Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) — I like this. It’s from yesterday’s New York Times. Senator Christopher Murphy, a Democrat of Connecticut who supports President Joe Biden’s withdrawal, said those arguing to keep troops in Afghanistan were the ones who failed to win the war for two decades and perpetually pushed to stay […]
Afghan Crisis Must End America’s Empire of War, Corruption and Poverty
Viewpoint by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies* NEW YORK (IDN) — Americans have been shocked by videos of thousands of Afghans risking their lives to flee the Taliban’s return to power in their country—and then by an Islamic State suicide bombing and ensuing massacre by U.S. forces that together killed at least 170 […]
Lies About How the Attack on Afghanistan Started
Viewpoint by John Scales Avery* COPENHAGEN (IDN) — The mainstream media, including the BBC, do not tell us the true story of how Afghanistan was invaded by the United States and its allies. Here is a link to an article by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J.S. Davies about the invasion of Afghanistan: https://truthout.org/articles/will-the-voices-of-those-who-were-always-right-on-afghanistan-still-be-ignored/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=0260a0ca-3224-4181-89de-adf54fb583df
Countries Around the World Are Still Ill-Prepared to Deal with Multiple Overlapping Crises
Viewpoint by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP). BANGKOK (IDN) — Over the past two decades, the Asia-Pacific region has made remarkable progress in managing disaster risk. But countries can never let down […]
Paralympics: An Incredible Medium to Create Awareness of the Disabled
Viewpoint by Simone Galimberti Simone Galimberti is Author and Co-Founder of ENGAGE, a not-for-profit NGO in Nepal. He writes on volunteerism, social inclusion, youth development and regional integration as an engine to improve people’s lives. KATHMANDU, Nepal (IDN) — Once again the limelight will be back on Tokyo as the city is hosting the Paralympics […]
Americans, Not the Europeans, Are Dilly-Dallying in The Iran Nuclear Deal
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) — The panic button on Iran is being pressed again. A report by the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), suggests that Iran has taken more significant steps towards developing a nuclear weapon. At the same time the warnings from Israel are coming thick and […]
New Zealand Should Have Stayed Out of the War in Afghanistan
Viewpoint by Keith Locke Former Green MP Keith Locke was the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson. He writes occasional pieces for Asia Pacific Report. This article was first published by The Spinoff, republished in Asia Pacific Report, our partner, on August 19 with the author’s permission. WELLINGTON (IDN) — After the fall of Kabul, the obvious […]
Dwindling Democracy and Press Freedom in Hong Kong
Viewpoint by Jan Servaes Jan Servaes was Head of the Department of Media and Communication at the City University of Hong Kong (2013-2016). He taught ‘international communication’ in Australia, Belgium, China, Hong Kong, the US, the Netherlands and Thailand, in addition to short-term projects at about 120 universities in 55 countries. He is editor of […]
The Human Race Against the Climate Crisis Clock
By Kirsten Mildren The writer is Head of Campaigns & Advocacy, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). NEW YORK (IDN) — On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira […]
Exploring why Afghan Forces Vanished So Fast
Viewpoint by Manish Rai KABUL (IDN) — The Taliban now control almost the whole of Afghanistan including the capital city, Kabul, almost two decades after they were driven out by US troops. It was widely expected that after the United States’ complete withdrawal the Taliban will make significant territorial gains.