Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, September 3, 2009

Thursday, September 3, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, September 3, 2009

September 3, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-Iranian cabinet approved.
-High-level Israeli-Palestinian talks.
-Zoellick on Chinese economy.
-Doha trade talks kick off in New Delhi.

Top of the Agenda: Ahmadinejad's Cabinet

The Iranian parliament approved President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's eighteen nominees to cabinet (Iranian Students News Agency), including the first woman to serve as a minister in the Islamic republic's history.

Parliament also approved Ahmad Vahidi's nomination to the position of defense minister, despite objections from Argentina (Buenos Aires Herald), where Vahidi is wanted for his alleged involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish center. The bombing killed eighty-five people.

Separately, after meeting in Frankfurt, officials from Germany and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council sent a message to Iran to accept talks on the country's nuclear program or face more stringent economic sanctions (Christian Science Monitor). An Iranian official earlier this week announced the country has a new proposal on its nuclear program that it would be willing to discuss with international powers (BBC). But Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, said any talks with world powers would not address the nuclear program (Reuters).

Analysis
In an interview with CFR, expert George Perkovich says Iran has given no serious signals that it is halting its nuclear program, and says new UN Security Council action is vital to maintain pressure on Tehran.

In a Los Angeles Times op-ed, CFR's Micah Zenko says Israel may well "act alone" to deal with Iran unless Tehran responds soon to international proposals on its nuclear program.

Background
The International Atomic Energy Agency's recently updated safeguards report on Iran is available here.

A CFR Backgrounder looks at presidential power in Iran.

MIDEAST: Israeli-Palestinian Talks

Israeli Regional Development Minister and Vice Premier Silvan Shalom met with Palestinian Economy Minister Bassem Khoury in Jerusalem for economic talks, in the highest-level meeting between Israeli and Palestinian officials since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office (Al Arabiya).

Iraq: An Iraqi court sentenced four security force members to death for a July bank robbery (al-Jazeera) in Baghdad in which eight guards were killed. Two former bodyguards of Iraq's vice president were among the accused.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Afghanistan War

A New York Times report says President Barack Obama may have to rely more on the Republican Party for support than his own as the war in Afghanistan escalates. Obama faces rising resistance to the war effort from Congressional Democrats whose constituents are increasingly opposed to a prolonged conflict.

A CFR interactive timeline traces the history of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

India: India's greenhouse gas emissions will more than triple by 2030, according to a report compiled by government experts. The report will serve as the basis for India's negotiating position at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December, according to the BBC.

PACIFIC RIM: Zoellick on Chinese Economy

After meeting with Chinese leaders, including Premier Wen Jiabao, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said he believes China should continue its economic stimulus effort (Reuters), regardless of signs of recovery.

Indonesia: A 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed at least fifty-seven people (Jakarta Post) and forced thousands to flee their homes.

AFRICA: Israel-Africa Ties

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman embarked on a nine-day, five-country African tour (Ynet), hoping to improve ties and counter Iranian influence in the region. The trip will be the first by an Israeli foreign minister to sub-Saharan Africa since 1991, excluding Ethiopia. Lieberman's trip to the region is part of his broader plan "to develop new channels in Israel's foreign policy."

Nigeria: A member of the Boko Haram militant group (BBC) in Nigeria confessed to police that he received military training in Afghanistan. If his claim is verified, it would be the first proven tie between Afghanistan and Nigerian insurgencies. A Boko Haram uprising in July led to more than seven hundred deaths in Nigeria.

AMERICAS: Alleged Arms Dealer Arrested

U.S. officials in New York arrested Jacques Monsieur, a Belgian man suspected of international arms dealing (Reuters). Monsieur is charged with trying to smuggle fighter jet engines to Iran.

Oil: Oil company BP says it made a "giant" new oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery could boost BP's Gulf of Mexico production by more than 60 percent in the next fifteen years, Dow Jones reports.

EUROPE: Germany in Afghanistan

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there is no timetable for a German troop withdrawal from Afghanistan (Deutsche Welle). Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, who is challenging Merkel in the upcoming elections, said he would begin to implement an exit strategy if elected.

Greece: Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis called a snap general election (Reuters), saying he is "seeking a fresh political mandate." The date for the election has not yet been set.

TRANSNATIONAL: Doha Talks

The latest session of the Doha round trade talks kick off today (AFP) in New Delhi. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the meetings may be an "important step" toward completing negotiations on a free trade accord. The talks come just ahead of a meeting of G20 leaders in Pittsburgh later this month.

A CFR Backgrounder looks at the Doha trade talks.

This Thursday CFR and Politico.com will co-host a live chat with CFR Senior Fellow Edward Alden on the Independent Task Force on U.S. Immigration policy he recently directed.

The live chat is open to all and will take place from 12:00pm until 1:00pm ET. To participate, visit http://www.politico.com/arena/ shortly before noon to register and submit your question.

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