Another post for the site I manage as part of my China and Central Asia work, this time looking at my experiences visiting the Irkeshtam Pass between China and Kyrgyzstan. A fascinating trip, with some of the pictures courtesy of the lovely Sue Anne Tay. The Irkeshtam Border Pass Between China and Kyrgyzstan By Raffaello [...]
Archive for the ‘BLOGS’ Category
The Irkeshtam Border Pass Between China and Kyrgyzstan
Posted: May 23, 2012 in China in Central AsiaTags: Central Asia, China, China and the world, China-Central Asia, China-Kyrgyzstan, Chinese foreign policy, Irkeshtam, kyrgyzstan
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A Xinjiang Trade Fair in Tashkent
Posted: May 19, 2012 in China in Central AsiaTags: Central Asia, China, China and central asia, China trade with Central Asia, Uzbekistan, xinjiang
This is going to become a more regular outlet for my writing. As part of my ongoing work on China in Central Asia, I am going to be producing more content directly for the site that I help co-edit, China in Central Asia with Alex and Sue Anne. Thanks in particular to dear Sue Anne for [...]
The British End of the German al Qaeda Documents
Posted: March 19, 2012 in Free Rad!calsTags: 21/7, 7/7, Afghanistan, Britain's Jihad, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Europe, Germany, Overt, Pakistan, Rashid Rauf, terrorism, UK
A new post for Free Rad!cals this time exploring in some depth documents I have not managed to see first hand yet (hint, if anyone feels like sharing or has more info about them, please don’t hesitate to write!). An admittedly slightly premature piece consequently, but it gives me an opportunity to extemporise about a [...]
When is a Lone Wolf a Lone Wolf?
Posted: March 1, 2012 in Free Rad!calsTags: Al Qaeda, Anwar al awlaki, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, lone wolves, terrorism, US
This is going up a bit late, since have been a bit distracted with other obligations. It also ended up being published after Intelwire and Red State articles on the topic, though I had written it before reading them both (honest!). A long post for Free Rad!cals, something I am trying to return to with some [...]
Peripatetic Jihadi
Posted: February 13, 2012 in Free Rad!calsTags: Afghanistan, French jihad, Jemaah Islamiyah, middle managers in terrorist networks, Osama bin laden, terrorism, terrorist networks, Umar Patek
A new post for Free Rad!cals, this time using the case of Umar Patek, the Bali bomber just going on trial in Indonesia, to explore some bigger themes about terrorist networks that I wrote about in an earlier journal article. I should add that it was also sparked off by the fact that I happened [...]
Muslim Integration: America Must Avoid Europe’s Mistakes
Posted: February 2, 2012 in Free Rad!calsTags: counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Europe, terrorism, UK, US, US foreign policy
Another short blogpost for Free Rad!cals, this time on a topic that has been bugging me for a while. It seems as though the US is making a few unfortunate choices in counter-radicalisation terms that emulate earlier mistakes Europe made, something particularly silly given how much attention they have lavished on studying and criticising Europe’s [...]
Whither al Suri?
Posted: January 26, 2012 in Free Rad!calsTags: Abu Musab al Suri, Anwar al awlaki, AQAP, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, lone wolves, radicalization, Syria, terrorism, Yemen
A post for the long-ignored Free Rad!cals at ICSR. This one looking at the stories around Abu Musab al-Suri’s possible release and the implications of it. Brynjar was kind enough to give me some time to talk about it and I would recommend everyone read his book on the subject if they find the time. [...]
Guest Post: China is the power of the future in Central Asia
Posted: November 24, 2011 in RegistanTags: China, China and the world, China-Central Asia, Chinese foreign policy, Kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, Turkey
Another piece to emerge from our recent travels, it is primarily in response to Joshua Foust’s post that reacted to our big piece for Jamestown on Kyrgyzstan. Many thanks to Joshua for agreeing to post it on Registan.net, a good site for information and comment about Central Asia. Thanks also to the lovely Sue Anne [...]
China has’t yet grown into its role
Posted: November 10, 2011 in InterpreterTags: Afghanistan, Central Asia, China, China and the world, Chinese foreign policy, SCO, shanghai cooperation organization
A new post for the Lowy Institute’s Interpreter blog, this time based on some conversations in Beijing about China’s role in Central Asia. As I have mentioned previously, there is going to be an increasing amount on this topic here in aid of a bigger project I am doing with Alexandros. We had also set [...]
A Rally in Kyrgyzstan
Posted: October 31, 2011 in InterpreterTags: kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan elections, politics
A new post for the Lowy’s Interpreter blog, this time a set of pictures and text from Kyrgyzstan’s election campaign that we got to see during our recent trip to the region and in particular during a stop-over in Osh. A lot more on the topic of China in the region forthcoming (the principle purpose [...]
