TurcoPundit

1 July 2008

July 01, 2008

070108f - 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 Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran

New York Times Iraq to Open Oil Fields for 35 Foreign Companies; Initial No-Bid Contracts Delayed

Washington Post Iraq Opens Oil Fields To Global Bidding More than two dozen companies are selected to bid on long-term contracts to provide services, equipment, training and advice on the country's biggest oil fields. 60% Increase In Output Sought

INTELLIGENCE ON NUCLEAR PROGRAM Ex-Agent Says CIA Ignored Iran Facts

CSIS Assessing US Policy Towards Iran AUDIO (01:15:37 mp3 stream) | VIDEO (01:15:37 wmv) | TRANSCRIPT pdf

Obama's Iraq Problem - George Packer, The New Yorker

CNAS Save the Date: Bipartisan Public Roundtable Discussion With Four Former Secretaries of State on the Future of US Foreign Policy

McCain's Univeralism vs. Obama's Particularism RealClearPolitics

Financial Times Baghdad opens door to foreign developers Iraq invited foreign companies to bid for contracts developing eight of its oil and gas fields, launching a process that will let big international oil companies back into the country for the first time in more than 30 years

Leader Investors in Iraq need to be patient Transparent tendering processes and a broad consensus on the distribution of oil revenues are essential to the country’s political stability

How Obama can avoid the Carter trap Mr Obama has clearly learned some of the lessons of the Carter era: his relentless emphasis on hope and optimism owes much more to Ronald Reagan. But when it comes to foreign policy, he is in clear danger of being branded with the mark of Carter, writes Gideon Rachman

Trade has saved America from recession on America’s reverse coupling Fred Bergsten

IHT DEALING WITH IRAN

The case for talking By JAMES DOBBINS The debate is really about the utility of preventative diplomacy

French to focus on voter discontent during EU term On the eve of the start of the six-month French presidency, officials made it clear that they would seek to reverse the recent no vote by Ireland in a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty to reorganize the EU and would press the Czech Republic to ratify the treaty

The Times Sarkozy mission to save EU hobbled by Germany Nicholas Sarkozy started the six month French presidency of the EU with Germany refusing to ratify the troubled Lison Treaty

Guardian Pride before a fall

Ian Williams: With the US beating the war drums, Iran should consider if its nuclear energy programme is worth the effort

No more war games Ian Buruma: Euro 2008 revealed a more united Europe, in which memories of past conflicts and aggression are being buried ever deeper

This economic panic is pushing the planet right back down the agenda George Monbiot: Oil-dependent countries are focused on growth at all costs, and the pale green political consensus looks unlikely to hold

UPI The Chinese dragon in Middle East politics Enter the Dragon in Middle East politics. No, this is not the title of a remake of an old Bruce Lee film; rather, this title refers to China's new policies in countering Western influence for a piece of the Middle East's most important commodity – oil

The Illusion of Saving Nations From Themselves
by William Pfaff

Washington Post Editorial Last-Minute Missiles The Bush administration rushes to complete premature and costly deals with the Czech Republic and Poland

Christian Science Monitor

U.S. forces to hand over hard-won Anbar Province The Americans are set to transfer control of the once-restive Sunni province to Iraq, but many in Anbar question just how much real power the US is willing to relinquish.

Want democracy in Iraq? Culture matters. Consider what happened with US occupation in Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.

A global war on inflation Many nations have begun to tighten their credit reins in an effort to curb rising prices.

USIP Briefing: Opposition Alliances and Democratization in Egypt

Boston Globe What Bush hath wrought FEW AMERICANS, whatever their political persuasion, will mourn George W. Bush's departure from office. Democrats and Republicans alike are counting the days until the inauguration of a new president will wipe the slate clean. (By Andrew J. Bacevich, Boston Globe)

Rand Shortcomings in Planning for Post-Combat Period in Iraq

National Security Archive Key Documents on Nuclear Policy Issues, 1945-1990

The first chapter from Nuclear Deterrence Theory: The Search for Credibility by Robert Powell.

NYRB Iran: The Threat
By Thomas Powers At a moment of serious challenge, battered by two wars, ballooning debt, and a faltering economy, the United States appears to have lost its capacity to think clearly. Consider what passes for national discussion on the matter of Iran.

Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025

Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq: Quarterly Report (June 2008) (PDF; 588 KB) Source: U.S. Department of Defense

American and European Relations with China SWP
The 144-page report of an international confernece held to discuss transatlantic approaches to relations with China

H 2 Guardian Keep the door wide open to Turkey Peter Luff: The EU should welcome Turkey into the European fold – delaying negotiations risks a political disaster

Turkey's slow-motion coup Bulent Kenes:The AK party closure case is a dark stain on Turkish democracy. The old elite may have less support, but they have more power

FT Turkish oil group looks south Ankara’s state oil company seeks to transform from a local operator into a big Middle East player

Fransa ve Türkiye karşılıklı jestler yapmalı

PKK’ya bu radarı kim verdi?

CHP İncirlik'teki nükleer başlılklı silahları sordu

Rusya, Türkiye'nin birinci ticaret partneri

Ha’aretz – Third round of indirect talks with Syria set to begin in Istabul Syrian officials said to be delaying direct talks until they receive guarantee on American involvement

'Kapatma kararı bile müzakereyi durduramaz'

Demokrasi için TSK’ya övgü

Paris'ten tuhaf çıkış: Ordu demokrasi için önemli rol oynadı

Kapatma davasını için iki farklı ses AKP davası Avrupa'da nasıl yorumlanıyor?

Fransa�nın tercihi �bekle ve gör�

TURKEY: KEY MEETING ON CYPRUS COULD HAVE LARGE IMPACT ON ANKARA’S ... EurasiaNet

Armenia: Presidential Visit to Russia Sparks Speculation on Turkish-Armenian Relations The venue for Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s first official visit abroad -- Moscow -- came as no surprise. But, in a potential sign of a fresh Armenian foreign policy initiative, it was Turkey that stole the show

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

Denying Hersh’s report, US envoy refers to PJAK as terrorist

Van'ı geçiş üssü yapan PKK büyük eylemler peşinde

Wilson: PJAK terörist bir örgüttür

Iraqi Experts Discuss Kurdistan Premier's Statement on Oil, Six- Sided Committee

Iraqi President Receives US Republican Candidate; Roundup

Cevdet Aşkın

[Yorum - Süreyya Ciliv] İzmir'i keşfeden Batmanlı genç, bu ülkenin tadını alır

Hakan Aygün Anti-PKK'cı ama PEJAK'çı ABD'nin stratejileri...

Finnish report about North Iraq

IT'S SNOWING: HERSH, THE NEW YORKER, AND PJAK By Mizgîn

Two countries, same problem with separatists

In Kirkuk, police rule

Öcalan’a kamera zırhı

İran gazı Türkiye üzerinden Avrupa'ya ulaşacak

İran: Lavrov Türkiye ile İran'ı görüşecek

- Dışişleri Bakanlığı'ndan 'Enver İbrahim' açıklaması

3 terörist teslim oldu, 1 terörist yakalandı

Başbakan Erdoğan, Foxman'ı kabul etti

Baykal’ın yerine Talabani seçildi

İlaçlar yine eczaneden

Enver İbrahim, hükümet güvencesi üzerine Türk elçiliğinden ayrıldı

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

Selçuk Gültaşlı Fransa'dan "ordu"lu siftah

"AKP neden Berlusconi'ye rüşvet veriyor?"

Russia’s Lavrov visiting Ankara to discuss array of collaborative activities

Muhalefet mahkemenin siyasi kararından yarar sağlama peşinde

BM’nin yeni Kıbrıs özel temsilcisi Downer

Kerim Balcı Peace of no choice in Cyprus

STELYO BERBERAKİS
Talabani başkan yardımcısı oldu

Sarko-Türkiye şov başlıyor

Kıbrıs�ta üçüncü zirve

Lüksemburg: Kapatma süreci durdurmaz

Lavrov to Discuss Bilateral Relations, Int'L Problems in Turkey

İran gazı Türkiye üzerinden Avrupa'ya ulaşacak

'Türkiye'nin üyeliği AB için siyasi gol olur'

55 Fransız vekil Türkiye aleyhtarı bildiri yayınladı

Cyprus compromise Yusuf KANLI

Impressions from a visit to Cyprus
Sylvia TİRYAKİ

Fethullah Gülen versus Ayatollah Khomeini? Ziya MERAL

Murat Yülek Better institutions make for better EU (and UEFA)

Kıbrıs'ta kuraklık

Adanın kuzeyinde kuraklıkla nasıl mücadele ediliyor?

Kapatma davası Türkiye'nin AB ümidini sonsuza kadar bitirir

CHP’yi ihraç gündem dışı

Talat ve Hristofyas bir araya geliyor

SI to probe CHP over violations

Baykal out, Talabani candidate for VP position at SI

US economy, the world, and Turkey

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Artık KOBİ'ler de orduya silah üretecek

Evde mini cephanelik

Gözaltını mertçe savunamıyorsunuz

1 Temmuz 2008 Basın Özeti

H3 Emekli Org. Tolon ve Eruygur gözaltında

Ergenekon'da şok gelişmeler

Gözaltıların zamanlamasında dikkat çeken 3 nokta

Cumhuriyet gazetesi Ankara bürosunda arama yapılıyor

1. Cebiyle vicdanı arasında kalan seçmen partisini arıyor

İmzalar tamamlandı Sarıkız haftaya Meclis'te

Başsavcı'nın son sözü

Güdülmeyi sindiremem

Bakanlık, ‘izleme’ kararlarını istedi

‘Telekulak’ iddiaları Meclis’te

Başsavcı Ergin: Gözaltılardan haberim yok

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

Cengiz Çandar Eyvah modu

Ahmet Taşgetiren Ben Ali Bulaç gibi düşünmüyorum Diri diri gömülen kız çocuğuna sorulduğu zaman...

Ruşen - Çakır Bu dava neyi çözecek?

Bilal Çetin Erken seçim kararı nasıl çıkar?

Taha Akyol Türkiye’nin merkez sol ihtiyacı

Fikret Bila Baykal: Sonuç bildirgesini görmek istedim

Hasan Cemal

Murat Yetkin

İsmet Berkan Kapatsanız ne olur, kapatmasanız ne olur?

Askerin yıpranmamasının yolu
HASAN CELAL GÜZEL

Fehmi Koru

Taha Kıvanç

Şamil Tayyar

Ali Bayramoğlu Baykal'ın acıklı hali ve Türk sosyal demokrasinin serencamı Krizlere son vermenin son yolu...

Ekrem Dumanlı MHP'nin kaderi

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Medya danalarının Viyana hatırası

Eyüp Can AKP kapatılırsa ekonomi ne olacak?

Ahmet Hakan

M Ali Birand

Cüneyt Ülsever

Enis BerberoğluMeğer Malezya’nın hünsası meşhurmuş

Nuray Başaran Rutin amatörlük

Lale Sarıibrahimoğlu Fehriye Erdal case and the state of Turkish law

Yiğit Bulut TSK’ya kimler, neden saldırıyor?

Oktay Ekşi

Özdemir İnce İslamcı AKP’ye karşı olmadan darbeye karşı olunamaz

Yalçın Doğan Sorun SE Başkan Yardımcılığı

Mehmet Y Yılmaz

Bülent Korucu Parlamento'nun darbe ile imtihanı

İhsan Dağı CHP, Kemalizm ve sol

Mümtazer Türköne 15 yıl sonra Madımak

CHP ve Sosyalist Enternasyonal...
ORAL ÇALIŞLAR

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

Morfin çarpan TMO ihalesi

ERDAL ŞAFAKDönüş

ENGİN ARDIÇ

ERGUN BABAHAN Cemaatler ülkesi

EMRE AKÖZ Elbette eleştirilecek

Umur TaluHattı... sathı...

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

NAZLI ILICAKCHP solcu mu, sağcı mı?

MEHMET BARLAS Önce şu parti kapatma travmalarını atlatmamız gerekiyor...

MAHMUT ÖVÜR Suç CHP'de mi SE'de mi?

YAVUZ DONAT44-Malatya, 45-Manisa... 1.172 kilometre

Fethullah Gülen versus Ayatollah Khomeini? Ziya MERAL

Andrew Finkel Class revisited

Derya Sazak CHP’nin dramı

Zülfü Livaneli

CHP’nin solla ne ilgisi var?

MELİHA OKUR
Vizyon küresel uygulama yerel...

İlter Türkmen Kavga dürtüsü

Sabahattin Önkibar AKP medyası TSK'ya Yunan ve diaspora medyasından daha alçakça saldırıyor!

Demokrasinin namusu için 20 vekil aranıyor!

İlaç krizi son anda aşıldı

Bir mektup da Mustafa Sarıgül'den

İlaçlar yine eczaneden

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Şaşırtan büyüme değil tüketimdeki artış

Ercan Kumcu Çözüm yollarını değiştirmek gerekiyor

Erdal Sağlam

Büyüme sürpriz yaptı, ama iyimserlik için henüz erken

Lakshmi Mittal Referans'a açıkladı: Türkiye'ye yatırımlarımız stratejik

Güngör Uras İşler kötü sanıyorduk ‘Büyümüşüz’

Hurşit Güneş Çelişkili veri: Makine teçhizatta deli gibi yatırım var, ama inşaat çöküyor

Türkiye'nin dış borç stoku 144.7 milyar dolar

İlk çeyrek büyüme rakamı yanıltmasın
MAHFİ EĞİLMEZ

TÜİK'ten sürpriz: Türkiye ilk çeyrekte yüzde 6,6 büyüdü

Dış ticaret açığı 5 ayda 30 milyar dolara ulaştı

Seyfettin Gürsel Şaşırtıcı büyüme

Güven Sak Asıl kriz şimdi başlıyor

[Röportaj] 'Cari açık vermeyelim' demek, ülkenin büyümeden vazgeçmesi anlamına gelir

Doğalgaz zammı Erdoğan'dan döndü

H4 New York Times Iraq to Open Oil Fields for 35 Foreign Companies; Initial No-Bid Contracts Delayed

DAVID BROOKS Obama’s Money Class The real core of Barack Obama’s financial support are not just small donors but the rising class of information age analysts.

BOB HERBERT ‘Oh Happy Day’

Being a Western oil giant with a no-bid contract in Iraq is a prize, yes. But at what cost?

The South Will Fall Again

By THOMAS F. SCHALLER

Barack Obama’s strategists are suggesting that he will be able to parlay increased turnout among black voters into a string of victories in the South. They are wrong.

Obama and Bill Clinton Talk

RAND Releases Delayed Iraq History

Campaign Flashpoint: Patriotism and Service

Editorial

A Threat Renewed A Ragtag Insurgency Gains a Qaeda Lifeline Since joining Al Qaeda, a group of Algerian militants has been transformed from a nationalist insurgency to a force in the global jihad

Wounded Iraqi Forces Say They’ve Been Abandoned

Evidence Faulted in Detainee Case The text of a decision shows some derision for the Bush administration’s arguments in the case of a detainee held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for more than six years

Promise of Biofuel Clouded by Weather Risks Recent storms and floods have highlighted the risks of an economy that has grown more dependent on corn for fuel

India Leader Struggles to Complete Nuclear Deal

Khurais Oil Field Journal: Saudi Oil Project Brings Skepticism to the Surface

U.N. Personnel Increasingly Under Attack, Study Finds

H5 Washington Post Editorial Last-Minute Missiles The Bush administration rushes to complete premature and costly deals with the Czech Republic and Poland

Iraq Opens Oil Fields To Global Bidding More than two dozen companies are selected to bid on long-term contracts to provide services, equipment, training and advice on the country's biggest oil fields. 60% Increase In Output Sought

INTELLIGENCE ON NUCLEAR PROGRAM Ex-Agent Says CIA Ignored Iran Facts

Who's Behind High Prices By Robert J. Samuelson, Speculator-bashing is another exercise in scapegoating and grandstanding.

Put Them Out to Pastor By Richard Cohen, Pandering to the religious vote does as much harm as good.

Bush's Parting Shots? By Eugene Robinson, George W. Bush's presidency seems exhausted and irrelevant, but that's a dangerous illusion.

The Court vs. Voters By E. J. Dionne Jr., Is control of the Supreme Court the last best hope for the conservative movement?

Put Them Out to Pastor By Richard Cohen, Pandering to the religious vote does as much harm as good.

New Charges for Jailed Russian Tycoon and Kremlin Foe

H6 Guardian Pride before a fall

Ian Williams: With the US beating the war drums, Iran should consider if its nuclear energy programme is worth the effort

No more war games Ian Buruma: Euro 2008 revealed a more united Europe, in which memories of past conflicts and aggression are being buried ever deeper

This economic panic is pushing the planet right back down the agenda

George Monbiot: Oil-dependent countries are focused on growth at all costs, and the pale green political consensus looks unlikely to hold

Sarkozy pledges to restore trust in EU French president tries to turn the EU's crisis into an opportunity to make unloved union more popular

This is no police state Martin Kettle: What liberty means to me: The state is a necessary good, not a necessary evil, but it has interests that are not always compatible with individual freedoms

Creative capitalism Conor Clarke: Bill Gates thinks that capitalism can be harnessed to serve the world's poor and disadvantaged. But can it?

The US must negotiate with Iran

Shirley Williams: An Israeli attack would be disastrous, but sanctions won't work. Dialogue with the US is our best hope of avoiding a nuclear Iran

Eurozone interest rates set to rise

European Central Bank hopes to rein in soaring inflation across the 13 eurozone member countries

Graphic: How the credit crunch has hit (pdf)

Bill and Barack put the rows behind them Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are on speaking terms once more, the Obama campaign reports

Middle East: Death sentence for Iranian who spied on nuclear project

Abkhazia closes border with Georgia after blast Abkhazia accuses Georgia of terrorism as two people are injured by bomb explosion in Sukhumi

US election: John McCain rebuts assault on his wartime record

H 7

Daily Star A tough hurdle as Iraqis talk security with Washington
By Safa A. Hussein

Iran, West Up the Ante By: Rachelle Kliger | The Media Line
Tension between Iran and the West is reaching a climax, with a heightened exchange of verbal threats and what appear to be preparations in Iran, Israel and the United States for a military showdown.

Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq: Quarterly Report (June 2008) (PDF; 588 KB) Source: U.S. Department of Defense

BBC Webb's America Is Gates gutsy enough to prevent an attack on Iran?

Is there a new Washington Consensus? Dani Rodrik wants to know

Al Hayat Will Moderate Leaders Pay the Price for Appeasement Bargains in the Region? Raghida Dergham (Paris) -Welcome to the grand bargain whose elements, it is said, are being formulated between the major powers and Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas, and in which Israel plays a pivotal role, as long as this grand bargain holds the major issues

Interview with Arab League Sec-Gen Amr Musa

Daily Star Bush could do himself a favor by heeding Iran's warnings

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

Syrian Foreign Minister Says Syrian-Israeli Talks "Preparatory" for Direct Talks

Saudi Arabia Prepares to Tap Massive Oil Field

BBC Iraq seeking help to develop oil

Iraq begins the process of opening up its oil industry to foreign investment to help boost its production.

Challenge of exploiting Iraq's oil

Jordan to dispatch Iraqi ambassador 'soon'

Iraqi lawmaker speaks out against PMOI

Iraq Sues Companies Over Oil-for-Food Program

H9 Ha’aretz – Third round of indirect talks with Syria set to begin in Istabul Syrian officials said to be delaying direct talks until they receive guarantee on American involvement

New law: Israel to cede land only by referendum Netanyahu: In tiny Israel, governments can concede land with unbearable ease

How "respectful" will the 2008 election be? (WTR)

Poll: 76% of Israelis feel safer as Jews in Israel than in Diaspora Survey of Israeli Attitudes toward World Jewry: 82% of Israelis feel corruption probes hurt Israel's image

Salafis in Gaza: A Religous Alternative to HamasHamas worried about rise in support for religious sects

On Olmert's watch To restore credibility of its deterrence, Israel must declare that it will strike, without mercy, the entire chain of command of the groups that carry out abductions.

Image Still Under Renovation By: Shmuel Rosner | Haaretz
The United States does not want a flare-up in Gaza for many reasons, but one of these is the fear a military escapade could end in mishap.

ANALYSIS / Prisoner swap is capitulation to blackmail by terrorists

Jerusalem Post Encountering Peace: Palestinian nationalism is the mirror of Zionism [ GERSHON BASKIN

Our World: Livni the leader, or Livni the lamb? [ CAROLINE GLICK

Yedioth Ahronoth 'Peace talks need new push' Syria's Assad dubs Mideast political climate 'positive', calls on EU to renew its role in region

Hizbullah won again

Prisoner swap victory for terrorist group, but it didn’t get all it wanted, Roee Nahmias says

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

Daily Star Some required measures to move beyond the Gaza cease-fire
By Abraham B. Yehoshua

Chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Visits Israel

France, U.S. and UK Reject UN Condemnation of Israeli Settlements

Agreement on the Release of Israel's Missing and Captive Soldiers in Lebanon (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

H1 0 Christian Science Monitor

Want democracy in Iraq? Culture matters. Consider what happened with US occupation in Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.

A global war on inflation Many nations have begun to tighten their credit reins in an effort to curb rising prices.

Obama, McCain campaigns go global The two presidential candidates plan trips abroad to build their foreign-policy credentials.

ASIA

Pakistan's odd dance with the Taliban By Mustafa Malik

Carnegie A Clear Strategic Vision for Asia

International Crisis Group South Korea's Elections: A Shift to the Right

"Briefing for the New President: The Terrorist Threat in Indonesia and Southeast Asia", Sidney Jones in The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

American and European Relations with China SWP
The 144-page report of an international confernece held to discuss transatlantic approaches to relations with China

The EU's Strategic Economic Dialogue with China SWP This 4-page German commentary considers trade policy issues between the EU and China

The Chinese dragon in Middle East politics Enter the Dragon in Middle East politics. No, this is not the title of a remake of an old Bruce Lee film; rather, this title refers to China's new policies in countering Western influence for a piece of the Middle East's most important commodity -- oil.

Asia Times Smoke and mirrors in the Khyber Valley Pakistan is trumpeting the success of military operations at the weekend in the Khyber Agency against the Taliban, and Washington will be pleased that Islamabad is finally taking action. The trouble is, the offensive was launched in the wrong area and against the wrong people, leaving the "real" Taliban well alone. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

Rare Bush success leaves sour taste North Korea's symbolic destruction of a tower at its Yongbyon plutonium plant was a rare hint of success for the stained foreign policy scorecard of US President George W Bush. But this is just the start of an uncertain process - and potential crisis - that Bush will leave to his successor. - Jim Lobe

Desperate Delhi wheels and deals The Indian coalition government has made friends with former foes in a final bid to move ahead with a civilian nuclear deal with the United States. The high-risk move could end in early general elections, and might already be too late. - Sudha Ramachandran

McClatchy Criticism grows as Pakistani military pursues limited offensive Pakistan's fitful military operation against Islamist extremists pushed into its third day Monday, but there was no sign of overt combat — and growing criticism of the army's failure to crack down on the Taliban and al Qaida, which operate out of the country's lawless tribal belt.

Some Are Ignoring Indonesia's Tolerant Brand of Islam By: Mujtaba Hamdi | The Daily Star
It's a very disappointing day for democracy when supporters of religious tolerance are publicly beaten. But that is precisely what happened this month in Jakarta when 200 activists of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) suddenly stormed Monas Square where supporters of the Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Belief (AKKBB) were holding a peaceful rally.

Taiwan's Way With Dignity By: Hisahiko Okazaki | The Japan Times
When conducting cross-strait talks with China, Taiwan must be careful never to give in on the issue of sovereignty or to accept any unilateral arms restrictions.

A Bumpy Passage Through India By: Joe Leahy | Financial Times
Inadequate transport frameworks and power capacity are increasingly limiting the country’s economic potential.

e Path Through Pakistan to a Shorter War on Terror By: Xenia Dormandy | The Christian Science Monitor
While we can debate whether Pakistan is the "epicenter of terrorism," as Adm. Mike Mullen stated earlier this month, it is clear that the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a haven for members of terrorist groups that wish to do great harm to the United States.

H11 IHT DEALING WITH IRAN

The case for talking By JAMES DOBBINS The debate is really about the utility of preventative diplomacy

A Sarkozy spin as France rejoins NATO command Nicolas Sarkozy, 42 years after Charles de Gaulle's decision to pull out of NATO's integrated military structure, thinks there's no more profit in France being seen as a reflex antagonist of the United States

Inflation, oil dependence and the Fed's next step A systematic plan for reducing the nation's dependence on oil should be a priority for policy makers.

Stunned France wonders how military exercise went wrong

EUROPE European press review

The Economist France and the European Union presidency Nicolas Sarkozy’s European apotheosis

CEPS The Evolution of Flexible Integration in European Defence Policy: Is permanent structured cooperation a leap forward for the Common Security and Defence Policy?

The EUs New Black Sea Policy - What kind of regionalism is this?

Sarkozy's Plans Tempered By: Baptiste Etchegary | The Washington Times French President Nicolas Sarkozy begins a six-month term as leader of the European Union on Tuesday, providing a high-profile platform for a theme that helped him woo French voters just over a year ago - "France back in Europe."

Life After Death in EU By: Andrej Benedejcic | The Moscow Times
According to a Brussels anecdote, the main revelation of every European Union presidency at the end of its six-month stint is that there is life after death after all.

BBC Warning as France takes EU helm French President Nicolas Sarkozy says "something isn't right" with the EU as France takes over the presidency.

France set for lively presidency

Can French flair beat EU blues?

Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty

Working conditions in the European Union: Employment security and employability - Executive summary
Source: Eurofound Full Document (PDF; 53 KB)

What Good Is Wealth Without Health? The Effect of Health on the Marginal Utility of Consumption
Source: Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Faculty Research Working Paper Series

European Agricultural Reform and WTO Negotiations in Parallel SWP An 8-page German commentary considering the future of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy

The EU's Strategic Economic Dialogue with China SWP This 4-page German commentary considers trade policy issues between the EU and China

Creating the European External Action Service SWP
This 8-page German commentary sets out preconditions for a successful EEAS

The New Enhanced Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine FRIDE
This 24-page Spanish working paper examines the likely effect of the new enhanced agreement between the EU and Ukraine on that country's political future

H12 RFE/RL

Google News Azerbaijan

Carnegie Russian Civil-Military Relations: Putin's Legacy

Report Highlights a Democratization Decline in the South Caucasus States in the South Caucasus are following a trend in the former Soviet Union, under which abundant energy wealth is helping to grease the wheels of a decline in democratic values, according to an annual report prepared by the democratization watchdog group Freedom House.

Central Asia: Western Democracies Enable "Petro-Authoritarianism" - Report
Driven by "petro-authoritarianism," the countries of Central Asia are thoroughly throttling democratization, according to an annual survey conducted by the watchdog group Freedom House.

Benefit From a Deadlock By: Alexander Gabuev | Kommersant
Tbilisi offered Moscow a cluster of measures to settle the Georgia-Abkhazia conflict, which virtually suggests carving Abkhazia into zones of influence – a large Russian area and a smaller Georgian one – with Georgia formally establishing its sovereignty in the entire republic

H13 The Times Iraq opens oilfields to international deals

Big international companies sour deals by refusing to sign small, short-term contracts after Iraq opens its oilfields

Oiling Iraq's Revival The money essential for reconstruction may at last begin to flow

Sarkozy mission to save EU hobbled by Germany Nicholas Sarkozy started the six month French presidency of the EU with Germany refusing to ratify the troubled Lison Treaty

Obama attacks ‘poison of patriotism’ Barack Obama sought to distance himself from those of his supporters who have demeaned John McCain's military service

Dealing with the enemy

Israel’s military has, since its birth 60 years ago, nurtured the spirit of 'never leave a man behind'

Wall Street Journal We Can Lower Oil Prices Now
By Martin Feldstein
Expectations of greater future supplies will have an immediate impact.

French Priorities at the EU
Detaining immigrants, defending CAP and tripping up Doha.

Global Warming as Mass Neurosis

By Bret Stephens
Global View: A tonic to be proffered to the ill of soul.

John McCain's JFK Opportunity

By William McGurn
Main Street:
Obama is vulnerable on foreign affairs.

Monsieur Obama's Tax Rates

His French-style policies could turn Americans into the world's foremost fiscal prisoners.

Tortured Evidence

An untold interrogation story.

North Korea's Trail of Kidnapping and Terror
By Melanie Kirkpatrick
Pyongyang should have been held to account.

H14 Financial Times Baghdad opens door to foreign developers

Iraq invited foreign companies to bid for contracts developing eight of its oil and gas fields, launching a process that will let big international oil companies back into the country for the first time in more than 30 years

Leader Investors in Iraq need to be patient Transparent tendering processes and a broad consensus on the distribution of oil revenues are essential to the country’s political stability

Trade has saved America from recession on America’s reverse coupling Fred Bergsten

Tough love The European Central Bank must raise rates by a quarter point, as expected. Its credibility would would be badly dented by any other course of action

Saudis have no magic wand It was unrealistic to expect a dramatic outcome in Jeddah given the conflicting pressures on the kingdom, writes Roula Khalaf

Spanish triumph Gideon Rachman’s blog: I’m sure winning Euro 2008 will create a huge “feel good factor”. But, alas, I suspect regional tensions will remain

Kuwait plans for Iranian oil blockade

‘Precautionary plans’ to export Kuwaiti crude if Iran closes a sea route vital to Gulf oil producers are in place but not yet finalised, says head of state oil company

Eurozone inflation soars to new high

June figure is the highest since 1999, new data showed as opposition mounted to a widely expected move by the European Central Bank to raise its main interest rate later this week

H15 Los Angeles Times Can Obama rescue Bush?

By JONAH GOLDBERG If the Democrat wins the White House and does his job right, he just might make his predecessor look good.

Foreign companies bid to boost Iraqi oil production Seven U.S. firms are among those selected to bid for contracts to boost the production of eight underperforming oil and gas fields.

Editorial

McCain's record on energy is on and off The Republican presidential candidate has swerved from one position to another over the years, taking often contradictory stances on the government's role in energy policy

Barack Obama pushes patriotism

H16 American Politics

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

From Newsweek, Mr. Obama’s Washington: He wants to change the culture there, but it's hard to fix a place you've never really known

McClatchy Does Obama's rise mean less clout for Democratic centrists?

Analysis: On immigration, Obama and McCain generally agree

The America We Love - Senator Barack Obama, Independence, Missouri

Obama talks to Bill Clinton

Obama's VP Conundrum - John Heilemann, New York Magazine

Romney Tops McCain Veep List - Mike Allen, The Politico

Voter Turnout up 7 Million in 2006
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The float vote: If you want to know who'll pick the next president, just use the formula 4M + 2M.

H17 Daily Telegraph Sarkozy's cold leftovers Nicholas Sarkozy has been cooking up a grand menu of achievements for France's six-month presidency of the European Union

Key points of Sarkozy's EU plan

In-fighting stalled bin Laden hunt

White House blocked Pentagon plan for pursuit in Pakistan.

Britain facing terrorist threat until 2038 Britain will be vulnerable to terrorist attack for another three decades, report warns

Champions at sitting on our backsides Producing Britons capable of holding their own against the world's best requires us to drag our mollycoddled children into the real world, says Boris Johnson.

Korea deal 'like truce with Mafia'

Negotiating with North Korea is like the police sitting down with the Mafia to discuss their common interest in law-enforcement, notes John Bolton.

H18 Independent BP chief blames states, not speculators, for record oil prices

Revealed: the infighting that has hobbled hunt for Bin Laden

Disagreements within the Bush administration blamed for failure of the US to defeat al-Qa'ida

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025

The first chapter from Nuclear Deterrence Theory: The Search for Credibility by Robert Powell.

EXCLUSIVE: How the FBI Botched the Anthrax Case

Halting Widespread or Systematic Attacks Against Civilians: Military Strategies and Operational Concepts Stimson Center
The 54-page report of a workshop held to glean lessons from military leaders involved in protecting civilian populations from attack

H20 Slate

Prospect, an interview with Nicholas Stern on global warming; and Mark Hannam, Jonathan Ford, John Gieve, Anatole Kaletsky, George Soros and Martin Wolf debate how to stop the next bubble

Wind Power in the United States: Technology, Economic, and Policy Issues (PDF; 663 KB) Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of AMerican Scientists)

CFR Food Prices

H21

In the 19th century, poetry had a mass audience, says Jay Parini. But in the 20th century, poetry decided to get “difficult,” to require footnotes... more»

Readers are incurable fabulists. Take that ordinary chap, Franz Kafka. We prefer him as a man of metaphysical mystery... more»

Isn't It Funny? By Mary Beard Laughter is one of the most treacherous of all fields of history. Like sex and eating, it is an absolutely universal human phenomenon, and at the same time something that is highly culturally and chronologically specific

Felipe Fernandez-Armesto considers why soccer will never score highly in the US.

The new economics and the pursuit of happiness: Alan Wolfe reviews Happiness: A Revolution in Economics by Bruno S. Frey and Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely.

death of life writing: Celebrity memoirs, breathless lives of 18th-century socialites and countless royal mistresses — whatever happened to the golden age of biography?

There's more of it than you think

By SASWATO R. DAS

A wide-ranging study of the incidence of scientific fraud in the United States reveals that scientists resort to fraud more commonly than we think.