Tribesmen Flee Western Kenya as Politicos Fight for Dominance

After more than four decades in power, the country’s post-presidential election violence has driven thousands of Kikuyus away from businesses and farms in the western part of the country and into churches and police stations where they wait for evacuation to the country’s central highlands.
Though the attacks came after an 11th hour presidential victory [...]

US Makes Overtures to Sharif in Bid for Stability

Pervez Musharraf has been headed out of power for months now but now, even the US State Department has begun to look for other options in the war against Muslim extremism. Ironically, that search has led to conservative, right wing crusader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
The US “recognizes that, very likely if there [...]

Musharraf Moblilzes the Army for February 18th Elections

Pakistan president, Pervez Musharraf, promised to hold elections on February 18 today in a televised announcement.  Though Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party and husband of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has agreed to participate in the elections, the country’s second-largest party, the Muslim League, called for the dissolution of the [...]

Muslim League to Protest Musharraf’s Election Delay

Pakistani strongman Pervez Musharraf has delayed that country’s general elections until February. The exact date will be announced this coming Wednesday.
Cynics in Pakistan and among the West’s diplomatic corps have said that the decision had been made to allow the fervor surrounding Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to die down and prevent an outpouring of sympathy [...]

Anti-Zardari Faction May Split People’s Party

Nineteen-year-old Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has become the titular leader of the Pakistan People’s Party but his position may become worthless if opponents of his father and co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, opt out.
Though there has been no announcement of a formal split, politicians on the ground fear that a sizable and vocal anti-Zardari contingent may not [...]

Pakistani TV Releases Photos of Bhutto Assassins

PTI, a Pakistani broadcaster, has released photos of two men suspected of having assassinated Benazir Bhutto.

Benazir Bhutto with suspected assassins (bottom)

A young man in glasses is shown with a handgun at Bhutto’s back. The gunman was photographed standing next to a man whom authorities believe to have been the suicide bomber.
On Friday, Interior [...]

Bhutto’s Son to Lead Party From England

Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party announced today that her son, 19-year-old Oxford University student, Bilawal Zardari, has become the titular head of the party. Zardari’s father, Asif Zardari and Bhutto confidant Makhdoom Amin Fahim have been named co-chairmen.

Irish Watering Hole Fades to Black

Highland Avenue reeked of red curries, sugar-crusted gulab jamun desserts and frosted Asian fruit drinks called lassis served in shallow white styrofoam cups but by three in the afternoon, the smell of 99 proof whiskey had sunk into the street in front of the Highland Irish Inn.
A pair of pockmarked doors marred by years of [...]

Mo’ Money in Africa

Michael Bell, a lifelong Philadelphia resident and special-ed teacher, uses his Summer vacation to travel. Give him a couple of beers and a little downtime and he’ll point to five out of seven continents on a map. He has a story for every one.
“Ah! India! ” he’ll say, laughing. “The people are great but, [...]

VA Secretary: Iraq Casualties Could be Worse

On July 7, 2005, Sergeant First Class Jeffrey E. Mittman was conducting operations in his Humvee when an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up. The explosion launched a projectile though the windshield. The object sheared off Mittman’s nose and lips, knocked out all of his teeth and blinded him. Mittman was sent back [...]