0612-2007f - 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 International Security Osirak Redux? Assessing Israeli Capabilities to Destroy Iranian Nuclear Facilities Raas, Whitney and Austin Long. International Security 31, no. 4 (Spring 2007): 7-33.

Some in U.S. Intelligence See Musharraf on His Way Out Spencer Ackerman/

The Musharraf Dilemma By: Max Boot | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) Reagan's Marcos strategy may resolve Pakistan's growing dictator problem. The Bush administration is reaching a decision point: Will it continue to provide unqualified support for Mr. Musharraf on the grounds that he is too valuable an ally to give up in the Global War on Terror? Or will it pull the rug out from under him and insist on a transition to civilian democratic rule?

Irony of Bush's tour By Claude Salhani Bush was met with protests in Christian countries and greeted as a liberator in Europe's largest Muslim nation.

U.S. Warns Iraq That Progress Is Needed Soon A top U.S. commander told Iraq’s premier to make political progress by next month to counter the growing tide of opposition to the war in Congress

U.N. Monitor Urges Defusing of Stalemate Over Iran

Washington Post Civilian Toll in Iraq At 'Higher Levels' U.N. Report Cites Rise Since Troop Buildup

Christian Science Monitor United States signals permanent stay in Iraq Critics say long-term US military presence may prod greater Iraqi resistance of the 'occupier.'

US civilians drive Iraq's other surge In northern Iraq, teams of experts are trying to develop governance by the rule of law.

The Times No recession in sight, despite doomsayers That the US is already into an expansion well beyond the average for the years 1945-1982 is something to celebrate Gerard Baker

Bush flies back home as lame duck President After a hero’s welcome in Albania, President Bush returned to the sober reality in Washington that his influence is fading rapidly

Egypt and Iran Look to Mend Ties By: Dominic Moran | ISN Security Watch
As Egypt and Iran edge toward the resumption of diplomatic ties, ISN Security Watch explores the reasons for the thaw and its potential impact on regional crises.

BBC Iran's 'great game'
Afghanistan's neighbour exerts growing influence

Suddenly, Syria is Hot Topic in Israel By: Ken Ellingwood | Los Angeles Times For months, Israel and Syria have sent signals that have alternated between bellicose and calming, leaving Israelis to speculate about the possibility of another summertime war and debate the merits of renewing negotiations with Damascus after a lull of seven years.

Generals Fault Iraqi Security Forces By: Tina Susman and Garrett Therolf | Los Angeles Times Two U.S. generals gave poor marks Sunday to Iraqi security forces for a lack of readiness, assessments that bode ill for Iraq's ability to fend for itself as pressure builds in Washington to draw down American troops.

PBS Newshour Experts Analyze American Progress with Iraqi Insurgents

IHT The Old World on a roll By MICHAEL HEISE The revival of Western Europe is by no means a threat to the U.S

Withdrawal is not defeat By JAMES P. RUBIN Withdrawal of American forces from Iraq will eliminate Osama bin Ladin's most effective recruiting tool.

Jerusalem Post The Region: Identifying America's top Mideast priority [ BARRY RUBIN

Dennis Ross The Fine Art of Statecraft

On Forgetting the Obvious By: Robert D. Kaplan | The American Interest (subscription required) It is obvious that a military can only fight well on behalf of a society in which it believes. But a society which believes that little is worth fighting for cannot, in the end, field an effective military. Obvious as this is, we seem to have forgotten it.

EurasiaNet Karabakh Talks Grind to a Halt -- Again BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV It has become a familiar routine: the international community launches into a figurative drum roll of anticipation ahead of a meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijani and Armenia over the future of Nagorno-Karabakh. Expectations continue to build over the possibility of a breakthrough in stalemated negotiations. Then, following the talks, there is nothing to celebrate.

Azerbaijan Ready to Discuss Russian-US Use of Radar Station BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Azerbaijan has stated that it is ready to hold bilateral and trilateral talks with Russia and the United States over the joint use of an Azerbaijani radar station as an anti-missile defense shield. The agreement comes, however, amidst strong statements by Baku that its own national interests must be taken into account by both Moscow and Washington.

New Statesman Russia: The beggar becomes the belligerent From threats over weapons systems to blame for the Litvinenko murder Putin is adopting a hostility towards the US and Europe not seen since the end of the Cold War. By Bridget Kendall

Staff shakeup seem as sign of failed war policy

CFR Kupchan: Putin’s ‘Bolt from Blue’ on Missile Defense Highlight of G8 Conference

Climate Change Raises Threat of Water Wars By: Mikhail Gorbachev and Jean-Michel Severino | The Japan Times The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released alarming data on the consequences of global warming in some of the world's poorest regions. By 2100, 1 billion to 3 billion people worldwide are expected to suffer from water scarcity.

IHT Barroso waves off notion of 'United States of Europe' Predicted agreement on a stripped-down EU constitution, which could not include symbols of statehood such as flags

H2 Bombing in Turkey: Usual Suspects or Military Action? Stratfor

CSM THE MONITOR'S VIEW Turkey in Iraq? Don't even go there.

Ruling Party's Islamist Past Wall Street Journal

TSK seçim sonucuna saygı gösterir

[Yorum - Mustafa Malik] Türkiye-ABD savaşı an meselesi mi?

Ban: Kerkük'e dikkatli yaklaşılmalı

Asia Times Turkey not done with the Kurds Despite the Turkish military becoming more aggressive in its push to be allowed to pursue Kurdish insurgents operating in Iraq, both the military and the government know that consolidating political power in Ankara is the overriding priority. There is always the danger, though, that the momentum of events on the ground will overtake the politicians. - M K Bhadrakumar

[Yorum - M.K.Bhadrakumar] Harekât seçim sonrasına kaldı!

Selling Kirkuk for a mess of potage
It seems like a pact between devils, but Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki reportedly returned from the Kurdish north with a deal - a Kurdish Kirkuk in exchange for a free hand for Shi'ites in the south. It is a further reflection of the crisis that the US faces in Iraq and shows there is no single group capable of achieving control of the ever-worsening situation. - Ali al-Fadhily

OxAn TURKEY: AKP/military security discord dominates polls

Is Turkey Smuggling Iranian Weapons To Syria? Umm... Maybe?

Turkish, Iranian Cooperation Against PKK Irks Iraq and US The New Anatolian News that Iranian and Turkish forces are shelling the PKK hideouts in northern Iraq from their own territories apparently in a coordinated manner has created deep discomfort in Baghdad, Erbil and Washington prompting the Iraqi government to hand a diplomatic note to Turkey calling "to act together" against the militants.

Washinton Times Three-way ties

By Tulin Daloglu Kurds in middle of U.S.-Turkey relations

Iraq Papers Tues: Kurds Brace for an Invasion

UPI Berlin mediates in EU-Turkey row

AP Funerals become protests against Turkey's leaders

Bomb in Istanbul US Department of State (press release)

The West's Support of Turkish Islamists

Google News Kurdish Kurdish Media

Ali Bulaç A Kurdish state and its possible effects

Güvenlik bölgesi
Özel bölgelerdeki yaşamı yerel gazetecilere sorduk

CNN TÜRK muhabirinin gözünden güvenlik bölgeleri

K. Irak, sınırımıza 6 yeni karakol açtı

Irak'ın Türkiye sınırında yeni karakollar yapılıyor

Study: Iraq operation would spur Kurdish nationalism Today's Zaman

Barzani vazgeçmiyor

KYB: İran Kürt köylerini boşaltıyor

Peşmergeler düzenli ordu hazırlığında

Barzani, Talabani and Maliki Must Go
The Conservative Voice

Iraq: is the US starting to maneuver?
Turkish Daily News

Türkiye'nin Irak'a girmesi yakın Patrick Seale

Tears and anger on display at martyrs' funerals

Turkey Prepares for Battle - With Iraq?

Barzani vazgeçmiyor!

İnal Batu'dan ilginç Apo itirafı!

Iran, Turkey set to expand ties

Sınır ötesine 'küskün' engeli

Peşmerge fena korktu

İran'dan enerji ithalimiz yüzde 62 arttı

Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber

Cengiz Aktar Yaz öncesi ve sonrası AB işleri

Sarkozy'nin zaferi
Genel seçimlerle ilgili sosyolog Levent Ünsaldı'nın görüşleri

İşte 8.5 yıllık sır! Öcalan'ı koruyan D'alema'yla ilgili bir sır ortaya çıktı

Massimo D’Alema Türkiye AB üyesi olacak

Elif Şafak Avrupalı kadınların gözünde biz

Cypriot Army Struggles with Russian Weaponry By: Andrew Borowiec | The Washington Times After a fiasco with costly Russian missiles that could not be deployed, the army has been forced to ground a fleet of Russian-made helicopter gunships because no spare parts have been delivered and its pilots cannot read the Russian-language instruction manuals.

'Rumların, Ruslardan aldığı silahlar hangarda çürüyor'

Belgian Turks let down by parliamentary election results

Mehmet Tezkan Avrupa Türkiye’yi şeriatçı ülke olarak görüyor

NATO Genel Sekreteri Ankara'da

Rehn warns of clash if Sarkozy blocks Turkey

İlter Türkmen Rusya’nın siyasi ihtirasları

Fikret Ertan Gebele ve bölge dengeleri

Ekrem Dumanlı The weakest link of Turkish-Russian relations

TURKEY: D’ALEMA AN UNLIKELY GO-BETWEEN FOR ANKARA AND BRUSSELS

“Türkiye bana Apo’yu Pakistan’a yolla” dedi

Fransa'da elenen Türk adaylar siyasette kararlı

Rusya milyarı kaptı, Türkiye söz aldı

'Ermeni cemaati AK Parti'ye eğilimli'

Serpil YILMAZ İlk kez Türk yazılımını RMK'nın SAS gemisi kullanacak

Portekiz'den Sarkozy'ye açık mesaj: Türkiye'nin Avrupa Birliği süreci değiştirilemez

ABD Senato komisyonu ödenek ayırarak VOA Türkçe ve Yunan servislerinin kapatılmasını önledi Ayrıntılar

NATO Genel Sekreteri de Hoop Scheffer Türkiye'de

Oylar bölününce Avrupa'daki Türk adaylar hüsrana uğradı

Soykırımı yargılama AB mahkemelerine

Yukarı Karabağ görüşmeleri sonuçsuz

Ülkelerin askeri harcamaları hız kesmiyor

Avcının ölümü Perihan Mağden

Cengiz Çandar Şu 'garip Schindler'

Serdar Turgut Yitirilen zamanın ardından

EMRE AKÖZ Ufuk Güldemir

Yalçın Doğan Ufuk, seni hiç unutmayacağız

Hasan CEMAL Hayat onun hızına yetişemedi!

Hadi Uluengin Ufuk öldü!

Güneri CIVAOĞLU Yıldızlara yürümek...

MELİHA OKUR O bir anarşistti!

Al Gore konferans için İstanbul'da YENİ

Engin Ardıç Cumhurbaşkanı Çakmak

12 Haziran 2007 Basın Özeti

Yalanlanan Org. Özkök haberi işinden etti

Eski muhabirinin Cumhuriyet itirafı

'Final'de binbaşı çıktı

'Genelkurmay'daki Tanıdığım'a Ceza

New York’ta saklanan 84 yıllık TBMM albümü -

Perceptions of the Ottoman legacy questioned most in Turkey and Greece

Sabanci Lecture Essay Award Winners 1st Place, Christine Philliou
2nd Place, Suhnaz Yilmaz and Ipek K. Yosmaoglu 3rd Place, Maximilian Harthmuth (repeat)

Meral TAMER Perili Köşk'te kamuya lider yetiştirmek!

H3 Son uyarı son karar

UMUR TALU Bunlar imkânsız mı?

Ertuğrul Özkök Daraltılmış gayri resmi MGK

Asker, hükümetten Meclis kararı isteyecek mi? Murat Yetkin

Fikret BİLA Yetki-direktif tartışması

Washington'un gözü Mehmetçik'te

ABD, asker konusunda yorum yapmak istemiyor!

MHP’nin PKK’yı ‘ezme’ formülü

MHP'nin önerisi: PKK ile Taliban tipi mücadele

ABD-Irak-terör üçgeninde yanlış politikalarımız Hasan Celal Güzel

Taha AKYOL Terör ve milliyetçilik

Peşmerge ile PKK aynı mevzide - Haşim Söylemez

PKK's killer land mines made in Italy

K.Irak'a girersek NATO ne yapar?

Nihat Ali Özcan 'PKK'nın amacı Türkiye'yi içeride oyalamak'

Ahmet Taşgetiren AK Parti ve tabandaki kaygılar

Ali Bayramoğlu Asker, iktidar, siyaset ve Kürtler

Mehmet Altan Cudi’de kaç PKK’lı var?

Escalating terror puts ties with EU and US to test

Bilal Çetin Sınırötesi harekat ihtimali güçleniyor...

Ali Çarkoğlu Seçmen korkutuluyor

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN
Muhtıranın sosyolojisi

M Ali Birand DP’nin oyları kapışılıyor…

Cüneyt Ülsever Kuzey Irak ve AKP’nin hal-i pür melali

'Diyaloğa açığız'

Irak Dışişleri Bakanı Türkiye'yle PKK'yı görüşmeye hazır olduklarını söyledi

Milliyet TERÖR VE SEÇİMLER

'48 saat'i size kim fısıldadı

Ağar: AKP ile koalisyon yapmam

Şahin Alpay Okulda ibadet ve laiklik

Hurşit GÜNEŞ Başkanlık sistemi ve 'lidervekilliği'

Suat Kınıklıoğlu Mr. Barzani will be held accountable

AKP ve CHP'nin merak ettiği iki soru

Cengiz Çandar

ABD başkanı ile hayalî röportaj gerçek mi oluyor?

ERDAL ŞAFAK İki partili sistem

Bütünlemeye kalmış sınıf Nuray Mert

Bu resme iyi bakın İsmet Berkan

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM Seçim sonrası ekonomide yeni hikâye gerekli

Gündemde PKK da 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 Sol bu işe ne diyor (1)

Fehmi Koru “Keşke” dememek için…

ALİ BAYRAMOĞLUCan üzerine siyaset yapanlar

İBRAHİM KARAGÜLDüşman Kuzey Irak'ta değil, Konya Ovası'nda!

HAKAN ALBAYRAK Genelkurmay Başkanı'na açık mektup

DAVUT DURSUN 'Merkez partisi', 'merkezin partisi' olmasın?

NAZLI ILICAK AKP'yi kapatma gerekçesi

Güler Kömürcü Subaylar niye ölmüyor diye soranlara...

Gülay Göktürk Hükümet iktidara

Tamer Korkmaz Ankara, bu tuzağa düşer mi?

Ekrem Dumanlı Terör ve küçük hesaplar

Mahir Kaynak İttifak

Mümtazer Türköne 'Katil iktidar'

Can Dündar Aleviler ve MHP

Ahmet Hakan

MAHMUT ÖVÜR Baykal'la yemek yedi ama...

M. Ali BİRAND DP ve ANAP silindiler

Enis Berberoğlu Camide şehit mitingi

Oktay Ekşi Karar ne olmalı?

Mehmet Y Yılmaz Paramız mı yoktu, aklımız mı?

Emin Çölaşan Şehitler tabutta Başbakan nerede?

Bildiriyi duysaydık Köşk oylamasına katılırdık

Ağar, yalan mı söylüyor?

Bakanlar Kurulu kadrolaşma eleştirilerini görüştü

Birand DP’nin oyları kapışılıyor…

Berat Özipek Felaketten önceki son çıkış

MUHARREM SARIKAYA
Cenazede eli sıkılanlar

İç ve dış düşmanlar Murat Belge

'Basın açıklaması' ve haklar Turgut Tarhanlı

How civil, how democratic? by LEVET KÖKER*

Bracketing Islam by ELISABETH ÖZDALGA

Lale Sarıibrahimoğlu Only way out for Turks is more democracy, not coups

Sami KOHEN Demokrasi ve güvenlik dengesi

Terör zirvesi

ERGUN BABAHAN Şehitlere saygı lütfen

Leyla İpekçi 'Demokrat refleksi'

Siyasetin kadınla imtihanı - Zafer Özcan

'Söylenenleri iade ediyorum'

Hüsnü Mahalli Seçim ve dış politika

Deniz Ülke Arıboğan Sınırın ötesi berisi

Gereken neyse yapılacak

Can Ataklı Meğer yine “çelik çomak oynamışız” ya da “herkes bu kadar aptal mı” yani

Ya ’hiçbiri’ne ya ’AKP hariç’

Şakir Süter Şener ve Kahveci

Brezilya dizisiyle barajda boğulmak! -

[Yorum - Prof. Dr. Süleyman Seyfi Öğün] Politik vitrinlerin akıbeti hakkında

Özdemir İnce Alçaklık tarihi

Tuğcu Emekliye ayrılıyor yerine 4 aday var

Sabahattin ÖNKİBAR Masonlar seçimde kimi destekleyecekler?

AK Parti MYK toplantısı sona erdi

Yeni parti programları üzerine TÜRKAN SAYLAN

Savaş SÜZAL Seçimler oyun gibi geliyor

Mahkemenin seçiminde kriz çıktı

Şener hoca oluyor

Ekonomi politikanız var mı? Mahfi Eğilmez

Citi: Türkiye çok az kişinin tahmin edebileceği bir başarıya ulaşıyor

TEPAV: Bütçe performansı bozulma eğiliminde

Ercan Kumcu Bu fırtına çabuk ve kolay geçiyor

Erdal Sağlam Seçimin faturası çaktırmadan büyüyor

Türkiye 'faiz' cenneti Yiğit Bulut

Murat Yülek Relaxing economic activity on the way to elections

Asaf Savaş Akat Nisan’da dış finansman

Volkan Akı Peki para çıkışı olursa ne olacak?

Türkiye tarihi fırsatla karşı karşıya

'İşin sırrı demokrasi'
Erdoğan'dan yabancılara

Deniz Gökçe İklim değişikliği ve nükleer santrallar

Eser Karakaş Cep telefonu, siyaset ve bir fotoğraf

Prof. Dr. AYDIN AYAYDIN
Bankacılığın gündemindeki sorunları kim çözecek?

Güngör URAS Paraya boyun eğecekler milletvekili olmamalı

U.S. Warns Iraq That Progress Is Needed Soon A top U.S. commander told Iraq’s premier to make political progress by next month to counter the growing tide of opposition to the war in Congress

U.N. Monitor Urges Defusing of Stalemate Over Iran

Iraqi Parliament Votes to Oust Speaker Who Intimidated Members

Reporter’s Notebook: Bush, on European Tour, Perfects the Art of Meet and Run

Judges Say U.S. Can’t Hold Man as ‘Combatant’

9 Die in Fierce Palestinian Factional Fighting

For Politicians in Britain, the Post-Blair Era Has Already Begun

Afghan Forces Found Bomb Like Type Used in Iraq

Army Missed Its May Goal for Recruits; On Pace for ’07

For a Russian Builder of Nuclear Plants, Business Is Booming

DAVID BROOKS The Next Culture War If you want to understand what is shaping the immigration debate, start with education.

Egypt’s Muslims Seek Fatwas on a Variety of Issues

Editorial

H5 Washington Post Civilian Toll in Iraq At 'Higher Levels' U.N. Report Cites Rise Since Troop Buildup

Factional Fighting Flares in Gaza Strip At Least 13 Dead in Clashes Between Hamas, Fatah Despite Truce Efforts

Nominee to Head Joint Chiefs Sees Current Strain on Military

Forgotten Threat By Anne Applebaum Late last week you could have been forgiven for thinking that the Star Wars era had begun. Space-age computer graphics dominated the news: Satellites orbited the globe, target sites throbbed on interactive maps of Europe and the Middle East. The talk was of Russia and Iran and of whether high-tec...

William Arkin New Chairman, Same War

Egyptian Voters Face Problems at Poll Security forces bar voters from entering polling centers in opposition strongholds, while voters surge into centers in areas loyal to Mubarak and the National Democratic Party

The System at Work By E. J. Dionne Jr., Politicians' tendency to blame the system is a convenient way of leaving no one accountable.

The GOP's Fading Populism By Peter Beinart, Saddled with an unpopular president and an unpopular war, the GOP badly needs a cause that can mobilize its base.

Fleeting Glory in Albania By Eugene Robinson,

This administration's legacy may be its erosion of our nation's fundamental values and basic character

H6 Guardian US arms Sunni dissidents Guns and equipment already handed over in risky bid to contain al-Qaida fighters in Iraq.

CIA recruits Sudanese to infiltrate Arab jihadi groups The CIA is recruiting Arab-speaking Sudanese citizens in spite of sanctions against the country, it has emerged.

Talking of peace, preparing for war
Conal Urquhart on mixed signals over the Golan Heights.

Putin protest to go ahead Police stand by as thousands gather in Moscow.

The US is clamping down on illegal migrants, but it relies on their labour Gary Younge: Factory raids being staged across the country are a stopgap, populist gesture. America should look to the EU's example.

Blogging against Mubarak Antony Loewenstein Jun 11 07, 04:45pm: Washington's support for the Egyptian dictator has left dissidents struggling on their own.

Solutions and problems Brian Brivati Jun 11 07, 05:45pm: Week two of the Iraq commission: private security firms, Syria, and a plan for a regional conference.

Bush's euroscepticism Julian Borger Jun 11 07, 08:30pm: If you read the US press over the weekend, you came away with a much more sober assessment of George Bush's climate-change diplomacy

All the president's men France: Nicolas Sarkozy has given the ruling party of an unpopular presidency a stronger mandate under a popular one. Gordon Brown should take note.

'Escape is impossible' Ghaith Abdul-Ahad visits Lebanon's biggest refugee camp.

Ahmadinejad aims for a big hit
Iranian president orders his fiery polemics to be saved for posterity in preparation for commercial publication.

Right to be suspicious William Gumede: Climate change cannot be tackled if existing injustices in global politics are overlooked.

H7 Climate Change Raises Threat of Water Wars By: Mikhail Gorbachev and Jean-Michel Severino | The Japan Times The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released alarming data on the consequences of global warming in some of the world's poorest regions. By 2100, 1 billion to 3 billion people worldwide are expected to suffer from water scarcity.

CFR Is Iran Abetting the Taliban?

Iraq Intelligence & Ignorance - Ralph Reiland, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Forget Iran, Pakistan is a More Serious Concern - Greg Scoblete, TCS Daily

Sunni Skies Ahead? Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgents are turning against al Qaeda, and that's not a bad thing.
by Frederick W. Kagan

BBC Winning the peace
The right way to do foreign intervention, by Paddy Ashdown

Modest progress
G8 leaders make the best of what was on offer at their summit

Asia Times The Iranian bomb in a MAD world Tehran's response to US pressure, despite public denials, has been to play the single card that history has stamped "effective" since 1949 - raising the specter of nuclear arms. It is a classic act of self-defense guaranteed to spread nuclear arms to other countries in a MAD - mutually assured destruction - world where Catch-22 is the nuclear rule of the day. - Dilip Hiro

The return of 'Asian' values
Since the Asian financial crisis of 1997, one hasn't heard much about how Asian values underpinned the region's economic miracle. A new book resurrects the notion that capitalism and democracy are alien to Asia. Masahiko Fujiwara's book, however, may have more to do with promoting "samurai values" than "Asian values."

The Musharraf Dilemma By: Max Boot | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) Reagan's Marcos strategy may resolve Pakistan's growing dictator problem. The Bush administration is reaching a decision point: Will it continue to provide unqualified support for Mr. Musharraf on the grounds that he is too valuable an ally to give up in the Global War on Terror? Or will it pull the rug out from under him and insist on a transition to civilian democratic rule?

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

Al-Sadr reasserts authority over his movement

US Papers Tuesday: Mashhadani's Vacation

US holds talks with Iraq, Turkey on potential gas route

Egypt and Iran Look to Mend Ties By: Dominic Moran | ISN Security Watch
As Egypt and Iran edge toward the resumption of diplomatic ties, ISN Security Watch explores the reasons for the thaw and its potential impact on regional crises.

BBC Iran's 'great game'
Afghanistan's neighbour exerts growing influence

'Harassment' mars Egyptian vote

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood accuses authorities of harassment and widescale irregularities during voting

Unlikely alliance
The US turns to a new tactic to counter Iraq's Sunni-led insurgency

Syrian and Iranian Generals in Intensive War Consultations

Analysis: Algeria, U.S. reach nuclear pact

The Thin Iraqi Line: Can the U.S. train Iraq's military and police to be the anchor that steadies the country, or will they become part of the sectarian storm that terars it apart?

Brookings Iraqi Refugees in Syria

Iraqi Refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic: A Field-Based Snapshot

Analysis: Afghanistan's vicious opium cycle

For Iraq: Community Based Security
TPMCafe

Daily Star Sarkozy can help Lebanon by focusing on the interests of the people

Will Democrats defend Egypt's democracy? By Shadi Hamid

Between living defeat or victory, and living the future By Abdel Monem Said Aly

Oil-rich Iran, Iraq smuggle gasoline (Omar Sinan)

Jun 12 SD# 1618 - Liberal Egyptian Author Kamal Gabriel on the Discourse of Violence in the Middle East

Political Islam in Morocco

H9 Ha’aretz - Greece denies delivering peace message to Syria Report: PM sent new message to Assad, in which 'interesting nuances' included through Greek

Bush to suggest new ideas for Israeli-Palestinian agreement U.S. President to speak on issue on June 24; officials say not clear what ideas the U.S. is formulating

ANALYSIS: Shattered cease-fire sends Gaza back into bloodshed

Was Rice mocking the Clinton peace effort?

PM sends new message to Assad

In the name of Islam? The Gaza Strip is going in the direction of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon where the Muslim extremists have situated themselves: there is no government presence and no law and order.

Bradley Burston: REFERENDUM - A bilateral peace plan

Exiled Syrian reformer urges return of Golan Farid Ghadry, Syria's opposition party head, wants Israel to return Golan, but not to Assad.

Jerusalem Post The Region: Identifying America's top Mideast priority [ BARRY RUBIN

Middle Israel: Was the Six Day War worth it? [ AMOTZ ASA-EL

Yedioth Ahronoth The Golan liquidation sale Deal with Syria has huge price tag; international forces won't protect us, Elyakim Haetzni says

Price of rejection/ Ran Cohen

Plocker Suddenly Syria

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

Polls show Ayalon and Barak are neck and neck

BBC Fresh fighting breaks out in Gaza At least 14 people have died in Gaza in clashes between rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas.

EU step to resume Palestinian aid

The European Union signs an agreement to train officials from the Palestinian Authority, prior to resuming aid.

Kosher wars: how a right-wing billionaire is challenging a secular Israel

It's Time to End the Vilification of Israel - Howard Jacobson (Independent

H10 Christian Science Monitor United States signals permanent stay in Iraq Critics say long-term US military presence may prod greater Iraqi resistance of the 'occupier.'

US civilians drive Iraq's other surge

In northern Iraq, teams of experts are trying to develop governance by the rule of law.

Egypt vote shows unease with democracy Flawed polls Monday and coming votes in the Middle East are seen by critics as creating only the appearance of reform.

ASIA Thais take to the streets to protest military regime The Thai military frees up some political parties, while banning the most popular one.

FT ANALYSIS: Dragon fleet China aims to end US Navy's long Pacific dominance "Historically and by nature, China's leaders and strategists have a better feel for land wars,"

China, US: A long,
hot summer The consensus in Washington that China needs to be reminded of the United States' greater economic and geopolitical clout is beginning to grow, underscoring the profound disconnect between the Bush administration and the mood of the US public and Congress regarding relations with China. - Benjamin A Shobert

CAP China's Energy Challenge

Walker's World: China's charm offensive

Minister rails at China, land of a thousand identical cities · Historical sites devastated by renovation projects · Damage similar to cultural revolution, official says

China's culture of secrecy 'deadly to society'

H11 IHT Barroso waves off notion of 'United States of Europe' Predicted agreement on a stripped-down EU constitution, which could not include symbols of statehood such as flags.

The Old World on a roll By MICHAEL HEISE The revival of Western Europe is by no means a threat to the U.S

Withdrawal is not defeat By JAMES P. RUBIN Withdrawal of American forces from Iraq will eliminate Osama bin Ladin's most effective recruiting tool.

Dissidents of the world unite By NATAN SHARANSKY The free world must not leave dissidents to face their oppressors alone.

On eve of talks, EU trade minister toughens stance with China

A lone wolf's cry for freedom in Kosovo An ethnic Albanian's protests for 'true independence' are making him deeply unpopular with his kin.

EUROPE European press review

Doubts Emerge over Russia's Defence Shield Proposal By: Renata Goldirova | EU Observer The head of NATO has welcomed Moscow's apparent backing down from its Cold War rhetoric over the US plan to place an anti-missile shield in central Europe, but also cautiously questioned Moscow's offer to use a Russian-operated radar base in Azerbaijan instead.

WSJ Trading Places Core Europe has turned the corner, at least for now. By HOLGER SCHMIEDING

Russia's Kosovo Front
Washington can call Russia's bluff and force a vote on Kosovo.

Le Monde M. Sarkozy et le Kosovo

CER G8 and world politics

A Statistical Analysis of the Quality of Impact Assessment in the European Union
Robert W. Hahn, Caroline Cecot, and Andrea Renda, AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies

The Next Battle for Kosovo
Bush and Putin square off over the question of independence.
by Stephen Schwartz

H12 RFE/RL Georgian Premier Rejects Kosovo-Abkhazia Analogy

Kosovo: 'Frozen-Conflict' Zones React To Bush's Indepedence Remarks

Georgia: Prime Minister Defends Territorial Integrity

EurasiaNet Karabakh Talks Grind to a Halt -- Again BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV It has become a familiar routine: the international community launches into a figurative drum roll of anticipation ahead of a meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijani and Armenia over the future of Nagorno-Karabakh. Expectations continue to build over the possibility of a breakthrough in stalemated negotiations. Then, following the talks, there is nothing to celebrate.

Azerbaijan Ready to Discuss Russian-US Use of Radar Station BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Azerbaijan has stated that it is ready to hold bilateral and trilateral talks with Russia and the United States over the joint use of an Azerbaijani radar station as an anti-missile defense shield. The agreement comes, however, amidst strong statements by Baku that its own national interests must be taken into account by both Moscow and Washington.

Google News Azerbaijan

BBC Kremlin insider
Sergei Ivanov, a steely ex-KGB agent, might succeed Putin

Washington Times Putin's ploy
Washington Times, By Frank J. Gaffney Jr.

Putin's state of mind (Arnaud de Borchgrave)

CSM Held up as regional model, Kazakhstan's stability falters

A political drama is being played out between the president and a son-in-law with presidential aspirations.

Daily Star Russia still won't let go of its post-communist neighbors
By Mart Laar

EDM WAYS TO TRANSFORM RUSSIA’S “PEACEKEEPING” OPERATION IN MOLDOVA
- TURKMENISTAN BACK IN FORMER USSR’S ORBIT
- TNK-BP KEEPS KOVYKTA LICENSE, FOR NOW

H13 The Times No recession in sight, despite doomsayers That the US is already into an expansion well beyond the average for the years 1945-1982 is something to celebrate Gerard Baker

Bush flies back home as lame duck President After a hero’s welcome in Albania, President Bush returned to the sober reality in Washington that his influence is fading rapidly

China halts biofuels drive over food fears Beijing says the rapid rise in food prices and an intense demand on farm land makes ethanol production unsustainable

Leader A Brown Study

The next Prime Minister has no choice but to stay the course in Iraq

Blue Wave Sarkozy must make the most of his mandate to govern

The masses want something in return If Texas ever palls for Bush as a retirement destination, then Albania would be his next choice

Bronwen Maddox

Wall Street Journal General Retreat
Secretary of Defense Levin picks a new war leader.

The Musharraf Dilemma
Reagan's Marcos strategy may resolve Pakistan's growing dictator problem. By MAX BOOT

H14 Financial Times Brown pledges to learn lessons of Iraq

NATIONAL NEWS: Brown pledges intelligence shake-up

Blair criticised for voicing Russia fears UK executives angry over Putin warning

COMMENT: A French lesson for America's Grand Old Party If Republicans are to have a chance of victory they must learn from Sarkozy’s success, says Newt Gingrich, former House of Representatives speaker.

WORLD NEWS: Enemy combatant ruling deals blow to White House

COMMENT: The school bully is, alas, right on climate change By John Kay

Egypt’s Islamists allege poll irregularities

Ceasefire fails to halt Gaza deaths At least eight people were killed in factional fighting in the northern Gaza Strip yesterday after a ceasefire declared in the morning failed to halt the latest round...

Editorial Sarko's magic may not be transferable One of the more brutal traditions of French politics has been that voters have given outgoing governments a good thrashing

WORLD NEWS: EU players have troubles of their own

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: EU undermined Balkan integration

Royal seeks alliance to avoid election rout France's Socialists yesterday launched a last-ditch appeal for support from other opposition parties in an attempt to avert a crushing defeat on Sunday

SPD leader hits out at Merkel The German chancellor came back down to earth on Monday from the heights of the G8 summit to confront problems in her own political backyard

Democrats urged to pass energy bill … would reduce US oil consumption by 4m barrels a day by 2020 – about a fifth of current consumption.

Blackstone founders to net $2.5bn Blackstone co-founders Pete Peterson and Steve Schwarzman will together reap as much as $2.6bn from the US buy-out group’s initial public offering, the firm revealed in an unprecedented disclosure of its compensation details.

US immigration Last week's collapse of the Senate's "grand bargain" on American immigration was not, as one might think, a case of pragmatic centrism defeated by extremist refusal to...

COMMENT: Between markets, competition is all

UAE paves way to foreign ownership The United Arab Emirates is preparing a law that would open the economy to greater foreign ownership, ending decades of restrictions that ensured local corporate dominance.

H15 Los Angeles Times Editorial Reinventing Kyoto The international treaty for cutting greenhouse gases is a bust, and Bush's approach will do little to help.

Suddenly, Syria is Hot Topic in Israel By: Ken Ellingwood | Los Angeles Times For months, Israel and Syria have sent signals that have alternated between bellicose and calming, leaving Israelis to speculate about the possibility of another summertime war and debate the merits of renewing negotiations with Damascus after a lull of seven years.

Generals Fault Iraqi Security Forces By: Tina Susman and Garrett Therolf | Los Angeles Times Two U.S. generals gave poor marks Sunday to Iraqi security forces for a lack of readiness, assessments that bode ill for Iraq's ability to fend for itself as pressure builds in Washington to draw down American troops.

The G-8 Aren't the Only Ones By: Niall Ferguson | Los Angeles Times
The question is, how much longer should we put up with these ludicrous gatherings, because the very notion of a Group of Eight "leading industrialized nations" is fast becoming a complete anachronism.

H16 American Politics Approval of Congress is at its lowest in a decade Just 27% of Americans polled give the House and Senate a thumbs-up. Most see "business as usual."

Dante Chinni: As presidential races change, media coverage must adapt

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

Early Bird GovExec Swamp Gas Swamp Sunrise Daybook

The GOP's Lonely Anti-War Candidate By: Zack Pelta-Heller | The American Prospect Meet Congressman Ron Paul -- staunch libertarian, outspoken critic of American hubris, and Republican presidential contender

Republicans block Bush ally vote US Senate Republicans block a no confidence vote in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a key Bush ally

Democratic strategist handicaps `08 presidential campaign

H17 Daily Telegraph Leader Freedom for Kosovo If deadlock continues at the UN, it will be up to those countries that have invested most in Kosovo's future to move matters forward.

Surely we don't want to be run by Malta Roland Rudd defnds plans to end the anachronism that is the rotating presidency of the European Union.

H18 Independent Families of mercenaries killed in Fallujah sue US security firm

Mary Dejevsky: Our think-tanks are failing the interested public

The big question: What are the precedents for holding an inquiry into the war?

Steve Richards: Gordon Brown must fight for the European cause against the massed ranks of sceptics

H19Military Intelligence Terrorism

Analysis: U.S. intelligence spending may reach $60B

Pentagon can't hold `enemy combatant,' court rules

CSM Opinion: What's unlawful about these combatants? The Bush administration has wrongfully conflated two very different law-of-war concepts. By Rosa Brooks

On Forgetting the Obvious By: Robert D. Kaplan | The American Interest (subscription required)
It is obvious that a military can only fight well on behalf of a society in which it believes. But a society which believes that little is worth fighting for cannot, in the end, field an effective military. Obvious as this is, we seem to have forgotten it.

Two Good Men By: W. Thomas Smith Jr. | National Review
Pace’s not being renominated has nothing to do with his performance as chairman of the JCS. It has everything to do with what he symbolizes (American leadership while fighting a difficult war in Iraq) to the usual salivating suspects on Capitol Hill. And it was clear to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and surely to President Bush, that Pace’s reconfirmation hearings would have been turned into a congressional circus.

Is the United States Safer? By: Roger Cohen | The New York Times (Times Select)
The United States is safer than when bags flew without passengers, intelligence services were deaf to each other and airport security a joke. It is a less pleasant place - more fearful, distrustful and vengeful - but it is more secure.

U.S. Defense Language Institute Teaches Culture, Linguistics

Secret Detentions and Illegal Transfers of Detainees Involving Council of Europe Member States: Second Report

Congressional Oversight is Intensifying, ODNI Says

US 'cannot hold enemy combatant' A Qatari man accused of links to al-Qaeda cannot be held in indefinite military detention, a US court rules.

H20 Slate

Hooliganism and Police Tactics: Should Tear Gas Make Crime Preventers Cry?
Source: Institute for the Study of Labor Hooliganism is on the rise and different countries use different strategies to combat it. We introduce a model where hooligans reap utility from violence and social identity and study the effects of different police strategies. We find that an increase in discriminative policing, provided by intelligence units, for example, always reduces violence. Under the right circumstances, it may also lead to larger supporter clubs and a significant drop in violence. Indiscriminate policing, such as the use of teargas or random jailing of potential law breakers, may, however, backfire and result in smaller and more brutal groups. Full Paper (PDF; 155 KB)

Transnational Religions and American Identities

Brookings Trade and Globalization
Lael Brainard, Senate Committee on Finance Hearing

Weekly Standard The Future of "Two Americas"
What's really going on with income inequality.
by Irwin M. Stelzer

H21 Howls of anguish over Sopranos finale So what's left to say after the Sopranos reached its end on Sunday night?

It's finally the end of The Sopranos ... or is it?

The secret to raising bright children

Babies need to be talked to, toddlers need to be read to, children need to be considered

David Aaronovitch

Remembering Richard Rorty

Christopher Hayes Jun 11 07, 09:00pm: Richard Rorty combined scepticism about the truth with a passion for social justice, and his death will make the pursuit of justice harder.

Stoppard takes record seven Tonys Play about Russian intellectuals is Broadway's most acclaimed ever

SPENGLER The faith that dare not
speak its name While cloaking themselves in revealed religion, "presentable" Islamists such as academic Tariq Ramadan are in fact neo-pagans. Pagan society is "totalitarian" in character, subsuming the individual in the group and promoting a culture of death

Hay fever: the cure and the catch

A once-a-day pill for hay fever that could transform the lives of sufferers is being denied to thousands of those most severely affected because of the cost.

Richard Rorty's blasé liberalism
by Damon Linker

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