041608f - FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analyses for informed debate’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç U.S. / Britain / Turkey / Magazines / Think-tanks / Blogs / Misc /Books / Quickread / Numbers / Reports - Subscribe to FPR FPR Table - H4 NYT WP GU H7 ME Isr H10 CSM IHT Eur FSU Asia H13 Times WSJ FT LAT H16 USP DT Ind H19 Mil Int Ter Wonk H21 Misc

H1 Foreign Affairs The Age of Nonpolarity by Richard Haass

The era of American hegemony is over--and Washington will have to change its ways to succeed in the new environment. MP3 Read an excerpt from Mr Haass’s essay.

Analysis: Euroworld 2015: a European strategy for globalisation - Final report of the "Europe and Globalisation" mission chaired by Laurent Cohen-Tanugi

CSIS Colloquium: Zbigniew Brezinski's 80th Birthday Scowcroft, Kissinger, Haass, Ikenberry, Brzezinski et al.

CFR The United States and Shifting Global Power Dynamics

It'll Take More to Derail Obama Nomination - Charlie Cook, Nat'l Journal

Laura Rozen J Street: "New 'Pro Israel, Pro Peace' Political Group Launches in Washington: 'J Street' Hopes to Prod Washington Middle East Policy Back Towards the Center" More from the Post, MJ Rosenberg, Gershom Gorenberg, Ron Kampeas, Matt Yglesias, Ben-Ami, and Dana Goldstein.

'Holocaust Declaration'?
Dowty and Garfinkle, MESH

The Global Food Fight By: Simon Roughneen | ISN Security Watch
The biofuel craze, commodity speculation, growing demand in emerging economies and soaring energy prices coalesce to boost food prices, with mass hunger and political instability looming

The gun, fatwa and vote GulfNews By Amir Taheri

Murder's Mess for Muqtada - Amir Taheri, New York Post

Paul Kennedy The Nuts and Bolts of Empire All great empires have required a sophisticated logistical system, and a secure communications system to sustain themselves. In a world of endless challenges imperial ambitions soon collapse. This lecture will examine the hard, infrastructural underpinnings of the Roman, Spanish and British Empires, and reflect on how the USA compares in this regard.

Financial Times Why financial regulation is both difficult and essential A voluntary banking code is almost certainly not worth the paper it is written on. If regulation is to be effective, it must cover all relevant institutions and the entire balance sheet and, not least, it must make finance less pro-cylical, writes Martin Wolf

What follows American dominion? US is no longer dominant, says Richard Haass

Quentin Peel: Echoes of Soviet times, but with style United Russia has no ideology and only one purpose: to back Vladimir Putin as Russian president and now – presumably – to support Dmitry Medvedev, his chosen successor

CFR Iran’s Power Brokers

SyriaComment News Round Up (15 April 2008)

Carnegie Empire of Lies: The Truth About China in the Twenty-First Century

Salon Dick Cheney was never a "grown-up" A hard look at how one man changed the face of neoconservatism. By Sidney Blumenthal

The introduction to Unanswered Threats: Political Constraints on the Balance of Power by Randall L. Schweller.

Countering Terrorism By: Joshua Sinai | The Washington Times
Jerrold Post's "The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to Al-Qaeda" provides a framework for understanding modern-day terrorism's psychological mindset.

Stratfor Iraq: Militias, Provincial Polls and the Ethno-Sectarian Struggle ...

Guardian Change in farming can feed world - report Sixty countries call for radical changes in world farming to avert increasing regional food shortages

How the food crisis is being felt around the world

Ha’aretz –Editorial Iran is playing with fire Iran under the Islamic revolutionary government represents a serious security problem for Israel

Brothers in Arms? Engaging the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt IPPR This 29-page UK paper considers whether Western governments should seek to engage with the Muslim Botherhood

Enlarging the Anglosphere - Gordon Brown, Wall Street Journal

Ignoring Economic Reality on Trade - Robert Samuelson, Newsweek

American Prospect A Middle East Report Card With the clock running out on the Bush administration, can late efforts amount to actual progress in the Middle East? Is the Annapolis process doomed, or can Sec. Rice finally make some progress?

H2 Condoleezza Rice Remarks at the American-Turkish Council Luncheon

Iran says US aids rebels at its borders Los Angeles Times

PKK ABD yardımını itiraf etti

Arşivden ABD ve PKK İlişkisi Üzerine Notlar 22 Kasım 2007

Türk-Amerikan Konseyi toplantısından başlıklar

Rice lauds Turkey on free speech, urges more rights

Strategic Studies Institute The Evolution of U.S. Turkish Relations in a Transatlantic Context. Edited by Dr. Frances G. Burwell. (pdf)

US general urges ‘partial amnesty’ for PKK members

Daily Telegraph Nato making mistake in Afghanistan, warns Turkish minister

Report: ITC expected to be dismantled

AFGANİSTAN'A ASKER GÖNDERİYORUZ

�Afganistan�a ek asker yok�

Füze kalkanında biz olmayacağız

Turkey: the constitutional frontline, Katinka Barysch

'Türkiye Ilımlı İslam Ülkesi Değil'

Rice calls for respect of Turkish democracy in AKP case

Lagendijk: AKP türbanda hata yaptı

Laiklik vurgusu yaptı

Kapatma davasını yakından izliyoruz, seçmenin sesine kulak verilmeli

Sarkozy dispatches envoy to convince Turkey

PKK'ya karşı kapsamlı çözüm tavsiyesi

Los Angeles Times ISRAEL: Discussing Armenian genocide

TURKEY AND IRAN EXPECTED TO BOOST SECURITY COOPERATION Eurasia Daily Monitor –

Abdülhamit Bilici Vicious plot, and pieces of advice to neo-con Rubin

Babacan: Güç halka geçti

İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası Dış Basında Türkiye - BBC Turkish 0700 VOA TSİ 06:30 Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey TurcoPundit

Google News Fırat News Agency KurdishMedia Kurdish Kurdish Aspect Dış Basında Irak BBC Monitoring Inter-national

Cevdet Aşkın ABD'den PKK'ya kısmî af talebi

Marksist PKK'nın din oyunu - Haşim Söylemez/Hamza Erdoğan

Sol provokasyonu PKK mı devralıyor? -

Dersim tarihinde etnik yolculuk -

Bu Cumhuriyet Kürtsüz

DTP'nin şahinleri, grup toplantısına katılmadı

DTP'de çatlak derinleşiyor

Report: ITC expected to be dismantled

PKK'lı teröristten şaşırtan itiraf!

Kurds must stay away from violence, says Barzani

Kürtler şiddetten uzaklaşmalı

Roj TV davasında 53 başkana 2.5 ay

Turkmen party calls for considering Peshmerga as 'militia'

PKK Suriye’de Kürtler’le çatıştı

İran’la ’Kandil’ görüşmesi

DTP, 301 teklifine destek vermeyecek

Hükümetin Katar sevgisi

5 ayda Cumhurbaşkanı, Başbakan ve 7 bakan Katar’ı ziyaret etti

Iraqi Kurdish Press Highlights 15 Apr 08

Turkey convicts 53 Kurdish mayors for backing Denmark-based TV station

DTP'li iki vekil hakkında Nevruz soruşturması

PKK, Küpeli’de kıskaca alındı

Afganistan'daki askerlerimizin görevi terörle mücadele değil

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Enerji işbirliği için ilk somut adım: Katar'dan teknik heyet geliyor

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Anadil Eğitimi Bir İnsan Hakkıdır! (Başbakan bunu hep yapıyor)

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Avrupa başkentindeki kriminel Türk lobisi

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Türk-İran heyeti ortak saldırı için toplandı

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

AKP'ye muhalefet ve çatı partisi

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Federal Irak Parlamentosu Enfal’in Kürd soykırımı olduğunu kabul etti!

Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık

[Yorum - Joost Lagendijk] AKP davası ve AB-Türkiye monoloğu

AKP samimiyetini reformla kanıtlar Katınka Barysch

Emre Gönen Kapatmayı Avrupa hazmedemez...

US warmly backs new Cyprus talks: Rice

Christofias highlights concerns over Turkey

Cyprus has its 'best chance' of reunification: Britain

Kapatma davası yargısal darbedir

Turkey's ruling AKP to establish a ministry on EU affairs

Amanda Akçakoca Georgia, Ukraine and the divide and rule phenomena

Beril Dedeoğlu Türkiye’de bir Portekizli

Rice Urges Political Will to Settle Nagorno-Karabakh Dispute

Fransız masonlar soykırım iddiasına destek için sahnede

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

[Haber Analiz - Faruk Akkan] Putin, 'başkanlık' koltuğunu bırakmıyor

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Kapatma davasını yakından izliyoruz, seçmenin sesine kulak verilmeli

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

[Haber Analiz - İbrahim Kaya] Berlusconi ile İtalyan-Türk dostluğu artarak sürecek

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Amerika'dan AB reformlarına destek

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Yeni Hilton’a 60 gerekçeli ret

Teselli koltukları

Emre’nin emniyet bağlantıları mı var

Borç dağ gibi ama laleye para çuvalla

Terrorist organizations target youth

Yine aynı görüntüler

Genelkurmay’ın e-muhtıra olarak tanımlanan açıklamasına giren Denizli’de bu yıl da aynı manzara vardı

Bir haftada 13 bin Kutlu Doğum töreni

Selçuk’un göğüs kemiği kapatıldı

Turkey Enters The Top 3 Spammers Charts Russia has made it back to its position as the world's second best spammer, while Turkey managed to climb on the third step of the podium

‘Er Polat’a hoş geldin dayağı

Hedef 70 milyon turist

Biz madalya verdik kral oy bile vermedi

Dışişleri'nin yeni sözcüsü Özügergin

Relatives of Malatya victims seek state compensation

Beraat gerekçesi temyize gidiyor

Balans ayarı rektifiye oldu - Cemal A. Kalyoncu

16 Nisan 2008 Basın Özeti

H3 Babacan: Anayasa paketi hazırlığı var

"Erbakan milli görüşçüdür, bu işbirlikçidir"

Partimin kapatılacağına inanmıyorum

Rice'dan laiklik vurgusu

Başbakan'ın evinin iç krokisi DHKP-C�de!

Bahçeli: Ne Türklükten ne Müslümanlıktan vazgeçeriz

Teselli koltukları

‘Zirve’ cinayetinde ‘haberci’ kuşkusu

Emre’nin emniyet bağlantıları mı var

Emniyette müdürlerle oturup kalkmış

Başbakan Erdoğan'dan ayağının tozuyla mini zirve

Officials scramble as food crisis worsens

Kapatma sinyali aylar öncesinden verilmiş

Selçuk, Toptan'ı eleştirdi

AKP'li Fırat açık kapı bıraktı: Değiştirebiliriz

Milliyet Son Dakika

Batı Çalışma Grubu'ndan 80 bin camiye ajan

Yetki neden Çankaya'ya verilmek isteniyor?

atv-Sabah için Yüce Divan iması

Gül: Change to Article 301 is Parliament's affair

Mahkemenin işini kolaylaştıracağız

Cengiz Çandar 301 açmazı...

Ahmet Taşgetiren Avrupa'dan görülen Türkiye

Ahmet Taşgetiren Toplum genleriyle oynarken...

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol MHP’de değişim

Fikret Bila TSK dağdakilerin aileleriyle temasa geçti

Hasan Cemal Darbecilere hukuk, sivil yargı dokunabilecek mi?

Murat Yetkin Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Murat Yetkin - Dava eski dava, Türkiye eski Türkiye mi?

İsmet Berkan İsmet Berkan - 301 değişikliği de değişmeli!

Fehmi Koru Papa Washington'da

Taha Kıvanç Çılgınlar sürüsü

Şamil Tayyar Amerika’dan gelen ilginç konuk

Ali BayramoğluHasta bir devlet…

Ali Bayramoğlu Yeni resmî söylem: Anti-küreselcilik ve karşı devrimcilik

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Onuncu Yıl Marşı'nın dönüşü

Ahmet HakanAdını temizle Abdullah

M Ali Birand AKP kapanırsa, AB ile müzakereler askıya alınır

Cüneyt Ülsever Hangisi gerçek AKP?

Avni Özgürel - Perdeyi kaldırmak

Bilal Çetin 301 teklifi revize edilecek...

İsmail Küçükkaya Dava, savunma ve basiret...

Sebahattin Önkibar 301 bahane, Gül-Erdoğan çekişmesi şahane!

Sadi Somuncuoğlu Türklüğe hakaret "düşünce hürriyeti" öyle mi?

MEHMET KAMIŞ - İslam ülkelerinde neden hep rejim krizi yaşanır?

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

ABDÜLHAMİT BİLİCİ - Körler sağırlar Rubin'i ağırlar

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

MUSTAFA ÜNAL - 301 savaşı

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

A. TURAN ALKAN - Sinek küçük ama...

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

ALİ BULAÇ - Üç tutum

Fehmi Koru: Papa Washington'da

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Ali Bayramoğlu: Hasta bir devlet…

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Kürşat Bumin: Alper'in davası (2)

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Taha Kıvanç: Çılgınlar sürüsü

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

İbrahim Karagül: Fethullah Gülen ve Humeyni!

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Hakan Albayrak: Derin devletin 'Roj TV'leri ne olacak?

Başörtüsü yasağının laiklikle ilgisi yok

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Türker Alkan - Son kullanma tarihi geçen kavgalar

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Hakkı Devrim - Şiddetin bir faydası da var

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

H. Gökhan Özgün - Latife

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Haluk Şahin - Kim öle, kim kala?

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

M.Ali Kışlalı - AKP'nin çıkmaz yolu

Beyond a ‘majoritarian’ democracy by ŞABAN KARDAŞ*

Don’t touch juntas or gangs, or else you’ll burn! by MURAT YILMAZ*

Ece Temelkuran Sıkışmışlık

Can Ataklı

Şener ‘Merve Kavakçı’yı seçildikten sonra tanıdım’

Sorunların kaynağı 12 Eylül Anayasası MAHMUT ARSLAN

Asıl irtica okulda dayağı savunmaktır SÜLEYMAN ÇELENK

Enis Berberoğlu

Oktay Ekşi Jakoben milli irade

Özdemir İnce

Başörtüsü yasağının laiklikle ilgisi yok

Yalçın Doğan Yarın için CHP’de nefesler tutuldu

Mehmet Y Yılmaz AKP’nin ’demokrasi aşkı’ bu kadar

Tufan Türenç Hedef, Rektör Mustafa Akaydın’dı

Gülay Göktürk Vazoda büyüyenler

Mensur Akgün Köşke bırakmayın toptan kaldırın

Nuray Başaran Siyasi stagflasyon

MUHARREM SARIKAYA "4x4'ün buğday deposu..."

ERDAL ŞAFAK Elitler üstüne

ENGİN ARDIÇ Gül'lü para uyar mı?

Yavuz Baydar Wearing the old shirt, or a new one

ERGUN BABAHANİnsanlık, tarım ve açlık gerçeği

EMRE AKÖZPeki Baykal kimle işbirliği yapacak?

Umur TaluAçlık hayatın efendisidir

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN
Laicos ve demos kardeşliği

NAZLI ILICAK Kısır polemik

MEHMET BARLASYeni dünya düzeni içinde Türkiye'nin yeri nerede?

MAHMUT ÖVÜR

YAVUZ DONAT

Nasuhi Güngör AK Parti’nin savunması ve ‘Yurttaş Kane’

Çelik’ten kitaplı savunma

Bu da 'AKP karşıtı odak olma' davası

BÇG raporuna göre, CHP'li Kılıçdaroğlu 'Kürtçü-bölücü'

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Özal'ı unutamayanlar Kocatepe'de buluşacak

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

AK Parti'nin kapatılacağını aklımın kenarından bile geçirmiyorum

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

DTP'nin şahinleri, grup toplantısına katılmadı

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

301. maddede yapılacak değişikliği 'suikast'a benzetti

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Erbakan'ı övdü: Milli Görüşçü olmanın bedelini ödedi

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Muhalefet talep ederse, yetki adalet bakanına bırakılacak

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Cumhurbaşkanı, yetki tartışmasına girmedi: Meclis'in bileceği iş

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

'Roj TV kapanmasın' diyen DTP'li başkanlara hapis cezası

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Türkiye stagflasyona tek başına mı girecek?

Ege Cansen Fiyat artışları enflasyon değildir

Ercan Kumcu Dış finansman yapısı oynak oldu

Erdal Sağlam

Hurşit Güneş Yoksulların gırtlağı yanıyor

Metin Münir TT ve Oger’in cevabı

Deniz Gökçe IMF tahminleri ve internet saçmaları!

İ.Hüseyin Yıldız IMF’siz olmaz mı?

Yabancılara gayrimenkul satışı yasak!

Bunu vurguncular istedi yanlarına kâr kalmayacak

Ertuğ Yaşar Türkiye'de stagflasyon olmaz

Bedeli sofrada ödüyor olmayalım? Uğur Gürses

'Stagflasyon' hortluyor mu?
Metin Ercan

OKAN MÜDERRİSOĞLU
Birkaç gün pirinç almayın!

Soaring food prices in Turkey give officials food for thought

Turkey will still need IMF help when loan deal ends

Russia Inter RAO eyes $2.5 bln Turkey power project

Unemployment rises to 11.3 percent, informal labor down 4.5 points

İbrahim Öztürk Is Turkey losing control of the current account deficit?

Serdar Akinan İnsanlık suçu

Eser Karakaş Tarım fiyatları ve gümrük birliği

Salih Neftçi Küresel kriz gıda fiyatlarıyla daha da derinleşiyor

Mehmet Altan Köylüler manşet oluyor

H5 Washington Post How This Can End By Ann Gildroy and Michael O'Hanlon Six key reasons for strategic patience in Iraq.

Editorial Vox Pop in China Many people claim to know what the Chinese people think.

Not to Be Trusted By Dan Froomkin The Bush administration's latest story line about Iraq -- that Iran is now the primary problem there -- should be greeted with profound ...

Marching Backward On Trade By Robert J. Samuelson On trade, many Democrats -- and some Republicans, too -- are fighting the last war.

Democrats Willing to Let Battle ContinuePoll Shows Gains in Key Areas for Obama

MOST SEE DISHONESTY Poll Shows Erosion Of Trust in Clinton

Britain's Brown to Meet Presidential Candidates Struggling in Polls, Prime Minister Hopes to Improve Ties, Own Standing

HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE More Leeway Sought on Foreign Aid Spending

After Decades, Pakistan Forces Thousands of Afghans to Leave

Officials Cite Extremism, Economics as Reasons for Closure of Camp in Northwest

Two Bombs Kill Nearly 60 People, Injure Scores in Iraq

Diplomats Warned of Possible Mandatory Service in Iraq

Bush OKed Torture Meetings By Dan Froomkin

The Free Flow of Information It's time for a vote on a federal shield law.

New Strategy for Clinton By Douglas E. Schoen Clinton's positive message will not work unless she is able to undermine Obama's candidacy.

New Strategy for Clinton By Douglas E. Schoen, Clinton's positive message will not work unless she is able to undermine Obama's candidacy.

Pontiff Begins Historic Visit

Bush Greets Benedict, Who Said He Was 'Deeply Ashamed' of Clergy Abuse Scandal

H6 Guardian Change in farming can feed world - report

Sixty countries call for radical changes in world farming to avert increasing regional food shortages

How the food crisis is being felt around the world

Bush to make speech on climate change George Bush is to set out options for 'cap and trade' for power stations and similar polluters

Putin tightens grip on power

Roles as PM and party chairmand entrench Vladimir Putin's position as dominant figure in Russia

Democrats to debate in Pennsylvania Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will go head to head in the latest Democratic presidential debate

Brown: I can bring Europe and US closer together after rift over Iraq

A man-made famine Raj Patel: There are many causes behind the world food crisis, but one chief villain: World Bank head, Robert Zoellick

Zugzwang Robert Fox The US-led coalition in Iraq is not yet utterly doomed. But it will be if generals and politicians persist with their current tactics

New kid on the block Richard Silverstein The American-Jewish lobbying group J Street hopes to provide a fresh approach to Israeli-Palestinian peace - but it may face opposition from Aipac

Kernels of truth Dan Kennedy US elections 2008: The media's portrayals of Obama as an elitist, Clinton as a liar and McCain as a warmonger are oversimplified but accurate

Berlusconi woos anti-immigrant party Silvio Berlusconi vows lower taxes, more police and special new camps for jobless foreigners

Trouble at the top Leader: Gordon's big tent has always been a bit lopsided, with a pronounced lean to the right

A victory for threats, media muscle and patronage Bill Emmott: The return to power of the Italian mogul who likened me to Lenin should alarm anyone who cares about democracy

The cost of green tinkering is in famine and starvation Simon Jenkins: Biofuels threaten food supplies, rainforest and climate - yet our leaders push them in the name of the environment

Muhammad, the Mini-Series? By: Riazat Butt The BBC should have the courage to tackle the subject of the prophet's life. It could make compelling viewing for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

H7 SyriaComment News Round Up (15 April 2008)

Asia Times US juggles double-edged Iran sanctions
Ahead of a meeting this week in China of all of the major powers dealing with Iran's nuclear program, the United States continues its push for unilateral sanctions against Tehran. Yet a bill making its way through the senate may potentially further undermine the international support Washington seeks to confront Iran and "change its behavior".

Asharq Al-Awsat Talks to AL Sec-Gen, Amr Musa

Brothers in Arms? Engaging the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt IPPR This 29-page UK paper considers whether Western governments should seek to engage with the Muslim Botherhood

EGYPT: More short-term violence likely, economic reform to slow

Democratic Islam No Contradiction - Waleed Aly, Sydney Morning Herald

Time Al-Sadr Tightens the Screws

Outside View: Is there progress in Iraq? By MARIA APPAKOVA Bush said last week that "significant progress" has been achieved in the past year in stabilizing Iraq. Did he persuade anyone except his closest supporters?

Provincial Politics in Iraq: Fragmentation or New Awakening? Washington Institute This 52-page US report examines the challenges and options facing Iraq's decisionmakers as they seek a formula to balance local authority and national unity

Damascus has sufficient material & political resources to withstand external pressures, has no intention of being rushed into a settlement in Lebanon.

AEI scholar and surge co-author Fred Kagan on Iraq's progress

Bush’s new Middle East by SHLOMO BEN-AMI*

SPENGLER
Ehud Olmert on the
Damascus road
Guerilla movements require arms, money and intelligence from sympathetic states. Hamas and Hezbollah would represent no threat to Israel without the backing of Syria and Iran. Military and political logic requires Israel to attack their sponsors, rather than their militants embedded among civilians. Iran is hard to reach, but Syria is a sitting duck

Hope for Iraq’s Meanest City - Michael Totten, City Journal

Fallujah fights a never-ending battle Three years after the devastating United States-led siege of the city, residents of Fallujah continue to struggle with a shattered economy, infrastructure and a crippling lack of medical care and drinking water. Liberated Fallujah, many residents say, is now just a big jail. - Ali al-Fadhily and Dahr Jamail

Observations from a Year in the Sunni Triangle By LTC Craig Collier Download interim version of article as PDF

Oil Rises to Record $114...

Salon Criminals of the world, unite and take over In "McMafia," author Misha Glenny takes us on a startling tour of the new international underworld, documenting the hidden costs of an unregulated global free market.
By Laura Miller

ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI: MASTER OF FOREIGN POLICY

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

Iraqi Unit Flees Post, Despite American’s Plea

Arab League Head Interviewed on Lebanese Crisis, Mideast, Iraq, Iran

Basra residents welcome Iraq army crackdown

Dozens dead as Iraq cities bombed More than 70 people are killed in blasts at three cities in Iraq, in one of the deadliest days there for many weeks.

Egyptians jail 25 Brotherhood men Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says 25 members, including its third most senior figure, have been jailed.

Muqtada al-Sadr Leads Largest "Humanitarian" Group in Iraq, Says Report

US presses Iraq neighbors at Damascus meeting

BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 15 Apr 08 - Package B

BBC Monitoring Quotes From Middle East Arabic Press for 15 Apr 08

State Department warns diplomats of compulsory Iraq duty (AP)

Iraq Doles Out $350 Million to 3 'Hot Spots' By: Sara A. Carter | The Washington Times The Iraqi government is pumping $350 million into three of the war-torn nation's most embattled areas in an effort to stem violence by producing jobs and reinvigorating social programs, as U.S. lawmakers are pushing for the oil-rich country to pick up its reconstruction tab

Lebanon-Qatar: The Daily Star reports on efforts by Lebanese leaders to court Qatari officials for help breaking the political logjam over Lebanon's presidency.

Egypt and Hamas: The Frontiers of Crisis

New Abu Dhabi paper faces tough challenge The government is launching The National, an English-language newspaper, to bring higher standards of journalism to the UAE amid strict press laws in the emirate

H9 Ha’aretz –Editorial Iran is playing with fire Iran under the Islamic revolutionary government represents a serious security problem for Israel

New Jewish-American lobby wants to provide an alternative to AIPAC

McCain vows to pressure Iran, as Clinton calls for low-level talks McCain cites 'credibility gap' after Bush administration, while Clinton calls Bush's approach a 'loser.'

Arrow successfully simulates intercept of mock Shihab missile Simulation marks first successful test involving a Blue Sparrow missile,
manufactured by Rafael Systems

U.S.: Iranian threats to 'eliminate' Israel justify int'l sanctions Iran army officer's comments come after Ben Eliezer warns Tehran it will be destroyed if it attacks Israel

Jerusalem Post Islamic Jihad commander killed as IAF fires missile at motorbike

Israel to enjoy missile warning system US to let Israel use global warning system; new Arrow missile targeting system successfully tested

Analysis: Why Israel snubbed Carter By HERB KEINON From Jerusalem's point of view, nothing good could come out of Jimmy Carter's unsolicited visit here

US survey: Nasrallah best loved by Arabs Assad, Ahmadinejad high in popularity, Bush most hated; Iranian nuclear program "positive".

It Was Always a Jihad - David Horovitz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Daily Alert.org – Hebrew Press Editorials (2008) - Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine

US national security advisor in Israel for talks on Iran: radio

Exclusive: Amid new Iranian threat, Israel connects to America’s Ballistic Missile Early Warning System

Who is Khaled Meshaal?

American Prospect A Middle East Report Card With the clock running out on the Bush administration, can late efforts amount to actual progress in the Middle East? Is the Annapolis process doomed, or can Sec. Rice finally make some progress?

J Street on the Map Today's announcement of a new Washington-based pro-Israel lobby is long overdue. Finally, there is a lobby working for what Israel and the U.S. really need: Middle East peace

Israel may pre-empt Teheran threat, says former Mossad chief

Dissolution of Strategic Body Hails Israel's Defeat By Iran - Radio

Jimmy Carter: Clueless - New York Post editorial

Jimmy's World - Bret Stephens, Wall Street Journal

Israeli Foreign Minister Addresses Doha Forum on Democracy, Development

Israel to Connect to U.S. Missile Early

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Putin to become United Russia chief, cementing hold on power

Russia's president agreed today to lead the ruling party, which commands a 70 percent parliamentary majority, once he steps down next month.

How many West Bank barriers will Israel forgo? Sixty roadblocks have been removed in the Palestinian territory, but critics say that isn't enough to improve life in the West Bank.

From mistakes, Clinton has learned, adjusted She stresses her experience, especially as first lady, as her chief qualification to be president. Her career includes both accomplishments and missteps.

ASIA

Carnegie Empire of Lies: The Truth About China in the Twenty-First Century

CFR Rory Stewart: Stabilizing Afghanistan

Asia Times China bunkers down behind its great wall The circus of protests dogging the Olympic torch as it makes its painful and humiliating way around the globe has many believe China will "cave in" to Western protests. The reaction is the opposite. Beijing has hardened its position on Tibet and human rights, and far from the Games being China's international coming-out party, people in China - with US house speaker Nancy Pelosi as the poster demon - are angered. - Kent Ewing

ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT BRIEFING Rising concern Inflation is creating headaches for Asian policymakers

Chinese Geopolitics and the Significance of Tibet | Stratfor

Busy in Iraq, U.S. also faces surging violence in Afghanistan

· As world watches Tibet, China's Muslim Uighurs face growing repression

FT LEADER: Taiwanese path to a solution in Tibet

CFR Ahadi: Afghanistan’s Economic Fortunes

Hope for Taiwan's Future By: Hisahiko Okazaki | The Japan Times The victory of the Nationalist Party in Taiwan was significant, not only because it overturned the long-ruling Democratic Progressive Party, but more importantly because it represented the public voting against reunification with China

Warlords: A correspondent from Radio Free Afghanistan discusses the common local complaint that Kabul's central government is dominated by warlords and militias.

Afghanistan: General Urges Longer Tours - David Wood, Baltimore Sun

WSJ Judging Equality
By Shruti Rajagopalan
India is still struggling with its socialist past.

Tibet: Problems, Prospects, and U.S. Policy (PDF; 170 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

Republicans hit at US deal with N Korea Senior Republicans criticised a tentative US deal with North Korea that would allow Pyongyang to avoid revealing the full extent of its nuclear ­programmes as part of a broader agreement towards denuclearising the Korean peninsula

H11 IHT

EUROPE European press review

Europe or Eurabia? - Daniel Pipes, The Australian

Whither the US-UK "Special Relationship"? - Nile Gardiner, National Review

Mardell's Europe
Europe's dynamic duo - or perhaps the blunder brothers?

Serbia Insists on Holding Vote in Kosovo - Dusan Stojanovic, Associated Press

Bulgarian Officials Discuss Development of Cooperation on Macedonian Border

Italy's electoral earthquake John Hooper The entire peninsula has shifted to the right: how has the left in Italy so comprehensively failed to keep voters interested?

Der Spiegel The Impending Power Gap: Where Will Germany's Energy Come From?

Newsweek Italy’s Changing Politics

H12 RFE/RL

Google News Azerbaijan

Central Asia Unwilling to Be
Kommersant

Georgia’s democratic stalemate, Jonathan Wheatley

A Regional Shift in Moscow By: Nikolai Petrov | The Moscow Times This is a first for Russia: We have a president-elect even while his predecessor continues to discharge his duties. Also new: President Vladimir Putin, unlike predecessor Boris Yeltsin, has no plans to fade into political obscurity

Entry Secured The Economist
Ukraine’s parliament has ratified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession protocol, so the country will become the 152nd member of the pre-eminent world trade body in May.

TURKMENISTAN/EU: Pipeline deal hinges on gas reserves

Azerbaycan Savunma Harcamalarını Arttırıyor

Putin to Talk Gas and Arms In Libya By: Max Delaney | The Moscow Times President Vladimir Putin will become the first Russian leader to visit Libya when he arrives in the country Wednesday at the invitation of its leader, Moammar Gadhafi, the Kremlin said in a statement Monday

Military Aircraft Violated Finnish Air Space Due to Faulty Navigation Systems - Serdyukov

H13 The Times Putin strengthens bid to return to power Outgoing president crowned chairman of Russia's biggest party, and will serve as Prime Minister when he steps down

Iranian vice chief 'caught in brothel' General Reza Zarei, an officer charged with combatting vice, has been jailed in Tehran for allegedly visiting prostitutes

Dozens killed in car bombs across Iraq At least 55 people died and scores were injured in an explosion outside the courthouse in the Iraqi city of Baquba

Silvio Berlusconi: Mr Clean and Sober Italy has no choice now but to swallow painful medicine. Its economy is at rock bottom

Rosemary Righter

Silvio Berlusconi: third time lucky? The election winner has a mandate; this time he must use it

Hospital bed wedding for Helmut Kohl The ailing former German Chancellor who oversaw the reunification of his country is to marry a woman 35 years his junior

Wall Street Journal

Enlarging the Anglosphere

By Gordon Brown
Britain and America should commit to helping everyone who wants to learn English.

McCain-omics
John McCain's policies are laudable but lack an overarching narrative that voters can believe in.

Six-Party Giveaway

Trust but don't verify, in Pyongyang.

Crisis? What crisis?Wealthy Americans with little blue pills, fast cars and hippie chicks know life is still good amid the worst financial mess since the Great Depression. Their cash still helps private equity groups do funny-money deals with the likes of Citigroup, raising cheers among the commentariat. But if you think that means the crisis is over, think again. - Julian Delasantellis

H14 Financial Times Why financial regulation is both difficult and essential A voluntary banking code is almost certainly not worth the paper it is written on. If regulation is to be effective, it must cover all relevant institutions and the entire balance sheet and, not least, it must make finance less pro-cylical, writes Martin Wolf

What follows American dominion?

US is no longer dominant, says Richard Haass

Quentin Peel: Echoes of Soviet times, but with style United Russia has no ideology and only one purpose: to back Vladimir Putin as Russian president and now – presumably – to support Dmitry Medvedev, his chosen successor

Iraqi car bombs kill 50 in Sunni areas

More than 50 people were killed as car bombs struck Sunni areas across Iraq, marking one of the deadliest days in the country for months

Lennon was right about music and the man John Kay on extending copyright protection

Eurozone inflation at 16-year high

France reported the sharpest rise in annual inflation for 11 years while German businesses blamed inflationary pressures for a sharp fall in confidence

Putin cements influence with party leadership Vladimir Putin agreed to become chairman of United Russia, cementing his continuing influence after he steps down as president in favour of Dmitry Medvedev

Merkel appeals to Russia on human rights Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, has urged the Russian parliament to show its commitment to human rights by allowing important reforms to go ahead at the European Court of Human Rights

Pope’s visit will put focus on split over Iraq Pope Benedict XVI was due to arrive in the US on a visit that has led the White House to claim a powerful bond with the pontiff but which is also likely to demonstrate continuing differences over Iraq

US food and energy costs soar

Soaring energy and food bills spurred another jump in US producer prices last month, putting further strain on industries struggling to pass on rising costs to penny-pinching consumers

MARKETS & INVESTING: Supply-side squeeze explains oil's relentless rise in record territory

UK troops to stay until Basra is 'stable'

Italians bring back Berlusconi

There has been nothing to suggest the billionaire prime minister is now ready to put the national interest ahead of his private interests

Berlusconi pledges speedy economic reform Silvio Berlusconi, preparing to return as prime minister, laid out his plans to build and modernise Italy’s economy while ’closing the frontiers’ to jobless foreigners

McCain calls for ‘gas tax holiday’

John McCain called for federal gasoline taxes to be scrapped this summer as part of a raft of measures to relieve economic pressure on Americans

H15 Los Angeles Times

Editorial

H16 American Politics

Clinton doesn't enjoy 'bitter' bounce

Gallup Daily: Obama 51%, Clinton 40%

Clinton losing traction over Obama in Pennsylvania, Indiana

Clinton gains in Pa. polls, but delegate battle is close

Poll: If Primary Held Week Early, Clinton Would Win By Double-Digits

Kevin Drum Culture wars

John B. Judis / The New Republic: Woe Is He

Remarks By John McCain On The Economy

It's Official: Bush Is Objectively The Most Hated President In History —

Bill Clinton: Older voters too savvy to fall for Obama

realclearpolitics memeorandum ABC’s The Note – US News Political Bulletin Early Bird GovExec Swamp Gas The Swamp

Is John McCain Bob Dole? Or is he Dwight Eisenhower?

Inventing John McCain: The maverick icon of American duty and patriotism is as much a literary creation as a political one — meet the author.

Long-lost article by Obama's dad surfaces

Warm US welcome for Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI receives an unprecedented presidential greeting at the airport on his first official US visit.

H17 Daily Telegraph

H18 Independent 10 ways out of the credit crisis Gordon Brown vowed not to be diverted from taking the "right long-term decisions for the country" as he flew to the US today for talks in Wall Street on the global credit crunch.

Hamish McRae: The £40bn question: do we bail out the banks to get the mortgage market moving?

The Big Question: Is changing our diet the key to resolving the global food crisis?

Pope tells of Church's abuse shame on US trip

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Foreign Policy Seven Questions: Where’s Osama?

Countering Terrorism By: Joshua Sinai | The Washington Times
Jerrold Post's "The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to Al-Qaeda" provides a framework for understanding modern-day terrorism's psychological mindset.

Building Partnership Capacity and Development of the Interagency Process. US Department of State

Avatars, Virtual Reality Technology, and the U.S. Military: Emerging Policy Issues (PDF; 70 KB) Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

"The Problem with Peacekeeping",François Grignon and Daniela Kroslak in Current History

Inside the Army: As New Administration Looms, Army Grapples with Future Strategy

The Phenomenon of Al Zawahiri By: Diana Mukkaled | Asharq Alawsat Irrespective of the contradictions and inconsistencies expressed in al Zawahiri’s positions whereby he repeatedly criticized the Hamas movement and praised the bombings in Algeria and heralded the beginning of the downfall of the United States, the actual truth that was revealed by the so-called press conference held by Al Qaeda’s second man was the idea of the press conference itself.

The Heritage Foundation's Leadership on Missile Defense

Secretary Rice's Remarks on US COIN Doctrine / Strategy

Making War Difficult - Bruce Fein, Washington Times

Where Does America Draw the Line on Consorting with Terror Groups?

New Intel on Al Qaeda's Western Recruits

Interagency Online Training

H20 Slate We Don't Need No Stinkin' Shield Law, Part 1

The Free Flow of Information Act would be a nightmare for journalists.
Jack Shafer

A Bittersweet Reaction The first polls are in following Obama's controversial comments.

Hillary's Praise-Obama Tour

The work Clinton is making for herself if she loses. John Dickerson

Fuelling the Food Crisis By: David Cronin | The Guardian The EU's biofuels policy will push up global food prices. Some at the commission have expressed concern, but will their voices be heard?

Only connect: civil society, philanthropy, capitalism, Simon Zadek

H21 a look at the 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time.

Drezner The oldest theme in the business

Vitamin supplements 'do us no good and may be harmful'

The Future of the Internet - and How to Stop It

From NYRB, a review of Reading Judas by Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King and The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot by Bart D. Ehrman

From The Telegraph, a list of the 100 most powerful people in British culture

A review of The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, ed. by Richard Dawkins.

Pope Should Start “Spiritual Renewal” with Bisexual God

There is no biological evidence showing that women should stay home and raise babies. Nor is there evidence they’d prefer to be captains of industry... more»

France Takes Aim at Cult Of Thinness

Law Would Make It a Crime To Promote Extreme Dieting

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