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TurcoPundit
23 February 2009
  February 23, 2009

022309f - 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 Independent Iraq faces a new war as tensions rise in north Violence between Iraqi Kurds and Arabs is threatening to complicate US plans to withdraw troops.

Leading article: Renewed bloodshed shows peace remains elusive in Iraq

Ha’aretz Israel's new Iran policy: Sway Obama on Tehran talks The West is convinced Iran is closer to the bomb, with mid-2010 as the likely date it will reach its goal

Amir Oren: Israel must accept its loss of influence in U.S.

How Soon is Safe? Iraqi Force Development and Conditions-Based U.S. Withdrawls
Source: Centers for Strategic & International Studies

Weekly Standard The Path of Realism or the Path of Failure
Laying a foundation for peace in
Palestine.

Iran May Achieve Capability to Make A Nuclear Weapon in 2009
Council on Foreign Relations

New York Times A Quieter Approach to Spreading Democracy Abroad President Obama signals that this is no time for lecturing other countries. Not everyone in his camp agrees.

Analysis: Obama Faces Split Opinion on Iraq Future

Obama Has Plan to Slash Deficit, Despite Stimulus Bill President Obama will set a goal this week to cut the annual deficit at least in half by the end of his term, according to officials.

PAUL KRUGMAN Banking on the Brink Why not just go ahead and nationalize? Remember, the longer we live with zombie banks, the harder it will be to end the economic crisis.

Our Friend in Tehran

By ALI REZA ESHRAGHI If President Obama wants to improve relations with Tehran, working with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be his best bet

Financial Times Afghanistrategy The US and Nato need a new strategy in Afghanistan. They need definable and achievable goals – beginning with the overarching imperative to stop scoring own goals

Lack of funds hits IMF in east Europe The global response to the financial crisis in eastern Europe has been hamstrung because the International Monetary Fund is too small, former officials say

Obama aims to halve deficit by 2013 Barack Obama will this week set the goal of halving the budget deficit he inherited by the end of his first term, while pushing ahead aggressively on healthcare reform, climate change and education

A health check for fiscal discipline This week Barack Obama will lead a ‘frank discussion’ on the long-term fiscal problems facing his country, according to his spokesman. America will need big, new, broad-based taxes: but how willing will the administration be to talk about this, asks Clive Crook

Eastern crisis that could wreck the eurozone Adopt the euro quickly, urges Wolfgang Münchau

China’s dollar dilemma Beijing may resist domestic criticism of investing its foreign exchange reserves in low-yielding dollar assets – but will ask the US for something in return

Flexibility gives way to rigidity’s virtues Paul De Grauwe on the dynamics of debt deflation

Paper: UK Muslims 'Providing Taliban With Electronic Devices for Roadside Bombs

BBC: Iran Offered Nuclear Deal to Stop Iraq Troop Attacks

Wall Street Journal The Saudi Cabinet Shake-Up Portends Real Reform By Karen Elliott House The king recognizes that corruption and stagnation could ruin his oil-rich nation.

Tunku Varadarajan / Wall Street Journal: ‘Nationalize’ the Banks — Dr. Doom says a takeover and resale …

The New Sultans of Swat Pakistan cuts a dangerous deal with the Taliban.

Washington Post Obama's Foreign Policy Gambles With Russia By Jim Hoagland An American hand reaching out to an unclenching authoritarian fist: This is the dominant foreign policy metaphor of President Obama's first month in office. It is a simile of hope, as the president intends -- but also one of vulnerability, as Obama may discover sooner than he expects.

A Three-Pronged Bet on 'AFPAK'

By David Ignatius In the two-front war that Washington is now calling "AFPAK," there's more head-scratching going on than is immediately visible.

Fred Hiatt: Obama's War and the Risks of Realism At some point, if we are spreading freedom, we might as well admit it.

At United Nations, U.S. Faces Hurdles For Its Agenda President Obama's U.N. envoy, Susan E. Rice, has pledged to "refresh and renew American leadership" at the United Nations. But U.S. rivals with a long history of opposing American aims now hold some of the most influential posts at the world body, a testament to the diminished...

Israel's Unequal Rights Daoud Kuttab | Israel's Palestinian citizens didn't come to Israel - Israel came to them.

Iran: Nuclear Plant to Be Tested Tests on nuclear power plant will begin this week, full-scale operation planned for later this year.

Editorial Fiscal Reality The spotlight moves from short-term stimulus to long-term debt.

Obama Targets Budget Deficit

Plan Would Cut War Spending, Increase Taxes on the Wealthy

Rajiv Chandrasekaran From Captive To Suicide Bomber — Accused of Being Little More Than a Low-Level Taliban Fighter, Abdallah al-Ajmi Was Held by the U.S. for Nearly Four Years. After His Release, He Blew Up an Iraqi Army Outpost. Did Guantanamo Propel Him to Do It?

Journalist's Account Cites Secret 3-Year Talks Between India, Pakistan on Kashmir Journalist's Account Says Three-Year Kashmir Initiative Failed

Christian Science Monitor

Netanyahu leans centrist to form unity government in Israel

While the Likud chairman has broad support among right-wing parties after parliamentary polls, he’s courting Kadima’s Livni.

Guardian Suspend military aid to Israel, Amnesty urges Obama after detailing US weapons used in Gaza Human rights group calls for immediate embargo on arms as white phosphorus shells traced back to America

US military tests exit routes out of IraqConvoys mark Pentagon's first steps in confronting logistics of transporting stockpiled arsenal

Obama's first budget to pledge $1tn deficit will be halved in four years US president gambles on savings from Iraq pullout and reduction of George Bush's tax cuts

Inside the minds of foes Gordon Barrass: In tackling the Iranian threat, US spymasters would do well to heed the cold war's lessons

Global Education Digest 2008 UNESCO Institute for Statistics This 297-page digest compares education statistics for more than 200 countries and territories

Iraq Why 2009 will be even tougher than 2008 Toronto Star - Even under the most optimistic scenario, there is an expectation of more violence

Is Mexico a Failed State? Is drug-related violence pushing Mexico to the brink of collapse? The Wall Street Journal takes up the question. Over the past year, 6,000 people were slain by Mexican drug cartels, whose confiscated weaponry alone "could arm the entire army of El Salvador." The U.S. military has labeled Mexico one of two countries (the other being Pakistan) where failed state-hood is a real possibility. Other analysts fear that "the risk is not that the Mexican state collapses, but rather "becomes like Russia, a state heavily influenced by mafias."

From Newsweek, we are all socialists now: In many ways our economy already resembles a European one; as boomers age and spending grows, we will become even more French (and a look at why Americans don't hate the rich).

MESH Iran’s methodical march

Prospects for a Centrist 'Grand Coalition' in Israel - Council on Foreign Relations

Geopolitical Diary: Russia's Continuing Cooperation with Iran
Stratfor

Daily Telegraph British spies 'colluded with torture' of UK citizens At least 10 Britons were tortured by security services in foreign countries acting with MI5, according to civil liberties group.

China prepares to buy up foreign oil companies China is preparing to open a new phase in its race for the world's resources by using its huge currency reserves to buy foreign oil and gas companies

Karzai is US stooge says Afghan deputy president Afghanistan's president and vice-president accused each other of being US stooges during a heated recent cabinet meeting.

Los Angeles Times President Obama's budget will seek to cut deficit in half He plans to do it largely by winding down the war in Iraq and raising taxes on people making more than $250,000 a year.

Obama's biggest challenges in Afghanistan Just sending more troops can't solve such tough problems as getting militants to lay down arms and allies to send more soldiers, and eliminating extremist havens

NATO 'alive and kicking,' its chief says Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, whose term as NATO secretary-general ends this year, acknowledges that the challenge in Afghanistan is complex. He sees no current rift in the alliance.

Clinton urges China to sustain U.S. economic support We're all in this together, the secretary of State tells Beijing as she makes a plea for the continued purchase of U.S. government bonds.

Ryan Lizza / New Yorker:

Rahm Emanuel on the job. — Rahm Emanuel's office, which is no more than a three-second walk from the Oval Office, is as neat as a Marine barracks. On his desk, the files and documents, including leatherbound folders from the National Security Council, are precisely arranged, each one parallel with the desk's edge.

Ha’aretz Editorial Iran inches closer to the bomb In order to support the removal the Iranian nuclear threat Israel must avoid provocations in the settlements and unnecessarily resorting to force in the territories, which will complicate matters for Obama

Netanyahu vows to work with Obama for peace U.S. Senator Lieberman says Netanyahu-led government will enjoy good relations with Washington

Storm brews between US and Israel As a hawkish government emerges from Israel's fractious elections, and the Obama administration's regional priorities diverge from its predecessors, a confrontation looms between the longtime strategic bedfellows. Washington's plans to enlist Iranian help for coalition efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan - the US's new fronts in the "war on terror" - are likely to strike a particularly sour note in Jerusalem. - Jim Lobe

Jerusalem Post Livni: Joining Likud gov't a breach of Kadima voters' trust

'Iran doesn't want direct confrontation'

Former NSC head: Teheran pushing Hamas to take W. Bank: Iran says Bushehr plant to begin operation

The New US Administration: Confusion and Indecision on Iran INSS An Israeli perspective on statements made by the new US Administration in respect of Iran

Syria confident of US detente
Damascus has waited patiently for a change in the leadership of the United States, and is now making all the right moves to end the isolation imposed on it during the George W Bush years. But even though both sides have taken symbolic steps, there's work to be done before real progress is made. - Sami Moubayed

Time The Quiet American: How the World Sees Obama (In The Arena)
Global reaction to Obama is euphoric--but wary. Because his outreach comes with strings attached

Thomas P.M. Barnett on Obama's new map of the world (and a review of Great Powers). Theodore Dalrymple on the persistence of ideology: Grand ideas still drive history.

Obama's Iran Strategy - Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times

Unpacking the IAEA's Iran Report - Judah Grunstein, World Politics Review

Use the Oil Weapon Against Iran - Mark Wallace, Washington Times

Iran's Satellite Should Cause Concern - Uzi Rubin, Wall Street Journal

U.S. closing bases in Iraq (UPI) -- U.S. military forces in Iraq are well into planning for closing bases large and small around the country and moving displaced troops into other facilities as a result of the Strategic Framework Agreement between Washington and Baghdad.

$500 Billion Aid Call as East Europe Slumps European leaders called for doubling the IMF's war chest for bailing out financially stricken nations, amid new signs that Eastern Europe is sliding into a full-blown economic crisis.

H2 VIEW: Who lost Turkey? —Dominique Moisi The Turkish question is, of course, complex. Turkey’s geography is predominantly Asian, Turkey’s emotions are increasingly Middle Eastern, i.e., Muslim on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and yet Turkey’s elites remain resolutely pro-Western and pro-European.

Guardian  Turks reveal xenophobic, conservative attitudes in poll Nine out of ten of those interviewed had never taken a holiday abroad and 70% never read books

WSJ Turkish Mogul Clashes With Premier Turkish media mogul Aydin Dogan accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of seeking to muzzle criticism, amid an escalating feud.

Turkey Looks East - Asli Aydintasbas, Int'l Herald Tribune

Ha’aretz – Bar’el Why we need Turkey

Amir Oren Turkey's turning of the tables

NYT Turkish Premier Reaches Out in an Important Kurdish City

What is behind Turkey's antagonism to Israel? Ha'aretz

Turkish Trade Shifts From Europe
Forbes

Turkey in the Fire Global Politician What direction is the Turkish regime heading? Prof. Barry Rubin

Shifting Neighborhood: What are Turkey’s intentions as new movement stirs in Caucasus?

Turks appear to set conditions for relations with US

Speculation Mounts over Protection for Retired Generals in "Deep State" Trial

NATO Funding Disparity Persists
Aviation Week -
Turkey managed to put 27.4 percent of its defense spending into modernization, even ahead of the US level of 27.3 percent.

US may look at Turkey following Kyrgyz base closure

US Mideast envoy to pay postponed Turkey visit in the coming days

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

Infighting leaves 17 PKK militants dead

US Tests Military Exit Routes Out of Iraq

PKK is a common threat to Turkey and US, says Gen. Myers

The Ground Truth in Iraq: The On-Going Kurdish-Arab Dispute

US’S Afghanistan strategy review on agenda of Turkish- US relations

Turkish PM woos Kurds ahead of vote

Turkey`s Kurdish Southeast Is Key Election Battle - World - Javno

Cevdet Aşkın

PUK internal crisis calms down

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

Armenian expert: US will refrain naming 1915 incidents as "genocide"

Experts say protectionism unlikely in Turkey despite EU, US policies

How will Obama’s presidency affect Turkish foreign policy?

Turkey-US relations to improve if no wrong steps on Armenian issue

‘Turkey and Armenia nearing major breakthrough in relations’

Iran's gas to reach Europe via Turkey

Letter to President Obama
Hellenic News of
America

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

FT Young Turks and old rivalries There is a sudden flurry of activity around Turkish contemporary art, which some experts are tipping as the newest emerging market.

H3

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 A Quieter Approach to Spreading Democracy Abroad By PETER BAKERPresident Obama signals that this is no time for lecturing other countries. Not everyone in his camp agrees.

Analysis: Obama Faces Split Opinion on Iraq Future

Obama Has Plan to Slash Deficit, Despite Stimulus Bill President Obama will set a goal this week to cut the annual deficit at least in half by the end of his term, according to officials.

As Doubts Grow, U.S. Will Judge Banks’ Stability The nation’s largest banks will face stress tests this week, as the government examines their long-term viability.

PAUL KRUGMAN Banking on the Brink Why not just go ahead and nationalize? Remember, the longer we live with zombie banks, the harder it will be to end the economic crisis.

Our Friend in Tehran

By ALI REZA ESHRAGHI If President Obama wants to improve relations with Tehran, working with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be his best bet

Bosnia Unraveling The United States and its allies must craft a plan to salvage the promise of the 1995 Dayton Accords, which ended the genocidal horrors in Bosnia.

ROGER COHENWhat Iran’s Jews Say The reality of Iranian civility toward Jews tells us more about Iran — its sophistication and culture — than all the inflammatory rhetoric.

Disagreements About Stimulus Embroil G.O.P. The Republican response to the economic crisis will shape how the party redefines itself in the wake of recent defeats.

Secret U.S. Unit Trains Commandos in Pakistan American military advisers are working in Pakistan to help its armed forces battle Al Qaeda and the Taliban in lawless tribal areas.

FRANK RICH What We Don’t Know Will Hurt Us No one knows when there will be an end to the economic crisis, of course, but a bigger question may be whether we really want to know.

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Start Up the Risk-Takers Precious public money should focus on investing in a new generation of innovative companies, not on bailing out the losers.

This Is the Way the Culture Wars End

By WILLIAM SALETAN To change the debate on the culture wars, President Obama will have to address two truths: that morality has to be practical, and that practicality requires morals.

NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Sisters, Victims, Heroes World leaders will have to summon some of the same moral courage that Darfuris show all the time if the slaughter in the region is to end.

MAUREEN DOWD Dark Dark Dark We need leaders to help us through our crises, not provide us with crude evaluations of our character.

In Address, Obama Highlights Tax Reductions

Poker-Faced, Russia Flaunts Its Afghan Card While U.S. troop supplies ride the Kremlin’s rails, a key air base in Kyrgyzstan may be shut to America.

Editorial The Government and the Banks Though taking over failed banks will be very difficult politically, it could be easier than the elaborate rescue plans that have been tried and proposed.

Wall Street Salaries: The Brain Drain Defense Financial types say pay caps might spur the smartest bankers to jump ship. But there are few places to go

To Investigate or Not: Four Ways to Look Back at Bush What would a government investigation of Bush administration antiterrorism policies look like? Some past inquiries offer models.

When Consumers Cut Back: An Object Lesson From Japan Japan offers a peek at how thrift can take lasting hold of a consumer society, to disastrous effect

E.U. Leaders Turn to I.M.F. Amid Financial Crisis

China Fears Tremors as Jobs Vanish From Coast

Iraqi Lawmaker Is Charged With Masterminding an Attack on Parliament

Iran Plans Tests Toward Starting a Nuclear Plant

Reporter's Notebook: A Clinton Listening Tour, but China Gets an Earful

Progress Lags in a Meeting Between Leaders in Israel

Duo’s Second Prison Escape Embarrasses Greek Officials

Obama Upholds Detainee Policy in Afghanistan

Clinton Paints China Policy With a Green Hue

Turkish Premier Reaches Out in an Important Kurdish City

U.S. Concedes Afghan Attack Mainly Killed Civilians

Taliban Truce Seems in Flux in Pakistan

Greek Terrorists Claim an Attack

With Need Dire and Aid Scant, Iraq’s Widows Struggle The number of war widows has swelled, posing a threat to the country’s tenuous social structures.

H5 Washington Post Obama's Foreign Policy Gambles With Russia By Jim Hoagland An American hand reaching out to an unclenching authoritarian fist: This is the dominant foreign policy metaphor of President Obama's first month in office. It is a simile of hope, as the president intends -- but also one of vulnerability, as Obama may discover sooner than he expects.

A Three-Pronged Bet on 'AFPAK'

By David Ignatius In the two-front war that Washington is now calling "AFPAK," there's more head-scratching going on than is immediately visible.

Fred Hiatt: Obama's War and the Risks of Realism At some point, if we are spreading freedom, we might as well admit it.

At United Nations, U.S. Faces Hurdles For Its Agenda President Obama's U.N. envoy, Susan E. Rice, has pledged to "refresh and renew American leadership" at the United Nations. But U.S. rivals with a long history of opposing American aims now hold some of the most influential posts at the world body, a testament to the diminished...

Iran: Nuclear Plant to Be Tested Tests on nuclear power plant will begin this week, full-scale operation planned for later this year.

Editorial Fiscal Reality The spotlight moves from short-term stimulus to long-term debt.

Obama Targets Budget Deficit

Plan Would Cut War Spending, Increase Taxes on the Wealthy

Rajiv Chandrasekaran From Captive To Suicide Bomber — Accused of Being Little More Than a Low-Level Taliban Fighter, Abdallah al-Ajmi Was Held by the U.S. for Nearly Four Years. After His Release, He Blew Up an Iraqi Army Outpost. Did Guantanamo Propel Him to Do It?

Journalist's Account Cites Secret 3-Year Talks Between India, Pakistan on Kashmir Journalist's Account Says Three-Year Kashmir Initiative Failed By Joby Warrick, India and Pakistan engaged in nearly three years of secret, high-level talks that narrowly missed achieving a historic breakthrough in the countries' decades-old conflict over Kashmir, according to an account set for publication today.

Power Barometer: Clinton's Task in China

Observation: Is Pakistan Giving Up?

PostGlobal Panel: Israel's Existential Question

Obama's Stunted Economic Stimulus

By Robert J. Samuelson, Judged by his own standards, the $787 billion economic stimulus program is deeply disappointing.

Mixed Signals From Moscow

By Jackson Diehl Is this the beginning of a new era of cooperation between Washington and Moscow?

Obama's FDR Moment

By E. J. Dionne Jr., He needs, above all, to speak to the country's raw fear.

Deficit Hawks Target Social Security, Medicare AgainBy Robert Kuttner,

Fiscal conservatives are using the temporary deficit increase to attack a perennial target -- Social Security and Medicare.

Is the Internet actually helping to keep the Chinese Communist Party in power?

U.S., China Agree to Focus on Economy, Climate Long-Standing Human Rights Concerns Put on Back Burner During Clinton Trip

Georgia: Russia Is Stoking Tensions

Border Incidents Spark Accusations From Both Sides

RICARDO J. CABALLERO

How to Lift a Falling Economy

Here's a proposal that would stop, and reverse, wealth destruction.

Pakistan Agrees to Taliban Truce

Open-Ended Deal in Swat Valley Allows for Broader Talks

Experts Divided Over Whether Clinton Should Push China on Human Rights

Iran's 1st Nuclear Power Plant to Undergo Tests Before Launch

Heads of 8 European Countries Pledge Global Finance Changes

Republicans' Hate-Love Relationship With the Stimulus Package

At United Nations, U.S. Faces Hurdles For Its Agenda Obama's U.N. envoy, Susan E. Rice, has pledged to "refresh and renew American leadership" at the United Nations. But U.S. rivals with a long history of opposing American aims now hold some of the most influential posts at the world body, a testament to the diminished...

Ari Fleischer, Helen Thomas, Sam Donaldson and others on presidential press conferences.

E.U. Backs New Financial Rules Merkel calls for "charter of sustainable economic activity" to reduce imbalances, stabilize markets.

Israel's Unequal Rights Daoud Kuttab | Israel's Palestinian citizens didn't come to Israel - Israel came to them.

Climate Fears Are Driving 'Ecomigration' Across Globe

State Secrets? Let the Courts Weigh In. The government is fond of using the claim to prevent embarrassing information from coming to light.

New Eyes On Bigger Prizes

By David S. Broder

FOREIGN POLICYReview by Linda Robinson How Dangerous Is This Man? THE THREAT CLOSER TO HOME Hugo Chávez And the War Against America

A 'Ticking Time Bomb' Goes Off

When Abdallah Al-Ajmi Returned to Kuwait After Nearly Four Years at Guantanamo, His Family Tried to Get Him to Move On. But He Didn't Want to Let Go.

Citi Seeking More Federal Aid

Another Round of Help May Not Require Taxpayer Money

H6 Guardian Suspend military aid to Israel, Amnesty urges Obama after detailing US weapons used in Gaza Human rights group calls for immediate embargo on arms as white phosphorus shells traced back to America

US military tests exit routes out of IraqConvoys mark Pentagon's first steps in confronting logistics of transporting stockpiled arsenal

Obama's first budget to pledge $1tn deficit will be halved in four years US president gambles on savings from Iraq pullout and reduction of George Bush's tax cuts

Inside the minds of foes Gordon Barrass: In tackling the Iranian threat, US spymasters would do well to heed the cold war's lessons

The forgotten Damascus Spring Nadim Houry: Syria may be coming in from the cold but we should not ignore the regime's human rights abuses

Britain faces summer
of rage - police
Fears raised that anger over economic crisis could erupt into violence on streets

IMF emergency fund is doubled

EU leaders agree $500bn fund in bid to prevent world recession turning into fullscale depression

West blamed for soar in China's CO2

Producing consumer goods for export accounts for country's recent rise in emissions, finds study

So much for the V-shaped recession News from all the major economies is dismal - and appears to be getting worse, says Ashley Seager

Don't forget Ukraine Adam Hug: The gas dispute may be over, but Kiev now needs the west's help to escape reliance on Russia

A collapsing carbon market makes mega-pollution cheap Julian Glover: Europe's system to edge up the cost of emissions and boost green energy has backfired. There isn't much time to rescue it

What the world needs now... Jeffrey Sachs: We need global co-operation to increase public investments in developing economies – and the G20 offers the natural setting

Image and reality Editorial: So will the real Gordon Brown now please stand up? Which one is he?

Amid the gloom, hope Tony Bayfield: It's easy to be depressed by the situation in the Middle East – but dialogue and tolerance offer a way forward

Egypt bomb blast kills French girl, 17 At least one tourist killed and 21 people injured in explosion at crowded Cairo marketplace

The Observer UK agents 'colluded with torture in Pakistan' New report alleges widespread complicity between British security agents and their Pakistani counterparts

After squalls in the Caribbean, Sarkozy faces a storm at home

With his approval ratings at a low, president faces general strike and wave of social panic. Jason Burke reports from Paris

Taliban agrees 'permanent ceasefire' in war-torn valley

America and Britain fear deal with Pakistan will provide terrorist haven near Islamabad

Death threat to Greek media as terrorists plot bomb havoc

Guerrilla splinter group targets police and journalists and vows to step up terror campaign

A return to banking basics is only the start Editorial: It would be hard to accuse the prime minister of doing too little in response to the credit crunch

We need more than fine words on torture Editorial: The official position is clear enough. 'The British government abhors torture and would never authorise it or condone it,' says the foreign secretary

We will put people first, not bankers Gordon Brown: The prime minister explains how new institutions with new values will govern our banking system

Brown wins race for first Obama visit

Do the Tories know what they would do with power? Andrew Rawnsley: David Cameron will reap the whirlwind if the Conservatives are not properly prepared to take over government

Science is just one gene away from defeating religion

Colin Blakemore: The idea that human rationality is a gift from God is often used as a justification for scientific inquiry

H7 The New US Administration: Confusion and Indecision on Iran INSS An Israeli perspective on statements made by the new US Administration in respect of Iran

Syria confident of US detente
Damascus has waited patiently for a change in the leadership of the United States, and is now making all the right moves to end the isolation imposed on it during the George W Bush years. But even though both sides have taken symbolic steps, there's work to be done before real progress is made. - Sami Moubayed

Time The Quiet American: How the World Sees Obama (In The Arena)
Global reaction to Obama is euphoric--but wary. Because his outreach comes with strings attached

Thomas P.M. Barnett on Obama's new map of the world (and a review of Great Powers). Theodore Dalrymple on the persistence of ideology: Grand ideas still drive history.

Obama's Iran Strategy - Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times

Unpacking the IAEA's Iran Report - Judah Grunstein, World Politics Review

Use the Oil Weapon Against Iran - Mark Wallace, Washington Times

Iran's Satellite Should Cause Concern - Uzi Rubin, Wall Street Journal

Daily Star Minding the gap in the Middle East By Rami G. Khouri

The US is scratching its head on a two-front war By David Ignatius

Al Awsat Iran and the Bahraini Lesson : Tariq Alhomayed
After a wave of criticism and the Arab stances that have been taken regarding ... more

Al Hayat Hasty Interpretations of Developments …and of US Dialogue with Iran and Syria Raghida Dergham

Global leadership, a reality lost and not found By Ian Bremmer

Russ Wellen: 'Obama Does Globalistan'

Iran and the Future of Afghanistan CFR

Iraq as investment opportunity The recent visit of French Prime Minister Sarkozy to pursue business opportunities is a good sign that normal commerce may soon return to Iraq. (Boston Globe)

5 "Don'ts" for US Development Policy Foreign Policy

Power Rules - Council on Foreign Relations

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

U.S. closing bases in Iraq (UPI) -- U.S. military forces in Iraq are well into planning for closing bases large and small around the country and moving displaced troops into other facilities as a result of the Strategic Framework Agreement between Washington and Baghdad.

BBC: Iran Offered Nuclear Deal to Stop Iraq Troop Attacks

Military Split Over Iraq Pullout

US Tests Military Exit Routes Out of Iraq

Iran Blocks Web Sites Promoting Reformist Khatami

Iraqi PM, Sadrists Reach Local Alliance Deal

Iraq Arrests Dozens of 'Terrorists' in Mosul

Syria, US explore improving ties as Kerry visits

Iraqi president to visit Tehran

Iran Tells Schroeder 'Impossible' to Stop Nuclear Plan

Sunni lawmaker wanted in Green Zone attacks A Sunni Arab lawmaker is wanted in connection for a string of retaliation attacks and mortar strikes on the fortress-like Green Zone compound after a pair of his senior bodyguards stepped forward with incriminating confessions, a military official said Sunday

Iraq 's oil ministry's vision attacked - Investor's Iraq Forum ...

Iraqi National Museum to reopen

Iraq's National Museum is to re-open six years after it was vandalised and looted after the 2003 US-led invasion

'Old Europe' in Iraq (UPI) -- France and Germany are changing their Iraq policies after having fiercely opposed the U.S.-led war there.

Washington may court moderates within Iran rather than outside opposition

The change in tone from Washington toward Tehran is complicated not only by historic acrimony but also by a complex relationship with Iranian opposition movements.

Germany establishes presence in Erbil

(UPI) -- Germany has expressed its commitment to the reconstruction of Iraq by extending its presence to the Kurdish regional capital of Erbil, officials said.

Direct pressure could sway Iranian nukes

(UPI) -- The international community needs consistency in dealing with Iran or it could develop a nuclear weapon within a year, a scholar said.

Tourism an economic boost for Iraq

(UPI) -- Nations under reconstruction, like Iraq, can revitalize their national economy and their image by promoting tourism, an analysis suggests.

H9 Ha’aretz Israel's new Iran policy: Sway Obama on Tehran talks The West is convinced Iran is closer to the bomb, with mid-2010 as the likely date it will reach its goal

Amir Oren: Israel must accept its loss of influence in U.S.

Editorial Iran inches closer to the bomb In order to support the removal the Iranian nuclear threat Israel must avoid provocations in the settlements and unnecessarily resorting to force in the territories, which will complicate matters for Obama

Amnesty urges freeze on arms sales to Israel

From Gaza to DamascusWashington, under Barack Obama's administration, is liable to be more attentive to the idea of an Israel-Syrian agreement, and a unity government in Israel may be the only realistic course by which to strive for political progress in the coming years.

Long live the second republic Since the elections the Israeli public has come to know what it has known for a long time: The Israeli government is not effective in its decision-making, implementation or the ability to set forth a vision and values.

After meet with Netanyahu, Livni says Kadima still headed for opposition

Netanyahu vows to work with Obama for peace U.S. Senator Lieberman says Netanyahu-led government will enjoy good relations with Washington

Syria, U.S. explore improving ties as Sen. Kerry visits

Sources: Netanyahu to offer Livni 'full partnership' in coalition

Livni: Kadima won't compromise on peace path just to join coalition Olmert to Netanyahu: Form coalition fast; Likud leader: I won't be bullied on unity government.

Yossi Sarid / Kadima-Likud union is only a matter of time

Iran to begin operation of first nuclear power plant Iranian atomic agency: Pilot stage of plant to start Wednesday during a visit by senior Russian official

France to send top envoy to Iran for nuclear talks

Ex-spymaster: First Lebanon War was a Mossad success

Durban II drafts: Israel is racist, occupying state

Olmert: Corruption probe against me is none of Diaspora Jewry's business

Olmert suspends Egypt mediator over 'unfitting criticism of a PM' Amos Gilad was quoted in Ma'ariv last week as saying that Olmert's behavior is insulting to the Egyptians

Qaida founder blasts successor bin Laden for 'immoral terror'

Amira Hass / Gazans fear Fatah-Hamas split could sabotage Gaza reconstruction

Jerusalem Post Livni: Joining Likud gov't a breach of Kadima voters' trust

Editorials Obama's Plan B?

Are we months or several years away from a nuclear armed Iran?

Warning cries from Herzliya

[ DANIEL DORON, Feb 22 22:04 ]
The mishandling of the
Iran danger is perhaps the worst example of our lack of governability.

Op-Ed Contributors

Good demographic news

Israel's Jewish population getting younger, Arab population getting older

Analysis: Two unity governments for two peoples Israel and the Palestinians are in near-identical processes to unite their largest ideological blocs.

Livni says no progress in Bibi meeting, agrees to more talks

Kadima leader cites "deep differences," but Likud chairman insists a "joint path" is possible; Barak and Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem.

'Iran doesn't want direct confrontation'

Former NSC head: Teheran pushing Hamas to take W. Bank: Iran says Bushehr plant to begin operation

Essay: Warfare requires both sword and shield

Comprehensive missile defense must become a critical national priority.

His master's angry voice

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is about to turn Iran into a nuclear rogue state.

Reality Check: Tzipi, stay away!
Ignore the desperate craving of Kadima colleagues to cling on to ministerial chairs.

Yedioth Ahronoth 'Kadima mustn't lose its way'
Ahead of meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni says her party would rather sit in opposition than together with Likud's 'natural partners.' Adds: We will be a responsible opposition

'Limit US dialogue with Iran'

Israel fears Iran will abuse Obama's willingness to launch talks on nuclear plan in order to 'stall'

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

Obama Not Sold on Bibi - Robert Fisk, The Independent

Defense Chiefs Urge Hawk Netanyahu to Strike Deal With Syria

Israel-Hamas arms embargo urged

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

New pro-Saudi terrorist group suspected of Katyusha attack from Lebanon

Daily Star What a joy Netanyahu's premiership will be for Israel's enemies

Israel's Unequal Rights Daoud Kuttab | Israel's Palestinian citizens didn't come to Israel - Israel came to them.

Can a hawkish Binyamin Netanyahu, the man likely to be Israel's next prime minister, surprise the world and sprout dovish wings?

Bibi & Obama: Two Communicators Clash? - M. Evans, Washington Times

Israel responds to Lebanon rocket

A rocket fired from Lebanon wounds three people in northern Israel, triggering an Israeli artillery response.

Does the return of the Likud party signal a new war in Lebanon ?
Center for Research on Globalization

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Netanyahu leans centrist to form unity government in Israel

While the Likud chairman has broad support among right-wing parties after parliamentary polls, he’s courting Kadima’s Livni.

Obama aims to cut deficit in half This week is about the budget, as he issues his first, hosts a 'fiscal responsibility summit.'

Raise the price of gas to $4 – before the next oil crunch

A price floor would help wean America off oil.

Contours of a Hamas-Fatah concord

Before they can make peace with Isarel, Palestinians must be united.

By Helena Cobban

China's buying spree in global fire sale This month China bought stakes in French, Canadian, and Australian firms

Clinton 'reintroduces' US to Asia

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up her trip to Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and China on Sunday. Her aim was to reenergize key ties to the region.

Stimulus: Can it work like Roosevelt's New Deal?

Why government spending plus easy money could pull US out of recession by year's end.

ASIA

Try offering China and India environmental incentives
By Bjorn Lomborg

A Three-Pronged Bet on 'AFPAK' - David Ignatius, Washington Post


Half a Solution for Half of Pakistan - Feryal Ali Gauhar,
Hindustan Times

The Freedom of Mr. A.Q. Khan - Japan Times


US-Sino Dependence Must Be a Partnership - The National

Pakistan and China: A Fraying Friendship? - Vivian Salama, Time


A Silver Lining for Japan - Bill Emmott, The Guardian

India's Home-Grown Terror Dilemma

India's Muslims Chafe Under Suspicion

India grapples with the Obama era A pall of gloom has descended on New Delhi's elite and with it has come pervasive nostalgia for George W Bush. The same Indian upper class that had worked "shoulder to shoulder" with the Bush administration, now finds itself awkwardly placed - all dressed up but with nowhere to go. Clearly, India is at present not nearly as valuable an ally as Pakistan for the United States - and that truth hurts. - M K Bhadrakumar

New York Times: Obama Expands Missile Strikes Inside PakistanWASHINGTON — With two missile strikes over the past week, the Obama administration has expanded the covert war run by the Central Intelligence Agency inside Pakistan, attacking a militant network seeking to topple the Pakistani government.

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

US Policy Shift in South Asia - Harsh Pant, Japan Times

UK Agents 'Colluded With Torture in Pakistan'

The Lost India-Pakistan Accord A peace agreement between India and Pakistan over the long-disputed Kashmir region would have been sealed if not for some petty politicking, a new report discloses. The agreement, in the works for three years, was ultimately killed "not because of substantive differences," investigative journalist Steve Coll notes, but "because declining political fortunes left Pakistan's then-president, Pervez Musharraf, without the clout he needed to sell the agreement at home."

Home-grown fear

Is India looking in the right place in the 'war on terror'?

Iran and the Future of Afghanistan CFR

India Elections May Not See Clear Winner: Poll

Mark Landler / New York Times:

In China, Clinton Focuses on Climate — BEIJING — Declaring that “we hope you won't make the same mistakes we made,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton invited China to join the United States in an ambitious effort to curb greenhouse gases, as she toured an energy-efficient power plant in Beijing on Saturday.

Mark Steyn / National Review:

From Islamabad to Bradford — 'It is hard to understand this deal," said Richard Holbrooke, President Obama's special envoy. And, if the special envoy of the so-called smartest and most impressive administration in living memory can't understand it, what chance do the rest of us have?

China prepares to buy up foreign oil companies China is preparing to open a new phase in its race for the world's resources by using its huge currency reserves to buy foreign oil and gas companies

When consumers cut back: A lesson from Japan

Secret U.S. unit trains commandos in Pakistan

China's buying spree in global fire sale This month China bought stakes in French, Canadian, and Australian firms

The Dickensian genius of 'Slumdog'

When people want to compare "Slumdog Millionaire" favorably with other movies and to sing its praises, they cite its Dickensian scope. (By Ed Siegel, Boston Globe)

Wariness in Pakistan

Provincial authorities in the Swat Valley in northwestern Pakistan struck a peace deal with local Taliban franchisees this week, and in it the government agreed to extend Islamic law in the area. But only locals know what that might mean to them. (By Shuja Nawaz, Boston Globe)

Bruce Anderson: Brown cannot bank on China’s stability

H11 IHT A safe, secure and dwindling arsenal America’s nuclear arms complex must be modernized and managed more carefully.

Opportunities for Iraq

The recent visit of French Prime Minister Sarkozy to pursue business opportunities is a good sign that normal commerce may soon return to Iraq.

Roger Cohen: What Iran's Jews say

Rhetoric versus the reality of a Middle Eastern Jewish community

Thomas L. Friedman: Start up the risk-takers Precious public money should focus on investing in a new generation of innovative companies, not on bailing out the losers

Changing climate numbers Research shows that there is unequivocal evidence that the earth is warming and without a global prescription it is likely to get worse.

Europe pledges more financial regulation and more funds for IMF The leaders of Germany, Britain, France and Italy on Sunday said that the resources of the International Monetary Fund should be doubled, to $500 billion, to help head off the financial crisis.

Obama rethinks the goal of democracy-building Four years after President George W. Bush declared it the mission of America to spread democracy with the goal of "ending tyranny in our world," his successor's team has not picked up the mantle

EUROPE European press review

European Disunion - Ralph Peters, New York Post

Der Spiegel A Test for Europe's Common Currency: Support for Wobbly Euro Economies

The Weakening Euro

Just a few weeks ago, at the start of this year, the euro celebrated its 10th anniversary. At the time, the eurozone's single currency looked strong and -- compared to the dollar -- immune from the global economic crisis. But today, the euro's value against the dollar is sinking. And some economists worry the European currency will keep weakening. More

$500 Billion Aid Call as East Europe Slumps European leaders called for doubling the IMF's war chest for bailing out financially stricken nations, amid new signs that Eastern Europe is sliding into a full-blown economic crisis.

NATO Allies Split Over Washington's Call for More Troops

Bad Times Visit Our Betters in Europe - Debra Saunders, SF Chronicle

European MPs earning £1 million profits in a term MEPs are earning up to £1 million in profit in just one five-year term through expenses and allowances, leaked report reveals.

Fear and Loathing in Euro Missile Defense TPMCafé –

José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero: The Spanish presidency of the EU will focus on global solidarity

The Determinants of Economic Growth in European Regions CESifo A 42-page working paper evaluating the robustness of determinants of economic growth in a new dataset of 255 European regions in the 1995-2005 period

EU leaders back sweeping financial regulations

Dubai to take up $10bn UAE loan Move to ease emirate’s debt repayment schedule

Cairo hit by deadly bomb blast

A bomb explosion in central Cairo kills a French tourist and injures about 17 other people, mostly foreign tourists.

H12 RFE/RLEU Weighs Image, Energy In Relations

The EU Presidency and the European Commission, keen to see their dreams of alternative energy supplies realized, are increasingly courting Turkmenistan. But in playing the role of suitor with Ashgabat, the major European actors are finding that they may have to betray human rights principles to get what they want. More

Fears Of A New War In Georgia

Fresh talks between Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia reached a minor milestone with an agreement on "incident prevention" mechanisms. But there are fears any progress might be undermined, eventually sparking a new conflict. More

Google News Azerbaijan

Russia's 'virtual cold war' in Central Asia
Moscow is working hard to minimize Western influence in regions it perceives as its own backyard, re-asserting its security credentials in the South Caucasus and Central Asia while actively pursuing policies to thwart NATO objectives. At the same time,
Russia is presenting itself as "user friendly" and willing to cooperate with the West. - Roger McDermott

Poker-Faced, Russia Flaunts Its Afghan Card

Turkmenistan: Berdymukhamedov Plays Up Foreign Policy

Putin Runs Russia's Church, Too - David Satter, Forbes

Stratfor's Friedman: US-Russia War Likely in 21st Century

Funding 'Doctor Zhivago'

Did the CIA finance a Russian-language publication of Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago" in order to help the dissident author win the Nobel Prize? Ivan Tolstoi, a literary historian and correspondent with RFE/RL's Russian Service, has spent the better part of two decades tracking down the truth. More

Georgians tweak Putin in Europe's battle of bands Georgia had planned to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest to protest the war with Russia in August; instead, it's taking a musical swipe at Vladimir Putin right in the Russian capital.

'Golden 100' team formed to combat cronyism An elite new talent pool has been set up by President Medvedev to fill key posts in the Russian Government

H13 The Times Barack Obama to set out high-risk agenda

US President pledges to pursue a costly domestic agenda and cut the budget deficit despite the financial crisis

This slump is stirring a political storm From Japan and France to Swanley, the effects of recession will be felt not only in the economyWilliam Rees-Mogg

Bickering in Berlin EU leaders need to co-ordinate economic policies, especially with Germany

There are signs that words like "nationalisation" no longer conjure up the sound of tumbrels rolling down Wall Street

Defence chiefs urge Netanyahu to strike Syria deal Aides to hawkish Likud leader say agreement with Syria will create a split between Damascus and Iran, Israel's arch-enemy

War of the spies between Israel and Hezbollah Rockets expose deadly covert war between the Jewish state and Hezbollah, Lebanon's militant Shia organisation

Iran: the friendliest people in the world

Demons of 1968 rise up to spook Sarkozy As the global financial crisis deepens, the president is spooked as a new extremism hits France

Cardinals turn on Pope Invisible Pontiff's distant style blamed for a series of blunders that have prompted a rare show of dissent from exasperated cardinals

Get busy, Mr Cameron, victory isn’t certain With experts in turmoil, voters know nobody has the answer, so Cameron must instead offer vision Michael Portillo

A country in crisis needs moral leaders You only notice whose pockets are stuffed with loot when your own are empty

Who guards our financial guards? The neat separation of power and responsibilities between policymakers has evaporated

Wall Street Journal The Saudi Cabinet Shake-Up Portends Real Reform By Karen Elliott House The king recognizes that corruption and stagnation could ruin his oil-rich nation.

Tunku Varadarajan / Wall Street Journal: ‘Nationalize’ the Banks — Dr. Doom says a takeover and resale …

The New Sultans of Swat Pakistan cuts a dangerous deal with the Taliban.

U.S. Eyes Large Stake in Citi Citigroup is in talks with federal officials that could result in the U.S. government substantially expanding its ownership of the struggling bank.

The Problem With 'Nationalization' By Gerald P. O'Driscoll Jr.
Unlike in
Sweden, Congress would quickly politicize seized bank assets.

Information Wants to Be Expensive INFORMATION AGE
By L. Gordon Crovitz
Newspapers need to act like they're worth something.

Farewell, Tranquil Mind BOOKSHELF By Bret Stephens What is the worst that can plausibly happen? More important: Are we ready for it?

After the Stimulus, Can Obama Tame the Deficit? (The Well / Nation)
The President wants to show that he can get the deficit under control. Why a new approach to health-care costs could be the answer

A review of Fixing Global Finance by Martin Wolf.

Is America going the way of Japan? Nouriel Roubini wants to know.

Banking on the Brink - Paul Krugman, New York Times


Obama's Stimulus Plan Is Disappointing - Robert Samuelson, Newsweek

The Reeducation of Larry Summers - M. Hirsh & E. Thomas, Newsweek

Will Obama's Economic Plans Help or Hurt? - Irwin Stelzer, Sunday Time

The Economic Crisis and the Fiscal Crisis: 2009 and Beyond

Are we all Keynesians again? CIS A 10-page Australian analysis drawing attention to the risks of fiscal pump priming to stimulate economic activity

H14 Financial Times Afghanistrategy The US and Nato need a new strategy in Afghanistan. They need definable and achievable goals – beginning with the overarching imperative to stop scoring own goals

Lack of funds hits IMF in east Europe The global response to the financial crisis in eastern Europe has been hamstrung because the International Monetary Fund is too small, former officials say

Obama aims to halve deficit by 2013 Barack Obama will this week set the goal of halving the budget deficit he inherited by the end of his first term, while pushing ahead aggressively on healthcare reform, climate change and education

A health check for fiscal discipline

This week Barack Obama will lead a ‘frank discussion’ on the long-term fiscal problems facing his country, according to his spokesman. America will need big, new, broad-based taxes: but how willing will the administration be to talk about this, asks Clive Crook

Eastern crisis that could wreck the eurozone Adopt the euro quickly, urges Wolfgang Münchau

China’s dollar dilemma Beijing may resist domestic criticism of investing its foreign exchange reserves in low-yielding dollar assets – but will ask the US for something in return

Nato should invite Tehran to join

The Inheritance

Flexibility gives way to rigidity’s virtues Paul De Grauwe on the dynamics of debt deflation

Citi presses officials to take 40% stake Move would stop short of nationalisation

EU leaders push sweeping regulations Proposals for overseeing hedge funds and tax havens

Let’s turn Group of Seven rhetoric into action Act now on protectionism, says William Rhodes

History tells Obama to turn on the bipartisan charm The American president’s recent itinerary suggests that he has studied Reagan’s methods quite closely, writes Edward Luce

Quo vaditis, raters? We cannot live with the credit rating agencies’ current flawed practices, but nor can we live without them; their function is indispensable. Reform is essential

The injustice of Russian justice The Politkovskaya case gives President Dmitry Medvedev a chance to clean up one of Russia’s dirtiest corners. It will be a filthy job

Strait dealing Closer integration with China could help Taiwanese productivity by forcing a stricter division of labour with the mainland, and open opportunities for Taiwan’s relatively strong service sector

Outside Edge: Forgive me, but revenge is sweet Philip Stephens admits to a guilty and illogical swell of satisfaction when he looks at one or two of the victims of the economic downturn

Belarus tests EU’s unity of purpose

The Union faces a test of its common foreign policy as it must decide whether to continue its cautious efforts at converting Belarus from pariah state to good neighbour

Clinton treads softly on China visit

Mrs Clinton avoided picking fights over freedoms and showed that the US aims to form a pragmatic partnership with Beijing on the financial crisis and climate change

US, China ‘to help lead world recovery’ The US and China pledged to step up a high-level dialogue between the two countries which will address the global financial crisis, climate change and security issues

H15 Los Angeles Times President Obama's budget will seek to cut deficit in half He plans to do it largely by winding down the war in Iraq and raising taxes on people making more than $250,000 a year.

Obama's biggest challenges in Afghanistan Just sending more troops can't solve such tough problems as getting militants to lay down arms and allies to send more soldiers, and eliminating extremist havens

NATO 'alive and kicking,' its chief says Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, whose term as NATO secretary-general ends this year, acknowledges that the challenge in Afghanistan is complex. He sees no current rift in the alliance.

Clinton urges China to sustain U.S. economic support We're all in this together, the secretary of State tells Beijing as she makes a plea for the continued purchase of U.S. government bonds.

Editorial

In stimulus, more fix-ups, less New Deal grandeur Quick spending to repair America's infrastructure, rather than major public works, is the priority for the $787 billion

Websites backing Khatami blocked

Iranian authorities have blocked two websites promoting the presidential bid of Mohammad Khatami, reformists said Saturday, in a first sign that powerful hard-liners might seek to thwart his challenge to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 election

Israel's Netanyahu wins task of forming new government Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, is asked by President Shimon Peres to become prime minister. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has rejected an invitation to join a coalition

Roadblocks to a green economy

Obama's goal of making wind, solar and biofuels feasible will require advances in basic physics and chemistry.

H16 American Politics

Ryan Lizza / New Yorker:

Rahm Emanuel on the job. — Rahm Emanuel's office, which is no more than a three-second walk from the Oval Office, is as neat as a Marine barracks. On his desk, the files and documents, including leatherbound folders from the National Security Council, are precisely arranged, each one parallel with the desk's edge.

Michael Gerson / Washington Post:Recession's Hidden Virtues

Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:

Obama's Budget — Clearly the big story of the day is the deliberate leakage of Obama budget plans. The highlights: — Obama wants the 2013 deficit to be half the size of the 2009 deficit he inhereted. — The 2010 deficit is going to be large.

How will Obama frame his big speech Tuesday night? As President Barack Obama prepares to address Congress and the American people Tuesday night in what's effectively his first State of the Union address, he faces three key questions about how he'll use the moment

As Bailouts Increase, So Do the Doubts - Michael Goodwin, NY Daily News


How Obama Can Talk Us Out of a Depression – Jonathan Alter, Newsweek

Dark Dark Dark - Maureen Dowd, New York Times

The Age of Irresponsibility - Matthew Continetti, Weekly Standard

The Foreclosure Five - Alan Reynolds, New York Post


The Reeducation of Larry Summers - M. Hirsh & E. Thomas, Newsweek

realclearpolitics memeorandum

Daily Beast Cheat Sheet

Politico ABC’s The Note MSNBC FirstReadTime ThePage Politico Playbook

PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin

H17 Daily Telegraph British spies 'colluded with torture' of UK citizens At least 10 Britons were tortured by security services in foreign countries acting with MI5, according to civil liberties group.

China prepares to buy up foreign oil companies China is preparing to open a new phase in its race for the world's resources by using its huge currency reserves to buy foreign oil and gas companies

Karzai is US stooge says Afghan deputy president Afghanistan's president and vice-president accused each other of being US stooges during a heated recent cabinet meeting.

US turns to the Far East Telegraph View: President Barack Obama's first visitor confirms the new administration's world view.

Desperate Brown plans £500billion bank gamble A £500 billion banking bail-out will be at the centre of a rescue package announced by Gordon Brown this week amid desperation over the Government’s failure to save the economy

H18 Independent Iraq faces a new war as tensions rise in north Violence between Iraqi Kurds and Arabs is threatening to complicate US plans to withdraw troops.

Leading article: Renewed bloodshed shows peace remains elusive in Iraq

Brown flies to meet President Obama for crisis talks Economic mini-summit announced as George Soros says ‘the world financial system has disintegrated’

Hamish McRae: When downright pessimism might just be seen as a sign of hope

Nato allies split over Washington’s call for more troops

Rupert Cornwell: Heroic age of US newspapers ends with a whimper

Nuclear power? Yes please... Britain must embrace nuclear power if it is to meet its climate change commitments, four leading environmentalists warn.

Tony Juniper: Forget nuclear and focus on renewables

Chris Goodall: The green movement must learn to love nuclear power

José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero: The Spanish presidency of the EU will focus on global solidarity

Obama denies terror suspects right to trial Human rights groups have been shocked by the President's refusal to reverse George W Bush's policy in Afghanistan.

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Rajiv Chandrasekaran / Washington Post: From Captive To Suicide Bomber — Accused of Being Little More Than a Low-Level Taliban Fighter, Abdallah al-Ajmi Was Held by the U.S. for Nearly Four Years. After His Release, He Blew Up an Iraqi Army Outpost. Did Guantanamo Propel Him to Do It?

WINEP Countering Transnational Threats: Terrorism, Narco-Trafficking, and WMD Proliferation

This new Policy Focus compiles and analyzes six lectures by leading U.S. conterterrorism practitioners on the strategically important nexus between terrorism, international criminal networks, and proliferation.

U.S. Army captain learning new skills in war-torn Afghanistan U.S. Army Capt. Matthew Crowe trained to obliterate distant foes with high-explosive shellfire. But in a mud-washed, mountain-framed provincial capital in eastern Afghanistan, he is learning to be a diplomat, urban planner, construction manager, humanitarian worker and politician

Obama to Cut War Spending, Increase Taxes - Montgomery & Connolly, WP

THE US MILITARY'S EXPANDING WAISTLINE
What will Obama do with KBR?

Between a conscripted, spud-peeling military to video gamers dining on pizza and lobster claws, the difference in
US troops shows - around the waistline. A new study claims that the average American soldier gains 10 pounds during their tour of Iraq, and they're not the only ones getting fat. Texas-based KBR Inc, once a subsidiary of Halliburton, has earned $25 billion in food and construction contracts since 2001. - Pratap Chatterjee

Welcome to McArmy!
The vast and decadent dining services available to American soldiers at LSA Anaconda, the largest US base in Iraq, would astonish any World War II veteran who subsisted on canned Spam and powdered eggs. And don't forget the mini-malls, fast-food outlets or military supermarkets where soldiers stock up on cookies, Sony PlayStations and mountain bikes. - Pratap Chatterjee

War and Technology FPRI A US essay examining the relationship between military conflict and technology

Don't Bet on Obama Reining in Defense Spending
by Benjamin H. Friedman

Arms Dealer Told Top US Brass of Endemic Corruption Before His Hit-Style Murder

Pentagon: Surplus Military Items Sent to Friendly Nations Could Fall Into Wrong Hands

BBC: ‘No US rights’ for Bagram inmates — Detainees being held at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan cannot use US courts to challenge their detention, the US says. — The justice department ruled that some 600 so-called enemy combatants at Bagram have no constitutional rights.

Pamela Hess / Associated Press:
Official: Pentagon report defends Guantanamo

Obama Sides With Bush on Detainees

Obama has announced plans to shut down Guantanamo, but what will happen to the men inside? Joshua Kurlantzick on the plight of 22 Uighur detainees trapped in a legal limbo.

BOOKS: 'Bad Strategies: How Major Powers Fail in Counterinsurgency'
Washington Times

Halliburton's Army: How Cheney's Former Firm Revolutionized Warmaking and Screwed Us in the Process

One-third of deaths in Britain’s military caused by accidents Internal documents reveal MoD must ‘improve significantly’ to counter health and safety failings

H20 Slate

Global Education Digest 2008 UNESCO Institute for Statistics This 297-page digest compares education statistics for more than 200 countries and territories

H21 What Would Smith Say? The financial meltdown, through the eyes of the father of capitalism.

Why do smart people live longer? Ian Deary wants to know.

Fair play, the Platini way Richard Corbett: The Uefa president's support for a football salary cap could help prevent clubs from disappearing under a mountain of debt

Oscars results - all the winners Interactive: Find out who's won what and say who you think should have gone home with a statuette

Giving the boss your last word

Farewell e-mails become an art form in this age of pink slips. Some are funny, some are sad — and some are just plain furious

Ever wonder what would happen if the world’s top minds came together to establish a university? (and more and more)

From Metapsychology, a review of Evil Genes: Why Rome Fell, Hitler Rose, Enron Failed, and My Sister Stole My Mother's Boyfriend by Barbara Oakley

The thing about beautiful design is that you don’t need an expert to explain it. However, if you do have an expert, let’s say, a mathematician, at hand... more»

After the e-book comes the ex-book

Many young people prefer pleasure-seeking to politics — but for how long?

Cooking: forms of preparing food are humanity’s “killer app” – the evolutionary change that underpins all of the others... more»

The bourgeoisie will eventually draw even the most barbarian nations into civilization, said Karl Marx. He knew the power of the middle class... more»

Finding the lost city

Does the Amazon jungle conceal a vanished empire? (By David Grann, Boston Globe)

Japan’s fearless women speculators Housewives are far more powerful than western stereotypes allow as many ‘Mrs Watanabes’ have added international finance to their daily chores, writes David Pilling

Who is to blame for the world economic crisis? Does market capitalism have a future? Big questions – in Paris in 1938... more»

Salvador Dalí seemed a mad genius and cheerful fraud. The real Dalí was pitiable, a prisoner of his greed and pathologies... more»

Ancient Greek joke. Man complains to his doctor, “When I wake up in the morning, I’m dizzy for 20 minutes” Doctor advises, “Then wake up 20 minutes later”... more»

“I’ll scarcely be persuaded that anything good can come from Arabia,” said Petrarch. Little did he grasp the depth of Islamic thought... more» ... more»

Intellectuals flatter themselves by pitting their virtues against public philistinism. Better, argues Andrew Delbanco, that they should ask how they might earn back public trust... more»

Monumental egos

A radical plan for Obama's presidential library: Let's cancel it (By Mark Feeney, Boston Globe)

Should scientists study possible links between race and IQ? Neuroscientist Stephen Rose says No. Psychologists Stephen Ceci and Wendy Williams say Yes. Comments here and here.

The old Plan B was a fantasy of dropping everything for a better life; now it’s the backup plan for when the worst comes to pass.

The superior civilization: Tim Flannery reviews The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance, and Strangeness of Insect Societies by Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson.

From Nerve, an interview with Daniel Bergner, author of The Other Side of Desire.

Scientists close in on 'universal' vaccine for flu...

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What they have said about Foreign Press Review
"FPR'ın iki "kötü" özelliği var: 1. Alışkanlık yaratıyor, onsuz yapamaz hale geliyorsunuz; 2. Değeri alındığı değil, arada bir de olsa, alınamadığı vakit anlaşılıyor. Bir de sürekli bir kaygıya yol açıyor; 'Ya bir gün kesilir ve onu hiç alamazsam' duygusuyla sürekli yaşamak kolay değil."

Cengiz Çandar


"... fantastic .... an outstanding and unique service, not just for those who follow Turkey closely, but those who follow international trends and ideas. ... selection of material is some of the best anywhere ... coverage of the Turkish press and Turkish issues is truly unsurpassed .... outstanding and intelligent service"

Graham Fuller


"... extremely useful"

Andrew Mango


"FPR olmadan ne yapardım ya da bugüne kadar ne yapmışım bilemiyorum"

Soli Özel


"Güne başlamak için FPR’den daha iyi bir yol düşünemiyorum"

Hasan Ünal


Makaleler


Ankara ve Güneydeki Riskler 29 Aralık 2011
İslamcı Dalga Üzerine 5 Aralık 2011
Ankara’ya Suriye ile İlgili Bazı Tahlil, Tahmin, Uyarı ve Öneriler 2 Kasım 2011
İran ile İlgili Son Amerikan İddiaları ve Türkiye 16 Ekim 2011
Ankara Suriye’de “Rejim Değişikliği” Politikasına Geçerken 28 Eylül 2011
Türk Dış Politika Gündemine Dair 7 Kısa Not 6 Eylül 2011
“Zafer İlan Et ve Kaç:” ABD ve Afganistan’dan “Sorumluca” Çekilmenin Mantığı 23 Haziran 2011
Orta Doğu'da Durum Raporu 25 Mayıs 2011
Bin Ladin’in Öldürülmesi Üzerine Notlar 25 Mayıs 2011
Bin Ladin’in Öldürülmesi Üzerine 15 Kısa Not 3 Mayıs 2011
ABD ve Karadeniz Nisan 2011

Türkiye Beşar’a Ne Demeli? Suriye'de “52 Cuma” Reformsuz Geçmez 20 Nisan 2011
Amerika-Sonrası Dünyanın Provası Olarak Libya Krizi ve Türkiye 22 Mart 2011
“Demokratikleştiremediklerimizden misiniz?”: Orta Doğu’daki Değişim Dalgasının Neden, Şekil ve Olası Sonuçları 10 Şubat 2011
Analiz Üzerine Notlar 14 Ocak 2011
Wikileaks Üzerine Notlar ve Yorumlar 23 Aralık 2010
Enerji ve Güvenliği Üzerine Notlar 29 Kasım 2010
Amerikan Travması ve Kongre Seçimleri 23 Kasım 2010
Füze Savunması Üzerine 20 Soru ve 5 Seçenek 20 Ekim 2010
Obama Ekibinde Yaprak Dökümü - Beyaz Saray’dan Kaçış mı? 12 Ekim 2010
"Kürt Devleti" Üzerine Notlar ve Çeşitlemeler 23 Eylül 2010
Mullen’ın Ankara Ziyareti 7 Eylül 2010
ABD’nin Afganistan’daki Seçenekleri 24 Ağustos 2010
Financial Times Haberinin Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri Üzerine Düşündürttükleri 18 Ağustos 2010
İsrail-ABD-İran-Türkiye Dörtgeni 26 Temmuz 2010
Bay Netanyahu Washington’a Gitti: Böyle mi Olacaktı, Obama? 16 Temmuz 2010
Stratejik Dehlizlerde Derinlik Sarhoşluğu: Bir AKP Dış Politikası Eleştirisi Temmuz 2010
Rus Casusluk Olayı: "John Le Carre mi, Austin Powers mı?" 5 Temmuz 2010
“Mahalleye Hoş Geldin”:Türkiye’nin Orta Doğu’da İlk Günü 02 Haziran 2010
Nükleer Takas: “Savaşı Bitiren Anlaşma” mı, “Acem Oyunu” mu? 20 Mayıs 2010
ABD Irak’tan Çekilirken Riskler ve Hesaplar 1 Mayıs 2010
ABD-İsrail İlişkilerinde “Normalleşme” Sancıları 22 Nisan 2010
Obama’nın Nükleer Cazibe Taarruzu: Bardağın Üçte Biri Dolu 9 Nisan 2010
ABD-İsrail İlişkilerinde “Tektonik Kayma” mı? 5 Nisan 2010
Irak Seçimleri: Sonun Başlangıcı, Başlangıcın Sonu 19 Mart 2010
Ermeni Karar Tasarısı Üzerine Notlar, Yorumlar ve Öneriler 8 Mart 2010
Ermeni Karar Tasarısı Üzerine Notlar, Yorumlar ve Öneriler 8 Mart 2010 (word)
Bütçe Açığı ve Amerikan Gerilemesinin Ekonomi Politiği 19 Şubat 2010
Cemaat-skeptic 6 Ocak 2010
AKP bir seçim daha kazanırsa burası FC olur 4 Ocak 2010
ABD bu işin neresinde? 29 Aralık 2009
Türkiye-Ermenistan Protokolü Üzerine Düşünceler 3 Eylül 2009
"Obama’nın Savaşı":AfPak Üzerine Notlar 20 Nisan 2009
Obama’nın Ardından 17 Nisan 2009
Obama’nın Türkiye Gezisi ve Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri 19 Mart 2009
ABD ve Orta Doğu Barış Süreci Mart 2009
Obama’nın “Kırkı Çıkarken” Mart 2009

ABD-PKK “İlişkisi” Üzerine Notlar Şubat 2009
Mahşerin Üç Atlısı: Ross, Holbrooke ve Mitchell 5 Şubat 2009
SOFA ABD için Irak’ta “Sonun Başlangıcı” mı? Ocak 2009
Obama Döneminde ABD ve Asya 15 Ocak 2009
Obama’nın Güvenlik Kabinesi Üzerine Notlar 4 Aralık 2008
Yeni ABD Başkanı Obama ve Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri 6 Kasım 2008
ABD Başkanlık Seçimlerinin Türk-Amerikan İlişkilerine Muhtemel Etkileri 30 Ekim 2008
ABD Başkanlık Seçimleri Ekim 2008
Obama’nın Biden’ı Tercihinin Bir Tahlili 26 Ağustos 2008
Amerikan Sağı Üzerine Notlar Ağustos 2008
Gürcistan Krizi, ABD ve Türkiye 11 Ağustos 2008
Obama'nın Dış Gezisi 29 Temmuz 2008
Başkan Bush’un Avrupa Gezisi ve Transatlantik İlişkileri 18 Haziran 2008
ABD Seçimleri (ppt) - 10 Haziran 2008
"Sessiz Tsunami": Global Gıda Krizi (ppt) - 29 Nisan 2008
Amiral Fallon'un İstifası 13 Mart 2008
ABD ve PKK İlişkisi Üzerine Notlar 22 Kasım 2007
“İçeride Liberal, Dışarıda Şahin”: K. Irak’a Harekat Üzerine Notlar 25 Ekimy 2007
K.Irak'a Ekonomik Müeyyideler Üzerine Sorular 25 Ekimy 2007
Irak "Hamle"sinin Muhasebesi Eylül 2007
Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri - Yeni Dönemin Gündemi Eylül 2007
ABD, K. Irak ve Türkiye Üzerine Notlar ve Sorular Haziran 2007
ABD ve Orta Doğu: "Müflis mirasyedi" mi "stratejik deha" mı? Mayıs 2007
Recommendations for Strengthening U.S.-Turkish Relations February 26, 2007
ABD'nin Irak'taki Seçenekleri Ocak 2007
'Topal Ördek'le İki Yıl Daha: 2006 Kongre Seçimleri Aralık 2006
U.S.: Empire, Gulliver or the “First Among Unequals” (ppt) - ASAM 2023 Conference - October 2006
Türk-Amerikan İlişkilerinde “İkinci Bahar” mı, “Sonun Başlangıcı” mı? Stratejik Analiz - Haziran 2006 -
Irak’ta Direnişin ve İşgalin Gölgesinde Demokrasi Deneyi Avrasya Dosyası - İslam ve Demokrasi Özel Sayısı
Gurur ve Önyargı: ABD İran Gerginliği ve Türkiye Stratejik Analiz Nisan 2006 - (pdf)
Arzın Merkezine Seyahat: ABD Ulusal Güvenlik Konseyi - Journey to the Center of the World: U.S. National Security Council Avrasya Dosyası 2005
Dört Tarz-ı Siyaset: Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri ve Başbakan Erdoğan’ın Washington Ziyareti Temmuz 2005
11 Eylül’den Sonra Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri: Eski Dostlar mı Eskimeyen Dostlar mı? Avrasya Dosyası - 2005
“Dört Yıl Daha”: Yeni Bush Yönetimi ve Dünya Aralık 2004
2004’ten 2005’e Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri Aralık 2004
Türkiye, Iraklı Kürtler ve Statükonun Meşruiyeti Nisan 2004 - eksik
Askerî Alanda Devrim: Askerî Bir Senfoni Ocak 2004
Çirkin Amerikalı’ ile ‘Güven Bunalımı’: ‘Süleymaniye Krizi ve Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri Temmuz 2003 - ( pdf )
The Middle East: A Land of Opportunity and Peril for Turkey - May 2003
Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri Üzerine Notlar: Ataerkil Yapıdan Tüccar Mantığına mı? Mayıs 2003
Türkiye, ABD ve Irak Harekâtı: Hayır Diyebilen Türkiye? - Şubat 2003
Değişim, ‘Sense of Proportion’ ve Tarihin Yararları ile Sınırları Üzerine Nisan 2003
ABD Güvenlik Politikalarında Güç Kullanımı ve Caydırıcılık Ağustos 2002
“Yalnız Kovboy” ya da “Eşit Olmayanlar Arasında Birinci”: ABD Dış Politikasında Tektaraflılık-Çoktaraflılık Tartışmaları Mart 2002
İyi, Kötü ve Çirkin: ABD'nin Orta Doğu Politikaları Ocak 2002
Unilateralism corrupts, absolute unilateralism corrupts absolutely Turkish News, May 21, 2002
ABD ve Afganistan: Çıkış Var mı? Kasım 2001
Realism and Change
Crime and Punishment - Deterrence and its Failure in Theory and Practice 2001
“Tüketebileceğimizden Daha Fazla Değişim” ya da Eskimeyen Dünya Düzeni Ekim 2001
“ABD-AB İlişkilerinde Metal Yorgunluğu” Haziran 2001
It never rains circa. 1991.
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