...financial district, Canary Wharf, that killed one person and caused $1 billion of damage; • Mortar attacks on the British prime minister's residence and London's Heathrow Airport in the early 1990s; • Bombings of civilian targets, including pubs, shops, and subway stations, in Northern Ireland and Britain throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. • Involvement in organized criminal activities, such as extortion, bank robbery, smuggling, and counterfeiting. 6. What is being done to eliminate this terrorist group? The Good Friday Agreement The IRA ceasefire in 1997 formed part of a process that led to the 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement between Ireland and British Governments. One aim of the Agreement is that all paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland cease their activities and disarm by May 2000. Calls from Sinn Féin, a political party in Ireland, led the IRA to commence disarming in a process that was monitored by Canadian General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body in October 2001. However, following the collapse of the Stormont power-sharing government in 2002, which was partly triggered by allegations that republican spies were operating within Parliament Buildings and the Civil Service, the IRA temporarily broke off contact with General de Chastelain. In December 2004, attempts to persuade the IRA to...
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...Ahsiya Posner 9 February 2003 Under the advisement of Professor Eileen Babbitt and Professor Diana Chigas ABSTRACT This paper will attempt this difficult but important task with the humble understanding that ìthe full storyî is impossible to know and telló even for the very participants of the process. Nevertheless, in this investigation, the author will explore four main questions. The first three questions are: 1) did the OPP set the Israelis and Palestinians on a trajectory that ìdoomedî CD2 from the start?; 2) were there problems inherent to the process and structure of CD2 that led to its failure?; and, 3) how should future mediation attempts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be structured in order to meet with more success? The fourth question, however, requires further introduction. The forthcoming study of CD2 will be guided by a ìProvisional Framework (PF)î of seven criteria that I believe are necessary ingredients to successful peacemaking processes. I devised this framework after consulting existing literature and scholars in the field of mediation and negotiation in general, as well as after reviewing scholarly pieces focusing on the Israel-Palestinian peace process in particular. Thus, after using this framework to analyze CD2, conclusions will thus be drawn with regard to a fourth and final question: is this prioritized framework an accurate and/ or useful tool for understanding peacemaking processes? 2 TABLE-OF-CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION........
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...Op-ed: US Policy on Afghanistan The role of the U.S. in the security and stability of Afghanistan, and what it means to the rest of the region and the world is a relevant topic today. A nation that has been surrounded by invasion, external pressure and internal upheaval since before the time of Alexander the Great, Afghanistan has endured more than most people can ever imagine. Going back to the beginning, the country has been ruled by Persian, Greek, Sassasian and Central Asian empires. In addition, it has also been conquered by the Mongols, British, Russians, and more lately by the Taliban and the U.S. In 1989, with the help of nationalist groups such as the Mujahadeen and the US, who supplied these groups, Afghanistan gained independence from the Soviet Union, which had invaded and remained in the nation since 1979. The US policy program involving the funding and supplying of Mujahadeen shaped the US foreign policy on Afghanistan during the concluding Cold War. Then came the current war. Following the September 11 World Trade Center bombings, the United States accused Osama Bin Laden of the crime and demanded that the Taliban handed over Bin Laden. The Taliban refused to do so, which resulted in the bombing of the impoverished country by the US, and which led to the current war between the two nations. The US recent policy on Afghanistan involves the improvement of the nation’s security and infrastructure, yet this policy is in fact generating more destabilization in...
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...Negotiations Between Afghan Government and the Taliban Interest Vs. Power and Position In 2007 a series of increasingly violent attacks in many provinces and the capital of Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai decided to negotiate with the Taliban, and offered them senior government positions in exchange for peace focusing on public interest. Dispirited by losses at the hands of NATO bombings, the Taliban also decided to talk. However, the Taliban’s demands changed, and dramatically increased every year. The parties have not reached an agreement yet because of the Taliban’s excessive demands. The Taliban’s excessiveness in the past few years bring up the question: Are the Taliban exclusively focused on position and power, and the government on interest? This difference is critical because if the Taliban is only focused on position and power, the government is see as an opponent rather than a partner and the goal of this negotiation is victory rather than an agreement. Most of the Taliban are a group of angry people who are ready to lose anything to gain power. While the top tier of the Taliban comprises the ideologues, a majority of the members are not in the group for defending or promoting an ideology. Many are in this group because they do not have alternative employment opportunities from the government. Several are dismayed at the progress made by the government and disappointed with the unfulfilled promises that were...
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... invasion. The strategic interests of the great powers of the day in Afghanistan pitched against the potential threat of terrorism, religious extremism, smuggling and drug trafficking substantiates the assertion that Afghan security situation has the potential to generate effects far beyond its borders. Afghanistan had experienced several coups since 1973, when the Afghan monarchy was overthrown by Daud Khan, who was sympathetic to Soviet overtures. Subsequent coups reflected struggles within Afghanistan among factions with different ideas about how Afghanistan should be governed and whether it should be communist, and with degrees warmth toward the Soviet Union. The Soviets intervened following the overthrow of a pro-communist leader. In late December 1979, after several months of evident military preparation, they invaded Afganistan. At that time, the Soviet Union and the United States were engaged in the Cold War, a global competition for the fealty of other nations. The United States was, thus, deeply interested in whether the Soviet Union would succeed in establishing a communist government loyal to Moscow in Afghanistan. In order to forestall that possibility, the United States began funding insurgent forces to oppose the Soviets. The U.S.-funded Afghan insurgents were called mujahideen, an Arabic word that means "strugglers" or "strivers." The word has its orgins in Islam, and is related to...
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...C200 Examination Name:_________________________________ Date:________ Purpose This assessment is used to gauge your understanding of the ideas introduced in the C200 lessons and using them to analyze strategic policy and plans. The exam is due at the end of C200. General Instructions * This examination is worth 35% of your C200 Theme grade. * You may use the C200 online lessons, readings, and references to complete the exam. * The DDE Support Team can only answer administrative questions. * All work must be your own. You are not to discuss this examination or your answers, in either draft or final form, with anyone else. * Answers must be typed, double-spaced, and no more than 2 pages in length per question. * Use Times New Roman size 12 pitch font. One inch margins. * Clearly identify the question you are answering. * Any quotations from the assigned student readings are to be parenthetical (Huntington, pg. 8). Quotations from sources outside assigned student readings are to have complete citation. * You are not authorized to copy, reproduce or share this examination. Answer These Questions 1. Based upon the attached Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan, what vital national interest does the President see at stake in Afghanistan and how does our involvement...
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...establish a Pakistan Friendship Group in the German parliament. They also agreed on having more frequent parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. Foreign Minister expressed the hope that President of German Parliament would soon visit Pakistan on the outstanding invitation of Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tuesday said it has taken “bold and unprecedented” steps to improve ties with “vital neighbour” India and to resolve all bilateral disputes, including the key issue of Jammu and Kashmir. “As a democratic government, we have taken bold and unprecedented decisions. Granting the Most Favoured Nation status by Pakistan to India has injected a new momentum into the Pakistan-India normalisation process,” Foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar said in her speech at the German Council on...
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...began to increase again in 1996 with the rise of the Taliban. In 2002, with the fall of the Taliban and the US-led invasion, record numbers of Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan. An international reconstruction and development initiative began to aid Afghans in rebuilding their country from decades of war. Reports indicate that change is occurring in Afghanistan, but the progress is slow. The Taliban have regained strength in the second half of this decade and insurgency and instability are rising. Afghanistan continues to be challenged by underdevelopment, lack of infrastructure, few employment opportunities, and widespread poverty. The slow pace of change has led Afghans to continue migrating in order to meet the needs of their families. Today refugee movements no longer characterize the primary source of Afghan migration. Migration in search of livelihoods is the primary reasons for migration and occurs through rural-urban migration in Afghanistan or circular migration patterns as Afghans cross into Pakistan and/or Iran. Afghans utilize their social networks to find low-skilled work in the cities or neighboring countries. The highly skilled in Afghanistan often seek to migrate to Western countries, as the opportunities in Afghanistan are limited. Afghans transnational movements have led to the development of the Afghan Diaspora, which has been essential in providing remittances to families in Afghanistan to meet their daily needs....
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...POLICY BRIEF SUMMARY SHAPING EUROPE’S AFGHAN SURGE Daniel Korski Unnoticed by many, the last few years have seen something of a European military surge in Afghanistan. Since late 2006, 18 of the 25 EU countries participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), NATO’s Afghan mission, have increased their troop contributions, and as a result EU member states now account for 43% of ISAF’s total deployment. This military surge has been accompanied by a steady growth in European efforts to contribute to Afghanistan’s reconstruction, from development aid to police training – although not every EU member state is pulling its weight. These measures have made the EU a major stakeholder in Afghanistan. Yet the EU’s real impact on the country has been limited. In the face of a likely request from the Obama administration to do more, European governments should now formulate a hard-headed political strategy as a complement to the coming US military surge. Introduction President Barack Obama and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, have made it clear that they expect a significant enhancement of the European effort in Afghanistan. The issue is likely to be viewed in Washington as a litmus test of whether the Europeans can be taken seriously as strategic partners. Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan is likely to include an attempt to “regionalise” the issue, involving some kind of dialogue with Iran and efforts to bring India, the Gulf states and the central Asian...
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...majority of the country, thought the accused (Osama bin Laden) was innocent and would not hand him over to the American authorities without sufficient evidence. Bush decided it was necessary to bring this man to America so he may be punished for his crimes, so he placed orders for American troops to enter Afghanistan in pursuit of Osama bin Laden. The Taliban had little or no experience in running a government and it seemed as though they didn’t see this as a priority when they took power in 1996. They demonstrated extreme single-mindedness as they focused on the achievement of law and order under their interpretation of the Sharia law. Their only aim was to create the world’s purest Islamic state; we could see this through the way the Afghan people were treated, the strict laws imposed on women and the way “corrupting influences” (television, music and films) were banned. While the Taliban was governing Afghanistan, many laws were created that controlled all aspects of women’s public and private lives and severely restricted their freedom. Their access to education, healthcare and employment were among some of the many basic necessities that were made difficult to obtain. The Taliban edicts formally ordered the segregation of women from men who were unrelated to them, this meant women could only appear in public if they were almost completely concealed in a garment called a burqa and only while accompanied by a close male relative. Life for...
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...impossible to please both parties in this situation that involves out recourses and money. I can’t see anyway to make this a mutually beneficial situation. The Board fails to see that its not just he oil companies and the oil companies fail to recognize that their drilling took a huge toll in this particular area even though there are many of factors that destroy the habitat. The credibility of both parties also makes it hard to see a positive out come. This is an international conflict involving social values in Afghanistan. Women’s rights are close to equality for the first time in Afghan history, this is greatly due to the troops presence. When the troops leave there is concern that women’s rights will haul. This is a destructive conflict because both parties feel negatively about the outcomes due to a difference in beliefs, There is also the question of legitimacy of the Taliban’s promise to peace negotiations. This is a veridical...
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...1992). The nature of the conflict is determined by the perspective of the people involved in the conflict. Though these perspectives may or may not be supported by independent evidence. It also depends to a large extend on the behaviour of the parties involved in the dispute that can potentially lead to war. Violence is one such behaviour of the parties. The definition of a war or conflict can easily be extended from specific individuals, to groups (which may be tribal, racial, ethnic or religious) or nation states as such. A conflict may involve two or more than two parties to the dispute. However, the principles of the conflict irrespective of the number of the parties to it remain the same. Causes and conditions of the conflicts The process or structure of conflicts or wars is effectively the same, whether it occurs between groups, individuals or nation states. The root causes of the conflict include among other aspects the structure or organisation of the society that indulges in the war (Blainey and Geoffrey, 1973). Conflict behaviour is an essential aspect in the understanding of the underlying conditions and causes of the majority of international conflicts, wars or invasions. Warring parties usually portray wars or conflicts as a quintessential part of the social field. Sufficient and necessary causes of...
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... and tribal groups (http://www.iiav.nl). It is also a country that is rich in culture and tradition. But very little is known about the women that live in Afghanistan. No one really knows or understands how a women’s day to day life is. In Afghanistan most women are kept hidden away in their home and they are not allowed outside. Today the only thing that people hear or know about Afghanistan is that the United States is at war with a country that has known very little peace over that last one hundred years. Afghanistan is a place where time stands still and very little changes. One of the things that has not changed or has changed very little over the last one thousand years is the everyday life of women. The Afghan people are very simple and in some remote villages they have very little comforts. In some places midwifes assist mothers in the birth of their new born babes. They also bring water inside their house in pales, and they maintain their houses clean for their husbands. Most Afghans live their lives in a very traditional and private way; they have several customs and traditions that have been passed on from one generation to the other for hundreds of years. These people do not require or ask anything from the western world or from their government. They rarely let outsiders into their culture and this has led to many misconceptions of how women are treated and how they live. One of the most common misconceptions is that women have always been treated...
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... and tribal groups (http://www.iiav.nl). It is also a country that is rich in culture and tradition. But very little is known about the women that live in Afghanistan. No one really knows or understands how a women’s day to day life is. In Afghanistan most women are kept hidden away in their home and they are not allowed outside. Today the only thing that people hear or know about Afghanistan is that the United States is at war with a country that has known very little peace over that last one hundred years. Afghanistan is a place where time stands still and very little changes. One of the things that has not changed or has changed very little over the last one thousand years is the everyday life of women. The Afghan people are very simple and in some remote villages they have very little comforts. In some places midwifes assist mothers in the birth of their new born babes. They also bring water inside their house in pales, and they maintain their houses clean for their husbands. Most Afghans live their lives in a very traditional and private way; they have several customs and traditions that have been passed on from one generation to the other for hundreds of years. These people do not require or ask anything from the western world or from their government. They rarely let outsiders into their culture and this has led to many misconceptions of how women are treated and how they live. One of the most common misconceptions is that women have always been treated...
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...The show was hosted by Hamid Mir and its agenda was to talk on the issue of Drone attacks and Waziristan Peace March. Hamid Mir proved to be comparatively better anchor than other hosts such as Sana Bucha, Asma Shirazi and Javed Chaudhary, etc. He was moving on with questions instead of asking same questions repeatedly. Biggest surprise for me were responses given by the two foreign guests; they seemed to be more Pakistani than any so-called anchor, analyst, or politician from PPP, PMLN, MQM and ANP etc., kudos to them for speaking out truth with courage and audacity. Imran Khan, as usual, was solid in his responses and clear on his stances. He did not budge even for a moment when he declared that once the proper voice has been raised in front of United States and within United Nations against the use of Drones in Pakistan, he will order the PAF to shoot down any invading aircraft that violates the sovereignty of Pakistan’s by entering its air space. This is a normal procedure followed by all countries as per UN charter. Marie Ann and Lauren Booth supported Khan in this, though Ann hoped that it will not come to this. Furthermore, the foreign guests confirmed what most neutral, honest and patriotic analysts in Pakistan have been stating continuously, according to them the media abroad is being used to manipulate people in western countries where all Pakistanis and Afghans (Muslims in general) are being portrayed as terrorists. That is the sole reason why USA and NATO forces...
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