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| H1 Ha’aretz – IAF strike in Sudan hit Gaza-bound weapons convoy U.S. network CBS reports attack on 17 trucks took place in January; Israel refuses to confirm or deny New York Times Afghan Strikes by Taliban Get Pakistan Help, U.S. Aides Say The support consists of money, military supplies and planning guidance to Taliban commanders who are gearing up to confront a larger force in Afghanistan. NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Learning How to Think The marketplace of ideas doesn’t clear out bad pundits and bad ideas partly because there’s no accountability. It is about time that changed. The Times The eurozone must beware of Greeks bearing debts The economic crisis has put the euro in danger of splintering. Member states must urgently agree the rules for a bailout Charles Grant Taleban takes control of Pakistani region Pakistan has surrendered the Swat valley to the Taleban, who are enforcing Sharia with public beatings and executions Under Ban ki-Moon, the UN seems bereft of leadership at a time when it has never been more badly needed Guardian · The G20 summit in London will be missing one great power. Guess who? Timothy Garton Ash: The US and China may end up carrying on as a G2 if Europe fails to get its act together at G20 G20 summit: Q&A · Israel: Power politics Editorial: Ehud Barak promises he will not be Likud's figleaf as he enters the coalition - so where and how will his counterweight be felt? Israeli army Rabbis Criticized for Stance on Gaza Assault BY: Richard Boudreaux | Los Angeles Times The winter assault on the Gaza Strip was officially portrayed in Israel as an attempt to quell rocket fire by militants of Hamas. But some soldiers say they also were lectured about a more ambitious aim: to banish non-Jews from the biblical land of Israel. Syria Offers to Help Obama Pull Troops From Iraq NYT U.S. Sees Chinese Military Rise, and a Need for More Contact The Department of Defense released its "2009 DoD Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People's Republic of China" today. Previous reports for 2002-2008 are also available Debate Is China the New America or Is America the New China? The Great Depression made the United States the world's unquestioned financial leader. The current crisis can do the same for China. China's grand bargain As the the G20 group of nations prepares to meet next week to discuss the world economy, a grand bargain with geostrategic significance is implicitly being crafted between Washington and Beijing. (By Robert I. Rotberg, Boston Globe) FT Riyadh confronts growing Shia anger The hopes of Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority for greater representation were dashed last month when Riyadh shook up its government and religious establishment Fall in revenues threatens Iraq security plans The sharp decline in oil prices is limiting Iraq’s ability to expand its security services and threatening plans to hire tens of thousands of new police officers this year, says Jawad al-Bulani, interior minister H11 IHT Roger Cohen: The fierce urgency of peace Pressure on President Obama to recast the failed American approach to Israel-Palestine is building. An open hand and a fist By RAMI G. KHOURI / Agence Global America's gestures to Iran seem sincere, but the U.S. is still dictating the rules of the game to Iran. WSJ Bosnia Risks Sliding Into Turmoil The top diplomat overseeing Bosnia and Herzegovina says the country risks deep political instability unless the international community acts to break a deadlock over the country's future Washington Post U.S. Increasingly Takes Lead in the War in Afghanistan With More American Troops and Civilians On the Way, NATO Is Likely to Lose Clout Netanyahu Says Peace Talks Will Continue But His Speech Makes No Mention Of Palestinian State U.S. Says China's Defense Spending Is Rising Fast China's defense spending is far outpacing that of other nations in its region, and its aggressive development of ballistic and cruise missiles and attack submarines threatens to upset the balance of power in Asia and beyond, according to a Pentagon report released yesterday The State of Iraq: An Interview with Patrick Cockburn Stratfor Geopolitical Diary: Iran Recalibrates Its Strategy For Iraq Iran is wasting no time formulating a "Plan B" that would allow it to retain its influence over Shiite politics in Iraq. Christian Science Monitor Obama overhauls US Afghan strategy The Iraq-style troop surge is one part of a plan that hopes to bring stability through civilian know-how and a fresh Pakistan policy. Financial crisis: US and European paths to recovery diverge Ahead of the G-20 economic summit next week, a divide grows over the balance of regulation and stimulus. Rozen The former Mossad analyst Clinton couldn't avoid Georgias Murky Motives BY: Uwe Klussman | Der Spiegel An EU enquiry investigating the events of last summer's conflict between Russia and Georgia is shining an unfavorable light on Mikheil Saakashvili. A secret document may prove that the Georgian president had planned a war of aggression in South Ossetia. Taking on US Defense Lobby Will Be 'Tough:' Obama Is the US's Best Export--The Dollar--in Danger? - Randall Forsyth, Barron's Financial Times Peripheral care should be the central concern Institutions such as the IMF face a novel task: to protect the periphery countries from an economic storm created in the developed world, writes George Soros A Labour fig-leaf for Netanyahu When Ehud Barak defeated Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultra-nationalist coalition in 1999 there were whoops of joy. Ten years on, as Barak tries to bolt his Labour party on to Netanyahu’s even more rightwing coalition there is little more than a collective sneer Dollar dips on Geithner’s ‘loose talk’ The dollar fell briefly on Wednesday after Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary, appeared to suggest that the US was open to exploring a Chinese proposal to reduce reliance on the dollar as the world’s reserve currency Russia responds to new US treatment Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, says the improved climate in relations with the US creates hope for progress on nuclear arms control and other key issues when Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev meet EU leader condemns US ‘road to hell’ EU hopes for a new era in relations with the US were thrown into chaos when the Czech prime minister condemned American remedies for the global recession Czech threat to Lisbon treaty Ratification of the European Union’s reform treaty could be made more difficult by the fall of the Czech government and its knock-on effect for the EU presidency, officials warn Prague’s presidency The Czech government’s collapse severely damages the country’s presidency of the European Union. It is a vivid demonstration of the need for a semi-permanent EU president, as envisaged by the Lisbon treaty Capitalism may not be finished, but it is set to become a servant of the people rather than a master. The current slump will accelerate this change... more» The Legacy of Kosovo? International Paternalism · A Crisis Calls for a 'Crisis Round' BY: AADITYA MATTOO and ARVIND SUBRAMANIAN | The Wall Street Journal Today's protectionism is wide in scope, ranging from tariff increases (Korea and Turkey) to restrictive import licensing (Indonesia) to state aid (United States, Germany France, and United Kingdom), antidumping actions (India) and discriminatory government procurement (Malaysia). Wall Street Journal China and the Dollar US Plans New Drone Attacks in Pakistan The mother of all Gallic temper tantrums is over as France gets set to rejoin NATO command. Obama Points Back to the GOP's Future By Karl Rove By Charles Murray Machiavelli Revisited by Daniel W. Drezner With great power comes great responsibility. But Washington is adrift and our country in search of a strategy. Foreign-policy heavyweight Les Gelb wittily channels a master to update the classic realpolitik definition of power. Brussels Forum wraps up; Video, audio, transcripts available You can watch archived sessions on the Brussels Forum website. As preparation for Brussels Forum, GMF released a series of Brussels Forum Papers by distinguished scholars that tackle themes related to Brussels Forum sessions. Pain Iran Can Believe In – Editorial Despite being a leading oil exporter, Iran imports roughly 40% of its gasoline because it lacks adequate domestic refining capacity. Any cut-off in supply would do immediate damage to the fragile Iranian economy. Iran is supplied with gasoline by a handful of foreign companies, all of which do substantial business in the U.S. Diplomacy will have no chance without the threat of sticks, so Congress could help by passing pending legislation affecting Iran's energy supply. The goal of the sanctions is to sharply raise the costs to Iran for pursuing its nuclear programs. The only way Iran's regime is going to stop its nuclear program is if it feels some pain it can believe in. (Wall Street Journal) Ha’aretz – Stable, essential and cold Some politicians forget that the peace agreement is not a favor Israel is doing for the Egyptians and that the political and security achievements that come in its wake cannot be taken for granted. IMF: Lending Commitments and Sources of Replenishment China is among the countries contemplating greater pledges to the International Monetary Fund, which is being stretched amid the global economic crisis. | H2 Ahmet Davutoglu: The Man behind Turkey's Assertive Foreign Policy ... Turkey: A Rising Regional Star? - Nimet Beriker, RealClearWorld 'Yeni Yönetim Türkiye Konusunda Bilinçli' FT Turkish generals to face coup trial Two senior retired generals will face trial accused of plotting to overthrow Turkey’s government, after an Istanbul court agreed to hear a case linking 56 more people to a clandestine group of ultranationalists AZERBAIJAN: CONTEMPLATING LIFE WITHOUT THE NABUCCO PIPELINE EurasiaNet Turkey Slowly Erasing "Black Mark" Coup Legacy ANALYSIS-Turkey breaks with past, seeks ties with Iraqi Kurds Senior Israeli diplomat expected to visit Ankara Turkish reservations could snag pm's Nato bid The Copenhagen Post Nabucco: The Fat Lady Sings? ISN CSIS President Obama's Trip to Europe WSJ Turkey Indicts 56 on Coup Charges A Turkish court formally indicted 56 suspects, including two retired four-star generals, on charges of plotting to topple Turkey's Islamic-rooted government TURKEY – IRAQ Gul’s Iraq visit breathes new life in Ottoman model Turkey's Fallout With Israel Deals Blow to Settlers Kurds reluctant on Arbil gathering Türkiye Irak'la Ticaret Hacmini Artırmayı Hedefliyor Syria Offers to Help Obama Pull Troops From Iraq Maliki says Iraq no place for PKK, Iranian rebels TEXT-Turkish business leader sends a letter to Obama Independent Two Former Generals Indicted for Plot to Overthrow Turkish Government Guardian Nato disses the Muslim world Stephen Kinzer: Choosing controversial Danish PM Rasmussen as Nato secretary general would threaten the mission in Afghanistan No Talat-Clinton meeting, said US State Department 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 Maliki Says Iraq No Place for PKK, Iranian Rebels Turkey Breaks With Past, Seeks Ties With Iraqi Kurds Shahristani: Kurdistan signed contracts "secret" & with companies ... FACTBOX-Turkey improves ties with Iraq Gül’s reported use of ‘Kurdistan’ keeps Ankara busy Galbraith made Afghan envoy Iraq visit historic, not for its content Turk Arrested Over Kurds’ Killings in ’90s Syria leader explains failure of talks with Israel Iraq, Turkey Nearing Deal To Deprive PKK Of Bases Neighbors / The mighty pen Ha'aretz To ensure the widest possible margin of victory, Erdogan is working hard to win the Kurdish vote Explosion In Southeastern Turkey Kills One: Agency Kurdistan probe flirts with Heritage President Talabani receives Syrian Foreign Minister raq Kurd leader backs call for rebels to disarm Heritage Oil’s price leaps after discovery in Iraq Kurds, Water Issues Raised at Historic Meeting Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık Nabucco: The Fat Lady Sings? ISN AZERBAIJAN: CONTEMPLATING LIFE WITHOUT THE NABUCCO PIPELINE EurasiaNet ’Do not wait on EU for further cooperation’ No Talat-Clinton meeting, said US State Department ‘Caveat Emptor’ When Shopping for Normalization in the Turkish ... Armenian Weekly - ‘Terrorism Supporter’ to be the Secretary General of NATO TEXT-Turkish business leader sends a letter to Obama The UN's 'Alliance of Civilizations' Forbes Ward to Avoid Turkish Event; Declines Invitation, Citing Armenian ... Gül’s turn to refresh Turkey’s commitment to EU Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop Painful Memories Spur on Spain Against 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 Taha Akyol Fikret Bila Hasan Cemal Murat Yetkin İsmet Berkan Şamil Tayyar Ekonomi |
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| H4 New York Times Afghan Strikes by Taliban Get Pakistan Help, U.S. Aides Say The support consists of money, military supplies and planning guidance to Taliban commanders who are gearing up to confront a larger force in Afghanistan. NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Learning How to Think The marketplace of ideas doesn’t clear out bad pundits and bad ideas partly because there’s no accountability. It is about time that changed. ROGER COHEN The Fierce Urgency of Peace Pressure on President Obama to recast the failed American approach to Israel-Palestine is building. GAIL COLLINS Everything Bad Is Good Again There might be only two constants in our ever-changing world — Barack Obama is going to be on television and we always need to have somebody we can be really, really angry at Clinton Says U.S. Feeds Mexico Drug Trade As Chinese Investments in Africa Drop, Hope Sinks European Leader Assails American Stimulus Plan Tensions Grow in Georgia Over Accusations of a Plot U.S. Sees Chinese Military Rise, and a Need for More Contact White House to Keep Agencies’ Focus on Terrorism Envoy Denies Immunity Offer to Leader of Bosnian Serbs Bomb Kills 9 on Minibus in Afghanistan Iran’s Parliament Speaker Disparages Obama’s Video Overture Study Says Pentagon’s Africa Command Needs to Refine Mission U.S. to Detail Plan to Rein In Finance World Hedge funds and traders of exotic financial products could be under stricter governmental supervision, officials said. Editorial Grand Bargain Leaders gathering for the G-20 summit must not only reject protectionism, but must flesh out their commitment to a collective solution to the global financial crisis. Budget Has Obama Courting Fellow Democrats The president is grappling with a paradox: as his party expands its reach, it gets harder to hold it together. | H5 Washington Post U.S. Increasingly Takes Lead in the War in Afghanistan With More American Troops and Civilians On the Way, NATO Is Likely to Lose Clout Netanyahu Says Peace Talks Will Continue But His Speech Makes No Mention Of Palestinian State U.S. Says China's Defense Spending Is Rising Fast China's defense spending is far outpacing that of other nations in its region, and its aggressive development of ballistic and cruise missiles and attack submarines threatens to upset the balance of power in Asia and beyond, according to a Pentagon report released yesterday How a U.S. Tax Deduction Aids Israeli Settlements By David Ignatius, The charitable deduction helps fund West Bank settlements that U.S. policy opposes. European Union President Criticizes Obama's Economic Policies Czech Premier Calls Obama Administration's Economic Policies 'a Road to Hell' Israeli Use of Phosphorus Against Gazans Disputed Potential Afghan Reconstruction Challenges Cited Geithner to Propose Vast Expansion Of U.S. Oversight of Financial System Clinton: U.S. Drug Policies Failed, Fueled Mexico's Drug War President Shifts Emphasis From Wall Street to Budget FBI Chief Urges Renewal of Patriot Act Measures That Will Expire in December Steps for Congress to Improve Obama's Budget Congress Has a Chance to Deal With Long-Term Deficits By Alice M. Rivlin Cutting Deficit Will Require Tax Increases Will Anyone Admit That Taxes Have to Rise? By E.J. Dionne Jr., One way to stop the bleeding is to tax everyone Congress deals a blow to 'honest budgeting.' | H6 Guardian · The G20 summit in London will be missing one great power. Guess who? Timothy Garton Ash: The US and China may end up carrying on as a G2 if Europe fails to get its act together at G20 G20 summit: Q&A · Israel: Power politics Editorial: Ehud Barak promises he will not be Likud's figleaf as he enters the coalition - so where and how will his counterweight be felt? Group accuses Israel of war crimes Human Rights Watch says white phosphorus fired indiscriminately into crowded Gaza areas · Binyamin Netanyahu says his government will talk peace Israel's incoming prime minister sets a moderate tone and promises to negotiate with Palestinians Bibi has done for Labour Jonathan Freedland: Joining Netanyahu's coalition shows Ehud Barak and his party colleagues are unprincipled mercenaries and hacks Nato disses the Muslim world Stephen Kinzer: Choosing controversial Danish PM Rasmussen as Nato secretary general would threaten the mission in Afghanistan We still need a Nudge Jon Dennis: In recession, the book about steering human behaviour championed by the Tories last year is more relevant than ever Gordon Brown retreats on spending as market sounds warning · Once beaten for stating the obvious, our time has come Katharine Ainger: Ten years ago, the anticapitalist movement predicted this recession. Now it must envisage an alternative global future · This counter-terror plan is in ruins. Try one that works Seumas Milne: Ministers want Muslims to accept shared values. Luckily they already do, including opposition to wars of aggression Obama faces delay on climate deal Scale of opposition in Congress means president could be forced to wait six months to sign deal · In praise of ... Guernica Editorial: Flailing bulls and horses show that the visceral horrors of war are not just an affront to human civilisation, but to life Iraq war inquiry will hear evidence in secret, Miliband hints to MPs · MEPs move to deny extremist Jean-Marie Le Pen platform Le Pen confirmed worst fears of MEPs by telling parliament that Holocaust was a detail of history · Omar al-Bashir flouts war crimes warrant with Egypt trip Sudan's president was met at airport in Cairo by Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, during a one-day visit Obama and the tyranny of the now Ian Leslie: The president is right to ignore the daily barbs from the media and emphasise patience and persistence on the economy The G20 should end rich-country rule Mark Weisbrot: Organisations like the IMF and World Bank have held down poor nations – and it's time for the developing world to push back Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's shame Neve Gordon: Thanks to Binyamin Netanyahu's overweening ambition, Israel is to be saddled with a foreign minister who is a national disgrace |
| H7 Machiavelli Revisited by Daniel W. Drezner With great power comes great responsibility. But Washington is adrift and our country in search of a strategy. Foreign-policy heavyweight Les Gelb wittily channels a master to update the classic realpolitik definition of power. Brussels Forum wraps up; Video, audio, transcripts available You can watch archived sessions on the Brussels Forum website. As preparation for Brussels Forum, GMF released a series of Brussels Forum Papers by distinguished scholars that tackle themes related to Brussels Forum sessions. Pain Iran Can Believe In – Editorial Despite being a leading oil exporter, Iran imports roughly 40% of its gasoline because it lacks adequate domestic refining capacity. Any cut-off in supply would do immediate damage to the fragile Iranian economy. Iran is supplied with gasoline by a handful of foreign companies, all of which do substantial business in the U.S. Diplomacy will have no chance without the threat of sticks, so Congress could help by passing pending legislation affecting Iran's energy supply. The goal of the sanctions is to sharply raise the costs to Iran for pursuing its nuclear programs. The only way Iran's regime is going to stop its nuclear program is if it feels some pain it can believe in. (Wall Street Journal) Attack of the Iraq revisionists BY TOM RICKS BY BRIAN KATULIS Iran: the waiting game, Nasrin Alavi Nuclear Watchdog to Elect Chief IAEA governors vote Thursday on a new chief, with a stalemate likely to complicate U.S.-Iran diplomacy Despite Obama's Vow, Combat GIs to Stay in Iraq Egypt's Al-Ahram: "No" to Dialogue with Iran (MEMRI) Neocons Launch New Foreign Policy Group · South American Security Paradigm BY: Sam Logan | ISN Security Watch As the U.S. and Colombia consider the future of Plan Colombia, Brazil embraces a new leadership role, ushering in a new regional security paradigm for South America. · Hezbollah: Narco-Islamism BY: Matthew Levitt | The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Despite the differences between U.S. and European perceptions of and policies toward Hezbollah, there is one critical area where all parties' mutual interests converge, namely law enforcement. Building a Sustainable World Economy - Jeffrey Sachs, RealClearWorld Obama's Other War: Fighting Mexico's Drug Lords - Tim Padgett, Time Clinton admits US blame on drugs | H8 Iraq Updates IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq In Iraq, truth commission idea gains traction Syria Offers to Help Obama Pull Troops From Iraq FT Riyadh confronts growing Shia anger The hopes of Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority for greater representation were dashed last month when Riyadh shook up its government and religious establishment Fall in revenues threatens Iraq security plans The sharp decline in oil prices is limiting Iraq’s ability to expand its security services and threatening plans to hire tens of thousands of new police officers this year, says Jawad al-Bulani, interior minister Warning as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Darfur Increased Attacks on Iraqi Forces South of Baghdad UK to hold Iraq inquiry 'after July' David Miliband tells MPs an Iraq war inquiry will be held as "soon as practically possible" after most UK troops leave in July. | H9 Ha’aretz – IAF strike in Sudan hit Gaza-bound weapons convoy U.S. network CBS reports attack on 17 trucks took place in January; Israel refuses to confirm or deny Stable, essential and cold Some politicians forget that the peace agreement is not a favor Israel is doing for the Egyptians and that the political and security achievements that come in its wake cannot be taken for granted. What has Israel done for Jonathan Pollard lately? Ari Shavit / Pact between Israel's two most hated men is good Netanyahu, Lieberman ‘struck secret deal for West Bank construction’ Israeli Spy Chief: Iran Has Crossed Nuclear Bomb Threshold Can Homer Simpson solve the Mideast conflict? Jerusalem Post 'IAF planes bombed Gaza-bound weapons convoy in Sudan' According to CBS report, 39 people were killed in January air strike, and 17 trucks were destroyed; IDF: Israel does not comment on such publications. Egypt's leading newspaper slams Israel On 30th peace treaty anniversary, Al Ahram says Jerusalem should stop "scheming" against Cairo. While Israel celebrates, Egypt stays quiet
30 years at peace Mubarak should use the remaining years of his tenure to reconceptualize Egypt's attitude toward Israel. Egypt-Israel: An unfinished peace Even if mostly limited, treaty resulted in significant regional changes. Gaza & Darfur: Some seem to matter more than others The Shalit Dilemma The price of freeing a single soldier Yedioth Ahronoth 'Peace talks a positive sign' Clinton aide encouraged by Israel-Syria talks, but says Assad must stop helping terrorists Daily Alert.org – Hebrew Press Editorials (2008) - Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine Rozen The former Mossad analyst Clinton couldn't avoid Group accuses Israel of war crimes Human Rights Watch says white phosphorus fired indiscriminately into crowded Gaza areas Netanyahu 'will be peace partner' Israel's next Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, insists his government will work for peace with the Palestinians. Israel phosphorus use criticised Time Israel's New Government Won't Make Obama's Middle East Task Easier Rothkopf Which will last longer? The Israel lobby debate or the conflict it's about? HRW: Israel's White Phosphorous Use Indiscriminate Time to Break Up Labor - Daniel Gutwein, Haaretz
On Campus: The Pro-Palestinians' Real Agenda - Khaled Abu Toameh (Hudson Institute-New York) |
| H10 Christian Science Monitor Obama overhauls US Afghan strategy The Iraq-style troop surge is one part of a plan that hopes to bring stability through civilian know-how and a fresh Pakistan policy. Financial crisis: US and European paths to recovery diverge Ahead of the G-20 economic summit next week, a divide grows over the balance of regulation and stimulus. For a few minutes, Arabs and Jews united by music Young musicians from a West Bank refugee camp performed on Wednesday for survivors of the Holocaust. How not to sell toxic mortgages The Geithner plan relies on some secrecy to force banks to sell. Congress must back off. South Africa turns away Dalai Lama, political firestorm follows It says it denied the Tibetan monk a visa so that politics wouldn't overshadow the upcoming World Cup. Critics say the decision was a nod to China. NYT U.S. Sees Chinese Military Rise, and a Need for More Contact The Department of Defense released its "2009 DoD Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People's Republic of China" today. Previous reports for 2002-2008 are also available Debate Is China the New America or Is America the New China? The Great Depression made the United States the world's unquestioned financial leader. The current crisis can do the same for China. China's grand bargain As the the G20 group of nations prepares to meet next week to discuss the world economy, a grand bargain with geostrategic significance is implicitly being crafted between Washington and Beijing. (By Robert I. Rotberg, Boston Globe) US: Pak ISI 'Directly Supporting' Afghan Taliban China's giant step into nanotech Nanotechnology is business on an atomic scale, and China is a major player, as Tom Mackenzie explains FT Beijing’s naval harassment rouses US When Chinese ships recently harassed the Impeccable, a US navy surveillance ship, in the South China Sea, they inadvertently shone the spotlight on brewing tensions in the region that were slowly moving on to the US radar · China as a Partner, Not as a Threat BY: Yevgeny B azhanov | The Moscow Times China's growing economic and military might is changing the balance of power between Moscow and Beijing. Expert Lauds Obama's Afghanistan Approach - National Public Radio's All Things Considered - 25 March 2009. Saving Afghanistan - Robert Kaplan, The Atlantic Obama to Unveil Afghanistan Strategy on Friday In Afghan War, US Dominance Over NATO Increasing Australia's strategic analysis capabilities India gets ready to vote, Tom Walker Pakistan: a path through danger, Asma Jahangir Geithner to G-20: Stay the course 'Substantial' fiscal and monetary moves across the globe will get traction, US Treasury secretary says. CFR The Shanghai Cooperation Organization China's Pursuit of Galactic Finance - American Enterprise Institute U.S. Plans Drone Attacks in Pakistan U.S. and Pakistani intelligence officials are drawing up a fresh list of terrorist targets for Predator drone strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Brookings Toward Reconciliation in Afghanistan China Tries to Strengthen Position - Frank Ching, China Post Welcome to Pipelineistan - Pepe Escobar, Asia Times Failure of a Multipolar World - Christopher Badeaux, The New Ledger · Five Billion Dollars for Afghans Still Unspent BY: Jason Motlagh | The Washington Times As the U.S. prepares to send more money and troops to Afghanistan, investigators are reviewing why $5 billion in previously appropriated aid has not been fully spent, how money meant for short-term humanitarian projects was diverted to road building and why Afghan police received inadequate training. · A Greener China? The Communist Party Has Said No BY: Russell Leigh Moses | The Daily Star The real danger of the new stimulus package in China is not ideological but environmental. Kim's Crumbling Regime: Are the Great Leader's days numbered? BY: Reuben F. Johnson | The Weekly Standard Throughout history the initial signs of collapse of despotic regimes can usually be traced back to some apocryphal moment in which the armed forces, secret police or others charged with maintaining "public order" demonstrate that they no longer unquestioningly follow the orders of the dictator NKOREA LOADING ROCKET ON LAUNCH PAD Troops Slow Down Taliban Movement With Traffic Control Points – AFPS
India is stealing water of life, says Pakistan Thousands of Punjab farmers suffer as river Chenab runs dry · Chinese find opportunity in U.S. real-estate slump
Malaysia's ruling party struggles to stay relevant with new leaders Amid allegations of corruption and a drop in popularity, the party that has been in power for five decades tries to shore up support. · Indonesia's Election The Economist If the PD performs as well as expected, it will be able to nominate Mr Yudhoyono as its presidential candidate without seeking coalition partners. Moreover, despite the worsening economic climate, Mr Yudhoyono is already firmly on track to win re-election later this year. The president will be pressed to defend the performance of his government during his campaign, but he lacks a credible challenger. | H11 IHT Roger Cohen: The fierce urgency of peace Pressure on President Obama to recast the failed American approach to Israel-Palestine is building. By RAMI G. KHOURI / Agence Global America's gestures to Iran seem sincere, but the U.S. is still dictating the rules of the game to Iran. Watershed moment on nuclear arms President Obama must reaffirm his campaign pledge to transform American nuclear policy that is still mired in Cold War thinking. The president of the UN General Assembly insults the suffering millions in Darfur by saying that the indictment of Sudan's strongman Omar Bashir is an example of racism. E.U. hustles to control damage after outburst The comments by the Czech prime minister revealed the rising transatlantic tension over the economic crisis. Georgian opposition reeling from videos In a video released by authorities, a political organizer says a prominent opposition leader is prepared to use violence to force Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili from office. Poles feel snubbed by West in multinational organizations It may be that Poland never had a serious chance at winning NATO's top political job, but that has not stopped Poles from sensing another snub from their big European neighbors to the West, analysts and officials in Europe say. EUROPE European press review The Times The eurozone must beware of Greeks bearing debts The economic crisis has put the euro in danger of splintering. Member states must urgently agree the rules for a bailout Charles Grant Guardian · The G20 summit in London will be missing one great power. Guess who? Timothy Garton Ash: The US and China may end up carrying on as a G2 if Europe fails to get its act together at G20 WSJ Bosnia Risks Sliding Into Turmoil The top diplomat overseeing Bosnia and Herzegovina says the country risks deep political instability unless the international community acts to break a deadlock over the country's future. The European Union without a Leader - Jan Puhl, Der Spiegel EU Postpones Accession Conference With Croatia BY: Toby Vogel | European Voice The European Union has postponed an accession conference with Croatia for a month, because of continuing differences that the candidate country has with its neighbour Slovenia over borders Romania to receive €20bn of IMF-led aid Bucharest commits to a wide range of reforms, including bringing its budget deficit below 3 per cent of GDP by 2011 and introducing a fiscal responsibility law Romania has accepted a desperately needed loan from the IMF, although it may lead to social friction. Quentin Peel: No incentive to be good in eurozone E.U. President Blasts U.S. Spending — Czech Premier Calls Obama Administration's Economic Policies ‘a Road to Hell’ · Europe Syndrome By Charles Murray Missile Defense Critics Welcome Czech Govt's Fall Czech PM Says Will Query Obama on Missile Defense Czech headache Government's fall will reverberate beyond borders · NATO at 60 BY: Rafael L. Bardají | The Weekly Standard By definition, all of the international summits are a success and the next one in Strasburg-Kehl, where the allies will celebrate the 60th anniversary of NATO, will be no different. Basque victory spells trouble for Zapatero Spain’s usually cheery Socialist prime minister is encountering intense political difficulties as his party loses control of the national parliament and the ability to make the laws it wants Top Commander Says NATO Needs Changes - Voice of America
Kosovo, 10 Years Later BY: C.M. Sennott | Global Post The Legacy of Kosovo? International Paternalism From The Daily Beast, an interview with Bo Lundgren, Sweden’s minister for fiscal and financial affairs, on Sweden's financial crisis in the 1990s. · MEPs move to deny extremist Jean-Marie Le Pen platform Le Pen confirmed worst fears of MEPs by telling parliament that Holocaust was a detail of history | H12 RFE/RL · Georgias Murky Motives BY: Uwe Klussman | Der Spiegel An EU enquiry investigating the events of last summer's conflict between Russia and Georgia is shining an unfavorable light on Mikheil Saakashvili. A secret document may prove that the Georgian president had planned a war of aggression in South Ossetia. FT Russia responds to new US treatment Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, says the improved climate in relations with the US creates hope for progress on nuclear arms control and other key issues when Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev meet Transcript: FT Interview with Sergei Lavrov Pressing the reset button in Georgia Russia considers new national security strategy · China as a Partner, Not as a Threat BY: Yevgeny Bazhanov | The Moscow Times China's growing economic and military might is changing the balance of power between Moscow and Beijing. Google News Azerbaijan · Communists See an Opportunity to Shine BY: Nicholas von Twickel | The Moscow Times As the crisis worsens, the vexing question for politicians is just who will reap the political spoils of the economic hardships. A natural candidate is the Communist Party. With 57 seats, it has the second-biggest faction in the State Duma and is widely seen as the country's biggest opposition movement. Georgian Govt Produces Video to Discredit Opposition Leader Tensions Grow in Georgia Over Accusations of a Plot Russian State Corporations: A Stabilizing Economic Force or a Drag on Growth? |
| H13 The Times The eurozone must beware of Greeks bearing debts The economic crisis has put the euro in danger of splintering. Member states must urgently agree the rules for a bailout Charles Grant Taleban takes control of Pakistani region Pakistan has surrendered the Swat valley to the Taleban, who are enforcing Sharia with public beatings and executions Under Ban ki-Moon, the UN seems bereft of leadership at a time when it has never been more badly needed. US forces through new UN Afghanistan envoy Former US ambassador named UN second-in-command despite the protests from the man who will now be his boss Japan in shock as exports halve Car industry badly hit as general exports plunge hit 49.4 per cent in February, the fourth month running of record declines Brown accused as Iraq inquiry confirmed Opposition cries foul over 'political manipulatio'n as Government officially accepts there will be an inquiry into the war Q&A: Iraq inquiry What steps did Britain take to try to stop the Americans from disbanding the Iraqi Army once Baghdad had fallen? Obama forced to fight own party to save economy President considers proposals to pare his $3.6 trillion budget as he faces growing hostility from conservative Democrats Wall Street Journal China and the Dollar The mother of all Gallic temper tantrums is over as France gets set to rejoin NATO command. Obama Points Back to the GOP's Future By Karl Rove By James Taranto · The Lessons of Camp David By Jehan Sadat Britain Fights Home-Grown Islamists By Charles Murray Henninger: Democrats Bid Business Adieu | H14 Financial Times Peripheral care should be the central concern Institutions such as the IMF face a novel task: to protect the periphery countries from an economic storm created in the developed world, writes George Soros A Labour fig-leaf for Netanyahu When Ehud Barak defeated Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultra-nationalist coalition in 1999 there were whoops of joy. Ten years on, as Barak tries to bolt his Labour party on to Netanyahu’s even more rightwing coalition there is little more than a collective sneer Dollar dips on Geithner’s ‘loose talk’ The dollar fell briefly on Wednesday after Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary, appeared to suggest that the US was open to exploring a Chinese proposal to reduce reliance on the dollar as the world’s reserve currency Pentagon presses Beijing on military transparency The Pentagon urged China to be more transparent about its military build-up but conceded that the Chinese military had made minor progress in detailing its defence spending over the past year Obama scrambles to defend budget Barack Obama scrambled to defend his 2010 federal budget amid Republican claims that the $3,600bn (€2,658bn, £2,463bn) plan would put the US on the path to economic ruin Pressing the reset button in Georgia Russia responds to new US treatment Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, says the improved climate in relations with the US creates hope for progress on nuclear arms control and other key issues when Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev meet EU leader condemns US ‘road to hell’ EU hopes for a new era in relations with the US were thrown into chaos when the Czech prime minister condemned American remedies for the global recession Daddy, tell me, what exactly is a derivative? James Carville on Obama’s communication challenge Obama’s bank plan could rob the taxpayer Explain the true risks, urges Jeffrey Sachs China’s retort to Coke stirs fears of retaliation Beijing is touchy about beverages, says David Pilling Czech threat to Lisbon treaty Ratification of the European Union’s reform treaty could be made more difficult by the fall of the Czech government and its knock-on effect for the EU presidency, officials warn Prague’s presidency The Czech government’s collapse severely damages the country’s presidency of the European Union. It is a vivid demonstration of the need for a semi-permanent EU president, as envisaged by the Lisbon treaty Quentin Peel: No incentive to be good in eurozone Netanyahu seeks wider Israeli coalition Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of the right-wing Likud party and Israel’s prime minister-designate, on Wednesday moved to bolster his coalition majority, opening talks that could see another far-right party join his alliance after he secured the support of a divided labour party Beijing’s naval harassment rouses US When Chinese ships recently harassed the Impeccable, a US navy surveillance ship, in the South China Sea, they inadvertently shone the spotlight on brewing tensions in the region that were slowly moving on to the US radar King’s reality check Mervyn King has strayed well outside his usual monetary policy terrain, deep into fiscal policy. The Bank of England governor’s intervention is timely – and deserves to be heard We need to share the bill for bail-outs One thing we have learnt in the past year is that some banks are definitely too big to fail, writes .John Gapper. We may yet discover something even more disturbing: that some are too big to save | Editorial · Israeli army Rabbis Criticized for Stance on Gaza Assault BY: Richard Boudreaux | Los Angeles Times The winter assault on the Gaza Strip was officially portrayed in Israel as an attempt to quell rocket fire by militants of Hamas. But some soldiers say they also were lectured about a more ambitious aim: to banish non-Jews from the biblical land of Israel. 'Secret Wars: One Hundred Years of British Intelligence Inside MI5 ... |
| Obama's blind faith in Geithner President Obama is asking American taxpayers to trust Tim Geithner's plan to help buy up so-called toxic assets, as well as to expand the government's authority to take over troubled corporations like AIG. That's asking for a lot of trust. Geithner has done little to show taxpayers he deserves it. (By Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe) The Big Takeover - Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone Populism, Paranoia, and President Obama - George Packer, New Yorker What's in a name? Liberals, er, progressives, hope victory "Progressive" has replaced "liberal" in Washington's political lexicon, a reaction to how conservatives reduced the "L-word" to a pejorative in the 1980s. That's let formerly liberal groups get back into the fight without having to defend their label. But what exactly a "progressive" is remains murky The Fight is On to Transform America - Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin Daddy, What Exactly is a Derivative? - James Carville, Financial Times
| H17 Daily Telegraph Netanyahu's dilemma Telegraph View: Israel's next prime minister may wish for peace with Palestine but at what price to himself? Obama trumpets 'signs of economic progress' President trumpets "signs of progress" brought about by his economic policies but pleads to Americans to be patient. | H18 Independent India is stealing water of life, says Pakistan Thousands of Punjab farmers suffer as river Chenab runs dry Israel accused of 'reckless' use of white phosphorus Human Rights Watch says military should be held to account for 'war crimes' Fears of unrest in eastern Europe grow as Czech government collapses Three in a bed: will Gordon roll over? The Prime Minister's hopes of saving the world economy are running into trouble at home. Step forward Mervyn King and Alistair Darling |
| H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism Taking on US Defense Lobby Will Be 'Tough:' Obama US JFCOM Releases New Irregular Warfare Vision Israeli army Rabbis Criticized for Stance on Gaza Assault BY: Richard Boudreaux | Los Angeles Times The winter assault on the Gaza Strip was officially portrayed in Israel as an attempt to quell rocket fire by militants of Hamas. But some soldiers say they also were lectured about a more ambitious aim: to banish non-Jews from the biblical land of Israel. Pentagon exploring robot killers that can fire on their ownThe unmanned bombers that frequently cause unintended civilian casualties in Pakistan are a step toward an even more lethal generation of robotic hunters-killers that operate with limited, if any, human control. 'Secret Wars: One Hundred Years of British Intelligence Inside MI5 ... BY: Christian Brose | Foreign Policy Have you heard? The war is over! The "Global War on Terror," that is. At least for speechwriters at the Defense Department. BY: John Pomfret | The Washington Post Looking to cut billions from the federal budget? Consider closing some of the 1,000 military bases the United States maintains abroad. That's according to Hugh Gusterson, a professor of anthropology and sociology at George Mason University. New Issue of COIN Center Colloquium Released Obama Team to Keep Focus of Agencies on Terrorism Study: Pentagon's Africa Command Needs to Refine Mission On the Way to Being an Enduring Base Army’s New Breed of Officers in Iraq Earn Their Spurs in Line of Fire - Michael Evans, The Times · Yes, America, You're Still at War BY: Geoffrey S. Corn | World Politics Review For critics of the Bush administration, the War on Terror had never been a war, but a perversion of domestic and international law based on an invalid invocation of wartime authority. A rejection of this folly was expected by many. From TNR, Drew Gilpin Faust reviews Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief by James M. McPherson. Building Partner Capacity to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction Rand Corporation This 142-page US monograph outlines and applies a four-step process for developing regional approaches to building partner capacity (BPC) to combat WMD. Do the troops love Obama or hate him? | H20 Slate | H21 The Way of All Debt Male hubris has made a mess. We need more female qualities. Down the Cardin Path By James Taranto Setting achievements of Mesopotamia and Greece side by side is a useful exercise, says Roger Sandall. What do we learn from the comparison?... more» From The Guardian, the joy of anti-social media: Opining about books on social media is great fun, but reading is something you do alone, thank God From New Statesman, too many of today’s self-styled defenders of liberty are covert right-wingers, determined only to protect the rich and the privileged. One way to see French history: a long 19th century bookended by slaughter. But what a 19th century it was... more» Sperm bank offers stimulus deals... UK uses spy plane with thermal imaging camera to snoop on homes wasting energy... SOROS: 'I'M HAVING A VERY GOOD CRISIS'... The Tata Nano: Low price and even a good ride Strengthening and Repairing Relationships: Addressing Forgiveness and Sacrifice in Couples Education and Counselling AFRC This 14-page Australian paper examines the research related to two pro-relationship behaviours - forgiveness and sacrifice - and explores their application in marriage and relationship education and couples counselling Britain's crying out for a comic book hero Jim White hopes that Roy of the Rovers can overcome the narrow-minded distributors who are denying children the joys of weekly printed fantasies. |
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