AFGHANISTAN
Civilian Casualties Hurt NATO Efforts - Jason Motlagh, Washington Times
An errant attack last week on civilians by US-led coalition forces has widened a rift between the Afghan government and the international community that may change the nature of foreign military operations in Afghanistan.
The United Nations this week agreed with assertions by the Afghan government that at least 90 civilians died in a US-coordinated air strike Aug. 22 in the west of the country, more than half of them children. If true, the incident amounts to one of the deadliest civilian tolls since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
But a Pentagon review found the number to be far lower, with five civilians killed. Pentagon officials told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, because the review has not been released publicly, that a rival clan provided misleading information that prompted the attack and that 25 militants were killed during the operation.
The timing of the incident could not be worse for NATO forces and the embattled Afghan government, which is faced with waning public confidence and a resurgent Taliban. Continued attacks resulting in civilian deaths have called into question the government´s ability to manage foreign troops, as well as the coalition´s counter-insurgency strategy.
More at The Washington Times.
HEZBOLLAH
Hezbollah Finds Left-leaning Friends Abroad - Raed Rafei, Los Angeles Times
Hezbollah has extended its international reach by establishing contacts with left-leaning, environmental and peace groups opposed to US-led economic globalization, analysts and people tied to the group say.
The Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant organization and political party, which is designated as a terrorist group by the United States, has participated through a front organization in dozens of gatherings where attendees criticized US foreign policy and global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The aim, analysts say, is to rally support for armed opposition to Israel among groups that regard the West's policies as a threat to developing countries and to the environment.
More at The Los Angeles Times
GEORGIA / RUSSIA
Georgia and Russia Cut Diplomatic Ties - Andrew Kramer, New York Times
The Georgian government broke off diplomatic relations with Russia on Friday and Russia responded by doing the same. While the move was expected in the wake of the war this month, it was a significant political ripple in post-Soviet politics. Never before has Russia severed formal diplomatic ties with any of the other 14 republics that became independent states in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The countries will retain consular offices in each other’s territories, handling such matters as issuing passports and assisting their citizens with legal affairs, but the political ties will now be handled through intermediaries, a spokeswoman for Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said.
Georgia is now in talks with several countries as possible candidates to represent Georgia in Moscow, the ministry spokeswoman said, in the way, for example, that the Swiss Embassy in Tehran represents American interests in Iran, a country with which the United States has no diplomatic relations.
More at The New York Times.
Russian Attack Praised in Mideast - Ellen Knickmeyer, Washington Post
More at The Washington Post.
For some in the Middle East, the images of Russian tanks rolling into Georgia in defiance of US opposition have revived warm memories of the Cold War.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew last week to Moscow, where he endorsed Russia's offensive in Georgia and, according to Russian officials, sought additional Russian weapon systems.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi's influential son, echoed the delight expressed in much of the Arab news media. "What happened in Georgia is a good sign, one that means America is no longer the sole world power setting the rules of the game," the younger Gaddafi was quoted as telling the Russian daily Kommersant. "There is a balance in the world now. Russia is resurging, which is good for us, for the entire Middle East."
In Turkey, an American and European ally that obtains more than two-thirds of its natural gas from Russia, the reaction was more complex. Turks watched as the United States, NATO and a divided European Union hesitated in the face of Russian military assertiveness, leaving them more doubtful than they already were about depending on the West to secure US-backed alternative oil and gas supply lines.
NEWS & OPINION NOTES
Iraq
Al-Sadr Loyalists Sign Oath in Blood to Continue Fighting - Agence France-Presse
Iraq Moves to Curb Sales of Fake Drugs - Los Angeles Times
Afghanistan / Pakistan Tribal Areas
Joint Inquiry on Deaths of Afghans Is Proposed - New York Times
Iran
Iran Corroborates UN Nuclear Monitor's Estimate of Centrifuges - Washington Post
Russia / Georgia / NATO
South Ossetia to Join 'United Russian State' - The Times
Georgian Region Seeks to Merge with Russia - Daily Telegraph
Easier to Help Rebels than Punish Russians - The Australian
Moscow Ogre Awakes - The Australian opinion
The Long War
Bush Seeks to Affirm a Continuing War on Terror - New York Times
Africa
Zimbabwe: Mugabe Lifts Ban on Aid Operations - The Times
Zimbabwe Lifts Ban on Aid Groups, but Its Effects Linger - New York Times
Americas
Drug War Bodies Piling Up In Mexico - Los Angeles Times
Bodies Dumped in Mexican Tourist Spots - The Times
Mexicans to Hold Mass Anti-crime Protests - Associated Press
Asia / Pacific
China Unlikely to Loosen Its Grip - Washington Post
No Voice Is Too Small for a China Still Nervous About Dissent - New York Times
Taiwan Makes Progress with China - The Times
Thai PM Samak Refuses to Resign - BBC News
Transport Chaos Puts Thailand in Crisis - The Times
Thai Protest of Premier Stops Trains and Planes - New York Times
Europe
Karadzic Defies Court, Refuses To Enter Plea - Washington Post
Karadzic Declines to Plead at War Crimes Court - New York Times
Middle East
In Israel, A Clash Over Who Is a Jew - Washington Post
South Asia
Zardari Graft Let-off Shocks Judge - The Australian
Pakistan's Presidential Favorite Under Guard - Associated Press
Crusader Sees Wealth as Cure for India Caste Bias - New York Times
Bomb Blast in Sri Lanka Capital Wounds 45 - Agence France-Presse
BOOKS
Baghdad at Sunrise - Peter Mansoor
This compelling book presents an unparalleled record of what happened after US forces seized Baghdad in the spring of 2003.
The Strongest Tribe - Bing West
From a universally respected combat journalist, a gripping history based on five years of front-line reporting about how the war was turned around–and the choice now facing America.
Tell Me How This Ends - Linda Robinson
After a series of disastrous missteps in its conduct of the war, the White House in 2006 appointed General David Petraeus as the Commanding General of the coalition forces. Tell Me How This Ends is an inside account of his attempt to turn around a failing war.
We Are Soldiers Still - Joe Galloway
In their stunning follow-up to the classic bestseller We Were Soldiers Once... and Young, Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway return to Vietnam and reflect on how the war changed them, their men, their enemies, and both countries - often with surprising results.
BOOK DISCUSSIONS / SIGNINGS
The Strongest Tribe by Bing West. 11 September 2008, 12:00 - 2:00 PM - Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters. Details.
EVENTS OF INTEREST
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 - 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.
17 September - The Iranian Puzzle Piece: Understanding Iran in the Global Context (Public Event - Symposium). Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. Sponsored by the by the Marine Corps University (MCU) and the Marine Corps University Foundation to enhance the overall understanding of Iran, exploring its internal dynamics, regional perspectives, and extra-regional factors and examining its near-term political and strategic options and their potential impact on the course of action of the United States and the USMC.
2 October - Civil Affairs Roundtable (Public Event - Roundtable). ROA Headquarters, One Constitution Ave, NE Washington, DC. Sponsored by the Reserve Officers Association. In earlier roundtables, the observation was made that the center of gravity for stability operations is the human population in the area of operations. Civil affairs professionals and information operators are the key national security resources for influencing the human population. Civil affairs professionals assist in humanitarian operations and building civilian capacity. Information operators develop messages and keep the population informed. This roundtable will explore the relationship between the civil affairs and strategic communications functions.
