050108f  - FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analyses for informed debate’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç    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 Iraq after the Surge, a set of two companion reports from the International Crisis Group, examines the security and political aspects of the surge. The New Sunni Landscape, uniquely based on extensive interviews with insurgents, describes the sweeping changes affecting Sunni tribes, al-Qaeda in Iraq and the insurgency. The Need for a New Political Strategy analyses reasons for the current deadlock and suggests a way forward. Both point to the importance of devising a different approach that focuses on pressuring the Iraqi government to agree to political compromise, engaging in negotiations with a fuller range of Iraqi actors, including still-active insurgents, and altering the regional climate.

 

U.S. State Department Country Reports on Terrorism - Strategic Assessment

 

What War? By: Niall Ferguson | Los Angeles Times At home, the economy soars and Americans let the good times roll. Meanwhile, Iraq burns.

 

TLS Whatever happened to Old Europe? The struggle to understand how even a united continent is far from a place at the centre of the world by Mark Mazower

  

The Case Against the West By: Kishore Mahbubani | Foreign Affairs
The West is not welcoming Asia's progress, and its short-term interests in preserving its privileged position in various global institutions are trumping its long-term interests in creating a more just and stable world order.

 

Wall Street Journal Republican Brand Sinks to Record Low

McCain continues to run nearly even with Democrats Obama and Clinton, even as only 27% of voters have positive views of the Republican Party, according to the latest WSJ/NBC poll. An unprecedented 73% of voters believe the U.S. is on the wrong track. (Results)

 

Fed Cuts Rate, Signals Pause Ahead The Fed delivered its seventh interest rate cut since the credit crisis began last July but signaled the aggressive rate cutting campaign will likely pause for now. Two voters again dissented, preferring no change. (Statement)

 

Readings on Military Intelligence

 

The Times Could oil mania be coming to an end? Speculation has driven up prices - but things could be about to change

Anatole Kaletsky

 

Gas Price Formation, Structure and Dynamics IFRI This 35-page French paper focuses on gas price evolution and mechanisms in importing countries

 

Nicolas Sarkozy's Foreign Policy: Gaullist by Any Other Name \"Survival\"

 

INSS Syria, the NPT, and the IAEA - Ephraim Asculai (Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University)
An Israeli article examining the impact of the newly-released information about the Syrian reactor on the non-proliferation regime

Freedom House's 2008 report on press freedom shows a clear decline in both authoritarian countries and established democracies.

NYRB The Truth About Putin and Medvedev By Amy Knight

 

The Arab Spring, and After By Max Rodenbeck On Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East by Robin Wright.

 

The Financial Crisis: An Interview with George Soros

April 30, 2008 Quarterly Report to Congress Source: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Full Report (PDF; 10 MB) Or download in sections (PDFs).

Iraq Reconstruction Five Years On (PDF; 90 KB)
Source: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
One-page graphic provides info about provincial status, troop training and security incidents, construction funding and completed projects, oil revenue and exports, security funding.

 

US Digs in Against Shiite Militias - Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor


Shiite-Sunni Rift: Political, Media Hype? - Nicholas Blanford, Christian Science Monitor

 

NATO Accuses Russia of Stirring Tensions in Rebel Georgia Areas

 

Financial Times How Europe can shape the global system The end of the unipolar moment, underlined by the American fiasco in Iraq and by the ascendancy of China, Brazil and India, raises again questions about how Europe fits within. Focus on specific issues, urges Zaki Laïdi

 

A profitable Union The EU expansion of four years ago helped streamline decision-making – though not to everyone’s liking

 

EU to create new diplomatic service The EU is set to acquire a so-called External Action Service uniting officials in Brussels with diplomats from national foreign ministries

 

The contrast of the Arab world's two faces Ever since oil was discovered, the Arab world has been split between those who have too much capital and those with too little

 

Iran-Europe gas deals anger Washington The US and its allies are worried the sanctions regime against Tehran is under threat from a possible new wave of European investment in Iran’s strategically important gas sector

 

Washington Post Russia's Moves Add To Strains With Georgia

Buildup in Separatist Area Follows Downing of Drone

 

Editorial A Separate Peace? Pakistan's new government negotiates with the militants who harbor al-Qaeda and target U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

 

Building Bridges in the Back of Beyond By David Ignatius In the far reaches of Afghanistan, the U.S. Army is gradually learning how to fight a different kind of war

 

Guardian It was fun, but 1968 left us sybaritic, self-absorbed and ruled by the right Geoffrey Wheatcroft: The Paris riots 40 years ago prompt nostalgia on the left, but even the alleged cultural victories had unintended effects

 

Deployment of aircraft carrier a US 'reminder' to Iran, says Gates

US defence secretary denies the arrival of a new carrier represents an escalation in tension

 

Russia inflames tensions with Georgia

Rapid build-up of troops in Abkhazia threatens Georgia's territorial integrity, Nato warns

 

Are these Syrian nuclear pictures faked?  Ewen MacAskill: Doubts about the authenticity of three aerial photographs published by the CIA have been raised by the head of anthropology at the University of Minnesota

 

Things Are Moving, But the U.S. Is Absent By: Rami G. Khouri | The Daily Star One of the important developments in Middle Eastern diplomacy that becomes more obvious with every passing month is the continued marginalization of the United States

 

Human Rights and the Basis for EU Sanctions against Iran, The Washington Institute

 

Debka Kabul Shambles Makes Sorry Spectacle for US, NATO

H2 The American Turkey's Uncertain Future: A Symposium Five views on whether the ruling political party in Turkey is a threat to that country's democracy

 

Washington Institute Tackling Turkey's Image Problem in the European Union By Antonia Ruiz Jimenez

 

Turkish AKP not seeking extension in court case | World | Reuters

 

FT Turkey says inflation will be double target    The central bank says inflation in 2008 will be nearly double its official target in the face of rising energy and food prices, and warns of higher interest rates    

 

WORLD NEWS: Ankara eases free speech law to pacify EU ,

Senior-level talks with Iraqi Kurds in the offing

 

Internal uncertainties impede success on foreign policy issues

 

Turkey to Loosen 2008 Budget to Boost Spending on Dams, Roads Bloomberg

 

Baghdad and Kurds Close the Gap
Council on Foreign Relations

 

ERDAL ŞAFAKKuzey Irak açılımı

 

Sami Kohen Türkiye K. Irak’a açılıyor

 

Semih İdiz Türkiye’nin Suriye-İsrail barışını sağlaması zor

 

CSIS Reviving Turkey’s Stalled EU Drive?

 

CSIS'tan Türkiye-AB değerlendirmesi

 

US pressures Turkcell to abandon $1 bln Syria deal

 

TURKEY HOLDS JOINT AIR FORCE EXERCISES WITH PAKISTAN
Eurasia Daily Monitor

 

Fatma Müge Göçek -Through a Glass Darkly: Consequences of a Politicized Past in Contemporary Turkey Full Text (PDF) Free

 

Dört füze kalkanından ikisi İstanbul ve Ankara’ya

 

İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası  Dış Basında Türkiye - BBC Turkish 0700 VOA TSİ 06:30 Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey TurcoPundit      

 

 

Google News Fırat News Agency KurdishMedia Kurdish Kurdish Aspect Dış Basında Irak  BBC Monitoring Inter-national

 

Kırıkkale’nin 148. şehidi

 

Senior-level talks with Iraqi Kurds in the offing

 

Baghdad and Kurds Close the Gap
Council on Foreign Relations -

 

Leader of pro-Kurdish party in Turkey resigns

 

Irak’la başbakan düzeyinde diyalog

 

Conjectural not structural adjustment: Turkish u-turn policy
Kurdish Globe

 

Kurdistan's judicial power to have autonomous budget

 

KRG accepts Turkish initiative for dialogue

 

PKK’ya terörist demem Öcalan Kürt halk önderi

 

PKK’lıya taziye çadırı DTP’den

 

Irak’la stratejik diyalog zamanı

 

Barzani ile ilk temas

Türkiye birkaç gün içinde Kuzey Irak Kürt yönetimiyle ilk resmi temasını gerçekleştirecek

 

Şırnak’ta 20 PKK’lı kıstırıldı

 

Investigations opened into DTP fraternity night upheaval

 

Turkey plans to set up strategic dialogue mechanism with Iraq

 

Cevdet Aşkın Erbil'den 'PKK'ya tetik çekmeyiz' mesajı

 

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

 

Washington Institute Tackling Turkey's Image Problem in the European Union By Antonia Ruiz Jimenez

 

Revisiting NATO-ESDP Relations: Part II SDA
The 32-page second part of a discussion paper on NATO-ESDP relations

 

Asli Bayram: out of the wings on to centre stage - Times Online The German beauty queen and actress whose Turkish father was killed by neo-Nazis tackles Anne Frank on stage

 

EU welcomes 301 amendment but calls for more

 

Avrupa Birliği ile ekonomide de yolun sonu mu? SİNAN ÜLGEN -

 

Toward a unified Cyprus?
Tony Angastiniotis, Natasha Quandour

 

Akdeniz Birliği dünyayı değiştirecek

Rauf Denktaş Su meselesi

 

Avrupa, AKP'nin kapatılmasını affetmez
Francısco Veıga

 

Turkish-German economic ties

 

The Economics Of The Isolation Of Turkish Cypriots

 

The Associated Press: Turkey's parliament softens law restricting free speech

 

Turkey: Parliament Approves 'Cosmetic' Free-Speech Reform - RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY

 

EU hails Turkey free speech move

 

German deputies on fact finding mission to Turkey

 

We will repel attacks against Turkey and Azerbaijan together”

 

 

 

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

 

Eleştiri dozu artınca bu fotoğraflar ortaya çıktı

 

Dünya gıda krizi sadece spekülatör işi değil MEHMET HÜSEYİN BİLGİN

 

Asli Bayram: out of the wings on to centre stage - Times Online The German beauty queen and actress whose Turkish father was killed by neo-Nazis tackles Anne Frank on stage

 

American intellectuals researching Turkish hospitality, culture

 

Cüppeli Hoca’dan ücretli ’sanal’ TV

 

Serdar Turgut Rakamların gizemi

 

Tecavüz erkekliğin şanından!

Kızı suçlamanın tam Vakit'i 

 

1 Mayıs 2008 Basın Özeti

H3 AKP’nin derinliklerinde son durum

 

AK Parti, savunmasında Venedik ve Kopenhag Kriterleri'ni referans aldı

 

AKP ön savunmasını Anayasa Mahkemesi’ne verdi

 

Savunmadan general çıktı

 

İşte AK Parti'nin ön savunması

Çalık'a biçilen gerçek faiz

İşte Kamu bankalarından Sabah-atv için aldığı kredi ile tartışılan Çalık'a piyasanın biçtiği faiz oranı...

 

Serpil Yılmaz Çankaya, Şam gezisi için ne diyor?

 

Ergenekon Savcısı için HSYK’ye şikayet

 

MILLIYET Siyaset Güncel Dünya

 

Taksim kuşatması

 

İşte provokatörün planı

 

Anayasa Mahkemesi'nden önemli açıklama

 

Bugün demokrasinin 1 Mayıs'la sınav günü

 

Milliyet Son Dakika

 

Cengiz Çandar Türkiye’nin 1 Mayıs’ı; Türkiye’nin dünyadan kopuş günü...

 

Ahmet TaşgetirenBaykal ve Kesici

 

Ruşen - Çakır İşi uzatmak istemeyen Erdoğan kafasını giyotine uzatıyor 

 

HÜSEYİN GÜLERCE - Ergenekon, Amerika ve AK Parti...

 

Taha Akyol Neyin savaşı?

 

Fikret Bila Bu korku niye?

 

Hasan Cemal 1 Mayıs’a şiddet ve kan bulaşmasın!

 

Murat Yetkin Velev ki Taksim 1 Mayıs simgesi

 

İsmet Berkan AKP pazarlık mı arıyor?

 

Fehmi Koru Duvar    Noose around the neck

 

Taha Kıvanç

 

SOLİ ÖZEL Mayıs'ın 1'i

 

Şamil Tayyar

 

Ali BayramoğluAK Parti adeta bir yalnızlık arayışı içinde…

 

Yasemin Çongar

 

Ertuğrul ÖzkökAile fotoğrafından taşanlar

 

 

İsmail Küçükkaya
Yargının zirvesinden gündeme bakış...

Bilal Çetin Savunma tamam, Anayasa değişikliği beklemede...

 

Ahmet HakanDamat meselesi

 

M Ali BirandTürkiye kendini imhaya götürüyor (2)

 

Cüneyt Ülsever1 Mayıs 1977!

 

Enis Berberoğlu

 

Oktay EkşiDoğru olan

 

EKREM DUMANLI - Bugün bir damla kan akarsa

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

ŞAHİN ALPAY - Alkollü içki ve modernlik

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

MÜMTAZ'ER TÜRKÖNE - 1 Mayıs: Provokasyonlara açık olmak

 

Tamer Korkmaz: Bunca kanıtı yok saymanın dayanılmaz “ağır”lığı!

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Akif Emre: Barışın Türkiye'ye maliyeti

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Yasin Doğan: CHP demokratikleşmeden Türkiye demokratikleşemiyor

 

Vahit Erdem, Cemil Çiçek, Abdüllatif Şener
Hasan Celal Güzel

 

Özdemir İnce

 

Şükrü Küçükşahin Kim uyarırsa AKP inanır

 

Can Dündar Solduyu lazım!

 

Mehmet Y Yılmaz

 

Yalçın Doğan 2008’de 1928’i özlemek

 

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

 

ERDAL ŞAFAKKuzey Irak açılımı

 

ENGİN ARDIÇArş yiğitler!

 

ERGUN BABAHANAnkara'dakiler krizi hissetmez

 

EMRE AKÖZ1977'den 2008'e: Ya yine yaparlarsa?

 

Umur Talu

 

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

 

NAZLI ILICAK1 Mayıs'ta restleşme

 

MEHMET BARLASHem partili hem de özeleştirici olmak bu düzende günahtır...

 

MAHMUT ÖVÜR1 Mayıs'tan daha ne kadar korkacağız

 

YAVUZ DONATKöksal Toptan: "Lütfen sağduyu!.."

 

İstanbul'a OHAL

Ömer Lütfi Mete Yalancı hukukla bize sövenlere

 

'Underoverappreciated' Turkey
Burak BEKDİL

 

1 Mayıs kutlu olsun
Altan Öymen

 

1 Mayıs 'İşçinin Emekçinin Bayramı'
Nuray Mert

 

Kurultay bitti sıra İstanbul’da

 

Ergenekon savcısına suiistimal suçlaması!

Devlet kendisine meydan okutmaz

 

Serdar Turgut İşçi fetişi üzerine

Nuh Gönültaş İlhan Selçuk’un ‘Güzel Amerikalı’sı

Süheyl Batum Kaptan köşkü demokrasisinde basın ve ‘haber alma hakkı’

 

Murat Birsel MİT Başbakan’a haber verir (mi?)

 

Mustafa Erdoğan Yanaşma siyaseti değil cesaret ve onur

 

 

AK Parti, savunmasında Venedik ve Kopenhag Kriterleri'ni referans aldı

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Savunmayı 3 kişilik heyet teslim etti

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

İstikrar tekerine çomak sokanları millet iyi biliyor

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

İki yıl tartışılan 301 Meclis'ten 13 saatte geçti

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

'Gül, gerginliğin giderilmesi için aktif rol üstlenecek'

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

CHP il başkanından skandal sözler

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Kayıp trilyonlar Yıldız'ı koltuğundan etti, yeni sayman seçilecek

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanılabilir değil.

Jandarma er Demirtaş, DTP liderliğinden istifa etti

 

May Day tension mounts, İstanbul on high alert

Sebahattin Önkibar Her derde deva Ergenekon !

 

İsrafil Kumbasar Milliyetçilik, işçiyle emekçiyle meydanlara inmek değil midir?

 

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Bundan sonra faizler de yüksek olacak

 

Para politikası sıkışacak, enflasyonda fiili hedef yüzde 9,3

 

Ercan KumcuDış açıkların artması elimizde mi

 

Erdal Sağlam

 

CB: 4 percent inflation possible in no less than 2 years

 

Deniz Gökçe
2008 Mart sonu kamu borcu

 

OKAN MÜDERRİSOĞLU
Enflasyon yıl sonu % 9.3 olur, hedef 2011'de tutar

 

Hurşit Güneş Türk Telekom kelepire mi gidiyor?

 

Metin Münir Bazıları Katar sever

 

Turkey to Loosen 2008 Budget to Boost Spending on Dams, Roads
Bloomberg

 

Turkey consumes most expensive gas in the world

 

Bu nasıl kriz?
Mahfi Eğilmez

 

Bankalar kredilerini neden artırdılar?
Fatih Özatay

 

Seyfettin Gürsel İstihdam paketinin dört boyutu

 

NATO Accuses Russia of Stirring Tensions in Rebel Georgia Areas

 

Editorial

 

Low Spending Is Taking Toll on Economy  Beleaguered American consumers appear to have succumbed to the pressures of falling home prices and shrinking paychecks

 

Afghans See Link to Qaeda in Plot to Shoot Karzai  The Afghan intelligence chief said the attempt to kill President Hamid Karzai was the work of militants who had infiltrated Afghanistan’s security forces.

 

A Fabled Instrument, Suppressed in Iraq, Thrives in Exile

 

 

 

French Premier to Seek Common Fiscal Policy in U.S.

 

In a New Climate Model, Short-Term Cooling in a Warmer World

 

Memo From Frankfurt: As Euro Nears 10, Cracks Emerge in Fiscal Union

 

Turkish Law Easing Curbs on Speech Wins Praise

 

Attacks in Pakistan Rising, State Department Reports

 

A Strained Wright-Obama Bond Finally Snaps  Senator Barack Obama’s falling out with his former pastor was long and painful, marked by a degree of mutual incomprehension, say friends and aides.

 

H5 Washington Post Russia's Moves Add To Strains With Georgia

Buildup in Separatist Area Follows Downing of Drone

 

Editorial A Separate Peace? Pakistan's new government negotiates with the militants who harbor al-Qaeda and target U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

 

Building Bridges in the Back of Beyond By David Ignatius In the far reaches of Afghanistan, the U.S. Army is gradually learning how to fight a different kind of war.

 

Gas Tax Gotcha Sen. Obama's courageous stand in favor of fuel conservation

 

CIA Chief Sees Unrest Rising With Population

 

Mullen Cites U.S. 'Vulnerability'

Transition to New President in Wartime Concerns the Military

 

Obama Catches Up In Support From Hill Endorsements in Congress Meet Clinton's

 

Reacting to Sanctions, Belarus Expels 10 More U.S. Diplomats

 

Attacks on U.S. Troops in Iraq Push April Death Toll to 48

 

Obama's Misplay By Robert D. Novak, Obama's reaction to Rev. Wright's rhetoric may not have been swift enough.

 

A Pastor's Influence By David S. Broder, Barack Obama risks political damage by leaving vague what it was that attracted him to Rev. Wright

 

H6 Guardian It was fun, but 1968 left us sybaritic, self-absorbed and ruled by the right Geoffrey Wheatcroft: The Paris riots 40 years ago prompt nostalgia on the left, but even the alleged cultural victories had unintended effects

 

Deployment of aircraft carrier a US 'reminder' to Iran, says Gates

US defence secretary denies the arrival of a new carrier represents an escalation in tension

 

Russia inflames tensions with Georgia

Rapid build-up of troops in Abkhazia threatens Georgia's territorial integrity, Nato warns

 

Are these Syrian nuclear pictures faked?  Ewen MacAskill: Doubts about the authenticity of three aerial photographs published by the CIA have been raised by the head of anthropology at the University of Minnesota

 

Wright and wrong Leader: The rift between the pastor and Barack Obama runs deeper than words. It is a generational conflict

 

Fed cuts key rate to 2% but urges caution over inflation  US central bank cuts interest rates for the seventh time since last summer in bid to deal with market

 

US economy growth beats prediction

Pakistan's coalition leaders in crisis talks Coalition government leaders meet for talks in Dubai to avoid a damaging split

 

Blood on His Hands By: Ann Clwyd |  For some, Tariq Aziz is the benign face of the Ba'ath regime in Iraq. Not so: he is as culpable for its crimes against humanity as other senior leaders.

 

Crude logic Leader: There is a puzzle over oil prices - and it is not what is driving them up

 

H7  Things Are Moving, But the U.S. Is Absent By: Rami G. Khouri | The Daily Star One of the important developments in Middle Eastern diplomacy that becomes more obvious with every passing month is the continued marginalization of the United States

 

Human Rights and the Basis for EU Sanctions against Iran, The Washington Institute

 

The pros and cons of a Lebanese dialogue by Michael Young

 

MESH ‘Freedom’s Unsteady March’

 

Iran-US talks await new leadership era
It is unlikely that either the George W Bush administration or hardliners in Tehran will initiate serious bilateral talks prior to the US presidential elections in November. The prospect of dialogue with Iran seems plausible after the vote, but only if the next US president is willing to risk strengthening President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's hand before Iran's 2009 presidential polls

 

Commentary: Wilderness of mirrors By ARNAUD DE BORCHGRAVE (UPI) -- "Every lie contains a truth and every truth contains a lie" is a safe rule of thumb when Shakespeare's powers of observation are applied to the Middle East. With each shake of the kaleidoscope, the configuration of the key players becomes a wilderness of mirrors.

 

The dictators are back, and we don’t care: With the fall of communism and the rise of globalisation in the 1990s, the West believed democracy had won — how wrong it was (and a profile of Robert Kagan, a neocon by any other name)

 

Iraq Reconstruction Five Years On (PDF; 90 KB)
Source: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
One-page graphic provides info about provincial status, troop training and security incidents, construction funding and completed projects, oil revenue and exports, security funding.

 

Syria, the NPT and the IAEA INSS
An Israeli article examining the impact of the newly-released information about the Syrian reactor on the non-proliferation regime

 

Bashar al-Assad rushes to hug Washington
RIA Novosti

 

Pope Benedict XVI on the World Stage: What He Said at the U.N. By: Jonas Clark | World Politics Review
The visit to the United States earlier this month of Pope Benedict XVI, the spiritual leader of more than 60 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide, was a whirlwind affair. For all his meetings with American dignitaries, political leaders, and the like, however, Benedict's most important moment was not focused on America, per se, but rather the entire community of nations.

 

The emerging ‘New Middle East’ by JOSCHKA FISCHER*

 

 

 

Chalabi, RAND and the Iraq War

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

 

April has been the deadliest month for U.S. troops since Sept. 2007.

 

Offensive Casts oubt on Iraqi Forces

 

Warships 'to Remind Iran of US Power'

 

Egypt eyes public sector pay rise
President Mubarak promises a 30% pay rise for public sector workers to compensate for price increases.

Lebanon: Abu Dhabi's The National newspaper reports that Syrian fighters are traveling to isolated military encampments in Lebanon belonging to Palestinian groups.

 

H9 Ha’aretz  Holocaust Remembrance Day / Understanding the Holocaust Many out there still do not fathom the horror, uniqueness and significance of the Nazi Holocaust

 

Talking about war with Iran is not necessarily bad

 

U.S. officials: Bush to wait to present final-status guidelines Abbas reportedly disappointed by inability to convince U.S. to press Israel harder on final status issues

 

Islamic Jihad: Willing to accept truce only if Gaza siege lifted

 

Bahrain's only Jewish lawmaker rumored to be the country's next ambassador to the U.S.

 

Rosner's Guest: symbolic return of Palestinian refugees is needed

 

The superdelegates are in a quandary The long-term question is how the Democratic party will resolve the rifts that have formed in its delicate fabric

 

Truce Deal / Hamas claims victory

 

Jerusalem Post US: Iran 'most active' sponsor of terror

State Department report says Iran supporting several Palestinian groups, including group loyal to Fatah.

 

Carter's Hamas hug haunts Obama America's next leader must have both Carter's idealism and Bush's anger

 

Did Barack Obama have a Muslim childhood?

By DANIEL PIPES Biographical details suggest the presidential candidate has not always been a Christian

 

Rattling The Cage: For a cease-fire with Hamas [ LARRY DERFNER  

 

Washington Watch: It's still a crime

[ DOUGLAS BLOOMFIELD

 

 

Yedioth Ahronoth 'What if Hitler had nukes?'
National ceremony marking commencement of Holocaust Remembrance Day held at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Peres: What would have been left if Nazis had WMDs? Olmert: To deny the Holocaust is to deny Israel's right to exist

 

Palestinians Reject Israeli Peace Deal Map

 

Failing the test of history/ Sherman

 

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

 

The EU, Israel and Hamas CER A 22-page paper proposing a means of resolving the stalemate between Israel and Hamas

 

The Nuclear Defense of Israel - Gregory Scoblete

 

Israeli Leader Warns Against Golan Giveaway

 

Rice Sees Little Chance for Syria-Israel Peace Deal

 

A New Pro-Israel Voice in Washington By: Peter Buxbaum | ISN Security Watch    J Street, a new pro-Israeli lobby group in DC, seeks to promote the voice of mainstream Jewish Americans who feel a new approach is needed in US policy

 

What’s Behind Olmert’s Flirtation With Syria? New York Jewish Week

 

Why Syria Matters to Israel
Arab News

 

Exclusive: Damascus co-opted to Hamas-Cairo talks on Gaza truce

H10 Christian Science Monitor

 Iraq's Army - not ready yet As US troops draw down, Iraqi forces are taking the lead. Reviews so far are mixed.

 

Is the Sunni-Shiite rift mostly politics and media hype? A panel discussion Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, was dominated by the perception that the Western media hypes up tensions by focusing too much on the minority of radicals.

 

U.S. death toll rises as it digs in against Iraq's Shiite militias

At least 47 US soldiers were killed in Iraq in April, making it the deadliest month since September. Many of the casualties are a result of the recent assault on the Mahdi Army.

 

Blacks wrestle with Obama-Wright rift Many understand, but some may doubt Obama's 'blackness.'

 

Economy growing ... but just barely GDP rose at a 0.6 percent pace in the first quarter, the US government reports.

 

As Britain votes, Gordon Brown faces first big test The prime minister's Labour Party, the dominant force in British politics for over a decade, is trailing the Conservatives by as much as 18 percent ahead of Thursday's local elections.

 

US Digs in Against Shiite Militias - Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor


Shiite-Sunni Rift: Political, Media Hype? - Nicholas Blanford, Christian Science Monitor

 

The real US deficit with China – knowledge

As China returns as a world power, Americans should update their impressions.

 

U.S. eyes shift away from corn ethanol Worried about high food prices, Congress tries to push the biofuel industry to use nonfood crops.

 

Pakistani leaders' rift strains stability Top parties missed a joint deadline Wednesday to reinstate judges deposed by President Musharraf.

 

A 10-year timeout for global warming, study says The German research effort is one of the first to attempt 10-year climate forecasts.

 

 

ASIA

 

Three Chinese banks in world's top four...

 

A Failure to Influence Bush By: Kevin Rafferty | The Japan Times
As the U.S. squanders its wealth, power and influence, the implications for Japan are grave.

 

The Case Against the West By: Kishore Mahbubani | Foreign Affairs
The West is not welcoming Asia's progress, and its short-term interests in preserving its privileged position in various global institutions are trumping its long-term interests in creating a more just and stable world order.

 

China Focus of US Attention in Asia

 

Central Asia: Water Woes Stoke Economic Worries By: Joanna Lillis | Eurasianet
After enduring extreme cold this past winter, Central Asia is bracing for what some officials say will be a dry summer. Those predictions, in turn, are stirring fears of prolonged power shortages that seriously impair economic functions.

 

Iran holds key to India's energy insecurity
In terms of its energy needs, India has woken to the simple fact that nearly all roads lead to Tehran, both as a source of energy as well as an outlet for other countries' energy exports to India. This could be the first step in a whole gamut of economic, trade, cultural, political and even security cooperation. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi

 

US's Pakistan policy under fire
Appeals are growing in the United States for the George W Bush administration to reassess its "war on terror" and Pakistan's place in it. In particular, US policymakers are being asked to place more confidence in Islamabad's plans to make deals with tribal leaders, even though these play into the hands of the Taliban. - Jim Lobe

 

Is Afghanistan Worth It? - Dennis Tabbernor, Globe and Mail opinion


Pakistan Key to War in Afghanistan - Greg Sheridan, The Australian opinion

 

China: Is Political Reform Possible?

 

Afghanistan A changing war Becoming more like Iraq

 

State of Korean Democracy By: Peter M. Beck | The Japan Times
Recent elections in South Korea showed the country to be one of most dynamic democracies in the world, but one whose First World economy could easily be dragged down by Third World politics

 

Iranian President’s Visit a Test for India By: Somini Sengupta and Heather Timmons | The New York Times With a nuclear energy deal with the United States snagged over its domestic politics, energy-hungry India hosted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a brief but highly symbolic visit Tuesday evening, keeping alive its prospects of securing natural gas and nurturing its relations with an increasingly isolated government in Tehran

 

China-Taiwan: A new briefing from the Economist Intelligence Unit looks at the awkward but growing ties between China and Taiwan.

 

Shortage of Laborers Plagues India

India has a chronic labor shortage in the area where it needs workers most. So many infrastructure and construction projects are now under way that the pool of workers with even the most basic skills is running dangerously dry, which may slow India's economic growth.

 

Push comes to shove in Afghanistan In his latest assessment, US President George W Bush admits it's going to be a "long struggle" in Afghanistan (this after seven years of fighting the Taliban). US Marines, fresh in the country, are venturing into uncharted territory, while more coalition troops are being deployed. For the Taliban, having made space for themselves in their strategic backyard in Pakistan through dubious peace deals, a new battle has now begun. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

 

H11 IHT  

 

 

EUROPE European press review

 

TLS Whatever happened to Old Europe? The struggle to understand how even a united continent is far from a place at the centre of the world by Mark Mazower

 

BBC Mardell's Europe
From the Baltic to the Deep Black Sea: Another European bloc

 

Revisiting NATO-ESDP Relations: Part II SDA The 32-page second part of a discussion paper on NATO-ESDP relations

 

Trends in European Defense Spending, 2001-2006
Source: Center for Strategic & International Studies

 

NATO Alarm Over Russian Troop Build-up -

 

Will South Stream push EU off course?
European Voice

 

From the latest issue of Ethics & International Affairs, Philip Coyle and Victoria Samson on Missile Defense Malfunction: Why the Proposed U.S. Missile Defenses in Europe Will Not Work

 

Irish Party says U.S. 'Opposed to EU Integration' By: Simon Roughneen | The Washington Times
The party once led by the current European Union ambassador to Washington is claiming that the U.S. is actively opposing European integration, posing a potential embarrassment as Prime Minister Bertie Ahern prepares to address a joint session of Congress today

 

Postcards from the Balkans by Michael Totten

 

Walker's World: French births soar  (UPI) -- France has overtaken Ireland to boast the highest birthrate in Europe, which is bad news for anti-immigrant parties

H12 RFE/RL

 

BBC Russia warned over Georgia move Nato says Russia's troop build-up in Georgia's two breakaway regions risks escalating tension in the area.

Georgia's separatism woes

Q&A: Russia-Georgia ties

 

The Economist Russia and Georgia rattle sabres Tension grows over the breakaway region of Abkhazia

 

How to Conquer Georgia By: Yulia Latynina | The Moscow Times
Over the weekend, Russian Foreign Ministry official Valery Kenyaikin cautioned Georgia against using NATO forces to resolve the territorial conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, saying Moscow would take ""all possible measures to protect its citizens if fighting broke out"" in these areas

 

Turkmenistan Doubles Natural Gas Price to Iran By: John C. K. Daly | Eurasia Daily Monitor
Nearly four months after a pricing dispute shut down Turkmen natural gas deliveries to Iran, the pipelines are again open. The bad news for Tehran is that the new price per thousand cubic meters (tcm) is nearly twice what it paid Ashgabat in 2007

 

From NYRB, a review of Putin: The Results: An Independent Expert Report by Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Milov

 

LA Times 3 immigrants killed in Russia amid wave of ethnic violence  Racially motivated attacks have risen sharply as white supremacists wage a violent campaign to drive out immigrants

 

 

Google News Azerbaijan

 

Russia Will Send More Troops to Abkhazia By: Matt Siegel | The Moscow Times
The Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that Russia would bolster its peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia in response to Georgian plans to invade the breakaway region

 

What the Russian papers say

 

A diplomatic deal on Nagorno-Karabakh is the wisest path to take
European Voice

H13 The Times Could oil mania be coming to an end?

Speculation has driven up prices - but things could be about to change

Anatole Kaletsky

 

Super-delegates waver on Obama

Successive missed chances to finish off Hillary Clinton have reinforced doubts over his ability to transcend US divisions

 

Nato alarm over Russian troop build-up Kremlin and the West square up over Georgia as Russia is accused of planning "military aggression" against its former Soviet satellite

 

EU boys living in the Kabul bubble

The Afghan police need more help than they are getting if security is to be established Richard Beeston

 

The problems of agreeing on justice for judges The issue of the reinstatement of judges sacked by Musharraf may be lethal: to the coalition, to the judiciary and to Pakistan’s Constitution

Bronwen Maddox

 

Why It Matters Despite appearances, a vote in local elections is well worth casting

 

Wright Hook Obama's toughest test yet could be the making of his candidacy

 

 

Wall Street Journal Republican Brand Sinks to Record Low

McCain continues to run nearly even with Democrats Obama and Clinton, even as only 27% of voters have positive views of the Republican Party, according to the latest WSJ/NBC poll. An unprecedented 73% of voters believe the U.S. is on the wrong track. (Results)

 

The Big Easy
When in doubt, the current Fed always cuts interest rates.

 

Democrats and the Killing Fields
By Arthur Herman
The world cannot afford to have America discredited again.

 

The Darfur War Crimes Test

By Mia Farrow and Eric Reeves
Will the U.N. fail yet again to put justice before sovereignty?

 

 

Where Were Obama's Friends? By Daniel Henninger
Wonder Land:
In his crucible, not one Obama ally came forward.

 

 

Further cut in US interest rates

The Federal Reserve makes a further cut in US interest rates, reducing them from 2.25% to 2.0%.

 

 

Opinion: Five reasons why the Fed is done cutting interest rates

 

 

 

Oil in 2012: $200 or $50?
The US broad money supply by one measure has increased at an annual rate above 30% for most of this year. Maintained, that could triple prices within four years and oil would look moderate at US$200 a barrel, with gold hitting $2,000. Good sense by the US Fed and politicians might save the day, or a full-scale revolt by bond dealers. - Martin Hutchinson

H14 Financial Times How Europe can shape the global system The end of the unipolar moment, underlined by the American fiasco in Iraq and by the ascendancy of China, Brazil and India, raises again questions about how Europe fits within. Focus on specific issues, urges Zaki Laïdi

 

A profitable Union The EU expansion of four years ago helped streamline decision-making – though not to everyone’s liking

 

EU to create new diplomatic service

The EU is set to acquire a so-called External Action Service uniting officials in Brussels with diplomats from national foreign ministries

 

The contrast of the Arab world's two faces Ever since oil was discovered, the Arab world has been split between those who have too much capital and those with too little

 

Iran-Europe gas deals anger Washington The US and its allies are worried the sanctions regime against Tehran is under threat from a possible new wave of European investment in Iran’s strategically important gas sector

 

Militants offer Israel six-month truce

A dozen Palestinian factions back the latest ceasefire proposal, which is aimed at calming the situation in Gaza and comes as a result of Egypt’s mediation efforts

 

A deal for Serbia The EU must stay the course, despite pressures to go slow on enlargement. Leaving the Balkans out of the union would leave a dangerous hole in the heart of Europe

 

Fed hints at pause as rates cut to 2%

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point to 2 per cent and signalled its preference to pause at its next meeting in June

 

Half of east Europe migrants go home Study suggests that fears of an expanding migrant population are unfounded as half of the 1m central and eastern Europeans who came to work in Britain since 2004 have left

 

US warns over battle against al-Qaeda The west is struggling in the ideological battle against radical Islam and has failed to provide an effective response to extremist propaganda, the US said

 

Eurozone is strong but not immune

Certain national leaders may press the ECB for lower rates, even if the area as a whole continues to prosper. Their pleas should be ignored

 

UN seeks Gulf boost to aid

The United Nations is trying to nudge the rich countries of the Gulf into channelling more foreign aid through international institutions and away from bilateral projects that often favour the Arab and Islamic world

 

Growth fails to allay recession fears

The US economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the first three months of this year, avoiding outright contraction owing to a build-up in business inventories and continued support from exports

 

The return of high-risk optimism

Only at the Milken Institute Global Conference would the one song played between financial debates be Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds, writes John Gapper. “Don’t worry ’bout a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be alright”

 

Gideon Rachman’s blog Obama, Wright and judgement: Barack Obama’s long dalliance with Jeremiah Wright, while understandable, is a rather calculating act for a man who claims to represent a new sort of politics

 

House draws line on North Korea

A key congressional committee approved legislation that could complicate US efforts to reach a denuclearisation deal with North Korea

 

Clinton exploits furore over pastor’s views Hillary Clinton fanned the flames surrounding Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright when she voiced outrage over “anti-American” remarks by her rival’s former pastor

 

WTO slaps down US anti-dumping procedure  A method known as “zeroing” used by the US in anti-dumping investigations and reviews was slapped down by the top court of the World Trade Organisation

 

H15 Los Angeles Times

 

Editorial

 

What War? By: Niall Ferguson | Los Angeles Times
At home, the economy soars and Americans let the good times roll. Meanwhile, Iraq burns.

 

Death toll in Iraq jumped in April

 

Fed cuts rate by quarter point

By Maura Reynolds

The move comes as a report shows the economy avoided contraction by growing 0.6%.

 

H16 American Politics

 

MAJORITY OF HOUSE AND SENATE PRIVATELY BACK OBAMA...

 

FOX News Poll: Obama's Favorable Rating Drops 

 

NBC/WSJ Poll: Bush a liability for McCain 

 

Gallup Daily: Virtual Tie Persists in Democratic Race  —

 

realclearpolitics memeorandum  ABC’s The Note US News Political Bulletin Early Bird GovExec Swamp Gas The Swamp

 

Jonathan Alter / Newsweek:

Political Pandering  —  Suspending the federal gas tax is a crass ploy for votes.  Why Hillary Clinton and John McCain should know better

 

Items to ponder for the next president (By Tony Blankley)

H17 Daily Telegraph

 

Nato warns Russia over Georgia tension

 

US sends second carrier to the Gulf

 

Rome's new mayor to expel migrants

The new mayor of Rome has promised to purge the Italian capital of 20,000 illegal immigrants and to raze 85 gipsy camps

 

H18 Independent 

 

 

Rupert Cornwell: We must never forget the evil inspired by Hitler's regime

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

 

Revisiting NATO-ESDP Relations: Part II SDA
The 32-page second part of a discussion paper on NATO-ESDP relations

 

Balancing the Pendulum of Freedom (PDF; 317 KB)
Source: U.S. Army War College (via DTIC)

 

Trends in European Defense Spending, 2001-2006
Source: Center for Strategic & International Studies Full Report (PDF; 334 KB)

 

Readings on Military Intelligence - Norfolk, The Norfolk Blog

 

Secret spy court approved record number of wiretaps in 2007

 

Al-Qaeda 'Greatest Threat' to US

 

Russell D. Howard and Erik Iversen of Tufts University write that the United States is fighting the "global war on terrorism" in the wrong way. The key to defeating al-Qaeda, they say, doesn't lie in trying to undermine its extremist ideology but in defeating its strategy.

 

·                     H20 Slate   Favoring McCain

A new poll shows McCain is the most liked of the three remaining candidates.
Chadwick Matlin

 

 

 

An Exploration of Technology Diffusion
Source: Harvard Business School Working Papers Full Paper (PDF; 774 KB)

H21 Revealed: secret of how birds navigate during migration

The mystery of how migratory birds exploit the Earth's magnetic field using an internal compass may have been solved by scientists who have discovered how molecules in the eye can be orientated by weak magnetic lines.

 

 

Wanted: The last Nazis

They are accused of some of the worst war crimes of the 20th century. Now a final bid has been launched to bring them to justice before they die.

 

 

In Peter Gay’s reading, modernist thinking is reduced to a psychological impulse: the lure of heresy. Yes, but... more»

 

Civil War At The Wall Street Journal

 

'When sunbeams struck his face, he squealed loudly'

'Downstairs family' start the adjustment to a world they have never experienced

 

A review of Sneaker Wars: The Enemy Brothers Who Founded Adidas and Puma and the Family Feud That Forever Changed the Business of Sport by Barbara Smit.

 

We're On Our Way To Moscow

The all-England European Cup final marks a new flowering for English football

 

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