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| H1 A User's Guide to Pressuring Israel - What would an "even-handed" U.S. Middle East policy look like - Stephen Walt, Foreign Policy New York Times ROGER COHEN Realpolitik for Iran It’s almost certainly too late to stop Iran from achieving virtual nuclear power status. What can be transformed is the context in which Iran operates. Civilians Reassert Themselves in U.S. Foreign Policy By DEXTER FILKINS Richard Holbrooke embodies a new paradigm that includes military force but emphasizes a wider range of tools, like diplomacy, persuasion and money. 'Power Rules' By LESLIE H. GELB Reviewed by MICHAEL BESCHLOSS A former State Department hand and Times columnist on the ways of world power. First Chapter Washington Post Scholars on the Sidelines By Joseph S. Nye Academics are paying increasingly less attention to how their work relates to the policy world. Financial Times Borderline outcast?Hostility towards a two-state solution with the Palestinians not only puts Israel at odds with Washington but may also turn it into a diplomatic pariah ABD ve Orta Doğu Barış Süreci Mart 2009 Which Globalization Will Survive? - Joseph Nye, RealClearWorld Slate Why Israel Will Bomb Iran … Soon By David Samuels Gen. Petraeus Makes Case for Obama's War - Trudy Rubin, Philly Inquirer
Dennis Ross's Iran Plan Los Angeles Times Help Iran go nuclear By Sonni Efron A proposal to provide reactors to the United Arab Emirates could be the prototype of a deal between the U.S. and Tehran. Lebanon's Hezbollah savors increasing legitimacy As some Western nations seek contacts, Hezbollah's No. 2, cleric Naim Qassem, says the group has 'convinced the West it is a popular, authentic and important movement that cannot be ignored.' Christian Science Monitor Persian New Year to bring US - Iran thaw? In the past week, mixed progress as a US journalist is charged with spying amidst positive statements from both countries. Wall Street Journal What Iran Really Thinks About Talks By Michael Rubin It's a game of diplomacy without sincerity. Persian New Year to bring US-Iran thaw? Christian Science Monitor Warning that Pakistan is in danger of collapse within months — PAKISTAN could collapse within months, one of the more influential counter-insurgency voices in Washington says. Iraq War Cost Will Pass Vietnam's by Year's End End of the Clash of Civilizations Ha’aretz –Editorial: Israel should welcome Obama's diplomatic overtures to Iran Dialogue is preferable It would behoove us to stand by the U.S. president and hope that he reroutes Iran onto a course that does not threaten Israel or any other country. Obama's new friend Unlike countries such as North Korea, or even nuclear Pakistan, U.S. policy toward Iran is based on more than preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons. WATCH: Syria envoy to U.S. says he prefers Lieberman to Livni ANALYSIS / Egypt anger over Iran likely led to Hezbollah spat Egypt is not pleased with Iran's strengthening position, especially U.S. overtures to it FT We should listen to Beijing’s currency idea It’s an ideal ‘G2’ project, says Fred Bergsten Is the west thwarting Arab plans for reform? The attempt to marry Islam and democracy is the region’s single biggest challenge Macho leadership has had its day, says Chrystia Freeland Currency squabbles are set to worsen Complaints about beggar-thy-neighbour policies are inevitable so long as the world economy suffers from deficient demand. The solution is to pursue policies likely to expand demand Energy Security, Iran, and the Persian Gulf Foreign Policy Speaking of grand strategy and top ten reading lists... Peter Feaver What is grand strategy and why do we need it? Drezner The ten worst books in international relations Will Israel Attack Iran?
FT Germany warns on ‘crisis after crisis’The world could face high inflation and a ‘crisis after the crisis’ when the global economy recovers, Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, has warned Newsweek The Truth About Oil Why prices will keep falling 'In the Great Ship Titanic' Fareed Zakaria Nobel physicist Steven Chu is out to revitalize U.S. industry and save the world—if he can. Global Therapist Rand Russian Foreign Policy By Olga Oliker et al. This book assesses Russia's strategic interests, while examining its domestic policies, economic development, security goals, and worldview. The authors consider the implications for U.S. interests and discuss approaches for Washington to improve relations with Moscow. President Obama's overtures to Iran are a positive step along the path to denuclearizing the volatile region. (Boston Globe) The War Within Islam - Jim Hoagland, Washington Post opinion Wall Street Reform Does Not Go Far Enough - Michael Hirsh, Newsweek
Iran Should Reciprocate Obama's Courage - Rami Khouri, Daily Star
Kill the Pirates By Fred C. Iklé, It's a scandal that they routinely defeat the world's naval powers. Surviving in Obama's Post-U.S. World - Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post Russia's Crisis Management BY: Ivan Krastev | Foreign Policy How the Kremlin could take advantage of Eastern Europe's economic troubles to expand its influence Obama's Russian Security Gamble - Henry Nau, Washington Time Is Gates Channeling Cheney on Iraq With 'Last Gasp' Remark? The Feckless Alliance Time Why Supplanting the Dollar Would Be Good for America
Yedioth Ahronoth Pride and empty words Despite big talk, our new government will have to accommodate Obama, writes Eitan Haber Guardian This economic crisis cries out to be transformed into the founding of a new Europe Ulrich Beck: There can be no return to the national idyll. It is in all our interests for states to now abandon their nostalgic self-delusion Editorial: It is time for a structural change to put the economy on a fairer, greener footing Is the US selling out to the Taliban? Nushin Arbabzadah: Afghans are wondering if Barack Obama is preparing to trade democracy Jerusalem Post Peres hints at possible strike on Iran But hopes US talks soften stance of Ahmadinejad, who he says was hurt by Hizbullah arrests in Egypt Surviving in a post-American world [ CAROLINE GLICK, Think Again: Esau and Ishmael allied | H2 Obama visit a big story, says former ambassador to Turkey TEXT: Full transcript of Mark Parris interview Kürtler Obama'ya tepkili Obama, K. Irak yönetimine şu iki net mesajı verdi: "Bağdat'la bağlarınız ne kadar zayıflarsa, bizim sizinle bağlarımız da o kadar zayıflar. Bağdat'la sorunlarınızı ne kadar çözerseniz, biz de size yardımı buna göre artırırız. Türkiye'ye ne kadar yaklaşırsanız ABD olarak biz de size o kadar yakınlaşırız. Siz Türkiye'den uzaklaştığınız ölçüde biz de sizden uzaklaşırız." FT Editorial Time for Turkey to try quiet diplomacy The prospect of EU membership is one of the best guarantees of Turkey’s political stability. It would also help improve relations between Islam and the west Al Awsat The Dream of a Kurdish State Iraq, Turkey and US Step Up Intel-Sharing on PKK PKK'nın Irak'taki Siyasi Uzantısı Kapatılıyor ÖMER TAŞPINAR Obama sonrası rehavet çok riskli NATO, Afghanistan and Turkey’s role Ali H Aslan Obama, mayınlı tarladan nasıl geçti? End of the Clash of Civilizations WSJ Turkey, IMF Still Negotiating Deal Turkey and the IMF have agreed on a "set of principles" to guide talks for a new loan arrangement, but the two sides haven't reached a preliminary deal. Turkey Backtracks On Talks With Armenia -9 CSIS Turkey Update: President Obama’s Trip to Turkey [NEWS ANALYSIS] Turkey increasingly alarmed over Iranian nuclear plans ANALYSIS - Now the Obama party is over, Turkey needs to deliver Turkey's sticky EU-accession dilemma U.S. support for Turkish accession to the European Union was a welcome move, but Washington should avoid upsetting the delicate European balance, analysts said. Riz Khan's Interview with Ahmet Davutoğlu Video AFP: Turkish Cypriot leader to meet Clinton next week Turkey-Armenia deal to refer to Karabakh solution VOA News - Turkey As Critical U.S. Ally OBAMA Türkiye’nin ‘ince gücü’nden etkilendi As Economies Sink, Religious Radicals Suffer Setbacks 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 Two Turkish soldiers, 7 Kurd rebels die in clashes | International | Reuters Turkey participates in tripartite anti-terror meeting in Baghdad Kirkuk power-sharing agreements in limbo | Stars and Stripes As US pullout nears, northern Iraq residents fear area’s fate ... Iraklı Kürtler'den Obama'ya Türkiye tepkisi Obama in the Mideast: Iraq as best ally of the US By Saywan Barzani It is better for Kurds, KDP, and PUK if the two parties have ... The DTP’s ’Kurdish report’ in President Obama’s briefcase In talking Turkey, Obama makes sense of foreign policy Engaging the key, says Kurd mayor Kirkuk as summer capital? « Kurdistan Commentary Yedioth Ahronoth Israelis flock to Turkey Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık AFP: Turkish Cypriot leader to meet Clinton next week Gulf Daily News Why Europe must embrace Turkey Baku, Ankara and soccer diplomacy (UPI) -- Washington's effort at restoring diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia faces derailment without support from Azerbaijan. Sarkisyan Sınırın Bu Yıl Açılacağını Umuyor Greece: Briefing of diplomatic correspondents by Foreign Ministry ... Rally against Armenian claims to be held in NY My Greek Odyssey: Turkey: Regional Hegemon Turkish energy minister expresses hope to sign Nabucco deal by June Obama visit a big story, says former ambassador to Turkey Nuray Mert, "Turkey and the Obama Visit: 'He Gave Me Water!'" Serge Sargsian hopes to go to Turkey in October through open borders: Armenian Reporter Soccer Diplomacy and the Road not Taken Armenian Weekly Turkey, EU, and US Relations within the Context of the Security ... Cyprus-mail Turkey still important to the US Western front following NATO, Obama TheHill.com - Hastert contracted to lobby for Turkey Insight: Beyond the Obama magic A beacon in the media's rough seas ."He feels equally positive about Turkey, where Springer owns 10 per cent of Dogan Yayin, the country's largest media group, in spite of the fact the government is in... Gordon Taylor: How Obama did in Turkey Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop | 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 ROGER COHEN Realpolitik for Iran It’s almost certainly too late to stop Iran from achieving virtual nuclear power status. What can be transformed is the context in which Iran operates. Civilians Reassert Themselves in U.S. Foreign Policy By DEXTER FILKINS Richard Holbrooke embodies a new paradigm that includes military force but emphasizes a wider range of tools, like diplomacy, persuasion and money. 'Power Rules' By LESLIE H. GELB Reviewed by MICHAEL BESCHLOSS A former State Department hand and Times columnist on the ways of world power. First Chapter Crisis Altering Wall Street as Big Banks Lose Top Talent With financial institutions facing federal limits brought on after the bailouts, veteran bankers are leaving to join start-ups and foreign companies. Editorial End of the Clash of Civilizations While President Obama has made progress toward recalibrating America’s relations with the Islamic world, he also needs to address the differences with many Muslim countries that are harder to bridge. The Next Guantánamo The Obama administration needs to create a fair review process to determine if the prisoners held at Bagram Air Base deserve to be there. PAUL KRUGMAN Tea Parties Forever Everything that critics mock about the recent antitaxation demonstrations has long been standard practice within the Republican Party. Arrests Deepen Iraqi Sunnis’ Bitterness Allies Ponder How to Plan Elections in Afghanistan How to End a War, Eisenhower’s Way U.N. Council May Rebuke North Korea Moldovan Court to Consider Election Recount Negotiations Break Down in Standoff With Pirates Lessons From the Barbary Pirate Wars Paying “tribute” didn’t work in Thomas Jefferson’s time. Can we stop now? FRANK RICH Awake and Sing! It is time to leave behind the bubble’s toxic culture that not only took away wealth but certain American values, and do something good. THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN (No) Drill, Baby, Drill If government policies don’t recognize the need to sustain nature’s incredible range of economic services — from carbon-fixation to natural beauty for tourism — things go haywire Tech Recruiting Clashes with Immigration Rules Technology executives say restrictive visa and immigration limits have imperiled their ability to hire more of the world’s best engineers. Economic View: Restore Order and Win a Financial War By ALAN S. BLINDER With Finance Disgraced, Which Career Will Be King? Public service, government, the sciences and even teaching look to be winners, while fewer shiny, young minds are embarking on careers in finance and business consulting. The F-22: Able to Dodge Enemy Radar and the Budget Ax (So Far) The huge F-22 fighter jet program is well into its third decade, continually finding new ways to justify its existence. | H5 Washington Post Scholars on the Sidelines By Joseph S. Nye Academics are paying increasingly less attention to how their work relates to the policy world. Obama's 'Post-Material' Economy By Robert J. Samuelson, Page A15 Obama's vision for economic renewal sets aside the standard logic of economic progress. Kill the Pirates By Fred C. Iklé, It's a scandal that they routinely defeat the world's naval powers. Moving Beyond the F-22 By Michael Donley and Norton Schwartz, The secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force say it's time to close out production. A Conversation With John Williamson, Economist Is the 'Washington Consensus' really gone? Not if you ask the soft-spoken British economist who coined the term. The Free World Bars Free Speech By Jonathan Turley, Western countries have been prosecuting more individuals who insult or criticize religion. The War Within Islam By Jim Hoagland Navy Kills 3 Pirates, Rescues Ship Captain off Somalia's Coast Military Operation Off Somalia's Coast Ends Tense Standoff Set Into Motion on Wednesday An Early Military Victory for Obama What the agency is doing to help end the economic crisis Pentagon Prioritizes Pursuit Of Alternative Fuel Sources Partisans Argue Over Partisanship By Dan Balz, President Obama has already made a down payment on many of his campaign promises. But a noisy and partisan debate has erupted over whether he has even begun to make good on his pledge to turn the page on the divisive politics of the past. In Weekly Address, Obama Reiterates Call for Global Cooperation Blast in Iraq Kills 8 In Paramilitary Force Bombing at Army Base Also Hurts Soldiers Samarra Is an Iraqi City Divided by Walls, by Sect, by Bitterness By Emily Langer, Page B05 A navy commander says big ships aren't the best answer. Key U.N. Powers Agree on N. Korea Statement A Bipartisan Budget Commission is a Bad Idea -- but It May Be Necessary By Fred Hiatt, Taking questions at the heart of politics out of politics is a bad idea. But may be necessary. Bipartisanship: Still a Wise Strategy By David S. Broder, It looks like perfect political symmetry -- party-line voting in Congress on the first key pieces of Barack Obama's agenda, matching a deep partisan divide within the electorate in judging his performance as president. By George F. Will, Rampant redistribution of wealth by government is now the norm. So is this: This redistribution inflames government's natural rapaciousness and subverts the rule of law. This degeneration of governance is illustrated by the Illinois legislature's transfer of income from some disfavored riverboat... Obama's Chief of Staff Grants Access, Gets Results Lawmakers Respond to Improved Access to White House Jonathan Turley / Washington Post: The Free World Bars Free Speech — For years, the Western world has listened aghast to stories out of Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations of citizens being imprisoned or executed for questioning or offending Islam. Even the most seemingly minor infractions elicit draconian punishments. We Tried A War Like This Once Before By Mike Gray, The drug war, like Prohibition, has led us into a gruesome blind alley. How Do You Say Faux Pas in Austrian? By Kathleen Parker, About that bow. Did he or didn't he -- the president of the United States, that is -- bow to Saudi King Abdullah in a deferential greeting? And, if he did, is it of great -- or any -- consequence? A Resilient Christianity By E.J. Dionne Jr., A Christianity that is struggling with itself is on the path of rediscovering its true calling. | H6 Guardian This economic crisis cries out to be transformed into the founding of a new Europe Ulrich Beck: There can be no return to the national idyll. It is in all our interests for states to now abandon their nostalgic self-delusion Editorial: It is time for a structural change to put the economy on a fairer, greener footing Is the US selling out to the Taliban? Nushin Arbabzadah: Afghans are wondering if Barack Obama is preparing to trade democracy Sadiq Khan says US foreign policy on Pakistan is damaging Britain It's sour grapes to blame the election for Moldovan anger Jonathan Steele: The violence that greeted the communists' latest victory had more to do with financial collapse than fraud US navy commandos free hostage captain in dramatic raid on Somali pirate boat · European court of human rights: Courting disaster Editorial: No one actually says so, but it is hard to see how the institution can survive in effective form beyond its 50th birthday Editorial: The most depressing thing about Mr McBride's sordid email exchange is the fear that the government has nothing better to say for itself Taliban shoot dead Afghan politician who championed women's rights US stick to guns as arms sales surge Amid fears of a clampdown on guns, Chris McGreal reports from Virginia on a new American arms race Ahmed Aghrout: The Algerian president has engineered a third term for himself amid widespread public frustration The Observer · In power's shadow, a humble dignity Richard Coles: The presence of the poor among the affluent during the G20 summit reveals the embarassing truth that nothing has changed · Truth is tangled in the terror hype Jason Burke: One lesson from the past decade is the extraordinary rapidity with which terrorist groups and tactics evolve · We promised the east freedom and we cannot renege now Rafael Behr: Expanding the European Union wasn't just about giving us cheap labour. It was an altruistic desire to lift millions out of poverty The crunch chronicles: ten books that try to make sense of global chaos From Margaret Atwood's Payback to False Dawn by John Gray: where to begin reading about the recessio · The environment is too important to be left to the green movement Will Hutton: The green movement as it stands should receive the last rites. It is time to move on · How the credit crunch and recession helped Britons discover the joy of being serious Serious and intelligent discussion of economics and business have become more cool than the cult of celebrity · Don't knock the WiFi age - it satisfies our restless minds Stephen Bayley: The unending stream of new technologies offers us a wealth of opportunities and experiences. So don't listen to the critics |
| H7 FT Is the west thwarting Arab plans for reform? The attempt to marry Islam and democracy is the region’s single biggest challenge Time Why Supplanting the Dollar Would Be Good for America The War Within Islam - Jim Hoagland, Washington Post
Syria Edging in from the Cold - Michael Petrou, Maclean's
Palpable relief - for now - over Washington's new policy toward Iran
The United Arab Emirates Nuclear Program and Proposed U.S. Nuclear Cooperation CRS A 17-page US report on the UAE's request for US cooperation in its civilian nuclear programme Fox News:Somali Pirates Hand Obama Foreign Policy Emergency With No Easy Solution Is the global economic crisis going to lead to another world war? We can't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture in Sudan Foreign Policy Think Again: Engaging Cuba WSJ Obama Weighs Engagement With Cuba Obama plans to tell Western hemisphere leaders the U.S. is willing to discuss how to improve relations with Cuba but with stipulations. End the embargo on Cuba The United States cannot afford to maintain its embargo of Cuba, or its reckless immigration policy. (By Elizabeth Morrow, Boston Globe Waiting for Obama
Old hands back new pragmatism - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Christine M. Flowers: The United States of Apology Obama's Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove Patrick Seale - Obama performed faultlessly on his European Tour. Eloquent, charming and unruffled, wherever he appeared he demonstrated his immense personal popularity. His implicit message -- that America had turned a decisive corner away from the crass ignorance of the Bush years - was greeted with a palpable sense of relief. | H8 Iraq Updates IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq · General: Iraq Withdrawal Is on Pace The top U.S. general in Iraq said the U.S. is on track to withdraw combat troops from Iraq by August 2010 but could adjust the pace over the next 18 months depending on the stability of the country. Samarra Is an Iraqi City Divided by Walls, by Sect, by Bitterness Top U.S. general in Iraq: I believe we'll be gone by late 2011 Persian New Year to bring US - Iran thaw? In the past week, mixed progress as a US journalist is charged with spying amidst positive statements from both countries. Is Gates channeling Cheney on Iraq with 'last gasp' remark? Egypt Arrests 49 in Planned Attacks Egypt said it cracked a key Hezbollah network, in a sign confrontation betwe en U.S. allies and forces aligned with Iran may be intensifying. Another suicide blast in Iraq; this one claims 9 lives · Suicide bomber in truck kills five US troops in Iraq American chief of operations claims bomb was aimed at police complex rather than military personnel Iran Says It Controls Nuclear Cycle A new facility will allow Iran to make uranium pellets, a key step in producing nuclear fuel Arrests Deepen Iraqi Sunnis' Bitterness An Anti-Iranian Enclave in Iraq Fights to Stay As Marines' Exit Gathers Pace, Some Iraqis Fret Iran Accuses Netherlands of Overthrow Plot: Report · Egypt Raises Heat on Hezbollah BY: Sana Abdallah | The Middle East Times Egypt's state prosecutor has raised the heat on Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah organization and its chief Sayed Hassan Nasrallah by accusing them of plotting to "carry out attacks" inside the North African country, but the allegations have been met with disbelief and given rise to questions about the political motives of Cairo. BY: Dominic Moran | ISN Security Watch The recent decision to delay parliamentary elections by two years raises questions concerning the prospects for Yemeni political reform as the government struggles to address pressing economic and security crises. Iraq militia fear reprisals after US exit Iran slams Egyptian stance on Hizbullah Teheran claims Cairo trying to affect Lebanese elections; Egyptian MPs call to arrest Nasrallah. Suicide bomber kills Iraqi Sunnis A suicide bomber attacks US-allied Sunni Awakening militiamen in Iraq, killing at least nine and wounding about 30 Landslide win for Algeria leader Incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika is re-elected with 90% of the vote after presidential elections in Algeria, officials say. Farid Ghadry’s Leadership of the Reform Party of Syria Expires In Algeria, Bouteflika's opponents challenge his landslide win Amid the whites, oranges, and purples of his flower garden, Mohamed Tiarti's wilting hope for political change mirrors the sentiment of many Algerians. Iran’s Intervention in Iraq | H9 Ha’aretz –Editorial: Israel should welcome Obama's diplomatic overtures to Iran Dialogue is preferable It would behoove us to stand by the U.S. president and hope that he reroutes Iran onto a course that does not threaten Israel or any other country. Obama's new friend Unlike countries such as North Korea, or even nuclear Pakistan, U.S. policy toward Iran is based on more than preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons. WATCH: Syria envoy to U.S. says he prefers Lieberman to Livni Egypt: Hezbollah targeted Israeli tourists in Sinai ANALYSIS / Egypt anger over Iran likely led to Hezbollah spat Egypt is not pleased with Iran's strengthening position, especially U.S. overtures to it U.S. leaning toward taking part in Durban 2 summit Will U.S. Jewish organizations survive the economic crisis? Despite cuts, dwindling resources and growing need, some believe things aren't as bleak as they appear If we give, we'll get Reciprocity is a fair concept if not used against a weaker side, and 'political restraints' cannot serve as an excuse when used against you by a stronger side. Before talks with Netanyahu, Obama to meet Jordan king Israel selling reconnaissance drones to Russia India set to launch Israeli spy satellite Gideon Levy: The dark religious side of Israel Harel and Issacharoff: Israel is profiting from Egypt-Hezbollah quarrel Though unequivocal alignment with Iran might estrange Hezbollah supporters, leader plays pro-Hamas card Netanyahu tells Abbas: I will cooperate for peace The IDF can't be satisfied The IDF is too big. Its structure is wrong. Its non-productive side is frighteningly large and conditions for military service are too harsh Ahmadinejad tells German Spiegel: Palestinians suffer because of WWII Jerusalem Post Peres hints at possible strike on Iran But hopes US talks soften stance of Ahmadinejad, who he says was hurt by Hizbullah arrests in Egypt Surviving in a post-American world [ CAROLINE GLICK, Think Again: Esau and Ishmael allied |
| H10 Christian Science Monitor Persian New Year to bring US - Iran thaw? In the past week, mixed progress as a US journalist is charged with spying amidst positive statements from both countries. 10 ways it will look different From the rise of the tightwad to the decline of the Sun Belt, American values and industries will be reinvented as the nation comes out of the worst recession since the 1930 Critics say US should attack Somali pirates' land bases Is it time to replace bluewater policing with tactics of Jefferson, who defeated the Barbary pirates on land? NATO, US seek alternatives to Pakistan supply routes Bye, Tony Soprano. Welcome back, Atticus Finch. Six years after Iraq invasion, Jordan still playing host to thousands of Iraqi refugees Jordan struggles to absorb Iraqis who are still coming in, despite improved conditions at home.s. On Cuba, Obama must first think of Latin America – and democracy The region's democracies need to be defended, as does US nurturing of liberty Warning that Pakistan is in danger of collapse within months — PAKISTAN could collapse within months, one of the more influential counter-insurgency voices in Washington says. Rising China: Power and Reassurance ANU E Press This 212-page Australian volume discusses the challenges involved in adjusting to the re-emergence of China Sharon LaFraniere / New York Times: Chinese Bias for Baby Boys Creates a Gap of 32 Million — China’s excess males, sex selective abortion, and one child policy: analysis of data from 2005 national intercensus survey Unhappy China - China Post Obama's Taliban Mistake Is there such a thing as "moderate" Taliban, or are such people merely an invention of the Obama administration to help get the U.S. out of the quagmire in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Considering the group's radically chauvinistic values, "moderate" might not be the first word that springs to mind. In a column today for The Times of India, M.J. Akbar points to a YouTube video making the rounds that shows a 17-year-old girl in the Taliban-run Swat Valley being lashed 37 times for being seen with a man who was not her father or brother. Akbar writes that Obama's definition of "moderate" does not go beyond the extremists having laid down their arms—and ignoring the fundamental wrongs of this radical ideology "will create blowback that spreads far beyond the geography" of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Talking to the Taliban - Robert Kaplan, The Atlantic China foreign exchange reserves at $1.954 trillion... American Interests in Pakistan BY: Daveed Gartenstein-Ross | The Weekly Standard Recent turmoil in Pakistan has altered the political landscape in ways that should register with policymakers in Washington · A Short Fuse in Pakistan BY: David Ignatius | The Washington Post Pakistan seems like a Molotov cocktail waiting for a match. Its ruling elite bickers over politics, while out on the streets Taliban insurgents step up their suicide attacks. China Pledges Aid to Neighbors China announced a $10 billion infrastructure fund and $15 billion in credits and loans to help its Southeast Asian neighbors face the global financial crisis. Pakistan: 150 Militants Attack NATO Supply Line UN draft statement calls for N Korea sanction enforcement The United Nations Security Council is set to call for the enforcement of existing sanctions against North Korea under the terms of a toughly worded draft statement that condemns its April 5 rocket launch ANALYSIS: India's shortage of ideology Campaigning for the Indian general election has been so fraught with criminality that even seasoned observers are despairing Farzana Shaikh: The vacuum that rules Pakistan As Asia builds economic ties, Taiwan sidelined by China Taiwan watches as Asian neighbors ink trade deals, lower tarrifs, and get access to Chinese loans for growth. NATO, US seek alternatives to Pakistan supply routes Taliban militants attacked a supply depot in Pakistan Sunday, once more disrupting supplies to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Holbrooke of South Asia - Matthew Kaminski, Wall Street Journal India Rejects Calls For Emission Cuts Officials Say Growth Will Be Compromised
Trouble Grows for Pakistan's Shia Community Allies Ponder How to Plan Elections in Afghanistan China pledges 'ample liquidity' to sustain economic growth Central bank to continue 'loose' monetary policy / Chinese economy shows some signs of recovery U.S., Russia, China Reach Unified Response on North Korea The U.S. reached a compromise with Russia and China over a reaction to North Korea's rocket launch of April 5.
Can China Lift Japan Out of Recession? Nonmilitary Commitments Needed from NATO in Afghanistan The Political Economy of Taliban Terror in Swat Valley UK should distance itself from US drone attacks in Pakistan, says minister Britain should distance itself from US missile attacks on al-Qaeda strongholds in the tribal areas of Pakistan, a Government minister has said. Afghanistan's problem? Look toward Pakistani intelligence
Pakistan Is Droned Out - Ximena Ortiz, National Interest The Koreas: A Tale of Two Triangles Ending North Korea's Endless Nuclear Drama Mobs defy tanks and anarchy grips Bangkok Leading article: Thailand should remember Nepal The military may see the aborted summit as proof of government weakness | EUROPE European press review Germany warns on ‘crisis after crisis’ The world could face high inflation and a ‘crisis after the crisis’ when the global economy recovers, Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, has warned The EU Owes Eastern Europe - Rafael Behr, The Guardian European court of human rights: Courting disaster Editorial: No one actually says so, but it is hard to see how the institution can survive in effective form beyond its 50th birthday This economic crisis cries out to be transformed into the founding of a new Europe Ulrich Beck: There can be no return to the national idyll. It is in all our interests for states to now abandon their nostalgic self-delusion Moldova court agrees to recount votes Moldova’s Constitutional Court agreed to a request from the president to stage a recount of last week’s election in which a victory by his Communist party sparked protests Georgian president defies calls to resign Mikheil Saakashvili, the embattled president of Georgia, vowed to serve out the rest of his term in office defying tens of thousands of anti-government protesters who thronged the streets of Tbilisi demanding his removal Demonstrators add to pressure on leader as support dwindles The throngs gathered in the streets this week demanding the resignation of Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili were a stark demonstration of how far the man who... | H12 RFE/RL Google News Azerbaijan Georgia opposition leader has sights on presidency Former diplomat Irakli Alasania is seen as a possible successor to Mikheil Saakashvili in a nation weary of turmoil and increasingly tired of the president's sometimes irrational spontaneity Russia's Crisis Management BY: Ivan Krastev | Foreign Policy How the Kremlin could take advantage of Eastern Europe's economic troubles to expand its influence Obama's Russian Security Gamble - Henry Nau, Washington Time US Declines to Take Position on Georgia Protests Lavrov: Ties With US on Good Track, Russia Won't Increase Pressure on Iran Azerbaijan: Russian 2008 Blitz against Georgia Eroded Ardor for NATO and EU in Baku Eurasianet Iran and Kazakhstan: Great Success. By Elina Galperin Blog: Central Asia, 4/11/2009 The Iranian and Kazakh presidents met Monday to discuss the issue of nuclear enrichment and natural resources in the Caspian Sea. Galperin points out that while standing next to Ahmadinejad, Nazarbayev praised Obama for seeking to reduce nuclear weapon arsenals. It seems Nazarbayev is trying to promote his state as another Turkey like country: moderately Islamic and able to mediate between America and its enemies, while gaining alot for itself economically and politically in the process. It may have succeeded as a middleman, as now Iran has announced that it is reviewing the possibility of rejoining direct talks with the US and five other world powers. Galperin is in the MA/PhD program in history at the University of Washington at Seattle. United States Should Tailor Its Russia Policy to Build on Shared Views and Interests CFR U.S. Policy Toward Russia (Audio) Newsweek Mikheil Saakashvili Says He's Been Abandoned · Georgia's Saakashvili Holds Firm Georgia's Saakashvili defied opposition demands he resign as demonstrators rallied for a second day. I still have US support, says Georgian leader President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia has insisted that he still enjoys the backing of his Western allies, despite America's concerted drive to achieve reconciliation with Russia. Russian “National Identity” and the Ukraine-EU Pipeline Deal By: Taras Kuzio The Russification of Kyrgyzstan |
| H13 The Times Obama action may end comparisons with Carter The revelation that President Obama had twice authorised military force on the Indian Ocean should silence his critics ANALYSIS: The rewards far outweigh the risks Somalia is a broken country, awash with hunger, poverty and guns. Piracy is one of the few things that work Uneasy Sarkozy sees angry workers turn to bossnapping France is in a rebellious mood and the French president is unnerved by the very real prospect of social chaos US captain is freed from Somali pirates Richard Phillips, the captain of the Maersk Alabama, was unhurt after a successful rescue attempt saw three pirates killed Sunday Times Now economics has reverted to its original calling, Political Economy, forecasters have a well-nigh impossible job Right’s rage at overbearing Obama Obama's ambitions and the torrent of ideas flowing out of the White House are raising hackles across the US Afghanistan's problem? Look toward Pakistani intelligence Revealed: e-mails that toppled key Brown aide Sleazy smears that soil Downing Street A dirty tricks operation has been running, with Damian McBride, Mr Brown’s former spin doctor, at the heart of it Wall Street Journal What Iran Really Thinks About Talks By Michael Rubin Dollar and the Euro to Go Toe-to-Toe The euro and dollar are set for another volatile week, because there isn't much to differentiate the currencies' prospects. INFORMATION AGE By Maria Werlau Obama Can Make a Difference in Darfur By Jim Wallis and John Prendergast Solving the crisis will require U.S. leadership. Volcker Adjusts to Smaller Role Former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker's role shaping Obama's economic policy is considerably smaller than the one he played during the campaign. Crisis Altering Wall Street as Big Banks Lose Top Talent — | H14 Financial Times Borderline outcast?Hostility towards a two-state solution with the Palestinians not only puts Israel at odds with Washington but may also turn it into a diplomatic pariah We should listen to Beijing’s currency idea It’s an ideal ‘G2’ project, says Fred Bergsten Is the west thwarting Arab plans for reform? The attempt to marry Islam and democracy is the region’s single biggest challenge Macho leadership has had its day, says Chrystia Freeland Currency squabbles are set to worsen Complaints about beggar-thy-neighbour policies are inevitable so long as the world economy suffers from deficient demand. The solution is to pursue policies likely to expand demand Post-Soviet pawns Stability will only come to Russia’s former vassal states in the post-Soviet era if Russia and the EU join forces to build up solid economic and political foundations in their shared neighbourhood Time for Turkey to try quiet diplomacy The prospect of EU membership is one of the best guarantees of Turkey’s political stability. It would also help improve relations between Islam and the west Nato cannot replace US as policeman of the world Freeze-framed in a YouTube clip, a divergence in Jewish-American approach New Spanish steps Spain’s new finance minister should take control of the €70bn or more of haphazard stimulus measures announced so far and shape them into effective spending plans Sanctions will have no effect on North Korea Victims would be common people, says Andrei Lankov Europe’s parliament is in the ascendant Tony Barber on the shifting balance of power Celtic Tiger sharpens its claws for recovery Ireland’s economy remains strong, says Peter Sutherland Outside Edge: Wit and wisdom in 140 characters Ben Fenton on Twitter posts A criminally stupid war on drugs in the US Much of the damage done by illegal drugs is a result of the fact that they are illegal. Vastly more lives are blighted by the brutality of prohibition, and by the enormous criminal networks it has created, than by the substances themselves. This is true of cocaine and heroin as well as of soft drugs such as marijuana, writes Clive Crook US racks up $192.3bn budget deficit in March The US racked up a budget deficit of almost $200bn last month as collapsing tax revenues and swelling government spending battered the country’s finances UN draft statement calls for N Korea sanction enforcement The United Nations Security Council is set to call for the enforcement of existing sanctions against North Korea under the terms of a toughly worded draft statement that condemns its April 5 rocket launch Martin Sorrell on the economic crisis Heat grows on US Congress over climate President Barack Obama’s administration is preparing to ratchet up pressure on Congress to pass climate change legislation this year by declaring its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions through the Environmental Protection Agency | H15 Los Angeles Times Help Iran go nuclear By Sonni Efron A proposal to provide reactors to the United Arab Emirates could be the prototype of a deal between the U.S. and Tehran. Lebanon's Hezbollah savors increasing legitimacy As some Western nations seek contacts, Hezbollah's No. 2, cleric Naim Qassem, says the group has 'convinced the West it is a popular, authentic and important movement that cannot be ignored.' The Vietnam War lesson we must remember when Afghanistan votes By Rufus Phillips Saigon's rigged presidential election undermined U.S. efforts decades ago; similar corruption in Kabul... Georgia opposition leader has sights on presidency Former diplomat Irakli Alasania is seen as a possible successor to Mikheil Saakashvili in a nation weary of turmoil and increasingly tired of the president's sometimes irrational spontaneity Iran alleges foreign-funded plot to undermine government Revolutionary Guard says 'Dutch project' aims to undermine the government by 'exaggerating the enemies' threats . . . and depicting Iran's current administration as incompetent.' Iran touts nuclear technology gains On a day marking its first enrichment of uranium, Iran announces two new types of centrifuges and a nuclear fuel production plant U.S. sea captain rescued in gunfight with Somali pirates 3 hostage-takers died in the brief fighting off the coast of Somalia, the Navy says. Capt. Richard Phillips, taken hostage Wednesday, was unharmed Meeting the neighbors At the Summit of the Americas, Obama has the chance to offer leadership without unilateralism Editorial |
| We Still Can't Read Obama - Rex Murphy, Globe & Mail
Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin 'American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile' By RICHARD JOHN NEUHAUS Reviewed by CHARLES R. MORRIS The late conservative religious thinker insists that politics and morals are inextricably linked. | America is taking a long look at its transatlantic relations Europe's passion for the States is unlikely to be reciprocated, says Janet Daley. Promises are not enough from Pakistan Telegraph View: What the world wants, and has every right to expect, is action against Islamist terrorism, rather than words. | H18 Independent A scandal that lifts the lid on the seamier side of spin Leading article: If McBride's briefings were widely known in No 10, more heads will roll |
| H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism Rand Underkill Scalable Capabilities for Military Operations amid Populations By David C. Gompert et al. The U.S. military is ill-equipped to strike at extremists who hide in populations. Using deadly force against them can harm and alienate the very people whose cooperation U.S. forces are trying to earn. To solve this problem, this compelling new book proposes a "continuum of force"—a suite of capabilities that includes sound, light, lasers, cell phones, and video cameras. These technologies are available but have received insufficient attention. Truth is tangled in the terror hype Jason Burke: One lesson from the past decade is the extraordinary rapidity with which terrorist groups and tactics evolve Intelligence Community Workers Give Their Employers High Marks for Job Satisfaction and Identify Remaining Challenges, 2008 Survey Shows (PDF; 45 KB) Nuclear Weapons R&D Organisations in Nine Nations CRS This 13-page US report describes which agency is responsible for research and development (R&D) of nuclear weapons (i.e., nuclear explosive devices, as distinct from the bombers and missiles that deliver them) in nine nuclear nations and whetherthese agencies are civilian or military David S. Cloud / The Politico: Gates budget eyes next gen. warfare Piracy Threatens Freedom of the Seas - RAND Corporation Abolishing Nuclear Weapons: A Debate CEIP The US report of a distinguished group of experts from thirteen countries exploring how to overcome obstacles to nuclear disarmament and posing questions that require further official and nongovernmental deliberation The first to cross enemy lines Thanks to elite Yahalom Unit, IDF casualties in Gaza were minimal. PIR Development in a COIN Environment (Full PDF Article) Statement to Employees by CIA Director Panetta on the CIA's Interrogation Policy and Contracts Ban land mines and cluster bombs If President Obama is as determined as he says to take on the huge issue of eliminating nuclear weapons, surely he can get rid of land mines and cluster bombs now. (By Jody Williams, Boston Globe) | H20 Slate The Most Divisive President Ever Obama Grabbing More Power Than Bush? why hasn't America been attacked since 9/11, and did Bush administration policies prevent 9/11 from happening again? An interview with The New Yorker’s Elizabeth Kolbert on reporting on climate change (and top 10 myths about sustainability). The Public Domain: enclosing the commons of the mind Brazil in the Global Economy: Measuring the Gains From Trade CEIP This 136-page US paper analyzes how Brazilian policy makers face complicated challenges as they try to grow the economy in ways that will generate better livelihoods and incomes The Global Financial Crisis: Analysis and Policy Implications CRS A 109-page US paper analyzing the global financial crisis and considering the policy implications for the US Congress | H21 Scientists unlock the secret of deep love As we drift toward a world where the press is made up of small players, don’t forget: we may come to miss the media dinosaurs who once roamed the earth... more» History is full of examples of leaders who accomplished improbable things largely because they thought they could — when everyone said they couldn't. From escape, to language, to history, to local lit: here are eight kinds of books Frank Bures won’t travel without... more» Is a high IQ a burden as much as a blessing? For 22 years, Marilyn vos Savant has been writing a question-and-answer column in a magazine – an odd choice of career for the record holder of the world’s highest IQ When Truffaut met Tarantino Nigel Andrews pays tribute to the legendary Gang of Seven that created a new syndicate in screen culture 50 years ago in the French New Wave – the greatest criminal enterprise in cinema history Luck Inc. The 7 secrets of really, really lucky companies (By Drake Bennett, Boston Globe) Everyone Is Familiar By James Bowman Did Levi Strauss realize the havoc his creation would wreak on the modern world? Why is modern literature obsessed with history? Contemporary novelists are so busy writing about the past, they neglect the times they live in. It's time to get real, argues Amanda Craig. CBS News: The Pentagon's Bionic Arm — 60 Minutes: Pentagon Is Working To Develop A Life-Changing, High Tech Prosthetic Arm — The Guardian, from Virgil to, most recently, Roland Barthes, dead authors have had their works published against their wishes — is it right? Outside Edge: Wit and wisdom in 140 characters Users of Twitter have only limited space in which to express themselves. Ben Fenton wonders whether it is possible to express world-changing sentiments in merely a few characters The kerbside of history is littered with past gadgets for personal transport. But although the Puma is flawed that is no reason to give up. Even the prototype bicycle had serious design faults An article on France's strange love affair with William Faulkner. The Elements of Style: for fifty years we’ve been fed this toxic mix of purism, atavism, and personal eccentricity that is not even grounded by a proper grasp of grammar... more» |
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Society pretending to be Western can't delude itself while maintaining such unenlightened lifestyle
