OFF THE WIRE :

• Delay in Afghan base closure led to 8 U.S. deaths
   [Reuters, 05 Feb 10]
• Somali Pirates Seize Libyan Vessel
   [New York Times, 05 Feb 10]
• Not Clear if Gaza War Probes Are "Credible"
   [Reuters, 05 Feb 10]
• Hilary Clinton rejects US-Iran prisoner swap proposal
   [BBC, 04 Feb 10]
• West 'pushing for new UN sanctions against Iran'
   [BBC, 04 Feb 10]
• Pakistan blast kills US soldiers
   [BBC, 03 Feb 10]

AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN :

Asia Times, 04 Feb 10, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
US fires off new warning in Pakistan
'With its biggest drone attack to date in Pakistan, the United States has sent a clear message of its renewed determination to destroy Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries in the Pakistan and Afghanistan border areas.'

New York Times, 04 Feb 10, by Souad Mekhennet and Richard A. Oppel Jr.
Even Where Pakistani Law Exists, Taliban Find a Porous Border
'The way the Taliban use Pakistan’s tribal areas to launch cross-border attacks inside Afghanistan is perhaps the most contentious issue between Pakistan and the United States. But the problem is hardly contained to Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas.'

PBS NewsHour, 03 Feb 10
Deaths in Pakistan Unmask Once Quiet U.S. Role
'Three U.S. soldiers were killed in Pakistan on Wednesday when a bomb hit the convoy they were riding in. The deaths raised new questions about U.S. involvement in the country.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Feb 10, by Ben Arnoldy and Caryle Murphy
Why Karzai needs Saudi Arabia for Taliban talks
'Afghan President Hamid Karzai is visiting Saudi Arabia to seek help convincing the Taliban to join peace talks. Riyadh would lend credibility to the effort, but is wary of getting involved.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Feb 10, by Mian Ridge
Q&A: Who else could help in Afghanistan?
'The US and Europe play a leading role in working for Afghanistan's stability. Can the interests of China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia also aid in the nation's success?'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Feb 10, by Issam Ahmed
Who’s who in the Pakistan Taliban
'New reports surfaced Sunday that Pakistan Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud died after a US drone attack Jan. 14. A look at other senior figures in the group.'

New York Times, 01 Feb 10, by C. J. Chivers
As Marines Move In, Taliban Fight a Shadowy War
'Marine operations like this one in mid-January, along with interviews with dozens of Marines, reveal the insurgents’ evolving means of waging an Afghan brand of war, even as more American troops arrive.'

Washington Post, 31 Jan 10, by Joshua Partlow
Afghanistan's corruption poses dilemma for U.S. military
'After eight years of dropping bombs and killing insurgents, the new American military strategy makes explicit the need to fight corruption to build a more legitimate Afghan government.'

[ recent stories from Afghanistan and Pakistan ]

THE MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY & NORTH AFRICA :

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Feb 10, by Erin Cunningham
Hamas threatens to take fight against Israel beyond Gaza
'After blaming Israeli agents for assassinating a Hamas official in Dubai on Friday, Hamas said it too could broaden the conflict beyond Israel and Gaza. But analysts are doubtful Hamas can pull it off.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Feb 10, by Ilene R. Prusher
Israel admission on white phosphorus doesn't settle larger debate
'In its response to the Goldstone report, Israel revealed that two senior military officers have been reprimanded for using white phosphorus in Gaza. But that doesn't settle the larger debate over launching an independent commission.'

[ recent stories from the Middle East ]

IRAN :

Washington Post, 05 Feb 10, by Glenn Kessler
China could block sanctions against Iran
'China on Thursday threw a roadblock in the path of a U.S.-led push for sanctions against Iran, saying that it is important to continue negotiations as long as Iran appears willing to consider a deal to give up some of its enriched uranium.'

[ recent stories from Iran ]

BRITAIN, EUROPE, RUSSIA and CENTRAL ASIA :

New York Times, 04 Feb 10, by Nicholas Kulish and Ellen Barry
Romanians Accept Plan for Basing of Missiles
'While the participation of Poland and the Czech Republic in the missile shield had been well known, the possibility that Romania would join them was not.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Jan 10, by Fred Weir
Russia flexes military power with 'futuristic' fighter jet
'Russia returned to the global stage Friday as a first-rank military and technological power by launching a 'fifth generation' fighter plane, with futuristic characteristics of stealth, sustained supersonic cruise, and integrated weapons.'

[ recent stories from Britain, Europe,
Russia and Central Asia ]

ASIA & THE PACIFIC :

Asia Times, 05 Feb 10, by Axel Berkofsky
Okinawa call to shape new US-Japan era
'Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has given his government a deadline of May to decide whether or not Tokyo will stick to a Japan-United States agreement from 2006 on the relocation of US troops in Japan.'

Asia Times, 04 Feb 10, by Peter J Brown
US's strike threat catches China off guard
'The United States plans to unveil later this decade a new conventional "Prompt Global Strike" (C-PGS) system. It will enable the US to instantly carry out a massive conventional attack anywhere in the world in an hour or less.'

[ recent stories from Asia and the Pacific ]

AFRICA :

Washington Post, 02 Feb 10, by Barney Jopsonin
Southern Sudan says vote on independence is off-limits for United Nations
'Diplomats fear that a vote for independence in southern Sudan would resonate in Nigeria, Congo and elsewhere.'

[ recent stories from Africa ]

COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS :

New York Times, 04 Feb 10, by editorial staff
The Defense Budget
'The Quadrennial Defense Review, released this week, finally catches up with the current world, one where the United States confronts a host of different adversaries on a variety of different battlefields.'

New York Times, 04 Feb 10, by Mikhail Gorbachev
Soviet Lessons From Afghanistan
'What began after Sept. 11, 2001, as a seemingly appropriate military response aimed at rooting out terrorism could end in a major strategic failure. We need to understand why this is happening and what can still be done to turn around a nearly disastrous situation.'

New York Times, 04 Feb 10, by John Hutton and Klaus Naumann
Defending Our Defense
'Defense and security policies are entering a critically important phase of development. ... Change is in the air, and inevitably a mood of uncertainty has developed.'

Washington Post, 05 Feb 10, by Benjamin Wittes and Robert Chesne
The courts' shifting rules on Guantanamo detainees
'President Obama's decision not to seek additional legislative authority for Guantanamo detentions, along with Congress's lack of interest in taking on the subject, means that, for good or for ill, judges must write the rules governing military detentions of terrorist suspects.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Feb 10, by Cristian DeFrancia
How Obama could change the game on Iran
'If the Iranian people can more clearly see the benefits offered by negotiations, Iran's leaders will be more likely to compromise to get talks going again.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Feb 10, by editorial board
Obama’s new hardball with China, Iran
'The White House shifts from conciliatory diplomacy to get-tough actions, notably in arms sales to Taiwan and in stiffer sanctions on Iran for its nuclear deceit. Obama can no longer appear to be weak, but then again, there are risks to adopting a confrontational style.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Feb 10, by Walter Rodgers
Survivors know best: Torture is always wrong
'It’s immoral and it doesn’t make anyone more secure. Just ask those who’ve been tortured.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Nov 09, by John Hughes
Why Hillary Clinton babies Indonesia and bullies Pakistan
'Indonesia has shown it can develop democracy and confront extremists on its own. Pakistan clearly needs sharp reminders.'

[ recent commentary and analysis ]

THE AMERICAS :

PBS NewsHour, 03 Feb 10, with Jim Lehrer
Debate Reignites on Legal Rights of Terror Suspects
'The suspect in the attempted Christmas Day bombing incident is speaking to authorities again, but some lawmakers are worried the administration's handling of the case poses a risk to national security. Jim Lehrer speaks with experts about how the U.S. should prosecute terror suspects.'

New York Times, 04 Feb 10, by John Markoff
Google Asks Spy Agency for Help With Inquiry Into Cyberattacks
'By turning to the N.S.A., which has no statutory authority to investigate domestic criminal acts, instead of the Department of Homeland Security, which does have such authority, Google is clearly seeking to avoid having its search engine, e-mail and other Web services regulated as part of the nation’s “critical infrastructure.”'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Feb 10, by Sibylla Brodzinsky
Colombia's 'neo-paramilitaries' on the rise
'"Successor groups" of right-wing paramilitaries are growing fast, causing a steep rise in violence in many areas, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch.'

PBS NewsHour, 28 Jan 10, by Larisa Epatko
Obama Vows to Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
'President Barack Obama promised Wednesday during his State of the Union speech to work with Congress to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward gays and lesbians in the military. Two experts with opposing views offer their takes.'

[ recent stories from the Americas ]

US MILITARY, THE PENTAGON, &
INTELLIGENCE :

Washington Post, 05 Feb 10, by Greg Jaffe
U.S. commanders in Afghanistan face tougher discipline for battlefield failures
'The U.S. military has reprimanded an unusually large number of commanders for battlefield failures in Afghanistan in recent weeks, reflecting a new push by the top brass to hold commanders responsible for major incidents in which troops are killed or wounded, said senior military officials.'

Washington Post, 05 Feb 10, by Craig Whitlock
Gen. McChrystal says conditions in Afghanistan war are no longer deteriorating
'The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, whose gloomy assessment of the war last summer prompted the White House to boost troop levels, said Thursday that conditions are no longer deteriorating and predicted further improvements this year.'

New York Times, 05 Feb 10, by Rod Nordland
U.S. Military Faults Leaders in Deadly Attack on Base
'The United States military on Friday issued a long-awaited report on how Taliban insurgents managed to overrun an American Army combat outpost and kill eight soldiers last October in one of the worst single ground attacks in recent years.'

PBS NewsHour, 03 Feb 10, with Jeffrey Brown
Away from Battle, Soldiers Find Relief in 'Theater of War'
'At military bases around the nation, performances of Greek drama are linking ancient and modern warriors in an understanding of war's pain and mental agony.'

PBS NewsHour, 02 Feb 10
Portraits of the Face of War
'In her unflinching, but surprisingly tender portraits of former soldiers and marines, photographer Nina Berman documents the lives of veterans who have made an extraordinary sacrifice for their country, and who now are battling with serious injury.'

[ recent stories about the US military,
the Pentagon and intelligence ]