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TurcoPundit
23 March 2009
  March 23, 2009

032309f - 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 BBC Obama ponders Afghan 'exit plan' Obama says the US must have an "exit strategy" in Afghanistan, despite sending more troops there. Obama's new Afghan strategy

NYT ROGER COHEN From Tehran to Tel Aviv One of the strategic issues of the Obama presidency will be a painful but necessary redefinition of America’s relations with Israel as differences over Iran sharpen.

LRB The Lobby Falters John Mearsheimer

Ha’aretz U.S. plan for Iran: Talks alongside sanctions

U.S. furious over Israel's demolition of East Jerusalem homes

PA source: Iran-backed group may be behind Haifa bomb attempt Source tells Haaretz that Hezbollah is trying to recruit Palestinians to carry out terror attacks in Israel

Olmert: Netanyahu may lead Israel into unprecedented isolation PM slams Barak coalition bid, says gov't that rejects two states won't find international cooperation on Iran

Meshal welcomes Obama's 'new language' on Mideast In interview with La Repubblica, Hamas politburo chief says U.S., EU overtures to Hamas 'a matter of time'.

GuardianUS will appoint 'Afghan PM' to bypass Hamid Karzai White House plans new executive role to challenge corrupt government in Kabul Hamid Karzai: how west's man fell out of favour

Is it 1929 or 1989? Dominique Moisi: We may be in the throes of an epochal change whose unfolding consequences will be felt for decades

Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia
· The Right Direction for U.S. Policy Toward Russia: A Report from the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia

New York Times THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Are We Home Alone? The country is in a once-a-century financial crisis, and the adults at the top have descended into politics worse than usual.

White House Memo: Leading Military at Time of War, but Not as a ‘War President’

Obama Says a Way Out of Afghanistan Is Needed

A Religious War in Israel’s Army After the harshness in Gaza, a clash over who will control battle ethics.

Century Foundation
· Iran’s Role in Post-Occupation Iraq: Enemy, Good Neighbor, or Overlord?

Wall Street Journal Nobel Economist Gary Becker: Now Is No Time to Give Up on Markets

It's Time to 'Go to Strength' on Foreign Policy By Leslie H. Gelb
We should focus more on improving alliances, less on the hard problems of South Asia.

Iran's Axis of Nuclear Evil By John Bolton
Now we know the mullahs were paying for the Syrian reactor that Israel destroyed.

Bond Bolsters U.S. Hopes in Pakistan The Obama administration's hopes of stabilizing Pakistan rest on the strong bond between military chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.

Newsweek A Serious Threat to Trade - Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek

Iran Has Started a Mideast Arms Race Wall Street Journal By AMIR TAHERI

CATO · CATO Handbook for Policymakers (7th ed)

Lessons from Iraq - Korb, Duggan & Conley, Center for American Progress

Los Angeles Times U.S. missile strikes take heavy toll on Al Qaeda, officials say Predator drone attacks in northwest Pakistan have increased sharply since Bush last year stopped seeking Pakistan's permission. Obama may keep pace as officials speak of confusion in Al Qaeda ranks

Defense Science Board (DSB) · Understanding Human Dynamics This report looks at understanding human dynamics as an essential aspect of planning and necessary for success across the full spectrum of military and national security operations. The report focuses on the following areas:

*importance of human dynamics in future US military operations
*coordination and leadership
*interagency and civil interactions
*education, training, and career development
*human dynamics advisors
*science and technology investments
*data, tools and products

Washington Post American Capitalism at Ebb Tide

By Robert J. Samuelson, Page A15

Can it survive the present populist backlash?

Critical Mass in Afghanistan

By Jackson Diehl, Though Obama has yet to spell out his strategy, his attempt to turn around a failing war is beginning.

A Conversation With David Kilcullen Interview by Carlos Lozada, Insights from the man whose theories on insurgencies are reshaping military thinking throughout the West.

Editorial Plowshares for Peace How the U.S. can help revitalize economies in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Behind the Afghan Strategy

By Jim Hoagland, What you won't hear about the president's Afghanistan policy over the next two weeks.

French Push U.S. on Global Crisis

Premier Is Extolling Sarkozy Plan to a Skeptical Obama Team

The Observer Gaza war crime claims gather pace as more troops speak out Israeli soldiers give evidence about military policy towards Gaza in new investigation

Even as the Afghan war rages, the talking starts Jason Burke travels across Afghanistan to trace the complex web of negotiations that some say could end the war

Arab League reaches out to Iraq In his first visit to Iraq since 2005, Arab League secretary general Amr Mousa pushed hard for reconciliation and urged the league's 22 member states to revive diplomatic relations with the war-torn country. Mousa even announced that next year's summit will be held in Baghdad, leaving ordinary Iraqis to wonder what Arab leaders will see if they arrive in the devastated capital one year from now. - Sami Moubayed

Newsweek Power Up China will emerge stronger from the economic crisis

Twelve steps to a new grand strategy Great Powers: America and the World after Bush by Thomas P M Barnett

He Recounted to Al-Hayat a Long Story of Pursuit That Changed the Face of Iraq and Shook Up the Balance of The Region (1) By Ghassan Charbel Ahmad Chalabi: A double agent who deceived the "C.I.A" and exposed the plan of the coup

Daily Star Only Assad can make it clear that Syria is embarking on a new path

The US can promote democracy, smartly By Dima M. Toukan

The misguided judgment behind the Bashir warrant By Robert Skidelsky

Is the US talking to Iran, or dictating?
By Rami G. Khouri

Jerusalem Post Waltz with Sisyphus: Israel's impossible propaganda war


We think our tears will win sympathy. In fact, they encourage our enemies and confuse our supporters.

Hamas's Free Lunch - Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post Congressional sources claim that Obama has selected Scowcroft to replace Chas Freeman as chairman of the National Intelligence Council.

Newsweek The New Shopping Superpower

Jim O'Neill The BRICs rely increasingly on domestic demand and can boom even if export markets like the U.S. slow.

The Enemy Of the Good Evan Thomas and John Barry President Obama has an ambitious agenda and an economy to fix. Yet hundreds of top government posts stand empty. One reason: over-the-top ethics rules are disqualifying or driving away some of the best and the brightest.

Supranationalism and Mythologies of American Power Japan Focus

Christian Science Monitor

Russia sees chance to boost US ties Obama's outreach to Iran lifts hopes that the US and Russia can find more common ground in their bids to get Iran to curtail its nuclear program.

Holbrooke: western Pakistan key to resolving Afghanistan war

The US special envoy told allies at the Brussels Forum that the Talibanization of the region was a top concern.

Will deficits trim Obama's agenda? Even Democrats signal adjustments are likely, given rising projections for budgetary red ink.

Financial Times Europe coughs up What the weekend EU summit delivered were important agreements to reinforce the safety nets for those countries facing credit and currency crises, plus a timetable for agreeing new regulation

Obama strikes new tone with Tehran

The west’s aim of preventing Iran acquiring an atomic bomb is best achieved by a ‘grand bargain’, offering Iran security but making it part responsible for the security and stability of the region

Strike faster on death-wish finance

AIG’s business model, which involved insuring risks taken by other financial groups on an insupportable scale, had moral hazard written all over its transactions. Intervene early or risk having to choose between Lehman and its consequences in 2008 and AIG and its consequences in 2009, says Clive Crook

Peripheral care should be the central concern George Soros on what the G20 should be addressing

Europe needs a better plan for its banks Wolfgang Münchau on rethinking rescue strategies

Revival requires a broad spread of demand Kemal Dervis says a quick recovery is possible

The fearsome become the fallen After writing off more than $1,000bn, banks have seen their market value shrink and power shift

H2 Newsweek Turkey’s Secret Power Brokers The Islamists aren't getting rid of Turkey's shady Deep State, but replacing it with one of their own. By Soner Cagaptay

US troop withdrawal through Turkey may get PM's OK CNN International

'Süpermen' Davutoğlu, Washington'dan nasıl geçti?

ÖMER TAŞPINAR Başarılı bir ziyaret

The German Marshall Fund of the United States "Turkey and Obama: A Golden Age in Turkish U.S. Ties?", Amberin Zaman

FT Revival requires a broad spread of demand Kemal Dervis says a quick recovery is possible

Pragmatic Shift in Turkey Wall Street Journal Turkey's government finances are strong and banks and households aren't highly in debt, as they are in many Central and Eastern European countries.

Turkey's Opposition Chief Faces Another Poll Loss

Turkey Could Block Rasmussen At NATO

US backs Danish PM as next NATO chief: diplomats

Washington Post Iraq's Kurds Find Prosperity Brings Distrust -- Tensions Churn Over Who Benefits in Economy Dominated by Two Parties: Tensions Churn Over Who Benefits In Economy Dominated by Parties

Davutoğlu rules out shift from transatlantic axis

ABD Askerlerinin Türkiye Üzerinden Çekilmesine Şartlı Evet

Gül makes first presidential visit to Iraq in 33 years

Obama hesitates over Armenian pledge
The National

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 Iraq's Kurds Find Prosperity Brings Distrust -- Tensions Churn Over Who Benefits in Economy Dominated by Two Parties

Turkey pardons defected PKK rebels

Turkey's Gul in Landmark Iraq Visit

Bloodied by history, Kurds fret over an uncertain future Stars and Stripes

Kurdish conference stirs hot debate

Views on the Prospects of Iraq's Oil and Gas Resources: ( Posted ...

Turkey positive on Arbil conference - FM

Iran to double power exports to Turkey in '09- min

Turkish exports to Iraq rise 75 percent

Cevdet Aşkın

Turkey's President To Visit Iraq On Monday

Turkey Starts Armenian, Kurdish Language Radio Channels

Turkish Minister Underlines Strong Ties with Iran

Turkish army expects all support to PKK in northern Iraq to end

Finding Kurdistan Kurdish Aspect

The Kurdish Summit Kurdish Aspect

Iran and South Azerbaijan – The Azeri Search for National ...

Turkey rejects confrontation with Iranians

Books about Kurds,Kurditsan: The Invisible War in North Kurdistan

Turkey reiterates support for RP peace process

‘Divided cities’ leaders to gather, advise Iraqis Stars and Stripes - A decade later, O’Malley convinced 16 Iraqis from Kirkuk to meet many of those same negotiators, including Martin McGuinness, the former IRA leader who now ...

Kirkuk Prelate Says Christians' Self-Rule Demand 'Fantasy'

Erdogan Open to US Troops Withdrawing Through Turkey

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

US 'backs Danish PM as Nato head'

The US is prepared to back Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Nato's next secretary general, reports say.

Stanley, I Presume by Stanley Johnson Stanley's paternal grandfather, Ali Kemal Bey, one of the last interior ministers in the Turkish imperial government, was murdered in 1922 by supporters of ...

Fat Lady Sings to the Tune of 200 Million for Nabucco GlobalPost

Analysis: Massive tanker traffic threatens Istanbul and Turkish ...
United Press International

What's Behind Obama's Plans to Visit Turkey

Greek lobby aims to stop Clinton-Talat meeting

Obama to attend forum forging links between faiths

'Propaganda' Turkish film about 1915 'genocide' revives old dispute

A Strong Call to Obama & Biden
Greek News

Turks want co-federation in Cyprus

Newsweek The Muslim Next Door Paul Hockenos Germany's Muslims are often cut off from society. But a new school for imams aims to change that.

Were the 1915 deaths of Armenians genocide?

Obama's promises, then and now
Los Angeles Times

Turkey has three problems - Cyprus, Kurdish and Armenian
Cyprus Observer

Why the EU Needs Turkey - Jonathan Fryer

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

FT Other people's memories

Turkey hopes to use water to build peace, minister Eroğlu says

As Climate Changes, Is Water The New Oil?

Past perfect? Hello! Hos geldiniz! Welcome to Turkey

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 ROGER COHEN From Tehran to Tel Aviv One of the strategic issues of the Obama presidency will be a painful but necessary redefinition of America’s relations with Israel as differences over Iran sharpen.

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Are We Home Alone? The country is in a once-a-century financial crisis, and the adults at the top have descended into politics worse than usual.

White House Memo: Leading Military at Time of War, but Not as a ‘War President’

Obama Says a Way Out of Afghanistan Is Needed

A Religious War in Israel’s Army After the harshness in Gaza, a clash over who will control battle ethics.

PAUL KRUGMAN Financial Policy Despair If Barack Obama’s bank rescue plan fails, it is unlikely that Congress will come up with more funds to do what should have been done in the first place.

The Downside of Letting Robots Do the Bombing As drone strikes kill off Al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan, Washington struggles to understand the long-term implications of a push-button conflict.

Saudis Retool to Root Out Terrorist Risk

Study Backs Bosnian Serb’s Claim of Immunity

Iraqi Offer of Scholarships Draws Crowds to U.S. College Recruiters

Iran’s Supreme Leader Rebuffs Obama Message

Governor in Russia Is Ousted by Kremlin

Hungary’s Premier Offers to Resign

Worries Voiced Over Global Economy

U.S. Rounding Up Investors to Buy Bad Assets The Obama administration worked to persuade private investors to buy troubled assets, ahead of Monday’s announcement of the administration’s plan for the government to do so.

Trade Barriers Rise as the Recession’s Grip Tightens A surge in protectionism is provoking nasty trade disputes and undermining efforts to plot a coordinated response to the global economic downturn.

FRANK RICH Has a ‘Katrina Moment’ Arrived? Until Barack Obama addresses Americans’ anger with his full arsenal of policy smarts and political gifts, his presidency and our economy will be paralyzed.

MAUREEN DOWD Toxic R Us The tableau of Michelle Obama hoisting a pitchfork on the South Lawn and warning that the commander in chief would be commandeered into yard work left me wondering if the wrong Obama is in the Oval.

Mr. Obama and the Rule of Law Some of the Obama administration’s statements on issues like state secrets and detainees sound a bit too close for comfort to the Bush team’s benighted ideas.

Eating Food That’s Better for You, Organic or Not The American diet needs an overhaul. But “organic” food offers no guarantee of eating well, healthfully, sanely, even ethically.

A Sturdier Russia Beckons Its Children Home The government is trying to head off a severe population decline by luring back Russians from as far as Uruguay.

Administration Seeks Increase in Oversight of Executive Pay

Obama Responds to Criticism From Cheney

Stopping ‘Stop-Loss’ The stop-loss program, which forces soldiers to remain in the military after their enlistments end, should only be used in unique circumstances.

Drug Cartel Violence Spills Into U.S. From Mexico

New Status in Africa Empowers an Ever-Eccentric Qaddafi

U.S. Kills 5 Afghans in Raid on House

Expulsion of Aid Groups Raises Risks in Darfur

Chávez Denounces Obama as ‘Ignorant’

Quiet Vote in Macedonia Quells Fears of Violence

Pakistan’s Chief Justice Returns to Work

Obrezje Journal: Slovenia Border Spat Imperils Croatia’s NATO Bid

When the Economy Really Did ‘Fall Off a Cliff’ By JEAN STROUSE A look back at the handling of another financial crisis a full century ago underlines the point about decisive action

H5 Washington Post Editorial Plowshares for Peace How the U.S. can help revitalize economies in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Behind the Afghan Strategy

By Jim Hoagland, What you won't hear about the president's Afghanistan policy over the next two weeks.

French Push U.S. on Global Crisis

Premier Is Extolling Sarkozy Plan to a Skeptical Obama Team

In Iraq, Chaos Feared as U.S. Closes Prison Ex-Inmates Reanimate Sunni, Shiite Militias

The Corporate Giants We Love to Hate Have Shrugged It Off Before

By Charles R. Geisst, In the 1930s, the term 'public enemy' was reserved for gangsters and bootleggers. Today, we have a new breed. The financiers.

Thank God America Isn't Like Europe -- Yet By Charles Murray, We need to remember why America is exceptional, and why it is so important that America remain exceptional

Presidential Commission on Torture Is Critical to America's Security Why a Presidential Commission on Torture Is Critical to America's Security

By Thomas R. Pickering and William S. Sessions Why a presidential commission on torture is critical to America's security.

American Capitalism at Ebb Tide

By Robert J. Samuelson, Page A15

Can it survive the present populist backlash?

The Wealth Gap Gets Wider

By Meizhu Lui, For every dollar of wealth held by the typical white family, the African American family has only one dime.

Obama vs. the Dodgers

By E.J. Dionne Jr., He must challenge Washington's habit of evading substantive issues by transforming them into procedural questions.

Critical Mass in Afghanistan

By Jackson Diehl, Though Obama has yet to spell out his strategy, his attempt to turn around a failing war is beginning.

Let AIG Go Bankrupt David Ignatius | We can't afford to let AIG and the zombie banks become political pawns. Bankruptcy is the answer

Economic Optimism From Australia's Prime Minister By David Ignatius, The prime minister of Australia offers some encouraging signs on the global economy.

Iran's Supreme Leader Rebuffs Obama Vow of Better Ties but Doesn't Rule Out Talks

Iran's Repression of Women

By Haleh Bakhash, Tehran is stepping up its campaign to silence female writers and activists.

Obama Looks for Calm in a Firestorm President Must Balance Anger at Wall Street With Need for Its Big Players to Help Revive the Economy

Treasury Presses Ahead With Plan For Toxic Assets New Body to Work With Private Investors

A Conversation With David Kilcullen Interview by Carlos Lozada, Insights from the man whose theories on insurgencies are reshaping military thinking throughout the West.

5 Myths on Nuclear Power

By TODD TUCKER, We dispel ingering misconceptions about one of our nation's largest sources of electricity.

Closing Military Bases By John Pomfret, One professor suggests it would cut billions from the federal budget.

Obama Plans Anti-Drug Effort on Border to Aid Mexico Obama Plans to Send Agents, Equipment To Aid Mexican Fight

Car Bomb Found Near Crowded Israeli Mall

Police discover roughly 200 pounds of explosives that had failed to go off, but would have been enough to have caused a devastating blast at the Lev Hamifratz shopping cente

Obama Backs Geithner Despite Vast Criticisms — No Talk of Treasury Secretary Resigning, President Says in ‘60 Minutes' Interview

Red Ink Red Alert A congressional report should give the president pause. THE NEW estimates by the Congressional Budget Office showing a federal deficit of 13.1 percent of gross domestic product for the current budget year, which began Oct. 1, are neither surprising nor particularly alarming, though it's larger than the 12.3 percent foreseen by the White House.

Obama Told Us To Speak Out, But Is He Listening? By William Greider

The president is getting the citizen engagement he asked for. Could it devour his presidency?

A Recession Only Steinbeck Could Love By Rachel Dry, There's nothing like a Great Recession to make people want to read about the Great Depression.

The End of Bipartisanship for Obama's Big Initiatives?

Robert C. Byrd, Larry J. Sabato, Marcy Kaptur and others weigh in.

Crunch Time for Fixing Health Care

By Ruth Marcus, Decisions made now will help decide whether comprehensive reform finally comes to fruition.

Obama's Campaign Army on Road Again Volunteers Rally Support for Budget Plan

Bad Example Mexico's justified retaliation against U.S. trucking protectionism

Advisers To Obama Wary of Bonus Tax

Asset Plan Readied; President Reiterates Support for Geithner

Foreign Firms May Cash In on Stimulus Act With Expertise U.S. Companies Lack Some Have Expertise U.S. Companies Lack

After Turmoil, Pakistani Judge Returns to Work

H6 GuardianUS will appoint 'Afghan PM' to bypass Hamid Karzai White House plans new executive role to challenge corrupt government in Kabul Hamid Karzai: how west's man fell out of favour

Is it 1929 or 1989? Dominique Moisi: We may be in the throes of an epochal change whose unfolding consequences will be felt for decades

White House ready to let Guantánamo inmates settle on US mainland Obama administration reconciled to allowing some of Guantánamo Bay inmates on to US soil

French ethnic data plan causes uproar Sabeg will launch a commission to examine methods of collecting statistics on ethnic make-up

Leaders have not shown the courage to explain what the war really means Madeleine Bunting: As British soldier deaths in Afghanistan become horribly routine, it grows clearer that no one knows what they are fighting for

G20">G20 warned unrest will sweep globe Fears that downturn will drive millions back below the poverty line unless major powers provide aid

MI5 needs stronger oversight

In praise of ... the International Crisis Group Editorial: The ICG blew the whistle on Darfur, East Timor and northern Uganda before those conflicts erupted

Deliverance and the day trip

Editorial: The cynical view is that both the prime minister and the president want to make their outsized overdrafts look respectable

Some of us are looking at the stars Editorial: Quietly and with almost no flourish, the space agencies of the US and Europe last month settled upon a new joint mission

Brown's global plans for tax havens Prime minister to discuss proposals for a multilateral exchange of information on 'offshore' accounts

The Observer Gaza war crime claims gather pace as more troops speak out Israeli soldiers give evidence about military policy towards Gaza in new investigation

Even as the Afghan war rages, the talking starts Jason Burke travels across Afghanistan to trace the complex web of negotiations that some say could end the war

We are about to take the war against terror to a new level

Gordon Brown: We should be under no illusion that the biggest security threat to our country are the murderous agents of hate - al-Qaid

Obama should beware the growing anger in America

Michael Crowley: With the scandalous revelations of bonuses at AIG, Americans may be ready to welcome a popular anti-Barack demagogue

US tries to tempt Taliban into politics Move part of political strategy alongside military efforts to end increasingly intractable conflict

Even as the Afghan war rages, the talking start

H7 Century Foundation
· Iran’s Role in Post-Occupation Iraq: Enemy, Good Neighbor, or Overlord?

Iraq, Six Years On - New York Post

Daily Star Only Assad can make it clear that Syria is embarking on a new path

The US can promote democracy, smartly By Dima M. Toukan

The misguided judgment behind the Bashir warrant By Robert Skidelsky

Is the US talking to Iran, or dictating?
By Rami G. Khouri

Arab League reaches out to Iraq In his first visit to Iraq since 2005, Arab League secretary general Amr Mousa pushed hard for reconciliation and urged the league's 22 member states to revive diplomatic relations with the war-torn country. Mousa even announced that next year's summit will be held in Baghdad, leaving ordinary Iraqis to wonder what Arab leaders will see if they arrive in the devastated capital one year from now. - Sami Moubayed

Twelve steps to a new grand strategy Great Powers: America and the World after Bush by Thomas P M Barnett
Since George W Bush left office, many Americans have begun soul-searching, questioning the nature of US power and how it should be used. This book is a well-reasoned argument for the US to re-engage with the world's problems, though it should be remembered that the rest of the international community has some reservations about its intentions. - Benjamin A Shobert

INTERVIEW Redefining America's global role Tom Barnett's latest book tackles everything from religion and the right way to engage China to how the US military needed to go through its long hard slog in Iraq to evolve. "My thinking was that if we are going to do something to shake up a calcified Middle East, taking on Saddam made sense," the author tells Benjamin A Shobert. As for China, there's a partnership waiting to happen

Between the lines

How to read Obama's message to Iran

Brookings · On a New Footing: U.S.-Syria Relations

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP)
· The Oil Boom in the GCC Countries: Old Challenges, Changing Dynamics

Palestine: Victim of Arab Betrayal - Nonie Darwish, The Australian

Kuwait's democracy experiment on the line by Nathan Brown

Al-Hayat: no reconciliation bw Iraqi government and Baath Party in exile .. as Saleh Mutlaq blames Maliki's partners for blocking path to real reconciliation.

Happy New Year, Mullahs - William Kristol, Weekly Standard

Clinton Pushes On Without Full Staff Hillary Clinton faces several more months without a full roster of staff as the State Department pushes ahead with an ambitious overhaul of U.S. foreign policy.

E-diplomacy? Hillary Clinton embraces new media


King Abdullah's Revolution - Christopher Dickey, Newsweek


Iran Too Important to Ignore - The Independent


Talking to Tehran - The Times

Ahmadinejad's Lucky Day - Saeed Kamali Dehghan, The Guardian

G-20 and Globalized World - Arthur Cyr, China Post

netwmd - An Assessment of the Obama Mideast Team

Diplomacy by Bumper Sticker
American Enterprise Institute

DANIEL DREZNER Foreign-policy wonks know nothing about the economy

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

Hamas chief hails Obama approach

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal credits US President Barack Obama with using a "new language" for the Middle East.

A religious war within the Israeli Army

Iraq Troop Withdrawals Could Quicken The top U.S. general in Iraq said he may recommend further troop cuts by the end of the summer if progress continues.

Assad in Jordan for first time since 2005

US: Half of Iraqi Prisoners 'Dangerous'

Chaos Feared as US Closes Prison - Washington Post

News Analysis: Iraq prepares for post-US occupation era

Obama's overtures 'just a slogan', says Iran's spiritual head

Vicious cycle Is there a way out of Kuwait's repeating crises?

Maliki needs coalition in Basra; Warlords eyed in Afghanistan

Maliki seeks coalition in Basra; UNHCR assists resettlement of 122 Iraqi refugees; January elections were no panacea for Iraq; Warlords prompt skepticism in Afghan strategy; Budget woes complicate Afghan troops; Afghan effort needs political will

Views on the Prospects of Iraq's Oil and Gas Resources: ( Posted ...

Tensions Churn Over Who Benefits In Economy Dominated by Parties
Washington Post

H9 Ha’aretz U.S. plan for Iran: Talks alongside sanctions

U.S. furious over Israel's demolition of East Jerusalem homes

PA source: Iran-backed group may be behind Haifa bomb attempt Source tells Haaretz that Hezbollah is trying to recruit Palestinians to carry out terror attacks in Israel

How did a car bomb get into the Haifa mall parking lot? A day after the thwarted attack in Haifa, mall employees wonder how a terrorist got through security

Olmert: Netanyahu may lead Israel into unprecedented isolation PM slams Barak coalition bid, says gov't that rejects two states won't find international cooperation on Iran

Meshal welcomes Obama's 'new language' on Mideast In interview with La Repubblica, Hamas politburo chief says U.S., EU overtures to Hamas 'a matter of time'.

Note: IDF Troops Ordered to Shoot at Rescuers

Testimonies on IDF misconduct in Gaza keep rolling in

Barak freezes move to raze settlement homes built on Palestinian land


Barak's tricks Ehud Barak is making a mockery of his party, his position and the entire Israeli public.

Another 30 years like these All Israel and Egypt want is to have the opportunity to reach another 30 years of the sort of 'cold' peace we've maintained for the last 30 years.

Hamas: Israel deceived us during Shalit talks

Report: India bought Israeli spy satellite

IDF soldiers ordered to shoot at Gaza rescuers, note says

Gideon Levy / IDF ceased long ago being 'most moral army in the world'

Labor 'rebels' lambaste Barak efforts to join coalition

JEWISH WORLD / The inexplicable bond one Jew feels for another 16:33

Intelligence chiefs vs. democracy

Jerusalem Post Waltz with Sisyphus: Israel's impossible propaganda war


We think our tears will win sympathy. In fact, they encourage our enemies and confuse our supporters.

Syrian FM: We can talk to Netanyahu

Iran targets the US Precedents suggest that both the US and Israel benefit from bold unilateral military action against rogue threats

Diplomacy: Friends like these [ HERB KEINON,

Palestinians Not Allowed to Walk, Buy Food in Jerusalem Neighborhood

Hamas's Free Lunch - Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post Congressional sources claim that Obama has selected Scowcroft to replace Chas Freeman as chairman of the National Intelligence Council.

Yedioth Ahronoth Vilnai: Conquer parts of Gaza Deputy defense minister says military presence necessary to halt mortar shell attacks from Gaza

Time for new approach/ Elad Europe, US urging Israel to embark on failed moves as part of ‘peace process

Assad under pressure Hariri tribunal worries Syria, which may aim to alleviate pressure via Israel

Israel, Egypt at odds over FM designate

Shas to join Likud-led gov't
Following intense negotiations, religious party agrees to join Netanyahu's burgeoning coalition; according to agreement, Yishai will stay on as deputy prime minister, independence of haredi school system will be maintained

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

NYT A religious war within the Israeli Army

Israeli soldiers say army rabbis framed Gaza as religious war

Israeli-Arab terrorist branch of Hizballah behind failed Haifa massacre

Israeli Leaders Terrified by Memories of S. Africa by Tony Karon

UN to criticise Israel over Gaza

A UN human rights investigator, Richard Falk, is to question the legality of Israel's Gaza incursion in a new report.

Hamas chief hails Obama approach

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal credits US President Barack Obama with using a "new language" for the Middle East

MJ Rosenberg / Mideast Peace Pulse: Did Israel Intentionally Undermine Obama's Outreach To Iran?

Car Bomb Malfunctions Near Crowded Mall in Israel

Mayor’s Vision of a Unified Jerusalem Also Divides - New York Times

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
· The Use of Mosques for Military and Political Purposes by Hamas and Other Terrorist Organizations and Islamic Groups

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Russia sees chance to boost US ties Obama's outreach to Iran lifts hopes that the US and Russia can find more common ground in their bids to get Iran to curtail its nuclear program.

Holbrooke: western Pakistan key to resolving Afghanistan war

The US special envoy told allies at the Brussels Forum that the Talibanization of the region was a top concern.

Will deficits trim Obama's agenda? Even Democrats signal adjustments are likely, given rising projections for budgetary red ink.

Economy forces Obama to rein in foreign-aid goals

He wants to double aid by the end of his term to help improve America's image abroad, but that no longer looks possible

Gen Y: the next 'Greatest Generation'?

The recession gives today's young people plenty to worry about, but their hopefulness will help them emerge intact.

Reviving cars and newspapers

Both US legacy industries must innovate (and not just recover) to survive.

Can the US let AIG fail?

Public outrage could force the Treasury Department to reconsider which financial giants pose a 'systemic risk' to the economy

Wanted: elected leaders with international experience

To solve today’s global issues, politicians need what the private sector has.

Tax havens: Can promises to shut them down be believed?

G-20 nations pledge to address this subject at meeting in London next month. Analysts are skeptical.

How to 'reboot' your American dream

Effective plans for the future require at least two perspectives.

ASIA

Newsweek Power Up China will emerge stronger from the economic crisis

Obama ponders Afghan 'exit plan'

President Barack Obama says the US must have an "exit strategy" in Afghanistan, despite sending more troops there.

Obama's new Afghan strategy

Jamestown Foundation
· China Brief, March 18, 2009, v. 9, no. 6
*China Debates Forex Reserves; Boosts Strategic Petroleum Reserves
*Mixed Signals from 11th National People's Congress
*China’s Maturing Relationship with Latin America
* China's Inroads into East Timor
* China and the Artic [sic]: The Awakening Snow Dragon

WSJ Bond Bolsters U.S. Hopes in Pakistan The Obama administration's hopes of stabilizing Pakistan rest on the strong bond between military chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.

Senators blame China-based hackers for recent cyber attacks

China's copper mine project in Peru reflects its economic power

The Asian giant lacks the natural resources at home it needs to keep its economy expanding, but it has a lot of cash to acquire them

LAT Pakistan's clear message to the West By Mustafa Qadri

It's not all fanaticism and violence. A grass-roots democratic movement is making strides.

Brookings · Can Obama Win In Afghanistan?

Analysts See Need for US Talks With Taliban

Pakistan PM, Opposition Chief Agree to Reconcile

How Pakistan Sold Out to the Taliban BY TALAT MASOOD

Republicans need to help Obama on Afghanistan BY CHRISTIAN BROSE

Pakistan Move Lifts Hopes Pakistanis celebrated the reinstatement of the chief justice, stirring hopes for an empowered judiciary that can buttress democratic rule.

Afghanistan, Iran and US-Russian Conflict

Japan Focus

Wise Up to the Taliban - Gilles Dorronsoro, Carnegie Endowment

Into the Abyss in Afghanistan - Ullrich Fichtner, Der Spiegel


Negotiating with the Afghan Jihadists – Stratfor

Russia-China Relations Cool. Implications for the Asia Pacific
Japan Focus

An Uneasy Anniversary in Tibet - Melinda Liu, Newsweek


Japan's Leadershp Deficit - Tobias Harris, Far Eastern Economic Review

Economic Plan for Afpak Peace - Washington Post

China targets an academic culture of cut-and-paste After a scandal highlighting rampant plagiarism, the government tries to rein it in – and a new generation of teachers trained abroad could help.

India's Newfound Irrelevance to Washington BY: Harsh V. Pant | The Japan Times Seen just a few weeks ago as an emerging power that could provide answers to global problems, India itself is now viewed by the Obama administration as a problem.

India Faces a Choice: Is It a Big Power or Great Power? BY: Philip Stephens | Financial Times We live in an age of rising powers. The global order is being recast. In this shifting geopolitical landscape old powers are reluctant to cede ground and rising states shun the burdens imposed by their new-found status.

China: A New Challenge at Sea - James Lyons, Washington Times

China's Millennials REVIEW & OUTLOOK
What will the downturn mean for young graduates?

Behind The Afghan Strategy - Jim Hoagland, Washington Post

General Urges Confidence in U.S. Ability to Supply Troops in Afghanistan

Pakistani Villagers Pay a Price for Defying Rebels Along Afghan Border A Few Tribal Leaders Fight Religiously Cloaked Mayhem

Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
· A Pathway to Success in Afghanistan: The National Solidarity Program

General Urges Confidence in U.S. Ability to Supply Troops in Afghanistan

A Conversation With David Kilcullen - Carlos Lozada, Washington Post interview

Plowshares for Peace - Washington Post editorial


Afghanistan Seen as Crucial Test - Washington Times opinion

Sri Lankans face humanitarian crisis

More than 150,000 people being shelled and running short of water as army closes in on Tigers

China's Post-Dalai Lama Endgame BY: Mark O'Neill | Asia Sentinel The growing hostility between the two sides made several points clear. One is that there will be no meaningful negotiations between Beijing and the Dalai Lama and no change in the status of Tibet.

Karzai's Back ...BY: Jean MacKenzie | Global Post Trying to keep score in Afghanistan’s presidential race is enough to induce vertigo. The cast of characters changes daily, along with the date of the poll. The incumbent either has no chance or is a shoo-in, depending on the time of day and the political persuasion of the analyst.

China Ends Naval Stand-Off and Credits Barack Obama The London Times China effectively ended a stand-off with the United States that began when its naval vessels harassed an American surveillance ship and attributed the reduction in tension directly to President Barack Obama.

Afghan Clerics Call for Saudi-Mediated Talks With Taliban - Voice of America

Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Obama Says a Way Out of Afghanistan Is Needed

Martina Stewart / CNN:

Gregg: ‘This country will go bankrupt’ — WASHINGTON (CNN) - Even though he was almost a member of the new Obama administration, New Hampshire Republican Judd Gregg Sunday slammed President Obama's approach to handling the country's fiscal outlook.

Afghanistan opium crackdown 'ineffective' US attempts to eradicate opium poppies from Afghanistan have been criticised as "wasteful and ineffective" by the new US super envoy.

H11 IHT Roger Cohen: From Tehran to Tel Aviv President Obama's new Iran policy will bring rising tensions with Israel.

Thomas L. Friedman: Are we home alone? America is in a once-a-century financial crisis, and the adults at the top have descended into politics worse than usual.

Justice at the expense of lives

By ERIC REEVES / The Boston Globe Before the ICC announcement, Darfuri sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of President Omar al-Bashir's arrest warrant. That may well be changing.

France shifts from striking to marching On Thursday, metros ran normally and fewer people struck at French schools and government offices than in previous actions. But as many as three million marched in demonstrations nationwide.

Russian president counting on 'reset' with U.S. President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia and a group of veteran U.S. policy makers have voiced cautious assertions of optimism about improving relations.

President Obama and the rule of law

Some of the Obama administration’s statements on issues like detainees sound a bit too close for comfort to the Bush team’s benighted ideas.

A border dispute in Balkans imperils Europe's expansion The eastward push of both the European Union and NATO hangs in the balance as Croatia and Slovenia argue.

EUROPE European press review

Foreign Policy The Center Cannot Hold The EU's newest states want its core members to bail them out. But it's the union itself that's broken

'No compass' Crisis sparks search for leadership in Europe

Is Europe Beyond Saving? - Edward Hugh, Foreign Policy

Building a New World Economy - PMs Merkel & Balkenende, Der Spiegel

Atlantic Council
· Energy Security: Transatlantic Cooperation and Sustainability

Thank God America Isn't Europe - Charles Murray, Washington Post

Fat Lady Sings to the Tune of 200 Million for Nabucco
GlobalPost


Why France Matters to NATO - Soeren Kern, World Politics Review

Merkel Dictates EU Crisis Agenda - Der Spiegel

French Military Strategy and NATO Reintegration

Brown's G-20 Agenda Unraveling - Matthew d'Ancona, Daily Telegraph

Security tight as Macedonia votes

The Macedonia presidential and local polls, seen as key to EU and Nato membership bids, have passed off generally 'well', say electoral authorities.

Heritage Foundation
· The EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy: How It Threatens Transatlantic Security
·
· How the Obama Administration Should Engage Russia

Centre for European Reform (CER)
· Is Russia a Partner to the EU in Bosnia?

US 'backs Danish PM as Nato head'

The US is prepared to back Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Nato's next secretary general, reports say.

Moscow: No ill intent in Iran's nukes

MOSCOW, March 20 (UPI) -- There is nothing in the Iranian nuclear program to suggest there is an effort to develop a military component, a Russian defense official said Friday.

Poll gives Macedonia chance to impress EUThe ethnically divided Balkan state will hold its presidential elections under the gaze of international monitors, who have warned participants not to repeat last year’s poll violence

Outrage at NATO as Spanish DM Announces Kosovo Pullout

Bri">UK to become EU's populous country Debate over the impact of a growing population as a result of climate change to take place in London

Wrong turn France swerves to avoid new EU split over car industry

Prime minister of Hungary offers to resign as crisis deepens

U.S. diplomats back Karadzic's claim of immunity deal The former Bosnian Serb leader says a senior American official pledged that he would never be prosecuted for war crimes.

Trichet Says Stimulus
Boost Is Not Needed
Trichet says Europe doesn't need to boost spending more to fight the financial crisis, throwing the ECB's weight against U.S. ideas for overcoming the worst recession in a generation. Q&A: Trichet Interview Excerpts

Sweden Says No to Saving Saab, a National Icon The beloved carmaker has fallen on hard times in a country where old-style Nordic socialism has fallen out of favor.

H12 RFE/RL

Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia
· The Right Direction for U.S. Policy Toward Russia: A Report from the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia

Google News Azerbaijan

American Enterprise Institute · "Oil-for-Food" When Oil Is Down (and the Ruble Is Weak)

The Geopolitics of Energy: Russia sets the pace in energy race

The New Cold War and US-Russian Relations Japan Focus

How The West Turned From Kiev
Newsweek

Gone for generations, Russians welcomed home The government is trying to head off the country's severe population decline by luring back Russians who live abroad as well as their descendants.

Christian Science Monitor

Russia sees chance to boost US ties

Obama's outreach to Iran lifts hopes that the US and Russia can find more common ground in their bids to get Iran to curtail its nuclear program.

Russian election takes Olympian turn

The mayoral race in Sochi includes an ex-KGB officer and an international fugitive. At stake is a potentially lucrative position -- the city will host the 2014 Winter Games

Russian president counting on 'reset' with U.S. President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia and a group of veteran U.S. policy makers have voiced cautious assertions of optimism about improving relations.

Kissinger meets with Russians, echoes Obama's line Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sounds optimistic about improved relations after Nixon's secretary of State and other former high-ranking officials pay an informal visit.


Russia Doesn't Have to be an Enemy - Bill Bradley, Foreign Policy

Russia's Rule of Lawlessness In Russia, lawyers who defend the weak can find themselves on the firing line. The murder of human-rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov contrasts with Medvedev's recent pledge to renew the rule of law and end "legal nihilism."

Russian economic fall hits hard in China's border outpost

Overloaded with Reset Button - Michele Berdy, Moscow Times

Why Russia Will Recover Faster - Yevgeny Gavrilenkov, Moscow Times

Top Official Sees End to Russia Crisis A top official said Russia was at or close to the bottom of the financial crisis, adding that the Kremlin was happy to see foreign creditors take stakes in major companies to claw back bad loans.

H13 The Times The Economics of Stimulus Fiscal mismanagement during the boom years constrains the UK's ability now to spend its way out of recession. Fixing the banking sector must be the priority

In Defeat, DefianceAs the wrangling grows, the Republicans are in little mood for bipartisan politics

Democrat anger at Obama overkill Concern is mounting at the US President's tactics and some Democrats are distancing themselves from Obama's team

Anyone who thought Ben Bernanke was out of ammunition received a rude, or pleasant, shock last week

Wall Street Journal Nobel Economist Gary Becker: Now Is No Time to Give Up on Markets

It's Time to 'Go to Strength' on Foreign Policy By Leslie H. Gelb We should focus more on improving alliances, less on the hard problems of South Asia.

Iran Has Started a Mideast Arms Race By Amir Taheri States throughout the region are looking to establish nuclear programs.

U.S. Sets Plan
For Toxic Assets
The U.S. government will announce as soon as Monday a three-pronged plan to rid the financial system of toxic assets.

Russia's Rule of Lawlessness In Russia, lawyers who defend the weak can find themselves on the firing line. The murder of human-rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov contrasts with Medvedev's recent pledge to renew the rule of law and end "legal nihilism."

Geithner Banks on Private Cash Geithner said the only way to remove troubled assets clogging banks' balance sheets -- which lie at the heart of the financial crisis -- is to work with the private sector.

Trichet Says Stimulus
Boost Is Not Needed
Trichet says Europe doesn't need to boost spending more to fight the financial crisis, throwing the ECB's weight against U.S. ideas for overcoming the worst recession in a generation. Q&A: Trichet Interview Excerpts

US Fed's move is the bigger problem The public in the United States is following the wrong story with its cries of anguish over AIG bonuses, rather than being concerned with how AIG got into the mess in the first place. The far bigger story being ignored is the US Federal Reserve effectively telling foreigners, such as the Chinese, that the US does not need their money; it will print its own. - Julian Delasantellis

H14 Financial Times Europe coughs up What the weekend EU summit delivered were important agreements to reinforce the safety nets for those countries facing credit and currency crises, plus a timetable for agreeing new regulation

Obama strikes new tone with Tehran

The west’s aim of preventing Iran acquiring an atomic bomb is best achieved by a ‘grand bargain’, offering Iran security but making it part responsible for the security and stability of the region

Strike faster on death-wish finance

AIG’s business model, which involved insuring risks taken by other financial groups on an insupportable scale, had moral hazard written all over its transactions. Intervene early or risk having to choose between Lehman and its consequences in 2008 and AIG and its consequences in 2009, says Clive Crook

Peripheral care should be the central concern George Soros on what the G20 should be addressing

Europe needs a better plan for its banks Wolfgang Münchau on rethinking rescue strategies

Revival requires a broad spread of demand Kemal Dervis says a quick recovery is possible

The fearsome become the fallen After writing off more than $1,000bn, banks have seen their market value shrink and power shift

Expensive bargains It is one thing for carmakers to cut prices and suffer the consequences when they are all playing by the same rules. It is quite another when the businesses are being kept alive with public money

Iran swift to dismiss US approach

The public exchange between Tehran and Washington over the past few days has highlighted the enormous difficulties of engagement after three decades of hostility

Toxic assets plan is big White House test The Obama administration faces its latest moment of truth when Tim Geithner unveils much awaited plans to take hundreds of billions of toxic assets off banks’ balance sheets

French discontent spurs new initiatives France is working on measures to boost youth employment and help struggling companies restructure in a bid to defuse the discontent that brought up to 3m people on to the streets last week.

Kremlin refuses to bail out Russian oligarchs The further hardening of Moscow’s position puts pressure on the country’s industrial groups and their foreign creditors to renegotiate $130bn in debt owed by the largest companies

Tax havens exist because of larger states’ hypocrisy Today’s typical client would be a Grand Cayman hedge fund, writes John Kay

Nordic model is ‘future of capitalism’

Nokia and Royal Dutch Shell chairman attacks protectionism

We had no alternative, says Bernanke

Fed chairman calls for urgent reform

MidEast fund takes 9% stake in Daimler

Aabar Investments invests €1.95bn

Bonus divide risks US rescue plan

Plans by US lawmakers to curtail big Wall Street bonuses may have adverse effects on government rescue plans aimed at restarting consumer lending and resolving the toxic asset overhang

Obama must beware tiger he is trying to tame At a recent White House meeting, Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the Fed, said the president should delay revamping the US regulatory system until he had quelled the financial crisis. Mr Obama ignored the advice.

Toxic assets plan is big White House test Credibility rests on Geithner’s proposals

H15 Los Angeles Times U.S. missile strikes take heavy toll on Al Qaeda, officials say Predator drone attacks in northwest Pakistan have increased sharply since Bush last year stopped seeking Pakistan's permission. Obama may keep pace as officials speak of confusion in Al Qaeda ranks

Iran's Khamenei says Obama overture not enough Supreme leader Ali Khamenei says Tehran seeks U.S. policy shifts, not merely 'changes in words.' The U.S., he says, could begin by ending economic sanctions and retracting 'hostile propaganda.'

Iran is suspicious of Obama's overture Tehran officials believe he may be putting a friendly face on Bush's old, hostile policies, with the goal of isolating the country on the world stage.

EditorialObama's promises, then and now Is the president backsliding on his pledges, or is he just doing what all president must, balancing politics and principle?

Pakistan's clear message to the West By Mustafa Qadri

It's not all fanaticism and violence. A grass-roots democratic movement is making strides.

Kissinger meets with Russians, echoes Obama's line Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sounds optimistic about improved relations after Nixon's secretary of State and other former high-ranking officials pay an informal visit.

Oil's decline threatens Sudan government Officials, who have used petrodollars to solve their political problems, may not be able to quell public anger over a troubled economy

Russian election takes Olympian turn The mayoral race in Sochi includes an ex-KGB officer and an international fugitive. At stake is a potentially lucrative position -- the city will host the 2014 Winter Games

Obama needs some FDR magic By Joyce Appleby

In 1934, Franklin Roosevelt defied history and boosted his agenda by increasing Democrats' strength in Congress. Can the current president do the same in 2010?

Wise up, Mr. Geithner

The AIG fiasco shows that the Treasury secretary needs a crash course in...

Geithner can still pay off for Obama Doyle McManus

The Treasury chief has stumbled, but firing him now would be a mistake.

U.S.-Mexico relationship hits some bumps A trucking dispute and the drug war stir up hidden tensions just as Clinton prepares for her first visit south as secretary of State

Pakistan's chief justice back on the job Iftikhar Chaudhry's ouster by former military leader Pervez Musharraf led to a nationwide democracy movemen

The U.S. needs to unmix the message in Mexico When Hillary Clinton visits the country, she needs to clearly state what Washington wants and what it...

H16 American Politics

Divided we stand

The problem with bipartisanship. (By Sam Haselby, Boston Globe)

Toxic Assets Plan, Take 2: Will Geithner get it right this time?

After AIG bonuses, Congress sours on more bailouts

realclearpolitics memeorandum

Daily Beast Cheat Sheet

Politico ABC’s The Note MSNBC FirstReadTime ThePage Politico Playbook

PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin

Obama Told Us To Speak Out, But Is He Listening? - William Greider, WP


Government Mob Run Amok - Michael Goodwin, New York Daily News

Despair Over Financial Policy - Paul Krugman, New York Times

Has a ‘Katrina Moment’ Arrived? - Frank Rich, New York Times

The Folly of the 'Hundred Days' - David Greenberg, Wall Street Journal

Resistance grows to Obama's bigger government


America Back in a Leadership Role - David Ignatius, Washington Post

Things Have Been Worse - Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe


Kidnapped by the Cartels - George Will, Washington Post

The Art of Political Distraction

Why are all eyes so often drawn to the ultimately less consequential issues — such as the A.I.G. bonus scandal — when there are bigger fish to fry?

Kroft to Obama: Are you punch-drunk? — President Barack Obama said he believes the global financial system remains at risk of implosion with the failure of Citigroup or AIG, touching off “an even more destructive recession and potentially depression.” — His remarks came in a “60 Minutes” 60 Minutes transcript

Friendly fire: NYT hits Obama — The leading liberal voices of the New York Times editorial pages all criticized—and, in some cases, clobbered—President Obama on Sunday for his handling of the economy and national security. — It's not unusual for Barack Obama to take a little friendly fire from the Times.

H17 Daily Telegraph

H18 Independent Obama: I won't let Treasury Secretary quit his job President seeks to end criticism of aide at centre of row over Wall Street bonuses

Bruce Anderson: Sarkozy doesn't exactly help us to understand French politics

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

A religious war within the Israeli Army

National Missile Defense: A Status Report

Congress. House. Armed Services Committee
· Hearings
*Status of U.S. Strategic Programs [March 17]
*Security Developments in the Areas of Responsibility of the U.S. Southern Command, Northern Command, Africa Command, and Joint Forces Command [March 18]
*Space and U.S. Security [March 18]
*Medical Infrastructure: Are Health Affairs/TRICARE Management Activity Priorities Aligned with Service Requirements? [March 18]
*Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform [March 18]
*Project on National Security Reform: Commentary and Alternative Views [March 19]

A Conversation With David Kilcullen Interview by Carlos Lozada, Insights from the man whose theories on insurgencies are reshaping military thinking throughout the West.

Gates against the complex The new defense secretary (and Republican holdover!) has it right when he identifies outmoded and expensive military hard ware we no longer can afford to fund. (Boston Globe)

Obama: US Must Have Afghan 'Exit Strategy'

5 Myths on Nuclear Power

By TODD TUCKER, We dispel ingering misconceptions about one of our nation's largest sources of electricity.

Newsweek: Coming Soon: Declassified Bush-Era Torture Memos

Combating Terrorism Center (CTC)
· CTC Sentinel, March 2009, v. 2, no. 3

Defense Science Board (DSB) · Understanding Human Dynamics This report looks at understanding human dynamics as an essential aspect of planning and necessary for success across the full spectrum of military and national security operations. The report focuses on the following areas:

*importance of human dynamics in future US military operations
*coordination and leadership
*interagency and civil interactions
*education, training, and career development
*human dynamics advisors
*science and technology investments
*data, tools and products

Putting Guantanamo to good use Instead of absorbing Guantanamo prison into the surrounding Naval Base, the US should convert it into an international biological research station where US and Cuban scientists work together to tackle critical environmental issues. (By Nathaniel T. Wheelwright, Boston Globe)

Closing Military Bases By John Pomfret, One professor suggests it would cut billions from the federal budget.

Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)
· Joint Warfare in the 21st Century

U.S. Cybersecurity Woes BY: Jody Ray Bennett | ISN Security Watch While cybersecurity is becoming more popular in the discussion over US national security, real changes have yet to be made to effectively to protect and prevent external cyberthreats.

Bond Bolsters U.S. Hopes in Pakistan The Obama administration's hopes of stabilizing Pakistan rest on the strong bond between military chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.

Taking the War Against Terror to a New Level - Gordon Brown, Guardian

US vessels collide in Strait of Hormuz Two US navy vessels, a nuclear powered submarine and an amphibious ship, on Friday collided in the Strait of Hormuz, a busy, strategic waterway that connects the oil-rich Gulf with the Indian Ocean

Conflict Resolution in Small Wars - A Counterinsurgent’s Guide to Controlling the Hearts
by Major Michael Few, Small Wars Journal Conflict Resolution in Small Wars (Full PDF Article)

World agencies gearing up to thwart upgraded Islamist terror

Stopping ‘stop-loss’

The stop-loss program, which forces soldiers to remain in the military after their enlistments end, should only be used in unique circumstances.

War Fighting Factors in Iraq and Afghanistan

MI5 needs stronger oversight

Patel: Counter-Terrorist Storytelling

Released on Web, a Film Stays Fresh

H20 Slate Book End
How the Kindle will change the world.Jacob Weisberg

World Forum Looks to Replenish Ideas BY: Mark Hilpert | The Washington Diplomat As climate change creates geographic shifts in water availability and growing populations consume more food and energy — at the same time that freshwater stocks required to meet that demand remain fixed or decline due to pollution — ordinarily mundane issues like what we eat and drink may alter the entire geopolitical landscape, potentially driving conflicts and making the poor even poorer.

H21 Marx was wrong. The opiate of the masses isn’t religion, but spectator sports, says David Barash. It’s in our genes.... more»

A brief inquiry into the nature of sports fandom Why the home team doesn't deserve your loyalty. (By Samuel Arbesman, Boston Globe)

“I never thought,” says Roger Scruton, “when I finally put the old humanism behind me, that I would ever feel nostalgia over its loss.” But just look at the New Humanism... more»

'Wars, Guns, and Votes'

Book End How the Kindle will change the world. Jacob Weisberg

Think Tank: New Ideas For The 21st Century: Exams are failing our schools

'How We Decide' An exploration of the brain’s mechanics in the process of making decisions, with illustrative examples.

Eating Food That’s Better for You, Organic or Not The American diet needs an overhaul. But “organic” food offers no guarantee of eating well, healthfully, sanely, even ethically.

Reading Test Dummies

By E. D. HIRSCH Jr. A simple change to comprehension exams would lessen the worst effects of the test-prep culture and improve education in the bargain.

'The Future of Liberalism' and 'A Tolerable Anarchy' Reviewed by GARY HART Alan Wolfe’s defense of liberalism and Jedediah Purdy’s reconciliation of radical individualism with community obligation address a common theme: the nature of freedom

Watch US-Mexico border on the web

Anyone with an internet connection can monitor the 1,254-mile frontier through a network of webcams

China targets an academic culture of cut-and-paste After a scandal highlighting rampant plagiarism, the government tries to rein it in – and a new generation of teachers trained abroad could help.

Toxic Assets Plan, Take 2: Will Geithner get it right this time?

Rethinking rent

Maybe we should stop trying to be a nation of homeowners. (By Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, Boston Globe)

It is easy to forget how close we remain to the prehistoric men and women who first found beauty in the world. Our art instinct is theirs... more»

Rethinking the JournoList List - Reihan Salam, The Atlantic

African Military Coups Can Be a Good Thing – Paul Collier, New Humanist

British scientists to create 'synthetic' blood Human embryos will be used to make an unlimited supply for infection-free transfusions Steve Connor: A scientific dream for more than half a century

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Comments:
In his fragmented and contradictory essay "Thank God America isn't like Europe - yet" Murray spends a generous amount of time and paper wanking intellectual.

His arguments can be divided into seven parts:

- The part where he generalizes that the people of Europe are bunch of Godless heathens. (Also that for unspecified economic reasons he wouldn’t want America to be like Europe).

- The parts where he insists that the role of government is to support the institutions of family and religion.

- The part where he uses his psychic powers to predict that future scientific discoveries will conform and rationalise his prejudices.

- The part where he justifies abolishing “the equality principle” and uses Social Darwinism to rationalize his argument.

- The part where he implies that a strong economy is dependent upon a dominant patriarchy, and brands women, Hispanics, African-Americans, poor-people, gays, lesbians, and de-facto couples as incapable, inept, and hell-bent on destroying the economy.

- And the part where he contradicts his own argument of governmental responsibility in fostering the integrity of family and religion by demanding people be treated as individuals.

His conclusions are a mess of contradictions.

One the one hand he says that the government should embrace people's differences and reverse the drift towards the satanic "European Model" in order to preserve a society based on conservative Christian framework of patriarchy, class systems, social and economic disparities, and small government (but not so small that it can't fit into our bedrooms).

He reiterates the fundamental libertarian argument that the best government is no government at all; that the hunter-gather life of subsistence and tribes is more ‘vital’ than life in Sweden, or Germany, or Belgium.

I don't know where he got his argument from but you can be sure that none of it is based on fact. I am dedicating the next series of posts to listing just how many ways I disagree with him.

You can read about them here: An Irritating Truth
http://www.anirritatingtruth.blogspot.com

If being exceptional means becoming the kind of country Dr. Murray envisions then all I can say is Thank God Europe isn't like America.
 
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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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