Tuesday, May 19, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily News Brief, May 19, 2009



To view this newsletter as a web page, click here.
http://m1e.net/c?101077382-N1qPc0ZnPJZV2%404259233-M8CheJ7Ma5qvA

May 19, 2009

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Sri Lanka confirms rebel leader death; observers mull meaning for regional stability.
- Obama gives end-of-year deadline for negotiating with Iran.
- ASEAN rebuffs Myanmar on Suu Kyi trial.
- Ethiopian troops reportedly reenter Somalia.
- Moscow and Washington open nuclear arms reduction talks.

Top of the Agenda: Sri Lanka Declares War's End

Sri Lanka's government today confirmed the death of the country's longtime Tamil Tiger rebel chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, and declared an end to its bloody, decades-long war with the group (Rediff). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-NX9f9mVVABEOE%404259234-d.U2H4Qs3TpW%2e Sri Lankan state media, meanwhile, ran pictures of Prabhakaran's dead body after a flurry of speculation yesterday and Tamil media reports denying that the Sri Lankan military had in fact killed the rebel leader (al-Jazeera). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-NEVG70bArd65A%404259235-6hpjukItNacfc Tamil Tiger leaders conceded defeat in a statement posted online, faulting the international community for not doing more to assist them (Reuters). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-dMe1DhlH7VpDo%404259236-dUNn3Z9t2TlKQ

The primary question for policywatchers abroad is whether Prabhakaran's passing will in fact mark the end of the twenty-six year conflict between Sri Lanka's government and separatist Tamil rebels. The Economist says conventional fighting seems to have come to an end, for now, but that Colombo faces a serious challenge reconciling anger, both internally and internationally, over the mass civilian deaths wrought in the military's campaign against the rebels. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-r7UYj2UkVM8io%404259237-If8KY2AokKnLs

Analysis:

- The BBC says Sri Lanka's ability to forcefully put down the Tamil Tigers could encourage other governments to take a more direct military approach to clamping down on separatist movements. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-dNR4BZ6eo6i..%404259238-KbJWEsGO0ejcI

- In a podcast with CFR, South Asia expert Teresita Schaffer looks at what the news from Sri Lanka (alongside India's recent election results) could mean for regional stability. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-mT.TgFT4j8v6Y%404259239-IcE1AjX4VpWbw

Background:

- CFR's profile of the Tamil Tigers. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-.8FCGW2fwELcs%404259240-F5J6BKbEnQris

- A Backgrounder explaining Sri Lanka's conflict. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-wO7EvsRFmqn2A%404259241-DDBkMxpTupMXY

MIDDLE EAST: Obama on Iran

The Economist reports U.S. President Barack Obama, meeting yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, set a deadline--the end of the year--for determining whether Washington's tack of talking to Iran had netted diplomatic results. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-aGpZmwR1GwAPM%404259242-Vb.KqA8Te7SHU Obama also pressed Netanyahu to commit to the idea of a Palestinian state--pressure which the Israeli leader deflected (BBC). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-1hQhfvRSbwKpo%404259243-XouOgXfaJK72E

Analysis:

- An op-ed in Israel's Ynet said the general cordiality of the meetings could not mask "deep gaps" between Netanyahu and Obama on policy matters. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-LiW7m8qvrR5VY%404259244-QIVl//Lbd9qIU

- The Jerusalem Post looks at mixed Israeli reaction to Netanyahu's performance. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-HqjsRVJxH9vmk%404259245-KranvlXoIOYPI

IRAQ: Iraqi leaders released a video they say shows that they have captured Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, whom many consider to be the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq (al-Jazeera). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-flzyUv.Nav4As%404259246-Rmya1io0n82gQ

This CFR.org Backgrounder profiles al-Qaeda in Iraq http://m1e.net/c?101077382-VWlcxvCuuIipM%404259247-znEL6PvpUHy0w

PACIFIC RIM: ASEAN and Myanmar

The leaders of the southeast Asian states in ASEAN, the regional bloc, expressed "grave concern" at Myanmar's decision to try its pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi (BBC). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-33qXcoGhD05Fg%404259248-qwugRetgey2Lw

- This Backgrounder explains Myanmar's politics and looks at hopes that ASEAN might be able to use its sway to bring reform to the country. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-TxEkngew92O/g%404259249-wWPoju0WtYnHc

CHINA: In an effort to boost domestic consumption and curb pollution, Beijing announced it would subsidize consumers who sell their automobiles or home appliances for newer, more efficient ones (Xinhua). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-7w68BK.Blefa6%404259250-WDlVKAVFXPpIM

SOUTH & CENTRAL ASIA: Khalilzad's Role

The New York Times reports this morning that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is considering appointing former U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to a national oversight role in Afghanistan's government akin to being the country's CEO. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-rEXBW3aHXBtww%404259251-UmaWwA3egSapI

PAKISTAN: Dawn reports Pakistan's military chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani is in Brussels for talks with NATO officials that could potentially lead to a closer military alliance on either side of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-czMEpcCZMDwgA%404259252-p6Kb5uHlww96U

AFRICA: Ethiopia and Somalia

The BBC reports Ethiopian troops have crossed back into Somalia roughly three months after Ethiopia's peacekeeping mission there evacuated the country. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-faqBn.OCKSxro%404259253-JWGrVYfvQe9ys The article says the troops' return coincides with a major new push by Islamist militants in Somalia, who are seizing townships and threatening to oust Mogadishu's fragile, Western-backed government.

MALAWI: The African Elections Project in Ghana reports that voting in Malawi's presidential and parliamentary elections opened smoothly today. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-vmbEucINzdaKk%404259254-EfZ1f4E4fF7K%2e The Mail & Guardian says the vote will be a major test for political stability in the country. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-0shYHHIRMqyp2%404259255-M8CheJ7Ma5qvA

AMERICAS: Colombian Politics

The AP reports Colombia's defense minister has quit and may have his sights set on the country's presidency. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-FEIuBxW3vg0vY%404259256-jgUMK3BgnLliI

IMMIGRATION: The Washington Post reports the Obama administration is considering expanding a program to check the immigration status of people as they are booked into U.S. prisons. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-H32hHMSp/EyAs%404259257-VZwVlsk1RtQBM

FUEL STANDARDS: The Obama administration yesterday unveiled plans to apply tough new fuel standards to U.S.-made automobiles (FT). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-3cagPtrArR.zs%404259259-IQA463B/Zzf.A

EUROPE: U.S.-Russia Nuclear Talks

The United States and Russia begin three days of talks today aimed at hammering out a deal to replace the 1991 START treaty and structure further cuts to their respective nuclear arsenals (Reuters). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-xpEIZe0C14qjc%404259260-f5C.Zd8e2klq2

A graphic in the Economist shows how many nuclear weapons different countries have. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-8UDukBtGGaTqc%404259261-uNODCoCjAAFR6

CAUCASUS: Russian and South Ossetian envoys walked out of talks with Georgia aimed at easing regional tensions (AFP). http://m1e.net/c?101077382-MG1iQIZ.t3of.%404259262-rfGmAMjXin0LU

SUBSCRIBE:

For a free email subscription to the Daily News Brief and other CFR.org eNewsletters, please click here. http://m1e.net/c?101077382-/NPOSpuRYmnms%404259263-KCVhnmZZhI53%2e

--
To subscribe to the Daily Brief or other newsletters offered by the
Council on Foreign Relations: http://m1e.net/c?101077382-mAeGRb2p7WVSI%404259264-TQOF7DWO3ob7w

To pause your subscription, to switch between HTML and text-only
versions of the newsletter, to change your the email address, or to
unsubscribe: http://www.mailermailer.com/x?u=101077382y-6e02f00d.

Privacy Policy: The Council on Foreign Relations does not share email
addresses with third parties.

Council on Foreign Relations
58 East 68th Street
New York, NY 10065
Tel. +1 212.434.9400
Fax: +1 212.434.9800

Email list management powered by http://MailerMailer.com

__._,_.___
Red Democratica 10 years "On line" (1998-2008)!
Http://reddemocratica.blogspot.com
Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1631/articulos/protesta.phtml
Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1612/articulos/debate.phtml

Celebrando 10 anos "On Line"..2008

Keep the candle burning

I have a dream
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/interactiveFrame.htm

FORUM TPSIPOL: RED DEMOCRATICA .
Informacion : Http://tpsipol.home-page.org

Http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eleccion

Para enviar un message , enviar a: eleccion@yahoogroups.com
Para suscribirse al Forum , enviar un mensaje a : eleccion-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Para salir del Forum, enviar un mensaje en blanco : eleccion-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Recent Activity
Visit Your Group
Give Back

Yahoo! for Good

Get inspired

by a good cause.

Y! Toolbar

Get it Free!

easy 1-click access

to your groups.

Yahoo! Groups

Start a group

in 3 easy steps.

Connect with others.

.

__,_._,___

No comments:

Post a Comment