When I think about terrorism, the Philippines doesn’t exactly leap to mind. But apparently, the Southern Philippines has been called Southeast Asia’s Afghanistan.
On Thursday, the Philippine military scored a major victory by killing Southeast Asia’s most wanted terrorist and two other senior militants in a U.S. backed air strike. Zulkifli bin Hir was a top leader of the Al Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah.
Also killed was the leader of the Philippines based Abu Sayaf militants, a group linked to several kidnappings of Westerners in the area. Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0202/Most-wanted-terror-leaders-killed-in-the-Philippines.
Asia is the battleground of the present and future. The ingredients exist for a lengthy battle within Asia. Globalization has proved a game changer within Asia.
You have the modernizing forces of democracy and the Western capitalist culture--in the form of multinational corporations butting up against traditional Asian cultures and the Islamic faith.
There will be great conflict between tradition and modernity that will occupy security analysts for the next lifetime. How this conflict is resolved will likely determine whether the next few decades are grounded in peace or scorched by war.
Showing posts with label Asia.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asia.. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Asia’s Nuclear Cloud
The nuclear disaster at Japan’s Fukushima plant on March 11th 2011 has inspired a new wind to blow concerning the nuclear power industry in Asia.
Nuclear power still has a strong base of support within the region, but mixed public opinion might be indicating a moments reconsideration of nuclear energy within the region.
I believe what we are experiencing is typical post-disaster blowback. Nuclear energy has been hailed as a safe source of energy throughout much of the world.
Enter the disaster at the Fukushima plant where a massive earthquake led to a catastrophic failure at the nuclear plant. Nature will always find a way to out duel the best in human ingenuity, that’s just the way it is.
I am fully onboard with governments in Asia reassessing the role of nuclear power in their states. No one wants to wake up one morning and see thousands of people washed away and nuclear plant workers marching off to sacrifice themselves for the good of the homeland.
Before nuclear power is jettisoned though, governments need to ask themselves two questions: Are there safer alternatives that are ready to provide energy? Secondly, is there any way to make nuclear energy safer?
Fukushima was a once in a lifetime human catastrophe, does it mean the end for nuclear energy?
Nuclear power still has a strong base of support within the region, but mixed public opinion might be indicating a moments reconsideration of nuclear energy within the region.
I believe what we are experiencing is typical post-disaster blowback. Nuclear energy has been hailed as a safe source of energy throughout much of the world.
Enter the disaster at the Fukushima plant where a massive earthquake led to a catastrophic failure at the nuclear plant. Nature will always find a way to out duel the best in human ingenuity, that’s just the way it is.
I am fully onboard with governments in Asia reassessing the role of nuclear power in their states. No one wants to wake up one morning and see thousands of people washed away and nuclear plant workers marching off to sacrifice themselves for the good of the homeland.
Before nuclear power is jettisoned though, governments need to ask themselves two questions: Are there safer alternatives that are ready to provide energy? Secondly, is there any way to make nuclear energy safer?
Fukushima was a once in a lifetime human catastrophe, does it mean the end for nuclear energy?
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