OFF THE WIRE :

• EU Parliament calls for Mugabe sanctions
[AP, 10 Jul 08]
• China says foils "terrorists" targeting Olympics
[Reuters, 10 Jul 08]
• Investigators look for motive in deadly attack on U.S. Consulate in Turkey
[Los Angeles Times, 10 Jul 08]
• 7 Troops Killed In Sudan Ambush
[Washington Post, 10 Jul 08]
• Foreign minister of Thailand resigns
[AP, 10 Jul 08]
• Suicide Car Blast Kills 41 in Afghan Capital
[New York Times, 08 Jul 08]
• Hamas set for talks on Gaza truce in Egypt
[AFP, 08 Jul 08]
• Egypt asks Israel to reopen Gaza border crossings
[AP, 08 Jul 08]

IRAN :

Washington Post, 10 Jul 08, by Glenn Kessler and Howard Schneider
Iran Conducts Second Day of Missle Tests : U.S. Plays Down Military Showdown
'The tests included the use of more long-range rockets capable of reaching Israel, as well as other devices with what state-controlled media referred to as "special capabilities," ... Iran's missile launch came just days after Israel conducted a high-profile military exercise in the Mediterranean.'

BBC News, 10 Jul 08
US warns Iran on missile threat
'The US has said it will not hesitate to defend its interests and those of its allies as Iran continues missile tests.'

[ recent stories from Iran ]

AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN :

Reuters India, 08 Jul 08
Kabul bomb shows dangers India faces in Afghanistan
'The bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul highlights the dangers of India's growing role in Afghanistan, whether from the Taliban or a Pakistan worried about ceding strategic space to its nuclear-armed rival.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Jul 08, by Eric Schmitt
Pakistan is said to be attracting insurgents
'American military and intelligence officials say there has been an increase in recent months in the number of foreign fighters who have traveled to Pakistan's tribal areas to join with militants there. The flow may reflect a change that is making Pakistan, not Iraq, the preferred destination for some Sunni extremists from the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia who are seeking to take up arms against the West ...'

[ recent stories from Afghanistan and Pakistan ]

IRAQ :

Washington Post, 10 Jul 08, by Ernesto Londoño
U.S. Troops in Iraq Face A Powerful New Weapon
'Suspected Shiite militiamen have begun using powerful rocket-propelled bombs to attack U.S. military outposts in recent months, broadening the array of weapons used against American troops.'

Washington Post, 10 Jul 08, by Ann Scott Tyson and Dan Eggen
U.S. General: Iraqi Forces to Be Fully Ready in '09
'Iraq's army and police will be fully manned and operational by mid-2009, possibly as early as April, the top U.S. general in charge of building Iraqi security forces said yesterday, signaling the prospect that Iraqi forces could assume primary combat responsibilities in the country while U.S. troops shift to a supporting role.'

Reuters, 09 Jul 08, by Ian Simpson
Tiny Iraq navy to flex muscle as oil guardian
'Iraq's fledgling navy of battered patrol boats is bulking up for a greater role in protecting the country's economic heart, its offshore oil terminals, officials said.'

Los Angeles Times, 08 Jul 08, by Alexandra Zavis
Iraqi prime minister advocates withdrawal timetable
'A blueprint for the future U.S. presence in Iraq is still in the works. Maliki is said to recognize the unpopularity of the war in America, and wants to ease domestic concerns as well.'

[ recent stories from Iraq ]

THE MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY & NORTH AFRICA :

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jul 08, by Scott Peterson
Confrontation escalates between Iran and Israel
'Iran tested the Shahab-3 missile, which could hit Israel or US Mideast bases. ... "This does not mean there is going to be war in the Middle East, [but] it means that the situation is more dangerous, and it means that miscalculation now could actually have a horrendous result – a result that I don't believe the Israelis or the Iranians or the US ... want," says Charles Heyman, a British military analyst and editor of the annual "Armed Forces of the United Kingdom."'

Washington Post, 10 Jul 08, by Ellen Knickmeyer
U.S. Consulate in Istanbul Is Attacked
'Turkey bolstered security at U.S. diplomatic installations across the country Wednesday ... Turks have been uneasy since the recent arrests of 21 people, including two former generals, accused of plotting to overthrow the country's Islamic-oriented government. Authorities have released few details of the alleged plot, but newspapers close to the government have reported that the plan focused on carrying out violent attacks as a pretext for an army coup.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jul 08, by Scott Peterson
Political strife deepens in Turkey
'Two cases have the nation on edge. While the government goes after an ultranationalist gang, prosecutors want to ban the ruling party on charges of Islamist subversion.'

[ recent stories from the Middle East ]

ASIA & THE PACIFIC :

International Herald Tribune/AP, 10 Jul 08
US welcomes India-IAEA nuclear oversight agreement; critics warn that India put in loopholes
'The draft notes that India "may take corrective measures to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian nuclear reactors in the event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies." The phrasing appears to open the door for India to end IAEA oversight of some facilities, potentially using the plants to manufacture not fuel but fissile weapons material.'

New York Times, 09 Jul 08, by Somini Sengupta
India's Nuclear Pact With U.S. Near Completion
'A day after India’s prime minister left for the Group of 8 summit meeting in Japan with his government intact and enough political strength to seal a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, his Communist backers announced Tuesday that they would withdraw their support of his government, ending months of political strain and allowing the government to advance its negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.'

Xinhua, 10 Jul 08
China concerned over Iranian missile tests
'China was concerned over Iran's missile tests and hoped relevant parties would take measures "conducive" to the situation in the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.'

Asia Times, 10 Jul 08, by Ian Storey
Thai massage for China's military muscle
'Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's four-day visit to China last week was another indication of the cozy Sino-Thai military-security relationship. But Bangkok is still trying to balance the interests and influence of two superpowers; keeping its military alliance with the US well lubricated while at the same time expanding defense ties with China.'

Reuters, 08 Jul 08
New round and old questions for N. Korea nuclear talks
'Five regional powers will hold talks with North Korea from Thursday on ending its atomic weapons plans and verifying an account the secretive state gave in June of its nuclear programmes, officials said on Tuesday.'

[ recent stories from Asia and the Pacific ]

AFRICA :

BBC News, 08 Jul 08
Africans reject Mugabe sanctions
'Africa leaders have told the G8 group of nations meeting in Japan that they oppose sanctions being imposed on Zimbabwe following controversial polls.'

[ recent stories from Africa ]

THE AMERICAS :

International Herald Tribune, 10 Jul 08, by Neil A. Lewis
U.S. spy cases raise concern on China's intentions
'Bergersen and Kuo, along with a third accomplice, are awaiting sentencing in a federal court for their involvement in one of many cases brought in the last year involving the illegal transfer of information to China. The cases have intensified the evaluation in American intelligence and law enforcement circles about the breadth of the threat from Beijing.'

International Herald Tribune, 09 Jul 08, by Eric Lichtblau
U.S. Senate backs wiretap bill to shield phone companies
'More than two and a half years after the disclosure of President's Bush's domestic eavesdropping program set off a furious national debate, the Senate gave final approval on Wednesday afternoon to broadening the government's spy powers and providing legal immunity for the phone companies that took part in the wiretapping program.'

[ recent stories from the Americas ]

COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS :

International Herald Tribune, 10 Jul 08, by Steven Lee Myers
A more confident Iraq becomes a tougher negotiating partner for the U.S.
'The Bush administration's quest for a deal with Iraq that would formally authorize an unlimited American troop presence there well beyond President George W. Bush's tenure appears to be unraveling. The irony is that it may be a victim of the administration's successes in the war.'

Human Events, 09 Jul 08, by W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Will Israel Strike Iran?
'... there is an increasing "probability" that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) will soon strike Iranian nuclear facilities. The strikes – if they take place – will be far more extensive than that which occurred during the strike against Iraq's Osirak nuclear facility in 1981. The new strikes will target much more than just the nuclear sites. The extent to which America will or will not provide support will depend on multiple variables. And the strikes will not be over in a single night.'

Asia Times, 10 Jul 08, by Tom Engelhardt
Why the US won't attack Iran
'Despite all the warnings, alarms, rumors and panicky pieces coursing through the international media, an attack on Iran is less likely than ever to happen. For small, vulnerable Israel, an air assault on Iranian nuclear facilities, alone or with the backing of the US, is literally inconceivable, given the disastrous fallout that would follow.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jul 08, by Joshua Foust and Jeb Koogler
Myths in Al Qaeda's 'home'
'... it is not just [Afghan] President Karzai who is concerned about militancy in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Policymakers in London, New Delhi, and Washington are also worried about a territory increasingly referred to as Al Qaeda's new home.'

Cleveland Plain Dealer, 09 Jul 08, by Elizabeth Sullivan
Star wars goes continental
'The Bush administration's latest missile-defense follies come with the improbable help of Tehran. ... Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pounced on the test to justify the house-of-cards deal she just signed in Prague for a supposed Europe-protecting anti-missile radar station. Missile defenses may seem enticing, particularly as threats proliferate. Yet the Czech deal becomes part of a $150 billion U.S. defense boondoggle.'

International Herald Tribune, 07 Jul 08, by editorial staff
Iraq and Afghanistan: Where do we go from here?
'The resurgence of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan makes it even more imperative for the United States to begin planning for a swift and orderly withdrawal from Iraq.'

International Herald Tribune, 09 Jul 08, by editorial staff
Whose national interests? Rich nations, poor policies
'With the price of oil shooting upward, food security in danger for billions of the world's poor, and climate change already taking its toll on crops, water and health, members of the Group of 8 rich nations need to cooperate now - and not make vague promises for the distant future.'

The Independent, 10 Jul 08, by Bronwen Maddox
Little things can mean a lot in the machinations of great nations
'It is easy to knock the G8. Many did so as the summit ended yesterday, saying that the most powerful countries in the world had failed to solve anything. ... One problem is that the expectations have become high and precise. The G8 (which consists of Britain, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia) has ducked the one question it might be expected to answer, however – whether it is a club for the most-powerful democracies, in which case it should leave out Russia, or whether it is for powerful countries of any stripe, in which case it should bring in China.'

The National Interest, 07 Jul 08, by J. Peter Pham
Kabuki Diplomacy
'... the G8, like many multilateral forums, has become more about institutionalized form than substantive utility. ... Most observers expect that, irrespective of which new administration takes office next January, Washington will pursue a more multilateral foreign-policy approach in the post-Bush era.'

International Analyst Network, 05 Jul 08, by Dieter Farwick
General Karl-Heinz Lather: "We are committed to success"
'"NATO is taking important steps to complete its transformation from a static, reactive Alliance focused on territorial defense to an expeditionary, proactive one that works with nations to deter and defeat the spectrum of 21st Century threats confronting our collective security."'

Bangkok Post, 06 Jul 08, by J. Peter Pham
Reverberations in Mongolia
'The dynamic economies of the Pacific – in both Asia and North America – have much at stake if Mongolia is permitted to descend down the road toward resource nationalism and autarky, thus destabilising the broader region.'

Human Events, 09 Jul 08, by Robert Spencer
The Stealth Jihad in Britain
'Three years after the July 7, 2005, jihad terror attacks in London, the jihad in Britain is stronger than ever. It is not proceeding by means of more terrorism, but by stealth and by the preemptive surrender of all too many British officials.'

[ recent commentary and analysis ]

BRITAIN, EUROPE & RUSSIA :

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jul 08, by Jonathan Adams
U.S., Russia revert to cold-war rhetoric over missile-defense plan
'Russia says that the proposed US defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, an initial agreement for which was inked this week, is targeting Russia, not rogue states.'

RIA Novosti, 09 Jul 08
Russia must punish states hosting U.S. missile shield - analyst
'Russia must use economic and political means, and military ties with Asia, to punish European states that agree to host U.S. missile defense elements, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday.'

AFP, 10 Jul 08
Rice calls for halt to violence in Georgian separatist zones
'Rice's visit to Georgia came amid increasingly open diplomatic confrontation between the United States and Russia over the status of Abkhazia and the other separatist province, South Ossetia, and over Georgia's desire to join NATO.'

Associated Press, 08 Jul 08
Abkhazia rejects US-proposed international force
'The breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia has rejected a U.S. proposal to deploy an international police force there, its leader said Tuesday. The regional government, which is not internationally recognized, instead pledged to keep Russian peacekeepers on the ground, despite Georgia's accusations that they are fomenting tensions.'

The Guardian, 08 Jul 08, by Ian Traynor
France unveils pact on EU-wide immigration
'France yesterday jolted Europe into establishing common policies on immigration, refugees and asylum, unveiling a European immigration pact as its first big EU presidency move and pushing for 27 countries to back it at an EU summit in October.'

[ recent stories from Europe, Britain and Russia ]

US MILITARY, THE PENTAGON, &
INTELLIGENCE :

Washington Post, 10 Jul 08, by Dana Hedgpeth
Tanker Bidding To Be Reopened
'Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday that the Pentagon will hold a new, fast-tracked competition to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of aerial refueling tankers, a move that overturns the previous award of the contract to Northrop Grumman. The decision follows criticism of the selection process by the Government Accountability Office and underscores the sharp divisions over the contract. The deal to replace the Air Force's entire fleet could be worth up to $100 billion over the next two decades.'

Assiciated Press, 09 Jul 08, by Pauline Jelinek
Pentagon plumbing Iran's missile tests for clues
'The Pentagon is studying Iran's latest missile test to figure out exactly what was launched and what it shows about Tehran's missile capabilities.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jul 08, by Gordon Lubold
Top task for Air Force: rebuild credibility
'New leaders must better secure nuclear weapons after snafus led to firing of their predecessors.'

FOX News, 04 Jul 08, by Elizabeth Downey
A Fitting Tribute to a Slain Navy SEAL Gains Attention
'A little-known tribute some Navy SEALs gave to a fallen comrade is gaining notice.'

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

BOOKS :

Wall Street Journal, 08 Jul 08, by Jonathan Mirsky
Tibet's Conundrum
[review] '"China's Tibet?" [by Warren W. Smith Jr.] is an admirable, if discouraging, book. Admirable because it lays out in jargon-free language the political and cultural nature of the China-Tibet relationship. ... But "China's Tibet?" will depress those who believe that the Dalai Lama's abandonment of Tibetan independence in exchange for a measure of internal autonomy will persuade Beijing to change its tack.'