TurcoPundit

4 July 2008

July 04, 2008

070408f - 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H1 The Economist What a way to run the world Global institutions are an outdated muddle; the rise of Asia makes their reform a priority for the West

The oil price Don’t blame the speculators Politicians who try to make oil cheaper by restraining speculation will just make things worse

• 'How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war?' by Yossi Melman, Haaretz

New York Times Obama Fuels Pullout Debate With Remarks The changing dynamics in Iraq have posed a challenge for Barack Obama, who said Thursday that he might “refine” his policies but later held a second news conference to clarify his first statement

Editorial New and Not Improved

Barack Obama’s shifts are striking because he was the candidate who proposed to change the face of politics. Yet now there seems to be a new Mr. Obama on the hustings

Washington Post Obama May Consider Slowing Iraq Withdrawal

Candidate Says He Remains Committed to Ending War

Obama the Cynic, Part II By Charles Krauthammer, Obama's change of heart on Iraq is has come even sooner than I predicted.

Rise of Awakening Groups Sets Off A Struggle for Power Among Sunnis

He's No Decider, He's a Ditherer By: Daniel Benjamin | The Washington Post George W. Bush's reckless, impulsive decision to invade Iraq, the argument goes, opened the door for Iran's ascendancy, distracted the United States from pursuing al-Qaeda more effectively in Afghanistan and Pakistan, diverted Western attention from a worsening relationship with Russia and so on.

Debate Over Guantanamo's Fate Intensifies

Financial Times Tehran returns to hard line on nuclear activity Iran yesterday sought to quell speculation that it was about to bow to inter-national demands for a -suspension of its nuclear programme, insisting that the more...

Japan goes missing: invisible host at the summit Japan’s pre-eminent interest lies in working to extend and strengthen the rules-based international order to draw in China and other rising powers. More than anything else, this part of the world needs a robust mutual security system, writes Philip Stephens

Closer ties to Russia will profit all of Europe Businesses in the EU and Russia are looking forward to official talks in the expectation that formal links between the two economies might match the maturing business relationship, say Nils Andersen and Anatoly Chubais

WORLD NEWS: Iraq seeks to reassure on fairness as it opens industry to foreign bidders

Asia Times Iran warms to freeze-for-freeze plan The offer has been touted for some years, now there are indications Tehran is prepared to commit to a six-week freeze on any expansion of its uranium-enrichment activities. In return, the six countries dealing with its nuclear dossier will halt any movement towards tougher sanctions against Iran. - Gareth Porter

Israel Won't Move Without U.S. Approval - Yossi Melman (Washington Post)

Is There Really a Window of Opportunity for Negotiations with Syria? - Shlomo Brom. (Strategic Assessment-INSS-Tel Aviv University)

Guardian Biofuels are prime cause of food crisis - leaked report Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% says confidential World Bank report

Big Oil's Iraq deals are the greatest stick-up in history Naomi Klein: The country's invaders should be paying billions in reparations not using the war as a reason to pillage its richest resource

Iran gives mixed signals over nuclear Tehran yet to respond to new incentives package offer despite warnings from Israel and the US

Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Lord chief justice's remarks echo the comments made by the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams

Daily Telegraph America softens stance on Iran US and allies quietly watered down their strategy on Iran's nuclear programme, pledging no more economic sanctions if Tehran keeps its enrichment of uranium at present levels. Analysis: Has Bush gone soft?

Admiral Mike Mullen warns the West There are two ways of interpreting this week's warning by America's top military officer, says Con Coughlin.

Iran remains a threat to Israel It should not be forgotten that Tehran's policy, enunciated most forcefully by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is the destruction of Israel.

The Times Obama is giving his party whiplash The Democratic nominee's policy pivots are causing anguish among liberals. He is no fool Gerard Baker

Obama hints at U-turn on Iraq withdrawal Democratic nominee admits he is ready to 'refine' his plan to pull-out all US combat troops within 16 months of taking office

Russia: biggest threat after al-Qaeda and Iran British security services fear that Russia’s three main intelligence agencies have now flooded the country with agents

IHT DOHA ROUND

The moment of truth

By PASCAL LAMY We have so much to gain by reaching an accord, and so much to loose by failing to close a deal.

EurasiaNet Russian President Strives for a Breakthrough Moment in Caspian Basin Energy Game BY STEPHEN BLANK

Azerbaijan: Medvedev Makes Splash in Baku, But is it More Style than Substance?

Independent Muslims feel like 'Jews of Europe' Britain's first Muslim minister has attacked the growing culture of hostility against Muslims in the United Kingdom, saying that many feel targeted like "the Jews of Europe".

The Executive Office of the President: Theory and Practice

US Arms Dealer Tests Legal Bounds in Middle East Arms Bazaar (Sharon Weinberger/Wired News)

H2 By Amir Taheri Turkey: Legal Coup D’etat Won’t Work Asharq Alawsat

"Bush sağlam demokrasi istiyor"

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL

Türk Milli Nükleer Vurucu Misyonu!..

Guardian Turkey's ruling party fights for survival

BBC Turkish party fights for survival

Press Briefing by Dana Perino I wonder if President Bush is concerned about democracy in Turkey, a US ally and a NATO member.

Cartwright visits Ankara, discusses anti-PKK fight

Inside the Ring Washington Times, Defense officials say the Pentagon is quietly planning large-scale troop withdrawals from Iraq and could use Turkey

Group Planned Gradual Coup In Turkey: Media

Top US general talks PKK with Ankara

ABD’li komutanın sürpriz ziyareti

Senior US general in Turkey for talks on Kurdish rebels: official

ABD'li komutan sınır güvenliğinden memnun

BASBUG ISSUES CALL FOR CALM AMID DEEPENING POLITICAL CRISIS

Asia Times Turkey rocked by arrests David Barchard

'Türkler para kazanır' gerginliği

Türkiye'den banka alan bazı yabancılar pişman oldu

Trouble at home, but Turkey gains strength abroad The National,

Is Erdoğan's fate connected to the Iranian file? Jody SABRAL

Gulfnews: Turkey faces a litmus test

İncirlik bombası

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

Company’s oil deal with Kurds raises questions on policy

Cevdet Aşkın

Abant Platform hosts workshop to address Kurdish issue

Bush’un destekçisine Kürtlerle petrol kıyağı

Suriye görüşmelere devam etme kararı aldı

Kurdistan issues in press interviews: Kurdistan Region PM ...

Turkish MPs, Egyptian Official Discuss EU, Energy, Middle East

Olmert: Artık masaya oturmalıyız

Abant Platformu'nda Kürt sorunu konuşuluyor

Turkey and Iraqi Kurds Agree to Disagree on PKK’s Terrorist Status

Turkish Foreign Ministry: Erdogan Unlikely to Meet KRG Officials in Iraq

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

Zeynel Lüle AB sineması

Sami Kohen Kıbrıs’ta “tek egemenlik” tartışması

Barçın Yinanç Rusya'dan enerji rüzgârı sert esiyor

KKTC lideri Talat: Egemenliği vermiyoruz ortak oluyoruz

Müzakere 1 Eylül�de

Turkey rejects reference to MedUnion in Euromed declaration

Etyen Mahçupyan How should Europe act vis-à-vis Turkey?

Ergenekon Ege’yi de karıştırır mı?

CHP’nin Avrupa’daki yüzü Kader Sevinç olacak

Talat: Egemenlik yeni ortaklıkta paylaşılıyor

Yunanistan: Türkiye kritik bir dönem yaşıyor,,

AKPM Başkanı, muhalefetin eleştirilerini yanıtladı

Medvedev: Azerbaycan Kafkasya'daki stratejik ortak

Rusya Azerbaycan ile enerji bağlarını tazelemek is

Straits in dire straits, Turkey tells Russia

Detentions law enforcement matter, US says

Baykal ABD yasağını kaldırdı

Soykırım iddialarına karşı AGİT'ten Türk tezine onay

Ege'de Türk jetlerine Yunan tacizi

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Milli Takım’a bakıyorum, gözlerim İrlandalı TANIL BORA

Turkey To Join Kyoto Protocol

Malatya katliamında 9. duruşma

H3 ‘Orduevindeki ofisinden fişleme kayıtları çıktı’

Paşa'nın ofisinden fişleme belgeleri çıktı

Paşalara 2 Temmuz baskınının sırrı

Paksüt: Kapatma davası dört beş haftada biter

Derin Ergenekon’un gizli anayasası paşanın evinde

Erdoğan suikastı DHKP-C örgütüne ihale edilmiş

Başbakan'a 7 suikast girişimi

Savcı beni muhbir yapmak istedi

Sarızeybek: Savcı Öz beni baskı altına aldı

Başbakan: Tehdit alıyorum

Asıl bomba bu

Söz savunmanın

Denktaş’ın askerin müdahalesini beklediği gece

Başbakan: Ergenekon’da sonuna kadar gidilecek

Sahte Yeşil Gürbüz Gazi provokatörü...

Örgüt var mı yok mu

İddianame dilinde TSK için ’ince ayar’

Susurluk silahlarını saklayan isim o mu?

Baykal: Türkiye cadı kazanına çekiliyor

İddianameyi Başbakan mı yazıyor?

Erdoğan: A, B, C planı vardır

MHP'den Hilmi Özkök'ün çağrısına destek

Çiçek AKP'yi 7 saat savundu

Bahçeli: Gül bu süreçte devreye girsin

Öz, günlüğü Örnek’e sormamış

AKP ‘HAKPAR kararı’na sarıldı

Ergenekon’da 1 tutuklama, 5 kişi serbest

Paksüt: Raportör raporunu kısa sürece sunacak

DSP'de istifa gerginliği?

‘Genelkurmay’ın planı’ Meclis gündeminde

Sarızeybek: Kitapta ne yazıyorsa o

İddianameye TSK ayarı

Köşk'te görüşme olağan, beklenti olağanüstü

Çömez'den kaçış oyunu

Ergenekon- DHKP-C bağı

Aygün'den Glock ricası

Ergenekon'da kim kimdir?

'Küçük Yeşil'in Gazi sırrı

"AKP ve DTP'nin kapatılması muhtemel"

Ergenekon bombaları patlatılmış

Orgeneralin aradığı vekil Mengü

Dağlıca tebligatı

Görülmemiş şey: Dağlıca belgelerini vermezse askerî savcı Taraf'a baskın yapacak

Osman Paksüt, Baykal ve Öymen yan yana fotoğraf verdi!

Paşa da sustu

AKP savunmasında ‘Kanadoğlu’na atıf!

'TSK’yı korumada ilk görev cumhurbaşkanının'

Denktaş: Büyük üzüntü duyduk

Veli Küçük’ten suç duyurusu

Ergenekon’un kasası dediler beş parasız, ölüm döşeğinde

Turan Çömez yurtiçinde mi?

Savcı’nın hayali boyun eğen vekil

AK Parti'nin savunmadaki 7

Rahşan Ecevit: İstifa etti, Sezer: Külliyen yanlış

DSP’de iç savaş

Malezya’ya gitmiyor

Bu yaz çok sıcak geçecek galiba

Operation defuses time bomb for chaos campaign

[PORTRAIT] Gen. Eruygur: fervent coup enthusiast

Ölüm döşeğinde tahliye

Darbe girişimi ortaya çıkarılmalı; Ufuk Uras'a destek vereceğim

Ergenekon zanlısı O.G. Gazi provokatörü çıktı

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

Cengiz Çandar Darbe örgütlenmesine bulaşmadıysanız korkmayın

Ahmet Taşgetiren Baykal, hükümet, yargı vs.

Ruşen - Çakır Darbe olur mu? Olursa tutar mı?

Taha Akyol Komplo teorisi

Fikret Bila Hilmi Paşa kimi ve neyi kastetti?

Hasan Cemal Baykal’ın CHP’si milliyetçilikle iktidar alternatifi de olamıyor!

Hisarcıklıoğlu: Darbeye karşıyız. Camianın tepkisini dile getirdim
MURAT YETKİN

İsmet Berkan Ergenekon bir rövanş mı?

Fehmi Koru

Taha Kıvanç

Şamil Tayyar Darbe travması, Ergenekon ve kapatma davası

Ali Bayramoğlu Demokrasi davası, demokrasi kavgası…

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Yalanlama yanlış yerden geldi

The arrest of the untouchables
Mustafa AKYOL

Mehmet Tezkan

Fethullah Gülen AKP’den desteğini çekiyor mu?

Okay Gönensin

Korkunç senaryolar

Ahmet Hakan Dalavereyi Şükrü Kızılot sayesinde öğrendim (1)

M Ali Birand AB kriterlerine hepimizin ihtiyacı var...

Cüneyt Ülsever

Enis Berberoğlu

Oktay Ekşi

Özdemir İnce Dalavereyi Şükrü Kızılot sayesinde öğrendim (1)

Yalçın Doğan Ergenekon’da Türkiye çok para öder

Mehmet Y Yılmaz İnsan hakları herkese gerekli

Tufan Türenç AKP, Türkiye’yi korku toplumuna dönüştürdü

Serdar Turgut Operasyon son derece başarılı

Derya SazakDarbe zamanlaması

Ece Temelkuran Taraf ve bertaraf

TSK kendi içini temizlemelidir
HASAN CELAL GÜZEL

Bu iddianame çok önemli
HALUK ŞAHİN

Olanları anlamak
MEHMET ALİ KIŞLALI

Bir New York hatırası
ERDAL GÜVEN

Darbe tehlikesi ve darbeciler...
ORAL ÇALIŞLAR

Emekli darbesi
TÜRKER ALKAN

Güneri Civaoğlu Şef var, Kızılderili yok

Sabahattin Önkibar Hesaplaşmanın galibi kim olacak?

TAMER KORKMAZ

Darbeci Ergenekon Örgütüne Toz Kondurmayanlar

YASİN DOĞAN

Kaos çıkarmak kimin haddine?

Bülent Korucu Ergenekon'da sol ayak

Mustafa Ünal Yeni döneme doğru

Hüseyin Gülerce Milletvekilleri, savcılar kadar cesur olmalıdır

Mümtazer Türköne Ergenekon'un kirli ideolojisinin müşterileri

İhsan Dağı Darbecilik bitiyor mu?

Yavuz Baydar Delayed ride into one sharp curve after another

Mustafa Mutlu

Polis neden gazetecilerin kulağına gizli bilgi üfledi?

Güngör Mengi

Özkök Paşa’ya dikkat

Mehmet Altan Yanlış okumayın...

Eser Karakaş Yeni bir pozisyon üstünlüğü, yeni fırsat

Nasuhi Güngör Siyasete sahip çıkmazsak

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

Tepkiyi azaltmak

ERDAL ŞAFAK Sezar ile Ziyad

ENGİN ARDIÇ Türk faşistlerine iki çift laf

ERGUN BABAHAN Temiz eller operasyonu

EMRE AKÖZ Medya desteği

Umur Talu NATO, nota, not...

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

Ergenekon'a ordudan bakmak

NAZLI ILICAK Çömez'in kaderi

MEHMET BARLAS İyimser olmanın imkânsızlaştığı bir ortama doğru mu?

MAHMUT ÖVÜR 'Darbe Günlükleri'nden Ergenekon Davası'na

YAVUZ DONAT Al sana travma

Emin Pazarcı Darbeyi kimler yapacaktı?

Mehmet Metiner Ergenekon davası

Hakan Aygün Kim bu darbeciler?

Oray Eğin Ergenekon’un asıl hedefi

Top sakallı paşa bir yıl sonra serbest

Rektör Akaydın'dan Ergenekon yorumu

Üniversitelerarası Başkanı Prof. Dr. Mustafa Akaydın: Gerçekten endişeliyim

'Ergenekon' an opportunity for peace between state and people by Mustafa Acar*

5. Ankara'ya yürüyen tarikat camide basıldı

Hükümeti eleştirdiği için YÖK üyeliği engelleniyor

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Sanayi Mısır'a değil Doğu'ya

Deniz Gökçe
Ortalama alternatifi olmayan bir yalandır!

Hasan Ersel İlk beş ayda ihracatımızdaki artış

Ercan Kumcu Bu yaz çok sıcak geçecek galiba

Erdal Sağlam

Hurşit Güneş Türkler pek tasarruf yapmıyor

Haziran ayı enflasyonu beklentilerin altında

Güngör Uras Sanayide yatırım, üretim rakamlara göre “tam gaz” (!)

Ekonomide bilim ve inanç
UĞUR GÜRSES

H4 New York Times Obama Fuels Pullout Debate With Remarks The changing dynamics in Iraq have posed a challenge for Barack Obama, who said Thursday that he might “refine” his policies but later held a second news conference to clarify his first statement

Editorial New and Not Improved

Barack Obama’s shifts are striking because he was the candidate who proposed to change the face of politics. Yet now there seems to be a new Mr. Obama on the hustings

PAUL KRUGMAN Rove’s Third Term The Wesley Clark affair revealed something important about John McCain. Now we know what a McCain administration would represent: namely, a third term for Karl Rove.

Target: Barack Obama. Strategy: What Day Is It?

Bold Colombia Rescue Built on Rebels’ Disarray The Colombian military duped FARC guerrillas in a raid that freed 15 hostages, an action that some analysts suggested might help push the rebels to negotiate for peace.

Bush to Attend Opening Ceremony in Beijing

H5 Washington Post Obama May Consider Slowing Iraq Withdrawal

Candidate Says He Remains Committed to Ending War

Obama the Cynic, Part II By Charles Krauthammer, Obama's change of heart on Iraq is has come even sooner than I predicted.

Rise of Awakening Groups Sets Off A Struggle for Power Among Sunnis

Debate Over Guantanamo's Fate Intensifies

Pumping Up the Anxiety By Dan Froomkin

The Hope in Faith By Michael Gerson, Obama's faith-based proposal is politically smart and evidently sincere.

We Gotta Have Faith By E. J. Dionne Jr., With his plan to engage religious groups, Obama may succeed where Bush failed.

The Fourth of July How a battle in New Orleans confirmed its meaning

A Special Patriotism By Eugene Robinson, African-Americans' love of country may be complicated, but it is deep and strong

H6 Guardian Biofuels are prime cause of food crisis - leaked report

Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% says confidential World Bank report

Iran gives mixed signals over nuclear Tehran yet to respond to new incentives package offer despite warnings from Israel and the US

Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Lord chief justice's remarks echo the comments made by the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams

Obama denies flip-flop over Iraq

Democrat nominee insists it is 'a strategic error' to maintain a long-term occupation in Iraq

A familiar face atop McCain's campaign Michael Tomasky: John McCain's campaign is hiring more and more Bush loyalists, but it's unclear whether the McCain

and Bush cultures can mesh

A Malaysian circus Simon Tisdall: As Anwar Ibrahim is accused of sexual assault and rumours of conspiracy swirl, Malaysia is heading for real political upheaval

Let a church so fond of division test its worth in the marketplace of belief Simon Jenkins: Anglicanism is often the last servant of the poor; that it can tear itself apart in an absurd imperial argument is a tragedy

Marginal freedom Sunny Hundal: What liberty means to me: Liberty should be about ensuring the weakest in any society can stand up to the strongest

Liberty is our common inheritance

Will Hutton: What liberty means to me: This isn't a question of left or right. We should fight together in defence of our freedoms

A Malaysian circus Simon Tisdall: As Anwar Ibrahim is accused of sexual assault and rumours of conspiracy swirl, Malaysia is heading for real political upheaval

Cut off East Jerusalem, says minister Israel's deputy prime minister calls for some Arab districts of to be cut off from the city

The appetite for biofuel starves the poorBenjamin Senauer: The evidence is mounting. The biofuels bonanza is forcing millions in the developing world into poverty and hunger

Oil price hits yet another record Oil prices continue to climb with US light crude at a record closing price and London Brent above $146.

Big Oil's 'secret'
out of Iraq's closet
The Iraqi war's worst-kept secret saw daylight this week with a report on the role US government-led advisers played in drawing up contracts for Western oil companies to develop Iraqi oil fields. The big prize is still being pursued, as is the White House's other dream - a US$7.6 billion, 1,600-kilometer pipeline through Afghanistan. - Pepe Escobar

Iran willing to talk
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is in New York to bolster Iran's embattled diplomacy. Mottaki has sounded off on issues ranging from the "Iran Six" and Israel to Tehran's involvement in Iraq. Ultimately, he hinted at his own flexibility by stating "the first word a diplomat learns is compromise". - Kaveh L Afrasiabi

Big Oil Chutzpah - National Review editorial

Rice 'Proud' of Decision to Invade Iraq, World Not More Dangerous...

The Economist Iran’s confrontation with the West Dangerous games Some scary noises, but maybe also some progress on the nuclear front

Nuclear-armed Iran Changes World - Greg Sheridan, The Australian opinion

Jul 3 IA# 451 - Iran in Preparations, Deployment to Withstand Possible Attack by West

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

Iran Paper Examines Motive of Israel's Military Exercise

Iranian Press Menu 3 July 08

Iranian FM: 'New Atmosphere' in Nuke Talks - Margaret Besheer, VOA

Despite Israeli Allegations, UN Report Fails to Mention Any Hizbullah Violations of Cease-Fire Terms. Quarterly Document Lists a Number of Incidents but Stops Short of Mentioning Group By Name

Syrian President, OIC Chief Discuss Indirect Talks With Israel, Other Issues

Al-Asad Tells Hamas Leader Syria to Intensify Efforts Towards Palestinian Unity

Some Media "Distort" Comments in Order to Achieve West's Goals - Iran Advisor

Obama says upcoming trip to Iraq could refine his policy

Hezbollah's Revenge By: Tariq Alhomayed | Asharq Alawsat
Just as a consensus over the danger of armed clashes between the Alawites and the Sunnis in Tripoli exists, there also exists bewilderment and questions as to why the fighting prevails despite placation efforts

H9 Ha’aretz –

Jerusalem Post

Terror's Predictable Spontaneity - Gerald M. Steinberg

Senior US Official: Israeli Attack on Iran Not Inevitable. America Won't Take Military Option Off the Table, but is Focusing on Increased World Sanctions Against Teheran

Yedioth Ahronoth

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

Israel's Diplomatic Dealings: A Heartbreaking Transaction By: Frida Ghitis | World Politics Review
In a land that never lacks for intense emotions, a moment will come in just a few days when the two extremes of joy and sadness will overflow at precisely the same time. Through the dramatizing magic of modern technology, we will watch those scenes from our living rooms

Israeli option US military plans against Iran narrow to attack by its ally

Why More Jews Won't Be Voting Democrat This Year

Daily Star A few questions for Israelis to ponder before punishing the innocent

Call to sever Jerusalem Arab area

Israel's vice premier calls for the home neighbourhood of Wednesday's bulldozer attacker to be cut off from Jerusalem.

Militants 'fire rocket' from Gaza
A rocket from the Gaza Strip lands in southern Israel, the Israeli army says, putting more strain on a fragile truce.

H10 Christian Science Monitor

ASIA

FT Japan goes missing: invisible host at the summit Japan’s pre-eminent interest lies in working to extend and strengthen the rules-based international order to draw in China and other rising powers. More than anything else, this part of the world needs a robust mutual security system, writes Philip Stephens

Change in the face of foreign devils In the 150 years since China faced the "foreign devils from the ocean" during the Opium Wars, its complex cultural values have been under constant attack, never more so than in the past three decades. And it is yielding. Millions of little "emperors" have changed the fabric of society, and Communist Party leaders, embracing the notions of change and development, accept the role that sport and, crucially, religion can play in molding a new nation. - Francesco Sisci

A new world under one Heaven It is a brave new world for China. And for the world, it is a brave new China. As China reaches across the globe for all kinds of resources and energy as well as new markets for its growing industries, it has had to Westernize many aspects of its culture, from language to dress to housing. In turn, the West will have to come to grips with this new China, which will shake its culture to its roots and its soul. - Francesco Sisci

India Should Note Likely Impact of China's Military Modernisation - Army Chief

Direct China-Taiwan flights begin

The first regular direct flight from mainland China to Taiwan for nearly 60 years lands at Taipei's airport.

Bush to attend Olympic ceremony US President George W Bush will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the White House says.

Pakistan's Pendulum Swings - Washington Times editorial

India Blows Up a Monsoon By: M.K. Bhadrakumar | Asia Times Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made a very calculated political -- and potentially dangerous -- move to seal the much-delayed civilian nuclear accord with the United States. The deal, though, is only one piece on the chessboard of India's global ambitions that includes the key players of Pakistan, Iran and the United States

H11 IHT DOHA ROUND

The moment of truth

By PASCAL LAMY We have so much to gain by reaching an accord, and so much to loose by failing to close a deal.

EUROPE European press review

The Economist Charlemagne The French connection Why Europe is nervous about Nicolas Sarkozy’s stint in the chair

In Defence of Spain By: Sarah Morris | The Guardian Spain's first female defence minister plans reform for the services, but does she have a clear replacement strategy?

U.S., Poland Reach Accord on Interceptors By: Nicholas Kralev | The Washington Times U.S. and Polish negotiators have finalized an agreement to base 10 missile interceptors on Polish soil as part of a U.S. defense shield, and it is now up to the Warsaw government to formally approve the deal, officials from both countries said Wednesday

U.S., Poland Reach Accord on Interceptors By: Nicholas Kralev | The Washington Times
U.S. and Polish negotiators have finalized an agreement to base 10 missile interceptors on Polish soil as part of a U.S. defense shield, and it is now up to the Warsaw government to formally approve the deal, officials from both countries said Wednesday

H12 RFE/RL

Russian President Strives for a Breakthrough Moment in Caspian Basin Energy Game BY STEPHEN BLANK

Azerbaijan: Medvedev Makes Splash in Baku, But is it More Style than Substance?

The Economist Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia Tales from the Black Sea The Abkhaz and the Georgians have reason to resent each other—but both need to rebuild trust if they are to have a prosperous future

Google News Azerbaijan

EU-Russia Summit Glosses Over Soviet-Era Conflicts By: Vladimir Socor | Eurasia Daily Monitor
The unresolved conflicts, conducted or underwritten by Russia in ex-Soviet territories, were glossed over in Khanty-Mansiisk. EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana had informally assured Georgian leaders ahead of the summit that he would “forcefully” take issue with Russia’s forcible seizure of Abkhazia

NEW CHARGES AGAINST KHODORKOVSKY: ARE THE SILOVIKI DRAWING A LINE?

- CHOOSING AN ENEMY, CHOOSING A STRATEGY, CHOOSING A DOCTRINE

- CIS DEFENSE MINISTERS AGREE TO BOOST COOPERATION IN AIR DEFENSE

H13 The Times Obama is giving his party whiplash The Democratic nominee's policy pivots are causing anguish among liberals. He is no fool Gerard Baker

Obama hints at U-turn on Iraq withdrawal Democratic nominee admits he is ready to 'refine' his plan to pull-out all US combat troops within 16 months of taking office

Russia: biggest threat after al-Qaeda and Iran British security services fear that Russia’s three main intelligence agencies have now flooded the country with agents

Israel Right demands Jerusalem wall Two recent terror attacks have prompted suggestions that Israel isolate itself further from Palestinian communities

The disaster for Christians in Iraq

They used to live peaceably with other faiths but now they have been driven out and become refugees Robin Harris

Aircraft carriers: plane sailing

Britain is paying a high price, but not too high

How Colombian military rescued Ingrid Betancourt

The bloodless operation relied on the infiltration of the leftwing rebel group Farc at the highest level

Chavez and Farc are the big losers

The bloodless operation to free 15 of the Farc’s most prominent hostages has triggered a surge of optimism in Colombia

Wall Street Journal

Obama Defends Comments on War Obama defended his position on the Iraq War after saying he may "refine" his position to withdraw combat troops within his first 16 months in office if military officials said such a timeline is unsafe.

H14 Financial Times Tehran returns to hard line on nuclear activity Iran yesterday sought to quell speculation that it was about to bow to inter-national demands for a -suspension of its nuclear programme, insisting that the more...

WORLD NEWS: Iraq seeks to reassure on fairness as it opens industry to foreign bidders

Rise takes eurozone rates to 7-year high Markets were relieved by a less hawkish tone from the European Central Bank, which damped fears of further rises to come

John Thornhill: Reckless Sarkozy is sometimes right The French president appears torn between his reflexes to intervene and his instinct to let people shape their destiny, writes John Thornhill

Iraq MPs say no-bid oil deals could be in doubt Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has told lawmakers that short-term technical support contracts with oil majors worth around $3bn may not get signed, two parliamentarians said

What drives the race to the top

Samuel Brittan on poverty and inequality

Uribe’s rescue deserves acclaim

The best way for the Colombian president Alvaro Uribe to consolidate after his spectacular hostage rescue coup is to persuade his supporters to select a successor

H15 Los Angeles Times Obama restates Iraq timeline

The Democrat clarifies a statement that suggested he might alter his plan to withdraw troops in 16 months.

Republicans seize on Obama's comments on Iraq

Iraq seeks ban on religious imagery in elections

The government calls for parties to avoid using images of religious leaders. The proposed election law changes also include allowing voters to choose individuals rather than entire lists.

Editorial No proxy war with Iran

The United States must not signal that it would be acceptable for Israel to bomb Iranian targets.

Forget Us Versus Them By: Timothy Garton Ash | Los Angeles Times Don't raise the drawbridge. We need a global conversation on freedom. The French historian Jacques Bainville once observed that "things have never gone well." A useful reminder. But still, the world's prospects seem to me more gloomy today than 10 or 20 years ago.

Pakistan makes little headway in Benazir Bhutto investigation

H16 American Politics

The Economist The presidential campaign Return to centre John McCain is veering off to the right—and making things too easy for Barack Obama

Branching out

How Obama is trying to win the Republican South

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

Obama: Patriotism means 'faith in one another as Americans'

McCain: Patriotism is 'putting the country first' before all else

Obama, Unrepentant Flip-Flopper - Jaime Sneider, Weekly Standard

H17 Daily Telegraph America softens stance on Iran US and allies quietly watered down their strategy on Iran's nuclear programme, pledging no more economic sanctions if Tehran keeps its enrichment of uranium at present levels. Analysis: Has Bush gone soft?

Admiral Mike Mullen warns the West There are two ways of interpreting this week's warning by America's top military officer, says Con Coughlin.

Iran remains a threat to Israel It should not be forgotten that Tehran's policy, enunciated most forcefully by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is the destruction of Israel.

UK Muslims 'should be able to use Sharia' Muslims in Britain should be able to live according to acpects of Sharia law, the country's most senior judge has said.

Obama wobbles on Iraq withdrawal Barack Obama has rushed to clarify his position on the Iraq War after he appeared to wobble on a commitment to withdraw US ground troops within 16 months.

Germany is 'gloomiest nation in EU'

H18 Independent Muslims feel like 'Jews of Europe' Britain's first Muslim minister has attacked the growing culture of hostility against Muslims in the United Kingdom, saying that many feel targeted like "the Jews of Europe".

The enemy within? Fear of Islam: Britain's new disease

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Air Force Adapts to 'Different Kind of War - Shaun Waterman, Washington Times

Britain to Sign Aircraft Carrier Deal - Graham Tibbetts, Daily Telegraph

White House says court ruling could free detainees in U.S.

US Foreign Policy and Regime Instability SSI
This 72-page US monograph analyzes the extent to which conflict and terrorism in other countries are influenced by their military and foreign policy relationships with the US

H20 Slate

Termites in the Trade System - Council on Foreign Relations

McClatchy As gas prices skyrocket, mass transport looks sweeter

By Tony Pugh | McClatchy Newspapers

America's days as an automobile nation are far from over. But the specter of high gas prices becoming permanent has forced the nation to reassess its "Yeah, right" attitude toward public transportation and to reconsider how Americans get from point A to point B. Transportation experts say that the current gasoline crisis, which is driven by price, is far different from those of the '70s, which were crises of availability

H21

From THES, a review of In Defense of Lost Causes by Slavoj Zizek

Google must divulge YouTube log — Google must divulge the viewing habits of every user who has ever watched any video on YouTube, a US court has ruled.

Google must hand over YouTube data

User details to be handed over to entertainment company Viacom include every video on the website

the ability to improvise is a crucial sign of high intelligence; so why does it enjoy so little status within the academy?