"Pakistan Adopting a Tough Old Tactic to Flush Out Qaeda"
Very interesting article. In addition to the headlined topic, highlights the efforts underway by Pakistan and other nations to lessen the sway of Islamic extremism/fundamentalism in Pakistan's tribal areas.
Excerpts:
At the start of the month, Pakistan massed several thousand troops in and around the town of Wana, near the country's mountainous border with Afghanistan. Using a harsh century-old British method, officials handed local tribal elders a list and issued an ultimatum. ...
The British decided instead to take advantage of an existing tribal custom that held an entire tribe responsible for the actions of one of its members. Tribes were ordered to find kidnappers themselves, or face collective punishment. ...
Tribal elders said they would rather sort out matters themselves than have outsiders search their communities and homes. In an interview in Islamabad, Maulana Abdul Malik, 43, a leader of the Jalikhel tribe and a member of Pakistan's Parliament from Wana, said he had urged other tribal leaders to hand over the men. ...
The governor said he hoped new aid flowing into the area would reduce sympathies for Taliban and Al Qaeda. He said the government had increased the development budget for the tribal areas by 400 percent, to $67 million. ... There is also international help. Norway is building 350 schools, he said. Japan and the United States are spending $2 million on refurbishing existing primary schools. And the United States is paying $10 million for new roads.
Excerpts:
At the start of the month, Pakistan massed several thousand troops in and around the town of Wana, near the country's mountainous border with Afghanistan. Using a harsh century-old British method, officials handed local tribal elders a list and issued an ultimatum. ...
The British decided instead to take advantage of an existing tribal custom that held an entire tribe responsible for the actions of one of its members. Tribes were ordered to find kidnappers themselves, or face collective punishment. ...
Tribal elders said they would rather sort out matters themselves than have outsiders search their communities and homes. In an interview in Islamabad, Maulana Abdul Malik, 43, a leader of the Jalikhel tribe and a member of Pakistan's Parliament from Wana, said he had urged other tribal leaders to hand over the men. ...
The governor said he hoped new aid flowing into the area would reduce sympathies for Taliban and Al Qaeda. He said the government had increased the development budget for the tribal areas by 400 percent, to $67 million. ... There is also international help. Norway is building 350 schools, he said. Japan and the United States are spending $2 million on refurbishing existing primary schools. And the United States is paying $10 million for new roads.
U.S. military 'sure' to catch bin Laden
Somewhat surprising that the military seems so optimistic...
Excerpts:
Since last month's capture of Saddam Hussein, American commanders in Afghanistan have expressed new optimism about finding bin Laden. Hilferty said the military - the United States has 11,000 men in the country - now believes it could seize him within months. ...
Earlier this week, the American commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. David Barno, told the British Broadcasting Corp. that he expects bin Laden to be brought to justice by year's end.
American forces are pinning hopes for better intelligence from Afghans on new security teams setting up in provincial capitals across a swath of southern and eastern Afghanistan.
Excerpts:
Since last month's capture of Saddam Hussein, American commanders in Afghanistan have expressed new optimism about finding bin Laden. Hilferty said the military - the United States has 11,000 men in the country - now believes it could seize him within months. ...
Earlier this week, the American commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. David Barno, told the British Broadcasting Corp. that he expects bin Laden to be brought to justice by year's end.
American forces are pinning hopes for better intelligence from Afghans on new security teams setting up in provincial capitals across a swath of southern and eastern Afghanistan.
So Ayatollah Sistani has a website...
Not a joke. Check it out:
The Official Site of the Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani
The Official Site of the Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani
"Queen to give knighthood to Bill Gates"
"Guide to Digital Preservation from NIST"
With increasing emphasis on eliminating paper in the business world and elsewhere, it's good to see an organization like NIST is looking into issues surrounding long-term storage:
The scientists working on the Digital Preservation Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released an excellent 50 page guide on care and handling of CDs and DVDs for long term storage.
The scientists working on the Digital Preservation Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released an excellent 50 page guide on care and handling of CDs and DVDs for long term storage.
"Two Visions of America"
Good editorial piece from David Broder of the Washington Post---some reflections in light of Bush's recent State of the Union address.
Excerpt:
The difference between the perspective of President Bush and that of the Democrats seeking to replace him has never been plainer than it was on Tuesday night after he delivered his State of the Union address. ...
Bush believes he deserves reelection ... because ... he has averted another terrorist attack on this country for 28 months and has signaled nations around the world ... that he will take the offensive against security threats. ...
The leading Democratic candidates ... believe Bush deserves defeat, not because they differ with his handling of postwar Iraq but because ... his domestic policies have separated America into two nations. ...
A dispassionate observer could well argue ... both ... that America is a nation at war but also a country facing growing inequality and lagging in its obligations to children, displaced workers and the needy.
But when budgets are passed, even with deficits of the size politicians of both parties seem heedlessly willing to entertain, priorities must be set. And that is where the two parties fundamentally diverge.
Excerpt:
The difference between the perspective of President Bush and that of the Democrats seeking to replace him has never been plainer than it was on Tuesday night after he delivered his State of the Union address. ...
Bush believes he deserves reelection ... because ... he has averted another terrorist attack on this country for 28 months and has signaled nations around the world ... that he will take the offensive against security threats. ...
The leading Democratic candidates ... believe Bush deserves defeat, not because they differ with his handling of postwar Iraq but because ... his domestic policies have separated America into two nations. ...
A dispassionate observer could well argue ... both ... that America is a nation at war but also a country facing growing inequality and lagging in its obligations to children, displaced workers and the needy.
But when budgets are passed, even with deficits of the size politicians of both parties seem heedlessly willing to entertain, priorities must be set. And that is where the two parties fundamentally diverge.
Caucus or election?
The problem:
Mention Baghdad in the offices of the U.N. Electoral Assistance Division and it still produces a frisson of tension.
But the U.S. needs the U.N....
After months of blocking U.N. efforts to intervene, the Bush administration is now falling over backwards to involve the world body. American officials know that any realistic exit strategy needs U.N. involvement in a wholesale way.
...and the U.N. needs to do this:
For all Annan's concerned hesitation, the United Nations needs to be in Iraq "if the U.N. wants to have a future," as the European diplomat put it.
Mention Baghdad in the offices of the U.N. Electoral Assistance Division and it still produces a frisson of tension.
But the U.S. needs the U.N....
After months of blocking U.N. efforts to intervene, the Bush administration is now falling over backwards to involve the world body. American officials know that any realistic exit strategy needs U.N. involvement in a wholesale way.
...and the U.N. needs to do this:
For all Annan's concerned hesitation, the United Nations needs to be in Iraq "if the U.N. wants to have a future," as the European diplomat put it.
"No Foolproof Way Is Seen to Contain Altered Genes"
Considering all the genetically modified organisms already on the market, this is troubling. But the future potential for harm is simply staggering.
From the New York Times article "No Foolproof Way Is Seen to Contain Altered Genes":
A new report commissioned by the government suggests that it will be difficult to completely prevent genetically engineered plants and animals from having unintended environmental and public health effects. ...
While there are many techniques being developed to prevent genetically engineered organisms or their genes from escaping into the wild, most techniques are still in early development and none appear to be completely effective.
From the New York Times article "No Foolproof Way Is Seen to Contain Altered Genes":
A new report commissioned by the government suggests that it will be difficult to completely prevent genetically engineered plants and animals from having unintended environmental and public health effects. ...
While there are many techniques being developed to prevent genetically engineered organisms or their genes from escaping into the wild, most techniques are still in early development and none appear to be completely effective.
"Secrecy Suddenly a Campaign Issue"
In the last week, on the eve of the formal start of the 2004 elections, two Democratic contenders took time to talk about a topic that's usually reserved for spooks, conspiracy theorists and a couple of policy geeks: how the government keeps its secrets. There's a faint, but real, possibility that this most opaque of subjects could become a full-blown issue in the presidential campaign. ...
Good article, interesting issues and positions.
Good article, interesting issues and positions.
"USPS Providing Electronic Postmarks"
Simply awesome. Need to check the details, but appears to respect privacy as well.
Excerpt:
...provides non-repudiation and legal timestamps of documentation by having the customer use a public-key to sign a hash of the document, which is then sent to [the] servers which combine that with a timestamp and sign with their key. So, [the server] does not have access to any of the data in the documentation.
FYI, the relevant Postal Service website is http://www.uspsepm.com/.
Excerpt:
...provides non-repudiation and legal timestamps of documentation by having the customer use a public-key to sign a hash of the document, which is then sent to [the] servers which combine that with a timestamp and sign with their key. So, [the server] does not have access to any of the data in the documentation.
FYI, the relevant Postal Service website is http://www.uspsepm.com/.
"A blind man in a room full of deaf people"
From a Reuter's article:
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill likened President Bush at Cabinet meetings to "a blind man in a room full of deaf people," according to excerpts on Friday from a CBS interview.
O'Neill, who was fired by Bush in December 2002, also said the president did not ask him a single question during their first one-on-one meeting, which lasted an hour. ...
The president's lack of engagement left his advisers with "little more than hunches about what the president might think," O'Neill said.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill likened President Bush at Cabinet meetings to "a blind man in a room full of deaf people," according to excerpts on Friday from a CBS interview.
O'Neill, who was fired by Bush in December 2002, also said the president did not ask him a single question during their first one-on-one meeting, which lasted an hour. ...
The president's lack of engagement left his advisers with "little more than hunches about what the president might think," O'Neill said.
"Palestinians will push for one Arab-Jewish state if Israel tries unilateral plan, premier says"
Read the article from SFGate.com.
Excerpts:
A single country including Gaza, the West Bank and Israel would spell disaster for the Jewish state because the country would soon have an Arab majority.
That would force Israel to choose between giving Palestinians the right to vote and risk losing the country's Jewish character, or becoming a minority-ruled country like apartheid South Africa.
Excerpts:
A single country including Gaza, the West Bank and Israel would spell disaster for the Jewish state because the country would soon have an Arab majority.
That would force Israel to choose between giving Palestinians the right to vote and risk losing the country's Jewish character, or becoming a minority-ruled country like apartheid South Africa.
"I.M.F. Says Rise in U.S. Debts Is Threat to World’s Economy"
The concern:
Prepared by a team of I.M.F. economists, the report sounded a loud alarm about the shaky fiscal foundation of the United States, questioning the wisdom of the Bush administration's tax cuts and warning that large budget deficits pose "significant risks" not just for the United States but for the rest of the world.
The response:
"Without those tax cuts I do not believe the downturn would have been one of the shortest and shallowest in U.S. history," said John B. Taylor, under secretary of the Treasury for international affairs.
Unfortunately, it seems this response relates mostly to the present and not the future.
Prepared by a team of I.M.F. economists, the report sounded a loud alarm about the shaky fiscal foundation of the United States, questioning the wisdom of the Bush administration's tax cuts and warning that large budget deficits pose "significant risks" not just for the United States but for the rest of the world.
The response:
"Without those tax cuts I do not believe the downturn would have been one of the shortest and shallowest in U.S. history," said John B. Taylor, under secretary of the Treasury for international affairs.
Unfortunately, it seems this response relates mostly to the present and not the future.
"Sistani agrees little time for Iraqi polls"
This is probably a good thing in terms of a smooth transition.
Excerpts:
Iraq's top Shia cleric was toning down his call for US authorities to organise full direct elections before transferring power to Iraqis in July. ...
The transitional government would take over sovereignty from occupying powers in July, before a constitution is written and democratic elections are held by the end of 2005.
Excerpts:
Iraq's top Shia cleric was toning down his call for US authorities to organise full direct elections before transferring power to Iraqis in July. ...
The transitional government would take over sovereignty from occupying powers in July, before a constitution is written and democratic elections are held by the end of 2005.
From Rogue Nuclear Programs, Web of Trails Leads to Pakistan
At once intriguing and disconcerting.
Excerpt:
The Pakistani leaders who denied for years that scientists at the country's secret A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories were peddling advanced nuclear technology must have been averting their eyes from a most conspicuous piece of evidence: the laboratory's own sales brochure, quietly circulated to aspiring nuclear weapons states and a network of nuclear middlemen around the world. ...
four successive American presidents have dealt with the issue extremely delicately, turning modest sanctions against Pakistan on and off, for fear of destabilizing the country when it was needed to counter the Soviets in the 1980's, much as it is needed to battle terrorism today.
Excerpt:
The Pakistani leaders who denied for years that scientists at the country's secret A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories were peddling advanced nuclear technology must have been averting their eyes from a most conspicuous piece of evidence: the laboratory's own sales brochure, quietly circulated to aspiring nuclear weapons states and a network of nuclear middlemen around the world. ...
four successive American presidents have dealt with the issue extremely delicately, turning modest sanctions against Pakistan on and off, for fear of destabilizing the country when it was needed to counter the Soviets in the 1980's, much as it is needed to battle terrorism today.
"In Iraq’s Murky Battle, Snipers Offer U.S. a Precision Weapon"
The intimate horror of the guerrilla war here in Iraq seems most vivid when seen through the sights of a sniper's rifle. In an age of satellite-guided bombs dropped at featureless targets from 30,000 feet, Army snipers can see the expression on a man's face when the bullet hits. ...
Their words reflect a certain icy professionalism instilled in men who say they take no pleasure in killing, and try not to see their Iraqi foes as men with families and children. ...
Sergeant Davis nodded in agreement: "As soon as they picked up a weapon and tried to engage U.S. soldiers, they forfeited all their rights to life, is how I look at it."
Their words reflect a certain icy professionalism instilled in men who say they take no pleasure in killing, and try not to see their Iraqi foes as men with families and children. ...
Sergeant Davis nodded in agreement: "As soon as they picked up a weapon and tried to engage U.S. soldiers, they forfeited all their rights to life, is how I look at it."
