061708f - 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 Financial Times EU backs Iran offer with new sanction threat Europe will impose additional financial sanctions if Tehran fails to respond positively to a fresh offer of incentives in return for suspending uranium enrichment

Washington Institute Strengthening the Partnership: How to Deepen U.S.-Israel Cooperation on the Iranian Nuclear Challenge

Patrick Clawson and Michael Eisenstadt, have published a primer for bombing Iran that looks at the costs and consequences.

New York Times Another Bad Deal for Baghdad The “strategic alliance” with Iraq that President Bush is proposing eerily resembles a failed treaty between Britain and Iraq that prompted a nationalist eruption in Baghdad

U.S. Army War College Guide to National Security Issues
Source: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College Vol. I: Theory of War and Strategy Full Document (PDF; 2.3 MB) Vol. II: National Security Policy and Strategy Full Document (PDF; 1.6 MB)

Asia Times Iraq takes a turn towards Tehran Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has suddenly started to play hard ball with Washington over the United States' long-term presence in Iraq. Torn between appeasing the US, which brought him to power, and pleasing his patrons and fellow Shi'ites in Tehran, Maliki is bowing to the latter, with ominous consequences. - Sami Moubayed

Deal, deal, deal with Iran
Washington cannot afford to ignore Iran, nor can the United States overrun it, so the answer is to "deal with it", argues veteran US diplomat James Dobbins. He has also "rejected the theory that the threat of force is a necessary prerequisite to successful diplomacy" - the first high-profile challenge to this central tenet of US national security in place since the end of the Cold War. - Gareth Porter

Iran's 'dance' of nuclear packages
Iran is considering yet another package of incentives over its nuclear program. Like the others before it from the six major countries dealing with Tehran, this one is likely to stick over uranium-enrichment activities, unless the two sides can seriously work on "commonalities", such as a consortium to produce nuclear fuel for Iran. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi

• 'Dealing with Damascus' by Mona Yacoubian and Scott Lasensky, Council on Foreign Relations

Bush Second Term Repairs Damage to European Relations - Council on Foreign Relations

Reidar Visser Iraq’s Provincial Elections: Another D-Day Approaching

Israeli Ministers Mull Plans for Military Strike against Iran
Spiegel Online

The Myth of Moderate Islam
Foreign Policy By Steven A. Cook Supporting moderation in all things Islamic may seem like a no-brainer, but woe betide the policymaker who tries to turn a plausible idea into a workable strategy

Rice on violent groups in elections, MESH

We Need a Better Map of the World By: U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Chuck Hagel | Miami Herald Almost four years ago, the 9/11 Commission warned that when it comes to threats to our national security, we must focus on ``remote regions and failing states.''

The Right Options for Iran By: Volker Perthes | The Japan Times
Iran is entitled to assurances against externally forced regime change at home, but it cannot turn around and promote the same elsewhere in its neighborhood

Mullahs, Money, and Militias: How Iran Exerts Its Influence in the Middle East Source: U.S. Institute of Peace Full Document (PDF; 509 KB)

Time Sadr Launches his Election Campaign

The Times Surrender deadline given to al-Mahdi militia

Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, pushes ahead with his campaign to rid the country of al-Mahdi Army gunmen

Israeli and Syrian leaders set for talks Sources say Olmert and Assad could hold face-to-face talks for first time in their countries' history next month

WSJ Irish Miracle
By Norman Stone Europe deserves better than a vision of a Grand Power, American-style.

NYT Booming, China Faults U.S. Policy on the Economy Americans once scolded the Chinese on mismanaging their economy. But in recent weeks, the fingers have been wagging in the other direction.

Army Overseer Tells of Ouster Over KBR Stir The official who managed the Pentagon’s largest contract in Iraq said he was fired when he would not approve over $1 billion in questionable charges

Is McCain Like Bush? It Depends on the Issue It is hard to categorize John McCain as doctrinaire, but he appears to have ceded some of his maverick reputation

What Obama Can Learn from Gates - Robert Kaplan, The Atlantic

Guardian Europe's century

Parag Khanna and Alpo Rusi: Despite the Irish no vote, the EU's destiny is to lead the world on security, trade and climate change

Orientalism? Not a term of endearment Ian Buruma: Said's book had valid arguments, but it left too much unsaid and as a result his thesis has become a pejorative term

These troops are too few - and much, much too late Jason Burke: The latest deployment does nothing to dampen doubts over the west's long-term commitment to rebuilding Afghanistan

Conflicts fuelled by climate change causing new refugee crisis, warns UN 'Unprecedented' number of people displaced by conflict and persecution as figure rises by 3m to 37.4m

Washington Post Pity the Poor Eurocrats By Anne Applebaum Reports of Europe's demise are greatly exaggerated.

No Such Thing as Europeans Montaner | Old World inhabitants have no common soul, and probably never will.

Iran to Face New E.U. Sanctions, Brown Says

Iraqi violence down; war's root causes unresolved

Sadr plots new steps to gain influence in Iraq's fall voting

Al Awsat Syria: Between Tehran and Hezbollah

Today in The Nation: Robert Dreyfuss | Bomb Iran? Piece of Cake

Ha’aretz Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran

UN special envoy criticizes Israel for talks with Syria Terje Roed-Larsen: Israel has given Syria a huge gift, without receiving anything in exchange

Bombs Away - FrontPage magazine.com

American-Iranian Partnership in the New Regional Order Raghida Dergham - Based on the stances of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the security agreement between the US and Iraq, one can conclude that Tehran has begun to use Iraq as a bargaining chip in strategic maneuvers to shape a regional security order that grants it regional leadership, with acknowledgement from and in partnership with the US.

RFE/RLMoscow Expands Military Presence In Central Asia

Russia has seemingly strengthened its military presence in Central Asia after signing an agreement with Tajikistan that would create a joint military unit when the countries "face security risks."

IHT NATO tests Ukraine's readiness to join NATO's secretary general is trying to get a direct sense of when Ukraine might be ready to join, amid warnings from Russia that it will never allow its large western neighbor to be a part of NATO.

Britain and Europe to tighten economic sanctions on Iran Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that Britain and Europe would freeze the overseas assets of Iran's largest commercial bank

French shifting strategic policy

Sarkozy to present plan for a smaller, more mobile army and an emphasis on working within Europe and NATO.

Guardian The era of the grand treaty is over Hugo Brady: The Irish vote shows that governments will have to limit themselves to less ambitious ways of reforming the EU to make it work better

Watering the roots of peace Petra Marquardt-Bigman: An ambitious water project could help to bring reconciliation between Syria and Israel

Misrepresenting the issues in Nagorno-Karabakh Vahe Gabrielyan: Alexandros Peterson is wrong: the South Caucasus country is a well-functioning democratic entity

US runs out of patience with Pakistan
Patience is running out in Kabul and Washington over the inability, or unwillingness, of Pakistan to prevent the Taliban from launching raids from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai warns of taking matters into his own hands, but he's really speaking for the United States. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

FT MIDDLE EAST FOCUS: Ahmadi-Nejad claims victory while Iranians languish

Dublin offered protocols to save accord Ireland will be offered additional guarantees of its sovereignty – possibly in areas such as taxation, military policy and family law – to save the European Union’s Lisbon treaty

Stop talking about LisbonThe worst option would be to let another period of internal wrangling serve as an alibi for European inaction where it matters, writes Philip Stephens

Ireland’s bold blow for democracyThe EU is like some hideously persistent suitor who will not take No for an answer. Europe’s political leaders should resist the temptation to ‘respect’ the country’s referendum by seeking to overturn it, writes Gideon Rachman

France to reduce armed forces by a fifthLong-awaited defence proposals will see scores of bases close under an overhaul that will increase spending on spy satellites, cruise missiles and transport

Sarkozy proposes bigger military role for EU France’s president is to set out plans for the European Union to take a bigger role in defence despite the institutional crisis triggered by Ireland’s rejection of the EU treaty

Daily Telegraph Barack Obama aide: Why Winnie the Pooh should shape US foreign policy — Winnie the Pooh, Luke Skywalker and British football hooligans could shape the foreign policy of Barack Obama if he becomes US President, according to a key adviser

Christian Science Monitor Europe's unfinished house

Building European unity takes time. An Irish vote to halt it should not discourage.

The death of U.S. strategy in Iraq

What outcome can justify the costs of fighting on?

Americans Predict Obama Will Be Next U.S. President

Los Angeles Times Bush wins British support for more Iran sanctions

Britain's Gordon Brown also announces that 230 more troops will be sent to Afghanistan.

A new China appears amid quake rubble

Some of the change in the wake of the catastrophe may be short-lived, but some, such as the focus on the individual, outpourings of empathy, and an openness to foreign aid, appear lasting, analysts say

Why We're Happy - Arthur Brooks, Reader's Digest

H2

Turkey's A La Carte Liberalism
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, By Soner Cagaptay

Secularism, democracy, and Turkey's crumbling dream (By H.D.S. Greenway, Boston Globe)

Turkish governing party challenges 'anti-secular' charge

FACTBOX: What's next in Turkish AK Party court case

SYRIA PROPOSES NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH TURKEY
Eurasia Daily Monitor

Secularism Vs Democracy in Turkey
RealClearPolitics By Pierre Atlas

US enjoys good dialogue with Turks on Iran

A judicial coup -- again? Al-Ahram Weekly

"İstikrarsızlık problemler doğurabilir"

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL

Ankara'da Pentagon darbesi!

Sigara devinin PKK skandalı

Dış basın: Cesur yürekler

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

"Zap'ta teröristler etkisiz hale getirildi"

Sınırdaki PKK'lılar püskürtüldü Yeni

The AKP and the Kurds: What went wrong Rabia Karakaya POLAT

DTP’de çatlak itirafı

DTP'deki 'bölünme' genelgeye yansıdı

DTP özeleştiri yaptı: Halkın beklentilerini karşılayamadık

Fikret Ertan Irak-Amerika güvenlik anlaşması

[Röportaj] Petrolün ateşi ancak Irak'taki rezervlerin devreye girmesiyle düşer

İran, Avrupa'daki bankalardan 75 milyar dolarını çekti

Cevdet Aşkın

Türk dizileri başlayınca Filistin sokaklarında in-cin top oynuyor

Barış diyalogla gelecek

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

Der Spiegel Allah and the Occident: How Islam Came to Germany

'Türkiye, Türkiye!': Turkey Fans Fill the Streets of Germany

EU moves to ease economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots

AB'den Kıbrıslı Türklerin ticaretine destek kararı

In search of communication strategy despite the NO
BARÇIN YİNANÇ

Türkiye�de neler oluyor?� konferansı

Fransa’nın ‘Yüzde 5’ seçimi

Türkiye’nin tek cıkış yolu AB’den vazgecmek

Pascoe bugün Talat ve Hristofyas ile görüşecek

WSJ Irish Miracle
By Norman Stone Europe deserves better than a vision of a Grand Power, American-style.

Türkiye'ye verilen sözün arkasındayız

Türkiye sevdalısı Ermeni profesör

CHP'den Avrupa'da lobi atağı

Sami Kohen Bu gidişle AB gerçek bir birlik olabilir mi?

Greeks divided over lifting entry visas to Turks

‘Integration efforts falter'

Sarkozy rol çalıyor

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Kyoto, devleti böldü

Cengiz Çandar Türkiye gibi bir Milli Takım

YouTube’a Türkiye kapısı açılıyor mu?

Mehmet Altan Kaosun düzene zaferi mi?

ANALYSIS-Soccer-Euro-Turkey win takes tournament to fresh peaks

is Orhan Pamuk bad for the Turks?

Beijing poses big challenge for Turkish lifters

Turkish student faces jail over anti-Atatürk TV remarks

Ankara'ya asker yağdı

Sabah koşusunda Bush'a tek kurşun

Gül'ün gizli kayıtları

Vekilin gizli kayıtları

Hakkımızda ne bilindiğini biliyor muyuz?

17 Haziran 2008 Basın Özeti

H3 AKP savunmasını verdi

İşte AK Parti'nin savunması: 1

Bu dava 'Kapatma' değil 'Google' davası

AK Parti'den kapatma davasına cevap: Bu bir Google davası

‘Önce dava açılmaya karar verilmiş, sonra delil toplanmış’

Bekaroğlu: Bu savunma uzlaşma mesajı

AKP'de istifa hazırlığı

‘AKP kapatılır kriz derinleşir’

Yaprak dökümü

Demirel'in sağ kolundan Darıca'da derin toplantı AK Parti'yi savunabilecek kimse yoktu! Ne konuştular?

CHP’ye alternatif parti

9 rektör veda ediyor 12’si yine aday oldu

Google'lı savunma

Erdoğan için 152 sayfa

‘Arınç AKP’yi bağlamaz’

İşsizler ordusunun mevcudu 2.5 milyon kişiye ulaştı

21. yüzyıldayız tek yol demokrasi

Jandarma 'fişleme' konusunda ısrarlı

Jandarma fişleme için yetki istedi

Yüksek yargıya ilk atama

Rüşvet iddiaları için Enerji Bakanı tanık olarak dinlensin

Çamuroğlu’nun istifası AKP’nin gizli ajandası olduğunu gösteriyor

'Ümit ediyoruz ki, en kısa sürede sonuçlanır'

Gül'ün gizli kayıtları

Osman Paksüt Kel Ali'nin torunu çıktı

Yeni parti de kapatılır

Emekli komutandan darbeci sivillere ders: 21. yüzyıldayız tek yol demokrasi

Genelge günü Bakan’a gitmiş

Türkler, Erdoğan'dan başkasına güvenmiyor

İddia makamı, absürt yorum yapabilir; ama asla yalan söyleyemez

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

Ahmet Taşgetiren AYM yanlış yaparsa...

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol Rıza Türmen ne diyor?

Fikret Bila Değişiklik türban için yapılmadı mı?

Hasan Cemal

Murat Yetkin AK Parti davası ve ihtimaller

İsmet Berkan Gölgelerle savaşırken gerçeği kaçırmak

Bilal Çetin

Velev ki kapatılırsa...

Fehmi Koru Umursamaz rolü yapmak

Taha Kıvanç Yenilmez armada

Şamil Tayyar Anayasa yargısının küresel açıdan varlık nedenleri

Mümtazer Türköne TSK ve Yahudi parmağı

Nurat Başaran 'F Tipi yapılanmayla' Ankara'da neler oluyor

TAMER KORKMAZ

Şahin Alpay Kemalizm yeniden yorumlanmalı

İhsan Dağı CHP, maçın iptali için yargıya gidiyor!

[YORUM - DOÇ. DR. MAZHAR BAĞLI] Her YAŞ öncesi aynı dedikoduların sebebi

[YORUM - DR. MURAT YILMAZ] Ergenekon iddianamesi açıklandığında yaşanacaklar

[YORUM - HERKÜL MİLAS] Farklılık ve asgari müşterekler

Leyla İpekçi Haksızlığa direnenler özgürdür

Ali Bayramoğlu Futbol sadece futbol değilmiş meğer…

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Asıl cümle bir alttakiydi

Anayasa Mahkemesi hukuk devletinin tacıdır

Alfred J.Noll

İki açıklamanın düşündürdükleri
HASAN CELAL GÜZEL

Can Dündar Yeni bir sözleşme lazım!

Siz hâlâ yüce büyüklerinizin margariniyle mi bakarkörleşiyorsunuz?
PERİHAN MAĞDEN

Seçimler 20 yılda bir yapılsa...

Güler Kömürcü Sırada Çankaya senaryoları mı var?

Ahmet Hakan

M Ali Birand

[Yorum] Türkiye radikal laiklerin tehdidi altında

The probable consequences of the Ergenekon indictment

Cüneyt Ülsever Sadece laf üreterek yaşıyoruz

Enis Berberoğlu İran kuş misali

Oktay Ekşi Haksever olalım

Özdemir İnce

Mehmet Y Yılmaz Yılları boşa harcamasaydınız

Yalçın Doğan Bu durumda dış güçlerin grevi

MUHARREM SARIKAYA Akıl çatlaması

ERDAL ŞAFAK Kutlamak

ENGİN ARDIÇ

ERGUN BABAHAN

EMRE AKÖZ Haysiyetli arkadaşlar

Umur Talu Yalnız, güzel ülkemi sevebilirsiniz!

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

NAZLI ILICAK Ankara ile İstanbul'un farkı

MEHMET BARLAS Kriz üretmeden çözüm üretmek galiba mümkün değil

MAHMUT ÖVÜR

YAVUZ DONAT Deniz Baykal'ın ev telefonu "sorunlu"

Eyüp Can Türk olmak bu mu

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Erdemir'de borsa operasyonunun vizyonu ne?

Ercan Kumcu Çözüm para basmak değil

Erdal Sağlam

Seyfettin Gürsel İşsizlik alarm veriyor

J eğrisi
MAHFİ EĞİLMEZ

[News Analysis] Story of Turkey’s success still being written

Güngör Uras Ayşe Hanım Teyzem, ‘Doları bozduran nasıl yüzde 26 dolar faizi alır?’ diye soruyor

COMPANIES - INTERNATIONAL: ArcelorMittal lifts Erdemir stake

TUSKON story reflects niche market success

H4 New York Times Another Bad Deal for Baghdad The “strategic alliance” with Iraq that President Bush is proposing eerily resembles a failed treaty between Britain and Iraq that prompted a nationalist eruption in Baghdad.

Booming, China Faults U.S. Policy on the Economy Americans once scolded the Chinese on mismanaging their economy. But in recent weeks, the fingers have been wagging in the other direction.

Army Overseer Tells of Ouster Over KBR Stir The official who managed the Pentagon’s largest contract in Iraq said he was fired when he would not approve over $1 billion in questionable charges

Is McCain Like Bush? It Depends on the Issue It is hard to categorize John McCain as doctrinaire, but he appears to have ceded some of his maverick reputation

Gore Endorses Obama as a Solver of Problems

Obama Says Encouraged By Drop In Violence In Iraq

China Still Lags Behind U.S. in Influence, Survey Shows

Rice Visit Signals Support for Power Deal in Lebanon

Israel Seems to Make Progress in Talks

In New Defense Policy, France Turns to U.S. and Europe

Taliban Commander Is Face of Rising Threat An attack has revealed the way former mujahedeen leaders combine forces with foreign terrorist groups.

Brown Says Europe Will Tighten Iran Sanctions

Taliban Fighters Infiltrate Area Near Southern Afghan City

International Court Says It May Discard First Case

Ex-Pentagon Lawyers Face Inquiry on Interrogation Role

The Genocide Continues Darfur’s plight is not yet hopeless, but without greater international commitment it may become so.

R.I.P. to the S.U.V. The announcement that General Motors would shutter much of its production of pickups and sport utility vehicles is a step in the right direction.

After 75 Years, the Working Poor Still Struggle for a Fair Wage On the anniversary of the federal minimum wage, more attention should be paid to the working poor, who were hit especially hard by recent economic policies.

H5 Washington Post Pity the Poor Eurocrats By Anne Applebaum Reports of Europe's demise are greatly exaggerated.

No Such Thing as Europeans Montaner | Old World inhabitants have no common soul, and probably never will.

Iran to Face New E.U. Sanctions, Brown Says

Senate Report Questions Accounts From Pentagon Investigation says research on harsh interrogation techniques started earlier and higher up the chain of command than officials led Congress to believe

Poll Finds Independent Voters Split Between McCain, Obama

William Arkin Welcome to Planet War Today William M. Arkin and Peter Feaver start a new discussion group, Planet War. Planet War is the place to discuss and argue about national security, war and peace, guns and butter, stars and stripes, you get it, all aspects of military affairs and intelligence. Three to five times a week, Bill and Peter will pose questions and hazard some answers from their differing perspectives. They welcome your posts -- with the objective of developing common ground and sound ideas.

Contempt Of Courts McCain's Posturing On Guantanamo By George F. Will

Guilty of Experience The Mindless Flap Over Obama's Vetter By Richard Cohen, Washington insiders aren't all bad.

The Outsider's Insider By Eugene Robinson, Tim Russert is so desperately missed because he was so necessary.

McCain Seeks to End Offshore Drilling Ban

Gore Gives Backing to Obama Clinton Campaign Angered by Candidate's Hiring of Ousted Aide

Taliban Seizes Seven Afghan Villages Hundreds of Fighters Launch Offensive Near Kandahar Three Days After Major Prison Break

In China, Fascination With Obama's ColorAmerica may be discussing whether Barack Obama is tough enough to field a 3 a.m. phone call, but for the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the big issue is his race

BP, Russian Partners Vie For Control of Oil Venture

Rice Urges Israel to Desist: Despite Expansion, Secretary Sees 'Chance' For Peace Deal in '08

H6 Guardian Europe's century

Parag Khanna and Alpo Rusi: Despite the Irish no vote, the EU's destiny is to lead the world on security, trade and climate change

These troops are too few - and much, much too late Jason Burke: The latest deployment does nothing to dampen doubts over the west's long-term commitment to rebuilding Afghanistan

Conflicts fuelled by climate change causing new refugee crisis, warns UN 'Unprecedented' number of people displaced by conflict and persecution as figure rises by 3m to 37.4m

US president pours praise on Brown Britain will intensify sanctions against Iranian banks and dispatch extra troops to southern Afghanistan

Gore endorses Obama for president

Ex-presidential nominee turned climate crusader vows 'to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected'

Quick fix over treaty could backfire, EU leaders are warned

Czechs resist push to ratify treaty while Irish minister says veto will not shut the country out of Europe

Orientalism? Not a term of endearment Ian Buruma: Said's book had valid arguments, but it left too much unsaid and as a result his thesis has become a pejorative term

The era of the grand treaty is over

Hugo Brady: The Irish vote shows that governments will have to limit themselves to less ambitious ways of reforming the EU to make it work better

Watering the roots of peace Petra Marquardt-Bigman: An ambitious water project could help to bring reconciliation between Syria and Israel

Misrepresenting the issues in Nagorno-Karabakh Vahe Gabrielyan: Alexandros Peterson is wrong: the South Caucasus country is a well-functioning democratic entity

Fear trumps hope AC Grayling: Ireland was frightened into voting no to Lisbon, despite the EU benefits. Politicians peddling optimism have a tough time

George Bush: still massaging the messageJonathan Freedland: Brown and Bush may lack chemistry but the Anglo-American relationship is still gushingly following the Blair model

Embassy warns Britons in UAE of terror threat Conservative Muslim country hosts 100,000 British expatriates and could be considered a 'soft' target by al-Qaida

Unreformed characters Editorial: Formerly repentant financiers have forgotten the solemn vows they made at the height of the crisis

How many innocent people are going out of their minds today?

George Monbiot: Guantánamo has proved a useful distraction from the secret detention camps run by the US around the world

H7 Reidar Visser Iraq’s Provincial Elections: Another D-Day Approaching

The Myth of Moderate Islam
Foreign Policy By Steven A. Cook

Supporting moderation in all things Islamic may seem like a no-brainer, but woe betide the policymaker who tries to turn a plausible idea into a workable strategy

Al Awsat Syria: Between Tehran and Hezbollah

Rice on violent groups in elections, MESH

Alternative Rationals for an Attack on Iran

American-Iranian Partnership in the New Regional Order Raghida Dergham - Based on the stances of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the security agreement between the US and Iraq, one can conclude that Tehran has begun to use Iraq as a bargaining chip in strategic maneuvers to shape a regional security order that grants it regional leadership, with acknowledgement from and in partnership with the US.

We Need a Better Map of the World By: U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Chuck Hagel | Miami Herald Almost four years ago, the 9/11 Commission warned that when it comes to threats to our national security, we must focus on ``remote regions and failing states.''

The Right Options for Iran By: Volker Perthes | The Japan Times
Iran is entitled to assurances against externally forced regime change at home, but it cannot turn around and promote the same elsewhere in its neighborhood

Peace With Friends By: Caroline Glick | The Jerusalem Post
Peace is possible for the first time between Israel and Iraq because, for the first time, Iraq perceives its interests as aligned with Israel

Transatlantic Institute - Building bridges across the Atlantic Hezbollah's dangerous gamble. by Dr Tony Badran

“What Syria stands for: The moral argument for US friendship with Syria,” by S. Farah

Can the US and France agree on a Post-Doha Lebanon Policy?

SPENGLER The pope, the president and politics of faith
As incongruous as it may appear, Pope Benedict XVI and US President George W Bush are kindred spirits. Despite his position on Iraq, Benedict's critics within the church regard him as a warrior as dangerous as the US president. Bush denounces "Islamo-facism", while Muslims suspect the pope wants to convert them, a threat they never have had to confront in Islam's 1,500-year history

Ehsan Ahrari Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Design and Nuclear Brinkmanship

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

Iraqi violence down; war's root causes unresolved

Sadr plots new steps to gain influence in Iraq's fall voting

Iraq Press Roundup

Iraqis sign anti-Iranian declaration

What the Arab papers said on June 16:

Kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia Call on Unity Among Arabs

A Shadowy Syrian Arms Dealer's Extradition Highlights the Dark Side of Damascus

Syrian Source on French Envoys' Visit, Prospects for Talks With USA

Syrian Minister Interviewed on Peace Talks With Israel, Lebanon, Other Issues

Syrian President Meets Sarkozy's Top Advisers on Ties, Mideast Peace

Iraq Army Tightens Grip on Southern City

Iran to Respond to 5+1 Package When Appropriate: Foreign Minister

Analysis: Egypt's religious tension

Rice hails Lebanese democracy US Secretary of State Rice makes an unannounced visit to Lebanon following a crucial power-sharing deal.

H9 Ha’aretz – Israeli sources: Prisoner swap with Hezbollah likely next week

Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran

UN special envoy criticizes Israel for talks with Syria Terje Roed-Larsen: Israel has given Syria a huge gift, without receiving anything in exchange

ANALYSIS / Who will stop the surging price of oil?

Dovish Jewish lobby endorses seven candidates

Do not shoot before trying everything elseIsrael left Gaza and seeks nothing there. Hamas is the one that opened fire as part of its war against the state of Israel. It is the siege on Gaza, with the surprising cooperation of Egypt, and the Israel Defense Forces' successful targeted operations that have led Hamas to ask for a cease-fire

Jerusalem Post Olmert: I will survive, run for re-election in Kadima primary

PM says he believes he will be exonerated in public's eyes following Talansky cross-examination; Barak tells Labor to prepare for elections

Israel wins significant EU upgrade New status will mean more diplomatic cooperation; participation in European plans and agencies

Threats to strike Iran concern Israel

Defense establishment fears threats may push Russian arms sale, defense of nuclear installations

'Teheran pulls billions from EU banks' Iranian papers: Order to withdraw came directly from Ahmadinejad; EU likely to impose new sanctions

Israel-Syria talks 'constructive'

Yedioth Ahronoth Arab parties to save Olmert?
Fearing elections in current climate will lead to rise of Likud, Arab MKs announce they will vote against motion for dissolution of Knesset. 'We don't work for Netanyahu and Lieberman, why should we help them,' say party chairmen

What drives Ahmadinejad?

Iran's leader preparing for appearance of Shiite messiah, write Jonathan Halevi & Ashley Perry

Take advantage of ceasefire/ Beilin If we don’t use lull in order to advance peace talks, we’ll play into Hamas’ hands

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

Israel-Syria talks wrap up with deal to meet again

No rotten tomatoes Rachel Shabi: The authors of a book on America's Israel lobby survived a trip to the Jewish state

J Street Offers Its New Congressional Stamp of Approval

Israel-Syria talks end, agree new rounds: Turkish source

Official: Indirect Israel-Syria peace talks wind up in Turkey in ...

Rice's Shift on Shebaa Farms Is Boost to Lebanon's Leader New York Sun

The Presidential Candidates and Israel

France may host direct Mideast talks

Major News Items in Leading Israeli Newspapers

Guess What? There's a Broad Consensus on US-Israeli Relations by Marty Peretz

Do Jewish Homes in Jerusalem Really Undermine Peace? - Editorial (New York Sun)

Critics of America's Israel Policy Are Outside Mainstream - Geoffrey Berg

Syria Has High Hopes for Talks With Israel

Palestinian Minister Al-Maliki Discusses Peace Process, Gaza, Settlements

UK Arabic Paper Criticizes Israeli Settlement Activity, US Stance

Where's our own answer to Aipac?
Khaleej Times

From Doublethink, an article on the end of anti-Semitism and other tales: What constitutes legitimate criticism of Israel?

H10 Christian Science Monitor Europe's unfinished house

Building European unity takes time. An Irish vote to halt it should not discourage.

The death of U.S. strategy in Iraq

What outcome can justify the costs of fighting on?

How Clinton and Obama boosted feminism, civil rights The primary contest helped both of the historical causes, though some tensions erupted.

Tensions as Kosovo inks Constitution The document, signed Sunday, is seen as key to stability. But many issues remain unresolved.

Kosovo Serb policeman looks to future 'I feel nothing bad about Albanians,' he says. 'A man should be judged by his soul, not his nationality.'

New legal fight over U.S. antiterror tactics The Supreme Court agrees to examine if high-level officials can be sued for harsh policies.

China's massive postquake tasks

Still short 2 million tents, it must also rebuild homes and jobs for 5 million.

Japan, China forge gas exploration deal The expected compromise over energy resources in the East China Sea ends a long-running dispute between the two nations

ASIA

Washington Should Pay Attention to Russian Moves in the Asia-Pacific By: Nirav Patel and Vikram Singh | World Politics Review America's preoccupation in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has significantly undermined its influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Much has been written about how China has attempted to fill the "American void" in the Asia-Pacific and to reconfigure the region's geopolitical architecture, but little attention is being accorded to Russia's new power plays in the region

Taliban captures Afghan villages in wake of insurgent jailbreak

US runs out of patience with Pakistan
Patience is running out in Kabul and Washington over the inability, or unwillingness, of Pakistan to prevent the Taliban from launching raids from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai warns of taking matters into his own hands, but he's really speaking for the United States. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

Taliban Vows to Fight with Renewed Zeal By: Shaheen Buneri | The Media Line Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistan Taliban Movement, has called Afghan President Hamid Karzai's statement about sending troops to fight militants in Pakistan tribal areas “sick” and the “creation of a baffled mind,” and has vowed to resist U.S.-led NATO forces with renewed vigor both in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Afghanistan: Not Lost, But Needs More Attention
Source: U.S. Institute of Peace

Summary of U.S. Assistance: International Conference in Support of Afghanistan
Source: U.S. Department of State

Explaining China's Continued Resistance Towards Human Rights ACDIS

Khan Still Key to Nuclear Nonproliferation Efforts - Council on Foreign Relations

China-Japan: The Wall Street Journal reports China and Japan are near agreement on a landmark natural gas deal that would allow for the co-development of major gas fields in the East China Sea.

A potent, troubling nationalism By PHILIP BOWRING

South Korea's decision to import U.S. beef has ignited almost hysterical opposition.

Malaysia Faces a Succession Crisis By: Jed Yoong | Asia Sentinel
With Malaysia’s political environment degenerating into something resembling a food fight, and with protesters in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reiterated his intention to step down at the “right time” to make way for his deputy prime minister, Najib Tun Razak.

H11 IHT NATO tests Ukraine's readiness to join NATO's secretary general is trying to get a direct sense of when Ukraine might be ready to join, amid warnings from Russia that it will never allow its large western neighbor to be a part of NATO.

Britain and Europe to tighten economic sanctions on Iran Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that Britain and Europe would freeze the overseas assets of Iran's largest commercial bank

French shifting strategic policy

Sarkozy to present plan for a smaller, more mobile army and an emphasis on working within Europe and NATO.

First trial of International Criminal Court now at risk Judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague warned on Monday that they may throw out their very first case because of doubts that a fair trial is possible.

Another chance on global warming

The U.S. Senate can fight global warming by approving a bill to extend vital tax credits for renewable fuel sources like wind and solar power

Irish voters and the EU

Irish voters were not rejecting the European Union when they turned down the so-called Lisbon treaty. They were saying no to the elite who produced the treaty.

More than just talk By BAN KI MOON The UN's real work - preventing starvation and helping war's victims - is often the least visible.

An uncertain homecoming By HERBERT HADAD We knew that visiting Syria as American tourists could be dangerous. But I wanted to get in touch with my family's roots.

EUROPE European press review

Walker's World: The Irish 'No' won't last

EU ready to issue stronger financial sanctions against Iran

Making Bosnia Work: Why EU Accession is Not Enough
Source: U.S. Institute of Peace

Bush gathers assurances from European leaders...

The Referendum: populism vs democracy, George Schöpflin

Making Waves: Sarkozy Wants to Create European Naval Unit

Angela's Ashes? By: Andrew Stuttaford | National Review
If there were any last, few, pitiful remaining scraps of doubt about the depth of the disdain felt by the European Union’s leaders for the people of their wretched union, they ought, surely, to have been dispelled by the miserable saga of the Treaty of Lisbon, the sly, squalid, and cynical pact that has just been rejected by Irish voters, the only mass electorate given the chance to do so.

Kosovo: U.N. Attempts to Make Way for EU, But Discord Remains By: Phil Cain | World Politics Review On June 15th, the government of Kosovo will enforce the territory's constitution, which aims to pass authority over the territory from the U.N. to the EU. The U.N. secretary general's attempt last week to square this move with international law creates the potential for institutional conflict, de facto partition and prolonged insecurity over Kosovo's status

Tim Garden Memorial Lecture IPPR A 9-page speech calling for greater European regional cooperation to counter prevailing security threats

EU vows to pursue Lisbon treaty

EU foreign ministers agree to keep the Lisbon reform treaty alive despite its rejection by voters in Ireland.

Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty

Continental drift Will the US and Europe move closer after Bush?

H12 RFE/RLMoscow Expands Military Presence In Central Asia

Russia has seemingly strengthened its military presence in Central Asia after signing an agreement with Tajikistan that would create a joint military unit when the countries "face security risks."

Age-Old Water Problems Raising Tensions Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have the water and want gas and oil from their energy-rich neighbors in exchange for their scarce resource. But the neighbors are balking, and the issue is bringing regional tensions to a boil

Google News Azerbaijan

Lots of Bark But Little Bite By: Kevin Ryan | The New York Times
Since Vladimir Putin came to power and steadily increased the country's defense budget, there has been a lot of talk about Russia's resurgent military power and its threat to the United States and Europe.

Russia: RIA Novosti reports on the Russian oil giant Gazprom's investment strategy, which will include pouring money into infrastructure development over the next decade.

LA Times The brutal biography of Chechnya's Ramzan Kadyrov

The young president has silenced dissent, pacified the Russian republic and embarked on a massive reconstruction campaign. His critics are hard to find, because they have a habit of disappearing

Leader of Karabakh War Veterans Struggles with Hobson’s Choice His name was a recurring chant at opposition rallies following Armenia’s disputed February 19 presidential vote. Opposition leaders believed that support from former deputy defense minister and Manvel Grigorian, head of the country’s largest group of Nagorno-Karabakh war veterans, would be critical in catapulting them to victory. But the much-touted support never came. And now, nearly four months after Armenia’s presidential election, the question lingers on: who exactly do Grigorian and his coalition of Karabakh war veterans support?

Georgia’s Opposition Agrees to Disagree Just over a week into parliament’s summer session, the Georgian opposition’s much-hyped unity against President Mikheil Saakashvili has unraveled.

MOSCOW WANTS TO STRENGTHEN CIS AND OTHER POST-SOVIET GROUPS

- RUSSIA INSISTS ON TREATING SEVASTOPOL AS AN OPEN QUESTION

- TATARSTAN LEADER CRITICIZES THE “VERTICAL OF POWER” AND “GREAT RUSSIAN CHAUVINISM”

H13 The Times Surrender deadline given to al-Mahdi militia

Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, pushes ahead with his campaign to rid the country of al-Mahdi Army gunmen

Israeli and Syrian leaders set for talks Sources say Olmert and Assad could hold face-to-face talks for first time in their countries' history next month

Call that a special relationship?

America's pursuit of British businessmen who have broken no law is absurd Anthony Julius

The House of Lords and the Lisbon treaty The House must not ratify Lisbon while the outcome is so uncertain

Obama to bypass battleground states The Democrats believe that they can take the White House even if they lose Ohio and Florida

British troops in Afghanistan will top 8,000 Des Browne announces an extra 230 troops for the campaign in Afghanistan, as body of 100th soldier killed arrives in UK

Wall Street Journal Let 'Europe' Vote
By Kyle Wingfield
Some modest proposals to narrow the EU's democratic deficit

Why Iraqis Back McCainBy Bret Stephens Global View: The Arizona Republican is sure to carry at least one battleground state by a landslide

The Torture Gambit
Democrats try to criminalize interrogations they once winked at.

Smart Bomb Procurement
By Ethan B. Kapstein
When it comes to defense contracts, Bush has been a true multilateralist.

H14 Financial Times EU backs Iran offer with new sanction threat

Europe will impose additional financial sanctions if Tehran fails to respond positively to a fresh offer of incentives in return for suspending uranium enrichment

MIDDLE EAST FOCUS: Ahmadi-Nejad claims victory while Iranians languish

Dublin offered protocols to save accord Ireland will be offered additional guarantees of its sovereignty – possibly in areas such as taxation, military policy and family law – to save the European Union’s Lisbon treaty

Stop talking about LisbonThe worst option would be to let another period of internal wrangling serve as an alibi for European inaction where it matters, writes Philip Stephens

Ireland’s bold blow for democracyThe EU is like some hideously persistent suitor who will not take No for an answer. Europe’s political leaders should resist the temptation to ‘respect’ the country’s referendum by seeking to overturn it, writes Gideon Rachman

France to reduce armed forces by a fifthLong-awaited defence proposals will see scores of bases close under an overhaul that will increase spending on spy satellites, cruise missiles and transport

Sarkozy proposes bigger military role for EU France’s president is to set out plans for the European Union to take a bigger role in defence despite the institutional crisis triggered by Ireland’s rejection of the EU treaty

Bosnia signs EU accord

The Balkan state takes its first step on the ladder to Union membership as it signs a pre-accession agreement almost 13 years after the end of its bloody civil war

Analysis: For Le Monde and the French press, the news is nearly all bad

Oil hits new high of nearly $140 a barrel Crude oil prices jumped to a fresh high of nearly $140 a barrel in spite of Saudi Arabia’s indications that it would boost production to its highest for more than 25 years

Rice backs new president on Beirut visitThe US secretary of state expressed support for the country’s new president, Michel Suleiman, and called for a solution to the Shebaa Farms territorial dispute

NATIONAL NEWS: Brown and Bush show solidarity over Iraq

Islamic finance explained Interactive feature: The Islamic finance industry is worth $800bn and growing quickly. Find out about the key players, main products and where the industry is heading

Facing up to a fiscal conundrum

Fiscal consolidation, unappealing though it may be as a platform, ought to be the organising principle for the current political debate in the US

Bilateral trade pacts meet resistanceKorean protests over US beef and the EU’s slow progress in India show preferential deals are no easy way to liberalise

McCain seeks to lift oil drilling ban

John McCain called for the lifting of a federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling in US waters as part of efforts to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources

Fed divided on when to raise rates

Federal Reserve officials and financial market investors agree on one thing: that the US central bank will probably have to start raising interest rates again in the not too distant future. Where they disagree, however, is how soon? And how fast?

Officials say market expects too many rate rises Financial markets are in danger of getting carried away with their expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate increases, some senior Fed officials believe

US delays licences to top Chinese banks Fed holds back approval because of concerns over the role of Beijing’s sovereign wealth fund as the largest shareholder of two of the country’s biggest banks

Brown and Bush show solidarity over Iraq Tensions over strategy for UK troops in Basra played down as the US president completes his final official visit to London

H15 Los Angeles Times Bush wins British support for more Iran sanctions

Britain's Gordon Brown also announces that 230 more troops will be sent to Afghanistan.

A new China appears amid quake rubble

Some of the change in the wake of the catastrophe may be short-lived, but some, such as the focus on the individual, outpourings of empathy, and an openness to foreign aid, appear lasting, analysts say.

Al Gore embraces Barack Obama

Top of the Ticket: Obama can use help consolidating Democratic support after his prolonged battle with Hillary Clinton.

Candy bombing for 2008

Sixty years after the U.S. dropped chocolate bars on Berlin, it's time to consider new acts of kindness. Part of a Times series on food diplomacy.

Bush never lied to us about Iraq

By James Kirchick The administration simply got bad intelligence. Critics are wrong to assert deception.

H16 American Politics

Americans Predict Obama Will Be Next U.S. President

Swing states Pollster John Zogby identifies key US poll battlegrounds

Obama camp sees possible win without Ohio, Fla.

Salon Why Obama should NOT pick Hillary Clinton as veep Why Obama should pick Hillary Clinton as veep

Robert D. Kaplan / The Current: What Obama Can Learn from Gates

Al Gore / Al's Journal:

My endorsement

Gore Endorses Obama as a Solver of Problems

Democrats expected bigger Obama bounce after nomination

Global Economic Gloom - China and India Notable Exceptions
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project

Wesley Clark: McCAIN IS UNTESTED AND UNTRIED ON NATIONAL SECURITY

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

The Future of the Republican Party

John Heilemann / New York Magazine: The Fall and Rise of Hillary Clinton

The Internet and the 2008 Election
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

H17 Daily Telegraph Barack Obama aide: Why Winnie the Pooh should shape US foreign policy — Winnie the Pooh, Luke Skywalker and British football hooligans could shape the foreign policy of Barack Obama if he becomes US President, according to a key adviser

EU reveals its anti-democratic nature The ugly bullying of Ireland after the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty last week is a stain on the European Union.

Honouring sacrifice in Afghanistan Nato countries need to make a greater commitment to the part of Afghanistan where the fiercest fighting is taking place

Oil prices are 'world's biggest worry'

Gordon Brown has warned that the sharply rising oil price is "the most worrying situation in the world" after it hit a new record high

Rising oil prices - Q&A

Row over leaving Ireland out of EU

Britain rejected Franco-German suggestions to exclude Ireland from EU decision-making after a referendum rejected the treaty.

EU sanctions freeze Iranian bank assets

H18 Independent Bush threatens Iran with military action

George Bush has warned Iran that military action is still "on the table" if it fails to respond to tightening diplomatic pressure to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Leading article: The tragic legacy of a disastrous president

EU leaders firm on ratification despite Ireland's rejection

European Union leaders will call for a breathing space before they try to revive the stalled Treaty of Lisbon following Ireland's rejection of the blueprint.

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

The Principles of War: 6. Concentration of force

U.S. Army War College Guide to National Security Issues
Source: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College Vol. I: Theory of War and Strategy Full Document (PDF; 2.3 MB) Vol. II: National Security Policy and Strategy Full Document (PDF; 1.6 MB)

Intelligence Community Legal Reference Book (PDF; 2.7 MB)
Source: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Office of General Counsel

Al-Qaeda is Like Trotsky: Irrelevant

Know Before You Go: Improving Army Officer Sociocultural Knowledge (PDF; 675 KB)
Source: U.S. Army War College

War of Ideas and the War of Ideas
Source: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College Full Paper (PDF; 317 KB)

Imagine building a 1500 ft tunnel under the center of a Soviet-contolled city. The CIA did it, in secret, under Berlin... more»

The Strategic Threat of Nuclear Terrorism

Tom Lasseter / McClatchy Washington Bureau: U.S. abuse of detainees was routine at Afghanistan bases —

Blackwater's bright future

Biodefence in the 21st Century IPPR
An 8-page paper arguing that the US and UK should collaborate to deal with potential harm from biological resources

H20 Slate The First Excuse

Don't blame sexism for Hillary Clinton's defeat. Christopher Hitchens

Tackling Corruption, Transforming Lives Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Full Report (4.2 MB)

UChannel Feature Week: The IPCC Climate Change Series

Evolution of Climate Science in the IPCC Assessments: Understanding the 20th Century Climate Change

The scientific basis for projections of climate change (in a nutshell)

Adapting to Climate Change: A Business Approach
Source: Pew Center on Global Climate Change Full Report (PDF; 397 KB)

Securitization of Health and Environmental Issues: Process and Effects. A research outline
Source: Institut Français des Relations Internationales (Ifri)

H21 Bookmarking the future

Editoral: Books are starting to migrate in earnest to electronic reading devices

Why We're Happy - Arthur Brooks, Reader's Digest

The Associated Press to Set Guidelines for Using Its Articles in Blogs

Astronomers discover three 'super-Earths' orbiting nearby star

In America, where God and Devil live with science in the age of 9/11, John Milton seems right at home — his Satan a model terrorist... more»

Literary characters. Who would you be, if you could choose? Michael Dirda answers, and means it, when he says: James Bond... more»

Country music knows what it means to be trapped by poverty, a lousy job, lust, and booze. To grasp the USA, just listen... more»

intrigued (and alarmed) by the new science of "neuromarketing", Jeffrey Goldberg peers into his own brain via an MRI machine and learns what he really thinks about Jimmy Carter, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Bruce Springsteen, and Edie Falco

He was taking dead aim at the notion of a state of exception, a notion that lies in the thinking of Carl Schmitt

A conversation about a conversation: Ian McEwan talks with Steven Pinker — or does he?

FRONT PAGE - FIRST SECTION: German groups seek next crop of engineers in the kindergarten

Have We Lost the Moral Values That Undergird a Commercial Society?--Posner

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