081508f - 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 Washington Post Russia's Ominous New Doctrine? By Strobe Talbott, It's payback time for a grievance that Russia has borne against the West for nine years.

Georgia's Recklessness By Paul J. Saunders, American officials should reflect on the implications of Saakashvili's behavior for U.S. policy toward Georgia, Russia and the region

Pakistani President Expected to Resign Musharraf, Facing Impeachment, Likely To Step Down Within Days, Officials Say

Staring Down the Russians - Zbigniew Brzezinski, Time

The Economist The war in Georgia Russia resurgent

The war in Georgia is a victory for Russia. The West's options are limited, but it needs to pursue them firmly

Pakistan Beyond Musharraf Pakistan’s government should forget about punishing the president and get on with governing

Russia and Georgia A scripted war Both sides are to blame for the Russian-Georgian war, but it ran according to a Russian plan

Caucasian pipelines The dangers of the safe route Georgia’s pipelines to the West weren’t bombed but they remain vulnerable

A Question for the Global Community By: Rachel Clogg | The Guardian In the wake of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, the world must ask: how do we deal with breakaway regions?

Financial Times The vulnerabilities that lie behind Putin’s belligerence The riches and political leverage provided by gas and oil have restored Russia’s economic and geopolitical standing. Yet, for the medium and long term, almost all the other indicators point to a future of relative decline. Philip Stephens analyses the country’s position

Jerusalem Post Analysis: What does Moscow want in Georgia? By BRENDA SHAFFER What is this conflict about? What are the ramifications, regionally, globally and for the Middle East?

Is War in Air in the Gulf? - Claude Salhani, United Press International

New York Times U.S. Ties With Russia Being Reassessed, Bush Aides Say Russia’s military offensive in Georgia has punctuated a stark turnabout in the American view of Vladimir V. Putin, whom President Bush has called a friend.

Musharraf Set to Resign in Days, Officials Assert President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is expected to quit rather than face impeachment, Pakistani politicians said.

U.S. and Poland Set Missile Deal A deal to place a missile defense base on Polish territory angered Russia, but reflected alarm in countries like Poland about Moscow’s intentions.

PAUL KRUGMAN The Great Illusion The conflict in the Caucasus may be an omen. Will nationalism kill globalization — again?

McCain Displays Credentials as Obama Relaxes

Salon The Newer Deal: The path to a Democratic supermajority How Democrats can win big in 2010 and beyond -- by doing the opposite of what they're doing now. Think FDR-style liberalism, not McGovern. By Michael Lind

The Times America's Challenge; Russia's Choice

By signing a ceasefire and then ignoring its central requirements Moscow has defied and world and shown a poor understanding of its own interests

Europe wins a gold for defeatism

Sarkozy's ‘peace in our time' deal is a reminder of what could happen if the EU wins more clout

Gerard Baker

McCain ponders one-term presidency The Republican candidate is considering an unprecedented move to distance himself from unpopular political divisions

British troops to leave Iraq 'within a year' The military is close to completing its mission, say defence sources as UK prepares to negotiate a Baghdad deal

Al Awsat Conservative vs. Revolutionary : Amir Taheri

The Times Kremlin dusts off Cold War lexicon to make US villain in Georgia — Russians were told over breakfast yesterday what really happened in Georgia: the conflict in South Ossetia was part of a plot by Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, to stop Barak Obama being elected president of the United States.

Independent Mary Dejevsky: Russia the bad guys? Who are the West trying to kid?

Jihad for Oil By: Daveed Gartenstein-Ross | The Weekly Standard Oil dependence is America's Achilles' heel in the battle against terrorism--a fact that has not escaped the terrorists. Osama bin Laden and others have declared the oil supply a top target, and subsequent plots demonstrate that the desire to disrupt world energy markets is more than mere rhetoric.

Gates Insists: US Won't Intervene in Georgia

Facing the Bear By: Max Boot | New York Post
'Today, the West's very will is tested. The main thing is if the West fails now, then it will have tremendous consequences for the world for years to come." So says Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvilli. If he's right (and I think he is), all indications are that the will of the West has been found wanting.

U.S. Has Forfeited Its Moral Authority - Andrew Sullivan, The Atlantic

The Economist The world economy A problem shared Economies across the rich world are flirting with recession. Good news for the dollar

Debka Jumblatt deserts Lebanon’s pro-Western camp, signs pact with pro-Iranian Hizballah

Ha’aretz – Georgia president denies Israel halted military aid

Editorial: Israel must tone down its warmongering

Ari Shavit: Russia is as threatening to the West as radical Islam

OPINION: By not aiding Georgia, Israel harming efforts on Iran A continued deterioration in relations between Russia and U.S. could bring Moscow and Tehran closer

U.S.: Hezbollah training Iraqi militants in Iran Explosives, assassination camps set in 4 locations; trainees include 3 Iraqis wanted in Baghdad for terrorism

Stratfor Geopolitical Diary: Countermoves to a Russian Resurgence Poland and the United States announced an agreement to permanently station elements of a U.S. ballistic missile defense system on Polish territory

Foreign Policy Seven Questions: Russia Plays 'Realpolitik with Bare Knuckles'

Roubini The Decline of the American Empire

Cobban Georgia crisis and the shifting global balance

Christian Science Monitor Georgia crisis helps McCain for now A key question: Will the conflict divert voters' attention from the economy this fall?

Georgia-Russia conflict shows EU's energy vulnerability

This week's offensive is the latest setback to plans for the Nabucco pipeline, designed to wean Europe off Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Russia's payback By Andrew J. Bacevich NATO disrespected Russia for too long. Now the Alliance must regroup.

Europe's (dis)unity over russia

It will take US leadership to bridge divisions over what to do about Russia and Georgia

Russian support for Iran sanctions at risk amid Georgia rift

The US bid to promote a fourth round of sanctions may get lost amid sharp dispute over Russian military action in Georgia

Guardian Reopening old wounds Editorial: The second consequence of this conflict is that it has reopened the scars of the cold war

Musharraf will be gone in days

Tariq Ali: The Pakistani president is likely quit soon. But don't expect democracy to rush in: the military's habits die hard

IHT AFGHANISTAN II

A British perspective By MICHAEL ROSE The insurgency war that is being fought in Afghanistan is winnable and it is being won.

China's Slow March Toward a Normal Society By: Frank Ching | The Japan Times Though it still has far to go, China is inching towards a normal society with safeguards for human rights and freedoms.

Russia Resurgent: An Initial Look at Russian Military Performance in Georgia FPRI

U.S.-Russia Relations, Facing Reality Pragmatically
IFRI, CSIS A 19-page report analyzing the prerquisites for improving U.S.-Russia relations

Wall Street Journal Global Economic Picture Darkens

The world economy is slowing significantly after months of resilience in the face of U.S. weakness. Four of the world's five largest economies -- the U.S., the euro zone, Japan and the U.K. -- are now flirting with recession.

Poland Spring
Bolstering its air defense now is no coincidence.

A Fight to the Finish
By Jonathan Kay Bookshelf: What Iraq's battlefield really looks like and why the surge is working.

Newsweek Dickey: Saakashvili and the Dangers of Defiance

A global economic war, Paul Rogers

Public Diplomacy and the Challenges of European Power

New Energy Frontiers Expand Global Connections – Part I

South Ossetia: The perfect wrong war by Walid Phares

Gvosdev Consolidate the U.S. Position: Serbia and India

H2 Guardian Turkey pulls out of Iranian gas deal US pressure on Istanbul leads to humiliating snub for Iran on lucrative energy deal

Güngör Uras Rusya ve İran politikasında ‘ekonominin ağırlığı var’

ERDAL ŞAFAK Kuzey Kıbrıs Güney Osetya

Boğaz kıyısında nükleer pazarlık

Erdoğan: Bütünlük korunmalı

Reuters Iran, Turkey fail to sign energy deals

AP Iran, Turkey fail to reach deal on new pipeline

What is going on in Georgia? What can Turkey do about it? (1) by HASAN KANBOLAT

Ahmadinejad’s foray to Turkey by ALON BEN-MEIR*

Laura Rozen "The Hunt for Kurdish Oil," Mother Jones

Ahmadinejad Wants A Piece Of Turkey - Forbes.com

Putin’in adamları Ergenekon dosyasında

[HABER ANALİZ] Boğaz'dan Washington'a yüklendi

FT Tesco pulled into bribery case over Turkey site

BP turns pipeline back on

The Economist Transiting through Turkey A tragic crossroads The luckless folk who try to get to, and through, Anatolia

Erdal Sağlam Türkiye'nin enerji koridoru olması için yeni bir plan şart

Is Turkey abandoning the West?
Mustafa AKYOL

İran'la enerjide yeni anlaşma yok görüşmeler ve işbirliği sürecek

Barçın Yinanç Enerji dosyası boş çıkarsa ziyaret sadece Ahmedinecad'a yarar

Pipelines closed, Turkey could turn to Iran

Afrika liderleri İstanbul'da bir araya geliyor

Türkiye Gürcistan'ın yaralarını saracak

Nagehan Alçı İran’la flört edilir mi?

Enerjide yeni anlaşma yok

Gül'den Ahmedinejad'a nükleer uyarı: Diplomatik çözüm için zaman daralıyor

Aug 14 SD# 2025 - Iranian President Ahmadinejad to Turkish TV In Advance of Turkey Visit: Our Attitude Toward Israel is Shared By Turks And By 'Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine – Because These Are the True Words [Of Allah]'; 'I Wish They Had Free Elections in America... Whatever Government Comes, It Must Leave the Middle East'

Müşerref Türkiye'de hedef haline gelebilir

ABD’ye İstanbul’dan nükleer mesajlar

Bashir set for Turkey visit after ICC move

Turkey rolls its diplomatic dice

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

Kürt siyasetinin çıkmazı ve Ergenekon

Barzani to take Kirkuk issue to US

Border hotspots : Turkey and Northern Iraq

By Baris Gulmez, Research Associate, U K Defence Forum

[Yorum - Bülent Keneş] İran meselesini bir anlama denemesi

Iraqi Officials Deny Row With Kurdish Militia

Iraq's Talabani had heart surgery in US (View Article)

PKK'da tasfiye iddiası

Ahmedinejad: PKK ve PJAK `a karşı oluşturulan işbirliği sürecek

Türkiye de kaybedenler arasında…

Iran president holds Turkey talks

Ahmedinejad'ın Ziyaretinden Beklentiler

Hüseyin Gülerce Türkiye-İran: Mesajları farklı iki komşu

The benefits and the curse of oil
Economist

Iran kills 3 Kurdish separatists in clash

İran'da hava

İranlı gazeteci Nefise Kunhavar geziye bakışı değerlendirdi

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

Sami Kohen Kafkasya platformu hayal mi?

Cevdet Aşkın Slobodan Miloseviç'in hayaleti Kafkaslar'da dolaşıyor

Nuray Başaran Türkiye-Ermenistan arasındaki ilişki Kafkaslar'ın geleceği için çok önemli

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL

Gürcistan'a nükleer silah mı gönderildi?

Ferai Tınç Rusya’ya karşı koz var artık

Saakaşvili’ye destek

Zeynel Lüle Avrupa'da bir Türkün başarı öyküsü

Emin Pazarcı ABD-Rusya gerginliği

Hakan Aygün Gürcistan’daki sorunun nedeni Gürcü Stalin!

Savaş Süzal Bush ve 'Gürcü-Nekon'

Erdoğan: Ermenistan da bu ittifakta yer almalıdır

Turkey and Problems With the BTC By: John C. K. Daly | Eurasia Daily Monitor With Western eyes fixed on the clash between Russia and Georgia over the disputed enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the conflict is affecting neighboring countries’ oil shipments, particularly Azerbaijan and transit nation Turkey.

Almanya'daki durgunluk gurbetçilerin yatırım kararlarını frenledi

Gürcistan Savaşı Kafkasları Nasıl Etkileyecek?

Erdoğan'ın 'Kafkas Platformu' önerisine Saakaşvili de destek verdi

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

17 Ağustos'un yıldönümünde binlerce aile 'beton tabut'ta yaşıyor

Report: 90,000 people could die if quake hits İstanbul

Developers no longer haunted by historical discoveries

Vakıf üniversiteleri mercek altında

İstanbul’un ‘senaryo’larla savaşı

Edremit ‘mahalle baskısı’ altında

Derya Sazak Köle tersanesi

Müftülere nikâh yetkisi isteniyor

Ahmedinecad afeti!

Patlamadan sonra ‘İngilizce kursu’ için dilekçe verilmiş

New York’lu neden mağdur olmuyor?

Karataş’ın cenazesi İstanbul’a getirildi

HAYRETTİN KARAMAN

Zorunlu din dersi

YÖK’ten 27 dekan ataması

Recai Bey’in tavuğu

Turkish titles dominate competition in Sarajevo

Bitlisliler küplere bindi!

H3 JİTEM'in eski komutanında 3. cephanelik

Pamukbank'a el koyma işlemi yasal, iftiralar eski

Ergenekon'da emekli albaya operasyon

Ergenekon'da yeni el bombaları ortaya çıktı

Beykoz'da cephanelik ofise baskın JİTEM'in kurucusu gözaltında

AK Parti, sivil anayasa taslağını rafa kaldırdı

'Hikmet abi' ikna oldu, CHP'ye alternatif parti geliyor

Sahte belge laboratuvarda üretilmiş Hayali BDDK Başkan Yardımcısı Ali Vural ile Doğan Grubu’ndan Veli Dural komedisinde son perde

Eski albay gözaltında

JiTEM’in albayı yakalandı

Ergenekon’un ücüncü cephaneliği Beykoz’da

Önce mütabakat sonra revizyon

3 saldırıda Ergenekon izi

Veli Küçük'ün sağ kolu da gözaltında

Oylama 3'e 3 çıktı Derviş devreye girdi Pamukbank'a el kondu

TESCO’dan Silivri Belediyesi’ne 325 bin YTL’lik ‘kuşkulu bağış’

Örtülü ödeneğin beş katı harcanmış

İddianame ağını örüyor

İşte Eruygur’u çıldırtan seçim

MİT'in Ergenekon şeması sansürlendi

Asker olmak için fotoğraf kriteri

Masonların sinsi planları deşifre oldu

Baş başa 70 dakika

Konya’da gözleri var görmüyorlar, kulakları var ama duymuyorlar

El koyma Yılmaz, Derviş ve Özkan'ın operasyonuydu

Ali Vural ve Veli Dural'ı biliyorum

Buzlar eridi

CHP ‘Dişli’ takibinde

‘60 delil’e takipsizlik!

‘Hükümete yakın medya’ sahip çıkmadı

Yakalama emri çıktı!

Ergenekon da 3
gözaltı daha!

Şifre yaşam kasesi

CHP Erdoğan’a Dişli’yi sordu

Yeni lider cenazeye giderken yakalandı

Küçük’ün sağ koluna gözaltı

Güngören, kışla ve konsolosluk saldırılarına Ergenekon araştırması

Çiçek’e göre Örnek-Çalık ilişkisi normal

Askerin gizli tahkikat evrakı da Ulusal Kanal'dan çıktı

Ergenekon, Samsun'da belediye seçimlerine müdahale etmiş

Çömez ve Ersöz için yakalama emri çıkarıldı

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

Cengiz Çandar

Ahmet Taşgetiren Nejad ve Bush arasında Türkiye

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol İki İran

Fikret Bila Baykal-Büyükanıt görüşmesi

Hasan Cemal

Murat Yetkin Kafkaslar’da sınırlar değişmeye başlıyor

İsmet Berkan Gürcistan’ın toprak bütünlüğü mü kaldı?

Fehmi Koru Bir haberin anatomisi

Taha Kıvanç Meraklıyım, meraklıyım işte!

Serdar Turgut Ertuğrul şaşırdı

Şamil Tayyar Halk iktidardan ne bekliyor?

Ali Bayramoğlu

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Adamı tutturamadık, kod'unu verelim

TAMER KORKMAZ

Maalesef…

Gülay Göktürk Devlet tutkusu

Serdar Akinan Utanmaz arlanmaz adamlar

Halit Kakınç Don Kişot’un Yoldaşı

Oray Eğin Aydın Doğan’a çağrı

Ahmet Hakan

M Ali Birand

Cüneyt Ülsever

Enis Berberoğlu

Yeniden ‘sivil anayasa’yı tartışmak ÜMİT KURT

Mümtazer Türköne Kafkasya ve Rusya

Yavuz Baydar Past mistakes show the way to success

Ali Bulaç New model for Turkey

Mehmet Tezkan

Sezer’e verilmedi.. Büyükanıt’a niye veriliyor!

Okay Gönensin

Yangının dışında kalabilmek

Oktay Ekşi Yanıtlanacak sorular

Tufan Türenç Tayyip Bey’in 3 Y fiyaskosu

Özdemir İnce ’CHP gibiyim?’

Mehmet Y Yılmaz Artık istifa etmesi gerekiyor

MUHARREM SARIKAYA Barış için KİİP...

ERDAL ŞAFAK Kuzey Kıbrıs Güney Osetya

ENGİN ARDIÇ Nutuk, nutuk mu?

Doğru başlangıç
MEHMET ALİ KIŞLALI

Ahıska Türkleri vatanlarına döndürülmeli

HASAN CELAL GÜZEL

‘Bizim sol’un halleri...
ORAL ÇALIŞLAR

ERGUN BABAHAN Ahmedinecad trafik ve Türkiye

EMRE AKÖZ Bu kez de Alperenleri mi kullandılar?

Umur Talu Herkesin bir bedeli...

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

Kültür Bakanı'na bir öneri

NAZLI ILICAK Kafkasya yanardağı ve barış şemsiyesi

MEHMET BARLAS "Tesettür Gettoları"nın sakinleri devlet adamı olabilir mi?

MAHMUT ÖVÜR "Demokrat Merkez"e Meral Gezgin mi geliyor?

YAVUZ DONAT

Bülent Korucu Abdüllatif Şener'in engelli koşusu

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Hissede vadeliyi kaybeden İMKB geleceğini kaybeder mi?

Ercan Kumcu

Erdal Sağlam Türkiye'nin enerji koridoru olması için yeni bir plan şart

Güven Sak Ahir Zaman Hurafeleri Kataloğu 1: Türkiye'de tekstil bitti abi

Eser Karakaş AK Parti, siyaset ve ekonomi

Türkiye'den çıkan yabancı banka olursa çok şaşarım

OKAN MÜDERRİSOĞLU
Maliye ekonomiyi e-fatura ile kayıt altına alacak

Turkish $15 bln FDI forecast still achievable-panel

H4 New York Times U.S. Ties With Russia Being Reassessed, Bush Aides Say Russia’s military offensive in Georgia has punctuated a stark turnabout in the American view of Vladimir V. Putin, whom President Bush has called a friend.

Musharraf Set to Resign in Days, Officials Assert President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is expected to quit rather than face impeachment, Pakistani politicians said.

U.S. and Poland Set Missile Deal

A deal to place a missile defense base on Polish territory angered Russia, but reflected alarm in countries like Poland about Moscow’s intentions.

PAUL KRUGMAN The Great Illusion The conflict in the Caucasus may be an omen. Will nationalism kill globalization — again?

McCain Displays Credentials as Obama Relaxes

Russia’s Conflict Worries Wall Street

Russians Confident That Nation Is Back

After Days of Fighting, Cooperation Is Strained

Signs of Ethnic Attacks in Georgia Conflict

DAVID BROOKS Where’s the Trauma and the Grief? There was no disguising the emotional resilience of the people in a village in China’s Sichuan Province, an area hit hard by the earthquake.

As Its Work Force Ages, Japan Needs and Fears Chinese Labor

Bomber Kills 18 on Shiite Pilgrimage in Iraq

World Briefing | Africa: Libya: Settlement Ends Terrorism Suits

As a Tribute, Democrats Will Place Clinton’s Name in Nomination at the Convention

Less Than Golden Years

Americans are saving too little for retirement. The sooner lawmakers and employers respond to this crisis — with legislation and education — the better the chances for limiting the damage.

50 Years of Filling in the Blanks

At the 50th anniversary of Mad Libs, co-creator Leonard Stern reflects on other special events throughout history that remain relevant today.

H5 Washington Post Russia's Ominous New Doctrine? By Strobe Talbott, It's payback time for a grievance that Russia has borne against the West for nine years.

Georgia's Recklessness By Paul J. Saunders, American officials should reflect on the implications of Saakashvili's behavior for U.S. policy toward Georgia, Russia and the region

Pakistani President Expected to Resign Musharraf, Facing Impeachment, Likely To Step Down Within Days, Officials Say

Russian Relations In Doubt, Gates Says Conflict in Georgia threatens ties between Washington and Moscow, but defense secretary rules out the use of force by the U.S. military. U.S. Assessing Need For Aid in Georgia

McCain's Focus on Georgia Raises Question of Propriety After Chiding Obama, He Dwells on Crisis as a President Might

Bush's Risky Move By Dan Froomkin

Traditional Energy's Modern Boom

High Prices Are Driving Increased Extraction of Oil and Other Fossil Fuels

Suicide Bomber Kills 18 In Iraq

Woman Sets Off Blast in Gathering Of Shiite Pilgrims

A Free Press? Not This Time.

By Olga Ivanova, Coverage of the conflict between Russia and Georgia has been unprofessional, to say the least.

Russians Leave, Then Return to Seized Georgian City Medvedev Receives Separatist Leaders

Editorial Par for Mr. Corsi An expert at misrepresentation takes on Barack Obama

Obama Faces The Smear Machine

By Eugene Robinson, Page A21

Since he can't reveal anything about Obama's past, Jerome Corsi is reduced to reinterpretation -- or, at times, invention.

Across China's Countryside, 'Just Too Busy' for Olympics Vaunted Games Barely Noticed by Farmers Focused on Harvest

Discord With Russia a Worry for NASA Soyuz Will Soon Be Only Shuttle Flying to Space Station

OSS Records Bristle With Details About Agents

H6 Guardian Reopening old wounds Editorial: The second consequence of this conflict is that it has reopened the scars of the cold war

US rules out military role in Georgia but warns Russia off

Rice's effort to rally world support for regional ally leave Russians suspicious of American aims

Georgian villagers flee amid claims of atrocities

Medvedev to guarantee rebel states vote

The blue-collar myth Lola Adesioye: White, working-class voters will support Barack Obama in November because his policies align with their interests

Musharraf will be gone in days

Tariq Ali: The Pakistani president is likely quit soon. But don't expect democracy to rush in: the military's habits die hard

Serious games Michael Williams: Athletes from Washington and Beijing are unwitting footsoldiers in a war between one superpower in decline, and another in the ascendant

Malaysia is a rare multiracial success. But its stability is being put to the test Martin Jacques: A repeat legal assault on the opposition leader highlights the current volatility. The old order is desperate to hold power

Basra: It's booming, say British

Military commanders claim port city is thriving, with house prices doubling and new restaurants opening

Charlatans of democracy Fatima Bhutto: Triumphalism over a Musharraf impeachment won't hide the failings of Pakistan's ruling coalition

Labour warned over limits to free expression Critical UN report condemns use of Official Secrets Act for gagging of public servants

White US becomes minority by 2042 Demographic shift among most intensive changes of a country's racial and ethnic make-up in history

China's earthquake repair bill $150bn Schools, housing for and jobs on the agenda as repair proposals seek to redress quality shortfalls

Turkey pulls out of Iranian gas deal

US pressure on Istanbul leads to humiliating snub for Iran on lucrative energy deal

Georgia and the election Will the Georgia crisis affect Obama's veep choice?

Bridging the road to Damascus

Khaled Diab: Israeli voters should give their next leader a clear mandate to negotiate an equitable peace with Syria

Free trade breakdown Björn Lomborg: Protectionist rhetoric and global fears about free trade leave our planet at risk of missing out on extraordinary benefits

The Open Society and Its Imperfections Great piece in Dissent magazine on the unexpected liberalism (to a point) of Hayek

Symbolic vote to woo Clinton supporters Name to go on ballot in gesture intended to solidify party support around Barack Obama

Blog: Obama advisers made the right move

Economy: US inflation jumps to 5.6% but may have peaked White House concedes recovery will be slow as foreclosures in housing market rise at annual rate of 55%

Economy: Eurozone teeters on brink of recession after output drops for the first time Eurostat says GDP in the 15 eurozone countries contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2008

US sailors charged with abusing inmates at Iraq detention centre

Guards at Camp Bucca desert prison face court martial for keeping eight inmates in cell filled with pepper spray

The alternatives to bombing Hiroshima were not morally superior Response: The atomic weapon saved millions of lives across all Japan-controlled territories, says Matthew Seligmann

H7 The Economist Iraq The benefits and the curse of oil

The country is awash with oil money but still lacks a proper plan

Syria Still more murk than light A recent assassination makes Syrian politics look as mysterious as ever

Debka Jumblatt deserts Lebanon’s pro-Western camp, signs pact with pro-Iranian Hizballah

What counts as 'success' in Iraq?

A VOLUBLE attempt to describe the Iraq war as a success is widely apparent, and will increase as the Republican National Convention nears. John McCain is staking his campaign on this assertion. There is little doubt that the level of violence in Iraq has subsided noticeably in the last 12 months. But is this "victory"? (By John Tirman, Boston Globe)

Basra and the Brits - Wall Street Journal editorial

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

BBC 'Time right' for Iraq task change

The outgoing commander of British forces in Iraq says conditions are right for a change in the UK mission there.

Analysis: Draw down crucial

Battling the heat in Basra

Where are British troops?

Lebanon-Syria to demarcate border Lebanon and Syria agree to resume work on formally demarcating for the first time their common border.

Looking ahead

Does Lebanese-Syrian summit herald a new era?

Arab League Head Interviewed on Mideast Peace Process, Dialogue With Iran

Paper Criticizes Iranian Official Careless Comments About Arabic States

H9 Ha’aretz – Georgia president denies Israel halted military aid

Editorial: Israel must tone down its warmongering

Ari Shavit: Russia is as threatening to the West as radical Islam

OPINION: By not aiding Georgia, Israel harming efforts on Iran A continued deterioration in relations between Russia and U.S. could bring Moscow and Tehran closer

U.S.: Hezbollah training Iraqi militants in Iran Explosives, assassination camps set in 4 locations; trainees include 3 Iraqis wanted in Baghdad for terrorism

Avineri The Russian giant returns After Georgia, will Moscow try to teach Ukraine a similar lesson? Time will tell. But the era of ignoring Russia has come to an end.

Being written out of the Jewish people I estimate that at least 60 percent of Jewish Israeli families will have to prove their Jewishness to the rabbinate in the coming two decades.

Things small states should know Sovereignty is a concept that makes sense to great powers. Small states have no chance of upholding their sovereignty without an ace up their sleeve

Nasrallah: 'Failed' IDF generals caused Georgia defeat in war Hezbollah chief says Defense Minister, IDF chief failed in past and don't scare his organization today

The empire strikes back

The devil went down to Georgia

How 'special' a relationship? Depressing as this may sound, Germany still lacks a home-grown national consciousness that Israel?s security is ?non-negotiable.?

Georgia to UN: Stop Russia's ethnic cleansing immediately Secretary General Ban 'extremely concerned' about situation on ground, calls for end to lawlessness

Poll: Who will be better as leader of the Kadima Party?

Clooney wants more "balanced" Israel policy (WTR)

Jerusalem Post 'New Syria-Lebanon ties won't undermine Hizbullah's mission'

Diplomatic officials: Syria's plans to demarcate its border with Lebanon, apart from Shaba Farms area, obvious attempt to keep issue alive.

UNIFIL commander: Israel violating 1701

Maj.-Gen. Graziano cites IAF forays over Lebanon and "occupation" of the border village of Ghajar.

Analysis: What does Moscow want in Georgia? By BRENDA SHAFFER What is this conflict about? What are the ramifications, regionally, globally and for the Middle East?

Sympathy for the aggressor

[ LARRY DERFNER

How Israel became boy who cried wolf

[ EVELYN GORDON

Boundaries for Israel

Israel hasn't yet declared which territories it insists on retaining.

'Georgia can forget about provinces' Russian FM appears to challenge Bush's demand that Moscow respect the sovereignty of Georgia

'Ex-Egyptian envoy did spy on Israel'

Former ambassador to US tells 'Post' Bassiouny overstepped bounds of normal info gathering

Remaking US foreign policy

[ DANIEL DORON

Yedioth Ahronoth

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

Al Awsat Arab Security Forces in Palestinian Territories : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

Israel Temple temptations The issue of Jerusalem’s holiest site may again be dividing Jews

Digitizing the Holocaust - Bob Davis (Wall Street Journal)

H10 Christian Science Monitor Georgia crisis helps McCain for now A key question: Will the conflict divert voters' attention from the economy this fall?

Georgia-Russia conflict shows EU's energy vulnerability

This week's offensive is the latest setback to plans for the Nabucco pipeline, designed to wean Europe off Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Russia's payback By Andrew J. Bacevich NATO disrespected Russia for too long. Now the Alliance must regroup.

Europe's (dis)unity over russia

It will take US leadership to bridge divisions over what to do about Russia and Georgia

Russian support for Iran sanctions at risk amid Georgia rift

The US bid to promote a fourth round of sanctions may get lost amid sharp dispute over Russian military action in Georgia.

Taliban wages war on aid groups

Wednesday's ambush by the militants killed three Western aid workers and their Afghan driver. It's part of an apparent bid to rid Afghanistan of foreign aid workers.

Is freedom near for captive Israeli soldier? Hamas says that Gilad Shalit could be released in a week, but terms of a deal with Israel keep shifting.

A new-style evangelical pastor ascends the political stage

Pastor Rick Warren interviews Obama and McCain in a live broadcast Saturday.

ASIA

China's Slow March Toward a Normal Society By: Frank Ching | The Japan Times Though it still has far to go, China is inching towards a normal society with safeguards for human rights and freedoms.

Military Walks Away From Musharraf By: Farhan Bokhari | Financial Times
Pakistan’s powerful army is distancing itself from Pervez Musharraf, the president, according to high-ranking Pakistani officials and western diplomats, forcing the former military chief to consider resigning rather than face the humiliation of parliamentary impeachment

The Economist Pakistan Time’s up, Mr Musharraf Enemies of Pakistan’s president smell blood

Should China have a “legalist” model for its future, rather than democracy? Or should China simply have democracy, period?... more» China has a long history

Malaysia is a rare multiracial success. But its stability is being put to the test

Martin Jacques: A repeat legal assault on the opposition leader highlights the current volatility. The old order is desperate to hold power

Japan Must Aquire a Taste for Competition By: Michiyo Nakamoto | Financial Times
Contemporary Japan’s rich culinary culture owes as much to the free flow of global trade in agricultural produce as to the creativity of its chefs. Despite its staunchly protectionist stance towards agriculture, which has defined its position at World Trade Organisation talks, Japan is one of the world’s largest importers of food products.

Indian-Pakistani Conflict Over Influence in Afghanistan By: Huda Al Husseini | Asharq Alawsat
The tension is escalating in Pakistan and Afghanistan and there is a crisis relating to the Pakistani Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its relationship with the jihadists. Moreover, there is an attempt to find out who really controls the agency.

After the Games, Tibet By: Nicholas D. Kristof | The New York Times
It is now up to China to accept the Dalai Lama’s visit this fall and engineer a deal to resolve Tibet’s future.

H11 IHT AFGHANISTAN II

A British perspective By MICHAEL ROSE The insurgency war that is being fought in Afghanistan is winnable and it is being won.

U.S. ties with Russia being reassessed, Bush aides say

Russia's military offensive in Georgia has punctuated a stark turnabout in the American view of Vladimir Putin, whom President George W. Bush has called a friend.

Russia vows to support two enclaves, in retort to Bush Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Russia's actions required a reassessment of efforts to create "an ongoing and long-term strategic dialogue with Russia."

U.S. and Poland set missile deal

A deal to place a missile defense base on Polish territory angered Russia, but reflected alarm in countries like Poland about Moscow's intentions.

Responding to Russia's aggression and lies

Europe and the United States must make clear that Russia will pay a price, in diplomatic standing and economic relations, if it does not immediately withdraw its troops from Georgia

EUROPE European press review

US and Poland sign defence deal

The US and Poland sign a deal on plans for the controversial US missile defence shield, which Russia strongly opposes.

Deal cools relations with Russia

Q&A: US missile defence

The Economist The euro-area economy That shrinking feeling The credit crunch started in America, but Europe may yet prove the bigger victim. A first article looks at the euro area, a second (see article) at eastern Europe

Win for Sarkozy

French press back Georgia deal but see EU divided

Toward a New Euro-Atlantic "Hard" Security Agenda
IFRI, CSIS This 22-page paper examines the prospects for trilateral US-EU-Russian cooperation on hard security issues

Public Diplomacy and the Challenges of European Power

Der Spiegel Old Europe vs. New Europe: Will Poland Split EU Over Russia Policy?

Medvedev, Merkel to Meet on Friday to Discuss Peace Settlement in the Caucasus

As economic troubles bite, Italian holidaymakers are turning against the super-rich. It's about time

Alexander Chancellor: Most Italians are already feeling the squeeze; and not only their own squeeze, but other people's as well

H12 RFE/RL

Gates: Russians Appear to Pull Back

A postwar post-mortem

THE SHORT but vicious war in the Caucasus this week between Georgia and Russia appears to be winding down. Although Russian troops have yet to quit Georgian territory, it is not too soon to draw lessons from what went wrong and to apply those lessons in policies designed to prevent similar conflicts. (Boston Globe)

Moscow can't be trusted

Mikheil Saakashvili: To stop Russia, the west must honour the words of freedom on which I have staked Georgia's fate

Ukrayna - Rusya

Rus gemilerinin hareketliliği Ukrayna'yı tehlikeye mi sokuyor?

US: Georgia Mission to Give Aid, Not Defend Port

Google News Azerbaijan

Medvedev's Toughest Presidential Test By: Georgy Bovt | The Moscow Times
It was bound to happen at some point -- President Dmitry Medvedev would have to face the difficult test of responding to a serious crisis. It came last week, when Georgia attacked South Ossetia with a barrage of Grad truck-fired missiles

Russian Army Clears Out Georgian Army Bases By: Matthias Gebauer | Der Spiegel
The war is over but Russia continued operations in Georgia on Wednesday. Moscow has confirmed that it has been transporting military material out of Georgian army bases. Russia's military has also closed the Georgian port of Poti.

The Tactical Nuclear Weapons Game By: Thomas Withington | ISN Security Watch
NATO and Russia are still pursuing a Cold War doctrine with tactical nuclear weapons deployed across their territories.

Talks on South Ossetia Must Continue Despite U.S. Bias - Jcc Co- Chairman

Georgian Incursion Sets Familiar Frosty Tone to U.S.-Russian Diplomacy

Russia Resurgent: An Initial Look at Russian Military Performance in Georgia FPRI

U.S.-Russia Relations, Facing Reality Pragmatically
IFRI, CSIS A 19-page report analyzing the prerquisites for improving U.S.-Russia relations

Enforced War By: Mikhail Zygar | Kommersant

Crisis Group Kyrgyzstan: A Deceptive Calm

H13 The Times America's Challenge; Russia's Choice

By signing a ceasefire and then ignoring its central requirements Moscow has defied and world and shown a poor understanding of its own interests

Europe wins a gold for defeatism

Sarkozy's ‘peace in our time' deal is a reminder of what could happen if the EU wins more clout

Gerard Baker

McCain ponders one-term presidency The Republican candidate is considering an unprecedented move to distance himself from unpopular political divisions

British troops to leave Iraq 'within a year' The military is close to completing its mission, say defence sources as UK prepares to negotiate a Baghdad deal

Russian troops refuse to withdraw from Gori Despite the French-brokered ceasefire, nervous soldiers with weapons cocked are still having to face each other down

Gates warns of strained US-Russia relations 'for years'

US Defence Secretary said Moscow exploited crisis in South Ossetia to send warning message to Georgia and her allies

US accuses Russia of scorched earth tactics As American military planes landed in Georgia the Russian Army undertook search-and-destroy missions with impunity

Whites to be minority in US in a generation US Census Bureau projects that whites, now 66 per cent of the population, will make up less than half the total in 2042

The melting pot: melting fast

Changes in America's ethnic make-up are no cause for apprehension

Barack Obama plane in emergency landing Control tower tapes show the plane's pilot reported that he was no longer in control of the plane

Wall Street Journal Global Economic Picture Darkens

The world economy is slowing significantly after months of resilience in the face of U.S. weakness. Four of the world's five largest economies -- the U.S., the euro zone, Japan and the U.K. -- are now flirting with recession.

Poland Spring
Bolstering its air defense now is no coincidence.

A Fight to the Finish
By Jonathan Kay
Bookshelf: What Iraq's battlefield really looks like and why the surge is working.

The End of Placeness By Peggy Noonan
Declarations Obama and McCain aren't "from" anywhere—not the way Jefferson and LBJ were.

Evidence Belies 'Genocide' Claims In the contested region of South Ossetia, there was little evidence to back Russia's contention that Georgian attacks killed thousands of civilians. An incident in the Georgian city of Gori also belied Russia's claims it is observing the cease-fire

U.S.-Russia Relations Turn Cold Over Fate of Georgia

• U.S., Poland Agree on Missile Defense

Musharraf Set to Leave Office Pakistan President Musharraf, a close U.S. ally, is likely to resign following secret talks aimed at easing his departure. He's expected to avoid impeachment proceedings and prosecution. If he does quit, it would bring to an end a tumultuous nine years at the pinnacle of power in the volatile nation.

Free Trade Can Fight Terror
By Edward Gresser
And Marc Dunkelman
Why the U.S. should drop tariffs against the Muslim world

How the West Fueled Putin's Sense of Impunity
By Garry Kasparov
McCain was one of the few leaders who was right on Russia.

The Kremlin's 'Protection' Racket By David B. Rivkin Jr.
And Lee A. Casey
Don't buy Russia's claims that its aggression is sanctioned by international law.

America the Uncompetitive
Burdened by a corporate tax rate that's second highest in the world

Contraction
Fears of a euro zone recession are not "mental." Review & Outlook

Too Eloquent and Idealistic
By James Taranto That's what opponents are saying about . . . John McCain?

Wall Street Journal:

The Obama Tax Plan

H14 Financial Times The vulnerabilities that lie behind Putin’s belligerence The riches and political leverage provided by gas and oil have restored Russia’s economic and geopolitical standing. Yet, for the medium and long term, almost all the other indicators point to a future of relative decline. Philip Stephens analyses the country’s position

We have to accept Russia as an equal partner

Rice heads to Tbilisi as Russia questions US aid US military planes delivered aid to Georgia after George W. Bush ordered a “vigorous” humanitarian mission and dispatched Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi as Russia’s general staff cast doubt on whether Washington’s shipments were genuinely humanitarian

US rules out military force but warns of soured ties Washington made clear it had no plans for military intervention in Georgia’s conflict with Russia but warned that US relations with Moscow could be affected for “years to come” by the crisis

Role of peacekeepers remains in doubt

Bush sends US forces on Georgia aid mission

Lebanon PM’s visit builds Syria bond Border demarcation is on a list of agreements following the establishment of diplomatic ties between that two neighbours that pave the way for an easing of Damascus’s reconciliation with the west

A declining Europe must focus on the nitty-gritty The biggest threat to European progress is the mindset that nothing can be achieved unless sweeping reforms take place first, writes Leif Pagrotsky

Create a global authority for Arctic oil and gas It will bring order to what will otherwise become a national scramble for resources that could even have military implications, writes Jeffrey Garten

Eurozone edges closer to recession

Economic activity in the eurozone fell by 0.2% in the three months to the end of June – the first decline since the launch of the currency a decade ago, stoking fears of a recession

Olympic repression and a gutless IOC It has taken less than a week for the contradictions between the reality of Communist party rule and China’s pre-Olympics promises of openness to burst into the open

Row as German SPD joins Left in pact Leading centrists in the Social Democratic party hit out at an alliance in Hesse which, they say, undermines their pledge not to work with the radical group

H15 Los Angeles Times Obsessed FBI missed clues in anthrax case

Agents overlooked early clues pointing to Bruce Ivins in the 2001 deadly anthrax mailings as they focused on an ex-Army researcher.

Is this any way to rebuild Iraq?

By Linda J. Bilmes and Joseph E. Stiglitz The country has a huge budget surplus. Why isn't it paying for its own reconstruction?

Georgia says Russia is expanding its presence in Gori Negotiations for the Russian forces to withdraw from the city end abruptly in a tense standoff.

Pakistan's Musharraf may resign within days to avoid impeachment

As the drive to impeach Musharraf gains momentum, Pakistan's leader is expected to step down and leave on his own terms rather than face humiliation.

Who got Georgia into this mess?

Rosa Brooks: Actions by Bush and McCain misled the country into thinking the U.S. would come to its aid.

Washington settles American suits against Libya Libya and the United States on Thursday settled all outstanding lawsuits by American victims of terrorism, clearing the way for the full restoration of diplomatic relations

U.S., Poland reach deal on missile base Washington will augment Poland's defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the East European country. Russia opposes the move.

Editorial

Georgia fallout felt in Iraq U.S. troop withdrawal plans could be affected by the exit of 2,000 Georgian troops from Iraq

Energy's silver lining

High oil prices are painful. But they're forcing positive changes in our economy and lifestyle.

H16 American Politics

RCP Electoral Map: Obama +65 EVs

McCain Displays Credentials as Obama Relaxes

· How Democrats can win big in 2010 and beyond

By Michael Lind

Troops Deployed Abroad Give 6:1 to Obama —

McCain ponders one-term presidency

The Republican candidate is considering an unprecedented move to distance himself from unpopular political divisions

Biden, Bayh get VP night slots at convention

No Excuse for Republican Smear Tactics - Joe Klein, Time

Overhyping Russia-Georgia Conflict - Matthew Yglesias, American Prospect

McCain Alarms Base with Abortion Comment - Jonathan Martin, Politico

A Pre-Convention Memo to Hillary Clinton - Joe Conason, Salon

Obama's Responsible Tax Plan - Jason Furman and Austan Goolsbee, WSJ

James Baker and John McCain: Getting the Story Right

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

H17 Daily Telegraph Majority of British troops out of Iraq by spring The vast majority of British troops serving in Iraq will be withdrawn in the next nine months, senior defence sources have revealed.

Why is Putin so scared of Georgia? The former KGB man has never believed in democracy, says Anne Applebaum, and the West should stop pretending it doesn't matter.

John McCain steals a march

Georgia has turned to America for support and the presidential candidates' reactions have been watched with interest.

US warns of 'consequences' over Georgia invasion

Democracy must be defended

Ex-Soviet empire countries fear the Russian annexation of a large part of Georgia presages further trouble for them, writes Simon Scott Plummer.

Games fever abates out of Beijing You may think the Chinese are consumed by tub-thumping patriotism, but in Shanghai the Games are dismissed as 'tomato scrambled eggs', says Malcolm Moore.

H18 Independent Russia tells West to 'forget' Georgian rule in enclaves Russia positioned itself yesterday as the unequivocal victor in its brief war with Georgia, with its Foreign Minister stating that the world could "forget about" Georgian control of two separatist enclaves.

Mary Dejevsky: Russia the bad guys? Who are the West trying to kid?

Kim Sengupta: Villagers caught in front line become victims of atrocities

Anne Penketh: There is only one winner, and too many casualties

Robert Fisk: Al-Qa'ida sends its warriors from Iraq to wage 'jihad' in Lebanon Bomb attack in Tripoli has exposed the brutal infighting in the country's second city

The Big Question: What does it mean for the US if whites are no longer in the majority?

Drug nation: Cocaine use has trebled in past decade

Almost two million people take illegal drugs at least once a month, with cocaine growing in popularity among teenagers and young adults, the widest-ranging official investigation into Britain's drugs habit has discovered.

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Hacker Attacks Preceded Fighting By: Tai Adelaja | The Moscow Times
Hackers knocked down Georgian government web sites days before Russian tanks rolled into the country's territory, in what experts said Wednesday was an ominous sign that cyber-attacks might foreshadow future armed conflicts.

SWJ Interview with Bing West (Part 2)

Assessment of Effects Based Operations

Public Diplomacy and National Security: Lessons from the U.S. Experience (Full PDF Article)

The Tactical Nuclear Weapons Game By: Thomas Withington | ISN Security Watch
NATO and Russia are still pursuing a Cold War doctrine with tactical nuclear weapons deployed across their territories.

Defense Secretary Gates' Counterpoise Strategy: Stressing Irregular Warfare By: World Politics Review | Richard Weitz
When Secretary of Defense Robert Gates unveiled his first (and presumably last) National Defense Strategy (NDS) on July 31, he argued that the best word to describe it would be "balance."

Foreign Science and Engineering Presence in U.S. Institutions and the Labor Force (PDF; 203 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

The U.S. Secret Service: An Examination and Analysis of Its Evolving Missions (PDF; 248 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

Al-Zawahiri Latest Message: Experts Sound Off

FT India’s police at a loss over terror A force that is short of funds is culturally ill-equipped to penetrate radical Islamist networks

OSS Records Bristle With Details About Agents

H20 Slate 82 Days and Counting

Why campaigns feel like they never have enough time. John Dickerson

An Army of Ones and Zeroes

How I became a soldier in the Georgia-Russia cyberwar.
Evgeny Morozov

People-trafficking and people-smuggling

Drawing lines in a dark place

H21 Tarantino's Nazi movie leaked online New 'in-your-face movie' sparks furious response from German critics after script posted on internet

For the human eye, the face of a woman or a man is the most sign-packed surface in the universe. It tells more about us than we may wish... more»

Excavations Show a Lush Life in the Sahara: 'Exceptional Site' With Many Artifacts Indicates an Abundance of Food, Water

Kafka porn claims outrage Germans

British 'preacher of hate' attracts bitter criticism for controversial book on novelist's erotica addiction

No one yet knows how to disarm bacteria enough to allow the human body to naturally and consistently defend against them. And we still have superbugs... more»

An Older and More Diverse Nation by Midcentury
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Did Ian Fleming also create the CIA?

During World War II Fleming worked as personal assistant to John Godfrey, the hard-driving head of Naval Intelligence

Hitler to get the Tarantino treatment

Director of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill to stir up a hornet's nest in Germany with comic-book treatment of the Nazis

China Loves Its Soccer. Its Team? Don’t Ask. The kick in the groin during the China-Belgium men’s soccer match was the low point of the Olympic Games for hundreds of millions of Chinese sports fans.

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