0118-2007f - FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analyses from all around the world’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç U.S. / Britain / Turkey / Magazines / Think-tanks / Blogs / Misc /Books / Quickread / Numbers / Reports - FPR Table - Subscribe to FPR

H1 The Times Give us guns – and troops can go, says Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki told The Times that America's refusal to co-operate over guns and equipment had cost a great number of lives | Listen to the interview

The New Bush Strategy in Iraq: Is Victory Still Possible? Source: Center for Strategic & International Studies

Text of Bipartisan Resolution Opposing Iraq War Escalation (pdf)

Senate FRC Securing America’s Interests in Iraq:
The Remaining Options.
Regional Diplomatic Strategy

IHT A bad plan for the Middle East JAMES DOBBINS
In refusing to combine coercion with communication in its dealings with Iraq's neighbors, the Bush administration is making peace in Iraq less likely, and increasing the chances for war throughout the region.

The shifting power equation of globalization JONATHAN SCHMIDT AND HOWARD DAVIES / YaleGlobal The distribution of the globalization dividend may turn out to be the biggest item on the economic agenda of the Western

Talk is Cheap, but Diplomacy Won't Fix Iraq - Ralph Peters, New York Post

America, Supplicant to Iran? By: Hossein Askari | National Interest
Secretary Rice’s stated reason for declining a dialogue with Iran was the fear that the United States might appear to assume “the role of supplicant.” I think Secretary Rice has missed the point: the United States has more problems than appearing to be a supplicant.

Walker's World: The dollar's woes

Guardian A blanket ban on Holocaust denial would be a serious mistake Timothy Garton Ash

History is not preordained: a new cold war can be averted
Mikhail Gorbachev

Mao was cruel - but also laid the ground for today's China
Will Hutton

New York Times Shiite Fighters Arrested in Crackdown, Iraq Says Iraqi officials arrested several dozen senior members of the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia led by the cleric Moktada al-Sadr.

Washington Post A New Chance for Peace? By Jimmy Carter, Israel will never find peace until it is willing to permit the Palestinians to exercise their basic human and political rights.

Maliki Stresses Urgency In Arming Iraqi Forces Need for U.S. Troops Could Drop 'Dramatically'

What Will Iraq Look Like In 2017?

Ha’aretz - Schiff The next IDF chief / Mission: Iran

Background: The stillbirth of Israel's NSC Jerusalem Post

Christian Science Monitor Syria-Israel backdoor talks emerge Hizbullah's growing threat may drive Israel to fashion a peace deal with Syria.

Kurd troops prep for Baghdad tour But will plan to put Kurds into Sunni-Shiite conflict help to stem Iraqi violence?

Financial Times German push on EU treaty divides bloc Political conflict over the fate of the European Union’s constitution erupted again, as the issue divided the bloc and raised the prospect of a new clash between Britain and France.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: A uniform trend? How democracy worldwide is on the back foot

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: 'Civil war' is the wrong term for Iraq - it is a collapsed state

Editorial Candidate Obama Imagine an American presidential candidate who combines the cross-cultural appeal of Tiger Woods with the youthful charisma of John F. Kennedy

Independent Adrian Hamilton: The best size for a nation may be a small one

Cook on how we might be entering into a two-year period in which only the president's veto pen keeps him relevant on domestic issues, and his foreign policy effectively begins and ends with Iraq.

Has America Become a Rogue State? - John Judis, The New Republic What exactly are we doing in the Horn of Africa, where we have encouraged the Christian government of Ethiopia to invade Somalia and replace its Islamic government? As far as I can tell, we have violated international law, committed war crimes, helped Al Qaeda recruit new members, and involved ourselves in a guerrilla war that could last decades.

EDM SHAH-DENIZ GAS BUTTRESSING GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY

- IRAN TAKES DELIVERY OF RUSSIAN TOR-M1 MISSILES

H2 ASAM 2007’e Bakış

Amerika Erdoğan'ı duymazdan geldi
Ankara, Kerkük'te referandumun 'Nüfus yapısı Kürtlerin lehine değiştirildi' diye ertelenmesini isterken, ABD'den tam tersi açıklama geldi: Plan neyse işleyecek

ABD, referandumun ertelenmesine soğuk

US rejects Turkish calls on Kirkuk

Mahmur kampına ABD operasyonu ABD askerleri PKK'nın yönetiminde olan Mahmur kampında arama yaptı. Türkiye'nin Terörle Mücadele Özel Temsilcisi emekli orgeneral Edip Başer, 'Bu operasyon bir sonrakinin altyapısı olabilir' dedi. Kürt kaynakları baskının ABD'nin Türkiye'ye yaptığı bir jest olduğunu söylüyor

Mahmur Kampı
PKK'yla ilişkilendirilen kamptaki arama ne anlama geliyor?

Empty Bluffs: Turkey moves towards its own end Kurdish Aspect

Orgeneral Tuncel: Tatbikat yok, vilayetin tek sorumlusu validir

Savunma Sanayii’nden ’ihbar’ mektubu

A ‘Great Game’ Update by Hugh Pope

Google News Kurdish Kurdish Media

Liderler zirvesi istedi

Kerkük açıklamaları Bağdat'ı rahatsız etti

A.Öcalan: Bugün de tarihtekilere benzer 4'üncü Türk-Kürt Demokrasi ittifakı sağlayalım

Kerkük patladı

Fikret BİLA Bahçeli'nin önerileri

Baykal: Talabani PKK'ya çek git buradan demeli

Kuzey Irak'a ambargo uygulanmasını istiyor

Türkiye meşru müdafaa hakkını kullanmalı

Die Welt Türkiye’de Irak’a olası bir askeri müdahale açık tartışılıyor

Bahçeli Önce diplomasi sonra harekát

Kerkük, Kürt oluyor; petrol gidiyor

ABD'de PKK'lı teröriste destek

POLİTİKA : Emekli Orgeneral Edip Başer:

Öcalan: Anlaşırsak silahları bırakalım

US reasserts support for upcoming Kirkuk referendum

Iraq's Kurds Face Mounting Anger From All Sides

Daimi temsilcilerin gündemi Türkiye

Mahmur Kampı’na operasyon

Kürt Konferansı'na savcılık incelemesi

Turkey's Contradiction in Northern Iraq

Kazanın tek tanığının hafızasını yitirdiği iddia ediliyor

18 Ocak 2007 Basın Özeti

Google News Greece - Cyprus

Şahin Alpay EU Process continuing - Marc Pierini

Almanya'nın hedefi

Merkel'in yoğun AB gündeminde Türkiye var mı?

AB'nin ihtiyacı olan işgücü bizde var mı? Funda Özkan

AB büyükelçilerine Babacan'dan güvence

Papadopoulos: Turkish election year could stall talks

Türkiye 'Yarı Özgür' Olarak Sınıflandırıldı

Taha AKYOL / Bu akşam Şirin'i izleyin

İhsan Dağı Why worry about the future of the nation-state?

Neyi kurtaracağız: İstanbul mu, trafik mi? İsmet Berkan

Piyasa mekanizması çalışmazsa...
Fatih Özatay

Deniz Gökçe IMF programı ile düzelen ülke var mı?

Hurşit GÜNEŞ / Krizden ne kazandık?

Yaman TÖRÜNER / 2007'de ekonomide ne bekleniyor?

Korkmayalım ama... Mahfi Eğilmez

Yurtiçi tasarruflar artmıyor

ALİ BAYRAMOĞLU Türkiye'deki siyasi kriz nasıl analiz edilmeli?

İsmail Küçükkaya
AK Parti’nin kasası doldu

[Yorum - M. Naci Bostancı] Cumhurbaşkanlığı satrancı - 1

CHP'nin bürokrat envanteri çıkaracağını açıklaması, fişleme endişesine yol açtı

Mumcu ve Çiller'in sürpriz görüşmesi

Şahin Babamın oğlu olsa affetmem

Genç Parti'nin ittifak hesapları

Bilal Çetin “ANAP’ın düştüğü tuzağa düşmeyelim” kaygısı...

Erdoğan, Baykal'ın hiç bir sözünü kaçırmıyor

H3 Ruşen Çakır Kâbus gibi bir yıla hazır olun

Cengiz Çandar Kerkük gerçekleri, Kerkük yalanları (1)

Mehmet Ali Birand Kuzey Irak’a müdahalenin faturası çok ağır …

ERDAL ŞAFAK Hatay modeli

ASLI AYDINTAŞBAŞ Müdahale ancak 1959 senaryosunda olur

SOLİ ÖZEL Kerkük

Ortak dil bulmalıyız 41 yıllık istihbaratçı Öneş, "PKK'lı da bizim vatandaşımız. Eleştirmeli, özeleştiri yapmalı, ama doğruyu bulmalıyız. PKK, 3 bin militandan ibaret değil. Politikalarımız başarısız oldu" dedi

Çıkar çatışmalarındaki süreklilik ve bazı sonuçları CEVAT ÖNEŞ

Irak üzerinden seçim kavgası mı?
Murat Yetkin

Çıkmaz Gündüz Aktan

Yasemin Çongar Gözler Kerkük'te

Lale Sarıibrahimoğlu Military offensive and Turkey’s Kurdish fear...

Kürt sorununa baraj anahtarı
Altan Öymen

Kerkük, PKK ve Irak Turgut Tarhanlı

'Türkiye Barışını Arıyor' Tarhan Erdem

Kerkük'e seyirci kalınır mı? Zafer Atay

MELİHA OKUR Kerkük'e yolu Makyol açacak

Semih İDİZ / 'Kürt konferansı' makul yanımızı gösterdi

Sami KOHEN / Meclis'ten beklenen...

Derya SAZAK / Mahmur operasyonu

Sedat Bozkurt The post-election Parliament

‘Cumhurbaşkanı, emin olun bizden, AK Partili olacak’

Güneri CIVAOĞLU PKK'nın göbek bağı

Kerim Balcı Mediation sounds more acceptable than intervention

Yaşar Ağa Nobel'e koşuyor
Hasan Celal Güzel

ABD'den Kerkük desteği yok

2007 Kerkük Paneli-SONUÇ BİLDİRGESİ

Gül: En önemli konu Irak

Turkey reviews Iraq and Kirkuk strategy

Dışişleri Irak’ı masaya yatırdı

Türkiye, Ortadoğu elçilerini topladı

Büyükanıt 11 Şubat’ta ABD’ye gidiyor

ABD askeri Mahmur Kampı'nda

Beyaz Saray-Bağdat hattından jet yanıt

[Yorum - Richard Falk] Bölgesel savaşın ayak sesleri!

Hasan CEMAL / Hepten çıldırmak!

İbrahim Kalın Iraqi reconciliation

President Bush’s Iraq policy renewed

Fatma Dişli The March 1 motion: A missed opportunity?

İlnur Çevik Storm in a tea cup or is there more to this?

Vedat YENERER Kerkük’e müdahale edin

Ortadoğu'da bir melek bile zorlanırdı Patrick Seale

İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası

Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri - Dış Basında Güncel Türkiye Bülteni

Dış Basında Irak BBC Turkish 0700

Dış Basında Türkiye Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey Turquie Türkei TurcoPundit

Yalçın Doğan Her yerde Kerkük aşkı

Mehmet Y Yılmaz Hamasi nutukları bırakmanın zamanı geldi

Mahmur'a operasyon

Burns bugün Ankara’da

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL Büyük şoka hazır olun!

Yusuf KANLI No to war games with toy guns

Deniz Ülke Arıboğan
Türkiye’nin güvenliği

Oktay EKŞİ Yol haritası...

CHP turns chauvinist and ultra-nationalist Semih İdiz

Şamil Tayyar Felaket senaryosu

Salih Neftçi Kuzey Irak’a müdahale ve uluslararası imajı (2)

Mustafa Erdoğan İncinmiş gurur ve milliyetçilik

Sedat Bozkurt

Erzurum to host 2011 Winter Universiade

H4 New York Times Shiite Fighters Arrested in Crackdown, Iraq Says Iraqi officials arrested several dozen senior members of the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia led by the cleric Moktada al-Sadr.

Iraqis Answer Global Critics by Tackling Troubling Issues

H5 Washington Post A New Chance for Peace? By Jimmy Carter, Israel will never find peace until it is willing to permit the Palestinians to exercise their basic human and political rights.

Maliki Stresses Urgency In Arming Iraqi Forces Need for U.S. Troops Could Drop 'Dramatically'

What Will Iraq Look Like In 2017? The people of Bosnia and Rwanda overcame genocidal wars to build their future. Iraq can do the same. More PostGlobal

William Arkin All Over the Globe, the New, New Strategy is to Pile On

Bipartisan Senate Measure Confronts Bush Over Iraq

Editorial He's In Barack Obama enters -- and transforms -- the Democratic presidential race.

Congressional Procession of Iraq Proposals Likely to Lead Nowhere

Dan Fromkin Is Failure an Option?

Anatomy of a Wrong Approach By David S. Broder, The question is not whether we have the stomach for the fight but the brains to figure out what to do in Iraq.

Clinton Steps Up Criticism of War in Iraq

Senator Rejects Bush Strategy but Steers Clear of Timetable for Troop Pullout

Freedom's Report Card Mixed Nonpartisan Group's World Report Describes 'Stagnation'

U.S. Open to Bilateral Talks on Ties With N. Korea

Bush Retreats on Use of Executive Power Allowing Court's Role in Surveillance Is Latest Step Back

Court Will Oversee Wiretap Program

Change Does Not Settle Qualms About Privacy

Boeing's Winning Hand By George F. Will,

Americans ambivalent about globalization should note how Boeing is prospering.

H6 Guardian A blanket ban on Holocaust denial would be a serious mistake Timothy Garton Ash: Germany's intentions are good, but it should take care not to impose the wrong conclusions from its unhappy past.

History is not preordained: a new cold war can be averted
Mikhail Gorbachev: US military arrogance has led to a global crisis. But there is still time to change course and build a democratic world order.

Mao was cruel - but also laid the ground for today's China
Will Hutton: The crimes of communist China's founder shouldn't blind us to achievements which paved the way for its current modernisation.

Merkel to push for EU constitution
German chancellor makes reviving treaty her priority for Europe.

Taliban leader in Pakistan, says captured militant
A Taliban spokesman tells Afghan agents that the militia's chief, Mullah Omar, lives in Quetta, south-western Pakistan.

Clinton fails to satisfy Iraq critics
Failure to denounce war could cost Democratic presidential ticket.
Gates signals Afghanistan surge

Labour must admit Iraq errors, say ministers Acknowledgement may come when Brown takes over.

Where we have failed Peter Mandelson: Now that Britain's euro membership is on ice, progressives can unite to combat anti-Europeanism.

Brown goes east
Mr Brown had relevant things to say to an Indian audience, such as his proposal to reform the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the G7 to cope with the seismic shifts of globalisation.

Spotlight on Olmert after armed forces chief resigns
General accused of mishandling Lebanon war, but prime minister also faces criminal investigation.

H7 Talk is Cheap, but Diplomacy Won't Fix Iraq - Ralph Peters, New York Post

America, Supplicant to Iran? By: Hossein Askari | National Interest
Secretary Rice’s stated reason for declining a dialogue with Iran was the fear that the United States might appear to assume “the role of supplicant.” I think Secretary Rice has missed the point: the United States has more problems than appearing to be a supplicant.

Walker's World: The dollar's woes

The 2007 Index Of Economic Freedom RFE/RL spoke to the author of a new index that ranks 157 countries on 10 economic indicators including tax rates and property rights.

Washington Institute Annual Post-New Year's Event: America and the Middle East, circa 2007

Identifying Variables by William S. Lind

A review of Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present. From Foreign Policy

Morgan Stanley Pandora’s Box

New Republic Bring on the escalation in Iraq. A TNR Debate, Day 4
by Lawrence Korb & Reuel Marc Gerecht

Has America Become a Rogue State? - John Judis, The New Republic What exactly are we doing in the Horn of Africa, where we have encouraged the Christian government of Ethiopia to invade Somalia and replace its Islamic government? As far as I can tell, we have violated international law, committed war crimes, helped Al Qaeda recruit new members, and involved ourselves in a guerrilla war that could last decades.

Migrant Power The Economist
On Tuesday January 16th the World Bank issued a report on migration and remittances in eastern Europe and Central Asia since the fall of the Berlin Wall. It shows some surprising trends. An initial surge of migration was attributed to ethnic reconsolidation after the removal of artificial barriers. Since then, migration has slowed but remains a significant force, helping to reshape lives and whole economies throughout the region.

Washington Times The Bosnia model By Michael Djordjevich Will it work in Iraq?

Surge alternatives (Clarence Page)

Surge Could Work: Insurgencies Rarely Win - Donald Stoker, Foreign Policy

More troops for Iraq?: Time to just say “No” Source: Project on Defense Alternatives

H8 Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq

IraqSlogger US Papers Thursday: Charm Offensive?

Iraqi Papers Thursday: Baghdad Mourns

Bloody Wednesday: 210 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 118 Iraqis, 1 GI Injured

Political rivals join to slam president Conservatives and reformists are openly challenging President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hard-line nuclear diplomacy -- an unusual agreement across Iran's political spectrum -- with many saying his provocative remarks have increasingly isolated their country.

Attack on Sadr Will Widen War in Iraq by Patrick Cockburn

Commanders seek more troops in Afghanistan

Abolishing the Muslim Brotherhood: A Big Mistake : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

Debka Syrian Armed Forces Revamped

Arab Press Roundup: Rice's Middle East tour

Arab Civil Society Thrives in Moveable Conferences By: Rami G. Khouri | The Daily Star In the span of five days last week, I had the pleasure of participating in five different events that brought together concerned civil society activists, assorted professionals, academics, and a few public figures from across the Arab world. These gatherings are routine nowadays, but are also noteworthy because they mirror a wider determination among Arab men and women to chart a new path out of the mediocrity, violence and despair that define many aspects of Arab society these days.

Building Blocks, Stumbling Blocks: Prospects for Peace in Kashmir USIP

Bangladesh at the Crossroads
USIP

General Boykin's Christmas Vacation By: Matthew Yglesias | The American Prospect
There are still more questions than answers regarding American involvement in Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia.

Helena Cobban Washington's shaky political house in Baghdad

Good cop/ bad cop???

Let's Burn the Burqa Taslima Nasrin

Middle East Media Review Latest Edition

H9 Ha’aretz - Olmert, Peretz said likely to clash over Halutz heir

Schiff The next IDF chief / Mission: Iran

Israeli officials: No document of understanding reached with Syria

Starting afresh Commanding an army involves more than learning and applying lessons. A command shake-up is needed, and not just implementation of the new work plan the outgoing chief of staff prepared for 2007.

Benn It's over Even if the prime minister holds on to his post for several more months, even a year, he will be preoccupied with trying to save his seat, and will find it difficult to conduct the affairs of state.

Jerusalem Post Analysis: Why Halutz had to go By MAJ.-GEN. (RES.) GIORA ROM
Halutz did not fully comprehend the cultural differences between the air force and the ground forces.

Rattling the cage: The racism of Israeli youth By LARRY DERFNER
75% of Jewish high schoolers say Arabs are 'uneducated'; 75% say they are 'uncivilized.'

Daily Alert.org - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel –

Boston Globe Editorial A vision of Syrian-Israeli peace

BBC 'Invisible hand'
Israeli report says Israeli control over Gazans remains tight

The Fatah-Hamas Conflict in the Palestinian Authority

Iran Replaces EU as Top Donor to Palestinians

Vindicating Larry Franklin - Eli Lake

National Review Rebooting the "Peace Process" - Editorial

Dual Loyalty: Why Did Neocon Max Singer Vote in Israel and US?
New York Observer,

Filip Dewinter, philo-Semite How the European far right stopped worrying and learned to love the Jews. by Sarah Wildman

Life in limbo for Iraq's Jews
by Joseph Braude

The Forward The Case for Carter

A whiff of desperation in the air
Asia TimesA severely weakened US administration has turned its attention to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process after years of neglect. But solving that conundrum is tough enough without a feeling that it is a desperate last bid to stave off total defeat in the Middle East

H10 Christian Science Monitor Syria-Israel backdoor talks emerge

Hizbullah's growing threat may drive Israel to fashion a peace deal with Syria.

Kurd troops prep for Baghdad tour

But will plan to put Kurds into Sunni-Shiite conflict help to stem Iraqi violence?

What the Iraq Study Group said on the 'other war' Afghanistan deserves the attention of Bush and Congress just as much as Iraq. By Karl F. Inderfurth

Saudi Arabia wary of its Shiites

With a Mideast sectarian cold war descending, the Saudis seem to be hardening battle lines.

Quiz: Is Osama bin Laden a Shiite or Sunni?

ASIABeijing's soft power in Southeast Asia SHENG LIJUN / YaleGlobal
The more China pushes in deepening relations with Asean, the more Asean may feel that it needs a strong relationship with the United States and other outside powers.

U.S. holds face-to-face talks with N. Korea

By Nicholas Kralev

The United States and North Korea are meeting one on one this week, discussing Pyongyang's nuclear programs outside of six-nation talks for the first time in more than four years.

H11 IHT A bad plan for the Middle East JAMES DOBBINS
In refusing to combine coercion with communication in its dealings with Iraq's neighbors, the Bush administration is making peace in Iraq less likely, and increasing the chances for war throughout the region.

The shifting power equation of globalization
JONATHAN SCHMIDT AND HOWARD DAVIES / YaleGlobal The distribution of the globalization dividend may turn out to be the biggest item on the economic agenda of the Western democracies in the next few years.

Constitution and trade at top of Merkel's EU agenda

German conservatives' crisis deepens with failure to resolve problem in Bavaria Bavaria's Christian Social Union, led by Edmund Stoiber, agreed to wait until September to make a leadership decision.

Letter From Britain: Darker realities behind Britons' longing for Frangleterre A long-ago proposed union between France and Britain has captivated public attention in Britain, at the same time that the union between England and Scotland is facing renewed scrutiny.

China and EU begin renegotiating commercial relations treaty

EUROPE 'Rise in conversions to Islam' Germany: More university graduates, high-wage earners joining Prophet Mohammad’s religion

BBC Constitution 'key for EU success' German Chancellor Angela Merkel warns Europe it faces an "historic failure" if it fails to revive the EU constitution.

EU May Accept Extra Kosovo Status Talks After Serbian Elections Deutsche Welle

Can Germany Really Shut Down its Nuclear Reactors? Der Spiegel
Between Moscow's three-day interruption of oil shipments and EU plans for a transformed energy market, Germany's government is forced to act. The country is set on moving away from nuclear power. But is that realistic?

Le Monde Frangleterre, par Robert Solé

Courage and Capabilities for a 'More Active' EU FES, Egmont
A paper exploring how the EU might become more pro-active in its security policies (paper is preceded by an introduction)

H12 EDM SHAH-DENIZ GAS BUTTRESSING GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY

- IRAN TAKES DELIVERY OF RUSSIAN TOR-M1 MISSILES

- YUSHCHENKO LOSES CABINET LAW TO YANUKOVYCH AND TYMOSHENKO

London Review of Books Vladimir Putin is a frigid figure for the West. But that sleek, stoat-shaped head, those stone-cold eyes, are a big hit in Russia... more»

RFE/RL NATO Has 'Strong Reservations' About Pakistani Border Plans

Russia, Turkmenistan Wish To Develop 'Constructive Partnership'

EurasiaNet US Opportunity in Turkmenistan
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY ARIEL COHEN

Religious Discontent Evident in the Ferghana Valley

Google News Azerbaijan

EU Partner Russia is 'Crushing Democracy', NGO Says By: Andrew Rettman | The EU Observer
EU "strategic partner" Russia is "crushing" democracy NGO Freedom House has warned in its 2006 survey, as Germany's Angela Merkel gears up to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday (21 January) to break the ice on a new "Strategic Partnership Treaty."

H13 The Times Give us guns – and troops can go, says Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki told The Times that America's refusal to co-operate over guns and equipment had cost a great number of lives | Listen to the interview

The Leadership Gap Al-Maliki must repay the trust and courage of Iraqi voters

Britain aims to sink Merkel's plan to revive EU referendum

Lawless land where al-Qaeda finds sanctuary In this extract from his new book The Times Pakistan correspondent looks at conflict in the tribal lands at the heart of the War on Terror

It's five minutes to Armageddon, and Hawking tells the world to wake up . . . The cosmologist and mathematician said that the twin dangers of global warming and nuclear proliferation needed to be tackled urgently

Indian Summer Brown has a coherent view of the world — but do others in his party?

Wall Street Journal The Democratic Field It's Hillary versus the world.

Will Al Gore Melt? Getting answers to hard questions on global warming.
By FLEMMING ROSE and BJORN LOMBORG

H14 Financial Times

German push on EU treaty divides bloc Political conflict over the fate of the European Union’s constitution erupted again, as the issue divided the bloc and raised the prospect of a new clash between Britain and France.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: A uniform trend? How democracy worldwide is on the back foot

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: 'Civil war' is the wrong term for Iraq - it is a collapsed state

Editorial Candidate Obama Imagine an American presidential candidate who combines the cross-cultural appeal of Tiger Woods with the youthful charisma of John F. Kennedy

Coalition of the concerned grows in Iran A new political coalition is emerging in Iran in response to growing US pressure over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the radical approach of President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad in both foreign and domestic policy

US pressures Pakistan over Taliban The US is stepping up pressure on Islamabad to clamp down on Taliban havens inside Pakistan as US and Nato forces prepare for a tough spring campaign in Afghanistan by the Islamic fundamentalists.

COMPANIES: ISLAMIC FINANCE: World's banks respond to growing Muslim demand Until a couple of years ago, Islamic finance was a specialist niche of international banking, limited to Muslim countries and focused on the retail sector. But it has expanded rapidly, with estimates of its size ranging from $250bn to $750bn.

COMMENT: Republicans and the Bush dilemma For moderate Republicans in Congress facing a tough re-election campaign in 2008, the imperative is clear – abandon Bush, writes Jacob Weisberg

White House in U-turn on wiretapping The White House has agreed to place its controversial domestic spying programme under court supervision in a major policy reversal

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: A uniform trend? How democracy worldwide is on the back foot

H15 Los Angeles Times Editorial

Maliki talks tough, sees U.S. withdrawal near

Hillary Clinton opposes buildup

In course change, roles extended to Baathists

Senators introduce resolution opposing Bush plan

FT Selling saintliness Gazprom’s talks with PR companies about a campaign to burnish its image is the latest evidence of organisations and individuals in search of saintliness in London

WORLD NEWS: Clinton raises stakes in battle with Bush over troop numbers

LEADER: A first outing for Gordon of India

COMMENT: Do notbe fooled by the bull in the China shop

COMMENT: Leisure is the vital ingredient in Nordic success Working long hours is not the cultural norm it is in many other countries. The defining cultural norm is to be efficient at work and to leave ample time for recreation, writes Risto Penttilä, director of EVA, the Finnish business and policy forum.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: To tackle a taboo: how Africa is opening up a new front in the fight against Aids

H16 American Politics Cook on how we might be entering into a two-year period in which only the president's veto pen keeps him relevant on domestic issues, and his foreign policy effectively begins and ends with Iraq.

2008 A Bigger Rout Than 2006?

He’s running: But just where does Barack Obama stand? (and ten things you didn't know about Obama).

Iraq resolution may expose GOP divide

Video: Republican Hagel to Bush: 'This is not a monarchy'

The GOP's Black Hole - Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times

Salon The fighting side of McCain

The battle for an Iraq plan

Why the Democrats can't stop the surge

Note to Obama Skeptics: This Is Not a Fad - Steve Kornacki, NY Observer

Sen. Clinton seeks cap on troop levels in Iraq

BBC Senators oppose Iraq troop boost Three top US senators agree on a resolution to oppose President Bush's plan to increase Iraq troop numbers.

Democrat dilemma over Iraq

CSM House takes on Big Oil

A bill to be voted on Thursday would cut federal benefits to the oil and gas industry by a third and give them to renewable-energy programs.

Piercing black silence on immigration Erin Aubry Kaplan

A panel discussion mulls over the effects of illegal immigration and changing demographics on African-American communities.

realclearpolitics – ABC’s The Note - Early Bird GovExec

Near his first anniversary, Bernanke has earned his spurs

H17 Daily TelegraphDan Halutz - fall guy for Olmert's failure

It would be good to see an experienced soldier-politician, such as Ehud Barak, take over the Israeli defence ministry, and let us hope that he is the right man for the job as Lt Gen Halutz's successor.

Holiday trip, or 'bomber' training? Extremist was seen by police on three separate occasions.

SAS seizes Taliban leader in secret war A team of SAS soldiers captured a key Taliban commander yesterday in a lightning raid on a heavily-fortified compound in southern Afghanistan.

H18 Independent Adrian Hamilton: The best size for a nation may be a small one

Merkel seeks to revive European constitution

The Big Question: Is the EU constitution coming back, and what would it mean for Britain?

London bomb suspect 'had come in contact with police three times'

Iraq Has Blighted Foreign Policy Successes, Says UK Cabinet Minister

Hawking warns: We must recognise the catastrophic dangers of climate change Climate change stands alongside the use of nuclear weapons as one of the greatest threats posed to the future of the world, cosmologist Stephen Hawking has said

Pressure on Olmert grows after general quits

Leading article: An unflattering mirror to our society

H19Military Intelligence Terrorism

Analysis: Likely intelligence chief nominee may face tough questions

Pentagon: China and Russia Developing Space Weapons

John Dickerson

Jacob Weisberg

Shmuel Rosner

2007 Index of Economic Freedom
Source: The Heritage Foundation
“The 2007 Index of Economic Freedom measures and ranks 161 countries across 10 specific freedoms, things like tax rates and property rights. View scores and rankings for any country, along with detailed data and background analysis.”
+ Top Ten
+ Complete Country Rankings (sorted by score; can also be sorted alphabetically)
+ Map (jpg; 352 KB)
+ Audio Summary (mp3; 15 minutes)
+ Download raw data (past scores; xls, 72 KB)
+ 2007 Index Fiscal Burden Data (xls; 41 KB)
+ Methodology
+ Download entire book (PDF; 5.1 MB)

H21 Polish writer and philosopher Leszek Kolakowski is the winner of the 2007 Jerusalem Prize for Literature

From Psychology Today, novel delights: Fiction readers score higher on empathy and social acumen tests than do readers of nonfiction

Aztecs vs. Greeks
Let us acknowledge the existence of high intellectual ability.
By CHARLES MURRAY

Half of all kids are below average in intelligence. We do not live in Lake Wobegon, and we ought to face a hard fact: too many Americans go to college... Part I ... Part II ... Part III

Econoblog: Traffic Charges

Two economists discuss the pros and cons of charging commuters for driving to the center city. (Forum)

Vista: Worthy, Largely Unexciting Vista is the best version of Windows that Microsoft has produced, Walt Mossberg says. But while navigation has been improved, the successor to XP isn't a breakthrough in ease of use.

TLS Richard Dawkins’s nice way of deploring both Islam and Christianity is well meant, but it is folly. Not all religions are equally dangerous... more»

Vegetarians may have the best intellectual arguments. If so, that just shows how little intellectual arguments matter to what people eat... more»

Anti-Americanism has acquired the status of Western Europe’s lingua franca. No country in Europe is exempt from it – no social class, age group, or profession... more»

DAVID BROOKS The Elusive Altar Far from rejecting traditional marriage, many unmarried people revere it too highly

From L'Espill, science, democracy, and the global market: Controversial areas of the technology sector are increasingly resolved by external experts who are often private entities; media manipulation has become a key element in the control of information about the products of science and technology.

Mainstream media to bloggers: Bug off

The language of music
Philippa Ibbotson: Classical music has huge benefits for children - but you have to make sure you catch them young.

How one man changed the meaning of human reason y Simon Blackburn

NY Observer Profiles IraqSlogger

The Washington Post to Partner With The Onion

A Theory of the Evolution of Modern Sport (PDF; 208 KB)
Source: International Association of Sports Economists
“This paper argues that modern sport developed out of new forms of associativity created during the European enlightenment. It argues that the fundamental unit of modern sport is the club, and that these associations developed autonomously in Britain during the eighteenth century following the retreat of the state from the control of associative activities. The evolution of modern sports thus formed part of the expansion of private associative activity that occurred in the Anglo-Saxon world. By contrast, in countries such as France and Germany where associativity continued to require the explicit or implicit license of the state, modern sports developed in ways consistent with or even in the service of the objectives of the state, most notably the need to maintain military preparedness.”

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