Thursday, December 31, 2009

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

 

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From the Council on Foreign Relations

December 31, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Deadly Attack on CIA in Afghanistan
- 24 Killed in Iraq Bombing
- Kazakhstan Denies Iran Deal
- Probe on U.S. Security Failures

Top of the Agenda: Deadly Attack on CIA in Afghanistan

U.S. officials say a suicide bomber killed at least eight Americans (BBC) working for the CIA at a base in the southeastern Afghan province of Khost. The attack seemed to be the deadliest event for the agency since the 9/11 attacks. The CIA has steadily increased its presence (NYT) in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the past year. In a separate attack, five Canadian soldiers and a journalist were killed by a road side bomb (CNN) in southern Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Afghan and NATO officials dispute the details of a weekend Afghan-international forces operation in the northeastern province of Kunar. Afghan officials claim international forces killed at least ten Afghan civilians (LAT)-eight of them boys under 18. NATO's International Security Assistance Force stated late Wednesday that there was "no direct evidence to substantiate this claim," backing away from an earlier claim that the dead were all insurgents. The deaths have sparked protests (TimesOnline) in Kabul and Jalalabad demanding foreign forces leave Afghanistan.

Background:
A tally by the Associated Press shows that 304 U.S. service members died (WashPost) in 2009, up from 151 in 2008.

This New York Times report examines whether early U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan were under-manned.

Analysis:
Richard C. Holbrooke, special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, discusses U.S. policy in Afghanistan in this CFR meeting.

MIDDLE EAST: 24 Killed in Iraq Bombing

At least twenty-four people were killed (WashPost) and the governor of Iraq's Anbar province wounded when two bombs detonated outside a provincial government building in Anbar province. Sixty others were also wounded.

Iran: The body of the nephew of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Iran's opposition leader, was quietly buried (Times) Wednesday, while pro-government rallies took place.

CFR's Ray Takeyh says at a time when the Iranian regime appears increasingly vulnerable (WashPost), the "Obama administration should take a cue from Ronald Reagan and persistently challenge the legitimacy of the theocratic state and highlight its human rights abuses."

PACIFIC RIM: Japan Sets Growth Target

In a new economic growth strategy, Japan's government set an annual growth target of 2 percent (Asahi Shimbun) in real terms through 2020. The government hopes to concentrate investment in fields such as environment, health, and tourism to tap underlying demand.

China: Asian stocks experienced the biggest annual gain (Bloomberg) since 2003 as commodity prices rose and China pledged to keep up policies that helped lift the world economy out of recession.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Kazakhstan Denies Iran Deal

Kazakhstan announced it is now the world's biggest uranium miner (FT), overtaking Canada and Australia in a mining sector that has revived because of new interest in nuclear power. The news followed reports that the country was planning to sell 1,350 metric tons of purified uranium to Iran, an allegation both countries denied.

Pakistan: Pakistan has received $1.2 billion (Dawn) in the fourth installment of an aid package from the IMF aimed at boosting the country's depleted reserves, which decreased dangerously due to high petroleum prices in 2008.

AFRICA: Nigeria to Get Body Scanners

Authorities said Nigerian airport security would be upgraded to include "three dimensional Total Body Imaging Scanners" and no person, including crew members, would be allowed to board an aircraft without passing through all aviation security screening formalities.

CFR's John Campbell looks at troubles looming for Nigeria's leadership transition because of the prolonged illness of President Umrau Yar'Adua.

Kenya: Climate change may put another four million people at risk of malaria as temperatures rise (Guardian) on the slopes of Mount Kenya, British government researchers found.

AMERICAS: Probe on U.S. Security Failures

President Barack Obama will receive a report Thursday detailing how government agencies handled and failed to share intelligence (WashPost) about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab before he allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day. Tom Kean, who co-chaired the 9/11 Commission, told Politico the failures were "discouragingly familiar." The Christmas Day incident has led to a war of words (BosGlobe) between former Vice President Dick Cheney and the White House over Obama's terrorism policies.

Cuba: Hope that Obama will significantly improve the U.S.-Cuba relationship appears to be waning (NYT) in Cuba.

EUROPE: German Economic Restructuring

The German economy will need to lay the foundations for a radical restructuring (Spiegel) in 2010 to address overcapacity in its aging industries and defend against powerful competitors from China and India.

EU: Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said his country will take a backstage role (Euractiv) during its run as holder of the six-month rotating EU presidency. He said the EU's first permanent President, and the new High Representative for foreign affairs, will take the lead.

Editor's Note: Please note CFR will not publish the Daily News Brief tomorrow. It will resume publication on January 4, 2010.
 

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