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Situation In Iraq Getting Worse. So What’s The Plan, Mr Obama?

Pardon for sounding sceptical, but how is it exactly that the U.S. top military brass sells the idea to the White House that things in Iraq have become so great that it would be no problem in pulling American troops out of there in the next year or so, without running the risk of igniting a civil war? As far as I can judge from the news coming from Iraq, the situation there is far from improving, despite occasional – much less frequent than before, mind you – rosy reporting from over there by the Western media. Let us look at the latest grim statistics: in a spate of suicide bombings and mortar attacks, on August 19, nearly 100 people were killed and around 600 wounded. And that was in Baghdad, of all places. All the attacks were targetted at the crucial government ministries and... 

The Situation In Iraq Remains Tense. The Long Term Consequences Are Unpredictable

R.F.Wilson writes: The latest grim news from Iraq came last Friday: a suicide bomber drove a truck with a tonne of explosives into a police headquarters in one of the districts of Mosul, the third largest city in the country, killing two policemen inside and seriously wounding scores of others. Five American soldiers who were on patrol on a nearby street were also killed.The level of violence in some parts of Iraq have risen to such an extent that even American commanders on the ground are starting to doubt whether it would possible to withdraw US troops by the agreed deadlines. Although US military officials are stressing that the overall situation in Iraq has improved dramatically in the past year, the reality is different for many Iraqis who live in constant fear for their lives. The clearest... 

China Is Gearing Up For A Summer Of Discontent

Martin McCauley writes: The Communist Party of China (CPC) is facing an unprecedented challenge to its leadership. The People’s Armed Police (PAP), the regular police, the state security service and other agencies are preparing to deal with a summer of discontent. The authorities are expecting demonstrations, riots and other ‘mass disturbances’ involving millions of unemployed workers and farmers. More resources are being devoted to monitoring the activities of Chinese dissidents living abroad, including those in the United States. The Central Commission on Political and Legal Affairs (CCPLA), the most important law enforcement agency in China, is busy tightening security in order to ensure that ‘angry and disaffected elements’ do not threaten the stability of the state.... 

Class War In Thailand: Round Four

Martin McCauley writes: Thai politics is like a boxing match. Queensbury rules are ignored and it is a fight to the finish. We have now got to round four. Round one started in February 2001 when Taksin Shinawatra became Prime Minister after winning a general election. One of the reasons why he won was that he presented himself as the champion of the rural poor. This did not go down well with the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a loose grouping of monarchists, middle class businessmen and trade unionists. In 2006 they began street protests to bring down the government. In September 2006, the military stepped in and removed Taksin from office in a bloodless coup. Round one was won by the PAD. In May 2007 Taksin’s party was banned, along with over a hundred party executives.... 

China On The Horns of A Dilemma

(By Martin McCauley.) The party is about to end for the Communist Party of China (CPC). The climax came with the Olympic Games, followed by the Chinese astronauts blasting into space and returning triumphantly back. National Day celebrations begin on October 1 and would last a week. Then it’s back to reality. The Central Committee (CC) of the CPC convenes immediately after the festivities are over. It promises to be a volatile session. Ostensibly it is about agriculture but the effects of the world credit crunch and growing unemployment are bound to be broached. CC members – the second tier of Party power after the Politburo – are under tremendous pressure in their bailiwicks to bring back promises of money and credits from Beijing. The Chinese property market has taken an... 

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