Safe Democracy Foundation - Safe Democracy

The escalating tension between Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela is as incredible as it is dangerous. The shaky international community cannot allow an armed conflict to break out in the Andes region, or even a new focal point of tension in the American continent. Rhetoric can turn into drama, states the author.

The Middle East is experiencing a new escalation in the violence between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants. According to the analysts, the only way out involves the reestablishment of a framework for global negotiation between the Israeli authorities and the Palestinian factions of the West Bank and Gaza, an option that could lead to the creation of another National Unity Government, provided that an agreement is reached beforehand. But in order for this to happen, the author states that Israel must renounce its project of getting rid of Hamas by force.

• Alert before the Unreasonableness of Hamas
  por Jana Beris

Pakistani voters have sent a clear signal to Musharraf and the PMLQ: Get out! The author pleads for the political leadership to close ranks and provide a united front against the powerful military-led ruling dispensation, and calls on the West to pressure Musharraf into stepping down. The Pakistani people will benefit from the transition to civilian rule, as will the West, who in a democratic Pakistan will have a bulwark against Islamic radicalism, he argues.

• Can Pakistan turn over a new leaf?
  por Sohail Mahmood
• The aftermath of the Benazir assassination in Pakistan’s politics
  por Sohail Mahmood

With the once-postponed elections almost upon us, the PPP is still riding on the crest of a sympathy wave and will most likely come out on top and reach an agreement with Sharif’s party. However, the United States continues to support Musharraf. The author argues that if this misguided trend continues, Islamic radicals could gain a stronger foothold in the region, which would certainly not aid the American-led global war on terror.

• Why Pakistan is a "desirable" state for radical Jihadism
  por Alberto Priego
• The aftermath of the Benazir assassination in Pakistan’s politics
  por Sohail Mahmood

When it tore down part of the wall at Rafah, Hamas was acting for the party’s own benefit, in an attempt to implement its Islamic Revolution program at the expense of unity between Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The author argues that Israel should lift the sanctions imposed upon Gaza and negotiate a comprehensive peace plan with Palestinian President Abu Mazen for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Neighboring countries such as Egypt should partake in the dialog, and Hamas and other factions must also comply with the peace process.

• Olmert is unaffected by Jerusalem’s storms
  por Mario Sznajder

One of the quandaries facing terrorism analysts today: the jihadist’s dilemma of whether to promote collective or individual action among potential adherents. Although this may appear to be an obscure issue, so specific as to interest only counterterrorism analysts, it is actually a widely applicable and underappreciated topic that could directly impact the type of terrorism Europe may face in the future. As such, it is a concern for all.

Al Qaeda wants to take control of a country and Pakistan presents some ideal conditions: as neighbors it has Iran, Afghanistan and India; it has a conflict (Cachemir) that is considered universal by the Muslims, and, above all, it has an exit to the Arabian Sea which would close the oil traffic of the Golf monarchies, who are considered by Al Qaeda to be the principal source of corruption. Besides, it has nuclear missiles (Ghauri). Benazir Bhutto represented the only democratic option opposing Pervez Musharraf and the Islamist radicals.

The author argues that far from being isolated, Iran is embedded in myriad political and economic relations with global outreach. Sanctioning Iran is thus a futile strategy and needs to be substituted with a systematic effort to establish diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran, once the belligerent Bush and Ahmadinejad administrations leave office.

This is not the first time that the Afghan president Hamid Karzai has offered to engage in dialogue with the Taliban, even if it is the first time that support has been shown from the United States and the rest of the international coalition, as well as the Taliban response. In other words: this is the first negotiation, but with conditions (control of the southern provinces, a timetable for the exit of international troops and the liberation of all prisoners). Why is Karzai’s offer being put forth now when the violence is growing and the Taliban control nearly half of Afghanistan?