051408f - 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 Financial Times Oil prices are set to tell us what to do Oil is a finite resource; it drives global transport; and if emerging economies consumed it as Europeans do, world consumption would jump by 150 per cent. Don’t blame the high price on speculators and big bad oil companies, says Martin Wolf. The reality is different

The case for a league of democracies Ideological competition on the idea of a new international organisation is already under way, writes Robert Kagan

Candidates converge on Middle East policy For all the difference in temperament and outlook between them, many analysts and insiders say there are important points of continuity between the three main US presidential campaigns’ policies on the Middle East, despite the many controversies in the region

Saudis blame Iran for Lebanon ‘coup’ The kingdom described Hizbollah’s military actions in the country as a coup backed by Tehran, illustrating the regional tensions the crisis threatens to exacerbate

Christian Science Monitor

Iran's role rises as Iraq peace broker Details from a secret meeting between top Iranian and Iraqi officials signal Iran's aim to 'stop arming' militias.

Ahmadinejad versus the Technocrats Source: Middle Eastern Outlook (American Enterprise Institute)

Public Intellectuals 2.0 Daniel W. Drezner

Forecast for the next decade Ron Ben-Yishai

Washington Post Truth Serum on The Trail By Robert J. Samuelson, What a stump speech might sound like if the candidates were truthful.

Defense Secretary Urges Military to Mold Itself to Fight Iraq-Style Wars

U.S. Colonel Says Iran Is Assassinating Iraqi Officials

Washington Times A plan for Iran (By Harlan Ullman)

Wall Street Journal Maliki's Victory
Progress in Basra, and Sadr City.

Bullies of the Caucasus
By Thomas de Waal Abkhazia would be a problem for Georgia even without Russia.

Our Friends in Riyadh
By Karen Elliott House The American and Saudi cultures could hardly be more different.

The Serbian Civil War
A pariah or an EU state? It's up to the Serbs themselves.

Guardian Can Obama reshape foreign policy? Jonathan Steele: The presidential hopeful opposed the Iraq war and spoke sense about Iran, but expect business as usual on the Middle East

US pledges to support Lebanese army Bolstered Lebanese army to disarm Hizbullah fighters and resist Iranian and Syrian influence in the region

Courage of the mad Samir El-youssef: For Palestinians to forgive Israel would be risky, irrational even, but it could be the only hope

A Deadly Miscalculation in Lebanon By: Sami Moubayed | Asia Times As a test of strength, the Lebanese government and its Saudi Arabian backers received a bloody nose in the confrontation with Hezbollah in Beirut. The government woefully underestimated Hezbollah's reaction to having its communications -- spy -- system interfered with

The End of History By: Reuben F. Johnson | The Weekly Standard
Russia and the People's Republic of China are about to go head-to-head on issue of significant national security and strategic importance to both nations. Believe it or not, it is not about the placement of a gas pipeline, nuclear weapons development, or the rapidly rising price per barrel of Russian oil.

Ahmadinejad versus the Technocrats Source: Middle Eastern Outlook (American Enterprise Institute)

New York Times Thomas l. friedmanThe New Cold War The right question for the next U.S. president isn’t whether we talk or don’t talk with Iran. It’s whether we have leverage or don’t have leverage

Aid at the Point of a Gun By ROBERT D. KAPLAN A humanitarian invasion of Myanmar is militarily doable, but we would have to accept significant responsibility for the aftermath.

Gates Says New Arms Must Play Role Now

‘Prolonged Crisis’ in Lebanon Reflects ‘Cold War’ in Region - Council on Foreign Relations

The General's Chain of Blame in Iraq - Council on Foreign Relations

Asia Times US misses Iran opportunity
In a busy week for Iran, key nations negotiating with it over its nuclear program will present an incentive package for the Iranians to consider. At the same time, International Atomic Energy Agency officials will thrash out the last remaining issues on the Iran-IAEA agenda. US President George W Bush will also be in the region, but he won't be dropping by, even though Tehran has indicated they might be willing to talk. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi

West Must Learn to Manage China's Growing Middle East Influence By: Peter Kiernan | World Politics Review Given the projected robust growth in China's oil consumption over the next few decades, it will increasingly view the Middle East as a cornerstone of its energy security interests

Shifting Cash Away From U.S. Towards China By: Sharon Deghedy | The Media Line Major Arab Gulf investors are shifting towards Asian markets, and to China in particular. This trend is considered a slight move away from the United States and Europe, where both economic and political considerations are entangled, including strains in relations with the U.S. since 9/11

China and Japan The Economist
Relations between China and Japan have undoubtedly improved compared with just a few years ago. Yet while both governments recognise the strategic benefits of a stronger friendship, fundamental tensions and areas of strategic rivalry remain.

Robert Gates Remarks to the Heritage Foundation

Gates Urges Military to Focus on Current Wars - Josh White, Washington Post

BRIEFING: Who's next as Saudi king (By John R. Bradley)

'20th hijacker'
Why did the US drop charges against 9/11 suspect?

Why We Need Nukes and Gitmo By: Jonah Goldberg | Los Angeles Times Gitmo is routinely lumped in with the more legitimate outrage over mistreatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib and the more complicated controversies about renditions and CIA black sites. In reality, argues Andrew McCarthy in the current National Review, Gitmo "is probably the most scrutinized prison in modern history."

The 'Long War' Fallacy - Andrew Bacevich, Los Angeles Times opinion Iraq has shown the limits of U.S. power. We must change America, not the world

SPIEGEL ONLINE Interview with Lebanese Minister Nayla Moawad: 'Hezbollah Wants to Force its Ideology on Lebanon'

Newsweek Dickey: Why Iraq Will End Up Like Lebanon

Asia Times A deadly miscalculation in Lebanon As a test of strength, the Lebanese government and its Saudi Arabian backers received a bloody nose in the confrontation with Hezbollah in Beirut. The government woefully underestimated Hezbollah's reaction to having its communications - spy - system interfered with. And the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, with its convincing display of military superiority, made another clear statement: leave our arms alone. - Sami Moubayed

LA Times Worker struggle points up Egypt's problems

Labor groups have found support among Egyptians angry over rising food prices, low salaries, political repression and a government that often appears detached from its people

Latest scandal could topple Olmert

With Bush to visit Israel this week, the prime minister seems hemmed in by allegations of corruption that have rivals jockeying

Lebanon reaches out for international help

Pro-Western parties seek diplomatic or even military intervention amid Hezbollah's military onslaught, but the West appears unwilling to respond

Few are optimistic on economy

A new poll finds only 19% of consumers see an upturn within the next six months.

Washington Times Malaysia's democratic movement By Stuart E. Eizenstat The next president of the United States must determine how best to support the reformers in the third world -- especially the Muslim world -- which will require new approaches, a combination of both hard and soft U.S. power, and most importantly, strong, reliable allies.,

BUSH SAYS NEW ATTACK ON USA HIS WORST WORRY

Bush Promises Support that Analysts Say He Cannot Give

Rising Food Prices and Global Unrest by Ian Bremmer

Time Hizballah's Toughest Foe in Lebanon

Maliki's Imperfect Makeover

Guardian Shaken and stirred Simon Tisdall The Chinese earthquake will add to social strains caused by inflated prices, corrupt land grabs and ethnic differences

Lebanon: the army's role

Dilip Hiro The Lebanese army has remained scrupulously neutral during clashes between government and opposition. But can it last?

Moving times in Ukraine

Khaled Diab Ukraine is undergoing profound change and is grappling with the challenge of finding its place, and identity, in Europe

Gaza won't go away Ian Black: On any clear-eyed, practical view the continuing blockade can only contribute to more suffering, desperation and hatred

H 2 ANALYSIS-Turkey deals blow to PKK, faces non-military battle

Turkish Islamic Preacher - Threat or Benefactor? - Reuters

FT Markets fear rift between bank and Erdogan Turkey’s prime minister has denied talk of deteriorating relations with the central bank that fuelled concerns about economic policy ahead of an expected rate increase See the video interview of Jean Lemierre, president of the EBRD, at www.ft.com/vieweurope

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Do not undermine Turkey's most precious principle

Assessing risks of Turkish raids in N.Iraq Middle East Times

The future of the PKK: Can it target US interests? EMRE USLU & ÖNDER AYTAÇ

The Times A sober affair as Turkey welcomes Queen Ankara hopes the state visit by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will give its EU application a discreet and timely boost

Welcome to Turkey, Your Majesty Özdem SANBERK

The National Arrests Weaken Turkish 'Deep State'

BBC Royal diplomacy
Nicholas Witchell on the importance of the Queen's visit to Turkey

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

Temsilciden Bağdat’a kritik ziyaret

Writer Says Kurdish Relations With Turkey Should Not Focus on PKK

Iraqi Kurdistan PM's Statement Creates PUK-KDP Tension

Cevdet Aşkın

İBRAHİM KARAGÜL PKK Karabağ'a taşınıyor, Türkiye orayı vuracak mı?

Ali Bayramoğlu Dağılan PKK, vuran PKK…

KÖYDES’te aslan payı yine doğunun

Evin içini düzenlediniz mi

Kerkük’te PKK’nın izine rastlamadık

Kandil'den yardım yok

We should not blame the UN for what it is doing in Kirkuk

Dağlıca Taburu, AİHM'lik oldu

Turkish military intensifies air raids on PKK camps

US colonel: no PKK impact in Kirkuk

Ankara ‘normalizing’ relations with Iraq via continuous contact

Iran hitting PKK-affiliated PJAK members in northern Iraq

PKK, vurulan teröristlerin cesedini dereye atıyor

ABD itirafı: PKK’yı görmezden geldik

ABDULLAH MURADOĞLU

Kürt sorununa yeni bir bakış..

Neçirvan Barzani hafta sonu ABD'ye gidiyor

Iraqi Minister Reinstates 150 "Ba'Thist" Officers in Kirkuk - Kurdish Website

Committee decision might allow trial of DTP deputies

Türk to Erdoğan: PKK not cause, but effect of Kurdish problem

Iraqi Kurdish Figures Unhappy About UN Proposal for Further Delay in Article 140

DTP'li Yıldız'a telekulak cevabı: Mahkeme kararı ile herkes dinlenebilir

Kurdistan Issues in Press Interviews: Ali Bapir

Kuzey Irak açılımına DTP'den destek

Zehirlenme açıklaması Fransızca!

Rum işadamından Talat'ın onuruna yemek

HAKAN ALBAYRAK

Hani Hizbullah'ın işini bitireceklerdi?

TUSKON summit calls for overhaul of African trade

Bülent Keneş Africa closer to Anatolia now

Afrika zirvesinde hedef 3 milyar dolarlık iş hacmi

Türk to Erdoğan: PKK not cause, but effect of Kurdish problem

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

Welcome to Turkey, Your Majesty Özdem SANBERK

Sarkozy'den 5 mesaj geldi

Queen Elizabeth underlines British support for Turkey's EU bid

Yavuz Baydar The unbearable lightenss of ‘strategic relations’

Nasuhi Güngör Kraliçenin kodları

Mensur Akgün Avrupalılar Ay'dan Amerikalılar Mars'tan

Laiklik ülkenize referandum yapılarak mı getirildi

Baykal'a göre Batılıların en büyük yanlışı

'Exploratory talks with Greece intensifying in recent years'

Türkiye referandumundan vazgeçmiyor

Amanda Akçakoca Would the EU really suspend negotiations with Turkey?

Özdemir Kapatma Davasını Değerlendirdi

Babacan meets with Estonian delegation, French MP

Royal visit is key to strengthening EU links with Turkey

CHP considers Lagendijk persona non grata

Bahçeli de AB'ye rest çekti: Küstah Brüksel

'Atatürk de bizim Atamız'

İşte Türkiye’nin merak ettiği yemek

Yusuf KANLI Welcoming Queen Elizabeth II

Hasan Kanbolat The queen should have worn ‘erguvan’ but not green on Bursa visit

Marmara Group shed light on the future Eurasia Niki GAMM

Classified document comes to light

STELYO BERBERAKİS
Tankerci grevi komşuyu felç etti

Halklar Hizmet Bekliyor

Aralarında Türkiye’nin de bulunduğu 19 ülkede yapılan kamuoyu araştırması halkların demokrasiyi halka hizmet etmesi gereken bir rejim olarak gördüğünü ortaya koydu

Nagehan Alçı Kıbrıslı kadınlar bizden daha şanslı

AİHM'den 'gözaltında bekaret kontrolü' için Türkiye'ye ceza

Hadi Uluengin İki halk tek korku

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Prof. Buğra: "Sosyal yardım hak temelli olmalı"

İsmailağa cemaati üyelerinin saldırı görüntüleri

Sancak, Star Gazetesi ve Kanal 24'ün tek patronu oldu

A bill introducing new rules for acquiring Turkish citizenship ...

UNESCO listesinde İstanbul'un geleceği

Eşini döven eski vekil Ürün’e af çıktı

Komutana soruşturma

Kızıldere’nin tümgenerali öldü

‘Damatlara’ sahip çıktı

VATAN’ın gündeme getirdiği “Eniştelere kıyak terfi” AKP MYK toplantısında konuşuldu

Dağlıca mahkemelik oldu

3. Canlı yayında sert tartışma

Kuryenin güzergáhı çete çökertti

Askerleri üzen maaş maddesinde müjde

Erdoğan ısrarlı: Keşke 5-6 çocuğum olsaydı

TRT ve RTÜK’te ilginç atamalar

Türkiye’nİn iki güzide kurumu olan TRT ve RTÜK’te yapılan atamalar ve uygulamalar tartışma yarattı

14 Mayıs 2008 Basın Özeti

H3 Ankara'da şok

Paksüt'ün şüphesi narkotik takibi açığa çıkardı

Eski astsubaydan şok iddia

Başbakan geçmişe sünger için AKP’nin kapatılmasını istiyor

Hisarcıklıoğlu'ndan sert uyarı: Anadolu S.O.S veriyor

Yayınevi cinayetinde çarpıcı iddialar

Jandarmaların Dink itirafı, ana dosyaya girdi

6. Ankara’yı karıştıran TAKİP!

İlginç bir tesadüften başka ne olabilir ki?

Esrarengiz araç Paksüt’ü izledi

Başbakan içinden kapatma istiyor

Anayasa Mahkemesi hepimize ‘oh’ dedirtsin

Sen patinaja devam et

Ergenekoncular’a bir darbe de Özkan vurdu

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

Cengiz Çandar Kıbrıs'ta bardağın dolu yanı, boş yanı

Ahmet Taşgetiren Kraliçe bilecek mi?

İçkisiz lokanta bulmak... Ya da Anadolu'da dindarlaşma

Ruşen - Çakır Kapatma davasının sonucu üzerine 5 spekülasyon

Taha Akyol Danıştay Başkanı’ndan bir rica

Fikret Bila

Hasan Cemal Erdoğan’ın ekonomideki tehlikeli oyunu mu?..

Murat Yetkin

İsmet Berkan

Fehmi Koru Yargılama süreci uzar mı?

Taha Kıvanç Gönlüm müsterih değil, Hürriyet!

Şamil Tayyar Dehşet senaryo ve kritik sorular

Ali Bayramoğlu Bir gün gerçekten mümkün olacak mı? Dağılan PKK, vuran PKK…

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök Üç harekát sırasında dört cephenin durumu

İsmail Küçükkaya
Kapatma davası sandığa nasıl yansır?

Serdar Turgut Babacan'ı üzen nokta

Ali Bulaç Türkiye muhafazakârlaşıyor mu?

Mustafa Ünal Kulislerde konuşulanlar

Malatya katliamı davasında yeni iddia

Nuray Başaran Makul devlet

Gülay Göktürk YÖK’ün ÖSS teklifi

Brown’s political life is under threat, Baykal’s is not by BEKİR ÇINAR*

İsrafil Kumbasar Savaşta silahlarını düşmanına satan bir Kuvvacı olabilir mi?

Oray Eğin İçki mi zararlıdır özgürlük mü?

Doğu Ergil The Republican People’s Party and the problem of opposition

Nabi Yağcı Ne şeriat ne darbe

Aziz Üstel Uğur Dündar Tuncay Özkan’ı anlatıyor

’Oh’ dedirtecek bir karar lazım

1. İşte Vatan ekibine yapılan lincin görüntüleri

Official voices AK Party’s hope for quick resolution to closure case

AKP yeniden kampa giriyor

Bahçeli: I would be pleased if AK Party not closed

Eski ANAP'lı vekile Ergenekon sorgusu

Özkan to found alternative party to CHP after Kanaltürk sale

Yenisini de satarsın

CHP'li Önder Sav, 1 Mayıs'ta 'gaz bombası'nı savunmuş

Menderes, İnönü'den daha fazla Atatürkçüydü

[YORUM - YARD. DOÇ. DR. ADNAN KÜÇÜK] 14 Mayıs 'Hürriyet ve Demokrasi Bayramı' olsun

'Enerjini niçin partin için harcamıyorsun?' sorusu Şener'i kızdırdı

'Şantajla medya satın alındı'

Baykal, Başbakan'ın dokunulmazlıkla korunamayacağını söyledi.

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Cari açık büyüyor, gelen para azalıyor

Ercan Kumcu Kabahatli kim

Ege Cansen Hayatın iktisadiliği işte budur

Erdal Sağlam

Tight monetary, expansionary fiscal policy stance?

Turkish employment reform destined to fail-employers | Reuters

Turkey's Jan-Apr budget deficit 5.4 bln YTL

TOBB head: Turkey needs $45 billion to avoid crisis

Acil 45 milyar YTL lazım

Deniz Gökçe OVMÇ ne diyor?

Ali Tezel Keyif kaçtı

İ.Hüseyin Yıldız
Üretemiyoruz ama ihracatımızı artırabiliyoruz

Erdoğan ısrarlı: Keşke 5-6 çocuğum olsaydı

H4 New York Times Thomas l. friedmanThe New Cold War The right question for the next U.S. president isn’t whether we talk or don’t talk with Iran. It’s whether we have leverage or don’t have leverage

Aid at the Point of a Gun By ROBERT D. KAPLAN A humanitarian invasion of Myanmar is militarily doable, but we would have to accept significant responsibility for the aftermath.

Gates Says New Arms Must Play Role Now

Quake Toll Rises; China Struggles to Reach Victims Rescue workers struggled to reach the tens of thousands of people who remained buried in the aftermath of the earthquake, as the death toll climbed above 13,000.

A Rescue in China, Uncensored

The rescue effort playing on Chinese television is remarkable for a country that has a history of concealing the scope of natural calamities.

Editorial The Post-Bush Climate

However this election turns out, the United States will have a president who supports mandatory cuts in greenhouse gases.

Shame on the Junta China must use all its influence to press Myanmar’s generals to open up to relief efforts, before there are no more victims left to save.

Clinton Beats Obama Handily in W. Virginia Racial considerations emerged as an unusually salient factor in Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s lopsided victory over Senator Barack Obama.

Transcript: Clinton’s Speech

maureen dowd Raspberry for Barry Barack Obama is acting the diffident debutante, pretending not to care that he was given a raspberry by West Virginia, a state he will need in the fall

Bloggingheads: Why Hillary Persists

Factory Visit Tied to Ouster of Attachés From Russia

New Problems and Old Friction Put British Premier in Political Jeopardy

Nationalist Premier of Serbia Teams Up With Radical Party

World Briefing | Middle East: Saudi Arabia: Iran Accused of Backing Hezbollah

Blair Unveils Proposals to Improve Life on the West Bank

North Korea Documents Make Debut, at a Distance

Earthquake in China Highlights the Vulnerability of Schools in Many Countries

Libertarian Juggernaut

By TOBIN HARSHAW

The new Bob Barr, and his candidacy, are examined and assessed

Officers Battle Visa Hurdles for Iraq Aides Veterans have rallied to help Iraqi interpreters working for U.S. forces through the difficulties, bureaucratic and otherwise, to obtain visas to immigrate to the U.S

EXCERPT; ‘Standard Operating Procedure’

H5 Washington Post Truth Serum on The Trail By Robert J. Samuelson, What a stump speech might sound like if the candidates were truthful.

Defense Secretary Urges Military to Mold Itself to Fight Iraq-Style Wars

U.S. Colonel Says Iran Is Assassinating Iraqi Officials

Editorial Saved by China Beijing rescues its own disaster victims -- and Burma's junta

Death Toll Rising in China Quake Fatalities Are Expected to Climb Further As Teams Search for Thousands Still Trapped

Clinton Handily Defeats Obama in West Virginia Victory Does Little to Tighten the Delegate Race

The Less the Education, the Higher the Risk of Dying Early The difference in death rates between highly educated and poorly educated people in the United States is very wide and growing wider, according to new research.

Charges Against 9/11 Suspect Dropped His Statements Were the Result of Abusive Interrogation, Officials Say

Mrs. McCain's Refusal The wife of an ethics-and-transparency crusader seeking the presidency shouldn't shield her tax filings

McCain's America By Harold Meyerson, It's John McCain's America. Barack Obama only lives in it

Phobia at the Gates By Andrew Sullivan, It seems unthinkable that the U.S. should legally ban all non-Americans who are HIV-positive. But it's true.

H6 Guardian Can Obama reshape foreign policy? Jonathan Steele: The presidential hopeful opposed the Iraq war and spoke sense about Iran, but expect business as usual on the Middle East

US pledges to support Lebanese army Bolstered Lebanese army to disarm Hizbullah fighters and resist Iranian and Syrian influence in the region

Courage of the mad Samir El-youssef: For Palestinians to forgive Israel would be risky, irrational even, but it could be the only hope

Shaken and stirred Simon Tisdall The Chinese earthquake will add to social strains caused by inflated prices, corrupt land grabs and ethnic differences

Lebanon: the army's role

Dilip Hiro The Lebanese army has remained scrupulously neutral during clashes between government and opposition. But can it last?

Moving times in Ukraine

Khaled Diab Ukraine is undergoing profound change and is grappling with the challenge of finding its place, and identity, in Europe

Gaza won't go away Ian Black: On any clear-eyed, practical view the continuing blockade can only contribute to more suffering, desperation and hatred

As Burma dies, our macho invaders sit on their hands Simon Jenkins: The Chinese quake gave relief to western leaders whose hypocrisy on intervention is exposed by post-cyclone inaction

Storms hamper quake rescue efforts More than 18,000 people remain buried in one city in China, a death toll that may rise from aftershocks

No quick fixes Leader: There is a telling contrast between China's handling of a natural disaster and Burma's

Clinton easily wins West Virginia

Hillary Clinton records landslide victory, renewing questions about reach of Barack Obama's appeal

Money for nothing

Björn Lomborg If countries in Europe stick to current projections, they will postpone global warming by just days and waste billions: why not spend that on aid now?

One state, no solutions Michael Tomasky: US elections 2008: Hillary Clinton won the West Virginia primary by a big margin, yet it's unlikely to help her much

Better out now than for a generation Jonathan Freedland: Labour optimists still think they can win in 2010, but a spell in opposition could perhaps let the party redefine its purpose

Six bomb blasts kill dozens in Jaipur Explosions rip through markets and main temple complex in popular tourist destination

Our own best interest

Patrick Collinson: Anyone who shops for food or fills their car with petrol knows that real prices are rising faster than 3% a year. But do we fear inflation too much?

Adding shame to humiliation

Matthew Harwood May 13 08, 09:30pm: The Bush administration is failing to live up to its obligations and resettle Iraqi refugees in the US

H 7

Ahmadinejad versus the Technocrats Source: Middle Eastern Outlook (American Enterprise Institute)

Hezbollah's guns trump the pen By Claude Salhani

Lebanon is a country of contradictions where age-old myths are deconstructed in a manner similar in which one would debunk a child's fairy tale — except in Lebanon that construction is usually carried out in a manner involving utmost violence

Survey: Gulf Between Democracy in Theory and Practice

Countering Iran - Reuel Marc Gerecht

Assessing the Muslim Brotherhood "Firewall" - Marc Lynch, Abu Aardvark

Remember Basra? - Peter Wehner, National Review

More Gains in Iraq - New York Post editorial

Maliki Stands Firm - Max Boot, Contentions

The Iranian Connection By: Claudia Rosett | National Review
In Lebanon, the Iranian-backed vanguard of terror known as Hezbollah has again drawn its weapons to provoke the worst crisis since it launched a war against Israel in the summer of 2006

Hezbollah's shots ring in Bush's ears
Just about everything the George W Bush administration has tried in the Middle East over the past few years has undermined United States standing and influence in the region, even as it has enhanced Tehran's. Yet as Bush visits Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week, he might be able to turn Hezbollah's stunning show of strength in Lebanon to his advantage. - Jim Lobe

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

Saudis Send Sharp Warning to Iran Over Lebanon - Associated Press

Cease-fire Holds in Sadr City After Deadly Clashes –

Iran Hard-liners Come Out Against Iraqi-US Deal –

Army ups Beirut presence

Lebanon's army, facing intense criticism for failing to intervene during six days of fighting between Hezbollah and pro-government militias, established a strong presence yesterday in Beirut, Tripoli and the Chouf Mountains overlooking Beirut.

Al Qaeda reward slashed by U.S.The Bush administration has slashed its reward for the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq from $5 million to $100,000 because it feels he's lost effectiveness and is no longer worth such a steep price, officials said yesterday.

Ahmadinejad to Offer Proposals to Ease Nuclear Row - Reuters

Bush begins tour of Middle East

President Bush blames Iran for troubles

Lebanon army 'ready to use force' The Lebanese army says it is prepared to use force to disarm gunmen and restore order across the country.

Ex Officials: Bush Admin Ignored Iraq Corruption

Iran Involved in Sadr City Truce, Says Iraqi MP

Civil War Fears Loom Large Over Lebanese City

Arab League Travels to Beirut to Broker Peace

Real Nowhere Land - Amin Abbas, The Australian opinion

Lebanon Army 'Ready to Use Force' - BBC News

Interview of the President By Lukman Ahmed, BBC Arabic

Interview of the President By Mona Shazli, Dream TV, Egypt

H9 Ha’aretz – Editorial Educating Hamas Israel is interested in a cease-fire with Hamas and there is no point in pretending that this is not so

Rosner A job half-done

Olmert to hand Bush a weapons wish list

Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer slam Bush's Mideast policy

Police quiz U.S. tycoon Sheldon Adelson as part of Olmert probe

Israel to transfer security in Jenin area to Palestinians

Israel: Our Hope Is Not Yet Lost By: Zvi Bar'el | Haaretz
A prime minister who is under criminal investigation -- not to mention a trial -- should not expect that his busy involvement with a diplomatic process, and pledges of peace or war, will shield him

Jerusalem Post Olmert: Understandings reached in talks with Palestinians

Bush in context

Of all the US presidents over the past 60 yrs, it's hard to think of a better friend to Israel than Bush.

Yedioth Ahronoth Lebanon Turns into Iranian Colony - Alex Fishman

What to do with Hamas?/ Breiman

Toppling Hamas rule bad for Israel; we should weaken it, cut off Gaza aid instead

Bush en route to Israel
Political sources say US president won't be pressing Israel on sensitive issues such as construction in settlements, outpost evacuation; meanwhile, Jerusalem residents brace for major disruptions as taxi driver warns of 'chaos' ,,

'Progress? What progress?'

PA officials react with skepticism to Olmert's remarks on 'understandings' reached in talks

Distancing from Israel

Many Diaspora Jews feel alienated from Israel because of its success, Sever Plocker says

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

Forecast for the next decade Ron Ben-Yishai

Israel: In an interview with the Atlantic published Monday, Obama said the idea of a Jewish state is "fundamentally just," and said his position on Hamas is "indistinguishable" from the positions of his opponents.

The past, historians like to say, is another country. Israeli history is another galaxy, writes Carlin Romano... more»

Daily Telegraph Israel's anxiety as Jews prefer Germany Many Israelis have chosen to beat a path in the opposite direction to their ancestors, living and working in Europe and America, notes Harry de Quetteville.

Israel's Right to a State - Jeff Jacoby (Boston Globe)

Bush Heads Back to Mideast Amid Fading Peace Hopes – Reuters

Rice Says Mideast Peace Improbable, Not Impossible - Associated Press

Olmert Claims Progress with Abbas - BBC News

Hamas Rejects Israeli Truce Terms - BBC News

Michael Goldfarb / Weekly Standard Blog:
Obama Advisor: Put Jerusalem on Negotiating Table

Israel: Writing in Slate, Christopher Hitchens questions whether Israel is likely to survive as a Jewish state for another sixty years. PostGlobal panelists examine a similar question in a new debate.

Former Arab Warlord Ready for Coexistence with Israel

Jihadists Unfazed By Israel's Many Attempts to Make Peace - Robert Fulford

‘The Rise of Israel’

H1 0 Christian Science Monitor

Iran's role rises as Iraq peace broker Details from a secret meeting between top Iranian and Iraqi officials signal Iran's aim to 'stop arming' militias.

Low hopes for Bush Mideast trip

He'll celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary, but meet with Israel's Olmert and Palestinian territories' Abbas separately.

U.S. Army to Baghdadis: Do you really live here? As Iraqis return to Baghdad neighborhoods once racked by sectarian violence, the US military wants to ensure that squatters aren't laying claim to their houses.

What Would Really Rebuild Iraq - War has totally disrupted family, education, and culture.

Rodgers and Alamiri,

China: Why Did the Schools Collapse? Earthquake experts say the collapsed schools may be a sign of poor construction despite adequate building codes

Saudi Arabia's first women-only hotel: Is it progress? Some say it's a sanctuary for business women. Others see it as another sign of gender segregation in a male-dominated society

ASIA

Malaysia's democratic movement By Stuart E. EizenstatThe next president of the United States must determine how best to support the reformers in the third world -- especially the Muslim world -- which will require new approaches, a combination of both hard and soft U.S. power, and most importantly, strong, reliable allies.

Medvedev's Visit to China Will Strengthen Russian-Chinese Relations - Russian Ambassador

Struggle to reach quake trapped

Chinese rescuers battle rain and blocked roads as they try to reach thousands buried by a devastating earthquake.

Quake Exposes Widening Wealth Gap With the death toll from China's earthquake passing 12,000, the disaster is throwing a harsh spotlight on the gap between the nation's rich and poor. The quake inflicted the most damage on relatively poor, rural areas, which have less stringent building

Aasim Sajjad Akhtar of Lahore University of Management Sciences, writing about Pakistan, says the contradictions of a 60-year-old obsolete and oppressive political order are now becoming increasingly glaring and the possibilities of implosion are heightened with each passing day.

In an editorial on the withdrawal from the coalition government of the Pakistan Muslim League, the paper warns that Pakistan could be entering another round of politics of vendetta in which a divided nation will not even know the extent of harm its passions have done to it. This time around, interrupted democracy may actually yield even worse results than the political musical chairs of the 1990s, it believes.

In an editorial on what it calls Pakistan’s crumbling coalition, the paper says the breakdown must not become the first and the last stone to fatally divide the political community – which, it says, has come together after many years of despotic rule to defend and pursue its common goals.

China: 19,000 Buried, 13,000 Dead - Macartney and Naughton, London Times

Toll Rises; China Struggles to Reach Victims - Wong and Hooker, New York Times

Japan: A poll looks at U.S. opinion of Japan (Asahi) as a bilateral partner. Most still find it the most trustworthy country in Asia, but some believe the importance of the U.S.-Japanese relationship is declining.

INDIA: USA SHOULD GO ON A DIET...

Does China operate sweatshops? How could you know? One way to find out is to send over some inspectors. Easy... more»

China's building codes not always followed

Engineers say much unregulated construction had taken place over the years in areas hit hardest by Monday's quake

Rising Food Prices in East Asia: Challenges and Policy Options
Source: World Bank Full Report (PDF; 970 KB)

Deal on Role for Islamic Law in NW Pakistan Area - Associated Press

Nuke papers 'appear to be complete,' envoy says

A U.S. envoy who brought back thousands of nuclear records from North Korea last week said yesterday that the set "appears to be complete" and that Pyongyang promised to "cooperate fully" on verifying the documents' content

Bomb Blasts Kill 60 in India –

Six Bombs in 15 Minutes Leave at Least 80 Dead - Rhys Blakely, London Times

Pakistan's Government in Turmoil - BBC News

Shipload of Chinese Arms Sheds Light on 'Noninterference' Tack By: Frank Ching | The Japan Times
China is an equal-opportunity arms trader, happy to supply to stable and unstable regimes alike, but recent events in Africa may change that.

The United Nations Can Save Burma By: Ivo Daadler and Paul Stares | The Boston Globe
The military junta in Burma is failing the most basic responsibility of any government to take care of its citizens.

A review of Bamboo Goalposts: One Man’s Quest to Teach the People’s Republic of China to Love Football by Rowan Simons.

H11 IHT ISRAEL AT 60

My land, my pain By DANIEL BARENBOIM Either we Israelis will find a way to live with the Palestinians or we will kill each other. What gives me hope? Music-making.

SAVING BURMA'S PEOPLE

The UN's responsibility to protect

By IVO DAALDER AND PAUL STARES International pressure must be increased on the Burmese junta.

A battered Gordon Brown faces more blows A by-election may spell the end of the British leader's hold on the Labour Party, while two memoirs paint rather unflattering portraits

As French-speakers spread north in Belgium, Flemish hear a threat A dispute over what the official language should be for children in a small town north of Brussels has become the focus of those in Belgium who want an independent Flemish state.

2 expelled U.S. envoys visited Russian military plant The two American military attachés who were expelled from Russia early this month, days ahead of the Victory Day martial parade on Red Square, had made an uninvited visit to a military aviation factory in Siberia that Russia regards as strategic, several American officials said.

In inaugural address, Berlusconi is somber and vows to focus on economic growth

Thirsty Barcelona imports drinking water

Blair seeks easing of conditions for Palestinians

EUROPE European press review

Serving Europe
Battle lines are drawn over the planned EU diplomatic corps

Bosnia: The Bankruptcy Vote ISA
The Federation entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina is about to spend most of its budget for this year on payments to war veterans and war invalid, and the entity's finance minister and international experts are predicting bankruptcy by October.

EU: Newsweek International previews talks on installing a new EU president but questions how much clout the official will have once in office.

Greece: The Economist notes that per-capita cigarette consumption is higher in Greece than any other country in the world.

Europe could get manned spaceship

EADS Astrium plans a variant of its space station truck, the ATV, that could fly European astronauts.

H12 RFE/RL

Google News Azerbaijan

Putin Appears to Be the Big Winner By: Nabi Abdullaev and Miriam Elder | The Moscow Times
Occupying the Kremlin chair he sat in for eight years as president, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday gave a first clue of where power will lie during the presidency of his protege, Dmitry Medvedev.

The Big Question: Why is Stalin still popular in Russia, despite the brutality of his regime?

Talks on New Russia-Eu Agreement May Begin in June

Medvedev's Visit to China Will Strengthen Russian-Chinese Relations - Russian Ambassador

EU Ministers Urge Peace on Georgia Mission By: Renata Goldirova | EU Observer
The EU has stepped up pressure on Moscow and Tbilisi to avoid any further escalation of tension over Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

FT REPORT - UKRAINE 2008: Shaking off Soviet legacy

The Freedom of Institutions, The Editors of openDemocracy Russia and Polit.ru

Russia: the European factor, Alexei Makarkin

Andijan, Germany and Europe, Marcus Bensmann

Georgia, Abkhazia, Russia: the war option, Robert Parsons

H13 The Times 'Tony Blair's heart sank at Bush win'

Cherie Blair has revealed how her husband was horrified at the new US President's shaky grasp of foreign affairs

Why Hezbollah should be condemned When Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006 the world was outraged. What about Hezbollah now? Dean Godson

Blair plan to roll back West Bank occupation Checkpoints would be withdrawn under plan to allow free movement and increase trade and jobs for Palestinians

Clinton takes W Virginia but defeat still looms Hillary Clinton won a landslide victory but did little to loosen Barack Obama's stranglehold on the Democratic nomination

A sober affair as Turkey welcomes the Queen

Ankara hopes the state visit by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will give its EU application a discreet and timely boost

China and Burma: a seismic shift

China responds to disaster with compassion; Burma remains criminally negligent

China quake: 19,000 buried in rubble, toll rises

Wall Street Journal Maliki's Victory
Progress in Basra, and Sadr City.

Bullies of the Caucasus
By Thomas de Waal
Abkhazia would be a problem for Georgia even without Russia.

Our Friends in Riyadh
By Karen Elliott House
The American and Saudi cultures could hardly be more different.

The Serbian Civil War
A pariah or an EU state? It's up to the Serbs themselves.

Our Great Economic U-TurnBy Thomas Frank
When did we hold a referendum on plutocracy?

Warming to McCain

By Holman W. Jenkins Jr.
Business World: The politics of climate change is changing.

German War Guilt and the Jewish State
By Daniel Schwammenthal
As Israel celebrates its 60th anniversary there is no denying that the Jewish state has an image problem in Europe.

Who Stole the American Spirit?
By Zachary Karabell
Our economic woes are not serious enough to justify such pessimism.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Farm income is near an all-time high, so let's give growers another subsidy

Clinton's Win Brings Little Reward Clinton trounced Obama in West Virginia's primary, as expected. But her negligible payback in convention delegates illustrates why her rival and her party are turning away from her to begin the fight against

Recession? Not So Fast, Say Some

A growing number of economists are less pessimistic about a recession. Retail sales, excluding autos, were surprisingly firm in April, as consumer spending and the U.S. economy continue to grow.

NAFTA: A scholar at the Peterson Institute examines what Canada and Mexico might seek (PDF) if NAFTA is reopened.

H14 Financial Times Oil prices are set to tell us what to do Oil is a finite resource; it drives global transport; and if emerging economies consumed it as Europeans do, world consumption would jump by 150 per cent. Don’t blame the high price on speculators and big bad oil companies, says Martin Wolf. The reality is different

The case for a league of democracies Ideological competition on the idea of a new international organisation is already under way, writes Robert Kagan

Is Larry Summers the canary in the mine? Views on trade should alarm developing countries

Darwin, marriage and the Iraq war Evidence-based policy is sought by government, but mostly the result is policy-based evidence. In Iraq, this led to disaster, writes John Kay

Europe and US reject calls to shut door on foreign investors

The US and European Union yesterday tried to quell rising global protectionism by declaring their openness to foreign investment, including from sovereign funds

IMF points to inflationary threat in Gulf Inflation is the most pressing problem facing the region, which is reaping the benefits of record oil revenues but does not have the tools available to cap rising prices

Grim logic to silencing of Sunni media The Hizbollah has moved against the television, radio and newspaper of the Future movement as the Shia militant group seeks to prevent the party from mobilising support

Truce hopes dim as Israel rebuffs plan The rejection of an Egypt-sponsored peace proposal and the firing of a rocket by Palestinian militants further weakened the chances of a ceasefire with Hamas

Clinton wins West Virginia primary

Hillary Clinton vowed to fight on with her presidential bid after a landslide victory in the West Virginia primary but promised to ”work my heart out” to ensure a Democratic victory in November whoever wins the nomination

Obama focuses on battle with McCain Hillary Clinton wins a landslide victory in West Virginia in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. But Barack Obama is already behaving as though he were in a general election battle with John McCain

Making hay: Farmers cling to subsidiesProducers no longer need protection from low prices, but it looks like a golden opportunity to reform distorting and damaging policies will be missed

Italy pushes for reform of Schengen deals Franco Frattini, foreign minister, insisted that Rome would act within EU law. However, he told the Financial Times he believed the agreements on open borders needed ‘updating’

Medvedev finalises his team Analysts noted that the most senior appointments were all closely linked to Vladimir Putin, former president and now prime minister, cementing his continuing influence

Fed looks at ways to fight asset bubbles The US Federal Reserve is reconsidering the way it deals with asset price bubbles in the wake of the housing and credit bust, in a move that could see the central bank using regulation – or even interest rates – to fight unjustified increases

Edward Luce: West Virginia changes nothing Professing herself “more determined than ever” to continue until the end of the Democratic primaries, Hillary Clinton peaked at least two months too late in the West Virginia vote for it to make much of a difference to her prospects

Emperor for life? Google’s dominance has been based on offering the best product. Its rivals had better start offering a credible alternative

Whitehall needs urgent reform

Too many schemes are like the structures children build with toy bricks – only too likely to come tumbling down, writes John Bourn

Darling’s desperate tax giveaway

Alistair Darling’s plan to put up personal allowances makes sense as policy, but climbdowns have left the government’s fiscal credibility in tatters

Bad UK inflation means no rate cuts

A period of poor growth at the same time as high inflation will hurt: but it is better than a plunge off the tightrope to either side

H15 Los Angeles Times A shaky truce takes hold in Sadr City

Defense Secretary Robert Gates urges military to focus on needs in Iraq, Afghanistan

Keep stockpiling oil Congress voted to stop filling the strategic reserve. But the U.S. could be in for trouble if it stops now

Hillary Clinton wins by a landslide in West Virginia With most of the vote counted, she leads 66% to 27%. Obama conceded before the polls closed

Worker struggle points up Egypt's problems

Labor groups have found support among Egyptians angry over rising food prices, low salaries, political repression and a government that often appears detached from its people

Latest scandal could topple Olmert

With Bush to visit Israel this week, the prime minister seems hemmed in by allegations of corruption that have rivals jockeying

Lebanon reaches out for international help

Pro-Western parties seek diplomatic or even military intervention amid Hezbollah's military onslaught, but the West appears unwilling to respond

Few are optimistic on economy

A new poll finds only 19% of consumers see an upturn within the next six months.

Rescue workers race death in China as toll hits 12,000

In Mianyang, 18,000, including many children, are believed to be still buried

Editorial

The 'Long War' Fallacy - Andrew Bacevich, Los Angeles Times opinion Iraq has shown the limits of U.S. power. We must change America, not the world

War wounds we don't see

U.S. soldiers hurt in Iraq and Afghanistan are surviving at high rates -- but more have neglected brain injuries.

Jimmy Carter and Hamas

Judea Pearl and George Bisharat discuss the former president's talks with Hamas

H16 American Politics

Clinton Wins West Virginia Primary by Wide Margin

RESULTS...
Delegate Scorecard...
Popular Vote Totals...
Carville: 'I have undated check written out for Obama...'

Clinton ‘more determined than ever’ after big win

Early WV exit poll highlights

Poll: Obama trouncing Clinton in Oregon

Clinton: 'Race is not over yet'

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

No Veep Slot for Hillary by Dick Morris

H17 Daily Telegraph

Israel's anxiety as Jews prefer Germany

Many Israelis have chosen to beat a path in the opposite direction to their ancestors, living and working in Europe and America, notes Harry de Quetteville.

China earthquake: Death toll hits 12,000

The first rescue workers have reached the epicentre of the Chinese earthquake and discovered a scene of devastation with tens of thousands missing, many presumed dead

Blair: Israel to remove checkpoints

Tony Blair, in his role as Mideast envoy, yesterday said that Israel has agreed to remove several West Bank checkpoints and ease the flow of traffic through others.

Cameron, prove to me that you're a Tory

Despite being way ahead in the polls, the Conservative Party stands for very little. Simon Heffer worries that recent successes at a wounded Labour's expense will bring David Cameron to believe his own publicity

H18 Independent Leading article: A tool of foreign ambitions After more than 30 years of civil war, invasion and conflict, you might have thought that the poor people of Lebanon deserved a period of peace and reconstruction. It is apparently not to be.

The spectre of 'stagflation'

A combination of stagnant output and high inflation not seen for decades is set to haunt policy makers for months if not years to come.

The Big Question: Why is Stalin still popular in Russia, despite the brutality of his regime?

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

9/11 blow? Why did US drop charges against '20th hijacker'?

Robert Gates Remarks to the Heritage Foundation

Gates Urges Military to Focus on Current Wars - Josh White, Washington Post

Gates on Low-Intensity Warfare - Max Boot, Contentions

That's Why Abu Muqawama Loves You, Bobby - Abu Muqawama

The Ghosts of Vietnam - Richard Fernandez, The Belmont Club

Vietnam Ghosts - Phillip Carter, Intel Dump

The Daily Show - Douglas Feith Uncut

Prisons in Counterinsurgency - Herschel Smith, The Captain's Journal

Lessons Not Learned: Contracting Out Iraqi Army Advising by Peter W. Singer at The Brookings Institution, 12 May 2008.

Air Force Air Refueling: The KC-X Aircraft Acquisition Program (Updated 4 April 2008) (PDF; 808 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

Strategic Airlift Modernization: Analysis of C-5 Modernization and C-17 Acquisition Issues (PDF; 428 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

a review of books on the rise of the Muslim terrorists

Philip Bobbitt on the Futility of the War on Terror

A review of Torture Team: Deception, Cruelty and the Compromise of Law by Philippe Sands.

An excerpt from Standard Operating Procedure by Philip Gourevitch and Errol Morris.

Counterfeiting – A Matter of National Security By: Jay Fraser | Threats Watch
No matter how you look at the problem, counterfeiting is a serious issue. Counterfeiting affects companies, it serves as a means of funding of terrorist activities and it preys on the unknowing customer who is victimized by faulty products, phony documents or worse, substitute ingredients or parts of products whose quality is assumed and depended upon by the purchaser. The strange thing is that there are really no products that are immune to the counterfeiter

“Burying the Ghosts of Vietnam”

Virtual Iraq By: Sue Halpern | The New Yorker
In November, 2004, when he was nineteen years old, a marine I’ll call Travis Boyd found himself about to rush the roof of the tallest building in the northern end of Falluja in the midst of a firefight.

H20 Slate The West Virginia Pasting Is Obama's lead durable enough to withstand Tuesday's rout?
John Dickerson

Detainee 063

Did the Pentagon drop charges against Mohammed al-Qahtani because he was tortured?

A Few Good Soldiers

More members of the military turn against the terror trials.

Democratic Defection

Large swaths of Democratic Kentucky voters say they'll vote for McCain in November.

Barcelona forced to import emergency water

Global Warming and Climate Change

Rising Food Prices in East Asia: Challenges and Policy Options
Source: World Bank Full Report (PDF; 970 KB)

a review of The End of Food by Paul Roberts.

State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2008 (PDF; 680 KB)
Source: World Bank

Climate change: Both Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama and responded to Sen. John McCain's speech on climate change Monday. Read Clinton's response here, and Obama's here.

A cornucopia for rich farmers

Farm subsidies will cost each US household about $320, the price to please agribusiness

H21

Public Intellectuals 2.0 Daniel W. Drezner

An interview with Robert Pollock on how The Wall Street Journal editorial page gets made.

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realclearpolitics Drudge Report

Current News Early Bird OpinionSource truthout Dayan Current Contents Blogometer Wikipedia technorati Slate's Today's Blogs ABC’s The Note eurointelligence The Page First Read

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PostGlobal - AmericaAbroad -The Corner - Passport - huffingtonpost / Pajamas Media / Open University / CounterterrorismBlog Today in Iraq / OutSide the Beltway - InstaPundit - winds of change Kausfiles - Becker Posner-andrewsullivan.com - Registan - armscontrolwonk - IsraPundit Regime Change Iran – Martin Kramer - Dani Rodrik