Labelling the situation in Syria as “Desperate”, Archbishop El-Sayeh of Antioch has called for negotiations in order to prevent War. As conflict between the Syrian government supporters and opponents is being compared to last year’s fight for control of Libia, the archbishop is pleading for an end to all violence. “Everybody is suffering in Syria Read more
According to The Washington Post and The New York Times the Iraq War has ended—again. But we still have not come to terms with what it has really meant. Those with long memories remember that the first George Bush Gulf War ended as we slaughtered the helpless remnants of the Iraqi army fleeing from Kuwait, Read more
Bullets will not restore peace, says the Evangelical Lutheran church’s Bishop Giegere Wenge. He was referring to the shooting of five men by police at Bumayong. For background to riots in Lae click on the link to the Washington Post. Wenge was addressing a meeting in Lae attended by women and youth groups from churches and ethnic communities Read more
Sic transit Gloria Mundi; the gruesome death of the Muammar Gaddafi, the self styled “King of Kings”, is a dramatic demonstation that cruelty breeds cruelty. There is an ever present danger of becoming, in victory, the very thing we are seek to subdue; evil dies and rises again. It has left many people thinking “Even Read more
Latifa Nabizada’s daughter often goes to work with her helicopter pilot mum. Malalai has flown over 300 missions because the Afghan air force has no childcare facility. Family friendly workplaces take on a whole new dimension when going to work with a parent means heading to the frontline. In some ways Latifa’s story is heroic. Read more
Former US vice-president, Dick Cheney says torturing captured al-Qaids leaders was a necessary step in capturing Osama bin Laden. Speaking ahead of ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Cheney said “enhanced interrogation” produced “phenomenal” results, and he rejected the use of torture undermined the moral authority of the United States. Cheney Read more
The Pentagon has wasted more than $US30 billion on contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan due to shoddy management and a lack of competition, an independent inquiry says.
In its final report to Congress due to be released on Wednesday, the bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting warns that waste and fraud have undermined American diplomacy, fomented corruption in host countries and tarnished the US image abroad.
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Civilian deaths in Iraq rose to 155 in June, and according to US government figures this is the highest monthly number of civilian deaths since 159 people were killed in January 2011. Deaths of Iraqi police also rose to 77 in June, similarly the highest number of police deaths this year. June was also the Read more
One of Syria’s most respected bishops is condemning the violence in Syria but is also defending the Syrian government’s response to the uprising there. He said the insurgents are “fanatics” who seek “destabilization and Islamization.” “The fanatics speak about freedom and democracy for Syria but this is not their goal,” said Chaldean Catholic Bishop Antoine Read more