Mexico Will Not Become Another Colombia
Paramilitarism in Mexico will not give rise to the same type of violence that Colombia experienced in the 1990s.
In Mexico, A Question of Vigilante Justice
President Peña Nieto must co-opt vigilante groups in order to establish a network of rural law enforcement.
In Colombia, a Choice Between Peace and Justice
Peace remains far-fetched unless Colombian voters are willing to let guilty men go free.
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Afghanistan’s Poppy Problem
If Afghan farmers are to have a chance of escaping the Taliban-controlled informal economy, the U.S. and its NATO allies must incorporate them into a legitimate supply chain.
Negotiating Peace: Can Colombia and Its Rebels Reach a Deal Before It’s Too Late?
For President Santos, the stakes are high, both personally and politically, in seeking an end to five decades of armed conflict.
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Israel, Desperate for War at any Cost
Over the past few days Israel has conducted multiple unprovoked airstrikes against Syria, including on the capital of Damascus. Though both the Israeli and U.S. governments have refused to officially acknowledge the attacks, the purported pretext has been widely reported.
Child Soldiers in the CAR
Today across the globe there are approximately 300,000 children armed with AK-47s and hand grenades participating in domestic conflicts. Although these conflicts occur in developing nations in South America and Asia, they are often focused in Africa, and today in particular, in the Central African Republic. This rapid mobilization of child soldiers has been alarming for the international community as it tries to reconcile this new threat and the ratification of treaties and peace accords that delineate expectations for the rights and protection of children around the world.
Demanding Justice in the Greek Recovery
After more than three years of dismal economic news regarding the Greek crisis, some are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s coalition government has cohered remarkably well after the political paralysis in the months preceding his 2012 swearing-in, despite fierce competition between the New Democracy majority and radical leftist opposition party, Syriza. This relative stability appears to have inspired the confidence of the Troika, who gave Athens a “thumbs up” in their first progress report since releasing fresh aid in December to avoid bankruptcy.
Why the U.S. Won’t Do Anything About Syria, And Why That Is Good
The U.S. is investigating accusations that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons on its own civilians to quell their uprisings. As ever there is no unified consensus, which has led to the Syrian government denying the U.S.’s accusations and “likening them to false accusations that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.” These Syrian officials attest that the U.S. would utilize such lies for an invasion similar to the Iraq invasion in 2004. It is true that U.S. officials have noted that if evidence surfaces confirming Syria’s use of chemical weapons then it would be a “game changer” and “all options [would then be] available.” The Syrian government fears that such tidbits foreshadow U.S. intervention.
Continue reading Why the U.S. Won’t Do Anything About Syria, And Why That Is Good
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