0512-2007f - FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analyses from all around the world for informed debate’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç U.S. / Britain / Turkey / Magazines / Think-tanks / Blogs / Misc /Books / Quickread / Numbers / Reports - FPR Table - Subscribe to FPR

H1 Guardian 'Welcome to Tehran' - how Iran took control of Basra

Britain has failed to stop southern Iraq falling into the grip of militias.

Asia Times Iraq 'surge' strategy shows weaknesses
The increase in US troops in Baghdad has had an impact on sectarian killings in the Iraqi capital. Proponents also point to successes in Anbar province, which may have more to do with internal dynamics of that region. One thing is certain: the "surge" will come to naught unless the Iraqi government moves on reforms. - Jim Lobe

Al Hayat An Open Letter to President Bashar al-Asad Patrick Seale -

Al Awsat How Ahmadinejad is Taking the Americans for a Ride : Amir Taheri

Rand Ideas for Policymakers

Enhancing the Impact of Think Tanks

Der Spiegel Europe and Russia: The Divorce? For European leaders, this week's EU-Russia summit is little more than a business trip -- there won't be any major announcements, treaty negotiations, or even much pleasure. Do the two sides have anything more to discuss?

The Times For the US in Iraq, time is running out

Even as the final reinforcements in President Bush's "surge" plan are deployed, the battle may already be lost

Will Mr Sarkozy shift France from its Arab ties?

The new French president is known to admire Israel, prompting the Arab states to fear a policy change

Washington Post White House, Democrats Trade Competing War Funding Plans Troop Withdrawal 'Goal,' Benchmark Provisions Are Disputed

Sarkozy Names 7 Women to Cabinet The 15-member body -- seven women and eight men -- is half the size of previous governments, part of Sarkozy's efforts to streamline the bloated French bureaucracy.

Newsweek Dickey: France's Crusading Foreign Minister

Asia Times The two 'kings' of Iran
There's talk in Iran of early elections to replace President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, who is under increasing pressure from his former mentor, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The reformists are circling, but the real battle is between the two heavyweights. - Sami Moubayed

CFR Lengthening Political Shadows of Iraq

Steven Cook: Ruling But Not Governing

H2 VOA Turkey Is Facing Identity Crisis, Say Several Journalists

Armenian genocide denial: The case against Turkey Cleveland Jewish News

US, TURKEY SIGN $1.8 BILLION AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF ADDITIONAL 30 F-16SInsideDefense

"Terörün bitmesi için üçlü inisiyatif"

Türban nükleer bomba değil TALAT İSMAİL

Fractured opposition facing tough road ahead in Turkey Gulf Times

Google News Kurdish Kurdish Media

Semih İDİZ Türkiye Irak'ın bölünmesine hazır mı?

The Kurdish PR Machine Burak Bekdil

Kurdish list agrees to postpone Kirkuk issue

Osman: Türkiye 140. maddenin uygulanmasını engellemek için teşvikte bulunuyor

Kurdish Iranian Opposition Leader Seeks Clear Strategy From US New York Sun

DTP: Ders aldık, şov peşinde değiliz"

Murat Çelik Seçimden hemen önce Ankara’ya iki ‘paket’ gelirse...

Orhan Doğan: Birleşik pusula işimize gelir

Diyarbakır'da pusu: 1 er şehit, 4 er yaralı

Terörle mücadelede 'kararlılık' vurgusu

"Terörün bitmesi için üçlü inisiyatif"

Gündem terör ve seçim güvenliği

78'liler: Diyarbakır'da ne oldu?

YASİN AKTAY
Şii-Sünni Birliği Deklarasyonu

Sami KOHEN Kim "dur" diyecek?

Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber

Fransız aydınlar: AB üyeliğini Sarkozy değil, darbe engeller

Türkiye'nin AB üyeliğini destekleyen Kouchner, Paris'in yeni dışişleri bakanı

Pro-Turkey Socialist chosen by Sarkozy for FM

Abdülhamit Bilici Who should be most concerned about the Russo-Turkmen deal?

Ata Atun Is UN Resolution 541 (1983) still valid?

Berl Dedeoğlu Search for the new status of Kosovo

Ankara welcomes Greek court’s decision on Nov. 17 members

Ermeni okulları tehdit ediliyor

[NEWS ANALYSIS]
Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yachi in Turkey

Shakespeare on Turks

IMF Türk ekonomisini değerlendirdi

Altıncı Gözden Geçirme Onaylandı

Risk haritası değişiyor Taner Berksoy

Ege Cansen En azından epey var

Başta bütçe olmak üzere ekonomik göstergelerde bozulma hızlanıyor, faturayı yeni hükümet ödeyecek

Yaman TÖRÜNER 23 Temmuz sabahı ekonomi

ERDAL ŞAFAK CHP ve ekonomi

H3 Semih İDİZ Türkiye Irak'ın bölünmesine hazır mı?

Vatan Citi de ‘koalisyon’ dedi

Barzani's KDP, Iran hand over captured PKK members to Turkey

Başer Vazo gibi durmanın anlamı yok

Özel temsilcilikte sona doğru

HAKAN ALBAYRAK Mustafa Kemal'in federasyon/konfederasyon teklifi

[NEWS ANALYSIS] Military-police dialogue raises hope for effective security cooperation

İran ve Irak, PKK'lı teröristleri teslim etti

Seçim yaklaşınca Baykal AB'ci oldu!

Babacan: 'Bizim dışımızda hiçbir parti iktidar psikolojisinde değil'

Şahin Alpay Kültür değil iktidar kavgası

ABD medyasından Türkiye M.Ali Kışlalı

Cengiz Çandar Kızıl Meydan: 20 yıl sonra-20 yıl önce...

İlter Türkmen Temmuz sonundaki politik tablo

Çevreyi merkeze taşımak
İsmet Berkan

'Genç Subaylar Rahatsız'
Perihan Mağden

Nasıl bölünüyoruz? Murat Belge

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN
Sivil kriz var dikkat!

Ertuğrul Özkök Başbakan'ın yanından çıkan kimdi

KÜRŞAT BUMİN Gündüz Aktan'ın yerinde seçimi

Yalçın Doğan Yüzyılın hayali enerji koridoru çöktü

Güngör URAS Günümüzde 'slogan' ve 'laf salatası' ile oy toplamak güçleşti

Politika gırgırı ve somut politikalar BAHADIR KALEAĞASI

MAHMUT ÖVÜR
CHP-DSP 'işbirliği' iktidar getirir mi?

[THE CHP‘S SCORCHED EARTH POLITICS (2)]Masked ballby HALUK ÖZDALGA

Mehmet Tezkan

Mehmet Ağar’ın tek bir şansı var!

İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası

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

Dış Basında Irak BBC Turkish 0700

VOA TSİ 06:30 Dış Basında Türkiye Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey Turquie Türkei TurcoPundit

Taha Kıvanç Her yere sızan adam

Fehmi Koru Ne yapıyor bunlar?

NAZLI ILICAK

Taha AKYOL Bir olay, iki tepki

Fikret BİLA Baykal'ın ittifak anlayışı

Hasan CEMAL Dün bugün mü?

Güneri CIVAOĞLU Eski dostlar

Can Dündar Sıra programda

Sezer, bir oy alan adayı rektör yaptı

The social side of politics and different approachesby MÜMTAZ’ER TÜRKÖNE

[Yorum - M. Şükrü Hanioğlu] Kavramlar yorumlanmamalı, tartışılmamalı mı? (II)

Ali Bulaç Gösteriler, göstericiler

FİKRİ AKYÜZ 'DYP'lilerin ANAP'lıların hepsi AK Parti'ye döndü'

Enis Berberoğlu Yarısına bile razı, ama...

Türkiye'nin iki 19 Mayıs'ı Altan Öymen

Nuh Gönültaş Siyasetin dalga boyu değişiyor...

Parti anketine göre Baykal'ın 'irtica' sloganına CHP'li seçmen inanmıyor

Erdoğan'dan partiye 3 sürpriz isim daha

Sol oligarşi adaylığımı engelledi

Çiller nabız yokluyor

Oktay Ekşi Bütünleşme süreci...

Taha Akyol eleştirileri cevapladı

Çürük yumurta!

O İzmir’i biliriz

Mehmet Kamış Dindarlar ne istiyor?

Abdülhamit Bilici Moskof kızılları bile akıllandı!

Müslüman Sol'dan AK Parti'ye destek

‘Rallies example of successful psychological operation’

Tufan Türenç Laiklik ve demokratlık

Erdal Sağlam Partilerin vitrin telaşı

Derya SAZAK Aday yelpazesi

ERGUN BABAHAN
Umutlu olmak lazım

Yılmaz ve Çiller siyasete dönüyor mu?

President Bush to Replace Wolfowitz Quickly

H5 Washington Post White House, Democrats Trade Competing War Funding Plans Troop Withdrawal 'Goal,' Benchmark Provisions Are Disputed

Sarkozy Names 7 Women to Cabinet

The 15-member body -- seven women and eight men -- is half the size of previous governments, part of Sarkozy's efforts to streamline the bloated French bureaucracy.

Editorial Pushback for Mr. Putin European leaders deliver a necessary rebuke to Moscow.

PostGlobal Gulf: Iran's the Enemy, America's OK

Iraqi Shiite Party Leader Now in U.S. for Lung-Cancer Treatment

China, U.S. Come to Trade Talks At Odds Inequity to One Is Bullying to Other

Blast at Indian Mosque Kills 10, Injures 55 Attack in Southern City of Hyderabad Sparks Deadly Riots by Muslims Protesting Lack of Security

Musharraf Bars Return Of Opponents To Pakistan

Two Ex-Premiers Vow To Be Back for Elections

William Arkin A National Security Sea Change?

Immigrant Legislation Splits GOP Right Lashes Out At Bush and Senate Over Compromise

Editorial Trigger-Happy On immigration, the cost of wishful thinking may be high.

Cyber Assaults on Estonia Typify a New Battle Tactic

H6 Guardian 'Welcome to Tehran' - how Iran took control of Basra

Britain has failed to stop southern Iraq falling into the grip of militias.

Leader The bad news from Basra
Iraq: There was no containing the mutual admiration of George Bush and Tony Blair as they stood in the Rose Garden for one last time on Thursday.

Putin riles west by barring opposition protesters · Kasparov and journalists made to miss flight · Merkel says authorities restricting free speech

Leftwing human rights champion joins Sarkozy's cabinet
Bernard Kouchner, the leftwing humanitarian crusader, has been appointed France's foreign minister.

White House promises to replace Wolfowitz quickly · Blair championed as new World Bank president
· Anger over exoneration of leader forced to resign

Musharraf rejects power-sharing deal
Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, and his main rival, Benazir Bhutto, dismiss possibility of power-sharing deal.

H7 Negative Attitudes toward the United States in the Muslim World: Do They Matter? Source: WorldPublicOpinion.org

From Conversations With History, an interview with Chalmers Johnson, author of Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic,

an interview with Niall Ferguson, author of The War of the World: Twentieth Century Conflict and the Descent of the West,

and an interview with John Micklethwait on globalization and the conservative movement in the US.

Gangs of Iraq: Desperate to shore up its flagging ranks, the military is quietly enlisting thousands of active gang members and shipping them to Iraq.

Think Globally, Act Globally: The Limits of Local Climate Policies
Source: University of Pennsylvania Law Review (via SSRN)

Salon The secret Iraq documents my 8-year-old found With a couple of keystrokes, you too can read the hidden history of the Coalition Provisional Authority, America's late, unlamented occupation government in Iraq.
By Pete Moore

Reagan realist remembered

By Terence P. Jeffrey In Jeane Kirkpatrick's posthumously published book, she argues that it is unrealistic to expect the U.S. military to build nations -- let alone democracies -- in cultures we know little about and where the preconditions for representative government don't exist.

Condi Rice--Cooked in Oil?
Huffington Post

We can’t wait to sort out Bush mess
Lebanon Daily News In the past several months, more than 20 key people have left the National Security Council, the Defense Department and the Department of State.

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

US Papers Sat: Al-Hakim Faces Lung Cancer

The Army's plan to professionalize Iraq's police could backfire, as militia-infiltrated squads become more effective killers.

BBC Baghdad diary
Andrew North continues his regular column on life in Iraq

Arming Iraq
New weapons plan to bolster the Iraqi security services

Carter attacks Blair's Iraq role
Former US President Jimmy Carter criticises Tony Blair for his "blind" support for George W Bush over Iraq.

Foreign Banks Still Consider Iran Lucrative Market Despite US Treasury Curbs

Al Hayat Interview With PM Fouad Siniora

An Open Letter to President Bashar al-Asad Patrick Seale - Syria has come under great pressure from the US ever since the invasion of Iraq. There was a dangerous moment last summer when Israel seemed about to extend to Syria its aggression against Lebanon. The hostility of France was a further worrying factor. These pressures now seem to be easing. The world is beginning to recognize the crucial role Syria could play in resolving some of the region's conflicts, once its own interests are addressed.

Al Awsat How Ahmadinejad is Taking the Americans for a Ride : Amir Taheri

May 18 SD# 1590 - Syrian Liberal Nidhal Na'isa On the West, Pan-Arabism, Islamism, and Al-Jazeera

Arab Media and Concerns Over Darfur By: James J. Zogby | The Daily Star
My organization, the Arab American Institute, working with the Washington-based Save Darfur Coalition, conducted a poll of Arabs and Muslims in six countries. The poll, carried out by Zogby International, produced findings that shattered the myth that Arabs and Muslims are indifferent to the suffering of the people in Darfur.

H9 Ha’aretz – Arab League chief blames Israel, sanctions for Gaza infighting

U.S. House seeks tighter U.S.-Israeli ballistic missile defenses

Gilad Sharon: Why does Egypt hate us?

Amira Hass: The West is punishing only the occupied

For U.S.-Israel relations, Yitzhak Rabin was best

Leon Botstein: American Jews aren't 'secondary' to Israelis

Daily Alert.org – Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine

If Gaza survives, Europe must act

Daniel Levy May 18 07, 10:30pm: The failures of the US, Israel and the Palestinians are not as bad as those of Europe - because Europe could make a difference.

BBC Fresh violence hits Gaza Strip Clashes between Palestinian groups in Gaza continue, as Israeli attacks on Hamas targets leave eight dead.

Egyptian charged with espionage stuns court with praise for Israel

Palestinians Caught Between Warlords By: Frida Ghitis | Miami Herald
At last the cameras have returned to Gaza, making it seem as though the killing of Palestinians by Palestinians just started in the last few days. But a world that had claimed to care so deeply had largely ignored the horrifying violence that for months has been making life increasingly unbearable.

USA to invest $205 million in missile defense with Israel...

Debka Hamas Traps Israel between Two Options: War or War of Attrition

Yedioth Ahronoth Paralysis since Winograd/ Fishman

Peretz: 'Wide incursion into Gaza not in Israel's interest'

Europe's choice
The point when the world concludes that a nuclear Iran is no longer preventable is fast approaching

Column One: The master politician and us By CAROLINE GLICK
2 weeks after the Winograd report, Olmert has removed his incompetence from the pubic agenda

Analysis: Who's fighting whom?

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Weekly Standard Don't Abandon the Iraqis The high stakes of the war.
by Frederick W. Kagan

Crying Wolfowitz . . . while the United Nations bankrolls dictators.
by Claudia Rosett

BBC A new broom
Can the World Bank rebuild its credibiity under a new boss?

Boston Globe Revenge of the multilateralists

PAUL WOLFOWITZ wasn't forced to leave the presidency of the World Bank just because he arranged a special job transfer for his lady friend. He is leaving because he was unable to master the culture of the 10,000-person organization, a task made difficult by his administrative failings and the baggage he carried from his advocacy of the Iraq war.

The Wolfowitz pattern at World Bank (By Korinna Horta)

PAPER: Blair tipped to be World Bank president as disgraced Wolfowitz resigns...

NRO ANNE BAYEFSKY: Angola, Egypt, and Qatar join China, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia on the Human Rights Council. “The Oppressors’ Club”

ASIA IHT How Asians can have more babies By PHILIP BOWRING
Rising Asia seldom thinks it has anything to learn from Old Europe

Righting The Rupee By: Ajay Shah | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
India is currently muddling through what could be called a currency "drama" as opposed to a currency "crisis." The rupee has appreciated sharply against the dollar -- 8.29% from March 15 to April 25 this year alone.

Report: U.S. willing to make peace with North Korea by September...

H11 IHT Russian, EU leaders trade barbs at fractious summit The differences between the two sides were stark, with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso, clashing with Vladimir Putin

Rudeness, realism and Russia
The greatest challenge is for Russians to get over their debilitating rancor and responsibly engage the world they are so keen to join.

France's top diplomat: A doctor who's direct By ELAINE SCIOLINO Bernard Kouchner, France's new top diplomat, would never describe himself as diplomatic.

BBC Man of passion
The socialist taking a key role in France's right-wing cabinet

EUROPE European press review

Reconstructing Europe: Two Alternative Proposals for a European Constitution ZEI A 106-page German discussion paper offering two proposals for a new European constitution

A malaise-ridden France just elected the most pro-American president in its history. But Nicolas Sarkozy’s victory doesn’t mean the French are eager to see their socialist perks disappear in a flurry of Anglo-Saxon reforms.

Friend or Faux? Olivier Roy on how Nicolas Sarkozy may not be what the French call a “libéral,” but he’s no neocon, either.

We want our Europe back! A comparison between the Berlin and the Rome Declarations.

The burden of history: Its newest members offer the European Union some history lessons

EU Barters with Serbia as Kosovo Tensions Mount By: Andrew Rettman and Ekrem Krasniqi | EU Observer
The EU has rewarded the new moderate government in Serbia with prospects of restarting EU integration talks. But tensions remain over war crimes, while UN powers move further apart on the underlying issue threatening Balkan stability - the future status of Kosovo.

BBC Romania votes on president's fate
Romanians vote in a referendum to decide whether President Basescu will be dismissed or reinstated.

H12 RFE/RL

Der Spiegel Europe and Russia: The Divorce? For European leaders, this week's EU-Russia summit is little more than a business trip -- there won't be any major announcements, treaty negotiations, or even much pleasure. Do the two sides have anything more to discuss?

Weekly Standard How Democracy Fails Ukraine is the case in point.
by Bruce P. Jackson

Google News Azerbaijan

Poland Sinks the Summit By: Gennady Sesoev | Kommersant
The Russia-EU summit will take place in Samara today. It was known long in advance that it would be the least successful summit in the entire history of relations between Moscow and Brussels. Now it is all a matter of not letting ties break irreparably, especially after Poland announced yesterday that it was limiting contacts with Russia.

EDM KAZAKHSTAN BALANCES RUSSIAN GAS DEAL WITH HOMEGROWN PROJECTS
- LOYALIST ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT CONSOLIDATING IN SOUTH OSSETIA

Eurasianet The Caspian Basin Odyssey: Change Begins at the Border (Part 1)

Batumi: Making a Break for the West
BY JOSHUA KUCERA (PART 2)

Armenian Opposition Pins Hopes on Partnership
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN

H13 The Times For the US in Iraq, time is running out

Even as the final reinforcements in President Bush's "surge" plan are deployed, the battle may already be lost

Will Mr Sarkozy shift France from its Arab ties?

The new French president is known to admire Israel, prompting the Arab states to fear a policy change

Gordon Brown's Iraq challenge

The Middle East peace process and Iraq will be key foreign policy priorities for Gordon Brown when he becomes PM

State of siege: Israel flourishes amid the bombs

Despite a war with Lebanon and a land almost devoid of natural resources, 2006 was a golden year for the Israeli economy

Leader From Russia with Pain

Brown is about to inherit a serious foreign policy problem

After Wolfowitz

The World Bank’s next president must continue redefining its role

I want to underestimate Mr Brown

I don’t believe in the Chancellor’s hidden intellectual superguns, his great schemes and plansMatthew Parris

Take it from me, it’s a pointless job

The real joy of Opposition was engaging the enemy in policy debate

Roy Hattersley

Afghan soldiers mass ahead of Pakistan attack

Sarkozy uses opponents for 'inclusive' Cabinet

Several of President Nicholas Sarkozy's appointments have caused bemusement and anger in the French political world

A woman who is fighting the 'guy issues'

A former spy who plays drums could be the greatest threat to Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert's tenuous grip on power

Wall Street Journal Immigration: What's in the New Bill?

Senators reached a delicate, bipartisan compromise on a bill to overhaul U.S. immigration policy, giving Bush what is likely to be his last chance at reaching a "grand bargain" on the issue. Here's a closer look at the legislation.

Iran's Enablers
Our 'allies' are using taxpayer dollars to support the regime.
By DANIELLE PLETKA and OMEED JAFARI

Bernanke's False Dichotomy
Financial markets should be governed by principles and rules.
By ROBERT C. POZEN

H14 Financial Times BACK PAGE - FIRST SECTION: EU-Russian progress freezes in icy summit

FT MONEY: Has globalisation put the US in another world?

COMMENT: Worlds collide at the Bank Wolfowitz and the World Bank seem to have brought out the worst in one another. Perhaps this is because they were perfect for one another, writes Christopher Caldwell.

COMMENT: A headache is in store when the credit party fizzles out Most bankers are terrified of refusing deals, particularly at a time when the European economy is picking up, writes Gillian Tett, the FT’s capital markets editor.

COMMENT: Planet's enemies on the patio For a “green” crowd, outdoor heaters are a social gaffe equivalent to booking Don Imus to entertain a women’s basketball convention, writes Fiona Harvey.

Sarkozy builds his reformist cabinet Former PM returns to government

FT WEEKEND MAGAZINE - BOOKS ESSAY: Whose side can we be on?

Beijing to take $3bn gamble on Blackstone

China has agreed to place $3bn of its massive foreign exchange reserves with Blackstone, US-based private equity group, signalling Beijing is starting to switch investments from US treasuries into more risky equity holdings.

WORLD NEWS WOLFOWITZ RESIGNS: Another Bush hawk is brought down

H15 Los Angeles Times U.S., Iran to hold talks on Iraq

Who Should Pick The Next World Bank Chief? By: Mark Malloch Brown | Los Angeles Times
In a profoundly difficult-to-manage organization such as the World Bank, it is critical that its chief have broad support.

The Architect of His Own Collapse By: Lawrence Wilkerson | Los Angeles Times
Paul Wolfowitz's ineptness was on display long before the World Bank debacle.

Torture enthusiasts

Rosa Brooks: This week's GOP debate devolved into a Jack Bauer impersonation contest.

H16 American Politics

Weekly Standard What Falwell Wrought Just the biggest voter realignment in modern history.
by Jeffrey Bell

Clift: Here’s the Formula for Victory in ’08

Wall Street Journal Immigration: What's in the New Bill? Senators reached a delicate, bipartisan compromise on a bill to overhaul U.S. immigration policy, giving Bush what is likely to be his last chance at reaching a "grand bargain" on the issue. Here's a closer look at the legislation.

LA Times Immigration bill fractures political ranks

NY TIMES Mag on Gore: 'Everywhere he goes, people urge him, almost beg him, to run for the presidency'...

In coming post-Bush era, GOP faces identity crisis McClatchy Newspapers
When Republican presidential candidates debated this week over which one has the best conservative credentials, not one mentioned George W. Bush as a model.

realclearpolitics – ABC’s The Note – US News Political Bulletin

Early Bird GovExec Swamp Gas Swamp Sunrise Daybook

H17 Daily Telegraph European constitution is being recycled

Mr Brown won't dare let us vote on Europe. 30 years accumulated frustrations mean that any plan for increasing Europe's powers now wins the full-hearted dissent of the British people, says Charles Moore.

Russia rebuked - at last

Yesterday's rebuke by the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, to Russia over its continued intimidation of Estonia is as welcome as it is overdue.

Israel considers giving Fatah military support

Israel is considering giving military support to the moderate Palestinian faction Fatah in its power struggle with radical rival Hamas.

Three cheers for Wolfowitz's departure

Paul Wolfowitz's announcement that he is resigning as president of the World Bank got me rather excited this week. Not because of the sex-scandal aspect, nor because I'm prone to reflect on the doings of the World Bank, but because I'm an Iraq war-bore, explains Vicki Woods.

Sarkozettes and mavericks join French cabinet

A Frenchwoman born to illiterate North African parents was one of seven women given ministerial posts yesterday in a new cabinet moulded to reflect modern France.

Profile: Bernard Kouchner

H18 Independent As Blair leaves Washington, US hardens stance on climate change

As Tony Blair left Washington yesterday for his last visit as Prime Minister, the Bush administration was acting to scupper international efforts to combat climate change

Ministers urge Brown to launch Iraq inquiry

Robert Fisk: Blair's lies and linguistic manipulations

After Wolfowitz: battle begins for control of World Bank

Israel attacks Hamas targets as Gaza fighting escalates continues in Gaza

Leading Article: The nation is wealthy, but the gap between rich and poor is too great

What should Gordon Brown do to maximize the chances of Labour achieving a fourth term? Anthony Giddens has some ideas.

Der Spiegel Does Gordon Brown Mean Real Change?

H19Military Intelligence Terrorism

Weekly Standard Soft Targets
Al Qaeda's new strategy.
by Olivier Guitta

Rand Theory and Methods for Supporting High Level Military Decisionmaking Paul K. Davis, James P. Kahan A framework for supporting high-level decisionmaking, one that deals explicitly with uncertainty to produce flexible, adaptive, and robust (FAR) strategies, and does so in support of both “rational-analytic” and “intuitive” decisionmakers.Full Document

And from TAC, this letter was sent to George Tenet by a group of former intelligence officers. Tenet reportedly received a $4 million advance for his new tell-all

Ballistic Missile Defense: Historical Overview

Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa

• 'British FBI' creates wanted list of 1,600 most dangerous criminals

H20 Slate Paul Wolfowitz's Real Problem?:

He's too good at math. Fred Kaplan

Don't Shut Up Paul:

The stupid GOP effort to silence one of its candidates. John Dickerson

It's the environment, stupid

PAPER: RAPID RISE IN GLOBAL WARMING IS FORECAST...

H21 In praise of the Simpsons
In the Anglo-Saxon world there has been nothing quite like The Simpsons, not even its prehistoric predecessor The Flintstones.

“Many a man fails as an original thinker simply because his memory is too good.” said Nietzsche. There can come a point in life when this begins to make sense... more»

Stalin’s greatest pleasure was to choose his victim, wreck cruel vengeance, and then go to bed. “There’s nothing sweeter in the world”... more»

FT WEEKEND MAGAZINE - LUNCH WITH THE FT: Gore Vidal - Me time

Undercover Economist: Urban neutral City-dwellers are far more likely to be green than their rural counterparts

Google Book Search Adds Library Options

The clash of what? Thoughtful, decent souls such as Tocqueville, Lawrence, Twain, and even the querulous Naipaul, show how the breach between cultures can be healed. Perhaps... more»

Americans still look to Rome for omens of destiny. The Founding Fathers started the tradition, with the virtuous Roman Republic in mind... more»

No Country For Old Men: Coens return to philosophical form with a bare-bones tale of substance

Film reunites De Niro and Pacino By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles

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