A Downing Street spokesman said:
"The Prime Minister and President Obama had a 45 minute video-conference this evening, focused on Afghanistan and climate change.
On Afghanistan, the two leaders took stock on overall strategy, and this week's US/UK announcements. They agreed on the importance of combining military and political strategies in Afghanistan, as well as on the need for continued action by Pakistan. They acknowledged good progress on burden sharing, and agreed that they would continue to encourage ISAF allies to do more. The US welcomed plans for a conference on Afghanistan in London on 28 January.
On climate change, they both expressed a commitment to securing a comprehensive accord that has immediate operational effect at the Copenhagen Summit, and agreed to coordinate closely on preparations."
Monday, 30 November 2009
US and UK Criticise Pakistan
Hot on the heels of Gordon Brown's public statement that more needs to be done in Pakistan concerning Al Qaeda, lengthy diatribes appear in two prominent American papers. Geo News reports.
So - Called Terror Experts
It is curious, this world of terrorism and security analysis. I have reported from all over Pakistan, India and Kashmir for the BBC and am familiar with militant terrain as well as army operations. I have interviewed extensively on the ground and got some great exclusives. So when a client asks me to conduct anlysis, many times I have actually been into the area and spoken with key players involved.
But the armchair "terror experts" seem to come from nowhere. One mystifying case is the outfit of the grandson of Thatcher friend Jay Gohel.
Sourcewatch states
"Essentially, the Asia-Pacific Foundation is a family business led by MJ Gohel and supported by his son, Sajjan."
No information appears to have ever been published detailing the Foundation's funding sources. The Foundation does not appear to publish accounts.
There does not appear to be an "Asia-Pacific Foundation" registered either at Companies House or at the UK Charity Commission. Attempting to ascertain whether and how the organisation has been formally registered is not made easier by the fact it has never published a postal address.
The net is mystified as to the qualifications and experience of S Gohel, and some commentators wonder if he has even been to Pakistan, about which he pontificates as an authority.
Newshoggers.com lays into "untrustworthy sources."Of Sajjan Gohel, it says,
"An LSE postgrad student working for a "Foundation" with absolutely no bona fides and run by his dad? That's ABC's "expert"? I could have named them 5 or 6 better qualified experts off the top of my head - all bloggers!"
It is dangerous for the profession of security analysis, which by definition deals with danger and murder, to be carrying those without depth of experience who may just have started up little groups of their own in order to self-project, make a bob or two out of unresearched and superficial opinion, and perhaps to carry certain messages on behalf of others.
But the armchair "terror experts" seem to come from nowhere. One mystifying case is the outfit of the grandson of Thatcher friend Jay Gohel.
Sourcewatch states
"Essentially, the Asia-Pacific Foundation is a family business led by MJ Gohel and supported by his son, Sajjan."
No information appears to have ever been published detailing the Foundation's funding sources. The Foundation does not appear to publish accounts.
There does not appear to be an "Asia-Pacific Foundation" registered either at Companies House or at the UK Charity Commission. Attempting to ascertain whether and how the organisation has been formally registered is not made easier by the fact it has never published a postal address.
The net is mystified as to the qualifications and experience of S Gohel, and some commentators wonder if he has even been to Pakistan, about which he pontificates as an authority.
Newshoggers.com lays into "untrustworthy sources."Of Sajjan Gohel, it says,
"An LSE postgrad student working for a "Foundation" with absolutely no bona fides and run by his dad? That's ABC's "expert"? I could have named them 5 or 6 better qualified experts off the top of my head - all bloggers!"
It is dangerous for the profession of security analysis, which by definition deals with danger and murder, to be carrying those without depth of experience who may just have started up little groups of their own in order to self-project, make a bob or two out of unresearched and superficial opinion, and perhaps to carry certain messages on behalf of others.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
One Year Anniversary of Mumbai Attacks; Security Update
One year on from 26/11 the public in and out of India wants to know about security and intelligence improvements. A writer for the Hindu has compiled this update.
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Al Jazeera International Story Switched to Incendiary Ayodhya Report
A report into the 1992 destruction of the mosque at Ayodhya which sparked hindu-muslim riots in the state of Uttar Pradesh was leaked yesterday so Al Jazeera Int switched to that story. I was prepping in the car on the way into the studio but since I actually covered the aftermath of the story in the 90s and interviewed Ashok Singhal, I could adjust and deliver.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Analysis of the Indian PM's state visit to the US for Al Jazeera International
Getting in ahead of the networks as usual, Al Jazeera International will be setting up a crucial day for PM Manmohan Singh and President Obama and I will be discussing what they are likely to talk about in Washington in the 9am Newshour show.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
With Al Jazeera International on the Deadly Bomb Blasts in Assam, India
Though several broadcasters ran the story on the ticker that today Sunday bomb blasts have gone off in Assam India, Al Jazeera Doha called for a live two-way from London on the subject as to the likely culprits and the reasoning.
The United Liberation Front of Assam has been waging one of the oldest insurgencies in India, since 1979.
Approaching the date in the year, 27 November, when the Indian military launched an offensive on the group and the UFLA was declared a banned outfit,and since two UFLA leaders were taken in for questioning in Dhaka Bangladesh, insurgent action was to be expected.
The ULFA history has also shown that one batallion is pro-talks and prepared to lay down arms, while two more batallions want to maintain armed militancy.
The ULFA traditionally attacks oil and gas pipelines, transport and telecommunications facilities, and security partols/installations. It claims responsbility occasionally but has denied involvement in today's attacks on a police station in Nalbari.
The United Liberation Front of Assam has been waging one of the oldest insurgencies in India, since 1979.
Approaching the date in the year, 27 November, when the Indian military launched an offensive on the group and the UFLA was declared a banned outfit,and since two UFLA leaders were taken in for questioning in Dhaka Bangladesh, insurgent action was to be expected.
The ULFA history has also shown that one batallion is pro-talks and prepared to lay down arms, while two more batallions want to maintain armed militancy.
The ULFA traditionally attacks oil and gas pipelines, transport and telecommunications facilities, and security partols/installations. It claims responsbility occasionally but has denied involvement in today's attacks on a police station in Nalbari.
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