Showing 141 - 150 of 207
Time for a new discourse on Afghanistan
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 06/09/2021
» A man is sitting in a train somewhere in Europe, tearing sheets of paper into little pieces and throwing them out the window.
Shake up police
Oped, Postbag, Published on 28/08/2021
» Re: "Police need to clean up act," (Editorial, Aug 25).
Sitting on fence no real option
Oped, Published on 26/08/2021
» Within days of the Taliban taking over Kabul on Aug 15, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying came out to express China's seeming endorsement of the Taliban's success when he stated, "We respect the will and choice of the Afghan people." While the tone of the message is suitably diplomatic, the clear implication is that the Taliban's aggression in recent days is welcomed by the national consensus of the Afghan people.
Taliban 2.0: Regional, global impacts
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/08/2021
» The Taliban's victory is still fresh but unintended consequences that can impact the regional and global strategic environment are not difficult to discern. The first two weeks of its rule have already evoked vivid and unpleasant memories of past practices that brought outside powers to this rugged mountainous corner of the world. The future of this nation will remain unsettled for a long time to come. The first indicator has been the Afghan people themselves, who have showed their bravery during their 101th independence day last week by opposing the use of the Taliban's flag.
Testing question
Oped, Postbag, Published on 21/08/2021
» Re: "Cabinet approves medic immunity bill," (BP, Aug 18).
Taliban rule deadly for development
Oped, Published on 20/08/2021
» Inside the walls of the United Nations compound in Afghanistan over the past few weeks, diplomats scurried about looking for some semblance of security and operational control, for after all, the Taliban were on the doorstep of Kabul and later, president Ashraf Ghani fled, leaving a slew of questions in his wake. Afghans and international staff sent hundreds of exchanges to senior UN officials in Kabul, frightened by the prospect of Taliban rule and afraid for the security of themselves and their families. The UN has advised its staff to stand down and avoid going to the airport, while many are still waiting on the issuance of passports and the opportunity to obtain a visa to the United States, Canada, or neighbouring countries.
Recycled wars of benighted Afghanistan
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 18/08/2021
» In the year 2000, five years after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, nobody elsewhere cared what happened in that land-locked, benighted country. It was ruled by angry rural fanatics who tormented the local people with their demented rules for proper "Islamic" behaviour, but it was not a military or diplomatic priority for anybody.
US-Thai Cobra Gold drills wither at 40
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 17/08/2021
» The 40th iteration of Cobra Gold (CG), which ended last week, was supposed to be the best year ever for the four-decades-old Thai and US joint military exercises. But it was not to be. Blame it on the Covid-19 pandemic or the menace of smartphones and social media spreading fake news about the true nature of the region's largest multinational military exercise.
How did they think the Afghan war would end?
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 09/08/2021
» 'I will never kneel before such a destructive force [as the Taliban'," declared Ashraf Ghani, the soon-to-be ex-president of Afghanistan. "We will either sit knee-to-knee for real negotiations at the table, or break their knees on the battlefield."
US urges Asean to stand up to China
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 03/08/2021
» US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made it clear the US would like to see Asean stand up to China without choosing sides. At the same time, the US will engage with China in areas of common interests while is ready to stand up against the Middle Kingdom without flinching if its interests are threatened.