Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, August 5, 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, August 5, 2009

August 5, 2009

View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-North Korea frees U.S. journalists.
-Secretary Clinton in Kenya.
-Ahmadinejad sworn in by parliament.
-Russian subs spotted off U.S. coast.

Top of the Agenda: North Korea Frees Journalists

After meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, former U.S. President Bill Clinton secured the release of two U.S. journalists (Korea Times), Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who had been imprisoned in North Korea since March. Clinton and the two women arrived in California this morning.

Analysts say Clinton would not have traveled to North Korea without assurances in advance that Ling and Lee would be released. The Wall Street Journal reports Pyongyang specifically requested that the Obama administration send Clinton to deal with the issue by having Lee and Ling deliver the message in phone calls to their parents last month.

Some experts speculated that the talks could be an opening for U.S.-North Korean relations discussions on other issues, including their disagreement over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Analysis:
CFR's Korea expert Scott Snyder says Clinton's visit to Pyongyang provided a rare chance to gauge North Korea's views as talks on the country's nuclear program remain stalled.

In a Washington Post op-ed, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton says Clinton's trip represents "a significant propaganda victory for North Korea."

NPR asks experts whether Clinton's trip was "worth the risk" of undermining U.S. interests.

In the Korea Times, North Korea experts predict that economic and military talks between the United States and North Korea are imminent.

Background:
A CFR interactive Crisis Guide looks at the roots of tensions on the Korean peninsula.

AFRICA: Secretary Clinton's Trip

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began her eleven-day African tour with a stop in Kenya, where she addressed a forum (Daily Nation) on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) today. Clinton emphasized food security and good governance, and called on African countries to "tear down trade barriers" with each other.

This CFR Backgrounder looks at AGOA.

Ahead of her trip, the U.S. embassy in Nairobi issued a statement expressing "deep concern" (WSJ) over Kenya's decision to handle trials of those accused of organizing last year's post-electoral violence in local courts, rather than a special tribunal.

MIDEAST: Ahmadinejad Sworn In

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in (BBC) for his second term by the country's parliament today, after his disputed reelection sparked weeks of intense political unrest. Opposition leaders and some senior political figures did not attend the ceremony.

In an interview with CFR, Iran expert Farideh Farhi says there is a "possibility of increased radicalism among the population" of Iran after Ahmadinejad's confirmation.

Prisoners: Iran charged three U.S. citizens (NYT) with illegal entry into the country. They were arrested while hiking near the Iran-Iraq border last week.

PACIFIC RIM: Charges in Australia Terror Plot

Australia charged four men (Australian) with plotting a suicide terror attack on an army base in Sydney. Police arrested the suspects in raids on Tuesday. Officials believe the men are linked to the Somalia-based al-Shabaab group.

CFR profiles al-Shabaab in this Backgrounder.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Human Rights in India

A new Human Rights Watch report says India's police engage in systemic human rights abuses, and calls for major reforms.

Afghanistan: Four civilians and one Afghan intelligence official were killed in a suicide bombing in a market (al-Jazeera) in Zabul province. Nineteen others were injured.

AMERICAS: Russian Subs off U.S. East Coast

Two nuclear-powered Russian attack submarines have been patrolling off the east coast of the United States for the past several days, the New York Times reports. Russia's motivation in the mission is not clear, but has roused concern among Pentagon and intelligence officials.

Arms Reduction: U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to reach a decision by December (RIA Novosti) on the replacement of the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I).

The Washington Post looks at congressional efforts to remedy problems with the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile ahead of START I's expiration at the end of the year.

This CFR Task Force Report looks at U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy.

EUROPE: Russia-Georgia War Anniversary

Russia raised the level of combat readiness (Reuters) of its troops in the territory of South Ossetia, a year after Russia fought a war with Georgia over South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In an interview with Interfax news agency, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin also warned the United States and Ukraine against rearming Georgia.

TRANSNATIONAL: Child Deaths

The UN Security Council voted unanimously (AP) to name countries and groups engaged in conflicts that lead to children being raped, maimed, or killed. Mexico's UN Ambassador Claude Heller, who sponsored the resolution, said it was intended to send "a very clear political signal ... (that) the security and well-being of children must be respected with no exception whatsoever."

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