Because somebody has to stand up against tyranny and oppressive governments, I disagree with the several African leaders who have parochially condemned the international military coalition aimed at deterring Muammar Gaddafi’s forces and mercenaries who are violently crushing civil protests against an iron-fisted, corrupt and tyrannical regime in Libya. Agreed, military intervention has its pitfalls, but the chaotic international system needs the services of physical security, commercial regulation, financial stability and legal alternative in a backdrop of universal human rights. - Wednesday 23 March 2011

I recall sitting in a West-African classroom in the coastal town of Cape-Coast, Ghana, transfixed by the revelations trickling out of the mouth of my history teacher; amazed that the entire West African region was once the playground of Kings and the vista of colossal empires and dynasties. A noted and evident moral of that history lesson was kingdoms, empires and dynasties naturally rise and fall. - Friday 4 February 2011

The Millennium Development Goals are likely to remain important for the long-term task of eradicating poverty beyond 2015. But development policy is being challenged by a host of issues brought into focus by the quadruple crises of the past three years: the food, climate, energy and financial crises. These crises and their aftermaths require us to “think out of the box.” - Monday 3 January 2011