062408f  - 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 Los Angeles Times Pentagon, GAO mixed on Iraq Two new reports point to security improvements but are pessimistic about political and economic progress.

 

Iran's 'Nightmare Scenarios' Mulled by Eli Lake American Intelligence Analysts Work Overtime as Israel Sends Signals

 

Washington Post E.U. Backs Sanctions on Iran, Freezes Bank Assets Travel Ban Is Imposed For Some in Government

 

Terror Strike Would Help McCain, Top Adviser Says

 

GAO Report Faults Post-'Surge' Planning Lack of Comprehensive Strategy Cited, but Pentagon Study Sees Gains in Iraq

 

Jerusalem Post US military head to arrive this week on surprise visit Exclusive: Mullen to meet with IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi; US Navy chief to 'Post': Iran naval conduct in Gulf irresponsible, provocative.

 

French White Paper on Defence and National Security  White Paper (3.7 MB PDF)

 

They're Dictators and Terrorists But What Clean Streets! by Barry Rubin

 

New York Times Government Study Criticizes Bush Administration’s Measures of Progress in Iraq

 

Democrats in Senate Seek to Block Deals for Iraqi Oil

 

As US military buildup in Iraq ends, what next?

 

German Intelligence: Bombed Syrian Reactor Was for Iranian A-Bomb Development (AFP)

 

Ha’aretz  Amir Oren: Israel may conclude that it's time to hit Iran by autumn

 

European Union Approves New Iran Sanctions

 

GERMANY-U.S.: German officials are calling for the United States to remove all U.S. nuclear weapons (Deutsche Welle) from Germany following a report indicating security shortfalls at U.S. nuclear facilities in Europe.

 

Asia Times SPENGLER Worst of times for Iran Despite a surge in oil revenues, Iran's kleptocracy has pushed conditions in the country to the point of Dickensian poverty. The prices of ordinary goods are soaring out of people's reach, property values in Tehran are equal to those of Paris, and prostitutes and profiteers are everywhere. And the disappearance of half the country's oil revenues from the books makes President Mahmud Adhmadinejad's tenure the worst of times for Iran

  

 U.S. missile defense system may be delayed beyond 2013

 

Carnegie The Future of Missile Defense in US Strategy and Policy

 

David Whitford / Fortune:
The evolution of John McCain

 

MESH ‘Unexceptional: America’s Empire in the Persian Gulf’, MESH

 

Syria Nuclear Allegations Fuel New Cold War

 

Analysis: Middle East nuclear renaissance? Middle East Times

 

CFR The Fight between Iran’s Neoconservatives and Conservatives

 

Christian Science Monitor New findings about U.S. religious life Practices do not always line up as theologians may expect, a Pew Forum survey finds.  Complete survey results  here

 

IHT German parties press U.S. to withdraw nuclear arms The Social Democrats, who belong to the governing coalition, along with German opposition parties issued their calls after a report found that safety standards at most sites for nuclear weapons in Europe fall well short of Pentagon requirements.

 

A chance for Europe to face the New Truth By JOHN VINOCUR

The fact is, jolts like the Irish no, coming after French and Dutch ones in 2005 referendums, consolidate a pattern indicating that national self-interest will consistently trump the EU's formation of unified policy

 

Financial Times  Begging the SaudisGideon Rachman’s blog: What can oil producers gain from Gordon Brown’s proposal for them to invest in alternative energy projects in oil-consuming countries?

 

Susan Page / USA Today:

Poll: Obama has edge over McCain 

 

In "Iraq Report 9: The Battle For Basra," published by the Institute for the Study of War in conjunction with The Weekly Standard, Marisa Cochrane (no relation) discusses the forces that enabled militias to control Basra, why Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki initiated "Operation Knight's Charge" to secure Basra, and the continuing dangers ahead.

 

“A longer status report on Iraq, the latest in a long line by the Government Accountability Office, provides more details on the security successes brought about by the surge and continuing failures of the Iraqi government  (pdf)

 

WSJ Iran Continues to Support Shiites  A Pentagon report called Iran the leading threat to Iraq. The quarterly assessment accused Tehran of continuing to funnel weapons and money to Shiite militants in Iraq, despite a promise to curtail the flow of arms

H2 International Crisis Group Reunifying Cyprus: The Best Chance Yet    full report

 

WSJ Unexpected Peace
By Hugh Pope State of the Union: The EU's chance to seal a deal between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

 

Kýbrýs Ýçin Ýyimser Rapor

 

COMMENT: The coming Turkish turmoil Ariel Cohen of the Heritage Foundation

 

Le Figaro Türkiye'nin benzersizliði

 

Gül, Köþk'teki fikir sofrasýnda Obama'yý sordu

The National Can Turkey's Erdogan Stay in Power?

Pukmedia: PKK not terrorist, says Barzani once again

AP: "Kerkük referandumu sorunu çözmez, büyütür"

Mavi Boncuk: Turkish Embassy in Washington DC Launches Podcast Series  --- Turkish Embassy Podcasts - Web Site Ambassador Nabi Sensoy on the PKK issue and its effects on Turkish politics

Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey on the U.S.-Turkish relationship

Professor Michael Rubin on the threat of PKK terrorism

Congressman Robert Wexler on the U.S.-Turkish relationship

The Campagna-Kerven Lecture Series on Modern Turkey

 

Coming war against Iran: Increasing Anglo-American pressure on Turkey

 

Prospect Intellectuals—the results

 

Tom Nuttall traces the campaign that propelled Fethullah Gülen to victory

Ehsan Masood on Gülen, the modern face of the Sufi Ottoman tradition

 

Kerim Balcý Mockery of popular vote

 

PARTY CLOSURES AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS MAY ALL OCCUR IN FALL Eurasia Daily Monitor

 

Türkiye aleyhindeki deðiþikliðe ret

 

AKPM kapatma davasýndan endiþeli Türkiye 'denetim' listesine girebilir

 

Saban Kardas Turkey under the Justice and Development Party: Between Transformation of 'Islamism' and Democratic Consolidation?

 

Turkey not prepared for global food crisis, says report

 

Türban takmak çýkartmaktan kolaydýr!

 

Michael Rubin: Kapatma davasý meþru

 

Kurtlar ABD’ye ders verecek

 

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

 

Pukmedia: PKK not terrorist, says Barzani once again

 

Mesud Barzani: PKK, terör örgütü deðil

 

Barzani: Kirkuk is Part of Kurdistan, PKK is Not Terrorist

 

Once More...Iranian Artillery Bombards Kurdistan Region’s Border Areas

 

Baþsavcý bugün son sözünü söyleyecek

Westward migration of Kurds slows down, statistics show

 

Iraqi Kurdish Press Highlights 23 Jun 08

 

Iraqi Kurdistan Region Minister, UK Delegation Discuss Developments - Paper

 

Cevdet Aþkýn PKK'da Kandil / Avrupa ayrýþmasý, Barzani'de ABD planý rahatlýðý

 

HAKAN ALBAYRAK

“Biji Serok Tayyip”te ne fenalýk var Allah aþkýna?

 

[Yorum - Bejan Matur] Devlete inanmak

 

'Cumhuriyet Tarihinin En Büyük Projesi'

 

AP: "Kerkük referandumu sorunu çözmez, büyütür"

 

Iraq's provincial elections could be delayed over Kirkuk row

 

DTP proposes a ‘people’s defender’ for Turkey

 

Turk prosecutor to make his verbal statement in DTP case

 

Iraqi PM Urges "Iron Fist" Against Militias; Kirkuk Issue Discussed; Roundup

 

Raids hit EU 'people-smugglers' A pan-Europe police operation has led to the arrest of 75 people suspected of trafficking Iraqi Kurdish migrants to northern Europe

 

Barzani aðýz deðiþtirdi

 

 

 

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

 

 Kriz Grubu: "Adada birleþme için son þans olabilir"

 

Energy: Nabucco Chief Eyes Iranian, Russian Gas Despite US Objections RadioFreeEurope/ RadioLiberty

 

No legal ground for isolation of Turkish Cypriots Sylvia TÝRYAKÝ

 

PACE reminds Constitutional Court of European norms

 

Kýbrýs'ta barýþ fýrsatý kaçýrýlmamalý

 

Akdeniz Birliði bir hayal

SEYÝD VELED ABAH

 

"Dava Avrupa'yý endiþelendiriyor"

 

Fransa Senatosu'ndan Sarkozy'e Türkiye tokadý

 

Conference to address Black Sea security

 

Drought-stricken Cyprus to get drinking water The National

 

Barçýn Yinanç Hamsiköy Avrupa Birliði'ni þaþýrttý

 

Scandals may prove to be a watershed in Greek politics
Ariana FERENTINOU

 

Greek Cypriots bemoan lack of progress or EU role in peace talks

 

Homage to Cypriot giant is sent to mountains A 10-metre statue of Archbishop Makarios III is being removed from central Nicosia after being described as an eyesore

 

Closure case to be evaluated based on Copenhagen criteria

 

 

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

 

Turkey's miracle worker sets his sights on toppling a Goliath

 

Turkey's 'mole' spills the beans on Germany's Bayern five

 

Dünyanýn en iyi 100 oteli arasýnda 17 Türk oteli var

 

Bilim adamlarý kenenin biyolojik silah olarak kullanýldýðýna inanmýyor

 

Serdar Turgut Futbol ve siyaset baðlantýsý

 

Gülen 'Yaþayan En Büyük 100 Entelektüel' anketinde birinci

 

Tek gündem futbol

 

‘Hayata Dönüþ’ün sonu adaletten kaçýþ oldu

Aðustos celbinde her beþ polisten biri askere gidecek

 

 

Turkey not prepared for global food crisis, says report

 

Fethullah Gülen voted world’s top living public intellectual

 

Polislere 'askerlik' þoku

 

Kýþlada patlama: Bir þehit, 14 yaralý

 

Herkes kendi güvenliðini kendi saðlamalý!

 

Özyeðin, Finansbank tecrübesini üniversiteye aktarýyor

 

Risk-prone tankers threaten straits

 

Özyeðin’den avangard bir üniversite

 

Serpil Yýlmaz Giriþimci üniversite

 

Büyükanýt’ýn ‘gizli’ fotoðrafý

 

Askerlik tecil süreleri uzadý

 

Serdar Turgut Zayýflanacak, zayýfla!

 

World's No. 1 Thinker Lives in Philadelphia! « Village Voice,

 

23 Haziran 2008 Basýn Özeti

H3 Murat Yetkin Ýki çarpýcý söyleþi

 

Cemaat ve tarikatlar sivil toplum hareketi deðildir

Prof. Kara kitabýyla ilgili sorularýmýzý yanýtladý

 

Manifestonun amentüsü

 

CHP, 14 yýllýk programýný yeniliyor

 

Ankara'da kritik günler

 

CHP için özel bir yargý dokunulmazlýðý mý var?

 

CHP’liler konuþmuþ Baþsavcý aynen almýþ

 

Bahçeli, kendisine biçilen rolü oynuyor

 

Gül'ün yaz temizliði

 

Gül'den Sezer ekibine tasviye

 

Sezer, Cumhuriyet Gazetesi için tiraj istedi

 

Anayasa tartýþmasýna girdi

 

Sezer ilk kez konuþtu

 

Fýrat: Bütün devrimler travma yaratýr

 

Muhalefetten Fýrat'a 'travma' tepkisi

 

AKP'den de tepki var

 

Beyefendi kavrayamamýþ

 

Fýrat AKP'lileri bile çileden çýkardý: Bu laflar gerici

 

Her devrim bir travmadýr

Türkiye muhafazakarlaþmýyor

 

‘Bahçeli yine rüya görüyor’

 

Ortak Akýl'dan demokrasi manifestosu: Millet iradesi üzerindeki ipotekler kalksýn

 

Portakal Çiçeði'nden Çankaya Sofrasý'na

Anayasa Mahkemesi denetlenir hale gelir mi

 

Baþbakanlýk’tan ‘örtülü ödenek’ açýklamasý

 

3. Müritler oy yaðdýrdý Gülen zirveye çýktý

 

AK Parti savunmasý Yozgatlýlara emanet

 

Baykal'ýn Sosyalist Enternasyonal sýnavý

 

AK Parti treninden inmek, ülkeye ihanet olur

 

Savaþýn kod adý: Güneþ

 

YÖK, rektör mülakatýna Akdeniz Üniversitesi'yle baþlýyor

 

Her devrim travma yaratýr

 

AK Parti üzerinden millete dayak atýlýyor

 

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman

 

 

Cengiz Çandar

 

Ahmet Taþgetiren Lahika -1, Meclis ve Hükümet  Atatürk sevgisi

 

 

Ruþen - Çakýr Prof. Kara kitabýyla ilgili sorularýmýzý yanýtladý

 

Taha Akyol Ordu ve yargý

 

Fikret Bila Haþim Kýlýç: Dava için yýpratmaya çalýþýyorlar

 

Hasan Cemal

 

Murat Yetkin  Ýki çarpýcý söyleþi

 

Ýsmet Berkan Türklükle malul olmak!

 

Fehmi Koru Gölgelerin gücü adýna

 

Taha Kývanç Eðlenceli mevzular

 

Þamil Tayyar

 

Ali Bayramoðlu Ýki gazetecilik: Taraf ile Hürriyet-Vatan…  Herkes kendi öyküsünü yazar...

 

Lale Sarýibrahimoðlu Military weakens itself with systematic smear campaign

 

[Yorum - Bekir Berat Özipek] Demokrasinin 'lahika'sýný yazmak

 

Yasemin Çongar

 

KÜRÞAT BUMÝN Ýdeolojik kuþatma kýrýlmadan olmaz

 

Ertuðrul Özkök Yok mu bir ombudsman

 

Sabahattin Önkibar Bahçeli'nin öðütleri?

 

Ahmet Hakan

 

M Ali Birand Vakit AKP'ye çok zarar veriyor...

 

‘Özgürlükçüyüm ama demokrasiye inanmýyorum’ diyenler ORAL ÇALIÞLAR

 

Ahlakýn kaynaðý TÜRKER ALKAN

 

Cüneyt Ülsever Stratejisi olmayan baþarý olur mu?

 

Enis Berberoðlu Asýl travma AKP’de

 

Oktay Ekþi Hesap sorulabilirlik

 

Özdemir Ýnce  Türkiye merkez saðýnýn trajedisi

 

Mehmet Y Yýlmaz Bir yalandan daha kurtulduk!

 

Mehmet Altan Bir tabu: Silah lobiciliði...

 

Mustafa Karaalioðlu O lahika Terim’in elinde olsaydý

 

Sami Selçuk Toplumsal dönüþüm ve Anayasa yargýsý

 

Eser Karakaþ Siyasete somut bir öneri

 

Berat Özipek Þimdi taraf olma zamaný

 

Güneri Civaoðlu Niyet / Zihniyet

 

TAMER KORKMAZ

Gezegenimizi Ziyaret Eden Þu Tanýdýk 'Yabancý'

 

ÝBRAHÝM KARAGÜL

'Bize bir þey olmaz' ama bunlarý bilelim!.

Mehmet Tezkan

Baþbakan korkmasýn! Derviþ ANAP liderliðini bile reddetti..

 

Bülent Korucu Darbelerde tak-þak dönemi bitti!

 

Ýhsan Daðý Darbelere kim dur diyecek?

 

Þahin Alpay Türkiye'nin 'yumuþak' gücü 2008

 

Mümtazer Türköne 'Laik yaþam tarzý'na uygun nasýl yaþanýr?

 

MUHARREM SARIKAYA

Fýrat: Sözlerimin arkasýndayým

 

ERDAL ÞAFAK Fýrat'ýn travmasý

 

ENGÝN ARDIÇ

 

ERGUN BABAHAN Devrim ve travma

 

EMRE AKÖZ Yönetmeden hükmedenler

Umur Talu Cumhuriyet, demokrasi, hukuk alttakinin hakkýnýn gözetilmesi olmalýydý!

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

 

NAZLI ILICAK Yýlmaz-Uras farký

 

MEHMET BARLAS Bu kadar belirsizlik içinde yarýný nasýl görebilirsiniz?

MAHMUT ÖVÜR CHP'den imaj ataðý

 

YAVUZ DONAT Bir kalkýnma modeli

 

Ali Bulaç Formalism and mimicry

 

Andrew Finkel The chain gang on the window ledge

 

DAVUT DURSUN Türkiye'yi hizaya getirmenin zihniyet temeli...

 

Arslan Bulut Bahçeli, neden Erdoðan'a karþý Gül'ü tercih ediyor?

 

Erhan Çelik Patronlarýn yeni lider adayý CHP'li mi?

 

Hadi Uluengin Láhika - 1 elde var bir

 

 Stratejistlerle Köþk'te beyin fýrtýnasý

 

Ertuðrul Kazancý: Atatürkçülük sadece laiklik deðildir

 

 

Ekonomi

 

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Büyük itfada zarar piyasayý neden bozar?

 

Ercan Kumcu Alternatifsizlik

 

Erdal Saðlam Siyasetten sonra ekonomik supaplara göz dikildi

 

Seyfettin Gürsel Bize bir þey olmaz abi!

 

Güven Sak Merkez Bankasý faiz düþürürse faiz oranlarý daha da artar

 

Hurþit Güneþ TÜSÝAD’ýn çýkýþý

 

Güngör Uras Planlama olmadan olmaz, olamaz

 

Murat Yülek Dilemma of Turkish authorities: managing diverging growth and inflation expectations

 

Asaf Savaþ Akat

Dünya Ýktisat Kongresi

 

Elektriðe yüzde 23 zam göründü

H4 New York Times Government Study Criticizes Bush Administration’s Measures of Progress in Iraq

 

Democrats in Senate Seek to Block Deals for Iraqi Oil

 

As US military buildup in Iraq ends, what next?

 

World Briefing | Europe: Germany: Calls to Remove U.S. Arms

 

Pakistan Court Bars Sharif From Election

 

BOB HERBERT Wounds You Can’t See In the absence of any general call for sacrifice, we have an ironclad obligation to look out for the short- and long-term needs of the troops we send off to combat.

 

DAVID BROOKS The Bush Paradox For George W. Bush, the traits that lead to disaster in certain circumstances are the very ones that come in handy in others.

 

Editorial Zimbabwe’s Stolen Election In order to save Zimbabwe, the international community must back up their words with serious punishments for Robert Mugabe’s generals and cronies

 

Muslim Voters Detect a Snub From Obama  Many Muslim Americans who have supported Barack Obama’s candidacy say he has not returned the embrace

 

Leadership Void Seen in Pakistan  The confusion over the lack of leadership is allowing militants to consolidate their sanctuaries along the border area of the country

 

Security Council Urges Zimbabwe to Halt Violence  The United Nations Security Council issued a sweeping condemnation of the violence gripping Zimbabwe after the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, took refuge at the Dutch Embassy.

 

American Envoy Is Linked to Arms Deal Cover-Up  The American ambassador to Albania endorsed a plan to remove evidence of illegal Chinese origins on ammunition being shipped to Afghanistan, a military attaché told investigators.

 

Two Businessmen Are Charged in Sale of Military Parts to Iran

H5 Washington Post E.U. Backs Sanctions on Iran, Freezes Bank Assets Travel Ban Is Imposed For Some in Government

 

Terror Strike Would Help McCain, Top Adviser Says

 

GAO Report Faults Post-'Surge' Planning Lack of Comprehensive Strategy Cited, but Pentagon Study Sees Gains in Iraq

 

McCain's Core Advantage By Richard Cohen, A presidential race is only incidentally about issues. It's really about likability and character.

 

Iraqi Council Member Kills Two U.S. Soldiers Three more are wounded when a council member opens fire after a meeting in a small town south of Baghdad, the U.S. military says.

 

Most Americans Believe in Higher Power, Poll Finds

 

The Return of Inflation? By Robert J. Samuelson, An indecisive Fed risks repeating its previous blunder.

 

Ammunition Shipment Came From China Panel Says U.S. Ambassador Knew Origin of Materiel Bound for Afghanistan

 

No Job for Mr. Nice Guy By Anne Applebaum, McCain and Obama are not, in fact, very nice people at all.

 

Al-Qaeda's Growing Online Offensive

 

So Many More Questions By Dan Froomkin

 

Obama's Balance Sheet By E. J. Dionne Jr., It misses the point to say that Obama has killed public financing.

 

Race in the Sunlight By Eugene Robinson, Obama is bringing up race again -- a move that is both risky and inevitable.

 

Clinton to Join Obama As He Courts Female Vote

 

Editorial Mr. Mugabe Wins His campaign of terror will keep him in power, barring an international intervention.

 

The Post's Top Editor to Step Down

 

Army General's Nomination Called Historic  …. she would be the first woman in U.S. history to receive such a high military rank.

 

H6 Guardian Violence in Iraq 'down significantly' Civilian deaths down more than 80% from the height of violence in November 2006, US report says

 

Sarkozy urges Israel to share Jerusalem  French president also tells Israel to stop building settlements in the occupied territories

 

Food crisis: a week-long investigation from around the world

Obama is winning the online battle

Democratic campaign's superior use of the internet as a political tool is underlined by New York conference

 

Islamist group challenges Berlin's ban Hizb ut-Tahrir, or the Party of Liberation, argues it should be free to campaign in Germany

 

Crime is falling - but our obsession with locking people up keeps growing George Monbiot: Wealth, and the desire to preserve it, is what drives citizens of rich nations to demand an increasingly punitive justice system

 

Brown's pale green policies are more honest than most Irwin Stelzer: Unlike Cameron, the prime minister grasps the need to balance environmental policies against economic growth

 

Zimbabwe: more beatings, more abductions as the world watches

UN security council says free and fair election impossible after Tsvangirai seeks shelter in embassy

 

Beating the vote out Editorial: The terror that Robert Mugabe unleashed on his country has reached a new peak

 

 

H7  

 

In "Iraq Report 9: The Battle For Basra," published by the Institute for the Study of War in conjunction with The Weekly Standard, Marisa Cochrane (no relation) discusses the forces that enabled militias to control Basra, why Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki initiated "Operation Knight's Charge" to secure Basra, and the continuing dangers ahead.

 

“A longer status report on Iraq, the latest in a long line by the Government Accountability Office, provides more details on the security successes brought about by the surge and continuing failures of the Iraqi government  (pdf)

 

The Return of the Neocons

 

Record levels What is keeping international oil prices so high?

 

Oil price up despite Saudi pledge

 

The Real State of Iraq
by Juan Cole

 

Reporters: Networks Put Wars on Back Burner

 

Al Ahram How strong is their alliance? The Syrian and Iranian regimes may have their differences, but their alliance is not going to end anytime soon, Basel Oudat reports from Damascus

 

Investigation Update: Three Days in Rome  by Laura Rozen

 

Iran War Resolution May Be Passed Next Week

 

Editorial ; Iraq Security Deal Still Within Reach

 

Nuclear Geopolitics in US-Iran Relations:The case for a Big Push ...,

 

The Economic and Strategic Rise of China and India: Asian Realignments after the 1997 Financial Crisis

This Shall Not Pass New economic challenges are here to stay.

 

No blood for ... er ... um ...
Finally, after all the blood, American and Iraqi, that has been spilled, here comes the oil. ExxonMobil, Shell, Total and BP are expected to win no-bid contracts to service Iraq's oil fields. It's the sort of thing that could make suspicious Arabs even more so and give a new life to some really dumb slogans in the United States. But sometimes, if you're an oil giant, you just have to bite the bullet. - Tom Engelhardt

 

Where Are the Arab Moderates? By: Trudy Rubin | Miami Herald
As Islamists continue to gain strength throughout the Middle East, many Americans ask: ``Where are the Arab moderates?'' For an answer, I recommend an important new book called The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation, written by one of the most thoughtful analysts in the region, former Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher

 

Another Surge Needed By: Robin Harris | National Review
In Iraq the “surge” is working, but at the same time the Iraqi Christian community is dying. Hardly anyone seems to know, and those who know don’t seem to care. In former times, the violent persecution of Christians in a country effectively under the rule of a Western, Christian power would have been unthinkable. But not, it seems, in the enlightened 21st century

 

The myth of 'weapons-grade' enrichment Amid disclosures of an Israeli dummy run for an air offensive against Iran's nuclear installations, much of the Western media recycle the lines that Tehran is actively pursuing nuclear weapons and that it has amassed "weapons-grade" enriched uranium. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has never said this, and this after thousands of hours inspecting Iran's facilities since 2003. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi

 

Weak States Got Weaker in 2007

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

 

EU Approves Sanctions Against Iran's Biggest Bank The Associated Press
European Union nations have approved new sanctions against Iran, including an assets freeze of the country's biggest bank

 

Leaked Israeli Drill Seen as US Pressure on Iran

 

As US Military Buildup in Iraq Ends, What Next?

 

 Iraqi forces improve but still need U.S. help, commander says

 

As US military buildup in Iraq ends, what next?

 

Iranian General on Guarding Water Territories of Bushehr Province

 

Al-Maliki Vows to Stay Tough Against Militias By: Qassim Abdul-Zahra | The Washington Times Iraq's prime minister vowed Monday to extend military operations against all those who defy the "will of the nation," but also called on Iraqi troops to respect the rights of citizens amid complaints of bad behavior and arrests without warrants.

Democrats in Senate Seek to Block Deals for Iraqi Oil

The US and Siniora seek to push back against Hizbullah and the Opposition

 

Clashes rock north Lebanon city Lebanese security sources say four people have died in a second day of sectarian clashes in Tripoli, bringing the death toll to eight.

 

UN visits Syrian 'nuclear site' UN nuclear watchdog inspectors reportedly examine an alleged nuclear site in Syria which was bombed by Israel last year

 

U.S. Network Faltes in Mideast Mission By: Craig Whitlock | The Washington Post Al-Hurra -- "The Free One" in Arabic -- is the centerpiece of a U.S. government campaign to spread democracy in the Middle East. Taxpayers have spent $350 million on the project. But more than four years after it began broadcasting, the station is widely regarded as a flop in the Arab world, where it has struggled to attract viewers and overcome skepticism about its mission

H9 Ha’aretz  Amir Oren: Israel may conclude that it's time to hit Iran by autumn

 

Israel eyes French nuclear dealings with Arab world FM officials: Better for Israel to have France supplying nuclear technology than China, Russia

 

Shmuel Rosner: Why do U.S. non-Jews back Israel?

 

Sarkozy to Knesset: Share Jerusalem with Palestinians

 

IDF: Israel may declare two soldiers captured by Hezbollah 'killed in action'

 

New Guest: Israel should've continued blockade of Gaza

 

The meaning of anti-Americanism in the Arab world (WTR)

 

Olmert's calculations

 

Israelis never excelled as mercenaries

 

Jerusalem Post US military head to arrive this week on surprise visit Exclusive: Mullen to meet with IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi; US Navy chief to 'Post': Iran naval conduct in Gulf irresponsible, provocative.

 

'Israel to strike Iran after elections' John Bolton says J'lem likely to attack in the window between the 2008 vote and the 2009 inauguration

 

Don't be fooled by the good reviews The Arabs have squandered their public relations victories in the West.

 

Yedioth Ahronoth 'Olmert considers resigning'
Aides say PM will step down in case Knesset dissolution bill approved in Wednesday's vote. 'If motion passes and ministers are fired, Israel will have a minority government that would not be able to function,' associate says

 

'Italy murder plot thwarted'

 

Ahmadinejad aide says Iranian leader target of assassination plot at UN food summit in Rome

 

IDF Intelligence: Syria Benefits from Peace Talks with Israel

 

Decision-making debacle

 

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

 

The Next Golda? Tzipi Livni eyes
the top spot

 

Meshaal: Syria-Israel Moves Will Not Affect Hamas Links

 

Hamas: Negotiations with Israel Out of the Question

 

Hamas Says Smuggling to Gaza Will Continue

 

Israeli Court Rejects Bid to Overturn Gaza Truce

 

Hamas, Egyptian Officials Discuss Calm Agreement Success Chances

 

Israel's Diplomatic "JewJitsu
Huffington Post

 

Beilin The Kind of Friend Israel Needs

 

Court Narrows Scope of Appeal in AIPAC Case

 

Sarkozy Presses Israel MPs for Settlement Freeze Agence France-Presse  French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on Monday for a halt to Jewish settlement activity in the occupied West Bank while proclaiming his staunch support of Israel in an address to its parliament.

 

A window into Gaza The border crossing into Gaza might officially be open, but Israeli officials are very picky over who they allow through their fancy steel and glass Erez checkpoint. Simon Allison didn't pass muster, but from the confines of a holding pen he was able to gauge the likelihood of Israel's ceasefire with Hamas lasting, thanks to tell-tale bullet holes in windows

H10 Christian Science Monitor New findings about U.S. religious life Practices do not always line up as theologians may expect, a Pew Forum survey finds

 

Congress rushes to fill oil speculation loophole

Speculation can add $70 to the price of a barrel of oil, critics charge.

 

For a few Gazans, wealth eases pain of year-long siege One businessman welcomes the cease-fire and the return of supplies from Israel.

 

Iraqi passions turn to soccer – for 90 minutes On Sunday, Iraqis focused on their country's struggle on a soccer field in Dubai instead of the war on the streets.

 

Muslim American magazines explore identity New publications seek to dispel stereotypes and encourage integration of the Muslim community into US society.

 

ASIA

 

 

The U.S. Should Encourage Pakistan's Talks With Militants By: Mehlaqa Samdani | The Daily Star
Criticism has been leveled against the Pakistani government's efforts to hold talks with militant groups. While concerns about the Taliban regrouping remain valid, it is in America's long-term security interest not only to support the multidimensional peace plans being formulated, but also to refrain from words and actions which could jeopardize the process

 

US election looms over US-China talks
Although Beijing and Washington ended the fourth session of US Treasury secretary Hank Paulson's "strategic economic dialogue" with significant agreements, the high-level talks may be equally noteworthy for what they didn't do. Specifically, to address an "undervalued" Chinese currency or consider the consequences should a US presidential candidate begin blaming China for America's economic woes. - Jing-dong Yuan

H11 IHT  The coming population bust By JEFF JACOBY The belief that human population growth leads to hunger, shortages, and a ravaged environment resists evidence to the contrary

 

German parties press U.S. to withdraw nuclear arms The Social Democrats, who belong to the governing coalition, along with German opposition parties issued their calls after a report found that safety standards at most sites for nuclear weapons in Europe fall well short of Pentagon requirements.

 

A chance for Europe to face the New Truth By JOHN VINOCUR

The fact is, jolts like the Irish no, coming after French and Dutch ones in 2005 referendums, consolidate a pattern indicating that national self-interest will consistently trump the EU's formation of unified policy.

 

EU approves new sanctions on Iran

Bank Melli is target of sanctions over Iran's uranium enrichment. Further financial and travel curbs are expected

 

U.S cover-up cited on illegal arms shipment from Albania The American ambassador to Albania endorsed a plan to remove evidence of illegal Chinese origins on ammunition being shipped to Afghanistan, a military attaché told investigators

 

 

 

EUROPE European press review

GERMANY-U.S.: German officials are calling for the United States to remove all U.S. nuclear weapons (Deutsche Welle) from Germany following a report indicating security shortfalls at U.S. nuclear facilities in Europe.

EU Widens Iran Sanctions, Shuts Bank Melli's European Offices

Europe’s trance of unreality, Ivan Krastev

 

 

 

H12 RFE/RL

 

Google News Azerbaijan

 

Conference to address Black Sea security

 

Lavrov Urges Delay on Missile Defense By: Francesca Mereu | The Moscow Times
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday urged the United States to delay deployment of elements of a planned missile-defense system in Europe and called on NATO to halt its eastward expansion

H13 The Times

 

McCain hit by aide's terror gaffe

Veteran Republican strategist Charlie Black said that a terror incident on US soil 'certainly would be a big advantage'

 

Zimbabwe military intervention 'could be justified' Former EU High Representative for Bosnia Paddy Ashdown says military action should be used to stop genocide

 

Intervention: the only solution

The idea that Mugabe will cave in to sanctions or diplomatic pressure is absurd David Aaronovitch

 

To understand China's future, look to its past Confucius is enjoying a revival and Communist Party leaders consciously ape their Imperial forebears

 

EU descends into stagnant growth

The European Central Bank's dilemma over interest rates deepened as new figures pointed to a 'toxic' economic cocktail

 

 

Wall Street Journal How to Win the War of Ideas
By James K. Glassman We need to think creatively about how to keep young Muslims away from extremism.

 

The Bush Doctrine Is Relevant Again By Bret Stephens
Global View:
We all have a responsibility to protect, even where it's not fashionable to do so.

 

Asia ♥ America
We're the economic leader and, more importantly, they're alright with that. Review & Outlook

 

Political Speculators
McCain and Obama shoot the price messengers.

 

 

Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions — June 11, 2008 (Beige Book)
Source: Federal Reserve Board

H14 Financial Times  Begging the SaudisGideon Rachman’s blog: What can oil producers gain from Gordon Brown’s proposal for them to invest in alternative energy projects in oil-consuming countries?

 

Too hot and cold The challenge for the European Central Bank is to reconcile continued German growth with Italian stagnation and a sagging Spanish property sector

 

 Stagflation fears in eurozone rise

The eurozone on Monday slid closer to stagflation – low growth combined with rising inflation – as private sector output contracted this month for the first time in five years according to a closely-watched survey

 

A sham election and a brutal tyrant

African Union leaders should suspend Zimbabwe from the AU and endorse MorganTsvangirai’s call for properly observed and supervised elections

 

Paths out of Zimbabwe’s dead endBritain, the US and the EU need to cut off the hard currency that allows Mr Mugabe to float above hyper-inflation, writes Gideon Rachman

 

Good Gordon eclipsed by Bad BrownOne year on, Philip Stephens looks at how the fortunes of the British prime minister, once seen by Labour as guaranteeing a fourth term win, have changed

 

Thomas Frank, are you ready for this?Clive Crook’s blog: Obama may be courting independents with his latest, and very conservative, campaign advertisement

 

H15 Los Angeles Times Pentagon, GAO mixed on Iraq Two new reports point to security improvements but are pessimistic about political and economic progress.

 

Resetting Earth's thermostat

By Samuel Thernstrom

In the race to respond to climate change, it's time to invest in an alternative solution — geo-engineering.

 

 

Editorial

H16 American Politics

 

Susan Page / USA Today:

Poll: Obama has edge over McCain 

 

Corey Robin reviews books on conservatism

 

Barack Obama Inc.: The birth of a Washington machine
Harper's Magazine

 

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

 

Rove: Obama's the Guy at the Country Club Holding a Martini Making Snide Comments About Everyone Else 

 

Terror attack 'would help McCain' An aide to presidential hopeful John McCain says he regrets comments that a terror attack on the US would help the campaign

 

Kevin Drum / Washington Monthly:

OBAMA vs. McCAIN ON THE ECONOMY....

 

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

The New Republic syndrome 

 

Three women who might join the GOP ticket  —

 

 David Whitford / Fortune:
The evolution of John McCain

 

Irwin M. Stelzer / Weekly Standard: Obamanomics  —  How McCain can fight back—if he cares to.

 

New Yorker What’s the Big Idea?
The Obama puzzle.
by Dorothy Wickenden

H17 Daily Telegraph Israel 'will attack Iran' within a year John Bolton, the former American ambassador to the UN, has predicted that Israel could attack Iran after the November presidential election.

 

British 9/11 fears over private planes Private jets and light aircraft could be used by terrorists to launch attacks on crowds and buildings in Britain, the Government's anti-terror expert has warned

 

H18 Independent  Leading article: Petrol cap in hand

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

 

German Politicians Seek Nuclear Weapon Removal

NATO: Security of US Nuclear Arms in Europe Is Not Our Problem

 

 

Multi-National Force-Iraq Commander’s COIN Guidance

 

Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

 

If Poison Gas Can Go, Why Not Nukes? By: James Carroll | The Boston Globe Once nuclear weapons were introduced in 1945, all devils were loosed, and both sides in the Cold War accumulated vast stocks of weaponized poison, now designated as "chemical." Though the mushroom cloud dominated nightmares, multiple scenarios for civilization-ending mass destruction became possible.

 

US court backs Guantanamo inmate

For the first time, a US court rejects the classification of a prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay as an "enemy combatant".

Why US is 'stuck' with Guantanamo?

Q&A: US military tribunals

Quick guide: Guantanamo

 

Canadian 'bomb plotter' on trial

A Canadian software developer was part of a plan to detonate a 600kg bomb, prosecutors in Ottawa claim.

 

Time The Mind of a Female Suicide Bomber

 

Foreign Fighters: How Are They Being Recruited?
Two Imperfect Recruitment Models
by Clinton Watts, Small Wars Journal Download interim version of article as PDF

 

Leading Generation Y (PDF; 308 KB) Source: U.S. Army War College

H20 Slate   

 

 

 

 

The Global Food Crisis: It's Time to Empower the World's Have-Nots By: Kevin Rafferty | The Japan Times
Agricultural vested interests distort prospects for making the reforms needed to deal with the global food crisis. Prime among them are the big farm lobbies in the West

 

The Trade Debate We Need By: Robert Kuttner | The American Prospect America's economic elite continues to promote an absurdly simplistic theoretical case for the necessity of "free trade." But, as more thoughtful globalizers are starting to admit, the reality is more complicated

 

Fuelling Exclusion? The Biofuels Boom and Poor People IIED
An 82-page UK report studying the impacts of biofuels on access to land in producer countries

 

The Expected Benefits of Trade Liberalization for World Income and Development IFPRI
This 176-page study examines the efficincy of trade modelling in capturing the benefits of trade liberalization

 

Outsiders Inside and Insiders Outside: linking transnational and domestic public action

 

2008 Digital Future Report
Source: Center for the Digital Future, USC Annenberg School

 

The Hate Directory: Hate Groups on the Internet Source: Raymond A. Franklin

H21 Does money make you happy? Research offers some surprising answers. A closer look at the measurement error of materialism.

 

An article on how to live with just 100 things.

 

The Philosophers' Magazine, has philosophy responded adequately to big events? Ten leading thinkers respond.

 

From Freakonomics blog, who is the greatest modern-day thinker?

 

Add more signs, directions, and limits on the road, and drivers will be safer, right? Wrong. Drivers tend to compensate... more»

 

Free to Choose, But Often Wrong
By David A. Shaywitz  Bookshelf: We are neither as rational nor as wise as we think we are.

 

 

Washington Post editor to step down  Washington Post editor Leonard Downie will retire this autumn after leading the newspaper to a record 25 Pulitzer prizes

 

Sworn to virginity and living as men in Albania

In a ritual that is now vanishing, Albanian girls take an oath of celibacy in return for the right to live and rule their family as a man

 

An “it-wasnt-my-fault” industry now produces books like Scott McClellan’s White House memoir. Next in line: Donald Rumsfeld... more»

 

Almost exactly 150 years ago a letter for Charles Darwin arrived at his estate in Downe, Kent. When he read it, Darwin was crushed... more»

 

Casanova: priest, con-man, writer, soldier, violinist, alchemist, prisoner, fugitive, gambler, intellectual, and great lover... more»

 

The World Cup sides you've never heard of  Tim Dowling: An inter-national competition designed for countries that remain unrecognised by Fifa will take place in the wannabe nation of Sapmi

 

The machine that spun the world around Michael Skapinker on a revolution in laundry

 

New Yorker The Brass Ring
Sheldon Adelson’s quest for global influence.
by Connie Bruck
 

Google News Slate Today's Papers SWJ Blog Media Roundup CFR Daily Brief  CFR Daily Opinion Roundup memeorandum antiwar.com book forum FBIS University Channel  DocuTicker  Arts & Letters Daily PolicyPointers cursor raw story fora.tv

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

IraqSlogger Global Power Barometer Juan Cole  - Kevin Drum - Gideon Rachman - Belgravia Dispatch - washington realist - Tom Barnett -  democracy arsenal - - Josh Marshall - Daniel Drezner  - Laura Rozen - the washington note - David Corn - SyriaComment -  Israel-Syria Peace Society - William Arkin - Phil Carter -  Helena Cobban -  MatthewYglesias - Oxblog -  Brad DeLong -  coming anarchy /  Wonkette  William Arkin Tom Hayden -   

 

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

 

   
Site Meter