051209f - 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 Washington Post Gen. David McKiernan Ousted as Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan

Iraq: Hold and Build or Lose a War Against Jihadists By Anthony H. Cordesman, Iraq could become the forgotten war -- and a defeat -- unless we act.

OPINION Saudi Gazette Obama worsening Afghan-Pak state By Graham E. Fuller

New York Times Commander’s Ouster Is Tied to Shift in Afghan War The replacement of Gen. David D. McKiernan less than a year after he took over marks a major change in leadership in a worsening war environment.

Editorial - An Agenda for Mr. Netanyahu As new leaders of two deeply entwined countries, President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel have an interest in getting their relationship off to a good start

Memo From Cairo: Egypt to Be Center Stage in Obama’s Address to Arabs

MESH Engaging Iran: Cuban, Chinese, and Soviet precedents From Michael Mandelbaum

Beyond the First 100 Days: Prospects for Obama Administration Middle East Strategy Nicholas Blanford, John Hannah, and David Makovsky addressed The Washington Institute's 2009 Soref Symposium to analyze the Obama administration's initial policies in the Middle East and how they affect critical issues such as Iran's nuclear program, Lebanon's upcoming elections, and U.S. relations with Israel. Listen online.

· Do Elections Expose Weak States to Too Much Foreign Influence?

BY: Jon Haron-Feiertag | Diplomatic Courier It is not an accident political instability correlates closely with elections. It is an old lesson of politics: elections expose the state to the full threat of espionage and the ambition of outside influence.

· Two States Now: The Case for Unilateral U.S. Recognition of Palestine BY: John Kilcullen | World Politics Review As the founders of the United States wrote in the Declaration of Independence, an effectively governed state that keeps order and fosters the well-being of its citizens is an essential means of guaranteeing basic human rights and civil liberties. It is also something that the Palestinians have been denied for too long now.

U.S.-Iran Cold War Unfolds in Lebanon - David Samuels, The New Republic

Peter Feaver Jim Jones is the new Rumsfeld

• The moment of maximum danger by Stephen Peter Rosen

Marc Lynch Setting the stage for the Israeli-Palestinian main event

Slate Why Obama Ousted His Afghanistan Commander By Fred Kaplan It's Obama's War Now -
The ouster of Afghanistan commander David McKiernan could make—or break—the Obama presidency.

Ha’aretz – Iran's missiles not an existential threat, study said Former security official says Iran's leaders describe their missile arsenal as the 'heart of its deterrent.'

Did U.S. Help Lebanon Crack Alleged Israeli Spy Rings?

Will Netanyahu lead or be dragged in Washington? Netanyahu will have to accept the two-state principle and commit himself to the development of the PA

Why did Bibi cross the road? Maybe it?s time for Benjamin Netanyahu to cross the road, give up his old tricks and acquaint himself with Washington?s new politics. If he shows some goodwill, Barack Obama will oblige him to some degree

Stratfor Georgia: Political Wrangling

Georgia's president will maintain control as long as there is disunity among the opposition leaders.

Jerusalem Post A growing divergence between J'lem and Washington?

Guardian Taliban spreading violence across tribal belt in Pakistan Al-Qaida training militants for suicide attacks aimed at diverting Pakistani forces from Swat battle, army says

· Pakistan: The battle gets bigger Editorial: The army offensive in Pakistan is only in its earliest and easiest days

For Obama and Netanyahu, it's showdown time Simon Tisdall: There's a lot riding on the US president's masterplan for peace in the Middle East. Expectations are high, but will it deliver?

Al-Qaida's push into Pakistan

Jason Burke: Personal contacts with militants allows al-Qaida to exploit local grievances and restore its fading jihadi credentials

Obama in Cairo is a blow to democracy

Wajahat Ali: Obama's decision to give a speech to the Muslim world from Cairo is an endorsement of Egypt's brutal dictatorship

· Roxana Saberi's release may shift hurdle to rapprochement with White House Roxana Saberi reunited with parents after more than three months in Iranian prison

WP 'Enhanced Interrogation's' Effectiveness: What If Cheney's Right? By Richard Cohen, The vice president says memos would prove him right on torture. Let's have a look.

An Anti-Obama Agenda for the GOP By William Kristol, A five-point plan for the GOP to stop navel-gazing and start fighting.

Analysis: What's cooking in the Mideast (UPI) -- As the famous song by Vietnam-era band Buffalo Springfield goes, "There's something happening here; what it is ain't exactly clear."

How its Arab neighbours can help to build the new Iraq Ellen Laipson : The Obama administration has made Iraq’s reintegration into the region one of the cornerstones of its Iraq policy.

A breakthrough driven by necessity Who controls Iraq’s oil is a thorny political issue. The Kurds in the north and Shiites in Basra want exclusive pumping and export rights, seeking autonomy from Baghdad.

Why Obama chose Egypt BY LAURA ROZEN

MIDEAST: US Thaw with Syria Hits Stumbling Blocks

Obama's SOS to Gulf emirs: Invest in US and global economies

Obama's New Middle East Diplomacy Spiegel Online

Room for Debate:

Why Iran Freed Roxana Saberi

· The New Rules: When Prevention Goes Viral BY: Thomas P.M. Barnett | World Politics Review

Have the media and governments overreacted to the swine-flu threat? You might not have liked how China treated incoming airline passengers, but better too much screening than too little.

· STEVE WALT Why is the Wall Street Journal acting like Pravda?

The Middle East still loves Obama BY BLAKE HOUNSHELL

Obama's Arab ratings: Six-nation survey: The Swamp

· Pollsters Predict Lebanese Election Results « Qifa Nabki

'Mutual Interest and Mutual Respect': Ideas for U.S. Public Diplomacy toward the 'Muslim World' James Glassman, Marc Lynch, and Robert Satloff addressed The Washington Institute's 2009 Soref Symposium to discuss challenges for U.S. public diplomacy efforts and offer suggestions for improving America's image in the Middle East and beyond. Watch or listen online.

Why Obama Renewed Sanctions on Syria

Deficits soar even with rosy assumptions in new Obama budget The White House on Monday projected 2009 and 2010 federal budget deficits far higher than it forecast just two and a half months ago, even as it continued to defy most experts and predict that the economy is headed for a strong comeback starting late this year. Economists scoffed at the latest administration predictions

Exports offer hope in Iraq oil share row The Kurdistan regional government has told oil companies working in the northern Iraqi province that they will be able to export oil using Iraq’s main pipeline as early as next month, an apparent breakthrough in a long-running dispute about sharing Iraq’s oil wealth

SAUDI-FRANCE: The Arab News reports Saudi Arabia and France are in the process of finalizing a civilian nuclear cooperation pact that could lead to the sale of French nuclear technology to Riyadh

U.S. Confident Israel Is Not Rushing to Attack Tehran –

Israel's "Sleeper Cells" Were Building Hizbullah Database (AFP/Daily Star-Lebanon)

Wall Street Journal Global View: Pakistan's Existential Challenge

Filling the Democracy Gap

STATE OF THE UNION
By Robin Shepherd
The opponents of an 'ever closer union' need to spell out a viable alternative to the status quo.

Financial Times Hungarian lessons for a world crisis The unfolding of the Hungarian crisis now looks like a microcosm of the world crisis. Fear of financial collapse is gradually giving way to worries about an unprecedented contraction in the economy – with all the social and political consequences that could imply, writes Gideon Rachman

Downturn bottomed out, Trichet signals

OECD sees ‘pause’ in slowdown

Central banks need to avoid fighting the last war We need a new macro-economic framework, says John Gieve

Altered reality India’s politicians are in for a frenzied bout of coalition-building after an election likely to give a strong voice to regional leaders as power at the centre wanes

Christian Science Monitor

Iran release of US journalist removes obstacle to US-Iran dialogue

Roxanna Saberi was freed after three months in prison on charges of spying.

Pakistani refugees escape Army offensive – and Taliban rule Their fear of the Islamic militants may not translate into support for the government, whose attacks in Swat forced them to flee.

· Whose Backyard? The Economist

Can Europe pull off America’s trick? The European Union wants to bolster stability and prosperity in ex-Soviet countries on its borders, while improving ties with Russia on other matters. That is pretty much what Barack Obama’s new administration has managed.

Some European politicians now suggest that immigrants ought to be expected to respect the values and customs of their new homelands. A bit late in the day... more»

· Europe Betrays Its Mission in Prague

BY: Borut Grgic | The Wall Street Journal The much-anticipated Prague Summit between the European Union and our eastern partners was a flop. The eastern partnership declaration published last Thursday is not worth the paper it was printed on.

The Times Khameini’s hidden hand in Saberi case Journalist's release shows Supreme Leader has the last word on matters of strategic importance, especially on the US

Middle East miracle might just happen The bargaining will be hard, but circumstances could favour King Abdullah's vision of peace

Malcolm Rifkind

The Yanks and their firepower are coming ...but not to destroy the Taleban. The aim of the troop surge is to give Afghans enough space to rebuild their lives Michael Evans

Roubini Ten Reasons Why the Stress Tests Are “Schmess” Tests and Why the Current Muddle-Through Approach to the Banking Crisis May Not Succeed

Daily Telegraph King Abdullah's warning of war casts cloud over Pope's visit to Holy Land Barack Obama's commitment to negotiate a comprehensive peace settlement have raised expectations to fever pitch, writes Con Coughlin.

Barack Obama the peacemaker?

Telegraph View: Barack Obama's courage in tackling the situation in the Middle East is to be applauded.

The Future of Journalism - John Nichols, The Nation

“Parents have no lasting influence on their children’s personalities or on the way they behave outside the home.” Judith Rich Harris’s thesis still shocks... more»

The Confucian Party By DANIEL A. BELL With communism waning and Western values suspect, Confucius is making a comeback.

What If Torture Works?

Joseph Nye & Daniel Drezner: Worldwise: Out of Academia How policymaking is like heroin

"The Financial Crisis and Global Financial and Monetary Cooperation."

H2 ABD Kandil'i kuşatıyor Kandil içlerine düşen Kuzine köyüne ABD tankları eşliğinde yüzlerce peşmerge ile birlikte yığınak yapıldığı iddia ediliyor. Peşmerge ve ABD askerlerinin içinde bulunduğu askeri gücün bin dolayında olduğu belirtiliyor.

Stratfor EU, Turkey: The Challenges of the Nabucco Pipeline Substantial issues still exist for the Nabucco pipeline project despite the recent agreement signed between Turkey and the European Union.

FT Time running out for Cyprus settlement Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders are intensifying negotiations on the island, where the conflict remains the biggest obstacle to Turkey’s progress on EU membership

"Turkey's Cabinet Reshuffle: Another Balancing Act" Amberin Zaman, Download File, Format: PDF, Size: 1364 KB

Government to announce new Kurdish package

Turkey develops local arms sector

(DIP) COOPERATION NEEDED FOR PEACE IN MIDDLE EAST, TURKISH FOREIGN ...

Geopolitical Diary: Al-Sadr's Return?

Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr is rumored to be preparing to return home from Iran -- and when he does, Iran and Turkey will compete for his attention

Somali pirates linked to London plotters

Hijacked Turkish crew were singled out as a target by network of UK informers, says leaked report

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

Exports offer hope in Iraq oil share row The Kurdistan regional government has told oil companies working in the northern Iraqi province that they will be able to export oil using Iraq’s main pipeline as early as next month, an apparent breakthrough in a long-running dispute about sharing Iraq’s oil wealth

Suspected Iranian shells hit Turkish soil-officials

Iran urges Iraqi action on Kurdish rebels

Erdogan in Iran on Nabucco?
United Press International,,

Israeli UAV 'goes missing in Turkey test-flight'

Government to announce new Kurdish package

FT.com | FT Energy Source | A turning point for Iraq's oil industry?

Turkey Says UN Must Cooperate with Sri Lankan Army, PKK Off-stage

DNO Intl: Formal Notice Given To Start Oil Export From Tawke
Wall Street Journal

Gül to urge Syria to contribute to Palestinian unity in visit

May 11 SD# 2350 - Turkish Jihadist Commander Ebuzer in Afghanistan: Muslims Should Join Jihad

The Washington Independent » Baghdad Recognizes Kurds' Oil Claims

Turkish private gas companies call for Iran gas export

Kurdistan moves ahead with oil exporting The National

President Barzani reaffirms commitment to Iraqi unity, calls for ...

After the massacre: give peace a chance The National

Exports offer hope in Iraq oil share row
Financial Times

Turkey Debates the Village Guard System

Iraq approves Kurdish oil exports-official

PUKmedia :: English - Statement by KRG minister for Natural ...

Cevdet Aşkın

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

Turkish official says his ruling AKP failed on Armenia, Cyrus issues

Obama's Man for Europe Views on Cyprus, Patriarchate, Armenia
Greek New

Başbakan Erdoğan Bu Hafta Rusya ve Azerbaycan'a Gidecek,,

Fresh blow to north as property bubble bursts

Nagorno-Karabakh: Baku and Yerevan Downbeat on a Possible Solution
BY SHAHIN ABBASOV AND GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
While international mediators give an upbeat assessment to the May 8 tête-à-tête between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, within Azerbaijan and Armenia there is a scarcity of optimism.

Russia relies on subtle diplomacy in Armenia-Turkey issue

Sarkozy ve Merkel 'Türkiye İçin Üyelik Değil Ortaklık' Diyor

AB Nabucco Konusunda Umutlu

Black Sea Implications of Turkey's EU Accession « Jonathan Fryer

Nabucco project gets boost

Ankara's closer ties with Muslim countries 'EU compatible'

Erdoğan, Davutoğlu to visit Greece, report says

The Continuing Legal Battle of the Syriac-Orthodox Monastery in Turkey

FM and top general to attend ATC conference

PM and FM to visit Greece

(DIP) TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS FRENCH COUNTERPART

German, French leaders emphasize opposition to Turkey joining EU

The Continuing Legal Battle of the Syriac-Orthodox Monastery in Turkey

Today.Az - Matthew Bryza: "The turning point in the negotiations ...

BNP seeks to capitalise on hostility Mr Griffin said he would oppose Turkey's EU accession "because we don't want all these low-wage Muslims coming in".

Davutoğlu, Miliband ve Kouchner ile görüştü

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Turkey windfarm project to receive €130m loan

Multilateral lenders step into the gap left by crisis-hit banks to kickstart investment in Ankara’s renewable energy sector by providing a financial package to the Zorlu group

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 Editorial - An Agenda for Mr. Netanyahu

As new leaders of two deeply entwined countries, President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel have an interest in getting their relationship off to a good start

Commander’s Ouster Is Tied to Shift in Afghan War The replacement of Gen. David D. McKiernan less than a year after he took over marks a major change in leadership in a worsening war environment.

In Turnabout, Iran Releases U.S. Journalist An Iranian-American reporter who was jailed on spying charges was released after a court reduced the sentence.

Memo From Cairo: Egypt to Be Center Stage in Obama’s Address to Arabs

DAVID BROOKS They Had It Made The Grant Study, a longitudinal study of a group of promising young men that began in the late 1930s, reveals life stories more vivid than any theory one could concoct to explain them.

Journalist Released The Iranian gesture of Roxana Saberi’s release and the relief for her and her family should not be overstated. Working conditions are still treacherous in Iran.

ROSS DOUTHAT Faking Left The Obama administration seems to have a plausible strategy for turning the “social issues” to liberalism’s advantage. The outline is simple: Engage on abortion, and punt on gay rights.

Sharing Congress’s Research Making Congressional Research Service reports available to the public would narrow the information gap between Washington insiders and ordinary Americans.

News Analysis: Obama’s Push for Health Care Cuts Faces Daunting Odds

Print Books Are Target of Pirates on the Web E-reader technology is making it easier to obtain and distribute copyrighted material on the Web for free.

U.N. Tells of ‘Bloodbath’ in Sri Lanka

U.S. Soldier Kills 5 of His Comrades in Iraq

Meeting of Georgia’s President and His Rivals Ends in Stalemate

Swine Flu Migrates to China and Japan

Terrorism Is Not Priority for Pakistanis, Poll Finds

On His Tour, Pope Runs Into Politics of Middle East and Holocaust

Britons Outraged at Lawmakers’ Liberty With Spending Accounts

H5 Washington Post Gen. David McKiernan Ousted as Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan

Iraq: Hold and Build or Lose a War Against Jihadists By Anthony H. Cordesman, Iraq could become the forgotten war -- and a defeat -- unless we act.

'Enhanced Interrogation's' Effectiveness: What If Cheney's Right?

By Richard Cohen, The vice president says memos would prove him right on torture. Let's have a look.

An Anti-Obama Agenda for the GOP

By William Kristol, Page A21

A five-point plan for the GOP to stop navel-gazing and start fighting.

Dick Cheney: The Old Faithful of Nonsense By Eugene Robinson

Between torture and Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney is a fount of nonsense.

Appeals Court in Iran Releases Imprisoned American Journalist Roxana Saberi

Charges Altered, Sentence Reduced

Detainee Who Gave False Iraq Data Dies In Prison in Libya A former CIA high-value detainee, who provided bogus information that was cited by the Bush administration in the run-up to the Iraq war, has died in a Libyan prison, an apparent suicide, according to a Libyan newspaper.

52 Insurgents Killed in Pakistani Operation

Officials Toughen Stance; Premier Says Country's 'Very Existence' Is at Stake

Fine Print: Report Says Military Was Split on Interrogation Tactics

Swine Flu: A Panic to Be Thankful For A Little Fear Goes a Long Way in Fighting a Pandemic By Anne Applebaum, First the swine flu paranoia, now the backlash. Here's why the fear was useful.

Editorial $2 Trillion in Hope

The White House and a health-care coalition promise savings, but no one's offering specifics.

Retailers Cut Prices to Match New Frugality Growing number of companies develop products they can sell at a lower price without driving themselves out of business in the post-splurge era.

U.S. Soldier in Iraq Kills 5 Comrades at Stress Clinic

Pope Recalls Holocaust Victims at Jerusalem Memorial

Hispanics See Stars Aligned on High Court

For President, Diversity Is One Of Many Factors

Blast Goes Unsolved as U.N. Agencies Probing Alleged Crime Turn on Each Other

In Japan, Scandal Boosts Prime Minister Aso's Bid to Stay in Power

Rival of Embattled Japanese Premier Resigns After His Support Crumbles

H6 Guardian Taliban spreading violence across tribal belt in Pakistan Al-Qaida training militants for suicide attacks aimed at diverting Pakistani forces from Swat battle, army says

· Pakistan: The battle gets bigger

Editorial: The army offensive in Pakistan is only in its earliest and easiest days

For Obama and Netanyahu, it's showdown time Simon Tisdall: There's a lot riding on the US president's masterplan for peace in the Middle East. Expectations are high, but will it deliver?

Al-Qaida's push into Pakistan

Jason Burke: Personal contacts with militants allows al-Qaida to exploit local grievances and restore its fading jihadi credentials

Obama in Cairo is a blow to democracy

Wajahat Ali: Obama's decision to give a speech to the Muslim world from Cairo is an endorsement of Egypt's brutal dictatorship

Iran frees Saberi in time for elections

Henry Newman: The American-Iranian journalist is freed just as Ahmadinejad tries to please voters keen for closer ties with the west

Real-time media is changing our world

Nik Gowing: Cheap 'go-anywhere' cameras and phones are challenging the credibility of governments, corporations and the traditional media

Israel gives Pope Benedict its blessing Aluf Benn: Despite the controversy potential of the papal visit, both the Catholic church and Israel's new government need a PR success

· Roxana Saberi's release may shift hurdle to rapprochement with White House Roxana Saberi reunited with parents after more than three months in Iranian prison

· Top general sacked as US bids to turn around Afghan war

Barack Obama replaces General David McKiernan in effort to step up hunt for Osama bin Laden

The paywall is history

Arianna Huffington: The media must explore new revenue models. But we've tried 'protecting' content. It doesn't work

· Gordon Brown must go – by June 5 Polly Toynbee: He made the rich richer and the poor poorer. The Labour party can't go into the next election under Brown's leadership

· UN attacks Sri Lanka war

Doctor inside no-fire zone estimates up to 1,400 people may have been killed in two days of attacks

· These men would've stopped Darwin George Monbiot: Science research in Britain is now all about turning knowledge into business, rather than the beauty of exploration

· Pope Benedict's Holocaust speech to Israel deemed inadequate

Pontiff criticised for not apologising for Catholic church's conduct during war, at the beginning of pilgrimage to Holy Land

H7

Analysis: What's cooking in the Mideast (UPI) -- As the famous song by Vietnam-era band Buffalo Springfield goes, "There's something happening here; what it is ain't exactly clear."

How its Arab neighbours can help to build the new Iraq Ellen Laipson : The Obama administration has made Iraq’s reintegration into the region one of the cornerstones of its Iraq policy.

A breakthrough driven by necessity

Who controls Iraq’s oil is a thorny political issue. The Kurds in the north and Shiites in Basra want exclusive pumping and export rights, seeking autonomy from Baghdad.

How policymaking is like heroin

Why Obama chose Egypt BY LAURA ROZEN

R.I.P. “Syria First,”2007-2009 by Eric Trager

Bad Logic from the NSC by David Hazony

MIDEAST: US Thaw with Syria Hits Stumbling Blocks

Obama's SOS to Gulf emirs: Invest in US and global economies

Obama's New Middle East Diplomacy Spiegel Online

Room for Debate:

Why Iran Freed Roxana Saberi

· The New Rules: When Prevention Goes Viral

BY: Thomas P.M. Barnett | World Politics Review

Have the media and governments overreacted to the swine-flu threat? You might not have liked how China treated incoming airline passengers, but better too much screening than too little.

· STEVE WALT Why is the Wall Street Journal acting like Pravda?

The Middle East still loves Obama BY BLAKE HOUNSHELL

Obama's Arab ratings: Six-nation survey: The Swamp

· Pollsters Predict Lebanese Election Results « Qifa Nabki

'Mutual Interest and Mutual Respect': Ideas for U.S. Public Diplomacy toward the 'Muslim World' James Glassman, Marc Lynch, and Robert Satloff addressed The Washington Institute's 2009 Soref Symposium to discuss challenges for U.S. public diplomacy efforts and offer suggestions for improving America's image in the Middle East and beyond. Watch or listen online.

Why Obama Renewed Sanctions on Syria -

Understanding the Long War
by Tom Hayden

Iraq and the Problem with Revenge : Tariq Alhomayed

Faith banking

Could Islamic ways of doing business be the answer?

UN suffers disarmament depression
United States President Barack Obama has signaled his commitment to a nuclear-free world, but this week's United Nations conference on non-proliferation showed that global consensus on the issue remains elusive. The problem is rooted in the conflicting interpretation of "common security" in a world divided between the nuclear haves and nuclear have-nots. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi

CFR New Media Tools and Public Diplomacy

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

Exports offer hope in Iraq oil share row The Kurdistan regional government has told oil companies working in the northern Iraqi province that they will be able to export oil using Iraq’s main pipeline as early as next month, an apparent breakthrough in a long-running dispute about sharing Iraq’s oil wealth

SAUDI-FRANCE: The Arab News reports Saudi Arabia and France are in the process of finalizing a civilian nuclear cooperation pact that could lead to the sale of French nuclear technology to Riyadh

U.S. Confident Israel Is Not Rushing to Attack Tehran –

Israel's "Sleeper Cells" Were Building Hizbullah Database (AFP/Daily Star-Lebanon)

· Five dead at US base in Baghdad after soldier opens fire

Shooter killed military personel in stress clinic at Camp Liberty and wounded three

· EU allies warn Cameron over pact

European leaders criticise Conservative leader's decision to leave centre-right allies

Iran release of US journalist removes obstacle to US-Iran dialogue ...

Free, but no thaw

Iran's release of reporter heralds no shift in politics

Iran strips UAE group of mobile licence

UN to debate how to revive flagging Mideast peace

· Shi’ites Plan to Take Saudi Clerics to International Court

The Media Line

The Al Al-Beit institution in Cairo and Baghdad are joining efforts to press charges against 22 Saudi clerics, accusing them of issuing fatwas, religious decrees, that label the Shi’ites as infidels and incite to violence against them.

GM needs Europe deal within month

US carmaker's effort to avoid bankruptcy may depend on immediate sale of all or part of European arm

H9 Ha’aretz – Iran's missiles not an existential threat, study said Former security official says Iran's leaders describe their missile arsenal as the 'heart of its deterrent.'

Did U.S. Help Lebanon Crack Alleged Israeli Spy Rings?

Will Netanyahu lead or be dragged in Washington? Netanyahu will have to accept the two-state principle and commit himself to the development of the PA

Why did Bibi cross the road? Maybe it?s time for Benjamin Netanyahu to cross the road, give up his old tricks and acquaint himself with Washington?s new politics. If he shows some goodwill, Barack Obama will oblige him to some degree.

'Obama's peace plan: Muslim world must recognize Israel'

New envoy to U.S.: Soon Jews won't want to live in Israel

Vision and tactics The summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, on the eve of Netanyahu's trip to Washington, is intended to impress on the prime minister the understanding that the confluence of interests between Israel, the Arab nations and the United States demands a serious Israeli response.

Akiva Eldar: Obama is changing the rules of Mideast pressure

The Vatican, the Jews, and the Palestinians - Shlomo Avineri

Jerusalem Post A growing divergence between J'lem and Washington?

J'lem 'not miffed' on Obama's June trip

"Obama is meeting Netanyahu two weeks before, so what would be the point?" diplomatic official says.

Analysis: Widening the lens

By HERB KEINON

The emerging approach to Mideast peace has a decidedly regional bent.

So, what's Obama's position on linkage?

Sheikh attacks Israel, pope walks out — Article's topics: Sheikh Tamimi, Benedict XVI — Chief Islamic Judge of the Palestinian Authority, Sheikh Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, launched a poisonous verbal attack at Israel at a Monday night gathering attended by Pope Benedict XVI.

Was there a Jewish pope?

"Is Israel prepared to make and enforce small concessions?" by Shmuel Rosner

Yedioth Ahronoth If I were Netanyahu Bibi must tell Obama Israel no shtetl that can be bullied into submission, says Martin Sherman

Israeli 'spy' tools on display

Lebanese police present devices they say were seized from Palestinians working for Mossad

'Pope showed no regret'
During emotional ceremony at Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, Benedict XVI says cries of Nazi genocide victims continue to reverberate 60 years after WWII. Rabbi Lau: Pope's speech devoid of any compassion, regret

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

· Two States Now: The Case for Unilateral U.S. Recognition of Palestine BY: John Kilcullen | World Politics Review

As the founders of the United States wrote in the Declaration of Independence, an effectively governed state that keeps order and fosters the well-being of its citizens is an essential means of guaranteeing basic human rights and civil liberties. It is also something that the Palestinians have been denied for too long now.

Hitchens: The Radical Conflict Within Israel's Government

Lebanese spy arrests blow to Mossad

BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 11 (UPI) -- Lebanese security officials said the arrest of spies working for the Israeli intelligence agency was a major victory as claims of Hezbollah involvement surface.

Daily Star Mubarak has missed an opportunity to exercise Egypt's diplomatic muscle

Fatah's congress could breathe new life into the movement By Hossam Ezzedine

Peace through Security: America's Role in the Development of the Palestinian Authority Security Services Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the U.S. security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, delivered a keynote address at The Washington Institute's 2009 Soref Symposium. Read a transcript of his remarks.

Netanyahu-Mubarak Talks Aim to produce Arab-Israeli Front versus Iran

Israeli PM vows to restart Palestinian talks Benjamin Netanyahu promised the Egyptian president that he would restart peace talks with the Palestinians ‘as soon as possible’, in an attempt to calm Arab concerns over his policies ahead of a crucial Israeli-US summit next week

From NYRB, Gershom Gorenberg reviews 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War by Benny Morris and Making Israel

Israel's "Sleeper Cells" Were Building Hizbullah Database (AFP/Daily Star-Lebanon)

If Israel Attacks Iran, 49% Say U.S. Should Help (Rasmussen Reports)

Netanyahu Asks Egypt for Backing

Israeli leader Netanyahu called for moderate Arab states to confront Iran and said he would renew peace talks with Palestinians.

Pope arrives in Israel and already rankles Israelis

Pope Benedict XVI waded straight into Middle East politics Monday as he began an historic five-day pilgrimage meant to strengthen the Vatican's strained relationship with Israel and boost his profile as a beacon of peace in the Holy Land.

Has Netanyahu Turned Pragmatist? - Tim McGirk, Time

Israel Still Looks Good, Warts and All - Greg Sheridan (The Australian)

An informed view of Hamas policy (4)

Arab Peace Offer Is Not Negotiable

Lebanon: More Israeli Spies to be Arrested Soon

H10 Christian Science Monitor

Iran release of US journalist removes obstacle to US-Iran dialogue

Roxanna Saberi was freed after three months in prison on charges of spying.

Pakistani refugees escape Army offensive – and Taliban rule

Their fear of the Islamic militants may not translate into support for the government, whose attacks in Swat forced them to flee.

Pope's agenda in Israel: honoring Holocaust victims, urging two-state solution

As he landed in Tel Aviv, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of need for a 'just resolution' for Israelis and Palestinians

The new case against the death penalty The bittersweet reality is that money, rather than morality, has become the tipping point for abolishing it.

An unseen burqa revolution

Gains among women in Muslim nations, while still uneven, are important to recognize.

ASIA

Obama hires new commander for new Afghanistan strategy

By Jonathan S. Landay | McClatchy Newspapers Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Pentagon sought 'fresh thinking' to implement its new strategy for the worsening conflict in Afghanistan, replacing Army Gen. David McKiernan with Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a veteran counterinsurgency expert.

Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times:

U.S. Replaces Commander in Afghanistan in War Overhaul — WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is replacing the top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, less than a year after he took over, marking a major overhaul in military leadership of a war that has presented President Obama with a worsening national security challenge.

Fred Kaplan / Slate:

The ouster of Afghanistan commander David McKiernan could make—or break—the Obama presidency.

Mistakes are no option in Afghanistan
By Bruce Riedel

Ann Scott Tyson / Washington Post:
Gates Recommends Replacement for Top Command in Afghanistan

The Confucian Party

By DANIEL A. BELL

With communism waning and Western values suspect, Confucius is making a comeback.

Obama's War Forbes America's Main Battle Has Moved to Pakistan - Tunku Varadarajan, Forbes

Hawks Divided: AfPak or Iran? by Jim Lobe -- Antiwar.com

Stratfor The Strategic Debate Over Afghanistan

VIDEO: Why U.S. and Afghan officials let drug trade bloom

Pakistani refugees escape Army offensive – and Taliban rule

Their fear of the Islamic militants may not translate into support for the government, whose attacks in Swat forced them to flee.

Pakistan's Nuclear Scenarios: The Risks with Bombing

Winning the Af-Pak Information War - Council on Foreign Relations

Europe's Problematic Contribution to Police Training in Afghanistan

· Shaky Pakistan Is Seen as a Target of Plots by Al Qaeda

BY: Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt | The New York Times

As Taliban militants push deeper into Pakistan’s settled areas, foreign operatives of Al Qaeda who had focused on plotting attacks against the West are seizing on the turmoil to sow chaos in Pakistan and strengthen the hand of the militant Islamist groups there, according to American and Pakistani intelligence officials.

· The Temperature Cools in Kashmir

BY: Siddhartha Srivastava | Asia Sentinel

Is change coming to the bitterly contested Jammu and Kashmir region, the decades-old flashpoint between Pakistan and India? With India's tk-week electoral process in full swing, all eyes are turned toward the region where voters, appearing less deterred than usual by calls from separatist groups, went to the polls last week in the fourth day of national voting under the watchful gaze of security forces determined to keep violence to a minimum.

On the defenestration of Gen. McKiernan in Afghanistan

Fears Mount Of Massive Humanitarian Crisis In Pakistan

As Swat residents make the arduous trip and to the western Pakistani city of Mardan, they prepare to join the hundreds of thousands who have already sought refuge from the recent fighting between the Pakistani military and hard-line Islamist militants. The exodus now threatens to complicate Pakistan's efforts to contain the expanding Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency within its borders.

Taliban on the run in Swat Pakistan's massive military campaign to oust Taliban forces from a swathe of North-West Frontier Province in and around Swat has left as many as 700 militants killed, the government claims, and the Taliban on the run or under siege in most places. Up to 1.5 million residents may be displaced in coming weeks and ethnic tensions are simmering. This is exactly the situation al-Qaeda has been waiting for. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

Pakistani Military: 700 Killed in Swat Offensive

US sacks top Afghanistan general

The US defence secretary says he called for the top US general in Afghanistan to resign, adding that "new thinking" is needed.

'Drone kills eight in Pakistan'
Missiles fired by a suspected US drone kill at least eight people in Pakistan, close to the Afghan border, officials say.

Opposition Figure Urges Pakistan to Abandon Terror War

Afghan Lawmakers Demand Restrictions on Foreign Military Forces

· Clerics Turn Against ‘Ignorant’ Taliban

BY: Tom Hussain | The National

Yesterday they were holy warriors fighting for the popular cause of Islamic justice. Today Pakistan’s Taliban militants find themselves denounced by the orthodox clergy as infidels.

· Pakistani Taliban Under Pressure From Tribal Rival

BY: Rehmat Mesud and Ben Arnoldy | The Christian Science Monitor

A escalating feud could distract Baitullah Mehsud and his 10,000-plus men from fighting Western forces in Afghanistan.

Ft Altered reality India‘s regions drain power from the centre India’s politicians are in for a frenzied bout of coalition-building after an election likely to give a strong voice to regional leaders as power at the centre wanes

In Japan, Scandal Boosts Prime Minister Aso's Bid to Stay in Power

Rival of Embattled Japanese Premier Resigns After His Support Crumbles

The Migration-Displacement Nexus in Afghanistan

Brookings Institution

From Slate, the good news: Obama understands what's wrong in Afghanistan and Pakistan — the bad news: He can't fix it.

Long-Term Challenges Test China's Growth

H11 IHT

EUROPE European press review

· Whose Backyard? The Economist

Can Europe pull off America’s trick? The European Union wants to bolster stability and prosperity in ex-Soviet countries on its borders, while improving ties with Russia on other matters. That is pretty much what Barack Obama’s new administration has managed.

Some European politicians now suggest that immigrants ought to be expected to respect the values and customs of their new homelands. A bit late in the day... more»

· Europe Betrays Its Mission in Prague BY: Borut Grgic | The Wall Street Journal The much-anticipated Prague Summit between the European Union and our eastern partners was a flop. The eastern partnership declaration published last Thursday is not worth the paper it was printed on.

Stress Tests Raise Stakes in Europe

U.S. bank stress tests are stoking worry that European banks aren't doing enough to shore up their finances.

· We Must Take EU Elections Seriously BY: Ilana Bet-El | The Guardian Europe's parliament may not be sexy, but it keeps governments in check -- don't let them persuade you it isn't relevant.

Budget 2009: Building Britain’s Future Source: HM Treasury

The Car Crash That Is Gordon Brown - Charlie Brooker, The Guardian

Mardell's Europe

Can an Old World campaign match the New for thrills?

Poland considers postponing euro entry

Poland may postpone by at least a year its plans to adopt the euro in 2012, amid signs of a worsening economy and budget deficit, the country’s finance minister has said

Time running out for Cyprus settlement

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders are intensifying negotiations on the island, where the conflict remains the biggest obstacle to Turkey’s progress on EU membership

· European Cases of Swine Flu Mount

European health authorities said the number of A/H1N1 swine flu cases transmitted locally in Europe nearly doubled over the weekend.

Downturn bottomed out, Trichet signals

OECD sees ‘pause’ in slowdown

Hungarian lessons for a world crisis

The unfolding of the Hungarian crisis now looks like a microcosm of the world crisis. Fear of financial collapse is gradually giving way to worries about an unprecedented contraction in the economy – with all the social and political consequences that could imply, writes Gideon Rachman

Filling the Democracy Gap

STATE OF THE UNION
By Robin Shepherd
The opponents of an 'ever closer union' need to spell out a viable alternative to the status quo.

Italy to stem a human tide of immigrants

The Italian Navy this week will begin turning back Africans who have transformed Lampedusa, Italy, into the site of a humanitarian crisis.

H12 RFE/RL

Google News Azerbaijan

Nagorno-Karabakh: Baku and Yerevan Downbeat on a Possible Solution
BY SHAHIN ABBASOV AND GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
While international mediators give an upbeat assessment to the May 8 tête-à-tête between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, within Azerbaijan and Armenia there is a scarcity of optimism.

Georgia Opposition Turns Down 'Power-Sharing' Offer

Georgian talks fail to break deadlock

Mikheil Saakashvili held talks with the opposition but failed to break the political deadlock in the former Soviet country where protesters are calling for him to step down

Russia plays up its international role — especially in Mideast peace It chaired a special meeting Monday of the Security Council that endorsed the idea of holding a Middle East peace conference in Moscow this year.

Uzbekistan: Karimov Gives Washington the Air Base It Needs for Afghan Operations
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
With a helping hand from South Korea, the United States has reestablished a strategic presence in Uzbekistan - sort of. The development provides a boost for US efforts to press an offensive against Islamic militants in Afghanistan, and offers evidence that Russia’s influence in Central Asia is waning.

Dangerous Work in Moscow

BY: Fred Hiatt | The Washington Post

As the Obama administration prepares for a July summit at the Kremlin, the nature of the Russian regime and the possibility of constructive cooperation with it are very much up for debate

Medvedev's Presidency After the "Second Parade"

Thursday, May 14th, 2009 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Featuring Vladimir Socor, Dr. Brenda Shaffer, and Daniel P. Fata

Beyond START: Negotiating the Next Step in U.S. and Russian Strategic Nuclear Arms Reductions

Brookings Instiution

A 27-page US paper commenting on the possibilities for a post-START agreement between the US and Russia for a reduction in strategic nuclear arsenals

The czar and the pirates
In the context of grand strategy, and with half a millennium of gunboat diplomacy to learn from, the Russian Navy has been increasingly active in projecting its capabilities in international waters, as it was before the Soviet government fell in 1991. As made clear by a recent Kremlin transcript, President Dmitry Medvedev wants to show the world that he's a can-do guy when it comes to dealing with pirates. - John Helmer

Stratfor Georgia: Political Wrangling

Georgia's president will maintain control as long as there is disunity among the opposition leaders.

· Georgian Talks End Unresolved

Talks aimed at ending a monthlong stalemate between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and opposition leaders calling for his resignation ended with no resolution Monday.

H13 The Times Khameini’s hidden hand in Saberi case Journalist's release shows Supreme Leader has the last word on matters of strategic importance, especially on the US

Middle East miracle might just happen The bargaining will be hard, but circumstances could favour King Abdullah's vision of peace

Malcolm Rifkind

The Yanks and their firepower are coming ...but not to destroy the Taleban. The aim of the troop surge is to give Afghans enough space to rebuild their lives Michael Evans

Taleban using white phosphorus made in Britain

US documents show that insurgents have been using the banned deadly material in rockets and mortars across Afghanistan

UN backs King's campaign to avert war Security Council statement comes a week before President Obama due to hold first meeting with new Israeli Prime Minister

Small step to peace as Iran frees 'spy' reporter 'Politically influenced' release of Roxana Saberi indicates new willingness to negotiate with President Obama, say experts

Tehran Turns The release of Roxana Saberi hints at a heartening thaw in US-Iran relations

If we want democracy, we have to pay We are intoxicated by our own outrage. When we sober up we'll face some tough decisions

David Aaronovitch

US sacks commander in Afghanistan

General David McKiernan will be replaced after Pentagon and White House decided 'fresh thinking' was needed to win war

Pope appeals for peace in the Middle East Pope calls for Palestinian homeland and denounces anti-Semitism as he arrives in Israel on his first trip to Holy Land

Swine flu 'is on a par with 1957 pandemic' About 23,000 people contracted virus in Mexico before the end of April and death toll could match previous outbreak, researchers say

No time for niceties of international law White phosphorus can be used legally to defend troops by creating a smokescreen, or deployed unlawfully as an offensive device

Wall Street Journal Global View: Pakistan's Existential Challenge

Geithner's Revelation

Filling the Democracy Gap

STATE OF THE UNION
By Robin Shepherd
The opponents of an 'ever closer union' need to spell out a viable alternative to the status quo.

· Why Would an Organization Designed to "Strengthen Democracy" Want Cuba as a Member

BY: Mary Anastasia O'Grady | The Wall Street Journal

The Organization of American States claims to be "the region's principal multilateral forum for strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and confronting shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption."

Walker's World: Is this a recovery?

WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- The pace of global economic decline has slowed markedly, and there are signs that we will touch bottom later this year and start a hesitant climb out of the trough. But there are three powerful reasons to doubt whether the economic recovery will be sustainable.

Implications of the Bank Stress Tests
Source: Brookings Institution + Full Paper (PDF; 131 KB)

From TNR, what were the root causes of the economic crisis? Three of the biggest minds in the field slug it out

From TAP, Robert Reich reviews A Failure of Capitalism by Richard Posner, Animal Spirits by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller, Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed, and Plunder and Blunder: the Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy by Dean Baker; and a special section on five ways of looking a risk

H14 Financial Times Hungarian lessons for a world crisis The unfolding of the Hungarian crisis now looks like a microcosm of the world crisis. Fear of financial collapse is gradually giving way to worries about an unprecedented contraction in the economy – with all the social and political consequences that could imply, writes Gideon Rachman

Downturn bottomed out, Trichet signals

OECD sees ‘pause’ in slowdown

Central banks need to avoid fighting the last war We need a new macro-economic framework, says John Gieve

Altered reality India’s politicians are in for a frenzied bout of coalition-building after an election likely to give a strong voice to regional leaders as power at the centre wanes

Over the horizon The lesson of the Eurofighter is that government must plan procurement to make sure it buys what the country really needs; it is time for a new strategic defence review

Winds of change for Asian model

By blocking the latest attempt by Richard Li, one of the region’s biggest tycoons, to take over PCCW, Hong Kong has set a promising course. Asia, if it is to be a model for the world, should take heed -

Pope faces first crisis of historic visit

Pope Benedict XVI faced the first crisis of his historic visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, when a Muslim cleric launched into an anti-Israel tirade in his presence

US names new leader for Afghan conflict

The US announced it was replacing General David McKiernan as the top US and Nato commander in Afghanistan and bringing in a military leader who has specialised in counter-insurgency combat.

Obama hails plan to cut healthcare bill

President Barack Obama welcomed proposals by the US healthcare industry to reduce costs by $2,000bn over the next 10 years, as efforts to overhaul the health system gather pace in Washington

Return to Clinton-era intervention

The past eight years have seen Washington take a back seat on antitrust issues and allowed Brussels to cement its place as the global competition capital as European regulators took on US companies such as Microsoft and Intel for alleged abuses

Britain’s years of progress were no illusion

Michael Skapinker looks on the bright side

Managers must be judged on the real score

Roger Martin on playing by NFL rules

Tawdry yes, but so is the media humbug

MPs are not crooks, says Philip Stephens

H15 Los Angeles Times U.S. commander in Afghanistan replaced

Pentagon chief Robert Gates says it's time for 'fresh thinking, fresh eyes' in the troubled country, replacing Army Gen. David McKiernan with Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

A new U.S. approach expected in Afghanistan

Iraq shooting leaves 5 U.S. soldiers dead; fellow GI suspected Military officials have taken a U.S. soldier into custody after the deadly shooting at a combat stress center at Camp Liberty, outside Baghdad

Pakistan flight resembles Darfur, U.N. official says ,Thousands more displaced people pour out of the conflict area, further straining humanitarian organizations

Economic downturn finally hits Iraq

Many thought Iraq, with its unsophisticated banking and high oil revenues, would be unaffected by the global crisis. But with oil prices tanking and consumer spending down, the economy is stalling

Pope's speech on Holocaust receives lukewarm response At the memorial in Israel, Benedict XVI declares that Jews' suffering must 'never be denied.' But Jewish leaders say the pontiff avoided questions of responsibility for the Holocaust.

Pope calls for a Palestinian homeland

Pope Benedict XVI put himself at odds with Israel's new government today by calling for an independent Palestinian homeland. "I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of the outstanding difficulties," he said.

Iran frees U.S. journalist Roxana Saberi A letter from Ahmadinejad is thought to have helped sway the court decision, despite objections from intelligence officials. Saberi is said to have had a classified Iranian report in her possession

Editorial

H16 American Politics

National Post:
David Frum: Quick fix today, crisis tomorrow in Obama's White House

GOP is the party of Fred Flintstone say Democrats

realclearpolitics memeorandum

Daily Beast Cheat Sheet

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

PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin

Pelosi: Torture protest improper in '03

Mark Blumenthal / Pollster.com:

The Edwards 2008 What-If — The publication of a new book by Elizabeth Edwards, and especially the revelation that she advised her husband against running in 2008, has created a lot of “what if” speculation about how the race might have been different.

What if Cheney's Right? - Richard Cohen, Washington Post

Rothkopf America's Greatest Fictional President

Gates' Budget 'Cuts' Sour Conservatives

Deficits Soar Even with Rosy Assumptions - David Lightman, McClatchy

It's Obama's War Now - Fred Kaplan, Slate

Ominous Parallels Between Obama & Bush - Bill Frezza, RealClearMarkets

Sharp Left Turn on Intel - Salena Zito, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

H17 Daily Telegraph King Abdullah's warning of war casts cloud over Pope's visit to Holy Land Barack Obama's commitment to negotiate a comprehensive peace settlement have raised expectations to fever pitch, writes Con Coughlin.

Barack Obama the peacemaker?

Telegraph View: Barack Obama's courage in tackling the situation in the Middle East is to be applauded.

US replaces Nato commander in Afghanistan President Obama authorises the firing of General David McKiernan, Nato commander in Afghanistan.

Diplomat charged with race crime against Jews Foreign Office diplomat Rowan Laxton has been charged with racially aggravated harassment after allegations that he launched a foul-mouthed anti-Jew tirade at a gym, it has been confirmed.

David Cameron warned by Angela Merkel over Lisbon Treaty An incoming Conservative government will face isolation and the political enmity of Germany and France for not "cooperating" with the Lisbon European Union Treaty, Angela Merkel has warned.

H18 Independent Pentagon reshuffles command in Afghanistan

US commander in Afghanistan is to be replaced after less than a year.

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Obama hires new commander for new Afghanistan strategy

By Jonathan S. Landay | McClatchy Newspapers Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Pentagon sought 'fresh thinking' to implement its new strategy for the worsening conflict in Afghanistan, replacing Army Gen. David McKiernan with Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a veteran counterinsurgency expert.

Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times:

U.S. Replaces Commander in Afghanistan in War Overhaul — WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is replacing the top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, less than a year after he took over, marking a major overhaul in military leadership of a war that has presented President Obama with a worsening national security challenge.

Fred Kaplan / Slate:

The ouster of Afghanistan commander David McKiernan could make—or break—the Obama presidency.

· U.S. Army Expands Use of Video Games for Training

BY: Seth McLaughlin | World Politics Review

A newly issued U.S. Army field manual has put people on notice: Video games are serious training tools. In its first revision since 9/11, the U.S. Army field manual for Training and Full Spectrum Operations mentions gaming 32 times, describing it as as a key ingredient in replicating "an actual operational environment."

What If Torture Works?

Beyond START: Negotiating the Next Step in U.S. and Russian Strategic Nuclear Arms Reductions

Brookings Instiution

A 27-page US paper commenting on the possibilities for a post-START agreement between the US and Russia for a reduction in strategic nuclear arsenals

Over the horizon The lesson of the Eurofighter is that government must plan procurement to make sure it buys what the country really needs; it is time for a new strategic defence review

The Role of the CIA Historical Review Panel

The role of the Panel was described lately by its chairman, Prof. Robert Jervis, in the latest issue of Passport (pdf, at pp. 10-13), the newsletter of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations.

Chris Wallace / Fox News:
Transcript: Gen. David Petraeus on ‘FNS’

Bring back ROTC. Values and outlooks that a military education can cultivate go far beyond war-making. They might find a place in universities today... more»

H20 Slate Hitchens: The Radical Conflict Within Israel's Government

Why Pay Taxes When No One Else Does? IZA

This 22-page paper studies the phenomena whereby a large proportion of the population evades tax payments

H21 The Future of Journalism - John Nichols, The Nation

“Parents have no lasting influence on their children’s personalities or on the way they behave outside the home.” Judith Rich Harris’s thesis still shocks... more»

What If Torture Works?

The New Digital Press: How to Create a Brighter Future for the News Industry

Karl Inderfurth Teaching foreign policy through film

Faith banking Could Islamic ways of doing business be the answer?

Citizen’s Briefing Book (PDF; 3.4 MB) Source: White House Office of Public Engagement - A process by which Americans outside of Washington could come together to present ideas directly to the President – a “Citizen’s Briefing Book.”

Key Facts on Corporate Foundations (2009 Edition) (PDF: 231 KB)
Source: Foundation Center

From Wired, an article on the 2012 Apocalypse — and how to stop it (and more)

The Death of Print? - Howard Kurtz, Washington Post

Why Working Moms Will Never Have Work-Life Balance

what if we need blogging? Blogs can replace newspapers — step one: take advantage of the inherent communities

A guide to Salon's investigation of torture, American-style. You thought Guantanamo was bad? Welcome to the U.S. prison system.

Seriously, What Are the Odds? Coincidences are mysterious, intriguing and, in certain situations, excruciatingly embarrassing.

A review of Cruelty: Human Evil and the Human Brain by Kathleen Taylor.

From Harper's, Jesus killed Mohammed: Jeff Sharlet on the crusade for a Christian military.

From New Scientist, an article on five futurist visionaries and what they got right.

From NYRB, Gershom Gorenberg reviews 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War by Benny Morris and Making Israel; a review of Island of Shame: The Secret History of the US Military Base on Diego Garcia by David Vine; and a review of books on Madame de Stael.

By the Book: Even in the Kindle age, the printed page still has its place.

Who cares if he’s gay or straight? It’s hard not to become completely enthralled by Tintin’s fast-paced adventures... more»

What makes good art?

What do we make of non-representational art, of music that is not melodic, of novels that are not immediately inviting? Some times it's hard to say whether the problem lies in the art or with us. (By Margot Livesey, Boston Globe)

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