Tuesday, June 29, 2010

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, June 29, 2010

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

June 29, 2010

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- U.S. Cracks Russian Spy Ring
- Iran Sets Nuclear Talk Conditions
- Google Shifts Approach on China
- Protests Rock Greece and Spain

Top of the Agenda: U.S. Cracks Russian Spy Ring

U.S. federal prosecutors alleged eleven people were Russian spies (NYT) living in the United States, sent to gather information on nuclear weapons, U.S. policy toward Iran, and CIA leadership, among other issues. Ten people were arrested in Yonkers, Boston, and northern Virginia on charges that did not include espionage, and another was arrested at the Cyprus airport. The defendants were charged with conspiracy for failing to register as agents of a foreign government, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Nine people were also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of twenty years. They are not accused of obtaining classified materials, and it was not clear what secrets the suspected spy ring actually collected.

The operation was aimed at placing spies in nongovernmental jobs (WashPost), such as at think tanks, where they could glean information from policymakers and Washington-connected insiders without attracting attention.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the U.S. arrests (WSJ) are unfounded and pursued "unseemly" goals. It voiced regret that the arrests came soon after President Barack Obama moved to "reset" U.S. relations with Russia.

Analysis:

In the Moscow Times, Stephen Rademaker says "Russia emphatically has not embraced U.S. President Barack Obama's vision of a world free of nuclear weapons."

In Newsweek, Owen Matthews says the success of Obama's June 24 meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev came "almost exclusively at Obama's expense."

In a recent interview, CFR's Stephen Sestanovich reviewed the prospects for expanding U.S.-Russia economic ties as well as for advancing arms control talks.

MIDDLE EAST: Iran Sets Nuclear Talk Conditions

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said stalled nuclear talks could continue only if (LAT) the United States, Russia, China, and Western Europe included other countries in the discussions, clarified their stance on Israel's undeclared nuclear weapons arsenal, and submitted to the rules of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Sanctions may slow Iran's nuclear drive but won't halt it, says Iran expert Karim Sadjadpour, who calls for shifting to a containment policy that helps "expedite political transformation."

Israel: Israeli factories based in settlements on the West Bank have been forced to cut back production as a growing Palestinian boycott movement (Guardian), endorsed by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, takes hold.

PACIFIC RIM: Google Shifts Approach on China

Google said it will stop automatically rerouting users (AP) of its China search site to its Hong Kong site after China threatened to revoke the company's Internet license.

North Korea: China rejected President Obama's suggestion that it was avoiding the risks posed by North Korea, and said tensions on the Korean peninsula affected China (Reuters) more than the United States.

The Obama administration should mount a more vigorous effort to address North Korea's nuclear weapons program, says Charles L. "Jack" Pritchard, co-chairman of a new CFR Independent Task Force report.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: U.S. Lawmaker Cuts Afghanistan Aid

Chairwoman of the U.S. House subcommittee for foreign aid Nita Lowey said she will strip $3.9 billion in funding for Afghanistan (WSJ) from pending legislation, after discovering U.S. aid funds were exiting Afghanistan through Kabul's main airport. Separately, the Afghan Parliament confirmed five nominees (NYT) for cabinet posts in Afghan President Hamid Karzai's third attempt to fill his twenty-five-member cabinet.

President Obama was wise to replace General Stanley McChrystal as Afghan commander, but he should now mount a thorough review of the costly and uncertain nation-building policy in Afghanistan, writes CFR President Richard N. Haass.

Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva called for prospective candidates in her provisional cabinet to resign, indicating fissures that could rapidly lead to government collapse, reports the Associated Press.

AFRICA: Sudan Closes Border with Libya

Sudan announced it is closing its border with Libya (BBC) to protect travelers from attack by Darfur rebels until border-area security forces are reorganized.

Madagascar: Madagascar indefinitely postponed its August 12 referendum on a new constitution (Reuters)--the first concrete step toward holding elections--because the charter is not ready.

AMERICAS: Mexican Gubernatorial Candidate Assassinated

Leading Mexican gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo Torre was killed (WSJ) in a Mexican state bordering Texas, indicating an escalation of drug traffickers' war against the Mexican state.

Brazil: Brazil's credit rating outlook (MercoPress) was boosted to positive (or BBB-, the lowest investment-grade rating) from stable by Fitch Ratings due to the country's good "growth dynamics" and "prudent" policies.

EUROPE: Protests Rock Greece and Spain

Greek unions staged their fifth major strike (Reuters) this year, disrupting tourism and public transport, protesting planned pension cuts and later retirement. Meanwhile, Spanish workers shut down Madrid's metro system in protest of a 5 percent public sector pay cut.
 

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