050809f - FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analyses for informed debate’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç from ASAM (Eurasian Center for Strategic Studies) -- U.S. / Britain / Turkey / Magazines / Think-tanks / Blogs / Misc /Books / Quickread / Numbers / Reports - Subscribe to FPR FPR Table - H4 NYT WP GU H7 ME Isr H10 CSM IHT Eur FSU Asia H13 Times WSJ FT LAT H16 USP DT Ind H19 Mil Int Ter Wonk H21 Misc

H1 Ha’aretz – Breakdown of Mideast coordination with U.S. worries J'lemJerusalem officials say new administration no longer sees Israel as a 'special' state in the Mideast

Newsweek Hirsh: The Increasingly Uneasy U.S.-Israel Relationship

Jerusalem Post US denies Israel access to F-35 computer

Exclusive: As dispute on Joint Strike Fighter jet holds up sale, Defense Ministry looks at advanced F-15.

Time The Old Bibi or A New One? Israel's Prime Minister is on his way to Washington with a newfound reputation for pragmatism. We'll see

Washington Post The Hamas 'Peace' Gambit By Charles Krauthammer, Westerners may be stupid, but Palestinian terrorists are not. Hamas tries to trick the West by disguising perpetual war as two-state peace.

The Long-Term International Economic Position of the United States Source: Peterson Institute for International Economics + Full Document

Train Wreck Ahead? Newsweek Why the U.S. and Israel may be headed for a collision

ANALYSIS / Loss of nuclear monoply - an Israeli nightmare
Ha'aretz

Financial Times Diplomacy works, but it cannot defuse every threat Barack Obama has elevated diplomacy and engagement as vital instruments of American power, recognising that legitimacy counts alongside military muscle. The truth, however, is that it may be impossible to eliminate the most serious threats to international security, says Philip Stephens

All must play a part in fighting climate change US must not act unilaterally, says James Baker

Fighting recession in the eurozone

Lending is now constrained by demand and supply. The ECB must keep doing what it can to loosen monetary conditions. But it must also make clear the need to recapitalise banks and stimulate demand further

Ahmadi-Nejad takes to the streets

In his four years as Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad has made his tours of provincial cities the centrepiece of attempts to portray himself as protector of the Iranian people

US supports Syria-Israel pact

Washington will back peace talks between the two countries as part of its broader solution to the Middle East’s problems amid the Obama administration’s accelerated efforts to engage its traditional foes

Stress tests show $75bn buffer needed Ten banks need more common equity

Give the Afghan Army a Governance Role - Bing West, Wall Street Journal opinon.

Geopolitical Diary: A Case of Georgian Deja Vu

Republicans in Wilderness: Is the Party Over? - Michael Grunwald, Tim

WSJ Fed Sees Bank Losses
Of Up to $599 Billion The U.S. said 19 banks could suffer losses of up to $599 billion and ordered 10 of them to raise a combined $74.6 billion in capital.

Senater FRC - NATO POST-60:
INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES
MOVING FORWARD

ENGAGING IRAN:
OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Glass half empty or full? 10 banks told to raise $75 billion

McClatchy Based on government stress tests, the banks that must raise more money are Bank of America, Wells Fargo, GMAC, Citigroup, Regions Financial, SunTrust, KeyCorp, Morgan Stanley, Fifth Third Bancorp and PNC Financial Services. Nine other banks were judged to be healthy. But some analysts noted that if the numbers were off by even a small percentage, much larger amounts of capital would be needed.

Pakistan launches full-scale military assault on Taliban

Pakistan declared war on its homegrown Islamic extremists Thursday in a dramatic move that could trigger a wider conflagration. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a late-night televised address to the nation, said Pakistan would launch a full-scale offensive against Pakistani Taliban guerrillas who've seized control of the vast Swat valley, which is about 100 miles north of the capital.

The Annotated Iraq Study Group Recommendations: What Makes Sense, What Made Sense Then but Doesn't Now, and What Never Made Sense - Frederick W. Kagan, American Enterprise Institute:

Washington Post Pentagon Budget Devotes More To Afghanistan War Than to Iraq

Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan Present U.S. With Strategic Problem

Make the Stress Tests Permanent

By Sebastian Mallaby, Does the government have a duty to test the reactions of banks to future shocks?

The Economist Europe's economies

A new pecking order There has been a change in Europe’s balance of economic power; but don’t expect it to last for long

The French model Vive la différence! The French way of doing things looks pretty good—at least in these troubled economic times

The Times Tony Blair is a step closer to becoming president of the European Council

New York Times Talked to Death By HASSINA SHERJAN The idea of reaching out again to the Taliban, who have repeatedly demanded unacceptable conditions for talks, should be shelved once and for all.

BOOKS OF THE TIMES; The Deciders and How They Decided

Ailing Banks Need $75 Billion, U.S. Says After subjecting the biggest U.S. banks to stress tests, regulators ordered 10 to raise more capital and gave the rest a clean bill of health.

Iraqi Forces: Rebuilt and Stronger, but Still Stumbling A recent series of attacks by insurgents have highlighted shortcomings, large and small, despite billions of dollars in American training and equipment, officials said.

U.S. Admits Civilians Died in Afghan Raids

Britain’s Unpopular Leader Is Ripe Target in Parliament

Christian Science Monitor

Belarus and Moldova invited into EU? Europe ponders countering 'resurgent' Russia

At Prague summit today, EU leaders seek stronger ties with eight former Soviet republics.

Religious bullying is a problem around the world

Vigilante enforcement of theocratic codes can crop up when a minority group doesn't conform

Guardian Netanyahu's three-step solution Simon Tisdall: The US expects Israel to participate fully with its Middle East gameplan – but Bibi's counter-offensive is already taking shape

· Brown can lead a rally and win the next election. All he needs is a war Simon Jenkins: Forget the revisionist spin. The Falklands conflict rescued Thatcher. History chronicles the power of the beating drum

Medvedev the fake reformer

Luke Harding: A year has passed since Russia got a new president, but his talk of legal and political reform have still produced no change

Forcing the break-up of Britain

Mark Perryman: Labour's imminent decline means that nationalist sentiments in Scotland and Wales will be given more purpose after 2010

Obama's fine line in Afpak and Iraq James Denselow: Too much or too little US involvement could spell disaster for Obama's approach in countries ridden by internal conflict

Pakistan's army needs to choose sides Mohsin Hamid: As the military dithers over whether to support the majority Pakistani democrats – the Taliban gains precious ground

Pakistan's worst case scenario

Ray LeMoine: By relying on drone aerial attacks, the US is harming its attempts to make progress in volatile areas such as Karachi

EU-Russia gas connection: Pipes, politics and problems

Turku School of Economics, Pan European Institute This 212-page Finnish report offers a variety of views on the EU’s gas imports and assesses the various pipeline alternatives proposed

Recovery? What Economic Recovery? - Kevin Kelly, Newsweek

The Economist Emerging markets and the credit crunch Whom can we rely on? Poor countries are not fretting about the boundaries between state and market. Instead, they are debating whether to rely on domestic or foreign demand

WSJ A Pacific Warning

Australia prepares for U.S. decline.

Lowy Institute Power balances in Asia: The Coalition perspective

Ha’aretz – Benn In search of a magic formula

U.S. incorporating Livni's ideas into peace process Livni's proposals include enlisting Arab world in peace process, encouraging normalization with Israel

From 'comfort zone' to 'decision zone' The leaderships in both Jerusalem and Ramallah appear to share one common goal: finding a comfort zone, a place where the peace process can continue ad infinitum, and hard decisions can be avoided.

Even a blizzard begins with tiny snowflakes We must take into account that an air attack on Iran, as successful as it may be, would also make our home front a target for large missiles that would hit the big cities.

U.S.: We are committed to Syrian-Israeli peace deal

Educating Bibi

Lieberman's Italian job

Jerusalem Post Netanyahu can be a peacemaker, says Quartet emissary Blair

In interview with 'Post', former British premier praises PM for focus on improving West Bank economy; says Iran must realize it "can't have nukes."

The Long-Delayed Hope for Fatah’s Rebirth CEIP

An article assessing the prospects for a Fatah revival

The inside scoop on the Obama-Peres meeting

Defending the Golan Heights - Dore Gold and Shimon Shapira (Foreign Affairs)

Defensible Borders on the Golan Heights - Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

US envoy on new 'constructive' visit to Syria

Despite US Outreach, Syria Affirms Iran Ties

Washington committed to seeking Syria-Israel deal

The Economist Iran's presidential race How popular is the populist? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may have put his foot in it once too often

CIA: Iran increases uranium production...

WSJ A Method to Obama's Madness? By James Taranto The administration courts Iran, and Arabs suddenly sound reasonable.

Iraq on brink of third great mistake If Iraq's leaders treat Sunni groups that are being infiltrated by al-Qaeda as potential enemies, it would be one of the most disastrous decisions made since 2003 - it would push the Sunni community back down the path of resistance and insurgency. - W Andrew Terrill

Damascus Deporting Mishal is a Good Step : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

Daily Star Will the flurry of activity on Middle East peace lead to tangible results?

· Not So Fast: Rethinking America's Decline BY: David Kampf | World Politics Review Have we really reached the end of American hegemony? For those who think so, the signs of America's decline and the rise of emerging powers are everywhere.

Los Angeles Times In Afghanistan conflict, Pentagon considers structural changes The increase in U.S. troop numbers requires a larger headquarters operation, military experts say. Changes in deployment cycles are also being considered.

CFR Jonestown I. M. Destler The Obama administration has promised to revamp the National Security Council, but so far it has not delivered. Read

War of Necessity, War of Choice (Audio)

Building Trust Among Anti-Taliban Allies

H2 Sabancı Lecture Transatlantic Partners: The Challenges of Multilateralism for Europe, Turkey and the United States by Chris Patten

Turkey: Can Turkey’s Main Secularist Party Make a Comeback?
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH

Ankara Considering PKK's Proposals on Dialog

Turkey OK with UN Kirkuk report

Azerbaycan ve Ermenistan İlke Anlaşmasına Vardı

Stratfor Armenia, Azerbaijan: Rivals at the Table Armenia and Azerbaijan are sitting down to talk about the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, but there is a lot more going on behind the scenes

Doc's Talk: Fethullah Gülen: the Turkish Khomeini?

DT Energy security fears over Armenia-Turkey talks

Syria and Turkey Deepen Bilateral Relations Brookings Institution

Turkey Is Syria's "window To Europe and U.s."

Azerbaijan can look the other way
Azerbaijan, for two decades a reliable energy supplier for the West, may reconsider that "partnership" as Europe drags its feet over the proposed Nabucco pipeline and the Caspian country sees its hope that it could eventually join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization extinguished. - Robert M Cutler

No adventurism expected under FM Davutoğlu

WSJ INTERVIEW: Turkey's Economy At Bottom - Turkcell CEO

Chatham House Turkey's Reform Process and Multi-Regional Foreign Policy

Davutoglu plans visit to Pakistan

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

Rebel Land: Among Turkey's Forgotten Peoples by Christopher de Bellaigue.

Turkey mulls militia reform after wedding bloodbath | International | Reuters

Turkey must examine its past before labelling Kurds as “backward” Nick Birch

Turkey to review village guards after massacre

“The Kurdistani list” is the name of PUK& KDP joint list

Bakan Çiçek: Koruculuk Kaldırılabilir

Turkey welcomes UN report on Kirkuk

PKK Leader Karayılan Calls for End to Fighting

Report: Turkey To Break With NATO On Iran

Suspect in Turkey wedding massacre planned to kill every guest
Times Online

Human Rights Violations in Northern Iraq

PUKmedia :: English - Suspicious movements by Iraqi army 12th ...

Kurdish insurgents, in reversal, announce end to separatist ambitions

Iran Continues Shelling Kurds In Iraqi Territory
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Waiting for the Messiah Ha'aretz -

The urgency of this search for peace cannot be underestimated!

Turkish massacre villagers flee

Dozens of Turkish villagers flee their homes in fear of reprisals for this week's wedding massacre, in which 44 people died.

Cevdet Aşkın

Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dış Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Günlük Haftalık

Gül seeks four-way summit to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh row

Chatham House Cyprus After Five Years of EU Membership: An Assessment of Its Contribution to Regional Stability

Washington pushes for breakthrough between Azerbaijan, Armenia

Energy security fears over Armenia-Turkey talks

Mutual Understanding or the Demise of a Cause? Armenian Weekly

EU seeks to enroll Caucasus neighbors, Egypt and Iraq into energy ... Los Angeles Times

Ankara's gesture of support to Talat

Davutoğlu declares support for northern Cyprus

Turkey sees no wheat import tender in 2009

Almanya'da İslam Karşıtı Kongre'ye Tepkiler Artıyor

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Turkish industrial production plummets 20.9 percent in March

Turkey cancels national lottery tender

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

Video NTV CNNTürk Milliyet

Cengiz Çandar

Ahmet Taşgetiren

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol

Fikret Bila

Hasan Cemal

Murat Yetkin

İsmet Berkan

Fehmi Koru

Taha Kıvanç

Şamil Tayyar

Ali Bayramoğlu

Soli Özel

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök

Hasan Ünal

Ahmet Hakan

M Ali Birand

Cüneyt Ülsever

Enis Berberoğlu

Oktay Ekşi

Özdemir İnce

Mehmet Y Yılmaz

ERDAL ŞAFAK

ENGİN ARDIÇ

EMRE AKÖZ

Umur Talu

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

NAZLI ILICAK

MEHMET BARLAS

MAHMUT ÖVÜR

YAVUZ DONAT

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Ercan Kumcu

Erdal Sağlam

H4 New York Times Talked to Death By HASSINA SHERJAN

The idea of reaching out again to the Taliban, who have repeatedly demanded unacceptable conditions for talks, should be shelved once and for all.

Ailing Banks Need $75 Billion, U.S. Says After subjecting the biggest U.S. banks to stress tests, regulators ordered 10 to raise more capital and gave the rest a clean bill of health.

Iraqi Forces: Rebuilt and Stronger, but Still Stumbling A recent series of attacks by insurgents have highlighted shortcomings, large and small, despite billions of dollars in American training and equipment, officials said.

U.S. Admits Civilians Died in Afghan Raids

Britain’s Unpopular Leader Is Ripe Target in Parliament

Pope, Hope in Hand, Is Heading to Mideast

Sukhumi Journal: Abkhazia Lures Its Expatriates, Welcoming Them One by One

Georgia Releases 3 Activists Whose Arrests Set Off a Fray

Premier Vows to Eliminate the Taliban in Pakistan

Swine Flu Cases Worldwide Exceed 2,300

Editorial The Climate Debate Heats Up A stalled clean energy bill needs to be revised, and quickly, if there is a chance for comprehensive climate change legislation to be passed by this Congress.

PAUL KRUGMAN Stressing the Positive Washington has made a decision to muddle through the financial crisis, hoping that the banks can earn their way back to health.

DAVID BROOKS The Harlem Miracle An inner-city school eliminated the white-black achievement gap by establishing a rigorous no excuses standard for learning.

H5 Washington Post The Hamas 'Peace' Gambit By Charles Krauthammer, Westerners may be stupid, but Palestinian terrorists are not. Hamas tries to trick the West by disguising perpetual war as two-state peace.

Pentagon Budget Devotes More To Afghanistan War Than to Iraq

Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan Present U.S. With Strategic Problem

Make the Stress Tests Permanent

By Sebastian Mallaby, Does the government have a duty to test the reactions of banks to future shocks?

Pakistan Announces Army Offensive Against Taliban Move Solidifies Collapse of Peace Accord

Presidents of Pakistan, Afghanistan Meet With Senators Weighing Aid

Editorial Stress Tests The banks' results are in. Now let's see what they mean.

The Book 'American Grace' and How the Young View Religion The Right Kind of Religion Would Bring the Young Back By Michael Gerson

Young people are increasingly steering clear of religion. Nice going, religious right.

Time for President Obama to Stand Up for Gay Marriage By Eugene Robinson, It's not unrealistic to expect the president to spend some political capital in this fight.

Democrats Assail Obama's Hit List

Lawmakers Vow to Protect Pet Programs

U.S. to Wind Down Help for Some Banks Stress Tests Find Most Can Absorb Losses

Lawmakers Balk at Holding Guantanamo Bay Detainees in U.S.

H6 Guardian Netanyahu's three-step solution Simon Tisdall: The US expects Israel to participate fully with its Middle East gameplan – but Bibi's counter-offensive is already taking shape

· Brown can lead a rally and win the next election. All he needs is a war Simon Jenkins: Forget the revisionist spin. The Falklands conflict rescued Thatcher. History chronicles the power of the beating drum

· Pact challenges Russian influence 'Eastern Partnership' trade deal signed after summit between six post-Soviet counties and EU

· Stress tests: 10 US banks told to raise capital cushion by further $65bn

8 May 2009: Bank of America top of the list, needing $33.9bn, followed by Wells Fargo, which requires $13.7bn, while financial arm of troubled General Motors needs to generate $11.5bn

Medvedev the fake reformer

Luke Harding: A year has passed since Russia got a new president, but his talk of legal and political reform have still produced no change

Forcing the break-up of Britain

Mark Perryman: Labour's imminent decline means that nationalist sentiments in Scotland and Wales will be given more purpose after 2010

Obama's fine line in Afpak and Iraq

James Denselow: Too much or too little US involvement could spell disaster for Obama's approach in countries ridden by internal conflict

Pakistan's army needs to choose sides Mohsin Hamid: As the military dithers over whether to support the majority Pakistani democrats – the Taliban gains precious ground

Pakistan's worst case scenario

Ray LeMoine: By relying on drone aerial attacks, the US is harming its attempts to make progress in volatile areas such as Karachi

Is Rupert Murdoch losing it?

Michael Tomasky: Murdoch's plan to charge for access to his newspapers on the internet is a sign he's lost his touch

Fear and Taliban sympathisers follow flood of refugees

Green UN tents and abandoned possessions line streets of Pakistani province on North West Frontier

Rupert Murdoch's online folly

Jenna McWilliams: The media mogul has pronounced that 'the current days of the internet will soon be over'. He couldn't be more wrong

· Business and the state: All pain, no gain

Editorial: A long time ago, public was public and private was private and the two kept mostly apart

H7 WSJ A Method to Obama's Madness?

By James Taranto The administration courts Iran, and Arabs suddenly sound reasonable.

Iraq on brink of third great mistake If Iraq's leaders treat Sunni groups that are being infiltrated by al-Qaeda as potential enemies, it would be one of the most disastrous decisions made since 2003 - it would push the Sunni community back down the path of resistance and insurgency. - W Andrew Terrill

Damascus Deporting Mishal is a Good Step : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

Daily Star Will the flurry of activity on Middle East peace lead to tangible results?

· Not So Fast: Rethinking America's Decline BY: David Kampf | World Politics Review Have we really reached the end of American hegemony? For those who think so, the signs of America's decline and the rise of emerging powers are everywhere.

Obama Should not Renew Executive Order Sanctions on Syria this Weekend

The best damn Iraqi political analysis period BY TOM RICKS

· DANIEL DREZNER Do we really want James Jones staying up all night?

Don't exaggerate Arab fears of Obama's outreach to Iran

· Ghassan Cherbel: No Arab interest... ... in US or Israeli war with Iran, in constant conflict with Iran, in a threatened Iranian regime. Interesting leader in al-Hayat.

· No-Chance Challenger Undercuts Ahmadinejad BY: Michael Theodoulou | The National Of Iran’s four main presidential contenders, Mr Rezai is perhaps the most enigmatic, embodying many of the contradictions in the Iranian system. Despite his electoral weakness, however, his candidacy is problematic for Mr Ahmadinejad.

Chain Reaction How the U.S.-UAE nuclear deal could set off a Middle East arms race.

· Sitting Down With Bloody Despots

BY: Daniel Mandel | New York Post

IF the Obama administration really wants to improve human rights, it's taking the wrong approach in seeking a seat on the seriously flawed United Nations Human Rights Council.

· Decision Time on Deterrence

BY: Robert R. Monroe | The Washington Times

An effort is afoot to destroy the U.S. nuclear deterrent that has kept America safe for more than half a century.

From Al-Ahram, why such a great fear of democracy? Galal Nassar examines the pathology of apathy

Obama's public diplomacy blunder BY PETER FEAVER

$58: Oil prices jump to new six-month high...

Brazil dodges a demagogue

Everyone should breathe a sigh of relief that Iran's irascible President Mamoud Ahmadinejad canceled his planned trip to Brazil. (Boston Globe)

REBRANDING THE LONG WAR, Part 1
Obama does his Bush impression
This week's summit between United States President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan was less about saving lives than it was about rhetorically re-inventing - and physically relocating - the past administration's "global war on terror". The question is: how far will the three leaders go to wipe out al-Qaeda in Afghanistan or halt the Predator drone war? - Pepe Escobar

A right path for India's left
Seen as irrelevant by voters due to their anti-Western outlook, India's leftist parties have lost support since a proud showing at the last elections. But many of India's core problems - income inequality, caste discrimination, ethnic militancy and religious extremism - can only be solved by embracing the left, as it can focus on issues rather than identities. - Chietigj Bajpaee

Uzbekistan mixes rich and poor
Former Soviet republic Uzbekistan may have somewhat recovered from the post-dissolution economic crash that hit many of its counterparts, but prosperity continues to elude it. Thanks to a fossilized political structure led by the uncharismatic President Islam Karimov - who would rather focus on the Great Game than economics - it is a rich country filled with poor people. - Ian Williams

H8 Iraq Updates IraqSlogger Google News Iraq Iran Syria Mideastwire.com - NPR Iraq

US envoy on new 'constructive' visit to Syria

Despite US Outreach, Syria Affirms Iran Ties

Washington committed to seeking Syria-Israel deal

The Economist Iran's presidential race

How popular is the populist? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may have put his foot in it once too often

CIA: Iran increases uranium production...

Iraqi Forces: Rebuilt and Stronger, but Still Stumbling

Ambush by an Ally Chills Trust in Iraqi Units

Report: Foreign Analysts Cite Iran Bomb Progress –

Mideast Tour to Test Pope's Diplomacy Pope Benedict will pay his first visit to an Arab country since becoming pope as he begins a Mideast tour.

Egypt: Nuke program only for peaceful purposes

H9 Ha’aretz – Breakdown of Mideast coordination with U.S. worries J'lemJerusalem officials say new administration no longer sees Israel as a 'special' state in the Mideast

Benn In search of a magic formula

U.S. incorporating Livni's ideas into peace process Livni's proposals include enlisting Arab world in peace process, encouraging normalization with Israel

From 'comfort zone' to 'decision zone' The leaderships in both Jerusalem and Ramallah appear to share one common goal: finding a comfort zone, a place where the peace process can continue ad infinitum, and hard decisions can be avoided.

Even a blizzard begins with tiny snowflakes We must take into account that an air attack on Iran, as successful as it may be, would also make our home front a target for large missiles that would hit the big cities.

U.S.: We are committed to Syrian-Israeli peace deal

Educating Bibi

Lieberman's Italian job

Jerusalem Post US denies Israel access to F-35 computer

Exclusive: As dispute on Joint Strike Fighter jet holds up sale, Defense Ministry looks at advanced F-15.

Netanyahu can be a peacemaker, says Quartet emissary Blair

In interview with 'Post', former British premier praises PM for focus on improving West Bank economy; says Iran must realize it "can't have nukes."

Hamas vote highlights Fatah failures

Islamist movement holds key elections while its rivals continue to bicker.

Cairo seeks Iranian link to terror cell

Egyptian spokesman tells 'Post' only indirect link between Teheran, Hizbullah established at this point.

US slams Hizbullah actions in Egypt

Ambassador to UN echoes Ban's call for guerrilla group to transform itself into purely political party.

An absorption overhaul

Outgoing ministry head urges unifying all Diaspora, aliya functions.

'Cairo's ties to Israel will remain steady in Netanyahu era'

Yedioth Ahronoth 'Annapolis was a mistake'
Deputy FM Ayalon backs Lieberman's stance, says any additional land Israel cedes to Palestinians will 'almost immediately' be taken over by Hamas. Adds: Iran's atomic clock now measured in months, not years

'Harsher sanctions unwise'

Russian FM tells American counterpart Moscow opposes toughening punitive action against Iran

'Hizbullah actions alarming'

Shiite group's support of Hamas terrorists in Gaza from Egypt concerns UN chief Ban

Obama to visit Buchenwald

US leader said to be planning visit to Nazi camp liberated by US troops, including his great uncle

Papal visit bad for us

Giora Eiland says current pope no friend of Israel, should not have been welcomed here

Good cop, bad cop/ Yitzhak Benhorin Yitzhak Benhorin examines President Peres’ meetings with top US officials in Washington

Daily Alert.org – Hebrew Press Editorials (2008) - Middle East Progress - EJC Israeli Press Review – Google News Israel - Palestine

The Long-Delayed Hope for Fatah’s Rebirth CEIP

An article assessing the prospects for a Fatah revival

The inside scoop on the Obama-Peres meeting

Israel's Bad-Faith Negotiating Position by William Pfaff

UN laments choking of Bethlehem

The UN accuses Israel of strangling development of the Bethlehem region in the occupied West Bank.

Obstacles to peace: Borders and settlements

AIPAC Confronts a New Reality as Obama’s Agenda Becomes Clear

Defending the Golan Heights - Dore Gold and Shimon Shapira (Foreign Affairs)

Defensible Borders on the Golan Heights - Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

Numbers Game: How Many Civilians Were Killed in Gaza? - Simona Weinglass

Government Was Right to Drop AIPAC Case - Editorial (Los Angeles Times)

· Saleh al-Qullab: a decisive three weeks for Middle East peace ... former Jordanian Information Minister thinks that after the Abdullah, Mubarak, Netanyahu and Abbas visits Obama will lay out the U.S. plan for peace. Maybe. Al-Sharq al-Awsat.

More from "Does the Democratic Majority have a problem with Israel?" by Shmuel Rosner

Independent Adrian Hamilton: Israel is just using Iran to stall progress on the Middle East

Tepid reception expected for Pope Benedict in Israel

· The UN on Gaza: Partial and Partisan

BY: Robbie Sabel | The Guardian For Ban Ki-moon to disown the UN report on Gaza speaks volumes about the credibility of its claims of Israeli misconduct.

Hawks Scramble to Get on Board With Two-State Solution by Daniel Luban

Did you know the woman in the Starbucks logo is Queen Esther of the Jews? Just part of a vast Israeli plot against Arab people. Greg Sheridan can tell you more... more»

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Belarus and Moldova invited into EU? Europe ponders countering 'resurgent' Russia

At Prague summit today, EU leaders seek stronger ties with eight former Soviet republics.

Religious bullying is a problem around the world

Vigilante enforcement of theocratic codes can crop up when a minority group doesn't conform

Refugees will judge Pakistan's anti-Taliban fight Islamabad must be accountable to people fleeing the Swat Valley region.

A major investment risk: Congress at work When Congress is in session, stock prices tend to stall or fall. When Congress is out of session, they tend to soar.

India displays civic spirit – and cynicism – as election nears end

New Delhi and Kashmir voted Thursday in Round 4 of staggered national polls

Four big banks need more capital to weather recession, US finds 'Stress tests' reveal that banks need to raise more than $65 billion to be able to keep lending if the recession drags on.

ASIA

Lowy Institute Power balances in Asia: The Coalition perspective

Obama Should not Renew Executive Order Sanctions on Syria this Weekend

Pakistan Declares War Against Swat 'Terrorists'

Pakistan launches full-scale military assault on Taliban

Pakistan declared war on its homegrown Islamic extremists Thursday in a dramatic move that could trigger a wider conflagration. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a late-night televised address to the nation, said Pakistan would launch a full-scale offensive against Pakistani Taliban guerrillas who've seized control of the vast Swat valley, which is about 100 miles north of the capital.

Give the Afghan Army a Governance Role - Bing West, Wall Street Journal opinon.

· A Pacific Warning

Australia prepares for U.S. decline.

Carnegie Pakistan Dilemma for Obama and Europe

U.S. to Appoint Top General to Kabul The Pentagon is expected to bolster the U.S. military leadership in Afghanistan by appointing a three-star general to Kabul.

India's Voters Near End of Elections Many voters in Kashmir defied a boycott call and headed to the polls as India's elections neared an end.

Pentagon Budget Devotes More To Afghanistan War Than to Iraq

The AfPak Puzzle - Fred Kaplan, Slate

· STEPHEN WALT Obama still doesn't know what his Af-Pak strategy is

Pakistan calls fears over nuclear security overblown

Officials Admit Pakistanis Reject US Priorities

The Recession in China

China's response to the global economic crisis may have brought Beijing's day of reckoning closer.

Airplane! - Michael Crowley, The New Republic opinion. Pakistan's Top Gun mentality is partly about its archrival to the east.

Rising China Puts Australia in a Bind - John Lee, China Post

Pakistan Appears Unprepared for 'Massive Displacement'

Pakistan Army Fights, but Can It Win?

CRS “Taiwan-U.S. Relations: Developments and Policy Implications,” May 1, 2009.

Washington's Misguided Pakistan Policy - Alex Alexiev, National Review

Asharq Al-Awsat Goes Inside Al Qaeda's Hideout

Al-Qaeda seizes on Taliban's problem
Taliban operations launched through the Pakistani tribal areas into Afghanistan have been seriously disrupted this year. If more troops are relocated from the border with India to this region, the Taliban will suffer further disruptions. Al-Qaeda sees this as an opportunity. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

· Back to Bihar

BY: Ranu Sinha | International Herald Tribune

It’s 1987 and I am to leave Bihar; the place where I was born in 1981. It’s the bleakest state in India, a country with more poverty than anywhere else.

The Economist India's election and the BJP Saffron hopes

Fighting the Pakistani Taliban

The Swat test

Afghanistan's elections Poll position

CSIS Pakistan: Struggling Through the Perfect Storm

Can China Save Detroit? BY KELLY GALLAGHER

H11 IHT

EUROPE European press review

CEPS The Priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the EU

The European Commission 2004-09: A politically weakened institution? Views from the National Capitals

The Economist Europe's economies

A new pecking order There has been a change in Europe’s balance of economic power; but don’t expect it to last for long

The French model Vive la différence!

The French way of doing things looks pretty good—at least in these troubled economic times

Germany's economy The export model sputters

Unemployment in Spain Not working

Charlemagne An unloved parliament

Gordon Brown A hunted man

Eurozone interest rates cut to 1%

Eurozone rates are cut to 1% and the European Central Bank says it plans to pump about 60bn euros into the region's economy.

Belarus and Moldova invited into EU? Europe ponders countering 'resurgent' Russia

At Prague summit today, EU leaders seek stronger ties with eight former Soviet republics.

· EU Summit Text Loaded With Eastern Tension

BY: Andrew Rettman | EU Observer Last minute tweaks to the Eastern Partnership summit declaration reveal EU unease over enlargement and immigration, as well as the complexities of old conflicts on the union's eastern frontier.

Has Europe dropped the Balkans?

Christophe Solioz

Are the Western Balkans ever going to be part of Europe? Christophe Solioz reviews the situation since the Thessaloniki Summit of 2003

Forcing the break-up of Britain

Mark Perryman: Labour's imminent decline means that nationalist sentiments in Scotland and Wales will be given more purpose after 2010

WSJ · Gordon Brown's Free Fall By Ian Bremmer
Britain's prime minister may be on his way out.

Czech exits EU post with shot at Sarkozy Mirek Topolanek, outgoing Czech prime minister, delivered a parting shot at Nicolas Sarkozy, saying he should have reined in the French president during his four months at the helm of the European Union

ECB cuts rates to combat recession European central banks intensified their efforts to combat the continent’s severe recession by unveiling bolder-than-expected moves to buy assets and boost growth through historically-low interest rates

EU-Russia gas connection: Pipes, politics and problems

Turku School of Economics, Pan European Institute This 212-page Finnish report offers a variety of views on the EU’s gas imports and assesses the various pipeline alternatives proposed

FT Leader Fighting recession in the eurozone

Lending is now constrained by demand and supply. The ECB must keep doing what it can to loosen monetary conditions. But it must also make clear the need to recapitalise banks and stimulate demand further

Polish FM: EU Has Nothing To Apologize For

In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, says the European Union will not apologize for the "civilizational attraction" of its Eastern Partnership project, a Polish-Swedish initiative which Russia claims is a front for an attempt to secure the bloc a "sphere of influence." Sikorski spoke with RFE/RL correspondent Ahto Lobjakas on the sidelines of a summit in Prague of 27 EU leaders and the representatives of Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armeni

New Basque President Vows to Fight ETA - Victoria Burnett, New York Times

Spain: A New President and Changing Demographics in the Basque Country

Changing demographics in the Basque Country could signal a resurgence of separatist violence.

· Europe's New Eastern Friend BY: Christian Neef | Der Spiegel For years, Alexander Lukashenko has been called Europe's "last dictator." Now, though, the European Union has begun making overatures to Minsk, inviting the Belarusian president to a Thursday summit in Prague. Is the country opening up?

What the Economic Crisis Means for the EU's Eastern Policy CER

A 4-page policy brief assessing the implications of the global economic crisis for the EU's Eastern Policy

H12 RFE/RL

Google News Azerbaijan

· NATO War Games Launch Despite Russia's Fierce Objections Moscow has called the NATO military exercises in Georgia, which includes U.S. troops, 'open provocation' and threatened grim consequences.

Medvedev's First Year: A Czar in Chains

Medvedev's First Year - Cathy Young, RealClearPolitics

Georgia: A Spy, or a Scapegoat?

Georgia's former NATO representative, charged with espionage, likely is serving as a scapegoat for the Georgian president.

The Economist Russia and its near abroad

Neighbourhood watching

WSJ Putinist Show Trial

REVIEW & OUTLOOK Medvedev could restore some semblance of the rule of law in Russia by putting an end to Khodorkovsky's ordeal.

Yerevan City Election Gives Opposition Second Chance
Rarely has a city council election attracted such notice. Yerevan's May 31 municipal election marks not only the first time voters can play a role in choosing their own mayor, but, for Armenia's largest opposition movement, a chance to make up for the loss of last year's presidential election.

Turkmenistan: Berdymukhamedov Playing Hard-to-Get with the European Union?
It seems Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov will not be attending a European Union energy summit in Prague on May 8. According to a report in the Russia’s Vremya Novostei, the Turkmen leader supposedly declined to make the trip after he failed to receive guarantees that he would not face protesters.

EU-Russia gas connection: Pipes, politics and problems

Turku School of Economics, Pan European Institute

This 212-page Finnish report offers a variety of views on the EU’s gas imports and assesses the various pipeline alternatives proposed

· A Vote for Stability in Sochi BY: Jason Vaughn | Diplomatic Courier

On April 27, in an election demonstrating the continued power and influence of the United Russia party, the Kremlin’s choice for mayor of the future 2014 Winter Olympics city of Sochi, Anatoli Pakhomov, won a new mayoral term with an overwhelming 76.8 percent of the vote.

Razing Russia's Fourth Estate - Christopher Walker, Moscow Times

Uzbekistan mixes rich and poor
Former Soviet republic Uzbekistan may have somewhat recovered from the post-dissolution economic crash that hit many of its counterparts, but prosperity continues to elude it. Thanks to a fossilized political structure led by the uncharismatic President Islam Karimov - who would rather focus on the Great Game than economics - it is a rich country filled with poor people. - Ian Williams

Gazprom shadow falls over Hungary
Russian energy giant Gazprom may be preparing to take over a large part of the Hungarian domestic gas distribution network. The opaque scheme may also be designed to siphon off funds for the Kremlin.

Vox Pop: Russians React To Year One

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev marks his first year in office today, after a busy year that has seen him grappling with an economic crisis and the August war with neighboring Georgia. There have also been constant questions as to whether he is his own man or whether former President Vladimir Putin, who is now prime minister, has more power and will stage a return in elections scheduled for 2012. What do average Russians on the streets of Moscow think?

Medvedev Marks A Year In The Kremlin, But Does He Rule?

Dmitry Medvedev took office as Russian president one year ago. But many eyes remained on his powerful predecessor as the country entered a period of so-called tandem rule. The last year has been trying for Russia and the future of its two-headed leadership remains uncertain.

Executive Summary - Russia and the Caspian States in the Global Energy Balance

Energy Study Working Papers - Russia and the Caspian States in the Global Energy Balance

Scenarios for Russian Natural Gas Exports: The Role of Domestic Investment, the Caspian and LNG

The History and Politics of Russia's Relations With OPEC

Russia, Central Asia, and the Caspian: How Important is the Energy and Security Trade-off?

The Medvedev Presidency: Russia's Direction and the Implications for Foreign Policy

Emerging U.S. Policy Toward Russia

H13 The Times Tony Blair is a step closer to becoming president of the European Council

Obama to visit Buchenwald concentration camp Site is laden with significance for the American President whose great-uncle Charlie helped liberate the camp in 1945 History is not Obama's strong suit

We need men not aircraft carriers With no prospect of more cash, defence chiefs must be ready for some hard decisions

• Allan Mallinson

Rational exuberance

While the economy deteriorates, stock markets are suddenly rising sharply. It is possible that a prolonged bull market will have been stimulated by good policy

Wall Street Journal

· Give the Afghan Army a Governance Role

By Bing West
The military is the country's most trusted institution.

· Gordon Brown's Free Fall By Ian Bremmer
Britain's prime minister may be on his way out.

Stressed for Success?

· A Pacific Warning

Australia prepares for U.S. decline.

· Colin Powell's Bad Advice

Nobody wants the government in their living room.

The Long-Term International Economic Position of the United States
Source: Peterson Institute for International Economics

Recovery? What Economic Recovery? - Kevin Kelly, Newsweek

The Economist Emerging markets and the credit crunch Whom can we rely on? Poor countries are not fretting about the boundaries between state and market. Instead, they are debating whether to rely on domestic or foreign demand

H14 Financial Times Diplomacy works, but it cannot defuse every threat Barack Obama has elevated diplomacy and engagement as vital instruments of American power, recognising that legitimacy counts alongside military muscle. The truth, however, is that it may be impossible to eliminate the most serious threats to international security, says Philip Stephens

All must play a part in fighting climate change US must not act unilaterally, says James Baker

Fighting recession in the eurozone

Lending is now constrained by demand and supply. The ECB must keep doing what it can to loosen monetary conditions. But it must also make clear the need to recapitalise banks and stimulate demand further

Ahmadi-Nejad takes to the streets

In his four years as Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad has made his tours of provincial cities the centrepiece of attempts to portray himself as protector of the Iranian people

US supports Syria-Israel pact

Washington will back peace talks between the two countries as part of its broader solution to the Middle East’s problems amid the Obama administration’s accelerated efforts to engage its traditional foes

Stress tests show $75bn buffer needed Ten banks need more common equity

What a feeling: how emotions may yet drive the recovery

Obama's trade stance keeps partners guessing

Anti-dumping inquiries on the rise, says WTO

Africa has to find its own road to prosperity Paul Kagame on where foreign aid goes wrong

Tackling Britain’s fiscal debacle

The UK must regain control, says Martin Wolf

China and Britain need to join hands over crisis We should work together, says Wang Qishan

A Lazarus option Carmakers need to produce vehicles that people want to drive. This requires scale. But the sector itself needs to shrink: there was over-capacity even when consumers were readier to buy cars

We wuz robbed! The football bureaucracies, so innovative in marketing the sport, are strangely reactionary about keeping what happens on the pitch the same as it ever was. But video refereeing would benefit everyone

H15 Los Angeles Times In Afghanistan conflict, Pentagon considers structural changes The increase in U.S. troop numbers requires a larger headquarters operation, military experts say. Changes in deployment cycles are also being considered.

Stress test: 10 major banks need more capital Bank of America must raise about $34B. Officials say all 19 major banks are able to handle current conditions

In Pakistan, Mardan anxiously awaits the Taliban The town on the Islamabad-Peshawar highway is at a crossroads of a different kind: Many residents worry Mardan will be next to fall to the militants, even as others deny it could happen there.

Afghans protest civilian deaths as U.S. officials raise doubts A list of 147 slain villagers has reportedly been compiled. Some of them may have been victims of grenades thrown by the Taliban, U.S. military officials maintain.

Letting go of the AIPAC case The government was right to drop its espionage case against two former employees...

Are Americans spoiled?

Meghan Daum A Pew Research Center poll indicates that we may be more willing to do without some things that we once...

Jordan first stop on papal Holy Land visit Pope Benedict XVI is to arrive Friday in Amman, the Jordanian capital. His words while in the region will be carefully parsed, and the Muslim world views him with aloofness, anger and faint hope

China says 5,335 students died in last year's quake Beijing officials had resisted releasing the figure as they denied charges that a disproportionate number of schools collapsed in the quake because of shoddy construction.

Editorial

H16 American Politics

The Future of the American Dream - William Greider, The Nation

The golden boy and the blob Is Barack Obama’s education secretary too good to be true?

realclearpolitics memeorandum

Daily Beast Cheat Sheet

Politico ABC’s The Note – MSNBC FirstRead – Time ThePage Politico Playbook

PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin

Intelligence Report: Pelosi Briefed on Use of Interrogation Tactics in Sept. '02

Michael Grunwald / Time:

Republicans in Distress: Is the Party Over?

Commentary: 5 reasons GOP will rebound

Obama Releases Details of $3.4 Trillion Budget Plan

Geithner's stress cases

Timothy Geithner's bank stress tests turn out to be a good way to reassure shareholders - and the public - that the extent of the damage their toxic assets have caused can be measured, and thus can be fixed.

Obama's budget whacks 121 programs

In a $3.5 trillion spending plan released Thursday, the White House proposes $17 billion in cuts - including some items that President Bush also tried to ax.

H17 Daily Telegraph Obama's charm offensive needs to be followed up with military action Pakistan and Afghanistan are not yet fully committed to fighting the Taliban, argues Con Coughlin.

David Miliband is wrong about the Lisbon Treaty

A referendum on the Lisbon Treaty would save the Special Relationship, writes Nile Gardiner.

How Brown and his Cabinet exploit expenses system Telegraph investigation uncovers how senior ministers subsidise their lifstyles with taxpayers' money.

H18 Independent Adrian Hamilton: Israel is just using Iran to stall progress on the Middle East

Labour rocked by expenses revelations

Gordon Brown and several members of his Cabinet were deeply embarrassed last night when the full details of their expense claims as MPs were revealed.

Presidents Zardari and Karzai's US visit ends - but doubts remain

Afghans riot over air-strike atrocity

Witnesses say deaths of 147 people in three villages came after a sustained bombardment by American aircraft

Hamid Karzai: My aim is to turn Afghanistan into a First World country

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Pentagon's Requests Increased Arms Spending

DoD Releases Fiscal 2010 Budget Proposal Source: U.S. Department of Defense + Overview (PDF; 30 KB) + Summary Charts (PDF; 33 KB)
+ Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request

Understanding the Long War - Tom Hayden, The Nation.

What Lies "Beyond Goldwater-Nichols"? American Enterprise Institute

A Pearl Harbor by Keystroke? - Thomas M. Skypek, Washington Times opinion.

Obama Administration Is Bringing Nuclear Arms Control Back

Mexico's Narco-Insurgency and U.S. Counterdrug Policy - Hal Brands, US Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute.

U.S. to Appoint Top General to Kabul The Pentagon is expected to bolster the U.S. military leadership in Afghanistan by appointing a three-star general to Kabul.

H20 Slate The AfPak Puzzle - Fred Kaplan, Slate

H21 Walter Pincus / CJR:

Newspaper Narcissism — Our pursuit of glory led us away from readers — American journalism is in trouble, and the problem is not just financial. My profession is in distress because for more than a decade it has been chasing the false idols of fame and fortune.

The Future of Journalism
Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet

Murdoch: 'The current days of the Internet will soon be over.'

Madame Bovary Meets the Mouse Click Now online, the complete drafts of "Madame Bovary" provide insight into Flaubert's writing process and represent an exciting example of literary collaboration on the Web.

The decline and fall of books Is this the final chapter for the book industry?

Why do millions of Americans struggle with reading and writing?

A new government study looks at factors like income and identifies specific skills that could be challenging.

A look at what drives people to steal precious books.

Is America’s love affair with the mall over?

We wuz robbed! The football bureaucracies, so innovative in marketing the sport, are strangely reactionary about keeping what happens on the pitch the same as it ever was. But video refereeing would benefit everyone

An excerpt from The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us And What We Can Do About It by Joshua Cooper Ramo (and more and more).

Was Marx Right? The FP Debate Continues

With jobs, income, and credit in a death spiral, the model of capitalism that dominates the global economy must be radically reformed... more»

Tata builds 'Nano home'

The company behind the world's cheapest car gives India the world’s cheapest home.

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