TurcoPundit

21 May 2008

May 21, 2008

052108f - 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 INSS Israel's Policy Options An Israeli policy brief considering the possibility of progress in the peace processes with Syria and with the Palestinians

Forging a New Future For America - Senator Barack Obama

Iran's proposal for "constructive negotiations" (.pdf).

New York Times THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Imbalances of Power It is hard to remember a time when more shifts in the global balance of power are happening at once — with so few in America’s favor

MAUREEN DOWD The Last Debate Hillary, you’ve been a great candidate, better than your train-wreck campaign. But now it’s time for you to try to muster a gracious exit.

China’s Class Divide By DANIEL A. BELL Perhaps the Sichuan earthquake can do some good by helping dispel a widespread myth: that the new generation of Chinese students are materialistic and selfish.

Obama Says Nomination ‘Within Reach’ Barack Obama said that he had amassed enough pledged delegates to claim a nearly insurmountable advantage over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Operation in Sadr City Is an Iraqi Success, So Far Militias melted away as Iraqi forces pushed into a Shiite enclave, but no one can say where they might re-emerge.

Financial Times Preserving the open economy at times of stress

Everybody should remember, above all, that the opening of the world economy is the west’s greatest economic policy achievement. It would be a tragedy if it were to turn its back on the world when the rest of humanity is at last turning towards it, writes Martin Wolf

Shortage fears push oil futures near $140 Fears of a shortage within five years propelled long-term oil futures prices to almost $140 a barrel, further stoking inflationary pressures in the global economy

Solving the $130 oil conundrum

There is no doubt the world will adjust to high oil prices. Yet the adjustment would be far easier if oil producers discovered they could expand their output

Georgia poll to shape relations with Moscow The Caucasus region state will hold an election that will test the ability of Mikheil Saakashvili to handle pressure from Russia over his admistration’s pro-west policies

Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria: Hopes Meet Reality | Stratfor

The IISS launched on Tuesday 20 May 2008, the latest in its series of Strategic Dossiers, entitled Nuclear Programmes in the Middle East: In the shadow of Iran launch. A live stream of the presentation and Q&A session during the launch of this dossier is available. Click here for the press statement. Read more on the dossier>

Asia Times Bush's Middle East policy in tatters
The George W Bush administration's failure in rolling back Syrian and Iranian influence in Lebanon pales in comparison with the withering away of its Arab-Israeli "peace process". Time and again during Bush's recent Middle East tour, what emerged was the palpable sense that the US has been all but marginalized from a new Middle East that is taking shape. And now China, too, has appeared on the region's chessboard. - M K Bhadrakumar

White House Denies Plan to Attack Iran

Jerusalem Post Israel fears Russia will sell Syria arms Top Syrian military delegation in Moscow for talks on MiGs, ballistic missiles, submarines

Washington Post Defense's Realist Rebel By Michael Gerson,

In confronting our military shortcomings, Robert Gates has become genuinely transformational

U.S. Deploys a Purpose-Driven Distinction Reluctance to Identify Foes as Sadrists Reflects View of Iran and Fragility of Security Gains

Iraq Sends Troops Into Sadr City

Large Deployment Aims to Restore Order in Shiite Area; Situation 'Calm'

Tehran Urges New Round Of Talks

A Two-State Solution for the United States and Israel by David Bromwich

Russia-China: Axis of Convenience, Bobo Lo

IHT Europe aims to build links with Mediterranean neighbors Less than two months before the debut of a new Union for the Mediterranean, pioneered by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the European Commission sought to put its stamp on the plan with a series of recommendations.

When faith and culture collide

By H.D.S. GREENWAY Can religion have a place in the legal systems of the West

Mecca and moderation By DAVID CLINGINGSMITH, ASIM IJAZ KHWAJA AND MICHAEL KREMER Does increased religious orthodoxy promote violence and intolerance?

MIDDLE EAST OIL Defying the experts By ROGER HOWARD A century ago, most geologists doubted that the Middle East contained much oil.

Guardian Middle East in nuclear race to match Iran Almost every country in region has announced nuclear energy plans in response to Iran's progress

Miliband backs tribal talks to halt Taliban David Miliband argues there is 'no military solution' to the spread of extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas

Culture conundrum Terry Eagleton: The age-old conflict between civilisation and barbarism has lately taken an ominous turn

The apocalyptic mind Robert Skidelsky Catastrophic thinking distorts scientific debate about climate change and makes it harder to deal with the problem

Christian Science Monitor Don't give up the Golan Heights Surrendering it to Syria could imperil Israel and the US. By Louis René Beres and Zalman Shoval

Yedioth Ahronoth Israel prepares for Gaza op
IDF ordered to prepare for possible escalation in Gaza Strip as Israeli officials await Hamas answer on ceasefire deal; political sources: The way it looks now, terror groups won't accept all of Israel's conditions for lull

Ha’aretz – Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza could take effect later this week

Olmert to Pelosi: Impose naval blockade on Iran Bush administration has not entirely ruled out the possibility of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities

Ceasefire in Gaza
INSS An Israeli article reviewing the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza

CFR Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call with Steven A. Cook

Success in Iraq: A Media Blackout - Ralph Peters, New York Post

Daily Star The myth of a 'Shiite Crescent' in the Middle East
By Michael Broning

US effectiveness and impotence in the Arab-Israeli talks By Shlomo Avineri

Ordinary Lebanese are just as frustrated as the mediators in Doha

Al Awsat A Lame Duck President! : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

Noah Feldman The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State

Robert Fisk The Age of the Warrior

OxAn Talking to Islamists.

CFR Should the US Support the UN's Responsibility to Protect Doctrine?

The Times Attempt to reform EU farm subsidies founders Brussels has announced a watered-down review of the €40bn scheme that will keep handouts flowing for years

EU misses opportunity to change farming rules Soaring food prices could have proved the key to jettisoning the worst excesses of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy Bronwen Maddox

Independent The Big Question: Does Opec have too much power, and is it to blame for the high price of oil?

Hamish McRae: Don't believe everything George Soros says

Washington Times Lebanese wait, watch in Cyprus When Lebanon explodes — as it did this month and does with almost predictable regularity — and Beirut's airport shuts down, it is the rich who usually get to Cyprus first.

Daily Star The myth of a 'Shiite Crescent' in the Middle East
By Michael Broning

Hyping the Threat
From Iran by Barbara Slavin

EDM AZERBAIJAN CAN RESCUE THE ODESSA-BRODY PIPELINE PROJECT

H 2

Jamestown PJAK in Northern Iraq: Tangled Interests and Proxy Wars Download PDF Version

Şensoy: 'Sorunlar Geride Kaldı'

Irak ile tam saha işbirliği

EDM ALLEGED SURVEILLANCE OF SENIOR JUDGES RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT POLITICIZATION OF TURKISH POLICE

TURKEY OFFERS “DIALOGUE” TO ARMENIAEurasia Daily Monitor

CSIS Prospects for the Turkish Economy Listen |

En çok huzuru kaçan beş ülkeden biriyiz!

Zeyno senaryo peşinde

Türkiye'yi gammazladı

Why are the neo-cons so interested in Turkey? Avni DOĞRU

The American confusion over Turkish politics Julian CHRYSSAVGIS

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

Hükümetin GAP atağı yabancı yatırımcının iştahını kabarttı

Cevdet Aşkın Barzani'den PKK şartı, Karayılan'dan Türk'e yanıt

M Ali Birand Başbakan’a Irak gezisi hazırlanıyor

Le Monde'da tam sayfa Kürt sorunu için ilan

ABD Kongresi�nde �Kürdistan� grubu

�Kürt sorunu için devreye girin�

[YORUM - M.NACİ BOSTANCI] 'Dağın ardına bakmak'

Zana blames Constitution for Kurds’ troubles in Turkey

Irak ile tam saha işbirliği

Türkiye için PKK kartı masadan kalktı

Iraqi Kurd Leader Calls for End to Bombing

Küpeli Dağı'nda operasyon

Kurdish leader wants US troops to stay

Globe and Mail The Kurds: a ghostly and embarrassing nation Brendan O'Leary

Abdülhamit Bilici İhvan'a göre Erbakan-Erdoğan farkı

Talabani: Kurds have their Own Plan on Provincial Elections in Kirkuk and other Cities

Kirkuk Sub District Residents Protest against UN Envoy’s Suggestion

Ariel Cohen: Turkey is US vital ally in region wrought with danger
PanARMENIAN.Net

İngiltere’de Öcalan için ’Sayın’ dedi

Kurdistan Region Parliamentary Delegation Visits AK Party Headquarter in Ankara

Nail Güreli Devletin Kürt Filmi ve faili meçhul tarih

Turkish migrants grieve for Beirut from exile

'Türkiye ve İran bombandımanı durdurmalı'

�Görev süresi dolmadan önce İran�a saldıracak�

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

Rauf Denktaş Hristofyas'a göre (1)

Cyprus calls Turkey unsuitable for UN Security Council

Mensur Akgün Umutsuz bir müzakere dönemine doğru

Sadi Somuncuoğlu Komşularla "sıfır" düşmanlık politikası

Sami Kohen AB-ABD farkı daralıyor

Serdar Turgut CHP'nin önemli adımı

Turkish business people closer to freer access to UK

Article 125 proves good candidate to fill Article 301 gap

Türkiye için kritik oylama

Fischer'den, Köksal Toptan'a zor sorular

'Irkçı partiye bile dava açmadık Avusturya'da kapatma olmaz'

Fischer: Mahkeme kararına saygı duyarız

Ortak Tarım Politikası
AB Ortak Tarım Politikası'nın geçmişi, özellikleri ve amaçları

'AK Parti hakkında açılan davaya anlam veremedim'

‘Türkiye iyiye gitmiyor’

Baykal, Fischer'e kapatma davasını anlattı

Tartışma yaratan teklif

Fatma K. Barbarosoğlu: “İngiltere bir imparatorluk, Almanya bir ulus, Fransa bir şahıstır”

'Lagendijk’i görevden alın'

Joost Lagendijk ile CHP arasındaki tartışma sertleşerek sürüyor

Fischer’in gündemi kapatma davası

What a resolution in Cyprus means for Palestine Daily Star - Lebanon

NYT JOURNEYS | NICOSIA, CYPRUS; Edging Closer in Cyprus’s Divided Capital

CHP, 'AB karşıtı'
imajından sıkıldı!

Armenia and Turkey interests don’t coincide PanARMENIAN.Net

President: Turkey would augment European cake

Mediterranean Union Project Not Against Turkey's Full Membership ...

Atina'nın 'silahlı' oyunu tutmadı

Bekle İngiltere Türkler geliyor

Hakan Aygün CHP'nin AB bürosunun amacı...

Kapatma davası Avrupa’yı şaşırttı

Turkey offers diaspora $20 mln to open up Armenian archives in US

AB�den �Akdeniz�e karşı güvence

Primakov visits Turkey to look for further business opportunities

Regional foreign ministers in Bulgaria

German book investigates Turks

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Tuzla'da işçi ölürken işverene özel teşvik

Tuzla'da ölümler işte bu yüzden oluyor

[YORUM - HALUK ÖZDALGA] Kyoto'yu onaylama zamanı

Meral Tamer Tuzlalı patronun fendi AKP’yi yendi

Tersane işletme izinleri zorlaşıyor

Medeniyetler çatışmasına en güzel cevap Fethullah Gülen hareketidir

Zabıta, tiryakiyi önce uyaracak sonra ceza kesecek

İkinci Dünya Savaşı'nın son kurbanı gurbetçi Türk oldu

Virüs yayılıyor!

İyi niyetli yolsuzluk

1 Mayıs olaylarında fatura iki polise çıktı

Sigara molası �işgücü kaybı�

Türban Anıtkabir protokolünde

Emekli paşalara bir haftalık üniforma izni

Çay davetinde ’aramız iyi’ pozu

Sayıştay’da boşalan 12 üyelik için seçim yapıldı

Özbek voleybolu bıraktı

Turkey: Not a country for old men
Hans A.H.C. de WIT

Abstract | Thinking across spaces: Transnational television from Turkey

Putting the brakes
on giraffe women With Formula One in town, Turkish media were all revved up for the races and the attendant female flesh that rides shotgun. It is not enough the tour brought along its leggy Grid Girls; crafty sponsors recruited young, lithe local women to be "trolley dollies" - ersatz ambassadors for Turkish womanhood handpicked from a small Europeanized and educated minority. Meanwhile, where was the man-candy? - Fazile Zahir

NYT MOVIE REVIEW | 'THE EDGE OF HEAVEN'; Tying Knots That Bind Lives Despite the Divisions of Generation and Nationality

Cumhuriyet döneminde kutlanan İttihatçı bayramı

'TRT'den atıldım'

Tersane işçisi, amele pazarından seçilirse!..

Şemdinli savcısına 2. şok

7. ‘Haddini aşma narsist Terim’

21 Mayıs 2008 Basın Özeti

Bahçeli’den ‘big brother’ uyarısı: AKP bizi izliyor

Gri alan yaratılmalı

3. İşte yargı kulislerindeki 'Üçüncü yol'

4. Geniş imkanları olan bir işadamına ‘ihaleye girme’ diye telkinde bulunuldu

Korku diktatörlüğü

'Dinlemiyorsan niye takip ediyorsun?'

Devlet röntgenci olmaz

Bahçeli'den 'dinleme' uyarısı

Meclis’te atv-Sabah düellosu

İşte kredi koşulları

Hukukun da standardı olacak

AK Party suspends plans to amend Constitution

Tuzla'da işçi ölürken işverene özel teşvik

Arkadaşlarımla iştisare edeceğim

Kafaları karıştırdı

'Herkesle konuşacağız'Bakan Şahin, yargıda reform çalışmasının herkesin düşüncesi alınarak yapılacağını açıkladı

Dipsiz kuyuya taş atıyorlar

Bugün gazete manşetlerinde neler var?

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

Cengiz Çandar Ankara ihtimalleri; ABD ve AB’de tavır...

Ahmet Taşgetiren Lahendayk’ı sıkıştırmak Asıl din dayatması nasıl oluyor?

Ruşen - Çakır Sihirli formül 6’ya 5 mi? Türkiye'de darbe ihtimali her zaman var -

Taha Akyol Amerika batıyor, Çin geliyor!

Fikret Bila

Hasan Cemal Siyaset istikrarsızlaşırken, aklın yolu nedir ki?..

Murat Yetkin AK Parti kulisinde bakan avı

İsmet Berkan Demokratik restorasyon ihtiyacı

Ankara’daki sorular
MEHMET ALİ KIŞLALI

Fehmi Koru Oynatmaya az kaldı

Taha Kıvanç Washington'da Hudson'lu bir toplantı

Şamil Tayyar

Mahkeme nasıl kışkırtılır?
AVNİ ÖZGÜREL

Ali Bayramoğlu Girdabdan çıkış yolu Kara delikler: Devlet siyaseti ve medya kültürü

Hamdi Yılmazer Ross Wilson'a sordum: Ergenekon'un arkasında ABD'nin olduğu doğru mu?

Nuray Başaran Ankara'da barış rüzgârları

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Derin bir Hürriyet komplosu

Ahmet Hakan Zehir hafiye işbaşında

M Ali Birand Başbakan’a Irak gezisi hazırlanıyor

Cüneyt Ülsever Sigara yasağı: Hükümeti candan kutlarım

Sabahattin Önkibar Sağlar'a sızdırmanın ardındaki önemli merkezler ve gerekçeleri?

Oray Eğin Gazetesi de kendisi gibi sığ

Nagehan Alçı Kutupsuz bir dünya mümkün mü?

Enis Berberoğlu

Kılıç'tan sürpriz çıkış: Çıkacak karar demokrasi ve laikliği güçlendirecek

Mustafa Ünal Ankara fitne fesat

Ali Bulaç Kişisel tercih-bireysel özgürlük

Oktay Ekşi Üniversiteye dikkat

Bekir Coşkun Suçlar ülkesi...

Özdemir İnce

Mehmet Y YılmazVatandaş olacağına müşteri ol!

MUHARREM SARIKAYAKredi kartında fahiş faize sınır geliyor

ERDAL ŞAFAKBRIC ve Türkiye

ENGİN ARDIÇENGİN ARDIÇ
Lahındayk

ERGUN BABAHAN
Tuzla'ma

EMRE AKÖZO maaşları 'taraf' olmak için almıyorlar

Umur TaluOrada hepsini göreceksiniz!

Ece Temelkuran İmalat hatası

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

'Dört Kemalizm' bilmecesi

NAZLI ILICAKDemokrasi bayramı

MEHMET BARLASNeticede Amerika da, İngiltere de "Ilımlı Hıristiyan" ülkelerdir

MAHMUT ÖVÜR

YAVUZ DONATTuzla... Ölüm tarlası

Bush’un söyledikleri ve söylemedikleri
HALUK ŞAHİN

�Kapatma� senaryoları

Tamer Korkmaz: Mahşerin İki Atlısı

İbrahim Karagül: Meğer büyük bir savaş son anda engellenmiş!

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Hakan Albayrak: ABD'nin Kur'an-ı Kerim'le savaşı

Sağlar'a derin suçlama

Recai Kutan bu işe bir anlam veremedi!

Güneri Civaoğlu Dün, bugün, yarın

Reha Muhtar Vatan'ın Erdoğan-Büyükanıt zirvesi manşeti ve gazetecilik ilkeleri...

Okay Gönensin Karar belliymiş

Mustafa Mutlu

Sadece İstanbul’da lalelere 6 yılda 553 okul parası harcandı!

İsmail Küçükkaya
Gerçekliğin yitimi ve siyaset

Gülay Göktürk Tam Gün Yasası

Nabi Yağcı Laiklik ilkesinin evrensel tanımı yok mu

Hac ibadetiyle dalga geçen Sav, grup toplantısına gelmedi

CHP'nin gensoru önergesi reddedildi

Serdar Turgut Celal Şengör’e itiraz

Güngör Mengi

Ortalama Türk ne düşünür?

Olağanüstü kongrede aday

Erdoğan’dan hem dava hem suç duyurusu

Devlete röntgencilik yakışmaz

Anavatan-DP birleşme defteri kapandı

Birleşme defteri kapandı

O Bakan ben değilim

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Prim affı ile gördük ki IMF'siz olmuyormuş!

IMF ile yeni anlaşma imzalansa bile şartları bu kez Türkiye belirleyecek

IMF gitti, seçmene selam başladı

Ercan Kumcu Bankacılıkta bir başka dönem

Dünyada enflasyon tırmanıyor Türkiye 59'uncu sıraya geriledi

Hurşit Güneş Goldman Sachs’ın raporu içimizi karartıyor

Ege Cansen Açık pozisyona devam

Bankacılık krizinin öğrettikleri
METİN ERCAN

Erdal Sağlam

IMF'yi kızdıran adım

IMF says Turkey’s SSK debt amnesty is 'regrettable'

OKAN MÜDERRİSOĞLU
Tuzla'da işçi ölürken işverene özel teşvik

İ.Hüseyin Yıldız
Ekonomik politika tercihlerimizin sınırı

Kapatma davası riskleri büyüttü –

CSIS Prospects for the Turkish Economy Listen |

H4 New York Times THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Imbalances of Power It is hard to remember a time when more shifts in the global balance of power are happening at once — with so few in America’s favor

MAUREEN DOWD The Last Debate Hillary, you’ve been a great candidate, better than your train-wreck campaign. But now it’s time for you to try to muster a gracious exit.

Clinton Sees Many Reasons to Stay In

China’s Class Divide By DANIEL A. BELL Perhaps the Sichuan earthquake can do some good by helping dispel a widespread myth: that the new generation of Chinese students are materialistic and selfish.

Obama Says Nomination ‘Within Reach’ Barack Obama said that he had amassed enough pledged delegates to claim a nearly insurmountable advantage over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Operation in Sadr City Is an Iraqi Success, So Far Militias melted away as Iraqi forces pushed into a Shiite enclave, but no one can say where they might re-emerge.

Bush Team Criticizes New Report About Iran

Lebanon Rivals Reach a Deal, Ending Months of Political Conflict

After Oregon, Look Out: Ideology Ahead

By CHRIS SUELLENTROP Barack Obama still has some demographic groups to win over

Iraqi Troops in Push to Regain Control of Sadr City

Wider Antiterrorism Role for Elite Forces Rejected

World Briefing | Europe: Spain: ETA Leader Arrested in France

World Briefing | Europe: Cyprus: Court Denies Extradition of Russian

Rescues Continue in China, but Focus Is Shifting to the 5 Million Left Homeless

New Trend in Biofuels Has New Risks

Dalai Lama’s Britain Visit Raises Questions of Protocol

Hussein Aide Faces Accusers in Trial on Mass Execution

Obama’s April Fund-Raising Passes $31 Million

H5 Washington Post Defense's Realist Rebel By Michael Gerson,

In confronting our military shortcomings, Robert Gates has become genuinely transformational

U.S. Deploys a Purpose-Driven Distinction Reluctance to Identify Foes as Sadrists Reflects View of Iran and Fragility of Security Gains

Iraq Sends Troops Into Sadr City

Large Deployment Aims to Restore Order in Shiite Area; Situation 'Calm'

William Arkin To the National Security Professionals, It Doesn't Really Matter Who Wins Tying Obama's Hands?

Tehran Urges New Round Of Talks

New Troops in Iraq Will Keep Number at 140,000

Iranians Criticize New Internet Restrictions

Bloggers and activists condemn a move by a government panel to block access to Web sites related to women's issues and human rights

Clinton Wins Kentucky in Landslide

Obama Poised to Claim a Delegate Majority With Votes There and in Oregon

The President vs. the Peacock By Dan Froomkin

McCain Assails Obama Over Readiness To Talk With Hostile Foreign Leaders In 2006 Videotape, High-Profile Backer Has Opposite View

Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor Prognosis for Type Of Cancer Is Poor

Editorial Mr. Kennedy's Illness More than ever, the Senate needs the traits that have made him so effective

Bush Memo Expands Govt Secrecy

Iranian Activists Criticize New Restrictions on Web Sites

No Other Like Him By David S. Broder, Ted Kennedy's diagnosis was at once a personal tragedy and a political cataclysm.

Next Stop, Supreme Court? By James Andrew Miller, Forget VP, Obama should declare Clinton his first Supreme Court nominee.

The Ground Clinton Broke By Ruth Marcus, The 2008 campaign has rewritten the rule book for presidential politics when the team is coed.

Audit Finds FBI Reports Of Abuse Were Ignored Tactics Continued Against Detainees

H6 Guardian Middle East in nuclear race to match Iran

Almost every country in region has announced nuclear energy plans in response to Iran's progress

Culture conundrum Terry Eagleton: The age-old conflict between civilisation and barbarism has lately taken an ominous turn

The apocalyptic mind Robert Skidelsky Catastrophic thinking distorts scientific debate about climate change and makes it harder to deal with the problem

Miliband backs tribal talks to halt Taliban David Miliband argues there is 'no military solution' to the spread of extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas

This xenophobia reveals the power of organised crime Misha Glenny: The Roma of Naples are paying a terrible price for the failure of successive Italian governments to confront the local mafia

The world and its media are playing the dictators' game Simon Jenkins: Heroic Chinese rescuers and quake survivors lead the news. But away from our TVs, the Burmese we could save are left to die

Baghdad predicts blue skies ahead for struggling Inshallah Airways

MPs reject calls to reduce 24-week abortion limit Abortion laws survive most serious challenge in two decades as MPs reject attempt to reduce upper limit

The 'Mosaic Arabs' Khaled Diab: Not so long ago many prominent Jewish thinkers believed in a natural affinity between Judaism and Islam

Rumsfeld's bloody dream Michael Tomasky Just like John McCain, the former defense secretary had his own vision for post-invasion Iraq - involving a brutal dictator

Spit and tell Anthony Giddens

The latest political memoirs are motivated by a settling of scores - with a sufficient edge of cattiness to get public attention

H 7 Report: Iran's nuclear program feeding proliferation

Carnegie Lebanon and the Middle East Peace Process: Teleconference with Carnegie Experts Full Text (PDF)

CFR Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call with Steven A. Cook

Upcoming Iraqi Elections Must Consolidate Security Gains of 'Sons of Iraq'

Success in Iraq: A Media Blackout - Ralph Peters, New York Post

Daily Star The myth of a 'Shiite Crescent' in the Middle East
By Michael Broning

US effectiveness and impotence in the Arab-Israeli talks By Shlomo Avineri

Don't Depend on Outsiders for a Settlement of Mideast Dispute - Shlomo Avineri (Arab News-Saudi Arabia)

Ordinary Lebanese are just as frustrated as the mediators in Doha

Al Awsat A Lame Duck President! : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

The Making of Hezbollah

Al Hayat Lebanon's Battles in Light of the Struggle for Regional Domination Raghida Dergham - Hezbollah's coup in Lebanon is one of the episodes of a new regional order in the Middle East, one that is imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran through the language of weapons pointed towards the interior to insure local domination

A Recipe for Fomenting Conflict Mostafa Zein - The leaders of Lebanon's communities have gone to Doha without any of them having an idea of how to re-establish the political regime on a comprehensive and national basis. As the representative of his community, each leader is aspiring to obtain the biggest number of advantages and benefits to the detriment of the other leaders.

Breaking the Failed-State Cycle
Source: RAND Corporation

Baker Institute Global Energy Market - Working Papers

Noah Pollak / Commentary:

McCain Is Losing the Iran Debate

Obama's Foolish Stance on Negotiations - Rich Lowry, New York Post

The Case for Diplomacy, Loud and Clear - Peter Canellos, Boston Globe

Iran's Lebanon Game--5/20/2008 12:00:00 AM

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

'Deal agreed' on Lebanon crisis An agreement aimed at ending the political crisis in Lebanon is reached at talks in Qatar, officials say.

Iran called primary threat to progress in Iraq Iran's influence in Iraq is posing a direct threat to peace in the region, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill debate whether talks with Tehran will bear fruit or further place U.S. war strategy in jeopardy

New Troops in Iraq Will Keep Number at 140,000

Another Rumor on Attacking Bites the Dust - Mike NIzza, New York Times blog

Iran's Nuclear Program Feeding Proliferation - Associated Press

Outlook for Nuclear 'Package Diplomacy' on Iran Gloomy

Report: US Soldiers Did 'Dirty Work' for Chinese Interrogators

Mullen: Iran Jeopardizing Peace in Iraq

Lebanese Factions Reach Deal to End Crisis

Undiplomatic row
Bush and Mubarak snub each other's speeches in Egypt

Egyptian imam says Islam rejects terrorism
(UPI) -- The grand imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo, in an effort to promote tolerance of Islam, said Monday that terrorism is rejected by the Islamic faith.

Awakening elder warns of election rigging (UPI) -- A tribal elder with the Anbar Awakening Council cautioned the Iraqi central government against postponing or fixing the October provincial elections.

U.S. Makes Amends for Quran Shooting: ; Sunni Tribesmen Key in Fight Against Al-Qaida

Hezbollah’s shrewd moves
Tehran Times

H9 Ha’aretz – Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza could take effect later this week

Olmert to Pelosi: Impose naval blockade on Iran Bush administration has not entirely ruled out the possibility of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities

5 questions: Does Israel need rescue?

Israel rethinks, will test Phalanx anti-rocket system

Guests: In regard to Hezbollah, Israeli deterrence works

Rival Lebanese leaders reach deal to end 18-month crisis Ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition say deal reached at Arab-mediated talks in Doha

Former defense officials call for indirect talks with Hamas

Poll: Meeting the president of Iran - good or bad?

"Controlled Unclassified Information" and the AIPAC trial (WTR)

If there's no tomorrow, let him go home today Instead of attacking France and others trying to promote an agreement with Hamas, the decision makers in Israel would do better to use every means possible to strengthen Fatah

U.K. warns Iran nukes could spark Mideast arms race

Jerusalem Post Israel fears Russia will sell Syria arms Top Syrian military delegation in Moscow for talks on MiGs, ballistic missiles, submarines

Egyptian official: Israel has accepted Gaza cease-fire

The paradoxes of life in Israel

[ YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI

Lebanese rivals reach agreement

Analysis: The slow repackaging of the diplomat Ehud Barak

By HERB KEINON Now every statesman who comes to town gets a meeting with Olmert, Livni and - of late - Barak

Why do we talk to Hamas?/ Goldstein Our leaders only care about world opinion, ignore Hamas dangers

Palestinian lesson for Israel

We should learn from Palestinians, who ousted corrupt leaders in elections, Orly Noy says

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

Poll: Palestinians Reject Two-State Solution, Gazans Favor Fatah (Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies/An-Najah University-PA)

A Two-State Solution for the United States and Israel by David Bromwich

Global Peace Index: Israel hits rock bottom

Debka Exclusive: Hamas turns the heat on in Gaza to support its truce negotiators in Cairo

Indo-Israeli Secret Strategic Game
Alarab online

Analysis: The Palestinians' trump card By CLAUDE SALHANI (UPI) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas threatened to resign by the end of this year if no agreement was reached with the Israelis over the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Hajj Ahmed and the Right of Return

H1 0 Christian Science Monitor Don't give up the Golan Heights Surrendering it to Syria could imperil Israel and the US. By Louis René Beres and Zalman Shoval

An expat's view of the falling dollar Even Europeans are worried about this trend.

ASIA

China's Space Capabilities and Their Impact on US National Security

Political Ramifications of China's Earthquake

U.S.-China Relations in the Era of Globalization CFR
A 5-page US House testimony on US-China relations

Today in The Nation: China's Inauspicious Year

China struggles to shelter 5 million homeless after quake

Why Pakistan Plays ‘Let’s Make a Deal’

More than 70,000 now dead or missing in China quake

Indo-Israeli Secret Strategic Game
Alarab online

H11 IHT Europe aims to build links with Mediterranean neighbors Less than two months before the debut of a new Union for the Mediterranean, pioneered by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the European Commission sought to put its stamp on the plan with a series of recommendations.

When faith and culture collide

By H.D.S. GREENWAY Can religion have a place in the legal systems of the West

Mecca and moderation By DAVID CLINGINGSMITH, ASIM IJAZ KHWAJA AND MICHAEL KREMER Does increased religious orthodoxy promote violence and intolerance?

MIDDLE EAST OIL Defying the experts By ROGER HOWARD

A century ago, most geologists doubted that the Middle East contained much oil.

MILITARY SPENDING A budget U.S. taxpayers can't afford By BERNIE SANDERS The U.S. is spending billions more on defense at a time when poverty is increasing.

Georgia leader faces embittered opposition in electionThe United States and the European Union will be watching closely because Georgia's frayed ties with Moscow and its location on an export route for Caspian Sea oil and natural gas bypassing Russia give it geopolitical importance far greater than its size

Defense minister's new baby confirms symbolism of parity in Spain

Steinmeier's bad example In honoring the Dalai Lama, Germans are more stalwart than their foreign minister.

EUROPE European press review

Eta 'political leader' arrested Suspected political head of Basque separatists, Eta, is arrested in France, Spanish authorities say.

EU moves to reform farm subsidies The EU announces plans to reform its hugely expensive rural payments system, the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ha’aretz The end of the European left? While it seems that conservative and neo-conservative ideology is losing strength in the U.S., these approaches are gaining ground in Western Europe

Germany's new neo-Nazis (UPI) -- A new generation of neo-Nazis has German security officials concerned: The black-clad mob is extremely violent and growing in numbers.

Islamofascism in the Netherlands (By Paul Belien)

Independent Ivor Roberts: A nation that is still divided over Europe

H12 RFE/RLGlobal Food Crisis Catches Up With Russia The recent rate of increase in Russian food prices has been three times greater than in the European Union. The crisis could become President Dmitry Medvedev's biggest challenge.

Georgia: New Video Ups Ante In Abkhaz Dispute

Georgia: In Search Of A Constructive Opposition

EDM AZERBAIJAN CAN RESCUE THE ODESSA-BRODY PIPELINE PROJECT

- KAZAKHSTAN EMERGING AS AN ARMS EXPORTER

Google News Azerbaijan

Medvedev's Visit to China to Give New Impetus to Russian-Chinese Relations

Deep divide
Passions run strong in Abkhazia as Georgia prepares to vote

Uzbekistan: Tashkent Is Up To Its Old Geopolitical Tricks
Encouraged by improving ties to the West, Uzbekistan seems to want to wriggle out from Russia’s warm embrace – again. In recent weeks, Tashkent has made a series of gestures that signal a cooling in its relations with Moscow.

Georgia: A Clean Vote on May 21? BY MOLLY CORSO
It has been billed as a test of Georgia’s democratic credentials. But while Georgian officials have vowed that the May 21 parliamentary elections will be free and fair, an array of problems have surfaced in the days leading up to the polling, according to election observers

Russian-Chinese Trade Could Reach $60 - $80 Mln Earlier Than 2010 - Ambassador

Russia is Ready to Help Moldova-Transdniestria Dialogue - Lavrov

Uzbekistan: "Europe's Soft Powerlessness", Andrew Stroehlein in The Wall Street Journal

Travels in the Former Soviet Union

How to build a personality cult.
Joshua Kucera

H13 The Times Attempt to reform EU farm subsidies founders Brussels has announced a watered-down review of the €40bn scheme that will keep handouts flowing for years

EU misses opportunity to change farming rules Soaring food prices could have proved the key to jettisoning the worst excesses of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy Bronwen Maddox

Farmers lose EU subsidy unless they go green

Russia edges closer to proxy war with Georgia Fear of war looms as Russian military build-up in breakaway region of Abkhazia prompts President Bush to raise concerns

The Lambeth Talk Brown should be meeting the Dalai Lama in Downing Street

Clinton takes Kentucky but Obama marches on Hillary Clinton won by a margin of around 35 points but failed to stop Barack Obama reaching another nomination milestone

Olmert pours cold water on Blair peace push Israeli leader Ehud Olmert tells The Times he admires Tony Blair's efforts but has doubts about the prospects of a deal

Tariq Aziz stays defiant in face of death Former Saddam aide, charged with crimes against humanity, is on trial for his life as prosecutors call for stiff sentence

China's new people's army out to help victims A region has been ripped apart by the disastrous earthquake, but emergency responses have brought the nation together

Wall Street Journal Democrats and Our Enemies
By Joseph Lieberman My party needs to relearn that we won't achieve peace by being inoffensive.

Farm Reform Lite
A truly modest proposal to reform the CAP. Review & Outlook

Military Launches Alternate-Fuel Push With fuel prices soaring, the U.S. military, the country's largest single consumer of oil, is turning into an alternative-fuels pioneer.

The Tragic Irony of Beltway Libertarianism By Thomas Frank So many are subsidized to praise the entrepreneur.

Grave but Not Serious
By James Taranto
Barack Obama debates foreign policy with Barack Obama

Report of the Special Committee
A newspaper defines itself in part by its choice of editor.

The Great Credit Squeeze: How it Happened, How to Prevent Another
Brookings Institution

H14 Financial Times Preserving the open economy at times of stress

Solving the $130 oil conundrum

There is no doubt the world will adjust to high oil prices. Yet the adjustment would be far easier if oil producers discovered they could expand their output

Hizbollah pressed to sign peace deal

Arab mediators gave Lebanon’s opposition until Wednesday to sign up to proposals to defuse a crisis that drove the country close to civil war

FBI concerns on prisoner abuse ‘ignored’ The White House National Security Council ignored concerns raised by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over interrogation techniques used at Guantánamo Bay

US economy in ‘uncharted waters’

The US economy is in “uncharted waters,” Federal Reserve vice-chairman Don Kohn said, warning that both financial and economic recovery was likely to be slow

McCain wary of close ties with Bush

With an approval rating of 28 per cent – close to record lows for a US president – George W. Bush is considered an electoral liability for the Republican party in November

WORLD NEWS: President apologises over soldier's abuse of Koran

WORLD NEWS: US salutes Kennedy after news of brain tumour

WORLD NEWS: Obama's olive branch to enemies 'dangerous to national security'

Kuwait ties oil deals to output targets

State-owned Kuwait Petroleum is for the first time negotiating technical and performance-related contracts with global companies as it aims to boost production

Gulf states told to invest oil wealth at home Countries need to refocus spending on education, development and the broader Middle East to sustain sharp growth, warns a senior banker

The cost of carriers How many helicopters, aircraft or other surface ships will not be acquired so that the UK government can afford two aircraft carriers?

Germany’s firing economyThe export engine is defying forecasts but consumers must spend more if growth is to continue

Search for a rival Any deal that lets Google supply part of Yahoo’s search advertising, however it is dressed up, must be bad for competition

Basque separatist leader arrested

Francisco Javier Lopez Pena, who had been on the run for more than 20 years, and three other ETA leaders were arrested by police in a raid in southwest France

Seeing is believing with inflation Perceptions of inflation are formed by the most salient prices. That is why perceptions run so far ahead of actual price increases, writes John Kay

The poetic justice of Brown’s fate

The prime minister gives the impression of a man who thinks himself ill-used by cruel fate, but there might be a measure of poetic justice, writes Geoffrey Wheatcroft

Challenges for Berlusconi’s cabinet

Fiscal federalism, the electoral law and fighting tax evasion will be key issues of the new Italian government’s first year, writes Tito Boeri

H15 Los Angeles Times Iraq soldiers deploy in Sadr City The Baghdad district is a stronghold of militiamen loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada Sadr. U.S. and Iraqi officials say the operation met with no resistance.

Obama soars in Oregon, Clinton in KentuckyThe Democrats split big primary wins, but Obama claims a majority of pledged delegates

UK firm ranks U.S. as more violent than Serbia in Global Peace Index

EditorialProtecting disaster victims China's exemplary response to its deadly quake stands in sharp contrast to Myanmar's failings.

FBI agents objected to military's 9/11 interrogations A long-awaited Justice Department report says they questioned the legality and effectiveness of certain tactics

The church of green Jonah Goldberg A kind of irrational nature worship separates environmentalism from the more fair-minded approach of conservationism

H16 American Politics Obama wins Oregon, loses in Kentucky

Another split decision in Democratic race

8 In 10 Clinton Voters in KY Dissatisfied With Obama As The Nominee

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Problems for the Obama Juggernaut?

Kevin Drum 1977 All Over Again?

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo: TERRY'S NEW GOALPOSTS — If I'm not mistaken Terrry McAuliffe just announced two new goalposts.

Why Are Superdelegates Waiting?

McCain Confronted With New Iran Gaffe, Gets Facts Wrong Again (VIDEO)

Why Don't Those Hillbillies Like Obama? - Dee Davis, Salon

Obama passes election milestone

Barack Obama says he is within reach of the Democratic candidacy for US president as Oregon and Kentucky vote.

Kennedy Diagnosed With Brain Tumor Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The Massachusetts senator has been hospitalized since he suffered a seizure Saturday. Treatment generally involves radiation and chemotherapy, though survival rates aren't encouraging.

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

Obama leads McCain in fundraising, reporting more than $37M

McCain strategist keeps Obama vow, leaving campaign

Senators from both parties load war funding bill with pet projects

H17 Daily Telegraph Iran sparks Mid East nuclear race Iran's neighbours have began nuclear programmes.

Vladimir Putin is 'real power in Russia' A senior adviser and close ally of Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev became the first official to admit publicly that Vladimir Putin remains the country's real power.

British troops back in Basra 'no-go' areas British soldiers have re-established a permanent presence in Basra, patrolling with Iraqi forces in “no-go” areas they were driven from months ago by Shia militants.

Greeting the Dalai Lama

The visit of the Dalai Lama to the UK could hardly come at a more delicate moment. It is to Gordon Brown's credit that he will meet Tibet's spiritual leader when he comes.

H18 Independent The Big Question: Does Opec have too much power, and is it to blame for the high price of oil?

Small, rural farms given boost as EU cuts subsidies for large landowners

Hamish McRae: Don't believe everything George Soros says

Leading article: Soaring food prices should lead to the end of subsidies

Traditionally, one of the infuriating habits of the agricultural protectionist lobby has been its willingness to seize upon any economic trend to justify its position

Ivor Roberts: A nation that is still divided over Europe

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

The List: The Worst Places to Be a Terrorist

The Warrior Scholar

'20th hijacker' in 9/11 attacks attempted suicide, lawyer says

US 'stuck' with Guantanamo prison The US says it is "stuck" with the Guantanamo Bay prison as it cannot send some of the inmates home.

IISS Strategic Dossier

Nuclear Black Markets: Pakistan, A.Q. Khan and the rise of proliferation networks – A Net Assessment is available for purchase. Click here to view the online files which are available for free.

Persistence as the 10th Principle of War
by LTC Gregory A. Grimes, Small Wars JournalDownload interim version of article as PDF

A New Report About the FBI, CIA and Interrogation

Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2006: A Fact Sheet on Department of Defense Authority to Train and Equip Foreign Military Forces
Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

Conflict Between Protected Civil Liberties and Government Intrusion in a Time of Terrorist Threat

RAND Arroyo Center Annual Report 2007: Serving the Army for 25 Years Source: RAND Corporation

Methodology for Improving the Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations Source: RAND Corporation

Report Details Interrogation Debate - Lichtblau and Shane, New York Times

The Principles of War: Introduction

Report: FBI Slow in Reporting Detainee Abuse - Carrie Johnson, Washington Post

High Court Affirms Terrorism Conviction - William Branigin, Washington Post

The Lawyers War - Wall Street Journal editorial

After Guantánamo - Kenneth Roth, Foreign Affairs opinion

Islam's History of Anti-Semitism - Raymond Ibrahim, Washington Times opinion

H20 Slate today's blogs

Bomb Iran? The latest chatter in cyberspace.

Lady, You're in My Way

Can Obama do anything to get Clinton out of the race?
John Dickerson

The Next Editor of the Washington Post Who should it be?
Jack Shafer

Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Open CRS)

Hispanic hope
How 43 million Latinos are changing the face of the United States

Biofuels Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs
Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

Rising Food Prices and Global Food Needs: The U.S. Response
Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

Newt Gingrich and Jeffrey Sachs on Oil in Iraq

Beyond the Headlines: Five Observations on Natural Disasters
Brookings Institution

Climate Change: Technology to the Rescue?
Nixon Center

C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics: Commodity Prices and Global Inflation (Audio)

The Current State of Federalism Studies in Canada (2000-2007): A Quantitative and Qualitative Review of the Scholarly Literature
Source: Canadian Policy Research Networks

What Does Economics Tell Us About Early Childhood Policy?
Source: RAND Corporation

Toward a U.S. Export Control and Technology Transfer System for the 21st Century
Source: Center for Strategic & International Studies

H21 The Future of News

Religion and Open Society Symposium

Poking fun at politics A Hollywood star and his cowriters pick the best political satires ever made on film. » Political parodies list

Champions League: Great expectations The European final is a historic moment for clubs, players, managers - and football. Let it be remembered for the right reasons.

The Promise of Prediction Markets
Science Magazine

Older Brain Really May Be a Wiser Brain

Book Bibliography of "Great Powers" - Tom Barnett, Thomas PM Barnett