Tuesday, January 5, 2010

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, January 5, 2010

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

January 5, 2010

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- CIA Bomber a Double Agent
- Yemen Embassy Reopens
- Karzai Seeks New Cabinet
- U.S. Adds to No-Fly List

Top of the Agenda: Suicide Bomber's CIA Ties

The suicide bomber who killed seven CIA officers and one Jordanian intelligence official in Afghanistan last week was an al-Qaeda double agent (WashPost). Jordanian intelligence recruited Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi to penetrate al-Qaeda's senior circles in Afghanistan. The attack dealt (NYT) a damaging blow to the agency's efforts against militants in the remote mountains of Afghanistan, destroying an elite team and delaying hope of penetrating al-Qaeda's upper ranks. It also could damage relations between Jordanian and U.S. intelligence agencies.

A U.S. military intelligence officer in Afghanistan, Major General Michael Flynn, sharply criticized the work of U.S. intelligence agencies in the country. In a report issued Monday by the Center for a New American Security, Flynn said (BBC) intelligence agencies were still "unable to answer fundamental questions about the environment in which U.S. and allied forces operate and the people they are trying to protect and persuade." He said U.S. intelligence should focus less on al-Qaeda and the Taliban and look at the larger picture of how Afghanistan operates.

Background:

This CFR meeting with Richard Holbrooke, special representative to the region, looks at U.S.-Afghanistan policy.

Analysis:

CFR's Max Boot says the United States should rethink its policy of turning detainees over to the Afghans, "whose prisons are not exactly run according to Amnesty International standards."

MIDDLE EAST: Yemen Embassy Reopens

The U.S. embassy in Yemen was reopened (Reuters) following a raid near Sana'a that killed two al-Qaeda operatives. Meanwhile, Yemeni officials downplayed (WashPost) its partnership with the United States over fears of political backlash.

Iran: Iran's intelligence agency has named (Tehran Times) sixty foreign foundations and institutions as "agents in a soft war" against Iran. The government also claims (Times) several foreigners "leading a psychological war against the system" were arrested at last week's protests. Iran blocked (BBC) a delegation from the EU's parliament, which planned to meet with opposition members this week.

PACIFIC RIM: Japan's Finance Minister May Quit

Japan's prime minister Yukio Hatoyama asked ailing finance minister Hirohisa Fujii, who is considering resigning for health reasons, to stay on to deal with the country's economic woes. Fujii's health problems have added (Reuters) to the strains on the new Democratic Party-led government as it grapples with deflation, a flagging economy, and massive public debt. Hatoyama said (Bloomberg) Fujii has not decided whether he will remain.

China: The "Great Firewall" went down (UPI) for several hours Monday, allowing web users access to restricted sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Karzai Seeks New Cabinet

President Hamid Karzai ordered (WSJ) parliament to delay its recess in order to vote on his new list of cabinet officials.

Pakistan: One of the five Americans arrested for trying to link up with militant groups said (NYT) they hoped to go to Afghanistan and wage jihad against Western forces but not to commit acts of terror. Pakistani officials said they would seek life sentences under the country's terrorism law.

AFRICA: Nigerians Meet on U.S. Air Rules

National Security Adviser General Sarki Mukhtar summoned (This Day) an emergency security meeting to discuss Nigeria's inclusion on the list of countries whose citizens will receive additional security measures when flying to and from the United States. Nigerian officials consider (Punch) the measures unfair and discriminatory.

Somalia: The UN World Food Program said (NYT) it was suspending deliveries to a million people in the southern part of the country because of a string of threats and attacks, but its efforts in Mogadishu would continue.

AMERICAS: U.S. Adds to No Fly List

The Obama administration moved (WSJ) dozens of names from a large terrorist-watch database to the more closely monitored "no-fly" list in order to fix security holes discovered after the Christmas Day air-bombing attempt. The United States also ended (Times) a 23-year visa ban on HIV-infected visitors.

Cuba: Cuba's decision not to let a Spanish politician enter the country has outraged (LAHT) the Spanish government and comes shortly after Spain called for better relations between the island and the EU.

EUROPE: MI5 Warned of Bomber's Radical Ties

The British government says its intelligence service MI5 warned (Telegraph) U.S. intelligence officials about the Christmas Day bomber's extremist ties more than a year ago.

EU: On his first day in office, President Herman Van Rompuy called (Deutsche-Welle) for an economic summit to be held next month.

Editor's Note: Please note the relaunch of CFR.org's home page, offering improved site navigation, expanded content, and new multimedia options.
 

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