121608f - 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 From Preponderance to Partnership: American Maritime Power in the 21st Century - Frank Hoffman, Center for a New American Security

WSJ Fouad Ajami: The Return of Realpolitik in Arabia

Bret Stephens: Let's Buy Pakistan's Nukes

Washington Post Poll Finds Support for Obama's War Views

Less Pessimism on Iraq, But 70% Back Pullout

Obama Can Bring Change With His Ambassadorial Picks How Will Obama Choose His Diplomats? By Morton Abramowitz, Why Obama's ambassador to France should probably know French.

Iran's Former President Contemplates Run for Office In Speech, Former Leader Says Nation's Problems Cannot Be Solved Immediately

Financial Times China’s economy hits the wall It is now clear that, far from being immune to the global financial crisis, China is very vulnerable. Its economy may not be hit as hard as that of the US. But as a poorer country – with a less resilient political system – it could suffer worse, writes Gideon Rachman

Bush’s sole is bared The administration broke the state of Iraq, scattered its middle classes across the Middle East, proliferated jihadism and uncorked a sectarian war

Eurozone needs its fiscal rules

The recession and the financial crisis are severe but Trichet is right: there is still no reason for Europe to discard these rules

Madoff’s madness Even before the scandal, many hedge funds had lost the trust of investors. If they can deliver true outperformance, it should be possible to regain it

Ha’aretz – Bradley Burston: The Madoff betrayal - Life imitates anti-Semitism

Editorial Extend the truce

 The Lessons From 30 Years of Chinese Reform By Hugo Restall One of the greatest economic booms in history, but an emerging turn back to the left.

New York Times A World of Issues Waiting, Obama and His Foreign Policy Squad Brush Up

Challenges and Perhaps More Influence for Chairman of Joint Chiefs

DAVID BROOKS Lost in the Crowd Malcolm Gladwell’s social determinism is a useful corrective to the Homo economicus view of human nature. It’s also pleasantly egalitarian.

Is a US-Iran Deal on the Middle East Possible?

Reidar Visser The Basra Federalism Initiative Enters Stage Two

CRS "Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities," updated November 25, 2008.

negotiating with Iran before or after its June 10 election? by Steven J. Rosen

"Iran's Nuclear Program: Status," updated November 20, 2008.

Christian Science Monitor

Bid to split Taliban, Al Qaeda

In Afghanistan, US and NATO reassess their strategy amid concerns that their efforts are failing.

A Global New Deal By: Harold Meyerson | The American Prospect But the next New Deal won't work if it's only American. Fixing our economy will require fixing international systems.

Guardian Stalemate in Helmand Editorial: The Afghan war is by far a better cause than Iraq. But the possibility of failure is greater

'I was still holding my grandson's hand - the rest was gone'

Special report: Afghans explain how mounting civilian casualties are aiding Taliban recruiting

Wanted: an Israeli peace initiative

Tony Klug: The Arab countries have set out their principles for peace. Isn't it time that Israel did the same?

Obama appoints new green team

President-elect's selection of Nobel scientist for energy secretary paves way for climate change action

McClatchy Iraqis doubt U.S. can, or will, honor withdrawal dates The deadlines sound clear enough in the security agreement: U.S. combat troops must be out of Iraqi urban areas by June, and all Americans should withdraw from the country by Dec. 31, 2011. However, those deadlines have appeared anything but firm to Iraqis over the past week

IHT CIA needs help from real world By ART BROWN

The CIA's human spy business is not answering the hardest questions

Asia Times SPENGLER
The failed Muslim states to come
Financial crises, like epidemics, kill the unhealthy first. The present crisis is painful for most of the world but deadly for many Muslim countries, and especially so for the most populous ones. From Pakistan to Indonesia, and not excluding Saudi Arabia, the likelihood of states failing along the lines of Somalia are increasing. Policy makers have not begun to assess the damage

The Times Passing the Bucks

Bernard Madoff's alleged fraud will hurt financial institutions and confidence; it should trigger stricter scrutiny by investors and regulators

US accuses Britain over Afghanistan failings US Defence Secretary expresses doubts over operations by Britain's overstretched military in the chaotic Helmand province

Fraud Scandal Rocks Banks - Council on Foreign Relations

Israel's Netanyahu upbeat on Obama plans for Iran

Time Will Israel and Hamas Renew Their Gaza Truce?

Greece: vacuum at the heart, Takis Michas

Obama's Naive Muslim Outreach - Amir Taheri, New York Post

Independent The man who conned the world Banks, billionaires and charities are among the victims of '$50bn fraudster' Bernard Madoff, whose exposure deals a new blow to financial confidence, according to one tycoon set to lose $9bn

Leading article: A tale of greed and fraud from the financial Wild West

H2

Turkey and Europe: The Decisive Year Ahead International Crisis Group -

FT Turkey hit by grim growth data Ankara said it aimed to close a financing deal with the IMF early next month, as the weakest quarterly growth figures for six years prompted analysts to forecast a technical recession

Turkey's Footing in the Global Economic Crisis | Stratfor

Şahin Alpay Atatürk'ün Kürt politikası niye değişti?

WSJ Europe Time for EU-Turkey 'Urgency'

Emekli Büyükelçiler isyan etti!

ÖZÜR TARTIŞMASI

Özür değil, paylaşma

NURAY MERT

Türkiye - AB İlişkileri: 2009 Yılı Kritik

Sami Kohen AB ile devam... Ama nasıl?

Nejat Eslen Çok kutuplu düzen

Turkish president's visit to Iraq canceled for health reasons

Gül’ün Irak ziyareti ertelendi

Turkey's GDP slows, unemployment rises

Turkish thinkers' Armenia apology
An online petition launches in Turkey, apologising for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Ottoman Armenians in 191

Turkish Intellectuals Issue Apology to Armenians

WSJ  Turkey's Economy Stalls Subscriber Content Read PreviewTurkey's economy slowed to a near halt in the third quarter, raising the risk of a recession as the government gets ready for fresh loan talks with the IMF.

UPDATE 1-IMF mission to visit Turkey in Jan for loan talks | Markets | Markets News | Reuters

'Komşularla sıfır problem' açılımı Suriye'de tuttu

İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası Dış Basında Türkiye - BBC Turkish 0700 VOA TSİ 06:30 Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey TurcoPundit ASAM

Google News Fırat News Agency KurdishMedia Kurdish Kurdish Aspect Dış Basında Irak BBC Monitoring Inter-national

Cevdet Aşkın Talabani yerel seçimlerde tarafsız

Şahin Alpay Atatürk'ün Kürt politikası niye değişti?

Türkmenlerin 'otonom' bölge talebini reddetti

‘Oil for Soil’ ICG Report: A misinterpretation, a misperception or imposition of the fait accompli?

Hüsnü Mahalli Gül Irak’a gitseydi!

[Yorum - Bejan Matur] Dış siyasette cesur, iç siyasette güvensiz

DTP’li Alınak yine cezaevinde

TAMER KORKMAZ

Ayakkabı Bombardımanı

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

Rats, oxen and the latest dumb idea from the EU

Eser Karakaş Papadopoulos ve Annan Planı karşıtları

Bıraktığı miras ‘hayır’

Greek Cypriots may block more chapters in Turkey's EU negotiations

TURKEY: REGULATIONS HOBBLE PROTESTANT CHURCHES

Armenian Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides

AİHM’in kritik kararı

Büyükelçi Kurttekin:Kıbrıs Türkü her konuda çözüm üretme kapasitesine sahip

AKP reformlara AB için değil, Türkiye için hız vermeli MUHAMMED NUREDDİN

Hungary Doubling Efforts for Nabucco Ahead of Budapest Summit By: Vladimir Socor | Eurasia Daily Monitor The Hungarian government and the private MOL energy company are doubling their efforts to help launch the Nabucco gas project on schedule. Given Hungary’s 80 percent dependence on Russian gas, even the oft-wavering Socialist Party has joined the consensus view that supply diversification through Nabucco is imperative for the country’s energy security and its strategic security in a broader sense

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Cem Yılmaz: Çalıntı iddiaları şaka gibi

Dünya müstakile yerleşti Türkiye apartmanlaşıyor!

Chavez, devrimi korumaya çalışmaktan devrim yapmaya vakit bulamıyor

H3

Ergenekon'da Veli Küçük kendini savundu

Devletin komplo kuracağını hiç düşünmemiştim

CHP Kurultaya 16 reform ve 58 iddiayla giriyor

Üzeyir Garih'in ipi Aliyev'e darbe planında çekildi

Yermez’e cinayetten sonra Ergenekon tavsiyesi

‘Devletin komplo kuracağını hiç düşünmemiştim’

Ortalığı karıştıracak mektup

AK Parti yerel kantarında tartılacak

MHP’den ‘seçmen sayısı’nda yeni iddialar

Zekeriya Öztürk MİT elemanı mı?

Gizli tanıkları hedef gösterdi

Şahin: Hükümetin gündeminde af yok

Çapraz sorguda zor sorular Veli Küçük'ü susturdu

500 bin kişi işsiz kalacak

Aleviler bu kez Maraş katliamını protesto edecek

Kılıçdaroğlu-Gökçek düellosu yarın

Anket haberi yalan

Hüsamettin Özkan'ın yeni siyasi hesabı

Haber doğru ama Baykalcı değilim

Hayrını görsünler

Kemal Derviş, ne CHP'ye ne de siyasete dönmeyi düşünüyor

Atalay: Gözaltına alınan zanlının onurunu zedelemeyin

Şırnak'taki BOTAŞ kuyuları açılacak

Org. Karadayı dinletmemiş...

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman GH Türkiye

Birinci Sayfalar Akşam Birgün Bugün Cumhuriyet Dünya Hürriyet Milli Gazete Milliyet Posta Radikal Referans Sabah Star Taraf Tercüman Türkiye Vakit Vatan Yeni Şafak Zaman Arşiv

Video NTV CNNTürk Milliyet

Cengiz Çandar Abdullah Gül iyi ki Bağdat'a gidemiyor

Ahmet Taşgetiren Baykal için kaçınılmaz olan... "Türk'üm, Sünni'yim, suçluyum!"

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol Nusayri bayramı dolayısıyla

Fikret Bila Bush’a atılan ayakkabı Obama’yı düşündürmeli

Hasan Cemal

Murat Yetkin Ergenekon’da kilit ikinci iddianame

İsmet Berkan 80 bin potansiyel suçlu!

Fehmi Koru DTP'liler de anlamalı...

Taha Kıvanç Ayakkabı yalnız Bush'a mı fırlatıldı?

Şamil Tayyar

Ali Bayramoğlu İktidarın merkezi...

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök

Hasan ÜnalYunanistan olayları perşembenin gelişi mi?

Ahmet Hakan İslam nasıl köylüleşti

M Ali Birand Sarkozy, Erdoğan'a verdiği sözü tuttu...

Cüneyt ÜlseverŞark kurnazlığı

Enis BerberoğluFakir fukara haritası çıkıyor

Can Dündar Devlet için mi?

Bülent Korucu Veli Küçük neyi yalanlamadı?

Ekrem Dumanlı Camiye atılan taş

Mümtazer Türköne 'Ilımlı laiklik'

İhsan Dağı Milletin devleti mi, 'CHP devleti' mi?

Yalçın Doğan Al sana milli iradeden sorular

Nuray Başaran Eskiye rağbet olsa

Üzeyir Garih cinayeti ve Türkiye...

ORAL ÇALIŞLAR

Oktay Ekşi

Özdemir İnce Sadaka ekonomisi ahlak bozar

Mehmet Y Yılmaz

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

Seçim eşiği: Yüzde 40...

ERDAL ŞAFAK Âkil adamlar diyor ki...

ENGİN ARDIÇ

ERGUN BABAHAN Postaldan pabuca

EMRE AKÖZ

Sami Selçuk Duruşma ve vicdani kanı (yargısı), tutanaklara ciro edil(e)mez

Berat Özipek CHP’nin açılımı ve kedinin gözleri

Umur Talu Ölü de sussun!

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

NAZLI ILICAK "Ilımlı İslâm'ın sol bacağı!"

MEHMET BARLAS İçeride birbirimizi yerken AB ile ipler kopabilir

MAHMUT ÖVÜR Şehirlerin 'kadın vicdanı'na ihtiyacı var!

YAVUZ DONAT

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL

'Ekonomik kıyamet' ve 12 elit kumarbaz

Mehmet Altan Lojmanda mı oturuyorsunuz?

Bilim, din ve ahlâk

TÜRKER ALKAN

Sosyal Yardım Hamlesi

HASAN CELAL GÜZEL

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Ercan Kumcu

Asaf Savaş Akat Üçüncü çeyrekte milli gelir

500 bin kişi işsiz kalacak

Bütçe maratonu başlıyor

Bilal Çetin Ekonominin ümüğü...

Erdal SağlamIMF anlaşmasında gecikme büyümeyi olumsuz etkiliyor

Güngör Uras Bu yıl ya yüzde 1 büyürüz, ya yüzde 1 küçülürüz

Ergin Yıldızoğlu Berlin, Londra, Atina

Deniz Gökçe Analizler zorlanıyor, ezberler bozulacak!

Eyüp Can Kıskandıran 2009 bütçesi

Seyfettin Gürsel Küresel krizde Çin ekonomisi

Başladığımız noktaya geri döndük

MAHFİ EĞİLMEZ

Hazine riski krizine doğru mu?

KORKMAZ İLKORUR

UNDP Derviş’i bırakmıyor

Turkey's GDP slows, unemployment rises

OECD Genel Sekreteri de ’kadın istihdamı’ diyor

Aydın Ayaydın Ankara’dan bakınca kriz görünmüyor

Yiğit Bulut Mehmet Şimşek’in son icadı...

H4 New York Times A World of Issues Waiting, Obama and His Foreign Policy Squad Brush Up

Challenges and Perhaps More Influence for Chairman of Joint Chiefs

DAVID BROOKS Lost in the Crowd Malcolm Gladwell’s social determinism is a useful corrective to the Homo economicus view of human nature. It’s also pleasantly egalitarian.

Editorial A Policy for Preventing Genocide President-elect Barack Obama should consider the recommendations put forth in a policy report suggesting early engagement with countries on the brink of genocide.

Big Oil Projects Put in Jeopardy by Fall in Prices Price cuts are welcome at the pump, but delays may cut future supplies, setting the stage for another price surge.

OPEC Looks to Halt Falling Oil Prices

In Iraqi’s Shoe-Hurling Protest, Arabs Find a Hero The Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at President Bush has stirred emotions across the Arab world. Baghdad Bureau: Reactions Across Iraq | Brother Speaks

Caroline Kennedy Is Seeking Seat Held by Clinton

Mr. Obama’s Internet Agenda Restoring America to its role as the world’s Internet leader could be an important part of Barack Obama’s presidential legacy.

Pirates in Skiffs Still Outmaneuvering Warships Off Somalia

Britain Adds 300 Soldiers to Support Afghan Force

Iraqi Justice System Is Faulted

U.N. Rights Investigator Expelled by Israel

Israeli Court Orders Revision of West Bank Barrier Route

News Analysis: Legal Hurdle in Blagojevich Case: A Crime, or Just Talk?

H5 Washington Post Poll Finds Support for Obama's War Views

Less Pessimism on Iraq, But 70% Back Pullout

Obama Can Bring Change With His Ambassadorial Picks How Will Obama Choose His Diplomats? By Morton Abramowitz, Why Obama's ambassador to France should probably know French.

Iran's Former President Contemplates Run for Office In Speech, Former Leader Says Nation's Problems Cannot Be Solved Immediately

Congressional Panel Says Nuclear Proliferation Is at a ‘Tipping Point'

Flying Shoes Create a Hero In Arab World

How Bernard Madoff's Pyramid Scheme Will Erode Trust By Anne Applebaum, Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme will help bring down the trust that enabled it.

Piercing the Bubble of Presidential Isolation Why Ink on Paper Beats a BlackBerry By Richard Cohen,

What's black and white and perfect for avoiding groupthink?

Israeli Authorities Detain, Expel U.N. Human Rights Envoy

The Senate GOP Seems Set on Hastening the Death of Detroit By Eugene Robinson, Only a free-market fundamentalist, lunatic or Senate Republican would want to hasten Detroit's demise.

The Sole of a Nation By Dan Froomkin

The Cabinet: Who's Next?

Calls Offer Clues to Attackers' Motives Officials say a gunman in the Mumbai attacks called a TV station while holding hostages at a Jewish outreach center. His words offer the first inkling of why the 10 gunmen carried out the rampage in which 171 people were killed.

H6 Guardian Stalemate in Helmand Editorial: The Afghan war is by far a better cause than Iraq. But the possibility of failure is greater

'I was still holding my grandson's hand - the rest was gone'

Special report: Afghans explain how mounting civilian casualties are aiding Taliban recruiting

Wanted: an Israeli peace initiative

Tony Klug: The Arab countries have set out their principles for peace. Isn't it time that Israel did the same?

Obama appoints new green team

President-elect's selection of Nobel scientist for energy secretary paves way for climate change action

 Obama breaks with Bush oil bosses and puts environment at top of agenda President-elect makes Nobel prize winner energy secretary and creates new position of 'climate tsarina'

Ducking the issue on Iraq Ian Williams: One Iraqi journalist shows more willingness to stand up to President Bush than the entire White House press corp

There may be more like Madoff

Phillip Inman: Angry investors, more frightening than a probe by a regulator, might explain the popularity of pyramid selling

The ownership society, RIP

Dean Baker: The Bush administration wanted every American to own a home. That policy must now be reconsidered

Sit it out, holidaymakers Bill Emmott: Sterling is taking a pummelling now, but traders will soon realise the eurozone is stumbling too

Is George W Bush the worst ever US president? Simon Tisdall: Perhaps, according to recent polls – but he's got a lot of competition for that title

 Brown urges Israel to stop settlers blocking peace

Prime minister's remarks come as his Palestinian counterpart protests at 'critical' lack of debate

 Fed expected to cut rates to 0.5% Federal bank considers Depression-era measures to bring down borrowing costs amid plunging output

Global trail of Madoff victims

RBS and HSBC among major banks to admit losses from Bernie Madoff's $50bn Wall Street fraud

 Even in this crisis, the government still offers refuge to pinstriped pirates George Monbiot: Britain's tax havens fuel crime and corruption on a huge scale but, for Brown, keeping business happy is still the priority

H7 Gates: Relations with Iran to Remain Tense –

Is a US-Iran Deal on the Middle East Possible? THE TANGLED US-IRAN KNOT, Part 2
Iran urges Obama to start talks - now Political insiders in Iran believe it would be a serious mistake for United States president-elect Barack Obama to postpone communication with Tehran until after next year's Iranian election, as he has been advised. Analysts want Obama to do two things quickly: denounce President George W Bush's "Axis of Evil" label and assure Tehran he's not pursuing regime change. Sooner is better than later, they say. - Gareth Porter

Syria looks to better times
Citing Washington's desire for change, many in Syria are eyeing future relations with the United States with cautious optimism. Others, however, say it just won't be that easy for Damascus, as a number of roadblocks remain. One thing is for certain - the more Syria can offer on peace and Lebanon, the more likely better times lie ahead. - Sami Moubayed

Reidar Visser The Basra Federalism Initiative Enters Stage Two

CRS "Iran's Nuclear Program: Status," updated November 20, 2008.

"Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities," updated November 25, 2008.

"Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses," updated November 24, 2008.

Iraq's Elections: What's at Stake? By: Michael Knights | The Daily Star
The upcoming provincial elections in Iraq, scheduled for January 2009, will provide the best indicators to date of the health of Iraq's political system, the relative popularity of political parties, and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's prospects for re-election in national elections planned for December 2009.

OPEC Plans Drastic Cut in Oil Production

Falling Fortunes, Rising Hopes and the Price of Oil Just as high oil prices reworked the international economic order, low oil prices are now doing the same

The Collapse of Capitalism and Islamic Banking

Obama's Weak National Security Team The Public Record -

Human Rights Require Stronger Institutions By: Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu | The Japan Times Sixty years after the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, corrupt government institutions are blocking reforms targeting discrimination, injustice and poverty

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

Report: US Costs of Wars Top $900 Billion

Obama Slammed in Iran Over Stand on Hizbullah

70% of Americans Want Iraq Withdrawal

Waning Violence In Iraq A Sign Of Political Stabilization
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Shias in Basra calling for referendum on autonomy

Regionalization battle in Basra, Iraq oil capital, takes next step
Iraq Oil Report

Syria, EU Closer to Economic Deal, Hurdles Remain

Kuwait's Political Morass By: Dominic Moran | ISN Security Watch
With the emirate embroiled in its latest political fiasco, Kuwait's regionally important reform process is under severe strain.

Arabs Across Mideast Hail Reporter Who Hurled Shoes at Bush

Kurdistan Press Syndicate Condemns Attack on Bush

Over 150,000 trained for Iraqi elections

H9 Ha’aretz – Bradley Burston: The Madoff betrayal - Life imitates anti-Semitism

Editorial Extend the truce

Agreement in Hamas: Cease-fire to end Friday Group says will fire only if attacked, ending truce because Israel is not 'abiding by its terms'

ANALYSIS / How Abbas' stance on peace talks can help Netanyahu If elected, Likud chief will be pressured by international community to nudge forward frozen peace process

Akiva Eldar: Democracy in W. Bank? Not if it's up to Israel

Adam Keller: Boycott of Jewish industries beyond Green Line taking its toll

Jerusalem PostAyalon: US could support land swap

Ex-US ambassador and Israel Beiteinu candidate compares 2004 Bush letter to Balfour Declaration

 Inequality before the law [ CAROLINE GLICK,

 The emerging bi-national reality

[ GERSHON BASKIN

Yedioth Ahronoth Gaza lull is dying

Hamas, Israel may be embroiled in major clash in matter of hours or days, Alex Fishman says

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

Israel's Netanyahu upbeat on Obama plans for Iran

Time Will Israel and Hamas Renew Their Gaza Truce?

UN: Israel's Expulsion of Human Rights Envoy Is 'Dangerous'

Israel Responds to IAEA's Letter on Syria's Nuclear Site - Nili Lifshitz (Wall Street Journal)

Filmmakers spy true-life Mossad thriller

Israel releases Palestinian prisoners Israel began freeing 224 Palestinian prisoners, nearly a week later than planned, in a move it described as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Bid to split Taliban, Al Qaeda

In Afghanistan, US and NATO reassess their strategy amid concerns that their efforts are failing.

Israel's coming test for Obama

He must be alert to bullying by Israel's likely next prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu

In new ads, Palestinians try to sway Israeli public on peace plan

West prods Pakistan on antiterror fight – with aid The US is finalizing a $15 billion aid package, Sen. John Kerry told Indian newspapers Monday.

ASIA

FORA.tv - Making Sense of the Mumbai Attacks

Regional Cooperation in Central Asia: Another Step Forward with CAREC Johannes F. Linn, The Brookings Institution

Face to Face With the Taliban By: Ghaith Abdul Ahad | The Guardian
"Salar is the new Falluja," declared Qomendan Hemmet emphatically. "The Americans and the Afghan army control the highway, and five metres on each side. The rest is our territory."

The Neo-Taliban: A Year On By: Antonio Giustozzi | Open Democracy
The success of a reinvigorated Afghan insurgency – albeit qualified by overstretch and internal tensions – guarantees that 2009 will be another tough year of combat

CHINA'S DOLLAR MILLSTONE
Restoring China's national destiny Different nations profess different destinies at different stages of their history, be it the Ottoman dominion's to maintain peace or that of the US to expand into Central America and the Pacific. Until China realizes that export based on low wages is a self-diminishing strategy, the country's destiny to be restored to its rightful position in the world will be held back. - Henry C K Liu

A novel way to tackle Pakistan
All the roads of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction intersect in Pakistan, according to a new report by a US Congress committee. The world community could resort to an "international humanitarian intervention" in the face of this threat, or more radically, circumscribe the country's sovereignty and place it under custodianship. - Sreeram Chauli

Another blow to NATO's supplies Taliban militants in the Pakistani city of Peshawar at the weekend destroyed another batch of North Atlantic Treaty Organization containers bound for Afghanistan, bringing the total lost to more than 400 in the past few weeks. Local contractors and drivers are becoming too afraid to do their jobs, while NATO is stepping up efforts to find alternative routes. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

US Accuses Britain Over Military Failings in Afghanistan - Tom Baldwin and Michael Evans, The Times

Brown Poised to Reject Obama's Surge Plans - Sam Coates and Michael Evans, The Times

Geopolitical Diary: A Breakdown in Transporting Supplies to Afghanistan

As illustrated by a transport union strike, Pakistan's worsening security situation is complicating the delivery of supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan

Our Pakistan Problem By: Reuel Marc Gerecht | The Weekly Standard
The difference between ordinary terrorists, who kill at most hundreds, and mass-casualty ones, who aspire to kill thousands, is the coupling of fearless, wicked intelligence to firepower

EU Members Must Coordinate China Policies By: Francois Godement | The Japan Times
China's cancellation of the annual EU-China summit four days before it was to be held in Lyon is explained by French President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet the Dalai Lama in Poland a few days later.

Pakistan Won't Let Foreigners Question Mumbai Suspects

West prods Pakistan on anti-terror fight — with aid When British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated unequivocally Sunday that Pakistani militants were behind the Nov. 26 attacks in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, standing beside him, conspicuously did not concur.

Does Al-Qaeda Still Matter? - Jonathan Stevenson, Forbes

The Monster in India's Mirror - Arundhati Roy, Asia Times

H11 IHT CIA needs help from real world By ART BROWN

The CIA's human spy business is not answering the hardest questions.

University in Athens, epicenter of riots, is drawing a potent mix of radicals

Conversations with those inside the Polytechnic revealed a mix of students, anarchists and immigrants protesting everything from police brutality to globalization.

Philip Bowring: Australia: Bad times for 'lucky country' Household debt relative to the size of the Australian economy is among the highest in the world.

EUROPE European press review

Hungary Doubling Efforts for Nabucco Ahead of Budapest Summit By: Vladimir Socor | Eurasia Daily Monitor The Hungarian government and the private MOL energy company are doubling their efforts to help launch the Nabucco gas project on schedule. Given Hungary’s 80 percent dependence on Russian gas, even the oft-wavering Socialist Party has joined the consensus view that supply diversification through Nabucco is imperative for the country’s energy security and its strategic security in a broader sense

On Euro's 10th Birthday, No Music Subscriber Content Read PreviewThe euro's 10th birthday is Jan. 1, and financial markets are suggesting the start of a troubled second decade for the currency.

EU Members Must Coordinate China Policies By: Francois Godement | The Japan Times
China's cancellation of the annual EU-China summit four days before it was to be held in Lyon is explained by French President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet the Dalai Lama in Poland a few days later.

Welfare and Employment: A European Dilemma? IZA A 36-page discussion paper examining the comprehensive welfare and labor market reforms undertaken by most of the EU member states in the years since the 1990s

Der Spiegel Interview with Nobel Economist Paul Krugman: 'Merkel and Steinbrück Are Wasting Crucial Time'

Greece's Maelstrom of Violence: The Revolt of a Disappointed Generation

'Robust Mandate': EU Authorized to Sink Pirate Ships

The World from Berlin: 'Europe Is Sticking by its Ambitious Reductions Targets'

Time Could Greece's Riots Spread to France?

H12 RFE/RL

Regional Cooperation in Central Asia: Another Step Forward with CAREC Johannes F. Linn, The Brookings Institution

Google News Azerbaijan

Russia: Cutting Oil Production, But Not by Choice Russia has no choice but to cut oil production, but not for the reasons it is saying

Rebel dreams

Abkhazia longs for 'freedom' under Russian wing

Misreading the Kremlin Costs BP Subscriber Content Read PreviewBP assumed that a deal with Gazprom was a Russian oil jackpot, but what followed was a series of miscalculations that has left BP's position in Russia shakier

Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Russia: Statutory Procedures for Congressional Consideration and Their Implementation CRS

H13 The Times Passing the Bucks Bernard Madoff's alleged fraud will hurt financial institutions and confidence; it should trigger stricter scrutiny by investors and regulators

US accuses Britain over Afghanistan failings US Defence Secretary expresses doubts over operations by Britain's overstretched military in the chaotic Helmand province

Freedom's Footnote Hurling shoes at George Bush is a curious milestone on Iraq's road to democracy

Greek police run out of tear gas as rioting...

Kill anyone harming Russia, says Lugovoy Stunning outburst from alleged assassin comes amid fears that the Kremlin is cracking down on its opposition

ANALYSIS: fears of foreign meddling exploited For the Kremlin, the line between patriotism and paranoia is conveniently blurry. The West can be a useful scapegoat

Green jobs to save the planet and economy Barack Obama declared that he could save the planet and the American economy as he unveiled his new environment team

UK request to question Mumbai suspects rejected Pakistan has turned down Gordon Brown's request for British police to interview militants connected with the attacks in India

The conman, the dream - and the sharp suit Bernard Madoff is the latest in a line of brazen fraudsters. They find their victims among the brightest of people

Daniel Finkelstein

Don't mention crass Keynesian policy It may be fun to watch the Tories lionising the Germans, but history backs economic intervention David Aaronovitch

Wall Street Journal Fouad Ajami: The Return of Realpolitik in Arabia

Bret Stephens: Let's Buy Pakistan's Nukes

 The Lessons From 30 Years of Chinese Reform By Hugo Restall One of the greatest economic booms in history, but an emerging turn back to the left.

 How Blackwater Serves America By Erik D. Prince
Think of our staff as soldiers who re-enlist.

Auto Industry Bailout May Trigger Protectionism

US rate cut towards zero expected
Interest rate-setters are expected to cut rates from 1% and may say what other tools they now plan to use

Investors reel from Madoff shock

The list of investors and banks hit by an alleged $50bn (£33bn) fraud by US trader Bernard Madoff continues to grow

U.S. Real Estate: Home Equity Stripped Away in 2008; Nearly $2 Trillion in Home Values Lost This Year

Commentary: Capitalist abyss Greed in 21st century America is stampeding democratic capitalism. From the 2001 Enron scandal to the current $50 billion Ponzi scheme that destroyed the savings of thousands, hedge funds and derivatives that escape any transparency, and the subprime mortgage swindle that engulfed the world, the United States is now teetering on the edge of the abyss -- another Great Depression.

H14 Financial Times China’s economy hits the wall It is now clear that, far from being immune to the global financial crisis, China is very vulnerable. Its economy may not be hit as hard as that of the US. But as a poorer country – with a less resilient political system – it could suffer worse, writes Gideon Rachman

Bush’s sole is bared The administration broke the state of Iraq, scattered its middle classes across the Middle East, proliferated jihadism and uncorked a sectarian war

Eurozone needs its fiscal rules

The recession and the financial crisis are severe but Trichet is right: there is still no reason for Europe to discard these rules

Madoff’s madness Even before the scandal, many hedge funds had lost the trust of investors. If they can deliver true outperformance, it should be possible to regain it

Oil hits $50 ahead of Opec meeting

Analysts predict a cut of more than 1m barrels a day

Goodbye to all that currency instability As part of a series on the euro, which is approaching its 10th anniversary, the FT looks at how the global economic slowdown is posing daunting new challenges for the currency’s second decade

UN assembly president accuses Israel of ‘lie’ The president of the United Nations General Assembly, who is involved in an acrimonious diplomatic spat with Israel, said he had received death threats via the internet that UN security chiefs were taking seriously

Gideon Rachman’s blogFive events of the year: I have got into the habit of finishing every December, with a column that tries to list the five most politically significant events of the year

Britain’s choice of greater or lesser evils Philip Stephens on the next UK general election

The low oil price calls for a fresh set of rules Nick Butler on the need for realistic forecasts

The crisis gives the US new financial power It can still borrow – and lend, says Ricardo Hausmann

In the face of fragility For European central banker Trichet, recklessness caused the current financial and economic turmoil

ECB looks at radical lending plans

Considers guaranteeing interbank loans

H15 Los Angeles Times Iraq shoe thrower elicits mixed reaction among Arabs The journalist who threw a pair of shoes at President Bush is seen as both a hero and an embarrassment. Iraq's government faces a dilemma in deciding what to do with him

EditorialA Blackwater hole

Five guards are accused of killing 17 innocent Iraqis. It's unclear how they can be punished if found...

Obama's green team

Obama's choices to lead the Energy Department and the EPA must seize the...

U.S. and UAE forge nuclear cooperation deal The agreement, the first of its kind between the U.S. and an Arab nation, entails providing an Arab country with U.S. nuclear technology. Critics cite the United Arab Emirates' ties with Iran

Secret Service faces questions after Bush shoe incident Agency officials say they are reviewing the Iraq assault but believe agents responded appropriately. Others say minor changes in procedure are likely

Bush in Iraq defends the war but says it's 'not over' Iraq is 'dramatically freer, dramatically safer and dramatically better,' he says. The unannounced visit is greeted with praise and contempt

H16 American Politics

45% Suspect Obama Team Involved in Blagojevich Scandal

realclearpolitics memeorandum

Daily Beast Cheat Sheet

Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook

PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin

Caroline Kennedy to Seek Clinton's Senate Seat

H17 Daily Telegraph The limits of tolerance

Telegraph view: The Dutch are going through an identity crisis as Muslim immigrants question the country's permissive tradition.

Defence chiefs' criticism of Government is shaming but true

The biting criticism directed at the government by former forces' chiefs Lord Boyce and Lord Craig is as embarrassing for ministers as it is true, writes Con Coughlin.

H18 Independent The man who conned the world Banks, billionaires and charities are among the victims of '$50bn fraudster' Bernard Madoff, whose exposure deals a new blow to financial confidence, according to one tycoon set to lose $9bn

Leading article: A tale of greed and fraud from the financial Wild West

Europe's banks reveal $8bn of exposure to alleged fraud

'Shoe-thrower of Baghdad' brings Iraqis on to the streets As Muntazer al-Zaidi remains in detention, his countrymen demonstrate their support for his anti-Bush protes

Patrick Cockburn: Keep out... a message for foreign leaders

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

FORA.tv - Making Sense of the Mumbai Attacks

Joint Chiefs Chairman Must Adapt to a New Boss New York Times

From Preponderance to Partnership: American Maritime Power in the 21st Century - Frank Hoffman, Center for a New American Security

U.S. Special Operations: Personal Opinions (Full PDF Article)

New Report: Cost of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Other Military Operations Through 2008 and Beyond Direct to Full Text Report (108 pages; PDF)

MESH Death wish of Al Qaeda

Mumbai's Theological Terror By: Yonah Alexander and Aaron Damiani | The Washington Times
The history of mankind is filled with brutal evidence that fighting between enemy adversaries in the name of religion is not unnatural.

Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Russia: Statutory Procedures for Congressional Consideration and Their Implementation CRS

Protecting the right to privacy in the fight against terrorism
Source: Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

Cisco Report Spotlights Worldwide Cyber Security Threats

H20 Slate

White Paper: The Future of Human Spaceflight

Rankings: Ponemon Institute and TRUSTe Announce Results of Annual Most Trusted Companies for Privacy Survey

U.S. Government’s 2008 Financial Report Demonstrates Significant Problems (PDF; 104 KB)
Source: Government Accountability Office

U.S. Census: Global Births Increasing Even as Fertility Rates Decline

H21 In Colombia, they call him Captain Nemo Los Angeles Times

News You Can Lose

by James Surowiecki

The newspaper industry’s uncertain future.

“An academic has come up with a formula that he says explains procrastination. Don’t put off reading this article until tomorrow.”

The Future of the Internet III — A survey of internet leaders, activists and analysts shows they expect major tech advances as the phone becomes a primary device for online access, voice-recognition improves, artificial and virtual reality become more embedded in everyday life, and the architecture of the internet itself improves.

Most liberals once defended Salman Rushdie’s right to publish The Satanic Verses, despite offense to Muslims. Today, many would rather appease religious sensibilities... more»

Hurdles Await Google Settlement
Library Journal

10 Holiday Cooperation Tips for Divorced Parents

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