US draws up list of unstable countries

US draws up list of unstable countries
By Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: March 28 2005 21:56 | Last updated: March 28 2005 21:56

US intelligence services are drawing up a secret watch-list of 25 countries in which instability might lead to US intervention, according to officials in charge of a new office set up to co-ordinate planning for nation-building and conflict prevention.

The list will be composed and revised every six months by the National Intelligence Council, which collates intelligence for strategic planning, according to Carlos Pascual, head of the newly formed office of reconstruction and stabilisation.