The Indonesian Government has confirmed the death of Noordin Mohamed Top. He was south-east Asia's most wanted person. He was the mastermind behind a string of terrorist attacks. The Government has been cautious about claiming his death because he was suspected of being killed only a few weeks ago - only for the Government to find out that he had eluded the security forces. This time the Government was taking no chances with premature claims. It would have been useful for him to have been captured alive and then interrogated. After all, he had successfully evaded capture or killing for... Full article »

Tags: Asia, security

This week marks the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II so what better time to review this book which looks at Japanese Intelligence gathering during the late 1930's and through the 1940's. The author Ken Kotani's Japanese origins along with his international education (MA in war studies from Kings College, London) allowed him to gain access to some of Japan's war veterans. Many veterans still live under a cloud of fear that the USA will conduct investigations into their signals intelligence and put them on trial. Kotani reviewed the methods and depth of intelligence gathering strategies used... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 9:58 AM Comment

Tags: Asia, media, reviews, security

Al-Shabaab, the Somalian Islamicist group, has been designated as a terrorist organization in Australia. This brings Australia into line with the US's similar designation (February 2008). Five Australian men were arrested in early August and charged with terrorism-related offences. It will be alleged that they had some connection with Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab is loosely linked with Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda (in terms of wanting a medieval caliph to run the region, this time the Horn of Africa) and it can also be compared with Afghanistan's Taliban (in that it wants the implementation of strict Koranic law and order). In domestic Somali... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:21 AM Comment

Tags: religion, security

The largest loss of life ever sustained by the Australian media industry took place on October 16 1975 at the East Timor village of Balibo. Five journalists were killed by Indonesian troops. A sixth Australian journalist, who went looking for them, was later killed by Indonesian forces in the capital city Dili. The massacre has been back in the news with this week with the preview of the movie Balibo. All the governments that had citizens involved in the deaths have refused to reveal all that they know. It has been difficult to get to the bottom of it because... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:23 PM Comment

Tags: Asia, Australasia, conflict, reviews, security

Rating:

• Currently 3.7

Al Qaeda has vowed "dreadful revenge" on France over suggestions that France may ban the burqa. The burqa is the full-length woman's dress that leaves only a small gap in the facial covering, which is often a mesh net for breathing and seeing where she is going. French MPs have now set up a commission to decide if it should be made illegal for women to hide their faces in public. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has endorsed the move. Al Qaeda's North African network have called on French Muslims to react with "the utmost hostility". They see this as a... Full article »

Tags: religion, security, sociology

The face of conflict is changing. If you would like to know more, come along to the Macquarie University Library on Thursday 28th May at 6pm and hear Dr Suter, author of "All About Terrorism" talk at this free lecture which is open to the general public - no booking required! Download the flyer here : understanding terrorism talk may 09.pdf... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:05 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, Keith Suter, law, security

On February 16th 2009 the Eminent Jurists Panel released their report 'Assessing damage, Urging Action' to enable governments "to re-examine laws and ensure that the high standards of Australia's rule of law has not been unnecessarily trampled by the political imperative to be seen to be doing something" according to John Dowd AO QC, President of the International Commission of Jurists Australia. Work to compile the report commenced in the wake of the 9/11 attack on the US to restore, as much as possible, human rights standards set aside by such laws. The Eminent Jurists Panel is comprised of some of the... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 2:41 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, law, religion, security, sociology

Download The Report Here: assessing damage urging action.pdf    Background and Executive Summary of the Report: This investigative report assesses the damage caused by terrorism and counterterrorism measures and urges immediate action. The panel underscores the compelling need to bring counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices into line with human rights law. Without decisive remedial action now the damage done to the human rights framework risks becoming permanent. The Eminent Jurists Panel is an independent eight-member panel of international jurists, convened by the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) to conduct a global inquiry into the compatibility of counterterrorism laws and... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 1:26 PM Comment

Tags: law, security, sociology

This fascinating book outlines how a mix of effective Public Relations and ineffective political leadership can lead to disaster. While Yugoslavia's borders had shifted over the years since its inception, the republic remained relatively peaceful and united under the communist rule of Tito. After Tito's death in 1980, a string of leaders followed, all of which struggled to deal with the vast range of ethnicities and heritages that made up this great land. In addition, the fall of communism provided the catalyst needed to hammer the nails into the lid of Yugoslavia's coffin. Slovenia the first to declare independence in... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:05 AM Comment

Tags: Europe, media, religion, reviews, security

It is quite extraordinary that so many people are bemused by goings-on in the Middle East. It's all quite simple really. There are many theories as to how the US became so heavily involved in the Middle East. One US president thought it was a district of New York but the real breakthrough came when a US petrol retailer realised the virtues of a totally integrated supply chain. The invasion of Afghanistan has been brilliantly successful at driving the Taliban out of the country. Unfortunately it has driven them into Pakistan, which is now in imminent danger of being renamed... Full article »

Tags: Asia, entertainment, Middle East, security

If you have ever wondered why some people are success magnets while others seem to repel it at every turn then this book is for you. The "art" or rather "Science" of persuasion can be practiced and learned by working on the ten skills laid out in the pages of this book. Kurt Mortensen founded the persuasion institute in 2001 after working in the area of persuasion and influence for over fifteen years. The book works on the principal that if you push they will resist and offers the reader some seemingly passive yet powerful ways of getting your audience... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:10 PM Comment

Tags: health, media, reviews, security

On April 21 2009 I was the Celebrant for the funeral service at Newtown and Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland for Joan Carey, a peace activist I had known for over three decades. Here are my opening remarks for the funeral service: Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 7:05 PM Comment

Tags: conflict, law, peace, science, security

I don't normally comment on movies but a political blog on world affairs should have something to say about the Oliver Stone "W" movie, starring Josh Brolin. Full article »

Tags: America, conflict, Middle East, security

US Vice President Joe Biden, speaking at a NATO leaders meeting this week, has foreshadowed a new strategy for Afghanistan. It remains to be seen whether it will be an effective one. The intention is to do a deal with moderate elements in the Taleban and try to split the Taleban movement. This is a traditional British approach (most notably recently in Northern Ireland). The intention is to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict and to look for the guerrilla elements that are tired of the fighting and so are willing to consider a compromise deal. (The “true believers”... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 8:20 AM Comment

Tags: America, Asia, security

Rating:

• Currently 4

Two British soldiers have been killed in Northern Ireland. This is the first fatal attack on British soldiers in just over a decade. We will know in the next few hours days whether the Real IRA (which has claimed responsibility) will be able to trigger a fresh round of violence - or whether the communities will remain calm. The shooting is a litmus test of the success of the remarkable NI Peace Process. I was in NI in the 1970s and I could see the level of hatred in parts of both communities. But we should not over-estimate the level... Full article »

Tags: Europe, media, religion, security

Rating:

• Currently 3

The news that broke on Tuesday night Australian time was a worrying development in the history of terrorism in Pakistan. Cricket is the glue that holds East Asia together, a cultural glue that transcends religion, class and education. What was once sacred seems to now be fair game, a line has been crossed. One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. The group responsible for this attack may soon find that sympathy for their cause diminished with each bullet fired.... Full article »

Tags: security

The youngest country in the world is getting ready for independence. East Timor will shortly be free. Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 2:45 PM Comment

Tags: Asia, law, peace, security

A French tourist has just been killed by a bomb explosion in Cairo. Another 17 people (also mainly foreign tourists) have also been wounded. Full article »

Tags: Africa, America, Asia, law, Middle East, religion, security

Stella Rimmington talks about her former role at MI5 and the impact of the media attention on her and her family. Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 2:19 PM Comment

Tags: security

Have human rights become a victim of the so-called War on Terror? Two recent developments would suggest that this has in fact happened. Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 1:51 PM Comment

Tags: law, security, sociology

Rating:

• Currently 4