Leni Wild Articles

Afghanistan, Somalia and Zimbabwe are often classified as ‘failed states‘. More surprisingly, Mexico and Pakistan, according to a recently reported Pentagon study,
are both in danger of joining them on future ‘failed states’ lists.
States which are failing or are at risk of failure are increasingly
recognised for their national, regional and global impacts – and, if we
believe the Pentagon, some are increasingly ‘close to home’.

For possibly the first time ever, this year I watched all of the TV coverage of Comic Relief.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of some of the comedy, but
more importantly I found myself moved by the coverage of funded
programmes in the UK and in some of the poorest parts of the world.

At a recent event on international development, hosted by the Global
Campaign for Education, there was seemingly little difference between
the comments of the Labour minister and the Conservative shadow
minister in attendance. Increasingly, on issues concerning developing
countries, there appears to be a general consensus between the two
parties. Cameron has even pledged to continue levels of spending on
international development should he take power.

Intelligence seems to be back in the headlines again. One of Obama’s
first acts as president was to close Guantanamo Bay because, in the
words of his newly appointed head of national intelligence, Dennis
Blair, “It is a rallying cry for terrorist recruitment and harmful to
our national security”. And one of the main responsibilities for Blair
will be to rebuild public trust in the intelligence agencies.