Tuesday, July 20, 2010

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 20, 2010

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

July 20, 2010

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- U.S., Europe Endorse Afghan Security Plan
- EU Considers Tougher Iran Sanctions
- Joint Marine Exercise Near S. Korea
- Britain's Cameron to Visit Washington

Top of the Agenda: U.S., Europe Endorse Afghan Security Plan

The United States and European countries endorsed Afghan President Hamid Karzai's plan for Afghan forces (NYT) to take the lead on Afghan security by 2014. Western foreign ministers are hoping the timeline buoys political support for the war in European countries, where citizens are demanding a clearer withdrawal plan. The endorsement of the Afghan plan came at an international donor conference in Kabul. The conference is expected to back several other Afghan government initiatives, such as a crimes task force and anticorruption tribunal, commitments on women's rights, and a response to controversy about billions of dollars leaving the country.

At the conference, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned (Guardian) the shift to Afghan control would happen slowly, based on "conditions, not calendars."

Karzai asked the international community to increase the proportion of foreign aid money (BBC) that flows through the Afghan government to 50 percent and for more control of Afghanistan's multibillion dollar aid budget.

Analysis:

A Washington Post editorial says U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's recent statement that "we're not engaging in nation-building" in Afghanistan is misleading, since Karzai's 2014 target "looks too ambitious to many Afghans and military experts."

In the New York Times, Paul Collier says the news that Afghanistan has $1 trillion in unmined mineral deposits could lead to deteriorating security.

CFR President Richard Haass says it is time to scale down the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan and "both reduce and redirect what we do."

Background:

This al-Jazeera Cheat Sheet outlines what leaders agreed to at the Afghan conference.

MIDDLE EAST: EU Considers Tougher Iran Sanctions

The EU is considering tough new sanctions against Iran (NYT) over its nuclear program, including banning investment in the oil and gas sector and tightening restrictions on shipping and finance.

Decades of economic and diplomatic sanctions have failed to alter the actions of the Iranian regime, especially regarding its nuclear program, says this CFR.org Backgrounder. But experts say they remain an important tool to isolate and pressure Iran.

Iraq: Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, whose coalition won ninety-one seats in Iraq's March parliamentary election, is seeking support to form a government (al-Jazeera) from Iranian-backed Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr.

PACIFIC RIM: U.S.-S. Korea Plan Marine Exercise

The United States and South Korea are planning a major antisubmarine training exercise (WSJ) in response to the sinking of a South Korean ship earlier this year, which Seoul has blamed on North Korea.

Myanmar: At the ASEAN conference in Hanoi, Southeast Asian foreign ministers chided Myanmar's military-run government for its handling of the country's planned elections (AP) and stressed that they should be "free and fair."

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Public Skeptical of U.S. Aid to Pakistan

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled plans for $500 million in infrastructure projects in Pakistan to reshape Pakistani perceptions of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, but the Pakistani public is likely to remain skeptical, reports the LA Times.

AFRICA: AU Opposes Arrest for Sudan's al-Bashir

The African Union opposed the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant (TheNation) for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, saying it will stall peace efforts in Sudan.

Expert Kathryn Almquist looks at the possible triggers of renewed civil war in Sudan and discusses the U.S. policy options for preventing it from happening, in a Contingency Planning Memo from CFR's Center for Preventive Action.

This Backgrounder examines Sudan's fractured internal politics.

South Africa: The World Cup could help boost international trade between South Africa and other African countries, which have long looked outside the continent for reliable trade opportunities, reports the Wall Street Journal.

For all of South Africa's post-apartheid progress, the country still must fix deep-rooted economic and political problems, writes CFR's Princeton Lyman.

AMERICAS: Britain's Cameron to Visit Washington

British Prime Minister David Cameron will meet President Barack Obama in his first White House visit (BBC) to discuss the BP oil leak, Afghanistan, and trade.

Mexico: U.S. troops will begin deployment to the U.S.-Mexico border (NYT) on August 1 in an effort to increase security and reduce the cross-border flow of weapons, money, and people.

In recent congressional testimony, CFR's Shannon O'Neil touched on positive developments in U.S.-Mexico security cooperation.

EUROPE: Ashton Offers EU Aid to Lift Gaza Blockade

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton demanded a total lift of Israel's blockade (DeutscheWelle) on Gaza and promised EU measures to improve living conditions there during a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Hungary: Hungary continued to resist further austerity measures (FT) in talks on its fiscal policy with the IMF and the EU, prompting investors to sell domestic assets.
 

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