Tuesday, August 17, 2010

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, August 17, 2010

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

August 17, 2010

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Suicide Bomb Hits Iraqi Army Recruits
- U.S.: China's Military Secretly Expanding
- WB Loans $900 Million for Pakistan Flood
- Loss of Inspections Absent from START Debate

Top of the Agenda: Suicide Bomb Hits Iraqi Army Recruits

At least sixty Iraqi army recruits and soldiers (Guardian) were killed in a suicide bombing outside an army base in Baghdad. The site, a former headquarters of the ministry of defense, receives about 250 new recruits each week. Military spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi said as many as one thousand army recruits were at the site on the last day for soldiers to sign up at the unit. Iraqi security forces are preparing for a U.S. troop drawdown later this month, shifting the military's focus from combat operations to training Iraqi security forces. Al-Moussawi said the blast was caused by a single suicide bomber who detonated his vest among the crowd, and he blamed al-Qaeda for recruiting the bomber.

The attack is the first major bombing in Baghdad (NYT) during this year's Muslim month of Ramadan. The incident also came one day after one of the two main contenders in Iraq's March election suspended talks on forming a coalition (BBC). No one claimed immediate responsibility.

Analysis:

On the Daily Beast, Kenneth Pollack says in order to leave behind an effective Iraqi government, the United States should avoid creating new bureaucracies, be wary of including too many Iraqi groups in the government, and fix problems in the constitution.

A National editorial says Iraqi politicians need to move forward on forming a government and naming a new prime minister to avoid further destabilizing the country's "fragile calm."

This CFR Analysis Brief examines the growing debate in the United States and Iraq about whether U.S. soldiers should stay beyond the 2011 deadline for complete troop withdrawal.

Background:
President Obama's August 2 speech announcing that the drawdown date will be met can be read here.
The U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces agreement can be found here.

MIDDLE EAST: Former Israeli Soldier Chided for Facebook

A former Israeli soldier posted photos on Facebook (AP) of herself in uniform smiling beside bound and blindfolded Palestinian soldiers, angering Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Israel/Gaza: Though the Gaza blockade was designed to weaken Hamas and its ability to strike Israel, it instead helped the group strengthen its grip (CSMonitor). This CFR Backgrounder profiles Hamas.

PACIFIC RIM: U.S. Says China's Military Secretly Expanding

A U.S. Defense Department report raised concern about the rapid growth of China's military (BBC), which, due to China's secrecy about its military affairs, threatens to increase "the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation."

Japan: In response to a report yesterday that showed GDP barely grew last quarter, Prime Minister Naoto Kan asked his economic ministers to contemplate fresh stimulus measures (Bloomberg).

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: WB Loans $900 Million for Pakistan Flood

The World Bank said it will redirect $900 million in existing loans (AP) to Pakistan to help the country's flood recovery. The United Nations warned that many of the twenty million people affected by the flood have not yet received emergency aid.

The international response to Pakistan's flood disaster has been inadequate so far, says Richard Holbrooke, U.S. special representative to the country. He says Washington is contacting international governments and sending more aid, including helicopters to assist in relief efforts.

Afghanistan: Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to issue a decree disbanding all private security firms (WSJ) in the country within four months. Surprised U.S.-led coalition officials say the Afghan army and police are too weak to fill the security void.

In this media conference call, CFR Senior Fellow Stephen Biddle and Foreign Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose discuss the way forward in Afghanistan.

AFRICA: BP to Begin Deepwater Drilling in Libya

UK oil giant BP is expected to begin deepwater drilling (WSJ) on at least five wells in Libya by October at depths greater than the Gulf of Mexico well, raising concerns about the risk of a similar ecological disaster.

South Africa: South Africa's majority government party, the African National Congress, is proposing a bill to restrict media's ability to investigate (CSMonitor) government practices and cases of incompetence or corruption, drawing criticism from South African media outlets.

AMERICAS: Obama to Tighten Drilling Permit Regs

The Obama administration said it would require more environmental review before approving new offshore drilling permits as part of a wave of new regulation and legislation (NYT) to overhaul the industry's conduct.

This CFR Interactive examines the complex history of ecological disasters.

Mexico: Mexico plans to impose tariffs (Bloomberg) on pork, oranges, and other U.S. goods due to a dispute with the U.S. government over a program to allow Mexican trucks to operate north of the border.

EUROPE: Loss of Inspections Absent from START Debate

In months of debate over the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, there has been little focus on the implications of losing the ability to inspect (WashPost) Russian long-range nuclear bases, which ended when the previous treaty expired in December. In this CFR Expert Roundup, four experts assess the strengths and weaknesses of the New START agreement.

France: In an open letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, an international group of writers and academics called on the country to reimburse Haiti $21 billion (VOA) that the Caribbean nation was forced to pay to secure its independence two hundred years ago. The letter can be found here.
 

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