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| H1 Foreign Policy May June 2009 The Revenge of Geography - Robert Kaplan, Foreign Policy People and ideas influence events, but geography largely determines them, now more than ever. To understand the coming struggles, it’s time to dust off the Victorian thinkers who knew the physical world best. A journalist who has covered the ends of the Earth offers a guide to the relief map—and a primer on the next phase of conflict. New York Times Lawmaker Is Said to Have Agreed to Aid Lobbyists Representative Jane Harman was overheard on calls agreeing to seek favorable treatment from the Bush administration for two pro-Israel lobbyists investigated for espionage. (see also CQ's Jeff Stein) The New Republic Nudge-ocracy: Barack Obama's New Theory Of The State by Franklin Foer and Noam Scheiber Two Obamas: Good Foreign Policy, Poor on Domestic - Michael Lind, Salon Obama is a better foreign-policy president than domestic-policy president. Unfortunately, so was Jimmy Carter. Time to be bold. Brookings IMF Governance Reform: A Discussion on the Recommendations of the Committee Carnegie Preserving Hegemony: The Strategic Tasks Facing the United States Click here for the full text. Financial Times Arab states have a stake in Iran’s talks Arab states will have to come to terms with the prospect of a US-Iranian rapprochement. It would deliver greater stability for the region. Tehran will not stop being a regional power. But it might be persuaded to use its influence more co-operatively, writes Roula Khalaf Germany’s election Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the foreign minister, and Angela Merkel, the current chancellor, are competing to win the election in five months time but they must still work to overcome the economic crisis What we will miss about the prophets of doom David Marsh lists 16 benefits of the credit crunch From vultures to white knights After financial markets’ rush to liquidity and safety, Sovereign Wealth Funds are among the few remaining sources of capital with patience and tolerance for risk. We should be grateful for them Progressivism Goes Mainstream - Halpin & Teixeira, The American Prospect New research on ideology refutes the conservative myth that America is a "center right" nation. CQ's Jeff Stein, Was California Congresswoman Jane Harman part of what one national security officer called "the deepest kind of corruption" that was "years in the making?" CQ Politics reports that two years ago a wiretap caught the California Democrat telling a suspected Israeli agent that she'd lobby the Justice Department to reduce the espionage charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee. In exchange, the suspected agent agreed to lobby then-House minority leader Nancy Pelosi to appoint Harman chair of the House Intelligence Committee after the 2006 elections (a position that Harman did not end up getting). What's more, the FBI ended up dropping charges against Harman related to the wiretap for "lack of evidence" after then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales intervened because he "needed Jane” to support the warrantless wiretapping program that The New York Times was about to expose. The whole event may explain why Obama passed her over for top jobs at the CIA and Homeland Security Department. Harman issued an angry denial through a spokesperson. · Who leaked the Harman story? BY LAURA ROZEN · STEPHEN WALT Yet more evidence of Israel's dangerous influence Zachary Roth / TPMMuckraker: Washington Post Enhanced Interrogations Worked By Marc A. Thiessen The media overlooks the CIA's success, a former Bush aide says. Hamas's Bloody Hands By Richard Cohen Maimings, torture, extrajudicial murder. Can we please stop romanticizing Hamas? Welcome to America, the world's scariest emerging market. Leadership, Petraeus style In paying tribute to Harvard veterans at a Kennedy School Forum tonight, General David H. Petraeus (above) will underline the importance of adaptive leaders in today's complex national security environment. Many people believe that Petraeus models the very principles of adaptive leadership that he advocates. (By Paula D. Broadwell, Boston Globe) WSJ Events Merge to Point Way on Iran Israel's political posturing, Iranian elections and a proposed embargo on refined oil have coalesced to form a new stage in dealing with Iran's nuclear program, writes Gerald Seib. Los Angeles Times Qatar's ambitions roil Middle East Critics such as Egypt say the emirate is playing all sides, with its populist Al Jazeera news channel, its hosting of regional summits, all the while maintaining ties with Hamas, Iran and Syria. Thoroughly Modern Marx Das Kapital is 142 years old and flying off bookshelves again. As capitalism trembles, the Marxist founder of the Socialist Register revisits the master’s surprisingly relevant predictions about the downfall of the global financial system. By Leo Panitch WSJ Computer Spies Breach Fighter-Jet Project Computer spies have broken into the Pentagon's $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project and the Air Force's air-traffic-control system Ha’aretz – MI Chief Yadlin sees Obama policy as threat to Israel Akiva Eldar / Netanyahu's new-old methods of stalling peace talks Netanyahu will claim that since his predecessors failed, he can start peace process over from scratch Iran Doesn't Want to Negotiate - Emily B. Landau The writer is director of the Arms Control and Regional Security Project at the Institute A review of Great Powers: America and the World After Bush by Thomas PM Barnett (and more and more and more). Al Maliki: Who are These "Neighboring Countries?" : Tariq Alhomayed Jerusalem Post The Obama-Bibi confrontation con game [ BARRY RUBIN The Arab Peace Initiative: A Primer and Future Prospects - Joshua Teitelbaum (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)
Palestinian militant group Hamas has killed and maimed dozens of political rivals in Gaza in 2009, Human Rights Watch says. | H2 Future of U.S.-Turkish Relations Webchat with Ambassador James Jeffrey The Ottoman Revival Foreign Policy Turkish nationalism goes back to the future. "Obama’nın Savaşı":AfPak Üzerine Notlar 20 Nisan 2009 Stratfor Turkey: Challenges To Ankara's Influence in the Caucasus Negotiations are in play between Russia, Turkey, Europe, Azerbaijan and Armenia that will determine the extent of Turkey's expansion in the Caucasus Turkey Proves It Doesn't Belong in the EU - Christopher Hitchens, Slate Turkey's scheming at the Strasbourg summit proves it doesn't belong in the European Union. After Turkey's hype over Obama comes hard implementation Daily Star Azerbaijan: Is Baku Offering a Natural Gas Carrot to Moscow for Help with Karabakh? As talk of a potential Nagorno-Karabakh deal gains momentum, Azerbaijan appears to be making serious overtures toward Russia in hopes that the Kremlin will push Armenia to make key concessions, analysts in Baku believe. As an incentive, Azerbaijan is playing one of its most strategic cards - cooperation in the natural gas sector. Global News Blog |Political risk is set to fall in Turkey if the government plays its cards right" "Patterns of Adjustment in the Age of Finance: The Case of Turkey as a Peripheral Agent of Neoliberal Globalization" - by A. Erinç Yeldan link Letters: Turkey is key for the EU's energy-hungry states Foreign policy reflections in the aftermath of local Elections by SUAT KINIKLIOĞLU 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
Kurdistan find lifts Keystone Pro-Kurdish rallies rock Ankara Kurdistan's Troubled Democracy Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık Turkish-Cypriot win dashes island's hope of unity, EU prospects 9 Turkey's Energy Minister Pressures Nabucco Partners Jamestown Foundation EU and Turkey meet Tuesday after US backing of membership bid United States' Clinton urges Cypriot leaders to reach solution soon [NEWS ANALYSIS] Big questions await answers from UBP after KKTC poll victory Babacan in Yerevan: unfulfilled prophecies of the western press Russia- Turkey wars of supremacy in Azerbaijan Country profile: Cyprus Turkish lira off on IMF talk delay, weaker picture Turkish Cypriot vote should not impact reunification talks, EU says - Monsters and Critics Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop Kicking taboos Kurdish women seek equality through football | 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 Lawmaker Is Said to Have Agreed to Aid Lobbyists Representative Jane Harman was overheard on calls agreeing to seek favorable treatment from the Bush administration for two pro-Israel lobbyists investigated for espionage. Iranian Calls Israel Racist at Meeting in Geneva More Hatred From Mr. Ahmadinejad The United Nations conference on racism can never have credibility if it is used to attack one country, Israel, especially when many other countries have abysmal human rights records. DAVID BROOKS Big-Spending Conservative President Obama is arguing for his activist agenda as a defense of middle-class morality and is positioning Democrats as the party of order and small-town values. This should make Republicans nervous. Crisis or Not, Russia Will Build a Bridge in the East Iran Official Orders ‘Fair’ Appeal Review for Reporter Bomber Attacks G.I.’s Meeting With Baquba Officials Pressure Grows to Investigate Interrogations Despite his assurances to the C.I.A., President Obama may not be able to avoid an inquiry into interrogation tactics used under the Bush administration. Spain’s Falling Prices Fuel Deflation Fears in Europe Economists fear that the country may be in the early grips of deflation, which can result in a downward spiral that is difficult to reverse. Up, Up and Out By PAUL KANE To reform the military, Robert Gates should cut the Air Force, alter promotion policies and start a national service program for all young men and women. The Times Wins 5 Pulitzer Prizes | H5 Washington Post Enhanced Interrogations Worked By Marc A. Thiessen The media overlooks the CIA's success, a former Bush aide says. Hamas's Bloody Hands By Richard Cohen Maimings, torture, extrajudicial murder. Can we please stop romanticizing Hamas? Welcome to America, the world's scariest emerging market. Editorial Shocking the Conscience The Bush administration made waterboarding almost routine. Obama Cites CIA's Possible 'Mistakes' But Vows Support President Is Met With Enthusiasm In Trinidad, President Obama Should Have Slapped Back at Rude Leaders By Eugene Robinson Chavez made a show of being rude. Obama should have reciprocated with a little drama of his own. Guest Voices: Extending a Hand to Muslims David Waters Iranian: Israel Is a Racist State Nobel Peace Laureate Takes Case of U.S. Journalist Convicted in Iran of Spying Obama's Gripping Style Overseas By Dan Balz In Moldova, the Twitter Revolution That Wasn't By Anne Applebaum The so-called Twitter Revolution in Moldova didn't live up to its hype. At His First Official Cabinet Meeting, Obama Orders Cuts Search for Savings of $100 Million Derided by GOP as Drop in the Bucket An Army Takeover Quells Violence The military occupation of Juarez, an industrial city of 1.3 million across the river from El Paso, is the most extreme example of President Felipe Calderón's high-risk strategy of using the army to confront Mexico's powerful drug cartels. | H6 Guardian Obama moves to calm CIA fears President's visit to CIA headquarters comes after new disclosures of harsh interrogation techniques Paul Krugman: This riches-to-rags story is an example for Obama - and the world - of how not to run an economy Dean Baker: The cheerleaders for America's toxic boom want us to bail out US banks. They were wrong then - and are wrong now Ahmadinejad, Durban and another fine mess Antony Lerman: Iran's president may have derailed the UN meeting – but rather than walk out, delegates should have stayed to argue against him Darfur: a disaster for justice Conor Foley: I fear that the prosecution of Sudan's president has more to do with politics and media strategy than evidence of genocide A prisoner of Iranian politics Henry Newman: Opinion is divided on how to 'read' the case of Roxana Saberi, but it is clear the jailed US journalist has become a political pawn American Jewish groups must speak up over Gaza Richard Silverstein: It is a sensitive subject, but the movement for Gaza accountability needs full Jewish participation |
| H7 Iran Doesn't Want to Negotiate - Emily B. Landau The writer is director of the Arms Control and Regional Security Project at the Institute A review of Great Powers: America and the World After Bush by Thomas PM Barnett (and more and more and more). Al Maliki: Who are These "Neighboring Countries?" : Tariq Alhomayed Iraq gets a new speaker Cheney hits Obama on handshake — Former Vice President Dick Cheney told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity that President Obama's handshake with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez “was not helpful” and could lead “foes” of the U.S. to “think they're dealing with a weak president.” Arab censors swim against the information tides Shed the cloak that keeps young Syrians in the dark Rasha Elass: A wave of optimism greeted President Barack Obama when he visited Turkey and Iraq but in Syria there was much of the same humdrum reality We've been here before: If protectionism impedes globalisation, it doesn’t contradict capitalism. Axelrod: Anti-Americanism now ‘not cool’ America's UN Boycott Backfires - Barbara Crossette, The Nation Oil drops 8% on economic outlook... Is Spain useful as a US Mideast ally? Arab nations lagging behind other Middle Eastern countries in biomedical research: a comparative study Source: BMC Medical Research Methodology ‘"Scholars on the Sidelines" is the headline of an op-ed by Harvard's Joseph Nye in Monday's Washington Post. There he notes that the Obama administration has appointed few political scientists to top positions, and predicts a widening of the divide between policymaking and academic theorizing. His Harvard colleague Stephen Walt has echoed the complaint, placing the blame upon scholars who follow what he calls "the cult of irrelevance." Michael Desch, a Notre Dame political scientist, also has written in the same vein in a new piece entitled "Professor Smith Goes to Washington," claiming that while Obama may be "depopulating the Ivy League and other leading universities with his appointments," it's unlikely the academics can match the influence of the think tanks or overcome the anti-intellectualism that pervades society and government.’ | H8 Iraq Updates IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq Political gamble in a polarised Iraq · Critic of Maliki Is Chosen to Lead Iraq’s Parliament BY: Timothy Williams | The New York Times The election of the speaker, Ayad al-Sammaraie, a Sunni Arab lawmaker who has until now headed Parliament’s Finance Committee, is expected to break a legislative gridlock, but could also lead to new confrontations with the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. Preference for Hill over Zinni remains a mystery — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Chris Hill is slowly overcoming GOP opposition that has delayed his nomination as U.S. ambassador to Iraq, but it's still unclear why the Obama administration revoked the offer they gave to someone else first — General Anthony Zinni. In Iraq, 'Everybody Knows Somebody Killed by the War' Bomber Attacks G.I.’s Meeting With Baquba Officials Army Troops in Iraq Prepare to Head to Afghanistan Walkout at Iran leader's speech Diplomats walk out of a UN anti-racism conference during a speech by Iran's president in which he condemned Israel. Iran orders 'fair' US spy appeal Iran's judiciary chief orders a "quick and fair" appeal for US-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi, jailed last week for spying. Suspect arrested in Hariri assassination (UPI) -- A former Syrian intelligence officer and suspect in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was arrested in the United Arab Emirates. Suicide Bomber Kills Three Iraqi Policemen Eight U.S. Soliders Also Wounded In Blast Blackwater Out of Iraq? No, Not Yet | H9 Ha’aretz – MI Chief Yadlin sees Obama policy as threat to Israel Netanyahu: We won't let Holocaust deniers repeat genocide against Jews Akiva Eldar / Netanyahu's new-old methods of stalling peace talks Netanyahu will claim that since his predecessors failed, he can start peace process over from scratch Ahmadinejad: Israel created on 'pretext of Jewish suffering from World War II' Barak purchases U.S.-made missile intercept system ADL poll: Half of U.S. Jews support Iran talks Fifty-five percent of respondents support U.S. strike on Iran if talks don't end nuclear program Ariel Zilber: Israel's boycott of Durban II gives its critics the upper hand Is Iran's New Drone Really an Israeli Aircraft? Jerusalem Post The Obama-Bibi confrontation con game [ BARRY RUBIN, No Holds Barred: Why does Obama smile at dictators? [ SHMULEY BOTEACH Encountering Peace: What Israelis, Palestinians teach their young [ GERSHON BASKIN, Yedioth Ahronoth US still open to Iran dialogue Washington denounces Ahmadinejad's speech as 'vile,' but says it does not preclude direct talks Daily Alert.org – Hebrew Press Editorials (2008) - Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine The Arab Peace Initiative: A Primer and Future Prospects - Joshua Teitelbaum (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)
Palestinian militant group Hamas has killed and maimed dozens of political rivals in Gaza in 2009, Human Rights Watch says. The traps George Mitchell should watch out for in Israel BY DANIEL LEVY Wall Street Journal Our Selective Moral Outrage By Bret Stephens Ahmadinejad Calls Israel 'Racist' Iran's president accused Israel of being the "most cruel and racist regime," sparking a walkout by angry Western diplomats at a U.N. racism conference. Analysis: Al-Qaida now targeting Israel? (UPI) -- A recent communique from al-Qaida calls on its supporters and followers in the Middle East to make their way to Jordan, and from there to launch attacks on Israel, this reporter learned from high-level and well-informed Middle East sources. Daily Star Israelis might have to accommodate themselves to a new regional climate GAZA: A new report from Human Rights Watch faults Hamas for torturing and maiming Palestinian rivals in the Gaza Strip during its recent war with Israel. Delegates walk out on Ahmadinejad at Geneva Israeli Intel Chief: Obama Mideast Policy Threatens Israel Israel's New Govt Weighing Up Relations With America - The Economist Israeli parliament member in letter to Rahm Emanuel: 'Don't forget you're Jewish!'... The Audacity of Hope for Palestine - Kishore Mahbubani, Today's Zaman Prominent Lawmaker in AIPAC Spy Scandal Zachary Roth / TPMMuckraker: · DAVID ROTHKOPF Stop telling Israel to get over the Holocaust Likud Figure Calls to Seize Control of al-Aqsa, Rebuild Temple |
| Egyptians win the right to drop religion from ID cards Rights activists say the decision on a case brought by Bahais is an historic first step towards a more inclusive definition of Egyptian identity. Ahmadinejad polarizes UN Racism Conference More than 40 European diplomats walked out in protest over the Iranian leader's speech, in which he called Israelis "the racist perpetrators of genocide." The problem with carbon tariffs: They aren't fair Countries need to honestly address the issue of standards. As Clinton calls on Iran to release US journalist, commentators decry 'farce' The most unique explanation for the conviction of Roxana Saberi on espionage charges may be an allegory about US, Russian, and Iranian intelligence services hunting for a rabbit. Winning the War in Afghanistan (Full PDF Article) An Oil Spot Plus Strategy for Coalition Forces by Dr. Karl A. Slaikeu Goodbye Chindia, Hello Chimerica - Swaminathan Aiyar, Times of India · Raids Crack Afghan Opium Trade BY: Sara A. Carter | The Washington Times U.S.-Afghan operations have led to the arrests of seven of Afghanistan's most wanted drug lords and revealed the growing involvement of the Taliban in turning opium into heroin and morphine, Pentagon and Drug Enforcement Administration officials said. · Muslim-Led Party ‘Counterproductive’ BY: Shaikh Azizur Rahman | The National A call by the chief cleric of India’s largest mosque for Muslims to unite and establish a single political party that could “work better for the community’s welfare” has been rejected by prominent Muslims. · The Rise of the Beijing Consensus BY: Jonathan Holslag | The Guardian Economically, the Obama administration has more in common with China than with the neo-conservatism of George W. Bush. Experience a Taliban Ambush In an election for the masses the rich will be the winners Praful Bidwai: Identity, not economic need, is the prime mover as the great democracy of India goes to the polls. The affluent can rest easy Kazakhstan: China’s Deep Pockets Make Beijing a Potent Energy Player in Central Asia · · The Pakistani Dilemma - Caroline B. Glick US Attack Sabotages South Waziristan Ceasefire Pakistani PM Dismisses US Concern Over Swat Valley Peace ANALYSIS: India's brisk trade in child slaves Human Rights Watch reports brisk trade in people trafficking in India, which has an estimated 15 million child slaves China rules out pursuit of African farmland Minister advocates grain self-suffiency A Nuclear U-Turn in East Asia - P.S. Suryanarayana, The Hindu India's eye in the sky takes aim · China Considers New Rules for LoansChina is considering measures to regulate the torrent of bank lending, arising from concerns that much of the credit surge that has helped keep the economy growing could be wasted. | EUROPE European press review · Should Kosovo's Independence from Serbia be Judged Illegal? BY: Jon Haron-Feiertag | Diplomatic Courier The question of independence has been neither obvious nor easy for international law. Historically it has had little to say for the subject, instead reserving the highly contentious matter to the customs and unwritten component of the law of nations. Geopolitical Diary: Germany's Economic Slump The economic slowdown Germany is experiencing will affect the rest of Europe, both economically and geopolitically Germany Considers Job Programs Germany's government is working on job-preservation plans, hoping to avoid a leap in jobless figures before September elections · The World's Most Unhappy People By Louis O'Neill It seems a proper time to give Moldovan sovereignty a boost. Spain’s Falling Prices Fuel Deflation Fears in Europe Economists fear that the country may be in the early grips of deflation, which can result in a downward spiral that is difficult to reverse. A review of books on the Bosnian war. Giulio Andreotti, master spinner Robert Fox: Il Divo, the film that charts the career of the former Italian prime minister, is a brilliant celebration of the state and non-state in Italy EDF accused of spying on anti-nuclear groups EDF, France’s nuclear energy operator, paid investigators to infiltrate the anti-nuclear movement around Europe, according to testimony given in a French judicial investigation | H12 RFE/RLMedvedev To Float European Energy Security Proposal Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, on a visit to Helsinki, has announced plans to release a proposal for an overhaul of European energy security, which he said has been in the works Squabbles over the post-Soviet space Sergei Markedonov Success in 'resetting' US-Russian relations will depend on realism about their future roles in the post-Soviet space Google News Azerbaijan The New Kremlin Dreamers - Michael Bohm, Moscow Times Time Russia's Chechnya Pullout: Compromise Over Victory Russia warns on Nato exercises Moscow says it would cancel upcoming high-level talks with Nato if the US-led alliance goes ahead with its planned military drills in Georgia Azerbaijan: Is Baku Offering a Natural Gas Carrot to Moscow for Help with Karabakh? As talk of a potential Nagorno-Karabakh deal gains momentum, Azerbaijan appears to be making serious overtures toward Russia in hopes that the Kremlin will push Armenia to make key concessions, analysts in Baku believe. As an incentive, Azerbaijan is playing one of its most strategic cards - cooperation in the natural gas sector. Kazakhstan: China’s Deep Pockets Make Beijing a Potent Energy Player in Central Asia Not so long ago Kazakhstan was entertaining aspirations of becoming one of the world’s 50 largest economies. Now, Astana finds itself in a position where it must reluctantly part with energy assets in order to prop up its shaky financial sector |
| H13 The Times Enough green talk - make it happen The third runway go-ahead throws doubt on the Government's eco-credentials. This Budget could put it back on track Nicholas Stern UN walkout as Ahmadinejad calls Israel racist A racism conference descended into farce when the President of Iran called Israel the 'most cruel and racist regime' CIA: Torture memo has put US in danger President Obama visits the CIA headquarters to try to placate officials and rescue his reputation in the intelligence community ANALYSIS: TV violence set tone for US policy The atmosphere in the US after 9/11allowed policymakers to cite the fictional hero of 24 as some sort of moral compass ANALYSIS: disaster born from disaster There has only ever been one United Nations conference on racism before and it ended in disaster. The second begins in it Wall Street Journal Our Selective Moral Outrage By Bret Stephens Why does Israel face more opprobrium than Russia? A Backdoor Nationalization | H14 Financial Times Arab states have a stake in Iran’s talks Arab states will have to come to terms with the prospect of a US-Iranian rapprochement. It would deliver greater stability for the region. Tehran will not stop being a regional power. But it might be persuaded to use its influence more co-operatively, writes Roula Khalaf The Age of the Unthinkable The author’s premise is that the west has yet to grasp the shifting landscape which has overturned most precepts that have guided policymakers for the past half-century, writes Lionel Barber Last Chance This beautifully written page-turner presents a convincing thesis: in the Middle East and beyond, policy should not continue to be based on propping up autocrats and on unconditional support for Israel Germany’s election Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the foreign minister, and Angela Merkel, the current chancellor, are competing to win the election in five months time but they must still work to overcome the economic crisis What we will miss about the prophets of doom David Marsh lists 16 benefits of the credit crunch From vultures to white knights After financial markets’ rush to liquidity and safety, Sovereign Wealth Funds are among the few remaining sources of capital with patience and tolerance for risk. We should be grateful for them Against activism The way to make companies work effectively is to force them to compete by focusing on profit-making. This system only works if the pitch on which they clash is level, so the government must stop intervening Geithner faces critical report on bail-out Tim Geithner, US Treasury secretary, will face lawmakers in Congress hours after publication of a report that criticises aspects of the bank bail-out and days before stress test results that could lead to the government taking larger stakes in the financial sector Another country? The ‘British model’: With years of stable growth now consigned to the past, Wednesday’s Budget comes amid anguish over whether the UK can regain a leading position Time for Cameron to write his prospectus Philip Stephens on the government’s future Business needs to speak out against greed Matt Miller on saving the image of Main Street | H15 Los Angeles Times Qatar's ambitions roil Middle East Critics such as Egypt say the emirate is playing all sides, with its populist Al Jazeera news channel, its hosting of regional summits, all the while maintaining ties with Hamas, Iran and Syria. George McGovern urges pullout from Iraq this year By George S. McGovern Measuring Obama by FDR's yardstick If the first 100 days mean anything, the president is looking a lot like Franklin Roosevelt. But recent history shows a lot can change after the early days of a presidency. • The limits of Obama's bipartisan gestures Hugo Chavez's gift to Obama is a Latin leftist's bible 'Open Veins of Latin America' by Eduardo Galeano traces the continent's problems to Western imperialism and exploitation of its resources. Overnight, the book is the No. 2 bestseller on Amazon. Legal experts want more from Obama on Guantanamo The administration appears to have moved the issue, along with global warming, to the back burner as it confronts the economic crisis, world lawyers say |
| Obama's Clever Liberalism Republicans pushed to political margins The Republican party’s struggle to reverse its decline is hampered by lack of a strong leader, writes Edward Luce President of Everything Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin 51% View Tea Parties Favorably, Political Class Strongly Disagrees — From Cato Journal, a special issue on Lessons from the Financial Crisis. | H17 Daily Telegraph Barack Obama: Stop the point-scoring Telegraph View: President Barack Obama should stop laying blame for the past on his political opponents. He has already won the election. | H18 Independent Pirates: the $80m Gulf connection Kim Sengupta and Daniel Howden: Crime syndicates laundering vast sums taken in ransom from ships and their crews hijacked in Horn of Africa Gorbachev: the model for the Obama doctrine Passion, deadly secrets and betrayal in Putin's Russia Shaun Walker: A member of Russia's elite security forces and a dissident playwright. Did they get too close – to each other, and the truth behind a notorious terrorist attack? |
| H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism WSJ Computer Spies Breach Fighter-Jet Project Computer spies have broken into the Pentagon's $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project and the Air Force's air-traffic-control system Winning the War in Afghanistan (Full PDF Article) Leadership, Petraeus Style Paula D. Broadwell, Boston Globe Why the Navy doesn't produce thinkers BY TOM RICKS CIA Staff Woefully Monolingual Just 13 percent of the CIA's employees speak a foreign language Challenging West Point On Leadership | Soldiers, leaders and experts debate Tom Ricks' proposal for closing military academies. | We Need Academies Torture and the U.S. Intelligence Failure Counterterrorism and Military Occupation (Full PDF Article) New York Times: Obama Urges C.I.A. Not to Be Discouraged by Memos Obama reaffirms support for CIA President Obama tells the CIA it remains key to protecting the US, days after releasing memos on its interrogation techniques. DoD Chemical and Biological Defense Program has released its latest report 2009 Annual Report to Congress Previous reports and related information Obama's Move Risks National Security - Michael Hayden, Fox News Sunday | H20 Slate | H21 Robots are narrowing the gap with humans Robots are gaining on us humans. Thanks to exponential increases in computer power — which is roughly doubling every two years — robots are getting smarter, more capable, more like flesh-and-blood people. Matching human skills and intelligence, however, is an enormously difficult — perhaps impossible — challenge. The Emperor Left Town BOOKSHELF By Peter Stothard Weak leaders, failed military campaigns and a few lessons for imperialists How We Live and Why We Die This layperson’s guide to the world of cells – the 10 trillion individual living beings within us – is clear, authoritative and readable as well as timely Parentonomics Tim Harford on the funny and thought-provoking account of an economist with three children who used his training in game theory as a parenting strategy From Business Week, a cover story on what good are economists anyway? Why they failed to predict the global economic crisis—and why their help is still crucial to a recovery finding intelligent life in the cosmos requires leaving the solar system — one group of scientists may have found a way From The Nation, a review of Soul of the Age: A Biography of the Mind of William Shakespeare by Jonathan Bates. Knowing East Germany would soon fade into memory, West German photo journalist Karlheinz Jardner set out for points east in 1990... more» ... photo gallery What distinguishes friendship between two people from friendship between a human and an animal? Is “friendship” even the right word with animals?... more» As much as Anthony Grayling admires the art, music, and literature of the West, it is the world-transforming insight and power of science that is the great achievement of humanity... more» As you read this, would-be genocidaires are out there, thinking about it: whom to kill; how many; how to do it. Also: whether they can get away with it. Will you let them?... more» The 50 best US television shows U.N. Launches World Digital Library China finds another 1,000 miles of Great Wall Satellite and infrared technology has shown that the length of the Great Wall of China has been underestimated SPENGLER Why the West is Boyle'd The day is gone when a smile and a shoeshine will get you a shot at the American dream, but a smile and a song can still get you a chance at instant stardom. More than ever, audiences in the West validate their own mediocrity by crowning stars-for-a-day. That is the message of hope that Susan Boyle bears to the beleaguered Anglo-Saxon world. Meanwhile, in China, 60 million children are learning music the hard way |
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