The pattern of Russian actions and statements that point to its faltering commitment to the Assad regime (accompanied by speedy denials and backtracking) has accelerated in recent weeks.
China has in the past protected its ally by vetoing any council action against the country, and its decision to not only not abstain from the vote but to fully support the resolution is interesting.
Gays, along with other minority groups and political dissidents, have recently been targeted and scapegoated in Russia for perceived challenges to “traditional Russian values.”
France’s decisive unilateral offensive has already revealed the complexity of intervention in the West African country
Stark reminder of how quickly a regional conflict can go very very global.
As punishing as the delay in intervention is for the Malians under the rule of Ansar Dine and other militant groups, the slow pace of the international response may, in the long term, be the best way of ensuring its eventual success.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks but the Taliban is widely suspected to be behind them, as well as similar ones last month in which nine anti-polio workers were killed.
Seleka, an alliance of three separate rebel groups, began their campaign in the north of the country earlier in December, seizing ten cities and drawing closer to the capital, Bangui.
Morsi’s attempt to consolidate power by intervening into the operations of Egypt’s (so far) independent judiciary has been as clumsy as his other efforts.
The rapidly deteriorating situation in the eastern part of the country during the past months has set the stage for an even more tempestuous year ahead.
