violate Constitution, Scholars Warn
Constitutional law scholars yesterday warned a congressional subcommittee that the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the United States and Iraq potentially runs afoul of the constitutions of both nations, and has urged the Bush Administration to rather seek an...
Pentagon Officials Privately Condemn Iraq Pact
While the United States seems determined as a matter of policy to see to its Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Iraq passed by the Iraqi Parliament, even to the point of making direct threats of severe consequences if they refuse, privately some high ranking...
Iraq Pact Spells End to Contractors’ Immunity
The US Departments of State and Defense have informed companies that provide the over 160,000 contractors employed in Iraq that the new Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), once it goes into effect, will strip them of the broad legal immunity for crimes that they now...
Pakistan “Protests” US Drone Strike in Bannu
Updated 11/20 9:45 PM EST The Pakistani government has summoned US Ambassador Anne Patterson to lodge a formal protest over yesterday's US missile attack in Bannu District. The strike, which is reported to have killed six people, is just the latest in a long series of...
Antiwar Groups Fear Hawkish Cabinet
As President-elect Barack Obama's national security team begins to take shape, there is increasing disquiet among antiwar activists that his appointees and rumored appointees have thus-far, without exception, favored the Iraq invasion and held hawkish foreign policy...
Pakistani Military to Tribesmen: Fight Against Taliban or Flee
Last week, the Pakistani government warned tribesmen in the restive Bajaur Agency to take action against the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), threatening military action against them if they refused. This week, the new policy seems to have spread to the Mohmand...
Intel Panel Report to Predict Fading US Role
The National Intelligence Council (NIC) is expected to release a draft copy of a report titled "Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World" as soon as tomorrow. The report will predict a variety of changes to the global situation over the next 17 years, and predict an...
IAEA, Iran in Silent Standoff Over Nuclear Probe
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that Iran plans to start installing another 3,000 centrifuges for its uranium enrichment program, which would bring the total amount of centrifuges in operation or in the process of being put into operation to...
Gen. Kayani Reiterates Support for NATO Afghan Mission, Calls for Halt of Drone Strikes
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Parvez Kayani met with top NATO officials today, reaffirming his support for their Afghanistan mission and promising to do everything within his power to ensure that the NATO supply line through Pakistan is kept open. Shipment of...