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

Monday, August 31, 2009

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

August 31, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-Democratic Party victory in Japan.
-Pakistani military shells militants in Swat valley.
-Israel bombs Gaza tunnel; mortars’ fired toward Sderot.
-Italian PM Berlusconi visits Libya.

Top of the Agenda: Democratic Party of Japan Victory

The center-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won a landslide victory (AP) in the country's elections, ending more than half a century of rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The DPJ gained control (Japan Times) over more than 308 of the 480 seats in the parliament's lower house, giving the party a wide majority.

DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama will likely be confirmed (Asahi Shimbun) as the new prime minister by mid-September, replacing Prime Minister Taro Aso, who said he will resign (VOA).

Analysis
In an Expert Brief, CFR's Sheila Smith says the DPJ's rise could test the U.S.-Japan alliance and advises U.S. policymakers to focus on economic and energy-related cooperation.

The Asia Times looks at current Japanese and Chinese perspectives on Japan's invasion of China and other Asian counties during World War II, and the impact of the issue on relations between Japan and China today.

Background
A Backgrounder looks at the DPJ.

The DPJ's election manifesto is available here.

The Washington Post profiles Hatoyama.

Reuters looks at possible candidates for the DPJ finance minister position.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistani Shelling

The Pakistani military said it killed more than thirty militants (Daily Times) in shelling in the northwestern Swat valley. Separately, a suicide attack in Swat (Daily Times) killed at least sixteen volunteer community police.

India: India's space agency has lost all communication (Hindu) with the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, the only Indian satellite orbiting the Moon. India launched the unmanned craft last October in what was meant to be a two-year mission. India has now called off its mission, and says the satellite will not be retrieved.

MIDEAST: Gaza Mortar Fire

At least two mortars were fired from Gaza towards the Israeli town of Sderot, but there were no reported injuries (Ynet). The mortars came a day after Israeli jets bombed a Gaza building housing a tunnel that the Israeli military said Palestinian militants could use to enter Israel.

Olmert: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been indicted in three corruption cases (Haaretz), on charges including accepting bribes, fraud, breach of trust, falsifying documents, and income tax evasion. Olmert's former bureau chief, Shula Zaken, was indicted on similar charges.

PACIFIC RIM: South Koreans Freed

North Korea has freed four South Korean fishermen (Yonhap) and their boat, in the latest sign of easing tensions between the two countries. The men were detained last month for straying into North Korean waters after their navigation system malfunctioned.

Myanmar: The Myanmar army has routed Kokang ethnic rebels in the country's north. The New York Times says the military victory boosts its campaign to "quell armed opposition" before next year's elections and adoption of a new Constitution.

AMERICAS: Cheney on CIA Probe

Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said he might refuse to cooperate (WashPost) with the special investigation of suspected CIA prisoner abuses. Cheney said U.S. President Barack Obama is setting a "terrible precedent" by allowing what he called an "intensely partisan, politicized" probe.

Nuclear Waste: McClatchy looks at concern at nuclear sites around the United States about nuclear waste storage if the proposal to create a storage facility at Yucca Mountain in Nevada is scrapped.

Peru: Some ninety civilian victims of a 1984 massacre have been buried after the discovery last year of a mass grave (BBC) in the town of Putis. Families of the victims say the military carried out the killings in response to the Maoist insurgency led by the Shining Path rebel group.

AFRICA: Gabon Election

Three different candidates are claiming victory (al-Jazeera) in Gabon's presidential elections, which took place on Sunday. No official results have been published. The elections are to replace long-time President Omar Bongo, who died in June of a heart attack.

Sudan: Two members of the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan have reportedly been kidnapped at gunpoint (UN News). The identities nationalities of the victims have not been made public.

EUROPE: Berlusconi Visits Libya

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived in Libya (AFP) for the anniversary of a friendship pact the two countries signed last year. Berlusconi and Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi laid the foundation stone for a 750-mile highway that is planned to run along the entire Libyan coast.

United Kingdom: UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw denied rumors (Guardian) that Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was released in exchange for an oil trade deal. Al-Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal prostate cancer, was released earlier this month on compassionate grounds.

TRANSNATIONAL: Internet Obstacles

The Associated Press looks at barriers to the expansion of the Internet.

EXPLORE CFR'S WEBSITE

Browse Content by

Region

Issue

Publication Type

The Think Tank

For the Media

For Educators

About CFR


		Privacy Policy The Council on Foreign Relations does not share email addresses with third parties. Council on Foreign Relations 58 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 Tel. +1 212.434.9400 Fax: +1 212.434.9800 Learn about this and other newsletters offered by the Council on Foreign Relations. To pause your subscription, to switch between HTML and text-only versions of the newsletter, to change your email address, or to unsubscribe, click here.

Email list management powered by http://MailerMailer.com

__._,_.___

Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

Red Democratica 10 years "On line" (1998-2008)!
Http://reddemocratica.blogspot.com
Boletin Diario :
Http://reddemocratica01.blogspot.com
Foro Debate :
Http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eleccion

Ahora en FACEBOOK : Red Democratica

Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1631/articulos/protesta.phtml
Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1612/articulos/debate.phtml

Celebrando 10 anos "On Line"..2009

Keep the candle burning

I have a dream
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/interactiveFrame.htm

FORUM TPSIPOL: RED DEMOCRATICA (1998-1999).
Informacion : Http://tpsipol.home-page.org

Para enviar un message , enviar a: eleccion@yahoogroups.com
Para suscribirse al Forum , enviar un mensaje a : eleccion-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Para salir del Forum, enviar un mensaje en blanco : eleccion-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com