Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 27, 2009

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 27, 2009

October 27, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for Baghdad bombings.
- Iranian post-election tensions flare at media expo.
- China says its military modernization is minimal.
- Obama gives $3.4 billion for "smart" electric grid.

Top of the Agenda: Al-Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Baghdad Bombings

Al-Qaeda's umbrella group in Iraq claimed responsibility (WSJ) for the Baghdad bombings on Monday that killed at least 155 people. The attack was the deadliest in two years and raised concerns over whether the country can protect itself ahead of elections in January and a withdrawal of U.S. troops. Iraq's foreign minister has called for a United Nations inquiry (Al Jazeera) into the bombings to examine the support foreign countries have given insurgents.

Separately, Iraqi lawmakers scheduled a Tuesday meeting to break the deadlock (BBC) over an election law involving the disputed northern city of Kirkuk. The deadlock threatens to delay the January 16 election and exacerbate the country's security problems.

Analysis:

Middle East expert Joost Hiltermann says in a CFR interview that Iraq appears headed for an uncertain, and potentially violent, political season with no clear dominant faction emerging ahead of January parliamentary elections.

Background:

A CFR Backgrounder examines Iraq's political landscape.

MIDEAST: Iranian Post-Election Tensions

Tensions rose at a national news media exposition on Monday as attendees clashed (WashPost) over Iran's disputed June 12 presidential election. Authorities temporarily closed the expo over the weekend due to scuttles between pro-government vigilantes and a top aide to opposition candidate Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi.

PACIFIC RIM: China Military Growth

A top Chinese general said that China's rapid military modernization only meets its minimum defense requirements (Sydney Morning Herald) ahead of meetings at the Pentagon Tuesday. General Xu Caihou will hold talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to discuss concerns over China's high-tech military buildup.

This CFR Backgrounder looks at China's military power.

Southeast Asia: The latest summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) made progress (Asia Times) on economic integration but left issues such as Myanmar unresolved.

In this podcast, CFR's Kara McDonald assesses the new U.S. policy on Myanmar. She says the success of the strategy hinges on the U.S. ability to work with Myanmar's regional partners to build a multilateral consensus on how to deal with the country.

Read more about the new U.S. policy on Myanmar here.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: U.S. Pakistan Ties

The New York Times reports that the Obama administration's pressuring of Pakistan to crack down on Taliban and al-Qaeda militants is straining U.S.-Pakistani relations.

Many Pakistanis increasingly resent the United States and blame it for Pakistan's rising instability.

In this podcast, CFR's Daniel Markey and Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation discuss the trust deficit between the two countries.

This CFR interactive explores the history of U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Afghanistan: Presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah called for the head of Afghanistan's election body to be replaced (Quqnoos) ahead of the country's November 7 runoff election. Adbullah also called for the suspension of the Afghan ministers of Interior, Education, and Tribal Affairs during the election period.

AFRICA: Zimbabwe Coalition Government Split

Hardliners in President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party are trying to split (BBC) Zimbabwe's unity government, which was formed in February after contested elections last year, reports the BBC. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai temporarily withdrew from the coalition with Mugabe on October 16, angry at a prosecution being brought against a senior member of his MDC party.

Central and East Africa: The total number of displaced people in Central and Eastern Africa in the past six months due to persistent violence has risen to one million (UN News Service), according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Sudan has the most displaced people of the region's eighteen countries, with four million people displaced.

AMERICAS: Grant For "Smart" Electric Grid

President Barack Obama plans to announce (NYT) $3.4 billion in government grants to help build a "smart" energy grid to reduce energy costs and carry solar and wind power. It is the largest award made in a single day from the $787 billion stimulus package and is hoped to create tens of thousands of jobs.

Honduras: De facto leader Roberto Micheletti's nephew was killed (AFP) in a suspected political attack. Local officials say the attack was possibly related to the tensions over the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya in June.

Separately, a colonel was shot dead in Tegucigalpa, the capital, on Sunday.

EUROPE: Czech Court Hears EU Treaty

The Czech Constitutional Court has begun hearing (BBC) the legal challenge brought by seventeen Czech senators who argue that the Lisbon Treaty would infringe on Czech sovereignty. The Czech Republic is the only country that has yet to sign the treaty.

Iceland: Fast food chain McDonald's is pulling out (Guardian) of Iceland a year after the country nearly went bankrupt because of rising costs and no indication of an economic recovery. The only other European countries without a McDonald's are Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

TRANSNATIONAL: Cap-and-Trade Costs

A new paper by the Brookings Institution finds that consumers, rather than corporations, are likely to bear most of the costs associated with a cap-and-trade system to control greenhouse gas emissions. The paper argues that governments should compensate consumers for these costs.

This CFR Backgrounder looks at the debate over the cap-and-trade program.

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