071008f - 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 Rand Report US Has Long-Term Economic, Political Options to Help Make Iran More Democratic Iran's Political, Demographic, and Economic Vulnerabilities

Washington Post Tehran's Definite 'Maybe' By David Ignatius, Even as the Iranians talk of engagement, they remain wary of it.

Division at G-8 Over Climate Goal

Iraq official: U.S. could be out by 2011

Jerusalem Post Burns: Iran's nuclear progress modest

Top US State Department official says Iran seeks to create false impression of major breakthroughs

Ha’aretz – Olmert wants U.S. to sponsor Israel-Syria talks Olmert told visiting Italian FM that he can persuade Bush to increase U.S. involvement in talks

Israeli expert: Iran bluffing over range of tested missiles Iran claims it has developed new version of Shahab-3 ballistic missile capable of reaching 2,000 km

Foreign Policy Seven Questions: What Iran Wants

Washington Post Iran Launches Nine Test Missiles, Says More Are Ready U.S. Plays Down Military Showdown

U.S. General: Iraqi Forces to Be Fully Ready in '09

ANALYSIS Obama's Ideology Proving Difficult to Pinpoint Democrats Decry a Move Toward Middle, but Republicans Still See a Liberal By Dan Balz

Editorial No G(r)8 Accomplishment President Bush's agreement to a declaration on climate change comes seven years late

Independent Leading article: Do not play into the hands of the hardliners

McClatchy Iran tests missiles, but some see signs of moderation

The New Era | Stratfor

Financial Times Total steps back from investing in Iran Tehran loses last major western energy group considering significant investment in its huge gas reserves as the US pursues campaign of isolation over its nuclear ambitions

Gazprom offers to buy all Libya’s gas Russia’s state-­controlled gas company says it is in talks to buy all of Libya’s oil and gas exports, its latest move to strengthen its influence over world energy markets

Analysis: western energy groups yield to state producers Eni’s renegotiated deal with Libya is agitating rivals because all are under pressure to concede a greater share of revenues to hydrocarbon-rich governments

The Times Analysis: Words that hide the withdrawal

In the debate about America's troop deployment in Iraq, politicians have failed to notice that the withdrawal has already begun

Medvedev adopts new tone on missile shield Russian President adopts measured response to missile defence crisis, but events in Georgia could force his hand

Little things can mean a lot in the machinations of great nations

ANALYSIS: an old pill for tough times Alongside repossessions, bankruptcies and suicides, economic downturns inevitably trigger one other trend: protectionism

Do the Obamacons really exist?

Why they might matter

Newsweek Will Iran’s Nuclear Missile Test Trigger War?

Tony Karon The Wrong Questions on Iran - Again

Wall Street Journal Iran's Missile Threat
A warhead with EMP could do enormous damage to the U.S.

Barack's Brilliant Ground Game
By Karl Rove His organization is formidable. But flip-flops may do him in.

Negotiating India's Next Nuclear ExplosionBy Henry Sokolski
The most important news to emerge from this week's G-8 summit.

Europe and the Huddled Masses
By Jakob von Weizsäcker
A borderless EU needs a coordinated immigration policy

Iran's Dangerous Game By: Robert Fox | The Guardian Leaving the world in doubt as to your nuclear intentions may be a canny diplomatic trick, but look where it got Saddam.

Why Russia Is a G-8 Member But China Is Not By: Richard Weitz | World Politics Review When Russia joined the G-8 in 1997, Western leaders saw membership as a reward to Russian President Boris Yeltsin for seeming to align Russian foreign policy largely with the Euro-Atlantic community. But the decision to invite Russia to join the club has proved controversial and led to unfulfilled expectations on both sides

McCain's Bad G-8 Judgment Call By: Maeleine K. Albright and William J. Perry | Los Angeles Times This week's Group of 8 meeting in Japan raises some important questions about Sen. John McCain's approach to the art of diplomacy. McCain has suggested that Russia be kicked out of the G-8 because of its government's retreat from democracy in recent years.

CER Russia and the multipolar myth

CEPS Georgia and the EU - an overview of current relations

Time Saber Rattling from Iran and Russia

More Theater Over Iran's Nukes

Top of the Agenda: Iran Missile Test - Council on Foreign Relations

Foreign Policy Divide Trouble for GOP - Council on Foreign Relations

Israel, the West, and a Nuclear Iran - Council on Foreign Relations

CIA Report: Bin Laden Is Dying Of Kidney Failure...
Center for Research on Globalization

Independent Hamish McRae: In 2050 the world will be run by a new middle class – based in Asia

Hamish McRae: The G8 countries may run the old world economy. But it's the new one that matters

Heritage The Roots of Modern Conservative Thought from Burke to Kirk

Asia Times A last throw of the dice ...? A United States war against Iran is conceivable as a final apocalyptic manifestation of Pax Americana, but this would only hasten the decline of the US in terms of power, influence and moral authority. - Bob Rigg

Guardian Cyanide on the table

Martin Woollacott: The threat of war will not recede until there is regime change both in Washington and Tehran

Iran tests missiles in show of strength Tehran's military exercise involves nine missiles that could reach Israel and US bases in the region Video: Iran sends missile test warning

Talking tough to Iran Andrew Grotto: Iran's missile tests show why diplomacy, not regime change, should be the basis for US strategy in the Middle East

RFERL How Dangerous Are Tehran's Missiles?

Los Angeles Times McCain's G-8 judgment call By Madeleine K. Albright and William J. Perry

Booting Moscow out of the group of wealthy democracies would deal a major blow to U.S.-Russia relations.

Yedioth Ahronoth End of the road for Olmert?
Several hours after Kadima leadership candidates agree on mid-September primaries, senior party officials estimate that Prime Minister Olmert will not compete; PM has not yet officially announced whether he intends to run

What Iran really wants

Iranians care about Persian Gulf much more than they care about Israel, Yoram Kaniuk says

Our foes no longer scared/ Weisglass IDF must find a way to frighten our enemies as it did in the past

Al Awsat A Talk with Iranian Deputy FM Muhammad Reza Baqeri

Boston Globe Iraq asserts itself -- so listen PRESIDENT BUSH, John McCain, and other proponents of an open-ended American troop presence in Iraq might not appreciate it right now, but Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was acting like an accountable politician earlier this week when he called for a timetable for withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. (Boston Globe)

Christian Science Monitor

Confrontation escalates between Iran and Israel Iran tested the Shahab-3 missile, which could hit Israel or US Mideast bases.

Myths in Al Qaeda's 'home'

Policymakers need to grasp cultural realities in Pakistan's tribal area.

Heritage Europe and Israel: Strengthening the Partnership

Gvosdev G8 Plus G5 Equals What?

OpenDemocracy The G8 in a global mess, Ann Pettifor

Georgia’s search for itself, Alexander Rondeli

Iraq task, Iran risk, Paul Rogers

Carnegie Torture, Rights, and Values: Why the Prohibition of Torture is Absolute

Obama Is Not a God | The American Prospect

Liberals need to understand that Obama can never live up to his golden image -- but they should still hold him accountable for the campaign promises he's made

H2 LA Times Investigators look for motive in deadly attack on U.S. Consulate in Turkey

NYT 6 Die in Attack on U.S. Post in Turkey

Washington Post U.S. Consulate in Istanbul Is Attacked

Guardian Six killed in attack on US consulate Turkey in state of high alert as latest incident further unsettles domestic political situation

FT Six die in US consulate attack in Istanbul

CSIS Publication - Another Long, Hot Summer in Ankara

Turkey and the Mediterranean Union

ERDAL ŞAFAK Türkiye'nin Irak'taki rolü

M Ali Birand Irak Kürtleri kimle dans edeceklerini bilemiyorlar

Reuters Turkey and the art of the coup There can be few countries where the art of the coup is so finely honed as in Turkey, adapting as it does constantly to the spirit of the age by Ralph Boulton

After a Century Has Passed, Young Turks at a Crossroads By: Gwynne Dyer | The Japan Times The Ottoman Empire had already been in retreat for over a century when the Young Turk revolution broke out in July, 1908. Some of the Young Turks hoped to save the whole empire; others wanted to abandon the empire and rescue an independent Turkey from the wreckage

U.S. Can't Rule Out Al Qaeda In Istanbul Attack

Sami Kohen Neden İstanbul?

Oil and Intelligence in Kurdistan
Intelligence Online

Washington Times Ataturk veneration challenged

Başbakan Erdoğan'ın tarihi Bağdat ziyareti 'gizli' başladı

The Times Deadly shoot-out at US consulate in Turkey

Daily Telegraph Six dead in Istanbul US consulate attack

IHT 6 die in attack on U.S. Consulate in Istanbul

BBC US consulate in Turkey attacked

CSM U.S. Consulate strike recalls Turkey's past political violence

Turkey: Anti-West Order of Coup Plots is here to Stay
American Chronicle

3 Germans kidnapped by Kurdish rebels

Three German mountaineers kidnapped by PKK in eastern Turkey

TIMELINE-Recent attacks in Turkey

İstanbul'dak saldırı dünya basınında böyle duyruldu

EDM TURKISH POLITICS IN THE COURTS

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

ERDAL ŞAFAK Türkiye'nin Irak'taki rolü

M Ali Birand Irak Kürtleri kimle dans edeceklerini bilemiyorlar

Erdoğan'ın Irak ziyareti son anda kesinleşti

Erdoğan’ı Bağdat’ta Irak polisi ve ABD’liler koruyacak

Oil and Intelligence in Kurdistan
Intelligence Online

Mümtazer Türköne Acıların Kürtlüğü ve Türklüğü

Video: US official sees Kurdistan's business opportunities first-hand

Would-Be Oil Barons Venture Into Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurdish Press Highlights 9 Jul 08

PKK’nın belini kıracağız

Rice'tan Türkiye'ye teşekkür

Cevdet Aşkın PKK'dan Almanya'ya ROJ TV misillemesi, Erbil'in Erdoğan ısrarı

Schaffer's Kurdish oil deal causes problems for Iraq

Turkey pushes a slow withdrawal Obama should stop in Turkey and ask government leaders there how they view his plan to quickly pull U.S. troops out of neighboring Iraq.

Turkey: Kurdish militants deny role in US consulate attack

PKK Kidnaps Three German Climbers in Turkey, Governor Says

Ergenekon-PKK terror link emerges as probe widens

PKK 3 Alman dağcıyı kaçırdı

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

Turkey and the US, partners in crime

'AB İlkelerine Bağlı Kalacağız'

America’s top cops in Istanbul during attack on consulate

StratFor issues report on Cyprus

Turkey and the Mediterranean Union

European Union’s Turkish Dilemma No Delight

Alman Büyükelçi’den kapatma davası için ‘Atatürk’ hatırlatması

Saldırının Ergenekon’la bağlantısı yok

Erdoğan, Sarkozy’ye ‘Evet’ dedi

Turkey to open embassy in Kosovo

Erivan'la futbol barışı

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Yozgat'ta 5 bin kişiyi kene ısırdı

Sikorsky ile basılan çiftlikte işkence odaları çıktı

Deprem Uyarı Sisteminde Yeni Umut

Turk Shipyards Fast - Growing, But Hazardous

Başsavcı ve avukat "Anafora" tutuldu

H3 İlk izlerde El Kaide var

Afganistan’da Selefi eğitimi almış

Kahraman polis o anı anlattı

Özkök'ün yaptığı çağrıyı Köşk duydu

Perinçek’e işadamı yemeği binbaşıya Gülen sorgusu

POLİSLER ARACI İNCELİYOR

Bilgisayardan 'Ergenekon lobi analiz' planı çıktı Paşa, eylem planını özel bir şifreyle gizlemiş!..

'Sağlar'ın kanıtı Tolon'un evinde mi?

Ergenekon'da ifade veren medya patronu kim?

Eski polis şefine Ergenekon şantajı

Ergenekon'un deşifre edilmesi Türkiye için büyük şans

Saldırıda El Kaide şüphesi

El Kaide'nin Afgani kolu

Büyükanıt’ın Dolmabahçe davasında hakim kızdı

'Mumcu gibi olursun' uyarısı

Yaralı halde 3 terörist vurdu

Baykal: İzmir'i kimden alacaksın Atatürk'ten mi?

’Laik cumhuriyeti kemirmek istiyorlar’

Emir küçükten mi

Mahkemeden Savcı Öz’e ret

Karamehmet'e TMSF şoku

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

SOLİ ÖZEL Anlama çabası (2)

Cengiz Çandar İstinye saldırısı: Sorular, spekülasyonlar, düşünceler

Ahmet Taşgetiren Koruma kollama ve Sarıkız

Ruşen - Çakır “Geç kalmış bir misilleme eylemi”

Taha Akyol Ergenekon ve hukuk

Fikret Bila Şener: İstifa da değerlendirmelerim arasında

Hasan Cemal Ergenekon: Mahkemede dağ fare doğurursa...

Murat Yetkin Maksat hasıl oldu sayılır

İsmet Berkan Korku filmi ülkesi

Fehmi Koru

Taha Kıvanç

Şamil Tayyar

Ali Bayramoğlu Gerçekler çıplak…

Ekrem Dumanlı Gladyo'nun mahareti

Şahin Alpay Asker niçin siyasetin içinde?

TAMER KORKMAZ Ergenekon Operasyonu'na mı ateş edildi?

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL El Kaide mi, Ergenekon mu? İhaleyi kim açıyor ona bak!

YASİN DOĞAN Medya kimin avukatı?

Yasemin Çongar

Olay sembolik, amaç Amerika'ya gözdağı

Ertuğrul Özkök Yine travmanın kadınları işbaşında

Eyüp Can Kuşların uçamadığı konsolosluğa neden saldırdılar

Ahmet Hakan Postal yalıyorum

M Ali Birand Irak Kürtleri kimle dans edeceklerini bilemiyorlar

Hüseyin Gülerce Ergenekon'un medya ayağında ne var?

Cüneyt Ülsever Bu kadar vahim bir hata yapılmış olabilir mi?

Enis Berberoğlu

Hangi ‘korku imparatorluğu’?
HASAN CELAL GÜZEL

Yıkılmıyoruz, ayağa kalkıyoruz
TARHAN ERDEM

Oktay Ekşi Terörle yaşamak

Özdemir İnce

Ömer Lütfi Mete Beynimizdeki şeytan atölyeleri

Şükrü Küçükşahin Şener’in istifa kararı

Mehmet Y Yılmaz Hadi biraz komplo teorisi üretelim

Yılmaz Özdil Zahmet olacak ama ara sıra teröristlerin telefonlarını da dinleyin

İsmail Küçükkaya Kışlalı’dan “Erdoğan-asker ilişkileri” analizi...

Sadi Somuncuoğlu "Ergenekon" suçlu mu, masum mu?

Who, really, are Turkey's untouchables? Burak BEKDİL

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

ERDAL ŞAFAK Türkiye'nin Irak'taki rolü

ENGİN ARDIÇ Ufak ufak dönmeye başladılar!

ERGUN BABAHAN Suç ve ceza

EMRE AKÖZ Mesajların anlamı

Umur Talu

Can Ataklı

Ya savaş planları da çalınırsa

Bilal Çetin

Ergenekon’dan iki dava çıkabilir...

Mehmet Tezkan

Özkök, darbe hazırlığı yapıldığını doğruladı!

Okay Gönensin

En tepeden doğrulama

Necati Doğru

Ergenekonun içine bir de Çalık’lama girdi!

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

NAZLI ILICAK

MEHMET BARLAS Serbest pazar sayesinde siyasi krizlerimiz kolayca fonlanıyor

MAHMUT ÖVÜR'Ruhsatlı Mafya Babaları' şimdi nerede?

YAVUZ DONATAbdüllatif Şener... Ve dün, bugün, yarın

MELİHA OKUR
Okkır'ın İTÜ-KOSGEB yolculuğu!

Ekonomi

Siyasi kaos, hükümetin 6 aylık eylem planını rafa kaldırdı

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Artan cari açığı cepten finanse ettik

Ercan Kumcu

Erdal Sağlam

Seyfettin Gürsel Küresel sorunlara G-8 yetmiyor

UPDATE 1-Turkey rating could face downward pressure-Moody's

UPDATE 1-EIB to extend 8 bln euro loan to Turkey - minister

Asaf Savaş Akat

İlk çeyrekte kamu borcu

H5 Washington Post Tehran's Definite 'Maybe' By David Ignatius,

Even as the Iranians talk of engagement, they remain wary of it.

Iran Launches Nine Test Missiles, Says More Are Ready U.S. Plays Down Military Showdown

U.S. General: Iraqi Forces to Be Fully Ready in '09

ANALYSIS Obama's Ideology Proving Difficult to Pinpoint Democrats Decry a Move Toward Middle, but Republicans Still See a Liberal By Dan Balz

Editorial No G(r)8 Accomplishment

President Bush's agreement to a declaration on climate change comes seven years late

U.S. Troops in Iraq Face A Powerful New Weapon Use of Rocket-Propelled Bombs Spreads

Fixing How We Go to War By David S. Broder, The Founders left confusion about an important question: Who has the authority to make war?

Clintonites at Arm's Length By Robert D. Novak, The minds of the Clintonites are with Obama, but not their hearts

Editorial Bail Out Ben It's up to Congress, not the Fed boss, to regulate financial markets.

Survival of the Sudsiest By George F. Will, Throughout history, the development of civilization depended on urbanization, which depended on beer.

Putting Her Foot Down and Getting the Boot The ghost of Rummy is proving difficult to exorcise

Obama Joins Fellow Senators in Passing New Wiretapping Measure

China's Silencing Season

Activist Journalists and Lawyers Jailed, Harassed in Far-Reaching Pre-Olympic Operation

At Summit, More Promises of African Aid Amid Fears of the G-8 Missing Its Goals, Some Urge 'Turning Words Into Action'

H6 Guardian Cyanide on the table

Martin Woollacott: The threat of war will not recede until there is regime change both in Washington and Tehran

Iran tests missiles in show of strength Tehran's military exercise involves nine missiles that could reach Israel and US bases in the region

Video: Iran sends missile test warning

Talking tough to Iran Andrew Grotto: Iran's missile tests show why diplomacy, not regime change, should be the basis for US strategy in the Middle East

Robert Fox: Iran's dangerous game

Barack Obama calls for tougher Iran sanctions after missile tests

Welcome to club world Editorial: The more inclusive the G8 becomes, the more the membership of the inner sanctum is called into question

Tehran Leaves No Room for Doubt - Julian Borger, The Guardian

Oil and Troubled Waters By: Ewa Jasiewicz | To the fury of ordinary Iraqis, the country's oilfields are being privatised. Unions must fight together to prevent it

Europe's armies 'waste tax funds'

French defence officials say stronger capabilities must precede any institutional set-up

Public opinions on peace Petra Marquardt-Bigman: One issue that looms large in the Israel-Palestine conflict is the question of popular support for any agreement – and the polls prove to be revealing

Baiting the Russian bear Richard Weitz: US plans for ballistic missile defences in eastern Europe risk alienating Russia and stirring up old resentments

Ignoring the climate change alarm

Joseph Romm: George Bush's agreement at the G8 to halve carbon emissions by 2050 won't make up for his climate change obstructionism

The developed world must shoulder the burden Tony Juniper: The G8 pact isn't enough - rich countries have emitted the most CO2, and must take responsibility for the massive cuts needed

Palestinians to sue Canadian builders Villagers accuse firms building wall of breaching international law, including fourth Geneva convention

Pentagon backtracks on EADS air tanker contract A $35bn inflight refuelling tanker deal is put into 'unexpected recompetition'

Ex-spook speaks out Richard Norton-Taylor: The current boss of MI5 is keeping quiet, but former head Eliza Manningham-Buller has announced she can't support 42 days

Public opinions on peace Petra Marquardt-Bigman: One issue that looms large in the Israel-Palestine conflict is the question of popular support for any agreement – and the polls prove to be revealing

H7

OPEC Oil Export Revenues
Source: Energy Information Administration

Mediterranean Summit: Between French Hopes and Arab Realities Arab Reform Bulletin

Assad: “Bush Cannot Make Peace;” Economist on Syria’s Economic Outlook

Deadly Precedents in Kabul | Stratfor

Asia Times Nuclear 'scare' against Iran exposed
The International Atomic Energy Agency's recent revival of the issue of Iran's possession of a paper said to provide information on making the core of a nuclear weapon significantly increased international pressure on Tehran. Yet the United Nations' nuclear watchdog had earlier indicated that this matter had been satisfactorily resolved, pointing to new political pressures on the agency. - Gareth Porter

A review of Kingmakers: The Invention of the Modern Middle East by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac.

A review of Kingmakers: The Invention of the Modern Middle East by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac.

Putin's Afrika Korps By: Roman Kupchinsky | Eurasia Daily Monitor
Deals by Russian companies seeking to acquire African minerals seem to be the order of the day. A $2 billion investment in Zambia was announced in June.

Hit or miss? How did each of the G8 leaders perform at the summit?

Al Hayat What after the Failure of the Stick and Carrot? Abdullah Iskandar - Amidst the war games led by the US army in the Arab Gulf and the counter-war games launched by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the envoy of the six powers, Javier Solana, prepares for upcoming negotiations in Tehran.

Time Mandela: His 8 Lessons of Leadership

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

In theory, economists support McCain

Israel May Seek Regime Change in Iran "Through Other Means" - Palestinian Editor

Jordan King to Visit Iraq at "Right Time"; Iranian Shelling; Fallujah Blasts

French firm 'quits Iran gas deal'

French energy firm Total will not invest in Iran because it is too risky, the company's boss says in a newspaper interview.

Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue

Saving Iraq's Christians By: John F. Cullinan | National Review
A church of martyrs on the cusp of annihilation. That’s the grim reality that Iraq’s beleaguered and vanishing Christian community faces. And it’s no secret, especially after two pillars of establishment journalism — the New York Times and CBS’s 60 Minutes — produced truly shocking accounts of savage persecution right before the Fourth of July

H9 Ha’aretz – Olmert wants U.S. to sponsor Israel-Syria talks Olmert told visiting Italian FM that he can persuade Bush to increase U.S. involvement in talks

Israeli expert: Iran bluffing over range of tested missiles Iran claims it has developed new version of Shahab-3 ballistic missile capable of reaching 2,000 km

Kadima agrees to mid-Sept. primary, but Olmert unlikely to run

Editorial: Israel must protect Palestinians from Jewish violence

Two Israelis arrested for allegedly aiding al-Qaida

Rosner Back to reality Obama's problem in the context of Iraq is with his more enthusiastic supporters: the liberals, the believers, the young

Harel The sole achievement has been erased A ?beefed-up UNIFIL? has become the guardian of Hezbollah executor of the Iranian plan to attack Israel against our attempt to foil it with a preemptive strike

Iran test fires missiles said to be capable of striking Israel, U.S.

Jerusalem Post Burns: Iran's nuclear progress modest

Top US State Department official says Iran seeks to create false impression of major breakthroughs

Olmert agrees Kadima primary winner will replace him Olmert, other top candidates in Kadima agree that winner in primary to immediately replace PM, become party's next candidate in election

US recently held missile defense test

Iran test-fires new version of Shahab-3 missile as show of 'resolve' against enemies

'Hizbullah rearming at dizzying pace'

Gov't sources say 2,500 Hizbullah fighters in s. Lebanon, group has trebled pre-war missile arsenal

Hamas: Israel waging 'dirty war'

Haniyeh accuses PA of participating in Israeli action against Hamas-affiliated institutions in W. Bank

The irrationality of Obama's critics [ IRA N. FORMAN

Two years of hindsight
Jerusalem Post

Yedioth Ahronoth End of the road for Olmert?
Several hours after Kadima leadership candidates agree on mid-September primaries, senior party officials estimate that Prime Minister Olmert will not compete; PM has not yet officially announced whether he intends to run

What Iran really wants

Iranians care about Persian Gulf much more than they care about Israel, Yoram Kaniuk says

Our foes no longer scared/ Weisglass IDF must find a way to frighten our enemies as it did in the past

Haber 2 years have passed since war Second Lebanon War’s second anniversary should be time for reflection

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

Ehud Olmert, Just An Opportunist Trying to Survive By: Mustafa Abu Sway | The Daily Star
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is waging what has become known as a "peace offensive" on several fronts. The Turkish government is mediating talks between Israel and Syria about a possible Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights while Egypt brokered a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip with Hamas and other Islamic and nationalist Palestinian movements.

print issue of Mother Jones: "Shalom, Hamas: Tweedy, unapologetically hawkish ex-spymaster Efraim Halevy may just be the only Israeli capable of legitimizing talks with Hamas."

Palestine: Hizb al-Tahrir Flourishes Where Hope Withers
Arab Reform Bulletin

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Confrontation escalates between Iran and Israel Iran tested the Shahab-3 missile, which could hit Israel or US Mideast bases.

Myths in Al Qaeda's 'home'

Policymakers need to grasp cultural realities in Pakistan's tribal area.

China's sneak preview on carbon emissions cuts While the G-8 sets vague goals on global warming, Beijing clears its polluted skies – by fiat.

Fewer gunmen and bribes as Iraqi students take finals Authorities boosted security after last year's tests were marred by widespread lawlessness and mass cheating.

Al Jazeera English looks at news through a different lens The 20-month-old channel expands its global audience but barely penetrates US market.

At G-8, E.U. pledges €1 billion for agriculture in Africa and beyond High food prices are allowing Europe to reallocate money usually budgeted for European farm subsidies.

Social activists hunt for congressional seats ... in G.O.P. districts Tom Perriello of Virginia is among a new breed of Democrats competing strongly in places that usually vote Republican

White House scores key victory on government eavesdropping

The Senate approved a bill on Wednesday that protects telecom firms from lawsuits over secret surveillance.

Time for new financial system safeguards? Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson indicate need for new regulation of banking industry

U.S., India revive sweeping nuke deal But the pact, which some dub a 'sweetheart deal,' may not pass the US Congress in time.

India's latest engineering goal: create Olympians Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal is underwriting an ambitious push to put India on the map after decades of Olympic underachievement.

ASIA

G-whatever, China is here
The voice of Beijing will be heard at the Group of Eight gathering in Japan of the world's so-called leading countries, if only in side discussions. Yet the present and future size of its economy and growing role in world affairs make China's presence unavoidable, to the extent that the very relevance of the G-8 is open to doubt. - Francesco Sisci

Embassy Attack In Kabul Highlights Pakistan-India Rivalry
After the July 7 suicide car bomb attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul, international attention has turned to New Delhi’s interests and activities in Afghanistan

NYT Spy Cases Raise Concern on China’s Intentions

India caught in the Taliban myth
India's reaction to the deadly bombing of its embassy in Kabul is one of outrage and the calls for retaliatory action are vigorous. On the complex Afghan stage, though, this is not a simple morality play of good versus evil. Something has gone very wrong with India's attitude to the Taliban and instead of a knee-jerk "war on terror" response, a comprehensive examination of exactly what India is doing in Afghanistan could better serve the country. - M K Bhadrakumar

The party squeezes China's judiciary
In what amounts to a drastic politicization of China's judiciary, Chinese President Hu Jintao has ordered the nation's zhengfa, or law enforcement and judicial departments, to rally behind the leadership of the Communist Party and give utmost priority to securing social order in the run-up to the Olympic Games next month. - Willy Lam

India Chases the Dragon in Sri Lanka By: Sudha Ramachandran | Asia Times China is steadily increasing its activities in Sri Lanka through the sale of arms and with development projects, including the building of a key port. India, fearing it is being left behind in its own neighborhood, has increased its support to the Sri Lankan armed forces

H11 IHT Whose national interests? Rich nations, poor policies With the price of oil shooting upward, food security a danger, and climate change already taking its toll, members of the Group of 8 need to cooperate now - and not make vague promises for the distant future.

The mother of friendships lost

By ROGER COHEN Barack Obama needs both Anthony Lake and Richard Holbrooke for his 'team of rivals.'

Obama plans set off political squabble in Germany The dispute pits the two parties in the German governing coalition against each other and highlights the pitfalls for the candidate in taking his political campaign overseas.

Merkel's biggest struggle could be with her own party The disarray in her party and an increasingly grumpy coalition leaves Angela Merkel with little room to maneuver in the coming months

A deal on emission cuts, but not on timing G-8 leaders meeting in Japan pledged to cut emissions in half by 2050. But poorer Group of 5 nations are holding out until rich nations take more aggressive steps to cut pollution over the next decade.

Shortages are not the problem

By MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AND JOHN D. PODESTA

The dismal state of affairs in the global food situation underscores the need for U.S. leadership in addressing a world agricultural system that is facing new challenges

COUNTERFEIT GOODS A spreading danger By SHASHI THAROOR Like counterfeit watches, fake perfumes, imitation designer clothing and pirated films, fake medicines thrive in a world where people are all too ready to bend the rules.

EUROPE European press review

Czech Paper Argues US Radar "Only Option" in Absence of Strong EU Security

CEPS The Future of European Electricity: Choices before 2020

Rand Europe's Role in Nation-Building: From the Balkans to the Congo

Countries move closer to NATO membership

Der Spiegel Take the Citizenship Test: Could You Become a German?

French Nuclear Leak: Critics Worry as Authorities Ban Water Use

Albania Seeks Solutions to its Blood Feud Problem By: Jeffrey White | Der Spiegel It's a centuries-old tradition, but even modern-day Albania is still plagued by blood feuds. Thousands in the country don't leave their homes for fear of falling victim to revenge murders. But reconciliations are on the rise.

Brandenburg Gate speech splits Berlin Angela Merkel concerned about allowing a symbolic landmark in Berlin to be used for partisan speech

This persecution of Gypsies is now the shame of Europe Seumas Milne: Italy's campaign against the Roma has ominous echoes of its fascist past, and the silence of our leaders is deafening

French uranium leak hits two rivers

Residents of popular resort banned from drinking well-water or swimmimg and fishing

Europe's armies waste taxes, says report French defence officials say stronger capabilities must precede any institutional set-up

H12 RFE/RL

Russia Calls Georgia A Risk to Regional Security

Tales From the Black Sea The Economist
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

In Search of Georgia's Culture of Democracy By: Tsotne Bakuria | The Moscow Times
Speaking to a television journalist late last month in Tbilisi, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili -- leader of the Rose Revolution and darling of the administration of President George W. Bush -- defended the crackdown on free media in Georgia, saying the country lacked a ""culture of democracy.""

Putin's Afrika Korps By: Roman Kupchinsky | Eurasia Daily Monitor
Deals by Russian companies seeking to acquire African minerals seem to be the order of the day. A $2 billion investment in Zambia was announced in June.

Paper Says Moscow Unhappy About Lithuania "Slipping" From Russia's Influence

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Hints that Democratization Will Take Back Seat on OSCE Agenda President Nursultan Nazarbayev has given a preview of how Kazakhstan will approach its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and the future does not look pretty for the organization’s democratization component.

EDM MEDVEDEV’S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER DENOUNCES BBC REPORT ON LITVINENKO MURDER

- GUAM SHOWS ITS RESILIENCE AT BATUMI SUMMIT

- GUAM’S BATUMI SUMMIT BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS AMID CHALLENGES

H13 The Times Analysis: Words that hide the withdrawal

In the debate about America's troop deployment in Iraq, politicians have failed to notice that the withdrawal has already begun

Medvedev adopts new tone on missile shield Russian President adopts measured response to missile defence crisis, but events in Georgia could force his hand

Little things can mean a lot in the machinations of great nations

ANALYSIS: an old pill for tough times Alongside repossessions, bankruptcies and suicides, economic downturns inevitably trigger one other trend: protectionism

Jobs blow as US reneges on £18bn deal 11,000 British jobs and 14,000 in Europe and the US threatened as the Pentagon junks world’s biggest defence contract

ANALYSIS: an old pill for tough times

Police kill five members of 'Chinese al-Qaeda' Chinese officers opened fire in a raid on a group claimed to be bent on waging a holy war inspired by al-Qaeda

Russia falters over Zimbabwe agreement US delegation at G8 summit pushes for UN Security Council vote on sanctions as Russia and China say they are not ready

Rich nations told to lead over carbon curbs Emerging economic powers tell rich nations that they not showing enough leadership in fight against climate change

Beer and a better future US-backed assault has transformed Basra, a city once gripped by fear

Do the Obamacons really exist?

Why they might matter

Wall Street Journal Iran's Missile Threat
A warhead with EMP could do enormous damage to the U.S.

Barack's Brilliant Ground Game
By Karl Rove His organization is formidable. But flip-flops may do him in.

Negotiating India's Next Nuclear ExplosionBy Henry Sokolski
The most important news to emerge from this week's G-8 summit.

Europe and the Huddled Masses
By Jakob von Weizsäcker
A borderless EU needs a coordinated immigration policy.

Iranian Test Escalates Tensions

Iran said it test-fired a series of long- and medium-range missiles, escalating the saber-rattling over its nuclear program and frustrating U.S. officials who have cited glimmers of recent progress.

2008: A Watershed Election?
By John Steele Gordon
The last time a moderate conservative faced a charismatic populist was 1896. The results were surprising.

A Bipartisan Fix for the Oil Crisis
By Joseph Petrowski
We need to increase energy supplies, diversify the sources, and use them more efficiently.

The Future of Securitization
By Ethan Penner The payment and maturity of the securities must match those of the underlying loans.

Will Obama Let the Sunshine In? By Daniel Henninger
Wonder Land: He denounced the radical decade during the Democratic primaries. But if Barack Obama gets into the White House, it could be 1968 all over again.

H14 Financial Times Total steps back from investing in Iran Tehran loses last major western energy group considering significant investment in its huge gas reserves as the US pursues campaign of isolation over its nuclear ambitions

Gazprom offers to buy all Libya’s gas Russia’s state-­controlled gas company says it is in talks to buy all of Libya’s oil and gas exports, its latest move to strengthen its influence over world energy markets

Iran test-fires missile in the Gulf

Tehran fires its Shahab-3 ballistic missile – in theory capable of hitting Israel – amid escalating international tensions over the country’s nuclear programme

Analysis: western energy groups yield to state producers Eni’s renegotiated deal with Libya is agitating rivals because all are under pressure to concede a greater share of revenues to hydrocarbon-rich governments

Obama seizes on Iraqi calls for timetable Barack Obama sought to overcome a wave of criticism of his stance on Iraq by seizing on Baghdad’s call this week for a timetable for a US withdrawal

Pipe dreams and cigar smoke

The answer to the Group of Eight’s impotence lies in reform – membership should be extended to fast-growing Brazil and India as well as China

Broker backstop As Fed involvement in emergency support for investment banks be­comes more extended, so must its powers to keep Wall Street on the straight and narrow

Welcome to a world with $500 oil Mavercon: Willem Buiter explains why, within 3 or 4 years’ time, the sky will be the limit for the price of commodities

The China bubble fuelling oil prices

The expectation that prices can only go up is the real culprit, not the trading among speculators who are simply betting against each other, writes Daniel Gros

Trichet steps up inflation warnings

European Central Bank president sounds alarm over the spill-over effects of soaring oil prices, saying ‘first signs’ of danger are emerging in eurozone labour markets

US to reopen EADS tanker contract

Pentagon seeks fresh industry proposals

China and India hold out on emission targets Stance calls into question value of summit

US Senate approves wire-tapping bill

The US Senate approved a bill overhauling domestic eavesdropping laws, ending more than two years of wrangling over President George W. Bush’s terrorist surveillance programme

Comment: Appreciating Mandelson

Today he is a force for good. It is stupid and offensive to say that the commissioner’s trade liberalisation policies were to blame for that Irish vote, writes Geoffrey Wheatcroft

Energy groups yield to state producers Eni’s deal with Libya is agitating rivals because all are under pressure to concede more of their revenues

Poverty widens the crack in Japan’s facade Michiyo Nakamoto on rising inequality

Medvedev gives Britain no ground

Russia’s president has stood firm on issues such as the Litvinenko murder, the closure of two British Council offices and the TNK-BP row

Biofuel for thought G8 leaders should end subsidies for biofuels which are of uncertain environmental merit but harm some of the world’s poorest people

Yahoo must call time on Jerry Yang

Shareholders would be unwise to give the Yahoo chief yet more time to fix the company, says John Gapper. When they meet on August 1 they should prefer Microsoft, if it will renew its full bid, and Carl Icahn, the activist investor who wants to kick out Mr Yang

H15 Los Angeles Times McCain's G-8 judgment call By Madeleine K. Albright and William J. Perry

Booting Moscow out of the group of wealthy democracies would deal a major blow to U.S.-Russia relations.

Iran stages Persian Gulf missile tests amid warnings to its 'enemies'

Nine missiles are fired near the Strait of Hormuz, including at least one capable of striking Israel and other U.S. interests in the Mideast. 'Our missiles are ready for launch,' Iranian general says

Barack Obama, John McCain react to Iranian missile tests

Obama backs aggressive diplomacy, McCain focuses on missile defense in statements made after the tests were announced

Breakthrough unlikely at North Korea nuclear talks

Pyongyang may stall proceedings and seek a better deal with the next U.S. president

A pilgrimage of hope in Iraq

BABYLON & BEYOND: It was the place where Iraq's sectarian war began. This week, the city of Samarra and its ruined shrine once again became a place of peaceful pilgrimage for thousands of Shiite Muslims.

Think gas is expensive here? Try living in Oslo

In the worst attack, a suicide bombing in Mosul leaves eight dead and 41 wounded.

Several bombings and attacks by gunmen Wednesday killed 20 Iraqis and a U.S. soldier, officials said

H16 American Politics

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

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

Today's coverup of surveillance crimes and Barack Obama

In theory, economists support McCain

American Prospect Obama Is Not a God

Salon The FBI's plan to "profile" Muslims

An excerpt from Reihan Salam and Ross Douthat's Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream (and more and more).

Jackson sorry for crude Obama attack

Jesse Jackson issues extraordinary apology to Barack Obama after saying he wanted to 'cut his nuts out'

Wearing out the 'brand'

ARE YOU TIRED of the word "brand"? Political pundits apparently love it. "Barack Obama is three things you want in a brand. New, different, and attractive." "John McCain has a strong brand identity as being a maverick." "Obama and his senior advisers crafted a strategy to fit the Obama brand." "McCain's out there working on his brand: I'm a different ... (By Todd Domke, Boston Globe)

H17 Daily Telegraph

Scrap the G8 The G8 summit confirmed it has outlived any usefulness it may once have had: its effectiveness is in inverse proportion to its size and it should be scrapped

Deadly attack on Darfur peacekeepers Sudanese militiamen killed seven international peacekeepers and injured 22 others during a two-hour gunfight in the western region of Darfur.

H18 Independent Hamish McRae: In 2050 the world will be run by a new middle class – based in Asia

Hamish McRae: The G8 countries may run the old world economy. But it's the new one that matters

Iranians test-fire missile capable of hitting Israel A day after threatening to "set fire" to Israel and American targets in the Gulf, Tehran test-fired nine ballistic missiles yesterday, including a long-range one capable of hitting Tel Aviv

Leading article: Do not play into the hands of the hardliners

Bush to G8: 'Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter' President George Bush signed off with a defiant farewell over his refusal to accept global climate change targets at his last G8 summit

J'accuse! Ségolène links Sarkozy 'clan' with break-in at apartment

A vitriolic political row has exploded in France after the defeated presidential candidate, Ségolène Royal, accused President Sarkozy's "clan" of being "linked" to a break-in at her flat.

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Half of UK forces 'ready to quit' Almost half of UK military personnel are ready to leave the forces, a Ministry of Defence survey suggests.

Countering Asymmetrical Warfare in the 21st Century: A Grand Strategic Vision
CCC This 9-page US article offers a comprehensive strategic vision for countering asymmetrical threats

Conference: Open source in the IC

FM 3-24 / MCWP 33.3.5 Update Discussion

National War Powers Commission Report Source: National War Powers Commission, Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia Full Report (PDF; 947 KB) + Web Appendices to the Final Report (PDFs) + Commission at a Glance (PDF; 35 KB) + Commission Biographies + Press Coverage

Sources of Weapon System Cost Growth: Analysis of 35 Major Defense Acquisition Programs
Source: RAND Corporation Summary (PDF; 154 KB)
+ Full Document (PDF; 550 KB)

Rendition, Ordinary and Extraordinary

Terrorists in Bangladesh? By: Selig S. Harrison | The Christian Science Monitor
While the CIA and the Pentagon search in vain for Osama bin Laden in the mountains of Pakistan, an Al Qaeda affiliate has been quietly building up terrorist bases in the jungles of Bangladesh under the protective aegis of a new military regime in Dhaka allied with Islamist forces

H20 Slate

The World Food Crisis and Political Malthusianism By: Ronald Bailey | Reason
Riots have broken out in more than a dozen countries as prices of food staples have doubled and reserves declined to their lowest levels in a generation. The world food crisis is at the top of the agenda at the Group of Eight summit meeting in Japan this week.

International Trade: Rules of Origin
Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

From Harvard Magazine, an article on the causes and consequences of the wide—and growing—gap between rich and poor

H21 Dead Sea tablet 'casts doubt on death and resurrection of Jesus'

The Man Who Bought a Resurrection
TIME

The uses of hyperbole: Exaggerated doomsday forecasts are false, regrettable, inevitable, and possibly necessary.

A review of The Social Atom: Why the Rich Get Richer, Cheaters Get Caught, and Your Neighbor Usually Looks Like You by Mark Buchanan

like H.L. Mencken, Gore Vidal, Ernest Hemingway, and other original Americans, Ray Bradbury had the advantage of never attending college

Who needs the humanities? Steve Fuller wants to know.

Study reveals moon's water secret

New techniques used on rocks collected in Apollo missions in 1970s produce surprsing results

Google embraces virtual worlds with new chat tool Lively will allow online conversations to become realistic as users 'sit down' with one another in a virtual environment

Communities Pay for High Prison Rate

For every 100 adults in Phoenix's South Mountain district, 6.1 are serving time behind bars, more than five times the national average. Behind those figures are many hidden costs that communities are often left to manage: customers and employees lost, children left dependent on extended families.

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