Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 31, 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 31, 2009

July 31, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-New Afghanistan strategy.
-Pakistan’s top court rejects calls to try Musharraf for treason.
-Nigerian Islamic militant leader killed.
-ETA car bomb in Mallorca.

Top of the Agenda: New Afghanistan Strategy

Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is preparing a revamped strategy (WashPost) for U.S. forces, calling for unconventional methods for dealing with the Taliban fighters. McChrystal will reportedly request a doubling of the number of U.S. and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan, and will call for a change in the “operational culture” of U.S. and NATO forces. He will recommend that commanders increase personal contact with Afghans, possibly living in towns and spending more time on foot patrols.

Meanwhile, the Taliban are urging the Afghan public (Quqnoos) to boycott next month’s presidential and provincial elections. In a statement, the Taliban called on fighters to block roads to stop voters from going to the polls.

The UN assistance mission in Afghanistan says the number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan has risen 24 percent (Reuters) so far this year compared with the same period last year, and is 48 percent higher than in 2007. The UN mission reported that the Taliban and other militant groups have become more deadly (AP) as they switched tactically from ambush attacks to suicide bombings, roadside bombs and targeted assassinations. It also warns that the escalated U.S. offensive in Afghanistan, paired with the Taliban’s heightened pre-election efforts, would likely boost the number of casualties even higher.

Analysis
CFR's Stephen Biddle, a member of McChrystal’s strategic assessment group, discusses the group’s process of reviewing U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and says victory will be dependent on improving the capacity of the beleaguered Afghan government.

Background
The Los Angeles Times interviews McChrystal on the assessment of military operations.

A CFR Backgrounder looks at the various groups that make up the Afghan national security forces.

NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman, who recently returned from Afghanistan, considers the factors that made July the deadliest month for U.S. troops since the war began in 2001.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Musharraf Treason Trial Rejected

The Pakistan Supreme Court rejected a petition (Daily Times) to charge former President Pervez Musharraf with treason, saying that decision would have to be made by the parliament. Musharraf and his lawyers failed for a second straight day to appear in court to explain his 2007 decision to invoke emergency rule.

AFRICA: Nigerian Islamic Leader Killed

Mohammed Yusuf, leader of the Nigerian Islamic sect Boko Haram, was shot to death (Vanguard) while trying to escape from police custody, officials said. Hundreds of people have died in five days of fighting between Nigerian government security forces and Boko Haram, which calls for the overthrow of the government and imposition of Islamic law.

Kenya: The Kenyan government says it will not to set up a special local tribunal (Daily Nation) to prosecute those responsible for last year’s post-election violence that killed 1,100 people. Instead, local courts will handle the trials.

Sudan: The U.S. envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, says the country should be removed from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list (WashPost). He said the United States should begin to “unwind” sanctions Sudan faces for being on the list.

MIDEAST: Israel Defends Gaza War

Rejecting accusations of human rights violations, the Israeli government said its military action in Gaza earlier this year was “necessary and appropriate” (Jerusalem Post) in a new 160-page report published by the foreign ministry. The document was released ahead of a UN report on the war that will be published next week.

The Economist considers the prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

CFR.org's interactive Crisis Guide on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict contextualizes the history of the conflict through video and audio analysis, and other multimedia features.

Iran: In the New York Times Magazine, columnist Roger Cohen takes an in-depth look at the shaping of the Obama administration’s policy toward Iran.

PACIFIC RIM: Suu Kyi Verdict Delayed

A Burmese court unexpectedly postponed the verdict (VOA) in the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, announcing there was an unspecified “legal problem” that had to be dealt with first. Her lawyer said the problem might be that Suu Kyi is being charged under the laws of an outdated version of the constitution. A verdict is now expected the second week of August.

North/South Korea: A North Korean patrol boat seized a South Korean fishing boat (Korea Times) that had crossed the maritime border due to a problem with its navigation system, according to South Korean officials. South Korea called for North Korea to release the boat and crew immediately.

AMERICAS: “Cash for Clunkers” in Doubt

The U.S. “cash for clunkers” incentive program has run out of money (Bloomberg) only six days after it was launched to encourage people to trade in old, less fuel-efficient cars for new ones by providing a $4,500 rebate. Lawmakers expected the $1 billion federal program to run until Nov. 1, encouraging the purchase of 250,000 cars.

Bolivia: Iran has agreed to loan the Bolivian government $280 million to help develop Bolivia’s industry and energy sector, MercoPress reports.

EUROPE: ETA Car Bomb

A car bombing on the Spanish island of Mallorca killed two civil guard officers (Euro Weekly News). Officials said Basque separatist group ETA is responsible for the bombing, which comes a day after another attack in the northern city of Burgos injured 46.

A CFR Backgrounder profiles ETA.

UK: A wide-ranging inquiry (BBC) into Britain’s role in the Iraq war began Thursday with its chairman promising to be “thorough, rigorous, fair and frank.” Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed the inquiry’s five-person panel last month.

TRANSNATIONAL: Youth and Disarmament
Johan Bergenäs, a research associate at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, calls for increased youth engagement (World Politics Review) in international efforts for nuclear disarmament because “in the last few years, youth groups have been essential to put the genocide in Darfur and climate change on the political map.”

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