Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, August 19, 2009

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

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

August 19, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-Pre-vote violence in Afghanistan.
-Series of bombings in Baghdad.
-West Bank settlements on hold.
-N. Korea to send delegation to former S. Korean president's funeral.

Top of the Agenda: Pre-poll Violence in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is seeing a surge in violence ahead of tomorrow's presidential elections, which the Taliban have pledged to disrupt. Gunmen stormed a bank (Pajhwok) in Kabul, exchanging fire with police before three were shot. Separately, a suicide bomb attack (Quqnoos) in Kabul killed at least seven people and wounded more than fifty. The Wall Street Journal says the attacks in Kabul show the insurgents' ability to continue to strike in the heavily fortified city.

Afghanistan's government urged the media (al-Jazeera) not to cover any violence on election day saying such reports could discourage voters from going to the polls. Human Rights Watch and the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association condemned the request, saying it violates press freedoms.

Analysis:
In an interview with CFR, leading Afghanistan expert Ahmed Rashid discusses the possibility that a low voter turnout caused by Taliban violence could lead to a constitutional deadlock.

The Washington Post interviews Afghan voters and says their low expectations for the country's leadership will boost President Hamid Karzai's bid for reelection.

On Foreign Policy's AfPak Channel, J. Alexander Thier, director of the Future of Afghanistan Project at the U.S. Institute of Peace, lays out steps that should be taken immediately after the election to "set a clear tone" for the Afghan government, including a major speech by the Afghan president indicating "zero tolerance" for corruption.

Background:
A new CFR interactive timeline chronicles the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

A CFR Backgrounder profiles the Taliban in Afghanistan.

NPR has a primer for the election, including candidate profiles and a breakdown of the country's ethnic voting blocs.

MIDEAST: Baghdad Bombings

At least seventy-five people were killed and three hundred wounded in a string of attacks in central Baghdad (WSJ). One vehicle exploded outside the foreign ministry near the perimeter of the Green Zone, the heavily fortified seat of Iraqi government and the U.S. embassy. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the series of attacks, which come on the sixth anniversary of the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, in which twenty-two workers were killed.

Israel: Israeli Housing Minister Ariel Atias said Israel has not issued new settler housing tenders (Jerusalem Post) in the West Bank for the past five months, but he stopped short of calling the policy an official freeze on settlements. Atias said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to reach an agreement with the Obama administration "which is being tough with us."

Yemen-Iran: A Yemeni spokesman implied that Iran is funding Shiite rebels (Reuters) who have been revolting against the Yemeni government in recent weeks. Yemen security forces have been engaged in heavy fighting against the rebels, who are led by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

PACIFIC RIM: N. Korean Delegation to Attend Kim Dae-jung's Funeral

North Korea is planning to send a delegation to the funeral of the former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung (Yonhap). Separately, diplomats from North Korea planned to visit Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) today with an "undisclosed agenda," the New York Times reports.

China: China reduced its holdings of U.S. government debt (Shanghai Daily) by more than 3 percent, or over $25 billion in June, according to new U.S. treasury data. China holds more U.S. debt than any other country.

China-Australia: PetroChina, China's largest energy company, signed a deal to buy $41 billion worth (China Daily) of Australian liquefied natural gas.

AFRICA: Compensation for Ethiopia

The Claims Commission, an international tribunal in The Hague, ordered that Eritrea pay Ethiopia $10 million to compensate for war damages (Ezega) incurred during the 1999-2000 border war between the countries.

Liberia: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over Liberia's growing drug trade (BBC). Ban said the situation could lead to renewed unrest in the region, and called on the government to implement independent security institutions to combat the problem.

AMERICAS: Mubarak, Obama Optimistic

Following a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, U.S. President Barack Obama said he is encouraged by progress (AP) in U.S. efforts to kick start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Mubarak said Arab nations are "ready to help" if Israelis and Palestinians return to peace talks.

Colombia: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, seeking to calm alarm among some Latin American countries, said a U.S. plan to use Colombian military bases would not violate Colombia's sovereignty (Colombia Reports) or affect other countries in the region. The United States will use the bases in a joint effort with Colombia to fight drug traffickers and rebels, according to a deal between the countries.

Bolivia: The Wall Street Journal looks at increased cocaine production in Bolivia.

Cuba: NPR considers Cuba's appeal as a U.S. tourist destination.

EUROPE: ETA Suspects Arrested

French Police arrested three suspected members of militant Spanish Basque separatist group ETA (Euro Weekly News) at an Alpine ski resort. One of the suspects is believed to have been behind a recent string of ETA bombings in Spain, including one in Majorca.

TRANSNATIONAL: World Humanitarian Day

The United Nations observes the first ever World Humanitarian Day today to honor international humanitarian aid workers.

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