Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 6, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 6, 2009

October 6, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Pentagon to establish two new Afghan units.
- Former Israeli military chief cancels UK trip amid fears of war crimes arrest.
- North Korea expresses willingness to eventually return to Six-Party Talks.
- Taliban claims responsibility for attack on UN office in Pakistan.

Top of the Agenda: New U.S. Units in Afghanistan

The Pentagon is creating two new units in Afghanistan aimed at helping troops deepen their understanding of the country and its politics and culture, the Wall Street Journal reports. The units will include a so-called Afghan Hands program run out of the Pentagon, as well as a new intelligence center within Central Command

Separately, the New York Times reports U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates appeared to "subtly rebuke" General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, for publicly rejecting calls for scaling back the military effort in that country. Gates said those advising U.S. President Barack Obama as he shapes a new Afghanistan strategy should "provide our best advice to the president candidly but privately."

Obama will visit the National Counterterrorism Center today to call attention to (NYT) military operations involving missile strikes and raids on al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan, Somalia and else where, as debate continues in Washington over whether such an approach in Afghanistan could offer a viable alternative to sending more troops.

Analysis

Afghanistan expert Clare Lockhart says more attention must be paid to rebuilding the country's civilian institutions.

Background

McChrystal's review of U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan, in which he calls for an increase in troops, can be read here.

The Washington Post reports on the military debate over whether to withdraw from isolated rural parts of Afghanistan where U.S. troops are more vulnerable to attack and refocus on urban centers.

MIDEAST: War Crimes Concerns

Former Israeli military chief Moshe Ya'alon canceled a visit (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) to the United Kingdom over fears he would be arrested on war crimes charges. The Israeli Foreign Ministry's legal department warned Ya'alon, current vice premier and strategic affairs minister, that he could face charges surrounding the death of a Hamas militant in 2002 in which fourteen civilians were also killed.

Jerusalem: The BBC reports on heightened tensions in Jerusalem over the complex containing al-Aqsa mosque and the Western Wall. Rioting has broken out in the area several times in the past two weeks.

An interactive, multimedia CFR Crisis Guide examines the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and current policy options for its resolution.

PACIFIC RIM: North Korea-China Talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il told Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Monday that North Korea will be willing to return (Yonhap) to the Six-Party Talks on nuclear disarmament if bilateral talks with the United States are productive.

A CFR Backgrounder looks at the framework and major milestones of the Six-Party Talks.

Japan: In Foreign Policy, Jeff Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University says Japan's environmental record is "not as stellar as it may appear," and outlines the challenges ahead for the new Democratic Party of Japan government as it moves to improve the country's energy and environmental policies.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistan Attack

The Taliban claimed responsibility (WSJ) for the attack on the UN World Food Program's office in Islamabad on Monday, that killed five workers for the organization. A Taliban spokesman said international relief work is not in "the interest of Muslims." The United Nations announced the indefinite closure (Daily Times) of all of its offices across Pakistan.

Afghan Elections: A recount of votes from Afghanistan's disputed presidential elections has begun. Afghan election officials plan to announce (WSJ) the final results in less than a week. Incumbent President Hamid Karzai is expected to win the recount, which was ordered amid widespread allegations of voter fraud.

AFRICA: Rwandan Genocide Suspect

Head of intelligence and military operations during the Rwandan genocide, Idelphonse Nizeyimana, was arrested (Daily Monitor) in Kampala, Uganda while reportedly travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kenya. He is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity and will be tried at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in Tanzania.

Somalia: Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Abdurahman Haji Aden alias Ibbi announced (Daily Nation) that a new navy force has been trained to guard the coast around Mogadishu from pirates. Ibbi said the new navy will guard the northern part of the Somali coast, while peacekeepers from the African Mission in Somalia will guard the southern coast.

AMERICAS: U.S. Immigration Laws

The Obama administration is expected to detail (WSJ) promised changes to the country's detention standards today, revising decisions on who to detain and for how long based on the flight risk and danger of the detainees. Some Republicans are expected to criticize the announcement as a softer line on illegal immigration.

Chile: Four retired top army officers were jailed on Monday for murdering a colonel in order to cover up an illegal arms deal (NYT) with Croatia. The colonel was murdered shortly after testifying in a military investigation about the arms deal during the Balkan war, when United Nations had outlawed arms sales to Croatia.

EUROPE: Berlusconi’s Immunity

Italy's highest court is reviewing an immunity law (Times of London) that allowed Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw from court cases, one of which accused him of corruption. Berlusconi said the immunity allows him to govern without distraction.

Greece: Socialist leader George Papandreou has been sworn in (BBC) as Greece's new prime minister after winning 44% of votes in general elections on Sunday. Papandreou said he plans to pump $4.4 billion into the economy to help Greece recover from the financial crisis. Fitch Ratings has said that the stimulus package is too expensive (Reuters) for Greece in light of its high debt levels.

TRANSNATIONAL: UNDP Report

The UN Development Program's newly released human development report says migrant workers improve the quality of life (VOA) in both their host and home countries. The report says remittances to migrant workers' home countries exceed official development assistance by about four times in most developing countries.

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