Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 15, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 15, 2009

October 15, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Militant attacks on Pakistan continue
- Obama seeks stronger military ties with China
- The Dow Jones reaches landmark ten thousand
- U.K. government forces pay reform on foreign banks

Top of the Agenda: Pakistan Attacks Accelerate

Gunmen attacked three security sites Thursday in the Pakistani city of Lahore, and a suicide bomber blew up part of a police station in the northwestern city of Kohat in a streak of escalating violence (WashPost) there. Thirty-seven people died from the four attacks, according to wire services.

In Lahore, ten militants in three separate attacks stormed a Federal Investigation Agency building (WSJ), an Elite Force police center used for anti-terrorist training, and a police academy. The attacks came in response to the planned offensive into the militant stronghold of South Waziristan and demonstrated the sophistication of militants (Dawn) to carry out coordinated strikes against secured facilities despite heightened security across the country. All militants involved in the Lahore attacks were eventually killed (News International).

According to private TV news channel GEO News, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility (WSJ) for the Lahore attacks.

Analysis

The Associated Press says the attacks underscore the growing threat of the Punjab province next to India, where the Taliban are believed to have paired up with local insurgents.

In a Washington Post op-ed, CFR's Richard Haass says a stable Pakistan is essential to a successful U.S. strategy on Afghanistan and that U.S. efforts should aim for Pakistan to exercise total control over terrorists within its borders.

Background

A CFR backgrounder on discusses Pakistan's weak political institutions.

A CFR interactive timeline explores the history of U.S.-Pakistan relations.

MIDDLE EAST: Goldstone Report

The United Nations Human Rights Council's hearings on the Goldstone report, which found that Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the Gaza war in January this year, begin Thursday. Haaretz reports that the Palestinian Authority and Arab states have said a failure to adopt the report and its recommendations would bring down Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's government.

PACIFIC RIM: U.S.-China Military Ties

U.S. President Barack Obama hopes to strengthen relations with China's military during his first trip to China next month, due to concerns that China's rapidly modernizing forces may bump up against U.S. forces without formal agreements, the Washington Post reports.

The White House hopes to allay Chinese fears about the United States selling weapons to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

South Korea: The European Union and South Korea have signed a trade deal (BBC) that would remove duties for exports to South Korea and is worth up to $28 billion. The agreement would help fight the economic downturn and create new jobs, according to EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: U.S. Troop Surge in Afghanistan

In a trip to Afghanistan on Thursday, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry said he was "wary" of increasing U.S. troops in the region (Al-Jazeera) after talks with U.S. General Stanley McChrystal.

McChrystal has requested at least forty thousand more troops to be deployed to Afghanistan.

Separately, the Washington Post reports that President Obama's war council meeting on Wednesday focused on civilian efforts to cultivate Afghan leaders and institutions, rather than military capability.

AFRICA: Zimbabwean Opposition Leader Imprisoned

Zimbabwean opposition leader Roy Bennett, who was supposed to serve in the country's coalition government with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, was sent to prison on Wednesday and indicted on terrorism charges (NYT).

Mugabe said last month that he would swear in Mr. Bennett as a deputy minister if he was acquitted.

Climate Change: African countries at the Pan African Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change agreed to speak in "one voice" (All Africa) when demanding from rich nations to take more responsibilities in fighting global warming. The leaders decided to insist on a compensation deal as a precondition for negotiations on climate in Copenhagen in December.

AMERICAS: Stock Market Recovery

The Dow Jones Industrial Average broke ten thousand (WSJ) on Wednesday marking a 53 percent gain in seven months. Reaction to the surge was muted due to investors' lack of trust and anxiety about the state of financial markets over the past year. Analysts say the market is also no higher than it was ten years ago.

Honduras: Reports of progress on negotiations over the political standoff between ousted Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya and defacto leader Roberto Micheletti were mixed (NYT) after initial reports of a deal on Wednesday.

EUROPE: U.K. Bank Reform

Eleven foreign banks including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and UBS agreed to charge their pay practices (WSJ) after threats from the British government of losing its business if they did not comply.

Stemming banker pay has been a key reform for U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labor party, which faces elections soon.

Russia-U.S. Talks: The BBC reports that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Russian leaders agreed in private talks that they were ready to act against Iran if diplomacy on its nuclear program failed. On Tuesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said sanctions against the country would be "counter-productive."

Turkey: European officials warned Turkey (NYT) on Wednesday about hindering freedom of expression as part of its annual progress report on joining the European Union. The European enlargement commission criticized tax fines on the country's biggest media conglomerate, which has been critical of Turkey's governing party, as well as legal actions against journalists and writers.

TRANSNATIONAL

A United Nations Food Agency reports that world hunger is worsening (WSJ) due to declining aid and investment in agriculture.

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