| H1 Prospect Why the Middle East Doesn’t Matter -The middle of nowhere edward luttwak Western analysts are forever bleating about the strategic importance of the middle east. But despite its oil, this backward region is less relevant than ever, and it would be better for everyone if the rest of the world learned to ignore it. The Economist The United States in the Middle East Weakness—or a new realism? Why the Americans are having to adjust their policies in the region Washington Post Signs of A Spring Thaw Interest on Both Sides In U.S.-Iran Talks By David Ignatius, The door is opening on the possibility of the first real U.S.-Iranian negotiations since 1979. Senate Sends War Timetable To Bush's Desk As Funding Bill Heads to Likely Veto, Talks on Revised Legislation Begin Editorial No Results in Damascus Having finished hosting U.S. politicians, Syria's dictator has returned to jailing dissidents and sponsoring terrorism. If U.S. Has "Lost," Who Has Won? - Amir Taheri, New York Post Slate / Christopher Hitchens "Islam Is Not Much More Than A Rather Obvious And Ill-arranged Set Of Plagiarisms." Ex-C.I.A. Chief, in Book, Assails Cheney on Iraq George J. Tenet said the vice president and others pushed the country into war without ever conducting a “serious debate.” Foreign Affairs May /June 2007 The Times Leader Vladimir, Relax So-called threats to Russia are symptoms of paranoia Russia: Putin's CFE Gambit
Stratfor Daily Star How not to promote American missile defense in Europe
By F. Stephen Larrabee Iran May Be Closer To Nukes Than Thought CBS News 04/26/07 Gen. Petraeus Brief IHT Engaging the new China By CARLA A. HILLS AND DENNIS C. BLAIR The inevitable uncertainties of China's growth should not obscure certain truths. Whether Europeans like it or not, Muslims are part of Europe, says Ian Buruma. Many will not abandon their religion, so Europeans must learn to live with them and with Islam... more» AEI Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq Phase II Report By Frederick W. Kagan Jerusalem Post Analysis: Weak Assad could be a loose cannon By ANSHEL PFEFFER It would seem that Syria is in no condition to wage war with Israel. PBS BUYING THE WAR Iran: Stifling the Azeri Minority By: Karl Rahder | ISN Security Watch Trouble is brewing in Iran's 'Southern Azerbaijan' as the government targets Azeri human rights activists and cracks down on what some view as the Azeri ethnic minority's struggle for more democracy and human rights, and what others call separatism. New America Foundation Restructuring World Economic Power Relations through High Oil Prices The Economist Gordon Brown The day of the spider Asia Times A US recipe for endless war in Iraq The notion of a two-sided war in the Sunni heartland of Iraq between al-Qaeda and US forces bolsters the Bush administration's position that any talk of a timetable for withdrawal is defeatist. To avoid such accusations, the Democrat legislation setting a timetable for withdrawal contains large loopholes that would allow US troops to carry out operations in the Sunni area indefinitely. This political gamesmanship ignores the anti-al-Qaeda Sunni resistance organizations, which represent a clear alternative to an endless US occupation. - Gareth Porter From Norman Rockwell to Abu Ghraib Salon By Sidney Blumenthal. Los Angeles Times Senate OKs Iraq pullout; stage set for Bush veto Democratic-controlled Senate passes legislation that would require the start of troop withdrawals by Oct. 1 Can we make them hate us less? By Sonni Efron Searching for a heart or mind we haven't lost ... Robert Wright & Steven Clemons: Realism and Its Discontents Financial Times COMMENT: Good manners, but still very different views of the world Mutuality of interests between the US and Europe far outweighs the differences, writes Philip Stephens. COMMENT: Democracy is far from everything The system is best understood as a decision rule for changing the government without the use of force, writes Samuel Brittan. Putin freezes commitment to arms treaty President Vladimir Putin used his final state-of-the-nation address to accuse the west of ‘colonial-style’ interference in Russia’s domestic affairs and threatened to stop implementing an important arms limitation treaty. IMF Opinions: Globalization and Financial Development Remarks by Governor Frederic S. Mishkin Is Islam a Peaceful Religion? FT Europe’s leaders eye Sarkozy partnership Nicolas Sarkozy may still have work to do to win the French presidency but he has already secured the unspoken support of Berlin, Brussels and London. WORLD NEWS: Liberal leaders eye Sarkozy for axis of mainstream modernisers Tehran hints at new ideas on nuclear dispute Iran yesterday heralded what it said was new thinking in the dispute over its nuclear programme amid western scepticism that any breakthrough was imminent. IHT Europeans offer advice to the French as election nears France's new president should help solve the constitutional crisis that has clipped the wings of the EU, a new survey shows. - Full results of poll Christian Science Monitor Petraeus: war strategy needs time As a war-weary Senate passed a timetable Thursday, the US commander in Iraq proposed his own, more patient, schedule. Al Qaeda Strikes Back By: Bruce Reidel | Foreign Affairs
By rushing into Iraq instead of finishing off the hunt for Osama bin Laden, Washington has unwittingly helped its enemies: al Qaeda has more bases, more partners, and more followers today than it did on the eve of 9/11. Now the group is working to set up networks in the Middle East and Africa -- and may even try to lure the United States into a war with Iran. Washington must focus on attacking al Qaeda's leaders and ideas and altering the local conditions in which they thrive.
| H2 FT Dispute overshadows Turkish presidential poll A procedural row and a boycott of the event by opposition MPs could see the process ending up in the courts. The Eonomist Discretion before valour BBC Turkey set to elect new president Turkey's presidential election could be overshadowed by an opposition boycott in parliament on Friday. Analysis: Turkey's tense election Country profile: Turkey Türkiye'de başörtüsü gerici değil Adrian Hamilton Gül'ün adaylığı AKP'ye yarar MUHAMMED NUREDDİN Robin Hollingbury U.S. views Gül as reformist Asia Times The temperature rises in Kirkuk The Kurds have to date been the United States' most reliable partner in Iraq's fractious political landscape. But as tensions rise in oil-rich Kirkuk over it possibly becoming "Kurdish", and Washington remains in the background, the risks of violence spreading from the south to the relatively peaceful area increase dramatically. - Jason Motlagh Turkey-Kurdish Conflict Threatens Stability of Iraq, Region World Politics Watch The Real Challenge for US-Turkish Relations: Turkish Kurds World Politics Watch [NEWS ANALYSIS] Ankara's fears of the military option against Iran İran nükleer krizinde umut ışığı Abdullah Gül'den Zebari'ye Mısır toplantısı teminatı Ankara barış başkenti Türkiye'nin ılımlı İslam modeli Araplara örnek olmalı YUSUF EL KUVEYLET - Google News Kurdish Kurdish Media Irak Dışişleri Bakanı Zebari Türkiye'yi iknaya çalıştı Zebari'ye PKK rahatsızlığı iletildi Offices Of Kurdish Party In Northern Iraq Bombed Ankara hatırası Ankara'da buluşan İranlı Laricani ile AB'li Solana nükleer müzakereler konusunda 'ortak görüş yolunda' ilerleme kaydetti. İBRAHİM KARAGÜL Amerikan Gulag'ı, 'Apartheid'a dönüş Hakkâri'de PKK lanetlendi İranlı Kürt yönetmen Bahman Ghobadi'yle bir söyleşi Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Sami KOHEN Kıbrıs'ta "evet"ten "hayır"a... KKTC'de mal düzenlemesi Kıbrıs'ta anketinde federasyon eğilimi Tasos’a torpil skandalı Zeynel Lüle Benim bildiğim Abdullah Gül Larijani and Solana praise Turkey's diplomatic role, laud Gul candidacy Armenia/Turkey: Signs of warming
ISN, Switzerland ENERGY POLICY-2] The Caspian: A zone of special interest Today's Zaman, Armenia’s Jewish Scepticism and Its Impact on Armenia-Israel ...
Journal of Turkish Weekly [INTERVIEW] 'Eurasia and Europe should Cooperate against America' Alexandr Dugin Yeltsin, the man who broke Cold War ice in Turkey ties Greek and Turkish Cypriots meet [ZAMAN KARABAĞ'DA] Her sekiz Azeri'den biri mülteci Four Jewish groups back Turkey on Armenian genocide
Narsisizm, tüketim toplumu ve bireyleşme sürecindeki tıkanma
HALİL TURHANLI YÖK saldırısı: Saldırgan "örgüt bağlantım yok" dedi 8 milyon avro hangi 'fener'in cebine girdi? Milli güvenlik 6 Abdullah Gül'ün lisede, derslerinde genel olarak orta seviyede bir öğrenci olduğu ortaya çıktı. Cumhurbaşkanı seçilirse MGK'ya da başkanlık edece... Turkish Jews asks US House to postpone Armenian bill Güngör URAS Piyasaların ve iş çevrelerinin mutluluğu yetmez (Halk da mutlu olmalı) Faik ÖZTRAK Top piyasalarda değil vatandaşta Piyasa için her sonuç 'kazan-kazan' mı? Yiğit Bulut Ercan Kumcu Herkes herkesten korkmalı Gül, müstesna niteliklere sahip bir devlet adamı Education a la Turca: A potential to be unleashed by LUCIE TUNKROVA [Yorum - Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erdoğan] '367' fanteziden başka bir şey değil! Derya SAZAK 367 ve seçim Davutoğlu'ndan Anaya Mahkemesi uyarısı Köşk krizi yıldızlarını parlattı Güler Kömürcü Miskin laikler kaybedecek mi? Şakir Süter Ağar-Mumcu Arınç ve içtenlik YILMAZ ÖZDİL Hâkim, bu evliliği tek celsede boşar
BBC 27 Nisan 2007 Basın Özeti
Asia Times RUSSIA'S ENERGY DRIVE, Part 2 All power to Russia
Iran, Russia and other leading gas producers are feared in the West to be forming a "gas cartel". They are not. Russia plays a much smarter game than creating such groupings. Its model, already in the making, eschews rigidity and formalized price-setting mechanisms, and poses a far greater challenge to the West than any cartel could. - W Joseph Stroupe RFE/RLNagorno-Karabakh: Region Gears Up For Presidential Election Daily Telegraph Wanted: an Iraqi strongman (Moqtada al-Sadr need not apply) There is nothing the military commanders would like more than to withdraw their forces from Iraq, but it isn't that simple, writes Con Coughlin. Leader Putin's final farewell - or was it au revoir? The chauvinistic tone of Vladimir Putin's 'final' state of the nation speech will only encourage speculation that he has no plans to step down just yet. | H3 Radikal Çankaya seçimi iptal olursa kaos yaşanır İptal senaryoları Vatan İptal olursa ne olur? İptal senaryosu Enis Berberoğlu Düğmeye basan mı var? Türkiye’de erken seçim olursa ne olur? ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM
367 şartı beklenmeyen durum sarsıcı gelişmelere yol açar mı?
Referans 367 yolu tıkasa da yabancının Türkiye senaryosu değişmez 82 Anayasası'nın mimarları konuştu: Anayasa'yı yazarken seçimi kolaylaştırmayı amaçlamıştık Anayasa Mahkemesi'nin 367 kararı 1 ayı bulabilir Ferai Tınç Abdullah Gül dünyayı gerçekten çok mu sevindirdi? Sabah Böylesi görülmedi Hasan CEMAL Arka planı karanlık oyun! Ertuğrul Özkök Gece 01.30 ziyaretçisi HÜSEYİN GÜLERCE - Mumcu ve Ağar'a açık mektup ’Baba’ devrede iddiası DYP ile Anavatan'ın birleşme görüşmeleri sırasında Süleyman Demirel’in etkin rol oynadığı iddia ediliyor. Taha AKYOL Çankaya savaşı Fikret BİLA Ağar: AKP'ye ikbal kapısı açmak zorunda değiliz Bilal Çetin Siyaset matematik ve mahkeme... CHP'nin kumarı İsmet Berkan Gül turdan umutsuz AKP'den istifa İlk turda 367 oy için temaslar yapan Gül, umudunu yitirdi. Birer oyu olan GP ve HYP oylamaya katılmıyor. Anavatan ve DYP'nin eğilimi de Genel Kurul'a girmemek. AKP, Albayrak'ın istifasıyla sarsıldı. Anayasayı yapan konuştu: 367 şart MUHARREM SARIKAYA Devam mı? Seçim mi? MAHMUT ÖVÜR Merkez sağın demokrasi patinajı
Güneri CIVAOĞLU Nefesler tutuldu
Şamil Tayyar Erkan Mumcu’nun tarihi konuşması Cengiz Çandar 11.Cumhurbaşkanı Abdullah Gül; Alternatifi Tayyip Erdoğan Ahmet Hakan Sahabe-i Kiram’dan Tayyip Erdoğan Bey Sezer: Cumhurbaşkanının yetkileri fazla Hurşit GÜNEŞ Başkanlık sistemine geçiş M. Ali BİRAND Artık uyanın, korktuğumuz başımıza geliyor... ANAP'lı ve DYP'li dostlara önemli bir tavsiye Hasan Celal Güzel Baykal'dan uyarılar Murat Yetkin İsmail Küçükkaya Komutanlar resepsiyona neden katılmadı? Serdar Turgut Gül'e neden karşılar Yusuf KANLI Stone in the well BBC Muhalefetin seçimi Cumhurbaşkanı adayı Gül 367 sayısını bulabilecek mi? Mahkemede durum 367 tartışmasına Anayasa Mahkemesi nasıl bakıyor? Serdar Turgut Ben laik değilim Mehmet Tezkan Bu gidişle Cumhurbaşkanı’nı halk seçecek ALİ BAYRAMOĞLU DYP ve ANAP'ın ateşle imtihanı… 'Anavatan oylamaya katılmazsa 28 Şubat'ın izini silemez' Taha Kıvanç Magazinden al haberi… Fehmi Koru Fehmi Koru: Üzüm yemek isteniyorsa… NAZLI ILICAK367 yakamızı bırakmıyor Hüseyin Gülerce Mumcu ve Ağar'a açık mektup ERDAL ŞAFAK Siyasetin çirkin yüzü EMRE AKÖZ 183 şımarıklığı Ali H Aslan Friends of Turkey, don’t be afraid
Mehmet Metiner Gül’ün cumhurbaşkanlığı Sorunda anlaşmak M.Ali Kışlalı Nasuhi Güngör Bu fırsat kaçmasın [Yorum - Prof.Dr.Levent Göker] Türk demokrasisi güç kazanma yolunda... Çankaya'da nasıl bir devir teslim olacak? MEHMET OCAKTAN
Ağar - Mumcu birlikte intiharda kararlı gibi… MUSTAFA KARAALİOĞLU Ağar ve Mumcu'nun akla ihtiyacı var mı! Mustafa Ünal Demokrasi sınavı Bülent Keneş Threatening with ‘We’re afraid of you!’ BÜLENT KORUCU - Anayol, doğru yolda mı? İstihareye yatmak Cemil Müneccim Oktay Ekşi Ankara izlenimleri... Mehmet y Yılmaz Anayasa’nın ruhunu unuttuk! Yalçın Doğan Dün gece en uzun gece ABDÜLHAMİT BİLİCİ - Krize karşı çözüm TAMER KORKMAZ - Teziç'ten 367'ye: Türedi'nin Kâbusları! Tufan Türenç Gül'ün tarafsız kalabilmesi zor Gül'e Bush'u türbanlı eşle karşılatmadı Fırat'tan teklif: Oylamaya katılın, istediğiniz tarihte seçime gidelim İlnur Çevik Mumcu and Agar are very brave men Gül, 'kayıp trilyon'dan yargılanır mı? Namaz kılıp Teziç'e gitmişler Emin Çölaşan Yeni cumhurbaşkanımızı tanıyalım... Varan 1 ANAP kilit parti durumunda Hakkı Devrim 11 üyenin 7'sini Sezer seçmişti 367 sancısı ve asıl hastalık Haluk Şahin ERGUN BABAHAN Seçim ve kriz Aday Gül olunca... Murat Belge |
| Democrats Seek Balance of Unity and Differences In their first joint appearance, the eight Democratic presidential candidates offered a somewhat united front, denouncing President Bush for his handling of the war Editorial After the Lawyers It can be hard to tell whom the Bush administration considers more of an enemy at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp: the prisoners or the lawyers. PAUL KRUGMAN Gilded Once More We’ve gone back to levels of inequality not seen since the 1920s. THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN China Needs an Einstein. So Do We. Albert Einstein’s life is a testimony to the unbreakable link between human freedom and creativity. Politics During Wartime By MICHAEL DELONG In the case of Pfc. Jessica D. Lynch, overzealous politicians and a frenzied press distorted the facts. | H5 Washington Post Signs of A Spring Thaw Interest on Both Sides In U.S.-Iran Talks By David Ignatius, The door is opening on the possibility of the first real U.S.-Iranian negotiations since 1979. Russia to Suspend Compliance With Key Pact Putin Cites U.S. Missile Defense Plans Senate Sends War Timetable To Bush's Desk As Funding Bill Heads to Likely Veto, Talks on Revised Legislation Begin Editorial No Results in Damascus Having finished hosting U.S. politicians, Syria's dictator has returned to jailing dissidents and sponsoring terrorism. Tenet Says He Was Made a Scapegoat Over Iraq War Senate Approves $124B Iraq War Spending Bill Legislation, which includes withdrawal timeline, heads to a veto even as party leaders and the White House work to resolve their differences. Candidates Unite in Criticizing Bush In First Debate, 8 Democrats Differ on Details but Agree in Condemning Iraq Wa Army Officer Accuses Generals of 'Intellectual and Moral Failures' Democratic Hopefuls Show Political Heft By David Broder, Straight Talking Again By David S. Broder John McCain this week reverted suddenly and dramatically to his 1999-2000 role as the leading Republican critic of politics as usual Boris the Liberator, RIP By Charles Krauthammer, Boris Yeltsin brought down not just a party, a regime and an empire, but an idea. Bush's Non-Argument _ By E. J. Dionne Jr., What Bush and Cheney are doing is not just wrong. It's dangerous. Japanese Leader Aims To Build Ties With Bush Prime Minister Arrives at the White House for Talks | H6 Guardian Putin threatens to scrap weapons treaty · President calls defence shield plan a direct threat
· Nato seeks clarification of Russian intentions Protect God's creation: Vatican issues green message Pope addresses climate change conference as US church leaders lobby Bush on global warming. Top US commander warns of worse to come in Iraq · Democrat resolve stiffened in battle over funding
· Senate backs plans for early troop withdrawal. US officer in Baghdad charged with aiding enemy US officer who commanded one of the main detention camps in Baghdad is charged with aiding the enemy. The World Bank has the perfect standard bearer Naomi Klein: The bank's credibility was already fatally compromised by hypocrisies far greater than those of Wolfowitz. Secularism's success? Jorgen Nielsen Apr 26 07, 07:30pm: Many Muslims view secularism as a pernicious import from the west - but why do they also share some of its values? From White House to Abu Ghraib Sasha Abramsky: The creator of the famous Stanford prison experiment says the Bush administration is responsible for the US army's abuse and torture in Iraq. The fight to be heard Conor Foley: Why is it so difficult for complex conflicts to grab the media's attention? Perhaps we are all suffering from conflict fatigue. The architect's ego is reconstructed as Moscow's mayor asserts the lay view Simon Jenkins: London has a lot to learn from a city that has not sold out to money and vulgarity and remains recognisably Russian. |
| H7 Time's Tony Karon reports that significant progress was made in the latest round of EU-Iran negotiations. U.S. Suddenly Wants Talks with Iran By: Pavel Morzh | Kommersant Leakages from diplomatic sources, that Washington has entered intensive secret talks with Tehran, have become frequent in U.S. mass media recently. Tony Karon Why the US Can’t Leave Iraq Iran: What Next? By: Azar Nafisi | The New Republic If you take the long view of Iranian history and focus on the country's people rather than its rulers, a very different picture emerges: that of an Iranian order in crisis. Daily Star Containing Iran the financial way By Michael Jacobson National Interests and Honor: State-building in Iraq Eli Lake / New York Sun:
For Iraqi Terrorists Inside Iran, Membership Has Its Privileges UNAMI issues its 10th report on the situation of human rights in Iraq Source: UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Full Report (PDF; 241 KB) The Limited American Focus
Arab News | H8 IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq Iraq Says Oil Deals Must Be Signed With Central Government Petraeus: Iraq Needs Enormous Commitment Iran: Stifling the Azeri Minority By: Karl Rahder | ISN Security Watch
Trouble is brewing in Iran's 'Southern Azerbaijan' as the government targets Azeri human rights activists and cracks down on what some view as the Azeri ethnic minority's struggle for more democracy and human rights, and what others call separatism. Two Types of Splinter Groups Break from Moqtada al-Sadr The Economist Iraq A row over a wall Dividing Baghdad Al-Ahram Weekly Daily Star Jordan will vote this year, under a controversial law By David M. Debartolo Two Openings March 14 Might Consider By: Michael Young | The Daily Star It's never easy to discern movement in the midst of glacial stalemate, but the ice has definitely budged in the past 10 days in Lebanon. The Hariri tribunal is almost certain to be established, whether through Lebanese institutions or through the United Nations Security Council; and the heat is building up on the opposition to agree to a presidential election amid a widening consensus that Emile Lahoud, whatever else happens, will not remain in office beyond the end of his term. US withdrawal only solution for Iraq's dilemma, says Ahmadinejad Saudi Royals Mask a Jihad Agenda - Youssef Ibrahim (New York Sun) Syria's Ba'ath Party Maintains Grip in Vote SyriaComment News Round Up (26 April 2007) Afghanistan: Mission Impossible? ESF This 44-page working synthesises the views of experts on what is needed to secure peace in Afghanistan EurasiaNet The Pace of "Talibanization" Appears to Accelerate in Pakistani Tribal Areas BY ABUBAKAR SIDDIQUE
The pace of the "Talibanization" in Pakistan’s tribal areas bordering Afghanistan appears to be accelerating this spring. The trend has been obscured by recent internecine fighting, pitting mainly Pashtun militants against fighters affiliated with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Afghan consensus? (Arnaud de Borchgrave) DEBKAfile Exclusive: Frontrunner as next Revolutionary Guards chief threatens US world interests and Israel if Iran is attacked | H9 Ha’aretz - Report: Iran to cross nuclear threshold in three years CBS quotes U.S. military report as claiming Tehran is closer to bomb than previously believed. Just an optical illusionDespite the Independence Day celebrations, Israel is very far from independence - either economic or political. Schiff The scoop is all The media coverage of this war was unlike that of previous wars. Unless we understand how reporting methods have changed, we won?t be prepared if something like this happens again. PM to appoint a new finance minister in May Giuliani: Hamas or Abbas, makes no difference Jerusalem Post Massive IDF drill prepares for Syrian attack on the Golan Hundreds of tanks, thousands of troops participate in war simulation; since last summer, intelligence says war with Syria closer than ever. Analysis: Weak Assad could be a loose cannon By ANSHEL PFEFFER It would seem that Syria is in no condition to wage war with Israel. Israel may get F-22s if nation at risk
Ex-US defense head: Gulf states realizing that Iran is true enemy, not Israel. Yedioth Ahronoth Plan: Land swap with PA Kadima MK’s ‘Hong Kong’ plan calls for transfer of three Arab Israeli villages to Palestinian control in return for annexation of three largest settlement blocks 'to maintain strong Jewish majority in Israel' 'Arab world fears Iran most' US diplomat: Arab world pushing peace plan to ultimately cooperate with Israel against Iran Delusion of desalination West Bank, Golan withdrawals would put Israel's water supply at risk Secret Negotiations for a Prisoner Exchange By: Christoph Schult | Der Spiegel Hamas and Hezbollah have been holding three Israeli soldiers hostage for months. In response to pressure from the soldiers' families and an Egyptian mediator, a first prisoner exchange finally seems to be on the horizon. BBC Enemy within?
Israeli anxiety about the Arab minority in the Jewish state
Israeli Democracy: For Jews Only?
by Sonja Karkar Daily Alert.org - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel – USIP Event: Arab Scholarship on Israel: A Critical Assessment In Ahmadinejad's Iran, Jews still find a space Some 25,000 Jews still live in Iran and many say that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's fiery anti-Israeli rhetoric is about politics, not religion. The pariah intellectual By CALEV BEN-DAVID Hannah Arendt professed no love for the Jews and can't be counted as one of its greatest thinkers. |
| H10 Christian Science Monitor Petraeus: war strategy needs time As a war-weary Senate passed a timetable Thursday, the US commander in Iraq proposed his own, more patient, schedule. Daniel Schorr: Bush's lame-duck advantage China outdoing US in carbon curbs? Its plans to limit emissions and boost efficiency could undercut a key argument against carbon dioxide limits in the US. In Ahmadinejad's Iran, Jews still find a space ASIA The Economist China Patching Up the U.S.-Japan Bond By: Aaron Friedberg | Los Angeles Times Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's visit to the United States today will be accompanied by the usual rhetoric about shared visions and common values. The warmth will be genuine, but on both sides, there will also be real concern about the true health of the alliance. IHT Engaging the new China By CARLA A. HILLS AND DENNIS C. BLAIR The inevitable uncertainties of China's growth should not obscure certain truths. Guardian A great leap forward Daniel A Bell Apr 26 07, 09:30pm: Some say China is preparing for the Beijing Olympics with harsh, authoritarian tactics. But it's also encouraging civility - and that might be a real cultural revolution. Real Change in China? By: George F. Will | The Washington Post
Big business and other advocates of the Soothing Scenario use what Mann calls "the lexicon of dismissal" to refute skeptics like him: Skeptics are being "provocative" when they engage in "China bashing" that reflects a "Cold War mentality." But although the theory is that "engagement" with China will change China, Mann wonders: Who is changing whom? China's Protein Gap Will Stoke Global Inflation By: Andy Mukherjee | Bloomberg If Jing Ulrich, the Hong Kong-based chairwoman of China equities at JPMorgan Chase & Co., is correct, everything from beer to steak might just become more expensive globally. Ulrich's case is built around a statistic and an observation: It takes 7 kilograms (15 pounds) of grain to produce 1 kilo of beef; and "Chinese people are eating more meat as consumer wealth increases," she says. CSM Draft Thai constitution draws criticism The first draft of Thailand's proposed constitution, which was formally submitted Thursday to the government, could weaken elected politicans WT Troubles from Thailand By Ken Adelman Thailand's growing militarism, attacks on democratic institutions and turn toward economic nationalism bring more to mind the behavior of its neighbor Burma. North Korean Nuclear Deal By: Ralph Cossa | The Japan Times (More than) a day later, but not a dollar short. That pretty much sums up what to Pyongyang is a perfectly reasonable negotiating position. It will honor its end of the Feb. 13, 2007, "action for action" denuclearization deal, once the money is in the bank. In short, "checkbook diplomacy" still works with North Korea; the "check's in the mail" diplomacy does not. China's Space Odyssey: What the Antisatellite Test Reveals About ...
Foreign Affairs | H11 IHT Europeans offer advice to the French as election nears France's new president should help solve the constitutional crisis that has clipped the wings of the EU, a new survey shows.
- Full results of poll High temperatures, and even higher anxiety, in Europe While few Europeans are complaining about the balmy weather this season, there already are fears that droughts and electricity shortages are just around the corner. The two types of violence By JAMES CARROLL / The Boston GlobeAmerican violence is the condition within which Iraqi violence explodes Engaging the new China
By CARLA A. HILLS AND DENNIS C. BLAIR
The inevitable uncertainties of China's growth should not obscure certain truths. Putin picks up a bargaining chip with suspension of treaty EUROPE European press review Whether Europeans like it or not, Muslims are part of Europe, says Ian Buruma. Many will not abandon their religion, so Europeans must learn to live with them and with Islam... more» Walker's World: Hopes for an U.S.-EU trade deal EU: Russia, Iran Expected To Top Agenda At EU-U.S. Summit France's Sarkozy Is No Maggie Thatcher By: Caroline Baum | Bloomberg
We have a pretty good idea how Royal's initiatives will work out. What we don't know is whether Sarkozy will be able to implement his because of the unions. CSM Why French candidates are wooing the also-ran François Bayrou has accepted an invitation to meet finalist Ségolène Royal for a televised 'debate' Saturday. Gvosdev The German-Polish-Russian Triangle Discreet French Mission in Baltic Skies By: Arnaud de La Grange | Le Figaro
You would think it was some special forces mission in Afghanistan or deepest Africa, so great has been the discretion surrounding the deployment of French aircraft in the Baltic countries during the past three weeks. Kosovo Offers UN envoys Macabre Misery Tour By: Matt Robinson and Shaban Buza | Reuters The two-day agenda has been crafted to give equal time to the 90-percent Albanian majority and the remaining 100,000 Serbs, stoking a macabre contest over who has suffered most in the southern province. Behind Scotland Vote Jitters: Costly Divorce from Britain By: Tom Hundley | The Chicago Tribune Scotland votes in local elections May 3, and if the polls hold, the SNP is on course for a historic upset of the ruling Labor Party, which has dominated elections in Scotland for more than 50 years. NATO Ministers To Discuss Missile Defense The Economist Lexington Against anti-Europeanism The French presidential election Seconds away, round two Charlemagne Don't tell the voters Why Tony, Angela and Nicolas are barking up the wrong tree in trying to avoid consulting the citizens Der Spiegel Civil Liberties in an Age of Terror: How to Balance Freedom and Security | H12 RFE/RLNagorno-Karabakh: Region Gears Up For Presidential Election Putin Says Foreign Money Influencing Domestic Politics World: Soros Says Revolutions Don't Build Democracies CIS: Effects Of Chornobyl Continue To Divide Experts Putin Says He Will Step Down Next Year Putin Says Foreigners Meddling in Russia BBC Looking ahead
Vladimir Putin delivers his final state-of-the-nation address
Russia's treaty threat irks Nato Nato members express concern over Russia's threat to freeze its compliance with a key arms treaty. Putin Threatens to Withdraw From Armed Forces in Europe Treaty By: Mark Sweetman | Bloomberg News
Russia will no longer fulfill its commitments under the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty and may withdraw from the Cold War accord completely, President Vladimir Putin said. Google News Azerbaijan The Economist Russia EDM YELTSIN, PUTIN AND THE NORTH CAUCASUS: CONTRASTING APPROACHES TO THE VOLATILE REGION
- BAKIYEV-KULOV CONFLICT RESUMES DESPITE GOVERNMENT’S CRACKDOWN
- KREMLIN EXPANDS ECONOMIC INTERESTS IN NORTH KOREA Containing Russia Foreign Affairs Yuliya Tymoshenko Central Asia Faces Grim Environmental Future -- UN Report |
H13 The Times Leader Vladimir, Relax So-called threats to Russia are symptoms of paranoia Putin attacks US over anti-missile plans Royal has gambled on rallying centrist voters at the risk of losing support from her leftwing core in the race to beat Sarkozy Brown’s first test: how to avoid an EU constitution Europe will be the trickiest political test for Tony Blair in his remaining weeks, and for Gordon Brown in his first few months in power Peter Riddell Such is the lack of confidence within the Establishment, everybody from politicians to church leaders wants to hug environmentalism Mick Hume Barack Obama is young, gifted and mixed-race. But can he really break the mould of racial politics Wall Street Journal The Crusaders
Poland's "moral" revolution is eating Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
By TOMASZ WROBLEWSKI Suspicious Minds
EU lawmakers decide the CIA is guilty, then look for facts.
By JAS GAWRONSKI | H14 Financial Times COMMENT: Good manners, but still very different views of the world Mutuality of interests between the US and Europe far outweighs the differences, writes Philip Stephens. COMMENT: Democracy is far from everything The system is best understood as a decision rule for changing the government without the use of force, writes Samuel Brittan. Putin freezes commitment to arms treaty President Vladimir Putin used his final state-of-the-nation address to accuse the west of ‘colonial-style’ interference in Russia’s domestic affairs and threatened to stop implementing an important arms limitation treaty. LEADER: Don't give up on arms control 1dk head Putin has raised the stakes in Russia’s deepening conflict with the west over deterrence and security. Europe’s leaders eye Sarkozy partnership Nicolas Sarkozy may still have work to do to win the French presidency but he has already secured the unspoken support of Berlin, Brussels and London. WORLD NEWS: Liberal leaders eye Sarkozy for axis of mainstream modernisers Tehran hints at new ideas on nuclear dispute Iran yesterday heralded what it said was new thinking in the dispute over its nuclear programme amid western scepticism that any breakthrough was imminent. Iran, EU continue tentative nuclear talks MARKETS AND INVESTING: Iran nuclear hopes push oil prices lower INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Senate opens new front in Iraq skirmish Moscow issues warning over Kosovo After weeks of shadow-boxing, Moscow could be preparing for a fight with Washington over the disputed Balkan territory of Kosovo WORLD NEWS: Serbia backs UN fact-finding delegation to Kosovo US business leaders doubt merits of trade partnership The overall level of violence in Iraq remains unchanged from January despite a recent decrease in sectarian killings, the US commander there said. Lone challenger to Iran's orthodoxy on the death penalty The US has issued a formal diplomatic protest to the UK over its decision to drop fraud investigation into alleged bribery of Saudi officials by arms manufacturer BAE Systems – a striking rebuke for Washington’s key military and security ally. Lebanese forces tighten security in Beirut Lebanon’s security services set up checkpoints across Beirut amid fears of a new escalation in political and sectarian tensions after the bodies of two Sunni Muslims were found. US military charge commander with abuse The US military announced that it had filed charges against a commander at a major detention facility accused of ’aid[ing] the enemy’ by providing detainees with an unmonitored mobile phone. Obituary: David Halberstam Israel Country's vibrant 'factory of ideas' High-tech industry gathers pace Crisis is ‘destroying’ Bank’s credibility | H15 Los Angeles Times Senate OKs Iraq pullout; stage set for Bush veto Democratic-controlled Senate passes legislation that would require the start of troop withdrawals by Oct. 1 Can we make them hate us less? By Sonni Efron Searching for a heart or mind we haven't lost ... Petraeus: There's no easy route to victory - U.S. officer accused of aiding the enemy Baghdad residents find little security Patching up the U.S.-Japan bond By Aaron Friedberg and Dan Blumenthal China's growth and disagreement over North Korea threaten to set back the most important pan-Pacific alliance. 'Shock and awe' turns 70 By Mark Kurlansky A 1937 air raid on the Basque city of Guernica ushered in an era of targeting civilians in warfare. FT NATIONAL NEWS: We have delivered change, Blair tells his MPs Understanding of the financial sector in Germany is ‘under-developed’, finance minister Peer Steinbrück tells the Financial Times. COMMENT: Scotland: can it go nationalist and still be British? Anecdotal evidence and study of the polls suggest that support for independence runs at well under 50 per cent, writes Harry Reid, editor of The Herald, Glasgow, 1997-2000. COMMENT: National watchdogs need to be watched on bank bids WORLD NEWS: EU and US form council to free up trade COMMENT: A small price to get New York moving again The congestion fee will benefit the city for generations, writes Felix Rohatyn, former chairman of the Municipal Assistance Corporation for the city of New York. |
| H16 American Politics Democratic candidates gang up on Bush, war in Iraq By Steven Thomma, McClatchy Newspapers
Candidates for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination eyed each other politely - even warily - Thursday in their first face-to-face debate, a session that offered little likelihood of dramatically shaking up the young campaign. The grumbling on the left about Sen. Barack Obama's presidential candidacy has begun. Analysis: Americans concerned about security-liberty imbalance U.S. Markets Continue Upswing Despite Other Factors BBC Democrat hopefuls at one on Iraq Democratic contenders for the 2008 US presidential election attack President Bush's Iraq policy in a TV debate. US political war of attrition on Iraq Congress backs Iraq pull-out plan 2008 election: Main contenders CBSNEWSNYT POLL: PUBLIC SAYS WARMING IS A PROBLEM, BUT REMAINS SPLIT ON ACTIONS... Nation on wrong track, 66% tell poll Bush Blames the Troops By: Robert Scheer | The Nation
Blame it on the military but make it look like you're supporting the troops. That's been the convenient gambit of failed emperors throughout history as they witnessed their empires decline. Not surprisingly then, it's become the standard rhetorical trick employed by President Bush in shirking responsibility for the Iraq debacle of his making. Bush administration targeted another top federal prosecutor
By Marisa Taylor and Margaret Talev, McClatchy Newspapers
The Bush administration considered firing the former U.S. attorney in Minnesota, but he left his job voluntarily before the list of attorneys to be ousted was completed, two congressional aides said Thursday. realclearpolitics – ABC’s The Note – US News Political Bulletin Early Bird GovExec Iraq: Who's Winning, Harry? By: Amir Taheri | New York Post
Because all wars have winners and losers, Reid, having identified America as the loser, is required to name the winner. This Reid cannot do. The reason is that, whichever way one looks at the situation, America and its Iraqi allies remain the only objective victors in this war. Mr Thompson, the Imaginary Candidate, is lighting up the presidential contest at the moment · Gerard Baker | H17 Daily Telegraph Wanted: an Iraqi strongman (Moqtada al-Sadr need not apply) There is nothing the military commanders would like more than to withdraw their forces from Iraq, but it isn't that simple, writes Con Coughlin. Leader Putin's final farewell - or was it au revoir? The chauvinistic tone of Vladimir Putin's 'final' state of the nation speech will only encourage speculation that he has no plans to step down just yet. Nato worried by Putin treaty threat Russia to pull out of Europe arms control treaty, says Putin. Bush faces clash after Iraq deadline set A showdown between the White House and Congress was looming yesterday after the US Senate narrowly passed a Bill compelling President George W Bush to withdraw American troops from Iraq by next April. Merkel's honesty not the best policy If Labour MPs want to give our freedoms away in perpetuity with a new European treaty, they should have the decency to ask us first, argues Daniel Hannan. EU green targets will damage rainforests European Union green fuel targets will speed up deforestation in South-East Asia and threaten the habitat of endangered species, such as the orang-utan. The day that Russians spoke their minds WF Deedes on post-Communist Russia, a surprise in store for Gordon Brown and the deficiencies of modern protest action. Brown dragging Labour to polls defeat Gordon Brown is becoming an electoral liability to his party as a YouGov poll for The Daily Telegraph today shows that he is falling even further behind David Cameron. 'Harry should not be sent to Iraq' | H18 Independent Hawkish Putin condemns 'meddling' West Bush ready to veto Democrat bill that calls for Iraq pull-out Leading Article: McCain's woes reveal bigger issues for Republicans Serbia urges UN to reject Kosovo independence plan Marking 10 years of New Labour in power, Blair stakes his claim for lasting legacy Doubts raised over Prince Harry's war-zone posting deployment to Iraq The Big Question: Does halving rubbish collections really help the environment? |
| H19Military Intelligence Terrorism Al Qaeda Strikes Back By: Bruce Reidel | Foreign Affairs
By rushing into Iraq instead of finishing off the hunt for Osama bin Laden, Washington has unwittingly helped its enemies: al Qaeda has more bases, more partners, and more followers today than it did on the eve of 9/11. Now the group is working to set up networks in the Middle East and Africa -- and may even try to lure the United States into a war with Iran. Washington must focus on attacking al Qaeda's leaders and ideas and altering the local conditions in which they thrive. Execute Osama? Americans, Yes; World, No Survey: Large Majorities Agree with Many Goals of Al-Qaeda - Full Report (pdf) (World Public Opinion)
Tenet: "Slam Dunk" Comment Misused Ex-CIA Chief: No 'Serious Debate' on War National Exercise Program Would Test Crisis Response DNI's 100 day plan
Some implications of increasing U.S. forces in Iraq (PDF; 226 KB)
Source: Congressional Budget Office The United States Nuclear Weapons Program: The Role of the Reliable Replacement Warhead (PDF; 1.4 MB) Source: American Association for the Advancement of Science
From press release: Eli Lake / New York Sun:
For Iraqi Terrorists Inside Iran, Membership Has Its Privileges Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Is Challenged by Noncompliance
US Department of State | What the myth of mirror neurons gets wrong about the human brain. Alison Gopnik Can "neurotheology" bridge the gap between religion and science? Christopher Hitchens The Great Wall of Indifference By: Bing West | Slate
On the surface, the Azamiyah wall episode is a triumph for the press in bringing to international attention an injustice, and for the prime minister in immediately responding and standing up for the rights of the Sunni minority. On the ground, the episode is less inspiring. From Poverty to Prosperity: A National Strategy to Cut Poverty in Half
Source: Center for American Progress
From press release: Disarming fears of diversity : ethnic heterogeneity and state militarization, 1988-2002 Source: World Bank Policy Research Working Papers Full Paper (PDF; 290 KB) | H21 Divine comedy Julian gough The Greeks understood that comedy is superior to tragedy. But since the middle ages, western culture has overvalued the tragic and undervalued the comic. It's time writers got back to the serious business of making us laugh. Work does play an important role in literature. It just doesn’t mirror the importance or merit the attention it gets in real life... more» Happiness as a Signal of Good Fit with Human Nature The Artificiality of Happiness Is 40 % or more of Moby Dick, Anna Karenina, David Copperfield, or Vanity Fair mere padding? Can these novels be usefully cut?... more» Joseph Schumpeter was among the last of the great political economists in a field that has turned, for better and for worse, to mere technical problems... more» Drew Gilpin Faust has several months before she becomes the 28th president of Harvard, but there is already a buzz in Cambridge about how she will meet the challenge of leading one of the world’s most powerful universities Film Lobbyist Jack Valenti, 85, Dies Standing up to bullies
Bullying should not be a barrier to participating in everyday life. What would happen if the robots turned against us? The pariah intellectual
By CALEV BEN-DAVID
Hannah Arendt professed no love for the Jews and can't be counted as one of its greatest thinkers. The National Cultural Values Survey (PDF; 4.57 MB)
Source: Culture & Media Institute
|
