‘Freezing’ Lawless Regions Invites Hot Conflict
'Freezing' Lawless Regions Invites Hot Conflict by Brenda Shaffer, Wall Street Journal
The downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17 over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine on July 18 illustrates the dangers that ungoverned territories present to international security. A significant number of territories are currently without an accountable authority and present dangers to their neighbors and others. We need better strategies to get rid of these black holes in the international security system, or prevent them forming…
The convenience of "freezing" conflicts instead of resolving them comes at a cost. These ungoverned territories are centers of illicit activity, including money laundering, counterfeit goods, human trafficking and the drug trade. They are often havens for terrorists and criminals. Individuals inside and outside often derive financial benefit from unregulated economies in these areas, where taxation is nonexistent. Since banks in these regions may not be registered with states, no one is technically running afoul of international treaties and no one can be sued for illicit activity…
