Beijing Losing Control of Military?   (07.09.2010 20:55)

A. Evans-Pritchard, Daily Telegraph
I try to remain optimistic that the US and China will work out a more or less amicable way to run the world for the next half century, a "Chimerica" of interwoven superpowers. But it was slightly disturbing to hear the warnings of a distinguished China-watcher at a closed-door session of the annual Ambrosetti conference on Lake Como.  

Gillard's Recipe for Certain Turmoil   (07.09.2010 20:38)

Paul Kelly, The Australian
Julia Gillard has won the tightest election in Australian history by the smallest margin: she is a minority Prime Minister with a 76-74 floor majority surviving on an alliance with the Greens and three out of four independents.This is a recipe for weak and uncertain government where Gillard has a majority in neither house. The historic irony is that two independents from conservative regional seats have delivered Labor's victory.This decision will leave a legacy of bad political blood. It will be fanned because the rural independents, unable to agree, split 2:1 yesterday for...

North Korea Trades Hostages for Aid   (07.09.2010 20:33)

Donald Kirk, CS Monitor
South Korea on Tuesday recovered a fishing boat and its seven-man crew from North Korea after agreeing to an exchange that analysts see as auguring well for inter-Korean reconciliation "“ though not for an end to the North's nuclear program. North Korea released the boat on "humanitarian grounds" after seizing it on Aug. 8 within what it claimed was its "exclusive economic zone" off the Korean east coast. The deal for its return appears to have been masterminded by China.

Australia's Yawning Distance From Asia   (07.09.2010 20:29)

Kazuo Ogoura, Japan Times
  "Beauty of Distance" is the title of this year's Sydney Biennale of modern arts. The title is obviously an echo and ironic association with the famous book written about Australia titled "Tyranny of Distance," which depicted the dilemma of Australia associating mentally with Europe (England) yet being geographically remote from it.

Europe Indulges in Guilty Conscience   (07.09.2010 20:26)

Mona Charen, National Review
Newly returned from a week in Paris and well sated with delicious cheeses, magnificent art, and glorious (inexpensive!) wines, one is disinclined to reflect upon the decline of Europe. But the demographic reality so scathingly limned in Mark Steyn’s America Alone cannot be long avoided. Those adorable French babies are not quite as scarce as, say, Lithuanian ones (a 2.1 total fertility rate is required for a society to maintain itself — Lithuania’s rate is 1.2), but the number of French tots is not quite adequate (1.9). As for Europe as a whole,...

How Japan Copes With Being No. 3   (07.09.2010 20:24)

Heizo Takenaka, Project Syndicate
China has now officially supplanted Japan as the world's second largest economy. The question for Japan is whether or not the country will continue to tumble down the list of the world's great economies, or whether its politicians will return to a path of reform that can revive growth. That the ruling Democratic Party of Japan now seems trapped in a power struggle between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and party power broker Ichiro Ozawa suggests that serious economic reform is not at the top of the DPJ agenda.

Germany's Green Energy Revolution   (07.09.2010 20:10)

Stefan Schultz, Der Spiegel
The debate about the German government's energy policy has centered on the extension of nuclear reactor lifespans. Opposition parties, analysts and environmentalists have heaped criticism on the decision of the center-right coalition on Sunday to postpone the phase-out of the country's 17 nuclear power stations by 12 years on average beyond 2021, the date by which the last of the reactors had originally been due to close under legislation brought in by a previous center-left government in 2002.

Neo-Nationalism Threatens Europe   (07.09.2010 19:59)

Stewart Motha, The Guardian
The prevailing view seems to be that the idea of Europe as a cultural, political, and even economic institution is under threat. What threatens Europe? A glib response would be: "It's the UK, stupid!" We will find more than a grain of truth in this response. The UK straddles Europe's margins – at once a major economy dependent on European trade, adapting its legal institutions to a transnational European legal order where EU law has direct effect; but refusing the common currency, and resisting further political integration. But the deeper threat to Europe...

In Europe, Now It's North vs. South   (07.09.2010 19:52)

Anne Applebaum, Slate
Forget East and West, Europe is dividing itself into North and South.

China Spells Out Its Future Fears   (07.09.2010 19:35)

Alexander Casella, Asia Times
BRUSSELS - While the press briefing given recently by the Chinese ambassador to the European office of the United Nations was not totally unprecedented, it was also not a matter of routine and the previous such briefing - which was also the first - was held in 2004. So what prompted He Yafei to suddenly invite some 50 foreign journalists accredited to the United Nations for an on-the-record briefing on the subject of China and the global economic crisis ? The ambassador indirectly...

Is Canada Tough Enough on Crime?   (07.09.2010 19:21)

Ken MacQueen, Maclean's
If hard criminals do soft time in Canada, as the federal Conservative government insists, then John Virgil Punko seems a poster boy for all that’s wrong with the judicial system. In police jargon, Punko was “a low-level mope”—a full-patch member of the Vancouver East End Hells Angels with a healthy dose of greed and a bad addiction to Percocet. Such vulnerabilities made him a useful target in 2003 when the RCMP launched E-Pandora, a $10-million sting operation aiming at netting the big fish in the East End Angels.

Obama's Dangerous Europe Policy   (07.09.2010 14:27)

Roger Cohen, New York Times
Obama has European leaders shaking their heads.

Palestine's Independence Is Inevitable   (07.09.2010 14:07)

Daoud Kuttab, Washington Post
If the talks fails because of Israeli obstructionism, Palestinians will have no choice but to declare their state unilaterally and hope the world will recognize it.

Obama's Foreign Policy Has Failed   (07.09.2010 14:07)

Peter Beinart, The Daily Beast
He was supposed to change Washington. But the president's strategy in the Middle East and Afghanistan has lacked courage and creativity - and pales in comparison with Bush's.

Can Goodluck Jonathan Unite Nigeria?   (07.09.2010 14:00)

Robert Rotberg, Global Post
President Goodluck Jonathan is making the right moves, but can he win re-election?

North Korea Blows Off the Cobwebs   (07.09.2010 13:43)

Andrei Lankov, Asia Times
This month's party conference in North Korea is an anachronistic showcase for the Leninist hierarchy, if not quite the lavish display of a full-blown congress.

Glasgow's Two Nations   (07.09.2010 13:34)

Julien Brygo, Le Monde Diplomatique
The World Health Organisation has revealed that Glasgow's wealthiest live on average 28 years longer than its most deprived inhabitants.

Has Netanyahu Given Up on Greater Israel?   (07.09.2010 13:32)

Yoel Marcus, Haaretz
If Bibi runs into difficulties in Likud, he has an alternative plan - to add Kadima to his government and if necessary go to elections that would finally make Likud the ruling party.

China's Military Power Still a Mystery   (07.09.2010 13:13)

Richard Weitz, The Diplomat
The Pentagon's report on the PLA suggests China is getting closer to nixing the US military's ability to intervene in Asia.

Breaking the Grip of Turkey's Military   (07.09.2010 12:38)

Stephen Kinzer, The Guardian
A victory in this weekend's referendum on constitutional reform would be a giant step in Turkey's transition to full democracy.

Obama's Desperation Summit   (07.09.2010 11:41)

Benjamin Kerstein, The New Ledger
The strangest thing about the newest round of talks between Israel and the Palestinians is that neither side wants them.

Messy Election Ahead for United Russia   (07.09.2010 11:40)

Nikolai Petrov, Moscow Times
Russia can expect plenty of political turbulence this fall.

Kan and Ozawa Battle for DPJ's Soul   (07.09.2010 11:37)

Todd Crowell, RealClearWorld
Nearly a year after the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took office following its historic blowout general election victory, Japanese, a few of them anyway, will return to the polls on Sept. 14 to determine who will be Japan's next prime minister "“ as well as the future direction of the party.The venue will be the election to the president of the party by DPJ members of the Diet (parliament), DPJ prefectural legislators and those of the public who are card-carrying members of the party. The person elected president will automatically assume the post of prime minister....

Is David Cameron Too Glib?   (07.09.2010 11:36)

Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic
What Cameron needs to do is not to strike seemingly brave postures, but to act honestly.

Germany Divided Again ... Over Muslims   (07.09.2010 11:32)

Der Spiegel
The man who is has cleaved Germany in two isn't sleeping well at night. Thilo Sarrazin normally needs five to six hours of sleep, but these days he's getting only two or three. He describes his frame of mind as that of someone whose adrenalin levels are constantly elevated and who has trouble finding peace of mind. It's a Friday afternoon and Sarrazin, the German central bank board member whose controversial book about integration and Muslim immigration in Germany has dominated the headlines for the last 10 days, is back home in Berlin. On the previous evening...

Bush, Obama and the Costs of Iraq   (06.09.2010 14:05)

Hendrick Hertzberg, New Yorker
Speaking from the Oval Office last Tuesday evening to mark what he called, with more hope than precision, "the end of our combat mission in Iraq," President Obama had occasion to mention the previous occupant. "This afternoon," he said, "I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one can doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security."

Pakistan's Flood of Corruption   (06.09.2010 13:24)

Ahmed Rashid, Washington Post
At every turn, countries, charitable foundations, wealthy individuals and even schoolchildren are refusing to give the Pakistani government money to deal with the floods that have ruined as many as 20 million lives. The European Union has angered Islamabad by giving its aid money to Western and Pakistani nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Leading international agencies and other countries have followed suit or sent relief goods rather than cash.

'Non-lethal' force can be lethal in Kashmir   (08.09.2010 10:49)

Protesters have a new name for the troops: Robots.In Kashmir, troops now dress in high-tech black riot gear, covered head to foot in plastic armor that can make them look decidedly inhuman. They carry stun grenades, tear gas grenades and shotguns loaded with — they say — non-lethal pellets.They are the vanguard trying to fulfill Prime Minister

Australian gov't plans to continue with mining tax   (08.09.2010 10:49)

The first full day of Australia's new minority government revealed tensions Wednesday between the deputy prime minister and a kingmaker independent legislator over plans to make mining companies pay more tax.The disagreement between Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and Tony Windsor underscores the fragility of the center-left Labor Party

Malaysian officials appeal 'Lizard King' sentence   (08.09.2010 10:19)

Malaysian prosecutors filed an appeal Wednesday against a six-month jail sentence of a notorious wildlife trader convicted of smuggling endangered snakes, saying the penalty was insufficient to deter wildlife trafficking.Anson Wong, known as the "Lizard King," was fined 190,000 ringgit ($60,000) and sentenced to six months' in prison Monday for

South Korea imposes independent sanctions on Iran   (08.09.2010 10:19)

South Korea said Wednesday it will ban unauthorized financial dealings with Iran and impose other penalties as part of a U.S.-led campaign to enforce sanctions against the country over its disputed nuclear enrichment program.Seoul targeted 102 entities, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping

Servant testifies Filipino warlord ordered killing   (08.09.2010 10:19)

A house servant of the politically powerful clan accused in last year's massacre of 57 people told a Philippine court Wednesday that the family members plotted the killings of rivals and journalists over dinner six days before the ambush.The witness, Lakmudin Saliao, took the stand on the first day of trial nearly 10 months after the Nov. 23

Sex, violence, Islam: Syrian TV soap raises drama   (08.09.2010 10:19)

In a new Syrian soap opera, a beautiful green-eyed young woman named Layla is torn over whether to take off the niqab, the billowing black Islamic garb that hides every part of her except her eyes."I cannot take this pressure anymore," she says in one episode. "I want to take off the veil."But her rebelliousness has unintended consequences: She is

Weeks of rains leave thousands homeless in Mexico   (08.09.2010 09:49)

Tens of thousands of people have abandoned their homes across southern Mexico to escape flooding from weeks of torrential rains, and forecasts are predicting even more rainfall.The situation worsened for some areas Tuesday when authorities began releasing 2,000 cubic meters (71,000 cubic feet) of water every second from four dams whose reservoirs

Among Egypt's Christians, few question Church rule   (08.09.2010 09:49)

When Irini Ibrahim, a young Coptic Christian woman, floated the idea of divorce from a husband she said was abusing her, her parents immediately opposed it, reminding her of the Biblical vow, "What God has joined together let no man put asunder."So the 25-year-old Ibrahim entered "reconciliation sessions" with her husband Rizk Kands, moderated by

Suspected US missile strike kills 6 in Pakistan   (08.09.2010 09:49)

A suspected U.S. drone killed at least six militants in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday when it fired a missile at a house linked to a group that often carries out attacks on NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan, intelligence officials said.The U.S. has stepped up drone strikes in recent days, carrying out five suspected attacks in less than

China calls in Japan envoy over boat collision   (08.09.2010 09:49)

Diplomatic tensions between China and Japan escalated Wednesday when Beijing called in Japan's ambassador after a Chinese fishing boat collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near a chain of disputed islands and Tokyo arrested the boat's captain.Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao summoned Japanese Ambassador Uichiro Niwa and urged Japan to

6 killed in 2 separate bomb attacks in Baghdad   (08.09.2010 09:49)

Iraqi police and health officials say at least six people have been killed and 35 wounded in two separate attacks in Baghdad.A police officer says three policemen and one civilian have been killed when a parked car bomb exploded Wednesday near a bus station in the southern Bayaa neighborhood. A second bomb targeting police and rescue services

China's Hu calls for stable ties with US   (08.09.2010 09:19)

Trying to smooth over recently rocky relations before he visits Washington, Chinese President Hu Jintao told aides to U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday that he wants to see healthy and stable ties between the two countries.The meeting between Hu and a White House economic policy official and deputy national security adviser was unusual

Afghanistan: More voting stations to remain closed   (08.09.2010 09:19)

Afghan election officials say more than 80 polling stations will have to remain closed in the tense eastern Nangarhar province during the Sept. 18 parliamentary vote because of the deteriorating security situation in the region bordering Pakistan.The number adds to the previously announced decision to shut down more than 900 voting sites

Big quake aftershocks plague New Zealand city   (08.09.2010 09:19)

A powerful new 5.1-magnitude aftershock rattled terrified residents of New Zealand's earthquake-stricken city of Christchurch on Wednesday, as officials doubled their estimate for repairing the damage from nearly 300 aftershocks in five days.The latest quake, just four miles (6.4 kilometers) below the earth's surface and centered six miles (10

Demjanjuk health issues taking over trial   (08.09.2010 09:19)

John Demjanjuk attends most sessions of his trial in a hospital bed set up in the courtroom, wearing dark sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face.The case of the retired Ohio autoworker accused of serving as a Nazi death camp guard — which resumes next week after a monthlong summer break — broke potentially precedent-setting ground when

Press group: attacks on press in Mexico "a crisis"   (08.09.2010 08:49)

The Committee to Protect Journalists says attacks on the press in Mexico represent a "national crisis" that demands "a full-scale federal response."The New York-based press group says that eight of 22 journalists killed since President Felipe Calderon took office in 2006 were murdered in reprisal for their work.The committee said in a report

Sri Lanka debates ending president's term limit   (08.09.2010 08:49)

Sri Lanka's Parliament on Wednesday began debating a controversial amendment to the country's constitution that would allow President Mahinda Rajapaksa to hold unlimited number of terms, a move critics say could lead to a dictatorshipThe government is likely to secure the two-thirds majority required in the 225-member Parliament to make the

Depression costs Japan's economy $32 billion   (08.09.2010 08:19)

Suicides and other depression cases cost Japan's economy about 2.7 trillion yen ($32 billion) last year, the government said Wednesday, releasing such data for the first time in a bid to raise public awareness of the nation's long-battled social woe.The figure included an estimated income of 1.9 trillion yen that could have been earned by

Witness testifies Filipino warlord ordered killing   (08.09.2010 08:19)

A house servant of the politically powerful clan accused in last year's massacre of 57 people told a Philippine court Wednesday that the family members plotted the killings of rivals and journalists over dinner six days before the ambush.The witness, Lakmudin Saliao, took the stand on the first day of trial nearly 10 months after the Nov. 23

Torture tools displayed ahead of Turkey referendum   (08.09.2010 08:19)

A wooden pole used to suspend suspects by their arms. A baton used to beat prisoners on the soles of their feet. Cables used to give electric shocks.All are displayed at an exhibit ahead of a referendum on changes to the constitution that was crafted in the wake of Turkey's 1980 military coup, which was marked by torture and other abuses.On Sept.

Mexico: 2 bodies likely massacre investigators   (08.09.2010 07:49)

Two dead bodies found in the northern state of Tamaulipas appear to be those of a state detective and local police chief who investigated the massacre of 72 migrants in August, prosecutors said.If confirmed, the killings would be one of the most brazen signs of defiance yet by the drug cartels: not only are the gangs willing to commit wholesale

Nigeria to hold presidential election on Jan. 22   (08.09.2010 07:49)

Nigeria will hold its presidential election in January, giving the oil-rich nation only four months to register voters and untangle its notoriously corrupt electoral system.The Independent National Electoral Commission announced Tuesday that the presidential election would be held Jan. 22, sandwiched between a Jan. 15 election for the National

Women, kids among 18 dead in NW Pakistani bombing   (08.09.2010 07:49)

A car bomb ripped through a police compound in a northwestern Pakistani city, killing 18 people, including 14 women and children and four officers, the latest in a string of attacks proving that Islamist militants remain a potent force in the country.The civilians killed were the wives and children of police officers, said Khalid Omarzai, the

Brazil Eying Russian Competitor to Humvee   (08.09.2010 03:29)

According to Russian media, in the next few days, Russian GAZ-2330 "Tiger" armored car will be transferred for testing by the Rio de Janeiro police, which will use the vehicles to patrol the city suburbs. According to Oleg Strunin, official JSC Rosoboronexport representative to the Brazilian state arms export agency, several Brazilian states expressed an interest in the Russian armored vehicle. Negotiations are also taking place on assembling "Tigers" in Brazil. "We believe that "Tigers" have very good prospects in Brazil, and hope to soon conclude a contract for delivery of such machines to the country," added Strunin. Bottom line: "Tiger" was conceived, designed and tested as a competitor to the American Humvee armored car. And while the American vehicle served with distinction for the past three decades in huge numbers virtually everywhere around the world in numerous conflicts, saving countless lives, the "Tiger" on the other hand is a new vehicle which hasn't undergone the same rigorous battlefield testing. Even as Hummers are being phased out from Iraq and Afghanistan in favor of a new breed of vehicles, it certainly can hold its own as a police patrol car. So why did Brazil choose the untried and untested Russian...

Afghan Literacy   (08.09.2010 02:08)

Not so much:

The U.S. military is mounting a massive effort to help teach Afghan soldiers and police to read after concluding that literacy is “the essential enabler” to the local security forces’ success. “How do you expect a soldier to account for their weapon if they can’t even read the serial number?” said Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, head of the NATO-led effort to train the Afghan national security forces. “It’s really challenging for some people to fully appreciate just how illiterate most of this population is,” Caldwell said. “It doesn’t mean they don’t have street sense and they’re not smart in many ways. But they don’t have the education … to look at a series of numbers and be able to read it.” The literacy rate for incoming Afghan army and police recruits is about 14 percent to 18 percent, Caldwell said.

A Very Bad (and Possibly Foretelling) 72-Hours for Iran   (08.09.2010 02:08)

Consider the headlines from the past 72-hours or so: 1. The IAEA released a rather scathing report condemning the regime's intransigence and secrecy on its nuclear program; 2. Rumors circulated that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian woman currently awaiting sentencing for the spurious and arcane charges of adultery, has already suffered 99 lashes for a separate (and equally absurd) charge involving un-Islamic exposure in a photograph; a photography which, incidentally, turned out not to be of her; 3. The Sunday Times reported that "at least five Iranian companies in Afghanistan's capital are using their offices covertly to finance Taliban militants in provinces near Kabul," and that the regime is divvying out "$1,000 for killing an American soldier and $6,000 for destroying a U.S. military vehicle."; 4. The Bahraini government continued to "hint" at Iranian involvement in a plot to overthrow the Sunni-dominated government there (such accusations are nothing new from Bahrain and may prove meaningless, but the PR damage is done.); 5. In an interview with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, Fidel Castro - yes, that Fidel Castro - condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his antisemitic rhetoric. Much of this, so the theory goes,...

U.S. Views on Middle East Peace Treaty   (07.09.2010 20:13)

Via Rasmussen:

With Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on the front-burner again, voters continue to believe strongly that any agreement must include recognition by Palestinian leaders of Israel’s right to exist. But most voters think that recognition is unlikely. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 77% of U.S. voters think Palestinian leaders must acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.... However, only 25% of voters think it is even somewhat likely that the Palestinian leadership will recognize Israel’s right to exist, while 64% say it is unlikely. This includes six percent (6%) who say recognition is Very Likely and 19% who say it’s Not At All Likely. These findings are unchanged from June 2009. Voters remain less enthusiastic about requiring Israel to accept the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement between the two sides. Fifty-one percent (51%) say Israel should be required to do so, down six points from the previous survey. Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree, and 22% more are not sure.

Middle East Peace Talks   (07.09.2010 19:41)

Well, they're off to a good start aren't they:

Abbas stressed that he would not make any concessions to Israel. “If they demand concessions on the rights of the refugees or the 1967 borders, I will quit. I can’t allow myself to make even one concession,” he said.

India's Singh on China   (07.09.2010 16:11)

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chatted up the editors of the Times of India:

"China would like to have a foothold in South Asia and we have to reflect on this reality. We have to be aware of this," he said. He, however, also said that it was his firm belief that the world was large enough for India and China to "cooperate and compete" at the same time. After his meetings with the Chinese leadership, including with President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Singh said he was of the feeling that Beijing wanted to sort out the outstanding issues with India. "However, this leadership will change in two years. There is a new assertiveness among the Chinese. It is difficult to tell which way it will go. So, it's important to be prepared."

Playing into Bin Laden's Hands   (07.09.2010 12:53)

Upset that President Obama wants to curtail America's costly and open-ended commitment to nation building and counter-insurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marc Thiessen invokes a letter from bin Laden outlining his strategy for bleeding America in a long insurgency, to argue in favor of.... staying and bleeding:

The talk of withdrawal was damaging, but this pivot to domestic priorities was the most dangerous part of Obama's speech -- because what our enemies heard was that their strategy to defeat America is working. In a letter to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, uncovered by coalition forces in 2002, Osama bin Laden explained that the way to get the United States to quit Afghanistan is to convince Americans "that their government [will] bring them more losses, in finances and casualties." As this message takes hold, bin Laden told Mullah Omar, it will create "pressure from the American people on the American government to stop their campaign against Afghanistan." Bin Laden calls this his "bleed until bankruptcy" strategy, and he has expressed confidence it will work, because the Taliban and al-Qaeda possess something that President Obama clearly lacks -- strategic patience. As bin Laden explained a 2004 video, time is on his side: "We...

More from Real Clear World   (07.09.2010 08:17)

Dear RCW Readers: We are pleased to announce that beginning today, we'll be publish an Early Morning Update every weekday to get a jump start on what's new in world affairs. This update will be published Monday through Friday and stay on the site until it's replaced by the Morning Update. Also beginning today, a "Best of Blogs" section will be published daily with our Afternoon Update. This section will include links to fresh posts on international affairs, including blogs that cover U.S. foreign policy. As always, your suggestions and input are welcome. Please take advantage of our comments function on every article and blog post published on RCW template. And if you have a tip on an article or blog post, please email us at Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć. . RCW Editors

No Korea   (07.09.2010 02:00)

I'm not a close student of the U.S. military presence in South Korea following the 1953 armistice, but this doesn't seem similar:

Insurgents mounted a coordinated attack on one of the main military commands in Baghdad on Sunday, briefly drawing fire from American soldiers, an event that underscored the ambiguity of the American military’s role in Iraq.

The Long War   (07.09.2010 01:01)

In the course of arguing why Osama bin Laden remains relevant, Peter Bergen draws attention to some conflicting currents in America's counter-terrorism strategy:

Al Qaeda and like-minded groups have attracted dozens of U.S. citizens and residents as foot soldiers. According to a count by Andrew Lebovich of the New America Foundation, in 2009 at least 43 American citizens or residents aligned with Sunni militant groups or their ideology were charged with terrorism crimes in the United States or elsewhere, the highest number in any year since 9/11. So far in 2010, at least 18 have been similarly charged or convicted.

While bin Laden himself may have vanished like a wraith, intelligence about other militant leaders in the Pakistani tribal areas has markedly improved in the past couple of years. In 2007 there were just three drone strikes reported there; in 2008 there were 34; the Obama administration has already authorized more than 100. Those drones have killed at least a dozen mid and upper-level leaders of Al Qaeda or the Taliban.

Debating National Security   (06.09.2010 20:55)

Furthermore, pretending that politics and national security don’t mix can lead to very bad policy outcomes. I’m sympathetic to the view that had concerned or reluctant elected officials invested energy in having a political debate over whether or not to invade Iraq, the country might have avoided a national security catastrophe. (Full disclosure: I work for an organization that was essentially founded on that justification). Sadly, we didn’t have that debate, and the country paid a steep price for it. I put that thought to Gulliver, who replied that the Iraq war was largely the result of a motivated administration pulling the wool over the eyes of the bureaucracy. But that’s precisely why you would want a more vigorous public debate – to reduce the likelihood that an agenda-drive clique can just hijack the process. - Patrick Barry

Peace Processing   (04.09.2010 18:28)

Steve Clemons (via David Schorr) waxes ambitious about the peace process currently underway:

The United States and its core allies have decided to try and remake parts of the world and as might be expected, much of the Arab Middle East and the global Muslim community have institutionalized grievances about their place in the modern world and wonder if the West values their lives and societies. The Palestinian mess is for many of these people the packaged microcosm of their anger about exploitation and humiliation by the West and by their own governments. Solving the Israel-Palestine conflict will not solve all the political and identity tensions which will continue to boil in Arab and Muslim-dominant states -- but the echo effect of resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians will knock down many walls in these societies that have been resisting change.

China's Four Day Traffic Jam   (03.09.2010 18:19)

Ouch:

Thousands of coal trucks and other vehicles were backed up for miles on a highway in northern China on Friday, the latest in a series of monster traffic jams that have plagued the overloaded road since construction began on a parallel route earlier this summer... State television broadcaster CCTV reported that about 10,000 trucks were stuck in the jam. The exact length of the gridlock was not clear, but one of the worst stretches was a 75-mile (120-kilometer) span of highway between Inner Mongolia's Zhouzi and Xinghe counties, media reports said.

Rape in Africa   (03.09.2010 14:09)

Grim news from the Congo:

The number of rape victims from a four-day rebel attack in eastern Congo a month ago has risen to more than 240 and will likely go higher, aid officials said Thursday

Majorities in nearly all 18 sub-Saharan African countries surveyed in 2009 say rape is a major problem in their countries. A median of 77% of sub-Saharan Africans see rape as this much of a problem, but in six countries, the percentage saying this reaches 90% or higher.

Tony Blair's Legacy   (03.09.2010 14:01)

Anthony Wells reviews the latest polling on the subject:

47% of people think that Blair was a good Prime Minister, 46% that he was a bad one – probably not a bad record. On balance, people tended to think that Blair was likeable (by 57% to 35%), principled (by 43% to 39%) and a good representative for Britain abroad (by 50% to 37%), he fell down on honesty – 44% thought he was dishonest as PM. Asked what his greatest achievements were as Prime Minister, the minimum wage and bringing peace to Northern Ireland came top by some distance (interestingly, the minimum wage was seen as Blair’s greatest acheivement even by Conservative voters, whereas things like his record on the economy and public services were mainly picked by Labour supporters). His greatest failures were seen as failing to tackle immigration and, unsurprisingly, the invasion of Iraq.

Koran Burning May Put Troops At Risk   (07.09.2010 15:57)

The U.S. Commander in Afghanistan David Petraeus warned that a Fla. church's plan to burn a Koran would increase violence against U.S. troops.

Australia Braces For More Floods   (07.09.2010 15:55)

Flooding continues in Australia's Victoria state, with local officials warning that some areas could remain inundated for another week.

Chavez Targets Crime Before Polls   (07.09.2010 15:53)

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez raises the police presence in Caracas slums, as the high crime rate becomes a growing issue ahead of legislative elections.

New Zealand Counts Cost Of Quake   (07.09.2010 15:51)

New Zealand is attempting to calculate the cost of Saturday's earthquake and its continued aftershocks.

Dining Room Table Turned Race Car   (07.09.2010 15:50)

A British man sets a world record for the fastest piece of furniture.

Iraq's Six-Month Political Stalemate   (07.09.2010 15:49)

Six months on from the declaration of a hung parliament in Iraq's election, there is still no new government.

Strike Over French Pension Reforms   (07.09.2010 15:47)

France faces serious disruption in a nationwide strike to fight proposals to raise the retirement age.

Guatemala Landslide Rescue Hopes Fade   (07.09.2010 15:46)

Guatemalan officials say they have given up hope for dozens of people buried when a landslide engulfed a highway north-west of the capital.

Tony Blair's Journey   (07.09.2010 12:16)

Former PM Tony Blair sits down with Christiane Amanpour on "This Week." (II)

Suzuki Plans New India Factory   (07.09.2010 12:14)

japan's Suzuki will build its fourth Indian plant, boosting output to 1.5 million cars annually in one of the world's fastest growing markets.

Tony Blair's Journey   (07.09.2010 12:11)

Former PM Tony Blair sits down with Christiane Amanpour on "This Week." (I)

Biggest Eruption Yet On Sumatra   (03.09.2010 20:09)

Mount Sinabung has its third and largest eruption on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Fresh Wild Fires Ravage Russia   (03.09.2010 19:51)

New wild fires spread in southern Russia, destroying hundreds of village houses and killing at least five people.

Sharks Swarm Off Australian Coast   (03.09.2010 19:43)

Hundreds of sharks have been spotted off the Queensland coast.

Global Food Supply Fears Grow   (03.09.2010 18:46)

The concern over global food supply is increasing amid food riots in Mozambique and Russia extending their wheat export ban.