tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41201892009-06-26T18:05:27.496-05:00<br><em>It was a wide river, mistakable for a lake or even an ocean unless you'd been wading and knew its current. Somehow I'd crossed it... Now I saw the stream regrouped below, flowing on through what might've been vineyards, pastures, orhards... It flowed between and alongside the rivers of people; from here it was no more than a silver wire winding toward the city.</em> - Leif Enger, <em>Peace Like A River</em>Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.comBlogger1438125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153852539170007442006-07-25T13:23:00.000-05:002007-06-19T14:08:12.645-05:00

Update (6/19/2007): I've opened this blog, Peace Like A River, back up again at a new url, in order to focus on foreign affairs and international matters there. I'm still at TvM, but this blog is better suited for focusing on these topics. See you there! Here's the url:http://peacelikeariverblog.com/Update (1/19/2007): I've settled into a new blog at Truth v. the Machine. See you over there!

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153835515123822002006-07-25T08:48:00.000-05:002006-07-25T08:52:20.933-05:00

Iran's president Mahmud Ahmadinejad is visiting some Central Asian countries this week.TurkmenistanMohammad Reza Djalili, a professor of international politics at the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies, says Ashgabat and Tehran have enjoyed good relations since Turkmenistan emerged from the collapsed Soviet empire a decade and a half ago. "There is no problem between the

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153835229330097482006-07-25T08:46:00.000-05:002006-07-25T08:47:26.020-05:00

It's time for another installment of In Search Of... These are some of the more amusing web searches that have stumbled across my blog. (The previous installment is here.)-backyard torture room-different guestbook of peoples in the usa village 2007-2006 demark citizens email guestbook with age 38 above-her bladder beer-free b - 17 bomber ground strike shooting games-suspicious deaths in

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153745038765271572006-07-24T07:42:00.000-05:002006-07-24T07:44:35.473-05:00

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Friday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Security Watchtower and Peace Like a River.Top Topics* Suicide bombers killed two coalition soldiers and six Afghan civilians in

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153610793795054212006-07-22T18:17:00.000-05:002006-07-22T18:26:33.836-05:00

On Saturday, Islamic militias and government forces clashed for the first time, a worrisome step in a situation that has the potential to get worse.Government militia seized and set on fire two "technicals" -- heavily armed pickup trucks that are Somalia's version of tanks -- in fighting in the remote Qoryooley district, an Islamist source told Reuters.There was no word on any casualties in the

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153501033544286802006-07-21T11:54:00.000-05:002006-07-21T11:59:53.286-05:00

On Thursday the House voted 410-8 to agree to the resolution in support of Israel. One Republican (Paul) voted No. Seven Democrats (Abercrombie, Conyers, Dingell, Kilpatrick (MI), McDermott, Rahall, Stark) voted No. Also, four Democrats (Kaptur, Kucinich, Lee, Waters) voted Present.As Forbes points out, it was a remarkable display of unity on foreign policy.The House, displaying a foreign

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153419413899815242006-07-20T13:15:00.000-05:002006-07-20T13:16:53.906-05:00

This comes in the wake of the train bombings in Bombay, which India believes was tied to support, in some fashion, to Pakistan.From the Daily Times:After declaring a tough stance against Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai serial blasts, the Indian establishment is now in a dilemma over what “punitive steps” to take against Pakistan. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has made the job more complex

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153419214808899942006-07-20T13:12:00.000-05:002006-07-20T13:13:49.053-05:00

Whether or not it's true, who says such things? Our friends or enemies? See if you can guess the correct answer.From Reuters:Iran's Hizbollah, which claims links to the Lebanese group of the same name, said on Tuesday it stood ready to attack Israeli and U.S. interests worldwide."We have 2,000 volunteers who have registered since last year," said Iranian Hizbollah's spokesman Mojtaba Bigdeli,

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153334276684564782006-07-19T13:24:00.000-05:002006-07-19T14:03:36.513-05:00

MosNews reported yesterday that Russia and Japan had come to an agreement over the building of the East Siberia-Pacific oil pipeline. Japan will help fund the construction.Russia and Japan agreed on the project to build the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline, the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said at a final press-conference at the end of G8 summit in St. Petersburg.“Russia and

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153240118395761342006-07-18T11:18:00.000-05:002006-07-18T11:29:25.026-05:00

In Britain, the Home Secretary has added the Balochistan Liberation Army to the list of banned organizations under new anti-terrorism laws. From The Times:Two Islamist militant groups were banned by the Government yesterday. However, ministers failed to proscribe Hizb-ut-Tahrir despite a promise by Tony Blair a year ago.Al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect are the first two organisations to be banned

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153166125794583602006-07-17T14:46:00.000-05:002006-07-17T19:49:17.246-05:00

Over the weekend there was this report from Balochistan:Some 600 rebel tribesmen have surrendered to the authorities in Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan, a government spokesman said on Sunday.The fighters, led by three commanders, agreed to lay down their weapons at a parley with Baluchistan's Home Minister Shoaib Nausherwani in Dera Bugti district on Saturday.Khan Mohammad Masoori

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153139746460945712006-07-17T07:32:00.000-05:002006-07-17T07:35:46.506-05:00

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Friday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Security Watchtower and Peace Like a River.Top Topics* On Sunday, Hezbollah rockets struck the northern Israeli city of Haifa,

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153077609747709622006-07-16T14:18:00.000-05:002006-07-16T21:18:09.983-05:00

Stratfor accurately states that the current operations ongoing in Lebanon are designed to prepare the environment for ground forces. However, the danger lurking is Syria. If Israel cannot prevent Syria from providing supplies and support to Hezbollah through the Syrian frontier, Israel will probably not accomplish its security goals.The Israeli strategy appears to be designed to do two things.

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1153017599917041982006-07-15T21:19:00.000-05:002006-07-15T21:40:16.890-05:00

The Jerusalem Post has reported that the guided missile which struck an Israeli ship was fired with the assistance of Iranian Revolutionary Guards.As of Saturday night, one body had been recovered and identified and three were still missing after elite Iranian troops assisted Hizbullah in firing a radar-guided missile at the INS Hanit (Spear) stationed off the Lebanese coast on Friday. The C-802

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152909850085328282006-07-14T15:43:00.000-05:002006-07-15T19:28:58.666-05:00

It's time for another installment of In Search Of... These are some of the more amusing web searches that have stumbled across my blog. (The previous installment is here.)-can i kick my teenager out?-somalian teenager discussed what would be like go backing their country-putin summit july 2006 st petersburg weather seeds-gestapo torture devices-i used to have a friend-world's ugliest face-moscow

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152891740446369372006-07-14T10:37:00.000-05:002006-07-14T14:44:40.570-05:00

The United States and Kyrgyzstan have reached an agreement over rent for the air base the US currently uses in Kyrgyzstan. The president of Kyrgyzstan had previously made noises that he would ask for $200 million from the US, a ten-fold increase. Well, the US got a bargain, only $150 million.The United States and Kyrgyzstan resolved a payment dispute that had threatened the future of the U.S.

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152814702644119992006-07-13T13:05:00.000-05:002006-07-13T20:57:23.633-05:00

Israel finds itself in a widening conflict, and at these early stages it is difficult to predict when and where it will end. Hamas has provoked Israel from Gaza, and Hezbollah is attacking Israel from Lebanon.It's always useful to keep in mind the following equation: Hezbollah = Iran. Hezbollah was established by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon, and Iran provides funds and weapons to

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152806343667965442006-07-13T10:56:00.000-05:002006-07-13T11:01:07.913-05:00

From REGNUM:On Wednesday, July 12, the Supreme Council of the Transdnestr Moldavian Republic has passed a resolution that defines wording of questions to a republican referendum concerning relations with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Moldova. As a REGNUM correspondent is told in the press office of the Transdnestr parliament, the final wording of the referendum questions is: “1. Do

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152806155165277942006-07-13T10:54:00.000-05:002006-07-13T10:55:55.190-05:00

From RFE/RL:July 13 marks the official inauguration of the $4 billion Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline at the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The pipeline -- which pumps Caspian Sea oil to the Turkish Mediterranean, bypassing Russia and Iran -- should supply 1 million barrels per day by 2009. One of the pipeline's main beneficiaries will be oil-rich Azerbaijan. The country's skyrocketing oil revenues -

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152726911905732342006-07-12T12:48:00.000-05:002006-07-12T12:55:29.653-05:00

Here are some links to some good reading on India, the terrorist threat it faces daily, and past acts.B.Raman of the South Asia Analysis Group has a paper listing 21 points of consideration in trying fit the Bombay attacks into context. For example,8. This is the second instance of multiple explosions in trains. The first was carried out by the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152716979532456012006-07-12T09:55:00.000-05:002006-07-12T10:14:58.456-05:00

From this report from The Hindu News:Duggal said 183 people were killed and 714 were injured. Of the dead, 123 bodies had been identified, he said. However, police officials in Mumbai put the death toll at 190. Officials at the Sion, Cooper and KEM Hospitals said over 40 of the injured are in a serious condition. Police officials said they suspected RDX explosive may have been used in the blasts.

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152651267295771052006-07-11T15:51:00.000-05:002006-07-11T15:54:42.653-05:00

Writing in the Washington Post, Steven Mufson has an excellent summary of the issues surrounding Russia and the way it uses its energy resources as a tool of foreign policy. You'll recognize some themes I touch on from time to time here, and other things I don't often get to. Here's an excerpt:Because much of the Russian gas bound for Europe flowed through the Ukraine route, people in European

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152628959739327742006-07-11T09:40:00.000-05:002006-07-11T11:48:59.270-05:00

Here in the US I don't think we are nearly mindful enough of what India faces on a day to day basis. There is violence daily in India or Kashmir, involving terrorists, Maoists, or other radicals.Today there is news of a serious terrorist attack in Bombay (Mumbai).Seven explosions hit Bombay's commuter rail network Tuesday evening during rush hour, ripping apart train compartments, officials said.

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152579578220143002006-07-10T19:43:00.000-05:002006-07-10T20:06:29.993-05:00

I'm reading Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden. It's a riveting book about the Iranian hostage crisis that began in November 1979. The book also covers the failed rescue mission.I came across this passage on page 246. It seemed relevant, given the NY Times's near seditious acts lately.A student would be allowed to make an opening and closing statement. Nilufar Ebtekar was choses by the

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120189.post-1152554845507842912006-07-10T13:04:00.000-05:002006-07-10T13:08:15.806-05:00

Esquire Magazine has a gripping article by C.J. Chivers on the Beslan hostage tragedy. It is based on eyewitness accounts of people caught up in the horrific events.Not always easy to read, it is a vivd portrayal of the nature of terrorists.As mentioned in the previous posts, one of the planners of this, Shamil Basayev, was killed by Russian forces.But can there ever truly be justice for such an

Jeff Koubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08443715657019956926noreply@blogger.com0