[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, February 22, 2010

 

February 22, 2010 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Afghanistan Airstrike Kills 27 Civilians - Iran to Build More Nuclear Plants - U.S. Seeks Author of Chinese Cyberattack - Lufthansa Strikes Disrupt Global Travel Top of the Agenda: Afghanistan Airstrike Kills Civilians A NATO airstrike killed at least twenty-seven civilians (WSJ) in southern Afghanistan, as allied forces continue fighting the Taliban in Marja and attempting to win civilians' trust. The airstrike hit a group of minibuses carrying women and children near the border between Uruzgan and Daykundi provinces, hundreds of miles from Marja. NATO forces believed the minibuses were carrying insurgents preparing to attack Afghan and NATO troops but instead found women and children after the attack. The Taliban have long used civilian casualties to stoke anger among Afghans, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly criticized NATO for killing civilians. U.S.-NATO commander General Stanley A. McChrystal apologized to Karzai (NYT) and ordered an investigation into what happened. The real goals in Marja are to convince Americans that U.S.-NATO forces have control over the Afghan Taliban and to show Afghans that U.S. forces and the Afghan government can protect them from the Taliban, reports the Washington Post. Analysis: A Times of London editorial says NATO needs to show more commitment to Afghanistan, following news that Dutch troops will leave Afghanistan in August. In this interview, CFR's Max Boot says the offensive in Marja is an important part of the "hold-and-build" strategy to extend Afghan government control into restive provinces. Background: Read the January 2010 U.S. State Department's Afghanistan and Pakistan Regional Stabilization Strategy. MIDDLE EAST: Iran to Build More Nuclear Plants The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi said (NYT) his country planned to build ten more nuclear enrichment plants, two of them within the next year. Separately, Israel's air force unveiled a fleet (al-Jazeera) of unmanned aircraft it says can reach the Gulf, particularly Iran. Iraq: Top Sunni Arab lawmaker Saleh al-Mutlaq, banned from running in Iraq's March election, withdrew his party from the campaign (AP) and encouraged other groups to join the boycott. PACIFIC RIM: U.S.-China Cyberdispute U.S. analysts believe they identified (FT) the Chinese author of the programming code used in the alleged state-sponsored cyberattacks on Google, after the spyware was traced to two Chinese educational institutions. Myanmar: UN Envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana ended a five-day visit to Myanmar after pushing for more human rights (CSMonitor) and said he "deeply regretted" not being allowed to see famous detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistan Bombing A car bomb attack in Mingora, the main town of Pakistan's Swat valley, killed at least six people (Dawn) and injured twelve others Monday. AFRICA: Niger Coup Niger's military plans to run the country (Reuters) until politicians agree on a new constitution and prepare for fresh elections, according to West Africa's regional mediator. South Africa: South Africa's plan for new Bus Rapid Transit systems in major cities promises to ease the legacy of apartheid (NYT) by providing affordable, dignified travel in high speed, bus-only lanes. AMERICAS: Obama Healthcare Plan U.S. President Barack Obama will propose (NYT) giving the federal government new power to block excessive rate increases by insurers as part of his healthcare legislation. Falklands: A British oil rig is expected to begin drilling (BBC) off the coast of the Falkland Islands, despite strong opposition from Argentina. EUROPE: Hamas Assassination At a meeting in Brussels, EU foreign ministers plan to release a joint statement (DeutscheWelle) condemning the use of false European passports in the killing of a Hamas official in Dubai last month. Germany: Roughly eight hundred flights have been cancelled (MarketWatch) due to labor strikes at Europe's third-largest transatlantic airline Lufthansa over pay increases and pilot contracts. TRANSNATIONAL: Global E-Waste Threat A new UN report (al-Jazeera) warns of the growing global threat of "e-waste" posed by discarded electronics such as computers and mobile phones, particularly in China and India.

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