Foreign Press Review - March 02 2006 0302-2006f
FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analysis from all around the world’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç Subscribe to FPR
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H1 The Times Iraq - What's coming next for a country on the brink of a civil war?

G8 to G9: a formula for democracy David Owen With global co-operation under threat, India, China and Brazil could play a crucial part

Washington Post Rhetoric of Unreality Where Is Iraq After Nearly 3 Years of War? By George F. Will, Almost three years after the invasion, it is still not certain whether, or in what sense, Iraq is a nation. Despite two elections, it barely has a government.

We Can't Force Democracy Creating Normality Is the Real Mideast Challenge By Robert D. Kaplan What we have to work toward in Iraq and elsewhere is not democracy, but normality. The more cautious we are in a world already in the throes of tumultuous upheaval, the more we'll achieve.

Face Iraq's Past Phony National Reconciliation Is a Bad Choice By Jim Hoagland,

IHT News Analysis: In EU, nation-state appears to be back Recent efforts by EU governments to protect national corporate icons herald a profound shift in Europe's economic and political landscape

Christian Science Monitor Growing friction separates Shiite, Sunni More Iraqi families flee once-integrated neighborhoods as religious lines harden.

Guardian We must stand up to the creeping tyranny of the group veto Timothy Garton Ash: The arguments around animal rights, Danish cartoons, Livingstone and Irving have more in common than you think.

Asia Times How much chaos can Americans stand? THE MEN: US troops want out - Jim Lobe THE MONEY: When the dollars stop making sense - Mark Engler THE MAYHEM: Civil war all but declared - Michael A Weinstein

Carnegie Endowment, the first chapter from Thomas Carothers' Promoting the Rule of Law Abroad: In Search of Knowledge

Christopher Hitchens review Francis Fukuyama's America at the Crossroads (and the first chapter pdf).

Commentary, an essay on Britain’s Neoconservative Moment, a review of Michael Mandelbaum's The Case for Goliath, a review of John Yoo's The Powers of War and Peace



H2 CSIS - The Iraqi Insurgency and the Risk of CivilWar: Who Are the Players? Anthony H. Cordesman

MEMRI Mar 02 IA# 269 - The Difficulties of Forming the New Government in Iraq

Juan Cole Kurds, Sunnis Attempting to Dump Jaafari Violence...

Foreign Policy Center Understanding Iran (pdf)

Iran's Media Battleground (pdf)

Chatham House report examines strength of the European economy ‘The EU needs a strong economy, not reform’,

Slate Today's Papers Wikipedia antiwar.com technorati

Los Angeles Times Editorial Nuclear sellout The price Bush has paid for closer ties with India is too high.

Up close, Iraq gets blurry By Max Boot There are no pat answers where setbacks and successes exist side by side.

Iraq FM to US: Butt Out of Govt Talks

"Peaking of World Oil Production: The Mitigation Challenge" by Robert Hirsch (116 KB PDF) Prepared for the National Academies of Science

Financial Times COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: Sarkozy sees the need for urgent European debate By Quentin Peel

Leader Loopholes for the EU coach and 25 horses When the seas rise, it is natural to check out the lifelines. Certainly the European Union is now rocked by a protectionist storm.

Drezner Guess which countries are the proudest in the world? --- Click here to see the full paper.

Foreign Policy The Dark Side of China’s Rise China’s economic boom has dazzled investors and captivated the world. But beyond the new high-rises and churning factories lie rampant corruption, vast waste, and an elite with little interest in making things better. Forget political reform. China’s future will be decay, not democracy. By Minxin Pei

hitlers-war.zip + Hitler's War by David Irving (974 pp, Zipped PDF, 3.2MB)
H3 National Review Online Mustafa Akyol & Zeyno Baran: Where are the moderate Muslims? Right here

JTA Criticism of Sit-Down Ruffles Turkey Feathers

Sight and Sight From Turkey, "Valley of the Wolves" has been widely touted as an anti-Western hate film. But isn't it much like any Western thriller - with the roles reversed?

The Kurds and the US KurdishMedia.com - By Hishyar Barzani It might be wise for the Kurds to remain neutral and embark on a global political efforts, to convince states and international public opinion, to recognise “Kurdistan neutrality”

Islamic diplomacy: the way to contain Iran New Anatolian

US: We have no business with PKK terrorists James Jeffrey, the US State Department's coordinator for Iraq…

Do Talabani and Barzani Prefer Civil-War in Iraq?

Ankara faces problems with US over Black Sea request

Turkey sees no need for NATO operation in Black Sea

Black Sea force divides Turkey, US

Iraqi PM Jaferi pushes for second Iraq-Turkey border crossing

Bulgaria Says in Talks for 3rd US Military Base

Ext links- Dis Basinda Turkiye - Google News Turkey –Turquie- Türkei - 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

Turkey learning Euro-speak

EurasiaNet Azerbaijan’s Manat Makeover: Good Times Ahead?BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV It looks like a euro, it’s denominated like the dollar. Azerbaijan’s newly denominated banknotes and coins have been touted as a sign that the oil-rich state has finally come into its own as a regional economic heavyweight with a strong currency. But some observers worry that the government was too hasty in slashing zeroes off old banknotes. Without prior consideration of incoming oil revenues and ongoing economic reforms, the new bills could merely fuel inflation, they say.

Trade, Investment Take Center Stage at Russia-Azerbaijan Summit Putin’s recent visit to Azerbaijan marks a shift in the emphasis of bilateral relations to business and trade.

H4 New York Times Iraqi Parties Want Jaafari Out of Prime Minister Race
Berlin File Says Germany's Spies Aided U.S. in Iraq Despite its denials, Germany provided continuing and systematic support to the war effort, according to a German review.

Save Iraq One Switch at a Time By GLENN ZORPETTE
Every day that average Iraqis lack electrical power is a day the insurgents gain political power.

Taliban Rebels Still Menacing Afghan South Four years after they were ousted, the Taliban's presence across the south is bigger and more menacing than ever.

DAVID BROOKS Harvard-Bound? Chin Up A list of things you can do to get a great education, no matter what college you attend.

Editorial The Dubai Ports Deal
The president can't get away with his usual "trust me" mantra when it comes to the deal that would put a Dubai state-owned company in control of operations at six American ports.

Bush Makes Surprise Stop in Afghanistan on Way to India
Spurt of Violence in Iraq Mutes Talk of U.S. Troop Cuts, but Decisions Loom
Europeans to Meet With Iran on Nuclear Impasse



H5 Washington Post Rhetoric of Unreality
Where Is Iraq After Nearly 3 Years of War?
By George F. Will, Almost three years after the invasion, it is still not certain whether, or in what sense, Iraq is a nation. Despite two elections, it barely has a government.

We Can't Force Democracy Creating Normality Is the Real Mideast Challenge By Robert D. Kaplan
What we have to work toward in Iraq and elsewhere is not democracy, but normality. The more cautious we are in a world already in the throes of tumultuous upheaval, the more we'll achieve.

Face Iraq's Past Phony National Reconciliation Is a Bad Choice By Jim Hoagland, To promote an enforced phony national reconciliation in Iraq built on concessions to Sunni extremists, as Washington has repeatedly attempted, is self-defeating.

Russia, Iran Talks End Without Nuclear Deal
Tehran Urged to Resume Moratorium

Europe Urged to Restrain Foreign Spies

Editorial A Message for Gen. Musharraf

Saudi Group Alleges NSA Eavesdropping
Defunct Charity's Suit Details Eavesdropping

Video Shows Bush Being Warned
Officials Detailed a Dire Threat to New Orleans

H6 Guardian We must stand up to the creeping tyranny of the group veto Timothy Garton Ash: The arguments around animal rights, Danish cartoons, Livingstone and Irving have more in common than you think.

Blaming the British Tehran dispatch: From cabbies to shahs, most Iranians believe political events can be traced back to English interference, writes Robert Tait.

Saddam admits link to killings of Shia villagers World: Ex-dictator ordered Dujail farms to be destroyed · Actions were not a crime he tells Iraq court

Bush renews Bin Laden pledgeGeorge Bush vows to capture Osama bin Laden on visit to Afghanistan.

Four years after fall of Taliban, leader's power barely extends beyond the capital

Leader Short visit but a long haulGeorge Bush's flying visit to Afghanistan yesterday took him to the first place outside the US where the world really changed after the 9/11 attacks.

Foreign agents 'free to hunt' in EuropeEurope has turned into a 'happy hunting ground' for foreign security services, its human rights watchdog warned.

Scientists urge global lab network to detect bird flu
H7 Foreign Policy The Dark Side of China’s Rise China’s economic boom has dazzled investors and captivated the world. But beyond the new high-rises and churning factories lie rampant corruption, vast waste, and an elite with little interest in making things better. Forget political reform. China’s future will be decay, not democracy. By Minxin Pei

Open Democracy - Torture: from regress to redress It’s back, it’s spreading, and it stains us all. Why, how, and is it ever ok? Neal Ascherson looks into the "war on terror’s" dark heart

Lowering U.S. Goals in Iraq - Daniel Pipes, New York Sun
US, India Are Aligning Militarily - Gwynne Dyer, Salt Lake Tribune

The Sewers Of Babylon - Ralph Peters, New York Post

Weekly Standard Why Not the Best for the Human Rights Council? The current proposal for reform falls far short. by David A. Schwarz
H8 BBC No-one else to blame, says Saddam Saddam Hussein tells the court he alone is responsible for the actions of his regime.

Pentagon mulls whether Iraq troop cut possible...

UPI Analysis: Iraq elections prelude to war

Ahmadinejad Mentor Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi’s view on Martyrdom Operations


PINR "Intelligence Brief: Iran Tests Washington's Limits" Full text of report
H9 Ha’aretz – Aluf Benn - Seize the opportunity Lacking policy, Israel is sinking into old habits - a pathetic attempt to manage the Palestinians, examine every one of their projects and checks and play off the politicians in Gaza against those in Ramallah. This is Olmert's opportunity to shake off old ways.

Jordan will also survive Hamas

Jerusalem Post - Eye of the Storm: Teheran writes the script, the US follows it

Daily Star Hostages to Palestine, until when? By Michael Young

No, Hamas won't suffer from a cutoff in funding By Ghazi Hamed

hitlers-war.zip + Hitler's War by David Irving (974 pp, Zipped PDF, 3.2MB)

A look at why Europeans criminalize Holocaust denial. Is freedom of speech a good thing? Depends on who you are.
H10 Christian Science Monitor Growing friction separates Shiite, Sunni More Iraqi families flee once-integrated neighborhoods as religious lines harden.

Iran steps up nukes Talks for a deal with Russia will continue on Thursday. But Iran appears ready to defy the United Nations watchdog agency

The risks of proactive US diplomacy US foreign service officers should encourage elections, not shape them. By Pat M. Holt

Saddam Hussein admits responsibility, but not guilt
Iraq's former leader defended his actions in connection to the execution of 148 villagers from Dujail in 1982.

Evangelized foreign policy?
Conservative Christian organizations have broadened their political activism from a domestic to a foreign focus.

Poll: Troops signal desire to come home Survey of US troops finds that 72 percent want to withdraw within a year.

H11 IHT News Analysis: In EU, nation-state appears to be back Recent efforts by EU governments to protect national corporate icons herald a profound shift in Europe's economic and political landscape

Crouching corruption, hidden fraud By JAMES KU People doing business in China should focus a disproportionate share of their efforts on exploring the risks, not the returns.

BBC Bush finalises India nuclear deal The US and India reach a landmark nuclear power deal during President Bush's visit to Delhi.

South Asia strategy Why the US is keen to nurture ties with India and Pakistan

Spies 'not monitored' in Europe
Europe is a "happy hunting ground" for foreign intelligence agencies, the Council of Europe says.

UPI Interview: Merkel's first 100 days
H12 RFE/RL Iran A Middle Route Out Of The Crisis Russia and Iran have resumed talks on a Russian proposal aimed at ending the standoff between Tehran and the international community. Is Moscow likely to broker an agreement?

Iraq: Parliamentarian Discusses Al-Sadrist View Of Government

Russia: Expert Discusses Moscow And The Islamic World

Montenegro Moves Closer To Independence Referendum

Belarus - Analysis: When Bread Is More Important Than Freedom In the West, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is often portrayed as a deeply unpopular dictator. The truth is a little more complex than that.

EurasiaNet Uzbekistan is Experiencing Calm Before Storm - Expert

EDM MULTIPLE ISSUES MAKE OPPOSITION SEEM ATTRACTIVE TO GEORGIAN VOTERS
- TEHRAN ANNOUNCES NEW NUCLEAR DEAL WITH MOSCOW, BUT CONTENT IS RERUN OF OLD ARGUMENTS

Russia’s population has fallen by 9.5 million in ten years, despite the many thousands of Russians returning from former Soviet republics... more»
H13 The Times G8 to G9: a formula for democracy David Owen With global co-operation under threat, India, China and Brazil could play a crucial part

What's coming next for a country on the brink of a civil war?

Last piece of Yugoslav jigsaw is about to fall off the board The political leaders of Montenegro have given the go-ahead to a referendum on becoming independent from
Serbia

Poison pins, rocks and fake logs: the secret arsenal of a long, silent war

WSJ Iranian Solidarity? A labor movement takes on the mullahs. By ROYA HAKAKIAN

Croatian Justice Reform stalls in a critical EU candidate state. By VESNA SKARE OZBOLT

Asia Times How much chaos can Americans stand? Chaos in Iraq, that is, civil war, serves the US's long-term strategic interests, some ATol writers have argued recently. The question is, how long can Americans - both the troops on the ground and the folks back home - stand it? At home, support for the occupation is at an all-time low. Now comes the news that more than half the US troops in Iraq want complete withdrawal within six months. And at a certain point, the sheer dollar cost of it all is going to become unacceptable.THE MEN: US troops want out - Jim LobeTHE MONEY: When the dollars stop making sense - Mark EnglerTHE MAYHEM: Civil war all but declared - Michael A Weinstein

India seeks a friend, not a patron US-India ties are undergoing a process of considerable contemplation and discourse. With President George W Bush visiting and a proposed nuclear deal on the table, the question is whether New Delhi can buy into the US definition of friendship. - Ehsan Ahrari
H14 Financial Times COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: Sarkozy sees the need for urgent European debate By Quentin Peel Nicolas Sarkozy, whose ambition to become president of France after Jacques Chirac burns more brightly than that of any other French politician, has thrown a small bombshell into the waters of the European constitutional debate.

Non-Shia parties prepare to block Iraqi leader's bid to keep premiership

COMMENT: Neo-cons: a tragic drama in three acts As Iraq continues to deteriorate under US occupation, the issue of how we got into this mess presses ever more urgently, writes Jacob Weisberg, editor of Slate.com

Jumblatt prepares for ‘long battle’ for Lebanese independenceHoled up in his family stone palace in the Chouf mountains southeast of Beirut, Lebanon’s most vociferous anti-Syrian voice is confronting a formidable challenge, a Syrian-Iranian axis that he says is determined to exploit Lebanon in its confrontation with the west.

Leader Loopholes for the EU coach and 25 horses When the seas rise, it is natural to check out the lifelines. Certainly the European Union is now rocked by a protectionist storm.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: An easy-to-grasp exit strategy for Iraq

'Liberator' Bush makes first trip to Kabul

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: A grown-up Brady bunch? Why returns in emerging markets are vigorous - for now Five years ago, it was “why bother?” Now the question global investors are asking is: can we afford to ignore emerging markets? Everywhere there are signs that developing countries are shedding their long-standing reputation as investment destinations of last resort.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: Times were braver a century ago By Joanna Chung

Berlusconi calls for 'grand alliance of democracies'

H15 Los Angeles Times Editorial Nuclear sellout The price Bush has paid for closer ties with India is too high.

Up close, Iraq gets blurry By Max Boot There are no pat answers where setbacks and successes exist side by side.

Iraqi Asks U.S. to Step Back From Talks Iraq's foreign minister cautioned U.S. officials to take a "less visible, lower profile" in talks aimed at forming a new national government

Editorial A trying spectacle
Saddam Hussein's trial is proceeding much like the invasion of Iraq: poorly planned, messier than expected, deadly to participants and far from over

The limits of peacekeeping
By Bruce Jones The U.N. finds itself stretched thin by conflicts in Africa and elsewhere.

U.S. Official Says Taliban Is on the Rise

FT COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: Damage at the heart of Europe's single market By Mario Monti The single market, a key pillar of the European Union since its foundation, is in danger, writes Mario Monti, formerly EU commissioner for the internal market and competition

COMMENT: Why the rules that prohibit torture are so vital now Do the rules prohibiting torture really matter? My answer is emphatically “yes”, writes Cherie Booth, a human rights lawyer at Matrix Chambers

Leader Easy does it in JapanThe countdown to monetary policy normalisation is underway in Japan.
H16 BBC Video shows Bush Katrina warning President Bush was warned of the Hurricane Katrina danger on the eve of the disaster, a video recording shows.
US Poll: 63% Say Iraq War Not Worth Fighting
With Cultural Forces Behind Her, Hillary Can Win in '08 - Dick Morris, The Hill
Salon A deluded king and his court lickspittles - Cut off from reality and surrounded by flatterers like Rice and Cheney, Bush clings to grandiose illusions of heroism. By Sidney Blumenthal
Blogometer realclearpolitics – ABC’s The Note - Early Bird thru GovExec -
H17 Daily Telegraph We need nuclear power and a new generation of boffins Boris Johnson is outraged that the birthplace of Newton, and Boyle, and J J Thomson can't even build its own nuclear reactors any more.

Leader Darfur needs the WestAt the end of this month the mandate for the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur expires but that's just the beginning.
H18 Independent Israeli 'ruler-in-waiting' plans to starve Hamas

DWP report examines impact of EU enlargement free movement of workers on UK labour market Report full text [PDF]

Council of Europe release report on CIA detentions and rendition flights in Europe Press release

International Narcotics Control Board release annual survey of global drug use Press release [PDF]
H19 Heritage Foundation China's Submarine Challenge by John J. Tkacik, Jr. A big buildup leads to big questions about China's intent and the U.S. response.
H20 Slate MacBush: The neoconservative tragedy. Jacob Weisberg

The End of Fukuyama: Why his latest pronouncements miss the mark.
Christopher Hitchens

The New New Republic: A prayer for Franklin Foer, the magazine's incoming editor. Jack Shafer

H21 'Hawks' to use sharksShark brain implants that could turn the fish into "stealth spies" are being studied in a research project funded by the Pentagon

A book of beauty is a joy for ever . . . it will never pass into nothingness

MICROSOFT vows better search than GOOGLE -- soon...


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   ¶ 11:02