May 18, 2009 - Foreign Press Review ceases to exist as a web publication and will be available only to the premium subscribers.

2009-05-18T09:53:00.005+03:00

051809f - FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW (FPR) - ‘Relevant news, views, comments and analyses for informed debate’ Compiled by Şanlı Bahadır Koç from ASAM (Eurasian Center for Strategic Studies) -- U.S. / Britain / Turkey / Magazines / Think-tanks / Blogs / Misc /Books / Quickread / Numbers / Reports - Subscribe to FPR FPR Table - H4 NYT WP GU H7 ME Isr H10 CSM IHT Eur FSU Asia H13 Times WSJ FT LAT H16 USP DT Ind H19 Mil Int Ter Wonk H21 Misc

H1 Newsweek A Conversation with Barack Obama “We embarked on a strategic review that involved every aspect of our government's involvement—Defense, State Department, intelligence operations, aid operations. Once that strategic review had been completed, then I sat in a room with the principals and argued about it, and listened to various perspectives, saw a range of options in terms of how we could move forward; asked them to go back and rework their numbers and reconsider certain positions based on the fact that some of the questions I asked could not be answered. And when I finally felt that every approach—every possible approach—had been aired, that all the questions had either been answered or were unanswerable, at that point I had to make a decision and I did.”

NYRB Obama and the Middle East By Hussein Agha & Robert Malley The Obama administration seems prepared to devote considerable diplomatic, economic, and, perhaps, political capital to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The goal, once the ground has been settled, will be to achieve a comprehensive, two-state solution. But would the Israeli and Palestinian people welcome it? Would they see it as ending their conflict or merely opening its next round? What, in short, would a two-state solution actually solve?

Pakistan on the Brink By Ahmed Rashid Pakistan is close to the brink, perhaps not to a meltdown of the government, but to a permanent state of anarchy, as the Islamist revolutionaries led by the Taliban and their many allies take more territory, and state power shrinks. There will be no mass revolutionary uprising like in Iran in 1979 or storming of the citadels of power as in Vietnam and Cambodia; rather we can expect a slow, insidious, long-burning fuse of fear, terror, and paralysis that the Taliban have lit and that the state is unable, and partly unwilling, to douse.

Arşivden Şanlı Bahadır Koç "Obama’nın Savaşı":AfPak Üzerine Notlar Nisan 2009

ABD ve Orta Doğu Barış Süreci Mart 2009

Financial Times Middle East test of Obama’s resolve Every serious peace plan is premised on Israel returning to its pre-1967 frontiers and a Palestinian state on the remaining 22 per cent of colonial Palestine. Now is the time to get the deal done

Indian voters show the way forward The victory for the Congress party reveals Indian democracy’s ability to push back against caste-based populism; sectarian Hindu revivalism; and regional parties who hold the national interest hostage

Newsweek Fareed Zakaria »

The Sky Isn’t Falling Our world is more stable than we think

Ha’aretz – Netanyahu unlikely to back Palestinian state at Obama meeting

Benn How does an Israeli diplomatic visit to the U.S. work?

Aide: Obama, Netanyahu to focus on Iran during U.S. meet National Security Council chief: Iran an existential matter; PM to meet AIPAC on Sunday, Obama on Monday

Rumsfeld And Iraq: He Shall Be Judged - Robert Draper, GQ MagazineDid Rumsfeld Ruin Bush? Read it at GQ Might Donald Rumsfeld be left off the guest list for Bush administration reunions? In a piece for GQ, Robert Draper interviews former officials and discovers "intense feelings of ill will toward Donald Rumsfeld." In interviewing these officials, Draper writes, it "becomes evident that Rumsfeld impaired administration performance on a host of matters extending well beyond Iraq to impact America's relations with other nations, the safety of our troops, and the response to Hurricane Katrina." Rumsfeld sought to please Bush by playing to his religiosity—Draper's most shocking find is Defense Department intelligence briefing covers featured biblical quotes. One person said, if leaked, the memos "would be as bad as Abu Ghraib." A former cabinet official puts its plainly: "Don did not like to play well with other people."

FT Arab states discuss Israel concessions Talks are under way among several Arab states on measures that would reward Israel if it commits to a total freeze on the expansion of Jewish settlement as part of a comprehensive American Middle East peace plan

CFR Stephen C. Freidheim Symposium on Global Economics Video, Audio, Transcript: Joseph Nye, Philip Zelikow, Sebastian Mallaby, and Richard Medley discuss the global consequences of the financial crisis

Wall Street Journal  The High Price of Deterring Iran By Emanuele Ottolenghi
Who would stop a nuclear Islamic Republic from swallowing the oil-rich Gulf and fomenting unrest in the Mideast?

 Netanyahu and Obama Have a Shared Interest in Iran By Reuel Marc Gerecht
The success of both men depends on stopping the mullahs from getting the bomb.

The Elite Gather in Greece The Bilderberg Group is meeting in Greece for a secretive annual rendezvous of top politicians and business leaders.

Russia, Italy to Double Pipeline Capacity Russian and Italian firms agreed to expand the capacity of a new gas pipeline into Europe that will bypass Ukraine, in a challenge to a rival project backed by the U.S. and EU.

New York Times World Watches for U.S. Shift on Mideast

Death From Above, Outrage Down Below

By DAVID KILCULLEN and ANDREW McDONALD EXUM Drone attacks in Pakistan are doing more harm than good. The goal should be to isolate the extremists by adopting policies that build local partnerships.

Arabs, Persians, Jews

By ROGER COHEN Obama should tell Netanyahu the status quo is not in anyone’s interest.

Do Like Jimmy Carter

By MARTIN VAN CREVELD President Obama must force the Israelis and Palestinians to do what they themselves are unable to do.

Israel’s Fears, Amalek’s Arsenal By JEFFREY GOLDBERG Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s challenge is to convince President Obama that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat to Israelis, as well as to Americans.

The China Puzzle By DAVID LEONHARDT We need China to buy our government bonds to keep our interest rates down. But that’s just the beginning of the problem.

Falling Gas Prices Deny Russia a Lever of Power

Lessons the Teacher Forgot By PETER S. GOODMAN It’s almost amusing now: America once lectured China on economic responsibility.

Bibi and Obama: A Dangerous Dance - Shmuel Rosner, The New Republic

Washington Post Celeste Ward -- The Pentagon's Obsession With Counterinsurgency

How Obama Is Like George H.W. Bush on Foreign Policy By Carlos Lozada, His hero? Lincoln. His challenges? FDR-like. His speeches? Downright Reaganesque, we're told. But when it comes to foreign policy, who knew Obama would emulate George Bush? No, not the son, but the kinder and gentler one: George H.W. Bush.

A War Over Exchange Rates Could Undermine Recovery By Sebastian Mallaby, Those who are ignorant of history will be condemned to repeat it, as a teacher no doubt told you long ago. But the urgent question today is actually the opposite one: Can a team that is positively steeped in history -- particularly the history of the 1930s -- avoid the mistakes of that era and...

Obama and Israel's Netanyahu Likely to Have Calm Meeting Despite Differences

Differences Unlikely to Come to Fore

Guardian  Barack Obama to push Israel for two-state pledge

US president to press Binyamin Netanyahu to commit to establishment of Palestinian state

 Obama bids for Middle East peace President signals a very different approach to the Jewish state as US wants 'real results'

 Challenges ahead for China as it looks to get growth back on trackPolitical reform, energy needs and bridging the wealth gap are among the pressing issues for Beijing

New series: China at the crossroads In the first part of our week-long portrait of China, Tania Branigan reports on city workers returning to village life due to economic hardships

 Unemployment forces Chinese migrants back to the countrysideFactory to farm: millions who had enjoyed a taste of city freedom are returning to their villages

Militants test readiness of Iraq's forces as US prepares to leave
USA Today

Obama's Dangerous Debt - Robert Samuelson, Newsweek

Bob Gates, America's Secretary Of War - Katie Couric, 60 Minutes

America's Spy Agencies Are Being Undermined - Washington Times

Mideast Contest Of Wills - Jackson Diehl, Washington Post

Bad Cop-Good Cop, Netanyahu Can Help Obama - David Paul Kuhn, RCP

Rand Review Bridge the Gulf To Advance Negotiations with Iran, Cede Conventional Wisdom By Frederic Wehrey

Jerusalem Road Doesn't Go Through Tehran - Leon Hadar, Foreign Affairs

Israel's Secret War With Iran Wall Street Journal –

Pajamas Media » The Key to an Honorable Exit from Iraq
By Michael Weiss

What would the Middle East look like if Iran gets the bomb?

Al Awsat On the Verge of a Hezbollah State

Independent Robert Fisk’s World: The West awaits the return of friendly 'democrats' to Lebanon

Daily Star Can Obama meet the challenge of brokering an Arab-Israeli peace?

CFR Syria Looking for Improved Relations with Obama Administration

Geopolitical Diary: A Familiar U.S.-Israeli Course On Iran

ANALYSIS / Netanyahu's problem will be the Palestinians, not Iran If Obama shows understanding on the Iranian issue, Netanyahu will be more flexible on other matters

CSM Could Taliban get keys to Pakistan's A-bomb? Experts see the Islamic fighters as less of a risk than radical insiders gaining access to nuclear materials.

Islamist offensive ruins the West's plan for Somalia Militant Islamists have the moderate government surrounded in Mogadishu. If they took over, it would be a devastating blow to US counter-terrorism and anti-piracy efforts in East Africa.

FT Russia and Italy sign gas supply deal Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi oversee an agreement between Moscow’s Gazprom and Rome’s Eni to double the capacity of the South Stream pipeline, intensifying concerns about the EU’s energy security

WSJ  Russia, Italy to Double Pipeline Capacity Russian and Italian firms agreed to expand the capacity of a new gas pipeline into Europe that will bypass Ukraine, in a challenge to a rival project backed by the U.S. and EU.

Indian Voters Reach for Era of Stability A strong showing by India's Congress party gives a decisive mandate to Prime Minister Singh and raises hopes for economic reforms

The Times Conquering Congress India’s election has delivered the best result: stability and a strong government

FT A chance to stitch together India’s diversities Ashutosh Varshney applauds the election result

Sri Lanka rebels 'call ceasefire'

Tamil Tiger rebels holed up in a tiny enclave in northern Sri Lanka have "decided to silence their guns", a rebel spokesman says.

UN 'concern' over Sri Lanka

Pleas for restraint ignored

Q&A: Sri Lanka crisis

The Times Iran tops Israel’s agenda Today’s US-Israeli summit is scripted to end happily. Any real differences will be exposed later Alon Pinkas

H 2 Newsweek Soner Cagaptay On Turkey's Ergenekon Case . The Ergenekon case exposes the power of a shadowy Islamic brotherhood that controls the Turkish police.

US - Turkey Partnership: Committee: House Foreign Affairs - Testimony: Ian Lesser [read full story]

The EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle: "Time for Turkey to Be Visionary in the South Caucasus", Sabine Freizer

Turkey's public finances seen as obstacle to IMF agreement

Turkey Adopts a More Cooperative Position on Nabucco

Thousands Of Turks March In Anti - Government Protest

Daily Star EditorialErdogan is under fire for policies, while Lebanese leaders simply fan fires

Washington Post Land Dispute Between Arabs, Kurds Simmers in Iraq

Kurd-Arab Conflict Echoes in Parliament

Iraq deal to revive gas pipeline

A consortium of oil companies plans to revive a project to supply gas from Iraq's Kurdish region to Europe.

FT Boost for Nabucco from Iraq gas deal Europe took a surprise step towards reducing its dependence on Russian gas as two of its oil companies agreed to develop a gas field in Kurdistan, Iraq’s semi-autonomous region Kurdistan gas offers EU respite

Ha’aretz Turkey may cancel Israel drone deal over missed deadlines

Turkey urges Israel to accept Syria's overtures

Kongre'de Türk Amerikan İlişkileri Değerlendirildi

U.S. House of Representatives - Subcommittee on Europe

The United States and Turkey: A Model Partnership

Is The Karabakh Peace Process In Jeopardy? BY LIZ FULLER
Just one week ago, it seemed as though Armenia and Azerbaijan were closer than they had been for years to resolving the Karabakh conflict.

Turkey opts for tsarist regime to bypass bureaucratic impediments

U.S. Karabakh Envoy Defends His Role Earlier this week, the Azerbaijani president's foreign-policy adviser said he sees double standards and clear evidence of "Christian solidarity" among the co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk Group. Novruz Mammadov said that the co-chairs might also be manipulating the talks for professional reasons. The Minsk Group mediates negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh

Ignatius Davos Olayını Değerlendirdi

İç Basında Türk Dış Politikası Dış Basında Türkiye – BBC Türkçe 0700 1800 – VOA Türkçe 0630 1345 2130 DW - (UTC) 0830 1130 1530 Turkish Press Review Google News Turkey TurcoPundit ASAM

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

Iraqi oil minister rejects Kurdish oil plan Shahrestani says the Iraqi government is under no obligation to ensure that foreign companies are paid for oil sent through pipelines from Kurdistan into Iraq and then exported

Iraq deal to revive gas pipeline

A consortium of oil companies plans to revive a project to supply gas from Iraq's Kurdish region to Europe.

Can the election eliminate the domination of the 2 leading parties?
Kurdish Aspect

Israeli involvement in Northern Iraq | Pakistan Daily

Iraqi gas to launch Nabucco by 2014: Botas source

SNAP ANALYSIS: Iraqi Kurdistan to export gas to Europe, Turkey
Reuters

SCENARIOS-Turkey's southeast poses big challenges

PUKmedia :: English - Barham Salih: PUK Capable to overcome challenges

Border conflicts test Kurdish tightrope act Kurdish Globe

IRA model for Kirkuk Middle East Times

Cooperation Between Peshmarga and the Police in Kirkuk | MZM.com

A Taste of Kurdistan - a Correspondents Journey

Cevdet Aşkın

Cumhurbaşkanı Gül Suriye'de

Turkish forces kill 7 Kurdish rebels in southeast

Former Iraqi Oil Minister Plays Down Dispute With Kurdistan Production

Six Iraqi police killed in Kirkuk

Silencing guns or legitimizing status quo Kurdish Globe

Gül praises relations with neighbor Syria

Pajamas Media » The Key to an Honorable Exit from Iraq
By Michael Weiss

The selection of Kirkuk as the capital of culture next year, the Iraqi

The Cairo Conference: Critical Years in the History of Southern Kurdistan.

Türkmen says gov't should be bold in solving Kurdish issue

Lebanon's trade minister remarks on rapid development in Kurdistan ...

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

EU says military should not speak beyond its remit

Russia and Turkey start gas talks

Turkey hails resumption of Syrian-European-US talks

Wexler urges US to positively 'channel' Turkey's value

NATO warned against simulating Turkish soldiers in Afghanistan

Gazprom Ready to Buy All Gas From Azeri Nabucco Base Bloomberg

From Empire to Republic: Turkish Nationalism and the Armenian Genocide

FACTBOX-Nabucco pipeline project facts

FACTBOX-Major energy pipelines in central/south Europe

EU no anchor for foreign investors

Secular Turkey Hangs in the Balance - Barbara Lerner, National Review

'Gül and Erdoğan differ on Armenia'

Mr. Fein's Turkish Adventure | Asbarez

reflections: [Soner Cagaptay's Fight against Turkey] By Mehmet Kalyoncu

Caspian Basin: Which Way is Up for Regional Energy Development? BY ARIEL COHEN May 15 could become the official birth date of a pipeline that would help Russia maintain its virtual monopoly of natural gas exports to Europe. Whether the energy export project grows to maturity remains to be seen.

Turkish-Led Combined Task Force 151 Makes First Suspected Pirate ...

Russia to build NPPs in Turkey

Pamuk may face new trial for Armenia remarks

Illinois governor recognizes Turkish organizations

Hedo Okur Tuncay Nihat Altintop

Turkey's rising film talent Variety

Domuz Gribi Bu Kez Türkiye ve Hindistan'da

First case of swine flu confirmed in Turkey - health minister

Son Dakika Milliyet Hürriyet Zaman GH Türkiye

Birinci Sayfalar Akşam Birgün Bugün Cumhuriyet Dünya Hürriyet Milli Gazete Milliyet Posta Radikal Referans Sabah Star Taraf Tercüman Türkiye Vakit Vatan Yeni Şafak Zaman Arşiv

Video NTV CNNTürk Milliyet

Köşe Yazarları

Cengiz Çandar

Ahmet Taşgetiren

Ruşen - Çakır

Taha Akyol

Fikret Bila

Hasan Cemal

Murat Yetkin

İsmet Berkan

Fehmi Koru

Taha Kıvanç

Şamil Tayyar

Ali Bayramoğlu

Soli Özel

Yasemin Çongar

Ertuğrul Özkök

Hasan Ünal

Ahmet Hakan

M Ali Birand

Cüneyt Ülsever

Enis Berberoğlu

Oktay Ekşi

Özdemir İnce

Umur Talu

HASAN BÜLENT KAHRAMAN

Ekonomi

ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM

Ercan Kumcu

Erdal Sağlam

H4 New York Times World Watches for U.S. Shift on Mideast

Arabs, Persians, Jews

By ROGER COHEN Obama should tell Netanyahu the status quo is not in anyone’s interest.

Do Like Jimmy Carter

By MARTIN VAN CREVELD President Obama must force the Israelis and Palestinians to do what they themselves are unable to do.

Israel’s Fears, Amalek’s Arsenal By JEFFREY GOLDBERG Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s challenge is to convince President Obama that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat to Israelis, as well as to Americans.

Death From Above, Outrage Down Below By DAVID KILCULLEN and ANDREW McDONALD EXUM Drone attacks in Pakistan are doing more harm than good. The goal should be to isolate the extremists by adopting policies that build local partnerships.

The China Puzzle

By DAVID LEONHARDT We need China to buy our government bonds to keep our interest rates down. But that’s just the beginning of the problem.

Falling Gas Prices Deny Russia a Lever of Power

Lessons the Teacher Forgot By PETER S. GOODMAN It’s almost amusing now: America once lectured China on economic responsibility.

PAUL KRUGMAN The Perfect, the Good, the Planet The climate change legislation now on the table isn’t the bill we’d ideally want, but it’s vastly better than no bill at all.

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON; Holbrooke Is the Right Man to Steer Pakistan and Afghanistan

'A Failure of Capitalism'

By RICHARD A. POSNER
Reviewed by JONATHAN RAUCH Richard A. Posner argues that “the antics of crooks and fools” are not to blame for the financial crisis, but rather flaws in the system itself.

Editorial Photographs and Kangaroo Courts President Obama must create clear rules to deal with detainees. And unless there is a full accounting of what went wrong, he risks repeating the same mistakes.

So Far So Good It looks as if Chrysler will emerge from its restructuring a more sensible company. But still looming is the fate of General Motors.

Notes From Another Credit Card Crisis By SUKI KIM Americans’ credit card debt has risen to the point where it now tops $960 billion. If it’s any consolation, South Koreans have been there, done that and come out alive — if just barely.

From a Theory to a Consensus on Emissions Cap and trade, hatched as an academic theory in obscure economic journals, has become the policy of choice in the debate over how to slow the heating of the planet.

All Disasters Are Local In responding to disasters, Americans must look beyond government for help. We need “whole of society” not just “whole of government” responses.

Governing Party in India Scores Victory

Self-Ruled Region Remains Wary of Russian Backers

Expense Claims Scandal Expands in Britain’s Labor Party

Utah Governor Chosen as Ambassador to China

Images, the Law and War By ADAM LIPTAK What happens when the First Amendment is matched up against an enemy’s intentions? What President Obama cites as dangers, a court might find mere speculation.

25 Militants Are Killed in Attack in Pakistan

News Analysis: Modest Successes and Missed Chances in Pope’s Trip

Conservatives Map Strategies on Court Fight Preparing to oppose the confirmation of President Obama’s eventual choice to succeed Justice David H. Souter, conservative groups are working together to stockpile ammunition.

Bankers Bounce Back

By EDUARDO PORTER Bankers have an uncanny ability to keep landing in finance’s glittering fold while regular mortals are still suffering from the economic fallout they unleashed.

MAUREEN DOWD Cheney, Master of Pain The question of what Nancy Pelosi knew or didn’t, or when she did or didn’t know, is irrelevant to how W. and Dick Cheney broke the law and authorized torture.

NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

This Mom Didn’t Have to Die In West Africa, women face threats from warlords and exotic disease, and something even deadlier — motherhood.

H5 Washington Post Celeste Ward -- The Pentagon's Obsession With Counterinsurgency

Obama, Netanyahu Differ on Goals

By Jackson Diehl, Will today's meeting between Obama and Netanyahu inaugurate an era of negotiation and detente, or of deepening conflict?

Obama's Dangerous Debt By Robert J. Samuelson, His budget is a case study in political expediency and economic gambling.

Gen. Jones and the Anonymous Long Knives By Sally Quinn, Usually the trashing of the national security adviser takes longer.

Land Dispute Between Arabs, Kurds Simmers in Iraq Kurd-Arab Conflict Echoes in Parliament

Obama and Israel's Netanyahu Likely to Have Calm Meeting Despite Differences Differences Unlikely to Come to Fore

Pelosi vs. the CIA: The Spies Stand Up to the Speaker By David Ignatius, It has been the nightmare scenario ever since the modern system of congressional oversight of intelligence was created in the late 1970s: When a scandal erupts, a member of Congress will put his (or her) political interests above those of the intelligence agency whose secrets he (or she) has sworn...

The Take: As President, Obama Is Unafraid to Disappoint His Allies

By Dan Balz, Through much of last year's campaign, Barack Obama enjoyed the acclaim of a politician who seemed adept at making himself all things to almost all people. Liberals, moderates, even some conservatives, Democrats, independents and even some Republicans all found in Obama change they could believe in.

Iraqis and American Soldiers Anxious Over U.S. Withdrawal From Sadr City Locals, Americans Fear Return of Mayhem

As Detroit Crumbles, China Emerges as Auto Epicenter

Withdrawal Deadlines The bilateral security agreement that went into effect this year includes three deadlines for the withdrawal

Manmohan Singh of Congress Party Is Reelected as India's Prime Minister

Congress's Singh Becomes First Full-Term Prime Minister in 40 Years to Be Reelected

Scientists Consider Age of Swine Flu Victims Evidence of Pandemic Potential Scientists Say Relative Youth of Ill People Is Evidence of Pandemic Potential

Tamil Tiger Rebels Admit Defeat in Sri Lanka, Vow to Silence Guns

Editorial Mr. Obama's War?

No. Like it or not, it's America's war

Antitrust Challenges for the Obama Administration By Steven Pearlstein,

The president has a chance to make antitrust laws work.

Sticking With Tribunals The president's changes would improve military commissions, but Congress should play its part.

The Tiananmen Diaries By Perry Link, PRISONER OF THE STATE The Secret Journal of Zhao Ziyang

Obama Picks Huntsman, Republican Governor of Utah, as Ambassador to China Huntsman Was Potential 2012 Challenger

Once-Struggling Fiat Could Become No. 3 World Automaker With GM, Chrysler Deals Formerly Struggling Automaker Aims to Be World's Third-Largest

Some Call It Torture. In One Poll, Most Call It Justified.

Islamist Rebels Threaten Somalia's Government 10-Day Offensive Revives Fears That Radical Islamist Insurgents Could Take Powe

Into the Thicket on Torture By Jim Hoagland, President Obama's effort to block the release of photographs of U.S. prisoner abuse is a mistake that can be corrected.

Another Threatened Newsroom Species It's time to start thinking of an alternative to the traditional ombudsman model.

Greed's Saving Graces By George F. Will, Open Markets are the best way to combat greed. Visit Stubhub.com for proof.

William J. Dobson - The Best Guide for Gitmo? Look to Singapore.

At Geithner's Treasury, Key Decisions on Hold

Many Advisers' Roles Are Undefined And Others Still Awaiting Confirmation

Cold Reality Addressing climate change is a job for Congress, not the Endangered Species Act.

Obama Addresses Abortion Protests in Commencement Speech at Notre Dame

Obama Calls for 'Open Minds' Amid Abortion Debate

Obama Confronts Foes With Faith

By E. J. Dionne, At Notre Dame, Obama gave the most radical and most conservative speech of his presidency.

Science Digest: Melting of Ice Sheet Might Not Be as Worrisome as Was Thought A new study has found that one of the worst-case scenarios for sea-level rise -- the melting of an Antarctic ice sheet that is as vast as Texas and as thick as 1.8 miles -- would not be as bad as previously thought.

India's Hindu Nationalist BJP Party Reflects on Election Loss

Israel's Netanyahu Arrives in Washington for First Meeting With Obama

H6 Guardian  Barack Obama to push Israel for two-state pledge

US president to press Binyamin Netanyahu to commit to establishment of Palestinian state

 Obama bids for Middle East peace President signals a very different approach to the Jewish state as US wants 'real results'

 Challenges ahead for China as it looks to get growth back on trackPolitical reform, energy needs and bridging the wealth gap are among the pressing issues for Beijing

New series: China at the crossroads In the first part of our week-long portrait of China, Tania Branigan reports on city workers returning to village life due to economic hardships

 Unemployment forces Chinese migrants back to the countryside Factory to farm: millions who had enjoyed a taste of city freedom are returning to their villages

 Economy and the environment: growing pains Editorial: Protecting the planet often suffers because of our reckless pursuit of growth but politicians keep taking the easy option

 Tamil Tigers leader 'died in bunker' Rebel fighters reported to be blowing themselves up, and leader said to have died in bunker

 Sri Lanka: the bloody end of battle Editorial: The international community must insist on transparency and accountability for the Tamil civilians now in government hands

US abortion views 'irreconcilable'

Barack Obama strives for common ground and urges campaigners not to demonise each other

 Tamil Tigers' last retreat cut off

Government defies calls for halt to fighting and UN accusations of bloodbath

 The week Britain turned its anger on politicians Row over MPs' expenses threatens legitimacy of mainstream parties offering themselves for government

Cameron can't run away from Europe Nick Cohen: There's nothing compassionate about the friends the Tory leader is making on the Continent

H7 Rand Review Bridge the Gulf To Advance Negotiations with Iran, Cede Conventional Wisdom By Frederic Wehrey

Jerusalem Road Doesn't Go Through Tehran - Leon Hadar, Foreign Affairs

Israel's Secret War With Iran Wall Street Journal –

Pajamas Media » The Key to an Honorable Exit from Iraq
By Michael Weiss

NYT World Watches for US Shift on Mideast

What would the Middle East look like if Iran gets the bomb?

Al Awsat On the Verge of a Hezbollah State

Independent Robert Fisk’s World: The West awaits the return of friendly 'democrats' to Lebanon

Daily Star Can Obama meet the challenge of brokering an Arab-Israeli peace?

CFR Syria Looking for Improved Relations with Obama Administration

Geopolitical Diary: A Familiar U.S.-Israeli Course On Iran

Obama's Unwise Pledge to Muslims - David Frum, National Post

Islam's Trillion Dollar Economy - Carla Power, Time

This moribund body needs a new home in the UAE Sultan Al Qassemi : Predating the United Nations, the European Union, Asean and almost every other regional body is an institution based in Cairo known as the Arab League.

Dictatorship: Tunisia's Undeserved Fate - Bassam Bounenni, Daily Star

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

Iraq concern over lack of US engagement

Militants test readiness of Iraq's forces as US prepares to leave USA Today

Iraq deal to revive gas pipeline

A consortium of oil companies plans to revive a project to supply gas from Iraq's Kurdish region to Europe.

raq Stability May Stall as US Withdraws Troops, Haass Says

Ernesto Londoño / Washington Post:
Iraqis and American Soldiers Anxious Over U.S. Withdrawal From Sadr City

Iraqi oil ministry under fire over low exports and revenue

Washington threatens to evacuate three US bases over Qatar's pro-Iran policy

Iraqi oil minister rejects Kurdish oil plan Shahrestani says the Iraqi government is under no obligation to ensure that foreign companies are paid for oil sent through pipelines from Kurdistan into Iraq and then exported

More pain to come for Mideast economies The Middle East is not yet through the worst of the economic crisis because non-performing loans are likely to rise and the full impact of declines in tourism and remittances has still to be felt, experts have warned

Iraq deal to revive gas pipeline

A consortium of oil companies plans to revive a project to supply gas from Iraq's Kurdish region to Europe.

Boost for Nabucco from Iraq gas deal Europe took a surprise step towards reducing its dependence on Russian gas as two of its oil companies agreed to develop a gas field in Kurdistan, Iraq’s semi-autonomous region

Shell, CNPC Agree on Iraq Stakes

UAE and European Companies Team to Export Iraq Gas

Child Recruited by Terrorists Kills Five Police in Kirkuk

Jordan's Abdullah to name his 9-year son crown prince, sack Hazme

Iranian Reformist Paper Shut Down After One Day Six years after it was shut down, Iran’s reformist “Yas No” newspaper reappeared on newsstands. Its writers and editors hoped the opposition publication would give a boost to reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi in the upcoming election. Few expected that it would survive just one day before being banned again.

History made in Kuwait as women elected US-educated liberal Aseel al-Awadhi and Rula Dashti are the first women to win seats in the oil-rich Gulf state’s parliament

Iraqis and American Soldiers Anxious Over U.S. Withdrawal From Sadr City

Locals, Americans Fear Return of Mayhem

Islamist offensive leaves West's Somalia strategy in tatters

Islamist Rebels Threatening Fragile Somali Government

Iran president's denial of Holocaust becomes campaign issue A reformist challenger says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's stance has isolated Iran internationally.

Iraqis Pursue Corruption Purge Iraqi Trade Minister Abdul Falah al-Sudani is set to appear before parliament for public testimony over allegations of malfeasance on his watch.

Iraq's once-envied health care system lost to war, corruption

Albright group lauds Lebanese election

(UPI) -- Lebanon has improved its electoral system substantially as it prepares for June parliamentary elections, though security issues remain, observers said.

Iran's Rezaei promises economic reform

(UPI) -- Conservative Iranian presidential contender Mohsen Rezaei has employed economic reform as part of his campaign platform ahead of the June vote.

Muslim Brotherhood in decline? UPI) -- The once-radical Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt finds itself struggling for support following a modest shift into political life, The Wall Street Journal reports.

US and Iraqi Partners Share Recognition

H9 Ha’aretz – Netanyahu unlikely to back Palestinian state at Obama meeting

Benn How does an Israeli diplomatic visit to the U.S. work?

Aide: Obama, Netanyahu to focus on Iran during U.S. meet National Security Council chief: Iran an existential matter; PM to meet AIPAC on Sunday, Obama on Monday

Strong advisor to a weak government

Obama: I can't tell Israel not to fear Iran U.S. president tells Newsweek he understands very clearly Israel sees Iran as an 'existential threat.'

Netanyahu to tell Obama: Time 'running out' on Iran PM will also present security demands he views as essential to any final-status deal with the Palestinians

ANALYSIS / Netanyahu's problem will be the Palestinians, not Iran If Obama shows understanding on the Iranian issue, Netanyahu will be more flexible on other matters

ANALYSIS / Netanyahu is capable of reaching peace It doesn't matter what Netanyahu says during his White House visit, but what he does when he returns to Israel.

U.S. Jews seek clues to Obama Israel policy in Netanyahu visit The 78% of American Jews who voted for Obama want to know if that now conflicts with loyalty to Israel

Editorial Say 'yes' to Obama Netanyahu must choose between continuing the policy of intransigence, settlements and footdragging, and taking part in the new world order.

Act now The millions of Israelis who are prepared to exchange territories for peace understand that Netanyahu cannot be exempt from taking action.

Israel, PA hold secret meetings over renewing peace talks Contact comes despite PA's demand that settlement construction end first; Peres: Israel wants talks now

Levy Please, with might Obama is the final hope: Only if he throws his entire weight into the process will anything in the Middle East start moving.

Bar’el Netanyahu is good for Obama If in D.C. Bibi says 'two states for two peoples', Obama will have his first Israeli political achievement.

EldarNegotiations - an obstacle to peace To convince both Palestinians and Israelis that the rules of the game have changed, Obama must demand that Netanyahu carry out his part of an agreement he actually signed with Bill Clinton and Yasser Arafat.

ANALYSIS / Netanyahu's only card to play with Obama is Iran

Poll: 40% of Israeli Arabs believe Holocaust never happened Survey also finds that only 41% of Israeli Arabs recognize Israel's right to exist as Jewish state

Peres: If Assad wants Israel-Syria peace, why is he shy? President urges Syrian counterpart to agree to direct talks, says time is ripe to advance Mideast peace

New residents account for one-third of West Bank settlement growth

Arab League: Israel's nuclear program more worrying than Iran

Peace Now: 'Natural growth' - Israel's trick for W. Bank expansion

Deputy FM: Assad wants only peace process, not actual peace accord

ElBaradei: Israeli strike on Iran would be 'insane'

What kind of normalization? If Israel holds negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians, it will need to present a more practical, exact characterization of its demands than what it used in the peace agreement with Egypt.

Amira Hass / Israel won't let books, music, clothes into Gaza

'Iran presidential hopeful, 12, wants to move Israel to Hawaii'

N PICTURES / Israeli premiers meet American presidents

Jerusalem Post Netanyahu to focus on Iran with Obama, adviser says Security adviser Arad buoyed by president saying all options are on the table; hints premier won't publicly endorse two-state solution.

Netanyahu has more to lose if Obama meeting goes sour, pundits claim Some news outlets, including Fox News, play up Netanyahu's possible support for a two-state solution.

Iran and the Israeli-Arab conflict: Making a smart connection [ ODED ERAN AND EMILY B. LANDAU

The Region: Don't overestimate the West's naiveté [ BARRY RUBIN

Reality Check: Pushing Netanyahu [ JEFF BARAK

Arabs slam bill to criminalize 'nakba' MK proposes 3 years in jail for commemorations; study: 40% of Israeli Arabs say Shoah didn't happen

Likud ministers ready to resist PA state Concern spurred by 'Post' report on AIPAC lobbying for Palestinian State with PMO's blessing.

Barak to force Iran expert Lubrani out Senior officials tell 'Post' that power struggles between Mossad, Defense Ministry lead to decision.

'31% of Israelis call Obama pro-Israel'Poll shows that current US administration lags far behind George W. Bush's 88% approval rating.

Iran to mass produce long-range missiles Israeli estimates: Teheran to develop 500 missile launchers, 1,000 missiles in next 6 years.

Peres: Assad and Netanyahu should meet and start talking

After meeting Jordanian king on sidelines of World Economic Forum, president asks "if President Assad really wants peace, why is he shy?"

Don't expect public diplomacy from Syria, top analyst says

Editor's Notes: Four more years

By DAVID HOROVITZ

It's not that votes won't be counted on election day in Iran, but that the results will be manipulated.

Lion's Den: Obama and Netanyahu Meet - What's Next? [ DANIEL PIPES

'40.5% of Israeli Arabs deny Holocaust' Study also finds 41% of Arab sector recognizes Israel as Jewish state, down from 65.6% in 2003.

'Obama should push for 2-state solution' PA official tells 'Post' Netanyahu wants to "turn the Palestinian issue into an economic problem."

US to Israel: Tone down rhetoric on IranThreats against Teheran could only strengthen Ahmadinejad ahead of elections, officials say.

Column One: The Europe of our dreams By CAROLINE GLICK

Dispensing with anti-Jewish myths ranks low on the priority list for most European leaders.

Yedioth Ahronoth Peres to Assad: Don't be shy Syrian President Assad should not by 'shy,' embark on direct talks with Israel if he truly wants peace, Peres says; president meets with Jordan's King Abdullah, says Israel willing to resume talks with Palestinians immediately

Presidential demagoguery Natural growth a foolish excuse used by Peres to justify settlement construction

Obama on Iran: All options on table

Where is Bibi’s agenda?

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

Obama courts Israel with pact against Tehran Times Online

Netanyahu may endorse Palestinian state on US trip

Hamas says Israel recognition not for discussion

Iran, Not Palestine, Tops Israel's agenda - Alon Pinkas, The Times

CFR Netanyahu-Obama Meeting: Don't Expect ConfrontationIn a new interview with CFR.org, Martin Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, says Obama's meetings with Netanyahu likely won't produce open confrontation, as some analysts have predicted. Indyk adds, however, that Netanyahu may have trouble reconciling Obama's calls for a two-state solution with the demands of his political base.

WINEP Are Obama and Netanyahu Destined to Clash?

Heritage The Obama-Netanyahu Meeting: Finding Common Ground

Debka Obama's fraying Mid East polices ease Netanyahu's White House ride

US upholds Israel's nuclear position as long as Iran enriches uranium

WSJ  Obama, Netanyahu to Seek Consensus Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in their first summit meeting, will seek common ground on Palestinian statehood and Iran's nuclear program.

You may not know it, Bibi, but Obama is your real friend Tony Karon : In the name of “friendship” George Bush retrenched the US role of mediating between Israel and its Arab neighbours, instead lining America up squarely behind Israel’s right-wing leaders as they marched determinedly away from the two-state solution envisaged by the Oslo Accords.

Arab states discuss Israel concessions Israel could be rewarded for expansion freeze

Official: Israeli PM likely to back two-state plan

Palestinian security forces must aspire to serving the state
By Mohammed Najib

Pope's Visit Satisfies Few - Matt Beynon Rees, Global Post

Grading Pope Benedict's Mideast Trip - Jeff Israely, Time

A Flawed Pitch to Netanyahu - Michael Goodwin, New York Daily News

Palestinian Reconciliation Talks Resume

Israeli official says Syria's Assad insincere on peace

Pope Ends Holy Land Tour Pope Benedict assured his followers in the Holy Land that peace is possible, as he ended his Mideast visit with a pilgrimage to the site of Jesus' crucifixion

H1 0 Christian Science Monitor

Ahead of summit, Obama and Netanyahu press different agendas When the leaders meet Monday, the US will push for progress toward a Palestinian state, while Israel will ask for a harder line on Iran.

Could Taliban get keys to Pakistan's A-bomb? Experts see the Islamic fighters as less of a risk than radical insiders gaining access to nuclear materials.

Islamist offensive ruins the West's plan for Somalia Militant Islamists have the moderate government surrounded in Mogadishu. If they took over, it would be a devastating blow to US counter-terrorism and anti-piracy efforts in East Africa.

Young Algerians, struggling to find opportunities, look to Europe for a better future President Bouteflika is pledging $150 billion to create jobs. Algerian young people – an estimated 70 percent of whom can't find work – are getting impatient.

Pressed on Palestinian state, Netanyahu changes the subject – to Iran Ahead of his Monday meeting with Obama, who supports a two-state solution, the Israeli prime minister wants to make Iran's nuclear ambitions the focus of regional diplomacy.

Mideast leaders defend free market at economic forum Despite capitalism's recently damaged reputation, participants at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East this weekend agreed that minimal regulation was key to growth.

Why India's ruling party triumphed Despite economic downturn, voters gave the Congress Party a surprisingly strong mandate.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers admit defeat The militant group's chief of international relations announced Sunday that the war had reached its 'bitter end.'

ASIA

Indian Voters Reach for Era of Stability A strong showing by India's Congress party gives a decisive mandate to Prime Minister Singh and raises hopes for economic reforms

The Times Conquering Congress India’s election has delivered the best result: stability and a strong government

FT A chance to stitch together India’s diversities Ashutosh Varshney applauds the election result

Congress alliance wins Indian election Emphatic victory gives Singh second term

Sri Lanka rebels 'call ceasefire'

Tamil Tiger rebels holed up in a tiny enclave in northern Sri Lanka have "decided to silence their guns", a rebel spokesman says.

UN 'concern' over Sri Lanka

Pleas for restraint ignored

Q&A: Sri Lanka crisis

Challenges ahead for China as it looks to get growth back on trackPolitical reform, energy needs and bridging the wealth gap are among the pressing issues for Beijing

New series: China at the crossroads In the first part of our week-long portrait of China, Tania Branigan reports on city workers returning to village life due to economic hardships

5 Challenges Facing India's Victors - Jyoti Thottam, Time

Heritage Foundation U.S.-India Relations: Ensuring Indian Prosperity in the Coming Demographic Boom

Potential Obama Rival Chosen as China Envoy Washington Post

The China Puzzle By DAVID LEONHARDT We need China to buy our government bonds to keep our interest rates down. But that’s just the beginning of the problem.

For Pakistanis, what is 'Islamic law'? By Feisal Naqvi

Delhi thinks Pak N-sites in radical hands - India Times from DEBKA

Interview: Asif Ali Zardari His country has been named the most dangerous place on earth

COMMENT: Chinese support crucial to victory China’s aid to Sri Lanka jumped from a few million dollars in 2005 to almost $1bn, replacing Japan as the biggest foreign donor

Tigers’ harsh taming Sri Lanka: As the army closes in on the last redoubt of the Tamil rebels, a 25-year civil war is ending – with aid from Beijing that gives rise to concerns about a ‘string of pearls’ strategy

China's rise relied on a rural miracle. So does its future

Yasheng Huang: Rural financial stability protected the country in the 1980s, and it is to the countryside that leaders must look again

The crisis in Sri Lanka – a conflict without winners

Francis Deng: The standoff might be coming to an end, but a military victory will not be sustainable unless legitimate grievances are addressed, writes the UN special adviser on prevention of genocide

India's Congress needs coalition politics

Dibyesh Anand: Following its election victory, Congress should work with like-minded parties rather than depend on dynastic charisma

Sri Lanka faces 'unimaginable catastrophe' Asia’s longest-running civil war neared its endgame, with up to 50,000 ethnic Tamils pinned in a tiny pocket of land

May 17 ANNOUNCEMENT# 96 - The Urdu-Pashtu Media Monitoring Project

Progress Comes to India - Slowly - Shashi Tharoor, RealClearWorld

Will Hindu Nationalists Gain in India? - Joseph Loconte, Weekly Standard

Will More Aid Help Af-Pak? - Stephen Kaplitt, Washington Times

Sri Lanka Sees End To Its 26-Year War Sri Lanka's president said Asia's longest-running insurgency had been vanquished, after troops trapped the remnants of the Tamil Tigers and a rebel leader surrendered.

Four senior Tamil Tigers 'dead'

The Sri Lankan military says four senior Tamil Tigers have been killed as fighting rages in a tiny enclave in the north-east.

Midnight in the Century in Pakistan - Bernard-Henri Levy, Politico

War may not quash Tamil aspirations

H11 IHT

EUROPE European press review

Russia and Italy sign gas supply deal Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi oversee an agreement between Moscow’s Gazprom and Rome’s Eni to double the capacity of the South Stream pipeline, intensifying concerns about the EU’s energy security

 Russia, Italy to Double Pipeline Capacity Russian and Italian firms agreed to expand the capacity of a new gas pipeline into Europe that will bypass Ukraine, in a challenge to a rival project backed by the U.S. and EU.

Heritage Recommendations for the New U.S. Ambassador to NATO

A review of The Euro: The Politics of the New Global Currency by David Marsh (and more and more).

EU industry emissions fall 3% in 2008 Three per cent fall in GHG emissions was claimed by the European Commission as a victory for environmental policies, but carbon traders were quick to note that the recession also played a part

CEPS Annual Conference 2009: "The Quest for European Leadership"

EU Warns Bosnia Its Accession Chances Are At Stake

The European Union's Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has told the visiting foreign minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sven Alkalaj, that the divided country must consolidate its central authorities or risk damaging its chances of one day joining the bloc. He also sought to stamp out criticism that its leadership in Bosnia is either weak or lacking altogether.

From Esprit, before we ask the question of a social Europe, a legal solution to the co-existence of social Europes (in the plural) must be attempted. From Social Europe, the dawn of a new era: An article on social democracy after the financial crisis.

Siemens chief sees surge from Germany Löscher forecasts fresh industrialisation

France claims lead on recovery in Europe

France is four months ahead of other European countries in its economic recovery plan, according to the minister in charge of the €26bn fiscal stimulus

Boost for Nabucco from Iraq gas deal Europe took a surprise step towards reducing its dependence on Russian gas as two of its oil companies agreed to develop a gas field in Kurdistan, Iraq’s semi-autonomous region

H12 RFE/RLIs The Karabakh Peace Process In Jeopardy?
BY LIZ FULLER
Just one week ago, it seemed as though Armenia and Azerbaijan were closer than they had been for years to resolving the Karabakh conflict.

Falling Gas Prices Deny Russia a Lever of Power

Ukraine's economic straits raise worries about radicalism Gains by a far-right party in regional polls and the murder of a Ukrainian nationalist have caused concern. But many caution that radicals hold limited appeal at the national level.

Russia signs deals for its 'EU rival' pipeline

Russia Still Has Georgia On Its Mind
Investor's Business Daily

Gazprom Ready to Buy All Gas From Azeri Nabucco Base
Bloomberg

Google News Azerbaijan

Georgia may remain without gas even in the presence of Nabucco

Who's the Boss in Russia? - Fishman, Mayetnaya & Guseva, Newsweek

Rise of Radicalism in Ukraine? - James Marson, Christian Science Monitor

H13 The Times Iran tops Israel’s agenda

Today’s US-Israeli summit is scripted to end happily. Any real differences will be exposed later Alon Pinkas

Preparedness is All Swine flu is still out there, spreading sickness and notching up fatalities. There is no case for panic, but every need to remain alert to the danger

Conquering Congress India’s election has delivered the best result: stability and a strong government

Defeated Tamil Tigers admit 'bitter end'After 26 years of fighting for an ethnic Tamil homeland, and final spate of suicide attacks, Sri Lanka rebels silence their guns

NEW: Tamil Tigers warn of mass suicide

Pakistan to attack Bin Laden’s lair Pakistan is to extend its war on the Taliban into areas bordering Afghanistan where Osama Bin Laden is believed to be hiding

Obama courts Israel with pact against Tehran President Barack Obama hopes to tempt Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli leader, with the prospect of an alliance against a nuclear Iran

Cheney is not the best spokesman for Cheney. He has an approval rating of 30% and a disapproval rating of 63%

Higher taxes are in our future, as is the inevitable queuing with which patients in Canada and Britain are familiar

Crisis calls for elected House of Lords Parliamentary reform is vital to convince the public that Britain is honestly governed William Rees-Mogg

Where are the images of horror? History shows us that there is always the need for a witness to war Don McCullin

Wall Street Journal  The High Price of Deterring Iran By Emanuele Ottolenghi
Who would stop a nuclear Islamic Republic from swallowing the oil-rich Gulf and fomenting unrest in the Mideast?

 Netanyahu and Obama Have a Shared Interest in Iran By Reuel Marc Gerecht The success of both men depends on stopping the mullahs from getting the bomb.

 What's Another $108 Billion?

Your latest donation to the IMF.

Derivatives and the Wisdom of Crowds INFORMATION AGE
By L. Gordon Crovitz
Smart reform yields more information, not more regulation.

Laffer and Moore: Soak the Rich, Lose the Rich

Remember those toxic assets? They're mostly still around
By David Ignatius

Crash Course The Nobel-winning economist talks about Long-Term Capital Management, why math still helps banks to manage risk and whether he is the intellectual father of the credit-default swap.

H14 Financial Times Middle East test of Obama’s resolve Every serious peace plan is premised on Israel returning to its pre-1967 frontiers and a Palestinian state on the remaining 22 per cent of colonial Palestine. Now is the time to get the deal done

Indian voters show the way forward The victory for the Congress party reveals Indian democracy’s ability to push back against caste-based populism; sectarian Hindu revivalism; and regional parties who hold the national interest hostage

Arab states discuss Israel concessions Israel could be rewarded for expansion freeze

History lessons to shape US-Israel summit As Benjamin Netanyahu heads to the White House for his first meeting with Barack Obama, both leaders must be hoping that history is not about to repeat itself

Sound and fury in the world economy Economies are behaving unpredictably and will continue to do so. The instability is both cause and consequence of the great uncertainty that has been spreading out from the financial markets

America requires a dose of healthcare reality Breaking the link between employers and health insurance would make excellent sense. Unfortunately voters do not believe it and nor do politicians of either party, writes Clive Crook

A chance to stitch together India’s diversities Ashutosh Varshney applauds the election result

Europe’s classic exercise in closet protectionism Paul Marshall defends fund management

Germany needs more than an accounting trick Wolfgang Münchau on European banks’ bad debts

Tigers’ harsh taming Sri Lanka: As the army closes in on the last redoubt of the Tamil rebels, a 25-year civil war is ending – with aid from Beijing that gives rise to concerns about a ‘string of pearls’ strategy

Kuwaiti women win parliament seats for first time Women have won four seats in Kuwait’s parliament following Saturday’s election, the first to do so in the Gulf Arab state’s history in what will be a blow to the Islamists -

Global Insight: Realism for the road ahead At the meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, self-congratulation was replaced by genuine debate on the crisis, and on possible ways out

US poised for finance regulation shake-up Congress will next month start the biggest regulatory overhaul of the US financial system in decades, bringing into the open a frantic lobbying effort between banks, regulators and policymakers on what it contains and who pays for it

US urgency eases on key pillar of reform If there is another lurch downwards in the economy after weeks of relative calm, it appears policymakers will again have to react “on the fly” rather than turn to new regulatory tools

Obama names Republican governor as envoy to China S President Barack Obama named the Republican governor of Utah to be the next US ambassador to China, a pivotal post in relations between the United States and a major emerging economic power

Sarkozy’s war on virtual piracy France is right to regulate the internet, says Christopher Caldwell

How second-rate politicians brought Westminster low hat has been truly shocking about the MPs’ expenses row has been the ‘littleness’ of it all. This is the scandal at the heart of British politics, writes Matthew Engel -

Smaller US banks need additional $24bn Capital shortfall could pressure system

H15 Los Angeles Times President Obama's first test on Middle East peace A much anticipated meeting with Israel's new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu takes place Monday at the White House. Will the president try to push for a quick solution or take a gradual approach?

Afghan civilian deaths: Who is to blame? Commanders and villagers give conflicting accounts of the attack that Afghan officials say killed 140 civilians, a toll disputed by the U.S. But injured girls make clear the costs for two families.

Tamil Tigers admit defeat at hands of Sri Lankan military The beaten and battered rebel group, reportedly trapped in a 300-square-yard area, has offered to lay down arms. The military, however, says the force continues to attack

Somaliland strives to stand out in troubled region The breakaway republic hopes to become Africa's newest state, wooing international support with state-of-the-art elections. But it faces the corruption, injustice and tensions endemic to the region

India's Congress Party wins strong support in national elections Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls it a 'massive mandate.' State television says the Congress alliance is likely to win about 261 seats in parliament, just short of the 272 needed for a majority.

Obama picks GOP's Jon Huntsman as ambassador to China The Utah governor's nomination for the ambassadorship is a surprise but is met with praise from Republicans and Democrats

Violence across northern Pakistan

Eleven people are killed in two bomb blasts in Peshawar; 29 villagers are reported killed in suspected drone attacks in North Waziristan; and 49 Taliban militants are slain by troops in Swat.

Iran president's denial of Holocaust becomes campaign issue A reformist challenger says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's stance has isolated Iran internationally.

EditorialThe 'war on drugs' is over The Obama administration is moving toward demilitarizing a health problem.

The psychology behind boom and bust Doyle McManus Dramatic physical reactions to making and losing money help fuel our economy's..

Resolving the coming demographic disaster

By Michelle Goldberg

The answer to too many people in some places and too few in others is to allow...

Outsourcing American dreams and Hollywood endings By Pico Iyer

The Old World is becoming new, even as America -- at last -- is getting a little older.

H16 American Politics

The Calm Before the Storm By PETER BAKERPresident Obama and Congress have thus far avoided direct conflict. It’s just a matter of time before a showdown comes.

The GOP's Paranoid Foreign Policy Newsweek

Midnight in the Century in Pakistan - Bernard-Henri Levy, Politico

Government Money Is a Toxic Asset - David Ignatius, Washington Post

Obama Can’t Turn the Page on Bush - Frank Rich, New York Times

Obama Avoids the Crocodile - Pat Buchanan, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Why Keynes Was Wrong - Benn Steil, Forbes

Notes Toward a Theory of Obama
What we've learned so far about the president. Jacob Weisberg

realclearpolitics memeorandum

Daily Beast Cheat Sheet

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

PoliticsHome fivethirtyeight US News Political Bulletin

Conservatives Plan to Question Obama's Supreme Court Pick on Gay Marriage

Same-Sex Unions Supplant Abortion As Social Priority for Conservatives

The Next Crisis Is On The Way - Clive Crook, National Journal

 · Even with Obama in charge, anti-war Democrats powerless

The end of civil rights

If we really want to fix inequality, it's time for a new approach (By Richard Thompson Ford, Boston Globe)

Some on left souring on Obama

Once Upon a Time in 2002 - Victor Davis Hanson, Washington Times

Anti-War Voices Lose Influence - Salena Zito, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Legalize and Tax Every Vice - Nick Gillespie, New York Times

H17 Daily Telegraph

Suffering in Sri Lanka Telegraph View The defeat of the Tamil Tigers will bring a terrible episode in Sri Lanka to a close.

What's Really Wrong with Britain - Iain Martin, Daily Telegraph

H18 Independent Leading article: Afghanistan is a worthwhile mission

Patrick Cockburn: These killings will only strengthen the Taliban

Rupert Cornwell: Not a U-turn, he's just making the best of a bad job

Robert Fisk’s World: The West awaits the return of friendly 'democrats' to Lebanon

Success puts India's new ruling class under pressure The Congress party's majority leaves it with no excuses if it cannot deliver

The bitter end Sri Lanka claims it has defeated the Tamil Tigers, but the tide of refugees leaves a legacy of hate.

Dead or alive? Fate of feared Tamil leader remains a mystery

Nirmala Rajasingam: Sri Lanka's silenced dissenters still speak volumes

Leading article: The war may be ending, but the struggle will go on

Two in five shun three main parties After 10 days of headlines that have devastated Parliament, The IoS reveals the strength of the public revolt

H19 Military Intelligence Terrorism

Defeated Tamil Tigers admit 'bitter end'After 26 years of fighting for an ethnic Tamil homeland, and final spate of suicide attacks, Sri Lanka rebels silence their guns

NEW: Tamil Tigers warn of mass suicide

No Food for Thought: The Way of the Warrior The new leader of American forces in Afghanistan exemplifies an old military ideal: the notion that soldiers should live austere, even ascetic lives.

'Horse Soldiers'

An uplifting account of how Special Forces soldiers joined with mounted local militias to defeat the Taliban in 2001

Obama's Dangerous Debt - Robert Samuelson, Newsweek

Bob Gates, America's Secretary Of War - Katie Couric, 60 Minutes

 The State of Surveillance BOOKSHELF By Jacob Sullum ritain is one of the most watched societies in the world—from cameras to communications. Can it happen here?

EditorialThe 'war on drugs' is over The Obama administration is moving toward demilitarizing a health problem.

Study Urges Using Neuroscience to Improve U.S. Soldiers' Performance

Shootings at Iraq Stress Clinic Highlight Mental Health Challenges for Military

As Repeated Deployments Take Toll, Army Expands Prevention, Treatment Efforts

Operation Snakebite An investigative reporter recounts the recapture of an Afghan town by British troops, providing a voice of doubt, criticism and anger for an army trying to make sense of the war

H20 Slate Notes Toward a Theory of Obama What we've learned so far about the president. Jacob Weisberg

Tacking global warming is proving a low-priority problem By Bjorn Lomborg

Poor Nations Face Flu Vaccine Lockout A scramble among wealthy countries to guard against a flu pandemic has raised concerns about how poorer nations will cope.

H21  The Elite Gather in Greece The Bilderberg Group is meeting in Greece for a secretive annual rendezvous of top politicians and business leaders.

WSJ Clarity Is Missing Link in Supply Chain The world's complex "just in time" manufacturing supply chains are making it tough for any single link in the chain to know what's going on just a few links away.

A want to break free

Online content: As media owners find ad revenue alone will not sustain their businesses, they face a battle to convince freeloading consumers to pay

Laws That Could Save Journalism
By Bruce Sanford and Bruce Brown
Washington Post, The authors contend that the newspaper industry should be bailed out legally by Congress. They suggest a few new laws that force websites to negotiate with copyright holders over the value of their content, federalize the "hot news" doctrine, eliminate ownership restrictions, use tax policy to promote the press, and grant an antitrust exemption. Link to full text in primary source.

Angry students expose worst-taught degrees Cuts in teaching hours and growing class sizes have created a new mood of militancy with protests spreading to campuses

Why Democracies Need an Unlovable Press A study of the US fourth estate’s ability to create trouble for the establishment comes as the UK press is doing the same, writes John Lloyd

A philosopher once asked, “What’s it like to be a bat?” – now a staple of Phil 101 courses. But how about: “What’s it like to be a baby?”... more»

Atheists: No God, no reason, just whining By Charlotte Allen Superstar atheists are motivated by anger -- and boohoo victimhood

The psychology behind boom and bust

Doyle McManus

Dramatic physical reactions to making and losing money help fuel our economy's..

Scribd launches online book market

Norway storms to Eurovision win Andrew Lloyd Webber’s attempt to win back the song title for Britain was defeated by a runaway victory for a Norwegian singer

 Tenacity and trophies Editorial:Sir Alex Ferguson may not seem an iconic figure, but his career demonstrates the value of having a long-term vision in an ephemeral world

An Edible History of Humanity Exploring the roots of civilisation, the author argues that the crops and animals we now eat are the product of genetic engineering and displacement over thousands of years

The Future of the News Industry

Jon Meacham » A New Magazine for a Changing World

Steal This Book (for $9.99) Welcome to the latest dust-up in publishing: How much should an e-book cost?

The secret behind good leadership Harvard professor Ronald Heifetz argues that anyone can be taught to mobilise the community and adapt to meet challenges.

Dinner with the FT: Sir Tom Stoppard. With a revival of 'Arcadia' and a new version of 'The Cherry Orchard', the playwright does not seem to be thinking of slowing down, and is beginning to feel delinquent about his next piece

America’s phobia of banks Andrew Jackson was the sworn enemy of paper currency, writes Simon Schama

'The Third Reich at War' By RICHARD J. EVANS
Reviewed by WALTER REICH This riveting final volume to Richard J. Evans’s magisterial trilogy illuminates the endless human capacity for evil and self-justification.

Red alert Three authors remind us that there is still mileage in the theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
The Rise and Fall of Communism
The Frock-Coated Communist
Marx

The new romantics

A half-century ago, the researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson brought sex into the laboratory. Should we get the doctor out of the bedroom?

It is 30 years since the Sony Walkman first appeared – and half of the populace became deaf to the existence of the other half. A.N. Wilson finds nothing to celebrate... more»

Maureen Dowd Admits Inadvertently Lifting Line From TPM's Josh Marshall

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Foreign Policy Blogs Passport : Tom Ricks : Dan Drezner : Stephen Walt : David Rothkopf : Marc Lynch : The Cable : Madam Secretary : Shadow Govt. : The Argument : The Call

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Foreign Press Review - Subscription

May 18, 2009 - Foreign Press Review ceases to exist as a web publication and will be available only to the premium subscribers.

Arşivden Şanlı Bahadır Koç "Obama’nın Savaşı":AfPak Üzerine Notlar Nisan 2009

ABD ve Orta Doğu Barış Süreci Mart 2009

Financial Times Middle East test of Obama’s resolve Every serious peace plan is premised on Israel returning to its pre-1967 frontiers and a Palestinian state on the remaining 22 per cent of colonial Palestine. Now is the time to get the deal done

Indian voters show the way forward The victory for the Congress party reveals Indian democracy’s ability to push back against caste-based populism; sectarian Hindu revivalism; and regional parties who hold the national interest hostage

The Sky Isn’t Falling Our world is more stable than we think

FT Arab states discuss Israel concessions Talks are under way among several Arab states on measures that would reward Israel if it commits to a total freeze on the expansion of Jewish settlement as part of a comprehensive American Middle East peace plan

Wall Street Journal  The High Price of Deterring Iran By Emanuele OttolenghiWho would stop a nuclear Islamic Republic from swallowing the oil-rich Gulf and fomenting unrest in the Mideast?

 Netanyahu and Obama Have a Shared Interest in Iran By Reuel Marc GerechtThe success of both men depends on stopping the mullahs from getting the bomb.

By ROGER COHEN Obama should tell Netanyahu the status quo is not in anyone’s interest.

By MARTIN VAN CREVELD President Obama must force the Israelis and Palestinians to do what they themselves are unable to do.

Israel’s Fears, Amalek’s Arsenal By JEFFREY GOLDBERG Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s challenge is to convince President Obama that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat to Israelis, as well as to Americans.

The China Puzzle By DAVID LEONHARDT We need China to buy our government bonds to keep our interest rates down. But that’s just the beginning of the problem.

Lessons the Teacher Forgot By PETER S. GOODMAN It’s almost amusing now: America once lectured China on economic responsibility.

 Obama bids for Middle East peace President signals a very different approach to the Jewish state as US wants 'real results'

 Challenges ahead for China as it looks to get growth back on trackPolitical reform, energy needs and bridging the wealth gap are among the pressing issues for Beijing

New series: China at the crossroads In the first part of our week-long portrait of China, Tania Branigan reports on city workers returning to village life due to economic hardships

 Unemployment forces Chinese migrants back to the countrysideFactory to farm: millions who had enjoyed a taste of city freedom are returning to their villages

Rand Review Bridge the Gulf To Advance Negotiations with Iran, Cede Conventional Wisdom By Frederic Wehrey

Israel's Secret War With Iran Wall Street Journal –

Islamist offensive ruins the West's plan for Somalia Militant Islamists have the moderate government surrounded in Mogadishu. If they took over, it would be a devastating blow to US counter-terrorism and anti-piracy efforts in East Africa.

FT Russia and Italy sign gas supply deal Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi oversee an agreement between Moscow’s Gazprom and Rome’s Eni to double the capacity of the South Stream pipeline, intensifying concerns about the EU’s energy security

WSJ  Russia, Italy to Double Pipeline Capacity Russian and Italian firms agreed to expand the capacity of a new gas pipeline into Europe that will bypass Ukraine, in a challenge to a rival project backed by the U.S. and EU.

Indian Voters Reach for Era of Stability A strong showing by India's Congress party gives a decisive mandate to Prime Minister Singh and raises hopes for economic reforms

The Times Conquering Congress India’s election has delivered the best result: stability and a strong government

FT A chance to stitch together India’s diversities Ashutosh Varshney applauds the election result

US - Turkey Partnership: Committee: House Foreign Affairs - Testimony: Ian Lesser [read full story]

FT Boost for Nabucco from Iraq gas deal Europe took a surprise step towards reducing its dependence on Russian gas as two of its oil companies agreed to develop a gas field in Kurdistan, Iraq’s semi-autonomous region Kurdistan gas offers EU respite

Iraqi oil minister rejects Kurdish oil plan Shahrestani says the Iraqi government is under no obligation to ensure that foreign companies are paid for oil sent through pipelines from Kurdistan into Iraq and then exported

By ROGER COHEN Obama should tell Netanyahu the status quo is not in anyone’s interest.

By MARTIN VAN CREVELD President Obama must force the Israelis and Palestinians to do what they themselves are unable to do.

Lessons the Teacher Forgot By PETER S. GOODMAN It’s almost amusing now: America once lectured China on economic responsibility.

Editorial Photographs and Kangaroo Courts President Obama must create clear rules to deal with detainees. And unless there is a full accounting of what went wrong, he risks repeating the same mistakes.

So Far So Good It looks as if Chrysler will emerge from its restructuring a more sensible company. But still looming is the fate of General Motors.

Notes From Another Credit Card Crisis By SUKI KIM Americans’ credit card debt has risen to the point where it now tops $960 billion. If it’s any consolation, South Koreans have been there, done that and come out alive — if just barely.

Images, the Law and War By ADAM LIPTAK What happens when the First Amendment is matched up against an enemy’s intentions? What President Obama cites as dangers, a court might find mere speculation.

This Mom Didn’t Have to Die In West Africa, women face threats from warlords and exotic disease, and something even deadlier — motherhood.

H7 Rand Review Bridge the Gulf To Advance Negotiations with Iran, Cede Conventional Wisdom By Frederic Wehrey

Israel's Secret War With Iran Wall Street Journal –

This moribund body needs a new home in the UAE Sultan Al Qassemi : Predating the United Nations, the European Union, Asean and almost every other regional body is an institution based in Cairo known as the Arab League.

Iraqi oil minister rejects Kurdish oil plan Shahrestani says the Iraqi government is under no obligation to ensure that foreign companies are paid for oil sent through pipelines from Kurdistan into Iraq and then exported

More pain to come for Mideast economies The Middle East is not yet through the worst of the economic crisis because non-performing loans are likely to rise and the full impact of declines in tourism and remittances has still to be felt, experts have warned

Boost for Nabucco from Iraq gas deal Europe took a surprise step towards reducing its dependence on Russian gas as two of its oil companies agreed to develop a gas field in Kurdistan, Iraq’s semi-autonomous region

History made in Kuwait as women elected US-educated liberal Aseel al-Awadhi and Rula Dashti are the first women to win seats in the oil-rich Gulf state’s parliament

Iraqis Pursue Corruption Purge Iraqi Trade Minister Abdul Falah al-Sudani is set to appear before parliament for public testimony over allegations of malfeasance on his watch.

Jerusalem Post Netanyahu to focus on Iran with Obama, adviser says Security adviser Arad buoyed by president saying all options are on the table; hints premier won't publicly endorse two-state solution.

Iran and the Israeli-Arab conflict: Making a smart connection [ ODED ERAN AND EMILY B. LANDAU

The Region: Don't overestimate the West's naiveté [ BARRY RUBIN

Reality Check: Pushing Netanyahu [ JEFF BARAK

Arabs slam bill to criminalize 'nakba' MK proposes 3 years in jail for commemorations; study: 40% of Israeli Arabs say Shoah didn't happen

Likud ministers ready to resist PA state Concern spurred by 'Post' report on AIPAC lobbying for Palestinian State with PMO's blessing.

Barak to force Iran expert Lubrani out Senior officials tell 'Post' that power struggles between Mossad, Defense Ministry lead to decision.

'31% of Israelis call Obama pro-Israel'Poll shows that current US administration lags far behind George W. Bush's 88% approval rating.

Iran to mass produce long-range missiles Israeli estimates: Teheran to develop 500 missile launchers, 1,000 missiles in next 6 years.

After meeting Jordanian king on sidelines of World Economic Forum, president asks "if President Assad really wants peace, why is he shy?"

It's not that votes won't be counted on election day in Iran, but that the results will be manipulated.

Lion's Den: Obama and Netanyahu Meet - What's Next? [ DANIEL PIPES

'40.5% of Israeli Arabs deny Holocaust' Study also finds 41% of Arab sector recognizes Israel as Jewish state, down from 65.6% in 2003.

'Obama should push for 2-state solution' PA official tells 'Post' Netanyahu wants to "turn the Palestinian issue into an economic problem."

US to Israel: Tone down rhetoric on IranThreats against Teheran could only strengthen Ahmadinejad ahead of elections, officials say.

Column One: The Europe of our dreams By CAROLINE GLICK

Dispensing with anti-Jewish myths ranks low on the priority list for most European leaders.

Debka Obama's fraying Mid East polices ease Netanyahu's White House ride

WSJ  Obama, Netanyahu to Seek Consensus Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in their first summit meeting, will seek common ground on Palestinian statehood and Iran's nuclear program.

Arab states discuss Israel concessions Israel could be rewarded for expansion freeze

Pope Ends Holy Land Tour Pope Benedict assured his followers in the Holy Land that peace is possible, as he ended his Mideast visit with a pilgrimage to the site of Jesus' crucifixion

Islamist offensive ruins the West's plan for Somalia Militant Islamists have the moderate government surrounded in Mogadishu. If they took over, it would be a devastating blow to US counter-terrorism and anti-piracy efforts in East Africa.

Why India's ruling party triumphed Despite economic downturn, voters gave the Congress Party a surprisingly strong mandate.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers admit defeat The militant group's chief of international relations announced Sunday that the war had reached its 'bitter end.'

Indian Voters Reach for Era of Stability A strong showing by India's Congress party gives a decisive mandate to Prime Minister Singh and raises hopes for economic reforms

The Times Conquering Congress India’s election has delivered the best result: stability and a strong government

FT A chance to stitch together India’s diversities Ashutosh Varshney applauds the election result

Congress alliance wins Indian election Emphatic victory gives Singh second term

New series: China at the crossroads In the first part of our week-long portrait of China, Tania Branigan reports on city workers returning to village life due to economic hardships

The China Puzzle By DAVID LEONHARDT We need China to buy our government bonds to keep our interest rates down. But that’s just the beginning of the problem.

Interview: Asif Ali Zardari His country has been named the most dangerous place on earth

COMMENT: Chinese support crucial to victory China’s aid to Sri Lanka jumped from a few million dollars in 2005 to almost $1bn, replacing Japan as the biggest foreign donor

Tigers’ harsh taming Sri Lanka: As the army closes in on the last redoubt of the Tamil rebels, a 25-year civil war is ending – with aid from Beijing that gives rise to concerns about a ‘string of pearls’ strategy

Wall Street Journal  The High Price of Deterring Iran By Emanuele Ottolenghi
Who would stop a nuclear Islamic Republic from swallowing the oil-rich Gulf and fomenting unrest in the Mideast?

 Netanyahu and Obama Have a Shared Interest in Iran By Reuel Marc Gerecht
The success of both men depends on stopping the mullahs from getting the bomb.

Boost for Nabucco from Iraq gas deal Europe took a surprise step towards reducing its dependence on Russian gas as two of its oil companies agreed to develop a gas field in Kurdistan, Iraq’s semi-autonomous region

Wall Street Journal  The High Price of Deterring Iran By Emanuele Ottolenghi
Who would stop a nuclear Islamic Republic from swallowing the oil-rich Gulf and fomenting unrest in the Mideast?