news stories- geopolitics
Separating out the geopolitics from the fun stuff today.
First ever Kosovo passports issued: Prime minister
Kosovo ‘Won’t Stop Serbian Ministers’ Visits’
Failing to start the blue car in Kosovo
More than a month after they were due to take over from UN counterparts, no EU police, justice or customs officials are in the field, mentoring Kosovan colleagues.
Only about 300 of the expected 1,900 members of the Eulex mission are deployed, mostly in a logistical role – and the reason for this is the lack of a legal “umbrella”.
War Fears Rise Over Russia-Georgia Tension
Heavy gunfire in South Ossetia, no injuries
South Ossetia Reiterated Desire for Being Annexed by Russia
Russian railway troops leaving Abkhazia: spokesman
You can’t win a war from the air:
Afghan air war grows in intensity
Responding to requests from ground commanders, allied aircraft over the past week have pummeled enemy ground targets an average of 68 times a day across Afghanistan, dropping 500- and 2,000-pound guided bombs and strafing enemy forces with cannon fire, according to Air Force daily strike reports.
A year ago, the Air Force was recording about 35 airstrikes per day in Afghanistan.
Although the Air Force takes what it says are exhaustive measures to avoid accidental deaths, civilian casualties from airstrikes have spiked twice this year, from none in January to 23 in March to 60 so far this month, according to new, unpublished data from Human Rights Watch researcher Marc Garlasco, a former targeting chief for the Pentagon’s Joint Staff.
Taliban-led insurgents are attacking in significant numbers and staying to fight rather than engaging in traditional hit-and-run guerrilla tactics, according to U.S. commanders.
In several recent incidents, U.S. and allied troops prevailed in pitched battles only after fighter-bombers showed up to blast the insurgents.
