Iraq war spills into Syria?

Syrian forces have arrested two fugitives from Jordan who are believed to be former bodyguards of Saddam Hussein and linked to the Iraq insurgency. The manhunt followed a clash between militants and Syrian forces on Qassioun Mountain overlooking Damascus July… Read moreIraq war spills into Syria?

Europe

Who was behind London attacks?

As this fairly comprehensive account from The Australian makes clear, the notion that the London attacks were carried out by a heretofore unheard-of “Secret Organization of the Jihad of al-Qaeda in Europe” originates from reports on the websites of Germany’s… Read moreWho was behind London attacks?

Fear in Edinburgh

A large area of downtown Edinburgh was evacuated today when police found a “suspicious package” on a bus, the Scotsman reports. The alert was called off after police conducted what they callled a “controlled explosion” on the bus. Given the… Read moreFear in Edinburgh

Watching the Shadows

Oil prices plunge

Well, the terror blasts in London seem to have done what months of OPEC hyper-production have failed to: bringing down the price of oil. The attacks precipitated the biggest one-day swing since Operation Desert Storm 14 years ago, prices briefly… Read moreOil prices plunge

Mexico

Misery in Chiapas

The recent “red alert” and new political declaration by the rebel Zapatista army brought the impoverished and harshly divided southern Mexican state of Chiapas briefly into the news. Then, just as quickly, it disappeared. In the flurry of coverage, Chris… Read moreMisery in Chiapas

Southeast Asia

Buddhists flee southern Thailand

Another forgotten war is heating up: the Islamic separatist insurgency in southern Thailand. Thousands of Buddhists are fleeing the region, and teachers seem to be especially targeted for assassination, according to this chilling account from Qatar’s Gulf Times, July 6:… Read moreBuddhists flee southern Thailand