090808f - 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 Stratfor Israeli Strategy After the Russo-Georgian War | Stratfor

New York Times U.S. Rules Out Unilateral Steps Against Russia The Bush administration concluded it would be better off joining international criticism over the Georgia conflict

Should U.S. Forces Withdraw From Iraq?

Opinions of the Iraqis

Curbs Imposed on Muslims in Western China During Ramadan

On Nov. 4, Remember 9/11

By JEFFREY GOLDBERG The most important thing the next president must do is prevent terrorist groups from executing a nuclear attack in America. Which candidate will deter an attack?

U.S. and Iraqi Officials Try to Reassure Citizen Patrols About Transfer

U.S. to Pull 8,000 Troops From Iraq Early in ’09

From Mother Jones, exit strategy: A series of articles on how to fix a post-Bush nation.

Google to put newspaper archives online In plans announced today the internet giant will put billions of newspaper articles from the last 250 years online

Asia Times Azerbaijan at crosswinds of a new cold war By Kaveh L Afrasiabi As Azerbaijan's presidential elections near, the political direction of the country is more than ever influenced by the United States-Russia power struggle. Baku wants to cultivate military ties with the US, but if it looks to the West, it must be prepared for serious blowback from its powerful neighbors, Iran and Russia

US shrinks from arming Georgia
The George W Bush administration has so far resisted making military pledges to embattled ally Georgia, but as the conflict heats up as an election issue, neo-conservative advisors to US presidential candidate John McCain say Georgia should be supplied with advanced weaponry to deter Russia. - Jim Lobe

Hindu gods spike Chinese dragon China has lambasted the United States for bending the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group to accommodate India, while Delhi is playing up Beijing's unfriendliness to defend its partnership with Washington. India hopes that drumming up jingoism will deflect attention now that its nuclear deal with the US has reached the US Congress. - M K Bhadrakumar

Azerbaijan Becomes Object of Russian-Western Rivalry By: Richard Weitz | World Politics Review The Georgian war's diplomatic repercussions continue to ripple throughout the region. One major concern in Washington is that Russia's successful military intervention in Georgia will intimidate other former Soviet republics to at least distance themselves from the United States

EurasiaNet AZERBAIJAN: VP CHENEY WAS REPORTEDLY LESS THAN DIPLOMATIC IN BAKU

The Times Bush keeps troops in Iraq until bitter end President will wait until last month in office, January next year, to bring home troops totalling about 8,000

Alliance ponders plea for home

Europe's leaders meet in Paris amid new doubts over its role in Afghanistan and rising concerns about Russian resurgence

Can Nato partners stop dithering on Russia?

Russia agrees deal on withdrawal from Georgia President Medvedev confirmed that international talks on the future of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would start next month

Washington Post 'You're Not Accountable, Jack' How a Retired Officer Gained Influence at the White House and in Baghdad By Bob Woodward, Part 1 | Part 2 | Interactive | Guide to the Series

Georgians Question Wisdom of War With Russia President's Future At Stake, Some Say

In Poll, McCain Closes the Gap With Obama White Women's Shift Helps GOP

Iraq Troop Levels to Remain Steady Until After Bush Leaves Office

Power Barometer: Syria's Unpredictable Policies

Russia's 2020 Strategic Economic Goals and the Role of International Integration IFRI, CSIS This 26-page paper assesses how efforts to implement Russia's long-term socio-economic development programme may affect the country's integration into the global economy

Russia and the West: The Energy Factor IFRI, CSIS A 25-page paper posing alternate scenarios for future energy relations between Russia and the West

The United States and Libya: Where Do We Go From Here?
Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Full Paper (PDF; 139 KB)

Al-Qaeda Blasts Iran for Working With US

Georgia's wary protectors

How could Georgia not have thought the United States would have to stand by it even if it did attack Russia? (By H.D.S. Greenway, Boston Globe)

Christian Science Monitor Germany's left-wing SPD party returns to the middle On Sunday, the moderate foreign minister and vice chancellor, Frank-Walter Steinmeir, was chosen as the party's candidate for chancellor in next year's federal election.

For Iran, energy woes justify nuclear push Many Iranians see the Nuclear Suppliers Group's Saturday decision that could permit nuclear trade with India as a double standard.

Financial Times Between cold war and appeasement The wealthy, Kremlin-connected elite would like to retain the privilege of having bank accounts in Switzerland, houses in London and tanks in neighbouring countries. It should not be too hard to suggest that there is a choice to be made, writes Gideon Rachman

Ultra-nationalists join Russian mainstream Far-right arguments by previously marginalised thinkers underpin Kremlin stances on Georgia and the economy

Groups move to tap a different pipeline Conoco’s Australian joint venture, Eni’s bid for First Calgary and Shell’s Iraq development deal underline the growing interest among the major energy companies to sign potentially lucrative international gas contracts

US puts Moscow nuclear deal on hold amid chilly relations The US announced yesterday that it was putting a showpiece nuclear agreement with Russia on hold in one of the strongest indications yet of the new chill between...

Russia agrees to Georgia pullback Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, agreed to dismantle Russian checkpoints in Georgia and replace its troops with 200 EU monitors by October 1

IHT THE RUSSIA RIDDLE I

Russia: Integration, not isolation

By BROOK HOROWITZ The presence of the progressive influence of business will exercise restraint on isolationist tendencies in Russia and encourage the adoption of international norms of behavior.

THE RUSSIA RIDDLE II Russia, the U.S. and Iran By RAY TAKEYH AND NIKOLAS GVOSDEV / The Boston Globe Russia is not interested in playing a role in the Iran crisis on terms America can accept.

A way for America to get Russia in line By JOHN VINOCUR

The United States and Europe don't have to start a new Cold War to find ways that will emboss Russia's inadmissible behavior and loss of credibility on its leaders' minds

TURKEY AND EUROPE Orthodox Christianity under threat By NICHOLAS GAGE Turkey's treatment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople is a litmus test of its readiness to join the European Union

ITALY AND LIBYA Elegant colonialism By RAMI G. KHOURI Italy expects to keep enjoying benefits from an unequal association with the land and people it once colonized

Syrian Economy Opens – Will Its Politics Follow?

Difficult Decisions Loom for Syria's Assad

Iran takes a back seat as US deals with Russia The National

McClatchy Fannie, Freddie taken over partly to ease foreign nerves

When Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the weekend seizure of mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, he cited the need to stabilize nervous financial markets and bolster the slumping housing market. What he didn't say publicly is that foreigners, among other big institutional investors, had lost confidence in one of the most vital and plain-vanilla U.S. investments. In a sense, they were losing confidence in the world's largest economy, and he needed to reverse matters

Wall Street Journal Iraqi Leaders Opposed Biden's Partition Plan
By Dan Senor His alternative to the surge would have stoked sectarianism

Brussels vs. Moscow
STATE OF THE UNION
By Andrzej Olechowski
And Pawel Swieboda A united EU can help Russia choose cooperation over confrontation.

Democratization and Its Discontents GLOBAL VIEW By Bret Stephens Supporting dictators is not sustainable.

Guardian Folly of the progressive fairytale John Gray: Russia - rich, nationalist and authoritarian - has made a mockery of our leaders' pretensions. The west is no longer in charge

Freddie, Fannie and friends

Editorial: Without the US government's decision to take control, downturn could have slumped into depression

Saving Fannie and Freddie was nationalisation pure and simple

Larry Elliott: It's the free-marketeers who are to blame but, by not seizing the moment, it's the left that could well end up carrying the can

A dangerous ally Robert Fox: The British reverence for the White House is neither respected nor reciprocated

The worst kind of affirmative action Lola Adesioye: The choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate exposes Republican hypocrisy regarding affirmative action

One thing is clear from the history of trade: protectionism makes you rich George Monbiot: However much Peter Mandelson bullies them, poor countries know his equation of fair trade and free trade is nonsense

So Far, It Just Isn't Looking Like Asia's Century By: Joshua Kurlantzick | The Washington Post So much for the Asian century. The Thais are bickering with themselves, and when they're done doing that, they'll bicker with the Cambodians -- again. China may be Japan's biggest trading partner, but they hate each other anyway. Malaysia and Indonesia? Two countries divided by the same language

Daily Star Do central banks have an exit for the financial crisis?
By Kenneth Rogoff

Los Angeles Times McCain, Obama both sell themselves as
agents of change The candidates campaign in Missouri and Michigan, respectively. The Republican's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate has given him a boost in polls

Russia agrees to pull troops out of Georgia Withdrawals will begin once international monitors are set up, according to an agreement today between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas

Video of Al Qaeda's No. 2 denounces Iran Ayman Zawahiri criticizes Shiite-led Iran for its ties with the U.S.-supported governments of Iraq and Afghanistan

H2 IHT TURKEY AND EUROPE

Orthodox Christianity under threat

By NICHOLAS GAGE Turkey's treatment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople is a litmus test of its readiness to join the European Union.

Stratfor Talabani’s Health and Kurdish Unity

Toplumdaki ayrışma ve çelişkiler Özdem Sanberk

'Önemli Bir Başlangıç' Faruk Loğoğlu

Devlet Ermenilerden özür dilemeli

Daily Star Georgia's conflict and Iran and Turkey By Rayyan al-Shawaf

SETA "Ahmedinejad’s Visit to Turkey: Two Neighbors Oscillate between Threat and Friendship" by Nasuhi GUNGOR

Turkish-Armenian Relations: Will Football Diplomacy Work? SETA A 7-page Turkish policy brief on improving relations between Turkey and Armenia

A kick-off for peace? by
VARTAN OSKANIAN*

Turkey: An Historic Presidential Day Trip | Stratfor

Turkish president to go to Azerbaijan next week

Turkey moves to diversify gas supply after Russia row

İlter Türkmen Cumhurbaşkanı’nın Erivan ziyaretinin arkası gelecek mi?

Recent developments from an Armenian public TV anchor’s eyes by
EMRE USLU & ÖNDER AYTAÇ*

Ankara, Yukarı Karabağ'da jest bekliyor

Erivan'dan sonra Bakü'ye jet ziyaret

TSK’dan Pakistan’a tam destek

Gül şimdi de Bakü yolcusu

Poll: Yerevan visit applauded by majority

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

Kurd Assembly Speaker Wary of Iraq Arms Purchases

Cevdet Aşkın Genelkurmay PKK'ya üst düzey imha fırsatını nasıl kaçırdı

Iraq Gets Its First Christian Militia - With a Little Help From the Peshmerga

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

Eser Karakaş Ulusal Program, iktidar ve muhalefet

‘Yeni bir seferberlik ruhu gerekli’

Türkiye Rusya’da manşetlerde

Tekfen to sell 50 pct stake to Azeri SOCAR for $520 million

Atina’nın ilk camisi ordu yüzünden çıkmaza girdi

Babacan, DSP, ÖDP ve DTP’ye ‘AB Ulusal Programı’nı anlattı

'CHP her şeye muhalefet edecekse kendi bileceği iş'

Türkiye Şahdeniz gazı için pazarlık masasına oturacak

Şahin Alpay Cumhurbaşkanı Gül liderlik gösterdi

Hadi Uluengin Şeytan girmeden

Ali Bulaç How will the religion obstacle be overcome?

Energy minister in Azerbaijan for energy conference

Almanya’da Türkler’e ait iş yeri kundaklandı

Türkiye Saakaşvili’nin yenileceğini biliyordu

Demek gemi bulabildiler

[Yorum - Herkül Millas] Ulus devletlerin çıkarları

HAKAN ALBAYRAK

Pakistan'ın yeni cumhurbaşkanı

Kıbrıslı Rumlar müzakerelerin sonucundan kötümser

AB raporunda Rus-Gürcü savaşı irdelendi (ingilizce)

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Ortaya karışık milli meseleler
TANIL BORA

Koç Holding TSK'ya tank üretecek

Uzan'a okuma cezası

Anadolu Kartalı havalandı

H3 Başbakan Erdoğan, Aydın Doğan'a şantaj yapıyor

Başvuru belgeleri Doğan'ı yalanlıyor

8 yanlışa 8 cevap

Ergenekon savcılarına kötü haber

Bu kervanı böyle götüremeyeceksiniz

Savcı Öz'e inceleme

Savcı Öz hakkındaki soruşturma haberleri yalan

Öz'e Şemdinli ayarı mı?

‘Medyayı tehdit etmemeli’

Boşluğu mafya doldurdu

Şahin: Alman yargısından talep gelirse yardımcı oluruz

6. İşte Başbakan'ı çıldırtan iddianame

TAM METİN İÇİN TIKLAYIN

Erdoğan’ın bu ilk şantajı değil

2006'da da 'açıklarım bak' diyordu

YİMPAŞ’ın paraları AKP’ye gitmiş

Kanal 7’deki karmaşık ilişkiler

Kılıç: Gerekçeli kararlar ekim ayında

Gerekçeli karardan Gül çıkarsa sorun olur

Doğan grubu gazeteleri tartışmayı nasıl gördü?

Karaman ve Erdoğan'ın oğulları bacanak

'Şantajı bırakıp iddiaları yanıtla'

12 Eylül olmasaydı ordu bölünecekti

Baykal: Bu şantaj ve TCK’da suçtur

Çözüm işbirliği

Gökçek’ten geri adım

Erdoğan başkanı savundu yine medyaya yüklendi

Yargıtay: Dini kurallar yeniden yorumlanabilir

10 yolsuzlukta Deniz Baykal

Doğan'ın 'Konseyi' tehdit ediyor

O avukat iş başında

Böyle gelmiş ama böyle gitmeyecek

'Hukuktaki boşluğu çeteler dolduruyor'

Bakanlıktan savcı Öz'e inceleme

İşte Çömez'in görüntüleri

Şahin: Soruşturma için izne gerek yok

'Ergun Babahan resti çekti, gidiyor!'

Muhalefet de Erdoğan’a tepkili

Kamplaşmayı körükler

Savcı Zekeriya Öz'e Şemdinli savcısının akıbetini hatırlattı

Erdoğan: Artık kervanınızı iftiralarla götüremeyeceksiniz

Eruygur ziyaretten memnun kalmış

Basın Konseyi: Erdoğan bir adım daha atarsa tavır alacağız

Deniz Feneri’nde 4'üncü duruşma

Muhtar: Bu tam bir sahtekarlık

CHP, halkı küçümseyen despot bir parti

Soruşturmayı 3 Alman savcı ile 9 polis yürüttü

Akman’ın RTÜK üyeliğini CHP mahkemeye taşıyacak

'AK Parti'nin kapatılmama gerekçesini bayramdan sonra açıklayacağız'

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman GH Türkiye

Cengiz Çandar Erdoğan, Gül'ün Erivan ziyaretini resmen sabote etti

Ahmet Taşgetiren Kapışmanın kapsama alanı

Ruşen - Çakır PKK’nın direnç noktası

Taha Akyol Demokraside üç zaaf

Fikret Bila Aydın Doğan'a şantaj yapıp basını susturmak

Hasan Cemal Ermenistan’la diplomatik ilişki kurulsun, sınır kapısı açılsın!

Murat Yetkin Başbakan açıklamak için neden bekliyor?

İsmet Berkan Başbakanlar dedikodu yapar mı?

Fehmi Koru Üzücü bir durum

Taha Kıvanç Aydın Doğan emekli olacak mı?

Sedat Ergin Erdoğan’ın tutumu bir AB sorunudur

Erhan Çelik Başbakan'ın 'açıklarım' dediği şey...

Şamil Tayyar

Mehmet Altan Rantçı Ankara ve Holding Medyası

Ali Bayramoğlu Hâlâ Erivan'dayız…

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Pazarlığa oturuyorum

Mustafa Karaalioğlu Avukatı yanlış bir dava

Berat Özipek AK Parti CHP’siz bir siyaset istiyor

Ekrem Dumanlı Important detail in Erdoğan-Doğan row

Ahmet Hakan Durun bir dakika

M Ali Birand Gül, bir tabu yıktı... Başbakan acaba Gül’ü mü kıskandı!

Cüneyt Ülsever Başbakan, bize hakaret edemezsin

Enis Berberoğlu Lütfen 2 Temmuz kriterine uyun

Oktay Ekşi Vacip oldu

Özdemir İnce

Kerim Balcı Dogfight with Doğan

Andrew Finkel Government and media wash their linen

Sabahattin Önkibar Kara kaplı defterdeki sırlar, kirli uzlaşma teklifi ve şantaj!

Başbakan-Aydın Doğan polemiği
HASAN CELAL GÜZEL

‘Raşide’nin medeniyeti’
NURAY MERT

Lale Sarıibrahimoğlu TSK acts run contrary to people’s wishes

[Yorum - Ahmet Faruk Güneş] Yeni ilçeler ve Jandarma'nın yetki alanı

Mehmet Y Yılmaz Majestelerine muhalefet ha!

Başbakan şantaj suçu işliyor (TCK: 107/2) ALTAN ÖYMEN

Deniz Feneri’nin günahları
TÜRKER ALKAN

Doğduğum topraklarda...
ORAL ÇALIŞLAR

İhsan Dağı Sola çıkış var mı?

Melih Aşık Büyük şantaj...

Yiğit Bulut Türkiye'de iktidar mücadelesi kimler arasında

Can Dündar Tam bağımsız medya

YUSUF ZİYA CÖMERT

Şimdi ben, yalan yazının doğrusu mu demeliyim?

Güneri Civaoğlu Özal’a kalp masajı sırrı

Halit Kakınç
Basın, basın olmalı Şantaj Çetesi değil!

Can Ataklı

Yerel seçimlerde semboller çarpışacak

Mustafa Mutlu

Bu ülkeyi tahmin edebilir misiniz?

Mehmet Tezkan

Acilen biat edecek silahşor aranıyor!

Okay Gönensin

Yolsuzluk, hırsızlık ve medya

Bekir Coşkun Sıra bizde...

Yalçın Doğan O şimdi Başbakan şimdi o Araf’ta

MUHARREM SARIKAYA Yargının itirafı...

ERDAL ŞAFAK Yargı ve reform

ENGİN ARDIÇ

ERGUN BABAHAN Basın özgürlüğü ve Hilton

Oray Eğin Yarı özgür bir basın

Sami Selçuk Engizisyon

EMRE AKÖZ Kan kokusu

Umur Talu 'Biat'a inat, 'imtiyaz'a itiraz!

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

NAZLI ILICAK Zahid Akman mağdur mu?

MEHMET BARLAS Başbakanın bir sözü veya belediyenin bir kararı ile köşe dönülebiliyor

MAHMUT ÖVÜR Deniz Feneri'ni yazmıştım...

Güngör Mengi

Bataklık gibi

YAVUZ DONAT

Nuray Başaran Gaziantep'in düşündürdükleri

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL

'Alman Ergenekonu', Deniz Feneri davası

KÜRŞAT BUMİN

Metrobüs, Hilton, İBB, 2 Numaralı Kurul gibi konular

İBRAHİM KAHVECİ

Doğan'ın gazeteciliğini 'Petrol Ofisi'nden biliriz

Ekrem Dumanlı Düğüm nasıl çözülecek?

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Piyasalar da, faiz düşüşü de kurtuldu mu?

Ercan Kumcu Küresel krizin neresindeyiz

Erdal Sağlam Bu hızla AB’ye üyeliğimiz 25 yılı bulur

Yaman Törüner Devlet merkezli rant ekonomisi

Güngör Uras İmalat sanayiinde 7 ayda üretim yüzde 4.2 arttı

Aydın Ayaydın

Kendi ekonomik programımız

Seyfettin Gürsel ABD'de devletin serbest piyasaya kaçınılmaz müdahalesi

Deniz Gökçe Mıçıyorum, mıçıyorsun, mıçıyor!

Güven Sak Fannie ve Freddie'de işin kayyuma devri ile perde inmedi

Doğan şirketleri 1 günde 210 milyon dolar eridi

Güney Kore anlaşmaya yanaşmazsa Türk ihracatçısı yandı

Uluslararası piyasalarda her şey hızla değişiyor
MAHFİ EĞİLMEZ

Kur riskine çözüm var mı?
KORKMAZ İLKORUR

Asaf Savaş Akat

ABD’de tarihi devletleştirme

Yiğit Bulut

Dünya “devletleştiriyor” biz habire “satıyoruz”...

H4 New York Times U.S. Rules Out Unilateral Steps Against Russia The Bush administration concluded it would be better off joining international criticism over the Georgia conflict

Should U.S. Forces Withdraw From Iraq?

Opinions of the Iraqis

Curbs Imposed on Muslims in Western China During Ramadan

On Nov. 4, Remember 9/11

By JEFFREY GOLDBERG The most important thing the next president must do is prevent terrorist groups from executing a nuclear attack in America. Which candidate will deter an attack?

U.S. and Iraqi Officials Try to Reassure Citizen Patrols About Transfer

U.S. to Pull 8,000 Troops From Iraq Early in ’09

Editorial A Bad Deal Congress should resist the pressure from the Bush administration to approve a nuclear deal with India.

DAVID BROOKS Surprise Me Most If I were advising Barack Obama and John McCain, I’d tell them to double down on weirdness.

BOB HERBERT Hold Your Heads Up Without the contribution of liberals, the United States would be a much, much worse place than it is today.

The High Road to the Middle By MARK J. PENN If the Democrats are smart, they'll stick to a centrist position

U.S. Attack on Taliban Kills 23 in Pakistan

More Afghans Being Killed, Report Says

Russia Agrees to Limited Pullout From Georgia

Memo From Cairo: 9/11 Rumors That Become Conventional Wisdom

Clinton Stumps for Obama, but With Little Fire at Palin

To Have (as a Running Mate), and to Hold (Politely)

Editorial The Bailout’s Big Lessons The government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac raises disturbing issues that may get lost in the tumult of the moment.

Bloggingheads: Gut Instinct Political scientists Daniel Drezner, left, of Tufts and Elvin Lim of Wesleyan explore the appeal of politicians who shun intellectualism.

No One Convicted of Terror Plot to Bomb Planes A jury convicted three of eight defendants of lesser charges in a case involving an alleged plot to blow up airliners, but failed to reach verdicts on other charges.

Reinventing Two Mortgage Giants: A Big Rebuild or a Teardown? Policy makers and Congress have begun an epic fight over how to restructure the companies once the current crisis ends

Rescue of Mortgage Giants Displays Paulson’s Clout Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. has led President Bush where he would not usually go: into government intervention in the markets

Forgoing Subsidy, Obama Team Presses Donors Bypassing public financing may not provide the Obama campaign with the expected financial advantage.

H5 Washington Post 'You're Not Accountable, Jack' How a Retired Officer Gained Influence at the White House and in Baghdad By Bob Woodward, Part 1 | Part 2 | Interactive | Guide to the Series

Georgians Question Wisdom of War With Russia President's Future At Stake, Some Say

In Poll, McCain Closes the Gap With Obama White Women's Shift Helps GOP

Russia to Leave Georgia Proper Kremlin Says It Will Remove Troops After Arrival of Promised E.U. Observers

Iraq Troop Levels to Remain Steady Until After Bush Leaves Office

Power Barometer: Syria's Unpredictable Policies

Pulling the Curtain on Palin By E. J. Dionne Jr., Even the McCain campaign has acknowledged, in effect, that Palin is unprepared.

McCain as Messiah By Eugene Robinson, He's running one of the most egocentric presidential campaigns in memory.

U.S. Missiles Said To Kill 20 in Pakistan Near Afghan Border Taliban Commander's Home Targeted

OPEC's Challenge Energy Wire | Can it keep oil prices high without forcing us to find alternatives?

Too Cool to Fight? By Richard Cohen Obama's moral commitment is being tested, and he doesn't seem to care.

Editorial Mr. Paulson's Bailout Costly but necessary, the Fannie-Freddie takeover must spark fresh thinking about housing policy

A New Fannie and Freddie By Steven Rattner

The rescue plan announced this week begins a new chapter of concerns about the mortgage giants

U.S. Team to Reinvestigate Deadly Strike In Afghanistan

Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home Governor and GOP's vice presidential nominee has also billed Alaska taxpayers for travel expenses for her children, according to travel documents

Mortgage Giants' Rescue Imperils Some Banks

British Jury Renders Split Verdict in Airliner Bomb Plot

In WMD Report, U.S. Gets a C Group of Ex-Officials Says Terrorism Threat Remains Real

H6 Guardian Folly of the progressive fairytale John Gray: Russia - rich, nationalist and authoritarian - has made a mockery of our leaders' pretensions. The west is no longer in charge

Freddie, Fannie and friends

Editorial: Without the US government's decision to take control, downturn could have slumped into depression

Saving Fannie and Freddie was nationalisation pure and simple

Larry Elliott: It's the free-marketeers who are to blame but, by not seizing the moment, it's the left that could well end up carrying the can

A dangerous ally Robert Fox: The British reverence for the White House is neither respected nor reciprocated

The worst kind of affirmative action Lola Adesioye: The choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate exposes Republican hypocrisy regarding affirmative action

Freddie's dead Dean Baker: The US government takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae shows why privatisation doesn't serve the public interest

Liquid bomb plot: three guilty of murder conspiracy Cell made al-Qaida style suicide videos but jury fails to reach verdict on airline charge

Shares in US loan giants slide

Investors digest full implications of latest American plan to end year-long credit crunch

One thing is clear from the history of trade: protectionism makes you rich George Monbiot: However much Peter Mandelson bullies them, poor countries know his equation of fair trade and free trade is nonsense

Collisions large and small Editorial: A model of international cooperation and goodwill, at a time when such things are needed more than ever

All about Adlai Ned Temko: In this race to the White House, the shadow of one great man looms large over Barack Obama's candidacy

Precision, what precision? Richard Norton-Taylor: They call it 'precision' bombing, but it is killing so many civilians that the US and Nato risk losing the battle for hearts and minds in Afghanistan

Nato rewrites rules for Afghanistan

House searches should be led by Afghan troops with permission from homeowners, says report

Palin exposes the cultural divide

Simon Tisdall: The Republican's vice-presidential candidate has come in for some stick since her nomination, but much of it has been unfair and divisive

Return of the Mac (and Mae)

Bill Emmott: The US government couldn't put off intervention indefinitely, but bailing out its two biggest mortgage lenders buys valuable time

What western feminists should do about the veil Faisal al Yafai: Abandon the obsession with clothing and focus on what really matters in terms of women's struggle in the Muslim world

Is there an exit strategy?

Kenneth Rogoff: The idea that the world's largest economies are merely facing a short-term panic looks increasingly strained

Follow the money Prem Sikka: Until we tackle global economic inequities that drive people to leave their homes, immigration will continue unchecked

McCain and Palin widen tour of states Opinion polls suggest Republicans emerged from convention in a stronger position than Democrats

Comment: Michael Tomasky

H7 Daily Star Lebanon and Syria have vested interests in each other's success

The Middle East should worry about Russian behavior
By Ekaterine Meiering-Mikadze

Trickle-Down Preemption
by Ray McGovern

Elegant Colonialism by Rami G. Khouri

Jordan Reassesses Its Strategic Ties With Hamas and Iraq By: Asher Susser | The Daily Star
Jordan's recent widely publicized resumption of contact with Hamas should be seen through the wider lens of the historic and strategic context.

A Coherent Strategy for Pakistan's Tribal Areas Would Draw Lessons From Anbar By: Malou Innocent | World Politics Review Following years of promising gains since 2001, Afghanistan is in a tailspin. The main forces behind the country's downward spiral are al-Qaida and the Taliban, which have found sanctuary in the vast unpoliced region of western Pakistan known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas

Lebanon's Sunni and Shi'ite Rivals Heading Towards Reconciliation

Is Darfur Killing Somalia? By: Andrew D. Bishop | The Middle East Times
Every now and then a headline will appear in our favorite newspaper about refugees fleeing Somalia because the country's Islamists have mounted yet another attack in their campaign to take over Mogadishu and bring down its shaky government

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

Bush to announce troop reshuffle

President Bush will announce plans to withdraw 8,000 US troops from Iraq and send reinforcements to Afghanistan

Syrian Economy Opens – Will Its Politics Follow?

Difficult Decisions Loom for Syria's Assad

US to Pull 5% of Troops From Iraq Early in '09

For Iran, Energy Woes Justify Nuclear Push

How a Retired Officer Gained Influence at the White House and in Baghdad

Iraq Gets Its First Christian Militia - With a Little Help From the Peshmerga

Rice Dismisses Woodward Book on Iraq and US Politics

Concessions Needed for Iraqi Elections

Kurd Assembly Speaker Wary of Iraq Arms Purchases

US and Iraqi Officials Try to Reassure Citizen Patrols About Transfer

Russia Prepares to Launch Iran's Nuclear Plant

America at War - Iraqi Parliament Back With Full Plate

Car Bomb That Targeted Chalabi Was State-Owned

Iran: Inflation Hits 27.6 Percent

US Plans $7 Billion Missile-Defense Sale to UAE

H9 Ha’aretz – Police source: Olmert likely to face jail time Source: PM likely to be convicted of money laundering, which carries maximum 10-year sentence

Al Qaida No. 2: Iran waging 'crusader' war against Islam

Security sources: Israel preparing for Hezbollah attack Hezbollah sources threaten that revenge for Imad Mughniyeh's death will come as a terror attack in Israel

Moshe Arens: Likud must say it won't give up Golan

U.S. coordinator to visit Israel in last-ditch bid for security draft Gen. James Jones was appointed by Rice to draft a plan to create a stable security environment in Mideast

Jerusalem Post Future of talks with Syria in doubt

Diplomatic official: Recommendation of indictment may have led to cancellation of Olmert's Russia trip

UN to review Israel's human rights track

Three-country panel chosen as part of Universal Periodic Review of 64 countries in 2008.

Kadima pressure mounts on Olmert to leave PMO for good

Sheetrit to 'Post': Prime minister should give a chance to the winner of the primaries, especially if there's an indictmen

Yedioth Ahronoth 'Iran plant nearly complete'
Representatives of Russian company building first Iranian nuclear plant in Bushehr say its activation close at hand, exact launch date to be determined after talks between Russian, Iranian nuclear officials this month

'We may kidnap Iran leader'

Ahmadinejad may find himself before Int'l Court, ex-Mossad operative Rafi Eitan tells Der Spiegel

Jewish impact on politics

Jewish participation in US politics greater than in any European country, Yoram Ettinger says

Mofaz, Barak unfit to lead/ Aloni

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

The United States, Israel, and the Iranian Threat: A View from Congress - Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

Tzipi Livni: Grasping the Nettle By: Dominic Moran | ISN Security Watch
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is favored to assume the role of prime minister, but victory on 17 September guarantees nothing

Israeli Parliament Committees Agree on National Referendum for Any Territory Concession

Ban to Press Israel for $1 Billion to Pay for Lebanon Damage

H10 Christian Science Monitor Germany's left-wing SPD party returns to the middle On Sunday, the moderate foreign minister and vice chancellor, Frank-Walter Steinmeir, was chosen as the party's candidate for chancellor in next year's federal election.

For Iran, energy woes justify nuclear push Many Iranians see the Nuclear Suppliers Group's Saturday decision that could permit nuclear trade with India as a double standard.

Tap U.S. oil reserves, then go green New US oil is key to a sustainable energy future.

Defanging Fannie and Freddie

These private-public hybrids must not be allowed to lobby Congress for unfair perks

Fannie, Freddie rescue binds taxpayers to housing market

The final tab may exceed that of the savings and loan bailout, depending on the depth of the housing slump.

ASIA

So Far, It Just Isn't Looking Like Asia's Century By: Joshua Kurlantzick | The Washington Post So much for the Asian century. The Thais are bickering with themselves, and when they're done doing that, they'll bicker with the Cambodians -- again. China may be Japan's biggest trading partner, but they hate each other anyway. Malaysia and Indonesia? Two countries divided by the same language.

Risking Armageddon for Cold, Hard Cash By: Mira Kamdar | The Washington Post
While everyone has been abuzz about Georgia, the Beijing Olympics and Sarah Palin, perhaps the most important development in the world has been unfolding with almost no attention. India and the United States, along with deep-pocketed corporations, have been steadily pushing along a lucrative and dangerous new nuclear pact

NSG Clearance Changes India's Strategic Equations

Iraq, Iran, China: The Emerging Axis By: Paul Rogers | Open Democracy
A United States pressed by Iraqi government confidence and Afghan guerrilla defiance is now confronted with a larger and longer-term strategic challenge in greater west Asia

Hindu gods spike Chinese dragon China has lambasted the United States for bending the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group to accommodate India, while Delhi is playing up Beijing's unfriendliness to defend its partnership with Washington. India hopes that drumming up jingoism will deflect attention now that its nuclear deal with the US has reached the US Congress. - M K Bhadrakumar

Militancy dogs Pakistan's new president It is no coincidence that a massive and deadly suicide bombing took place on the day of the voting that confirmed Asif Ali Zardari as Pakistan's next president. Zardari might already have won a battle by bringing the country's military and intelligence to heel, but he and his backers in Washington know that the war against militancy is far from won. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

War Unpopular Among Afghans, Allies

US Attack on School Kills 23 in North Waziristan

Intel Council Warned Against Raids in Pakistan

Pressure Builds on Singapore's System By: Hugo Restall | Asia Sentinel
Since Mr. Lee took over the premiership in 2004, Singaporeans have been watching for any sign he plans to reform substantially the authoritarian state created by his father, Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. So far there has been little indication that in his heart the prime minister is a liberal democrat. But the system of control is coming under increasing stress due to the changing structure of society. A process of subtle change will continue to be driven by pressure from below, rather than a change of heart at the top

Kashmiris Seek Trade Route to Pakistan By: Emily Wax | The Washington Post
After Hindu protesters blocked the only road connecting predominantly Muslim Kashmir with the rest of India last month, Altaf Bukhari, like many business owners in this disputed Himalayan region, became convinced of the need for an alternative trade outlet

H11 IHT THE RUSSIA RIDDLE I

Russia: Integration, not isolation

By BROOK HOROWITZ The presence of the progressive influence of business will exercise restraint on isolationist tendencies in Russia and encourage the adoption of international norms of behavior.

THE RUSSIA RIDDLE II Russia, the U.S. and Iran By RAY TAKEYH AND NIKOLAS GVOSDEV / The Boston Globe Russia is not interested in playing a role in the Iran crisis on terms America can accept.

A way for America to get Russia in line By JOHN VINOCUR

The United States and Europe don't have to start a new Cold War to find ways that will emboss Russia's inadmissible behavior and loss of credibility on its leaders' minds

TURKEY AND EUROPE Orthodox Christianity under threat By NICHOLAS GAGE Turkey's treatment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople is a litmus test of its readiness to join the European Union

ITALY AND LIBYA Elegant colonialism By RAMI G. KHOURI

Italy expects to keep enjoying benefits from an unequal association with the land and people it once colonized

To defeat Merkel, Steinmeier must learn to campaignFrank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister since November 2005, has never held elected office

A postwar cultural reckoning for GeorgiaGeorgian society remains infused with an appreciation for Russian culture that Georgian sociologists and historians say will outlive this latest round of tensions

EUROPE European press review

Russia and the West: The Energy Factor IFRI, CSIS A 25-page paper posing alternate scenarios for future energy relations between Russia and the West

The European Union and the Russo-Georgian War Robert Schuman Foundation
An 8-page issue paper offering a European perspective on the Russo-Georgian war

Mardell's Europe

High-risk strategy: Sending EU top team to Moscow

Alliance Divided as Members Ponder Plea of 'NATO Come Home'

Poland to Spend $24.6 Billion for Army Modernization by 2018

From The Economic Times, an article on Britain as a benevolent totalitarian state.

H12 RFE/RL

Russia Agrees to Georgia Pullout After EU Deal

Georgia positive on Russia pledge Georgia's president cautiously welcomes Russia's planned troop withdrawal from areas around South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

US Rules Out Unilateral Steps Against Russia

Saakashvili Expects Billions in European Aid for Development

Survey: Most Poles Believe Russia Will Rebuild Its Empire

Azerbaijan Becomes Object of Russian-Western Rivalry By: Richard Weitz | World Politics Review
The Georgian war's diplomatic repercussions continue to ripple throughout the region. One major concern in Washington is that Russia's successful military intervention in Georgia will intimidate other former Soviet republics to at least distance themselves from the United States

Russia's War with Georgia: Implications for Azerbaijan DA
An Azerbaijani article assessing the implications of the Russo-Georgian war for Azerbaijan and the region

Russia's 2020 Strategic Economic Goals and the Role of International Integration IFRI, CSIS This 26-page paper assesses how efforts to implement Russia's long-term socio-economic development programme may affect the country's integration into the global economy

Russia's Invasion of Georgia: What it Was and What it Meant ADA
An Azerbaijani commentary on the Russian invasion of Georgia

US to establish naval base in Georgia

White House Set to Put Aside U.S.-Russia Nuclear Agreement By: Michael Abramowitz | The Washington Post
The White House plans to formally pull from congressional consideration an agreement with Russia for civilian nuclear cooperation, perhaps as soon as today, Bush administration sources said over the weekend

Google News Azerbaijan

An Orange Divorce? The Economist
Ukraine’s government, comprising the allies from the Orange Revolution, is poised to collapse after the prime minister, Yuliya Tymoshenko, allied with the opposition to strip the presidency of its powers

Central Asia: Russia and U.S. Intensify Energy Competition Eurasianet
A three-sided diplomatic scrum is intensifying in Central Asia, as US, Russian and Chinese officials are stepping up efforts to wring energy-export deals from regional leaders

No Plans to Deploy Nuclear Arms in Belarus - Lukashenko

Russia Could Sever NATO Ties Over Georgia Membership

Russia: A Partner and an Adversary - Bernard-Henri Levy, New Republic

H13 The Times Bush keeps troops in Iraq until bitter end President will wait until last month in office, January next year, to bring home troops totalling about 8,000

Alliance ponders plea for home

Europe's leaders meet in Paris amid new doubts over its role in Afghanistan and rising concerns about Russian resurgence

Can Nato partners stop dithering on Russia?

Russia agrees deal on withdrawal from Georgia President Medvedev confirmed that international talks on the future of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would start next month

Crowd goes wild for Palin ... and McCain too The Republicans believe their new heroine has transformed their hopes of election success as the polls put them ahead

Baghdad fury at claim US spied on PM

Deadly airstrike on Pakistan madrassa US missiles kill at least 20 people after airstrike on Islamic school founded by an associate of Osama bin Laden

Clan rivals ‘led US to attack wrong target’ American forces were acting on 'misinformation' in an operation that may have killed up to 92 civilians in Afghanistan

Gordon Brown to invite Gaddafi to London The invite to an international oil summit will be the controversial Libyan leader's first official visit to the UK

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and us The US takeover is a bold step to restore financial stability; UK policymakers need to indicate they are also prepared

Judgment on Zardari

The new Pakistan president must be held to his promises on fighting the threats to his country

Immigration could fall The thing about population projections is that they are usually wrong. Our problem in future may be getting people to stay David Aaronovitch

Clan rivals ‘led US to attack wrong target’ American forces were acting on 'misinformation' in an operation that may have killed up to 92 civilians in Afghanistan

Wall Street Journal Iraqi Leaders Opposed Biden's Partition Plan
By Dan Senor His alternative to the surge would have stoked sectarianism

Brussels vs. Moscow
STATE OF THE UNION
By Andrzej Olechowski
And Pawel Swieboda A united EU can help Russia choose cooperation over confrontation.

Democratization and Its Discontents GLOBAL VIEW By Bret Stephens
Supporting dictators is not sustainable.

Generals Behaving Badly MAIN STREET By William McGurn
Bob Woodward offers a strange lens on history.

Fannie Mae's Patron Saint
A bailout history, as told by Barney Frank.

ObamaTax 3.0
The Democrat concedes that tax increases do hurt the economy

We'll Protect Taxpayers From More Bailouts
By John McCain and Sarah Palin Fan and Fred should have been reformed long before they had to be rescued.

Bailout Greeted With Relief, Questions

Investors cheered the U.S. government's seizure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, with stock markets rallying in the U.S. and abroad and mortgage rates falling. But obstacles remain if the takeover is to succeed

H14 Financial Times Between cold war and appeasement The wealthy, Kremlin-connected elite would like to retain the privilege of having bank accounts in Switzerland, houses in London and tanks in neighbouring countries. It should not be too hard to suggest that there is a choice to be made, writes Gideon Rachman

Ultra-nationalists join Russian mainstream Far-right arguments by previously marginalised thinkers underpin Kremlin stances on Georgia and the economy

Groups move to tap a different pipeline Conoco’s Australian joint venture, Eni’s bid for First Calgary and Shell’s Iraq development deal underline the growing interest among the major energy companies to sign potentially lucrative international gas contracts

US puts Moscow nuclear deal on hold amid chilly relations The US announced yesterday that it was putting a showpiece nuclear agreement with Russia on hold in one of the strongest indications yet of the new chill between...

Russia agrees to Georgia pullback

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, agreed to dismantle Russian checkpoints in Georgia and replace its troops with 200 EU monitors by October 1

The end is nigh for Freddie and Fannie It was the right decision. It will save the world from a financial catastrophe and it means that the absurd quasi-private structure of Fannie and Freddie can now be put to bed. This is a welcome rescue, but the events of this week highlight that we now live in a world of extreme moral hazard

Obama in Bill Clinton talks amid poll jitters Barack Obama is set to meet Bill Clinton at the former president’s foundation headquarters in Harlem on Thursday in their first face-to-face meeting since Mr Obama defeated Hillary Clinton in the primary elections in June

A US government bail-out of foreign investors John Gapper’s blog: The quasi-nationalisation of Fannie and Freddie is good for overseas central banks and sovereign wealth funds but bad for US institutions

Pressure mounts on Iran president

At least 40 members of Iran’s parliament have called for President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad to be summoned over pro-Israel comments made by one of his closest aides

Bush to withdraw 4,000 Iraq troops

George W. Bush plans to withdraw 4,000 troops from Iraq before the end of his presidency as the Pentagon starts to shift its focus to Afghanistan, the White House said

Al-Qaeda calls Iran a ‘crusader’ ally

In a video to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the terrorist group’s deputy leader, has accused Tehran of collaborating in a western war against Islam

Americans want to know how to fix the economy The election may turn on it, says Mark Penn

Merkel lands first blow on new rival

Angela Merkel landed a first punch on her new Social Democratic rival in next year’s election

Georgia takes Russia to UN court

Tbilisi accused Moscow of ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia when the Georgians resurrected an international racial discrimination convention from the 1960s to take a case to a UN court in The Hague

Cheney warns on Russia’s energy grip Dick Cheney, the US vice president who is on a four-country mission to counter Russia’s projection of power following its invasion of Georgia, reiterated his warning to Italy that Moscow should not be allowed to dominate energy supplies to Europe

Brown and the burden of an unkept promise Philip Stephens on Brown’s search for vision

How Spain will return to strong growth Economy will recover by 2010, writes Pedro Solbes

Kiev needs EU more than Nato

A future membership pledge would not, in itself, protect Ukraine from outside interference. But by giving Kiev’s leaders a common goal, it would make that interference easier to resist

Markets rally after Fannie and Freddie bail-out Stocks rallied and mortgage bonds surged on Monday as investors welcomed the US government’s historic decision to take over home loan giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

How to make development aid work Economists’ Forum: Robert Wade, William Easterly and Adrian Wood on the merits of capping aid to avoid dependence

Black Sea coastline heads upmarket

Bulgaria’s secluded beaches and empty seas are courting the global super-rich, who are hoping to escape the sometimes unwelcome attention they attract elsewhere in Europe’s crowded resorts

H15 Los Angeles Times McCain, Obama both sell themselves as
agents of change The candidates campaign in Missouri and Michigan, respectively. The Republican's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate has given him a boost in polls

Russia agrees to pull troops out of Georgia Withdrawals will begin once international monitors are set up, according to an agreement today between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas

Video of Al Qaeda's No. 2 denounces Iran Ayman Zawahiri criticizes Shiite-led Iran for its ties with the U.S.-supported governments of Iraq and Afghanistan

Bush to focus on Afghan civilian deaths, U.S. troop transfers In a speech today, he is expected to express regret for deaths but also say 'there will be times' when innocent lives are lost. He will also announce the transfer of some Iraq forces to Afghanistan.

Protesters fear for Iranian dissidents in Iraq Hundreds rally at the White House against U.S. plans to give control of a dissident camp to Iraq. They believe members of the militant opposition group Mujahedin Khalq could be sent back to Iran.

3 Britons convicted of conspiracy to bomb targets They are among eight accused in an alleged plot to use liquid explosives to blow up U.S.-bound airliners. The accused ringleader is acquitted

Iraq official's bodyguards involved in rush-hour shooting Police say a woman was killed and six other people were injured in the incident. The guards were those of the minister of displacement and migration, who has been telling Iraqis it is safe to return h

H16 American Politics McCain Gains Momentum in New Poll

Gallup Daily: McCain's Bounce Gives Him 5-Point Lead

CBS News: Read The Complete Poll

McCain leads Obama in 2 polls, race even in 3 more

CNN Poll: Race dead even

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

John McCain's Apocalyptic Foreign Policy

From PUP, the introduction to Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State: Why Americans Vote the Way They Do by Andrew Gelman.

If an outsider's persona is good for getting elected, sometimes an insider's knowledge is necessary for succeeding once in office.

FOX/Rasmussen Swing State

First Look At The New Electoral Map

Record Contradicts Palin's ‘Bridge’ Claims

Huge: 20-point shift towards McCain among white women since last month in new ABC poll

Noam Scheiber / The New Republic:

Why Palin Scares Me — Before I get to that, let me explain what I'm not scared of, which is that Palin has somehow altered the demographics of the race. I have a hard time believing that female Hillary supporters, or Rust Belt men, are suddenly racing to support McCain because of Palin.

Palin for President (in 2012) — From the moment she finished …

Arianna Huffington / The Huffington Post: Sarah Palin: A Trojan Moose Concealing Four More Years of George Bush

Candidates Are Underestimating Voters - Mark Penn, Financial Times

John McCain - Master Strategist - Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post

Palin Designed to Distract Us From Bush - Arianna Huffington, Huff Post

Palin Power: Veep Pick Drives McCain Boost - Rick Klein, ABC News

Obama Wrong to Spurn Hillary, Pick Biden - Ed Rollins, CNN

McCain Relies on Image, Avoids Issues - Cynthia Tucker, Atlanta JC

How Palin Has Shaken Up the Race - Jennifer Rubin, Pajamas Media

Is Palin Ready for the Big-Leagues? - Dick Polman, Philadelphia Inquire

H17 Daily Telegraph Britain mustn't leave Russia to Sarkozy We should be sceptical about the French President's negotiations with Dmitry Medvedev and take a tough line against Russian expansionism.

Sarkozy hails breakthrough in Russia talks French president has secured a pledge from Russia to withdraw its troops from undisputed Georgian territory.

US missile attack kills 14 in Pakistan

A US missile attack on a Taliban stronghold in Pakistan by an unmanned drone kills at least 14

McCain takes poll lead over Obama

John McCain has surged ahead of Barack Obama in opinion polls after his choice of Sarah Palin as vice-presidential running mate

Airliner trial: Three guilty of conspiracy to murder Three British Muslims accused of plotting the world's biggest terrorist atrocity have been found guilty of conspiracy to murder

H18 Independent 'You will be destroyed' The chilling threat from Abdulla Ali, a British graduate convicted yesterday of leading a plot to bomb Heathrow

Sarah Palin 'hid her pregnancy from aides'

Team Obama plans lunch with Clinton to plot fightback The campaign team behind Barack Obama has been regrouping after 10 days of media fascination with Republican vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin, dispatching Hillary Clinton into Florida and advertising a lunch summit this week between their candidate and Bill Clinton

Medvedev agrees deadline to pull troops out of Georgia

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Securing the Future: A Primer on Security Sector Reform in Conflict Countries
Source: U.S. Institute of Peace

Getting Afghan Air Corps to Fly Right The U.S. effort to train the Afghan Air Corps has been plagued by red tape and the wide cultural gap between American mentors and Afghan flight crews

Washington Institute 'Franchises' of al-Qaida Pose a Great Threat

The United States will not be able to claim to be defeating al-Qaeda and its growing affiliates and allies until it effectively counters their message and narrative -- beating terrorist networks not only on the physical battlefield, but on the virtual one as well.

Iran's Asymmetric Naval WarfareIn this new Policy Focus, an Iranian military expert outlines what form potential Iranian military action might take in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz given the capabilities and role of Iran's unconventional naval forces.

H20 Slate

Globalization, Worker Insecurity, and Policy Approaches (PDF; 129 KB) Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

Climate Change: Prospects for Nature

Finding Accord in the Fight By: Takamitsu Sawa | The Japan Times
Why do some economists so staunchly oppose emissions trading and bitterly criticize the Emissions Trading Scheme adopted by the European Union?

How Economic News Moves Markets
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

H21 Google to put newspaper archives online In plans announced today the internet giant will put billions of newspaper articles from the last 250 years online

What's wrong with boredom? Unstructured time is the mother of creativity

Intelligent Design tries with evidence and logic to show that life was designed by an intelligent agency competent to the task... more»

Tom Stoppard’s Rock ’n’ Roll portrays what is really an extended argument between Václav Havel and Milan Kundera about Czechoslovakia under communism... more»

Acoustic Interaction in Animal Groups: Signaling in Noisy and Social Contexts (PDF; 2.5 MB)
Source: Journal of Comparative Psychology

From Neiman Reports, a special issue on 21st Century Muckrakers: Who are they? How do they do their work?

A review of Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are by Rob Walker and Does Ethics Have a Chance in a World of Consumers? by Zygmunt Bauman.

From NYRB, a review of The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century by Alex Ross

Gastric surgery is only cure for obesity

Clinical researchers have claimed that the gastric bypass operation, which makes the stomach smaller and removes part of the bowel, is the only effective treatment for obesity

Saving souls French goalkeeping academy with a higher purpose

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PostGlobal - AmericaAbroad -The Corner - Passport - huffingtonpost / Pajamas Media / Open University / CounterterrorismBlog Today in Iraq / OutSide the Beltway - InstaPundit - winds of change Kausfiles - Becker Posner-andrewsullivan.com - Registan - armscontrolwonk - IsraPundit Regime Change Iran – Martin Kramer - Dani Rodrik