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| H1 The Times Exclusive: US general warns Iraq exit deadline may be ignored Activities of al-Qaeda in two of Iraq’s most troubled cities could keep US troops engaged beyond the planned June withdrawal Transcript of Odierno interview Israel Cries Wolf BY: Roger Cohen | The New York Times Barack Obama should view Benjamin Netanyahu’s fear-mongering over Iran’s nuclear ambitions with skepticism, rein him in and pursue Washington’s opening toward Tehran. The Economist Barack Obama's foreign policy Two cheers and a jeer Most Americans like having a leader whom foreigners adore. But some wish he was feared a bit more Getting to zero Safe without the bomb? A nuclear-free world may never come about, but there can be safety in trying Asia Times Obama may cede Iran's nuclear rights Obama plans to ease the standoff on Iran's nuclear program - and stage a US comeback in Central Asia - by offering Tehran access to a global nuclear fuel bank in Kazakhstan. Tehran has welcomed the strategy, and the likely involvement of Japan serves up other geopolitical dimensions favorable to the Washington. Moscow is less enthusiastic. - M K Bhadrakumar Financial Times The pendulum will swing back Just as the crash was inevitable, so will be the swing the other way – capitalism will escape from its deathbed but with a more human face and we will see the return of forms of state corporatism familiar to those of us who remember the 1970s, writes Sir Martin Sorrell We should listen to Beijing’s currency idea It’s an ideal ‘G2’ project, says Fred Bergsten This new nuclear arms age has its own set of risks China’s consumption is a disappearing act Don’t expect too much, warns David Pilling Eastern eggshells For Europe’s fragile former communist economies, debts run up during reconstruction are coming to haunt sometimes precarious governments – and western lenders are the most exposed Rasmussen Reports: Just 53% Say Capitalism Better Than Socialism It's Your Country Too, Mr. President - Charles Krauthammer, Wash Post The top 10 books on international relations
Does Obama have a "grand strategy"? Should he? BY PETER FEAVER Obama and the Iranian Schizophrenia Jerusalem Post Is the US backing down on Iran? Gestures may indicate acceptance of enemy-established facts on the ground 'We don't know what to believe about the Iranian program' Clinton downplays significance of reported increase in centrifuges; North Korea reported smuggling enriched uranium; Israel expresses "grave" concern. Foreign Affairs How Development Leads to Democracy By Ronald Inglehart and Christian Welzel Free at Last? By Bernard Lewis Reshaping the World Order Can Obama's Team Tame the Taliban? - Joe Klein, Time WSJ · The Promise, and Peril, Ahead for Iraq By Kimberly Kagan and Frederick W. Kagan The parliament has learned how to use the power of the purse. The Economist The G20 and the IMF Banking on the fund The IMF is getting more resources to support the world economy. If it is to succeed, it needs more reform The IMF Mission: possible Obama's New Geopolitics: 10 Key Takeaways Huffington Post CFR Hot off the Press Washington Post The Dangers Facing Pakistan By David Ignatius, Richard Holbrooke and Mike Mullen uncover fresh evidence of chaos in Pakistan. It's Your Country Too, Mr. President By Charles Krauthammer, As Obama celebrates America's decline, North Korea launches a missile. Diverting funds from our missile defense systems is a useless sideshow. Georgians Call on President to Quit Demonstrators Occupy Main Road in Capital Without Incident, Vow New Rally Today Ahmadinejad Claims Progress In Iranian Nuclear Program Secretary Gates's Defense Budget Focuses on Today's Wars, Not Tomorrow's By Michael Gerson Gates' budget diverts funds back where they belong: Iraq and Afghanistan. New York Times Editorial Mr. Medvedev’s Silence After a year in office, it is time for the president of Russia to make a stand for rule of law that was blunted under Vladimir Putin. C.I.A. to Close Secret Prisons, Scenes of Harsh Interrogations The C.I.A.’s director said that agency officers who took part in the Bush administration’s most controversial counterterrorism program should not be punished. Standoff With Pirates Shows U.S. Power Has Limits Driven solely by economic gain, the band of pirates who captured an American merchant ship’s captain are an unconventional foe for the American military. US and Iran Met Secretly in Geneva / ISN Academics and specialists from Iran, the US and Europe have been meeting regularly in Geneva for informal talks, swissinfo reports. A New Alliance with Europe? WSJ The Pentagon's New Priorities Guardian · Socialism has failed. Now capitalism is bankrupt. So what comes next? Eric Hobsbawm: Whatever ideological logo we adopt, the shift from free market to public action needs to be bigger than politicians grasp · Ominous warnings Manuel Hassassian: Unless Israel's new leaders change tack, they offer Palestinians no partner for peace Iraq invasion failed to achieve all its aims, admits Gordon Brown Non-committal Iran Ian Black: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave no ground to the US in his speech today. But Obama's overtures are beginning to pay off What to read on Geopolitics Taliban, the Sequel Somewhere in southern Afghanistan, another little girl is being "protected" from school, another woman shrouded in the anonymity of a burqa is begging permission to walk out her front door. Mission accomplished? Not quite. Nir Rosen: The gathering storm - The National "Iraqis are safer but hardly safe, sectarian tensions have been submerged but not eliminated, refugees are unwilling to risk a return to their homes, and almost everyone expects the worst after US troops withdraw." WSJ · Democratic Hope in Lebanon By Melik Kaylan A Shiite rival emerges for Hezbollah. Obama embraced pragmatism as well as leaders on his trip Los Angeles Times Feltman tapped for Near East post (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama nominated former Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman as assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. On anniversary of Saddam's fall, Iraqi protesters vent against US Tens of thousands of Sadr's Shiite supporters expressed solidarity with Iraqi security forces while demanding an end to the US occupation. Ha’aretz – Israel: No objection to West's talks with Tehran Government expects international community to act firmly to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons ANALYSIS / Iran's prints are all over alleged Egypt terror ring To fight Iranian subversion in Egypt, Cairo is willing to help Israel prevent the arming of Hamas in Gaza Pak Govt: Drones Killed 14 al-Qaeda, 687 Civilians High-Level U.S. Visit Highlights Pakistani Disagreements Despite public pledges to closely coordinate their efforts in the fight against Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, Pakistani and U.S. officials seem increasingly at odds on how to move forward in their struggle against extremism. Disagreements resurfaced during a visit this week to Afghanistan and Pakistan by U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen and U.S. regional envoy Richard Holbrooke The Outlook for China's Economy - Nouriel Roubini, Forbes
Outside View: Afghanistan -- back to the '90s? (UPI) -- At the risk of some repetition, it is worth mentioning two facts that seem unknown to policymakers such as U.S. envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke. The first is that the Asia of the 21st century is a tad different from that of the 19th. The second is that the ideology of the Pakistani army is based not on military needs and capabilities but on a vision of Mughal-era India and the conviction that someday that glorious epoch will return to the subcontinent. BY: Michael Mazza | The Weekly Standard The future of America's long-running dominance of the seas is under threat. The Department of Defense reported recently that the Chinese navy is continuing to modernize at a rapid clip. Former Iran Negotiator Nicholas Burns: 'Europe Needs to Make the Same Sacrifices as the US' | H2 From the Archive Recommendations for Strengthening U.S.-Turkish Relations Şanlı Bahadır Koç Spot the differenceTürkiye-Ermenistan Siyasi İlişkileri (TC Dışişileri Bakanlığı) Aynı sayfanın 29 Mart 2009 tarihine ait anlık görüntüsü için bkz tr.mfa Obama Offers Turkey a New Role - Sandy Berger & Mark Parris, US News Turkey, IMF agree on major loan deal-reports The Economist - America, Europe and Turkey Talking Turkey America’s public call for Turkish entry into the European Union may backfire Barack Obama's visit to Turkey | Talking Turkey | The Economist Turkey basks in the glory of a two-day visit by Barack Obama How Will Turkey Respond to U.S. Courtship? - Stratfor FT Gul lashes out at European critics European criticism of Turkey’s increasingly assertive foreign policy is dangerous and could hamper co-operation on some of the biggest threats to western security, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has warned Ankara's diplomacy in Muslim world pays US dividends FT.com / UK - France and Germany play politics with accession FT.com / Europe - EU old boys play politics with Turkey Ariel COHEN: Turkey's dangerous shift - Washington Times How To Get U.S.-Turkish Relations Back on Track | The New America Foundation President of Turkey: World needed Obama's message | Spero News CNN Market Place Middle East interview Iran Glances at Turkey with Envy - Nassrine Azimi, Int'l Herald Tribune Stratfor Update: United States and Turkey The days when the European Union can influence Turkish behavior by dangling the prospect of membership could be numbered. SPECIAL REPORT: Turkey's Complexities Demand Obama's Listening Ear - Middle East Times Doc's Talk: Fethullah Gulen: Infiltrating the U.S. Through Our Charter Schools? [VIDEO ] Ahmet Davutoglu, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's key foreign policy advisor, appeared in Al Jazeera TV for a special interview NPR Obama Mending Relations With Turkey (Your correspondent has a sentence or two here) A town hall meeting and a mosque Where Is Turkey Going And Why?: A Panel Discussion ... Foreign Policy: Turkish Delight Asia Times The US puts Turkey on center stage By Patrick Wrigley Why Nabucco May Be a No-Go Obama's Turkish Successes Washington Post By Utku Cakirozer · Obama's Turkey Visit a Good First Step BY: Yigal Schleifer | World Politics Review He left the country with what appears to be a solid new foundation on which to do so, but significant challenges remain ahead. Ultranationalists Concerned Over Fragile Turkish-Azerbaijani Ties Ankara-Yerevan Rapprochement Strains Turkey's Relations With Azerbaijan - The Jamestown Foundation Tusiad To Submit A Report On Turkish-u.S. Relations In The New Period Qantara.de - The Need for a Discursive Shift Turkey-EU Relations Obama walks thin line with courting Ankara - Middle East Times Video and Transcript: President Obama’s Town Hall Meeting in Turkey | Enduring America Yes to NATO Turkey, No to European Turkey - Mostafa Zein, Dar Al-Hayat Gul Urges Iraq to Stop PKK Attacks Otherwise Allow Turkey to Do It · The Armenian Genocide Resolution's Real-World Impact BY: Emil Sanamyan | World Politics Review Recurring efforts by Armenian-Americans to secure official U.S. condemnation of the Armenian genocide have often been portrayed by opponents as "counterproductive" to U.S.-Turkey, as well as Turkey-Armenia, relations. But the campaign to pass a non-binding congressional resolution has actually helped focus these relations. The Alliance of Civilizations Forum: A Major Test for Turkish Diplomacy - The Jamestown Foundation Greece Teeters on the Verge of Bankruptcy BY: Manfred Ertel | Der Spiegel Greece is on the brink of bankruptcy despite the fact that the global recession has yet to hit the country with full force. Strikes are paralyzing the country and the EU is putting on the pressure. But the government is still trying to put a positive spin on things. History News Network How Obama did in Turkey. One treads carefully in the Turkish presence. Turkey is no joke. PostGlobal on washingtonpost.com "Obama's Turkish Successes Turkey at the Crossroads | The Jewish Exponent On Obama's overseas trip: Non-event in Turkey ... Dallas Morning News - 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 We are not a minority, say many of the country’s Kurds US President Obama meets Iraqi Kurdish leaders UNHCR | Refworld | Third Force in Kurdish Politics Mooted Ashti Hawrami: Kurdistan Region is capable of extracting oil and ... Turkey Improves Its Relations with Kurdistan Hawler Tribune Diyarbakır: The key to solving ’Kurdish issue’ Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık Qantara.de - The Need for a Discursive Shift Turkey-EU Relations :FT.com / UK - France and Germany play politics with accession Hellenic Antidote: American thinking on Cyprus The Unholy Alliance of the Turkish and Armenian Governments EU dismisses Rehn’s stance linking NATO, EU issues Turkish entrepreneurs' total investments in EU reach $19.1 bln Turkish Cypriot PM demands probe into former president and PM Greece Teeters on the Verge of Bankruptcy BY: Manfred Ertel | Der Spiegel Greece is on the brink of bankruptcy despite the fact that the global recession has yet to hit the country with full force. Strikes are paralyzing the country and the EU is putting on the pressure. But the government is still trying to put a positive spin on things. Cyprus-mail Nationalist group engineered Eroglu win in 1998 NewsRoom Finland Helsinki sees W Balkans and Turkey as EU members in 2020s Seeking to up exports to US after Obama visit Eni To Pay For Turkey Oil Pipeline Engineering Project Study Wall Street Journal - Greeks should re-examine their history books President Obama’s Message to Turkey: Let’s Agree to Disagree About ... Armenian Weekly Greece: Obama's statements in Turkey positive Greece media critical of Obama-patriarch meeting Questions that left unanswered by Obama in Turkey PM Erdogan soothes Azerbaijan's concerns over Turkey-Armenia thaw Trend News : Turkey’s EU admission is important for European energy security: Trend commentator Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop Getting to know Istanbul through its noir | Jacket Copy | Los Angeles Times Lost in Translation: Turkish Anchor Appears in Blackface on Air in Coverage of President Obama | 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 Editorial Mr. Medvedev’s Silence After a year in office, it is time for the president of Russia to make a stand for rule of law that was blunted under Vladimir Putin. C.I.A. to Close Secret Prisons, Scenes of Harsh Interrogations The C.I.A.’s director said that agency officers who took part in the Bush administration’s most controversial counterterrorism program should not be punished. Standoff With Pirates Shows U.S. Power Has Limits Driven solely by economic gain, the band of pirates who captured an American merchant ship’s captain are an unconventional foe for the American military. Moldovan Opposition Claims Fraud in Elections That Set Off Anti-Communist Protests Iran Claims Gains in Nuclear Program Obama Seeks Quick Approval of More Money for Overseas Military Operations Thousands Demonstrate Against Georgian President As Stocks Surge, Some Still Fear Possible Plunge The sudden turnaround has investors wondering if the markets have bottomed out or if larger problems are being ignored PAUL KRUGMAN Making Banking Boring The regulated era of banking that followed the Great Depression was far less lucrative than the previous era, but one of spectacular economic progress. Perhaps the political winds need to shift again. | H5 Washington Post The Dangers Facing Pakistan By David Ignatius, Richard Holbrooke and Mike Mullen uncover fresh evidence of chaos in Pakistan. It's Your Country Too, Mr. President By Charles Krauthammer, As Obama celebrates America's decline, North Korea launches a missile. Diverting funds from our missile defense systems is a useless sideshow. Georgians Call on President to Quit Demonstrators Occupy Main Road in Capital Without Incident, Vow New Rally Today Ahmadinejad Claims Progress In Iranian Nuclear Program Secretary Gates's Defense Budget Focuses on Today's Wars, Not Tomorrow's By Michael Gerson Gates' budget diverts funds back where they belong: Iraq and Afghanistan. CIA Director Panetta Says Agency Is No Longer Operating Secret Prisons Russian Election | H6 Guardian · Socialism has failed. Now capitalism is bankrupt. So what comes next? Eric Hobsbawm: Whatever ideological logo we adopt, the shift from free market to public action needs to be bigger than politicians grasp · Ominous warnings Manuel Hassassian: Unless Israel's new leaders change tack, they offer Palestinians no partner for peace Iraq invasion failed to achieve all its aims, admits Gordon Brown Non-committal Iran Ian Black: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave no ground to the US in his speech today. But Obama's overtures are beginning to pay off Obama's charm offensive Mustafa Qadri: Is Barack Obama's change of strategy – switching focus from Iraq to Afghanistan – a real break with the past? Obama Should Listen to the Iraqis, Not Lecture Them by Jonathan Steele Scott Lucas: General David Petraeus is subtly challenging President Obama's views on the number of US troops needed in Afghanistan The killing of Islamic secularism Brian Whitaker: Debate about the relationship between religion and state has been stifled by history – and the influence of a colonising west Syria: paying the price James Denselow: The Foreign Office's failure to condemn the arrest of a British citizen in Damascus suggests it sees human rights as negotiable Mark Weisbrot: The concept of the 'global economy' is largely exaggerated. The US can – and should – still set its own economic policies Obama begins long walk to peace Inayat Bunglawala: The US president knows it will take a long time to heal his country's rift with Islam but at least he has taken the first steps Student visa link to raids as PM looks to Pakistan Suspects being questioned over plot exploited lax student visa regulations to enter UK Obama to tackle immigration reform US president plans to grant citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants, but can expect loud opposition Somali pirates surrounded by FBI and US warships in Indian Ocean stand-off Simon Tisdall: Dmitry Medvedev's promise to uphold the rule of law sounds hollow when so many assassins remain at large Why the Somali pirates are winning David Axe: Without better military coordination and a single deterrence strategy, ships like the Alabama will remain on their own |
H7 Could Iraq Deadline Boost al-Qaeda? · Nir Rosen: The gathering storm - The National "Iraqis are safer but hardly safe, sectarian tensions have been submerged but not eliminated, refugees are unwilling to risk a return to their homes, and almost everyone expects the worst after US troops withdraw." WSJ · Democratic Hope in Lebanon By Melik Kaylan A Shiite rival emerges for Hezbollah. Feltman tapped for Near East post (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama nominated former Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman as assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. Iranian Interference in Iraq BY: Lord Corbett | Asharq Alawsat The UK is not the only one contemplating the future of Iraq now that our troops have handed over formal responsibility for Basra last week. Next door, Shiite Iran is busy working out its next move What Obama Didn't See in Iraq - Sami Moubayed, Asia Times Iran's Credit Crunch - Abigail Fielding-Smith, New Statesman US Outreach to Islamic World Will Pay Dividends, Gates Says – AFPS
| H8 Iraq Updates IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq In yet another sign that the Obama Administration’s “pullout” timeline for Iraq is not set in stone, General Ray Odierno told The Times that US combat troops may remain in Iraq’s cities beyond the June 30 deadline mandated by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). He pointed to increased trouble from al-Qaeda as the justification. Iran opens nuclear fuel facility Iran's president opens the country's first nuclear fuel production plant, in defiant mood despite fresh moves on talks. US: 'Skepticism' Over Talk of Iranian Nuclear Progress U.S. to Join Talks on Iran's Nuclear Program The United States said yesterday that it would directly participate "from now on" in international talks with Iran over its nuclear activities, the latest move in the Obama administration's promised diplomatic outreach to the Tehran government Shia crowds decry US role in Iraq Supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr rally in Baghdad against the US presence in Iraq, six years after the fall of Saddam Hussein Celebrating freedom: Thousands of Iraqis rally against U.S. Six years after the U.S. overthrow of Saddam Hussein's government, tens of thousands of Iraqis gathered in the rain in Iraq's capital Thursday to mark the anniversary and renew calls for an American withdrawal. Iran issues nuclear rebuff to US Obama asks Congress for extra $83.4 billion; funds for wars... Tony Blair: I think about Iraq war every day Fars News Agency: Analyst: Enemies Admit Defeat in Iran's N. Issue Ahmadinejad Says Iran is Ready to Talk to 'Honest' Barack Obama Iran Softens Stance as Obama Diplomacy Bears Fruit - Tim Reid, The Times Tensions Deep Between Baghdad, Awakening Councils As U.S. President Barack Obama called on Iraqis to "make political accommodations" and take "responsibility" for their country during a surprise visit, officials in Baghdad were grappling with a case that could well indicate how prepared they are to tackle a key obstacle to progress. Thousands march in Baghdad against US presence Hojatoleslam al-Sadr had called for a 'march of the millions' but it appeared the crowd numbered no more than 30,000 · For Shiite Cleric in Iraq, Good and Bad Are Intermixed Los Angeles Times Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Hakim is a scion of one of Iraq's most prominent families. He says what others won't: Iraqis were too weak to overthrow Saddam Hussein without U.S. intervention. 7 Killed in Baghdad Near Shiite Shrine - Sudarsan Raghavan and Qais Mizher, Washington Post Despite fraud claims, Algeria's leader likely to be reelected today President Bouteflika's quest for a third term is prompting concerns that he is poised to become North Africa's newest strongman. Bouteflika tipped to win Algeria poll, but resentment festers
| H9 Ha’aretz – Israel: No objection to West's talks with Tehran Government expects international community to act firmly to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons ANALYSIS / Iran's prints are all over alleged Egypt terror ring To fight Iranian subversion in Egypt, Cairo is willing to help Israel prevent the arming of Hamas in Gaza Iron Dome developer: Anti-rocket system will be operational by 2010 'Jerusalem should be capital for the Palestinians and Israel' U.K. foreign secretary discusses settlement construction in East Jerusalem with Jordanian king Interview / Amos Oz discusses his work as Israel marks his 70th birthday Jerusalem Post Is the US backing down on Iran? Gestures may indicate acceptance of enemy-established facts on the ground 'We don't know what to believe about the Iranian program' Clinton downplays significance of reported increase in centrifuges; North Korea reported smuggling enriched uranium; Israel expresses "grave" concern. Obama abroad Netanyahu must convince him that anything short of stopping the mullahs would be dangerously reckless. Giving serious ideas a bad name [ YOSSI ALPHER, Obama doesn't need a new plan [ GERSHON BASKIN, Blair: I won't give up on Mideast peace In 'Time' interview, Quartet envoy insists Netanyahu wants to build Palestinian state from the bottom up Nasrallah denies Hizbullah cell in Egypt Egyptian judicial source: Suspects allegedly rented Rafah homes; country's A-G: Men assigned for intel Yedioth Ahronoth 'Peace will boost moderates' Obama may find new Israeli PM a willing partner for sustainable peace, Alon Ben-Meir says Daily Alert.org – Hebrew Press Editorials (2008) - Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine BY: Roger Cohen | The New York Times Barack Obama should view Benjamin Netanyahu’s fear-mongering over Iran’s nuclear ambitions with skepticism, rein him in and pursue Washington’s opening toward Tehran. Tom Ricks Is Israel in a state of permanent war? BY: Jeremy Ben-Ami | International Herald Tribune Can Israel's future be secured while remaining true to the democratic vision of the country’s founders? Netanyahu's Second Chance - Alon Ben-Meir, RealClearWorld Loss of hope Little escape or progress in Gaza aftermath Jewish settlers rampage through village Dozens of Israelis from a Jewish settlement where a Palestinian killed a youth last week have rampaged through a West Bank Arab village, smashing car windows and damaging homes
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On anniversary of Saddam's fall, Iraqi protesters vent against US Tens of thousands of Sadr's Shiite supporters expressed solidarity with Iraqi security forces while demanding an end to the US occupation. Immigration emerges as an issue for Obama It's still 'economy first,' but advocacy groups and lawmakers are positioning themselves to take on this political hot button. Massive protests target Georgia's Saakashvili The president resists demands to leave office as some wonder if revolution is in the air. Somali piracy back in spotlight with US hostage The FBI has joined the effort to try to secure Capt. Richard Phillips's release. Why Obama and Gates need Ike to trim the military Former president's warning of a 'military-industrial complex' rings true as Congress pushes back on cuts. American merchant sailors showed their mettle in retaking a hijacked ship, but piracy off Somalia continues to vex the international community. Pak Govt: Drones Killed 14 al-Qaeda, 687 Civilians High-Level U.S. Visit Highlights Pakistani Disagreements Despite public pledges to closely coordinate their efforts in the fight against Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, Pakistani and U.S. officials seem increasingly at odds on how to move forward in their struggle against extremism. Disagreements resurfaced during a visit this week to Afghanistan and Pakistan by U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen and U.S. regional envoy Richard Holbrooke · U.S. Envoy Says India Is Not Being Pressured BY: Rama Lakshmi | The Washington Post U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke said Wednesday that "India, Pakistan and the U.S. face a common threat" posed by Islamist extremist groups. But Holbrooke, in New Delhi for meetings with top Indian officials after visits to Pakistan and Afghanistan, denied asking India to resume its dialogue with Pakistan. · Creating Closer Ties With Pakistani Military BY: Trudy Rubin | Miami Herald As President Barack Obama promotes his new plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan, there's a little-noticed part of the strategy that draws on psychology more than bullets. It involves an effort to establish closer ties with the heads of Pakistan's military and intelligence establishments. · Corruption Undercuts U.S. Hope for Afghan Police BY: Richard A. Oppel, Jr. | The New York Times If the experience of the American troops already training police officers in Ghazni Province is any indication, better policing may be impossible for Afghanistan unless government officials at all levels stop cannibalizing their civil administration and police force for a quick profit. US reaches out to Hekmatyar The Outlook for China's Economy - Nouriel Roubini, Forbes
Outside View: Afghanistan -- back to the '90s? (UPI) -- At the risk of some repetition, it is worth mentioning two facts that seem unknown to policymakers such as U.S. envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke. The first is that the Asia of the 21st century is a tad different from that of the 19th. The second is that the ideology of the Pakistani army is based not on military needs and capabilities but on a vision of Mughal-era India and the conviction that someday that glorious epoch will return to the subcontinent. Can Obama's Team Tame the Taliban? - Joe Klein, Time G-2 May Not Sit Well with the World - Frank Ching, China Post North Korea's rocket Making a splash Twilight of the autocrats: Will the financial crisis bring down Russia and China?
How Not to Lose in Afghanistan - Aryn Baker, Time BY: Michael Mazza | The Weekly Standard The future of America's long-running dominance of the seas is under threat. The Department of Defense reported recently that the Chinese navy is continuing to modernize at a rapid clip. Report: Pakistan rejects U.S. plan, wants drones Pakistan: ISI Chief Snubs Top U.S. Officials The head of Pakistan's intelligence agency refused to meet with visiting U.S. officials in Islamabad Rural States Help India Defy Slump Rural India is showing signs it can pick up the economic slack for slowing growth in other sectors. Taliban ceasefire at risk as cleric abandons talks Islamists Form Unholy Af-Pak Alliance - Koelbl & Sandberg, Der Spiegel Asia Enters an Era of Strife - Michael Wesley, Far Eastern Economic Review
Credit Crunch, Japan Style - Namihei Odaira, Le Monde Diplomatique The Economist Pakistan's extremists The slide downhill Afghanistan's new militias Self-defence Chinese unemployment Where will all the students go? China and the G20 Taking the summit by strategy Indians will vote but to what end? There will be queues at polling stations. But the prospects of voters' lives improving are an illusion Sarmila Bose · Early Rifts in Taliban Alliance Signal Threat to Terrorist Leader BY: Raza Khan | The Washington Times A 2-month-old alliance of Pakistani Taliban factions is beginning to fray and could undermine Baitullah Mehsud, a Taliban leader who has claimed responsibility for recent terrorist attacks far from Pakistan's tribal regions and even threatened the United States. Taliban Pushing Deep into Pakistan - Amanda Hodge, The Australian The Outlook for China's Economy - Nouriel Roubini, Forbes
· Kashmir Skirmishes Exacerbate India-Pakistan Tensions BY: Vinay Jha | World Politics Review A series of brazen infiltration attempts by militant groups in Indian Kashmir have resulted in fierce gun battles with security forces, and threaten to exacerbate already tense relations between India and Pakistan. The skirmishes come amid fears of militant attacks on prominent political leaders as the campaign for India's parliamentary elections gets under way. In Indonesian election, secular parties confirm appeal Support for Islamist groups appears to be waning after a surge in 2004. · North Korea, Not Surprisingly, Keeps Kim As Its 'Dear Leader' BY: John M. Glionna and Ju-Min Park | Los Angeles Times Citizens in the isolated regime see choreographed joy at his reappointment. Outside observers call it more propaganda. | H11 IHT Tel Aviv, Then and Now By JEREMY BEN-AMI Can Israel's future be secured while remaining true to the democratic vision of the country’s founders? EUROPE European press review Teeters on the Verge of Bankruptcy BY: Manfred Ertel | Der Spiegel Greece is on the brink of bankruptcy despite the fact that the global recession has yet to hit the country with full force. Strikes are paralyzing the country and the EU is putting on the pressure. But the government is still trying to put a positive spin on things. Why Europe Won't Fight · Sarkozy Pushing the Limits of Bonapartism BY: David Rieff | The Japan Times French President Nicolas Sarkozy's style of governing -- essentially an electoral campaign, not a government -- virtually guarantees that nothing of real importance can be accomplished. BY: David Rieff | The Guardian The French president's decision to rejoin Nato reveals a populist and authoritarian streak that can only damage his position. Learning from the Crisis: A Market Approach to Securing European Natural Gas Supplies CEPS This 4-page policy brief looks at a concrete proposal on how to use markets to secure against risks in European gas supplies. Its aim is to come up with a crisis response mechanism to gas disruptions, which is still missing in the current Directive 2004/67/EC concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply EU-Ukraine: Partners for securing gas to Europe Source: European Commission External Relations Conference Documents Mardell's Europe Holy grail of single European voice still elusive The Economist France and America Allies of a kind Denmark's prime ministers Charlemagne A surfeit of leaders The European Union still foxes outsiders with its plethora of presidents BY: Andrew Wilson | The New York Times The demonstrations in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau after last Sunday’s elections are not like Ukraine’s “Orange Revolution” in 2004. Most obviously, they have been far from peaceful. Eurozone Braces for Economic Storm - Anatole Kaletsky, Times of London We Still Need NATO - Moldovans on the divisions behind a spasm of violence Regretful Kosovans reveal KLA role in murder and torture | H12 RFE/RL Google News Azerbaijan Thousands Demonstrate Against Georgia President BY: David J. Kramer | Foreign Policy Georgia is heating up once again as opposition forces prepare for a major demonstration against President Mikheil Saakashvili on April 9. Azerbaijan: Russian 2008 Blitz against Georgia Eroded Ardor for NATO and EU in Baku - Expert Georgia: Opposition Gives Saakashvili Ultimatum to Resign On the kickoff day of what they pledge could be ongoing protests, organizers of Tbilisi’s April 9 opposition rally gave Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili 24 hours to resign over alleged misdeeds ranging from election fraud to the 2008 war with Russia. Kazakhstan: Is Astana Aiming to Broker US-Iran Nuclear Deal? a review of Russian Conservatism and Its Critics: A Study in Political Culture by Richard Pipes Georgia braced for new protests Organisers of a mass rally against Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili call on him to resign or face a new day of protest. A Strategy for Central Asia - B. Grgic & A. Petersen, Washington Times Moldova Underscores Failed Russian Policy BY: Nabi Abdullaev | The Moscow Times Anti-government protests in Moldova this week unfolded in a similar manner to Western-backed uprisings that toppled governments in Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Serbia in recent years Moldova's 'Twitter Revolution': Made in America? by Daniel McAdams NATO Struggles With Conflicting Views on Russia After a ‘Spontaneous’ Riot, Moldovans Look for Answers Russian Election |
| H13 The Times Exclusive: US general warns Iraq exit deadline may be ignored Activities of al-Qaeda in two of Iraq’s most troubled cities could keep US troops engaged beyond the planned June withdrawal Transcript of Odierno interview The Times interview with the man who has replaced General David Petraeus as the head of the armed forces in Iraq Iran opens first nuclear fuel production facility Significant leap forward reignites international fears over the potential of the Islamic Republic making an atomic weapon ANALYSIS: few options for a superpower US Navy’s USS Bainbridge must watch while negotiations continue for the release of Captain Richard Phillips Georgians take to streets for change Tens of thousands rally in Tbilisi to back opposition demands for Mikheil Saakashvili to resign over ruinous war with Russi The assertion of moral leadership and spiritual values in times of hardship must be inclusive and not factional. The Church's role is not that of an analgesic From Fatwa to Jihad by Kenan Malik Has Khomeini’s Rushdie fatwa done more harm than we imagine? Barack Obama will have a hard task trying to sell immigration reform as something the US needs Wall Street Journal · The Promise, and Peril, Ahead for Iraq By Kimberly Kagan and Frederick W. Kagan The parliament has learned how to use the power of the purse. Phil Izzo / Wall Street Journal: Economists See a Rebound in September — Economists in the latest Wall Street Journal forecasting survey expect the recession to end in September, though most say it won't be until the second half of 2010 that the economy recovers enough to bring down unemployment. Keep it simple: Policy Responses to the Financial Crisis CEPS This 96-page study proposes new rules of the game – imposed through the Group of 20 and the IMF – for the macroeconomic and exchange rate policies of the main players, including the United States The World Crisis: Reforming the International Financial System Economic and Political Weekly, Peterson Institute A 7-page US essay on what steps are necessary to reform the international financial system | H14 Financial Times The pendulum will swing back Just as the crash was inevitable, so will be the swing the other way – capitalism will escape from its deathbed but with a more human face and we will see the return of forms of state corporatism familiar to those of us who remember the 1970s, writes Sir Martin Sorrell We should listen to Beijing’s currency idea It’s an ideal ‘G2’ project, says Fred Bergsten This new nuclear arms age has its own set of risks China’s consumption is a disappearing act Don’t expect too much, warns David Pilling Eastern eggshells For Europe’s fragile former communist economies, debts run up during reconstruction are coming to haunt sometimes precarious governments – and western lenders are the most exposed Wall Street’s words The US attracts the most talented people from around the world; destroying that attraction is like writing a suicide note on behalf of the nation US shifts nuclear stance to reach out to Tehran Barack Obama's administration announced yesterday it would participate fully in all meetings between leading world powers and Iran to discuss Tehran's nuclear... Allegations fly over Moldova poll riot Workmen took the place of looters in Moldova’s parliament as the government and the opposition blamed each other for the violence that followed Sunday’s contested election Georgia protesters urge president to quit Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, demanding the resignation of Mikheil Saakashvili, the president, who led his country into a disastrous war with Russia last August Obama to ask for $75bn for war spending President Barack Obama was poised on Thursday to request $83.4bn in fresh funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and aid to help Pakistan combat extremists US trade gap shrinks sharply as exports rise The US trade gap plunged by 28.3 per cent in February to $26bn, the lowest level in nearly 10 years as Americans’ once voracious demand for the world’s goods continued to collapse Summers sees end to ‘sense of free-fall’ Lawrence Summers, chief economic adviser to the White House, said the “sense of freefall” in the US economy would end in the next few months but cautioned that the risks of deflation and more job losses had not gone away US Navy warship in contact with pirates An American navy warship and Somali pirates holding a US citizen hostage remained at a stand-off on Thursday amid signs that other pirate-held vessels were moving towards the area Five success stories for recessionary times Jonathan Guthrie on the downturn survivors | Editorial |
| Just 53% Say Capitalism Better Than Socialism Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin Rick Santorum / Philly.com: The Elephant in the Room: Obama vs. United States — The president is contemptuous of American values. And one key nominee prefers the judgment of other countries and global elites. — Watching President Obama apologize last week for America's arrogance - before a French audience that owes … Karl Rove / Wall Street Journal: The President Has Become a Divisive Figure — Compare his start with George W. Bush's. — The Pew Research Center reported last week that President Barack Obama “has the most polarized early job approval of any president” since surveys began tracking this 40 years ago. Obama vs. the culture of greed There is nothing evil in striving for the American dream that the president has so often lauded, but a kind of nihilistic blindness has led some to put personal gain above all else. | H17 Daily TelegraphThe new enemy within is invisible Al-Qaeda is changing its tactics to avoid detection of its agents. Security forces must adapt quickly to find them, says Con Coughlin Al-Qaeda terror plot to bomb Easter shoppers An al-Qaeda cell was days away from carrying out an "Easter spectacular" of co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks on shopping centres in Manchester, police believe. US to increase military presence off Somalia | H18 Independent Iran issues nuclear rebuff to US Ahmedinejad remains defiant despite Obama's peaceful overtures Georgia's Rose Revolution wilts |
| H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism Defence budget A daring punt Robert Gates changes the Pentagon’s priorities · The Iron Triangle vs. Small Wars BY: Benjamin H. Friedman | World Politics Review A fight is brewing in the U.S. military between manpower and technology. With the economy cratering and defense budgets flattening, we can no longer afford both large armies meant to pacify hostile populations, and legions of high-end air and naval platforms that fulfill our technological dreams. Why Obama and Gates need Ike to trim the military Former president's warning of a 'military-industrial complex' rings true as Congress pushes back on cuts. Obama Seeks $80B for Wars American merchant sailors showed their mettle in retaking a hijacked ship, but piracy off Somalia continues to vex the international community Cyber-Spying a Threat, and Everyone Is in on It Scott Shane / New York Times: C.I.A. Closing Secret Overseas Sites for Terror Detainees — WASHINGTON — The Central Intelligence Agency announced on Thursday that it will no longer use contractors to conduct interrogations, and that it is decommissioning the secret overseas sites where for years it held high-level Al Qaeda prisoners Obama and Gates Gut the Military — The secretary's new budget will leave us weaker to pay for the president's domestic programs. Part 1: An Introduction to the Proposed 2010 U.S. Defense Budget The Pentagon's projected 2010 defense budget entails major shifts for the Pentagon's high-end, long-term weapons development programs Part 2: The 2010 U.S. Defense Budget and BMD The Pentagon's proposed 2010 budget entails major shifts in U.S. ballistic missile defense efforts Part 3: The U.S. 2010 Defense Budget and The Fighter Mix The Pentagon's proposed 2010 defense budget includes a seminal choice about the long-term manned combat fighter fleet Part 4: The 2010 U.S. Defense Budget and The Future of the Fleet The Pentagon's proposed 2010 defense budget includes significant decisions on U.S. shipbuilding. Cyber attacks surging on U.S. power grid, worrying utilities Like electronic termites — some domestic, some exotics from foreign lands — cyber hackers are trying to penetrate America's power grids. In 1997, Kansas City Power & Light saw about 10,000 such "events" each month. Now it's 10 to 20 every second Pentagon Preps for Economic Warfare - Eamon Javers, Politico Obama's bid for nuke-free world: Bad idea. Global security depends on smarter control, not elimination. New Report Recommends Nuclear Policy on the Path Toward Nuclear Disarmament Source: Federation of American Scientists Full Report (PDF; 848 KB) | H20 Slate The Economist Water Sin aqua non Climate change When glaciers start moving BY: Peter A. Buxbaum | ISN Security Watch The UN report, published every three years, noted that demand for water was at an all-time high - and growing - thanks to population growth, mobility, rising living standards and changes in food consumption. Some countries are reaching the limits of their water resources and competition for water is intensifying, making access an increasingly politicized issue. UK National Security and Environmental Change IPPR This 13-page UK paper examines the complex and far-reaching challenges of environmental change and associated security threats Climate Policy Integration, Coherence and Governance PEER This report assesses the dgree to which climate change issues need to be considered and integrated into tax policies, transportation policies, land use planning, etc. The Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions (PDF; 114 KB) Measurement, Reporting, and Verification in a Post-2012 Climate Agreement | H21 Biblical characters are opaque to us, James Wood argues, precisely because they are transparent to God, who is their real audience. Perhaps... more» What does Passover tell us about international relations? Radical Islam does not revert to an ancient world-view. Would that it did. The Islam of Khomeini or Al-Qaeda is in truth quite modern... more» Does God Exist? Hitchens vs. Craig John Lloyd on why Britain is best when it comes to gossip. A review of Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average by Joseph T. Hallinan. Soaps, sex and sociology: Do women who watch telenovelas have fewer babies (but more men)? · It's way past bedtime Mark Lawson: Novels are designed to be read, not heard. The audiobook boom risks infantilising literature Martin Amis: 'Men are terrible. We can't help it' Amis has written some of the cleverest novels of the late 20th century. He tells Christina Patterson how he wishes the world was run by women. We can't let Google steal the show Tim Luckhurst: Google's cheap aggregation of expensively created news content threatens the independence and quality of journalism |
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