Before dawn on Feb. 8, near Silverbell, Arizona, two men fired high-powered assault rifles at a pickup truck carrying migrants who had just crossed the border on their way to Phoenix. Three migrants—one Mexican man, one Guatemalan man and one… Read moreMore deaths on Mexican border
China’s Premier Wen Jiabao opened the annual session of the country’s parliament March 5 with a call for economic growth to be balanced with environmental protection and efforts to tackle a growing urban-rural wealth gap. “Protect social equity and justice,… Read moreChina moves to appease peasant unrest
As his trial opened at The Hague March 5, Former Kosova prime minister Ramush Haradinaj pleaded not guilty to charges of war crimes stemming from his time as a regional commander of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA). Standing trial with… Read moreKosova: more protests as UN trial opens for ex-prime minister
For the second time in less than 24 hours, the US military March 5 acknowledged involvement in an incident that caused multiple civilian deaths in Afghanistan—this time, an air strike that killed nine people from the same family. Afghan authorities… Read moreAfghanistan: NATO opens offensive amid protests over civilian deaths
Another appalling op-ed in the New York Times March 5, this one arguing that an amnesty for war criminals is “good for Afghan democracy.” This Orwellian exercise, “New Justice, No Peace,” is by Richard May, a fellow with the World… Read moreNYT op-ed: Afghan impunity “good for democracy”
From CNW Telbec, Canada, March 5: Reporters Without Borders called for an explanation from the US Army for threats and censorship against Afghan journalists, two of them working for the Associated Press (AP), while covering civilian deaths in shooting by… Read moreAfghanistan: US troops threaten, censor journalists
Hmmm, didn’t the Brits just invoke “progress” in Basra to justify their planned withdrawal? From Arab Monitor, March 5: BAGHDAD – In a move to end their Iraqi allies’ uncontrolled violence, US and British troops began yesterday to venture into… Read moreIraq: occupation troops raid secret prison in Basra
For the second time in eight days Feb. 26, teachers from Sections 22 and 59 of the National Education Workers Syndicate (SNTE) clashed over control of Technical Secondary School 172 at Benito Juárez, San Pedro Pochutla municipality, on the coast… Read moreOaxaca: more labor violence at divided schools
Diego Arcos Meneses, an indigenous Chol Maya campesino, has been arrested by Chiapas state police and charged with murder in connection with November’s massacre at the rainforest settlement of Viejo Velasco. The Chol campesino organization Xinich protests his innocence. The… Read moreChiapas: charges in jungle massacre; land conflicts escalate
Frederick Vreeland, a former deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East and South Asia affairs and former US ambassador to Morocco, has an op-ed in the March 3 New York Times on the usually obscure crisis in Western Sahara,… Read moreWestern Sahara makes NYT op-ed page —but not Sahrawi perspective
Twelve Islamic militants were convicted of terrorism-related charges in Morocco March 2, including eight with alleged ties to al-Qaeda who supposedly had volunteered to fight in Iraq. The appeals court in Sale handed down prison terms of two to 15… Read moreTerror convictions, clemency in Morocco
With key pillars of the Coalition of the Willing starting to defect, the US seems to be pressing allies for cannon fodder in some unlikely corners of “New Europe.” Sifet Podzic, chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces… Read moreBosnia: no more troops to Iraq
