1209-2005f
FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analysis from all around the world’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç / e-mail : sbahadir@bilkent.edu.tr - Subscribe to FPR
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H1 Slate How To Withdraw: Three plans for leaving Iraq: Which is best? Fred Kaplan -

New York Times Qaeda-Iraq Link U.S. Cited Is Tied to Coercion Claim
Iraq's Powerful Shiite Coalition Shows Signs of Stress as Parliamentary Elections Loom
Geopolitical Diary: Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 Stratfor
Washington Post Where's The Oil Money? By David Ignatius

The American Interest Magazine Winter 2005

Washington Times Pentagon sticks with 2-war plan The Pentagon, in a major four-year decision, has decided to stick with having the capability of being able to fight two major conflicts at once,

KnightRidder Pentagon plans fewer soldiers in Iraq after Iraqi elections

UPI Walker's World: Asia's new map lacks U.S.

Guardian Band of Brothers Simon Tisdall: The Muslim Brotherhood's success will reverberate around the Arab world.

Israel should move to Europe, says Iran's leader Ahmadinejad casts doubt on the historical authenticity of the Holocaust.

CSM Despite domestic waves, Iran will keep its president By Abbas William Samii

The Times The Tories have chosen the right man – and what a disaster that will be Anatole Kaletsky Mr Cameron represents the victory not of Blairite ideology but of Mandelson-Campbell spin: the ultimate triumph of style over substance

H2 CONGRESS STARTS TO WORRY OVER KURDS Middle East Newsline Some in Congress envision a scenario in which Turkey's large Kurdish minority would seek to join any Iraqi Kurdish state.

RFE/RL Relative Peace Underscores Issue Of Kurdish Region's Future

Iraq Parliamentary Elections Fact Sheet

Syria: Damascus Plays DodgeballStratfor

SlateToday's Papers / Blogometer realclearpolitics – ABC’s The Note - Early Bird thru GovExec - antiwar.com / Wikipedia / technorati

Talking Turkey, it's full steam aheadThe Age, Australia -

The Economist The EU's agricultural policy Europe's farm follies

Iraq's election Who will run the show next? The West and most neighbouring Arab countries want secular-minded parties to do better, but the Islamists, egged on by Iran, will probably triumph again

Financial Times COMMENT: Look further than trade to save Doha Doha could become the first big multilateral trade negotiation to fail since the 1930s. Its collapse would have severe consequences for the world economy, writes Fred Bergsten, director of the Institute for International Economics

COMMENT: Land: a suitable case for taxation By Samuel Brittan Of all the three traditional factors of production – land, capital and labour – land is the most obvious object for taxation

COMMENT & ANALYSIS: A new sphere of influence: how trade clout is winning China allies yet stoking distrust

MEMRI Newly-Released Video of Al-Qaeda's Deputy Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri's Interview to Al-Sahab TV

Testimony on "Using Open-Source Information Effectively" before a House Homeland Security Subcommittee
H3 Turkey and Europe

Turkey and the U.S.

Greek press on Cyprus and Turkey

Turkey and the Middle East

Turkey, Russia, Caucasus, C. Asia

Ext links-Google News Turkey –Turquie- Türkei - Dış Basında Türkiye - İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası - Kurdish Media - FPR Archive - Quickread - Google News - Iraq -Iran - Syria – Kurdish - Greece - Cyprus – Azerbaijan - Israel - BBC Turkish 0700 -TurcoPundit - Mideastwire.com -
Iraqi&Regional MediaMonitoring -

Problems with Kurdish democracy: Unrest in Duhok

Islamic Republic of Iran continues oppression and assassination of innocent people in Kurdistan Press relase from Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

IRAQ: KURDISH PRESIDENT OFFERS REFUGE TO CHRISTIANS

Birand Looking for a new Kurdish policy

Turkey: Pamuk Trial Tests Commitment to Free Speech

Armenian Parliament Extends Mandate Of Iraq Force

Official: Baku Could Cut Back On Russian Gas

Turkey: the next big trade destination?

ICFTU report examines the effects of trade liberalisation on textiles and clothing industries Publication/Download details

CCC Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Paper Tiger or Regional Powerhouse? by Jefferson E. Turner
H4 New York Times Qaeda-Iraq Link U.S. Cited Is Tied to Coercion Claim Officials said an inmate in Egyptian custody made up details about ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda in order to escape abuse.
Iraq's Powerful Shiite Coalition Shows Signs of Stress as Parliamentary Elections Loom Cracks are forming in the once virtually monolithic religious Shiite establishment, as its leaders battle one another for position on the eve of the Dec. 15 elections.
Rice Appears to Reassure Some Europeans on Treatment of Terror Detainees
Croatian Suspect In War Crimes Is Arrested in Canary Isles
Move Israel to Europe, Iran Leader Suggests
Britain's Top Court Rules Information Gotten by Torture Is Never Admissible Evidence

Putin Presses Ukraine to Pay Market Price for Natural Gas

Krugman The Promiser in Chief
Both supporters and opponents of the war in Iraq now argue that by moving so slowly on reconstruction, the Bush administration missed a crucial window of opportunity.

Running Out of SteamBy David Brooks Brooks writes that while conservatives may be in power, the conservative movement has stalled. Polls show Americans trust Democrats more on the economy and other social issues. The issues that initially propelled conservatives to power have receded. The movement has been subsumed into the Republican Party, which has political not ideological priorities, and conservatives have gone soft with success. Still, a new generation may produce better leaders--and the left remains unelectable. Link to full text in primary source.
H5 Washington Post Where's The Oil Money? By David Ignatius, If you've been wondering what happens to that extra money you're paying at the gas pump, take a stroll amid the skyscrapers and super-luxury hotels of this desert emirate, which is becoming the global economy's biggest boomtown.

Man for a Glass Booth By Charles Krauthammer, Of all the mistakes the Bush administration has made in Iraq, none is as gratuitous and self-inflicted as the bungling of the trial of Saddam Hussein.

E.U. Leaders and Public Differ on Pullout in Iraq Power Structure Supports U.S. Presence Despite Widespread Calls for Withdrawal

Europeans Search for Conciliation With U.S. Some States Are Assuaged By Rice on Prison Policy

Many Words, Little Clarity From Rice By Eugene Robinson Condoleezza Rice seems to offered our European allies only one clear message: Shut up and don't ask too many questions

Iran's Leader Voices Doubt on Holocaust

Chinese Police Kill Villagers During Two-Day Land Protest

U.S. Military Probing Video Of Road Violence
British Contractors Appear To Shoot at Iraqi Civilians

Top Croatian War Crimes Suspect Is Arrested

In Kabul, a Stark Gulf Between Wealthy Few and the Poor


H6 Guardian This faltering trial has put Saddam back in chargeJonathan Steele: His appearance in the dock is doing little to bring reconciliation or truth. It's not even certain that justice will be done.

Band of Brothers Simon Tisdall: The Muslim Brotherhood's success in Egypt's parliamentary elections, which came to a turbulent end yesterday, will reverberate around the Arab world.

Israel should move to Europe, says Iran's leader Ahmadinejad casts doubt on the historical authenticity of the Holocaust.

Life under siege in a divided cityPalestinian families driven from homes by settlers in 'cleansing' of Hebron in the West Bank.

Islamic leaders unveil action plan for 'nations in crisis' Leaders of 50 Islamic countries adopt an ambitious plan to combat extremism and poverty throughout the Muslim world.

'Shades of Srebrenica' overshadow Nato's mission The Srebrenica massacre casts a shadow over Afghanistan as the Dutch demand guarantees for their troops.

No torture, please, we're BritishAnti-terror laws: There are few better examples of the poison which anti-terrorist laws are capable of leaking into the criminal justice system than the appeal court judgment of 16 months ago.

Terror policy in chaos over tortureGovernment must show that evidence obtained under torture has not been used in up to 30 cases.

Croat held on war crimes chargesCapture of Ante Gotovina paves Croatia's way to EU entry.

Climate change theory barks up wrong tree, study shows Science: Climate scientists warn that expanding forests in temperate zones could add to global warming.
H7 The Economist European migration The brain-drain cycle Europe's commendable migration from east to west

Books of the year 2005
Peerless pages
Most of the news on climate change is bad. But not all of it: leader
Weekly Standard Too Much "Help"? Things look promising in Kosovo, despite the tender ministrations of the United Nations.by Stephen Schwartz
A 'Tet' Moment Coming - Patrick Buchanan, Creators

Purple Fingers of Freedom - Clifford May, Scripps-Howard News Service

In Defense of Howard Dean's Comments on Iraq - John Judis, The New Republic

Why Malaya is no model for Iraqby Caroline Elkins

John Kerry - United States needs to reduce its forces in Iraq by “at least 100,000” by the end of 2006.

Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Defends U.S. Iraq Strategy
H8 UPI Iraq election to usher in critical period The Iraq elections will establish the government for the next four years and will begin the process of amending the constitution, for better or for worse.
Analysis: Saudi king seeks to fill leadership vacuum
ITNI Bush Must Develop Realistic Plan for Middle East By Hossein Askari Five steps to take that would help the Middle East prosper.

BBC Iran's president says move Israel Ahmadinejad says that Germany and Austria should give up land to host Israel.

Way ahead? Egypt's polls may point to an Islamist future, says Jeremy Bowen
Daily Star Islamic nations vow to combat extremism

Take advantage of the Brotherhood's gains By Nathan J. Brown

Egyptians will not wait forever for Mubarak's promises to be fulfilled
US Considers Pulling 30,000 Troops From Iraq
H9 Ha’aretz – Poll: 62% of Likud voters, 42% of Laborites support Kadima

Schiff - The hope that turned false Abu Mazen is far from being a supporter of moderate Zionist ambitions, but he reached the conclusion that the Palestinian struggle for achieving independence cannot be conducted through terror.

Brazil probing if Eichmann aide is hiding in country Alois Brunner, 95, is believed to have lived for 40 years in Syria before moving to South America

Daily Star How might Israeli and Palestinian elections affect one another? By Yossi Alpher

Israel expands arsenal to prepare for possible nuclear war with Iran
H10 Christian Science Monitor Musharraf calls for 'Muslim renaissance' Muslim summit in Mecca also hears calls to ban groups preaching violence

Despite domestic waves, Iran will keep its president By Abbas William Samii

America's soft power in Kazakhstan

Congress torn over Iraq endgame
House Democrats are split over the call to withdraw troops; Republicans are putting pressure on the White House.

BBC US blocks ICRC access to suspects The US admits for the first time that it has not given the Red Cross access to all detainees in its custody.

BBC Islamic challenge? French Muslims test 100-year split between Church and State

Asia Times Taken for a ride in the 'war on terror' Pakistan is under constant pressure to keep up its end of the bargain with the US in the "war on terror". In return for juicy material rewards, Islamabad has to deliver on a plate al-Qaeda-linked suspects. This it has done with zeal, in quantity if not in quality. Now US intelligence has cottoned on, and is turning away Pakistan's "useless" prisoners.

H11 IHT Blairism without Blair PHILLIP BLOND AND ADRIAN PABST Tony Blair's heir apparent, Gordon Brown, appears taciturn, secretive and bureaucratic.

Letter from Brussels: Going global is answer for EU, Barroso believes

Russia's NGOs: It's not so simple NIKOLAS K. GVOSDEV Instead of criticizing the Russian government, it would be more constructive to offer the benefit of North American and European approaches in terms of regulating nonprofit groups.

The struggle to be 'normal' MICHAEL JUDGE Koizumi should devote his remaining months in office to an honest reckoning of his nation's wartime history.

Washington Times Continent adrift The European Union has suffered so many ignominies and defeats in preceding months that chronicling them may seem an exercise in schaudenfraude. Unfortunately for Europe, the EU is in the throes of yet another crisis.

BBC Croatian fugitive held in Madrid

Europe's pollution hotspots shown Dutch scientists put together new maps of pollution over Europe and other regions of the globe.

H12 RFE/RL Uzbek President Slams Export Of Democracy
EDM RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AGREE TO DISAGREE ON GAS SUPPLIES
- JUDGES ALLEGE THAT SAAKASHVILI'S TEAM IS PURGING GEORGIA'S JUDICIAL BENCH
- ARE THE TALIBAN RECEIVING OUTSIDE HELP IN THEIR RESISTANCE EFFORTS?
- EUROPEAN UNION'S CFSP UNRAVELS AT OSCE

ITNI Vladimir Putin on Russian Energy Policy By Harley Balzer Could Russia offer part of the solution to America's energy security issues?

Russia Turns the Corner in Chechnya By Nicolai N. Petro The Parliamentary elections held in Chechnya has given Chechens new hope for peace and prosperity.

H13 The Times The Tories have chosen the right man – and what a disaster that will be Anatole Kaletsky Mr Cameron represents the victory not of Blairite ideology but of Mandelson-Campbell spin: the ultimate triumph of style over substance

War crimes fugitive caught as he dines in style on holiday isle

WSJ Iraq's Post-Saddam Economy A brutal kleptocracy gives way to transparency and growth. By ROBERT M. KIMMITT

After France By Walter Laqueur After the riots in France, the author looks at the odds of unrest in other countries. Contributing factors include respect or fear of legal authorities, the physical layout of the areas where minorities live, budget cuts that affect immigrants, and how vested immigrants are in maintaining peace for the good of their business. The author says a new Europe is emerging. He wonders what it will look like as the Old Europe dies and new blood infuses its cultures. Link to full text in primary source.

The Symbolism Behind a Meaningless Summit America needs to insist on being at the table for the next East Asian Summit. By KURT M. CAMPBELL

Washington Times Allies see benefits in Iraq missions Joining the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq has brought real military and diplomatic benefits that help offset the cost in blood and treasure, top officials from three East European allies said in interviews this week.

NRO Andrew C. McCarthy: Why wasn’t the 9/11 commission able to investigate Able Danger?

H14 Financial Times Soaring revenues push Middle Eastern producers to invest in energy sectors With oil prices tripling over the past six years and generating enormous extra revenues for producers, countries in the Middle East are investing heavily in their energy sectors. In places such as Algeria, Qatar and Libya, international groups are gaining part of the windfall, but in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, high oil prices have reduced big foreign oil companies’ chances of playing a significant role in oil extraction soon

COMMENT: France picks up the bill as Chirac puts up the barriers By Philip Stephens Stand back from the heat of the argument and the EU budget becomes a sidebar, albeit a rather unedifying one, to the bigger story of Europe’s collective nervous breakdown.

COMMENT & ANALYSIS: A new sphere of influence: how trade clout is winning China allies yet stoking distrust China’s political clout in Asia is starting to match its economic pull – something that will be at centre stage at next week’s pioneering meeting of the leaders of east Asian nations.

Egypt’s Islamists seek to lift ban after poll gainsEgypt’s opposition Muslim Brotherhood says it will use record gains in legislative elections to press for the abolition of laws restricting opposition activity and which prevent the Islamist movement from functioning legally

Leader Egypt's Islamist gains The Egyptian regime of Hosni Mubarak used every trick to try to manipulate the month-long parliamentary elections that ended this week. Ballot boxes were stuffed and...

COMMENT: America cannot circumvent the law on torture No amount of legal acrobatics is a defence to gross violations of international law, writes Philippe Sands, professor of law at University College London.

Postwar reconstruction effort 'will be fully in Iraqi hands next year'

Jewish homeland in Europe, says Iran's leader
H15 Los Angeles Times Editorial

Financial Times COMMENT: Look further than trade to save Doha Doha could become the first big multilateral trade negotiation to fail since the 1930s. Its collapse would have severe consequences for the world economy, writes Fred Bergsten, director of the Institute for International Economics

COMMENT: Land: a suitable case for taxation By Samuel Brittan Of all the three traditional factors of production – land, capital and labour – land is the most obvious object for taxation

COMMENT & ANALYSIS: Roads to nowhere Jack Straw has done a fantastic job on those European Union budget negotiations.

Leader Wanted: more white coats in Europe's labs Today the European Commission will issue another gloomy warning that Europe's innovation gap with its major international competitors may be widening.

Brazil tops IIF list of 'investor friendly' nations Brazil is the most investor-friendly emerging market country, in terms of data transparency and investor communications,...

Bush grasps for political dividend from economic revival

COMMENT: Lustrous gold outshines the big currencies

US cuts growth of regulation on business by 70%

Mandelson offers bleak outlook for WTO deal

From Bound Duties to Actual Protection: Industrial Liberalisation in the Doha RoundENEPRI A 51-page working paper offering a CGE assessment of the effects of a multilateral liberalisation of market access for non-agricultural products
H16 KR Issue of illegal immigration divides Republicans

Avian flu outbreak would slam U.S. economy, report finds

US terror watchlist 80,000 names long...

Rumsfeld says 'I have no plans to retire'...

Paper: Lieberman considered for UN post, Rumsfeld slot
General Confirms Secret Pre-9/11 al-Qaeda Investigation


H17 Daily Telegraph Leader Nato in Afghanistan Against political progress in Afghanistan must be set a decidedly patchy security situation and the pervasive corruption of the narcotics trade. Nato faces a daunting long-term commitment, which flows from its invoking Article V - that an attack on one or more members shall be considered an attack on them all.

Annan lied about son's role Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the United Nations, lied about what he knew of his son's business activities at the time of the Iraq oil-for-food programme, according to the senior investigator examining his conduct.

Torture law victory Seven law lords have agreed that torture is not acceptable, as Britain's highest court unanimously allowed an appeal on behalf of 10 suspected terrorists.
H18 Independent Hot air: Summit closing with no sign of progress
Since the UN climate conference began 11 days ago, the seas have risen by 0.077mm, 1,176 million barrels of oil have been pumped, 280,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed, and 907 million tonnes of greenhouse gases have been discharged. So what have 11 days of talks achieved?
Bush 'must not stand in the way of new Kyoto deal'

Britain 'trying to stall £1.3bn theft inquiry that could hurt Allawi's election chances'
H19 Testimony on "Using Open-Source Information Effectively" before a House Homeland Security Subcommittee

Congressional Research Service in "The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan and Enhanced Base Security Since 9/11”

Rand Corporation Using State and Local Intelligence in the War on Terrorism

Chatham House paper examines relationship between science, politics and public opinion Report full text [PDF]
H20 SlateHow To Withdraw: Three plans for leaving Iraq: Which is best? Fred Kaplan

Base Hypocrisy: Why did the U.S. send millions to a dictator who kicked us out?
Nathan Hodge


The Propaganda Presidency of George W. Bush - Jacob Weisberg

H21 New Republic The case against Munich Steven Spielberg's new movie is hollow, tedious, and desperate not to be charged with a point of view.by Leon Wieseltier

System Would Allow Bet After BetBoosted by technology that makes it easier to take bets on every play in a sporting event, gambling-technology firms are close to launching new products they hope will entice gamblers to keep wagering throughout hours-long games.


Wikipedia of the Day -
Ext links Blogs - memeorandum - Slate's Today's Blogs - Blogometer - Juan Cole - Kevin Drum - Belgravia Dispatch - Thomas P.M. Barnett
Joshua Marshall - Daniel Drezner - Laura Rozen - the washington note - Syria Comment - David Corn - William Arkin - Phil Carter - Helena Cobban - Matt Yglesias - Oxblog - Brad DeLong
winds of change - - CounterterrorismBlog OutSide the Beltway - InstaPundit - Kausfiles - andrewsullivan.com - Becker Posner-- armscontrolwonk - Registan
Turkey Watch  ¶ 11:27