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Financial Times Nuclear Iran? Decision time is here On Friday, the FT reported that ‘Iran has built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb’. It is time for the Obama administration to launch a last big push to head this off – and for the rest of the world to line up in support, writes Gideon Rachman

A Russian ‘reset button’ based on inclusion Interdependence is key, says Strobe Talbott - The challenge for the US and Europe is to encourage Moscow to move in the direction of global interdependence, including in its internal evolution

New York Times U.S. Pressed to Add Billions to Bailouts The government is facing pressure from banks, carmakers and a giant insurer, despite the billions it has already committed to rescuing them.

Survey Reveals Broad Support for President President Obama is benefiting from high levels of confidence among Americans about his leadership, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. Full Results (pdf)

Negotiator Picked for Post at State Dept.

Israeli Coalition Faces More Blocks

Washington Post U.S. Clears Path to Bank Takeovers Obama's Revised Plan for Industry Aid Could Result in Nationalization

Veteran Mideast Envoy Ross Named to Advise Clinton on Iran Strategy

Ha’aretz – U.S. report: Saudis replacing Egypt as regional leader Report indicates Saudis reluctant to accept role, due to growing threat Iran poses to the Arab world

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan: Policies on Regional Issues and Support for US Goals in the Middle East (PDF 336 KB)

FT EU pulls together – not before time However exasperatingly slowly, Europe’s leaders are at last moving in the right direction: now they must keep their ranks closed, and quicken their pace

Kiev crisis tests Berlin and Moscow Berlin wants stability in Ukraine, to avoid creating the grounds for any conflict with Moscow. Russia wants a compliant government in Kiev that does not talk about joining Nato

Christian Science Monitor

Obama's goad to Damascus

As more US officials visit Syria, the president must be careful with any concessions.

As war ebbs, Europe returns to Iraq

The value of teaching
21st-century skills

The debate over the value of teaching students so-called "21st century skills" is baffling. These skills -- problem-solving, financial and business literacy, global awareness, and innovation -- are the number one job requirements for anyone interested in success after high school. (By Maura Banta, Boston Globe)

Does It Matter How Much America is Liked? - Peter Feaver, Foreign Polic

What Kind of Great Power Would India Be? BY: Jon Haron-Feiertag | Diplomatic Courier The question is certain to excite grand strategists. India is perceived as an up and coming power. It is firmly ensconced in the group of BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), which is all the rage when prognosticating what the future will hold in international relations.

Robert Wood / US Department of State: Appointment of Dennis Ross as Special Advisor for The Gulf and Southwest Asia

Arşivden MAHŞERİN ÜÇ ATLISI: ROSS, HOLBROOKE VE MITCHELL

Analysis: NATO's limits in foreign affairs (UPI) -- What is happening in Afghanistan today may be partially blamed on two basic problems with Washington's foreign policy: First, it is continuously reacting rather than pre-empting. And second, it has no continuity, changing direction every four, or sometimes eight, years.

Guardian Courting Syria

Simon Tisdall: Policy advisers in Washington increasingly see improved relations with Damascus as crucial to peace in the Middle East

Wall Street Journal Post-Post-9/11 Looks Just Like Pre-World War II

GLOBAL VIEW
By Bret Stephens Democracies are averting their eyes from the threats we face.

The Times Gaza white phosphorus shells 'were US made' Serial numbers on shells used by Israel during the conflict have been traced back, Amnesty International report claims

IHT As it falters, East Europe raises risks Economies in Eastern Europe have suddenly weakened, making it riskier for Western companies to do business there.

 U.S. Starts to Leave Key Iraq Bases BY: Richard Tomkins | The Washington Times American troops in Iraq are beginning to pull back from bases and outposts that were linchpins in the U.S. surge that helped reduce violence, prevent a civil war and allow peaceful elections

LA Times EditorialClinton's winning road trip

Her visit to Asia successfully presented a nonconfrontational foreign policy. It was no time for lectures on human rights or economic concerns

Pakistan's extremist triumph By Ahmed Rashid The government has caved in to the Taliban in the Swat Valley to avert more violence

IAEA douses furor over Iran report
The Western press jumped all over the latest International Atomic Energy Agency report that found the nuclear watchdog had underestimated the enriched uranium at Iran's nuclear facilities by some 30%. Still, the IAEA's timely clarification gives some hope that the smoldering Iranian nuclear stand-off may be fading out - rather than raging out of control. - Kaveh L Afrasiab

Obama nixed full surge in Afghanistan
United States President Barack Obama may have approved only 17,000 of the 30,000 troops requested in Afghanistan by United States commanders, citing their inability to tell him how they would be used, but don't expect the top brass to give up that easily. More pressure will follow an Afghanistan-Pakistan policy review next month, echoing the days of the Vietnam War when president Lyndon B Johnson faced similar demands. - Gareth Porter

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“Solving the EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle” , the new Crisis Group webpage

Iraq-based joint command center in fight agianst PKK starts operations

Turkey and US start preliminary discussions on Iraq-exit strategy

Iranian official: Turkey-Iran gas transfer deal signed

PJAK says Treasury decision political

(UPI) -- The decision by the U.S. Treasury Department to freeze the assets of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan was a political move to please Iran, the group said.

Iraq: US must review Kurd policies, says leader

'Turkey ready to play role in Iran-US relations'

Turkey sees itself as Iraq’s door to Europe The National

Top NSA official holds secret talks in Ankara

Iraq, Turkey, Iran Vulnerable To Ethnic Conflict RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Who Lost Turkey? In some ways everybody did Daily Star

’US should understand Turkey’s importance’

İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası Dış Basında Türkiye – BBC Türkçe 0700 1800 – VOA Türkçe 0630 1345 2130 DW - (UTC) 0830 1130 1530 Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey TurcoPundit ASAM

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

Mosul tense amid Kurdish, Arab disputes

MOSUL, Iraq, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Tensions between Arabs and Kurds are approaching the brink of conflict in the northern city of Mosul despite a relative calm throughout Iraq.

Kurdistan ties up preparations for elections

Cevdet Aşkın

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

The clock is ticking for southern gas corridor, says Azeri minister

Country Analysis Briefs: Greece
Source: Energy Information Administration Greece has limited domestic energy resources, but it could develop into an important regional transit hub

Turkey, Russia should join Eastern projects, EU says - Summary

Turkey promotes its currency with trade partners

An Address by Dora Bakoyannis, Foreign Minister of Greece

Feb. 23, 2009

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Turkey records a 4 percent decline in tourist numbers in January

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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

Ahmet Taşgetiren

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol

Fikret Bila

Hasan Cemal

Murat Yetkin

İsmet Berkan

Fehmi Koru

Taha Kıvanç

Şamil Tayyar

Ali Bayramoğlu

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök

Hasan Ünal

Ahmet Hakan

M Ali Birand

Cüneyt Ülsever

Enis Berberoğlu

Oktay Ekşi

Özdemir İnce

Mehmet Y Yılmaz

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

ERDAL ŞAFAK

ENGİN ARDIÇ

ERGUN BABAHAN

EMRE AKÖZ

Umur Talu

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

NAZLI ILICAK

MEHMET BARLAS

MAHMUT ÖVÜR

YAVUZ DONAT

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Ercan Kumcu

Erdal Sağlam

H4 New York Times U.S. Pressed to Add Billions to Bailouts The government is facing pressure from banks, carmakers and a giant insurer, despite the billions it has already committed to rescuing them.

DAVID BROOKS The Big Test

The Obama administration sees this economic crisis as an opportunity to expand its reach, but I fear that in trying to do everything at once, it will do nothing well.

Survey Reveals Broad Support for President President Obama is benefiting from high levels of confidence among Americans about his leadership, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. Full Results (pdf)

Obama's High - Stakes Speech to Press Broader Agenda

1,000 Points of Data

By KENNETH M. DUBERSTEIN

What we need now is a Web-based system for measuring our changing society with key national indicators — in a free, public, easy-to-use form.

Negotiator Picked for Post at State Dept.

Israeli Coalition Faces More Blocks

U.S. to Give $900 Million in Gaza Aid

Editorial What Part of ‘Stimulus’ Don’t They Get?

The Republican Party seems more interested in ideological warfare than in working on policies that get the country back on track.

As It Falters, Eastern Europe Raises Risks Once-vibrant economies have weakened, making it riskier for Western companies to do business.

Iraq Museum That Was Looted Reopens, Far From Whole With many halls closed and many pieces still missing, the opening reflects how far Iraq’s recovery has to go.

From a Carrier, Another View of America’s Air War in Afghanistan

Hague Court Will Pursue Sudan Leader

Militants Drew Recruit in U.S., F.B.I. Says

United Arab Emirates Aid Debt-Ridden Member, Dubai

N. Korea Statement Raises Worry of a Missile Test

Administration Draws Fire for Report on Guantánamo

White House Memo: With Spending Set, at Least for Now, the Knives Come Out

When Nuclear Subs Collide

Nuclear powers have been inexcusably negligent about reducing arsenals and eliminating needlessly risky practices.

H5 Washington Post U.S. Clears Path to Bank Takeovers Obama's Revised Plan for Industry Aid Could Result in Nationalization

Veteran Mideast Envoy Ross Named to Advise Clinton on Iran Strategy

Editorial Not So Obvious

The secretary of state underestimates the power of her words. Clinton's statement will have an effect: It will demoralize thousands of democracy advocates in China.

Obama's Job Approval Ratings High, but Poll Finds Bipartisan Support Eroding

But Survey Finds Sharp Erosion in Bipartisan Support

Avigdor Lieberman and Israel's Arabs: A Question of Values By Richard Cohen,

The founders intended Arabs to be part of the Jewish state, not removed from it.

Rights Actions That Speak Volumes

By Anne Applebaum, I don't care what Hillary Clinton says about human rights. Talk is overrated.

Banking on What? By Eugene Robinson,

Until Obama discloses the whole truth, banks will remain under suspicion.

After Guantanamo Debate | Send detainees home? To U.S. prisons? Let them go? Experts debate what's next.

Power Barometer: Al-Qaeda Speaks on 9/11

Iraq's National Museum to Reopen Nearly 6 Years After Being Looted Early in War

Freed Detainee in U.K. Tells of Abuse by U.S. 'Medieval' Methods Were Used, Statement Says

Japan's Beleaguered Leader to See Obama

Here to discuss reviving the world economy with the president, Taro Aso ranks among the most gaffe-prone and unpopular leaders in Japan's postwar history

Israel's Olmert Removes Gaza Negotiator Who Opposed Demanding Soldier's Release

H6 Guardian Courting Syria

Simon Tisdall: Policy advisers in Washington increasingly see improved relations with Damascus as crucial to peace in the Middle East

 A test of solidarity

Editorial: As the recession takes its toll, eastern Europe could end up paying a higher price

 A new space race <How India, China and Iran are shaping the future of space exploration

Detainee return sparks new questions Britain's role in 'war on terror' under new scrutiny with return from Guantánamo of Binyam Mohamed

 Symbol of hope as Iraq's looted and gutted national museum reopens

Leaders tentatively reclaim site in Baghdad as one of Middle East's most important cultural repositories

 US papers file for bankruptcy as recession hits advertising

Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News placed into protection filing to allow its owners to restructure debts

 Call to ease Guantánamo conditions

US admiral says prisoners at detention camp are being treated in accordance with the Geneva conventions

Both sides of Israel's story

Conor Foley: Israeli blogger Seth Freedman shows us that dialogue is about both listening and talking in his book Can I Bring My Own Gun?

H7 Iraqis Taking the Lead? Yes and No

In first trip, Clinton brings different style to diplomacy

Don't Let the Iran Headlines Scare You by Robert Dreyfuss

Exclusive: Meet Obama’s new ambassadors BY LAURA ROZEN

STEPHEN WALT Richard Perle is a liar

Kerry Visit Marks Serious Attempt to Bring Syria in From the Cold

A First Draft of Mythology - National Review book review (The Gamble)

Egypt thumbs its nose at Obama

 Kuwait: A Democratic Model in Trouble BY: Abdullah Shayji | World Politics Review As Kuwait heads once more for parliamentary elections in 2009 -- having held such elections just last year -- repeated clashes between the executive and legislative branches are creating doubts about the Kuwaiti model, once a source of inspiration to many in the Gulf and beyond.

Atomic Ayatollahs - Peter Brookes, New York Post

The Arab News reports the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council rebuked Iran for making "hostile remarks" about its Arab neighbors and proposed a joint Arab fund to support reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.

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

 U.S. Starts to Leave Key Iraq Bases BY: Richard Tomkins | The Washington Times American troops in Iraq are beginning to pull back from bases and outposts that were linchpins in the U.S. surge that helped reduce violence, prevent a civil war and allow peaceful elections.

H9 Ha’aretz – U.S. report: Saudis replacing Egypt as regional leader Report indicates Saudis reluctant to accept role, due to growing threat Iran poses to the Arab world

Netanyahu plans to make Livni another offer for unity coalition

Report: U.S. to open permanent Jerusalem office for envoy

Dennis Ross appointed special U.S. adviser to Persian Gulf 08:19

Livni, don't give in If she is unable to influence the new government's diplomatic direction, she must lead the opposition and convince the public to support her path.

Bahrain's crown prince: Britain is too pro-Israel

'Significant progress made in Shalit talks'

Jerusalem PostRoss named special US envoy on Iran

Former ME envoy will advise Obama administration on "region in which US faces terror, proliferation."

Officials fear US may cut military aid

Capitol Hill downplays concerns Obama will use funds to pressure Israel over illegal settlements.

Can they get along?

"I think US Jews are quite worried about possible Netanyahu-Obama clash."

Defense study: Barghouti's release won't unify Palestinians

 America, look behind you!

[ BARRY RUBIN, Feb 24 10:51 ]

 Netanyahu's three-headed nemesis

[ CAROLINE GLICK, Feb 24 10:44 ]

 Bibi or Tzipi, Bibi and Tzipi - what's the difference?

[ GERSHON BASKIN,

Yedioth Ahronoth Olmert: Netanyahu a patriot

Outgoing PM says his designated replacement 'understands weightiness of pursuing peace'

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

Netanyahu weighs Nathan Sharansky for foreign minister

 Geopolitical Diary: Public Divisions Among the Palestinians Fresh power-sharing negotiations between Hamas and Fatah are unlikely to bear fruit, and the persisting stalemate will benefit Israel.

 Contours of a Hamas-Fatah Concord BY: Helena Cobban | The Christian Science Monitor Can Hamas and the other major Palestinian movement, Fatah, bridge the many rifts between them and build a better working relationship?

‘U.S. plans to pledge $900 million for Gaza’ — Preliminary estimates put the damage in Hamas-run Gaza after Israel's offensive at nearly $2 billion. — Clinton's bid to get the $900 million could face an uphill battle in Congress where requests for Gaza will likely meet resistance

Israel-Hamas arms embargo urged

Human rights group Amnesty International calls for a freeze on arms sales to Israel and Palestinian groups like Hamas

Obama Administration Sacrifices Israel - Anne Bayefsky, Forbes

War of the spies as Israel and Hezbollah prepare for confrontation
Times Online

Israel, Gaza and the Left - Ken Brociner, In These Times

Netanyahu: Unite All the Forces Within Our People to Face the Challenges (IMRA)

Al-Qaeda Tells Hamas: Don't Accept Truce

High stakes

Gaza's recent war causes host of difficulties for Egypt

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Obama's goad to Damascus

As more US officials visit Syria, the president must be careful with any concessions.

As war ebbs, Europe returns to Iraq

For Pakistan's Swat residents, uneasy calm A tenuous cease-fire has halted Taliban-Army fighting, as negotiations for a permanent deal continue.

Sudan’s Bashir tries to stall Darfur genocide ruling The International Criminal Court said Monday that it will decide on March 4 whether to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.

Obama is right to take on the very rich

They're paying far less of their incomes in taxes than average Americans.

The intensifying battle over Internet freedom

From China to Syria, repressive nations are cracking down hard on digital dissidents.

Just how vulnerable are US banks?

A 'stress test' aims to assess which banks would need help if the economy worsened.

ASIA

 What Kind of Great Power Would India Be? BY: Jon Haron-Feiertag | Diplomatic Courier The question is certain to excite grand strategists. India is perceived as an up and coming power. It is firmly ensconced in the group of BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), which is all the rage when prognosticating what the future will hold in international relations.

China's Dollar Dilemma BY: Geoff Dyer | Financial Times As China’s economy slows sharply, the debate on how to manage its reserves is intensifying. Some propose spending the money at home; others want more diversification of investments. But the consensus behind recycling foreign currency into US government securities is coming under attack

Stratfor Internal Divisions and the Chinese Stimulus Plan

Rafsanjani to Visit Baghdad, Kurdistan Next Week

A New, Uncertain Trumpet - Arnaud de Borchgrave, Washington Times opinion --- While President Obama signed orders to deploy 17,000 additional US troops to Afghanistan, including 8,000 Marines, his thinking on the Afghan war has changed significantly. It's no longer the gung-ho view of a surge-type operation routing al Qaeda's terrorists.

The reinforcements also fall shy of the 30,000 troops requested by Gen. David McKiernan, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, which would have doubled current US force levels in a country of 35 million the size of France. Juggling troop requirements between two wars leaves one theater shortchanged. "Even with these additional forces," warned Gen. McKiernan, "I have to tell you that 2009 is going to be a tough year."

China loan turns Russian oil east
Agreement on a US$25 billion loan from China to the Russian state oil sector means that fuel from new Russian oilfields will move to Asian markets, rather than to Europe. The pact also signals the defeat of a similar objective by Japanese while adding to the strategic influence Beijing will have on development of the Russian economy.- John Helme

A violent history repeated in Pakistan

Northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan are slipping steadily into Islamic hands, and there is no coherent policy to prevent it. (By H.D.S. Greenway, Boston Globe)

Walker's World: Beijing and Obama

(UPI) -- China's latest call for free trade and Obama's triple stimulus package suggest a bargain could be reached that can turn the next Group of 20 summit into the event that gets the world out of recession.

Afghan Civilian Deaths Show Limits of Air Power

Pakistan: Gilani Does Away With National Security Council
Stratfor

Swat Truce Reflects State Weakness, Not Popular Will BY: Ahmed Humayun | World Politics Review The Pakistani government has announced a truce with insurgents in the North-West Frontier Province. It has agreed to promulgate Islamic law in one-third of the NWFP, arguing that Islamic law is a popular demand, and that the creation of state-led Islamic courts will reduce support for extremism. Instead, the accord will legitimize radical ideology and violence

China's Aggressive Resources Diplomacy China is lending billions of dollars on four continents to ensure that its industry is ready for the upturn when it arrives.

 In Afghanistan, It's Deadly at the Top BY: Cheryl Benard | Los Angeles Times Today, Karzai stands accused of tolerating the involvement of his brothers in massive corruption and in the drug trade, of vacillation and of incompetence. Former friends and trusted ministers have turned against him, denouncing him in public and positioning themselves as rivals for his job.

Secret US Unit Trains Commandos in Pakistan - Eric Schmitt and Jane Perlez, New York Times

We Must Pave Afghanistan in Order to Save It BY TOM RICKS

Pakistan Deal Emboldens Taliban - Syed Saleem Shahzad, Asia Times

A.Q. Khan on the Loose - Jane Harman, Washington Times

Image Problem in Afghanistan - Pamela Constable, Washington Post

British Troops in Afghanistan to Top 10,000 - Sean Rayment, Daily Telegraph

The New Sultans of Swat - Wall Street Journal editorial

Beijing's New Map for Reunification - Joe Hung, China Post

China in Denial - Sophie Richardson, Far Eastern Economic Review

U.S.-Korean Alliance During the Recession - CSIS

China Fears Tremors as Jobs Vanish From Coast BY: Andrew Jacobs | The New York Times As the global economic crisis deepens and the demand for Chinese exports slackens, manufacturing jobs in the Pearl River Delta and all along the once-booming coast are disappearing at a stunning pace

Securing, Stabilizing, and Developing Pakistan’s Border Area with Afghanistan: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight

 Bangladesh Unscathed? BY: Philip Bowring | International Herald Tribune How badly is the world financial crisis hurting the world's poorest countries? The view from Bangladesh, one of the more successful low-income countries, is so far un-alarming. There was little loose foreign capital to flee when the crisis hit, no dodgy derivatives to collapse its banks.

North Korea 'plans rocket launch'

North Korea says it is planning to launch a rocket carrying a satellite, fuelling speculation about a possible missile test.

Uncertain future for Koreas

Taleban Swat truce 'indefinite' ü

Taleban insurgents in the troubled north-western Swat valley of Pakistan say they have agreed an indefinite ceasefire

Contrasting faith

Can Sufi Islam counter the Taleban?

 Aso’s Obama Summit May Be His Last as Resignation Calls Grow Aso goes to the White House tomorrow as the first foreign leader to visit the new president. At home, calls for Aso to resign are mounting, with an approval rating near 10 percent, an economic aid plan that is stalled in parliament and a finance minister who quit last week for appearing to be drunk at an international gathering.

Afghanistan is No Iraq, Except it Requires a Calculated Strategy - Trudy Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer opinion

Strategic Views on Asian Regionalism CSIS A 2-page executive summary of a study of elite Asian opinion on the subject of Asian regionalism

Bill Roggio / The Long War Journal:
Waziristan Taliban alliance declares support for Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar

H11 IHT As it falters, East Europe raises risks Economies in Eastern Europe have suddenly weakened, making it riskier for Western companies to do business there.

EU warns Belarus not to recognize Georgian separatist regions

The European Union warned Belarus on Monday that the country's prospects of drawing closer to the bloc would be undermined if the government in Minsk fell into line with Russia by recognizing the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

An artful balancing act

By CHARLES GRANT The EU and Russia should work together, with the international financial institutions, to help Belarus.

BELARUS II Exploding three myths

By SERGEI MARTYNOV

Belarus is changing. We ask our Western partners to recognize these changes.

EU prepares trade duties for U.S. biofuels The European Union is preparing to impose trade duties on biofuels imported from the United States to prevent American producers from putting European producers of biodiesel out of business, diplomats said Monday.

EUROPE European press review

Europe: A 'Global New Deal' for the Economic Crisis European leaders have settled on two goals for dealing with the financial crisis -- bumping up regulation, and bolstering the IMF's capacity for a rescue.

Submission in advance. Twenty years after the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, Islamism has Europe more firmly in its grip than ever before... more»

OSC Views French News Media, German Think Tanks A detailed and rather opinionated assessment of French media outlets was prepared last

Britain's Steep Decline - Thomas Huetlin & Mathieu von Rohr, Der Spiegel

How to Avoid a Euro-Zone Debt Crisis By Simon Tilford
A bond issue by the currency bloc would be in Germany's best interests

H12 RFE/RL

Google News Azerbaijan

 An Artful Balancing Act BY: Charles Grant | International Herald Tribune Compared with most former Soviet states, Belarus has a lot going for it. The government is less corrupt than in neighboring Russia and Ukraine. Belarus has no oligarchs, since the state never sold its big companies, and social inequalities are low.

Russia: Using CSTO to Claim Influence in the FSU

As Russia tries to transform the ad hoc military alliance, its intentions are becoming clear

China loan turns Russian oil east
Agreement on a US$25 billion loan from China to the Russian state oil sector means that fuel from new Russian oilfields will move to Asian markets, rather than to Europe. The pact also signals the defeat of a similar objective by Japanese while adding to the strategic influence Beijing will have on development of the Russian economy.- John Helme

Geopolitical Diary: Russia's Continuing Cooperation with Iran

Proposals from the United States are not enough to keep Russia from cooperating with the Iranians on their nuclear program

Kiev crisis tests Berlin and Moscow Berlin wants stability in Ukraine, to avoid creating the grounds for any conflict with Moscow. Russia wants a compliant government in Kiev that does not talk about joining Nato

Averting Crisis in Ukraine - Council on Foreign Relations
By Council on Foreign Relations

Exploding Three Myths BY: Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov | International Herald Tribune

A European Alternative Belarus ICDT This 31-page report proposes a pathway for Belarus to achieve an independent, democratic and open status within Europe

Russia 'will respond' to any moves to militarize Arctic...

Kyrgyz Base Closure 'Risky' for Moscow

H13 The Times Gaza white phosphorus shells 'were US made' Serial numbers on shells used by Israel during the conflict have been traced back, Amnesty International report claims

Japan's 'hero worship of US policy will end' Leader of opposition party tipped for power promises to break from unquestioning support for American foreign policy

India spends billions sending astronauts into space, steps up Asian space race...

How UK's mosques foster extremism

Sectarian, conservative leadership is driving confused young Muslims into the arms of radicals

• Ed Husain

The War on Terror goes on

Binyam Mohamed may have been maltreated but that doesn't mean that the Islamic threat is not real

• David Aaronovitch

Due Process

Guantánamo Bay was an affront to the world. Its inmates must now find justice outside. But that does not mean making Binyam Mohamed a hero

Darfur rebels vow to topple 'war crimes' President

North Korea set for 'rocket launch'

The West fears the launch of a satellite-carrying "rocket’ may be pretext for test firing of an intercontinental missile

Wall Street Journal Post-Post-9/11 Looks Just Like Pre-World War II GLOBAL VIEW
By Bret Stephens
Democracies are averting their eyes from the threats we face.

 Bank Nationalization Isn't the Answer

By William M. Isaac
Trust me. I've done this before.

Toward a Stronger U.S.-Japan Relationship

 Entrepreneurs Can Lead Us Out of the Crisis

By Tom Hayes and Michael S. Malone
It's time for the Obama administration to provide incentives for the creation of real jobs.

How to Avoid a Euro-Zone Debt Crisis

By Simon Tilford
A bond issue by the currency bloc would be in Germany's best interests

· Matt Miller: Obama Wants to Move the Center Left

McClatchy Big stimulus bill sparks long-term fiscal fears Despite all the White House hoopla Monday about "fiscal responsibility," Washington is showing little inclination to practice what it's preaching.

Market's Lowest Close Since 1997

Companies Push for Bigger Bailouts

The Economic Crisis and the Fiscal Crisis: 2009 and Beyond
Source: The Brookings Institution

SOROS: ECONOMIC TURBULENCE WORSE THAN GREAT DEPRESSION...

H14 Financial Times Nuclear Iran? Decision time is here On Friday, the FT reported that ‘Iran has built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb’. It is time for the Obama administration to launch a last big push to head this off – and for the rest of the world to line up in support, writes Gideon Rachman

A Russian ‘reset button’ based on inclusion Interdependence is key, says Strobe Talbott - The challenge for the US and Europe is to encourage Moscow to move in the direction of global interdependence, including in its internal evolution

EU pulls together – not before time

However exasperatingly slowly, Europe’s leaders are at last moving in the right direction: now they must keep their ranks closed, and quicken their pace

Kiev crisis tests Berlin and Moscow

Berlin wants stability in Ukraine, to avoid creating the grounds for any conflict with Moscow. Russia wants a compliant government in Kiev that does not talk about joining Nato

High hopes for US toxic asset purchase plan One reason the US authorities are reluctant to pull the plug on any big banks at this stage is that they hope their toxic asset purchase plan could show that losses on traded assets may not be as large as presently feared

Bailing out Dubai Overextended as it is, the emirate is not in such bad shape. It should be able to engineer a soft-ish landing for its property market

Stocks fall as US bank plan detailed

Talks proceed over taking Citi stake

Slumdogs can help themselves out of the mire Robert Buckley on Mumbai’s sanitation example

Cool reception for Iran bank flotation Bank Mellat is the first state-owned bank to embark on privatisation but lukewarm response from investors is raising concern among other banks wanting to follow its lead

Japan to pay price for US friendship

US-Japan defence relations

Chapter 11 is option for GM and Chrysler

The BBC’s public service grip is tightening Philip Stephens examines a looming monopoly

Central Europe acts to bolster currencies Regional banks co-ordinate on possible intervention

North Korea says ‘satellite’ launch imminent Rocket may have range to hit US territory

Freed detainee says MI5 knew of torture Claim of complicity in Guantánamo abduction

H15 Los Angeles Times Obama plans more transparent budget

The budget, to be released Thursday, will include money for Iraq and Afghanistan - a contrast from the Bush administration's approach.

• Warning shots in the healthcare fight

In Afghanistan, it's deadly at the top

By Cheryl Benard

Rather than perpetuating a love-hate-kill relationship with their leaders,...

British resident is first to be released from Guantanamo under Obama administration Binyam Mohamed, 30, spent seven years in captivity after being accused of training with Al Qaeda and plotting attacks. He has alleged he was tortured and was forced to make a confession

Hillary Clinton said to be planning Middle East trip Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will visit Israel and the West Bank next week for her first trip to the region as America's top diplomat, Israeli and Palestinian officials said Monday.

EditorialClinton's winning road trip

Her visit to Asia successfully presented a nonconfrontational foreign policy. It was no time for lectures on human rights or economic concerns

H16 American Politics

Obama finds the Bush center

Jonah Goldberg

So far as president, Obama is startlingly like his predecessor on a number of...

New York Times: Survey Reveals Broad Support for President

Washington Post:

Poll: Most Americans Back Obama on Stimulus, Mortgage Plans

Poll: 3 out of 4 Americans are scared about state of the country

Lydia Saad / Gallup:
Assessing Obama's Job Approval at the One-Month Mark

Gary Langer / ABCNEWS:

A Strong Start for Obama - But Hardly a Bipartisan One — Sixty-Eight Percent Approve of Obama's Performance — Barack Obama's month-old presidency is off to a strong start, marked by the largest lead over the opposition party in trust to handle the economy for a president in polls dating back nearly 20 years

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H17 Daily Telegraph India's £1.7bn moon mission India announces plans to launch its first manned space mission in 2015.

Dennis Ross appointed advisor to Clinton on the Gulf

H18 Independent ‘I was victim of medieval torture,’ says Mohamed Calls for Government to clarify role of MI5 agents in British resident's Guantanamo Bay detention

The Big Question: Does nuclear power now provide the answer to Britain’s energy needs?

Caroline Whalley: As a society we need to define what we want from our schools

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

USG COIN Guide

Information Operations on the Counterinsurgency Battlefield

Targeting Piracy - Washington Times opinion

Pirate patrol diary

Sobering thoughts on Somali patrol future

U.S. sending drones to fight pirates?

 The War on Drugs Is a Failure The war on drugs has failed. And it's high time to replace an ineffective strategy with more humane and efficient drug policies.

NATO in Afghanistan CFR A US critique of NATO's contribution in Afghanistan

2009 National Infrastructure Protection Plan
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

H20 Slate

Climate Change and Policy Considerations: New Roles for Earth Science RFF A 12-page US issue brief on the likely future role of earth observations in supporting assessments and policy decisions in relation to climate change

H21 “A parent’s role is to set the limits so that the child does not overindulge its animal spirits.” Maybe that’s how governments should treat citizens... more»

We may well be genetically predisposed to appreciate listening to Sinatra or staring at a Seurat. But where did the genes come from?... more»

DANIEL DREZNER Where's the Israel lobby when you need it?

FINANCIAL TIMES says staff offered three-day working week...

Israel's Olmert Removes Gaza Negotiator Who Opposed Demanding Soldier's Release

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