| H1 American Interest – Iraq – What if We Win? New York Times Gates Endorses Pause in Iraq Troop Withdrawals For Clinton, Bid Hinges on Texas and Ohio Editorial Gates, Truth and Afghanistan The fact that Defense Secretary Robert Gates was permitted the candor that he demonstrated last week is a measure of how bad things have gotten in Afghanistan DAVID BROOKS When Reality Bites The Democratic policy unity is a mirage. If the Democrats actually win the White House, the tensions would resurface with a vengeance. Poll: Obama would narrowly defeat McCain POLL: OBAMA TAKES LEAD WITH WOMEN IN MD, VA... Prediction markets now betting on Obama to defeat Clinton Washington Institute The Final Year: End-of-Term Presidents and the Middle East Martin Indyk and Harvey Sicherman examine the prospects for Middle East diplomacy in President Bush's final months and the historical precedents for an administration's eighth year. Watch online. Financial Times Too soon to give up in Afghanistan A recognition that the country is likely to be poor and tribalised for years to come should not obscure the fact that life has improved for ordinary Afghans, writes Gideon Rachman Military tribunals are not the way Guantánamo should be shut. The incoming US administration should hand prisoners against whom there is solid evidence to federal courts Between the lines: Russia warns against game of Balkan dominoes Moscow remains opposed to the imminent declaration of Kosovo’s independence, which it feels would set a dangerous international precedent, writes Quentin Peel Christian Science Monitor Many Iranians say revolutionary ideals still unmet In Tehran Monday, tens of thousands celebrated the 29th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Archbishop controversy: does sharia have a role in Britain? The head of the Church of England answers critics of a speech in which he said it might be applicable in certain areas. Lobe SecDef Torn Between Bush and Military Over Iraq The Times Resilience Iraq's Government must urgently match the courage of its people IHT A growing rift By WILLIAM PFAFF There are the same old difficulties, but it's not the same old NATO. Three continents, one theme By SAMUEL R. BERGER A healthy democracy demands much more than a free election or a forceful leader. Can Germany muster the courage to commit to fighting in southern Afghanistan? By JOHN VINOCUR
The idea persists that Germany can go on just providing materiel and a kind of uniformed alternative service at a noncombatant's distance from the battlefield. Washington Post Defense Secretary Supports A Pause in Iraq Withdrawal Gates Meets With Senior Commanders in Baghdad U.S. to Try 6 On Capital Charges Over 9/11 Attacks New Evidence Gained Without Coercive Tactics 8 Questions the Potomac Primary Could Answer By Dan Balz GuardianMiliband: UK has a moral duty to intervene Mistakes in Iraq 'must not derail efforts to spread democracy', says foreign secretary Ha’aretz – Ambassador Ayalon: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Defense Min.: Israel must destabilize Hamas' in Gaza ANALYSIS: Hamas banks on IDF invasion to deliver Abbas a blow In a way Hamas' Qassam rockets are aimed not only against Israel but also at Ramallah and Cairo CFR Kay: Recent Iran NIE Recalls Erroneous 2003 Iraq Estimate Who Should Lead Post-Conflict Reconstruction?
LA Times Go with the tough guy By Max Boot The new 'axis of evil' doesn't fear the U.S. McCain could change that. Progressive pomposity It's no wonder seemingly rational people are driven to vote for politicians like Bush By Garret Keizer Independent Is this justice? September 11 accused to face 'kangaroo court' The United States military said that it was bringing death penalty charges against six men suspected of orchestrating the September 11 attacks, and intended to try them under the much-criticised military tribunal system. Winning the Right War: Obama’s national security team America’s change election: reality or mirage?, Godfrey Hodgson William Arkin On Iraq, McCain and Obama Have Impossible Dreams Developing Countries Worse Off Than Once Thought – Part I | H2 PKK Leader Says USA, Iran Vying for Qandil As Conflict Arena Reuters Turkey's EU bid: follow the money By Paul Taylor Barak to promote Israeli satellite sale to Turkey - TURKEY’S CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING? Eurasia Daily Monitor Jerusalem Post Barak hoping for Turkish satellite sale Defense minister, Turkish president expected to discuss Iranian nuclear threat during talks in Ankara Barak to promote Israeli spy satellite sale to Turkey İsrailli bakan, casus uydu için Ankara'yı ikna peşinde Barak, İran talebiyle gelecek Turkey to become key energy player with Iran: expert EurasiaNet Turkey: Conspiracy Investigation Revives Concern About the "Deep State" BY NICHOLAS BIRCH An ongoing investigation in Turkey into a gang suspected of high-profile killings and a plot to murder Nobel Prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk is captivating the nation. The investigation suggests that the so-called Deep State, a shadowy network of ultra-nationalists that views itself as above the law, continues to be a force that must be reckoned with. Leave Turkey alone GulfNews BBC Turkey divided over headscarf ban Divisions revealed Turkish decision to ease headscarf ban is highly controversial
Washingrton Times Turkey raises stakes with head scarves (By Andrew Borowiec) US seeks Turkey's help in Afghanistan WSJ Türban serbestisi örtünme zorunluluğuna dönüşmesin MEP warns Turkey time running out PostGlobal: Lifting Ban Wins Turkish Hearts and Minds Daoud Kuttab PostGlobal: Secular Turks In Denial Mustafa Domanic Turkey got headscarved cafebabel.com
· Yabancı ajansların Türkiye fotoğrafı Google News Fırat News Agency KurdishMedia Kurdish Kurdish Aspect BBC Monitoring Report Discusses Kurds' "Waning" Influence in Iraq DTP ön savunmasında, Başsavcı'yı siyasî davranmakla suçladı Serpil YILMAZ Türkiye Körfez'de ne arıyor? Terör örgütü, 15 Şubat'ta provokasyona hazırlanıyor Öcalan bizi bağlamaz Iraqi Kurdish Press Highlights 11 February 2008 Kurdish Parliament Raises New Iraqi Flag Ön savunma verdiler Feb 12 SD# 1839 - Golan Druze Resident: Denaturalized Syrian Kurds Deserve Syrian Citizenship More than I Do
US business lags in Kurdistan, 'the other Iraq' Kurdistan PM's speech at Iraqi flag raising ceremony
DTP davasına tüm üyeler müdahil olmak istedi Gurmanclar Kürtleşen Türktür - Batman'da DTP binasına baskın Kürtçe marşın cezası çocuklara kesilecek!
DTP İmralı kayıtlarını istedi Drug Smuggling As Main Source of PKK Terrorism Sedat Laciner ERDOĞAN'S HYPOCRISY ACT IN GERMANY İran Nereye Gidiyor? Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber [Yorum - Cem Özdemir] AB ile ilişkilerde duraklama devri mi? Sami KOHEN Almanya'da uyum sorunu
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Cologne's Turkish Spectacle: Erdogan's One-Man Show - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
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Hasan Kanbolat Are the KKTC and Abkhazia next? Merkel says immigrants need to come to terms with German way of life - International Herald Tribune
Rum Kesimi'nde seçim başa baş geçecek Merkel: Erdoğan’la ‘uyum’u tartışmalıyız Analysis: Nabucco gets boost A Turkish Perspective on EU-Turkey relations Yunanistan'da Türk azınlık vakıfları yasasına onay 'AB'ye girsek bunlar olmazdı' Andrew Finkel Less may be more but can big be better? Lale Sarıibrahimoğlu Turkey will go through difficult times AKP’ninki parmak demokrasisi! İhalelere 'Sarko' freni Merkel'den Erdoğan'a Yanıt French exclusion raises concerns in EU Turkey condemns Belgium over court ruling Benzinciye kaçan kim Rum Yönetimi: Kosova KKTC'ye örnek olmaz Almanya'da 9 Türk'ün öldüğü yangın bodrum katında başlamış Hükümetten Fehriye atağı Hüsnü Mahalli Kıbrıs’ta umut Hükümet 'DHKP-C' kararının peşine düştü After deadly blaze, Turks and Germans urge restraint Turkish PM attacks assimilation Zapsu gazete patronu oldu
Funda Özkan Turkey is a 'happy' country distrustful of foreigners Zaman gazetesinden sevgililer günü eki! ‘Pişman ağabey’, Rakel Dink’e de sataştı Zirve Yayınevi davası avukatı koruma istedi 'Dursun Karataş ölmedi, ağır hasta' iddiası Katar hediyeleri Meclis gündeminde Bir reklamda 18 yıl! 09:10 Molalı krediyi güvenlikçi buldu
Gül’den 1 gün önce hisseleri devretmiş Alman kız ağır işleyen Türk yargısını AİHM'ye şikâyet etti 12 Şubat 2008 Basın Özeti | H3 Gül’den türban sürprizi: Kararım net değil Önce kampusa girdi! Gözler bu heyette En kapsamlı 'Başörtüsü' ANKETİ Serbestse hepsi serbest yasaksa hepsi yasak! Anayasa değişikliği Çankaya köşkü'nde, 301'de dava açma yetkisi Köşk'e veriliyor Üniversiteler karmakarısık Taha AKYOL Türban üniversiteyi üçe böldü
Bir laik yazarın isyanı:'Artık yeter!' Sıhhiye mitingine provokasyon bombası Ulusalcıların mitingine Ergenekon el bombası Rektörler: Karar bize bırakılırsa kaos olur Ertuğrul Özkök Ezber bozacak bir öneri Meredith formula may be used, if need be M Ali Birand Türkiye’de iktidar el değiştiriyor… Ahmet Taşgetiren "Çıkış yolu" umutsuzluğu ile gelen öfke Ali Bayramoğlu Başörtüsü ve Ergenekon: Talihsizlik... Cüneyt Ülsever Rektörlere çağrı Eser Karakaş Türban sonrası AKP’nin takvimi Cengiz Çandar Hrant Dink cinayeti davası 'simgesel'dir Muhbir Tuncel'den, istihbaratçı itirafı ’Erhan Tuncel bizi kandırdı’ Korumaları değişti Fikret BİLA Ek 17 sorunu Nuray Mert - Sakin olalım Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Murat Yetkin - Sağduyulu bir gün
EKREM DUMANLI - Başörtüsü mü tehlikeli, çeteler mi? Ahmet Taşgetiren • CHP artı... ( 12.02.2008 ) Ruşen Çakır Hasan CEMAL Kaos değil istikrarın dili, çatışma değil barışın dili! AKP ve MHP arasında görüş ayrılıkları var Fehmi Koru: Başı dik ve onurla Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Kürşat Bumin: İstihbaratçı açıklamaları Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Taha Kıvanç: Geliyor geliyor da ne geliyor? Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Tamer Korkmaz: Gözbağcılar'da inecek var! Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. İbrahim Karagül: Başörtüsü, 5.2 trilyon dolardan çok mu korkuttu? Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Hakan Albayrak: Demokrasi bir kutuplaşma rejimidir! Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Fatma K. Barbarosoğlu: 'Köşe'leri ve 'köşesiz'liği ile Adalet Ağaoğlu Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Akif Emre: 'Sekülerizm'in referandumu korkusu Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Özlem Albayrak: Özgürlük için ama özgürlüğe karşı Türker Alkan - Bahşiş Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. İsmet Berkan - Serbestse hepsi serbest yasaksa hepsi yasak! Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Hasan Celal Güzel - Millî egemenlik yükselirken Ek 17. madde tavsiyeleri Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Altan Öymen - Dinin emri mi, değil mi? Bu tartışma artık önlenemez... Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Nuray Mert - Sakin olalım Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Murat Yetkin - Sağduyulu bir gün
EKREM DUMANLI - Başörtüsü mü tehlikeli, çeteler mi? Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. ALİ BULAÇ - Başörtülüler, "Öyledirler!.." Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. A. TURAN ALKAN - İçinde "laiklik" geçmeyen yazı Sebahattin Önkibar Aydın Doğan, Uzanlar gibi tasfiye mi edilecek? Mahkeme 87'de 'inceleyemem' demişti Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Gila Benmayor İlber Ortaylı’nın söylediklerine kulak verelim Serdar Turgut Ayıp, yazık... İlk izin kadın rektörden
Başörtüsüne izin veren rektör, baskılar karşısında kararını değiştirdi Enis Berberoğlu Mahir Kanak Düzeltelim İlter Türkmen Türban ve sağduyu Hisarcıklıoğlu türban tavrını yumuşattı Oktay Ekşi Erdoğan’ın hedefi Özdemir İnce Bir taammüden cinayetin anatomisi ya da otopsi Mehmet Barlas Tek seslilikten çok sesliliğe geçişe alışmak kolay değil… Barolar, Gül’e endişelerini iletti Güneri CIVAOĞLU Başörtü Avrupa'da Yaman TÖRÜNER Terör ve petrol tehdidi Mehmet Y YılmazHoşgörü ve tahammül meselesi Serdar Turgut N’ayır N’olamaz Güler Kömürcü ‘Asena’ mı? O ne? Oray Eğin Darbecilik kötü bir şey değildir [Yorum - Herkül Millas] Velev türban... 301 kere maşallah Perihan Mağden Baykal başörtüsü sözü vermişti MUHARREM SARIKAYA ERDAL ŞAFAK ERGUN BABAHAN EMRE AKÖZ Umur Talu HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN NAZLI ILICAK MAHMUT ÖVÜR YAVUZ DONAT Nuray Başaran Gözler Anayasa Mahkemesi'nde DİSK ve yeni sendikal hareket
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Sanayi büyümesi üzerine... Turkey's Koc says Migros sale talks in final stages Turkey Finds Growth Risky When Illegal Plant Explodes (Update1) Kriz derinleşiyor, dolar nereye kadar yükselecek? |
| H4 New York Times Gates Endorses Pause in Iraq Troop Withdrawals For Clinton, Bid Hinges on Texas and Ohio Mortgage Crisis Spreads Past Subprime Loans Even borrowers with strong credit are feeling the pinch as home values fall and payments rise. Tuesday, several banks are expected to offer assistance to ease the burden By CHRIS SUELLENTROP Does that charge that the Obama campaign is short on policy details have any basis? A Fight About What? By RON KLAIN Beyond a lack of specific policy differences, it’s almost impossible to draw a high-level ideological distinction between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. BOB HERBERT No End in Sight Some of the euphoria about the history-making aspects of the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns is giving way to anxiety. | H5 Washington Post Defense Secretary Supports A Pause in Iraq Withdrawal Gates Meets With Senior Commanders in Baghdad U.S. to Try 6 On Capital Charges Over 9/11 Attacks New Evidence Gained Without Coercive Tactics 8 Questions the Potomac Primary Could Answer By Dan Balz Harsh Season Overwhelms Afghans Hopes for Progress Battered by War, Weather, Economy and Regional Tension Defense Official Is Charged in Chinese Espionage Case The Real McCain At His Best, He's a Bad Politician By Richard Cohen He is what he is and should be that only. Travelers to Europe May Face Fingerprinting U.S. Latino Population Projected To Soar Forecast Predicts Tripling by 2050 Clinton Looks to Trusted Adviser To Re-Energize Flagging Campaign Despite GOP's Push for McCain, Huckabee Won't Pull Out of Race Democrats In Race for Edwards's Support A Party Divided by Sensibility By E. J. Dionne Jr., A breakout, a fair deal or bedlam: These are the Democrats' options. CBS Workers Seized; Car Bombers Target U.S.-Backed Sunnis Editorial A Crisis Foretold Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf impedes fair elections and action against al-Qaeda. So why is he 'indispensable'? Archbishop Defends Remarks on Islamic Law in Britain A Craven Canterbury Tale By Anne Applebaum, The archbishop's statement on sharia law is mild-mannered, jargon-riddled -- and profoundly dangerous. | H6 GuardianMiliband: UK has a moral duty to intervene Mistakes in Iraq 'must not derail efforts to spread democracy', says foreign secretary Obama set to gain lead over Clinton Poll indicators suggest the Democratic race for the White House is about to take a decisive turn Ultra-rich lobby group with influence at No 10 Arrest in US over 'shuttle espionage' Former Boeing engineer held on suspicion of stealing space programme secrets for China President's men avoid the M-word In Pakistan, Musharraf's unpopularity is proving uncomfortable for allies near to polling day Taliban commander captured Apart from used chip fat, there is no such thing as a sustainable biofuel George Monbiot: Even capitalists now admit the oil crisis is real. But their solutions border on lunacy as they avoid the obvious answer Archbishop defends sharia comments Rowan Williams takes responsibility for 'any unclarity' in remarks about Muslim law Williams, sharia and a mea culpa of sorts Full text of archbishop's address to general synod Wounded and wiserLeader: The way he handled the sharia argument has not encouraged confidence in Rowan Williams Hazardous glare Leader: Unaccountable surveillance jeopardises justice as well as the link between parliament and people The withdrawal of foreign troops would be a disaster for Afghanistan Response: International forces are needed to bring a stable and lasting peace, says Michael Williams Sharia sensibilities Ayesha Khan: Protecting the rights of women who need help must include respect for their religious practices He ought to split his church from the state Andrew Anthony: Rowan Williams's remarks were a strategic attack on secularism from the head of an outdated institution US aids Pakistan massacres Peter Tatchell Pakistan has launched a new military offensive against the people of Baluchistan, using US-supplied weapons More wine than beer Thomas F Schaller US elections 2008: The affluent and well-educated Democrats of Maryland are likely to vote Obama to victory on Tuesday Lessons of history unlearned? Petra Marquardt-Bigman As Ehud Olmert visits Berlin this week, he may be asking some difficult questions about Germany's role in facilitating Iran's nuclear ambitions Try telling Bangladeshis that elections are bad for the poorPolly Toynbee: The march of democracy must not stumble over indifference and fears of violence US charges six suspects over 9/11 Six Guantánamo detainees accused of murder and war crimes could face death penalty if convicted Security clampdown on flights to US confirmed Background: US security measures Comment: Gus Hosain |
| H7 Departure Assessment of Embassy Baghdad Asia Times Maliki rises from the ashes Just when it seemed his time was finally up, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has been given the nod of approval by the Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the powerful Shi'ite cleric. For once, Iranian and United States goals have coincided as they try to pump life back into the premier. - Sami Moubayed War by the rules The release of the US government's rules of engagement for Iraq presents an unusual military precedent and a possible Pandora's box for Washington. Among other disclosures, the rules appear to authorize raids into Iran and Syria, collateral damage guidelines and could lead to a possible paper trail stretching to former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld authorizing attacks with the potential for significant civilian casualties. - David Isenberg Rand Countering Insurgency in the Muslim World: Rethinking US Priorities and Capabilities Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil. Raimondo The Rise of the Imperial Class SPIEGEL Interview with John McCain: 'I Have a Long Record of Working Together with Our Allies' Accept That the Regime in Iran Is Here To Stay The Strategic Interest Yossi Alpher Many respectable experts on Iran, prominent among them Americans, Israelis and Iranians-in-exile, believe they know how to replace the theocratic regime in Tehran with something far more benign and friendly Al Hayat Presidential Void or Voiding the Presidency and the Cabinet? Walid Choucair - The Arab differences over Lebanon’s crisis have reached an unprecedented level that threatens to widen the Arab schism, placing Syria in confrontation with most of the Arab states, and torpedoing the Arab summit scheduled in Damascus. Ahmadinejad: The Secret History of Iran's Radical Leader by Kasra Naji MESH Defining and confronting the Salafi Jihad Considering the Neocon Mythology A Unified Effort on AIDS, Global Health Crises By: James Carroll | The Boston Globe Let us now praise initiatives taken by the comfortable in behalf of the afflicted. Governments of the world's richest nations have launched significant responses to the rampant health crises of those living in the poorest nations BBC Fair trial pledge to 9/11 accused The US head of homeland security promises a fair trial for six Guantanamo prisoners accused of organising 9/11. Profile: Charged suspects WATCH: Pentagon briefing Resilience Needed in Iraq - London Times editorial
Pressure to Set Up Iraq Inquiry in UK - Andrew Grice, The Independent
The Election, the GOP, and Iraq - John Podhoretz, Commentary
Pelosi Calls Iraq a 'Failure' - Mike Allen, | H8 IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq stratfor US may pause Iraq troop pull-out US Defence Secretary Robert Gates says the US may "pause" pulling troops out of Iraq. Two car bombs in Baghdad as violence rises in Iraq US Confirms Upcoming Talks With Iran on Iraq Petraeus: Foreign Militants Entering Iraq Down 50 Percent Iran stands firm on nuclear row
Iran's president warns his government will not back down one iota in its nuclear dispute with the West. After meeting the top U.S. military official in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert Gates signaled a possible “pause” (BBC) in U.S. troop reductions after an initial withdrawal of thirty-thousand troops is completed this summer. 'Reverse surge' Why the US fears cutting troops could squander Iraq gains
US-Backed Groups Challenge Iraqi Government The Missed opportunity in Lebanon
Eyeing Energy Deals, Russia Agrees to Write Off Most of Baghdad's Debt [Fbis] OSC: Iraq: IISC Chairman, Al-Maliki Discuss Formation of 'New' Government • 'Imaging Destruction in Lebanon' by William M. Arkin and Matthew G. McKinzie, Imaging Notes Magazine [Fbis] OSC: Al-Sadr Office Member Says Al-Sadr Trend Sticks to Muqtada al-Sadr's Directives BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 11 Feb 08 BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 10 Feb 08 (Package B) Iraqi List Forms Delegation to Negotiate With Government; Update US Generals at Odds over Troop Drawdown Tempo CBS News journalist, Iraqi translator abducted in Basra [Fbis] OSC: Hizballah TV Commentary Questions Reasons for Junblatt's Verbal Escalation Al-Qaeda in Iraq Regaining Some Footing Speaker: Iraqi Govt Faces Collapse Over Budget Al-Jazeera: A report from Knowledge, the journal of INSEAD business school, examines al-Jazeera’s efforts to broaden its impact and says the Qatar-based network’s English-language offerings appear to be gaining a following. George Bush's African Tour and the Sudanese-American Crisis By: Fouad Matar | Asharq Alawsat Days ahead of the African tour by President Bush which will unfortunately not include Sudan -- unless the President who is given to tours in his last year in office decides to stop over at Juba Airport to irk somebody -- one stops at the exaggerated manifestations of self-confidence among the people in rule in Northern Sudan on the issue of relationship with the U.S. Administration. | H9 Ha’aretz – Ambassador Ayalon: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Defense Min.: Israel must destabilize Hamas' in Gaza ANALYSIS: Hamas banks on IDF invasion to deliver Abbas a blow In a way Hamas' Qassam rockets are aimed not only against Israel but also at Ramallah and Cairo Gaza, Iran on agenda as PM meets Merkel in Berlin Palestinian PM: Israel has failed to keep 'road map' promises Gaza could be his downfall When a sensible minister like Meir Sheetrit calls on the government to pick a neighborhood in Gaza and reduce it to rubble, it sounds like he's gone off the deep end Palestinian revenge was inevitable Is the "Armed Resistance" Dying Down? - Zvi Bar'el In a sharply critical commentary in Al-Hayat, Majed Kialy wrote, "Somewhere along the way, the Palestinians have lost sight of the real cause." Hamas' "grandiose" objective of "liberating all the land which was occupied in 1948" is unachievable. "Instead of making the withdrawal from Gaza a national achievement, it has become a liability for the Palestinian national project," he says. Hamas has "increased its military might within Palestinian society, but has diminished its capacity to act against Israel." "These facts require courage and self-criticism especially on the part of Hamas' leadership, who must tell the people with all honesty that the armed resistance is dying down." This is an internal Palestinian debate that does not usually reach Israeli ears. Official: Gov't barring new E. J'lem housing projects Poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Jerusalem Post Analysis: In order to go in, we need a way out By YAAKOV KATZ The large-scale Gaza op will aim to destroy Hamas terror infrastructure and reoccupy Philadelphi How to beat Hamas First step is to stop holding "political" leadership of Hamas immune. 'Forget about Gilad Schalit if Hamas leaders are killed' Olmert urges Germany to sever Iran ties PM says Berlin can cut "insignificant" economic relationship between two countries "down to zero." Yedioth Ahronoth Beware of what you wish for Arabs to pay heavy price should Israel’s Jewish character be nullified, Martin Sherman says No wars in winter Weather plays key role in military decisions; once clouds clear, will we enter Gaza? Daily Alert.org – Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine Cabinet communique
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (press release) – Israel National Security Council Acting Chairman Danny Arditi presented the ministers with the recommendations of the Winograd Committee’s final report. Tom Lantos, 80, Is Dead; Longtime Congressman Rep. Tom Lantos dead at 80 What Is Israel to Do? Ignore the Attacks? By: David A. Harris | Miami Herald Israel faces difficult choices in Gaza. There is no off-the-shelf remedy for the unprecedented situation, no playbook to follow. Consider the picture. Israel withdrew all its forces and civilians from Gaza more than two years ago. 'I don't care if our pro-Zionist stance costs us' Forward The Gaza Fence New Republic What The U.S. Can Do Right Now About The Mess In Gaza
by Dennis Ross CRS “The Egypt-Gaza Border and its Effect on Israeli-Egyptian Relations,” February 1, 2008. “Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims: Background and Proposed Legislation,” updated February 4, 2008. Israeli exporters alarmed by soaring shekelThe Manufacturers Association of Israel predicts a surging shekel will wipe billions of dollars off companies’ profits, cause thousands of job losses and slow overall growth Hamas Leaders Hiding From Israeli Hits Remembering Tom Lantos Steve Clemons The US congressman, who died today of cancer at age 80, was a crusader for human rights who came to favour a new approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Barak tells IDF to prepare for large-scale military assault on Gaza WORLD NEWS: Holocaust survivor who lived the American dream U.S. Jew kicked out of Belgian cafe for wearing skullcap |
| H10 Christian Science Monitor Many Iranians say revolutionary ideals still unmet In Tehran Monday, tens of thousands celebrated the 29th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. ASIA Asia Times China threat. What threat? Since the end of the Cold War, China has become the candidate of choice among "illusionist" hawks looking to justify Pentagon spending. It's a paranoia sharpened by authors and think-tanks who for years have worried over the increased military might of the Middle Kingdom. A closer look reveals why China is not a military threat to America, and in fact Beijing's concerns about Washington's agenda might be closer to the truth US arrests four 'Chinese spies'
Four people are accused of passing US defence secrets - including information on the space shuttle - to China. WSJ China Spurs Coal-Price Surge By becoming a net importer of coal, China is doing for coal what it once did for oil: helping push prices to new highs, adding more pressure to the creaking global economy. Washington Times Are we making it easy for China? By William Hawkins Recent testimony raises the questions of whether any real line can be drawn between military and civilian sectors in a Chinese economy dominated by state-owned and state-controlled firms under a communist regime that still draws up five-year plans and tightly manages all interaction between Chinese and foreign enterprises. Weekly Standard Three Steps Back More trouble in Pakistan.
by Tom Donnelly Army captures Taliban leader Pakistani forces captured and critically wounded a senior Taliban militant yesterday, the second successful targeting in two weeks of a terrorism suspect as the government faced growing Western pressure to crack down on cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. Boston Globe A new course for the US and Pakistan AS PAKISTAN faces two near-term crises, parliamentary elections on Feb. 18 and increasing extremist violence, the United States has an opportunity to build a new and constructive relationship with the country. In the past, America has been reactive, driven by fear and uncertainty, with the end-result a military dominated policy. Now, there is a chance to forge a more values-centered ... (By Frederick Barton, Boston Globe) Asia Times REVOLT IN PAKISTAN'S TRIBAL AREAS, Part 2
Al-Qaeda's sights on the next battlefield t's not expected that Islamabad's ceasefire with militants in Pakistan's tribal areas will last very long - pressure for the United States is just too great. But that's not the real issue. Al-Qaeda, with its ranks bolstered by Pakistani jihadis, had designated cities as the next battleground, an al-Qaeda cell leader tells Syed Saleem Shahzad Two Myths About Afghanistan By: Ann Marlowe | The Washington Post As Western leaders and Congress debate NATO's responsibilities in Afghanistan, it's time to dissolve two great American illusions about Afghanistan. The first is that Hamid Karzai is a good president who looks after American interests. The second is that the situation in Afghanistan is going from bad to worse. Some Killings Don't Get Solved By: John F. Burns | The New York Times Who killed Benazir Bhutto? How was it done? By bullet or bomb, or both? And who sent the killer -- Islamic militants with links to Al Qaeda, rogue elements of the Pakistani Army, or political rivals in the election scheduled for Feb. 18? ASEAN'S Pakistan Problem By: Fidel V. Ramos | The Japan Times
If the Pakistani government backslides further on its commitment to restore parliamentary democracy, its crisis may begin to infect Southeast Asia. Changes in Store For South Korea By: Axel Berkofsky | ISN Security Watch South Korean president-elect Lee Myung-bak and his conservative Grand National Party promise economic progress for "company Korea," a tougher stance on North Korea, and closer ties with the US. Xinhua has a special report analyzing the problems facing China’s transportation sector. The report looks at efforts by Chinese officials to prepare for a new travel peak as people return to work following celebrations of the Chinese New Year, following severe winter weather that stranded hundreds of thousands last week China-Taiwan: A new Daily Analysis from CFR.org previews Taiwan’s March 22 presidential elections and questions what they might mean for relations with Beijing. India: A video segment from the Times of India examines concerns of India’s government that rogue nuclear weapons could work their way into the country. CRS “North Korean Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States,” updated January 24, 2008 East Timor reeling after coup attempt The President of East Timor was in a serious but stable condition in hospital last night after rebel soldiers launched a coup attempt that targeted the political leadership of the tiny Asian country. | H11 IHT A growing rift By WILLIAM PFAFF There are the same old difficulties, but it's not the same old NATO. Three continents, one theme By SAMUEL R. BERGER A healthy democracy demands much more than a free election or a forceful leader. Can Germany muster the courage to commit to fighting in southern Afghanistan? By JOHN VINOCUR
The idea persists that Germany can go on just providing materiel and a kind of uniformed alternative service at a noncombatant's distance from the battlefield. EUROPE European press review British General Holds Key to Kosovo's Future By: Thomas Harding | The Telegraph A British general given the key task of preventing bloodshed in Kosovo has warned of the "high stakes" involved as the province prepares to declare independence from Serbia this week. Nabucco Project Approaching a Real Start By: Vladimir Socor | Eurasia Daly Monitor Germany’s Rheinisch- Westfaelische Elektrizitaetswerk (RWE) has joined the EU- and US-supported Nabucco pipeline project for Caspian gas to Europe Gates, NATO Chief Call for Three-Nation Expansion of Alliance By: James G. Neuger | Bloomberg News
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called on NATO to admit three countries in southeastern Europe, seeking to widen the alliance's security umbrella to stabilize the Balkans at a time of mounting tension with Russia Poll: Half in Poland Reject US Missile-Defense Shield British Bishop's Islamic Idiocy - John O'Sullivan, New York Post Europe in the House of War By: Spengler | Asia Times
Not since World War II has British opinion been as outraged as it is over the Archbishop of Canterbury's prediction that Muslim sharia law will eventually by accepted in Great Britain Sharia Incompatible with Western Tradition - The Australian editorial The Least Bad Option Outside U.N. Rules By: Gwynne Dyer | The Japan Times The re-election of Serbian President Boris Tadic means that the diplomatic dance to give Kosovo its independence can go ahead without unleashing a Balkan war. A Flicker of Hope for NATO's Mission in Afghanistan? By: Sam Brannen | World Politics Review
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates addressed fellow defense ministers in Lithuania on Jan. 7 with a request to increase troops in southern Afghanistan in preparation for the expected spring Taliban offensive. | H12 RFE/RLHope And Cynicism Russian voters have a clear view of their upcoming presidential election. The majority of respondents in a poll commissioned by RFE/RL say they believe the March 2 vote will not be honest and that the Kremlin has decided the winner in advance. But at the same time, that doesn't seem to bother them. Google News Azerbaijan WSJ Putin's Torture Colonies
By Bret Stephens Global View:
While they can't compare to the Gulag in terms of scope or percentage of innocent prisoners, pytochnye kolonii are fast approaching it in terms of sheer cruelty. Armenia: Opposition Coalition Fails to Materialize Former president Levon Ter-Petrosian and rival candidate Artur Baghdasarian have missed a deadline to combine campaigns, apparently denying the opposition any realistic hope of mounting a serious challenge for power in Armenia’s February 19 presidential election Russia Forgives $12.9 Billion in Iraqi Debt Daily Star Putin and Medvedev: Will they be teammates or rivals? By Vyacheslav Nikonov [Fbis] OSC: Armenian police deny international crime bosses meet in Yerevan [Fbis] OSC: Azeri authorities sell shares of top mobile operator [Fbis] OSC: Georgian Labour Party to declare 'national insubordination' Uzbek President's Daughter Seeks 'Throne' By: Gulnova Saidazimova | Radio Free Europe Most observers say the president's daughter has a long way to go if she wants to become a prominent figure in government. Her new job might be a step in that direction BBC Gas row overshadows Moscow talks Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko arrives in Russia in an attempt to resolve a row over gas supplies. Gazprom threatens gas cut Gazprom's European dilemma Turkmenistan: Berdymukhamedov Marks First Year as President
BY AISHA BERDYEVA
It’s been a year since Gurbanguly Berdymukhamdov’s pro forma election as president of Turkmenistan, and it’s clear that despite a lot of talk about reforms, the Central Asian nation is arguably no more open now than it was under the deceased despot Saparmurat Niyazov. In the foreign policy sphere, however, Berdymukhamedov’s efforts to end Turkmenistan’s isolationist habits have the potential to overhaul the geopolitical status quo in Central Asia. EDM PUTIN WARNS AGAINST “IMMORAL” WESTERN INTERFERENCE IN HIS “STRATEGIC” SPEECH
- RESEARCHERS STUDY THE “NATURE AND STRUCTURE” OF RUSSIAN CORRUPTION
- BADRI PATARKATSISHVILI’S GHOST PARTIES EMERGE IN GEORGIA |
| H13 The Times Resilience Iraq's Government must urgently match the courage of its people US seeks death penalty for 9/11 suspects Six prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, including self-declared mastermind of attacks, set to face 2,973 counts of murder Hospital boss arrested over al-Qaeda attack A Baghdad psychiatric hospital director has been linked to the mentally impaired women used to blow up animal markets Chinese space shuttle spy ring arrested Former Boeing employee charged with economic espionage and acting as foreign agent during 33 year career Wanted: flag and anthem The Kosovo Philharmonic is rehearsing and flagpoles are ready Crackdown on guards 'paralysing Afghanistan' International operations are being threatened by a police crackdown on private security guards, the US has said Former MI6 chief to give evidence at Diana inquest Sir Richard Dearlove is expected to be questioned about the presence of MI6 officers in the French capital Bring the little tough guy back The Taleban would hate it if the old governor of Helmand returned to his post in Afghanistan Anthony Loyd Wall Street Journal States of Opportunity
Americans relocated in record numbers last year. Did high taxes have anything to do with that?
Review & Outlook The Caucus Men
By James Taranto
Obama's support is deep, McCain's broad. What does this mean if they face off in November? Putin's Torture Colonies
By Bret Stephens
Global View: While they can't compare to the Gulag in terms of scope or percentage of innocent prisoners, pytochnye kolonii are fast approaching it in terms of sheer cruelty. Toleration and Islamic Law
By David B. Rivkin, Jr. and Lee A. Casey No group can be allowed to secede from a liberal legal system. | H14 Financial Times Too soon to give up in Afghanistan A recognition that the country is likely to be poor and tribalised for years to come should not obscure the fact that life has improved for ordinary Afghans, writes Gideon Rachman Military tribunals are not the way Guantánamo should be shut. The incoming US administration should hand prisoners against whom there is solid evidence to federal courts White House insists recession unlikely The Bush administration stuck to its prediction that the US would not face a recession in 2008, claiming the economy had a “solid foundation” to guide it through the housing crisis Contenders to break with Bush direction Whoever wins the election in November, it is already clear that the next US president will make a significant break with George W. Bush’s approach to the ‘global war on terror’ US seeks execution for 9/11 plotters The Pentagon is seeking the death penalty for Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and five other al-Qaeda suspects held at Guantánamo Bay Clinton, Obama hit at troops ‘pause’The two Democratic presidential contenders criticised suggestions by Robert Gates, US defence secretary, that the Pentagon might pause the troop drawdown in Iraq after the “surge” winds down this summer Berlin hardens trade stance with Iran Germany is cracking down on business with the country far more systematically than suspected, unpublished figures from the economics ministry showed Investment gridlock thwarts Iraq recovery An important indicator of the sustainability of security improvements will be whether a boost in economic confidence accompanies the drop in violence Gates backs pause in troop cuts Cosa Nostra were seriously hit by combined US-Italian police operations last week. But insiders question whether the media were themselves victims of an overhyped blitz Lessons for central bankers Six months of market turmoil have provided a test for policymakers and exposed some of their central assumptions LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Three foundations of realistic US foreign policy First-class flying Opting to fly by private jet is a rational response to the cattle-truck conditions to which all passengers are subjected at many big airports Ratings reform One option is for issuers to pay into an independently managed pool that would assign a rating agency, breaking the commercial incentive to rate bonds high WORLD NEWS: Republican party grandees begin to back McCain Q&A: Pakistan’s elections Wednesday: Can they be fair? Can stability be achieved? Stephen Cohen and Tariq Ali answer your questions on the country’s political future Fed is right to intervene to ward off recession As the US economy and markets weaken, perennial pessimists have moved to centre stage, arguing for the inevitability of a serious recession, says Ethan Harris WORLD NEWS: US tightens visa waiver measures for EU states WORLD NEWS: US shrugs off Chávez threat over oil | H15 Los Angeles Times Gates indicates support for pause in withdrawal He makes his stance clear for the first time after meeting with the head of American troops in Iraq Go with the tough guy By Max Boot The new 'axis of evil' doesn't fear the U.S. McCain could change that. Progressive pomposity It's no wonder seemingly rational people are driven to vote for politicians like Bush By Garret Keizer In Baghdad, a different kind of nightmare commute Obama favored in Potomac races But don't count Clinton out just yet. Her campaign sees an opportunity to win some delegates Tuesday in Virginia. 'Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West' by Benazir Bhutto Editorial |
| H16 American Politics McCain and Obama looking strong for 'Potomac primary' The comeback kid of 2008 What follows is an excerpt from one of the Betsy Bodman lecture series at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, given in the winter of 2020. (By H. D. S. Greenway, Boston Globe) Hillary hits Obama on transparency, style
»See also: Politico WJLA/ABC 7 interview with Obama
Obama's Demographic Problem Even some supporters worry that Obama is doing little to retool his message to reach the demographic groups that have challenged him -- working-class whites and Latinos Barack Obama Makes His Case — Steve Kroft Interviews The Democratic Presidential Candidate — (CBS) Obama's Wave Fails to Sink Foe Clinton badly needs Virginia victory HALPERIN'S TAKE: 10 Things Clinton Can Do to Survive February Poll: Obama would narrowly defeat McCain Huckabee Brushes Off Calls to Bow Out... It All Comes Down To This: Whoever Shows That They Can Beat McCain Will Win The Democratic Nomination by E.J. Dionne, Jr. realclearpolitics – ABC’s The Note – US News Political Bulletin Early Bird GovExec Swamp Gas The Swamp Conceding John McCain's 'Toughness' on National Security by Glenn Greenwald Of Course There's Such A Thing As False Hopes
More reasons to be skeptical of Barack Obama and his legions of the blissful. by Leon Wieseltier,, Bush's Final Budget It shows how important the 2008 elections are.
by Irwin M. Stelzer | H17 Daily TelegraphThe Archbishop's words were understood Even after his speech at the Church of England Synod, there are still grounds for doubt about whether Dr Williams fully appreciates how justified was the anger that his original remarks provoked. £1300 rise in cost of living hits families Families are having to pay an extra £1,300 a year in household bills as food and fuel prices rise at their fastest rate for 17 years Pakistan ambassador kidnapped Tariq Azizuddin, the Pakistani envoy to Kabul, has been abducted in a troubled tribal region on the Afghanistan border. Brown didn't need this sharia row The Archbishop's comments about sharia law reveal that many of the most controversial issues facing the Government all lead back to the question of whether Britain is still a Christian country, says Rachel Sylvester. | H18 Independent Is this justice? September 11 accused to face 'kangaroo court' The United States military said that it was bringing death penalty charges against six men suspected of orchestrating the September 11 attacks, and intended to try them under the much-criticised military tribunal system. Robert Verkaik: A threat to US relations with Britain Brown under pressure to set up Iraq inquiry Gordon Brown is under pressure to mark the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war next month by announcing an independent inquiry. Williams tries to defuse row over sharia law The Archbishop of Canterbury has sought to defuse the row over what he appeared to claim was the unavoidable adoption of sharia law in the UK by conceding that his comments may have been unclear and "clumsily deployed". Blair went to war on a lie, law lords told The mothers of two teenage soldiers killed in Iraq accused Tony Blair's government of going to war "on a lie" as they took their fight for a public inquiry into the conflict to the House of Lords. Taliban commander captured in latest move in 'Great Game' Nicolas Sarkozy: The problem with the president He swaggered into the Elysée Palace on a promise to reinvent France for the 21st century. But after just eight months, Nicolas Sarkozy's popularity is plummeting – and his personal life is becoming a soap opera. Is he up to the job? John Lichfield reports |
| H19Military Intelligence Terrorism US Airforce's 21st Century strategy white paper unveiled Inside the 9/11 Commission From Armed Forces Journal - SecDef has signaled a turning point in U.S. defense thinking by Colonel Robert Killebrew (USA Ret.). Rand Counterinsurgency in Iraq (2003-2006) by Bruce R. Pirnie and Edward O'Connell. War by Other Means - Building Complete and Balanced Capabilities for Counterinsurgency by David C. Gompert, John Gordon, IV, Adam Grissom, David R. Frelinger, Seth G. Jones, Martin C. Libicki, Edward O'Connell, Brooke K. Stearns and Robert E. Hunter. Countering Insurgency in the Muslim World by David C. Gompert, John Gordon, IV, Adam Grissom, David R. Frelinger, Seth G. Jones, Martin C. Libicki, Edward O'Connell, Brooke K. Stearns and Robert E. Hunter. CRS “Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress,” updated January 24, 2008. “National Guard Personnel and Deployments: Fact Sheet,” updated January 17, 2008. “U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress,” updated January 25, 2008. Nora Bensahel, "Mission Not Accomplished: What Went Wrong With the Iraqi Reconstruction," Journal of Strategic Studies Vol. 29, No. 3 (June 2006): 453 – 473. Navy Intercepts Russian Bombers... Iran plan for two more rockets into space... Al-Qaeda Leaders Admit: 'We Are in Crisis. By: Martin Fletcher | The London Times Al-Qaeda in Iraq faces an “extraordinary crisis”. Last year's mass defection of ordinary Sunnis from al-Qaeda to the US military “created panic, fear and the unwillingness to fight”. The terrorist group's security structure suffered “total collapse From Policy Review, an article on doing justice to Zacarias Moussaoui: Neither a madman nor an aspiring martyr but an enemy. Pakistan's New Generation of Terrorists CFR A Depleted National Guard - Boston Globe editorial
Nuclear Warfare Just Stepped Closer - Paul Dibb, Sydney Morning Herald
The Implausibility of Nuclear Terror - Steve Chapman, Baltimore Sun
Wiretap Showdown - Wall Street Journal editorial
Congress Eyes Defense Cuts | H20 Slate One Nation Under Multiple Gods The British tabloids are right to bash the archbishop of Canterbury.
Anne Applebaum To Hell With the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' dangerous claptrap about "plural jurisdiction." Christopher Hitchens Potomac Peaks Barack Obama and John McCain are primed for large victories in the mid-Atlantic.
Mark Blumenthal and Charles Franklin Hillary Comes Alive The conventional wisdom says Clinton is doomed. Don't believe it. John Dickerson I Want My Pentagon Papers! Why won't the New York Times share that controversial new Iraq study with its readers? Timothy Noah Corn's Not Better Than Oil From Monthly Review, an essay on the history of imperialism theory Turning Risk into Opportunity: An insider`s guide to entrepreneurial strategy
The List: The World’s Best Places to Be an Immigrant Economic Report of the President, February 2008 | H21 Conflict and artistic tension is the lifeblood of a string quartet. To be open-minded, respectful, and flexible, a quartet can need a marriage manual... more» Not everyone on the web is a huckster, poseur, opportunist, or liar. The web needs criticism, not scorn and anger... more» It wasn’t all Abba and bad clothes. The 1970s also gave us Patti Hearst, the music of Michael Nyman, and inflation. It was a decade to remember, or... more» The heart of the matter Jackie Kay: The lover often feels overwhelmed, but the poet understands the variables of romance Iranian rappers serenade the sound of sirens After an official government campaign against ‘decadent’ rap music, rappers are keeping a low profile and are distributing their work through websites and Bluetooth phones Zurich art museum robbed of a Cézanne, a Degas, a Van Gogh and a Monet Nonprofit journalism on the rise At a time of layoffs and budget cuts at traditional newspapers, foundations and donors are funding new journalism ventures. Byzantium surprise Historian Judith Herrin strips away the veneer of this Medieval empire to reveal artistry and innovation. Eight rules for how to argue with your spouse U.S. population will soar to 438 million by 2050; Hispanics triple... |
