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New York Times Secular Parties and Premier Ahead in Iraq Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and secular parties scored gains in provincial elections, early reports showed
ROGER COHEN The Other Iran The axis-of-evil myopia has led U.S. policy makers to underestimate Iran’s social, psychological and political forces for pragmatism, compromise and stability.
Pointing to a New Era, U.S. Pulls Back as Iraqis Vote Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s elections, it is clear that the Americans are already drifting offstage — and that most Iraqis are ready to see them go.
Talk to Iran. Then What? By STEPHEN RADEMAKER As long as Iran’s nuclear enrichment program remains illegitimate and subject to international censure, it cannot serve as an attractive model for other countries.
Obama Says Most U.S. Troops In Iraq Home Within A Year
THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Elvis Has Left the Mountain There is no magic bullet for this economic crisis. We are going to have to learn to live with a lot more uncertainty for a lot longer than our generation has ever experienced.
NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Obama’s Long Shot for Peace A serious American peace effort by President Obama must reduce the misery in the Palestinian territories and focus on a peace deal between Syria and Israel.
And Now Let the Jockeying Begin Force of personality may trump flow charts in the Obama administration.
Reinvention or Recovery? By DAVID E. SANGER Can the government fashion a fast and efficient stimulus plan while also seizing the mo
Geopolitical Diary: The Implications of Iraq's Elections The results of Iraq's provincial elections could facilitate the United States' plans in the country and its talks with Iran
Financial Times America must fight for an Afghan exit Washington should clarify its goals and use any military ‘surge’ to buy time for a completely different plan. A ‘surge’ for what, asks Anatol Lieven
The Iraqi voteIt would be nice to believe that Iraq is entering a new era of the rule of law, but in reality, fragmented power still flows from patronage and the gun
Maliki set for boost from Iraqi elections The party of Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, appeared set for a boost as initial tallies from Saturday’s provincial elections indicated voters had bought into its law-and-order campaign
Iraqi polls turnout was 51 per cent The turnout in Saturday’s Iraqi provincial elections was 51 per cent, slightly lower than a previous country-wide vote in 2005, the head of the country’s independent electoral commission says
By MALCOLM RIFKIND Any rapprochement between the United States and Iran is going to be gradual and modest.
Hard times in Russia spell trouble for Putin Will Russians admire Vladimir Putin as much when oil is at $40 a barrel as they did when it was at $140 a barrel? And if Russia's economy seriously falters, will his system of hard, personal power prove to be a trap for him?
WINEP Obama's Personal 'Public Diplomacy': A Very Preliminary Assessment
Obama the centrist? Los Angeles Times
Asia Times Biden may hold unclenched Iranian hand As leading security figures gather next weekend in Munich, the focus will be on a possible meeting between United States Vice President Joseph Biden and a "very high-ranking" Iranian official. Washington knows it has no better potential ally than Iran in Afghanistan, so if Biden, the grey cardinal of US foreign policy, extends his hand to the as-yet-unnamed Iranian, he will be doing so not a day too soon. - M K Bhadrakumar
Iraqi vote expected to bolster Maliki Early returns from Saturday's provincial polls suggest that the Shiite prime minister's Dawa Party will be the big winner.
Mitchell gets earful from Mideast The din of Gaza followed Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, as he conducted a listening tour. Arab leaders wonder why their peace plan remains untouched.
Guardian No thaw with US as Iran marks anniversary of 1979 revolution Iran rejects idea of improved relations with the US unless President Obama introduces change of policy
Boost for Maliki as party appears to sweep electionIraq's prime minister dominates weekend elections in which his candidates reportedly swept the Shia provinces
Truckling to the Taliban Peter Preston: Pakistan's 1.4m military shies away from fighting the extremists. It must show whose side it's on
Israeli leaders face poll battering Survey reveals public's doubts about war in Gaza while new rocket attack draws promise of retaliation
The Observer Gaza runs desperately short of foodAgriculture lies in ruins after conflict lays waste to livestock, orchards, wells and greenhouses Petra Marquardt-Bigman: Disappointment with Kadima could bring back NetenyahuPetra Marquardt-Bigman Russia rocked by financial crisis protests Thousands demonstrate in first signs of mass discontent with Kremlin's handling of financial crisis
Washington Post Israel's Key Election Issue: Did War End Too Soon?
Out of Gaps In Treaties, First Salvos Of Trade War The world may be on the brink of a gentler kind of trade war
Iraq's Diyala Province Puts Power of Ballot to the Test
Iraq's Voters Cast Ballots Under Intense Security
In Iraq's North, a Defining Vote In Iraq's North, Vote Tallies To Define Loyalties, Disputes The outcome of elections will provide a snapshot of area in dispute between Arabs and Kurds.
Raise the Gax Tax, End Our Oil Addiction A Revenue-Neutral Way to Treat Our Oil Addiction By Richard G. Lugar
Humbled Economic Masters at Davos By David Ignatius, At Davos, capitalist giants question their intelligence, while Putin blows off Michael Dell.
Der Spiegel Munich Security Conference: Searching for a New World Order
Roubini: 'Risk of a near-depression shouldn't be underestimated'...
| H2 Soli Özel "Âlemin Kralı"
Washington Post Turkey's Turn From the West By Soner Cagaptay, America's closest Muslim ally is abandoning its commitments to U.S. policy.
Ha’aretz A. Nachmani: Could spat with Israel cause Turkey to form an alliance with Iran? What moved Erdogan to take up the mantle as Israel's leading critic in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead?
Israeli and Turkish officials meet to ease tensions over Gaza op
The Region: Egypt and Turkey
In recent months, Egypt has taken decisive public steps toward being the leader of moderate Arab resistance to the Iran-Syria axis.
Turkey: The longer view Jerusalem Post
Turkey, Israel seek to settle diplomatic contretemps over Gaza op
Israel may reject Turkish arms request Concerns also mount over economic ties, although officials say no deals have been canceled as yet.
Erdogan 'Palestine Today Is an Open-Air Prison'
An open letter to Turkey's foreign minister, from Hamas
Israel urges Turkey rethink ties with Hamas, Iran
Erdogan's Outburst Could Damage Turkey's International Standing
US Jews now seek to calm Turk tension
America's pro-Israeli bias did not play well at Davos Daily Star -
JPost.com | BlogCentral Dear Prime Minister ErdoganAmerican Jewish Committee (AJC) Executive Director David Harris
'Erdogan-led Turkey can't broker talks' Jerusalem Post
Official: Aliya from Turkey to doubleJewish Agency says rates low despite antisemitism; Venezuela's chief rabbi questions local Jews' future
After Davos row, Livni urges Turkey to respect Israel
Tom Barnett Obama must not sell out Kurdish Iraq KnoxNews. Leave behind enough ground troops inside Kurdistan to effectively take it off the table regarding future civil strife.
Erdogan's Davos Walkout Lays Down a Marker Turkey is emerging as the crucial power in the Muslim world. In his latest book, The Next 100 Years, and in an interview with Colin Chapman, Dr. George Friedman explains why Turkey is returning to its former position -- as the leading country in the Middle Eas
Turkey-Israel relations after Gaza | open Democracy News Analysis
Ha’aretz Israel: Erdogan's Davos behavior may ruin Turkey's EU chances
Israel hopes to colonize parts of Iraq as ‘Greater Israel’ Online Journal
Turkish PM row damages Mideast position short-term
Guardian Erdogan risks mediator role Robert Tait
Israeli tourists stay away from Turkey after Peres row with Erdogan
Washington Davos Olayını 'Talihsizlik' Olarak Değerlendirdi
Iran: Give Erdogan a Nobel Peace Prize Ayatollah lauds Turkish PM's public stance against Gaza op; Erdogan: I could've mediated to free Schalit
Erdogan: Hamas is 'not an arm of Iran'
Israel's envoy to Turkey: Relations will improve
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
Washington Post In Iraq's North, a Defining Vote The outcome of elections will provide a snapshot of area in dispute between Arabs and Kurds.
Iraq polls could help ease Kirkuk deadlock-UN
Kirkuk: The Province That Couldn’t Vote New York Times
LA Times Voting for change in Mosul Kurds and Arabs alike, fed up with sectarian conflict, turn out in hopes of breaking from the past
Sunni Party Likely Big Winner in Northern Iraq
American Jewish group welcomes Turkish PM's post-debate remarks
Irak'taki Yezidilerden Obama'ya Mektup Irak'taki Yezidiler ABD başkanı Obama'ya bir mektup yollayarak Türkiye'ye sözde Yezidi soykırımının tanınması için baskı yapmasını istediler
Notes by Ahmet Türk Kurdish Aspect
Three challenges for Iraq in 2009
The Travel Advisory: Israeli tourism to Turkey plunges
TSK will support AK Party in Southeast, researcher claims
Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık
Diplomats: Cyprus stopped suspected Iran arms ship 'as gesture to U.S.'
Ermenistan ve Türkiye'den Yeni Adımlar
Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop
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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
Taha Akyol
Fikret Bila
Hasan Cemal
Murat Yetkin
İsmet Berkan
Şamil Tayyar
Ekonomi
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| H4 New York Times Secular Parties and Premier Ahead in Iraq Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and secular parties scored gains in provincial elections, early reports showed
ROGER COHEN The Other Iran The axis-of-evil myopia has led U.S. policy makers to underestimate Iran’s social, psychological and political forces for pragmatism, compromise and stability.
Pointing to a New Era, U.S. Pulls Back as Iraqis Vote Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s elections, it is clear that the Americans are already drifting offstage — and that most Iraqis are ready to see them go.
Talk to Iran. Then What? By STEPHEN RADEMAKER As long as Iran’s nuclear enrichment program remains illegitimate and subject to international censure, it cannot serve as an attractive model for other countries.
Obama Says Most U.S. Troops In Iraq Home Within A Year
THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Elvis Has Left the Mountain There is no magic bullet for this economic crisis. We are going to have to learn to live with a lot more uncertainty for a lot longer than our generation has ever experienced.
NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Obama’s Long Shot for Peace A serious American peace effort by President Obama must reduce the misery in the Palestinian territories and focus on a peace deal between Syria and Israel.
And Now Let the Jockeying Begin Force of personality may trump flow charts in the Obama administration.
Reinvention or Recovery? By DAVID E. SANGER Can the government fashion a fast and efficient stimulus plan while also seizing the moment to remake America?
A Threat to Putin’s Big Plans “Autocracy by consent” could stop working as the good times end in Russia.
Guidelines on Bailouts Said to Be in the Works in Europe
Under Tight Security, Elections Are Calm in Iraq
MAUREEN DOWD Disgorge, Wall Street Fat Cats The president’s disgust at Wall Street looters was good. But we need more. We need disgorgement. Disgorgement is when courts force wrongdoers to repay ill-gotten gains.
PAUL KRUGMANBailouts for Bunglers The plans for rescuing the banking system are shaping up as a classic exercise in “lemon socialism”: taxpayers bear the cost if things go wrong, but stockholders and executives get the benefits if things go right.
The Big FixBy DAVID LEONHARDT The challenge for the Obama administration is transforming the economy when Wall Street and Silicon Valley aren’t able to.
Don’t Look Back By MATT BAI Why President Obama is not F.D.R. Or Kennedy. Or Lincoln. Or history.
Risks Are Vast in Revaluation of Assets Hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars are at stake as the Obama administration prepares its strategy to rescue the nation’s banks
New Attacks From Gaza and Israel Test Truce
Obama Predicts Support From G.O.P. for Stimulus Proposal
Slain Exile Detailed Chechen Ruler’s Systematic Cruelty Umar S. Israilov, a former bodyguard of the president of Chechnya, for two years relentlessly accused the president of participating in torture sessions. In January, he was gunned down in Vienna
New Symbol of Elite Access: E-Mail to the Chief Having the president’s e-mail address creates a new measure for Washington to judge who is in the top circle.
Geithner to Unveil Strategy to Revive Credit Flow
Editorial The Nativists Are Restless Fringe right-wingers still clinging to anti-immigration absolutism would put the Republican Party on the path to permanent political irrelevance.
FRANK RICH Herbert Hoover Lives No one expects the Republicans to give the new president carte blanche to pass his stimulus plan, but the opposition might want to pitch in and play a serious role at a time of national peril.
To Nudge, Shift or Shove the Supreme Court Left A liberal lion’s roar could echo through the conservative chambers.
Good Bank, Bad Bank; Good Plan, Better Plan By MAX HOLMES The government can assume toxic debt without printing money.
If We Buy American, No One Else WillBy DOUGLAS A. IRWIN A provision in the stimulus bill that gives preference to domestic steel companies in building contracts may seem reasonable, but in reality could prolong the global recession.
Welfare Aid Not Growing as Economy Drops Off Despite soaring unemployment, the number of people receiving cash assistance remained at or near the lowest in more than 40 years.
Justice Dept. Under Obama Is Preparing for Doctrinal Shift in Policies of Bush Years
| H5 Washington Post Israel's Key Election Issue: Did War End Too Soon?
Out of Gaps In Treaties, First Salvos Of Trade War The world may be on the brink of a gentler kind of trade war
Iraq's Diyala Province Puts Power of Ballot to the Test
Iraq's Voters Cast Ballots Under Intense Security
In Iraq's North, a Defining Vote In Iraq's North, Vote Tallies To Define Loyalties, Disputes The outcome of elections will provide a snapshot of area in dispute between Arabs and Kurds.
Raise the Gax Tax, End Our Oil Addiction A Revenue-Neutral Way to Treat Our Oil Addiction By Richard G. Lugar
Humbled Economic Masters at Davos By David Ignatius, At Davos, capitalist giants question their intelligence, while Putin blows off Michael Dell.
Mr. Obama's Outreach to Muslims By Jim Hoagland, President Obama repeatedly extended his hand to the world's Muslims in his first 10 days in power. His respectful tone and gestures toward Arab states in particular were as welcome as they were deft. But it would be a mistake to conclude that the gears of history have shifted
Candidates Spar Over Gaza War With Israeli elections imminent, the outcome of the war emerges as a central campaign issue.
The Sums Are Staggering. But The Real Stunner Is the Ambition. By Dan Morgan
A CONVERSATION WITH Mohamed ElBaradei BY LALLY WEYMOUTH
Iraq Reconstruction Auditor Warns of Waste, Fraud in Afghanistan
FDR Was a Great Leader, But His Economic Plan Isn't One to Follow By Amity Shlaes
THE NEW ANTI-SEMITISM Using the Holocaust to Attack the Jews By Walter Reich
Ukraine on the Brink Andrew Zvirzdin | Though Europe's gas shortage is over, Ukraine's crisis has just begun
The Obama Stimulus: Bipartisanship at What Price? By E. J. Dionne Jr., Will Obama give up on larger objectives in his pursuit of Republican votes?
The Obama Stimulus: Too Little Bang for the Bucks By Robert J. Samuelson, Obama avoided all the hard choices in the stimulus bill.
Take Charge The stimulus bill requires President Obama's intervention.
Democrats Set High Goal Of Sweeping Fiscal Reform As Senate Opens Stimulus Debate, Sacrifices Become More Urgent
A Redefinition of Bipartisanship For Obama, fixing "broken politics" means replacing gamesmanship with honest arguments.
Budget Reform Requires Both Parties to Sacrifice Obama, Dems hope to strike a grand bargain with GOP, a budget generating ample funds, defusing spending time bombs and supporting U.S. goals.
By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 1. Many, many economists from across the ideological spectrum say yes, although an increasingly vocal group of free-market thinkers says no. Those backing the plan say you have to look no further than the nation's shrinking job market to understand the need for the plan to become law. The nation... By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 5. The Obama administration says that the vast majority -- as much as 90 percent of the jobs -- would be created in the private sector. The jobs would be heavily weighted to construction and manufacturing, which together would account for almost one-third of the new or saved jobs, according to the... How would we know the plan was meeting its goal of saving or creating 3 to 4 million jobs? By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 6. Job-creation targets are one of the more slippery components of the stimulus plan. The basic answer: We could compare the nation's employment picture at the end of 2010 to what widely accepted forecasts have said it would be without a stimulus package. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office... Where would the money come from? By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 2. The money would be borrowed, adding a huge sum to the federal deficit, which is already projected to top $1 trillion, about 7 percent of the nation's annual economic output. The spiraling deficit means increases in the nearly $11 trillion national debt. The money -- much of it borrowed from... How quickly would the economy recover? By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 7. Even if a stimulus plan were to succeed, many economists say the nation is in for a long period of higher-than-usual unemployment and weaker-than-usual economic growth. Last year alone, the unemployment rate jumped 2.3 percentage points. The Obama administration's own projections say that the... How quickly would the money be spent? By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 3. President Obama has set a goal for 75 percent of the money to be spent within 18 months of the bill being signed into law. That may be ambitious. The Congressional Budget Office analysis of the $819 billion House version of the bill passed last week found that about two-thirds of the money would... By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 4. The House plan calls for $275 billion in tax cuts and about $300 billion in aid for laid-off workers and cash-strapped states. That money would be used to expand unemployment benefits, provide health-care coverage to laid-off workers, help states facing ballooning Medicaid costs and extend large... Would this be the beginning of a new New Deal? By Michael A. Fletcher, Page A08 8. In a word, no. But the plan includes some efforts to strengthen the existing social safety net, most notably by bolstering aid to ensure that millions who have lost their jobs have access to health insurance. The plan also includes big increases in education spending, from preschool through...
Obama Appears Set to Appoint Republican Sen. Gregg as Commerce Secretary | H6 Guardian No thaw with US as Iran marks anniversary of 1979 revolution Iran rejects idea of improved relations with the US unless President Obama introduces change of policy
Boost for Maliki as party appears to sweep electionIraq's prime minister dominates weekend elections in which his candidates reportedly swept the Shia provinces
Truckling to the Taliban Peter Preston: Pakistan's 1.4m military shies away from fighting the extremists. It must show whose side it's on
Israeli leaders face poll battering Survey reveals public's doubts about war in Gaza while new rocket attack draws promise of retaliation
Is it our fault? Jonathan Fenby: We've heard about reckless lending and greedy bankers. But is the economic crisis also a function of our own failings?
This will be painful: we're not the generous society we thought we were Max Hastings: The picketing of the oil refineries marks just the first frightening stirrings of a recession-era anger that is bound to grow By courting the Republicans, Obama could get the worst of all worlds Gary Younge: Consensus among the nation's political elite is a recipe for disaster - just look at Iraq, the war on terror and deregulation
Hurricane still swirling as oil price fall casts cloud on anniversary Petro-state's boom and bust cycle and high inflation threaten Hugo Chávez's revolution
The Observer Gaz">Gaza runs desperately short of foodAgriculture lies in ruins after conflict lays waste to livestock, orchards, wells and greenhouses Petra Marquardt-Bigman: Disappointment with Kadima could bring back NetenyahuPetra Marquardt-Bigman Russia rocked by financial crisis protests Thousands demonstrate in first signs of mass discontent with Kremlin's handling of financial crisis
Iraqis turn out in record numbers for crucial elections Voter turnout beyond expectations with monitors reporting little violence or overt signs of interference
British workers need rights, not protection Editorial: What did Gordon Brown mean by his promise of 'British jobs for British workers'?
Recession Britain: the great debate Will Hutton challenges David Cameronto explain how he would bring about 'capitalism with a conscience'
Back to basics Republicans decide to play a long game The party has its first black national committee chairman, but it wants to sink Obama's America, not join it, reports Paul Harris in Washington
Georgians who can never go home Six months after war with Russia, thousands of refugees are still in temporary housing
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| H7 Review: 'The Next 100 Years'
U.S., Arab Allies Nix Israeli Airstrike on Syrian Site BY: Richard Sale | The Middle East Times An Israeli plan to launch an airstrike against a Palestinian camp in Syria during its recent invasion of Gaza was vetoed by the George W. Bush administration using pressure from allies like Egypt and Turkey, according to administration officials.
MERIP A Litmus Test for Iraq Reidar Visser
No answers Davos ends with no clear solutions to global crisis
Iran: Rafsanjani at Center of Effort to Promote Reformation of Sh�ia Islam BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
Iran's nuclear terrorism fears
| H8 Iraq Updates IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq
Obama Says Most U.S. Troops In Iraq Home Within A Year
Sunni Party Likely Big Winner in Northern Iraq
Surge in voting by Iraqi Sunnis Iraqi Sunnis turned out in large numbers to vote in provincial elections, after boycotting a previous poll, figures show.
Obama Says Iraq's Peaceful Elections Aid Pullout
Elections Seen as Test of Iraq's Stability as US Role Diminishes
Elections in Iraq A step in the right direction Economist
Pointing to a New Era, US Pulls Back as Iraqis Vote
| H9 Ha’aretz – Four rockets fired from Gaza strike Negev in new truce violation
Elections 2009 / Poll gives right-wing bloc 12 seat advantage over left
Netanyahu: Iran won't get its hands on nuclear weapons
Israel: Hezbollah planning February attack to avenge Mughniyah assassination
Don't go too far Calls by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to once again escalate the fighting and respond harshly are completely foolish and will only serve to further isolate Israel.
MI Chief: Hamas holding fire, but smaller Gaza groups undeterred
Akiva Eldar: Hamas laughing at Israeli declarations of restored deterrence
Yitzhak Laor: Israeli liberals lack the courage to condemn IDF actions in Gaza
Israeli envoy to Australia: Gaza op a 'pre-introduction' to attack on Iran
Police: We have enough evidence to indict Olmert for cronyism
Gideon Levy: Israel's courts are accomplices to war crimes
Are U.S. Jews less interested than Israelis in strengthening their brotherly bond?
Jerusalem Post Mashaal to meet Ahmadinejad in TeheranDamascus-based Hamas leader heads delegation in effort to garner support for group in Middle East.Abbas: Hamas must accept my authorityPA president: Group must recognize PLO representation of Palestinians, or no dialogue.
Winners and losers in Gaza: A Palestinian perspective
Despite distance, Jews do feel a connection
Sharansky: Netanyahu won't clash with Obama
'Assad ready to resume indirect talks'
Honest Obama and Iran[ CAROLINE GLICK
Yedioth Ahronoth 'Hizbullah may attack, abduct'
Daily Alert.org – Hebrew Press Editorials (2008) - Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine
Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza Israeli planes bomb a Hamas target and tunnels used by militants in Gaza, after fresh rocket attacks hit Israel.
Egypt 'to monitor Gaza tunnels' Egypt says it is installing cameras and sensors along the Gaza border to try to stop arms smuggling by militants.
The Gaza deaths that made an impact in Israel
Israel Heads into a Political Storm Patrick Seale - Israel goes to the polls on 10 February in a collective state of mind which is highly disturbed and seemingly ill-prepared for the important choices which lie ahead. This is bad news for Israel itself, for its neighbours, and for the prospects for peace. The Israeli electorate will be struggling to find answers to at least three important questions: How will the fall-out from the war in Gaza affect Israel? What will Barack Obama's Administration mean for U.S.- Israeli relations?
Hamas is a Mideast reality
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| Iraqi vote expected to bolster Maliki Early returns from Saturday's provincial polls suggest that the Shiite prime minister's Dawa Party will be the big winner.
Mitchell gets earful from Mideast The din of Gaza followed Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, as he conducted a listening tour. Arab leaders wonder why their peace plan remains untouched.
Biggest hit as GDP falls: American exports US output fell 3.8 percent at the end of 2008, but exports slid at a 20 percent rate.
Stimulus may soften, not end, recession The most optimistic estimates foresee shaving two percentage points from joblessness rates.
Where has Chávez taken Venezuela? After 10 years as president, Hugo Chávez has polarized Venezuela, but inspired its poor.
Obama unlikely to widen Afghan war
'Pak may become a failed state with nuclear arsenal' Hindustan Times
Slowly, Bangladesh shows the world how change is possible Challenge the assumption that something is impossible – then accept the risks and follow through.
Truckling to the Taliban Peter Preston: Pakistan's 1.4m military shies away from fighting the extremists. It must show whose side it's on
How to Export an Awakening
| H11 IHT Obama and the ayatollah By MALCOLM RIFKIND Any rapprochement between the United States and Iran is going to be gradual and modest.
EUROPE European press review
French government wary of radical resurgence
Straitjacket or safety net? Crisis fuels euro debate
| H12 RFE/RL
Hard times in Russia spell trouble for Putin Will Russians admire Vladimir Putin as much when oil is at $40 a barrel as they did when it was at $140 a barrel? And if Russia's economy seriously falters, will his system of hard, personal power prove to be a trap for him?
Google News Azerbaijan
Why does Russia want a new deal on European security?
Obama Should Engage Russia at Highest Level
Russia, NATO and the 'Obama factor'
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| H13 The TimesHalf of voters stay at home in Iraq election Lower-than-expected voting figures are blamed on complex system and disillusionment with major political parties
Iraqis no longer have to risk their lives to vote, and are using their power to advance the pragmatic cause of national reconstruction
Half of voters stay at home in Iraq election Lower-than-expected voting figures are blamed on complex system and disillusionment with major political parties
Obama calmly buries the legacy of Mr Toad By Andrew Sullivan
‘Jimmy Carter’ tag has Obama wincing Republicans are pinning their hopes of revival on painting the president as naive abroad and wasteful at home
Just the man to bang heads in Kabul An old ally gives advice to the new US envoy for Afghanistan: start to win the political battle
CIA to retain right to carry out renditions The measure gives some indication of how President Obama's promise of change may be slower to be realised than once hoped
Warm tone of Wen Jiabao hides divisions Human rights and economic issues remain a source of dispute despite the determination of China's leader to make friends
Israel’s nuclear hawk in poll surge Avigdor Lieberma's Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party is set to overtake Labour and become the third largest party in the Knesse Stirrup: Even a US surge won’t beat Taliban Britain’s chief of the defence staff tells Carey Schofield that only politics can bring peace to Afghanistan
Wall Street Journal Obama's Not-So-New Strategy By Daniel Freedman The president takes up the European plan for Iran.
Obama's Moralizing Tone May Not Wear Well By Dorothy Rabinowitz How often do Americans want to hear how misguided they were before his arrival?
| H14 Financial Times America must fight for an Afghan exit Washington should clarify its goals and use any military ‘surge’ to buy time for a completely different plan. A ‘surge’ for what, asks Anatol Lieven
The Iraqi voteIt would be nice to believe that Iraq is entering a new era of the rule of law, but in reality, fragmented power still flows from patronage and the gun
Maliki set for boost from Iraqi elections The party of Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, appeared set for a boost as initial tallies from Saturday’s provincial elections indicated voters had bought into its law-and-order campaign
Iraqi polls turnout was 51 per cent The turnout in Saturday’s Iraqi provincial elections was 51 per cent, slightly lower than a previous country-wide vote in 2005, the head of the country’s independent electoral commission says
Bad politics and urgent remedies You could not call the fiscal stimulus passed by the US House of Representatives last week a beautiful piece of legislation. But a measure of this sort, however flawed, is far safer than further delay, writes Clive Crook
Message from WenChina’s premier pledges ‘extra-ordinary’ measures to protect his populace from the downturn
Wen looks at fresh Chinese stimulus Savings not to blame for global financial crisis, says premier
India to follow $2,000 car with $20 laptop Prototype to go on display this week
Europe’s bank falls into a false-logic trap Wolfgang Münchau argues for cutting rates now
Gideon Rachman’s blog- Doom, tantrums and walk-outs in Davos: God it must be fun being Nouriel Roubini. Once dismissed as a bit of a crackpot by the Davos elite, Dr Doom is now the star of the show - billed as “the man who got it right”
Tough rhetoric is no way to sway Beijing Lyric Hughes Hale on the need for US-China talks ‘Masters of the universe’ must strike new tone Simon Walker on the renewal of private equity
Financing for the international food trade is drying up, but by leaving markets for barter deals, governments are only making things worse - Feb-01 Opinion: Tough rhetoric is no way to sway Beijing The Obama administration needs to get China right – right now. A summit should be planned as soon as possible with Beijing’s leaders, writes Lyric Hughes Hale
The bill can and should be improved – and some of the most needed changes might be to Republicans’ taste – but the greatest need is speed
Republicans urge major changes to $894bn injection bill Rescue package faces wrangling in Senate
The Euro A political history of the European monetary union is packed with details of bruising encounters and blunt speaking backstage
Protesters unite in anti-Kremlin demos Protesters rallied in several Russian cities against a worsening economy and deteriorating human-rights situation, in a sign that the financial crisis might yet challenge the Kremlin’s hold on political stability
Air strike on Gaza follows Israel’s threat Israeli aircraft bombed targets in Gaza after the Jewish state’s premier vowed to hit back at Hamas with ‘disproportionate’ force, following rocket and mortar attacks by Gaza-based militants
| H15 Los Angeles Times In Iraq, security trumps sectarianism at polls Even Sunni voters express support for Maliki's Shiite government amid a drop in violence.
Iraq vote turnout fails to meet expectations Just over half of the country's voters cast ballots in provincial elections, and turnout is as low as 40% in at least one province. But officials, including U.S. envoy Crocker, express satisfaction.
Israeli airstrikes target Gaza Bombings in Rafah and central Gaza are retaliation for rocket and mortar fire into Israel. It is the heaviest such exchange since an unofficial truce began two weeks ago
Voting for change in Mosul Kurds and Arabs alike, fed up with sectarian conflict, turn out in hopes of breaking from the past
Hamas is a Mideast realityBy Fawaz A. Gerges The group has evolved dramatically as a movement that can't be wished away by...
New president, new battlefieldBy DOYLE McMANUS Fixing Afghanistan and Pakistan will be harder than fixing Iraq, and the penalties for failure are greater.
Sunni Arabs turn toward the ballot Even Sunni Arabs who have engaged in insurgent violence are actively supporting an electoral process they hope will boost their sect's low representation
Appointment of Richard Holbrooke unnerves South Asia The new envoy, a veteran diplomat nicknamed 'the Bulldozer,' called the Afghan government a failure and put pressure on Pakistan to battle extremists
Khatami predicted to enter Iran presidential race A confidant to Iran's former president says Mohammad Khatami will challenge President Ahmadinejad in June now that another prominent moderate appears to have backed out.
Some see Mumbai terrorism as an attack on India-Israel ties They cite the sophisticated attack on the Nariman House Jewish center. Relations between India and Israel have grown increasingly strong in recent years
Sunni Arabs in Baghdad enclave left off voter rolls Some Sunnis in Adhamiya are unable to find their names on the rolls or are registered to vote in distant precincts. They accuse the Shiite-led government of deliberating leaving them off.
Anger at Putin over economy As unemployment rises, thousands protest across Russia over his handling of the crisi
Editorial'Bad bank' is a bad idea That approach could be too costly. The U.S. should guarantee part of the value...
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Gallup says Dems now U.S. majority party It's official: Heartland Republican America is no longer Republican. Red state America has turned blue.
Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin
| H17 Daily Telegraph Europeans are finally waking up to the demise of democracy Angry people across the EU are discovering the fine print in all the treaties signed by their leaders, says Janet Daley.
Protectionism is a disease that could destroy us all Governments will need huge reserves of political will and an internationalist spirit to resist putting restrictions on free trade, says George Walden.
| H18 Independent Gaza counts the cost – and assigns blameDonald Macintyre, finds Palestinians divided over how their lives can be rebuilt, and who is going to pay for it. Iraq provincial election is most peaceful since the fall of Saddam
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| H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism
Pentagon Recommends 'Whole-of-Government' National Security Plans
After Campaign Push, Obama Cultivates Military
Weight of Combat Gear Is Taking Toll The Loads Are Contributing to Injuries That Are Keeping Some Troops on the Sidelines --- Carrying heavy combat loads is taking a quiet but serious toll on troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, contributing to injuries that are sidelining them in growing numbers, according to senior military and defense officials.
Gates calls for balance to combat threats WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates is calling for balance between military and soft power, according to a mandated review of the U.S. Defense Department's mission.
| H20 Slate Who Won the Gaza War?
Searching for an Optimist at Davos
| H21 India to follow $2,000 car with $20 laptop Prototype to go on display this week
Millions hit by Google `breakdown`
Biographies of Samuel Johnson Two new biographies celebrate Samuel Johnson’s tercentenary
Elite Officially Welcome Obama Beltway Glitterati Meet at Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner
Google maps seafloor's mysteries Internet giant to announce addition of vast amounts of underwater imagery to Google Earth project
Half of Britons do not believe in evolution, survey finds
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