IRAQ

US, Iraqi Forces Meet No Resistance - Sam Dagher, Christian Science Monitor

In recent months, Moqtada al-Sadr's forces have fiercely battled Iraqi and US troops in Basra and Sadr City. But this time, in the southern Iraqi city of Amara, the Shiite cleric ordered a tactical retreat. A major Iraqi-US mission to clear Mr. Sadr's Mahdi Army out of one of its last supposed sanctuaries began here late last week but was met with no resistance.

Bomber Kills at Least 15 in Iraq - Ernesto Londoño, Washington Post

A female suicide bomber killed at least 15 people, including several police officers, and wounded scores Sunday in an attack in front of a government building in Diyala province, Iraqi and US officials said. It was the second time this year that a suicide bomber, apparently intent on killing police officers, attacked the busy downtown area of the provincial capital, Baqubah, about 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.

Female Suicide Bomber Kills 15 - Richard Oppel Jr., New York Times

The latest in a wave of female suicide bombers killed 15 people and wounded more than 40 others on Sunday near a heavily fortified courthouse and government outpost in central Baquba, Iraqi security officials said. Seven of the dead and 10 of the wounded were Iraqi policemen. The bomber wore billowing clothes that concealed a vest padded with powerful explosives and laced with small projectiles - apparently iron ball bearings, the officials said. The magnitude of the blast immediately raised questions about the sophistication of the bomb, which witnesses described as unusually strong.

5 British Hostages 'Are Still Alive' - James Hider, Times of London

Five British hostages who were kidnapped from a Baghdad ministry 14 months ago are alive, a senior Iraqi official said yesterday, hinting that security forces may be closing in on their location. “We have a very good, strong intelligence telling us they are alive, and we roughly know the area where they are,” Mowaffak al-Rubaie, the Iraqi national security adviser, told the BBC. “But we don’t want to be aggressive in our approach, not to risk their lives.”

Bush Negotiations With Iraq - Philadelphia Inquirer editorial

The last thing most Americans want to see is the Bush administration enter into a binding agreement that defines this country's future relationship with Iraq. The US economy and the administration's inept handling of the Iraq war have the public so upset that the Republican Party is worried it will lose not only the presidency, but many seats in Congress. Yet, President Bush unblinkingly continues talks with Baghdad to enter into what for all intents and purposes is a treaty with Iraq. He dare not call it a treaty, though, because that requires congressional approval. There are two documents involved. One, a "status of forces agreement" (SOFA), mainly applies to the military and traditionally has not needed the approval of Congress. About 100 SOFAs are in effect now, with countries such as Japan. But the second document, a "framework" agreement, is different. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in November signed a preliminary framework called the "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship Between the Republic of Iraq and the US."

Appeal From Abroad - Washington Post editorial

Shawqi Ahmed Omar, a US citizen, has been held by the Multinational Force in Iraq on charges that he violated Iraqi criminal law. Mohammad Munaf, too, is a US citizen and has been held by the multinational force under similar circumstances since 2005. Both men went to court to argue that, although the multinational force was authorized by the United Nations, they have the legal right to challenge their detention by filing a writ of habeas corpus in US federal court, because the force is essentially controlled by the United States. The men also wanted a federal court to prevent the United States from transferring them into Iraqi custody. A unanimous Supreme Court hit a reasonable balance June 12 by ruling that Mr. Omar and Mr. Munaf have the right to file habeas corpus petitions but that they should not prevail in their quest to be released. The court concluded that US citizens held overseas by "American forces operating subject to an American chain of command" are entitled to challenge their detentions in a US federal court, even when those American forces are "acting as part of a multinational coalition." We would have given more credence to the fact that the multinational force is a distinct, UN-sanctioned entity and not subject to federal court intervention. But we agree with the court's conclusion that Mr. Omar and Mr. Munaf had no legitimate legal basis to win release.

Time to Define US Presence - Trudy Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer opinion

Last week, I wrote about an issue that is just under the radar in the election campaign, but is bound to ignite soon. I refer to the question of whether the United States should sign a status of forces agreement (SOFA) with Iraq before President Bush leaves office. Such an agreement would define the future role of US forces in that country. The United Nations mandate authorizing that presence expires at the end of 2008. Democrats fear a SOFA would tie the hands of the next president on troop withdrawals, and they are gearing up to oppose it. I'd argue that it's in the interest of Barack Obama that an agreement be signed this year. First reports about this SOFA raised hackles in Washington and Baghdad. Rumors swirled about US requests to authorize 58 bases, along with immunity for US contractors such as the notorious Blackwater. (The United States has SOFAs with more than 80 countries, but none this fraught.)

Iraqis Now Know the Real Enemy - Kevin Ferris, Philadelphia Inquirer opinion

As I rewatched the movie Obsession - Radical Islam's War Against the West recently, a few things jumped out, including these quotes from various Arab media outlets: "America is the foremost enemy of the Muslim nation . . ." "They have come to fight the people of Iraq . . ." "The Americans must understand that when they attack the holy places, they attack all the Muslims of the world." The film also showed propaganda videos from Iran, which included shots of U.S. forces kicking in doors, missiles being launched, Arab children crying, Muslims running with their wounded. Interspersed throughout were images of a smiling President Bush. None of this was particularly original. What stood out, though, was the realization that since this movie was released in 2006, the United States had actually increased troop levels in Iraq, had redoubled efforts to rout al-Qaeda there. If anything, Bush had given propagandists more fuel to inflame the anti-American Arab street. The result? Rather than our forces' driving Iraqis into the arms of the radicals, the reverse happened.

Shortchanging of Iraqi Refugees - Morton Abramowitz, Los Angeles Times opinion

What of today's fleeing Iraqi citizens? Our war has displaced 4 million Iraqis since 2003, including 2 million now living beyond its borders in tough conditions. Yet we have allowed this vast, potentially destabilizing refugee burden to be borne mostly by Syria and Jordan. We have provided some aid to host countries but none to Syria, and we have allowed only a trickle of Iraqis (fewer than 10,000 so far) to resettle in the US -- far fewer than have been taken in by Sweden. For five years, the US has failed to make Iraq's refugee exodus a focus of national or international attention. The US has allowed the crisis to be managed by concerned but second-tier American officials, and it has been slow to provide financial assistance. This year's aid, the most generous so far, will surpass $200 million -- but it is still only a quarter of what is needed, relief agencies say. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees complained last month that he would run out of funds in August.

Someone Else’s Alex - William Kristol, New York Times opinion

The people at MoveOn.org have a new Iraq ad that is, if they do say so themselves, their most effective ever. Then again, for the group that brought us the “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” ad last September, that might not be saying much. Nevertheless, the organization boasts on its Web site, “This isn’t your average political ad - it lays out the truth about McCain’s Iraq policy in a personal and compelling way.” MoveOn also claims, “We just got the results back and polling shows that voters found it to be more persuasive than any other ad we’ve tested before.” I’m not persuaded. Having slandered a distinguished general officer, MoveOn has now moved on to express contempt for all who might choose to serve their country in uniform.

AFGHANISTAN / PAKISTAN TRIBAL AREAS

Routing of Fighters Brings Anxious Calm - Candace Rondeaux, Washington Post

A tense quiet has settled here in Afghanistan's second-largest city, a little more than a week after hundreds of Taliban fighters mounted a dramatic prison break, then briefly took control of several villages in the area. In the lush fruit-growing district of Arghandab, about 12 miles northwest of Kandahar, NATO and Afghan troops patrol the villages that fell under Taliban control when insurgents launched an offensive there last Monday after the prison attack. The troops have largely rid the district of insurgents, but hundreds of residents remain with relatives and friends in Kandahar while soldiers remove mines laid by the insurgents.

NATO: 6,000 Additional Troops Urgently Needed - Reuters

Up to 6,000 additional troops are urgently needed in Afghanistan and a failure to deploy them will only prolong the presence of Western forces in the country, a German NATO general said on Sunday. Egon Ramms told public radio station Deutschlandfunk that alliance members would end up paying a price later if they did not boost troop numbers now. "We are talking about a total of 5,000, 6,000 soldiers," Ramms said. "We need these soldiers now, very soon, because we need to hold specific areas, we need to win over Afghanistan's citizens and because at some point, in 2010, 2011 or 2012 we will want to hand over responsibility to Afghan forces.

NATO Returns Fire After Attack From Pakistan - Associated Press

Militants in Pakistan fired rockets at NATO bases across the border in Afghanistan, killing three children in a village and prompting the alliance to launch a pair of retaliatory artillery strikes, officials said Sunday. The clashes could heighten diplomatic tension over Pakistan's inability to stop Islamic militants from operating from its territory -- and whether forces in Afghanistan have the right to strike back. NATO said five rockets were fired at one of its bases in Khost province overnight. At least one hit a house in Kunday, a small village which sits between two military bases, killing the three children. Another hit a NATO base, injuring an Afghan man.

Rockets from Pakistan Kill Afghan Woman, 3 Children - Reuters

Rockets fired from Pakistan hit a village in eastern Afghanistan killing a woman and three children, Afghan officials said on Sunday, one of three cross-border attacks around the same time overnight. Tension has mounted between the neighbors, with Pakistan saying 11 of its soldiers were killed in an airstrike by US forces operating from Afghanistan on June 10. Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatened five days later to send troops across the frontier to hunt down Taliban militants based in Pakistan. Rockets launched from about 300 meters (yards) inside Pakistani territory landed in a village near the eastern town of Khost on Saturday, close to a large NATO base, killing a woman and three children, provincial governor Arsala Jamal said. Eight people were wounded in the attack, most of them women.

Militants Abduct 17 Police in Pakistan's Khyber Pass - Reuters

Suspected pro-Taliban Militants kidnapped 17 Pakistani policemen from posts on the road through the Khyber Pass, the latest insecurity on the vital supply route for Western forces in Afghanistan. Militants attacked four checkposts on the winding road through the pass that leads to the Afghan border on Sunday night, kidnapping the policemen and wounding one in a brief exchange of fire, a senior government official in the region said.

IRAN

Nuclear Chief Warns of 'Ball of Fire' - Associated Press

The UN nuclear watchdog chief yesterday predicted that any military strike on Iran could turn the Middle East into a "ball of fire" and lead Iran to a more aggressive stance on its controversial nuclear program. The comments by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei came in an interview with an Arab television station, a day after US officials said they believed recent large Israeli military exercises might have been meant to show Israel's ability to hit Iran's nuclear sites. "In my opinion, a military strike will be the worst. It will turn the Middle East to a ball of fire," Mr ElBaradei said on Al-Arabiya television.

Israel on the Iran Brink - Wall Street Journal editorial

Israel isn't famous for welcoming public scrutiny of its most sensitive military plans. But we doubt Jerusalem officials were dismayed to see news of their recent air force exercises splashed over the front pages of the Western press. Those exercises – reportedly involving about 100 fighters, tactical bombers, refueling planes and rescue helicopters – were conducted about 900 miles west of Israel's shores in the Mediterranean. Iran's nuclear facilities at Bushehr, Isfahan and Natanz all fall roughly within the same radius, albeit in the opposite direction. The point was not lost on Tehran, which promptly warned of "strong blows" in the event of a pre-emptive Israeli attack. The more important question is whether the meaning of Israel's exercise registered in Western capitals.

Toehold in Tehran? - Fred Hiatt, Washington Post opinion

A smart idea to shake up US policy and reach out to the Iranian people is being debated in Washington, but the debate isn't taking place within or between the presidential campaigns. It's going on inside the Bush administration. Senior officials at the State Department and beyond are mulling a proposal to open an interest section in Tehran, similar to the one the United States has operated in Havana since 1977. This would fall short of full diplomatic recognition, but it would open a channel to the Iranian people and, maybe, eventually, to the regime as well.

THE LONG WAR

Terror Warning System 'Useless' - Cameron Stewart, The Australian

Thousands of large ships entering Australian waters and ports each year have been fitted with anti-terror warning systems that are useless in preventing acts of terrorism. The revelation casts doubt on whether Australian authorities would receive sufficient warning of a terrorist incident involving a ship near major ports and population centres. The first global study into the effectiveness of mandatory anti-terror systems installed on merchant ships in the wake of the September 11, 2001, US terror attacks has concluded that they are "a complete waste of resources".

Don't Close Gitmo - Kyndra Rotunda, Washington Times opinion

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain don't agree on much. But they have reached common ground on Guantanamo Bay. Both declare that, if elected, they will close Gitmo. But, what will the United States do with the 200-plus suspected terrorists held there? Neither candidate seems to have an answer to that important question. The United States should follow the Geneva Conventions by keeping Gitmo open and holding detainees there until the end of the war. It isn't just what the law requires - it is the only answer that makes sense. Keeping them in Gitmo, where there is continuing international oversight, is best for the detainees and for the United States.

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Review: U.S. Embassies Still Not Secure - Matthew Lee, Associated Press

Despite an intensive $4 billion drive to protect US embassies against violence, at least 150 American missions abroad still fall short of security standards put in place after deadly bombings, the Associated Press has learned. And it will cost twice that amount to replace or renovate just the most vulnerable of them, according to documents reviewed by the AP.

US STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION

US TV Station Fails to Find Niche - Craig Whitlock, Washington Post

Al-Hurra -- "the Free One" in Arabic -- is the centerpiece of a US government campaign to spread democracy in the Middle East. Taxpayers have spent $350 million on the project. But more than four years after it began broadcasting, the station is widely regarded as a flop in the Arab world, where it has struggled to attract viewers and overcome skepticism about its mission. Propaganda has become a primary front in the war against terrorism, with the United States and al-Qaeda each investing heavily to win over hearts and minds. This article examines one aspect of the US effort to influence people through the airwaves. Tomorrow, another will look at al-Qaeda's online propaganda campaign.

AFRICA

Tsvangirai Pulls Out of Runoff - Bearak and Dugger, New York Times

The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition party withdrew Sunday from a presidential runoff, just five days before it was to be held, saying he could neither participate “in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process,” nor ask his voters to risk their lives in the face of threats from forces backing President Robert Mugabe. The opposition candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, the standard-bearer of the Movement for Democratic Change, said at a news conference in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, that his party was facing a war rather than an election, “and we will not be part of that war.”

Mugabe Gets a Free Run - Philp and Raath, Times of London

Bruised, bloodied and bowed, the Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from Friday’s presidential run-off election and called on the world to “intervene and stop the genocide” in Zimbabwe. His decision, announced hours after thousands of ruling party militiamen stormed the venue where Mr Tsvangirai had planned to hold his main rally, grants unopposed victory to Robert Mugabe, who has sworn to rule Zimbabwe until he dies.

Zimbabwe Opposition Candidate Drops Out - Washington Post

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew Sunday from Zimbabwe's presidential runoff election under the might of a vicious campaign of political violence by President Robert Mugabe, saying that "we cannot stand there and watch people being killed for the sake of power." Tsvangirai's decision ends an electrifying challenge to Mugabe, who over 28 years has led his once-bountiful country into economic ruin, then unleashed an onslaught of state-sponsored torture, beatings and killings after he lost the first round of voting in March. Election officials deemed a runoff necessary because neither candidate got a majority of votes, and they set the date for Friday.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe to go Through with Runoff - Associated Press

It will be an election with no opponent and little hope of endorsement from even traditional allies. But President Robert Mugabe appears determined to go through with a runoff later this week, and to extend his nearly three decades in power for as long as he can. On Sunday, opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the two-man race. Tsvangirai said his party had been the target of so much brutality meted out by Mugabe's police, soldiers and militant loyalists that the run-off was a sham. But Mugabe's information minister said the vote would go ahead Friday.

Zimbabwe Elections Take High Human Toll - Associated Press

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Sunday that his decision to withdraw from this week's presidential runoff was motivated by the "orgy of violence" including rape, torture, murder and abductions by ruling party militants. The violence and intimidation that have caused terror in rural areas erupted in full view of international election observers in the capital Sunday, when thousands of President Robert Mugabe's feared youth brigades went on a rampage to prevent the opposition from holding a rally.

Collapse No Longer Question - Richard Beeston, Times of London opinion

For a man who has battled for nearly a decade to become President of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai's decision to pull out of the race against Robert Mugabe only days before polling must have been the toughest of his career. The former union boss has suffered arrest and beatings at the hands of his rival. His supporters have been murdered, arrested and tortured. Many wanted him to continue the fight until election day on Friday, but he reached the conclusion that staying in the presidential race would only lead to more bloodshed. As Mr Mugabe has made clear in both words and deeds over the past week, the outcome of the vote was never in doubt. A clear majority of Zimbabweans may want him out, but there is not much that the civilian population can do against the combined might of the Zanu (PF) militia and the security forces, not to mention the electoral authorities, which have still not given a full account of the last vote. In Mr Mugabe's own words, “only God” could remove him from office.

A Test for African Leaders - Barry Cohen, The Australian opinion

There were only two possible results at Friday's scheduled election in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe and his thugs would rig it and Mugabe would win or Morgan Tsvangirai would win and there would be war. Last night Tsvangirai quit, saying the vote could not be free and fair. The tyrant responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of his countrymen and the plight of millions of refugees will continue to torture, starve and murder anyone that opposes his will. God alone, he tells us, will end his reign. And the world's reaction? There'll be wringing of hands and pious platitudes, but not much else. The anti-war activists will be too busy screaming abuse at George Bush while ignoring what's happening in Darfur, Tibet, North Korea and Zimbabwe. There'll be no multimillion marches demanding Mugabe must go.

UN Warns of Bad Year in Darfur - Associated Press

UN agencies operating in Darfur warned Sunday that rising insecurity, a bad cereal harvest and the approaching rainy season will make for a particularly bad year for the population of the region. The vast arid western region of Sudan is the site of the largest humanitarian operation in the world but increased banditry and the coming rainy season, which runs from June through October, will make it even harder for agencies to get food to those that need it. Mike McDonagh, chief of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the poor harvest, the inability to transport food, continued displacement and overstretched water resources are combining to create the "perfect storm" in Darfur.

Algeria: Tug of War for Young Minds - Michael SLackman, New York TImes

At a time of religious revival across the Muslim world, Algeria’s youth are in play. The focus of this contest is the schools, where for decades Islamists controlled what children learned, and how they learned, officials and education experts here said. Now the government is urgently trying to re-engineer Algerian identity, changing the curriculum to wrest momentum from the Islamists, provide its youth with more employable skills, and combat the terrorism it fears schools have inadvertently encouraged. It appears to be the most ambitious attempt in the region to change a school system to make its students less vulnerable to religious extremism.

Nigerian Oil Militants Vow Ceasefire in Delta - Reuters

Militants in Nigeria's southern Niger Delta, whose campaign of sabotage has sharply cut the country's oil output, announced a unilateral ceasefire on Sunday after an appeal by community elders. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declared the ceasefire just days after one of its most daring attacks so far, which forced Royal Dutch Shell to halt output from Bonga, its main Nigerian offshore oilfield.

Al-Qaida Urges Somalis to Fight UN - Associated Press

An al-Qaida spokesman has urged Islamist militants in Somalia to fight a United Nations peacekeeping force slated to be deployed there. In a 19-minute video posted on a militant Web site Sunday, Abu Yahya Al-Libi also urged Muslim extremists to set up an Islamic government in Somalia.

AMERICAS

4th Bolivian State Moves Toward Autonomy - Associated Press

Natural gas-rich Tarija became the fourth Bolivian state to declare autonomy from the central government of leftist President Evo Morales on Sunday when voters backed greater independence in a referendum, according a private quick-count of votes. Autonomy supporters celebrated in the city of Tarija's main plaza after polling company Ipsos Apoyo, Opinion and Mercado released results showing the "yes" vote getting 82 percent support. Electoral officials said there would be no final results until Wednesday.

FARC Rebels Release Hostage Video - BBC News

Colombian rebels have released a video designed to show that a leading politician they have been holding hostage is alive. It was not clear when the video was filmed, but it appeared to be recent. Sigifredo Lopez is the only survivor of a group of 12 politicians who were killed by the Farc rebels in 2002.

Bermuda's Diplomacy - Gregory Slayton, Washington Times opinion

Three years ago, the Parliament of Bermuda was debating whether to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba and to publicly censure the United States over Iraq. Throughout the island nation, "respect and admiration" for the U.S. was near a 25-year low. Business leaders of all stripes were concerned that the U.S. and Bermuda - allies for almost 400 years - were inexorably drifting apart. Fast forward to today: Bermuda-U.S. trade is at an all-time high (and Bermuda has the highest GDP/capita in the world – an astounding accomplishment for a small island nation with almost no natural resources). "Respect and admiration" for the U.S. is near a 25-year high - and this morning the Premier of Bermuda and I will sit down for a brief meeting with President Bush to lay the groundwork for even closer partnership going forward.

ASIA PACIFIC

Tensions Rise Between Tibetans, Chinese Muslims - Barbara Demick, LA Times

Disputes are common in western China, where a volatile ethnic stew is increasingly erupting into violence. Among China's dozens of minorities, few get along as badly as Tibetans and Muslims. Animosities have played a major -- and largely unreported -- role in the clashes that have taken place since mid-March. During the March 14 riots in the Tibetan region's capital, Lhasa, many of the shops and restaurants attacked were Muslim-owned. A mob tried to storm the city's main mosque and succeeded in setting fire to the front gate. Shops and restaurants in the Muslim quarter were destroyed. Over the last five years, there have been dozens of clashes between Tibetans and Muslims in Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, as well as in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Most of the incidents go unreported. The state-controlled news media are not eager to publicize anything that belies Communist Party claims that minorities live together in a "harmonious society."

EUROPE

Sarkozy Woos NATO - Baptiste Etchegaray, Washington Times

The decision by French President Nicholas Sarkozy to rejoin NATO's military command has reopened a sensitive debate over the country's strategic independence, a hallmark of French foreign policy since France left NATO's integrated command in 1966. At the time, then-President Charles de Gaulle sought to distance France from an alliance that was increasingly dominated by the United States. Mr. Sarkozy reversed course last week.

UN Chief Signals Shift on Kosovo - Robert Marquand, Christian Science Monitor

For 16 months, Russia and the West have been a bit eyeball-to-eyeball in the United Nations Security Council over the status of Kosovo. But to borrow Dean Rusk's famous phrase during the 1963 Cuban missile crisis, it appears that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has just blinked. Mr. Ban's concession on Friday appeared to brush aside Russia's objections and clear the way to end the nine-year "UNMIK" mission in Kosovo. Last week, Pristina authorities inked a milestone constitution, following a February declaration of independence. For much of the past nine years, Kosovars described themselves as bystanders in their own fate; the future of this gritty city was controlled by Moscow, Washington, Brussels, and New York. A UN departure may begin to change that.

MIDDLE EAST

Cease-fire Holds, Blockade Eases - Joshua Mitnick, Christian Science Monitor

After three days without a single shooting violation of an Israel-Hamas cease-fire, Israel on Sunday boosted supplies of food and medicines into the Gaza Strip by about 50 percent and said it's considering further relaxations of the months-long siege on the war-weary enclave. For all the official playing down of the Gaza cease-fire declared Thursday between Hamas and Israel, as well as predictions of its imminent demise, the agreement may mark a break with a long-standing Israeli and American boycott of the Islamic militant organization. Israel's de facto recognition of Hamas's rule in Gaza, analysts say, holds the prospect of widening international acceptance for the organization, giving it a compelling incentive to keep up its end of the bargain.

Three Dead, 30 Wounded In North Lebanon Clashes - Reuters

At least three people were killed and 30 wounded on Sunday in sectarian clashes in Lebanon's second largest city Tripoli, security sources said. Explosions and machinegun fire rocked the city as Sunni Muslim supporters of the government and Alawite gunmen close to the Hezbollah-led opposition battled on the outskirts of the mainly Sunni Muslim port. Lebanese army units deployed in the area and tried to end the fighting and local leaders held talks to contain the conflict. Dozens of families fled the scene of the clashes that tapered off after both sides agreed a ceasefire, the sources said.

UN Atomic Inspectors Begin Syria Mission - Associated Press

UN nuclear sleuths looking into allegations that Syria is hiding secret atomic activities expressed hope Sunday that a fact-gathering trip to Damascus will be the start of a thorough investigation. The International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors face a daunting task. Syrian officials are expected to place strict limits on where they go and what they see during their three-day visit.

Saudis Offer Slight Rise in Oil Production - Worth and Mouawad, New York Times

An emergency energy summit meeting convened hastily here on Sunday underscored how few options the world has to push oil prices down from their record levels, as producers and consumers repeatedly emphasized starkly divergent views on both the fundamental causes and possible remedies for the current energy crisis. The one-day meeting in this coastal town on the Red Sea ended with the promise of a modest increase in Saudi oil production that is unlikely to stem the most-rapid run-up in oil prices ever. Beyond that, participants called for both more transparency and more regulation in energy markets, more investments in both production and refining capacity, and more cooperation between producers and consumers.

Uneasy Truce Holding - The Australian editorial

Five days in, and the truce between Israel and Hamas on the Gaza Strip appears to be holding in an atmosphere of tense, watchful quiet. Decades of dashed hopes, in more promising circumstances than this, mean only the rash would predict the respite lasting long-term. But after months of relentless bloodshed, residents of the impoverished enclave are relishing some breathing space, with families heading to the beach in fierce summer heat. Battle-weary Israeli soldiers, too, are relaxing, while remaining vigilant, swapping combat gear for a football. However short-term the truce may be, both sides need a breather. If the first whiff of trouble is to be contained rather than escalate into another spiralling cycle of reprisals and death, maturity, goodwill and sound judgment will be needed in spades. Such qualities are usually badly wanting in that region.

SOUTH ASIA

Ten Killed in Weekend Gunbattle in Indian Kashmir - Reuters

At least 10 people, including nine separatist militants, were killed in clashes between security forces and insurgents at the weekend in Indian Kashmir, police said. Soldiers shot dead five suspected militants late on Saturday when they tried to cross the border into India. Four militants and a soldier were killed on Sunday in another gunbattle. "The initial investigation has shown that the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba," S.M. Sahai, a senior police officer said in Srinagar, Kashmir's main city.

33 Rebels, 6 Soldiers Dead in Sri Lanka Fighting - Associated Press

Government forces captured six Tamil Tiger rebel bunkers on the front lines in war-ravaged northern Sri Lanka and infantry killed 33 rebels and six soldiers in clashes, the military said Monday. Fighting has escalated in recent months in the area separating government-controlled territory and the rebels' de facto state in the north. The military has stepped up land and air attacks on rebels as the government has pledged to capture rebel-held territory and to crush the insurgents by the end of the year. Diplomats and other observers say the army has faced more resistance than expected.

Peace for Sri Lanka? - Bernard Goonetilleke, Washington Times opinion

The logical solution to Sri Lanka's conflict is a negotiated settlement, and the political will to achieve it has never been stronger. President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed that commitment at his inauguration in November 2005, and reiterated his position in the United Kingdom this month. "Ultimately, any solution will have to be political. But there can be a political solution only after the LTTE has laid down arms," the army commander said in January. However, paradoxically, some friends of Sri Lanka feel the need to remind us every now and then that there is no military solution to the conflict. On the other hand, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE's) unwavering strategy is to establish nothing but a mono-ethnic, separate state.

Nepalese Cabinet Crisis Deepens - BBC News

Nepalese PM Girija Prasad Koirala is struggling to keep his administration together after Maoist ministers said they were resigning from the cabinet. Bitter disagreements among politicians mean that more than three weeks after the abolition of the monarchy, the country still has no head of state. The former Maoist rebels accuse Mr Koirala of clinging to his post after his party came a poor second in polls.

WORLD

Agreements Are Elusive at Oil Talks - Worth and Mouawad, New York Times

A hastily convened global energy summit meeting led by Saudi Arabia ended largely in disagreement on Sunday, with only a modest pledge of increased production by the Saudis and no resolution on what other practical steps should be taken to ease the crisis over soaring oil prices. The Saudis, who considered the meeting a success because of the high attendance, announced a production increase of 200,000 barrels a day and an expansion of their output capacity if needed in coming years.

EVENTS OF INTEREST

24-25 June - 16th Annual Expeditionary Warfare Wargame (Public Event - Wargame). Quantico, Virginia. Sponsored by the Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) and National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). The purpose of the war game series is to provide education and familiarization to members of the Association concerning current issues, capabilities, and expeditionary force trends in the United States Marine Corpsand to identify areas where NDIA can provide assistance. The Purpose of the 2008 NDIA Expeditionary Warfare Division/USMC War Game is to examine C2 Integration issues concerning Sensor Fusion, Information Management, and Fusion and the Commander's Visualization Requirements and Realities using seabased Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief operations at the MEB level for a background.

11-15 August - Counterinsurgency Leaders Workshop (Official Event - Workshop). Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The US Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency (COIN) Center is hosting a five-day program for prospective counterinsurgency leaders, 11-15 August 2008, at the Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The program is focused on equipping leaders with an understanding of the insurgency and counterinsurgency environments, as well as close consideration of the kinds of persons and organizations that usually emerge from insurgencies in contrast to those of conventional conflicts. This event will be held at the Battle Command Training Center (BCTC) Training Facility on Fort Leavenworth. Seating is limited. However, registration is open to any person who serves in any official capacity with regard to dealing with insurgencies, with priority is given to those applying from invited organizations. Other applicants will be reviewed for eligibility on a space-available, case-by-case basis. The duty is uniform/business casual. Application must completed on-line at the link above. The deadline for application is 1 August 2008. For more information, contact the COIN Center at 913-684-5196.

11-12 September - DNI Open Source Conferece 2008 (Public Event - Conference). Washington, DC. Sponsored by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The Office of the DNI is pleased to announce the "DNI Open Source Conference 2008" to be held on Thursday, 11 September and Friday, 12 September, 2008 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington DC. The conference is free; however, all who wish to attend must register online in advance (deadline 31 July). The two-day conference will explore a wide range of open source issues and open source best practices for the Intelligence Community and its partners. We invite participants from the broader open source community of interest including academia, think tanks, private industry, federal, state, local and tribal entities, international partners, and the media to attend. The conference will include speakers from across the broader open source community participating in panel discussions and focus group sessions. Information about the agenda and break-out sessions is now available. The DNI Open Source Conference 2007 was held 16-17 July 2007 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. More than 900 registered participants and speakers attended. Presentations made at the conference break-out sessions are available on the DNI Open Source Conference 2007 website.

16-18 September 2008 - The U.S. Army and the Interagency Process: A Historical Perspective (Public Event - Conference / Call for Papers). Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Sponsored by the U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute. The symposium will include a variety of guest speakers, panel sessions, and general discussions. This symposium will explore the partnership between the U.S. Army and government agencies in attaining national goals and objectives in peace and war within a historical context. Separate international topics may be presented. The symposium will also examine current issues, dilemmas, problems, trends, and practices associated with U.S. Army operations requiring close interagency cooperation.