I Am Travelling Overseas -- Will Be Back March 10, 2008

Mughniyeh's Death: Keystone Kops in Damascus

A must read commentary from Pajamas Media:

There is something deeply satisfying about the flawlessly executed assassination of Islamofascist terror master Imad Mughniyeh, writes Youssef Ibrahim. “Sometimes a single bullet, or mini-bomb, blazes a path to clarity. This upset shook a Syrian edifice of invulnerable macho terror, showing a way to widen a breach.”

Read more ....

My Comment: If history has taught us anything, by not responding against one enemies will only embolden them. The way this operation was done gives everyone pause.

U.S. And EU Powers Recognize Kosovo -- Update Of News

From Yahoo News:

PRISTINA, Serbia (Reuters) - Europe's biggest states and the United States said on Monday they were recognizing Kosovo, a day after it seceded from Serbia.

Paris was first to announce its move after a European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, and Britain, Germany and Italy followed immediately.

Then Washington said the words Kosovo's 2 million Albanians have long dreamed of.

"The United States has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement.

Read more ....

More News reports:
Separatists Watch Kosovo Gain Independence -- Telegraph

Hold the Fireworks: Kosovo Not Really Independent -- Pajamas Media

Britain And US Join Rush To Recognise Kosovo -- Times Online

Fireworks Exploded. Horns Were Sounded. And So The Nation Of Kosovo Was Created -- Independent

US And EU Powers To Recognise Kosovan Statehood -- Guardian

Bush: ‘The Kosovars Are Now Independent’ -- MSNBC

U.S. And Most Of The EU Recognize Kosovo -- International Herald Tribune

Recognition For New Kosovo Grows -- BBC News

My Comment: What may help Kosovo from falling into an endless civil war with its Serb citizens and Serb neighbors is the presence of Nato and its arm forces in the region. But relying on this arm presence is not the long term solution to developing trust and cooperation with your opposite numbers.

Kosovo is independent today .... yes. But to maintain this independence, a long term solution will need to be found with the Serbs. Failure to do so will ...... and declaring unilateral independence is one way to do this .... will only foster animosity and distrust.

Can Peace Be Restored In Kenya?

New Constitution Could End Violence -- Washington Times

Kenyan Rivals Agree to Write New Constitution as Part of Deal -- FOX News

Kenya Political Rivals To Review Vote -- Yahoo News

Kenyans To Review Disputed Poll -- BBC News

Agreement Signed To End Kenyan Violence -- CBS News

Kenyan Politicians Discuss Power-Sharing -- ABC News

Kenyan Rivals Agree To Independent Review Of Disputed Poll -- Guardian

Kenya Peace Talks Move Forward -- CNN

Kenya Political Rivals to Review Vote -- San Francisco Chronicle

Kenya Rivals Sign Agreement, Talks Will Continue -- MSNBC

Rape Used As Weapon In Kenya’s Ethnic Clashes -- MSNBC

Rice To Visit Strife-Torn Kenya -- LA Times

Signs In Kenya Of A Land Redrawn By Ethnicity -- International Herald Tribune

My Comment: Everyone is trying. But unfortunately too much blood has been spilled and ethnic divisions are now forming. Even if violence is stopped in its tracks completely today, it is going tol take a few generations to forget what happened last month.

Iraq War Updates -- February 15, 2008

Iraq War News Updates:
Surge General Accuses Tehran Of Backing Militias To Weaken Iraq -- Times Online

Ahmadinejad Announces Landmark Visit To Iraq -- Times Online

Iranian President To Make First Iraq Visit -- Telegraph

Iran Postpones Iraq Security Talks With U.S. -- MSNBC

Four Killed In Suicide Bombing At Iraqi Mosque -- Yahoo News

Iraq Masses Security Forces For Shiite Festival -- Yahoo News

Is The US Really Bringing Stability To Baghdad? -- Independent

The Final Mission, Part III -- Middle East Journal

Inside Iraqi Politics – Part 3. Examining The Legislative Branch -- Long war Journal

Despite Raw Sewage In the Streets, U.S. Troops See Progress In Their Baghdad Neighborhood -- U.S. News And World Report

The Key To Iraqi Reconciliation -- Belmont Club

Iraqis Pass Law To Hold Key Oct. 1 Elections -- MSNBC

Iraqi Lawmakers Pass 3 Key Bills -- LA Times

Iraq Progress Update -- Strata-Sphere

Grisly Reports On al Qaeda -- Washington Times

Will Contractors Lose Iraq Immunity? -- Time Magazine

Jordan Slaps Visa Restrictions On Iraqis -- MSNBC

Marines Yield Control Of Town To Iraqis -- LA Times

Sunni Anger In Iraqi Province -- LA Times

U.S. Military: Al Qaeda In Iraq Seeks Female Patients As Bombers -- CNN

Special Groups Behind Sadr City Bombing -- Long War Journal

The Worst Government Money Can Buy -- Strategy Page

U.N. Seeks Help For 'Desperate' Iraqi Refugees -- CNN

Chad Leader Declares 15-Day State Of Emergency

From MSNBC:

N'DJAMENA, Chad - Chad's president declared a nationwide state of emergency Thursday, telling citizens that tightened controls are needed to restore order after recent rebel attacks.

In a speech broadcast on national radio and television, President Idriss Deby said he signed a decree increasing the government's powers for 15 days, as provided for in Chad's constitution.

Deby said the decree instituted "measures important and urgent to maintain order, guarantee stability and assure the good functioning of the state."

Read more ....

My Comment: What I find interesting about this article is that with the exception of Sudan, all of Chad's neighbors as well as the West have no interest for the rebels to succeed. They are also backing up their rhetoric by providing the necessary military support for the Chad government to succeed. The experience of Sudan's involvement with the genocide in Darfur has clearly given everyone in the region a bad taste in their mouths.

Blowback From The Assassination Of Imad Mughniyeh

Summary Of News Reports:

Hezbollah Vows To Hit Back -- Washington Times

Hizbollah's 'Open War' Threat To Israel -- The Telegraph

Hezbollah Threatens Attacks On Israeli Targets -- International Herald Tribune

Hizbullah Chief Mourned In Beirut -- Video From The Guardian

Mughniyeh Was in Midst of Planning Mass Terror Attack -- Israel National News

Killing Of Hezbollah Operative Costly For Syria -- MSNBC

Syria 'To Name Mughniyeh Killer' -- BBC News

Iran, Syria Probe Mughniyeh Killing -- Yahoo News

Mughniyah's Killing Offers Lessons For The U.S. -- MSNBC

Imad Mugniyah, Iran and al Qaeda -- National Review

Mughnieh Killing Exposes Hizbullah -- From Beirut To The Beltway

A Fitting Death For Terrorist Imad Mughniyeh -- Telegraph

Hezbollah Appoints Successor To Slain Commander -- Reuters

Mugniyah's Mother Pleased All Her Sons Died In Name Of Jihad -- Ynet News

My Comment: The death of Imad Mughniyeh, after being free to do anything that he wanted to do for the past 25 years, is probably a big shock for Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran. There is no immunity from the actions that you are responsible for, and that while leaders in the West, Israel, and opponents to people like Imad Mughniyeh are always on guard for terrorist attacks, it appears that on the opposite side these leaders must sometimes be reminded that they are also not immune.

Kosovo Independence -- A New War In Europe?

Summary Of News On Kosovo:

Serbia Braces For New Nation -- Washington Times

Kosovo Vow As Independence Looms -- BBC News

Serbian President Tadic Vows To Preserve Kosovo -- Reuters

Serbia To Act Against Kosovo -- LA Times

Kosovo Breakaway Illegal, Says Putin -- Video From The Guardian

Kosovo A Frustration For Russia -- LA Times

On The Road To A Lawful Kosovo: Evictions -- International Herald Tribune

War’s Dead Haunt Both Sides In Kosovo -- MSNBC

Kosovo: Born Under A Bad Sign -- Analysis From The Financial Times

My Comment: I can appreciate and respect a people who wish to be independent. A majority of the population in Kosovo wants this independence, and if we are a people that respects democracy and freedom we must also respect this desire among the Kosovars for their own independent country.

Unfortunately, this pathway to independence is not going to give a positive outcome. The history of the Balkans is filled with blood and conflict. Instead of going through a slow and steady pace that would help future generations to adjust to this new situation, this rush to be independent is giving the impression (probably correct) that minority opinions and recommendations will be ignored .... and also history be damned.

Santayana is usually correct .... ignore the past and be prepared to repeat it.

Burmese Rebel Leader Is Shot Dead

From The BBC:

The secretary general of Burma's largest rebel group, the Karen National Union, has been killed.

Pado Mahn Shar, who was in his sixties, was shot at his home in the Thai border town of Mae Sot, his family said.

He was targetted by two men in a pick-up truck, while sitting on the veranda of his home. He died instantly.

The KNU and its military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, have spent nearly 60 years fighting the Burmese government.

Read more ....

My Comment: A conflict that has been going on since the end of the second world war .... it appears that this war is on its last legs.

Mughniyeh Assassination: Another Setback For Iran's Intelligence Agency

A Must Read Analysis From Pajamas media:

The assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, Iran’s top man in Syria and Lebanon, should set off alarm bells in Tehran. His assassination, according to Iranian media sources, took place in the Kafarsoose neighborhood of Damascus, close to an Iranian school and the headquarters of the Syrian Mukhabarat (intelligence agency). At first glance, the elimination of such a highly valuable Iranian asset, under the very noses of the Syrians, could be taken as a sign that Western intelligence agencies have managed to infiltrate the once seemingly impenetrable walls of Iran’s intelligence operations abroad.

To say that Mughniyeh was a sought-after man would be an understatement. He had been on U.S. and Israeli wanted lists since the early 80s for having participated in operations such as the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847, during which U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem was killed, as well as the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina, which killed 85 people.

Read more ....

My Comment: When I first heard of this assassination, I instinctively thought of Israel. But the more that I read about him, the more I realized that his enemies are many. Israel, The United States, France, Iraqi's with grudges against Syrians and Hezbollah, numerous Lebanese groups, and .... well .... you get the picture.

One thing that is clear is that after Afghanistan and Iraq, Intelligence services are now focusing their enormous resources on Iran, Syria, and their allies. Michael Leeden is right in his comment that intelligence estimates on Iran are changing, and the reason why is probably because their information is becoming more reliable and accurate.

If that is the case, opportunities to liquidate terror cell leaders like Imad Mughniyeh must now be starting to present themselves. If this is the case, expect more strikes against these individuals in the next few months.