Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 16, 2009

Friday, October 16, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, October 16, 2009

October 16, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Afghanistan expected to hold runoff election
- A suicide bomb kills eleven in Pakistan
- UN Human Rights chief approves Goldstone report
- Five convicted in Australia of terrorist plot

Top of the Agenda: Afghanistan Runoff Elections Expected

Afghanistan is expected to hold a runoff election (WSJ) for the presidency after the United Nations-backed Afghan Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) completed its audit of votes from the August election round on Thursday. Afghanistan's election commission will now subtract the votes that were disqualified by the ECC.

The results, which are expected this weekend, could reject enough votes to jeopardize the needed majority for President Hamid Karzai to avoid a runoff. The Washington Post reports that the ECC tally has reduced Karzai's portion of the vote to about 47 percent, which would trigger a runoff between him and his closest challenger Abdullah Abdullah. Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States Said Tayeb Jawad said he expected a runoff, at a meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace on Thursday in Washington.

Analysis

The Wall Street Journal says either an outright Karzai victory or a runoff will prove difficult, since a Karzai victory could spawn protests and undermine the legitimacy of the Karzai government to the Afghan public. Proving the legitimacy of runoff results and preventing fraud in a second round of voting would also be a major challenge.

The Washington Post says the election committee findings will likely prolong the Obama administration's ongoing debate over its war strategy in Afghanistan, especially if a second round of voting is delayed because of the possibility of low turnout due to harsh winter conditions.

The New York Times reports that President Obama's advisers have been split on whether to announce troop deployments without knowing who would be in charge of the government or wait until the political situation is clearer. The prospect of a power-sharing agreement between Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah further complicates the U.S. decision.

Background

CFR's Stephen Biddle testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services on options before the U.S. in Afghanistan.

An interview with CFR's Bruce Riedel explores the need for quick action by the Obama administration in Afghanistan, as the Taliban and al-Qaeda gain strength.

MIDDLE EAST: Goldstone Report Decision

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has endorsed the Goldstone report (Al Jazeera) on Israel's Gaza war and called for prompt and impartial investigations into the alleged war crimes of both Israelis and Palestinians to rebuild trust in the region. Pillay's decision follows a special meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday to discuss the report's findings.

Iran Nuclear Talks: Iranian officials are taking a "go slow" approach to planned negotiations with world leaders in Vienna on Monday over its nuclear program, Reuters reports. The government plans to send junior officials rather than its nuclear energy chief to the talks and said "Time is on our side," in an effort to lower Western expectations on striking a deal that would stave off harsher sanctions.

PACIFIC RIM: Five Australians Convicted of Terrorist Plot

Five men were convicted (Sidney Morning Herald) Friday of Australia's largest terrorist plot to date, which involved stockpiling bomb-making instructions and buying explosive chemicals. Some of the men had attended terrorist-run training camps to prepare for an attack, according to the jury.

China: The Obama administration said Thursday it was seriously concerned about the value of the Chinese yuan but stopped short of saying (FT) China is manipulating its currency in the U.S. Treasury's semi-annual report on exchange rate policies. U.S. labor groups and legislators have pressured the United States to toughen its stance on the Chinese yuan arguing that undervaluing the currency makes China's exports unfairly cheap.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Slew of Attacks in Pakistan

A suicide car bomb killed eleven people (Dawn) in Peshawar on Friday after a slew of attacks in Pakistan on Thursday targeting high-security zones.

The wave of violence has indicated that the Pakistani Taliban is gaining strength (WashPost), broadening its tactics, and linking to other militant groups.

AFRICA: Guinea Conflict

French nationals have been told to leave Guinea (BBC) due to mounting tensions in the country after troops opened fire on opposition protesters to its military leadership in September and killed an estimated 157 people. The International Criminal Court said on Thursday it would begin investigating the deaths.

Nigeria: Nigeria won a non-permanent seat (All Africa) at the United Nations Security Council after a vote by the General Assembly on Thursday. The country last sat at the Council fifteen years ago.

AMERICAS: U.S. Pay Czar Crackdown

U.S. Treasury Department pay czar Kenneth Feinberg pushed outgoing Bank of America chief executive Kenneth Lewis to give back roughly $1 million received so far this year and the rest of his $1.5 million 2009 salary, the Wall Street Journal reports. The move comes in anticipation of the pay czar's rulings on compensation at the seven financial institutions that received significant federal aid during the financial crisis.

EUROPE: Italy’s Fury over Taliban Claims

Italy's government denied a British newspaper report (BBC) on Thursday that Italian forces paid off the Taliban in 2009 to secure an area of Afghanistan under Italy's control.

France: About one hundred and fifty French farmers blocked the Champs-Elysees avenue (AP) in Paris and set hay on fire around the country on Friday, to protest their economic woes including falling food prices from record highs in 2007.

TRANSNATIONAL: Global Migration and Remittances

The real impact of remittances--money migrants earn living abroad to send back to their homelands-- does not always go to the most needy in poor countries, the Economist reports. But it can help push countries toward greater transparency and institutional development. Dilip Ratha, in a Foreign Affairs article, claims that conditions should be made easier for remittance flows globally.

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

MARKETPLACE

Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their families, for the world and for each other