International Security - Emerging Threats - Analysis - UPI.com

Dogs of War: Inherently governmental?

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:03:40 -0400

By DAVID ISENBERGWASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Amid all the polemics over the use of private military and security contractors by the U.S. government there are two words one rarely sees, but they lie at the very heart of the debate: "inherently governmental."

Iraq Press Roundup

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:28:21 -0400

By HIBA DAWOOD
UPI Correspondent The Sunni Al Mashriq newspaper said Thursday in an editorial titled "The killing of 15 women" that the problem any militia in the world faces is that no matter how politically professional, organized and ideologically mature they are, they still might be accepted by one country and rejected by another.

Analysis: Border force seeks recognition

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:21:26 -0400

By KUSHAL JEENA
UPI CorrespondentNEW DELHI, May 9 (UPI) -- An Indian police force that guards the Indo-Tibetan border wants the federal Interior Ministry to give it the same status as other paramilitary security forces.

Atlantic Eye: Hardly a done deal

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:08:55 -0400

By MARC S. ELLENBOGEN
UPI International ColumnistPRAGUE, Czech Republic, May 8 (UPI) -- Most Europeans see the U.S. presidential election as a done deal. They are quite surprised. They were convinced that Sen. Hillary Clinton was the sure thing. Now, and they are confused, they are expecting the inevitable: Sen. John McCain as president.

Iraq Press Roundup

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:29:42 -0400

By HIBA DAWOOD
UPI Correspondent Shebab Al Iraq newspaper Wednesday carried an editorial with the headline "Who is responsible for the atrocities in Sadr City?"

U.S. looking into Iraq reconstruction contract requiring Iranian parts

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:23:51 -0400

By BEN LANDO
UPI EditorWASHINGTON, May 7 (UPI) -- U.S. forces are investigating two contracts to build schools in northern Iraq that required bathroom fixtures to be supplied by Iran.

Walker's World: The EU's euro power-grab

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:23:35 -0400

By MARTIN WALKER
UPI Editor EmeritusFRANKFURT, Germany, May 7 (UPI) -- The European Union's commission is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the euro currency with a bid to control the wages and economic strategy of the 27-nation bloc.

Iraq Press Roundup

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:24:22 -0400

By HIBA DAWOOD
UPI Correspondent The Association of Muslim Scholars' Al Basaer newspaper said Tuesday in its editorial that after Iraq was destroyed and hard to fix, officials at the White House called upon Arab countries to send their representatives to Iraq using Iran as a threat.

Feature: U.S., Mehdi Army battle over wall

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:14:24 -0400

By RICHARD TOMKINSBAGHDAD, May 6 (UPI) -- Gun battles between U.S. troops and Shiite extremists are being fought daily along a stretch of road in Baghdad's Sadr City as militants loyal to anti-American cleric Moqtada Sadr try to stop -- or at least delay -- construction of a concrete barrier that will help curb their ability to fire rockets into Baghdad's International Zone, seat of the Iraqi government.

U.S. officials urged to avoid linking Islam, jihad with terrorism

Tue, 06 May 2008 10:50:57 -0400

By SHAUN WATERMAN
UPI Homeland and National Security EditorWASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- U.S. officials are being advised in internal government documents to avoid referring publicly to al-Qaida and other terrorist groups as Islamic or Muslim, and not to use terms like jihad or mujahedin, which "unintentionally legitimize" terrorism.

Iraq Press Roundup

Mon, 05 May 2008 13:39:08 -0400

By HIBA DAWOOD
UPI Correspondent In its editorial, the daily Al Sabah newspaper highlighted Monday the role neighboring counties should play in improving Iraq's security, leading to an economic, social and political revival.

Atlantic Eye: Surprising pragmatic Danes

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:11:01 -0400

By MARC S. ELLENBOGEN
UPI International ColumnistCOPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 5 (UPI) -- Danes are the ultimate pragmatists. But behind their manner is a Nordic people as proud and passionate as their history is long.

Analysis: Is MeK still a terrorist group?

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:04:40 -0400

By CLAUDE SALHANI
UPI Contributing EditorWASHINGTON, May 5 (UPI) -- When a group placed on the U.S. terrorist list changes its policy, getting off the list becomes complicated: Such is the case with the Mujahadin-e-Khalq.

Homeland Security: The week ahead

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:49:36 -0400

By SHAUN WATERMAN
UPI Homeland and National Security EditorWASHINGTON, May 5 (UPI) -- Democratic primaries in Indiana and North Carolina Tuesday mean that presidential politics is likely to dominate the news agenda this week. But among all the endless talk of demographics, victory margins and delegate counts, here are a few national and homeland security events and stories that might make the inside pages.

Walker's World: Bye-bye boomers

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:18:11 -0400

By MARTIN WALKER
UPI Editor EmeritusLONDON, May 5 (UPI) -- The victory of Boris Johnson in London's mayoral election represents the emergence of a new generation of politicians into the struggle for power. The baby boomers are starting the long, sad slide into senescence. The generation X-ers are on the march.

Commentary: From riches to rags

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:01:25 -0400

By ARNAUD DE BORCHGRAVE
UPI Editor at LargeWASHINGTON, May 5 (UPI) -- Between 40 and 60 nations are either sliding backward or have already collapsed. Globalization has spawned multiple uncertainties.

Iraq Press Roundup

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:41:18 -0400

By HIBA DAWOOD
UPI Correspondent The liberal Al Ahali newspaper said democracy makes the state and the civil society equal.

Iraq Press Roundup

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:40:51 -0400

By HIBA DAWOOD
UPI Correspondent In its editorial Thursday with the title "There will be a day when people will stop speaking," the Iraqi Hezbollah's Al Bayyna newspaper said the people of the southern cities in Iraq, specifically Basra, have had frightening days due to the infighting between Shiite militias and the Iraqi government.

Dogs of War: Insurance? What insurance?

Fri, 02 May 2008 17:51:35 -0400

By DAVID ISENBERGWASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- Life in Iraq for private military contractors is dangerous. If they get killed their dependents in theory get insurance but there will be no letters from a military commander of the president, commending them for their service to the country. No chaplain shows up at their door to offer consolation.

U.S.-Belarus row escalates after cyberattack, expulsions

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:59:53 -0400

By SHAUN WATERMAN
UPI Homeland and National Security EditorWASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department said Thursday it had not yet decided what action, if any, it would take in response to the Belarusian expulsion of U.S. diplomats this week.

Analysis: Maoists eye India's northeast

Thu, 01 May 2008 10:26:05 -0400

By KUSHAL JEENA
UPI CorrespondentNEW DELHI, May 1 (UPI) -- Indian intelligence and security agencies are worried over the efforts of Maoist rebels to set up bases in the already restive northeast.

Germany terrorism suspects in Afghanistan

Thu, 01 May 2008 09:09:08 -0400

By STEFAN NICOLA
UPI Germany CorrespondentBERLIN, May 1 (UPI) -- Extremists from Germany are traveling to Pakistan and Afghanistan to plot terror attacks.

Iraq Press Roundup

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:33:04 -0400

By HIBA DAWOOD
UPI Correspondent Shabab Al Iraq newspaper carried an editorial Wednesday with the headline "Some of Bremer's deeds in Iraq."

Walker's World: French births soar

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:19:45 -0400

By MARTIN WALKER
UPI Editor EmeritusWASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) -- France has overtaken Ireland to boast the highest birthrate in Europe, which is bad news for anti-immigrant parties.

Commentary: Wilderness of mirrors

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:11:43 -0400

By ARNAUD DE BORCHGRAVE
UPI Editor at LargeWASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) -- "Every lie contains a truth and every truth contains a lie" is a safe rule of thumb when Shakespeare's powers of observation are applied to the Middle East. With each shake of the kaleidoscope, the configuration of the key players becomes a wilderness of mirrors.