Tuesday, January 19, 2010

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, January 19, 2010

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

January 19, 2010

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Relief Efforts Ramp Up in Haiti
- Afghanistan on High Alert After Attacks
- Religious Violence Erupts in Nigeria
- Kraft Strikes Deal to Buy Cadbury

Top of the Agenda: Relief Efforts Ramp Up in Haiti

The United States and other countries are ramping up (WSJ) a sluggish relief effort in Haiti as Haitians struggle to defend their food, water, and possessions against looters. The number of U.S. troops in Haiti is expected to reach roughly ten thousand by midweek to help transport supplies, increase security, and clear away debris, but the slow pace of aid has revealed a persistent lack of international coordination in disaster response. After disorganized aid efforts during the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the United Nations formed a rapid response system to coordinate its agencies' work with nonprofits. The UN also created a database to track assistance in order to avoid duplication and a special emergency-relief fund, which released $10 million within twenty-four hours of the Haitian quake. The system has helped prevent chaos, though it is at times unclear who is in charge: the U.S. military, which controls the main airport, or the UN, which is overseeing the relief efforts.

There is concern that unless the delivery of aid quickens, mass violence could ensue (WashPost) as hundreds of thousands of people compete for scarce food, water, and electricity. Many Haitians are asking U.S. Marines for protection but troops have been slow to arrive because of air traffic problems at the overburdened airport, U.S. officials say.

U.S. Homeland Security and Defense Department officials have initiated a campaign to persuade (NYT) Haitians against a mass exodus to South Florida.

Analysis:

On a Wall Street Journal blog, Iain Martin says the world is blaming the United States in foreign officials' statements, articles, and cartoons for mishandling Haiti's relief efforts but that the United States is "damned if it does try to lead in these situations and damned if it doesn't."

On Forbes.com, Laura Freschi says the relief efforts should emphasize local first responders and medical volunteers, and governments' decisions should not be influenced by media or political pressure.

In this CFR Expert Brief, Kara McDonald says Haiti's earthquake lays bare woeful political and economic dysfunctions, but in the global disaster response, there is a chance to get aid right.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Afghanistan Taliban Attack

Afghanistan's government ramped up security measures a day after the Taliban launched a coordinated attack (al-Jazeera) on key government buildings in Kabul, attempting to disrupt the swearing-in of new cabinet ministers. Separately, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates tentatively welcomed (Quqnoos) a plan by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government to launch a new bid at making peace with the Taliban.

Pakistan: The five American Muslim men who were arrested last month in Pakistan for suspected terrorist plotting said in court that they were being tortured (NYT) in custody.

MIDDLE EAST: Iran-UK Ties

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says the country is reevaluating (al-Jazeera) its ties with Britain due to the UK's alleged fueling of post-election turmoil in Iran and attempts to destabilize its nuclear program.

In this CFR interview, Ali Ansari, director of the Institute of Iran Studies at the University of St. Andrews, says any new sanctions on Iran should be geared so that the Iranian government, not the West, is blamed for any economic hardships.

Yemen: The Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula denies (CMS) that airstrikes ordered by the Yemeni government last week killed its leader Qassim al-Raimi and five other top militants.

PACIFIC RIM: Japan Airlines Bankruptcy

Japan Airlines, Asia's biggest carrier, filed for bankruptcy (JapanTimes) protection and is expecting massive job cuts.

China: Google is investigating (WSJ) whether its China staff helped hackers in a major cyberattack against it as the company mulls whether to leave the country. The company postponed (SMH) its planned launch of a mobile phone in China.

AFRICA: Nigerian Riots

Several thousand Nigerians have been displaced in sectarian clashes (IRIN) in central Nigeria's Jos, killing twenty-six people and injuring three hundred others. Separately, the Nigerian senate leadership says it opposes (DailyIndependent) the impeachment of President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Guinea: Guinea's political parties agreed (allAfrica) to a unity government led by opposition leader Jean-Marie Dore as prime minister, who will oversee a return to civilian rule and elections within six months.

AMERICAS: Massachusetts Senate Race

Massachusetts's Senate election could sway (WashPost) the outcome of U.S. healthcare reform and the upcoming midterm elections for Democrats and Republicans.

Chile: CFR's Shannon O'Neil calls Sunday's victory in Chile's presidential race by right-leaning candidate Sebastián Piñera "one of the transformative political moments in Latin America in recent years."

EUROPE: Cadbury-Kraft Deal

Britain's most famous candy company will be sold (WSJ) to U.S. food maker Kraft for $19.44 billion, giving Kraft access to fast-growing developing markets such as India and Brazil.

EU: The European Union and Iraq signed (DeutscheWelle) a strategic energy agreement, as Europe attempts to reduce its dependence on Russia for energy.
 

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