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| H1 The Economist The world economy A glimmer of hope? The worst thing for the world economy would be to assume the worst is over: Time Sizing Up Obama's First 100 Days Obama's start has been the most impressive of any President since F.D.R. The biggest tests are ahead of him Hillary Clinton Foreign Policy Priorities in Obama Administration Full Text -View Video Gaza’s Unfinished Business,* the latest report from the International Crisis Group, argues that the fundamental crisis today is not humanitarian but political. If the siege remains, Hamas could launch large-scale attacks. If weapons smuggling and rocket fire persist, Israel could mount a new offensive. Without some Palestinian unity, Gaza’s rebuilding will not begin. In short, defusing this crisis requires a sustainable Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Gaza’s reconstruction and Palestinian reconciliation. Atlantic Monthly Do the Palestinians Really Want a State? - Robert D. Kaplan Forward Intel Concerns of Dual Loyalty 'Rooted Deep in the System' CFR Iraq's Lingering Perils - Council on Foreign Relations New NATO Members: Security Consumers or Producers? Aryn Baker / Time: Taliban Advance: Is Pakistan Nearing Collapse? Is India Trying to Destabilize Pakistan? - Adnan Khan, Maclean's The Economist The new politics of Israel's foreign policy A grand bargain? New governments in Israel and America could mean new ideas for peace in the Middle East Foreign Policy Why America Is the Next Big Thing BY MICHAEL LIND What will the world look like when the present emergency has passed? Neomedievalism The world is fragmenting, badly. Gird yourself for a new Dark Age. By Parag Khanna Time Governor Perry's Tantrum: So What if Texas Secedes? When states get restless, do we really want to force them to stay united with the rest of us? The Times America's friendliness terrifies Tehran Iran's hardline leadership has been knocked sideways by Barack Obama's conciliatory tone The front line Pakistan should be in intensive care. Instead it is being left to fail Iraqi police strike fear with rape and beatings Security forces in Iraq, now granted sweeping powers, are accused of being out of control and a law unto themselves Iran challenger would be prepared to meet Obama Mir Hossein Musavi, reformist candidate for president of Iran, sets out his starkly different approach to diplomatic relations North Korea 'is fully fledged nuclear power' Secretive Stalinist state has developed warheads that could be launched on medium-range missiles, experts say New York Times U.N. Report Lays Out Options for an Oil-Rich Iraqi Region Taliban Seize Vital Pakistan Area Closer to the Capital Taliban militants have established control in the strategically important area of Buner, only 70 miles from Islamabad, law enforcement officials said. Alarm Grows Over Pakistan's Failure to Halt Militant Gains The fall of a district near Pakistan’s capital to Taliban fighters has raised alarm about the ability of the government to fend off the militants’ advance. DAVID BROOKS Yanks in Crisis The economic downturn has produced a desire for change but not a philosophical shift. Americans are open to ideas from government, but remain skeptical and fiercely self-sufficient. A Dubious C.I.A. Shortcut By PHILIP ZELIKOW The extreme methods of interrogation are more than just a way of debasing an enemy. Their added value is in breaking people quickly, with the downsides including unreliability. My Tortured Decision By ALI SOUFAN A former F.B.I. agent who questioned Abu Zubaydah in 2002 says the terrorist operative provided important intelligence under traditional interrogation methods. ROGER COHEN No Time for Retribution The right balance between retribution and reconciliation is always hard to find in the aftermath of national trauma, like the revelations of torture. But it’s time for America to move forward. PAUL KRUGMAN Reclaiming America’s Soul The only way for the nation to regain its moral compass is to investigate how the government’s interrogation abuses happened, and, if necessary, to prosecute those responsible. Guardian · Pakistan: Probing the frontiers Editorial: Parts of the country have already fallen to the Islamists but that doesn't mean Pakistan as a whole is in danger Taliban extend towards Islamabad Pakistani troops ambushed by Islamists a week after sharia law introduced to neigbouring state · Iraq: dozens killed following al-Qaida leader capture At least 83 people dead after suicide bombings following apparent arrest of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi Scott Lucas: Obama extended a hand of friendship to Iran, but his military commanders are still displaying a clenched fist More European integration won't save the world economy Response: We need new measures to stop financial contagion spreading across borders, says Shanti Chakravarty Washington Post Clinton Counters Israeli Stance on Palestinians and Iran Hostile Territory for Obama's Foreign Policy By Stephen Sestanovich What the president and his administration really need is a strategy in dealing with Congress. · The big sleep - Nir Rosen, The National Newspaper "The Sunni militiamen of the Awakening movement have outlived their usefulness to American forces and the Iraqi government. Some worry these unemployed fighters will relaunch the insurgency they left behind – but they don't stand a chance." Syria reaches out to 'friend' Iraq This week's landmark visit to Iraq by Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari is a welcome sign of repaired relations between Damascus and Baghdad that have been icy since the United States invasion of 2003. Iraqis see the visit as an outstretched hand from the greater Arab family, while Syrians are trying to avoid being next door to another neighbor armed to the teeth and living in lawlessness. - Sami Moubayed · U.S. Shifting Mideast Policy BY: David Howell | The Japan Times Perhaps the biggest and best Obama-inspired change of direction might be to steer the American ship of state away as much as possible from the Middle East altogether, to help from the sidelines rather than try to control from the center. One Size Does Not Fit All: Confronting Iran and North Korea INSS An Israeli article setting out the differences between the challenges posed by Iranian and North Korean nuclear ambitions Ha’aretz – Clinton: Israel at risk of losing support against Iran threatSignaling impatience, U.S. says Israel must commit to Palestinian track if it want Arab backing on Iran Is Netanyahu really on a collision course with Obama? PM likely to bring his own demands to the White House next month, not pay yes man to the U.S. president The Two Nation-State Solution - Ari Shavit Netanyahu: Europe will not dictate policy to Israel · China at a Crossroad: Right or Left? BY: Jian Junbo | Asia Times A new political spectrum is taking shape in China. The "neo-leftists" are gaining widespread public support for fighting official corruption and wealth distribution gaps, while the opposing "rightists" believe in capitalist-style economic reforms and "opening up". · Signs of Strategic Recalibration in China BY: Ali Wyne | World Politics Review Several analysts have noted that China is leveraging the global financial crisis to increase its economic clout -- for example, by going on a commodities "shopping spree," contributing $40 billion to the International Monetary Fund at the G-20 summit, and pushing for a greater voice in reforming international economic institutions. · China Uses Global Crisis to Assert Its Influence BY: Ariana Eunjung Cha | The Washington Post Overseas aid and loans are just one way China is asserting itself in its new role as a world financial leader. While polishing China's own image, Premier Wen Jiabao and other top leaders have blamed the West for the global economic crisis. · The World Depends on U.S.-China Cooperation BY: William S. Cohen | The Wall Street Journal The U.S. and China are the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. This means that our nations have the opportunity, and the primary responsibility, for shaping the global response to climate change. · China Flexes New Economic Muscle at Sea BY: David Pilling | Financial Times The rebirth of China‘s modern navy, which has just celebrated its 60th anniversary in the north-eastern port of Qingdao, is an inevitable by-product of the country’s economic renaissance. · China's Unhappy Neo-Leftists BY: Bernt Berger | ISN Security Watch Some 20 years after the Tiananmen Square protests, a new political spectrum has emerged in China with factions on the left and right. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as the pragmatic bearer of economic reform, over time has lost its claim as the sole representation of the country's political ideology, and the pitfalls and shortcomings of economic development have provided space for populist rhetoric. Financial Times Abuse of the law handed victory to terrorists Mr Obama has understood that the twisted logic of torture concedes to the enemy the very thing you are fighting to preserve. The Bush administration overturned the scales of justice to the advantage of terrorists. Mr Obama must set them right, writes Philip Stephens We must keep at the process of repair and reform The US is determined to lead, says Timothy Geithner Is the UK once again the economic sick man? Martin Wolf on why Britain’s predicament is so bad Dust-Up: Has nuclear arms control worked? Gabriel Schoenfeld says the Non-Proliferation Treaty is outdated. Andrew Grotto says neoconservatives’ dismissal of diplomacy is dangerous. Obama administration to release Bush-era detainee photos The pictures show Americans' alleged abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. An ACLU lawyer says they prove that Abu Ghraib 'was not aberrational.' Independent Leading article: The advance of the Taliban is a threat to the Pakistani state Britain's new age of austerity Huge tax rises and spending cuts: the true cost of the Budget revealed. | H2 Turkish PM's top advisor likely to be appointed as foreign minister NYT Skirting Thorniest Issues, Turkey and Armenia Move to Ease Tensions UN Report Lays Out Options for an Oil-Rich Iraqi Region UN gives Iraq report on troubled Kirkuk FT UN says Iraq should share Kirkuk or give it autonomy US and EU hail Turkey-Armenia breakthrough The US and the European Commission hailed a breakthrough between Turkey and Armenia that could end one of the most intractable disputes left from the collapse of the Soviet Union Turkey And Armenia Draw Up "Road Map" to Mend Ties EurasiaNet Armenia and Turkey: Lobby Groups Opposing Confirmation of Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asia and Caucasus BY JOSHUA KUCERA The nomination of a key State Department official responsible for Central Asia and the Caucasus is being held up because of concerns about his views on Turkish-Armenian relations. At the heart of the simmering controversy surrounding Philip Gordon’s confirmation as assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia is his comments on the mass killings and deportations of ethnic Armenians in Ottoman Turkey that occurred during the second decade of the 20th century. Stratfor Armenia, Turkey: Dodging the Genocide Question A joint statement by Turkey and Armenia represents protective cover Türkiye ve Ermenistan İlişkileri Düzeltmek İçin Anlaştı The Economist A nationalist election win in northern Cyprus dims reunification hopes Kirkuk compromise prospects brighten Washington Calling: US Vice-President phones Sargsyan to discuss ... FT US and EU hail Turkey-Armenia breakthrough Avoids potential row on anniversary of massacres Turkey, Armenia In Broad Accord: Bitter Rivals Agree To Framework for Normalizing Ties... Obama'nın 'Ermeni' Mesajı Bekleniyor Turkey’s Local Elections of 2009: Winners and Losers Insight Turkey This 18-page Turkish article presents a descriptive account of the March 2009 local elections in Turkey and offers a nation-wide and regional evaluation of trends in Turkish elections since 2004 · Turkey Is Missing Yet Another Opportunity With Armenia BY: Vartan Oskanian | The Daily Star Turkish-Armenian relations remain more about gestures than substance. Indeed, Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's dismissive recent statements hint that Turkey may even be backtracking. OpenDemocracy A century of genocide, 1915-2009 Martin Shaw The Armenian massacres belong to a wider pattern of "mass death" forged in war and state rivalry Biden welcomes progress in Turkey-Armenia ties History overshadows hope on Turkey's Armenian border Turkey says accord reached with Armenia on roadmap Turkey calls back ambassador to Canada Turkish-Armenian Border: Where Are We Heading? ADA An Azerbaijani article discussing the possibility that Turkey might reopen its borders with Armenia and on the consequences of such an action for the resolution of the territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan Turkish Foreign Policy: Style & Substance - Ibrahim Kalin, Today's Zaman How Much Will the US Change under Obama? Washington Institute for Near East Policy - By Soner Cagaptay 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 UNAMI submits its reports on the disputed internal boundaries MEI Editor's Blog: The UN on Kirkuk FT Kurdish MP jailed for spreading propaganda A Turkish court has sentenced one of the country’s most prominent Kurdish politicians to 10 months imprisonment on charges of spreading separatist propaganda, in a decision likely to further inflame tensions in the mainly Kurdish south east Kurdish Hezbollah Targets the Fethullah Gulen Movement Israel Shocked by Obama Approval of Turkish Arms Sale to Lebanon ... Turkey's PKK-DTP Operations Further Complicate Kurdish Solution UN gives Iraq report on troubled Kirkuk Turkey targets Kurdish exile group Apr 23 SD# 2325 - London Islamist Hani Sibai: 'The Armenian Genocide by the Ottomans… The Big Lie' Juan Cole “A UN task force headed by special envoy Steffan de Mistura concluded Wednesday that a power-sharing compromise would be best for Kirkuk. Joost Hiltermann, who knows that terrain intimately, fears that the report will be ignored by all sides, who will feel they have more to gain from fighting than from sharing. This is why I say that President Obama had best intervene directly to get a grand compromise on Kirkuk that might forestall violence, before the US loses its leverage as it draws down troops. Turkey defends its pro-Iran stance in Geneva KRG premier: our oil deals are constitutional Iraq Kurdistan Region: Prime Minister makes encouraging promises ... Oil pipeline to link Iran and Iraq Iraq Oil Report » KRG oil exports, reserves ready to grow KRG oil minister slams national counterpart - Investor's Iraq ... Turkey 'to build petrochemical plant in Iran' US Senators Visit Airmen During Kirkuk Regional Air Base Visit Iraq Journal, Part Two City Journal Pro-Kurdish party to protest crackdown in Turkey Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık Turkey, Armenia agree on framework to normalize ties Azerbaijan: Will European Court Ruling Prompt Law-Enforcement Reform in Baku? BY JESSICA POWLEY HAYDEN The European Court of Human Rights recently ruled that Azerbaijan must pay 25,000 euros ($32,608) to a woman injured by police during the 2003 crackdown on opposition protestors. Still unresolved is whether Azerbaijani leaders will tackle the underlying problems that led to the judgment against them. Guardian Armenia and Turkey agree diplomatic thaw German Trial of Anti-US Terrorist Suspects Starts Bloomberg - Turkey Working to Improve Relations with Armenia Voice of America Greece Urges Turkey To Help More On Cyprus Unity Poland, Norway and Turkey Plan New Radar Network DefenseNews.com Azerbaycan: Karabağ Sorunu Dikkate Alınsın Azerbaycan, Türkiye ile Ermenistan arasındaki normalleşme sürecinin Dağlık Karabağ sorununun çözümüyle birlikte yürütülmesini istedi
Markarian: Armenia Has Been Defeated Armenian Weekly Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop MOVIE REVIEW | 'A TOUCH OF SPICE'; Family Nourishment | 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 U.N. Report Lays Out Options for an Oil-Rich Iraqi Region Taliban Seize Vital Pakistan Area Closer to the Capital Taliban militants have established control in the strategically important area of Buner, only 70 miles from Islamabad, law enforcement officials said. Alarm Grows Over Pakistan's Failure to Halt Militant Gains The fall of a district near Pakistan’s capital to Taliban fighters has raised alarm about the ability of the government to fend off the militants’ advance. DAVID BROOKS Yanks in Crisis The economic downturn has produced a desire for change but not a philosophical shift. Americans are open to ideas from government, but remain skeptical and fiercely self-sufficient. A Dubious C.I.A. Shortcut By PHILIP ZELIKOW The extreme methods of interrogation are more than just a way of debasing an enemy. Their added value is in breaking people quickly, with the downsides including unreliability. My Tortured Decision By ALI SOUFAN A former F.B.I. agent who questioned Abu Zubaydah in 2002 says the terrorist operative provided important intelligence under traditional interrogation methods. ROGER COHEN No Time for Retribution The right balance between retribution and reconciliation is always hard to find in the aftermath of national trauma, like the revelations of torture. But it’s time for America to move forward. PAUL KRUGMAN Reclaiming America’s Soul The only way for the nation to regain its moral compass is to investigate how the government’s interrogation abuses happened, and, if necessary, to prosecute those responsible. News Analysis: At Core of Detainee Fight: Did Methods Stop Attacks? Money From Abroad Floods Into Lebanon to Buy Votes In a country long seen as a battleground for regional influence, June elections for Parliament may be the freest in decades but may also be the most corrupt. 80 Are Killed in 3 Suicide Bombings in Iraq Skirting Thorniest Issues, Turkey and Armenia Move to Ease Tensions In Italy, Sign of Defiance in a Kebab and a Coke Global Finance Officials Promise More Help, but Seek It, Too Japan Shrine Offering Angers China British Plan to Raise Taxes and Debt Sets Off Political Sparring U.S. May Fill Afghan Civilian Posts With Military Personnel Ex-Leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Seeks Presidency Israeli Military Says Its Actions in Gaza War Did Not Violate International Law Trial Opens in Germany for 4 Suspected of Plotting Bombings Horrors! A Handshake! President Obama has promised to mend relations with Latin America — the handshake with President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela was a good start. Holding Up the Housing Recovery Republican senators need to understand that a vote against this bankruptcy reform is a vote against economic recovery. Reported Suicide of Executive Is Latest Shock at Freddie Mac David B. Kellermann, the troubled mortgage giant’s acting chief financial officer, reportedly hanged himself on Tuesday. Any Indictment of Interrogation Policy Makers Would Face Several Hurdles Pelosi Tells of a Briefing by Officials on Harman Call for White House Control of Security In the Spirit of Openness There needs to be a full detainee abuse investigation that has both stature and subpoena power. The Good Lobbyist Tom Malinowski, the Washington advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, should be nominated as the administration’s global human rights chief, though he is a registered lobbyist. NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Islam, Virgins and Grapes If the Islamic world is going to enjoy a revival, if fundamentalists are to be tamed, if women are to be treated equally, then moderate interpretations of the Koran will have to gain ascendancy. U.S. Is Said to Prepare Filing for Chrysler Bankruptcy Wiretap Said to Be Viewed as Serious In Late 2005 Democrats Have Qualms Over War in Afghanistan Gates Voices Concerns About Release of Interrogation Memos . Editorial | H5 Washington Post Two Blasts Kill More Than 80 In Iraq Bombings Add to Fears That Insurgency Will Grow as U.S. Departs Defiant Taliban Forces Advance To Within 60 Miles of Islamabad Taliban Advance, Pakistan's Wavering Worry Obama Team Clinton Counters Israeli Stance on Palestinians and Iran Hostile Territory for Obama's Foreign Policy By Stephen Sestanovich What the president and his administration really need is a strategy in dealing with Congress. Editorial The Accountability Question The right way to deal with torture's legacy Last-Minute Debate Influenced Release of Interrogation Memos Deliberations Show Divide in Obama Administration Over Decision By Charles Krauthammer Obama's hidden plan to ration health care. David S. Broder | What have we learned from his first 100 days? The big stuff is still to come. E. J. Dionne Jr. | Funny how time turns the impossible into the inevitable. George F. Will| Obama is turning political satire into public policy. Cuba Express Kathleen Kennedy Townsend | Ending the travel ban made sense in 1963. It makes even more sense now. Shifting Ground on Immigration » T. Alexander Aleinikoff | Has the recession created an opening for comprehensive reform? Commission Would Have Investigated Abuses in Terrorism Fight U.S. Forced Bank Board To Carry Out Merrill Deal In Inquiry Into Merger, Cuomo Details Pressure On Bank of America Critics Say Obama's Nip-Tuck Budget Cuts Are Merely Symbolic Getting Real on Wind and Solar By James Schlesinger and Robert L. Hirsch Solar and wind power's limits are clear, two experts say. Torture and the Law: Where 'Those Methods' Ultimately Lead By Eugene Robinson "Those methods" are not just immoral but also illegal. | H6 Guardian · Pakistan: Probing the frontiers Editorial: Parts of the country have already fallen to the Islamists but that doesn't mean Pakistan as a whole is in danger Taliban extend towards Islamabad Pakistani troops ambushed by Islamists a week after sharia law introduced to neigbouring state · Iraq: dozens killed following al-Qaida leader capture At least 83 people dead after suicide bombings following apparent arrest of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi Scott Lucas: Obama extended a hand of friendship to Iran, but his military commanders are still displaying a clenched fist More European integration won't save the world economy Response: We need new measures to stop financial contagion spreading across borders, says Shanti Chakravarty · Any fool can raise a tax. But it takes a gutless one to splurge it on this stuff Simon Jenkins: Austerity vanishes when it comes to the prestige projects Britain's been saddled with. Ministers fear the IOC more than the IMF What did the UN walkout achieve? Denis MacShane: Some say the action played into Ahmadinejad's hands, but it was a necessary reminder that this forum is not a podium for hatred Stephen Wilkinson: The US president seemed willing to usher in a new conciliatory phase in relations with Cuba, but have things really changed? Blood runs in India's red corridor Kapil Komireddi: The sight of Indians voting may move outsiders to lyricism, but democracy here is limited, and violence begins to appeal We can't rely on the markets alone to fight climate change Bryony Worthington: The UK government's push for clean coal technology shows it recognises its duty to regulate emissions |
| H7 · The big sleep - Nir Rosen, The National Newspaper "The Sunni militiamen of the Awakening movement have outlived their usefulness to American forces and the Iraqi government. Some worry these unemployed fighters will relaunch the insurgency they left behind – but they don't stand a chance." Syria reaches out to 'friend' Iraq This week's landmark visit to Iraq by Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari is a welcome sign of repaired relations between Damascus and Baghdad that have been icy since the United States invasion of 2003. Iraqis see the visit as an outstretched hand from the greater Arab family, while Syrians are trying to avoid being next door to another neighbor armed to the teeth and living in lawlessness. - Sami Moubayed · U.S. Shifting Mideast Policy BY: David Howell | The Japan Times Perhaps the biggest and best Obama-inspired change of direction might be to steer the American ship of state away as much as possible from the Middle East altogether, to help from the sidelines rather than try to control from the center. One Size Does Not Fit All: Confronting Iran and North Korea INSS An Israeli article setting out the differences between the challenges posed by Iranian and North Korean nuclear ambitions The Economist Lebanon Bucking the trend A surprising economic success amid the usual political gridlock Iraqis Capture Al Qaeda Leader, But Does He Exist? The interrogation programs were wrong, but did they work? BY PHILIP ZELIKOW · 'Sons of Somalia' at Sea? Not So Fast! BY: Nathan Hodge | Wired Days after the Dutch navy's "catch-and-release" of Somali pirates, the European Union is hosting a meeting in Brussels to tackle the piracy issue. And the organizers want the international community to pony up funds to bolster Somalia's internal security. In Algeria, an Abyss Between Truth and Reconciliation BY: Liam Stack | The Christian Science Monitor Citizens whose relatives mysteriously disappeared during the 1990s civil war want facts. The government has offered compensation, but focused on forgetting the past · The Great Suez Slowdown BY: Theodore May | Global Post After tourism and remittances from abroad, the Suez Canal represents the third-largest source of revenue for the Egyptian government. But the government recently announced that the canal's March revenue was 21 percent off March 2008 levels. Torture whitewash from The Dark Side The drama of torture memos released last week is shaping up as a case of American exceptionalism one cannot believe in. Without accepting full responsibility for torture - and illegal, pre-emptive wars - there can be no catharsis in America. President Barack Obama is smart enough to know that if he looks the other way, this whole mess could come back to haunt, and even destroy, his presidency. - Pepe Escobar The Economist UN conference on racism Avoiding the worst Investment, arbitration and secrecy Behind closed doors The UN is used again The United Nations conference on racism wrapping up in Geneva has once again been hijacked by hateful anti-Israeli rhetoric. It proves that President Obama was right to avoid attending the conference, even though -- or especially since -- he is the first black American president. The Influence Game: Pushing a Mideast Nuclear Deal The UN's Platform for Racism - Joseph Loconte, Weekly Standard
Force alone won't defeat Somali piracy By Hady Amr Pacifying Iraq with Capitalism - Ullrich Fichtner, Der Spiegel
China Reverts to Old Economic Model - James Dorn, Cato Institute
Will the 'Somalia effect' encourage more piracy in Asia
NSC news: Jones expands war czar Lute's portfolio Barry Rubin Obama's Foreign Policy: Bambi Versus the Sharks | H8 Iraq Updates IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq Iraq says top insurgent captured, bombs kill 69 Attacks in Iraq kill dozens; fears mount of wider violence Two suicide attacks Thursday killed at least 76 people in Iraq and raised more questions about whether the country’s security gains are unravelling and if U.S. troops will be able to withdraw as scheduled. Clinton: U.S. Prepared for New Sanctions If Outreach to Iran Fails – Iraq Air Raids Hit Mostly Women and Children Principlists solidify without Ahmadinejad (UPI) -- The presidential contest in Iran is heating up as a former Revolutionary Guard Corps commander enters the ring and the incumbent loses key support. · Ex-Leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Seeks Presidency New York Times A hard-line politician and former head of the Revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rezai, announced Wednesday that he would enter the presidential race, indicating additional splintering among the country’s conservatives. · U.S. Will Organise 'Crippling' Iran Sanctions if Diplomacy Fails The London Times Hillary Clinton today vigorously defended President Obama’s recent overtures to Iran, insisting that the US would be in a better position to organise “crippling” international sanctions should diplomacy fail. Iran Says Pipeline Agreement Reached With Iraq Disputed Iraq UN urges dialogue between Arabs, Kurds over Tamim 'Secret Tally' Has 87,000 Iraqis Dead · Money From Abroad Floods Into Lebanon to Buy Votes The New York Times The parliamentary elections here in June are shaping up to be among the most expensive ever held anywhere, with hundreds of millions of dollars streaming into this small country from around the globe. · Ire Among Dissidents Over U.S.-Libya Thaw The Media Line Critics of the Libyan regime are infuriated over the meeting on Tuesday between United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Libya’s National Security Adviser Mu’ata’sim Al-Qadhafi, the son of Libyan leader Mu’ammar Al-Qadhafi. Syrians garner praise for Iraqi refugees (UPI) -- Officials with the U.N. refugee agency praised the work of Damascus in coordinating assistance to some 1 million Iraqi refugees. | H9 Ha’aretz – Clinton: Israel at risk of losing support against Iran threatSignaling impatience, U.S. says Israel must commit to Palestinian track if it want Arab backing on Iran Is Netanyahu really on a collision course with Obama? PM likely to bring his own demands to the White House next month, not pay yes man to the U.S. president The Two Nation-State Solution - Ari Shavit Netanyahu: Europe will not dictate policy to Israel Israeli Foreign Minister Hosts Egyptian Intelligence Chief in Jerusalem Yossi Sarid: Sometimes evil is good for the Jews Summing up Israel's new government in one word: LiebermanNew Foreign Minister has not yet learned that everything he says is a potential front-page headlin Jerusalem Post'World leaders must drop 'land for peace' slogans, stop Iran' In 1st interview with Israeli paper, Lieberman tells 'Post:' PA recognition of Jewish state not a precondition; Hamas must be "suffocated." 'Israel may lose Arab support on Iran' Clinton: Arab nations condition combating Iran on J'lem's commitment to Palestinian peace process Mottaki: Iran working on ideas for talks Iran FM says new proposal in the works aimed at restarting negotiations on Teheran nuclear program. Lieberman presses Chinese FM on Iran Meeting comes after Chinese man indicted in US for supplying Teheran with nuclear technology, missiles Was the FM invited to Egypt? Not quite Mubarak confirms Netanyahu will travel to Cairo alone, without Lieberman or any other minister. With great power...
German firms to attend Teheran oil show Conflicting reports on German funding of exhibition; foreign attendance reportedly up 25% from last year. Yedioth Ahronoth 'Talks to help Israel on Iran' No need to fool ourselves/ Mankin Mossad warns businessman: Hizbullah may target you Daily Alert.org – Hebrew Press Editorials (2008) - Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine The Economist The new politics of Israel's foreign policy A grand bargain? New governments in Israel and America could mean new ideas for peace in the Middle East Atlantic Monthly Do the Palestinians Really Want a State? - Robert D. Kaplan The Power of Statelessness - Jakub Grygiel (Policy Review-Hoover Institution-Stanford University) Commentary: Mideast: Obama vs. Osama (UPI) -- A fresh solution for the Palestinians by the Palestinians is now making the rounds of national-security advisers from Washington to Warsaw. "One-staters" are edging aside advocates of the two-state solution. Highlights of the suggested solution. Gaza’s Unfinished Business,* the latest report from the International Crisis Group, argues that the fundamental crisis today is not humanitarian but political. If the siege remains, Hamas could launch large-scale attacks. If weapons smuggling and rocket fire persist, Israel could mount a new offensive. Without some Palestinian unity, Gaza’s rebuilding will not begin. In short, defusing this crisis requires a sustainable Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Gaza’s reconstruction and Palestinian reconciliation. Report on the Conduct of IDF Soldiers During the Gaza War (Israel Defense Forces) The Arab Peace Initiative: A Primer and Future Prospects JCPA A 42-page Israeli report assessing the viability of the Arab Peace Initiative Boycott busters? Small signs Hamas is breaking out of diplomatic isolation Humor or hate? Groups see Israeli cartoon differently Ahmed and Salim appear to be typical teenage brothers. The animated stars of an incendiary new Internet cartoon series aren't typical, however. Its creators and fans see a humorous series that resembles "South Park" — at least visually — and mocks Islamic terrorism. Its critics see a hate-filled cartoon that uses crude stereotypes to dehumanize Muslims, intensify Arab-Israeli divisions and inflame the conflict between Muslims and Jews. Forward Intel Concerns of Dual Loyalty 'Rooted Deep in the System' Daily Star Washington has spoken on the Palestine-Israel conflict, and so have others · STEPHEN WALT Who is Jane Harman's Mr. X? Rozen Six links, and a couple thoughts on the Harman case Harman's Wiretap Woes and the AIPAC Cabal by Marcy Winograd Pelosi Knew NSA Listened to Harman Phone Calls Meaningful peace won't work if Hamas and Fatah are at odds Connect Gaza and West Bank Now - Daoud Kuttab, Jerusalem Post Lebanon general 'was Israeli spy' |
| Pakistan makes show of force against Taliban The government deployed troops to militant-controlled Buner district Thursday amid growing foreign concern about Taliban encroachment. New bombings in Iraq steal thunder from top insurgent's arrest Al Qaeda in Iraq appears to be exploiting instability in Iraq's government Obama steering Chrysler toward bankruptcy? Is bankruptcy in store for the venerable carmaker? Obama wins high marks for foreign policy The president's high approval ratings in a new poll suggest that Americans appreciate his cooperative approach to world affairs. US soldiers are heroes, not terrorists Homeland Security's warning is unjustified. Obama seeks protections for credit-card users The president told credit-card companies Thursday he wants to halt arbitrary rate hikes and get more protections for consumers · China at a Crossroad: Right or Left? BY: Jian Junbo | Asia Times A new political spectrum is taking shape in China. The "neo-leftists" are gaining widespread public support for fighting official corruption and wealth distribution gaps, while the opposing "rightists" believe in capitalist-style economic reforms and "opening up". · Signs of Strategic Recalibration in China BY: Ali Wyne | World Politics Review Several analysts have noted that China is leveraging the global financial crisis to increase its economic clout -- for example, by going on a commodities "shopping spree," contributing $40 billion to the International Monetary Fund at the G-20 summit, and pushing for a greater voice in reforming international economic institutions. · China Uses Global Crisis to Assert Its Influence BY: Ariana Eunjung Cha | The Washington Post Overseas aid and loans are just one way China is asserting itself in its new role as a world financial leader. While polishing China's own image, Premier Wen Jiabao and other top leaders have blamed the West for the global economic crisis. · The World Depends on U.S.-China Cooperation BY: William S. Cohen | The Wall Street Journal The U.S. and China are the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. This means that our nations have the opportunity, and the primary responsibility, for shaping the global response to climate change. · China Flexes New Economic Muscle at Sea BY: David Pilling | Financial Times The rebirth of China‘s modern navy, which has just celebrated its 60th anniversary in the north-eastern port of Qingdao, is an inevitable by-product of the country’s economic renaissance. Aryn Baker / Time: Taliban Advance: Is Pakistan Nearing Collapse? Is India Trying to Destabilize Pakistan? - Adnan Khan, Maclean's
Taliban Problem Turns Critical in Pakistan – Stratfor
Imagining India - The Idea of a Renewed Nation Nandan M. Nilekani, Co-Chairman of Infosys Technologies Ltd , spoke on his new book `Imagining India - The Idea of a Renewed Nation` A new Backgrounder explains the interplay between Islamic law and militancy. Geopolitical Diary: The Diamond Anniversary of the PLAN China's celebration of the founding of the PLAN on Thursday illustrated the noteworthy shifts in its global interests. Frontier wisdom China Reverts to Old Economic Model - James Dorn, Cato Institute
China Unveils New Naval Clout - Wu Zhong, Asia Times The Jawa Report: Horror: Taliban Behead Pakistani Troops in Swat Video · China's Unhappy Neo-Leftists BY: Bernt Berger | ISN Security Watch Some 20 years after the Tiananmen Square protests, a new political spectrum has emerged in China with factions on the left and right. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as the pragmatic bearer of economic reform, over time has lost its claim as the sole representation of the country's political ideology, and the pitfalls and shortcomings of economic development have provided space for populist rhetoric. Veterans Warn Military Can't End Afghan War Europe Needs No Part in Doomed Afghan War by William Pfaff · Staring at the Sun in Afghanistan BY: Gareth Porter | Asia Times Nation-building and counter-insurgency, cornerstones of the United States' new non-military solution for Afghanistan, are doomed if there is an unskilled, under-resourced "surge". China's navy Distant horizons If you’ve got muscle, flaunt it
David Rogers / The Politico: Dems anxious about Af-Pak policy — Democratic fears over President Barack Obama's Afghan-Pakistan policy spilled into the open Thursday as House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey warned he is “very concerned that it is going to wind up with us stuck in a problem at nobody knows how to get out of.” Pakistan Sends Special Police to Taliban-Held Area Taiwan, China to Meet for Talks This Weekend Agreements on Banking, Expanded Flights to Be Concluded · One Way to Boost U.S.-China Military Cooperation BY: Kent Hughes Butts and Geoffrey D. Dabelko | The Christian Science Monitor Recently, the Defense Department warned that lack of Chinese transparency and dialogue between the Chinese and US militaries could lead to dangerous miscalculations on both sides. · Running Rings Around the E.U. BY: John Fox and FRANÇOIS GODEMENT | International Herald Tribune The European Union's strategy of 'engagement' at any price leaves Beijing in control. · U.S. Faults Sri Lanka on Civilian Woes BY: Somini Sengupta | The New York Times The United States accused Sri Lanka on Wednesday of causing “untold suffering” among civilians in its push to win a 25-year-old conflict with Tamil separatists. People continued to pour out of the war zone, and the government announced the surrender of two prominent rebels. · Taliban, Terrorism Stifle Life in Lahore BY: Ayesha Nasir | The Washington Times Fear of Taliban rules and retribution has descended on this cosmopolitan city near the Indian border, with militants taking aim at fashion shows, nightclubs, sports and other entertainment that made Lahore the cultural capital of Pakistan. · Seven Reasons Why Thailand is a Mess BY: Patrick Winn | Global Post As uncertainty looms over Thailand, this much is clear: The anti-establishment movement appears to be growing more hardline — and the promise of reconciliation appears dim. Maoists rule India's 'Red Corridor' India's politicos dangle US$1 trillion hope Islamic insurgents advance closer to Pakistani capital The White House called the growing crisis in the nuclear-armed South Asian nation "deeply disturbing," and several key U.S. lawmakers told Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the Obama administration's new $7.5 billion plan to help stabilize Pakistan could be doomed by the failure of its government and military to battle the insurgents. Gates: More Civilians Required in Afghanistan The criminals running the Af-Pak border Sri Lanka's war To the bitter end Japan's 'exam hell' now reaches into preschool Parents seek any advantage as competition heats up despite a lower birthrate. Japan is committing demographic suicide Profile: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari | EUROPE European press review New NATO Members: Security Consumers or Producers? · Heirs to Fortuyn? By Bruce Bawer From City Journal: Europe's turn to the right. Dual Energy Conferences Focus On Pressing European Import Issues The Integration Process as a Tool of Stability and Security in the Western Balkans IFIMES This Slovene article considers the structural consequences of the 2004 EU enlargement, with particular emphasis on the Western Balkans EU-Ukraine Gas Deal Is No Pipe Dream BY: Alan Riley | The Wall Street Journal One could have been forgiven for suspecting that this month's deal for the European Union to help reform Ukraine's gas market was just more political window dressing · Running Rings Around the E.U. BY: John Fox and FRANÇOIS GODEMENT | International Herald Tribune The European Union's strategy of 'engagement' at any price leaves Beijing in control. Minimum Wages in Europe: New Debates Against the Background of Economic Crisis ETUI A 7-page policy brief examining minimum wages in Europe BY: Jeremy Druker | ISN Security Watch As the EU prepares for its Prague Eastern Partnership gathering, the hottest question is whether the contentious Lukashenka will attend and where that would leave Belarus. EU curbs on energy use bear fruit The European Union is set to be the first advanced economic grouping to achieve a sustained reduction in its demand for energy, as policies to curb gas and electricity consumption take effect, according to an analysis Signs worst is over for eurozone A surprisingly sharp drop in the pace of the eurozone’s economic contraction has boosted hopes that the worst of its recession will soon be over · Steady at the Helm The Economist Following the not wholly unexpected decision by Anders Fogh Rasmussen to step down as prime minister to become the next secretary-general of NATO, the new head of Denmark's coalition government is Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the former finance minister. · Time Running Out for Croatia's EU Reforms BY: Elitsa Vucheva | EU Observer The structural reforms Croatia still needs to carry out are more likely to hold up its EU membership bid than the current border dispute with Slovenia, a senior EU official has warned. · Fears of EU Split as 'Last Dictator' of Belarus is Invited to Summit BY: Ian Traynor | The Guardian Many European leaders are hoping that Lukashenko - who has been in power for 15 years, has been blacklisted by Brussels on account of his authoritarian rule and was until recently subject to a travel ban - will not take up the invitation to the Prague summit on 7 May. The Economist Ukraine's troubles The Viktor and Yulia show, continued Poland's economy Not like the neighbours Germany's Social Democrats The underdogs bark ETA and the Basques Once bombed, twice shy Divided Cyprus A hawkish problem Universities in Europe Bolognese sauce Charlemagne Fishy tales Europe Needs No Part in Doomed Afghan War by William Pfaff Hitler's Beer Table and New Germany - Juan Moreno, Der Spiegel EU: we got fishing strategy all wrong European Commission admits Common Fisheries Policy is dead in the water after 25 years of policy failure | H12 RFE/RL Russia and NATO At Odds Over Planned Military Exercise In Georgia RadioFreeEurope/ RadioLiberty Moscow, Sofia nearing accord on gas line World energy rivals meet in Turkmenistan Political Instability in Ukraine Raises Fears of Intervention by Security Forces Google News Azerbaijan · Despite Forecasts, Cold Front Lingers Over U.S.-Russia Relations BY: Fred Weir | The Christian Science Monitor It's been less than a month since presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev dramatically pressed the "reset button" in US-Russian relations, symbolically calling a halt to several years of chilly ties. But the roadblocks are already proliferating. White Stream: Georgia’s Ticket to the Pipeline Big Time? The White Stream gas project could prove the Georgian government’s trump card as it focuses on maintaining Georgia’s business-friendly image among foreign investors, some energy analysts believe. Russian rate cut follows call from Putin Move preceded by meeting with business leaders · The Strategic Implications of Russian Move Against Hungary's MOL BY: Vladimir Socor | Eurasia Daily Monitor What Surgut and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs portray as an ordinary "market transaction" transaction is in fact an adversarial strategic move into EU territory, with far-reaching implications for Hungary, Central and South-eastern Europe, and the EU itself in terms of energy security and policy. Yet the EU's policy-making and regulatory authorities keep silent in the face of this predatory raid. Orange Revolutions Wasted - Aleksander Kwasniewski, European Voice Moscow, Leave Moldova Alone - Melik Kaylan, Forbes
RUSSIA-NATO: Russia's NATO envoy said Moscow would continue talks with NATO, for the time being, in a "marriage of convenience" (Ria Novosti), despite sharp disagreements on several policy issues, including NATO's decision to conduct military exercises in Georgia. |
| H13 The Times America's friendliness terrifies Tehran Iran's hardline leadership has been knocked sideways by Barack Obama's conciliatory tone The front line Pakistan should be in intensive care. Instead it is being left to fail Iraqi police strike fear with rape and beatings Security forces in Iraq, now granted sweeping powers, are accused of being out of control and a law unto themselves Iran challenger would be prepared to meet Obama Mir Hossein Musavi, reformist candidate for president of Iran, sets out his starkly different approach to diplomatic relations North Korea 'is fully fledged nuclear power' Secretive Stalinist state has developed warheads that could be launched on medium-range missiles, experts say Condoleezza Rice dragged into torture row Obama's plan spins out of control as new disclosures implicate more officials, including Dr Rice, in torture allegations Iraq Al-Qaeda boss reported captured Iraqi security forces say they arrested Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, a suspected leader of the violent Islamic State of Iraq group US seems powerless to halt Dear Leader The Obama Administration is gravely concerned about North Korea’s nuclear programme, which is far more advanced than Iran’s Tony Blair calls for war on militant Islam Former Prime Minister tells religion and politics forum he does not regret Iraq war and that extremism must be defeated Akerlof and Shiller: Good Government and Animal Spirits Karl Rove / Wall Street Journal: The President's Apology Tour — Great leaders aren't defined by consensus. Strassel: Global Warming Overreach DECLARATIONS By Peggy Noonan Obama was right to resist reopening the torture debate. · Tyrants Get Another U.N. Platform By Saad Eddin Ibrahim Seven Broad Lessons for the United States from Japan’s Lost Decade Peterson Institute A 5-page US address drawing lessons from Japan's experience of dealing with recession America’s Financial Crisis: The End of an Era Source: Brookings Institution Full Paper (PDF; 157 KB) The Economist Central banks The monetary-policy maze | H14 Financial Times Abuse of the law handed victory to terrorists Mr Obama has understood that the twisted logic of torture concedes to the enemy the very thing you are fighting to preserve. The Bush administration overturned the scales of justice to the advantage of terrorists. Mr Obama must set them right, writes Philip Stephens We must keep at the process of repair and reform The US is determined to lead, says Timothy Geithner Is the UK once again the economic sick man? Martin Wolf on why Britain’s predicament is so bad How to avoid creating a new lost generation Richard Layard and Paul Gregg on job schemes India shows us the curse of ‘black money’ Raymond Baker says trade mispricing is the driving force behind most of the illicit capital exiting developing countries Warning over US toxic asset plan The Obama administration on Friday gets the first indication of investor interest in its $1,000bn toxic assets plan amid fears that the threat of government intervention and banks’ reluctance to sell will deter fund managers from participating Al-Qaeda in Yemen ‘a threat to Saudis’ Saudi Arabian security officials believe al-Qaeda-linked militants are seeking to organise and train in neighbouring Yemen to launch attacks in the kingdom UN says Iraq should share Kirkuk or give it autonomy The United Nations is suggesting to the Iraqi central and Kurdish regional governments that they either share the disputed territory of Kirkuk on an equal basis, or allow it to become a semi-autonomous region Clinton signals shift on Hamas Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, broke with previous US policy yesterday and proclaimed Washington's support for a Palestinian government backed by Hamas – as Panic about Pakistan: Why Hillary Clinton appeared alarmed Leading man keeps low profile Britain’s main economic choices are being framed by two pairs of men who each have much in common – but for both, tensions between leader and finance chief are being magnified by the crisis Tax distraction The government’s plan to tax the top earners is clearly intended to wrong-foot the Tory opposition. Instead, we need a serious, clear discussion about what broadly based tax increases should look like A new push to combat malaria If the disease is to be successfully controlled its treatment must be better funded, and global health systems must be more generally strengthened so they can take a long-term view of the problem Zuma’s victory Mr Zuma must break the old politics of patronage and temper the demands of his supporters in the unions and on the left with the interests of a business community rattled by looming recession Blair stands by doctrine of force The former UK prime minister affirms his belief that global powers have the right to use their military power to topple dictators in spite of serious setbacks by the US and its allies US warns of Iran sanctions Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, vowed to establish ‘crippling’ sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme if the Obama administration’s policy of engagement with Tehran should fail - | Dust-Up: Has nuclear arms control worked? Gabriel Schoenfeld says the Non-Proliferation Treaty is outdated. Andrew Grotto says neoconservatives’ dismissal of diplomacy is dangerous. Obama administration to release Bush-era detainee photos The pictures show Americans' alleged abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. An ACLU lawyer says they prove that Abu Ghraib 'was not aberrational.' One attack targets Iranian pilgrims en route to holy Shiite sites; the other is aimed at people lined up for food in a Shiite area of Baghdad. Iraq says it has captured an Al Qaeda in Iraq leader. Taliban militants edge closer to Pakistan capital A few hundred paramilitary troops are sent to an infiltrated area 60 miles from Islamabad as foreign leaders call on the government to confront the growing threat. Russia rights activist must be on guard Lev Ponomaryov may be Russia's most respected human rights advocate. But a few weeks ago he was the victim of an assault that left him bedridden, and now he has a bodyguard. Hillary Clinton warns of 'existential threat' in Pakistan Clinton says the government in Islamabad is ceding more and more territory to the militants and is 'abdicating to the Taliban and the extremists' in some matters. The Jane Harman file The allegations against the congresswoman and others are... Bombing Somalia is a dud By Micah Zenko Some propose airstrikes against Somali pirates, but past attacks in the region have been ineffective. Iran says it welcomes dialogue with the West on its nuclear program Iran welcomes a constructive dialogue with world powers over its nuclear program, but insists that it won't halt its uranium enrichment activities, the official IRNA news agency reported Wednesday. In Iraq, a story of rape, shame and 'honor killing' After prison guards assaulted an Iraqi woman, she turned to her brother for help. But he — and society — failed her Israel army clears itself in Gaza war The IDF says an investigation found the military acted in accord with international law in its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Human rights groups have called for an independent probe. In retirement, Fidel Castro is little seen but often heard Cuba watchers are glued to the former president's blog, which is always buzzing with his musings, in eight languages Fidel Castro says Obama misinterpreted his brother's remarks The former Cuban president rejects suggestions that the island should free political prisoners or cut taxes on remittances from the U.S Editorial |
| AP Poll: Americans high on Obama, direction of US — Governor Perry's Tantrum: So What if Texas Secedes? Randy E. Barnett / Wall Street Journal: The Case for a Federalism Amendment — How the Tea Partiers can make Washington pay attention. — In response to an unprecedented expansion of federal power, citizens have held hundreds of “tea party” rallies around the country, and various states are considering “sovereignty resolutions” … Lexington After the dark side Barack Obama is trying to find a new balance between national security and human rights House Intel Chair Orders Probe of Harman Taps Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin Matthew Dallek / The Politico: Intelligence Officials Tipped Pelosi To Harman Wiretap Unapologetic and Unrestrained: Cheney Unbound Pressure grows on Obama to call for interrogation panel Political pressure may force President Barack Obama to do something he's resisted doing since he took office: support a new investigation into how the Bush-era CIA interrogated suspected terrorists using techniques that are widely considered torture. | H17 Daily TelegraphThe honeymoon is over - President Barack Obama has to show that he is a world leader By postponing inevitable confrontations, Barack Obama could be accused of appeasement, says Con Coughlin. Pakistan and America Telegraph View: It would benefit everyone if America took urgent action to repair relations with Islamabad. Britain's debt will not be under control until 2032 The unprecedented burden built up by Gordon Brown will not be under control for nearly a quarter of a century, economists say. Russia and US ready to cut nuclear arsenals Russia and the US could cut their nuclear arsenals by half under a new deal being negotiated in Rome. Taliban creating 'safe haven' in heart of Pakistan Peace deal between militants and Pakistan government could increase attacks on UK and US forces. | H18 Independent Leading article: The advance of the Taliban is a threat to the Pakistani state Britain's new age of austerity Huge tax rises and spending cuts: the true cost of the Budget revealed. Clean coal is future for energy supplies Greenhouse gas emissions from new power stations will be collected and permanently stored underground. Pakistan scrambles to repel Taliban advance Swat Valley peace deal blamed as government forces come under fire from insurgents 60 miles from capital Tony Blair: Ten years on, I still believe in the need for Western intervention Martyrs of the Iraqi marshes They survived Saddam, but now the marsh Arabs are losing a battle against nature, reports Patrick Cockburn, winner of the Orwell Prize for journalism 2009. Nirmala Rajasingam: The Sri Lankan government has won – let it stop fighting |
| H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism Towards a U.S. Army Officer Corps Strategy for Success: A Proposed Human Capital Model Focused upon Talent The 10 best books about nuclear weapons BY: Ali Soufan | The New York Times A former F.B.I. agent who questioned Abu Zubaydah in 2002 says the terrorist operative provided important intelligence under traditional interrogation methods. "Declassified Narrative Describing the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel's Opinions on the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program" (pdf), released April 22, 2009. New NATO Members: Security Consumers or Producers? Somali Piracy: Not Just a Naval Problem CSBA A 5-page US backgrounder on Somali piracy U.S. Soldier Who Killed Herself—After Refusing to Take Part in Torture Dumb Intelligence (Commentary) BY: Robert Beckman and Tommy Koh | International Herald Tribune The United States should take the lead in the fight against Somali pirates. It would have the law and world public opinion on its side. ‘Success’ Rate of Pirate Attacks is Falling Source: Chatham House Full Paper Cyberwar Battle is joined A behind-the-scenes conflict appears to be under way—but not the sort you might think · Contest and Cohesion BY: Eric Randolph | Open Democracy London argues that the effectiveness of its counter-terrorism policy has forced a change of tactics on the part of global jihadists, but the UK remains at such high risk precisely because of its policies. The Weapons That Kill Civilians — Deaths of Children and Noncombatants in Iraq, 2003–2008 National Security: Imperatives for Interagency Action Defense Chief Gates Says He Backed Releasing CIA Memos · Who's Politicizing Intelligence Now? BY: Stephen F. Hayes | The Weekly Standard Admiral Dennis Blair, the top intelligence official in the United States, thanks to his nomination by Barack Obama, believes that the coercive interrogation methods outlawed by his boss produced "high-value information" and gave the U.S. government a "deeper understanding of the al Qaeda organization that was attacking this country." · Nuclear Disarmament: Too Much, Too Soon? BY: Ralph Cossa | The Japan Times The time has come for Washington and Moscow to insist that China and other countries join the nuclear proliferation dialogue and place their own nuclear arms on the table. DSB REPORT ON HOMELAND DEFENSE SHORTCOMINGS TO INFORM QDR | H20 Slate One More Time, Please Number of people affected by climate disaster up 54 percent by 2015 Source: Oxfam America Full Report Agriculture and Climate Change: An Agenda for Negotiation in Copenhagen IFPRI A 2-page brief on how to put agriculture on the agenda of the United Nations Framework Convention in Copenhagen in December 2009. World Recession and Recovery: A V or an L? Peterson Institute This 16-page US paper assesses global economic prospects On Climate Issue, Industry Ignored Its Scientists A document shows that a fossil fuels industry group ran a campaign against an idea its own scientists called irrefutable: a link between heat-trapping gases and climate change. We can talk up wind and solar power all we want. But billions of people in China and India will never trade 3¢/kwh coal for 15¢ wind or 30¢ solar. Time to get real, says Peter Huber... more» The corrosive conditions of an undersea volcano offer clues to how rising levels of man-made carbon dioxide in the air could unbalance marine life world-wide Roger Harrabin on the pros and cons of carbon capture
| H21 In Long Drive to Cure Cancer, Advances Have Been Elusive Richard M. Nixon pledged to cure cancer by 1976. President Obama has promised a “a cure” in our time. Yet the death rate for cancer has barely changed since 1950. Liberalism has always rightly stood for a broad prosperity and solidarity that pits itself against exploitation. It has always, that is, been proto-socialist... more» Strengthening and Repairing Relationships: Addressing Forgiveness and Sacrifice in Couples Education and Counselling AIFS This 14-page Australian paper focuses on the concept that better understanding of relational dynamics can be gained through studying constructs that contribute to the strength of a relationship Free Press Calls for National Journalism Strategy at House Hearing Source: Free Press Mark Silva / The Swamp: Larry Summers' cat-nap at credit talks — Scientists Unravel Genome of the Cow Signs of Human Intervention Seen How e-Pulitzers can elevate journalism Granting the prizes to more online work would raise standards. Arianna Huffington: NEW MEDIA CHALLENGE TO OLD MEDIA NEAR TIPPING POINT |
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PM says Israel's relationship to Europe should not be linked to progress on peace process with Palestinians
PM says Israel's relationship to Europe should not be linked to progress on peace process with Palestinians
