Wednesday, November 11, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, November 11, 2009

 

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From the Council on Foreign Relations

November 11, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- U.S. president, advisers to meet over U.S. Afghanistan strategy.
- Chinese economy accelerates in October.
- Geithner voices support for strong dollar and budget fixes.
- Sweden announces date to name first EU president.

Top of the Agenda: Afghan Troops Question

U.S. President Barack Obama discusses U.S. policy in Afghanistan with his national security team Wednesday, as reports emerge that his administration is nearing its decision (BBC) on troop levels.

The New York Times reports three of the Obama administration's top advisors - Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton - support a proposal to send thirty thousand additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Obama will consider four final options in the meeting today that outline troop levels, how much of Afghanistan the troops would attempt to control and under what time frame.

White House officials said reports that President Obama has already settled on a specific number of additional troops are "absolutely false" (CNN).

Analysis

The Washington Post reports that the shift in the balance of power between insurgent groups in Afghanistan could influence whether the United States deploys tens of thousands of additional troops there. A weakened al-Qaeda is relying increasingly on strengthening Taliban forces for protection and manpower to carry out attacks, according to U.S. officials. The article notes that although the war in Afghanistan began in response to al-Qaeda terrorism, a U.S. military official estimates that there are likely fewer than one-hundred members of the group left there.

In a Daily Beast op-ed, CFR's Leslie Gelb writes that the U.S. military's request to increase troops in Afghanistan by 44,000 ought to be closely scrutinized. He adds that, on this issue, "the military got a free ride from America's pretend leaders and fake journalists."

In the Far Eastern Economic Review, Frank Shell says the United States needs a new Af-Pak strategy that brings India to the table to help stabilize the situation in Pakistan.

Background

A CFR Backgrounder examines the Taliban's role in Afghanistan.

MIDDLE EAST: Yemeni-Saudi Conflict

Saudi Arabia has imposed a naval blockade (al-Jazeera) along the Red Sea coast of northern Yemen and vowed to continue its offensive against Houthi rebels, despite warnings from Iran to keep out of Yemen's affairs.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistan Violence

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani defended his government's management of terrorism (Dawn) Wednesday, saying the recent wave of bomb blasts is proof that terrorists are "feeling the heat from the South Waziristan operation."

A CFR Backgrounder analyzes Pakistan's fragile foundations.

PACIFIC RIM: China Economy

Chinese economic recovery accelerated in October due to increased industrial output and growing retail sales, putting the country on track (FT) to meet its growth target of 8 percent.

Thailand: Cambodia rejected an extradition request (PhnomPenPost) from Thailand for former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was invited to work as a government adviser in Cambodia.

AFRICA: Guinea Instability

The Economist reports that governments in the region surrounding Guinea fear the country could descend into civil war and spread instability and conflict to its neighbors.

Eritrea: In a Christian Science Monitor interview, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki says he has not helped Islamic militants in Somalia and that his country does not need elections.

AMERICAS: U.S. Dollar Concerns

During his visit to Japan, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said a strong dollar is "very important" for the country's economy and that the United States is committed to fixing its budgetary problems to maintain international confidence (WSJ) in the dollar.

Honduras: The Organization of American States says it would be difficult to envision (MercoPress) the two sides involved in the Honduran political crisis resuming dialogue and has rejected the idea of sending OAS observers to monitor the election scheduled for the end of November.

EUROPE: EU President

The European Union will name its first permanent president (EUObserver) at an EU summit on November 19 in Brussels, the Swedish presidency announced.

Georgia: Georgia has accused Russian forces of detaining five Georgian citizens off the Black Sea coast in an attempt to escalate tensions (RFE/RL) reminiscent of last year's five-day war between the two countries.

TRANSNATIONAL: The Public and Climate Change

The Economist reports that public support for climate change initiatives is mixed globally despite countries' political efforts to tackle the issue ahead of next month's UN climate change summit in Copenhagen.

 

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