052108f  - FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analyses for informed debate’ Compiled by Þanlý Bahadýr 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 INSS  Israel's Policy Options An Israeli policy brief considering the possibility of progress in the peace processes with Syria and with the Palestinians

 

Forging a New Future For America - Senator Barack Obama

 

Iran's proposal for "constructive negotiations" (.pdf).

New York Times THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Imbalances of Power It is hard to remember a time when more shifts in the global balance of power are happening at once — with so few in America’s favor

MAUREEN DOWD The Last Debate Hillary, you’ve been a great candidate, better than your train-wreck campaign. But now it’s time for you to try to muster a gracious exit.

 
China’s Class Divide By DANIEL A. BELL Perhaps the Sichuan earthquake can do some good by helping dispel a widespread myth: that the new generation of Chinese students are materialistic and selfish.

 

Obama Says Nomination ‘Within Reach’  Barack Obama said that he had amassed enough pledged delegates to claim a nearly insurmountable advantage over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

 

Operation in Sadr City Is an Iraqi Success, So Far  Militias melted away as Iraqi forces pushed into a Shiite enclave, but no one can say where they might re-emerge.

 

 Financial Times Preserving the open economy at times of stress

Everybody should remember, above all, that the opening of the world economy is the west’s greatest economic policy achievement. It would be a tragedy if it were to turn its back on the world when the rest of humanity is at last turning towards it, writes Martin Wolf

 

Shortage fears push oil futures near $140 Fears of a shortage within five years propelled long-term oil futures prices to almost $140 a barrel, further stoking inflationary pressures in the global economy

 

Solving the $130 oil conundrum

There is no doubt the world will adjust to high oil prices. Yet the adjustment would be far easier if oil producers discovered they could expand their output

 

Georgia poll to shape relations with Moscow The Caucasus region state will hold an election that will test the ability of Mikheil Saakashvili to handle pressure from Russia over his admistration’s pro-west policies  

 Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria: Hopes Meet Reality | Stratfor

 

The IISS launched on Tuesday 20 May 2008, the latest in its series of Strategic Dossiers, entitled Nuclear Programmes in the Middle East: In the shadow of Iran launch.  A live stream of the presentation and Q&A session during the launch of this dossier is available.  Click here for the press statement.   Read more on the dossier>

 

Asia Times Bush's Middle East policy in tatters
The George W Bush administration's failure in rolling back Syrian and Iranian influence in Lebanon pales in comparison with the withering away of its Arab-Israeli "peace process". Time and again during Bush's recent Middle East tour, what emerged was the palpable sense that the US has been all but marginalized from a new Middle East that is taking shape. And now China, too, has appeared on the region's chessboard. - M K Bhadrakumar

White House Denies Plan to Attack Iran

Jerusalem Post Israel fears Russia will sell Syria arms Top Syrian military delegation in Moscow for talks on MiGs, ballistic missiles, submarines

Washington Post Defense's Realist Rebel By Michael Gerson, 

In confronting our military shortcomings, Robert Gates has become genuinely transformational

 

U.S. Deploys a Purpose-Driven Distinction Reluctance to Identify Foes as Sadrists Reflects View of Iran and Fragility of Security Gains

 

Iraq Sends Troops Into Sadr City

Large Deployment Aims to Restore Order in Shiite Area; Situation 'Calm'

Tehran Urges New Round Of Talks

A Two-State Solution for the United States and Israel  by David Bromwich

 

Russia-China: Axis of Convenience, Bobo Lo

 

IHT  Europe aims to build links with Mediterranean neighbors Less than two months before the debut of a new Union for the Mediterranean, pioneered by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the European Commission sought to put its stamp on the plan with a series of recommendations.  

 

When faith and culture collide

By H.D.S. GREENWAY Can religion have a place in the legal systems of the West

 

Mecca and moderation By DAVID CLINGINGSMITH, ASIM IJAZ KHWAJA AND MICHAEL KREMER Does increased religious orthodoxy promote violence and intolerance?

 

MIDDLE EAST OIL Defying the experts By ROGER HOWARD A century ago, most geologists doubted that the Middle East contained much oil.

 

Guardian Middle East in nuclear race to match Iran Almost every country in region has announced nuclear energy plans in response to Iran's progress

 

Miliband backs tribal talks to halt Taliban  David Miliband argues there is 'no military solution' to the spread of extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas

 

Culture conundrum Terry Eagleton: The age-old conflict between civilisation and barbarism has lately taken an ominous turn

 

The apocalyptic mind Robert Skidelsky Catastrophic thinking distorts scientific debate about climate change and makes it harder to deal with the problem

 

Christian Science Monitor Don't give up the Golan Heights Surrendering it to Syria could imperil Israel and the US. By Louis René Beres and Zalman Shoval

 

Yedioth Ahronoth Israel prepares for Gaza op
IDF ordered to prepare for possible escalation in Gaza Strip as Israeli officials await Hamas answer on ceasefire deal; political sources: The way it looks now, terror groups won't accept all of Israel's conditions for lull

 

Ha’aretz Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza could take effect later this week

 

Olmert to Pelosi: Impose naval blockade on Iran  Bush administration has not entirely ruled out the possibility of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities

 

Ceasefire in Gaza
INSS An Israeli article reviewing the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza

 

CFR Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call with Steven A. Cook

 

Success in Iraq: A Media Blackout - Ralph Peters, New York Post

 

Daily Star The myth of a 'Shiite Crescent' in the Middle East
   
By Michael Broning

 

US effectiveness and impotence in the Arab-Israeli talks   By Shlomo Avineri

 

Ordinary Lebanese are just as frustrated as the mediators in Doha

 

Al Awsat A Lame Duck President! : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

 

Noah Feldman The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State

 

Robert Fisk The Age of the Warrior

 

OxAn Talking to Islamists.

 

CFR Should the US Support the UN's Responsibility to Protect Doctrine?

 

The Times Attempt to reform EU farm subsidies founders Brussels has announced a watered-down review of the €40bn scheme that will keep handouts flowing for years

 

EU misses opportunity to change farming rules Soaring food prices could have proved the key to jettisoning the worst excesses of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy Bronwen Maddox

 

Independent  The Big Question: Does Opec have too much power, and is it to blame for the high price of oil?

 

Hamish McRae: Don't believe everything George Soros says

 

Washington Times Lebanese wait, watch in Cyprus When Lebanon explodes — as it did this month and does with almost predictable regularity — and Beirut's airport shuts down, it is the rich who usually get to Cyprus first.

 

Daily Star The myth of a 'Shiite Crescent' in the Middle East
   
By Michael Broning

 

Hyping the Threat
From Iran
by Barbara Slavin

 

EDM AZERBAIJAN CAN RESCUE THE ODESSA-BRODY PIPELINE PROJECT

H2   

Jamestown   PJAK in Northern Iraq: Tangled Interests and Proxy Wars Download PDF Version

 

Þensoy: 'Sorunlar Geride Kaldý'

 

Irak ile tam saha iþbirliði

 

EDM ALLEGED SURVEILLANCE OF SENIOR JUDGES RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT POLITICIZATION OF TURKISH POLICE

 

TURKEY OFFERS “DIALOGUE” TO ARMENIAEurasia Daily Monitor

 

CSIS Prospects for the Turkish Economy Listen |

 

En çok huzuru kaçan beþ ülkeden biriyiz!

 

Zeyno senaryo peþinde

 

Türkiye'yi gammazladý

 

Why are the neo-cons so interested in Turkey? Avni DOÐRU

 

The American confusion over Turkish politics Julian CHRYSSAVGIS

 

Ýç Basýnda Türk Dýþ Politikasý  Dýþ Basýnda Türkiye - BBC Turkish 0700 VOA TSÝ 06:30 Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey TurcoPundit      

 

 

Google News Fýrat News Agency KurdishMedia Kurdish Kurdish Aspect Dýþ Basýnda Irak  BBC Monitoring Inter-national

 

Hükümetin GAP ataðý yabancý yatýrýmcýnýn iþtahýný kabarttý

 

Cevdet Aþkýn Barzani'den PKK þartý, Karayýlan'dan Türk'e yanýt

 

M Ali Birand Baþbakan’a Irak gezisi hazýrlanýyor

 

Le Monde'da tam sayfa Kürt sorunu için ilan

 

ABD Kongresinde Kürdistan grubu

�Kürt sorunu için devreye girin�

 

[YORUM - M.NACÝ BOSTANCI] 'Daðýn ardýna bakmak'

 

Zana blames Constitution for Kurds’ troubles in Turkey

 

Irak ile tam saha iþbirliði

 

Türkiye için PKK kartý masadan kalktý

 

Iraqi Kurd Leader Calls for End to Bombing

 

Kirkuk Sub District Residents Protest against UN Envoy’s Suggestion

 

Ariel Cohen: Turkey is US vital ally in region wrought with danger
PanARMENIAN.Net

 

Ýngiltere’de Öcalan için ’Sayýn’ dedi

 

Kurdistan Region Parliamentary Delegation Visits AK Party Headquarter in Ankara

 

Nail Güreli Devletin Kürt Filmi ve faili meçhul tarih

 

Turkish migrants grieve for Beirut from exile

 

'Türkiye ve Ýran bombandýmaný durdurmalý'

 

�Görev süresi dolmadan önce Ýran�a saldýracak�

 

 

 

Google News Greece Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Press ABHaber Dýþ Basýnda Türkiye-AB Ýliþkileri Günlük Haftalýk

 

Rauf Denktaþ Hristofyas'a göre (1)

 

Cyprus calls Turkey unsuitable for UN Security Council

 

Mensur Akgün Umutsuz bir müzakere dönemine doðru

 

Sadi Somuncuoðlu Komþularla "sýfýr" düþmanlýk politikasý

 

Sami Kohen AB-ABD farký daralýyor

 

Serdar Turgut CHP'nin önemli adýmý

 

Turkish business people closer to freer access to UK

 

Article 125 proves good candidate to fill Article 301 gap

 

Türkiye için kritik oylama

 

Fischer'den, Köksal Toptan'a zor sorular

 

'Irkçý partiye bile dava açmadýk Avusturya'da kapatma olmaz'

Fischer: Mahkeme kararýna saygý duyarýz

 

Ortak Tarým Politikasý
AB Ortak Tarým Politikasý'nýn geçmiþi, özellikleri ve amaçlarý

 

'AK Parti hakkýnda açýlan davaya anlam veremedim'

 

‘Türkiye iyiye gitmiyor’

 

Baykal, Fischer'e kapatma davasýný anlattý

 

Tartýþma yaratan teklif

 

Fatma K. Barbarosoðlu: “Ýngiltere bir imparatorluk, Almanya bir ulus, Fransa bir þahýstýr”

 

'Lagendijk’i görevden alýn'

Joost Lagendijk ile CHP arasýndaki tartýþma sertleþerek sürüyor

 

Fischer’in gündemi kapatma davasý

 

What a resolution in Cyprus means for Palestine Daily Star - Lebanon

 

NYT JOURNEYS | NICOSIA, CYPRUS; Edging Closer in Cyprus’s Divided Capital

 

CHP, 'AB karþýtý'
imajýndan sýkýldý!

 

Armenia and Turkey interests don’t coincide PanARMENIAN.Net

 

President: Turkey would augment European cake

 

Mediterranean Union Project Not Against Turkey's Full Membership ...

 

Atina'nýn 'silahlý' oyunu tutmadý

 

Bekle Ýngiltere Türkler geliyor

 

Hakan Aygün CHP'nin AB bürosunun amacý...

 

Kapatma davasý Avrupa’yý þaþýrttý

 

Turkey offers diaspora $20 mln to open up Armenian archives in US

 

AB�den �Akdeniz�e karþý güvence

 

 

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

 

Tuzla'da iþçi ölürken iþverene özel teþvik

 

Tuzla'da ölümler iþte bu yüzden oluyor

 

[YORUM - HALUK ÖZDALGA] Kyoto'yu onaylama zamaný

 

Meral Tamer Tuzlalý patronun fendi AKP’yi yendi

Tersane iþletme izinleri zorlaþýyor

 

Medeniyetler çatýþmasýna en güzel cevap Fethullah Gülen hareketidir

 

Zabýta, tiryakiyi önce uyaracak sonra ceza kesecek

 

Ýkinci Dünya Savaþý'nýn son kurbaný gurbetçi Türk oldu

Virüs yayýlýyor!

Ýyi niyetli yolsuzluk

1 Mayýs olaylarýnda fatura iki polise çýktý

Sigara molasý �iþgücü kaybý�

 

Türban Anýtkabir protokolünde

 

Emekli paþalara bir haftalýk üniforma izni

 

Çay davetinde ’aramýz iyi’ pozu

 

Sayýþtay’da boþalan 12 üyelik için seçim yapýldý

 

Özbek voleybolu býraktý

 

Turkey: Not a country for old men
Hans A.H.C. de WIT

 

Abstract | Thinking across spaces: Transnational television from Turkey

 

Putting the brakes
on giraffe women
With Formula One in town, Turkish media were all revved up for the races and the attendant female flesh that rides shotgun. It is not enough the tour brought along its leggy Grid Girls; crafty sponsors recruited young, lithe local women to be "trolley dollies" - ersatz ambassadors for Turkish womanhood handpicked from a small Europeanized and educated minority. Meanwhile, where was the man-candy? - Fazile Zahir

 

NYT MOVIE REVIEW | 'THE EDGE OF HEAVEN'; Tying Knots That Bind Lives Despite the Divisions of Generation and Nationality

 

Cumhuriyet döneminde kutlanan Ýttihatçý bayramý

 

'TRT'den atýldým'

 

Tersane iþçisi, amele pazarýndan seçilirse!..

 

Þemdinli savcýsýna 2. þok

 

7. ‘Haddini aþma narsist Terim’

 

21 Mayýs 2008 Basýn Özeti

H3

Bahçeli’den ‘big brother’ uyarýsý: AKP bizi izliyor

Gri alan yaratýlmalý

 

3. Ýþte yargý kulislerindeki 'Üçüncü yol'

 

4. Geniþ imkanlarý olan bir iþadamýna ‘ihaleye girme’ diye telkinde bulunuldu

 

Korku diktatörlüðü

 

'Dinlemiyorsan niye takip ediyorsun?'

Devlet röntgenci olmaz

 

Bahçeli'den 'dinleme' uyarýsý

 

Meclis’te atv-Sabah düellosu

Ýþte kredi koþullarý

 

Hukukun da standardý olacak

 

AK Party suspends plans to amend Constitution

 

Tuzla'da iþçi ölürken iþverene özel teþvik

 

Arkadaþlarýmla iþtisare edeceðim

 

Kafalarý karýþtýrdý

 

'Herkesle konuþacaðýz'Bakan Þahin, yargýda reform çalýþmasýnýn herkesin düþüncesi alýnarak yapýlacaðýný açýkladý

 

Dipsiz kuyuya taþ atýyorlar

Bugün gazete manþetlerinde neler var?

 

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

 

Cengiz Çandar Ankara ihtimalleri; ABD ve AB’de tavýr...

 

Ahmet Taþgetiren Lahendayk’ý sýkýþtýrmak   Asýl din dayatmasý nasýl oluyor?

 

Ruþen - Çakýr Sihirli formül 6’ya 5 mi?     Türkiye'de darbe ihtimali her zaman var -

 

Taha Akyol Amerika batýyor, Çin geliyor!

 

Fikret Bila

 

Hasan Cemal Siyaset istikrarsýzlaþýrken, aklýn yolu nedir ki?..

 

Murat Yetkin AK Parti kulisinde bakan avý

 

Ýsmet Berkan Demokratik restorasyon ihtiyacý

 

Ankara’daki sorular
MEHMET ALÝ KIÞLALI

 

Fehmi Koru Oynatmaya az kaldý

 

Taha Kývanç Washington'da Hudson'lu bir toplantý

 

Þamil Tayyar

 

Mahkeme nasýl kýþkýrtýlýr?
AVNÝ ÖZGÜREL

 

Ali Bayramoðlu Girdabdan çýkýþ yolu    Kara delikler: Devlet siyaseti ve medya kültürü

 

Hamdi Yýlmazer Ross Wilson'a sordum: Ergenekon'un arkasýnda ABD'nin olduðu doðru mu?

 

Nuray Baþaran Ankara'da barýþ rüzgârlarý

 

Yasemin Çongar

 

Ertuðrul Özkök Derin bir Hürriyet komplosu

 

Ahmet Hakan Zehir hafiye iþbaþýnda

 

M Ali Birand Baþbakan’a Irak gezisi hazýrlanýyor

 

Cüneyt Ülsever Sigara yasaðý: Hükümeti candan kutlarým

 

Sabahattin Önkibar Saðlar'a sýzdýrmanýn ardýndaki önemli merkezler ve gerekçeleri?

 

Oray Eðin Gazetesi de kendisi gibi sýð

 

Nagehan Alçý Kutupsuz bir dünya mümkün mü?

 

Enis Berberoðlu

 

Kýlýç'tan sürpriz çýkýþ: Çýkacak karar demokrasi ve laikliði güçlendirecek

 

Mustafa Ünal Ankara fitne fesat

 

Ali Bulaç Kiþisel tercih-bireysel özgürlük

 

Oktay Ekþi Üniversiteye dikkat

 

Bekir Coþkun Suçlar ülkesi...

 

Özdemir Ýnce

 

Mehmet Y YýlmazVatandaþ olacaðýna müþteri ol!

 

MUHARREM SARIKAYAKredi kartýnda fahiþ faize sýnýr geliyor

 

ERDAL ÞAFAKBRIC ve Türkiye

 

ENGÝN ARDIÇENGÝN ARDIÇ
Lahýndayk

ERGUN BABAHAN
Tuzla'ma

EMRE AKÖZO maaþlarý 'taraf' olmak için almýyorlar

 

Umur TaluOrada hepsini göreceksiniz!

 

Ece Temelkuran Ýmalat hatasý

 

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

'Dört Kemalizm' bilmecesi

NAZLI ILICAKDemokrasi bayramý

 

MEHMET BARLASNeticede Amerika da, Ýngiltere de "Ilýmlý Hýristiyan" ülkelerdir

MAHMUT ÖVÜR

 

YAVUZ DONATTuzla... Ölüm tarlasý

Bush’un söyledikleri ve söylemedikleri
HALUK ÞAHÝN

 

�Kapatma� senaryolarý

 

Tamer Korkmaz: Mahþerin Ýki Atlýsý

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanýlabilir deðil.

Ýbrahim Karagül: Meðer büyük bir savaþ son anda engellenmiþ!

 

Bilgiler geçici olarak kullanýlabilir deðil.

 

Saðlar'a derin suçlama

 

Recai Kutan bu iþe bir anlam veremedi!

 

Güneri Civaoðlu Dün, bugün, yarýn

Reha Muhtar Vatan'ýn Erdoðan-Büyükanýt zirvesi manþeti ve gazetecilik ilkeleri...

 

Okay Gönensin Karar belliymiþ

Mustafa Mutlu

Sadece Ýstanbul’da lalelere 6 yýlda 553 okul parasý harcandý!

 

Ýsmail Küçükkaya
Gerçekliðin yitimi ve siyaset

 

Güngör Mengi

 

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Prim affý ile gördük ki IMF'siz olmuyormuþ!

 

IMF ile yeni anlaþma imzalansa bile þartlarý bu kez Türkiye belirleyecek

 

IMF gitti, seçmene selam baþladý

 

Ercan Kumcu Bankacýlýkta bir baþka dönem

 

Dünyada enflasyon týrmanýyor Türkiye 59'uncu sýraya geriledi

 

Hurþit Güneþ Goldman Sachs’ýn raporu içimizi karartýyor

 

Ege Cansen Açýk pozisyona devam

 

Bankacýlýk krizinin öðrettikleri
METÝN ERCAN

 

Erdal Saðlam

 

IMF'yi kýzdýran adým

 

IMF says Turkey’s SSK debt amnesty is 'regrettable'

 

OKAN MÜDERRÝSOÐLU
Tuzla'da iþçi ölürken iþverene özel teþvik

 

Ý.Hüseyin Yýldýz
Ekonomik politika tercihlerimizin sýnýrý

 

Kapatma davasý riskleri büyüttü

 

CSIS Prospects for the Turkish Economy Listen |

H4 New York Times THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Imbalances of Power It is hard to remember a time when more shifts in the global balance of power are happening at once — with so few in America’s favor

MAUREEN DOWD The Last Debate Hillary, you’ve been a great candidate, better than your train-wreck campaign. But now it’s time for you to try to muster a gracious exit.

 

Clinton Sees Many Reasons to Stay In

 

China’s Class Divide By DANIEL A. BELL Perhaps the Sichuan earthquake can do some good by helping dispel a widespread myth: that the new generation of Chinese students are materialistic and selfish.

 

Obama Says Nomination ‘Within Reach’  Barack Obama said that he had amassed enough pledged delegates to claim a nearly insurmountable advantage over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

 

Operation in Sadr City Is an Iraqi Success, So Far  Militias melted away as Iraqi forces pushed into a Shiite enclave, but no one can say where they might re-emerge.

Bush Team Criticizes New Report About Iran

Lebanon Rivals Reach a Deal, Ending Months of Political Conflict

After Oregon, Look Out: Ideology Ahead

By CHRIS SUELLENTROP Barack Obama still has some demographic groups to win over

 

Hussein Aide Faces Accusers in Trial on Mass Execution

 

Obama’s April Fund-Raising Passes $31 Million

H5 Washington Post Defense's Realist Rebel By Michael Gerson, 

In confronting our military shortcomings, Robert Gates has become genuinely transformational

 

U.S. Deploys a Purpose-Driven Distinction Reluctance to Identify Foes as Sadrists Reflects View of Iran and Fragility of Security Gains

 

Iraq Sends Troops Into Sadr City

Large Deployment Aims to Restore Order in Shiite Area; Situation 'Calm'

 

William Arkin  To the National Security Professionals, It Doesn't Really Matter Who Wins  Tying Obama's Hands?

Tehran Urges New Round Of Talks

 

New Troops in Iraq Will Keep Number at 140,000

 

Iranians Criticize New Internet Restrictions

Bloggers and activists condemn a move by a government panel to block access to Web sites related to women's issues and human rights

 

Clinton Wins Kentucky in Landslide

Obama Poised to Claim a Delegate Majority With Votes There and in Oregon

 

The President vs. the Peacock By Dan Froomkin

 

McCain Assails Obama Over Readiness To Talk With Hostile Foreign Leaders In 2006 Videotape, High-Profile Backer Has Opposite View

 

Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor Prognosis for Type Of Cancer Is Poor

 

Editorial Mr. Kennedy's Illness More than ever, the Senate needs the traits that have made him so effective

 

Bush Memo Expands Govt Secrecy

 

Iranian Activists Criticize New Restrictions on Web Sites

 

No Other Like Him By David S. Broder, Ted Kennedy's diagnosis was at once a personal tragedy and a political cataclysm.

 

Next Stop, Supreme Court? By James Andrew Miller, Forget VP, Obama should declare Clinton his first Supreme Court nominee.

 

The Ground Clinton Broke By Ruth Marcus,  The 2008 campaign has rewritten the rule book for presidential politics when the team is coed.

 

Audit Finds FBI Reports Of Abuse Were Ignored Tactics Continued Against Detainees

 

H6 Guardian Middle East in nuclear race to match Iran

Almost every country in region has announced nuclear energy plans in response to Iran's progress

 

Culture conundrum Terry Eagleton: The age-old conflict between civilisation and barbarism has lately taken an ominous turn

 

The apocalyptic mind Robert Skidelsky Catastrophic thinking distorts scientific debate about climate change and makes it harder to deal with the problem

 

Miliband backs tribal talks to halt Taliban  David Miliband argues there is 'no military solution' to the spread of extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas

 

This xenophobia reveals the power of organised crime Misha Glenny: The Roma of Naples are paying a terrible price for the failure of successive Italian governments to confront the local mafia

 

The world and its media are playing the dictators' game Simon Jenkins: Heroic Chinese rescuers and quake survivors lead the news. But away from our TVs, the Burmese we could save are left to die

 

Baghdad predicts blue skies ahead for struggling Inshallah Airways

 

MPs reject calls to reduce 24-week abortion limit Abortion laws survive most serious challenge in two decades as MPs reject attempt to reduce upper limit

 

The 'Mosaic Arabs' Khaled Diab: Not so long ago many prominent Jewish thinkers believed in a natural affinity between Judaism and Islam

 

Rumsfeld's bloody dream Michael Tomasky  Just like John McCain, the former defense secretary had his own vision for post-invasion Iraq - involving a brutal dictator

 

Spit and tell Anthony Giddens  

The latest political memoirs are motivated by a settling of scores - with a sufficient edge of cattiness to get public attention

H7  Report: Iran's nuclear program feeding proliferation

 

Carnegie Lebanon and the Middle East Peace Process: Teleconference with Carnegie Experts  Full Text (PDF)

 

CFR Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call with Steven A. Cook

 

Upcoming Iraqi Elections Must Consolidate Security Gains of 'Sons of Iraq'

 

Success in Iraq: A Media Blackout - Ralph Peters, New York Post

 

Daily Star The myth of a 'Shiite Crescent' in the Middle East
   
By Michael Broning

 

US effectiveness and impotence in the Arab-Israeli talks   By Shlomo Avineri

 

Don't Depend on Outsiders for a Settlement of Mideast Dispute - Shlomo Avineri (Arab News-Saudi Arabia)

 

Ordinary Lebanese are just as frustrated as the mediators in Doha

 

Al Awsat A Lame Duck President! : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

 

The Making of Hezbollah

 

Al Hayat Lebanon's Battles in Light of the Struggle for Regional Domination Raghida Dergham - Hezbollah's coup in Lebanon is one of the episodes of a new regional order in the Middle East, one that is imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran through the language of weapons pointed towards the interior to insure local domination

 

A Recipe for Fomenting Conflict Mostafa Zein - The leaders of Lebanon's communities have gone to Doha without any of them having an idea of how to re-establish the political regime on a comprehensive and national basis. As the representative of his community, each leader is aspiring to obtain the biggest number of advantages and benefits to the detriment of the other leaders.

 

Breaking the Failed-State Cycle
Source: RAND Corporation

 

Baker Institute Global Energy Market - Working Papers

Noah Pollak / Commentary:

McCain Is Losing the Iran Debate 

 

Obama's Foolish Stance on Negotiations - Rich Lowry, New York Post

 

The Case for Diplomacy, Loud and Clear - Peter Canellos, Boston Globe

Iran's Lebanon Game--5/20/2008 12:00:00 AM

 

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

 

'Deal agreed' on Lebanon crisis An agreement aimed at ending the political crisis in Lebanon is reached at talks in Qatar, officials say.

 

Iran called primary threat to progress in Iraq Iran's influence in Iraq is posing a direct threat to peace in the region, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill debate whether talks with Tehran will bear fruit or further place U.S. war strategy in jeopardy

New Troops in Iraq Will Keep Number at 140,000

Another Rumor on Attacking Bites the Dust - Mike NIzza, New York Times blog

Iran's Nuclear Program Feeding Proliferation - Associated Press

Outlook for Nuclear 'Package Diplomacy' on Iran Gloomy

Report: US Soldiers Did 'Dirty Work' for Chinese Interrogators

Mullen: Iran Jeopardizing Peace in Iraq

Lebanese Factions Reach Deal to End Crisis

 

Undiplomatic row
Bush and Mubarak snub each other's speeches in Egypt

Egyptian imam says Islam rejects terrorism
 (UPI) -- The grand imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo, in an effort to promote tolerance of Islam, said Monday that terrorism is rejected by the Islamic faith.

 

Awakening elder warns of election rigging (UPI) -- A tribal elder with the Anbar Awakening Council cautioned the Iraqi central government against postponing or fixing the October provincial elections.

 

U.S. Makes Amends for Quran Shooting: ; Sunni Tribesmen Key in Fight Against Al-Qaida

 

 

Hezbollah’s shrewd moves
Tehran Times

H9 Ha’aretz Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza could take effect later this week

 

Olmert to Pelosi: Impose naval blockade on Iran  Bush administration has not entirely ruled out the possibility of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities

 

 5 questions: Does Israel need rescue?

 

Israel rethinks, will test Phalanx anti-rocket system

 

Guests: In regard to Hezbollah, Israeli deterrence works

 

Rival Lebanese leaders reach deal to end 18-month crisis  Ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition say deal reached at Arab-mediated talks in Doha

 

Former defense officials call for indirect talks with Hamas

 

Poll: Meeting the president of Iran - good or bad?

 

"Controlled Unclassified Information" and the AIPAC trial (WTR)

 

If there's no tomorrow, let him go home today Instead of attacking France and others trying to promote an agreement with Hamas, the decision makers in Israel would do better to use every means possible to strengthen Fatah

 

U.K. warns Iran nukes could spark Mideast arms race

 

Jerusalem Post Israel fears Russia will sell Syria arms Top Syrian military delegation in Moscow for talks on MiGs, ballistic missiles, submarines

 

Egyptian official: Israel has accepted Gaza cease-fire

 

The paradoxes of life in Israel

[ YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI

 

Lebanese rivals reach agreement

 

Analysis: The slow repackaging of the diplomat Ehud Barak

Now every statesman who comes to town gets a meeting with Olmert, Livni and - of late - Barak

 

Yedioth Ahronoth Israel prepares for Gaza op
IDF ordered to prepare for possible escalation in Gaza Strip as Israeli officials await Hamas answer on ceasefire deal; political sources: The way it looks now, terror groups won't accept all of Israel's conditions for lull

 

Why do we talk to Hamas?/ Goldstein  Our leaders only care about world opinion, ignore Hamas dangers

 

Palestinian lesson for Israel

We should learn from Palestinians, who ousted corrupt leaders in elections, Orly Noy says

 

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

 

Poll: Palestinians Reject Two-State Solution, Gazans Favor Fatah (Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies/An-Najah University-PA)

 

A Two-State Solution for the United States and Israel  by David Bromwich

 

Global Peace Index: Israel hits rock bottom

 

Debka Exclusive: Hamas turns the heat on in Gaza to support its truce negotiators in Cairo

 

Indo-Israeli Secret Strategic Game
Alarab online

 

Analysis: The Palestinians' trump card  By CLAUDE SALHANI (UPI) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas threatened to resign by the end of this year if no agreement was reached with the Israelis over the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

 

Hajj Ahmed and the Right of Return

H10 Christian Science Monitor Don't give up the Golan Heights Surrendering it to Syria could imperil Israel and the US. By Louis René Beres and Zalman Shoval

 

An expat's view of the falling dollar Even Europeans are worried about this trend.

 

ASIA

 

China's Space Capabilities and Their Impact on US National Security

 

Political Ramifications of China's Earthquake

U.S.-China Relations in the Era of Globalization CFR
A 5-page US House testimony on US-China relations

 

Today in The Nation: China's Inauspicious Year

 

China struggles to shelter 5 million homeless after quake

 

Why Pakistan Plays ‘Let’s Make a Deal’

 

More than 70,000 now dead or missing in China quake

 

Indo-Israeli Secret Strategic Game
Alarab online

 

H11 IHT  Europe aims to build links with Mediterranean neighbors Less than two months before the debut of a new Union for the Mediterranean, pioneered by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the European Commission sought to put its stamp on the plan with a series of recommendations.  

 

When faith and culture collide

By H.D.S. GREENWAY Can religion have a place in the legal systems of the West

 

Mecca and moderation By DAVID CLINGINGSMITH, ASIM IJAZ KHWAJA AND MICHAEL KREMER Does increased religious orthodoxy promote violence and intolerance?

 

MIDDLE EAST OIL Defying the experts By ROGER HOWARD

A century ago, most geologists doubted that the Middle East contained much oil.

 

MILITARY SPENDING A budget U.S. taxpayers can't afford By BERNIE SANDERS The U.S. is spending billions more on defense at a time when poverty is increasing.

 

Georgia leader faces embittered opposition in electionThe United States and the European Union will be watching closely because Georgia's frayed ties with Moscow and its location on an export route for Caspian Sea oil and natural gas bypassing Russia give it geopolitical importance far greater than its size

 

Defense minister's new baby confirms symbolism of parity in Spain

 

Steinmeier's bad example In honoring the Dalai Lama, Germans are more stalwart than their foreign minister.

 

 

EUROPE European press review

 

Eta 'political leader' arrested Suspected political head of Basque separatists, Eta, is arrested in France, Spanish authorities say.

 

EU moves to reform farm subsidies The EU announces plans to reform its hugely expensive rural payments system, the Common Agricultural Policy.

 

Ha’aretz The end of the European left? While it seems that conservative and neo-conservative ideology is losing strength in the U.S., these approaches are gaining ground in Western Europe

 

Germany's new neo-Nazis  (UPI) -- A new generation of neo-Nazis has German security officials concerned: The black-clad mob is extremely violent and growing in numbers.

 

Islamofascism in the Netherlands (By Paul Belien)

 

Independent Ivor Roberts: A nation that is still divided over Europe

H12 RFE/RLGlobal Food Crisis Catches Up With Russia The recent rate of increase in Russian food prices has been three times greater than in the European Union. The crisis could become President Dmitry Medvedev's biggest challenge.

 

Georgia: New Video Ups Ante In Abkhaz Dispute

 

Georgia: In Search Of A Constructive Opposition

 

EDM AZERBAIJAN CAN RESCUE THE ODESSA-BRODY PIPELINE PROJECT


- KAZAKHSTAN EMERGING AS AN ARMS EXPORTER

 

Google News Azerbaijan

 

Medvedev's Visit to China to Give New Impetus to Russian-Chinese Relations

 

Deep divide
Passions run strong in Abkhazia as Georgia prepares to vote

Uzbekistan: Tashkent Is Up To Its Old Geopolitical Tricks
Encouraged by improving ties to the West, Uzbekistan seems to want to wriggle out from Russia’s warm embrace – again. In recent weeks, Tashkent has made a series of gestures that signal a cooling in its relations with Moscow.

 

Georgia: A Clean Vote on May 21? BY MOLLY CORSO
It has been billed as a test of Georgia’s democratic credentials. But while Georgian officials have vowed that the May 21 parliamentary elections will be free and fair, an array of problems have surfaced in the days leading up to the polling, according to election observers

 

Russian-Chinese Trade Could Reach $60 - $80 Mln Earlier Than 2010 - Ambassador

 

Russia is Ready to Help Moldova-Transdniestria Dialogue - Lavrov

 

Uzbekistan: "Europe's Soft Powerlessness", Andrew Stroehlein in The Wall Street Journal

Travels in the Former Soviet Union

How to build a personality cult.
Joshua Kucera

H13 The Times Attempt to reform EU farm subsidies founders Brussels has announced a watered-down review of the €40bn scheme that will keep handouts flowing for years

 

EU misses opportunity to change farming rules Soaring food prices could have proved the key to jettisoning the worst excesses of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy Bronwen Maddox

 

Farmers lose EU subsidy unless they go green

 

Russia edges closer to proxy war with Georgia Fear of war looms as Russian military build-up in breakaway region of Abkhazia prompts President Bush to raise concerns

 

The Lambeth Talk Brown should be meeting the Dalai Lama in Downing Street

 

Clinton takes Kentucky but Obama marches on Hillary Clinton won by a margin of around 35 points but failed to stop Barack Obama reaching another nomination milestone

 

Olmert pours cold water on Blair peace push Israeli leader Ehud Olmert tells The Times he admires Tony Blair's efforts but has doubts about the prospects of a deal

 

Tariq Aziz stays defiant in face of death Former Saddam aide, charged with crimes against humanity, is on trial for his life as prosecutors call for stiff sentence

 

China's new people's army out to help victims A region has been ripped apart by the disastrous earthquake, but emergency responses have brought the nation together

 

Wall Street Journal Democrats and Our Enemies
By Joseph Lieberman My party needs to relearn that we won't achieve peace by being inoffensive.

 

Farm Reform Lite
A truly modest proposal to reform the CAP. Review & Outlook

 

Military Launches Alternate-Fuel Push With fuel prices soaring, the U.S. military, the country's largest single consumer of oil, is turning into an alternative-fuels pioneer.

 

The Tragic Irony of Beltway Libertarianism By Thomas Frank So many are subsidized to praise the entrepreneur.

 

Grave but Not Serious
By James Taranto
Barack Obama debates foreign policy with Barack Obama

 

Report of the Special Committee
A newspaper defines itself in part by its choice of editor.

 

 

 

The Great Credit Squeeze: How it Happened, How to Prevent Another
Brookings Institution

H14 Financial Times Preserving the open economy at times of stress

Everybody should remember, above all, that the opening of the world economy is the west’s greatest economic policy achievement. It would be a tragedy if it were to turn its back on the world when the rest of humanity is at last turning towards it, writes Martin Wolf

 

Shortage fears push oil futures near $140 Fears of a shortage within five years propelled long-term oil futures prices to almost $140 a barrel, further stoking inflationary pressures in the global economy

 

Solving the $130 oil conundrum

There is no doubt the world will adjust to high oil prices. Yet the adjustment would be far easier if oil producers discovered they could expand their output

 

Georgia poll to shape relations with Moscow The Caucasus region state will hold an election that will test the ability of Mikheil Saakashvili to handle pressure from Russia over his admistration’s pro-west policies

 

Hizbollah pressed to sign peace deal

Arab mediators gave Lebanon’s opposition until Wednesday to sign up to proposals to defuse a crisis that drove the country close to civil war

 

FBI concerns on prisoner abuse ‘ignored’ The White House National Security Council ignored concerns raised by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over interrogation techniques used at Guantánamo Bay

 

US economy in ‘uncharted waters’

The US economy is in “uncharted waters,” Federal Reserve vice-chairman Don Kohn said, warning that both financial and economic recovery was likely to be slow

 

McCain wary of close ties with Bush

With an approval rating of 28 per cent – close to record lows for a US president – George W. Bush is considered an electoral liability for the Republican party in November

 

WORLD NEWS: President apologises over soldier's abuse of Koran

 

WORLD NEWS: US salutes Kennedy after news of brain tumour

 

WORLD NEWS: Obama's olive branch to enemies 'dangerous to national security'

 

Kuwait ties oil deals to output targets

State-owned Kuwait Petroleum is for the first time negotiating technical and performance-related contracts with global companies as it aims to boost production

 

Gulf states told to invest oil wealth at home Countries need to refocus spending on education, development and the broader Middle East to sustain sharp growth, warns a senior banker

 

The cost of carriers How many helicopters, aircraft or other surface ships will not be acquired so that the UK government can afford two aircraft carriers?

 

Germany’s firing economyThe export engine is defying forecasts but consumers must spend more if growth is to continue

 

Search for a rival Any deal that lets Google supply part of Yahoo’s search advertising, however it is dressed up, must be bad for competition

 

Basque separatist leader arrested

Francisco Javier Lopez Pena, who had been on the run for more than 20 years, and three other ETA leaders were arrested by police in a raid in southwest France

 

Seeing is believing with inflation Perceptions of inflation are formed by the most salient prices. That is why perceptions run so far ahead of actual price increases, writes John Kay

 

The poetic justice of Brown’s fate

The prime minister gives the impression of a man who thinks himself ill-used by cruel fate, but there might be a measure of poetic justice, writes Geoffrey Wheatcroft

 

Challenges for Berlusconi’s cabinet

Fiscal federalism, the electoral law and fighting tax evasion will be key issues of the new Italian government’s first year, writes Tito Boeri

 

H15 Los Angeles Times Iraq soldiers deploy in Sadr City The Baghdad district is a stronghold of militiamen loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada Sadr. U.S. and Iraqi officials say the operation met with no resistance.

 

Obama soars in Oregon, Clinton in KentuckyThe Democrats split big primary wins, but Obama claims a majority of pledged delegates

 

UK firm ranks U.S. as more violent than Serbia in Global Peace Index

 

EditorialProtecting disaster victims China's exemplary response to its deadly quake stands in sharp contrast to Myanmar's failings.

FBI agents objected to military's 9/11 interrogations A long-awaited Justice Department report says they questioned the legality and effectiveness of certain tactics

 

The church of green Jonah Goldberg A kind of irrational nature worship separates environmentalism from the more fair-minded approach of conservationism

 

H16 American Politics Obama wins Oregon, loses in Kentucky

 

Another split decision in Democratic race 

 

8 In 10 Clinton Voters in KY Dissatisfied With Obama As The Nominee

 

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Problems for the Obama Juggernaut?

 

Kevin Drum 1977 All Over Again?

 

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo: TERRY'S NEW GOALPOSTS  —  If I'm not mistaken Terrry McAuliffe just announced two new goalposts.

 

Why Are Superdelegates Waiting? 

 

McCain Confronted With New Iran Gaffe, Gets Facts Wrong Again (VIDEO) 

 

Why Don't Those Hillbillies Like Obama? - Dee Davis, Salon

 

Obama passes election milestone

Barack Obama says he is within reach of the Democratic candidacy for US president as Oregon and Kentucky vote.

 

Kennedy Diagnosed With Brain Tumor Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The Massachusetts senator has been hospitalized since he suffered a seizure Saturday. Treatment generally involves radiation and chemotherapy, though survival rates aren't encouraging.

 

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

 

Obama leads McCain in fundraising, reporting more than $37M

 

McCain strategist keeps Obama vow, leaving campaign

 

Senators from both parties load war funding bill with pet projects

 

H17 Daily Telegraph Iran sparks Mid East nuclear race Iran's neighbours have began nuclear programmes.

 

Vladimir Putin is 'real power in Russia' A senior adviser and close ally of Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev became the first official to admit publicly that Vladimir Putin remains the country's real power.

 

British troops back in Basra 'no-go' areas  British soldiers have re-established a permanent presence in Basra, patrolling with Iraqi forces in “no-go” areas they were driven from months ago by Shia militants.

 

Greeting the Dalai Lama

The visit of the Dalai Lama to the UK could hardly come at a more delicate moment. It is to Gordon Brown's credit that he will meet Tibet's spiritual leader when he comes.

 

H18 Independent  The Big Question: Does Opec have too much power, and is it to blame for the high price of oil?

 

Small, rural farms given boost as EU cuts subsidies for large landowners

 

Hamish McRae: Don't believe everything George Soros says

 

Leading article: Soaring food prices should lead to the end of subsidies

Traditionally, one of the infuriating habits of the agricultural protectionist lobby has been its willingness to seize upon any economic trend to justify its position

 

Ivor Roberts: A nation that is still divided over Europe

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

 

The List: The Worst Places to Be a Terrorist

 

The Warrior Scholar

 

'20th hijacker' in 9/11 attacks attempted suicide, lawyer says

 

US 'stuck' with Guantanamo prison The US says it is "stuck" with the Guantanamo Bay prison as it cannot send some of the inmates home.

 

IISS Strategic Dossier

Nuclear Black Markets: Pakistan, A.Q. Khan and the rise of proliferation networks – A Net Assessment is available for purchase Click here to view the online files which are available for free. 

Persistence as the 10th Principle of War
by LTC Gregory A. Grimes, Small Wars JournalDownload interim version of article as PDF

A New Report About the FBI, CIA and Interrogation

 

Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2006: A Fact Sheet on Department of Defense Authority to Train and Equip Foreign Military Forces
Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

 

Conflict Between Protected Civil Liberties and Government Intrusion in a Time of Terrorist Threat

 

RAND Arroyo Center Annual Report 2007: Serving the Army for 25 Years Source: RAND Corporation

 

Methodology for Improving the Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations Source: RAND Corporation

 

Report Details Interrogation Debate - Lichtblau and Shane, New York Times

 

The Principles of War: Introduction


Report: FBI Slow in Reporting Detainee Abuse - Carrie Johnson, Washington Post

High Court Affirms Terrorism Conviction - William Branigin, Washington Post

The Lawyers War - Wall Street Journal editorial

After Guantánamo - Kenneth Roth, Foreign Affairs opinion

Islam's History of Anti-Semitism - Raymond Ibrahim, Washington Times opinion

H20 Slate  today's blogs

Bomb Iran? The latest chatter in cyberspace.

 

Lady, You're in My Way

Can Obama do anything to get Clinton out of the race?
John Dickerson

 

The Next Editor of the Washington Post Who should it be?
Jack Shafer

 

Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Open CRS)

 

Hispanic hope
How 43 million Latinos are changing the face of the United States

Biofuels Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs
Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

 

Rising Food Prices and Global Food Needs: The U.S. Response
Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

 

Newt Gingrich and Jeffrey Sachs on Oil in Iraq

 

Beyond the Headlines: Five Observations on Natural Disasters
Brookings Institution

 

Climate Change: Technology to the Rescue?
Nixon Center

 

C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics: Commodity Prices and Global Inflation (Audio)

 

The Current State of Federalism Studies in Canada (2000-2007): A Quantitative and Qualitative Review of the Scholarly Literature
Source: Canadian Policy Research Networks

What Does Economics Tell Us About Early Childhood Policy?
Source: RAND Corporation

 

Toward a U.S. Export Control and Technology Transfer System for the 21st Century
Source: Center for Strategic & International Studies

H21 The Future of News

 

Religion and Open Society Symposium

 

Poking fun at politics A Hollywood star and his cowriters pick the best political satires ever made on film. » Political parodies list

 

Champions League: Great expectations The European final is a historic moment for clubs, players, managers - and football. Let it be remembered for the right reasons.

 

The Promise of Prediction Markets
Science Magazine

 

Older Brain Really May Be a Wiser Brain

 

Book Bibliography of "Great Powers" - Tom Barnett, Thomas PM Barnett

 

 

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