"Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has given Shia militants in the southern city of Basra 72 hours to lay down their arms or face "severe penalties"."
This was the headline in the BBC website in the last few hours, and with it, expectedly, comes the liberal pacifist condemnation. As The Iraqi army undergoes its first serious expedition since the end of the invasion itself, the militias which hold power have given the obvious, and faked, cries of disbelief and foul play.
This is the first trial of stability for the new pro-western government in Baghdad. Putting its foot down on the militia-backed violent factions of Basra will be a step along the road to stability for Iraq. No matter how much the critics may bemoan such a move with the threat of an outbreak into a wider conflict, forcing the Mehdi Army to lay down its arms may end an era of oppressive governing by militia-backed political parties, and lay the stones for a freer Iraq. I wish Maliki good luck.
Tibet
Possibly the most controversial dinner-time conversations of families around the world are to do with the independence of Tibet, and discussing the recent crisis is no different. China's typical "tanks then talk" policy to dissenters has seemed to pull off again, inviting minimal international response. The most other nations have done is to urge China to undergo more peaceful actions, the result being anywhere between 19 and 140 dead over the past week in Lhasa, center of the riots.
However, despite China's "tanks before talk" policy, this is the first time I have had sympathy with their reactions. With the upcoming Olympics they had attempted to subdue the monks of Tibet, unleashing a furious wave of violence across the province/nation. Tibetans assaulted innocent Han Chinese, burnt their shops and reportedly left the immigrants to die in the flames. I am all for resistance against the oppression of China, but this was not resistance, it was ethnic cleansing with a ferocity not seen outside Africa for many years. China's response, for once, was well-merited, placing stability and safety above the vengeful attacker's 'freedoms'.
I hope one day Tibet gains back its rights as a nation, but in the past week they have sunk to the lever of their opponents.
Mugabe oppression
Another example of this despot's ridiculous continued legitimate tyranny is shown as political opponents are refused to advertise their campaigns on air, practically forcing the haphazard "anti-Mugabe" coalition for the upcoming general election.
Quite frankly the AU has better duties in Zimbabwe then invading the Comoran island of Anjouan to remove a petty new ruler who refuses to step from power. At least it is a step in the right direction. Although the force presented (1,500) is easily enough to overwhelm the island's 400 militia, it is still a meager show of strength for the peace-keeping organisation. The AU, an African organisation resembling a combination between NATO's militancy and the EU's politics, has a long way to go, but is proving a far more effective agent of stability in Africa then the UN ever has been. To the woe of the inhabitants of Darfur however, it is barely enough to police the continent.
