090108f - 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

FPR Table

Newsweek Zakaria: Russia's Strategic Blunder This Isn’t the Return of History The Georgia attack will go down not as the dawn of a new era of Russian power but as a major strategic blunder.

Los Angeles Times Agreement on U.S. withdrawal from Iraq said to be in peril as Maliki ousts negotiators The Times is told that the prime minister has replaced the team with loyalists at the 'make-or-break' stage of talks. The two sides reportedly remain deadlocked on key issues

Iraq army still needs U.S. support, commanders say Iraqi commanders do not want U.S. forces telling them what to do, but both sides say Iraq still needs the U.S. to provide military backup.

Russia and the 'responsibility to protect' By Gareth Evans The principle was intended to prevent another Cambodia or Rwanda; it cannot be used to justify Moscow's invasion of Georgia.

Hezbollah warlord was an enigma

Imad Mughniyah, alleged mastermind of infamous terrorist attacks, was one of the most hunted men in the world. His death is as mysterious as his life

New York Times Troop ‘Surge’ Took Place Amid Doubt and Debate President Bush chose a bold plan for Iraq that was at odds with what many of his advisers initially recommended

The West should not overplay its hand with Moscow over Georgia. Resolve tempered by engagement won the cold war. It can help now

Russia Claims Its Sphere of Influence in the World

First Nation By CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL John McCain and Barack Obama both say America should lead the world. Do they know what follows?

Time: Why McCain Picked Palin

Washington Post Avoiding Cold War II Kaveh Afrasiabi | Russia, the U.S., and NATO are dangerously close to repeating the mistakes of the past.

Saul Singer: Obama's Iran Challenge

Makeover Model for McCain By David Ignatius

Democrats' Georgia Question

By Jim Hoagland, Russia's new in-your-face "diplomacy" rivals that of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney on their most hubristic days

IHT America and Europe: Vive la différence! By JOSEF JOFFE

The summer is Europe: warm and reassuring. The city is America: speed and chance, sound and fury, novelty and reinvention

Divided EU prepares for talks on Russia By JUDY DEMPSEY

Britain and Poland want tough response on Georgia but German coalition is split and Spain and Italy are conciliatory.

McCain chooses an unlikely running mate Sarah Palin disagrees with John McCain on many issues, but, in his words, the Alaskan governor is 'exactly who I need.'

Roger Cohen: Loose talk that lost Georgia The West should not overplay its hand with Moscow, nor, however, can it be cowed.

Carnegie ROUNDTABLE: The Nation-State

Ais Times Russia remains a Black Sea power With Russia recognizing the breakaway Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, it gains control over two major Black Sea ports and defeats the United States' plan to make the sea an exclusive "NATO lake". And far from being "isolated", as Western media would have it, Moscow now has the firm backing of Kazakhstan, an energy powerhouse and a key Central Asian player the US has been trying to woo. China, along with its Shanghai Cooperation Organization partners, "understands" Russia's position. - M K Bhadrakumar

Mr Cheney goes to Georgia Cheney heads to Georgia next week, most likely to pledge military assistance to Saakashvili in the wake of Moscow's recognition of two breakaway Georgian states. Cheney will be acutely aware of the possibility of Russia gaining a foothold in the US's traditional turf, the oil-prized Persian Gulf, via Iran. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi

CSM Is the Republican Party in peril? Conservative thinkers and political historians think the GOP could be at the end of its historic 40-year grasp on power.

Amerikan Sağı Üzerine Notlar Ağustos 2008 Şanlı Bahadır Koç

'US to strike Iran in coming weeks'
Jerusalem Post

'US fears Russia to sell S-300 to Iran'
Jerusalem Post

Sunday Times Where's next in Putin's sights?

Obama’s offer: an end to US stupidity Americans cannot begin to realise how powerful a message the election of a black president would be Simon Jenkins

John McCain met running mate just once Republican faces backlash from his party after it emerged that he had met Sarah Palin only once before offering her the job

Daily Telegraph Putin energy threat to Europe Russian PM warns that energy reserves will flow to Far East if Europe's leaders punish his country for invading Georgia.

Comparing Global Influence: China’s and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS) Full Report (PDF; 1.9 MB)

WSJ US Ally Saakashvili Proves Volatile

CFR Oil's Trouble Spots - Council on Foreign Relations

Financial Times Firm west can prevent new cold war Russia’s violation of international law threatens transatlantic solidarity and western values. A robust response is required, says David Phillips

McCain’s gamble on Palin is shrewd If Sarah Palin turns out to be anything less than excellent, John McCain stands condemned for poor judgment. But if you think you are on track to lose, it is not crazy to gamble on redemption so long as you think the bet has a big enough upside, writes, Clive Crook

Russia anounces ‘spheres of interest’ Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev announced Moscow’s intention to preserve geographical spheres “of privileged interest” on or near its borders as part of a five point foreign policy statement in a television interview

EU must be united and firm on Russia By its actions in Georgia, Russia is trying unilaterally to redefine the rules of the game. That can never be acceptable to

Seize this chance to support Pakistani democracy Trying to pick winners will create instability in the country. The west must expand trade, open markets and assist education

US presses for response over Georgia The US is pushing for a phased international response to the Russian-Georgian conflict as Dick Cheney, US vice-president plans to visit Tbilisi this week

Guardian Russia defiant as EU leaders threaten Sarkozy convenes emergency meeting to review basis of the EU's relations with Moscow

Russia's cruel intention Luke Harding: In South Ossetia, I witnessed the worst ethnic cleansing since the war in the Balkans

Those who are tasked to police this democracy are blinded by confetti Gary Younge: The real problem with the Bush years is not so much what he did but that America's political class enabled him to do it

Reckless, irresponsible McCain

Michael Tomasky: John McCain's recklessness in his VP choice shows that it's he, and not Obama, who lacks presidential judgment

The Observer McCain's campaign is in danger of fracturing Michael Crowley: With Sarah Palin on one wing and Colin Powell on the other, don't be surprised if cracks appear in the GOP

Democracy triumphs through example, not force Editorial: America and Britain talk about human rights and democracy, but when it suits their strategic aims they collaborate with brutal dictatorships

This is how we will stand up to Russia's naked aggression

Gordon Brown: I will argue that Russia should accept Georgia's territorial integrity

Ha’aretz – Top Iran general: Attack on Tehran will ignite 'world war'

Erekat: Abbas told Olmert PA won't accept interim peace deal

Democratic Rep.: Palin pick is 'direct affront to all Jewish Americans' Congressman Robert Wexler accuses Republican VP nominee of supporting 'Nazi sympathizer' Pat Buchanan

Russia support for separatists could have ripples

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Postcard From South China The Communist Party in China is trying to break the old mold without breaking its hold by searching for ways to make the economy greener and smarter.

Comparing Global Influence: China’s and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

The latest 'great game' involves Indian Ocean A Sri Lankan port being built by China points to Beijing's jockeying with India for regional influence.

The Next Great Clash A reemerging China is the only nation with the latent capacity to challenge American hegemony, and Levin demonstrates that such challenges to the status quo usually lead to war

The Times Sarah Palin: half-baked Alaska McCain's choice of running mate may energise his party faithful but is an enormous tactical risk that reflects poorly on his judgement

Palin has 65 days to prove herself

Senator McCain has found a running-mate who is not a neocon but a genuine American conservative William Rees-Mogg

EU to stop short of sanctions on Georgia President Sarkozy will take a cautious approach at emergency summit to discuss response to Moscow over Georgia

H2 MESH Turkey’s troubles in the Caucasus by Michael Reynolds

Ziyaret öncesi Erivan'a 5 şart

Guardian Trade war looms between Moscow and Ankara

FT Kurdish troops in standoff with Iraq forces A new flashpoint has emerged in the Iraqi government’s tense relationship with Kurds as rival Kurdish and Iraqi government forces vie for control of an ethnically mixed town, officials said

Standoff over Iraqi town stokes tension with Kurds

Iraqi Kurd MP: 'We're Ready to Fight the Iraqi Army'

Ali H Aslan Satranç içinde satranç

TSK, özel eğitimli asker sayısını artırıyor

Semih İdiz Rusya’ya bağımlılığın sakıncaları görülüyor

Ferai Tınç Görüşmeler sil baştan

Erdal Sağlam Hükümetin AB konusunda acelesi yok

Fatih Çekirge Ermenistan’a Gül gitsin mi

Yavuz Baydar Isolation of Turkish Cypriots: a critical issue for negotiations

Şahin Alpay Normalize relations with Armenia

‘Yandaşları Atatürk’e ihanet ediyor’

Tehran Times yorumu: Gümüş İran’a karşı çekildi

Cold winter fear grips Turkey

Russia intensifies control of Turkish goods sent from Europe

Ankara won’t spoil ties with current camp for Russia’s sake, experts say

Soğuk ya da sıcak savaş artık imkánsız

Ankara, Erivan'a heyet gönderiyor

Gidecek mi, gitmeyecek mi?

Gül, ilk işareti mevlitte verdi

Doğal bir maç ziyareti gibi olamaz

İki başbakan kılıçları çözüm için çeksin

Dribbling to the Armenian pitch

A high-level diplomatic and security delegation will be dispatched to Armenia this week

Turkey Slaps Curbs on Russian Export Goods The Moscow Times

Gulf monarchies to boost links with Turkey

FT Turkey threatens Russian trade curbs

Turkey threatened to restrict imports from Russia in a trade dispute that has highlighted Ankara’s precarious diplomatic position between its Nato allies and Moscow

Arab women fall for soap's Turkish delight

Turkey cannot afford disruption in ties with Russia, says Erdoğan

Uncovering Turkey's dark past
Aljazeera.net

Yunan Katimerini gazetesinden Gülen yorumu: İnsanlığa hizmet öneriyor

[MONDAY TALK] ‘Black Sea Euroregion initiative needed more than ever'

Turkish delegation to visit Armenia for Caucasus talks

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

Iraqi Kurds Increase Forces in Disputed Areas - Paper

Prominent Kurdish KDP Official Castigates Iraqi Government

Iraqi Kurdish Press Highlights 31 Aug 08

Gulf monarchies to boost links with Turkey

PKK'dan karakola hain saldırı: 4 şehit

Four Soldiers, Two Rebels Killed as PKK Attacks Turkish Base

Iraqi Kurdistan still a tough sell to investors

Şemdinli’de gerginlik

Kahramanca çatıştılar

Barış mitinglerinde Kürt sorununa çözüm istendi

Iraqi Kurdish Official Discusses Unification of Regional Peshmerga Ministries

Iraqi Kurdish MP Comments on Peshmerga Presence South of 36th Parallel

Kurdish MP Says USA Creating Problems As Pretext for Staying in Iraq

Iraqi Kurd Website Says More Peshmerga Forces Sent to Khanaqin

FT Kurdish troops in standoff with Iraq forces A new flashpoint has emerged in the Iraqi government’s tense relationship with Kurds as rival Kurdish and Iraqi government forces vie for control of an ethnically mixed town, officials said

Standoff over Iraqi town stokes tension with Kurds

PKK'nın gövde gösterisinde kırmızı plakalı araçlar

Sadr slams Kurds in Diyala province

DTP'li Ayna'dan ilginç 'Barış' çıkışı

DTP operasyonu engelledi

Kurdish academics, politicians discuss mechanism for article 140

Ambitious Turkey makes first major move for Africa’s heart

Iraqi PM Reportedly Bans Peshmerga Outside Kurdistan Region; Security Update

Soğuk savaşta İran hamlesi

Cevdet Aşkın Öcalan Kuvva-i Milliye'yi övdü, DTP 'barış için hazırız' dedi

Erdoğan to visit Damascus on Thursday

İsrail, nükleer İran’a asla izin vermeyecek

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

Erdal Sağlam Hükümetin AB konusunda acelesi yok

Fatih Çekirge Ermenistan’a Gül gitsin mi

Mustafa Akyol Avrupa Türkiye’yi iyi anlıyor

Soğuk savaşta İran hamlesi

Brown, AB’ye Nabucco için baskı yapacak

Soli Özel Muhafazakâr devrimci

ÖMER TAŞPINAR
McCain'in inanılmaz kumarı McCain’s gamble

Amerikan Sağı Üzerine Notlar Ağustos 2008 Şanlı Bahadır Koç

Ardan Zentürk Oval Ofis’te bir AFRO-BEYAZ...

Rumları Türk halkı seviyor ama bürokrasi sevmiyor

Will Gül travel to Armenia? Yusuf KANLI

Oset ve Abhazlara mitingli destek

1. Rusya Türk malına takmış durumda

Mensur Akgün Rusya'nın önemi

Tkeşelaşvili: Yaşananlar Avrupa’nın sorunu

İşte Rusya'nın 5 'dış' hedefi

Rumlar Güzelyurt’taki ayini iptal etti

, Russia and Turkey towards new horizons of foreign policy
Arab Monitor

Babacan: Gerilimin kazananı olmaz

‘Komplo teorisi’ deyip geçme, düşünmekten vazgeçme!
CEYDA KARAN

Erivan’a değil Bakü’ye gitmeyi tercih ederim

Focus: Milli Görüş 3.5 milyon euro vergi kaçırdı

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Pamuk'tan ilginç açıklama

Der Spiegel dergisine konuşan Nobel ödüllü yazar Orhan Pamuk ilginç açıklamalar yaptı

Adım 'huysuz'a çıktı!

Alevilerden 'zorunlu din dersi' protestosu

Escape to Istanbul's secret island

Arab women fall for soap's Turkish delight

Onlar oyuncu değil, şeytanın askerleri!

FT Too intelligent to be such a slave to nationalism

[Mehmet Baç] Ödül ve ceza iyi hesaplanmazsa rüşvet artar

Yakalanmasalardı bir milyon kişiyi soyacaklardı

Genelkurmay Başkanı Başbuğ’dan ‘çok güzel bir siyaset örneği’

H3 [Röportaj] Asker, 27 Nisan bildirisinden gerekli dersi çıkardı

Solda yeni oluşum tutmaz, çünkü kafaları 30 yıl geride kalmış

Sol hareket, 'yeni anayasa' talebiyle partileşecek

AKP'ye karşı aynı netlikte yapılanma şart

Başbuğ’un sözleri rahatsız etti

AK Parti ve MHP'den anayasada uzlaşı mesajı

Geç terfi etti ama...

‘G.Doğu, G.Osetya olur’ uyarısı

Ergenekon sanığında çok gizli askerî bilgiler çıktı

Kömürcü'ye gizemli paket

Turkey struggles to fight corruption

Evren, darbe için iki rapor hazırlatmış

Orhan Pamuk: Ergenekon, beni de öldürecekti

Yılmaz eylülde yeni partiye start veriyor

Hukukçulardan Ergenekon itirazı

10 askeri ihale mercek altında!

Vatanseverler, kamuflajdan alabalık alamına kadar tüm ihalelere fesat karıştırmakla suçlanıyor

‘Cemevleri solun barınağı’

Diyanet'in yeni üyesi Doç. Dr. İlyas Üzüm, Alevilik hakkındaki aykırı yorumlarıyla tanınıyor

Yoksa Bayan Paksüt AYM üyesi mi?

PKK’nın üst düzey komuta kademesine TSK’nın değerli, yetenekli ve genç subaylarının getirilmesi uygun...

Aleviler eylemde bakanlar cemevinde

Ergenekon'la Sauna'nın yolları kesişti

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman GH Türkiye

Cengiz Çandar Türkiye iki cami arasında binamaz! Çırpınırdı Karadeniz... Soğuk savaşa geri mi dönüyoruz?

Ahmet Taşgetiren

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol Ermenistan'a gitmek!

Fikret Bila Başbuğ'un kırmızı çizgilerinde durum

Hasan Cemal Konuşkan askerle asker sorunu!

Murat Yetkin

İsmet Berkan

Fehmi Koru

Taha Kıvanç Kimse kendine göre ordu yapamaz

Şamil Tayyar Orduda operasyon

[Yorum - Prof. Dr. Atilla Yayla] Silahlı bürokrasi zihniyeti ve demokrasi

Ali Bayramoğlu

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök

İhsan Dağı Why Turkish generals oppose globalization

Bülent Keneş Generals’ speeches

İsmail Küçükkaya
Başbuğ’un manifestosu resepsiyona nasıl yansıdı?

Sabahattin Önkibar Askerin Haşim Kılıç tavrı ne anlama geliyor?

Ahmet Hakan Ben de akredite oldum

Tufan Türenç Ergenekon sonunda bumeranga dönüşecek

Şükrü Küçükşahin Ölçü, aralık ayındaki YAŞ

Kadri Gürsel Star gazetesinin komploseverlere büyük hizmeti!

M Ali Birand

Cüneyt Ülsever

Enis Berberoğlu

Oktay Ekşi

Özdemir İnce

Mehmet Y Yılmaz

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

ERDAL ŞAFAK Gitsin mi, gitmesin mi?

ENGİN ARDIÇ Cafe-calva

ERGUN BABAHAN

EMRE AKÖZ

Umur Talu

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN Bazı babalar ve oğullar

NAZLI ILICAK Hepimiz tarafız

MEHMET BARLAS Ergenekon'u magazin malzemesi yapıp sulandırmaktan kaçınmalıyız...

Ali Bulaç Semantik müdahale!

MAHMUT ÖVÜR

YAVUZ DONAT

OKUR TEMSİLCİSİ
Yolsuzluklar ve 'optik'

Eser Karakaş AB, Sayıştay ve askeriye

Nasuhi Güngör TSK, küreselleşme ve Oyakbank

‘Kurum’ yıpranmasın ama...
YILDIRIM TÜRKER

CHP de topa girdi...
ORAL ÇALIŞLAR

Birlikte yaşamak
TARHAN ERDEM

Yiğit Bulut

Ergenekon neyi temsil eder?

Can Ataklı

Siyasi denge için ittifak şart

Mehmet Tezkan

Yeni Türkiye filan yok düzen aynı düzen..

Okay Gönensin

Anketlerin zararı

Nabi Yağcı Artık entelektüel generallerimiz de var

KÜRŞAT BUMİN

V-Day brings protocol debates back to agenda

[CAFE CAPITAL] A new political term starting with Eid al-Fitr

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Dava bitti, dövizden kaçış başladı

Ercan Kumcu Dünyada popülizm artıyor

Erdal Sağlam Hükümetin AB konusunda acelesi yok

Foreign bank acquisitions on the rise in Turkey

Hasan Ersel Bütçe gelirleri ve GSYH artışı

Adrese teslim ihale yine iptal, DATİ şirketi şokta

Aydın Ayaydın

Bankacılığın ilk yarı performansı

Bakan Şimşek yanılıyor, Türkiye'nin tekstilden çıkması deliliktir

Deniz Gökçe
Dünya uygarlığı ve Çin

Rusya: 10 Yıl önce, 10 yıl sonra!
UĞUR GÜRSES

Faiz indirimi
FATİH ÖZATAY

Siyasî ve ekonomik fay hatlarında sıkışan Türkiye...

Asım Erdilek From Reaganomics to Obamanomics

H4 New York Times Troop ‘Surge’ Took Place Amid Doubt and Debate President Bush chose a bold plan for Iraq that was at odds with what many of his advisers initially recommended

First Nation By CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL John McCain and Barack Obama both say America should lead the world. Do they know what follows?

Campaigns Shift as McCain Choice Alters the Race The parties are gauging the risks and opportunities of a young, relatively inexperienced woman being on a ticket.

Drawing Women’s Attention, Maybe Not Allegiance Some women see Sarah Palin as a winning choice. Others say she lacks experience and is on the wrong side of issues

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Postcard From South China The Communist Party in China is trying to break the old mold without breaking its hold by searching for ways to make the economy greener and smarter.

MAUREEN DOWD Vice in Go-Go Boots? Imagine my delight when the hokey chick flick came out on the campaign trail, a Cinderella story so preposterous it’s hard to believe it’s not premiering on Lifetime.

Across France, Pessimism Clouds a Time for Renewal

'The Way of the World' By RON SUSKIND Reviewed by MARK DANNER In addition to fresh revelations about the W.M.D. megascandal, Ron Suskind offers a complex web of intersecting narratives that manage to show us, in this age of terror, “the true way of the world.”

Basque Separatist, Free From Spanish Prison, Backs Talks

Italy Agrees to $5 Billion Libya Reparations

FRANK RICH Obama Outwits the Bloviators The disconnect between the reality of this campaign and how it is perceived and presented by the mainstream media is now a major part of the year’s story.

Russia’s Collective Farms: Hot Capitalist Property As food prices soar, the improbable business of buying and reforming collective farms has attracted financiers.

Editorial

H5 Washington Post

Editorial

Avoiding Cold War II Kaveh Afrasiabi | Russia, the U.S., and NATO are dangerously close to repeating the mistakes of the past.

Saul Singer: Obama's Iran Challenge

Makeover Model for McCain

By David Ignatius

Editorial The McCain Paradox

Americans know the man better than they understand where he would lead the country.

Democrats' Georgia Question

By Jim Hoagland, Russia's new in-your-face "diplomacy" rivals that of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney on their most hubristic days

Weisbrot: The Russian Conflict We Chose

Experience? Never Mind By Michael Kinsley

How Palin Could Help By David S. Broder Choosing Palin was they kind of risk only McCain could take.

One Voice on Georgia By Fred Hiatt,

The conflict in Georgia could have a surprising impact on the campaign.

With Palin On the Ticket, Evangelicals Are Energized

Northern Underexposure

By E. J. Dionne Jr., Gustav isn't the only storm threatening to overshadow the convention this week.

As Gustav Nears, GOP Changes Course Landfall Likely West of New Orleans Today

Opening Day Is Abbreviated; Bush, Cheney Won't Appear

RUSSIA'S SHADOW In Georgia, Watching a Young Democracy's Spirits Flag By Tara Bahrampour

The Bush-Cheney Conundrum

THE FIX | Bush, Cheney absences will be greeted -- privately -- with a relief by most party strategists.

Biden, Obama a Comfortable Fit on the Campaign Trail

A Clintonite in Denver By Howard Wolfson, For many of us who were part of the Clinton campaign, Sen. Barack Obama's appeal was something we understood only in the abstract -- data in polls, faces at a televised rally.

In Kashmir, Conflict's Psychological Legacy

Mental Health Cases Swell in Two Decades

Russian Activist Shot Dead By Police

H6 Guardian Russia defiant as EU leaders threaten Sarkozy convenes emergency meeting to review basis of the EU's relations with Moscow

Gordon Brown: How we will stand up to Russia

Russia's cruel intention Luke Harding: In South Ossetia, I witnessed the worst ethnic cleansing since the war in the Balkans

Those who are tasked to police this democracy are blinded by confetti

Gary Younge: The real problem with the Bush years is not so much what he did but that America's political class enabled him to do it

Reckless, irresponsible McCain

Michael Tomasky: John McCain's recklessness in his VP choice shows that it's he, and not Obama, who lacks presidential judgment

No way, no how

James Denselow: The idea that McCain represents a safe pair of hands on foreign policy is absurd

John McCain defends running mate

Presidential hopeful justifies choice of Palin in face of criticism of her lack of foreign policy experience

James Denselow on McCain and foreign policy

Pakistan stops its offensives for Ramadan Military operation against insurgents in Bajur tribal region is suspended for Muslim holy month

Unarmed freedom fighters

Muzamil Jaleel: Kashmiri Muslims have broken new ground by waging a non-violent separation struggle but the Indian authorities seem unsure how to respond

The Observer McCain's campaign is in danger of fracturing Michael Crowley: With Sarah Palin on one wing and Colin Powell on the other, don't be surprised if cracks appear in the GOP

Democracy triumphs through example, not force Editorial: America and Britain talk about human rights and democracy, but when it suits their strategic aims they collaborate with brutal dictatorships

This is how we will stand up to Russia's naked aggression

Gordon Brown: I will argue that Russia should accept Georgia's territorial integrity

Russia will not hold us to ransom - Brown PM plans to end reliance on Russian oil after criticising 'stranglehold' on Europe

Vicious campaigning continues in US As he bids to be president, Barack Obama is feeling the force of the mighty Republican propaganda machine, reports Paul Harris

Italy: Libya pay-off for 'colonial mistakes' Silvio Berlusconi and Muammar Gadaffi sign memorandum pledging compensation for 30-year occupation

We have a duty to care for soldiers after conflict Editorial: Experience in the army is condemning thousands of young men to trauma, emotional problems, substance abuse and prison

H7 Russia support for separatists could have ripples

WINEP Iran Security InitiativeFind the deepest and most prescient analysis on the urgent challenges Tehran poses for America and its allies at The Washington Institute's Iran Security Initiative homepage.

Debka Dutch sabotage agent recalled from Iran over “impending” US attack - report

Moscow halts Iran cooperation with US, will complete Bushehr reactor

Snapshots Of Islam
Newsweek By Iason Athanasiadis

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

US to hand over key Iraq province The US military is to hand control of Anbar province, once the centre of Iraq's Sunni insurgency, to the Iraqi government.

Sadr slams Kurds in Diyala province

Doubts persist as Iraq takes over U.S.-backed patrols

New Lebanese army chief promoted New Lebanese army chief, Jean Kahwaji, is promoted to general in a ceremony attended by President Michel Suleiman

H9 Ha’aretz – Top Iran general: Attack on Tehran will ignite 'world war'

Erekat: Abbas told Olmert PA won't accept interim peace deal

Democratic Rep.: Palin pick is 'direct affront to all Jewish Americans' Congressman Robert Wexler accuses Republican VP nominee of supporting 'Nazi sympathizer' Pat Buchanan

CIA papers show Arafat ordered murder of U.S. diplomats in Sudan Despite murder, Henry Kissinger instructed the CIA to continue contacts with PLO before Yom Kippur War

Iran cleric: Ahmadinejad's economic policy thwarting our bid to be Mideast superpower Cleric close to Iran's supreme leader blasts lack of supervision of gov't management of economy

ANALYSIS / A giant failure called Afghanistan

Ex-Ambassador to U.S.: Arabs in Galilee are secessionist threat Danny Ayalon warns of S. Ossetia scenario in first public appearance since joining Yisrael Beiteinu

Jerusalem Post Officials deny Olmert trying to form early document with PA Meanwhile, Erekat says offer was made but rejected by Abbas; Leaders say '08 deal still feasible; PM refuses request to free more prisoners

Iran, Russia seek Bushehr completion Officials to meet this week to discuss status of nuclear plant's construction (The Media Line).

Yedioth Ahronoth

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

Abbas and Olmert meet for talks

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas meet in Jerusalem for a further round of US-backed peace talks

Four Questions about American Jewish Demography - Ira M. Sheskin (Jewish Political Studies Review)

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Is the Republican Party in peril? Conservative thinkers and political historians think the GOP could be at the end of its historic 40-year grasp on power.

Palin pick jolts GOP ranks ahead of convention Socially conservative and telegenic, Alaska's governor livens the ticket but is questioned on experience.

ASIA

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Postcard From South China The Communist Party in China is trying to break the old mold without breaking its hold by searching for ways to make the economy greener and smarter.

Comparing Global Influence: China’s and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

The latest 'great game' involves Indian Ocean A Sri Lankan port being built by China points to Beijing's jockeying with India for regional influence.

The Next Great Clash A reemerging China is the only nation with the latent capacity to challenge American hegemony, and Levin demonstrates that such challenges to the status quo usually lead to war

China's Grassroots Movement Toward Greater Freedom
CIPE A 9-page article examining how a grassroots social revolution is leading China toward a more liberal society

Unarmed freedom fighters

Muzamil Jaleel: Kashmiri Muslims have broken new ground by waging a non-violent separation struggle but the Indian authorities seem unsure how to respond

Pakistan's Rough Road Ahead : Amir Taheri

CSIS Managing Pakistan’s Transition

Pakistan After Musharraf: Trouble and Opportunity

H11 IHT America and Europe: Vive la différence! By JOSEF JOFFE

The summer is Europe: warm and reassuring. The city is America: speed and chance, sound and fury, novelty and reinvention

Divided EU prepares for talks on Russia By JUDY DEMPSEY

Britain and Poland want tough response on Georgia but German coalition is split and Spain and Italy are conciliatory.

McCain chooses an unlikely running mate Sarah Palin disagrees with John McCain on many issues, but, in his words, the Alaskan governor is 'exactly who I need.'

Roger Cohen: Loose talk that lost Georgia The West should not overplay its hand with Moscow, nor, however, can it be cowed.

Nukes, India and Bush More countries are refusing to be pressured by the United States and India to approve an ill-conceived nuclear deal.

EUROPE European press review

EDM WHAT THE EUROPEAN UNION CAN DO ABOUT GEORGIA AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION

Ahead of emergency EU talks on September 1 on the situation in the Caucasus, the issue of possible sanctions against Russia has been raised. But when it comes to trade and finance, how much leverage does the West, especially Europe, have in its relations with Moscow? And what could be the economic fallout from the standoff? RFE/RL asked Laza Kekic, regional director for Eastern Europe at the Economist Intelligence Unit. More

A Spat in the Family

By GRAHAM BOWLEY Scottish nationalists are pushing for a divorce from England.

CEPS Post-Mortem on Europes First War of the 21st Century

H12 RFE/RLBorder Villages Being 'Russified'

Thousands of people living near the border dividing Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia fled the region following fighting between Georgian and Russian forces. Now, that flow is continuing amid reports of incursions by Ossetian militias and the "Russification" of villages

'Hard To Find Anyone Who Doesn't Hate Regime'

RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Kirill Kobrin spoke with Dmitry Travin, deputy editor in chief of the St. Petersburg business weekly "Delo" about the impact of the Georgia war on the Russian economy and the business community's attitude toward recent events.

EDM WHAT THE EUROPEAN UNION CAN DO ABOUT GEORGIA AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION

Cheney's Georgia Trip Brings Message to Russia

Russia stands by Georgia actions Russia upholds its decision to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway provinces as EU leaders prepare to meet

Russia Is Not the Soviet Union - Guy Bechor

Uzbekistan: Putin Visit Hopes to Arrest Russia’s Diplomatic Slide in Central Asia After experiencing an embarrassing denouement at the Dushanbe summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russia seems increasingly concerned about the possibility of diplomatic encirclement. Russia’s political supremo, Vladimir Putin, will try to prevent Russia’s further diplomatic slippage when makes an early September visit to Tashkent, where he will try to dissuade Uzbek leaders from pursuing closer ties with the United States.

Georgia: Tbilisi Feels Buoyed By US Aid Shipments Georgians are welcoming the arrival of American aid shipments, interpreting them as a get-tough message to Moscow, and as a gesture of enduring support.

Google News Azerbaijan

A shrunken empire strikes back

How the West blithely laid the groundwork for the Russia-Georgia conflict. (Boston Globe)

H13 The Times Sarah Palin: half-baked Alaska McCain's choice of running mate may energise his party faithful but is an enormous tactical risk that reflects poorly on his judgement

Palin has 65 days to prove herself

Senator McCain has found a running-mate who is not a neocon but a genuine American conservative William Rees-Mogg

EU to stop short of sanctions on Georgia President Sarkozy will take a cautious approach at emergency summit to discuss response to Moscow over Georgia

Arab-Israeli peace talks deadlocked The goodwill gesture of the release of prisoners has failed as no agreement on a Palestinian state has been reached

Palin hit by internet rumours over fifth child John McCain's little-known running mate has her first test as journalists and Democrats pore over her private and public life

Medvedev offers to train Afghan police 'Verbal agreement' for plan for 225 Russian security forces to train their counterparts in the Afghan National Police

Berlusconi and Gaddafi seal deal

Pact worth billions of pounds has been signed by the Italian and Libyan leaders as package of investment and reparations

US is not an environmental villain

A gas guzzler, yes. But America has some of the toughest green laws in the world Bronwen Maddox

Sunday Times Where's next in Putin's sights?

Obama’s offer: an end to US stupidity Americans cannot begin to realise how powerful a message the election of a black president would be Simon Jenkins

John McCain met running mate just once Republican faces backlash from his party after it emerged that he had met Sarah Palin only once before offering her the job

IN DEPTH: Pure genius or McCain’s mad gamble?

Conservatives find the girl of their dreams

John McCain’s chances, which are proving to be better than anyone imagined, will depend heavily on two things

Wall Street Journal McCain Makes Calculated V.P. Bet

McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket, was a surprise choice aimed at picking up Clinton supporters. Conservatives hailed the move. But Palin has a thin political resume, cheering Democrats who cite McCain's criticism of Obama's experience.

And Now a Moment of Realism
A crumbling economy? Voters didn't get the memo.

A Reform Ticket
McCain picks a Governor who took on a corrupt GOP

Immigrants and the GOP
A new warning on the fastest growing U.S. voting bloc.

H14 Financial Times Firm west can prevent new cold war Russia’s violation of international law threatens transatlantic solidarity and western values. A robust response is required, says David Phillips

McCain’s gamble on Palin is shrewd

If Sarah Palin turns out to be anything less than excellent, John McCain stands condemned for poor judgment. But if you think you are on track to lose, it is not crazy to gamble on redemption so long as you think the bet has a big enough upside, writes, Clive Crook

Russia anounces ‘spheres of interest’

Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev announced Moscow’s intention to preserve geographical spheres “of privileged interest” on or near its borders as part of a five point foreign policy statement in a television interview

EU must be united and firm on Russia By its actions in Georgia, Russia is trying unilaterally to redefine the rules of the game. That can never be acceptable to an organisation like the EU

Darling’s dire UK diagnosis

The chancellor is wrong to argue that the UK’s economic circumstances could be the worst in 60 years. But the same may not be true of the Labour party

Seize this chance to support Pakistani democracy Trying to pick winners will create instability in the country. The west must expand trade, open markets and assist education

US presses for response over Georgia The US is pushing for a phased international response to the Russian-Georgian conflict as Dick Cheney, US vice-president plans to visit Tbilisi this week

McCain gambles on inexperienced conservative

Islamist militants rise again in Algeria The group which carried out three bombings in Algeria last week has grown from a remnant of Algeria’s Islamist insurgency in the 1990s into “a viable organisation”, according to an American official

Italy pledge paves way for Libya investment

Energy and infrastructure development will follow Italy’s pledge to pay $5bn to Libya in compensation for colonial rule but raises uncomfortable issues for former colonial powers

Bedecked in Denver Barack Obama emerged from his party convention with many plaudits – and immediately began toughening his attacks on the man who will be his opponent

Gideon Rachman’s blog Obama and the Georgia crisis: Here in Denver there are two Georgias. There is the state of Georgia, which may go Republican. And there is the nation of Georgia, which has been invaded by Russia

Now is the wrong time to demand a rate cut The ECB should treat a temporary fall in headline inflation just as it treated the temporary rise last year. It should ignore it, writes Wolfgang Münchau

Blow to McCain over showpiece

Preparations for the Republican national convention were in chaos as several top party leaders said they planned to stay away because of Hurricane Gustav, and John McCain said the event could be scaled down

Threat to Poland’s energy prices

Poland faces crippling energy price rises which will threaten growth and employment unless the European Union rethinks its carbon trading system, Warsaw officials warn

Moscow thought unlikely to lose G8 seat Despite  the G7’s rebuke of Russia over its recognition of independence for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, western diplomats do not believe that Moscow is about to be kicked out of the club

H15 Los Angeles Times

Agreement on U.S. withdrawal from Iraq said to be in peril as Maliki ousts negotiators The Times is told that the prime minister has replaced the team with loyalists at the 'make-or-break' stage of talks. The two sides reportedly remain deadlocked on key issues

Iraq army still needs U.S. support, commanders say Iraqi commanders do not want U.S. forces telling them what to do, but both sides say Iraq still needs the U.S. to provide military backup.

Russia and the 'responsibility to protect' By Gareth Evans The principle was intended to prevent another Cambodia or Rwanda; it cannot be used to justify Moscow's invasion of Georgia.

Hezbollah warlord was an enigma

Imad Mughniyah, alleged mastermind of infamous terrorist attacks, was one of the most hunted men in the world. His death is as mysterious as his life

Massive Lebanon rally reflects missing cleric's continuing influence Followers in the Amal movement demand answers from Libya, where Imam Moussa Sadr disappeared in 1978. He is also considered a spiritual forebear by Hezbollah.

Joint investigation planned in disputed Afghanistan death toll

The U.N. says as many as 90 civilians, many of them children, died in a U.S.-led strike. U.S. officials say only about five civilians were among 30 killed

Hezbollah finds left-leaning friends abroad Through a front organization, officials meet with activists opposed to U.S. policies

The latest 'great game' involves Indian Ocean A Sri Lankan port being built by China points to Beijing's jockeying with India for regional influence.

Iran: new strides in uranium enrichment Iran has increased the number of operating centrifuges at its uranium enrichment plant to 4,000, a top official said Friday, pushing ahead with the nuclear program despite threats of new U.N. sanctions

EditorialMcCain's gamble on Palin McCain's choice of running mate shakes things up, but it also raises some unsettling questions.

The perils of Palin By Tim Rutten

McCain's pick for VP could bring social issues to the fore in this campaign.

Editorial

America's 'identity' blind spot The American experience leaves the United States and its citizens unprepared to confront the global rise of ethnic nationalism and secessionism.

By GREGORY RODRIGUEZ

Russia-Cuba ties worry U.S.

By Paul Richter Amid tensions over Georgia, Moscow has been signaling that it wants to restore its relationship with Havana that included military and intelligence cooperation

H16 American Politics

Is the Republican Party in peril? Conservative thinkers and political historians think the GOP could be at the end of its historic 40-year grasp on power.

GOP Still Adjusting to McCain

Some Conservatives Embrace Him, While Others Still Eye Him Warily

Economy May Not Influence Election As It Has in Past

Polls Contradict Forecasting Models

CNN Poll: Obama 49, McCain 48...

Salon McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism Suddenly all anyone needs to qualify as a potential commander in chief is to be a religious ideologue with female gender characteristics?
By Joe Conason

York Times:
Campaigns Shift as McCain Choice Alters the Race

John McCain met running mate just once Republican faces backlash from his party after it emerged that he had met Sarah Palin only once before offering her the job

IN DEPTH: Pure genius or McCain’s mad gamble?

Conservatives find the girl of their dreams

John F. Harris / The Politico:
Media obsession: 5 questions for Palin

First Nation By CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL John McCain and Barack Obama both say America should lead the world. Do they know what follows?

Time: Why McCain Picked Palin

David Frum / National Post:

Palin the irresponsible choice?

McCain's maverick pick

With one stroke, John McCain defied convention, galvanized Republicans, and gave Hillary Clinton's legions another reason to consider crossing party lines in November. (By Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe)

The Mush in California's Middle

By George F. Will, If John McCain becomes president, he will be confronted by a Congress with significantly larger Democratic majorities than today's -- majorities furious about high hopes dashed by an eighth Republican victory in 11 presidential elections,

Weekly Standard How Palin Got Picked
by Stephen F. Hayes

EDITORIAL
Let Palin Be Palin
by William Kristol

Listening to the Sam's Clubbers
by Irwin M. Stelzer

Even without Bush in St. Paul, GOP can't escape his record

The Art of the Possible Convention dramas aside, vision has its limits. Compromise has its opportunities.

Can You Cross Out ‘Hillary’ and Write ‘Sarah’? Sarah Palin’s selection unleashes gender as a live issue again, just when Democrats thought they had it under control

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

Zogby Poll: Equilibrium in the POTUS Race! —

Palin booed for mentioning Hillary Clinton

Poll: Voters uncertain on Palin

The Final Days

By PETER BAKER As he hands over control of his party to John McCain, what does George Bush really think about his former rival, the fall campaign and his own presidential legacy?

Kenneth P. Vogel / The Politico:
Obama vs. his staff

Political Realities May Pose a Test to Obama’s Appeal to Young Voters

The Republicans, Bound for Mars

By ANDREW FERGUSON In the draft of the 2008 Republican platform, the writers delight in powerlessness and the fierce urgency of not right now.

Greg Veis / The New Republic:

An Astonishingly Arrogant V.P. Selection

Obama campaign highlights Palin's ‘zero’ experience

Analysis: Palin's age, inexperience rival Obama's

A Heartbeat Away From Cynicism

By Ruth Marcus

The Audacity of Hype By WILLIAM SAFIREBy becoming the first African-American to win a major party’s presidential nomination, Barack Obama made history, but he failed to come up with a historic acceptance address

Small Change From Obama

What Happened to the Obama of 2004?

By David S. Broder, DENVER -- The Democrats had themselves a successful convention -- at the price of appearing quite conventional.

A Turbulent Youth Under a Strong Father's Shadow

McCain's Maverick Nature Would Fuel His Political Climb

Made an Impression From the Start — Fellow Maverick Survived McCain's Thorough Vetting Process, Aides Say

Surprise? First Two National Polls Find Palin Gains LESS Support from Women

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

MANIFESTLY UNSERIOUS....

Advisers Say Conservative Ire Pushed McCain Away From Picking Lieberman

Sarah Palin draws both praise and derision in Alaska

MCCAIN'S DILEMMA

Sounds Nice, But Will It Get Votes?

By Matthew Continetti, McCain's post partisanship may cost him the election

As GOP's Palin campaigns, Obama ad calls her a distraction

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

H17 Daily Telegraph McCain needs to warn about a global tempest

The Republicans could steal the show if they appear grown-up against Obama's 'happy-clappy' extravaganza, argues Janet Daley

Sunday Telegraph Putin threatens Europe over energy supply Russian PM warns that energy reserves will flow to Far East if Europe's leaders punish his country for invading Georgia

Europe must stand up to the Russian bully

It is time for the EU to shape up and take tough action by offering Georgia and Ukraine the security of membership, declares ex-foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind

Palin misled Republican supporters

McCain's running mate is facing scrutiny after it emerged that she misled Republican supporters when she was put forward

H18 Independent

Independent on Sunday CIA memos reveal doubts over 'key' Lockerbie witness

Pakistan waits as Bhutto clan trade blows

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

USIP Securing the Future: A Primer on Security Sector Reform in Conflict Countries

CEPS Al Qaeda in the West as a Youth Movement: The Power of a Narrative

Sheikh Said: Al Qaeda's Financier

H20 Slate

How Sarah Palin made the GOP change its mind about presidential qualifications.
Michael Kinsley

The hurricane upsets the GOP Convention but may be good for the GOP.
John Dickerson

How Sarah Palin made the GOP change its mind about presidential qualifications.
Michael Kinsley

New Data Show 1.4 Billion Live On Less Than Us$1.25 A Day, But Progress Against Poverty Remains Strong
Source: World Bank

Scientists fear impact of Asian pollutants on U.S.

The ungiven gift

Three years ago, the world was ready to mount a new attack on poverty. (By Joshua Kurlantzick, Boston Globe)

Confronting Climate Change: A Strategy for US Policy
CFR
The 140-page report of a US task force recommending an overhaul of US domestic and foreign policy to confront climate change

H21

How to cheat at reading War and Peace

Useful advice for those nervous of Tolstoy; an exclusive broadcast from al-Jazeera 2,000 years ago

· Michael Gove

Hey, Big Number, Make Room for the Rest of Us The gross domestic product is all well and good, but as a stand-in gauge for the nation’s overall well-being, this supernumber is less than perfect

Daydream achiever

A wandering mind can do important work, scientists are learning - and may even be essential. (By Jonah Lehrer, Boston Globe)

Instant Replay May Be Moving Into Foul Territory Or so goes the theory that exactitude can ruin a good argument.

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