Thursday, December 3, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily News Brief, December 3, 2009

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

December 3, 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-Afghanistan and Pakistan react to Obama's new Afghan plan.
-China sentences five more to death for July riots.
-Honduran Congress votes against reinstating ousted Zelaya.
-Italy to send one thousand additional troops to Afghanistan.

Top of the Agenda: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Obama’s Afghan Plan

In the wake of U.S. President Barack Obama's speech on a new strategy on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan are increasingly wary of what the plan means for them. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the government welcomed Obama's "reaffirmation of partnership" but stressed the "need for clarity" (WashPost) about the new U.S. policy. Washington's partnership with Pakistan remains fragile, as Pakistani officials have long been accused of fighting violent extremists who oppose the Pakistani state but ignoring or assisting those attacking targets across the border in Afghanistan. Pakistan is under pressure to eliminate al-Qaeda sanctuaries on their side of the border while also focusing on the country's own military campaign against the Pakistani Taliban, which is engaged in domestic attacks. The country is also wary of U.S. ties with India, its rival.

Pakistan has raised further concerns that an influx of soldiers into Afghanistan could push militants over the border (Dawn), further destabilizing the region.

In Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the only minister to comment on Obama's speech, questioned the announcement (NYT) that American troops could begin leaving in eighteen months. "Can we do it?" he said. "This is not done in a moment. It is a process."

Analysis

In the Times of London, Clare Lockhart says Obama has given a credible vision for ending the war, providing a security bridge while training Afghan forces and allowing Afghanistan to ultimately focus on educating its youth.

In the Wall Street Journal, Eliot Cohen says Obama's decision to send only thirty thousand troops leaves the president vulnerable to being "stiffed" by the allies he is counting on to send ten thousand more.

In the Los Angeles Times, Andrew J. Bacevich says Obama should show courage and know when to "cut your losses," rather than trying to salvage the Bush policy in Afghanistan.

In the Los Angeles Times, CFR's Max Boot questions whether U.S. troops will have enough time and resources for Obama's plan to work.

In this CFR interview, five experts analyze President Obama's approach in laying out a strategy he says will turn the tides in the faltering Afghan war effort.

On the Daily Beast, CFR's Leslie Gelb says Obama's new plan "offers some promise of success" and that Americans have no choice but to support it.

Background

A CFR Backgrounder examines the troubled Afghan-Pakistani border.

MIDDLE EAST: Iraqi Election Law

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi is expected to announce whether he will accept or veto (al-Jazeera) an amended version of the country's election law after rejecting the first version for not giving Iraqis living abroad enough voice.

In a CFR Expert Brief, Rachel Schneller says Iraqi political factions should be given time to sort out their power-sharing rules rather than be rushed into elections in January 2010, a date pegged to U.S. troop withdrawals.

Syria: An explosion in Damascus (Guardian) killed at least five people on a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims in the Syrian capital. Syrian authorities say the incident was not a terrorist attack.

PACIFIC RIM: China Death Sentences

China sentenced five more people (GlobalTimes) to death Thursday for involvement in the Xinjiang July riots; Nine people have been executed so far for their involvement.

Philippines: Philippine journalist groups say they may ask the United Nations (Reuters) to intervene in a probe of the massacre of fifty-seven people in a suspected clan dispute due to concerns about the integrity of the current police probe.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Indian Chemical Disaster Anniversary

Hundreds of residents of the Indian city of Bhopal gathered to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary (al-Jazeera) of a deadly chemical leak by a U.S. chemical company, as activists said tens of thousands of Bhopal residents still suffer chronic illnesses related to the disaster.

AFRICA: Algerian Investment

Algeria is implementing a new investment strategy (Reuters) to promote domestic industry by setting caps on foreigners' shareholdings, an Algerian business group leader says.

AMERICAS: Honduran Political Crisis

As part of a U.S.-Organization of American States deal, Honduras' Congress voted against reinstating (MercoPress) ousted president Manuel Zelaya, making opposition conservative candidate Porfirio Lobo president as of January 2010.

United States: U.S. President Barack Obama opens a high-profile jobs summit (WashPost) Thursday, inviting 130 corporate executives, small-business owners, and union leaders to the White House to hear ideas on how to accelerate job growth.

EUROPE: Italy’s Afghan Troops

Italy will send roughly one thousand additional troops (BBC) to Afghanistan in support of the U.S. troop surge.

EU: The European Union's finance ministers struck a deal (FT) to establish three new pan-European watchdogs to oversee the financial services industry, to be based in Paris, London, and Frankfurt.
 

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

__._,_.___
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
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)